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  • MIL-OSI: OMS Energy Technologies Inc. Filed 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-F

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OMS Energy Technologies Inc. (“OMS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: OMSE), a growth-oriented manufacturer of surface wellhead systems (“SWS”) and oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) for the oil and gas industry, today announced that the Company has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 25, 2025.

    The annual report is available on the Company’s investor relations website at ir.omsos.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company will provide hard copies of the annual report, free of charge, to its shareholders upon written request. Requests should be directed to the Investor Relations Department, OMS Energy Technologies Inc., 10 Gul Circle, Singapore 629566.

    About OMS Energy Technologies Inc.

    OMS Energy Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OMSE) is a growth-oriented manufacturer of surface wellhead systems (SWS) and oil country tubular goods (OCTG) for the oil and gas industry. Serving both onshore and offshore exploration and production operators, OMS is a trusted single-source supplier across six vital jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) regions. The Company’s 11 strategically located manufacturing facilities in key markets ensure rapid response times, customized technical solutions and seamless adaptation to evolving production and logistics needs. Beyond its core SWS and OCTG offerings, OMS also provides premium threading services to maximize operational efficiency for its customers.

    For more information, please visit ir.omsos.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    OMS Energy Technologies Inc.
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@omsos.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    Email: oms@thepiacentegroup.com

    Hui Fan
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    Email: oms@thepiacentegroup.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Lakeland Financial Reports Record Second Quarter Performance; Net Income Grows by 20% to $27.0 Million, as Net Interest Income Expands by 14%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WARSAW, Ind., July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq Global Select/LKFN), parent company of Lake City Bank, today reported record second quarter net income of $27.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, which represents an increase of $4.4 million, or 20%, compared with net income of $22.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. Diluted earnings per share were $1.04 for the second quarter of 2025 and increased $0.17, or 20%, compared to $0.87 for the second quarter of 2024. On a linked quarter basis, net income increased $6.9 million, or 34%, from $20.1 million. Diluted earnings per share increased $0.26, or 33%, from $0.78 on a linked quarter basis.

    Pretax pre-provision earnings, which is a non-GAAP measure, were $35.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, an increase of $528,000, or 1%, compared to $35.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. Adjusted core operational profitability, a non-GAAP measure that excludes the impact of certain non-routine operating events that occurred during 2024, improved by $7.8 million, or 41%, from $19.2 million to $27.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

    The company further reported net income of $47.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, versus $46.0 million for the comparable period of 2024, an increase of $1.1 million, or 2%. Diluted earnings per share also increased 2% to $1.82 for the six months ended June 30, 2025, versus $1.78 for the comparable period of 2024. Pretax pre-provision earnings were $67.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, an increase of $2.2 million, or 3%, compared to $64.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. Adjusted core operational profitability improved by $5.2 million, or 12%, from $41.8 million to $47.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

    “We are pleased to report strong earnings momentum for the second quarter of 2025, which has benefited from double digit growth of net interest income and contributed to good overall performance in the first half of 2025,” observed David M. Findlay, Chairman and CEO. “Importantly, our Lake City Bank Team continues to generate healthy loan and deposit growth. It’s been a rewarding first six months of 2025 with this strong financial performance, healthy balance sheet growth and continued success on the business development front for all of our revenue producing teams.”

    Quarterly Financial Performance

    Second Quarter 2025 versus Second Quarter 2024 highlights:

    • Return on average equity of 15.52%, compared to 14.19%
    • Return on average assets of 1.57%, compared to 1.37%
    • Tangible book value per share grew by $2.14, or 8%, to $27.48
    • Average loans grew by $194.8 million, or 4%, to $5.23 billion
    • Core deposits grew by $423.9 million, or 8%, to $6.03 billion
    • Net interest margin improved 25 basis points to 3.42% versus 3.17%
    • Net interest income increased by $6.6 million, or 14%
    • Provision expense of $3.0 million, compared to $8.5 million
    • Watch list loans as a percentage of total loans improved to 3.67% from 5.31%
    • Nonaccrual loans declined 46% to $30.6 million compared to $57.1 million
    • Common equity tier 1 capital ratio improved to 14.73%, compared to 14.28%
    • Total risk-based capital ratio improved to 15.86%, compared to 15.53%
    • Tangible capital ratio improved to 10.15%, compared to 9.91%
    • Average equity increased by $58.0 million, or 9%

    Second Quarter 2025 versus First Quarter 2025 highlights:

    • Return on average equity of 15.52%, compared to 11.70%
    • Return on average assets of 1.57%, compared to 1.20%
    • Average loans grew by $43.7 million, or 1%, to $5.23 billion
    • Core deposits grew by $191.6 million, or 3%, to $6.03 billion
    • Net interest margin improved 2 basis points to 3.42% versus 3.40%
    • Net interest income increased by $2.0 million, or 4%
    • Pretax, pre-provision earnings increased $4.9 million, or 16%
    • Provision expense of $3.0 million, compared to $6.8 million
    • Nonaccrual loans declined 47% to $30.6 million compared to $57.4 million
    • Watch list loans as a percentage of total loans improved to 3.67% from 4.13%
    • Common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 14.73%, compared to 14.51%
    • Total risk-based capital ratio of 15.86%, compared to 15.77%
    • Tangible capital ratio of 10.15%, compared to 10.09%

    Capital Strength

    The company’s total capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets improved to 15.86% at June 30, 2025, compared to 15.53% at June 30, 2024 and 15.77% at March 31, 2025. These capital levels significantly exceeded the 10.00% regulatory threshold required to be characterized as “well capitalized” and reflect the company’s robust capital base.

    The company’s tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, improved to 10.15% at June 30, 2025, compared to 9.91% at June 30, 2024 and 10.09% at March 31, 2025. Unrealized losses from available-for-sale investment securities were $185.3 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $194.9 million at June 30, 2024 and $188.3 million at March 31, 2025. Excluding the impact of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on tangible common equity and tangible assets, the company’s ratio of adjusted tangible common equity to adjusted tangible assets, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 12.17% at June 30, 2025, compared to 12.18% at June 30, 2024, and 12.19% at March 31, 2025.

    As announced on July 8, 2025, the board of directors approved a cash dividend for the second quarter of $0.50 per share, payable on August 5, 2025, to shareholders of record as of July 25, 2025. The second quarter dividend per share represents a 4% increase from the $0.48 dividend per share paid for the second quarter of 2024.

    The company utilized its share repurchase program during the second quarter of 2025 and repurchased 30,300 shares of its common stock for $1.7 million at a weighted average price per share of $55.94. The company has $28.3 million of remaining availability under the board-approved share repurchase program.

    “Our capital position is strong and provides capacity for continued organic growth of our balance sheet as well as continued growth of our common stock dividend to shareholders,” stated Kristin L. Pruitt, President. “While we did utilize our share repurchase program during the second quarter, our priority for capital is to continue capital retention to support loan growth in our Indiana markets and provide for continued balance sheet growth opportunities.”

    Loan Portfolio

    Average total loans of $5.23 billion in the second quarter of 2025 increased $194.8 million, or 4%, from $5.03 billion for the second quarter of 2024 and increased $43.7 million, or 1%, from $5.19 billion for the first quarter of 2025. Average total loans for the six months ended June 30, 2025 were $5.21 billion, an increase of $205.0 million, or 4%, from $5.00 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

    Total loans, excluding deferred fees and costs, increased by $173.8 million, or 3%, from $5.06 billion as of June 30, 2024, to $5.23 billion as of June 30, 2025. The increase in loans occurred across much of the portfolio, with our commercial real estate and multi-family residential loan portfolio growing by $177.0 million, or 7%, our consumer 1-4 family mortgage loan portfolio growing by $46.2 million, or 10%, and our other consumer loan portfolio growing by $6.0 million, or 6%. These increases were offset by contractions to our commercial and industrial loan portfolio of $32.5 million, or 2%, and our agri-business and agricultural loan portfolio of $21.6 million, or 6%. On a linked quarter basis, total loans, excluding deferred fees and costs, increased by $3.4 million, or less than 1%, from $5.23 billion at March 31, 2025. The linked quarter increase was primarily a result of growth in total commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans of $59.6 million, or 2%, and growth in total consumer loans of $17.5 million, or 3%. This growth was offset by contractions in total agri-business and agricultural loans of $44.3 million, or 12%, and total commercial and industrial loans of $29.8 million, or 2%.

    Commercial loan originations for the second quarter included approximately $390.0 million in loan originations, offset by approximately $404.0 million in commercial loan pay downs. Line of credit usage increased to 44% as of June 30, 2025, compared to 41% at June 30, 2024 and 43% as of March 31, 2025. Total available lines of credit contracted by $48.0 million, or 1%, as compared to a year ago, and line usage increased by $100.0 million, or 5%, over that period. The company has limited exposure to commercial office space borrowers, all of which are in the bank’s Indiana markets. Loans totaling $106.9 million for this sector represented 2% of total loans at June 30, 2025, an increase of $6.4 million, or 6%, from March 31, 2025. Commercial real estate loans secured by multi-family residential properties and secured by non-farm non-residential properties were approximately 221% of total risk-based capital at June 30, 2025.

    “We are pleased that commercial line utilization continues to improve with a utilization rate of 44% at the end of the second quarter 2025,” added Findlay. “This marks the highest line utilization rate since 2020, and we are encouraged that borrower demand for working lines of capital has increased. During the second quarter, construction loans migrated as planned to the CRE multi-family segment. In addition, loan payoffs received during the second quarter impacted the owner occupied CRE and Agriculture segments.”

    Diversified Deposit Base

    The bank’s diversified deposit base has grown on a year-over-year basis and on a linked quarter basis.

    (in thousands) June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024
    Retail $ 1,755,750   28.4 %   $ 1,787,992   30.0 %   $ 1,724,777   29.9 %
    Commercial   2,256,620   36.6       2,336,910   39.2       2,150,127   37.3  
    Public funds   2,014,047   32.6       1,709,883   28.7       1,727,593   30.0  
    Core deposits   6,026,417   97.6       5,834,785   97.9       5,602,497   97.2  
    Brokered deposits   150,416   2.4       125,409   2.1       161,040   2.8  
    Total $ 6,176,833   100.0 %   $ 5,960,194   100.0 %   $ 5,763,537   100.0 %
     

    Total deposits increased $413.3 million, or 7%, from $5.76 billion as of June 30, 2024, to $6.18 billion as of June 30, 2025. The increase in total deposits was driven by an increase in core deposits (which excludes brokered deposits) of $423.9 million, or 8%. Total core deposits at June 30, 2025 were $6.03 billion and represented 98% of total deposits, as compared to $5.60 billion and 97% of total deposits at June 30, 2024.

    The increase in core deposits since June 30, 2024, reflects growth in all three core deposit segments. Public funds deposits grew annually by $286.5 million, or 17%, to $2.01 billion. Public funds deposits as a percentage of total deposits were 33%, up from 30% a year ago. Growth in public funds was positively impacted by the addition of new public funds customers in the Lake City Bank footprint, including their operating accounts. Commercial deposits grew annually by $106.5 million, or 5%, to $2.26 billion and remained at 37% as a percentage of total deposits. Retail deposits grew by $31.0 million, or 2%, to $1.76 billion. Retail deposits as a percentage of total deposits was 28% of total deposits, down from 30% a year ago.

    On a linked quarter basis, total deposits increased $216.6 million, or 4%, from $5.96 billion at March 31, 2025, to $6.18 billion at June 30, 2025. Core deposits increased by $191.6 million, or 3%, while brokered deposits increased by $25.0 million, or 20%. The linked quarter growth in core deposits, was positively impacted by the addition of new public funds customers. Offsetting this increase was a decrease in commercial deposits of $80.3 million, or 3%, and a decrease in retail deposits of $32.2 million, or 2%.

    Average total deposits were $6.10 billion for the second quarter of 2025, an increase of $276.5 million, or 5%, from $5.82 billion for the second quarter of 2024. Average interest-bearing deposits drove the increase in average total deposits and increased by $263.4 million, or 6%. Contributing to the overall growth of interest-bearing deposits was an increase to average interest-bearing checking accounts of $492.4 million, or 15%. Offsetting this increase was a reduction in average time deposits of $225.9 million, or 22%, and a decrease to average savings deposits of $3.2 million, or 1%. Average noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased by $13.2 million, or 1% to $1.2 billion.

    On a linked quarter basis, average total deposits increased by $221.8 million, or 4%, from $5.87 billion for the first quarter of 2025 to $6.10 billion for the second quarter of 2025. Average interest bearing deposits drove the increase to total average deposits, which increased by $236.1 million, or 5%. Average interest bearing checking accounts were responsible for the increase, growing by $281.5 million, or 8%. Offsetting this increase were decreases to total average time deposits of $47.4 million, or 6%, and average noninterest bearing demand deposits decreased by $14.3 million, or 1%.

    Checking account trends as of June 30, 2025 compared to June 30, 2024 include growth of $352.1 million, or 23%, in aggregate public fund checking account balances, growth of $93.4 million, or 5%, in aggregate commercial checking account balances, and growth of $52.2 million, or 6%, in aggregate retail checking account balances. The number of accounts has also grown for all three segments, with growth of 9% for public funds accounts, 2% for commercial accounts and 1% for retail accounts during the prior twelve months.

    “Deposit growth is strong in many measurable ways. All deposit segments have grown on a year over year basis, and the bank continues to add new public fund customers and their operating accounts,” commented Lisa M. O’Neill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.

    Deposits not covered by FDIC deposit insurance as a percentage of total deposits were 59% as of June 30, 2025, compared to 57% at March 31, 2025, and 58% at June 30, 2024, reflecting growth in public fund deposits over those periods. Deposits not covered by FDIC deposit insurance or the Indiana Public Deposit Insurance Fund, which insures public funds deposits in Indiana, were 27% of total deposits at June 30, 2025, compared to 29% at March 31, 2025, and 29% at June 30, 2024. At June 30, 2025, 98% of deposit accounts had deposit balances less than $250,000.

    Net Interest Margin

    Net interest margin was 3.42% for the second quarter of 2025, representing a 25 basis point increase from 3.17% for the second quarter of 2024. This improvement was driven by a reduction in the company’s funding costs, with interest expense as a percentage of average earning assets falling by 49 basis points from 2.90% for the second quarter of 2024 to 2.41% for the second quarter of 2025. Offsetting the decrease in funding costs was a decrease to earning asset yields of 24 basis points from 6.07% for the second quarter of 2024 to 5.83% for the second quarter of 2025. During the second quarter of 2025, the company recorded a prepayment fee of $541,000 from the early payment of a fixed rate commercial loan, which was recorded as part of interest income. The prepayment fee benefited net interest margin by 3 basis points for the second quarter. Excluding the impact of the prepayment penalty, net interest margin improved by 22 basis points. The easing of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve Bank, which began in September of 2024, drove the reduction in funding costs that provided for the net interest margin expansion through deposit repricing as compared to the prior year quarter.

    Net interest margin expanded by 2 basis points to 3.42% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 3.40% for the linked first quarter of 2025. Average earning asset yields increased by 6 basis points from 5.77% to 5.83% on a linked quarter basis and interest expense as a percentage of average earning assets increased 4 basis points from 2.37% to 2.41%. Excluding the impact of the prepayment penalty, net interest margin contracted by 1 basis point compared to the linked first quarter.

    The cumulative loan beta for the current rate-easing cycle that began in September 2024 is 29% compared to the deposit beta of 50% and has resulted in net interest margin expansion which has benefited net interest income. Net interest income was $54.9 million for the second quarter of 2025, representing an increase of $6.6 million, or 14%, as compared to $48.3 million for the second quarter of 2024. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income increased $2.0 million, or 4%, from $52.9 million for the first quarter of 2025. Net interest income increased by $12.0 million, or 13%, from $95.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, to $107.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025.

    O’Neill noted, “We are pleased to report healthy net interest margin expansion of 25 basis points as compared to a year ago. In this higher-for-longer interest rate environment, we continue to benefit from fixed rate loan repricing and new loan origination activity. In addition, we are pleased that our core deposits represent 98% of our total funding needs compared to 97% a year ago. Core deposit growth has outpaced our loan growth in 2025, which has strengthened our liquidity position. We have begun to reinvest some maturing investment securities into higher yielding investment securities with short duration, which is also benefiting net interest margin.”

    Asset Quality

    The company recorded a provision for credit losses of $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of $5.5 million as compared to $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2024. On a linked quarter basis, the provision expense decreased by $3.8 million, from $6.8 million for the first quarter of 2025. Provision expense for the second quarter and for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was primarily driven by an increase in the specific allocation for a previously disclosed $43.3 million nonperforming credit for an industrial company in Northern Indiana as well as loan growth. During the second quarter of 2025, the non-performing borrower reached an agreement to sell and liquidate the business to two unrelated entities. The transactions are expected to close in the third quarter of 2025. As a result of the pending sale and liquidation, the company recognized a charge off of $28.6 million during the second quarter, which was fully allocated at the time of the charge off. The company expects to collect the remainder of the outstanding principal balance from sale and liquidation proceeds and proceeds from the personal guarantee from the borrower.

    The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.27% at June 30, 2025, down from 1.60% at June 30, 2024, and 1.77% at March 31, 2025. The decrease in the allowance coverage was due to a significant reduction of 46%, or $26.5 million, in nonaccrual loans, which were $30.6 million at June 30, 2025 versus $57.1 million at June 30, 2024. Net charge offs in the second quarter of 2025 were $28.9 million, compared to $949,000 in the second quarter of 2024 and $327,000 during the linked first quarter of 2025. Annualized net charge offs to average loans were 2.22% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 0.08% for the second quarter of 2024 and 0.03% for the linked first quarter of 2025. Annualized net charge offs to average loans were 1.13% for the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to 0.05% for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

    Nonperforming assets decreased $26.5 million, or 46%, to $31.1 million as of June 30, 2025, versus $57.6 million as of June 30, 2024. On a linked quarter basis, nonperforming assets decreased $26.8 million, or 46%, compared to $57.9 million as of March 31, 2025. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets at June 30, 2025 decreased to 0.45% from 0.88% at June 30, 2024, and decreased from 0.84% at March 31, 2025.

    Total individually analyzed and watch list loans decreased by $76.6 million, or 29%, to $191.6 million as of June 30, 2025, versus $268.3 million as of June 30, 2024. On a linked quarter basis, total individually analyzed and watch list loans decreased by $23.9 million, or 11%, from $215.6 million at March 31, 2025. Watch list loans as a percentage of total loans were 3.67% at June 30, 2025, a decrease of 164 basis points compared to 5.31% at June 30, 2024, and 46 basis points from 4.13% at March 31, 2025.

    “We are pleased to have reached a resolution on the nonperforming loan that we have been working through for the past several quarters,” stated Findlay. “Importantly, our semi-annual loan portfolio reviews with all loan officers of the bank affirmed that asset quality is stable and that economic conditions in our footprint are contributing to new business development opportunities. We continue to monitor the impact of tariffs on our borrowers. It is too early to quantify the impact of U.S. trade policy on our borrowers’ businesses, although there appears to be less concern on the impact of tariffs that we heard from borrowing clients previously.”

    Investment Portfolio Overview

    Total investment securities were $1.13 billion at June 30, 2025, reflecting an increase of $5.5 million, or less than 1%, as compared to $1.12 billion at June 30, 2024. Investment securities represented 16% of total assets on June 30, 2025, as compared to 17% and June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The company anticipates receiving principal and interest cash flows of approximately $54.5 million during the remainder of 2025 from the investment securities portfolio and plans to use that liquidity to fund loan growth as well as to fund reinvestments to the investment securities portfolio. Tax equivalent adjusted effective duration for the investment portfolio was 5.9 years at June 30, 2025, compared to 6.5 years at June 30, 2024 and unchanged from 5.9 years at March 31, 2025.

    Noninterest Income

    The company’s noninterest income decreased $9.0 million, or 44%, to $11.5 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $20.4 million for the second quarter of 2024. Noninterest income was elevated during the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the second quarter of 2025 as a result of the net gain on Visa shares of $9.0 million that was recorded in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted core noninterest income, a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the effect of the net gain on Visa shares and an insurance recovery, increased $58,000, or less than 1%, from $11.4 million during the second quarter of 2024. Bank owned life insurance income increased $150,000, or 17%, primarily as a result of increased general account bank owned life insurance income from the purchase of insurance policies during the second quarter of 2025. Mortgage banking income increased $101,000 due to growth in the company’s mortgage pipeline, which favorably impacted secondary market loan sale gains and mortgage rate lock income. Wealth advisory fees increased $70,000, or 3%, driven by continued growth in customers and assets under management. Investment brokerage fees increased $72,000, or 15%, due to increased volume and product mix. Offsetting these increases was a decrease to other income of $296,000, or 43%, primarily driven by reduced limited partnership investment income.

    Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2025 increased by $558,000, or 5%, on a linked quarter basis from $10.9 million during the first quarter of 2025. Bank owned life insurance income increased $718,000, or 223%, primarily as a result of improved market performance of the bank’s variable owned life insurance policies and increased general account bank owned life insurance income from the purchase of insurance policies during the second quarter of 2025. Loan and service fee income increased $122,000, or 4%, from increased interchange fee income. Mortgage banking income increased $175,000, as a result of income derived from secondary mortgage sales and pipeline growth. Investment brokerage fees income increased $98,000, or 22%. Offsetting these increases was a decrease to other income of $460,000, or 54%, primarily a result of reduced limited partnership investment income. Wealth advisory fees, which benefited in the linked first quarter of 2025 from significant estate settlement fee income decreased $200,000, or 7%.

    “The linked quarter improvement of noninterest income of 5% is encouraging as we continue to focus on growing our fee-based businesses,” noted Findlay. “We are particularly pleased with the continued growth of our Wealth Advisory Management area, which has recently added revenue generating employees in our footprint with a focus in Indianapolis. Assets under management in this area have reached nearly $3.0 billion at quarter end.”

    Noninterest income decreased by $10.6 million, or 32%, to $22.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $33.1 million for the prior year six-month period. Noninterest income was elevated during the first six months of 2024 as compared to the comparable period of 2025 primarily because of the net gain on Visa shares of $9.0 million and a $1.0 million insurance recovery. Adjusted core noninterest income, a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the impact of these non-routine events, declined $626,000, or 3%, from $23.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. Other income decreased $1.6 million, or 56%, as other income during the first six months of 2024 benefited from the $1.0 million insurance recovery. Reduced limited partnership investment income further contributed to the decline between the periods. Bank owned life insurance income decreased $564,000, or 29%, primarily as a result of reduced market performance from the bank’s variable bank owned life insurance policies, which correlate to returns in the equities markets. Offsetting these decreases were increases to wealth advisory fees of $482,000, or 10%, and service charges on deposit accounts of $104,000, or 2%. The increase in wealth advisory fees was primarily driven by continued growth in customers and assets under management.

    Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest expense decreased $2.9 million, or 9%, to $30.4 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $33.3 million during the second quarter of 2024. Noninterest expense was elevated during the second quarter of 2024 as compared to 2025 due to a $4.5 million accrual that was recorded from the resolution of a legal matter. Adjusted core noninterest expense, which excludes the impact of the legal accrual, increased $1.6 million, or 6%, from $28.8 million for the second quarter of 2024. Salaries and benefits expense increased by $938,000, or 6%. The primary drivers for the increase to salaries and benefits expense were increased salaries expense of $756,000 and increased health insurance expense of $127,000. Additionally, data processing fees and supplies expense increased $340,000, or 9%, from continued investment in customer-facing and operational technology solutions. Offsetting these increases were decreases to other expense of $3.8 million, or 62%, professional fees of $417,000, or 20%, and corporate and business development expense of $105,000, or 8%. The decrease to other expense was driven by the legal accrual recorded during the second quarter of 2024. The decrease to professional fees was primarily driven by reduced technology implementation consulting fees and swap collateral fees. Corporate and business development expense decreased primarily as a result of lower advertising expense.

    On a linked quarter basis, noninterest expense decreased by $2.3 million, or 7%, from $32.8 million during the first quarter of 2025. The primary drivers for the decrease to noninterest expense was a decrease to salaries and employee benefits of $806,000, or 5%, due to a reduction in HSA contributions expense of $441,000, resulting from the timing of the annual employer contribution to employee accounts, and a reduction in performance-based compensation accruals. Professional fees decreased $674,000, or 28%, and were primarily driven by reduced technology implementation consulting fees and swap collateral interest expense. Other expense decreased $353,000, or 13%, as other expense was elevated in the linked first quarter of 2025 from the timing of semiannual director share awards. Corporate and business development expense decreased by $246,000, or 18%, due to reduced advertising expense, primarily driven by the timing of when advertisement television spots were purchased and utilized. Net occupancy expense decreased $233,000, or 12%, due to reductions in seasonal expenses. Data processing fees and supplies expense decreased $113,000, or 3%.

    Noninterest expense decreased by $843,000, or 1%, for the six months ended June 30, 2025 to $63.2 million compared to $64.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. Adjusted core noninterest expense, which excludes the impact of the $4.5 million legal accrual, increased $3.7 million, or 6%, from $59.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. Salaries and benefits expense increased by $2.0 million, or 6%. Data processing fees and supplies and expense increased $766,000, or 10%. Net occupancy expense increased $289,000, or 8%, as a result of increased occupancy expense from the continued expansion of the company’s branch network and improvements to existing facilities. Offsetting these increases were decreases to other expense of $3.4 million, or 41%, and professional fees of $500,000, or 11%.

    The company’s efficiency ratio was 45.9% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 48.5% for the second quarter of 2024 and 51.4% for the linked first quarter of 2025. The company’s adjusted core efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 48.2% for the second quarter of 2024.

    The company’s efficiency ratio was 48.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to 49.7% for the comparable period in 2024. The company’s adjusted core efficiency ratio was 50.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

    Findlay added, “We are pleased with the improvement in our efficiency ratio, which has benefited from strong core revenue growth of 10% on a year-over-year basis. Our growth in noninterest expense is focused on continued investments in human capital, technology solutions and organic expansion of our banking footprint, particularly in Indianapolis.”

    Information regarding Lakeland Financial Corporation may be accessed on the home page of its subsidiary, Lake City Bank, at lakecitybank.com. The company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under “LKFN.” Lake City Bank, a $7.0 billion bank headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, was founded in 1872 and serves Central and Northern Indiana communities with 54 branch offices and a robust digital banking platform. Lake City Bank’s community banking model prioritizes building in-market long-term customer relationships while delivering technology-forward solutions for retail and commercial clients.

    This document contains, and future oral and written statements of the company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the company’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. The company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and, accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by the company. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. Numerous factors could cause the company’s actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements, including the effects of economic, business and market conditions and changes, particularly in our Indiana market area, including prevailing interest rates and the rate of inflation; governmental trade, monetary and fiscal policies; the risks of changes in interest rates on the levels, composition and costs of deposits, loan demand and the values and liquidity of loan collateral, securities and other interest sensitive assets and liabilities; and changes in borrowers’ credit risks and payment behaviors, as well as those identified in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

     

    LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    SECOND QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (Unaudited – Dollars in thousands, except per share data) June 30,   March 31,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    END OF PERIOD BALANCES   2025       2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Assets $ 6,964,301     $ 6,851,178     $ 6,568,807     $ 6,964,301     $ 6,568,807  
    Investments   1,129,346       1,132,854       1,123,803       1,129,346       1,123,803  
    Loans   5,226,827       5,223,221       5,052,341       5,226,827       5,052,341  
    Allowance for Credit Losses   66,552       92,433       80,711       66,552       80,711  
    Deposits   6,176,833       5,960,194       5,763,537       6,176,833       5,763,537  
    Brokered Deposits   150,416       125,409       161,040       150,416       161,040  
    Core Deposits (1)   6,026,417       5,834,785       5,602,497       6,026,417       5,602,497  
    Total Equity   709,987       694,509       654,590       709,987       654,590  
    Goodwill Net of Deferred Tax Assets   3,803       3,803       3,803       3,803       3,803  
    Tangible Common Equity (2)   706,184       690,706       650,787       706,184       650,787  
    Adjusted Tangible Common
    Equity (2)
      866,758       854,585       820,534       866,758       820,534  
    AVERAGE BALANCES                  
    Total Assets $ 6,904,681     $ 6,762,970     $ 6,642,954     $ 6,834,217     $ 6,598,711  
    Earning Assets   6,570,607       6,430,804       6,295,281       6,501,092       6,256,105  
    Investments   1,125,597       1,136,404       1,118,776       1,130,970       1,138,639  
    Loans   5,229,646       5,185,918       5,034,851       5,207,903       5,002,935  
    Total Deposits   6,096,504       5,874,725       5,819,962       5,986,227       5,725,196  
    Interest Bearing Deposits   4,852,446       4,616,381       4,589,059       4,735,066       4,472,693  
    Interest Bearing Liabilities   4,886,943       4,716,465       4,666,136       4,802,175       4,599,136  
    Total Equity   696,976       696,053       638,999       696,517       642,003  
    INCOME STATEMENT DATA                  
    Net Interest Income $ 54,876     $ 52,875     $ 48,296     $ 107,751     $ 95,712  
    Net Interest Income-Fully Tax Equivalent   55,986       53,983       49,493       109,970       98,176  
    Provision for Credit Losses   3,000       6,800       8,480       9,800       10,000  
    Noninterest Income   11,486       10,928       20,439       22,414       33,051  
    Noninterest Expense   30,432       32,763       33,333       63,195       64,038  
    Net Income   26,966       20,085       22,549       47,051       45,950  
    Pretax Pre-Provision Earnings (2)   35,930       31,040       35,402       66,970       64,725  
    PER SHARE DATA                  
    Basic Net Income Per Common Share $ 1.05     $ 0.78     $ 0.88     $ 1.83     $ 1.79  
    Diluted Net Income Per
    Common Share
      1.04       0.78       0.87       1.82       1.78  
    Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share   0.50       0.50       0.48       1.00       0.96  
    Dividend Payout   48.08 %     64.10 %     55.17 %     54.95 %     53.93 %
    Book Value Per Common Share (equity per share issued) $ 27.63     $ 26.99     $ 25.49     $ 27.63     $ 25.49  
    Tangible Book Value Per Common Share (2)   27.48       26.85       25.34       27.48       25.34  
    Market Value – High $ 62.39     $ 71.77     $ 66.62     $ 71.77     $ 73.22  
    Market Value – Low   50.00       58.24       57.59       50.00       57.59  
                       
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (Unaudited – Dollars in thousands, except per share data) June 30,   March 31,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    KEY RATIOS   2025       2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding   25,707,233       25,714,818       25,678,231       25,711,004       25,667,647  
    Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding   25,776,205       25,802,865       25,742,871       25,782,817       25,746,773  
    Return on Average Assets   1.57 %     1.20 %     1.37 %     1.39 %     1.40 %
    Return on Average Total Equity   15.52       11.70       14.19       13.62       14.39  
    Average Equity to Average Assets   10.09       10.29       9.62       10.19       9.73  
    Net Interest Margin   3.42       3.40       3.17       3.41       3.16  
    Efficiency (Noninterest Expense/Net Interest Income
    plus Noninterest Income)
      45.86       51.35       48.49       48.55       49.73  
    Loans to Deposits   84.62       87.64       87.66       84.62       87.66  
    Investment Securities to Total Assets   16.22       16.54       17.11       16.22       17.11  
    Tier 1 Leverage (3)   12.21       12.30       11.98       12.21       11.98  
    Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital (3)   14.73       14.51       14.28       14.73       14.28  
    Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) (3)   14.73       14.51       14.28       14.73       14.28  
    Total Capital (3)   15.86       15.77       15.53       15.86       15.53  
    Tangible Capital (2)   10.15       10.09       9.91       10.15       9.91  
    Adjusted Tangible Capital (2)   12.17       12.19       12.18       12.17       12.18  
    ASSET QUALITY                  
    Loans Past Due 30 – 89 Days $ 1,648     $ 4,288     $ 1,615     $ 1,648     $ 1,615  
    Loans Past Due 90 Days or More   7       7       26       7       26  
    Nonaccrual Loans   30,627       57,392       57,124       30,627       57,124  
    Nonperforming Loans   30,634       57,399       57,150       30,634       57,150  
    Other Real Estate Owned   284       284       384       284       384  
    Other Nonperforming Assets   183       193       90       183       90  
    Total Nonperforming Assets   31,101       57,876       57,624       31,101       57,624  
    Individually Analyzed Loans   52,069       81,346       78,533       52,069       78,533  
    Non-Individually Analyzed Watch List Loans   139,548       134,218       189,726       139,548       189,726  
    Total Individually Analyzed and Watch List Loans   191,617       215,564       268,259       191,617       268,259  
    Gross Charge Offs   29,111       508       1,076       29,619       1,580  
    Recoveries   230       181       127       411       319  
    Net Charge Offs/(Recoveries)   28,881       327       949       29,208       1,261  
    Net Charge Offs/(Recoveries) to Average Loans   2.22 %     0.03 %     0.08 %     1.13 %     0.05 %
    Credit Loss Reserve to Loans   1.27       1.77       1.60       1.27       1.60  
    Credit Loss Reserve to Nonperforming Loans   217.25       161.04       141.23       217.25       141.23  
    Nonperforming Loans to Loans   0.59       1.10       1.13       0.59       1.13  
    Nonperforming Assets to Assets   0.45       0.84       0.88       0.45       0.88  
    Total Individually Analyzed and Watch List Loans to Total Loans   3.67 %     4.13 %     5.31 %     3.67 %     5.31 %
                       
                       
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (Unaudited – Dollars in thousands, except per share data) June 30,   March 31,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30
    KEY RATIOS   2025       2025       2024       2025       2024,  
    OTHER DATA                  
    Full Time Equivalent Employees   675       647       653       675       653  
    Offices   54       54       53       54       53  
    (1 ) Core deposits equals deposits less brokered deposits.
    (2 ) Non-GAAP financial measure – see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
    (3 ) Capital ratios for June 30, 2025 are preliminary until the Call Report is filed.
       
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data)      
    June 30,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
    (Unaudited)  
    ASSETS      
    Cash and due from banks $ 97,413     $ 71,733  
    Short-term investments   212,767       96,472  
    Total cash and cash equivalents   310,180       168,205  
    Securities available-for-sale, at fair value   996,957       991,426  
    Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value of $107,979 and $113,107, respectively)   132,389       131,568  
    Real estate mortgage loans held-for-sale   1,637       1,700  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $66,552 and $85,960   5,160,275       5,031,988  
    Land, premises and equipment, net   61,449       60,489  
    Bank owned life insurance   127,399       113,320  
    Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank stock   21,420       21,420  
    Accrued interest receivable   29,109       28,446  
    Goodwill   4,970       4,970  
    Other assets   118,516       124,842  
    Total assets $ 6,964,301     $ 6,678,374  
         
    LIABILITIES      
    Noninterest bearing deposits $ 1,261,740     $ 1,297,456  
    Interest bearing deposits   4,915,093       4,603,510  
    Total deposits   6,176,833       5,900,966  
           
    Borrowings      
    Federal Home Loan Bank advance   1,200       0  
    Other borrowings   5,000     0  
    Total borrowings   6,200       0  
           
    Accrued interest payable   9,996       15,117  
    Other liabilities   61,285       78,380  
    Total liabilities   6,254,314       5,994,463  
         
    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
    Common stock: 90,000,000 shares authorized, no par value      
    26,016,494 shares issued and 25,525,105 outstanding as of June 30, 2025      
    25,978,831 shares issued and 25,509,592 outstanding as of December 31, 2024   130,664       129,664  
    Retained earnings   757,739       736,412  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (161,121 )     (166,500 )
    Treasury stock, at cost (491,389 shares and 469,239 shares as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively)   (17,384 )     (15,754 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   709,898       683,822  
    Noncontrolling interest   89       89  
    Total equity   709,987       683,911  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 6,964,301     $ 6,678,374  
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited – in thousands, except share and per share data)
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,  
      2025     2024     2025     2024    
    NET INTEREST INCOME                
    Interest and fees on loans                
    Taxable $ 84,418   $ 84,226   $ 166,158   $ 166,268    
    Tax exempt   291     632     583     1,532    
    Interest and dividends on securities                
    Taxable   3,457     3,104     6,846     6,143    
    Tax exempt   3,917     3,932     7,827     7,879    
    Other interest income   2,302     1,842     3,426     2,948    
    Total interest income   94,385     93,736     184,840     184,770    
           
    Interest on deposits   39,111     44,363     75,569     85,527    
    Interest on short-term borrowings   398     1,077     1,520     3,531    
    Total interest expense   39,509     45,440     77,089     89,058    
           
    NET INTEREST INCOME   54,876     48,296     107,751     95,712    
           
    Provision for credit losses   3,000     8,480     9,800     10,000    
           
    NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES   51,876     39,816     97,951     85,712    
           
    NONINTEREST INCOME                
    Wealth advisory fees   2,667     2,597     5,534     5,052    
    Investment brokerage fees   550     478     1,002     1,000    
    Service charges on deposit accounts   2,827     2,806     5,601     5,497    
    Loan and service fees   3,006     3,048     5,890     5,900    
    Merchant and interchange fee income   854     892     1,676     1,755    
    Bank owned life insurance income   1,040     890     1,362     1,926    
    Interest rate swap fee income   20     0     20     0    
    Mortgage banking income (loss)   124     23     73     75    
    Net securities gains (losses)   0     0     0     (46 )  
    Net gain on Visa shares   0     9,011     0     9,011    
    Other income   398     694     1,256     2,881    
    Total noninterest income   11,486     20,439     22,414     33,051    
           
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE                
    Salaries and employee benefits   17,096     16,158     34,998     32,991    
    Net occupancy expense   1,747     1,698     3,727     3,438    
    Equipment costs   1,437     1,343     2,819     2,755    
    Data processing fees and supplies   4,152     3,812     8,417     7,651    
    Corporate and business development   1,160     1,265     2,566     2,646    
    FDIC insurance and other regulatory fees   839     816     1,639     1,605    
    Professional fees   1,706     2,123     4,086     4,586    
    Other expense   2,295     6,118     4,943     8,366    
    Total noninterest expense   30,432     33,333     63,195     64,038    
           
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE   32,930     26,922     57,170     54,725    
    Income tax expense   5,964     4,373     10,119     8,775    
    NET INCOME $ 26,966   $ 22,549   $ 47,051   $ 45,950    
           
    BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES   25,707,233     25,678,231     25,711,004     25,667,647    
           
    BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $ 1.05   $ 0.88   $ 1.83   $ 1.79    
                   
    DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES   25,776,205     25,742,871     25,782,817     25,746,773    
                   
    DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $ 1.04   $ 0.87   $ 1.82   $ 1.78    
     

     

    LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    LOAN DETAIL
    (unaudited, in thousands)
     
      June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Commercial and industrial loans:                      
    Working capital lines of credit loans $ 717,484     13.7 %   $ 716,522     13.7 %   $ 697,754     13.8 %
    Non-working capital loans   776,278     14.9       807,048     15.5       828,523     16.4  
    Total commercial and industrial loans   1,493,762     28.6       1,523,570     29.2       1,526,277     30.2  
                         
    Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:                      
    Construction and land development loans   552,998     10.6       623,905     12.0       658,345     13.0  
    Owner occupied loans   780,285     14.9       804,933     15.4       830,018     16.4  
    Nonowner occupied loans   869,196     16.6       852,033     16.3       762,365     15.1  
    Multifamily loans   477,910     9.1       339,946     6.5       252,652     5.0  
    Total commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans   2,680,389     51.2       2,620,817     50.2       2,503,380     49.5  
                         
    Agri-business and agricultural loans:                      
    Loans secured by farmland   150,934     2.9       156,112     3.0       161,410     3.2  
    Loans for agricultural production   188,501     3.6       227,659     4.3       199,654     4.0  
    Total agri-business and agricultural loans   339,435     6.5       383,771     7.3       361,064     7.2  
                         
    Other commercial loans   95,442     1.8       94,927     1.8       96,703     1.9  
    Total commercial loans   4,609,028     88.1       4,623,085     88.5       4,487,424     88.8  
                         
    Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:                      
    Closed end first mortgage loans   273,287     5.2       265,855     5.1       259,094     5.1  
    Open end and junior lien loans   226,114     4.4       217,981     4.2       197,861     3.9  
    Residential construction and land development loans   16,667     0.3       16,359     0.3       12,952     0.3  
    Total consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans   516,068     9.9       500,195     9.6       469,907     9.3  
                       
    Other consumer loans   103,880     2.0       102,254     1.9       97,895     1.9  
    Total consumer loans   619,948     11.9       602,449     11.5       567,802     11.2  
    Subtotal   5,228,976     100.0 %     5,225,534     100.0 %     5,055,226     100.0 %
    Less:  Allowance for credit losses   (66,552 )         (92,433 )       (80,711 )  
    Net deferred loan fees   (2,149 )         (2,313 )       (2,885 )  
    Loans, net $ 5,160,275         $ 5,130,788       $ 4,971,630    
     

     

    LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    DEPOSITS AND BORROWINGS
    (unaudited, in thousands)
     
      June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Noninterest bearing demand deposits $ 1,261,740   $ 1,296,907   $ 1,212,989
    Savings and transaction accounts:          
    Savings deposits   283,976     293,768     283,809
    Interest bearing demand deposits   3,841,703     3,554,310     3,274,179
    Time deposits:          
    Deposits of $100,000 or more   584,165     602,577     776,314
    Other time deposits   205,249     212,632     216,246
    Total deposits $ 6,176,833   $ 5,960,194   $ 5,763,537
    FHLB advances and other borrowings   6,200     108,200     55,000
    Total funding sources $ 6,183,033   $ 6,068,394   $ 5,818,537
     

     

    LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND NET INTEREST ANALYSIS
    (UNAUDITED)
     
        Three Months Ended June 30, 2025   Three Months Ended March 31, 2025   Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
    (fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands)   Average Balance   Interest Income   Yield (1)/
    Rate
      Average Balance   Interest Income   Yield (1)/
    Rate
      Average Balance   Interest Income   Yield (1)/
    Rate
    Earning Assets                                    
    Loans:                                    
    Taxable (2)(3)   $ 5,204,006     $ 84,418   6.51 %   $ 5,160,031     $ 81,740   6.42 %   $ 4,993,270     $ 84,226   6.78 %
    Tax exempt (1)     25,640       359   5.62       25,887       361   5.66       41,581       783   7.57  
    Investments: (1)                                    
    Securities     1,125,597       8,416   3.00       1,136,404       8,338   2.98       1,118,776       8,082   2.91  
    Short-term investments     2,832       28   3.97       2,964       28   3.83       2,836       35   4.96  
    Interest bearing deposits     212,532       2,274   4.29       105,518       1,096   4.21       138,818       1,807   5.24  
    Total earning assets   $ 6,570,607     $ 95,495   5.83 %   $ 6,430,804     $ 91,563   5.77 %   $ 6,295,281     $ 94,933   6.07 %
    Less:  Allowance for credit losses     (93,644 )             (87,477 )             (74,166 )        
    Nonearning Assets                                    
    Cash and due from banks     66,713               71,004               64,518          
    Premises and equipment     61,280               60,523               58,702          
    Other nonearning assets     299,725               288,116               298,619          
    Total assets   $ 6,904,681             $ 6,762,970             $ 6,642,954          
                                         
    Interest Bearing Liabilities                                    
    Savings deposits   $ 285,944     $ 43   0.06 %   $ 283,888     $ 42   0.06 %   $ 289,107     $ 48   0.07 %
    Interest bearing checking accounts     3,767,903       31,499   3.35       3,486,447       28,075   3.27       3,275,502       33,323   4.09  
    Time deposits:                                    
    In denominations under $100,000     208,770       1,745   3.35       212,934       1,832   3.49       217,146       1,871   3.47  
    In denominations over $100,000     589,829       5,824   3.96       633,112       6,509   4.17       807,304       9,121   4.54  
    Other short-term borrowings     33,297       398   4.79       99,830       1,122   4.56       77,077       1,077   5.62  
    Long-term borrowings     1,200       0   0.00       254       0   0.00       0       0   0.00  
    Total interest bearing liabilities   $ 4,886,943     $ 39,509   3.24 %   $ 4,716,465     $ 37,580   3.23 %   $ 4,666,136     $ 45,440   3.92 %
    Noninterest Bearing Liabilities                                    
    Demand deposits     1,244,058               1,258,344               1,230,903          
    Other liabilities     76,704               92,108               106,916          
    Stockholders’ Equity     696,976               696,053               638,999          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 6,904,681             $ 6,762,970             $ 6,642,954          
    Interest Margin Recap                                    
    Interest income/average earning assets         95,495   5.83 %         91,563   5.77 %         94,933   6.07 %
    Interest expense/average earning assets         39,509   2.41           37,580   2.37           45,440   2.90  
    Net interest income and margin       $ 55,986   3.42 %       $ 53,983   3.40 %       $ 49,493   3.17 %
    (1 ) Tax exempt income was converted to a fully taxable equivalent basis at a 21 percent tax rate. The tax equivalent rate for tax exempt loans and tax-exempt securities acquired after January 1, 1983, included the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (“TEFRA”) adjustment applicable to nondeductible interest expenses. Taxable equivalent basis adjustments were $1.11 million, $1.11 million and $1.20 million in the three-month periods ended June 30, 2025, March 31, 2025, and June 30, 2024, respectively.
    (2 ) Loan fees, which are immaterial in relation to total taxable loan interest income for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2025, March 31, 2025, and June 30, 2024, are included as taxable loan interest income.
    (3 ) Nonaccrual loans are included in the average balance of taxable loans.
       

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Tangible common equity, adjusted tangible common equity, tangible assets, adjusted tangible assets, tangible book value per common share, tangible common equity to tangible assets, adjusted tangible common equity to adjusted tangible assets, and pretax pre-provision earnings are non-GAAP financial measures calculated based on GAAP amounts. Tangible common equity is calculated by excluding the balance of goodwill and other intangible assets from the calculation of equity, net of deferred tax. Tangible assets are calculated by excluding the balance of goodwill and other intangible assets from the calculation of total assets, net of deferred tax. Adjusted tangible assets and adjusted tangible common equity remove the fair market value adjustment impact of the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). Tangible book value per common share is calculated by dividing tangible common equity by the number of shares outstanding less true treasury stock. Pretax pre-provision earnings is calculated by adding net interest income to noninterest income and subtracting noninterest expense. Because not all companies use the same calculation of tangible common equity and tangible assets, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures calculated by other companies. However, management considers these measures of the company’s value meaningful to understanding of the company’s financial information and performance.

    A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      Jun. 30, 2025   Mar. 31, 2025   Jun. 30, 2024   Jun. 30, 2025   Jun. 30, 2024
    Total Equity $ 709,987     $ 694,509     $ 654,590     $ 709,987     $ 654,590  
    Less: Goodwill   (4,970 )     (4,970 )     (4,970 )     (4,970 )     (4,970 )
    Plus: DTA Related to Goodwill   1,167       1,167       1,167       1,167       1,167  
    Tangible Common Equity   706,184       690,706       650,787       706,184       650,787  
    Market Value Adjustment in AOCI   160,574       163,879       169,747       160,574       169,747  
    Adjusted Tangible Common Equity   866,758       854,585       820,534       866,758       820,534  
                       
    Assets $ 6,964,301     $ 6,851,178     $ 6,568,807     $ 6,964,301     $ 6,568,807  
    Less: Goodwill   (4,970 )     (4,970 )     (4,970 )     (4,970 )     (4,970 )
    Plus: DTA Related to Goodwill   1,167       1,167       1,167       1,167       1,167  
    Tangible Assets   6,960,498       6,847,375       6,565,004       6,960,498       6,565,004  
    Market Value Adjustment in AOCI   160,574       163,879       169,747       160,574       169,747  
    Adjusted Tangible Assets   7,121,072       7,011,254       6,734,751       7,121,072       6,734,751  
                       
    Ending Common Shares Issued   25,697,093       25,727,393       25,679,066       25,697,093       25,679,066  
                       
    Tangible Book Value Per Common Share $ 27.48     $ 26.85     $ 25.34     $ 27.48     $ 25.34  
                       
    Tangible Common Equity/Tangible Assets   10.15 %     10.09 %     9.91 %     10.15 %     9.91 %
    Adjusted Tangible Common Equity/Adjusted Tangible Assets   12.17 %     12.19 %     12.18 %     12.17 %     12.18 %
                       
    Net Interest Income $ 54,876     $ 52,875     $ 48,296     $ 107,751     $ 95,712  
    Plus:  Noninterest Income   11,486       10,928       20,439       22,414       33,051  
    Minus:  Noninterest Expense   (30,432 )     (32,763 )     (33,333 )     (63,195 )     (64,038 )
    Pretax Pre-Provision Earnings $ 35,930     $ 31,040     $ 35,402     $ 66,970     $ 64,725  
     

    Adjusted core noninterest income, adjusted core noninterest expense, adjusted earnings before income taxes, core operational profitability, core operational diluted earnings per common share and adjusted core efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures calculated based on GAAP amounts. These adjusted amounts are calculated by excluding the impact of the net gain on Visa shares, legal accrual and 2023 wire fraud loss insurance recoveries for the periods presented below. Management considers these measures of financial performance to be meaningful to understanding the company’s core business performance for these periods.

    A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      Jun. 30, 2025   Mar. 31, 2025   Jun. 30, 2024   Jun. 30, 2025   Jun. 30, 2024
    Noninterest Income $ 11,486     $ 10,928     $ 20,439     $ 22,414     $ 33,051  
    Less: Net Gain on Visa Shares   0       0       (9,011 )     0       (9,011 )
    Less: Insurance Recovery   0       0       0       0       (1,000 )
    Adjusted Core Noninterest Income $ 11,486     $ 10,928     $ 11,428     $ 22,414     $ 23,040  
                       
    Noninterest Expense $ 30,432     $ 32,763     $ 33,333     $ 63,195     $ 64,038  
    Less: Legal Accrual   0       0       (4,537 )     0       (4,537 )
    Adjusted Core Noninterest Expense $ 30,432     $ 32,763     $ 28,796     $ 63,195     $ 59,501  
                       
    Earnings Before Income Taxes $ 32,930     $ 24,240     $ 26,922     $ 57,170     $ 54,725  
    Adjusted Core Impact:                  
    Noninterest Income   0       0       (9,011 )     0       (10,011 )
    Noninterest Expense   0       0       4,537       0       4,537  
    Total Adjusted Core Impact   0       0       (4,474 )     0       (5,474 )
    Adjusted Earnings Before Income Taxes   32,930       24,240       22,448       57,170       49,251  
    Tax Effect   (5,964 )     (4,155 )     (3,261 )     (10,119 )     (7,414 )
    Core Operational Profitability (1) $ 26,966     $ 20,085     $ 19,187     $ 47,051     $ 41,837  
                       
    Diluted Earnings Per Common Share $ 1.04     $ 0.78     $ 0.87     $ 1.82     $ 1.78  
    Impact of Adjusted Core Items   0.00       0.00       (0.13 )     0.00       (0.16 )
    Core Operational Diluted Earnings Per Common Share $ 1.04     $ 0.78     $ 0.74     $ 1.82     $ 1.62  
                       
    Adjusted Core Efficiency Ratio   45.86 %     51.35 %     48.22 %     48.55 %     50.11 %
    (1 ) Core operational profitability was $3.4 million lower than reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and $4.1 million lower for the six months ended June 30, 2024.
       


    Contact
    Lisa M. O’Neill
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (574) 267-9125
    lisa.oneill@lakecitybank.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ABAC Calls for Open, Predictable and Rules-Based Trade in Standalone Statement Hai Phong, Viet Nam | 25 July 2025 APEC Business Advisory Council

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    At its meeting this week in Hai Phong, Viet Nam, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) calls on APEC Leaders to reaffirm their commitment to open, predictable, rules-based, non-discriminatory and competitive markets.

    The Chair of ABAC’s Regional Economic Integration Working Group, Anna Curzon of ABAC New Zealand, noted the region’s remarkable success in raising living standards and creating jobs and opportunities has been grounded in open markets and underpinned by the global system of trade rules. But that is now in jeopardy in the face of mounting trade tensions, policy volatility and global uncertainty.

    “The current turmoil, including rising protectionism, is a distraction from the critical work of revitalizing businesses and our economies, and tackling critical challenges to achieving a prosperous, sustainable future. It poses substantial threats to the international economic outlook,” said Curzon.

    “In our Open Markets Statement, we are presenting our Leaders with more than recommendations—we are offering a strategic roadmap to restore the economic dynamism that defines our region. Our ask is simple. We are urging our Leaders to help create the breathing room we need to get back to work,” concluded Curzon.

    The statement can be found here.

    For further information, please contact:

    Stephanie Honey (Ms), REIWG Lead Staffer at +64 21 352 633 and [email protected]
    Antonio Basilio (Mr), Director of the ABAC Secretariat at +63 917 849 3351 and [email protected]

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ABAC Calls for Open, Predictable and Rules-Based Trade in Standalone Statement Hai Phong, Viet Nam | 25 July 2025 APEC Business Advisory Council

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    At its meeting this week in Hai Phong, Viet Nam, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) calls on APEC Leaders to reaffirm their commitment to open, predictable, rules-based, non-discriminatory and competitive markets.

    The Chair of ABAC’s Regional Economic Integration Working Group, Anna Curzon of ABAC New Zealand, noted the region’s remarkable success in raising living standards and creating jobs and opportunities has been grounded in open markets and underpinned by the global system of trade rules. But that is now in jeopardy in the face of mounting trade tensions, policy volatility and global uncertainty.

    “The current turmoil, including rising protectionism, is a distraction from the critical work of revitalizing businesses and our economies, and tackling critical challenges to achieving a prosperous, sustainable future. It poses substantial threats to the international economic outlook,” said Curzon.

    “In our Open Markets Statement, we are presenting our Leaders with more than recommendations—we are offering a strategic roadmap to restore the economic dynamism that defines our region. Our ask is simple. We are urging our Leaders to help create the breathing room we need to get back to work,” concluded Curzon.

    The statement can be found here.

    For further information, please contact:

    Stephanie Honey (Ms), REIWG Lead Staffer at +64 21 352 633 and [email protected]
    Antonio Basilio (Mr), Director of the ABAC Secretariat at +63 917 849 3351 and [email protected]

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel-OPT: UN conference must act to end Israel’s genocide, occupation and apartheid – Amnesty briefing

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty’s briefing urges action to pressure Israel to end its ongoing genocide in Gaza, lift the humanitarian blockade, and dismantle its unlawful occupation and apartheid system over Palestinians

    ‘With the very survival of Palestinians at stake, there’s no time to waste with false promises or platitudes’ – Agnès Callamard

    Amnesty International has called for next week’s high-level UN conference to discuss the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the two-state solution to focus squarely on the immediate and effective enforcement of international law – including governments’ obligations to prevent and punish genocide and apartheid, and to end Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

    In a new briefing, Amnesty outlines a series of recommendations for governments to take meaningful action and exert the necessary pressure on Israel to end its ongoing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, lift the inhumane humanitarian blockade and dismantle its unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territory and its system of apartheid imposed on all Palestinians whose rights it controls.

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “If the ministers gathering in New York next week are truly committed to forging just, comprehensive and lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, the first priority must be to take concrete action to end Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its unlawful military occupation of Palestinian territory, which has fuelled mass violations against Palestinians and enabled and entrenched Israel’s cruel system of apartheid.

    “The current catastrophic crisis created by Israel in Gaza is unbearable, and states must act with urgency and resolve. Statements, condemnation and limited government actions are failing to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.

    “Genuine and meaningful action by governments must begin, first and foremost, with the demand for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, as well as the lifting of Israel’s illegal blockade. Without these fundamental urgent steps, any process aimed at addressing the future of Palestinians lacks credibility. How such process be considered meaningful when Palestinians are being slaughtered, starved and forcibly displaced into ever-shrinking pockets of land on a daily basis?

    “Governments must be unequivocal: Israel is not above the law and accountability is a priority. They must seize the opportunity presented by this conference to end their active or tacit support for Israeli violations or their self-imposed inertia. The conference must lead to a clear commitment by all states to suspend all economic activity that contributes to or is directly linked to Israel’s illegal occupation, its system of apartheid or its genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

    “With the very survival of Palestinians at stake, there’s no time to waste with false promises or platitudes. As people continue to take to the streets to demand global action and as more and more states are recognising Israel’s genocide for what it is, an empty, performative exercise would not be just tone-deaf, it would be unconscionable.

    “For this conference to be anything more than a charade, governments must heed our calls. They must turn words into action that is firmly rooted in international law and protection of human rights.”

    Among the recommendations, Amnesty is urgently calling on governments to:

    • Demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, ensure full, unimpeded access to all areas of Gaza and firmly reject Israel’s military-controlled, non-neutral aid distribution model. A principled, UN-led humanitarian response must be immediately restored, and funding for impartial humanitarian organisations must be maintained and expanded.
    • End any trade or transfers that contribute to or are linked to the genocide, apartheid or the unlawful occupation. This includes in the first place banning all weapons and surveillance equipment transfers and any military assistance to Israel. States must end preferential trade agreements and cooperation deals with Israel, including the EU-Israel Trade Agreement.
    • Adopt targeted sanctions against those Israeli officials most implicated in international crimes and cooperate with the International Criminal Court, including by implementing its arrest warrants.
    • Commit to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the rehabilitation of its people while opposing any forced displacement of Palestinians within or outside of Gaza.
    • Establish mechanisms for reparations and rehabilitation of Palestinians, with Israel bearing the primary financial responsibility.

    Amnesty is also urgently calling on corporations and civil society:

    • Corporations must refuse any involvement in, or direct linkage to Israel’s unlawful actions and ensure that they are not contributing to serious human rights violations themselves.
    • Civil society and the public at large must continue mobilising and campaigning to demand that governments abide by their legal obligations under international law and denounce companies, banks and other economic actors that contribute to or are directly linked to Israel’s violations of international law, and demand that they stop.

    Co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution will take place in New York from 28 to 29 July. Agnès Callamard and other Amnesty International spokespeople will be available for interviews.

    Amnesty’s Briefing and Recommendations: July 2025 High-Level Conference on the Question of Palestine and the Two-State Solution available here.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Eswatini: Amnesty International designates arbitrarily detained MPs as prisoners of conscience

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Four years since they were imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and political participation, Amnesty International today designated Eswatini Members of Parliament Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, as prisoners of conscience.

    By designating Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube as prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International affirms that they should never have been arrested in the first place.

    Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

    “The imprisonment of MPs simply for speaking out is a red line that must never be crossed. Authorities must quash their convictions and sentences and immediately and unconditionally release them. Authorities must repeal or amend legislation that criminalizes human rights and political activism and bring any such legislation in line with international human rights standards.”

    Their continued arbitrary detention shows Eswatini’s deepening climate of repression and misuse of the justice system to punish those who dare criticize the government.

    Tigere Chagutah

    “By designating Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube as prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International affirms that they should never have been arrested in the first place,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “Their continued arbitrary detention shows Eswatini’s deepening climate of repression and misuse of the justice system to punish those who dare criticise the government.”

    “Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns over the Eswatini authorities’ increasing intolerance of peaceful dissent, including the arbitrary detention, harassment, and prosecution of activists, opposition leaders, and pro-democracy campaigners.

    Background

    Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested on 25 July 2021 following their vocal support for legal reforms and calls for constitutional change in Eswatini. They were convicted of trumped-up charges, including those under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938 – laws that have been widely criticised for their vague definitions and chilling effect on human rights including the right to freedom of expression.

    On 31 July 2024, the High Court of Eswatini sentenced Mabuza and Dube to 85- and 58-year jail terms, respectively.

    Amnesty International’s designation of “prisoner of conscience” applies to individuals who are imprisoned or otherwise physically restricted because of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation, or other status – provided they have neither used nor advocated violence.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: IMF supports growth agenda and fiscal framework

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    IMF supports growth agenda and fiscal framework

    IMF endorses Plan for Change growth mission and fiscal reforms.

    • The IMF’s Article IV surveillance report has stated that economic recovery in the UK is underway, with growth projected at 1.2% in 2025 before gaining momentum next year.   
    • The IMF also endorsed the government’s fiscal plans which it says strike a balance between supporting growth and safeguarding fiscal sustainability, and the Growth Mission covers the right areas to lift productivity.  

    Since the election the government has been clear on the need to kickstart economic growth, built on stability and investment to deliver on the Plan for Change. The publication of the IMF’s first Article IV surveillance report on the UK economy since last year’s election reveals that the UK’s economic recovery is underway, and will see the third fastest economic growth in the G7 and the fastest growth among European G7 countries.   

    The IMF have also endorsed the government’s fiscal framework as growth-friendly, as well as appropriately accommodating spending pressures and investment needs, while safeguarding fiscal sustainability.    

    Structural reform and government strategy 

    Through the Growth Mission, the government is restoring stability, increasing investment, and reforming the economy to drive up prosperity and living standards across every region of the UK. 

    The IMF recognised the bold reforms that we have launched since taking office in July 2024. We have been clear that planning reform is central to unlocking private investment. The IMF has stated that the UK’s new industrial strategy has real potential to unlock private investment and boost UK productivity in key sectors.  

    Trade, global integration, and external environment 

    Given the high level of uncertainty emanating from the external environment, the IMF has stated that the government should continue advocating for a stable global trading system and welcomes recent efforts to strike trade agreements with key partners, including the EU, India, and the US, demonstrating a commitment to finding common ground and establishing a more predictable environment for UK exporters.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scotland gets £66 million transport boost as part of record Spending Review settlement

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Scotland gets £66 million transport boost as part of record Spending Review settlement

    Today (25 July) the Chancellor will visit Paisley to announce £66 million of investment in Scottish transport.

    • Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces millions for West of Scotland transport links and extra funding to explore upgrades to the A75.
    • Investment follows the Industrial Strategy which boosted Advanced Manufacturing clusters and the Spending Review which delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services.
    • Funding is part of Government’s plan to invest in the economy right across the UK.

    The investment will help workers access jobs in high growth sectors supercharged by the government’s modern Industrial Strategy and Spending Review.

    The UK Government is boosting investment across Scotland through two investment zones and multiple industrial sites from the North East of Scotland Investment Zone to the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.

    This £66 million will work alongside these investments to fund three Scottish transport schemes and create direct links between towns and economic hubs in the West of Scotland.  

    Renfrewshire Council will get £38.7 million to link Paisley town centre with Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport. New walking, cycling, bus and car links will be built so local people can benefit from the growth of high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire. 

    Another £23.7 million will be given to North Ayrshire Council to upgrade the B714. This upgrade will see a much faster route between the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston to Glasgow, and cut traffic in Kilwinning. The Chancellor prioritised finding this cash during last month’s Spending Review, which also saw billions invested in Scotland’s growth sectors.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    We’re pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal – that’s why we’re investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for.

    Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we’re investing in Britain’s renewal. This £66 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.

    Meanwhile, the Scottish Government will be given an extra £3.45 million to suggest upgrades to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.  The key road, which links the Cairnryan port serving Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK, is vital to UK connectivity and growing the economy. This new money comes on top of the up-to-£5 million announced at the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024. 

    As part of a wider investment strategy in Scotland the Spending Review saw around £200 million committed to the Acorn Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage project, subject to business cases, and £8.3 billion confirmed for Great British Energy, strengthening Scotland’s position as the home of the UK’s clean energy revolution. 

    A multi-decade, multi-billion project to secure jobs at HM Naval Base Clyde was also kickstarted with an initial £250 million investment.

    Whilst in Scotland the Chancellor will also visit the Edinburgh Supercomputer, which will receive up to £750 million in UK Government funding, later on Friday. The funding, announced during the Chancellor’s Spending Review will ensure that Scotland becomes home to the UK’s most powerful Supercomputer, supporting Scottish research and development, and industry.

    The Spending Review delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services, with the Scottish Government’s largest settlement, in real terms, since devolution in 1998. Scottish Government’s settlement is growing in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29. This translates into an average of £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

    Scotland Secretary, Ian Murray, said:

    This £66 million investment in Scotland’s roads demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in all parts of the UK as part of our Plan for Change. This investment will make a real difference to people’s daily lives and to the local economies of the South of Scotland, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.

    New road links will connect Paisley town centre with Glasgow Airport and the new advanced manufacturing innovation district, to boost high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire. The upgrade to the B714 will speed up journeys between Glasgow and the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, as well as cutting traffic in Kilwinning. And the A75 is strategically important just not within but beyond Scotland. Its upgrading is long overdue. I am pleased that the UK Government has stepped up to fund the delivery of the A75 feasibility study in full.

    This investment is yet another example of how the UK Government is building the foundations for a stronger, more prosperous future that benefits communities right across Scotland.


    More information

    • As strategic roads in Scotland are the Scottish Government’s responsibility, any future upgrades to the A75 will be funded from the Scottish Government’s block grant. 
    • The Ayrshire and Renfrewshire projects are part of a £378m UK-wide Levelling Up Fund cash boost, upgrading transport links across Britain, which will also be announced today.
    • Building work on the LUF projects will be able to start as final business cases are given the green light by the Department for Transport.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crime cutting courts to target prolific offending hotspots

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Crime cutting courts to target prolific offending hotspots

    Communities blighted by prolific offenders will be better protected as part of an expansion of revolutionary new courts aimed at cutting less serious crime.

    • Tough Texas-style courts to be rolled out across the country
    • Less serious offenders to be strictly monitored by judges or risk returning to prison
    • New sites to target communities tormented by prolific offending and make streets safer, as part of Plan for Change

    The expansion of the Intensive Supervision Courts – which are based on tough Texas-style punishment – builds on Plans for Change aims to tackle the root causes of criminal behaviour and slash reoffending.  

    This will see offenders found guilty of committing crimes such as theft while facing issues like addiction or trauma attend necessary treatments and regularly appear before the same judge who can track their behaviour. Those who fail to attend will face tough consequences including time in prison.

    This crime-cutting model, will target communities tormented by prolific offending and will combine strict judicial oversight with tailored support, led by the Probation Service.  

    These tough community sentences have seen positive results in reducing reoffending across the world, with countries using this model seeing further arrests cut by a third compared to people on a standard sentence. 

    The announcement follows the Lord Chancellor’s record £700m investment in the Probation Service and is the first measure to be rolled out by the Government in response to David Gauke’s Independent Sentencing Review, which recommended further use of the crime cutting courts.  

    The Lord Chancellor and former Justice Secretary David Gauke visited Texas in February to see first-hand how its expansion of problem-solving courts had helped drive a significant reduction in the prison estate and a 25% drop in drug charges over a 15-year period.

    Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister, Lord Timpson said:  

    Drug and alcohol addiction fuels much of the crime we see, and we won’t cut crime until repeat offenders face up to their behaviour.   

    Intensive Supervision Courts demand more than a short prison stay; they demand real work. As part of our Plan for Change, we are increasing the number of these courts, which will see prolific offenders doing the hard work to turn their lives around under vigorous supervision and held accountable for their actions.

    The expansion builds on the success of four existing pilots, in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Teesside which have seen more than 200 offenders receive tough supervision in a bid to help them leave behind a life of crime.

    A recent evaluation of the pilot scheme showed offenders with significant addiction issues received a clean drug test two-thirds of the time and were only sanctioned for bad behaviour less than a quarter of the time, clear evidence that the model is working.  

    Additionally, probation staff, the judiciary and local services like drug treatment providers have reported that offenders’ drug and alcohol use has reduced and those requiring help with their mental health were now receiving the right support to help cut their offending.

    Commenting on the expansion, Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive of Revolving Doors said:  

    Intensive Supervision Courts offer the opportunity to tackle the unmet health and social needs that trap people in the revolving door of reoffending and instead divert people into the support they need.  

    There is promising evidence of such success in the existing pilot areas, so a further expansion of ISCs is a welcome step towards the wraparound support which is key to tackling the root causes of offending and breaking the cycle of crisis and crime.

    Revolving Doors is a national charity dedicated to breaking the cycle of crime, they carried out an evaluation report on Intensive Supervision Courts. 

    The £700 million pledge for the Probation Service, an almost 45% increase in funding, will support the expansion of these courts and see tens of thousands more offenders can be tagged and monitored in the community.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytech and the Young Industrialists Club in St. Petersburg strengthen technological partnership

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Polytechnic University received a delegation from the regional branch of the Young Industrialists Club in St. Petersburg. The visit included a rich program aimed at developing sustainable professional ties between the university and representatives of the industrial sphere.

    The key event was the signing of a cooperation agreement, which secured the course for long-term cooperation between the Polytechnic University and the club.

    “Today, it is especially important not only to maintain ties between the university and industry, but also to translate them into a format of real joint action. Signing an agreement with the Young Industrialists Club is a step towards strengthening mutual understanding, sharing experience and project cooperation. We view this cooperation as long-term and strategically important for both parties,” shared SPbPU First Vice-Rector Vitaly Sergeev.

    “Cooperation with the Polytechnic University is an important stage in the implementation of our ambitious goals. I am confident that live interaction with the engineering and scientific community of SPbPU will become a solid foundation for further development,” said Ilya Vinogradov, head of the regional branch of the Young Industrialists Club in St. Petersburg, co-founder of ZD Vision Distribution, and a Polytechnic University graduate.

    The guests visited the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, including the laboratory of lightweight materials and structures and the laboratory of “Design of materials and additive manufacturing”. The delegates also inspected the site of the research laboratory “Laser and additive technologies” (NRL “LiAT” IMMiT).

    During the tour, the polytechnicians paid special attention to technological solutions in the field of additive manufacturing and laser welding, which are actively developing at the university.

    “We see the club not just as partners, but as allies in the implementation of advanced technological solutions in the real sector of the economy. Such cooperation is a resource that strengthens both sides,” emphasized Mikhail Kuznetsov, head of the Research Laboratory “LiAT” of IMMiT.

    At the end of the visit, the parties discussed areas of future cooperation, including the implementation of joint projects and the integration of scientific solutions into business practice.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Narrative analysis: Case studies in heat resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This narrative analysis highlights how twelve countries are confronting the realities of extreme heat through diverse governance models, partnerships, and innovations. The case studies span multiple regions and development contexts-Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, France, India, Senegal, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States-offering a cross-cutting view of what’s working, where gaps remain, and how national strategies are evolving in the face of escalating climate threats.

    Some of the common lessons from the case studies include:

    • Successful implementation of heat action plans requires active engagement and participation of local communities.
    • Addressing extreme heat requires coordinated involvement from sectors including health, urban planning, agriculture, and disaster management.
    • Robust early warning systems are essential for prompt and effective dissemination of heat alerts and advisories
    • Investing in heatresilient infrastructure, such as green spaces, cool roofs, and energy-efficient buildings, helps mitigate the impacts of extreme heat
    • Enhancing the capacity of healthcare systems to manage heat-related illnesses through training, resource allocation, and infrastructure improvements is critical for reducing heatrelated morbidity and mortality.

    Download

    Links last checked: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: An assessment of heat action plans: Global standards, good practices and partnerships

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This synthesis report identifies best practices and persistent challenges to provide a structured framework for improving heat resilience based on evaluations of heat action plans from six countries-Australia, Canada, France, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It advocates for an adaptable governance framework, proposing that national guidance related to HAPs incorporate adaptable core elements, such as standardized heat risk definitions, clear agency roles, multi-sector coordination, and early warning systems

    Key takeaways for future action

    • Harmonizing Short-Term Response with Long-Term Planning – While immediate interventions like cooling centres and health advisories effectively mitigate acute health risks, incorporating durable infrastructure and climate-resilient urban planning into HAPs will better prepare communities for evolving climate realities
    • Advancing Sectoral Integration for Comprehensive Heat Management – A multi-sectoral approach, encompassing health, urban infrastructure, emergency response, and social services, is essential for addressing heat impacts holistically.
    • Aligning National HAPs with International Standards – Global standards, such as WHO’s health guidelines, UNDRR’s resilience frameworks, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, provide valuable benchmarks for HAP design and evaluation.
    • Opportunities for Strategic Public-Private Engagement Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are instrumental in addressing specific needs within HAPs, from deploying cooling solutions to advancing predictive technologies for early warning systems.

    Download

    Links last checked: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Stocktake report: Heat action across United Nations Entities and International Organizations

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This report examines the current landscape of extreme heat management among United Nations entities and International Organizations (UN entities and IOs), identifying challenges, opportunities, and strategies for improving collaboration and governance to support this call to action.

    Key finidngs from the report include:

    • Collaboration & Engagement – UN and other entities have produced substantial work related to extreme heat, but much of this is conducted with limited inter-organizational collaboration, reducing its impact. Entities at lower stages on the heat resilience curve tend to have fewer collaborative relationships, indicating a need for targeted support and partnership building.
    • Resource & Capacity Challenges – Current efforts within UN and other entities are hampered by limited funding, expertise, and institutional support. While most entities agree that extreme heat aligns with their mission and mandate, competing priorities challenge resource allocation.
    • Governance & Integration – Heat resilience efforts are typically integrated into broader climate resilience initiatives rather than developed as stand-alone programmes. UN and other entities recognize the critical importance of strengthening heat risk governance and promoting integrated planning at national and local levels.

    Download

    Links last checked: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Monitoring exposure to future climate-related hazards: Forward-looking indicator results and methods using climate scenarios

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Building on OECD indicators monitoring historical exposure to climate-related hazards, this paper develops forward-looking indicators to monitor exposure of people and agriculture (cropland and livestock) to three major climate-related hazard types (extreme temperature, extreme precipitation, and drought). The methodology relies on climate multi-model ensembles covering a range of emission scenarios, from very low to very high. Results indicate that exposure to extreme temperature, precipitation, and drought is projected to worsen over the century in many countries, with considerable variation within and between countries.

    The presentation of indicator results in this paper focusses on 50 OECD member and partner countries but results for all countries globally are available online. Mean temperatures are projected to increase by +4.2°C across the OECD and +3.5°C in OECD partner countries by the end of the century under a high-emissions scenario. Cold and polar regions are expected to warm more than tropical and temperate regions, with faster warming at Earth’s poles. Extreme precipitation events are projected to increase in certain regions, especially Northern Europe, while prolonged hydrological drought is likely in regions such as Southern Europe and central parts of South America, under a high-emissions scenario. Projected data carry more uncertainty than historical observations due to model structure, climate scenario assumptions and natural climate variability. Further research is needed to address data gaps and model uncertainties, particularly given the growing urgency of adapting to worsening climate-related hazards.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • UPI payments need to be made financially sustainable for long-term viability: RBI Governor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The era of completely free digital transactions via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) may not last forever, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday, adding that the UPI framework should be made financially sustainable going forward.

    Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Malhotra said the current model—where users pay no fees and the government subsidises banks and other stakeholders—may not be viable in the long run.

    “Costs will have to be paid. Someone will have to bear the cost,” he said, adding that while UPI is currently a zero-charge platform, it comes with operational expenses.

    “Payments and money are a lifeline. We need a universally efficient system. As of now, there are no charges. The government is subsidising various players such as banks and other stakeholders in the UPI payments system. Obviously, some costs have to be paid,” the RBI Governor said.

    “Any important infrastructure must bear fruits,” he added. “For any service to be sustainable, its cost should be paid—whether collectively or by the user.”

    Malhotra’s remarks come at a time when UPI has reached unprecedented scale, with the backend infrastructure—largely maintained by banks, payment service providers, and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)—under increasing pressure.

    Since the government mandated zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for RuPay debit cards and BHIM-UPI transactions in December 2019, there has been no revenue stream for service providers. The MDR, typically ranging from 1–3% of the transaction value, was earlier borne by merchants.

    Industry players have flagged the financial unsustainability of the model and have urged the reintroduction of MDR or an alternative cost-sharing mechanism. It remains unclear whether the government plans to revise the current policy or pass on some of the burden to users.

    UPI processed over ₹24.03 lakh crore through 18.39 billion transactions in June, surpassing global payment giants like Visa. The platform now accounts for nearly 85% of India’s digital transactions and about 50% of all real-time digital payments globally.

    -IANS

  • India tests first hydrogen train coach, boosts green rail push

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian Railways has achieved a major milestone by successfully testing the nation’s first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday.

    “First hydrogen-powered coach (Driving Power Car) successfully tested at ICF, Chennai. India is developing a 1,200 HP hydrogen train. This will place India among the leaders in hydrogen-powered train technology,” Vaishnaw shared in a post on X.

    The test marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to transition towards clean and green transportation alternatives. The hydrogen coach is part of a broader vision by Indian Railways to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative. These trains are intended to operate on heritage and hill routes across the country, with an estimated cost of ₹80 crore per train and an additional ₹70 crore for supporting ground infrastructure per route.

    Indian Railways has also initiated a pilot project to retrofit an existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) with a hydrogen fuel cell. The project, including the installation of ground infrastructure, is being implemented at a cost of ₹111.83 crore and is planned to run on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway.

    While the running cost of hydrogen-based trains is yet to be firmly established in the Indian context, initial estimates suggest higher operational costs that are expected to decrease as the number of hydrogen trains increases. Beyond economic considerations, hydrogen fuel is widely recognized for its environmental benefits, including zero carbon emissions, making it a key component of India’s clean energy transition strategy.

    India’s push toward hydrogen mobility extends beyond the railway sector. In 2024, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, showcased the country’s progress in green hydrogen energy push by presenting a hydrogen-fuelled bus, developed by Indian Oil, to the visiting Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, during his official visit.

    (With ANI inputs)

  • Centre to roll out employment incentive scheme from Aug 1, targets 3.5 crore jobs in two years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Government’s Employment Linked Incentive Scheme, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, will come into effect from August 1.

    With a significant outlay of ₹99,446 crore, PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is expected to generate over 3.5 crore jobs across sectors in the next two years. Out of these, 1.92 crore beneficiaries are projected to be first-time entrants into the formal workforce. The scheme will be applicable to all eligible jobs created between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027.

    The PM-VBRY is structured in two parts. Part A focuses on first-time employees registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). These individuals, earning up to ₹1 lakh per month, will receive EPF-linked incentives up to ₹15,000 in two installments – after six and twelve months of continuous service. The second installment will be released only after successful completion of a financial literacy programme. To promote saving habits, part of the benefit will be locked in a fixed deposit or savings instrument, to be withdrawn later.

    Part B of the scheme targets employers across sectors, especially manufacturing, by offering incentives for creating new jobs. Employers registered with EPFO will be eligible for financial support of up to ₹3,000 per new employee per month for a period of two years, with an extended benefit up to four years for those in manufacturing. To qualify, establishments with fewer than 50 employees must hire at least two new workers, while those with 50 or more employees must hire at least five, with sustained employment for a minimum of six months.

    The incentive amount will vary based on the employee’s EPF wage slab – ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per month. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System will be used for transferring funds to employees, while employers will receive payments directly into their PAN-linked accounts.

  • MIL-OSI China: General Zhang Youxia meets Pakistani army chief 2025-07-25 18:43:00 General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in Beijing on Friday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, July 25 — General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in Beijing on Friday.

      General Zhang congratulated Asim Munir on his appointment as Field Marshal of the Pakistani Army, stating that military relations between China and Pakistan are an important pillar of bilateral relations and that military cooperation between the two sides have achieved fruitful results in various fields. The two sides should resolutely implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and interactions, and deepen practical cooperation.

      General Zhang noted that the Chinese side will adhere to the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and work together with Pakistan to promote regional peace and development, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. China is willing to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and hopes that the Pakistani side will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

      Asim Munir said that the ironclad brotherhood between China and Pakistan is comprehensive and the Pakistani people have special friendly feelings to China. Pakistan highly appreciates and supports the major concepts and initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and is willing to deepen and expand practical cooperation with China in all fields to promote the bilateral relations between the two countries and their militaries to new heights. Pakistan will make all efforts to combat terrorism and protect the Chinese friends in Pakistan.

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    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Belt-Road forum held in Beijing

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and relevant central ministries held the eighth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative in Beijing today.

    NDRC Vice Chairman Zhou Haibing attended the conference, together with representatives from the commission, the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council, and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR.

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, in his capacity as chairperson of the Working Group on Belt & Road Development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, led Hong Kong officials to attend the conference.

    He pointed out that the Hong Kong SAR Government has been taking forward Belt-Road collaboration to go deeper and deliver outcomes, fully participating in and contributing to the initiative under the guidance of the major steps the country has taken to support high-quality co-operation, so as to facilitate Hong Kong’s integration into overall national development.

    With the country’s support, Hong Kong will deepen international exchanges and actively utilise its advantages to exert a greater role in the nation’s high-level opening up to the world, Mr Lam added.

    The justice chief also said the Hong Kong SAR Government is exploring emerging markets such as the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other Belt & Road countries, while making full use of the city’s professional services, thereby building it as a gateway between the country and the world.

    He expressed gratitude to the central government for the staunch support of hosting the International Organization for Mediation headquarters in Hong Kong, which will strengthen its roles as an international dispute resolution services centre and a hub for international mediation.

    Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, who was also at the conference, noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government will fully capitalise on the 10th Belt & Road Summit to showcase the city’s roles as an active participant and the premier platform to the Mainland and overseas.

    At the meeting, Mr Yau reported on Hong Kong’s progress in carrying out Belt & Road work, including the ongoing pursuit of Hong Kong’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, pursuit of early conclusion of ongoing negotiations for free trade and investment agreements, and more.

    Today’s session also covered the work proposals on further promoting the Belt & Road Initiative put forward for consideration by central ministries. Relevant Mainland ministries introduced their work in supporting Hong Kong’s participation in and contribution to the initiative and provided feedback on the work proposals. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: EIB and Banca Ifis provide €200 million in financing to back Italian pharmacies, with a focus on female entrepreneurs and cohesion

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The EIB has approved a new €100 million credit line to Banca Ifis to make it easier for Italian pharmacies to access finance.
    • Banca Ifis will match the EIB’s contribution with its own resources, bringing the total funding for businesses to €200 million.
    • At least €60 million will go to pharmacies managed by women. This operation brings the total investments supported by the EIB and Banca Ifis to €800 million since 2019.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Banca Ifis have signed a €200 million agreement to back the development of pharmacies in Italy, with a particular focus on female entrepreneurs and cohesion. The signature was announced today by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Banca Ifis Vice-President Rosalba Benedetto.

    “This agreement marks a further step towards a more inclusive, dynamic and sustainable economy. Backing small and medium companies strengthens a country’s business environment and becomes even more of a strategic imperative when access to finance means new opportunities for female entrepreneurs, promoting growth, innovation and social cohesion,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti.

    “This agreement confirms our support for Italian small and medium companies and our commitment to backing gender equality and female entrepreneurship. The pharmacies we are backing with sector specialist Banca Credifarma provide access to local primary care services and are a vital focal point for local communities. This agreement reinforces our years-long journey with an institution at the highest echelons of the European Union – the EIB – which has always put environmental, social and governance issues at the heart of its initiatives with the aim of accelerating the sustainable transition of our economy,” said Banca Ifis Vice-President Rosalba Benedetto.

    In concrete terms, the agreement states that EIB will provide Banca Ifis with €100 million by signing two contracts of €50 million each, opening a credit line with favourable interest rates. Banca Ifis will match the amount provided by the EIB, bringing the total funding offered to Italian pharmacies to €200 million. The loan will be granted by Banca Credifarma, a Banca Ifis-controlled financial institution specialised in supporting the needs of pharmacies.

    Of the €200 million total, at least 30% (over €60 million) will back female entrepreneurs in pharmacies meeting the following criteria: i) at least 51% owned by women; ii) managed by a woman; iii) implementing inclusive policies promoting female employment, exceeding the national sector average. A particular focus will be placed on pharmacies located in cohesion regions.

    The agreement signed today is the sixth between the EIB and Banca Ifis, with the two organisations providing over €800 million to Italian small and medium companies since 2019. This is also the EIB’s first credit line to focus solely on the Italian pharmacy sector.

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality. In the last five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy. All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower.

    Banca Ifis

    Banca Ifis is an Italian challenger bank providing specialty finance services for the real economy. Founded in 1983, it is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange and has around 2 000 employees. Banca Ifis’ business model mainly focuses on three pillars: commercial and corporate banking services; acquisition and management of non-performing loan portfolios in the small tickets unsecured segment; and retail savings solutions with the Rendimax 20-year deposit account. Its 40-year presence on the market means that Banca Ifis can anticipate businesses’ needs, supporting them on a day-to-day basis with tailored financial solutions. Technological innovation research and ongoing digital transformation are enabling the bank to expand its range of products and services and to improve the quality and speed of service to businesses. It implements its sustainable business approach by seeking solutions promoting the environmental transition and inclusion.

    To this end, Banca Ifis created the Kaleidos social impact lab to help spread of a more equitable, inclusive and supportive culture. Created under the auspices of Chairman Ernesto Fürstenberg Fassio, the initiative is backed by a proprietary social impact measurement model enabling Banca Ifis to measure positive impact inside and outside the company. In 2025, the bank successfully acquired illimity Bank in a public takeover and exchange offer that launched a new development phase in which Banca Ifis aims to consolidate its leadership in the Italian specialty finance market.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB supports Greek foodtech innovator STIQ with €20 million under InvestEU to scale up AI-powered cloud kitchen platform

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The European Investment Bank is investing €20 million in Greek foodtech company STIQ to support innovation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable food delivery solutions.
    • The financing, backed by the InvestEU programme, will help STIQ scale up its technology platform, reduce food waste, and expand into new European markets.
    • The project promotes digital transformation and economic cohesion, by supporting a Greece-based start-up bringing cutting-edge innovation to the traditional food services sector.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is investing €20 million in STIQ, a fast-growing Greek foodtech company pioneering AI-powered cloud kitchen technology. The financing, backed by the InvestEU programme, will support the company’s R&D, digital innovation and international expansion, helping transform the future of food delivery in Europe through smarter, more sustainable and scalable operations.

    The investment is part of the EIB’s strategic focus on digital transformation, innovation and cohesion, and reflects its continued support for high-potential technology ventures in Southern and Eastern Europe. Structured as venture debt with quasi-equity features, the financing will enable STIQ to accelerate the development of its proprietary platform, deploy advanced AI features, and expand its operational footprint beyond Greece into new EU markets.

    EIB Vice-President Yiannis Tsakiris, said: “This investment reflects the EIB’s firm commitment to supporting innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship across Europe. STIQ is reshaping the food delivery model through technology, and we are proud to support a Greek company that is building scalable, sustainable solutions with European reach.”

    Strategic impact and EU policy alignment

    The EIB financing is backed by the InvestEU programme under the “Future Technologies” window and addresses key market gaps in access to growth capital for early-stage European tech companies. It reflects the EU’s broader commitment to:

    • Accelerating the deployment of artificial intelligence and advanced digital services
    • Enhancing food system resilience through innovation and data
    • Reducing environmental impact in urban logistics and delivery networks

    ·        Supporting economic cohesion by investing in regions with high growth potential but limited access to venture financing.

    Scaling foodtech innovation from Greece to Europe

    Founded in Athens in 2022, STIQ has quickly emerged as a trailblazer in the virtual restaurant (cloud kitchen) space. Its model integrates software, logistics and food operations into a single platform that allows multiple digital restaurant brands to be prepared and delivered efficiently from a network of culinary hubs.

    Key features of the platform include:

    • AI-powered demand forecasting, dynamic menu engineering and inventory optimisation
    • Smart routing and grouped order delivery, reducing CO₂ emissions and delivery time
    • Data-driven operations that enhance consistency, food safety, and customer satisfaction.

    With five live kitchen hubs in Athens, serving over 20 brands to a potential market of 3 million residents, STIQ currently employs 200 staff and plans to reach 30 hubs across Europe by 2029. The company is scaling rapidly while maintaining a strong focus on food quality, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, including zero-waste targets and the adoption of electric delivery fleets.

    Konstantinos Davaris, Founder & CEO of STIQ said: We are thrilled to welcome the European Investment Bank as a strategic partner in our mission to redefine fast-casual dining. At StiQ, we’re leading a new era of healthy eating by blending cutting-edge technology and AI with culinary excellence. Through our diverse portfolio of brands, including Protein Garden, Dinas, Healthy Concept, and more, we deliver

    delicious, nutritious, and affordable meals that make healthy dining accessible to everyone. With EIB’s support, we’re ready to scale our vision, fostering a more sustainable, health-conscious future for communities worldwide.”

    Background information

    EIB  

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. 

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.   

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.   

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers.Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average. 

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    About InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme brings together EU financial tools to support investment, innovation and job creation. Through an EU budget guarantee and cooperation with partners such as the EIB, it aims to mobilise more than €372 billion in investment during 2021–2027 across strategic sectors and regions.

    About STIQ

    STIQ is an AI-driven foodtech company operating a digital platform of cloud kitchens and virtual restaurant brands. Headquartered in Cyprus and founded in Athens, it combines technology, culinary expertise and logistics to deliver smarter, faster and more sustainable food services. The company has raised over €10 million to date and is now entering its European growth phase.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB supports Greek foodtech innovator STIQ with €20 million under InvestEU to scale up AI-powered cloud kitchen platform

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The European Investment Bank is investing €20 million in Greek foodtech company STIQ to support innovation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable food delivery solutions.
    • The financing, backed by the InvestEU programme, will help STIQ scale up its technology platform, reduce food waste, and expand into new European markets.
    • The project promotes digital transformation and economic cohesion, by supporting a Greece-based start-up bringing cutting-edge innovation to the traditional food services sector.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is investing €20 million in STIQ, a fast-growing Greek foodtech company pioneering AI-powered cloud kitchen technology. The financing, backed by the InvestEU programme, will support the company’s R&D, digital innovation and international expansion, helping transform the future of food delivery in Europe through smarter, more sustainable and scalable operations.

    The investment is part of the EIB’s strategic focus on digital transformation, innovation and cohesion, and reflects its continued support for high-potential technology ventures in Southern and Eastern Europe. Structured as venture debt with quasi-equity features, the financing will enable STIQ to accelerate the development of its proprietary platform, deploy advanced AI features, and expand its operational footprint beyond Greece into new EU markets.

    EIB Vice-President Yiannis Tsakiris, said: “This investment reflects the EIB’s firm commitment to supporting innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship across Europe. STIQ is reshaping the food delivery model through technology, and we are proud to support a Greek company that is building scalable, sustainable solutions with European reach.”

    Strategic impact and EU policy alignment

    The EIB financing is backed by the InvestEU programme under the “Future Technologies” window and addresses key market gaps in access to growth capital for early-stage European tech companies. It reflects the EU’s broader commitment to:

    • Accelerating the deployment of artificial intelligence and advanced digital services
    • Enhancing food system resilience through innovation and data
    • Reducing environmental impact in urban logistics and delivery networks

    ·        Supporting economic cohesion by investing in regions with high growth potential but limited access to venture financing.

    Scaling foodtech innovation from Greece to Europe

    Founded in Athens in 2022, STIQ has quickly emerged as a trailblazer in the virtual restaurant (cloud kitchen) space. Its model integrates software, logistics and food operations into a single platform that allows multiple digital restaurant brands to be prepared and delivered efficiently from a network of culinary hubs.

    Key features of the platform include:

    • AI-powered demand forecasting, dynamic menu engineering and inventory optimisation
    • Smart routing and grouped order delivery, reducing CO₂ emissions and delivery time
    • Data-driven operations that enhance consistency, food safety, and customer satisfaction.

    With five live kitchen hubs in Athens, serving over 20 brands to a potential market of 3 million residents, STIQ currently employs 200 staff and plans to reach 30 hubs across Europe by 2029. The company is scaling rapidly while maintaining a strong focus on food quality, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, including zero-waste targets and the adoption of electric delivery fleets.

    Konstantinos Davaris, Founder & CEO of STIQ said: We are thrilled to welcome the European Investment Bank as a strategic partner in our mission to redefine fast-casual dining. At StiQ, we’re leading a new era of healthy eating by blending cutting-edge technology and AI with culinary excellence. Through our diverse portfolio of brands, including Protein Garden, Dinas, Healthy Concept, and more, we deliver

    delicious, nutritious, and affordable meals that make healthy dining accessible to everyone. With EIB’s support, we’re ready to scale our vision, fostering a more sustainable, health-conscious future for communities worldwide.”

    Background information

    EIB  

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. 

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.   

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.   

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers.Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average. 

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    About InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme brings together EU financial tools to support investment, innovation and job creation. Through an EU budget guarantee and cooperation with partners such as the EIB, it aims to mobilise more than €372 billion in investment during 2021–2027 across strategic sectors and regions.

    About STIQ

    STIQ is an AI-driven foodtech company operating a digital platform of cloud kitchens and virtual restaurant brands. Headquartered in Cyprus and founded in Athens, it combines technology, culinary expertise and logistics to deliver smarter, faster and more sustainable food services. The company has raised over €10 million to date and is now entering its European growth phase.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Withdrawal of the ‘standard essential patents’ proposal – E-002938/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002938/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    José Cepeda (S&D)

    During the exchange of views on the priorities of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 15 July 2025 in the Committee on Legal Affairs, the current Council Presidency stated that it was ready to restart negotiations on the ‘standard essential patents’ file once the Commission definitively decides whether or not to withdraw the proposal.

    The problems that arise during negotiations between companies that hold essential patents and other companies that need to use patent-protected technology to develop their products, for example in the automotive and domestic appliance industries, remain unresolved. The regulation would help many EU companies, particularly SMEs, by balancing their positions in negotiations with third parties on an issue as sensitive as telecommunications patents.

    In light of the answer to question E-001708/2025[1] and the answer given by the EU Council Presidency:

    What is the Commission planning to do in relation to the proposal?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-001708_EN.html
    Last updated: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Domestic violence and child protection in Greece – E-002933/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002933/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Carolina Morace (The Left)

    An Italian resident in Greece has reported serious incidents of domestic violence by her former spouse, including documented beatings of their children, who are minors. Despite complaints, psychological reports and statements from children, the man has been acquitted, against a backdrop that suggests a biased approach to justice and that external pressure was applied .

    The Istanbul Convention, ratified by the EU and Greece, imposes clear prevention and victim protection measures. It is complemented by Directive (EU) 2024/1385, which lays down binding obligations on Member States with regard to the protection of victims, the recognition of the rights of child witnesses and victims of violence, along with effective and non-discriminatory judicial procedures.

    The case also raises doubts about observance of fundamental rights, including the protection of children and the prohibition of inhuman treatment, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of any similar cases, particularly in Greece?
    • 2.Does it take the view that Greece is in breach of its obligations under EU law, the Istanbul Convention and Directive (EU) 2024/1385?
    • 3.What instruments will it use to ensure that European children exposed to domestic violence are properly protected?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    Last updated: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Need to reinforce and extend cold treatments to all citrus fruit imports – E-003001/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-003001/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Carmen Crespo Díaz (PPE)

    The cold treatment applied to certain citrus fruit imports from third countries is an essential tool that prevents pests from entering the Union and threatening EU production. However, this mandatory procedure currently only applies to products such as oranges and not to equally vulnerable citrus fruits such as mandarins and grapefruits. Excluding these fruits is a source of concern for EU producers, who warn that the practice could lead to phytosanitary risks and unfair competition, especially in production regions such as southern and eastern Spain. In recent months, over 70 % of interceptions of pests in imported citrus fruit from third countries was connected to mandarins and grapefruits.

    In light of these concerns:

    • 1.Will the Commission reinforce and extend the mandatory cold treatment procedure to all citrus fruit imports – including mandarins and grapefruits – to ensure effective phytosanitary protection?
    • 2.What control and monitoring mechanisms is the Commission applying to ensure that cold treatments are done on the product and not simply in the container?

    Submitted: 18.7.2025

    Last updated: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Non-compliance with legislation in relation to the project to construct photovoltaic plants in Granada’s Albaicín district, and its impacts – E-002781/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002781/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lina Gálvez (S&D)

    The Granada municipal council has approved a project to build three photovoltaic plants covering over 30 000 m² in Granada’s Albaicín district – more specifically, in the Alhambra, Generalife and Albaicín UNESCO World Heritage site as well as in the Darro valley, which is a Spanish Site of Cultural Interest.

    This project affects the view of a World Heritage site (Alhambra, Generalife and Albaicín) and a Spanish Site of Cultural Interest (Darro valley), as well as their respective buffer zones.

    In light of reports warning about the impact the project will have on an area at high risk of desertification, the damage it will cause to the surrounding landscape and the existence of a unique archaeological site in the same area:

    • 1.Does the Commission believe that this project complies with EU legislation protecting cultural heritage, in particular the Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ETS 174) and environmental legislation?
    • 2.What action could the Commission take to both ensure the project complies with EU rules safeguarding cultural heritage and landscapes of outstanding value, and review the legality of the project’s approval under the existing legal framework?

    Submitted: 9.7.2025

    Last updated: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: Greene signs €224 million financing deal with EIB and Santander to invest in non-recyclable waste recovery

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The financing will be used to build five innovative plants that will convert more than 200 000 tonnes of waste a year into raw materials for industry.
    • Approximately 50% of the financing will come from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the other 50% from Santander.
    • The project supports the circular economy, climate action and cohesion between regions.

    Greene Enterprise has signed a €224 million financing deal with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Santander to build five innovative industrial plants in Spain for the treatment of non-recyclable waste. Greene is a Spanish company offering an innovative technology solution for the treatment and recycling of industrial and urban solid waste, biomass and sludge, diverting it from incineration and landfill.

    Expected to be operational between 2026 and 2029, the plants will convert this waste into high-value industrial products through advanced pyrolysis technology. They will all concentrate on extracting value from the reject fraction – waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills or incinerated.

    The total treatment capacity of the five plants will exceed 200 000 tonnes a year. The waste will be converted into pyrolytic oil, char and other reusable materials for industry, supporting the circular economy and helping reduce CO2 emissions.

    The projects to be financed are located in Muel (Zaragoza), La Selva del Camp (Tarragona), San Cristóbal de Entreviñas (Zamora), Madridejos (Toledo) and As Somozas (A Coruña). The Valogreene CML Madridejos and Valogreene Recinor As Somozas plants are in the final phase of construction and are expected to be commissioned in 2026. Two of the plants have been designated as priority interest projects by the autonomous communities of Aragón and Galicia, underscoring their strategic nature.

    The construction and commissioning of the Valogreene plants will help boost the local economy and create jobs in the towns where they are located. Once operational, each plant is expected to create more than 20 direct jobs and more than 40 indirect jobs.

    The project supports the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and contributes to the EIB’s strategic priorities of climate action and cohesion between regions set out in its Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027.

    Photo legend: Valogreene Recinor As Somozas plant

    Background information

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Agreement, as pledged in its Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for citizens.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    Greene

    Greene Enterprise was founded in 2011 by four chemistry entrepreneurs from Elche, Alicante. Its shareholders include two major investment groups. Greene currently has more than 130 employees.

    The company provides the market with an innovative and efficient technology that addresses the need to manage and eliminate materials classified as waste, diverting them from landfill and incineration. This solution applies to various types of waste, notably industrial solid waste, urban solid waste, biomass and water treatment sludge.

    Our technology enables the efficient conversion of solid waste into high-quality raw materials. We use an integrated approach that combines advanced separation techniques and innovative chemical processes to extract reusable materials.

    The Valogreene solid waste material recovery plants developed by Greene target the currently non-recoverable reject fraction of waste and convert it into sustainable raw materials such as oils, calcium carbonate-rich materials, activated carbon, synthetic waxes and hydrogen. This is achieved through a sustainable and profitable thermosconversion process that aligns with circular economy principles and supports 2030 targets.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters and projects for media use are available here: https://www.greene.es/multimedia/

    Santander

    Banco Santander (SAN SM) is a leading commercial bank founded in 1857, headquartered in Spain. It is one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalisation. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform, providing services to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2025, Banco Santander had €1.4 trillion in total funds, 175 million customers, 7 900 branches and 207 000 employees.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – NATO pro-war propaganda menacing Europe’s security and sowing panic among people – E-002925/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002925/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Petra Steger (PfE)

    On 9 July 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned of a coordinated attack by China and Russia against the West in the event of war, following a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Rutte has stated that the Western alliance assumes that: ‘If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin … telling him … ‘I need you to keep them busy in Europe’[1]. On 5 July 2025, Rutte told the New York Times that such a scenario was highly likely[2]. In view of the ever closer security ties between the EU and NATO, such statements paint a highly dangerous picture of escalation based not on sound analysis but rather on politically motivated speculation that is frightening the European public and further aggravating the foreign policy climate.

    • 1.Does the Commission share the assessment that Russia and China would launch a double military strike against the West in the event of war?
    • 2.How does the Commission assess the impact on the European public of security policy speculation such as that made by Rutte, particularly with regard to scaremongering and the risk of escalation?
    • 3.Does the Commission acknowledge that security and defence policy is primarily the responsibility of the Member States and that, for neutral states such as Austria, any political or institutional rapprochement with NATO structures would undermine their neutrality?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/nato-china-wird-laut-rutte-vor-angriff-auf-taiwan-russland-einschalten/100140614.html
    • [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/magazine/mark-rutte-interview.html
    Last updated: 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Concerns over Israeli online campaigns and enforcement of DSA obligations – E-002936/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002936/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Brando Benifei (S&D), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Catarina Martins (The Left), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Laura Ballarín Cereza (S&D), Thomas Bajada (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Camilla Laureti (S&D), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Daniel Attard (S&D), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Nacho Sánchez Amor (S&D), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Nela Riehl (Verts/ALE), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D), Lucia Yar (Renew), Udo Bullmann (S&D), Rima Hassan (The Left), Alessandro Zan (S&D), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Nikos Pappas (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Marta Temido (S&D), Michael McNamara (Renew)

    The UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, an Italian citizen, has been targeted by coordinated smear campaigns and deceptive paid advertisements linked to the Israeli government[1][2]. This targeting of a European citizen engaged in vital human rights work undermines her safety, professional reputation and the EU’s duty to shield its citizens from harassment and disinformation online.

    Since October 2023, Israeli government-affiliated actors have conducted extensive digital advertisement campaigns targeting EU users on platforms such as Google, YouTube and X. The campaigns feature graphic war imagery and emotionally charged, sometimes misleading claims, and they often lack clear ‘political’ labelling. Reports indicate possible misuse of advertising accounts, microtargeting of EU citizens and missing entries in transparency databases, with some advertisements impersonating trusted entities such as the UNRWA.

    This pattern raises concerns about compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), particularly on advertisement transparency (Article 26), systemic risk mitigation (Articles 34 and 35) and crisis response (Article 36).

    • 1.How is the Commission investigating potential DSA breaches by very large online platforms related to transparency, targeting and circumvention of political advertisment rules by Israeli state actors?
    • 2.What steps is the Commission taking to ensure platforms address systemic risks, including disinformation, manipulative advertisement formats and exposure of minors to harmful content?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    • [1] The Guardian, article entitled ‘UN expert on Palestine targeted by coordinated smear campaign, investigation finds’, 13 March 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/13/un-expert-palestine-coordinated-smear-campaign-francesca-albanese.
    • [2] Fanpage.it article entitled ‘Il governo israeliano sta comprando annunci su Google per screditare Francesca Albanese: l’indagine di Fanpage.it’, 9 July 2025, https://www.fanpage.it/innovazione/tecnologia/il-governo-israeliano-sta-comprando-annunci-su-google-per-screditare-francesca-albanese-lindagine-di-fanpage-it/.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Security: WATCH: Phone thieves arrested within minutes of targeting store in the West End

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers arrested three men within minutes of a burglary at a phone shop in the West End.

    We were called at 19:17hrs on Thursday, 24 July to reports of a burglary at the O2 store in Tottenham Court Road.

    Officers responded quickly and detained the suspects nearby in Cranleigh Street. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and taken into custody where they remain.

    The men, aged 25, 24 and 18, reportedly entered the store wearing balaclavas and were reported to have stolen around 100 iPhones and a number of Apple Watches with an estimated value of £100,000.

    These were recovered from a car stopped by officers. A large machete was also found.

    Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, responsible for policing in Camden, said:

    “We know people are concerned about crime in the West End and these arrests are just one example of the hard work officers are doing every day to proactively target offenders and make the area safer.

    “We’re working closely with businesses to focus on tackling the crimes that cause a misery to the lives of their staff, as well as residents and visitors.

    “Across London we’re arresting 1,000s more criminals each month, neighbourhood crime is down 19 per cent and we’ve solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year.

    “Through precise community crimefighting we will continue to focus our resources and bear down on prolific offenders and criminal gangs.”

    Last month the Met arrested 10 men as part of a separate investigation into robberies at phone shops in London and across the south of England.

    Flying Squad detectives worked to identify an organised crime group believed to be behind 13 robberies between February and early June.

    The Met’s relentless focus on driving down crimes that matter most to the public in first six weeks of this financial year has seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year across London:

    • Knife crime – down by 18.1 per cent
    • Residential burglary – down by 17.7 per cent
    • Theft from the person – down by 15.6 per cent
    • Personal robbery – down by 12.8 per cent
    • Shoplifting – solved 163 per cent more cases this year than in the same period as last year

    Get the latest updates from Met neighbourhood officers straight to your inbox.

    Met Engage is a free messaging service that keeps you connected to what’s happening in your area. Whether its crime updates, safety advice, or news from your local policing team, you’ll get the information that matters to you — when it matters most.

    By signing up here, you’ll join thousands of others who are already receiving trusted updates from their local police.

    MIL Security OSI