Two distinct corporate announcements landed this March: a junior lithium explorer resolved short-term obligations by issuing equity, and a diversified payments fintech disclosed solid full-year financial improvements. On March 13, 2026, American Salars Lithium Inc. confirmed a share-based debt settlement that converts $129,000 of liabilities into equity. Separately, Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. published its fourth quarter and full year 2026 financial results</strong), highlighting gains in adjusted gross profit, Adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings per share.
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American Salars: share issuance to clear $129,000 obligation
American Salars agreed to settle outstanding indebtedness totaling $129,000 by issuing an aggregate of 600,000 common shares at a price of $0.215 per share. The newly issued securities will carry a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from issuance, and the transaction remains subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). The arrangement converts liabilities into shareholder equity rather than an immediate cash outflow, a common approach for capital-constrained exploration companies seeking to preserve liquidity while addressing creditor claims.
Related-party considerations and regulatory exemptions
The debt package includes $43,000 owed to the CEO’s management company, making the transaction a related party transaction governed by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101). American Salars indicated it will rely on available exemptions from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval on the basis that the related-party portion of the settlement does not exceed 25% of the company’s market capitalization. The company reaffirmed leadership continuity under CEO R. Nick Horsley and provided corporate contact details for further inquiries.
Priority Technology: fourth quarter strength and full-year momentum
Priority Technology reported consolidated revenue of $247.1 million for fourth quarter 2026, up 8.8% from $227.1 million a year earlier, with roughly 6.8% attributed to organic growth. The company posted an adjusted gross profit of $100.2 million in Q4, a 19.4% increase versus $83.9 million in the comparable period, and expanded its adjusted gross profit margin to 40.6%, a rise of 360 basis points. Despite a slight dip in operating income to $33.5 million from $34.1 million, Priority delivered an Adjusted EBITDA of $60.1 million, up 16.2%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.27, a 50% improvement.
Full-year performance and strategic moves
For the full year 2026, Priority recorded $953.0 million in revenue, an increase of 8.3% from $879.7 million, with organic growth representing 7.7%. The company reported an adjusted gross profit of $374.7 million (up 14.2%) and an adjusted gross profit margin of 39.3%, an improvement of 200 basis points. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA climbed to $225.2 million from $204.3 million, and adjusted diluted EPS reached $1.03, a 102% increase year over year. In October 2026, Priority acquired the assets of Dealer Merchant Services, enhancing its vertical footprint in automotive dealership payments and software.
Guidance, investor access and non-GAAP context
Looking ahead, Priority issued full year 2026 guidance projecting revenue growth of 6% to 9% over fiscal 2026, which implies a revenue range between $1.01 billion and $1.04 billion. The company expects adjusted gross profit between $405 million and $425 million, and Adjusted EBITDA of $230 million to $245 million. Management hosted a conference call on March 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST to discuss results; a replay is available through March 24, 2026. Priority emphasized that several reported metrics are non-GAAP financial measures used to clarify operating trends, and the company provided reconciliations between non-GAAP and GAAP figures in its disclosures.
Implications for investors and governance
Both announcements reflect tactical decisions by smaller-cap issuers to manage balance sheets and demonstrate operational progress. American Salars’ conversion of $129,000 of debt into equity reduces immediate cash strain but dilutes the share base and triggers regulatory oversight because of the related-party component. Priority’s results show sustained margin improvement and acquisition-led growth, with explicit 2026 guidance that frames investor expectations. For market participants, the contrast underscores different lifecycle priorities: a resource explorer preserving capital versus a fintech scaling margins and revenue through product and M&A strategies.
What to watch next
Follow-up items include CSE approval for American Salars’ issuance and any subsequent announcements about exploration progress or financing. For Priority, monitor execution against its 2026 revenue and profit targets, the integration of Dealer Merchant Services, and any updates to its non-GAAP reconciliations. Both stories highlight how corporate finance choices—equity-for-debt conversions and margin-focused growth—shape short-term liquidity and long-term investor value.
