NEW INFO 5 Results from share redemption are posted. Less than .2% redeemed. Very bullish as investors are showing extreme confidence in the future of PLBY.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/playboy-mountain-crest-acquisition-corp-120000721.html NEW INFO 4 Definitive Agreement to purchase 100% of Lovers brand stores announced 2/1.
https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Playboy+%28MCAC%29+Confirms+Deal+to+Acquire+Lovers/17892359.html NEW INFO 3 I bought more on the dip today. 5081 total. Price rose AH to $12.38 (2.15%)
NEW INFO 2 Here is the full webinar.
https://icrinc.zoom.us/rec/play/9GWKdmOYumjWfZuufW3QXpe_FW_g--qeNbg6PnTjTMbnNTgLmCbWjeRFpQga1iPc-elpGap8dnDv8Zww.yD7DjUwuPmapeEdP?continueMode=true&tk=lEYc4F_FkKlgsmCIs6w0gtGHT2kbgVGbUju3cIRBSjk.DQIAAAAV8NK49xZWdldRM2xNSFNQcTBmcE00UzM3bXh3AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&uuid=WN_GKWqbHkeSyuWetJmLFkj4g&_x_zm_rtaid=kR45-uuqRE-L65AxLjpbQw.1611967079119.2c054e3d3f8d8e63339273d9175939ed&_x_zm_rhtaid=866 NEW INFO 1 Live merger webinar with PLBY and MCAC on Friday January 29, 2021 at 12:00 NOON EST link below
https://mcacquisition.com/investor-relations/press-release-details/2021/Playboy-Enterprises-Inc.-and-Mountain-Crest-Acquisition-Corp-Participate-in-SPACInsider-ICR-Webinar-on-January-29th-at-12pm-ET/default.aspx Playboy going public: Porn, Gambling, and Cannabis !!!WARNING READING AHEAD!!! TL;DR at the end. It will take some time to sort through all the links and read/watch everything, but you should.
In the next couple weeks, Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp is taking Playboy public. The existing ticker MCAC will become PLBY. Special purpose acquisition companies have taken private companies public in recent months with great success. I believe this will be no exception. Notably, Playboy is profitable and has skyrocketing revenue going into a transformational growth phase.
Porn - First and foremost, let's talk about porn. I know what you guys are thinking. “Porno mags are dead. Why would I want to invest in something like that? I can get porn for free online.” Guess what? You are absolutely right. And that’s exactly why Playboy doesn’t do that anymore. That’s right, they eliminated their print division. And yet they somehow STILL make money from porn that people (see: boomers) pay for on their website through PlayboyTV, Playboy Plus, and iPlayboy. Here’s the thing: Playboy has international, multi-generational name recognition from porn. They have content available in 180 countries. It will be the only publicly traded adult entertainment (porn) company. But that is not where this company is going. It will help support them along the way. You can see every Playboy magazine through iPlayboy if you’re interested. NSFW links below:
https://www.playboy.com/ https://www.playboytv.com/ https://www.playboyplus.com/ https://www.iplayboy.com/ Gambling - Some of you might recognize the Playboy brand from gambling trips to places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Cancun, London or Macau. They’ve been in the gambling biz for decades through their casinos, clubs, and licensed gaming products. They see the writing on the wall. COVID is accelerating the transition to digital, application based GAMBLING. That’s right. What we are doing on Robinhood with risky options is gambling, and the only reason regulators might give a shit anymore is because we are making too much money. There may be some restrictions put in place, but gambling from your phone on your couch is not going anywhere. More and more states are allowing things like Draftkings, poker, state ‘lottery” apps, hell - even political betting. Michigan and Virginia just ok’d gambling apps. They won’t be the last. This is all from your couch and any 18 year old with a cracked iphone can access it. Wouldn’t it be cool if Playboy was going to do something like that? They’re already working on it. As per CEO Ben Kohn who we will get to later, “...the company’s casino-style digital gaming products with Scientific Games and Microgaming continue to see significant global growth.” Honestly, I stopped researching Scientific Games' sports betting segment when I saw the word ‘omni-channel’. That told me all I needed to know about it’s success.
“Our SG Sports™ platform is an enhanced, omni-channel solution for online, self-service and retail fixed odds sports betting – from soccer to tennis, basketball, football, baseball, hockey, motor sports, racing and more.”
https://www.scientificgames.com/ https://www.microgaming.co.uk/ “This latter segment has become increasingly enticing for Playboy, and it said last week that it is considering new tie-ups that could include gaming operators like PointsBet and 888Holdings.”
https://calvinayre.com/2020/10/05/business/playboys-gaming-ops-could-get-a-boost-from-spac-purchase/ As per their SEC filing:
“Significant consumer engagement and spend with Playboy-branded gaming properties around the world, including with leading partners such as Microgaming, Scientific Games, and Caesar’s Entertainment, steers our investment in digital gaming, sports betting and other digital offerings to further support our commercial strategy to expand consumer spend with minimal marginal cost, and gain consumer data to inform go-to-market plans across categories.”
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tMDAA1 They are expanding into more areas of gaming/gambling, working with international players in the digital gaming/gambling arena, and a Playboy sportsbook is on the horizon.
https://www.playboy.com/read/the-pleasure-of-playing-with-yourself-mobile-gaming-in-the-covid-era Cannabis - If you’ve ever read through a Playboy magazine, you know they’ve had a positive relationship with cannabis for many years. As of September 2020, Playboy has made a major shift into the cannabis space. Too good to be true you say? Check their website. Playboy currently sells a range of CBD products. This is a good sign. Federal hemp products, which these most likely are, can be mailed across state lines and most importantly for a company like Playboy, can operate through a traditional banking institution. CBD products are usually the first step towards the cannabis space for large companies. Playboy didn’t make these products themselves meaning they are working with a processor in the cannabis industry. Another good sign for future expansion. What else do they have for sale? Pipes, grinders, ashtrays, rolling trays, joint holders. Hmm. Ok. So it looks like they want to sell some shit. They probably don’t have an active interest in cannabis right? Think again:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/09/24/playboy-gets-serious-about-cannabis-law-reform-advocacy-with-new-partnership-grants/?sh=62f044a65cea “Taking yet another step into the cannabis space, Playboy will be announcing later on Thursday (September, 2020) that it is launching a cannabis law reform and advocacy campaign in partnership with National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Last Prisoner Project, Marijuana Policy Project, the Veterans Cannabis Project, and the Eaze Momentum Program.”
“According to information procured exclusively, the three-pronged campaign will focus on calling for federal legalization. The program also includes the creation of a mentorship plan, through which the Playboy Foundation will support entrepreneurs from groups that are underrepresented in the industry.” Remember that CEO Kohn from earlier? He wrote this recently:
https://medium.com/naked-open-letters-from-playboy/congress-must-pass-the-more-act-c867c35239ae Seems like he really wants weed to be legal? Hmm wonder why? The writing's on the wall my friends. Playboy wants into the cannabis industry, they are making steps towards this end, and we have favorable conditions for legislative progress.
Don’t think branding your own cannabis line is profitable or worthwhile? Tell me why these 41 celebrity millionaires and billionaires are dummies. I’ll wait.
https://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebstoner-news/2019/07/12/top-celebrity-cannabis-brands/ Confirmation: I hear you. “This all seems pretty speculative. It would be wildly profitable if they pull this shift off. But how do we really know?” Watch this whole video:
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/playboy-ceo-telling-story-female-154907068.html Man - this interview just gets my juices flowing. And highlights one of my favorite reasons for this play. They have so many different business avenues from which a catalyst could appear. I think paying attention, holding shares, and options on these staggered announcements over the next year is the way I am going to go about it. "There's definitely been a shift to direct-to-consumer," he (Kohn) said. "About 50 percent of our revenue today is direct-to-consumer, and that will continue to grow going forward.” “Kohn touted Playboy's portfolio of both digital and consumer products, with casino-style gaming, in particular, serving a crucial role under the company's new business model. Playboy also has its sights on the emerging cannabis market, from CBD products to marijuana products geared toward sexual health and pleasure.” "If THC does become legal in the United States, we have developed certain strains to enhance your sex life that we will launch," Kohn said.
https://cheddar.com/media/playboy-goes-public-health-gaming-lifestyle-focus Oh? The CEO actually said it? Ok then. “We have developed certain strains…” They’re already working with growers on strains and genetics? Ok. There are several legal cannabis markets for those products right now, international and stateside. I expect Playboy licensed hemp and THC pre-rolls by EOY. Something like this:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/842996758/10-playboy-pre-roll-tubes-limited?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pre+roll+playboy&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1 Maintaining cannabis operations can be costly and a regulatory headache. Playboy’s licensing strategy allows them to pick successful, established partners and sidestep traditional barriers to entry. You know what I like about these new markets? They’re expanding. Worldwide. And they are going to be a bigger deal than they already are with or without Playboy. Who thinks weed and gambling are going away? Too many people like that stuff. These are easy markets. And Playboy is early enough to carve out their spot in each. Fuck it, read this too:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimosman/2020/10/20/playboy-could-be-the-king-of-spacs-here-are-three-picks/?sh=2e13dcaa3e05 Numbers: You want numbers? I got numbers. As per the company’s most recent SEC filing:
“For the year ended December 31, 2019, and the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s historical consolidated revenue was $78.1 million and $101.3 million, respectively, historical consolidated net income (loss) was $(23.6) million and $(4.8) million, respectively, and Adjusted EBITDA was $13.1 million and $21.8 million, respectively.”
“In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Licensing segment contributed $44.2 million in revenue and $31.1 million in net income.”
“In the ninth months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Direct-to-Consumer segment contributed $40.2 million in revenue and net income of $0.1 million.”
“In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Digital Subscriptions and Content segment contributed $15.4 million in revenue and net income of $7.4 million.”
They are profitable across all three of their current business segments.
“Playboy’s return to the public markets presents a transformed, streamlined and high-growth business. The Company has over $400 million in cash flows contracted through 2029, sexual wellness products available for sale online and in over 10,000 major retail stores in the US, and a growing variety of clothing and branded lifestyle and digital gaming products.”
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tSHCF Growth: Playboy has massive growth in China and massive growth potential in India. “In China, where Playboy has spent more than 25 years building its business, our licensees have an enormous footprint of nearly 2,500 brick and mortar stores and 1,000 ecommerce stores selling high quality, Playboy-branded men’s casual wear, shoes/footwear, sleepwear, swimwear, formal suits, leather & non-leather goods, sweaters, active wear, and accessories. We have achieved significant growth in China licensing revenues over the past several years in partnership with strong licensees and high-quality manufacturers, and we are planning for increased growth through updates to our men’s fashion lines and expansion into adjacent categories in men’s skincare and grooming, sexual wellness, and women’s fashion, a category where recent launches have been well received.” The men’s market in China is about the same size as the entire population of the United States and European Union combined. Playboy is a leading brand in this market. They are expanding into the women’s market too. Did you know CBD toothpaste is huge in China? China loves CBD products and has hemp fields that dwarf those in the US. If Playboy expands their CBD line China it will be huge. Did you know the gambling money in Macau absolutely puts Las Vegas to shame? Technically, it's illegal on the mainland, but in reality, there is a lot of gambling going on in China.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/10/19/magic-johnson-and-uncle-buds-cbd-brand-enter-china-via-tmall-partnership/?sh=271776ca411e “In India, Playboy today has a presence through select apparel licensees and hospitality establishments. Consumer research suggests significant growth opportunities in the territory with Playboy’s brand and categories of focus.” “Playboy Enterprises has announced the expansion of its global consumer products business into India as part of a partnership with Jay Jay Iconic Brands, a leading fashion and lifestyle Company in India.” “The Indian market today is dominated by consumers under the age of 35, who represent more than 65 percent of the country’s total population and are driving India’s significant online shopping growth. The Playboy brand’s core values of playfulness and exploration resonate strongly with the expressed desires of today’s younger millennial consumers. For us, Playboy was the perfect fit.” “The Playboy international portfolio has been flourishing for more than 25 years in several South Asian markets such as China and Japan. In particular, it has strategically targeted the millennial and gen-Z audiences across categories such as apparel, footwear, home textiles, eyewear and watches.”
https://www.licenseglobal.com/industry-news/playboy-expands-global-footprint-india It looks like they gave COVID the heisman in terms of net damage sustained: “Although Playboy has not suffered any material adverse consequences to date from the COVID-19 pandemic, the business has been impacted both negatively and positively. The remote working and stay-at-home orders resulted in the closure of the London Playboy Club and retail stores of Playboy’s licensees, decreasing licensing revenues in the second quarter, as well as causing supply chain disruption and less efficient product development thereby slowing the launch of new products. However, these negative impacts were offset by an increase in Yandy’s direct-to-consumer sales, which have benefited in part from overall increases in online retail sales so far during the pandemic.” Looks like the positives are long term (Yandy acquisition) and the negatives are temporary (stay-at-home orders).
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921006093/tm213766-1_defa14a.htm This speaks to their ability to maintain a financially solvent company throughout the transition phase to the aforementioned areas. They’d say some fancy shit like “expanded business model to encompass four key revenue streams: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming.” I hear “we’re just biding our time with these trinkets until those dollar dollar bill y’all markets are fully up and running.” But the truth is these existing revenue streams are profitable, scalable, and rapidly expanding Playboy’s e-commerce segment around the world.
"Even in the face of COVID this year, we've been able to grow EBITDA over 100 percent and revenue over 68 percent, and I expect that to accelerate going into 2021," he said. “Playboy is accelerating its growth in company-owned and branded consumer products in attractive and expanding markets in which it has a proven history of brand affinity and consumer spend.”
Also in the SEC filing, the
Time Frame:
“As we detailed in the definitive proxy statement, the SPAC stockholder meeting to vote on the transaction has been set for February 9th, and, subject to stockholder approval and satisfaction of the other closing conditions, we expect to complete the merger and begin trading on NASDAQ under ticker PLBY shortly thereafter,” concluded Kohn.
The Players: Suhail “The Whale” Rizvi (HMFIC), Ben “The Bridge” Kohn (CEO), “lil” Suying Liu & “Big” Dong Liu (Young-gun China gang). I encourage you to look these folks up. The real OG here is Suhail Rizvi. He’s from India originally and Chairman of the Board for the new PLBY company. He was an early investor in Twitter, Square, Facebook and others. His firm, Rizvi Traverse, currently invests in Instacart, Pinterest, Snapchat, Playboy, and SpaceX. Maybe you’ve heard of them. “Rizvi, who owns a sprawling three-home compound in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a 1.65-acre estate in Palm Beach, Florida, near Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, moved to Iowa Falls when he was five. His father was a professor of psychology at Iowa. Along with his older brother Ashraf, a hedge fund manager, Rizvi graduated from Wharton business school.” “Suhail Rizvi: the 47-year-old 'unsocial' social media baron: When Twitter goes public in the coming weeks (2013), one of the biggest winners will be a 47-year-old financier who guards his secrecy so zealously that he employs a person to take down his Wikipedia entry and scrub his photos from the internet. In IPO, Twitter seeks to be 'anti-FB'” “Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia looks like a big Twitter winner. So do the moneyed clients of Jamie Dimon. But as you’ve-got-to-be-joking wealth washed over Twitter on Thursday — a company that didn’t exist eight years ago was worth $31.7 billion after its first day on the stock market — the non-boldface name of the moment is Suhail R. Rizvi. Mr. Rizvi, 47, runs a private investment company that is the largest outside investor in Twitter with a 15.6 percent stake worth $3.8 billion at the end of trading on Thursday (November, 2013). Using a web of connections in the tech industry and in finance, as well as a hearty dose of good timing, he brought many prominent names in at the ground floor, including the Saudi prince and some of JPMorgan’s wealthiest clients.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/technology/at-twitter-working-behind-the-scenes-toward-a-billion-dollar-payday.html Y’all like that Arab money? How about a dude that can call up Saudi Princes and convince them to spend? Funniest shit about I read about him: “Rizvi was able to buy only $100 million in Facebook shortly before its IPO, thus limiting his returns, according to people with knowledge of the matter.” Poor guy :(
He should be fine with the 16 million PLBY shares he's going to have though :)
Shuhail also has experience in the entertainment industry. He’s invested in companies like SESAC, ICM, and Summit Entertainment. He’s got Hollywood connections to blast this stuff post-merger. And he’s at least partially responsible for that whole Twilight thing. I’m team Edward btw.
I really like what Suhail has done so far. He’s lurked in the shadows while Kohn is consolidating the company, trimming the fat, making Playboy profitable, and aiming the ship at modern growing markets.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-twitter-ipo-rizvi-insight/insight-little-known-hollywood-investor-poised-to-score-with-twitter-ipo-idUSBRE9920VW20131003 Ben “The Bridge” Kohn is an interesting guy. He’s the connection between Rizvi Traverse and Playboy. He’s both CEO of Playboy and was previously Managing Partner at Rizvi Traverse. Ben seems to be the voice of the Playboy-Rizvi partnership, which makes sense with Suhail’s privacy concerns. Kohn said this:
“Today is a very big day for all of us at Playboy and for all our partners globally. I stepped into the CEO role at Playboy in 2017 because I saw the biggest opportunity of my career. Playboy is a brand and platform that could not be replicated today. It has massive global reach, with more than $3B of global consumer spend and products sold in over 180 countries. Our mission – to create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure – is rooted in our 67-year history and creates a clear focus for our business and role we play in people’s lives, providing them with the products, services and experiences that create a lifestyle of pleasure. We are taking this step into the public markets because the committed capital will enable us to accelerate our product development and go-to-market strategies and to more rapidly build our direct to consumer capabilities,” said Ben Kohn, CEO of Playboy.
“Playboy today is a highly profitable commerce business with a total addressable market projected in the trillions of dollars,” Mr. Kohn continued, “We are actively selling into the Sexual Wellness consumer category, projected to be approximately $400 billion in size by 2024, where our recently launched intimacy products have rolled out to more than 10,000 stores at major US retailers in the United States. Combined with our owned & operated ecommerce Sexual Wellness initiatives, the category will contribute more than 40% of our revenue this year. In our Apparel and Beauty categories, our collaborations with high-end fashion brands including Missguided and PacSun are projected to achieve over $50M in retail sales across the US and UK this year, our leading men’s apparel lines in China expanded to nearly 2500 brick and mortar stores and almost 1000 digital stores, and our new men’s and women’s fragrance line recently launched in Europe. In Gaming, our casino-style digital gaming products with Scientific Games and Microgaming continue to see significant global growth. Our product strategy is informed by years of consumer data as we actively expand from a purely licensing model into owning and operating key high-growth product lines focused on driving profitability and consumer lifetime value. We are thrilled about the future of Playboy. Our foundation has been set to drive further growth and margin, and with the committed capital from this transaction and our more than $180M in NOLs, we will take advantage of the opportunity in front of us, building to our goal of $100M of adjusted EBITDA in 2025.”
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005404/en/Playboy-to-Become-a-Public-Company Also, according to their Form 4s, “Big” Dong Liu and “lil” Suying Liu just loaded up with shares last week. These guys are brothers and seem like the Chinese market connection. They are only 32 & 35 years old. I don’t even know what that means, but it's provocative.
https://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/1832415.htm https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mountain-crest-acquisition-corp-ii-002600994.html Y’all like that China money?
“Mr. Liu has been the Chief Financial Officer of Dongguan Zhishang Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd., a regional designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED lights serving commercial customers throughout Southern China since November 2016, at which time he led a syndicate of investments into the firm. Mr. Liu has since overseen the financials of Dongguan Zhishang as well as provided strategic guidance to its board of directors, advising on operational efficiency and cash flow performance. From March 2010 to October 2016, Mr. Liu was the Head of Finance at Feidiao Electrical Group Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese manufacturer of electrical outlets headquartered in Shanghai and with businesses in the greater China region as well as Europe.”
Dr. Suying Liu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp., commented, “Playboy is a unique and compelling investment opportunity, with one of the world’s largest and most recognized brands, its proven consumer affinity and spend, and its enormous future growth potential in its four product segments and new and existing geographic regions. I am thrilled to be partnering with Ben and his exceptional team to bring his vision to fruition.”
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005404/en/Playboy-to-Become-a-Public-Company These guys are good. They have a proven track record of success across multiple industries. Connections and money run deep with all of these guys. I don’t think they’re in the game to lose.
I was going to write a couple more paragraphs about why you should have a look at this but really the best thing you can do is read this SEC filing from a couple days ago. It explains the situation in far better detail. Specifically, look to page 137 and read through their strategy. Also, look at their ownership percentages and compensation plans including the stock options and their prices. The financials look great, revenue is up 90% Q3, and it looks like a bright future.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tSHCF I’m hesitant to attach this because his position seems short term, but I’m going to with a warning because he does hit on some good points (two are below his link) and he’s got a sizable position in this thing (500k+ on margin, I think). I don’t know this guy but he did look at the same publicly available info and make roughly the same prediction, albeit without the in depth gambling or cannabis mention. You can also search reddit for ‘MCAC’ and very few relevant results come up and none of them even come close to really looking at this thing.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gOvAd6lebs452hFlWWbxVjQ3VMsjGBkbJeXRwDwIJfM/edit?usp=sharing “Also, before you people start making claims that Playboy is a “boomer” company, STOP RIGHT THERE. This is not a good argument. Simply put. The only thing that matters is Playboy’s name recognition, not their archaic business model which doesn’t even exist anymore as they have completely repurposed their business.”
“Imagine not buying $MCAC at a 400M valuation lol. Streetwear department is worth 1B alone imo.”
Considering the ridiculous Chinese growth as a lifestyle brand, he’s not wrong.
Current Cultural Significance and Meme Value: A year ago I wouldn’t have included this section but the events from the last several weeks (even going back to tsla) have proven that a company’s ability to meme and/or gain social network popularity can have an effect. Tik-tok, Snapchat, Twitch, Reddit, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter. They all have Playboy stuff on them. Kids in middle and highschool know what Playboy is but will likely never see or touch one of the magazines in person. They’ll have a Playboy hoodie though. Crazy huh? A lot like GME, PLBY would hugely benefit from meme-value stock interest to drive engagement towards their new business model while also building strategic coffers. This interest may not directly and/or significantly move the stock price but can generate significant interest from larger players who will.
Bull Case: The year is 2025. Playboy is now the world leader pleasure brand. They began by offering Playboy licensed gaming products, including gambling products, direct to consumers through existing names. By 2022, demand has skyrocketed and Playboy has designed and released their own gambling platforms. In 2025, they are also a leading cannabis brand in the United States and Canada with proprietary strains and products geared towards sexual wellness. Cannabis was legalized in the US in 2023 when President Biden got glaucoma but had success with cannabis treatment. He personally pushes for cannabis legalization as he steps out of office after his first term. Playboy has also grown their brand in China and India to multi-billion per year markets. The stock goes up from 11ish to 100ish and everyone makes big gains buying somewhere along the way.
Bear Case: The United States does a complete 180 on marijuana and gambling. President Biden overdoses on marijuana in the Lincoln bedroom when his FDs go tits up and he loses a ton of money in his sports book app after the Fighting Blue Hens narrowly lose the National Championship to Bama. Playboy is unable to expand their cannabis and gambling brands but still does well with their worldwide lifestyle brand. They gain and lose some interest in China and India but the markets are too large to ignore them completely. The stock goes up from 11ish to 13ish and everyone makes 15-20% gains.
TL;DR: Successful technology/e-commerce investment firm took over Playboy to turn it into a porn, online gambling/gaming, sports book, cannabis company, worldwide lifestyle brand that promotes sexual wellness, vetern access, women-ownership, minority-ownership, and “pleasure for all”. Does a successful online team reinventing an antiquated physical copy giant sound familiar? No options yet, shares only for now. $11.38 per share at time of writing. My guess? $20 by the end of February. $50 by EOY. This is not financial advice. I am not qualified to give financial advice. I’m just sayin’ I would personally use a Playboy sports book app while smoking a Playboy strain specific joint and it would be cool if they did that. Do your own research. You’d probably want to start here:
WARNING - POTENTIALLY NSFW - SEXY MODELS AHEAD - no actual nudity though https://s26.q4cdn.com/895475556/files/doc_presentations/Playboy-Craig-Hallum-Conference-Investor-Presentation-11_17_20-compressed.pdf Or here:
https://www.mcacquisition.com/investor-relations/default.aspx Jimmy Chill: “Get into any SPAC at $10 or $11 and you are going to make money.”
STL;DR: Buy MCAC. MCAC > PLBY couple weeks. Rocketship. Moon.
Position: 5000 shares. I will buy short, medium, and long-dated calls once available.
submitted by Note: I post these on my facebook page and a few groups.
Let me know if it is desired or not to post these updates here regularly. Thank you, Jaimie.
UPDATE: November 27 11 new deaths, 911 new cases in BC. Literally 9-1-1. “It is in the spirit of the season to stop the spread and to save lives.” -- Health Minister Adrian Dix.
Translink updates its rules.
162 drug overdose deaths in October.
Increased domestic violence, less shelter space.
LOCAL:
·
Currently active outbreaks in New Westminster: Kiwanis Care Centre, Queen’s Park Care Centre, Royal Columbian Hospital, Al-Hidayah School in New Westminster.
· The outbreak at RCH is confined to one medicine unit. Evidence of transmission after a patient tested positive.
· Fraser Health says that Al-Hidayah School is “functionally closed for a two week period due to the staffing challenges presented by the clusters.”
·
Please consider giving some business to the Hideout Café, targeted and forced to do take-out only by anti-mask protesters.
·
https://www.newwestrecord.ca/news/new-westminster-caf%C3%A9-targeted-by-anti-mask-protesters-1.24244888?fbclid=IwAR3YutZmw3QD9Vl11Buk4NaLsrxCnNIA0FVOjeROvtQJjji1H64hfDXrYJY ·
Translink had updated its mask rules.
· No face shields, must be masks.
· Masks must now be put on while boarding or waiting at a stop. No more putting the mask on after getting in the bus.
· Mask are now also required at any indoor or shelter stop, and also in stations, platforms, and at bus stops, bus loops, and bus exchanges.
· Translink is suspending issuing its own exemption cards.
· Transit police will inquire of customers not wearing a mask. Police can issue fines of $230.
· Exemptions: people under 12 years of age, persons unable to wear a mask due to a health condition, people who physically cannot put on a mask.
· Here is the full public safety Ministerial Order regarding face masks in BC:
https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/mo/mo/m0425_2020 ·
Burnaby Hospital is no longer taking most new patients at the 286 bed hospital.
· 5 deaths, 55 cases in current outbreak.
· The outbreak began November 9. The fire at the hospital November 15 is a contributing factor to the outbreak, forcing rapid evacuation or movement of patients in the facility.
Sources: Fraser Health, New Westminster Record, Province of BC Ministerial Order No. M425, CBC
BC:
· There is a workshop December 2nd about the
BC Small and Medium-Sized Business Recover Grant. You can register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/registetZMldeCorj4iEtXYIv_6TtX3XLyQZbVHE1ZH ·
BC numbers for today, from today’s press conference with Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix:
·
11 new deaths. 395 total.
·
911 new cases. 30,884 total.
· 301 in hospital, 69 in intensive care.
· 10,430 in self-isolation and being monitored.
· 21,304 have recovered.
· 3 new outbreaks. 1 is over. 59 active outbreaks, 54 care homes, 5 in health facilities.
· 718 residents, 344 staff among the active cases.
· Numbers for testing will come out next Friday, showing two categories:
· MSP tests, people with symptoms.
· Non-MSP tests, mostly asymptomatic, often for travel or work, and tested multiple times.
·
Updated info on fitness and sports next Friday.
· Seeing much higher transmission than before, which is why there are new restrictions. Based on places and activities being safe. These places are not doing anything wrong,
temple, gurdwara, church, but have seen transmission despite people’s best efforts and safety plans. Thanks faith leaders who are supporting public health, and in doing so also supporting their own congregants. Adrian Dix: we understand the meaning of a loss of faith services for many people, loss of community for people, appreciates the leadership of most faith leaders in supporting efforts to stop the transmission of Covd-19.
·
“We are in a storm surge.” Dr. Henry.
· We can all do our part to bring those numbers back down.
· It is a cruel irony that when we want to see people, that can be the most dangerous thing.
· Time of year.
This weekend many will be thinking of holiday shopping. Asked that when shopping, keep your covid safety plan. Shop locally, support local businesses, wear masks, wash hands, be limited in number, or shop remotely.
· Remember that we don’t always know another person’s story.
· Concerned about hostility directed at restaurant and store staff. “Please remember that this is a provincial order.” If you are opposed to wearing a mask, then please don’t put other people at risk, and shop online, keep space around you. Remember there are people in our hospitals right now.
·
“It’s hard to see the light right now, but there is light.” Dr. Bonnie Henry.
·
Adrian Dix: It’s been 10 months. He understands that people want a break. But right now we can’t. He understands what the month of December means to people. Asks people to think about how we can celebrate differently. Right now, we save lives by only socializing with the people in our household, or the one or two people we see if we live alone.
· Also, Dix,
it is in the spirit of the season to stop the spread and to save lives.
· Dr. Henry was asked about political interference in Alberta and Ontario. She said that “there is none of that in BC.”
·
More than 5 people a day are dying from toxic drugs, says the BC Coroners Service.
· 162 people dies in October from drug overdoses, what the Coroners Service refers to as “drug toxicity.” More than double the number in October of last year, which was 75 deaths.
· Concentrations of fentanyl are the main cause.
· Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe: “We are continuing to see record-breaking numbers of people dying in B.C. due to an unsafe drug supply in our province, and it’s taking a toll on families and communities in this dual health emergency.
· 70% of deaths age 30 to 59, 80% of deaths are males.
· Eight consecutive months with over 100 deaths.
· 1,386 total deaths from January 2010 to October 2020.
· 109 deaths of youth 18 and younger in that time.
· 160 deaths in New Westminster in that time. 30 of those this past October.
· “No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.”
· Full press release, with links to other information and groups helping:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0061-001957 · Illicit Drug Overdose Events attended by BC Ambulance, chart (379 last week):
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0061-001957 · Report, Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC, January 1, 2010 to October 31, 2020:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/statistical/illicit-drug.pdf ·
A hotel employee in BC had a heart attack shortly after being spat on by a customer refusing to wear a mask.
· The employee, the hotel accountant, went to see what was going on. She is a woman in her 50s.
· The man was politely offered a face mask while in the Empire Coffee shop of the Adventure Hotel. He began to loudly scream profanities. Staff attempted to reason with the man and calm him unsuccessfully, and then told the man to “Just get out!”
· When she arrived, the man was attempting to get in again. The woman said, “Listen! You’re not going to talk to our people this way, and this is the law.” The man then spat on her.
· Police were called and removed the suspect, who is under investigation. The police investigation includes the relationship between the spitting incident and the woman’s heart attack, say Nelson police. Police say such causal links have been made in some past cases.
· The woman remained distraught after the experience and began to feel ill. She collapsed about an hour and a half after the encounter. She was airlifted to hospital in Kelowna and is stable condition but remains in hospital.
· It was also in Nelson that Kootenay Co-Op hired a security guard after confrontational behavior towards staff over the mask requirement. The manager says that 10 to 20 percent of customers are refusing to wear a mask.
· There are reports of other aggressive confrontations in other parts of BC. Two men at a diner in Victoria wandered between tables and threatened staff, and were each fined $230. A man was arrested in Dawson Creek after attacking an employee at a Walmart after being asked to wear a mask. The employee had minor injuries. Here is a story and video about that incident:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dawson-creek-walmart-employee-assaulted-face-mask-dispute-1.5817369 Sources: BC Coroners Service, BC Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix live press conference
CANADA:
·
Canadians will not be among the first to get the vaccines.
· Prime Minister Trudeau cited the fact that Canada does not have any of its own vaccine production facilities.
· The first doses will arrive in Canada in early 2021. Distribution will prioritize health care workers in category 1. There is currently discussion as to whether residents of care homes will be added to category 1, or will be a category 2.
· The government is hoping 3 million people in Canada will be vaccinated in the first three months of 2021.
·
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-vaccine-briefing-logistical-challenges-1.5817577 · UPDATED: Trudeau announced today a goal of having half of all Canadians vaccinated by 2021. (Although Trudeau said nearly all Canadians at his press conference).
· Major-General Dany Fortin will lead the logistics and operations for the vaccine, as a new branch of the Public Health Agency of Canada. The military will take up challenges like cold storage for the vaccine, and will get vaccines to Canada’s remote and Indigenous communities. Provincial health systems will get the vaccinations to people.
·
71% of violence against women shelters in Canada have had to reduce capacity due to Covid, while domestic violence is on the rise. Many reduced capacity by 50% or more.
· As the pandemic has progressed over time, so has domestic violence.
· Here is a report by Women’s Shelters Canada:
https://endvaw.ca/shelter-voices-2020/ · If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, including involuntary confinement, call 911 if there is immediate danger. Here is site to also find resources and help anywhere in Canada:
https://sheltersafe.ca/ ·
Problems in Alberta.
· 20 recordings have come out showing
political direction and interference in health authority decisions, and micromanagement by the Premier and cabinet members. They also overruled expert advice, and pushed for an early reopening of the province.
· Chief Medical Officer Deena Hinshaw told other health officials, “I don’t have a lot of fight left in me.” When dealing with government, she asked colleagues, “How do we limit the worst possible implications of this without wearing ourselves down?” Publicly, she say that she has felt respected by government and that the final decisions rest with cabinet.
· The opposition says that Premier Kenny has been hiding behind Dr. Hinshaw. He has the lowest pandemic handling rating of any premier in Canada. The Premier has said he won’t bow to “idealogical pressure,” seemingly not considering that the advice has come from his own scientists and doctors. Kenney cited economic impact and rights in his decision.
· “What is there suggests to me that the pandemic response is in tatters,” say Dr. Obobu, a law professor at the University of Alberta specializing in public health law.
· The province has not been able to sustain its contact tracing system.
· 29,000 Covid complaints were made in the province by mid-September, but behind the scenes, a decision was made not to enforce. There were 62 enforcement orders total.
· Dr. Hinshaw has called the recordings a betrayal of trust.
· Full story:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-19-response-tension-recordings-1.5814877 ·
A small hospital in Manitoba has closed so staff can go help in a care home.
· The hospital in Grandview, Manitoba, closed, sending patients to other hospitals. The staff are expected to be reassigned to the Grandview Personal Care Home in the town, for at least three weeks. The home is struggling with an outbreak.
· Story:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/grandview-hospital-closure-vehicle-procession-manitoba-1.5817381 ·
Sources: CBC, Women’s Shelters Canada
INTERNATIONAL:
·
Life expectancy is falling in Sweden during Covid.
· Life expectancy steadily increased from 1900 to 2019.
· Sweden has had a high Covid mortality rate.
· The country’s lead epidemiologist had refused for most of the pandemic to implement mandates on people’s socializing.
· Life expectancy for men fallen to 80.8 from 81.3 in 2019.
· Life expectancy for women fallen to 84.4 from 84.7 in 2019.
· Regional deaths per 100,000: 63 in Sweden, 14 in Denmark, 7 in Finland, 6 in Norway. 6300 deaths total in Sweden.
· The OECD ranks Sweden as one of the hardest hit countries in Europe, and the slowest at containing transmission.
· The Royal Academy of Sciences, the people who give out the Nobel prizes, said that Sweden should rethink its decision not to recommend masks, “irrespective of what the public health authority is saying.”
· The Public Health Agency continues to say that face masks give people a false sense of security and could undermine social distancing, as if the two things cannot go together, and despite months of new science on how masks can reduce transmission from one person to another, especially indoors.
· Full story:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/swedish-life-expectancy-to-drop-for-first-time-in-century-due-to-covid-19/ar-BB1blluD?ocid=uxbndlbing ·
North Dakota now has the highest COVID-19 mortality rate of any jurisdiction in the world.
· More than 1 in every 1,000 persons in the state have died of Covid.
· 769 deaths out of a population of 762,000, as of Tuesday. The majority in the past two months.
· 10.2% of North Dakotans have had the virus.
· North Dakota has been one of the states that refused to implement many health measures. Governor Burgum refers to his approach as a “light touch.” The Governor only just asked people to wear masks as of Friday, saying, “Our situation has changed.”
· Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Task Force says that North Dakota has the worst Covid-19 protocols and mask usage in the entire country.
· There are only 17 ICU beds still open in the entire state as yesterday
· State contact tracing stopped on October 22, as the system was overwhelmed. The system is now only notifying people that they are infected. Story:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/11/18/north-dakota-contact-tracing-stopped/?fbclid=IwAR3myTbU4J_xSWJnS4uB_itVi-BILOUwC6eZwjf41f8HVKw3G_8NGwB03bE · Health care workers who test positive but show no symptoms have been ordered back to work, due to staff shortages. Story:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/17/north-dakota-covid-positive-health-workers-coronavirus ·
The US has passed 13 million cases, passing 12 million only six days ago.
Sources: Bloomberg News, Forbes, Bismarck Tribune, The Guardian, CNN
STATS (as of the end of yesterday:
CANADA:
· 89 new deaths. 11,799 total.
· New deaths – 32 in Quebec, 21 in Ontario, 13 in BC, 10 in Alberta, 10 in Manitoba, 3 in Saskatchewan.
· 5,635 new cases. 353,100 total.
· 14,276,851 total tests in Canada, 90,335 in the past day.
· There are test waiting lists in: Ontario at 54,241, up 1,389 in the past day; Nunavut at 765, down by 48 in the past day; 331 in Yukon; 29 in Northwest Territories. No information on how long those waits are. It seems clear that the North needs additional testing capacity.
· 3,697 new recovered. 280,929 total.
· 1,849 new active. 60,372 total.
· 449 in intensive care.
USA:
· 1,311 new deaths. 269,923 total.
· 49,424 new cases. 13,298,348 total.
· 10,805 new recovered. 7,857,695 total.
· 38,256 new active cases. 5,170,730 total.
· 24,408 in intensive care.
WORLD:
· 1,445,053 deaths.
· 61,699,043 cases.
· 42,625,551 recovered.
· 2.34% mortality rate.
WORLD – Currently Active Cases top ten total:
· United States – 5,170,610
· France – 1,984,290
· Spain – 1,601,524
· United Kingdom – 1,531,750
· Italy – 787,893
· Belgium – 514,401
· Brazil – 509,241
· India – 456,807
· Poland – 425,633
· Ukraine – 355,260
· (Canada is 24th, with 60,759)
Sources:
https://www.covid-19us.live/,
https://www.covid-19canada.com/ Pandemic updates on Tuesdays and Fridays each week. Produced on a voluntary basis as a community service. To provide accurate and timely information on a local, provincial, national and international basis, all in one space.
With love and hope,
Jaimie McEvoy, New Westminster, BC
submitted by Forbes released its annual list of world's 100 highest-paid celebrities of 2020 on June 4. Here is a look at the celebrities who made it to the top 50. June 05, 2020 / 01:20 PM IST Forbes list of the world’s highest paid celebrities for the year is out and Akshay Kumar is the only Indian at 52nd spot. The actor earned $48.5 million and made it to... The 2020 Forbes 100 list is topped by model-entrepreneur Kylie Jenner with $590 million while American rapper Kanye West, tennis champ Roger Federer, football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel 2019 Celebrity 100 - The celebrity ranks are based on an aggregate of the estimated earnings and their calculated fame quotient, via print and social media reach. Top 10 Richest Celebrities in India 2021. 1. Salman Khan, Actor. Salman Khan is the richest celebrity in India in 2021. Net Worth: Rs 250 crones 2. Virat Kohli, Cricketer, musician, actor. He’s the second richest celebrity in India from 2020 to 2021. Net Worth: Rs 228.09 crores 3. Akshay Kumar, Actor, Philanthropist Net Worth: Rs. 185 crone 4. The Celebrity 100 is Forbes’ annual ranks the world’s highest-paid entertainers. This year’s top-earning stars turned the business of celebrity into $6.1 billion. Here is the top ten on the list for 2020. The Forbes Celebrity 100 has been released since 1999. In that first year, Michael Jordan earned #1. A few celebs have been crowned champion more than The actor was also nominated for ‘Best Actor’ and won ‘Entertainer of the Year’ at India’s Screen Awards 2020. Other stars who appeared on the list are actresses Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma and Indian singer Shreya Ghoshal. Forbes China have compiled a list of actors, singers, presenters, directors, screenwriters, writers, models, athletes, Internet celebrities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who has made outstanding achievements in their respective fields in the past year. These celebrities have been assessed and ranked through reviewing the multiple dimensions of their work including commercial Forbes India Rich List 2020 In a tumultuous year for the global economy, India's richest preserved their wealth. Mukesh Ambani remains the wealthiest Indian for the 13th year in a row, adding $37