NewzIntel.com

Blog

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Scott Perry Earns NFIB “Guardian of Small Business Award”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

    Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Congressman Scott Perry accepted the prestigious Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a leading small business advocacy organization.

    “This Congress, small businesses faced tough economic headwinds, especially from inflation, burdensome regulations, and threats of tax hikes at all levels of the government,” said NFIB President Brad Close. “We are proud to recognize the lawmakers from the 118th Congress, including Congressman Scott Perry, who stood up for Main Street by taking pro-small business votes that would reduce taxes, eliminate burdensome government mandates, lower health insurance costs, and fuel the Main Street economy.”

    The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is presented to Members of Congress with a demonstrated record of supporting America’s small and independent business owners.

    “I’m proud to earn the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award. Small businesses are the foundation of the American economy,” said Congressman Scott Perry. “As a former small business owner myself, I will continue the fight to protect Main Street businesses by cutting taxes, spending responsibly, and slashing unnecessary and burdensome red tape that is killing our small businesses and wrecking the backbone of our Nation.”

    NFIB’s Guardian of Small Business Award is reserved for lawmakers who vote consistently with small businesses on key issues identified by small business owners. As the voice of small business, NFIB is the only business organization whose policy positions are established by NFIB members directly.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Rep. Rose’s Bill Passes U.S. House of Representatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, H.R. 4657, a bill introduced by U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a broader legislative package by a vote of 215-203-1.

    U.S. Rep. Rose released the following statement:

    “Retirement accounts are at risk of underperforming due to left-wing activist investors forcing public companies to take social and political positions that diminish economic growth,” said Rep. Rose. “My bill, which I am extremely proud to have led its passage through the U.S. House, prevents this from happening. ESG investments have no place in Tennesseans’ retirement accounts, and I am proud to have led the charge in the U.S. House to return retirement portfolios to what matters most—maximizing gains.”

    Rep. Rose delivered the following remarks on the House Floor during debate of H.R. 4790, which included the text of his legislation. Watch here.

    “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, economic growth has been sacrificed to pursue a woke agenda detrimental to Tennesseans. This is one of the many reasons I rise in support of my Michigan colleague’s legislation, H.R. 4790. The Tennesseans I represent can be assured that I will continue to prioritize working families over the woke, socialist agenda known as ESG that far-left progressives are inserting into retirement accounts.

    “My bill, that is included in this package, would protect retail investors and retirement savings from left wing, activist shareholders and socially directed investment funds abusing the shareholder process to advance their progressive political agendas. Activist investors that force companies to take social positions on issues like abortion and climate change shouldn’t be making business decisions.

    “My bill would offer companies respite from these harmful and extremist shareholder proposals, which is why my bill is referred to as the RESPITE Act in the Senate.

    “Tennesseeans know firsthand how woke priorities don’t align with our values or our financial interests. That’s why we stood up to Tractor Supply Company and forced them to care about people again and not politics.

    “When the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, came after our farmers to collect ESG-related information, the Tennessee Attorney General’s office sued the SEC to remind them that they were overstepping by engaging in environmental policy.

    “Tennessee is proud to lead the charge against the woke agenda championed by the Biden-Harris Administration.

    “That’s why, Mister Speaker, I urge Members to join me in voting ‘Yes’ on H.R. 4790 so that we can turn the focus back on promoting economic growth and not social wokeness.”

    Background:

    On July 19th U.S. Representative John Rose introduced H.R. 4657 to protect retail investors and retirement savings from activist shareholders and socially-directed investment funds abusing the shareholder process to advance their activist and oftentimes progressive political agendas.

    Currently, under the SEC’s recent Staff Legal Bulletin 14-L, significant social policy issues, like climate-related proposals, no longer need to have a nexus between an individual company and the policy to be included in a proxy statement. This makes it easier for activists to force public companies to take positions on social and political issues.  Under Chair Gensler, the SEC has tasked unelected bureaucrats with making subjective judgments about whether a company should include these proposals on its proxy statement.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Escobar Celebrates Bridge of the Americas Modernization Project

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

    Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) celebrated the General Services Administration (GSA)’s adoption of Viable Action Alternative #4 for the Bridge of the Americas (Puente Libre, BOTA) project. Viable Action Alternative #4, one of several design proposals, which removes all commercial cargo operations and modernizes the bridge with a focus on customer service and environmental justice, comes after years of work and commitment by the Congresswoman to ensure that BOTA is modernized in a way that responds to El Pasoans needs and challenges, including the health and environmental risks posed to residents near the bridge caused by idling commercial traffic.

    “After years of advocacy and work for the modernization of our ports of entry, with particular care given to health and environmental impacts on El Pasoans, I am so excited to announce that GSA has finalized the best (and most popular) design option for the Bridge of the Americas,” Congresswoman Escobar said. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Biden- Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice, we are one step closer to delivering transformational investment – over $650 million – to our border region which will lead to cleaner air and a healthier community for generations to come. I look forward to seeing these designs come to life for a land port that will prioritize El Pasoans, create jobs, and promote economic growth and development for our community. I’m grateful to GSA and CBP who were great partners throughout this process, and grateful to all El Pasoans who took part in these important conversations.”

    $650 – $700 million was appropriated to GSA for Bridge of the Americas modernization in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law by President Biden in November of 2021. Congresswoman Escobar was the only representative in this region to vote in favor of the funding.

    Since the funding announcement – Congresswoman Escobar and her office have held a series of listening sessions, public engagements, and surveys with community leaders, neighborhood associations, business and environmental stakeholders, alongside both Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and GSA. These sessions were critical in ensuring the GSA and CBP made decisions based on facts and community input.

     

    Congresswoman Escobar’s Push to Remove Commercial Traffic and Prioritize El Pasoans at the Bridge of the Americas: 

    • August 2022– Congresswoman Escobar hosted a meeting with GSA to kick off stakeholder engagement for the BOTA modernization. Local government, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), Department of State, HOME, neighborhood associations near the bridge and other stakeholders attended to learn about the process. GSA committed to robust community engagement throughout the design concept and environmental impact process. 
    • GSA hosted a series of community meetings beginning in Fall 2022, where the Congresswoman helped ensure local community members were present and their voices heard at the highest levels 
    • April 7, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar met with GSA to provide feedback on concerns and issues shared with her by El Paso stakeholders.
    • July 5, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar met with members of the San Xavier, Chamizal, and Washington-Delta neighborhood associations regarding their experiences with past construction projects impacting their communities and their concerns about the BOTA modernization project.  
    • July 19, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar sent a letter to GSA requesting a Health Impact Assessment to be included as part of the Environmental Impact Survey process. 
    • October 19, 2023 –Congresswoman Escobar announced a series of listening sessionson BOTA with various stakeholders and sent out an email survey asking constituents their opinion on commercial traffic at BOTA.  
    • October 27, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a convening of governmental stakeholders- United States federally, Texas state, local and Ciudad Juarez and State of Chihuahua attending. 
    • November 13, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a virtual town hall with a legislative update, including an update on the BOTA LPOE modernization project, with over 2,000 constituents in attendance. 
    • November 17,  2023 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a listening session with US and Mexico industry leaders (maquilas, custom brokers, trucking companies, etc) 
    • January 2024 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a listening session at the Chamizal Recreational Center with GSA, IBWC, and CBP leadership to hear from the community members including Familias Unidas, San Xavier and Washington-Delta Neighborhood Associations 
    • May 2024 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a meeting with GSA, CBP, City and County to discuss BOTA and what can be done for City and County to prepare for additional traffic at other ports of entry. 
    • July 2024 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted an update meeting with local and federal governmental stakeholders for BOTA, including Juarez Mayor and ANAM Director.

    More information about the Bridge of the Americas project and Alternative #4 can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: City of Chehalis Gets Nearly $1M Grant to Plan Hydrogen Fueling Facility at Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    09.20.24
    City of Chehalis Gets Nearly $1M Grant to Plan Hydrogen Fueling Facility at Airport
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that the City of Chehalis will receive a $994,653 federal grant to help plan a proposed hydrogen fueling facility as part of the Chehalis Hub for Aviation Innovation and Sustainable Energy (CHAISE) at Chehalis-Centralia Airport.
    The grant will fund a feasibility study, design services, and public engagement for the proposed multimodal hydrogen fueling facility. The development may include a fueling station, on-site storage, or hydrogen generation. The Chehalis-Centralia Airport is an ideal location for a hydrogen fueling center, since it’s halfway between Seattle and Portland and close to I-5. Chehalis is also seeking funding from the SMART grant program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant program.
    Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces no dirty emissions — only water. Hydrogen can be produced from existing power resources, such as solar and hydropower.
    The grant was awarded through the Department of Transportation’s Innovative Finance Asset Concession Grant Program, administered by the Build America Bureau, and is a new program authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The program provides $100 million over five years to help public entities scan existing assets to unlock value from them and explore innovative financing and delivery opportunities through, e.g., the Build America Bureau’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act?(TIFIA) low-cost loan program. The program awards two types of grants: technical assistance grants and expert services grants. According to USDOT,  the technical assistance grants will use the funding to enhance their organizational capacity and advance a portfolio of assets by conducting pre-construction tasks, such as asset scans, market studies, delivery option analyses, financial modeling, and other activities considering innovative finance and delivery, including asset concessions. The expert services grants will use the funding to hire advisors to analyze a specific existing asset for innovative financing and delivery opportunities, including public-private partnerships.
    Sen. Cantwell has helped position the Pacific Northwest to be a leader in hydrogen production. In July 2023, she announced that the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) will receive $27.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to kickstart the first phase of a $1 billion federal investment to develop hydrogen as a green energy source in the region. She called the July announcement “a huge milestone in our region’s efforts to create a hydrogen ecosystem that can help provide clean and affordable alternative fuels for our heavy-duty transportation and manufacturing facilities.”
    Sen. Cantwell worked to include the H2Hubs program and other key hydrogen investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law during consideration in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where she served as a senior member, in July 2021, and pushed for its successful passage through the Senate.
    Together with the clean hydrogen incentives included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), these investments represent a historic investment that will help spur hydrogen to be an important piece of the decarbonizing puzzle needed to reach our climate goals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canada announces significant funding to boost critical mineral development in northern British Columbia and Yukon

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 20, 2024 Vancouver, British Columbia Natural Resources Canada

    Investments in critical minerals infrastructure are needed to ensure Canada seizes the unique opportunity presented by the shift to a low-carbon economy and capitalizes on its rich mineral resources. The country is well positioned to be a global leader and leading producer of a wide range of critical minerals that are essential to fueling the clean economy, and in doing so, create good jobs and economic opportunities across the critical minerals value chain – from upstream exploration and extraction to downstream processing, manufacturing and recycling.

    The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, together with the Honourable Josie Osborne, British Columbia Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and the Honourable Ranj Pillai, Premier of Yukon, today announced, subject to a final due diligence review by Natural Resources Canada, funding of up to $60 million for two critical minerals infrastructure projects in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle and Yukon. The funding would come from the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF).

    Galore Creek Mining Corporation (Galore Creek) plans to build a 43-kilometre access road to facilitate the development of its copper mine in Tahltan territory in northwestern British Columbia. The Galore Creek deposit contains over 12 billion pounds of copper. Once operational, the mine will significantly increase Canada’s annual supply of the metal. Construction of the access road would connect the mine project to existing road infrastructure, providing overland access to the proposed mill and processing facilities, and creating a transmission corridor for the mine to tap into BC Hydro’s low-emission electricity grid. Road improvements are essential to advancing critical mineral development in northwestern British Columbia, in partnership with First Nations. Subject to final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved a CMIF investment of up to $20 million for this project.

    The Yukon government is seeking to undertake pre-feasibility activities to support a 765-kilometre high-voltage transmission line that would connect the Yukon electricity grid to the North American grid in British Columbia. It includes the development of energy infrastructure in two priority areas for critical mineral development: the Cassiar-Tanana region in Yukon and the Golden Triangle region in British Columbia. The transmission line would support critical mineral production projects such as cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, platinum group metals, tungsten and zinc in Yukon and northern British Columbia. Subject to final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved an investment of up to $40 million in CMIF funding for this project.

    The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund is a key program under Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy that aims to address infrastructure gaps and ensure the sustainable production of critical minerals and the flow of resources to market through transportation, electrification and clean energy infrastructure projects. Further funding decisions on critical minerals infrastructure development projects under the CMIF are expected in the coming months.

    These projects, which benefit from close collaboration within the regional tables on energy and resources British Columbia and Yukon, along with the recently announced Northwest British Columbia Highway Corridor Improvement Project, are fundamental initiatives to facilitate the development of critical minerals in the Golden Triangle and Yukon. British Columbia’s Golden Triangle has significant mineral potential and contains approximately 75% of Canada’s known copper reserves. Copper is critical to a variety of industrial processes and is a fundamental component of electrical wires, electronics and renewable energy systems such as solar panels and wind turbines.

    Critical minerals are fundamental components of products used in clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, power transmission lines and batteries. British Columbia and Yukon’s mining sectors provide many of the building blocks for the clean technologies needed to combat climate change and build a clean economy. Across the country, clean energy solutions represent enormous economic opportunities.

    Quotes

    “These two projects, delivered through the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy’s flagship program, will help build the infrastructure needed to access and transport our rich critical mineral resources in northern British Columbia and the Yukon. Projects like these accelerate mine construction and allow us to seize this unique opportunity. We need these investments to support critical mineral development in the region, improve community accessibility and safety, and create good mining jobs in British Columbia and the Yukon.”

    The Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson

    Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

    “British Columbia is home to the critical minerals Canada and the world need to build a clean economy. We have a unique opportunity to create good jobs not only in northwest British Columbia, but in communities across the province that supply and service our mining sector. That is why we are working with Canada and First Nations to make the infrastructure improvements needed to unlock billions of dollars of investment in new critical mineral mines like Galore Creek, creating new opportunities for people and communities.”

    The Honourable Josie Osborne

    British Columbia Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

    “The Grid Connect project is not just an energy project; it is a transformative initiative for all Yukoners. It will provide clean, affordable and reliable energy that will not only power our homes, but also drive economic and social growth. I thank our partners in British Columbia and the federal government for their collaboration on this important project that will benefit our northern communities. Our government is proud to take this step toward a more sustainable energy future.”

    Honourable Ranj Pillai

    Premier of Yukon

    “This project will connect Canada’s two westernmost territories and help integrate Yukon’s electricity grid with North America. It marks an important step in our shared journey to create a more connected and resilient energy landscape for Yukoners, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. My sincere thanks to all those whose hard work and dedication made this goal a reality. I look forward to seeing how this progress will clean up Yukon’s energy, help protect our incredible natural landscapes, and create opportunities for economic growth.”

    The Honourable John Streicker

    Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

    “We would like to thank Minister Wilkinson and the Government of Canada for their contributions to the development of the Galore Creek Mine and, by extension, Canada’s critical minerals industry. Canada’s support for the Galore Creek Mine demonstrates confidence in our project, our owners, our relationship with the Tahltan Nation, and our commitment to responsibly developing a world-class copper-gold mine.”

    Rob Mean

    Managing Director, Galore Creek Mining Corporation

    “The Galore Creek mine has the potential to significantly increase Canadian production of the copper needed to support the energy transition and global development, creating jobs and economic activity, which aligns with Teck’s goal as a Canadian metals company enabling the energy transition. This investment by the Government of Canada will support the development of the infrastructure needed to advance critical mineral projects and strengthen the country’s mining sector.”

    Jonathan Price

    President and CEO, Teck Resources Limited

    “Newmont is an equal partner in the Galore Creek project with Teck Resources. The Galore Creek mine is Canada’s largest non-developed copper project and could play a critical role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Global demand for copper is exploding, and we are facing a shortage that underscores the importance of the project. The investment in a critical mine road, made through the Government of Canada’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, will help unlock the project and unleash the significant critical mineral potential of this region of northwest British Columbia.”

    Bernard Wessels

    General Manager, North America, Newmont Corporation

    Quick Facts

    Canada has developed its own critical minerals strategy with the aim of promoting the development of these resources and related value chains to contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy and support advanced manufacturing and technologies.

    There Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy has five main objectives:

    supporting economic growth, competitiveness and job creation; promoting climate action and strong environmental stewardship; strengthening global security and partnerships with allies; advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and communities.

    Canada’s whole-of-government approach to critical minerals development is collaborative, forward-looking, iterative, adaptive and long-term. The initiatives outlined in the Strategy will be implemented and refined in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, industry and other partners in Canada and internationally.

    The FIMC is a flagship program of the Strategy that supports transportation and clean energy infrastructure projects needed to increase Canada’s supply of critical minerals from responsible sources.

    The FIMC supports a variety of strategic priorities, including: decarbonizing mining industry operations, strengthening supply chains through the deployment of transportation infrastructure, and advancing economic reconciliation by supporting the participation of Indigenous peoples in critical infrastructure and mineral projects.

    The federal government also supports the development of Canada’s abundant critical mineral resources through regional tables on energy and resources of Natural Resources Canada. These regional tables are joint partnerships established with each provincial and territorial government that, in collaboration with Indigenous partners and with input from key stakeholders, seek to identify and accelerate the achievement of shared economic priorities for a low-carbon future in the energy and resource sectors.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Natural Resources CanadaMedia Relations343-292-6100media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Cindy CaturaoPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources613-795-5638cindy.caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Swan River — Swan River RCMP looking for man involved in shooting

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 18, 2024, at approximately 8:00 am, Swan River RCMP received a report of a female who had been brought to the Swan Valley Health Centre who had wounds from a firearm.

    The investigation has determined that a 48-year-old female from the community was walking outside of a multi-unit residence in Swan River when she was shot by someone in a passing vehicle. The female approached a passerby and got them to drive her to the Swan Valley Health Centre.

    A white SUV was seen in the area and police believed it was involved in the incident. Police located the SUV and determined the female registered owner of the vehicle was not involved. However, evidence that a firearm was used was located inside the vehicle, and the vehicle was seized.

    Officers continue to look for information about the shooting, but do not believe this was a random incident.

    The victim was treated and released from hospital.

    If you have information, please call Swan River RCMP at 204-734-4686, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Moncton, Shediac, Long Creek  — Five people arrested following Alert Ready message

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Five individuals have been arrested following an Alert Ready that was issued for the Moncton and Shediac areas, in N.B., while police were searching for an armed individual.

    At approximately 1 p.m., on September 20, 2024, the Codiac Regional RCMP was dispatched to a report of an individual brandishing a firearm near Moncton High School, in Moncton. When police arrived, they were able to quickly identify a 15-year-old suspect.

    Upon further investigation, and in the interest of public and student safety, the New Brunswick RCMP issued an Alert Ready message at 2:48 p.m. Police were searching for a person travelling in a grey Dodge Caravan in the Moncton area, after last being seen near Moncton High School. Police provided a photo and of the suspect and vehicle. The public was asked to not approach and to call 911 immediately if they saw the vehicle or an individual associated with the vehicle.

    At approximately 3:45 p.m., five individuals were located and arrested, including the 15-year-old suspect in the Long Creek area, near Codys. The Dodge Caravan that was involved in the incident, was seized and will be towed to a secure location. The New Brunswick RCMP ended the Alert Ready a short time after the arrests.

    The public can expect an increased police presence in the Long Creek and Codys areas as part of the ongoing RCMP investigation.

    Members of the New Brunswick RCMP’s Air Services, Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, Caledonia Region and Codiac Regional general duty members all played significant roles arresting these individuals.

    If you have information regarding this incident that could help further the investigation, please contact the Codiac Regional RCMP at 1-506-857-2400. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

    The New Brunswick RCMP would like to thank the public for their support, assistance and cooperation during this incident.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of $4M International Telemarketing Scheme Convicted

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal jury in North Carolina convicted a man today for his role in orchestrating a years-long telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims in the United States from a call center in Costa Rica.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Roger, 40, of Costa Rica, led a fraudulent telemarketing scheme in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as U.S. government officials, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly, that they stood to receive a significant financial prize, the co-conspirators told victims that they needed to make a series of up-front payments before collecting their supposed prize, purportedly for items such as taxes, customs duties, and other fees. Co-conspirators used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, including Voice over Internet Protocol technology, which made it appear as though they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other locations in the United States. Roger personally called victims from Costa Rica, using fake names and documents to trick the victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes prize. He also recruited and directed co-conspirators to mislead victims on the phone and to transmit victims’ payments from the United States to Costa Rica. The evidence at trial showed that Roger and his co-conspirators stole over $4 million from victims.

    Roger was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of international money laundering. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and the wire fraud counts, because the jury found that these counts involved telemarketing that victimized at least 10 people over the age of 55, and 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering counts. Sentencing will occur at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina; Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The USPIS Atlanta Division, IRS-CI Cincinnati Field Office, and FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. The La Grande, Oregon Police Department and Union County District Attorney Victim Assistance Office provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Costa Rica to secure Roger’s arrest and extradition.

    Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Amanda Fretto Lingwood of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Notorious Mexican Cartel Leader Convicted for International Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    A federal jury convicted Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, also known as El Menchito, today of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine while knowing and intending that they would be imported into the United States, and using, carrying, and brandishing firearms, including destructive devices, in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, following a two-week jury trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2007 and 2017, Oseguera-Gonzalez, 34, led an international drug trafficking organization responsible for importing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Oseguera-Gonzalez was the second in command of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which is based in the State of Jalisco in Mexico. The CJNG is one of the most dangerous drug cartels in Mexico. Oseguera-Gonzalez personally used firearms, destructive devices, murder, and kidnapping to control the drug trafficking organization. Oseguera-Gonzalez also ordered his subordinates to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter so that he could escape capture by Mexican law enforcement.

    “El Menchito led the Jalisco Cartel’s efforts to use murder, kidnapping, and torture to build the Cartel into a self-described ‘empire’ by manufacturing fentanyl and flooding the United States with massive quantities of lethal drugs. Today, fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “El Menchito now joins the growing list of high-ranking Cartel leaders that the Justice Department has convicted in an American courtroom. We are grateful to our Mexican law enforcement partners for their extensive cooperation and sacrifice in holding accountable leaders of the Jalisco Cartel.”

    “Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez pioneered the manufacturing of fentanyl in Mexico to help build his father’s Jalisco Cartel into one of the world’s most powerful drug syndicates. His crimes caused horrific violence and death in the United States, Mexico, and around the globe,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today’s guilty verdict demonstrates that our prosecutors and agents, working with our Mexican law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue justice against the leaders of the drug trafficking organizations who destroy lives and poison our communities.”

    “As second-in-command of CJNG, Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez used extreme violence to traffic massive amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His conviction underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling organizations that manufacture and distribute deadly drugs into our communities. Today’s verdict also sends a powerful message to the cartel leadership: we will work with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to find you and bring you to justice. We are especially grateful to the Mexican authorities for their substantial assistance in this case.”

    “Today’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that the DEA will stop at nothing to investigate and dismantle criminal drug networks that threaten the safety and health of the American people,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “As one of the highest-ranking members of the Jalisco Cartel, Oseguera-Gonzalez was responsible for pushing vast quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States while engaging in violence, kidnapping, and bribery to build and protect the Jalisco Cartel. I commend the men and women of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division for their outstanding work on this case.”

    According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2012 to 2015, Oseguera-Gonzalez oversaw the manufacture of more than three million pounds of methamphetamine in one area of Mexico. In April 2015, Oseguera-Gonzalez personally directed the distribution of over 55,000 pounds of cocaine. According to trial testimony, in October 2013, Oseguera-Gonzalez made plans to “do it big” with counterfeit oxycontin pills—just before the fentanyl epidemic began in the United States. According to witness testimony, the defendant said in 2015 that he was “building an empire with . . . fentanyl.” Oseguera-Gonzalez was arrested by Mexican authorities on local charges in June 2015. He remained detained in Mexico until his extradition to the United States in February 2020. While in prison in Mexico, Oseguera-Gonzalez continued to control the CJNG, negotiating drug transactions and approving the purchase of firearms and destructive devices, including .50 caliber firearms and 40 mm grenades.

    Oseguera-Gonzalez personally used extreme violence to grow and control the cartel. For example, when five men owed Oseguera-Gonzalez money for drugs in the United States, Oseguera-Gonzalez violently killed all five men. On another occasion, the defendant shot one of his drivers in the head a close range. In an intercepted message, Oseguera-Gonzalez also described having 13 people tied up—one of whom he decided to release only after the man agreed to make fentanyl pills for Oseguera-Gonzalez.

    Oseguera-Gonzalez also amassed an arsenal of weapons. His hitmen, which he called the Special Forces of the High Command, used the weapons to protect him and help him escape capture by Mexican authorities. For example, on May 1, 2015, the defendant’s hitmen—acting on Oseguera-Gonzalez’s personal orders—shot down a Mexican armed forces helicopter while 18 soldiers and police were on board. At least nine people on board the helicopter died as a result of Oseguera-Gonzalez’s order. Oseguera-Gonzalez’s men used an Iranian-made rocket-propelled grenade and a .50 caliber belt-fed firearm to shoot down the helicopter. Both weapons were painted with “CJNG” and a pixel camouflage pattern unique to Oseguera-Gonzalez’s hitmen.

    Less than two months after escaping capture, Oseguera-Gonzalez was arrested in Jalisco, Mexico. When he was surrounded by soldiers and police, he brandished an assault weapon and grenade launcher, demanding to be released because he was a member of the CJNG. The weapon Oseguera-Gonzalez used to threaten police bore the same pixel camouflage pattern and was emblazoned with CJNG and Oseguera-Gonzalez’s nicknames: Menchito, 02, and Jr.

    Oseguera-Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 40 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life plus 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The DEA Los Angeles Field Division investigated the case with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing the extradition of Oseguera-Gonzalez and in obtaining important evidence for the trial. The Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance. The Justice Department thanks Mexican authorities for their assistance in securing the extradition of Oseguera-Gonzalez and in securing evidence and testimony presented in court.

    Acting Deputy Chief Kaitlin Sahni and Trial Attorneys Kate Naseef, Jonathan R. Hornok, and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Half-year report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Half-Year Report

    Oxford Technology 2 VCT plc (the “Company”)

    Legal Entity Identifier: 2138002COY2EXJDHWB30

    Unaudited Half Year Report to 31 August 2024

    The unaudited NAV per share for each of the classes are reported below:

    Unaudited NAV p per share 31/08/24 Audited NAV p per share 29/02/24 Change in NAV % Cumulative Dividends p per share to 31/08/24 Total Return p per share Shares in Issue Share Class
    OT1 46.8p 39.7p 18%  55.0 101.8p 5,431,655
    OT2 18.9p 20.4p -7%  22.5 41.4p 5,331,889
    OT3 22.9p 22.4p 2%  42.0 64.9p 6,254,596
    OT4 21.2p 25.3p -16%  48.0 69.2p 10,826,748

    The Directors are pleased to attach the Company’s unaudited Half Year Report to 31 August 2024.

    The associated PDF document can be downloaded by clicking the following link 

    OT2 VCT Plc 2024 2025 Half Year Report FINAL

    or the attachment shown at the bottom of the email.

    The Unaudited Half Year Report may also be downloaded from the Company’s website at www.oxfordtechnologyvct.com.

    At 31 August 2024, the Company’s issued share capital by Share Class is shown in the table above. The Company holds no shares in treasury and the total voting rights in the Company are 27,844,888. This figure of 27,844,888 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

    This announcement contains inside information as stipulated under the UK version of the Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 which is part of English Law by virtue of the European (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

    For further details about the Company please either visit the Company’s website:

    Oxford Technology 2 VCT plc www.oxfordtechnologyvct.com.

    or contact:

    Lucius Cary

    01865784466

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) Receives Royalty Payment for Ownership Stake in Listerine Antiseptic

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Naples, FL, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), a diversified holding company, is pleased to announce the receipt of a royalty payment derived from its ownership stake in Listerine® Antiseptic (Mouthwash), a globally recognized brand in oral hygiene.

    As part of its strategic portfolio, Music Licensing, Inc. holds a valuable interest in the Listerine® brand, which continues to perform exceptionally well in the marketplace. The latest royalty payment reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to maximizing shareholder value through diversified asset holdings, including high-profile consumer goods.

    “We are proud of the steady revenue stream generated from our stake in Listerine® Antiseptic,” said Jake P. Noch, CEO of Music Licensing, Inc. “This payment not only highlights the strength and reliability of our diverse portfolio but also underscores our ability to create sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders.”

    Music Licensing, Inc. continues to pursue strategic investments in both the entertainment and consumer goods sectors, further reinforcing its position as a leader in intellectual property and royalty-based assets.

    About Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) (ProMusicRights.com) 

    Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), also known as Pro Music Rights, is a diversified holding company and the fifth public performance rights organization (PRO) formed in the United States. Its licensees include notable companies such as TikTok, iHeart Media, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, Vevo, and many others. Pro Music Rights holds an estimated market share of 7.4% in the United States, representing over 2,500,000 works by notable artists such as A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Lil Yachty, MoneyBagg Yo, Larry June, Trae Pound, Sauce Walka, Trae Tha Truth, Sosamann, Soulja Boy, Lex Luger, Trauma Tone, Lud Foe, SlowBucks, Gunplay, OG Maco, Rich The Kid, Fat Trel, Young Scooter, Nipsey Hussle, Famous Dex, Boosie Badazz, Shy Glizzy, 2 Chainz, Migos, Gucci Mane, Young Dolph, Trinidad James, Chingy, Lil Gnar, 3OhBlack, Curren$y, Fall Out Boy, Money Man, Dej Loaf, Lil Uzi Vert, and countless others, as well as artificial intelligence (A.I.) created music.

    Additionally, Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) owns royalty stakes in Listerine “Mouthwash” Antiseptic and musical works by artists such as The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Elton John, Mike Posner, blackbear, Lil Nas X, Lil Yachty, DaBaby, Stunna 4 Vegas, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, XXXTentacion, Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign, Eric Bellinger, Ne-Yo, MoneyBagg Yo, Halsey, Desiigner, DaniLeigh, Rihanna, and numerous others.

    Forward-Looking Statements:

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Pro Music Rights, Inc., Music Licensing, Inc., or any other person.

    Non-Legal Advice Disclosure:

    This press release does not constitute legal advice, and readers are advised to seek legal counsel for any legal matters or questions related to the content herein.

    Non-Investment Advice Disclosure:

    This communication is intended solely for informational purposes and does not in any way imply or constitute a recommendation or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, commodities, bonds, options, derivatives, or any other investment products. Any decisions related to investments should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor or professional. We assume no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this communication

    Contact: investors@ProMusicRights.com

    SOURCE: Music Licensing, Inc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Portfolio Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Octopus AIM VCT plc
    Portfolio Update

    The investment portfolio of Octopus AIM VCT plc (the “Company”) as at 20 September 2024 is as follows (the valuations being the unaudited valuations, at bid price, as at 31 July 2024):

    Portfolio Company Sector Book cost (£’000) Movement in valuation (£’000) Fair Value
    (£’000)
    Breedon Group plc Construction & Building 859 5,316 6,175
    Hasgrove plc1 Unquoted Investment 88 5,666 5,754
    Judges Scientific plc Electronic & Electrical 256 3,737 3,993
    Learning Technologies Group plc Support Services 1,051 2,288 3,339
    Popsa Holdings Ltd1 Unquoted Investment 1,590 1,596 3,186
    Craneware plc Software & Computer Services 183 2,964 3,147
    Mattioli Woods plc Specialty & Other Finance 529 2,599 3,128
    Brooks Macdonald Group plc Specialty & Other Finance 746 2,287 3,033
    IDOX plc Software & Computer Services 353 2,622 2,975
    GB Group plc Software & Computer Services 505 2,360 2,865
    Netcall plc Telecommunication Services 308 2,445 2,753
    Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc Engineering & Machinery 2,156 49 2,205
    PCI-Pal plc Software & Computer Services 1,294 909 2,203
    Equipmake Holdings plc Electronic & Electrical 2,121 41 2,162
    Beeks Financial Cloud Group plc Software & Computer Services 450 1,676 2,126
    Vertu Motors plc General Retailers 1,265 639 1,904
    Next Fifteen Communications Group plc Media & Entertainment 453 1,402 1,855
    Maxcyte Inc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 1,035 694 1,729
    Diaceutics plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 930 648 1,578
    Animalcare Group plc Food Producers & Processors 306 1,224 1,530
    SDI Group plc Electronic & Electrical 179.00 1,249 1,428
    Pulsar Group plc Software & Computer Services 678 515 1,193
    EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc Health 767 413 1,180
    Abingdon Health plc Medical Equipment and Services 1,615 (467) 1,148
    GENinCode plc Medical Equipment and Services 2,001 (876) 1,125
    Gamma Communications plc Telecommunication Services 274 789 1,063
    Itaconix plc Industrial 1,588 (529) 1,059
    Eden Research plc Industrial 1,620 (573) 1,047
    Sosandar plc General Retailers 1,853 (806) 1,047
    Verici Dx plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 1,551 (587) 964
    Nexteq plc Technology Hardware 507 429 936
    Strip Tinning Holdings plc Loan Notes Electronic & Electrical 900 – 900
    Cambridge Cognition Holdings plc Health 1,075 (216) 859
    Haydale Graphene Industries plc Chemicals 1,857 (1,025) 832
    Gear4music Holdings plc General Retailers 529 148 677
    TPXimpact Holdings plc Support Services 979 (317) 662
    Oberon Investments Group plc Investment Banking & Brokerage Services 864 (220) 644
    Cranswick plc Food Producers & Processors 606 37 643
    Ricardo Construction & Building 602 33 635
    Wise Industrial 606 7 613
    Feedback plc Software & Computer Services 1,500 (896) 604
    GSK plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 603 (32) 571
    Ilika Electronic & Electrical 1,058 (509) 549
    DP Poland plc Leisure & Hotels 1,016 (519) 497
    Restore plc Support Services 256 233 489
    Gooch & Housego plc Electronic & Electrical 422 60 482
    RWS Holdings plc Support Services 143 316 459
    MyCelx Technologies Corporation Oil Services 1,470 (1,014) 456
    Bytes Technology Group plc Software & Computer Services 489 (42) 447
    Mears Group plc Support Services 139 304 443
    Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc Health 284 148 432
    Velocity Composites plc Engineering & Machinery 799 (404) 395
    Creo Medical Group plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 1,471 (1,118) 353
    Northcoders Group plc Software & Computer Services 380 (63) 317
    Alusid Limited1 Unquoted Investment 300 – 300
    Crimson Tide plc Software & Computer Services 567 (283) 284
    JTC plc Investment Banking & Brokerage Services 248 36 284
    Ixico plc Health 1,046 (794) 252
    Rosslyn Data Technologies plc Software & Computer Services 969 (759) 210
    Tan Delta Systems plc Electronic & Electrical 453 (252) 201
    Libertine holdings plc Industrial Engineering 3,000 (2,805) 195
    Gelion plc Electronic & Electrical 1,140 (951) 189
    Rosslyn Data Technologies plc (convertible loan) Software & Computer Services 180 – 180
    ENGAGE XR Holdings Software & Computer Services 1,879 (1,709) 170
    KRM22 plc Software & Computer Services 681 (511) 170
    LungLife AI Inc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 2,079 (1,925) 154
    Staffline Group plc Industrial Support Services 334 (192) 142
    Strip Tinning Holdings plc Electronic & Electrical 506 (397) 109
    XP Factory plc Leisure & Hotels 988 (882) 106
    TheraCryf plc Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Marijuana Producers 1,050 (952) 98
    Enteq technologies plc Oil Services 1,032 (960) 72
    1Spatial plc Support Services 300 (235) 65
    DXS International plc Software & Computer Services 300 (255) 45
    Fusion Antibodies plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 745 (717) 28
    Tasty plc Leisure & Hotels 516 (498) 18
    Genedrive Plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 217 (206) 11
    Trackwise Designs plc Electronic & Electrical 1,934 (1,934) –
    Cloudified Holdings Limited Software & Computer Services 900 (900) –
    Airnow plc1 Unquoted Investment 1,257 (1,257) –
    Microsaic Systems plc Engineering & Machinery 1,384 (1,384) –
    Rated People Ltd1 Unquoted Investment 354 (354) –
    ReNeuron Group plc Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 1,485 (1,485) –
    Sorted Group Holdings Plc Software & Computer Services 763 (763) –
    The British Honey Company plc General Retailers 1,321 (1,321) –
    The Food Marketplace Ltd1 Retailers 300 (300) –
    Eluceda Limited1 Pharmaceuticals & Biotech 300 (300) –

    Since 31 July 2024 Octopus AIM VCT plc has made £1.2 million investments and £0.1 million disposals. 

    Unless otherwise stated, all the investments set out above: 

    – are not quoted on regulated markets; 
    – represent equity investments except in the case of Osirium which include investment through loan stock; and 
    – are in portfolio companies incorporated in the UK with the exception of: 

    Cloudified Holdings Limited – British Virgin Islands 
    ENGAGE XR Holdings plc – Republic of Ireland 
    JTC plc – Jersey 
    LungLife AI Inc – USA
    MyCelx Technologies Corporation – USA 
    Breedon Group plc – Jersey 
    MaxCyte Inc – USA 

    1 Denotes unlisted company 

    Current Asset Investments (unaudited) 

    Portfolio Company  Book cost (£’000) Fair Value (£’000)
    FP Octopus Microcap Growth Fund  7,518 9,233
    FP Octopus Multi Cap Income Fund  4,051 5,027
    FP Octopus Future Generations Fund  1,878 1,907
    JPMorgan Sterling Liquidity Fund  9,000 9,000
    BlackRock ICS Sterling Liquidity Fund   9,046 9,046
    HSBC Sterling Liquidity Fund  9,040 9,040

    Since 31 July 2024 there has been no investments or disposals from the current asset investments. 

    The capitalisation of Octopus AIM VCT plc as at 31 July 2024 was as follows:  

    Shareholders’ Equity    £’000s
    Called up Equity Share Capital  2,018
    Legal reserves  18,065
    Other reserves  96,300
    Total   116,383

    There has been no material change to the capitalisation since 31 July 2024. 

    For further information please contact:

    Rachel Peat
    Octopus Company Secretarial Services Limited
    Tel: +44 (0)80 0316 2067
    LEI: 213800C5JHJUQLAFP619

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Half-Year Financial Report as of 30 June 2024 available

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amundi: Half-Year Financial Report as of 30 June 2024 available

    Paris, 20 September 2024 – Amundi announces the public release and the filing of its first-half 2024 Financial Report with the Autorités des Marchés Financiers (“AMF”).

    This 2024 Half-Year Financial Report is available on the website of Amundi (https://about.amundi.com/financial-information).

    About Amundi

    Amundi, the leading European asset manager, ranking among the top 10 global players1, offers its 100 million clients – retail, institutional and corporate – a complete range of savings and investment solutions in active and passive management, in traditional or real assets. This offering is enhanced with IT tools and services to cover the entire savings value chain. A subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group and listed on the stock exchange, Amundi currently manages more than €2.15 trillion of assets2.

    With its six international investment hubs3, financial and extra-financial research capabilities and long-standing commitment to responsible investment, Amundi is a key player in the asset management landscape.

    Amundi clients benefit from the expertise and advice of 5,500 employees in 35 countries.

    Amundi, a trusted partner, working every day in the interest of its clients and society

    www.amundi.com   

    Press contacts:        
    Natacha Andermahr 
    Tel. +33 1 76 37 86 05
    natacha.andermahr@amundi.com 

    Corentin Henry
    Tel. +33 1 76 36 26 96
    corentin.henry@amundi.com

    Investor contacts:
    Cyril Meilland, CFA
    Tel. +33 1 76 32 62 67
    cyril.meilland@amundi.com 

    Thomas Lapeyre
    Tel. +33 1 76 33 70 54
    thomas.lapeyre@amundi.com 

    Annabelle Wiriath

    Tel. + 33 1 76 32 43 92

    annabelle.wiriath@amundi.com

    1Source: IPE “Top 500 Asset Managers” published in June 2024, based on assets under management as at 31/12/2023
    2Amundi data as at 30/06/2024
    3Boston, Dublin, London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Agents World Closes Seed Round to Revolutionize Autonomous Worlds with AI Agents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    london, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Agents World, an innovative Web3 AI firm, today announced the successful completion of its seed funding round, supported by leading venture capital firms including Dispersion Capital, Maelstrom Capital, Node Capital, CatcherVC, Primal Capital, and Velocity Capital.

    This funding will accelerate the development of Agents World Studio, the company’s cutting-edge platform that enables developers to seamlessly build, deploy, and monetize AI agents on-chain. These intelligent agents are designed to function autonomously within a wide range of digital environments, such as Web3 gaming, DeFi, and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), expanding the boundaries of what’s achievable in decentralized ecosystems.

    Agents World aims to be the leading platform for developers and businesses seeking to harness the power of AI agents in a decentralized world. For more information, visit agentsworld.xyz.

    Contact Information:

    Agents World Limited
    Email: media@agentsworld.xyz

    (This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may vary.)

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Discovery 2024 Short Duration LP Closing October 16, 2024 – Maximum $25,000,000

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Middlefield, on behalf of Discovery 2024 Short Duration LP (“Discovery 2024” or the “Partnership”), is pleased to announce that it has filed a final prospectus relating to the initial public offering of Discovery 2024 Class A and Class F units. The offering is being made in each of the provinces of Canada. Closing is scheduled for October 16, 2024.

    The objectives of the Partnership are to provide investors with capital appreciation and significant tax benefits to enhance after-tax returns to limited partners, including the deductibility of 100% of their original investment. The Partnership intends to achieve these objectives by investing in an actively managed, diversified portfolio comprised primarily of equity securities of Canadian gold mining companies.

    Middlefield is a leading provider of flow-through share funds in Canada and has a strong track record of delivering positive after-tax returns. Since 1983, Middlefield has sponsored 69 public and private flow-through funds and has acted as agent or manager for over $2.5 billion of resource investments.

    The syndicate of agents for the offering is being co-led by RBC Capital Markets and CIBC Capital Markets and includes BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., Richardson Wealth Limited, Manulife Wealth Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Ventum Financial Corp., and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.

    For further information, please visit our website at www.middlefield.com or contact Nancy Tham in our Sales and Marketing Department at 1.888.890.1868.

    This offering is only made by prospectus. The prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from your CIRO registered financial advisor using the contact information for such advisor. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Longevity Biomedical, Inc. and FutureTech II Acquisition Corp. Announce Business Combination to Create Nasdaq-Listed Biopharmaceutical Company Focused on Advancing New Technologies to Promote Human Health and Longevity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

      – Longevity Biomedical, Inc. is focused on developing and acquiring new technologies spanning therapeutics, health monitoring and digital health solutions to become a leading provider of longevity-related products and services designed to increase the health span for the rapidly growing global aging population.
         
      – Late-stage, diversified pipeline of therapeutic candidates across ophthalmology, cardiovascular disease and soft tissue reconstruction and repair.
         
      – Near-term clinical milestones include Phase 3 start for LBI-201 for Ischemic stroke, Phase 2 data for LBI-101 for soft-tissue reconstruction, and Phase 2 start for LBI-001 in retinal vein occlusion.
         
      – Seasoned management team of medtech and biopharmaceutical veterans with track record of acquiring, developing, and commercializing novel technologies.
         
      – Post-combination company to list on Nasdaq under ticker symbol “LBIO.”
         
      – Business combination expected to close in Q4 2024.
         

    New York, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Longevity Biomedical, Inc. (“Longevity” or “Longevity Biomedical”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing new technologies across therapeutics, health monitoring, and digital health solutions to increase human health span, and FutureTech II Acquisition Corp. (“FutureTech”) (NASDAQ: FTII), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), announced today that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement (the “BCA”) on September 16, 2024. Upon the closing of the transaction pursuant to the BCA, the combined company (the “Combined Company”) will operate as Longevity Biomedical, Inc. and is expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LBIO.”

    Despite the rapid pace of the global population aging, Longevity Biomedical believes the current market for longevity-related products and services is fragmented and that, particularly as it relates to low- and middle-income countries, it is difficult for healthcare consumers to find and purchase the products, technologies and services to address their individual aging needs. To address this unmet need, Longevity Biomedical aims to become a consolidator and leading provider of advanced therapeutic, health monitoring and digital health technologies designed to restore tissue form and function and increase health span for the rapidly growing aging population. To achieve this goal, Longevity intends to build on its existing platform of diversified, late-stage technologies by leveraging its seasoned executive team to continue acquiring first-in-class technologies, products and services that address the growing market of age-related diseases and conditions. Longevity has established an existing pipeline of late-stage, diversified therapeutic candidates addressing cardiovascular disease, ophthalmology and soft tissue reconstruction and repair through the proposed acquisitions of the following technologies:

      – LBI-201 is a non-invasive ultrasonic device being investigated for treatment of ischemic stroke, the second leading cause of death worldwide. It is designed for rapid, convenient delivery of transcranial ultrasound in combination with conventional thrombolytic drug therapy to increase restoration of blood flow in stroke patients with large vessel occlusions that do not have immediate access to thrombectomy facilities and services. Previous clinical studies have demonstrated a nearly two-fold increase in complete vessel recanalization compared to thrombolytic drug therapy alone.
         
      – LBI-001 combines intravenous administration of microspheres with non-invasive ultrasound as a potential treatment of retinal vein occlusion, one of the most common causes of retinal blindness worldwide. LBI-001 Phase 1 clinical results provided favorable safety data and demonstrated improvements in key visual measurements.
         
      – LBI-101 is an off-the-shelf allogenic tissue biomaterial that has completed enrollment in a Phase 2 clinical study for permanent reconstruction of soft tissue affected by aging, traumatic injuries, and surgical procedures. The injectable application is designed to stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. Clinical studies of LBI-101 have demonstrated initial safety, biocompatibility, and new tissue formation without scarring typically associated with injections.
         

    In addition to these clinical stage technologies, Longevity will have, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the C&E Agreements {described below}, a pipeline of preclinical stage indications across its initial therapeutic areas of focus. Longevity also plans to seek to acquire additional cutting-edge health technologies in the areas of health monitoring and digital health solutions.

    “Longevity Biomedical is dedicated to advancing science-driven solutions to improve human health. This business combination will provide the platform to advance cutting-edge technologies spanning multiple areas of unmet medical need for the aging population,” said Bradford A. Zakes, Chief Executive Officer of Longevity Biomedical. “The proceeds from this transaction will allow Longevity to reach significant clinical development milestones for our leading technologies that have demonstrated successful results in clinical studies. In addition, Longevity will retain an opportunistic, visionary approach to future health advancements in the areas of health monitoring and digital health solutions.”

    “Longevity is known for developing therapeutic solutions and digital health technologies that are focused on addressing unmet medical needs particularly focused on the aging population,” said Mr. Ray Chen, Chief Executive Officer of FutureTech. “FutureTech is excited to partner with Longevity’s experienced leadership team to accelerate its clinical development pipeline to expand its impact in the healthcare industry.”

    Transaction Overview

    The estimated cash proceeds available to the Combined Company from the transaction consists of FutureTech’s $26.8 million of cash held in trust. The proceeds will be used to achieve key development milestones related to Longevity’s clinical stage assets.

    The Combined Company may seek a pre-transaction PIPE that is expected to close concurrently with the closing of the transaction.

    Longevity has entered into Contribution and Exchange Agreements (collectively and as amended, the “C&E Agreements”) with each of Cerevast Medical, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Aegeria Soft Tissue, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Targets”), pursuant to which, immediately prior to the closing of the proposed transaction between Longevity and FutureTech under the BCA, Longevity will acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of each of the Targets from the current equity holders in exchange for shares of common stock of Longevity. The Targets are developing the therapeutic candidates across ophthalmology, cardiovascular disease and soft tissue reconstruction and repair as described above. As a result of the transactions contemplated by the C&E Agreements, each of the Targets will be a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of the Combined Company upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the BCA. 

    The existing stockholder of Longevity and the board of directors of each of FutureTech and Longevity unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in Q4 2024. The transaction will require the approval of the stockholders of FutureTech and Longevity and is subject to other customary closing conditions including the receipt of certain SEC regulatory approvals.

    Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the BCA, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by FutureTech with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

    Advisors

    Moses & Singer LLP is acting as legal advisor to FutureTech. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is acting as legal advisor to Longevity.

    About Longevity

    Longevity Biomedical is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing technologies across therapeutics, health monitoring and digital health solutions to restore tissue form and function in order to increase and improve health span. Longevity’s mission is to become a consolidator and a leading provider of products and services designed to help people live longer, healthier lives. Longevity is acquiring a differentiated therapeutic pipeline of late-stage clinical technologies across ophthalmology, cardiovascular disease and soft tissue reconstruction and repair. Building on this platform, Longevity intends to acquire and/or partner with other health technology companies to become a leading provider of products and services designed to increase and improve health span amongst the rapidly growing aging patient population. Longevity is led by a team of industry experts and scientific advisors with significant experience acquiring, developing and commercializing cutting-edge health technologies. Longevity is headquartered in Bothell, Washington.

    About FutureTech

    FutureTech Capital Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a business combination, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to FutureTech and Longevity. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “target,” “seek” or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including projections of market opportunity and market share, the capability of Longevity’s business plans and the Combined Company’s business plans including their plans to expand, the sources and uses of cash from the proposed transaction, the anticipated enterprise value of the Combined Company following the consummation of the proposed transaction, any benefits of Longevity’s partnerships, strategies or plans as they relate to the proposed transaction, anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction and expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed transaction are also forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although each of FutureTech and Longevity believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this communication, each of FutureTech and Longevity caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. In addition, there will be risks and uncertainties described in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the proposed transaction, which is expected to be filed by FutureTech with the SEC, and described in other documents filed by FutureTech or Longevity from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Neither FutureTech nor Longevity can assure you that the forward-looking statements in this communication will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the ability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval from FutureTech’s stockholders or satisfy other closing conditions in the BCA, the occurrence of any event that could give rise to the termination of the BCA, the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, the amount of redemption requests made by FutureTech’s public stockholders, costs related to the transaction, the risk that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transaction, the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings and other risks and uncertainties, including those to be included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the final prospectus for FutureTech’s initial public offering filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022 and in its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. There may be additional risks that neither FutureTech nor Longevity currently know or that FutureTech and Longevity currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by FutureTech, Longevity, their respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that FutureTech and Longevity will achieve their objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of FutureTech and Longevity as of the date of this communication. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while FutureTech and Longevity may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of FutureTech or Longevity as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of FutureTech or Longevity, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.

    Important Additional Information Regarding the Transaction Will Be Filed With the SEC

    In connection with the proposed business combination, a registration statement on Form S-4 is expected to be filed with the SEC containing a preliminary proxy statement and a preliminary prospectus, and after the registration statement is declared effective, FutureTech will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combination to its stockholders and Longevity’s stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combination. FutureTech’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed business combination, as these materials will contain important information about Longevity, FutureTech and the proposed business combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed business combination will be mailed to stockholders of FutureTech as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Such stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to FutureTech II Acquisition Corp., 128 Gail Drive, New Rochelle, New York 10085, telephone number (914) 316-4805, Attention: Ray Chen, President and Chief Executive Officer.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    FutureTech and Longevity and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of FutureTech’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of FutureTech’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in a registration statement on Form S-4, including a proxy statement/prospectus, when it is filed with the SEC.

    Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the proposed transaction of FutureTech’s directors and officers in FutureTech’s filings with the SEC and such information will also be in the registration statement to be filed with the SEC, which will include the proxy statement/prospectus of FutureTech for the proposed transaction.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations
    Ying Shan
    FutureTech Capital LLC
    yingshan@futuretechcapitalllc.com

    Media Relations
    Rathbun Communications
    Julie Rathbun
    julie@rathbuncomm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DIAGNOS Announces Closing of Private Placement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROSSARD, Quebec, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DIAGNOS Inc. (“DIAGNOS” or the “Corporation”) (TSX Venture: ADK) (OTCQB: DGNOF), a pioneer in early detection of critical health issues through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, announces the closing, today, of a non-brokered private placement of 8,333,333 units (each a “Unit”) issued at a price of $0.30 per Unit, for gross proceeds of $2,499,999.90 (“Private Placement”).

    Each Unit consists of:

    • One (1) common share (“Share”), and
    • One (1) common share warrant (“Warrant”).

    As part of the closing of the Private Placement, 8,333,333 Warrants have been issued to the subscribers. Each Warrant can be exercised to purchase one Share at a price of $0.40 per Share for a period of 18 months ending March 20, 2026.

    The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund product development and commercialization of AI-based screening services as well as general and administrative operations.

    All securities issued as part of the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period ending January 21, 2025.

    The closing of the Private Placement remains subject to receipt of all required approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, as well as execution of formal documentation.

    DIAGNOS would like to express its gratitude to the family office that participated in the Private Placement.

    DIAGNOS is also providing the following clarification: First paragraph of Section 6 of the 2024 management information circular, dated August 21, 2024, should read:

    “The Board of the Corporation has set August 21, 2024 (the “Record Date”) as the record date for the determination of the registered holders of voting shares entitled to receive notice of the Meeting. All holders of common shares (each, a “Common Share”) as of the Record Date are entitled to attend and vote thereat in person or by proxy. As at August 21, 2024, 81,435,607 Common Shares of the Corporation were issued and outstanding. The Common Shares are the only securities outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Meeting. Each Common Share entitles the holder thereof to one vote.”

    All monies quoted in this press release shall be stated and paid in lawful money of Canada.

    About DIAGNOS
    DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical health problems based on its FLAIRE Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform. FLAIRE allows for quick modifying and developing of applications such as CARA (Computer Assisted Retina Analysis). CARA’s image enhancement algorithms provide sharper, clearer and easier-to-analyze retinal images. CARA is a cost-effective tool for real-time screening of large volumes of patients.

    Additional information is available at www.diagnos.ca and www.sedarplus.com. 

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    This press release contains forward-looking information. We cannot guarantee that the forward-looking information mentioned will prove to be accurate, as there may be a significant discrepancy between actual results or future events and those mentioned in this statement. DIAGNOS disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly covered by this caution.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: iBio Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iBio, Inc. (NYSEA:IBIO), an AI-driven innovator of precision antibody immunotherapies, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update.

    “Our fiscal year 2024 was a transformational year for iBio, as we’ve solidified our business and financial position as a next-generation antibody company with a machine-learning-enabled platform for designing and developing difficult-to-drug therapeutics,” said CEO and Chief Scientific Officer Martin Brenner, Ph.D., DVM. “We made significant progress entering the fast-growing cardiometabolic and obesity space with our collaboration with AstralBio and strengthened our financial position by eliminating our debt associated with the facility and closing a fully subscribed financing including participation from Ikarian Capital, Lynx1 Capital Management, ADAR1 Capital Management, and other institutional and accredited investors. We continued to build our drug discovery platform, adding innovative technologies that are helping to advance our pipeline and provide critical support to our biopharma partners with best-in-class antibody discovery and development projects.”

    Business Developments:

    • Expanded the AI-powered technology stack with the launch of ShieldTx™, a patent-pending antibody masking technology designed to enable specific, highly targeted antibody delivery to diseased tissue without harming healthy tissue.
    • In February, iBio closed the sale of its early-stage PD-1 asset to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for $1MM in upfront cash with contingent downstream payments of up to $52.5MM, a pivotal moment that showcased the power of iBio’s platform to discover best-in-class assets.
    • Added bispecific capabilities with its EngageTx™ technology. We advanced a Trop2 x CD3 molecule to clinical candidate selection stage by demonstrating in a humanized mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma, a significant 36 percent reduction in tumor size 14 days after tumor implantation and after a single dose.  Additionally, we leveraged our EngageTx technology and Epitope Steering technology to successfully develop multiple MUC16 x CD3 molecules, which show potent cell killing against ovarian cancer cells.
    • Entered into a collaboration with AstralBio, Inc. to provide an exclusive license in the cardiometabolic and obesity space. iBio will develop four targets of interest with rights to license up to three of these targets prior to entering the clinic.

    Corporate Developments:

    • At the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held on November 27, 2023, iBio’s stockholders authorized a reverse stock split, with a ratio ranging from 1-for-5 to 1-for-20 (the “Range”), with the ratio within such Range to be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), and thereafter the Board approved a one for twenty (1-for-20) reverse stock split of the Company’s shares of common stock. The reverse stock split was effective November 29, 2023.
    • Entered into a best-efforts public offering with investors in the fiscal second quarter for gross proceeds of approximately $4.5MM before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses
    • Entered into a securities purchase agreement for a private investment in public equity financing with several institutional investors and an accredited investor in the fiscal third quarter and consummated the financing in the fiscal fourth quarter for gross proceeds of approximately $15.0MM before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.
    • During the third and fourth quarters, strengthened the Company’s cash position after previously issued warrants were exercised for proceeds of approximately $4.5MM.
    • The Company closed the sale of its manufacturing facility located in Bryan, Texas (the “Property”) to the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System for $8.5MM. Following the issuance of pre-funded warrants having a value of $4.5MM to the lender, Woodforest National Bank, iBio and its wholly owned subsidiary, iBio CDMO LLC, satisfied all of the conditions of the settlement agreement releasing the Company and its subsidiary of all obligations with respect to the debt secured by the Property, which coupled with the release of approximately $915K in restricted cash previously held by Woodforest, eliminated approximately $13.2MM in secured debt from the Company’s balance sheet.
    • Strengthened its Board of Directors and executive leadership team through the appointments of Dr. Brenner to the Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2024, and Kristi Sarno as Senior Vice President, Business Development, effective August 8, 2024.

    “We ended this fiscal year well-positioned to advance our technology to drive value for patients and shareholders,” said Chief Financial Officer Felipe Duran. “We strengthened our balance sheet through capital raises and debt extinguishment. In fiscal year 2024, we executed transactions which brought in non-dilutive funding, and we continue to pursue business development projects to strengthen our financial position.”

    Financial Results:

    Revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, were approximately $0.2 million, an increase of 100% over fiscal 2023.

    R&D and G&A expenses for fiscal 2024 decreased $5.1 million and $7.3 million, respectively, over the comparable period in fiscal 2023. The decrease in R&D and G&A reflects the Company’s cost savings implemented to support its growing investments in its pipeline, platform technologies, employees, and related infrastructure.

    iBio’s consolidated net loss for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, was $24.9 million, a decreased loss of $40.1 million compared to 2023 primarily because of the decrease in expenses related to the Company’s discontinued operations and cost saving initiatives.

    iBio held cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $14.4 million as of June 30, 2024.

    As disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, which was filed on September 20, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the audited financial statements contained an audit opinion from its registered public accounting firm that includes an explanatory paragraph related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. See further discussion in footnote 2 to the Company’s financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. This announcement is made pursuant to NYSE American LLC Company Guide Sections 401(h) and 610(b), which requires public announcement of the receipt of an audit opinion containing a going concern paragraph.

    About iBio, Inc.

    iBio is an AI-driven innovator that develops next-generation biopharmaceuticals using computational biology and 3D-modeling of subdominant and conformational epitopes, prospectively enabling the discovery of new antibody treatments for hard-to-target cancers, and other diseases. iBio’s mission is to decrease drug failures, shorten drug development timelines, and open up new frontiers against the most promising targets. For more information, visit www.ibioinc.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend” or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and include statements such as ending the fiscal year being well-positioned to advance the Company’s technology to drive value for patients and shareholders; and continuing to pursue business development projects to strengthen the Company’s financial position. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the Company’s ability to successfully advance its technology and continue to pursue business development projects to strengthen the Company’s financial position; its ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of its product candidates, or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements; regulatory limitations relating to its ability to promote or commercialize its product candidates for specific indications; acceptance of its product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of products; the continued maintenance and growth of its patent estate; its ability to establish and maintain collaborations and attract and increase partnership opportunities; competition; the substantial doubt exists related to the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern; its ability to raise additional capital in order to fully execute the Company’s longer-term business plans and the other factors discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contact:

    iBio, Inc. 
    Investor Relations 
    ir@ibioinc.com 

    Susan Thomas 
    iBio, Inc. 
    Media Relations 
    susan.thomas@ibioinc.com  

    iBio, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
    (In Thousands, except per share amounts)

                 
        Years Ended
        June 30, 
        2024      2023
                 
    Revenues   $ 225     $ —  
                 
    Operating expenses:            
    Research and development     5,185       10,327  
    General and administrative     11,674       19,016  
    Total operating expenses     16,859       29,343  
                 
    Operating loss     (16,634 )     (29,343 )
                 
    Other income (expense):            
    Interest expense     (172 )     (83 )
    Interest income     363       213  
    Loss on sales of debt securities     —       (98 )
    Gain on sale of intellectual property     1,000       —  
    Total other income     1,191       32  
                 
    Net loss from continuing operations     (15,443 )     (29,311 )
                 
    Loss from discontinued operations     (9,464 )     (35,699 )
                 
    Net loss   $ (24,907 )   $ (65,010 )
                 
    Comprehensive loss:            
    Consolidated net loss   $ (24,907 )   $ (65,010 )
                 
    Other comprehensive loss – unrealized gain on debt securities     —       180  
    Other comprehensive income – foreign currency adjustment     —       33  
                 
    Comprehensive loss   $ (24,907 )   $ (64,797 )
                 
    Loss per common share attributable to iBio, Inc. stockholders – basic and diluted – continuing operations   $ (4.03 )   $ (47.88 )
    Loss per common share attributable to iBio, Inc. stockholders – basic and diluted – discontinued operations   $ (2.47 )   $ (58.31 )
    Loss per common share attributable to iBio, Inc. stockholders – basic and diluted – total   $ (6.50 )   $ (106.19 )
                 
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted     3,831       612  
                     

    iBio, Inc. and Subsidiaries

    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In Thousands, except share and per share amounts)

                 
                 
        June 30, 2024      June 30, 2023
                 
    Assets            
    Current assets:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 14,210     $ 4,301  
    Restricted cash     —       3,025  
    Subscription receivable     —       204  
    Promissory note receivable and accrued interest     713       —  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     749       664  
    Current assets held for sale (see Note 3 – Discontinued Operations)     —       18,065  
    Total Current Assets     15,672       26,259  
                 
    Restricted cash     215       253  
    Promissory note receivable     1,081       1,706  
    Finance lease right-of-use assets, net of accumulated amortization     339       610  
    Operating lease right-of-use asset     2,401       2,722  
    Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation     3,632       4,219  
    Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization     5,368       5,388  
    Security deposits     26       50  
    Total Assets   $ 28,734     $ 41,207  
                 
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity            
    Current liabilities:            
    Accounts payable   $ 358     $ 1,849  
    Accrued expenses     2,028       4,561  
    Finance lease obligations – current portion     299       272  
    Operating lease obligation – current portion     436       389  
    Equipment financing payable – current portion     178       160  
    Term promissory note – current portion     218       —  
    Insurance premium financing payable     123       —  
    Term note payable – net of deferred financing costs     —       12,937  
    Contract liabilities     200       —  
    Current liabilities related to assets held for sale     —       1,941  
    Total Current Liabilities     3,840       22,109  
                 
    Finance lease obligations – net of current portion     53       351  
    Operating lease obligation – net of current portion     2,688       3,125  
    Equipment financing payable – net of current portion     63       241  
    Term promissory note – net of current portion     766       —  
                 
    Total Liabilities     7,410       25,826  
                 
    Stockholders’ Equity            
    Series 2022 Convertible Preferred Stock – $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023     —       —  
    Common stock – $0.001 par value; 275,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023; 8,623,676 and 1,015,505 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, respectively     9       1  
    Additional paid-in capital     335,162       304,320  
    Accumulated deficit     (313,847 )     (288,940 )
    Total Stockholders’ Equity     21,324       15,381  
                 
    Total Equity     21,324       15,381  
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 28,734     $ 41,207  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EverCommerce Announces Changes to Its Board Of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EverCommerce Inc. (Nasdaq: EVCM) (the “Company”), a leading provider of SaaS solutions for service SMBs, announced today the appointment of Alexi Wellman to its Board of Directors, effective Monday, September 23, 2024.

    “We are excited to welcome Alexi to our Board of Directors,” said EverCommerce CEO and Chairman of the Board Eric Remer. “Alexi brings extensive experience in operations, financial management, accounting and audit processes and corporate governance that will serve us well in pursuing our growth strategy.”

    Upon joining the EverCommerce Board, Ms. Wellman will serve on the Company’s Audit Committee, bringing substantial expertise from her roles as CEO and CFO of Altbaba, Inc., vice president of finance and global controller at Yahoo Inc., CFO of Nebraska Book Company and practicing CPA and audit partner at KPMG LLP.

    Ms. Wellman also serves on the Board of Directors for public companies including ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE: GWH) and Werner Enterprises (Nasdaq: WERN), where she is the Chair of both Boards’ Audit Committees.

    “I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors at EverCommerce and apply my financial and governance experience to the Company’s mission of simplifying and empowering the lives of its SMB service business customers,” said Ms. Wellman.

    Alongside this appointment, EverCommerce is also announcing that current Board member Debby Soo will be leaving the Company’s Board, effective October 31, 2024.

    “The Board of Directors, EverCommerce leadership and I thank Debby for her contributions over the past three and a half years,” said Remer. “We appreciate the insight and expertise she brought to the Company.”

    About EverCommerce 

    EverCommerce (Nasdaq: EVCM) is a leading service commerce platform, providing vertically-tailored, integrated SaaS solutions that help more than 690,000 global service-based businesses accelerate growth, streamline operations, and increase retention. Its modern digital and mobile applications create predictable, informed, and convenient experiences between customers and their service professionals. With its EverPro, EverHealth, and EverWell brands specializing in Home, Health, and Wellness service industries, EverCommerce provides end-to-end business management software, embedded payment acceptance, marketing technology, and customer experience applications. Learn more at  EverCommerce.com.

    Investor Contact

    Brad Korch
    SVP and Head of Investor Relations
    720-796-7664
    IR@evercommerce.com

    Media Contact
    Jeanne Trogan
    VP of Communications
    512-705-1293
    Press@evercommerce.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SoFi Announces Reverse Stock Split for SoFi Select 500 ETF (SFY)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Trustees of Tidal ETF Trust (the “Trust”) has approved a reverse stock split of the issued and outstanding shares of the SoFi Select 500 ETF (NYSE Arca: SFY) (the “Fund”). The reverse split will take effect after the close of trading on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) on October 1, 2024.

    Following the reverse stock split, every five shares of the Fund will be consolidated into one share, effectively decreasing the total number of issued and outstanding shares by approximately 80%. The per-share net asset value (NAV) and the opening market price will increase proportionally by five times on the following trading day.

    Details of the Reverse Stock Split:

    • Reverse Split Ratio: 1:5
    • Approximate Decrease in Total Outstanding Shares: 80%

    Additionally, the Fund’s CUSIP number will change as follows, effective after the close of the market on the Effective Date:

    Old CUSIP New CUSIP
    886364207 886364173

    Impact on Shareholders

    The reverse stock split will not alter the overall value of a shareholder’s investment. The value of an investor’s holdings in the Fund remains unchanged, even though the number of shares will decrease, and the per-share price will increase:

    Shares of the Fund will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on the Exchange on October 2, 2024.

    Redemption of Fractional Shares and Tax Implications

    In cases where shareholders hold fractional shares following the reverse split, the Fund will redeem those fractional shares for cash at the Fund’s split-adjusted NAV on the Effective Date. This redemption could result in tax consequences, with shareholders potentially recognizing gains or losses based on the redemption of fractional shares. However, apart from this, the reverse split will not be a taxable event for shareholders, and no transaction fees will be charged for the redemption of fractional shares.

    About Tidal Financial Group

    Formed by ETF industry pioneers and thought leaders, Tidal Financial Group set out to revolutionize the way ETFs have historically been developed, launched, managed, marketed, and sold. With a focus on growing AUM, Tidal offers a comprehensive suite of services, proprietary tools, and methodologies designed to bring clients ideas to market. Tidal is an advocate for ETF innovation and is on a mission to provide issuers with the intelligence and tools needed to effectively launch ETFs and optimize growth potential in a highly competitive space. As of September 1, 2024, Tidal managed 172 funds with over $19 billion in AUM.

    For more information, visit Tidal Financial Group.

    About SoFi

    SoFi’s mission is to empower individuals to achieve financial independence and fulfill their ambitions. Financial independence isn’t just about being wealthy; it’s about having your money work for the life you want to live. Everything SoFi does is focused on helping people take control of their finances. SoFi is always innovating and creating solutions that provide the tools and resources needed for them to reach their goals.

    Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus. A prospectus may be obtained by visiting www.sofi.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

    Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Please visit each fund’s page for specific fund risks.

    SoFi ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces Estimated September 2024 Cash Distributions for Ninepoint Cash Management Fund – ETF Series

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the estimated September 2024 cash distribution for the ETF Series of Ninepoint Cash Management Fund (the “Fund”). Ninepoint Partners expects to issue a press release on or about September 26, 2024, which will provide the final distribution rate. The record date for the cash distribution is September 27, 2024, payable on October 7, 2024.

    All estimates in this document are based on the accounting data as of September 20, 2024. Due to subscriptions and/or redemptions and/or other factors, the final September 2024 distribution may differ from these estimates and the difference could be material. The information included in this letter is for reference purposes only. Please reconcile all information against your official client statements. This is not intended to be a statement for official tax reporting purposes or any form of tax advice.

    The actual taxable amounts of distributions for 2024, including the tax characteristics of the distributions, will be reported to CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. in early 2025. Securityholders can contact their brokerage firm for this information.

    The per-unit estimated September distribution is detailed below:

    Ninepoint ETF Series Ticker Cash Distribution
    per unit    		 Notional Distribution
    per unit    		 CUSIP
    Ninepoint Cash Management Fund NSAV $0.16280 $0.00000 65443X105

    About Ninepoint Partners

    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies including Alternative Income and Real Assets, in addition to North American and Global Equities.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or please contact us at 416.362.7172 or 1.888.362.7172 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the “Funds”). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.

    Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.

    Please note that distribution factors (breakdown between income, capital gains and return of capital) can only be calculated when a fund has reached its year-end. Distribution information should not be relied upon for income tax reporting purposes as this is only a component of total distributions for the year. For accurate distribution amounts

    for the purpose of filing an income tax return, please refer to the appropriate T3/T5 slips for that particular taxation year. Please refer to the prospectus or offering memorandum of each Fund for details of the Fund’s distribution policy.

    The payment of distributions and distribution breakdown, if applicable, is not guaranteed and may fluctuate. The payment of distributions should not be confused with a Fund’s performance, rate of return, or yield. If distributions paid by the Fund are greater than the performance of the Fund, then an investor’s original investment will shrink. Distributions paid as a result of capital gains realized by a Fund and income and dividends earned by a Fund are taxable in the year they are paid. An investor’s adjusted cost base will be reduced by the amount of any returns of capital. If an investor’s adjusted cost base goes below zero, then capital gains tax will have to be paid on the amount below zero.

    Sales Inquiries:

    Ninepoint Partners LP
    Neil Ross
    416-945-6227
    nross@ninepoint.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada and FCM to Make a Sustainable Affordable Housing Announcement for Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News

    OTTAWA — Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Geoff Stewart, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), will make an announcement for sustainable affordable housing in Northwestern Ontario.

    OTTAWA  — Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Geoff Stewart, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), will make an announcement for sustainable affordable housing in Northwestern Ontario.

    Date: Monday, September 23, 2024

    Time: 1:15 p.m. ET

    Location: This virtual event will be held using the Webex platform. Accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to obtain the announcement link.

    Note: To help ensure optimal sound quality, journalists are encouraged to use a microphone (headphones/headset) or a landline and to avoid using speaker mode if queuing up for questions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces September 2024 Cash Distributions for ETF Series Securities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the September 2024 cash distributions for its ETF Series securities. The record date for the distributions is September 27, 2024. All distributions are payable on October 7, 2024.

    The per-unit September distributions are detailed below:

    About Ninepoint Partners

    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies including Alternative Income and Real Assets, in addition to North American and Global Equities.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or please contact us at 416.362.7172 or 1.888.362.7172 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the “Funds”). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.

    Please note that distribution factors (breakdown between income, capital gains and return of capital) can only be calculated when a fund has reached its year-end. Distribution information should not be relied upon for income tax reporting purposes as this is only a component of total distributions for the year. For accurate distribution amounts for the purpose of filing an income tax return, please refer to the appropriate T3/T5 slips for that particular taxation year. Please refer to the prospectus or offering memorandum of each Fund for details of the Fund’s distribution policy.

    The payment of distributions and distribution breakdown, if applicable, is not guaranteed and may fluctuate. The payment of distributions should not be confused with a Fund’s performance, rate of return, or yield. If distributions paid by the Fund are greater than the performance of the Fund, then an investor’s original investment will shrink. Distributions paid as a result of capital gains realized by a Fund and income and dividends earned by a Fund are taxable in the year they are paid. An investor’s adjusted cost base will be reduced by the amount of any returns of

    capital. If an investor’s adjusted cost base goes below zero, then capital gains tax will have to be paid on the amount below zero.

    Sales Inquiries:

    Ninepoint Partners LP
    Neil Ross
    416-945-6227 
    nross@ninepoint.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Promoting Alberta tourism in New York City

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The mission will encourage travel-trade operators to feature Alberta itineraries, build relationships with industry partners, and secure valuable coverage in top-tier media publications. Meetings with New York-based sport associations will build relationships with key contacts and enable strategic conversations about Alberta’s potential to host upcoming major sporting events.

    “No matter where you’re from or what your interests are, Alberta has something for you—whether you come to explore our majestic natural landscapes, discover our vibrant cities or to watch the world’s best athletes compete in major sporting competitions. I’m looking forward to showing the United States what Alberta has to offer.”

    Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport

    The U.S. is Alberta’s largest international market. In 2023, more than 1.2 million visitors from the U.S. came to Alberta. Through meetings with media partners and sport associations, the mission aims to encourage more American travellers to choose Alberta, and to spend more, stay longer and explore more parts of the province when they visit.

    Sport tourism is a fast-growing market, with many visitors coming to Alberta to watch or participate in major sporting events. Strengthening sport tourism in the province will help advance Alberta’s goal of reaching $25 billion in annual visitor expenditures by 2035.

    Minister Schow will be joined by one staff member. Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page. Travel Alberta officials will also join Minister Schow, covering their own expenses.

    Alberta’s government is committed to working with its national and international partners to advance shared interests that can lead to new opportunities for people and businesses in Alberta and around the world.

    Itinerary for Minister Schow*

    Sept. 22
    • Travel to New York City

    Sept. 23
    • Meetings with sport tourism partners

    Sept. 24
    • Meetings with key media publications

    Sept. 25
    • Meetings with travel trade partners

    Sept. 26
    • Travel to Alberta

    *Subject to change.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Brookfield Corporation Announces Results of Conversion of its Series 40 Preferred Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brookfield Corporation (NYSE: BN, TSX: BN) today announced that after having taken into account all election notices received by the deadline for the conversion of its Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 40 (the “Series 40 Shares”) (TSX: BN.PF.F) into Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 41 (the “Series 41 Shares”), there were 29,920 Series 40 Shares tendered for conversion, which is less than the one million shares required to give effect to conversion into Series 41 Shares. Accordingly, there will be no conversion of Series 40 Shares into Series 41 Shares and holders of Series 40 Shares will retain their Series 40 Shares.

    About Brookfield Corporation

    Brookfield Corporation is a leading global investment firm focused on building long-term wealth for institutions and individuals around the world. We have three core businesses: Alternative Asset Management, Wealth Solutions, and our Operating Businesses which are in renewable power, infrastructure, business and industrial services, and real estate.

    We have a track record of delivering 15%+ annualized returns to shareholders for over 30 years, supported by our unrivaled investment and operational experience. Our conservatively managed balance sheet, extensive operational experience, and global sourcing networks allow us to consistently access unique opportunities. At the center of our success is the Brookfield Ecosystem, which is based on the fundamental principle that each group within Brookfield benefits from being part of the broader organization. Brookfield Corporation is publicly traded in New York and Toronto (NYSE: BN, TSX: BN).

    For more information, please visit our website at www.bn.brookfield.com or contact:

    Media Investor Relations
       
    Kerrie McHugh Linda Northwood
    Tel: (212) 618-3469 Tel: (416) 359-8647
    Email: kerrie.mchugh@brookfield.com Email: linda.northwood@brookfield.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Clover Leaf Capital Corp. Announces Adjournment of Special Meeting of Stockholders on Proposed Business Combination

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, FL and KANSAS CITY, KS, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clover Leaf Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: CLOE) (“CLOE” or “Clover Leaf”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, and Digital Ally, Inc. (Nasdaq: DGLY) (“Digital Ally”) today announced that on September 20, 2024, Clover Leaf convened and then adjourned, without conducting other business, its special meeting of its stockholders in lieu of its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting” ) to 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on Friday, September 27, 2024. At the meeting, stockholders of Clover Leaf will be asked to vote on proposals to approve, among other things, its proposed initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Kustom Entertainment, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Kustom Entertainment” or the “Company”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Clover Leaf, CL Merger Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clover Leaf (“Merger Sub”), Yntegra Capital Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in the capacity as the Purchaser Representative (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and Digital Ally, Inc., a Nevada corporation and the sole stockholder of the Company (“Digital Ally”). There is no change to the location, the record date, the purpose or any of the proposals to be acted upon at the Meeting.

    As a result of this change, the Meeting will now be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, September 27, 2024 via the live webcast at https://www.cstproxy.com/cloverlcc/bc2024. Also as a result of this change, the deadline for holders of Clover Leaf’s Class A common stock issued in Clover Leaf’s initial public offering to submit their shares for redemption in connection with the Business Combination, is being extended to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The record date for Clover Leaf’s stockholders to vote in the Meeting remains July 24, 2024.

    Clover Leaf plans to continue to solicit proxies from stockholders during the period prior to the Meeting. Only the holders of the Clover Leaf’s common stock as of the close of business on July 24, 2024, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to vote at the Meeting.

    If any Clover Leaf stockholder has any questions or need assistance, such stockholder should (i) reach out to his, her or its broker or (ii) contact Morrow Sodali LLC, Clover Leaf’s proxy solicitor, for assistance via e-mail at CLOE.info or toll-free call at 800-662-5200. Banks and brokers can place a collect call to Morrow Sodali LLC at 203-658-9400 or email at CLOE.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.

    About Kustom Entertainment, Inc.

    Kustom Entertainment, Inc., a recently formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Digital Ally, will provide oversight to currently wholly-owned subsidiaries TicketSmarter, Kustom 440, and BirdVu Jets.

    TicketSmarter offers tickets to more than 125,000 live events ranging from concerts to sports and theatre shows. TicketSmarter is the official ticket resale partner of over 35 collegiate conferences, over 300 universities, and hundreds of events and venues nationally. TicketSmarter is a primary and secondary ticketing solution for events and high-profile venues across North America. For more information on TicketSmarter, visit www.Ticketsmarter.com.

    Established in late 2022, Kustom 440 is an entertainment division of Kustom Entertainment, Inc., whose mission it is to attract, manage and promote concerts, sports and private events. Kustom 440 is unique in that it brings a primary and secondary ticketing platform, in addition to its well-established relationships with artists, venues, and municipalities. For more information on Kustom 440, visit www.Kustom440.com.

    Kustom Entertainment operates through its wholly-owned subsidiaries TicketSmarter, Inc. (“TicketSmarter”), Kustom 440, Inc. (“Kustom 440”), and BirdVu Jets, Inc. (“BirdVu Jets”). Following the closing of the Business Combination, TicketSmarter, Kustom 440, and BirdVu Jets will combine their management teams and focus on concerts, entertainment and garnering additional ticketing partnerships, as well as using existing sponsorships and sports property partnerships to develop alternative entertainment options for consumers.

    About Clover Leaf Capital Corp.

    Clover Leaf Capital Corp. is a newly organized blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

    For more information, contact:

    Stanton E. Ross, CEO
    Info@kustoment.com
    Info@cloverlcc.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1955. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, CLOE’s and Kustom Entertainment’s expectations with respect to the proposed business combination between CLOE and Kustom Entertainment, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the implied valuation of Kustom Entertainment, the products offered by Kustom Entertainment and the markets in which it operates, and Kustom Entertainment’s projected future results. Words such as “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside CLOE’s and Kustom Entertainment’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause actual future events to differ materially from the expected results, include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of CLOE’s securities, (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by CLOE’s business combination deadline, even if extended by its stockholders, (iii) and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Clover Leaf; (iv) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the agreement and plan of merger (“Merger Agreement”) by the stockholders of CLOE, (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (vi) the failure to obtain any applicable regulatory approvals required to consummate the business combination; (vii) the receipt of an unsolicited offer from another party for an alternative transaction that could interfere with the business combination, (viii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Kustom Entertainment’s business relationships, performance, and business generally, (ix) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the post-combination company to grow and manage growth profitability and retain its key employees, (x) costs related to the business combination, (xi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Kustom Entertainment or CLOE following the announcement of the proposed business combination, (xii) the ability to maintain the listing of CLOE’s securities on the Nasdaq prior to the business combination, (xiii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed business combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities, (xiv) the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which Kustom Entertainment operates, (xv) the risk that demand for Kustom Entertainment’s services may be decreased due to a decrease in the number of large-scale sporting events, concerts and theater shows, (xvi) the risk that any adverse changes in Kustom Entertainment’s relationships with buyer, sellers and distribution partners may adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations, (xvii) the risk that Changes in Internet search engine algorithms and dynamics, or search engine disintermediation, or changes in marketplace rules could have a negative impact on traffic for Kustom Entertainment’s sites and ultimately, its business and results of operations; (xviii) the risk that any decrease in the willingness of artists, teams and promoters to continue to support the secondary ticket market may result in decreased demand for Kustom Entertainment’s services; (xix) the risk that Kustom Entertainment is not able to maintain and enhance its brand and reputation in its marketplace, adversely affecting Kustom Entertainment’s business, financial condition and results of operations, (xx) the risk of the occurrence of extraordinary events, such as terrorist attacks, disease epidemics or pandemics, severe weather events and natural disasters, (xxi) the risk that because Kustom Entertainment’s operations are seasonal and its results of operations vary from quarter to quarter and year over year, its financial performance in certain financial quarters or years may not be indicative of, or comparable to, Kustom Entertainment’s financial performance in subsequent financial quarters or years; (xxii) the risk that periods of rapid growth and expansion could place a significant strain on Kustom Entertainment’s resources, including its employee base, which could negatively impact Kustom Entertainment’s operating results; (xxiii) the risk that Kustom Entertainment may never achieve or sustain profitability; (xxiv) the risk that Kustom Entertainment may need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which many not be available on acceptable terms or at all; (xxv) the risk that third-parties suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations, (xxvi) the risk that Kustom Entertainment is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property, (xxvii) the risk that the post-combination company’s securities will not be approved for listing on Nasdaq or if approved, maintain the listing and (xxviii) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the proxy statement and/or prospectus relating to the business combination, including those under the “Risk Factors” section therein and in CLOE’s other filings with the SEC. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Kustom Entertainment and CLOE assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Important Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the transaction, CLOE has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC, which includes a proxy statement to be distributed to holders of CLOE’s common stock in connection with CLOE’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by CLOE’s stockholders with respect to the transaction and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as a prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Kustom Entertainment’s stockholder in connection with the transaction. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the Registration Statement, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety because they contain important information about CLOE, Kustom Entertainment and the transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by CLOE through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: 1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2520, Miami, FL 33131.

    Participants in Solicitation

    CLOE and Kustom Entertainment and their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of CLOE is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 22, 2024. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are included in the proxy statement/ prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the transaction. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Moody’s Ratings upgrades Iceland’s ratings to A1, changes outlook to stable

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Moody’s Ratings (Moody’s) has upgraded the local and foreign-currency long-term issuer ratings of the Government of Iceland to A1 from A2 and changed the outlook to stable from positive.

    The key driver for the upgrade is the government’s improving fiscal metrics, which Moody´s expects to continue, with a sizeable reduction in the budget deficit and a clearly established downward trend in the government debt ratio since a recent peak in 2020. Moody’s expects the budget deficit to decline broadly in line with the government’s medium-term plans, which the rating agency considers credible.

    A consensual settlement of the HF Fund’s (A2 positive) liabilities, which are included in government debt, and renewed sales of government held bank shares will likely result in additional one-off reductions in the  debt ratio, in addition to an underlying declining trend. Secondly, tight monetary and fiscal policy has started to moderate elevated inflation, which supports Moody´s assessment of Iceland’s strong institutions and pro-active and well-coordinated policy stance.

    Iceland’s medium-term fiscal policy framework has been a credit strength, ensuring fiscal sustainability and the creation of fiscal space over time since its introduction in 2015. The fact that the authorities are now considering to replace the current balanced budget rule with an expenditure rule is credit positive, as such a change would strengthen the framework further by contributing more strongly to macroeconomic stability.

    The stable outlook reflects balanced risks at the A1 rating level. Moody´s expects fiscal consolidation to continue over the coming years broadly as planned in the medium-term fiscal plan. The economy is expected to return to robust growth next year, after a temporary slowdown this year as the tight monetary and fiscal policy cool the previously overheated economy. The sovereign’s economic and fiscal metrics may improve faster than Moody´s currently expects. At the same time, Iceland remains a small and comparatively undiversified economy, sensitive to sector-specific shocks. Also, its debt ratio and debt affordability metrics remain weaker than close peers at the same rating level, making fiscal strength relatively sensitive to shocks.

    The rating could be upgraded further if the government debt ratio continued to decline much faster than under Moody´s baseline assumptions and debt affordability metrics aligned with higher-rated peers. The rating could also be upgraded if the ongoing economic diversification efforts yielded stronger results in terms of reducing volatility of economic growth.

    Conversely, the rating would come under downward pressure if the government deviated significantly from its medium-term fiscal plans, resulting in a material increase in the public debt ratio with no indication of a timely correction.

    Further information on www.government.is

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Future of US and Allied Hypersonic Missile Programs (Part 2)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug Lamborn (5th District of Colorado)

    Washington, D.C. –Today, Congressman Doug Lamborn attended the Hudson Institute and the Space Foundation workshop with congressional, government, and industry officials to discuss the future of the American hypersonic missile program. Space Foundation CEO, Maj. Gen. (Ret) Heather Pringle and Rebeccah Heinrichs, Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative at the Hudson Institute gave introductory remarks. Congressman Lamborn delivered a keynote address as well as a Q & A directly following the keynote. Congressman Lamborn was joined by several members of Congress, including Reps. Bacon, Norcross, and Fong.

    “My position as Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee has allowed me to gain unique insight into some of the nation’s most pressing threats and the development of technological sectors across the defense landscape. I have fought hard to ensure the United States stays at the forefront of advancements in warfare, and I have sounded the alarm in areas where we are falling behind. We must correct this downward trajectory now. My future hope is that events like today’s will continue and that we will one day be the leaders in hypersonics,”said Congressman Doug Lamborn.

    “When applied to space, hypersonics are a critical leadership element for our defense and for driving further technology innovation. From a defense perspective, hypersonic technology could enhance our ability to deter adversaries in space which is without a doubt a contested environment. Moreover, the dual use aspect of hypersonics contributes to technological leadership, innovation and collaborative space missions with our allies,”said Maj. Gen. (Ret) Heather Pringle, Space Foundation CEO.

    “I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Lamborn and the Hudson Institute for organizing this very timely assessment of the state of U.S. hypersonic weapons programs,”said Congressman Don Bacon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technology and Innovation and member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.  “We’ve made significant progress in technology development, but more must be done to advance hypersonic weapons technology, especially in fielding defensive capabilities for hypersonic weapons and developing our industrial base and test infrastructure. Today’s event generated useful insights that will inform Congress’ oversight of these vital national security programs,”said Congressman Don Bacon.

    “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’ve witnessed both the potential for U.S. hypersonic capabilities and potential threats from adversaries. We must bolster our supply chain and industrial base to handle the complexity and durability needed for hypersonic missiles and other critical technologies. I’m glad I was able to join my Republican colleagues for a bipartisan discussion on this topic as we explore how to ensure safety and security for all Americans,”said Congressman Donald Norcross.

    “Today’s event was a great opportunity to promote the commercial hypersonic industry and talk about the continuing work that must be done,” said Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20). “Getting to speak about the innovative developments being done in this industry in my district by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, and NAWS China Lake and my proposal, the MACH Act, to the NASA Reauthorization bill, was an important part of demonstrating the innovative technologies that are advancing the space market and all the prospect in an effort in advancing commercial hypersonic. As a nation, we must build off the legacies to continue to be on the cutting-edge,“said Congressman Vince Fong.

    “As China and Russia continue to expand their hypersonic capabilities, it is crucial that our nation updates its defense systems to combat and deter these modern threats. In order to maintain strategic stability as well as competitive advantage, we must focus on developing our offensive hypersonic capabilities as well as investing in defensive counter-hypersonic systems. In order to accomplish this, adequate testing facilities are necessary to replicate the conditions which are unique to hypersonic flight,” said Congressman Pat Fallon.

    Click here to watch the Congressman Lamborn’s keynote address

    Click here to watch Congressman Lamborn’s Q&A

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sewell Announces $1.2 Million to Expand Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment in Jefferson County and the Black Belt

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07)

    Birmingham, AL – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand mental health and substance use services in Jefferson County and the Black Belt. Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS) in Birmingham and Rural Health Medical Program in Selma were each awarded $600,000 to expand access to needed care and combat the mental health and opioid crises. The awards are part of a $240 million investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to launch and expand behavioral health care services in Community Health Centers across America.

    “When our most vulnerable Alabamians are in need of care, it is the amazing health care professionals at our Community Health Centers who stand in the gap,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am thrilled that the Biden-Harris Administration is working to expand mental health and substance use treatments for the patients that these facilities serve. These awards represent a critical step forward in our fight against the mental health and opioid crises.”

    “Alabama Regional Medical Services is deeply honored to receive this significant funding from HRSA to expand and integrate behavioral health services into primary care,” said Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS) CEO, Dr. Thomas Greer, Jr. “Our communities are increasingly facing mental health and substance use disorders challenges, and this award will allow us to better serve our patients. With this investment, ARMS will be better positioned to help address these challenges and achieve improved mental health and wellness outcomes in Birmingham, Alabama and the surrounding areas. We thank HRSA for this award and for recognizing the need in the City of Birmingham and for their continued partnership with ARMS in providing quality health care to children, youth and families in our community.”

    “I want to thank the Health and Human Services 330 Grant Branch for allowing us the opportunity to receive this funding,” said Rural Health Medical Program CEO Keshee Dozier-Smith. “I also want to thank Congresswoman Terri Sewell for continuing to support our efforts within her district. We know she fights every day for health equity and other needed resources in our community and we know through her support and others who represent the State of Alabama this funding was made available for us to expand these services.”

    Health centers are trusted community providers and a primary source of care for individuals across the country who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid—making them well-positioned to respond to the urgent need for behavioral health services that are high quality, stigma-free, culturally competent and readily accessible.

    A full list of Alabama Community Health Centers receiving funding is available here. More information on the announcement can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller Honors Deputy District Director for her 25 Years of Service in the House of Representatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

    Washington D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) spoke on floor of the House of Representatives to honor her Deputy District Director, Kim McMillion, for her 25 years of service in the House of Representatives.

    Remarks as prepared are below. 
     
    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Kim McMillion, who serves as my Deputy District Director over my Beckley, West Virginia office. Kim recently celebrated her 25th year working for the House of Representatives. 
     
    Throughout her career spanning three different Members, Kim has served the people of West Virginia with a grateful heart, always working to find solutions when issues arise between federal agencies and our constituents. 
     
    She is well-known throughout the district for her work in assisting with identifying federal grant opportunities, acquiring medals and purple hearts for veterans in the community, and her expertise in handling complex issues of immigration and social security affecting our constituents. 
     
    She is truly a wealth of knowledge and an invaluable member of my staff. 
     
    Outside of work, Kim’s greatest joy is her family. She is a wonderful wife to her husband, Frankie, mother to Tyler and her late son, Derrick, and grandmother to Jonathan, Charlee, and Abigail. 
     
    I am delighted to commend her here on the House Floor for her 25 years of service to the United States Congress and to our great state of West Virginia and invite my colleagues to join with me in congratulating her on this achievement. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –