Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Lifesaving humanitarian supply route cut in South Sudan, leaving malnourished children at risk

    Source: World Food Programme

    Juba – More than 60,000 malnourished children in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state are at risk of plunging deeper into malnutrition as treatment supplies run critically low and resupply efforts are hampered, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today.

    Intensified fighting along the White Nile river has meant no humanitarian supplies have reached the area in almost a month. The river is the main humanitarian supply corridor into Upper Nile.

    Upper Nile state has some of the highest rates of malnutrition in South Sudan, with over 300,000 children affected by moderate or severe malnutrition in the past year. As the rainy season progresses and conflict continues to displace families, the spread of waterborne diseases and increased food insecurity is expected to contribute to a rise in the number of malnourished children. 

    Without urgent access and resupply of vital assistance, WFP and UNICEF expect to exhaust nutrition supplies to treat moderate and severe cases of malnutrition by the end of May. This will bring life-saving treatment programmes across the state to a standstill, impacting tens of thousands of children undergoing treatment. 

    In mid-April, barges carrying 1,000 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies bound for Upper Nile state were forced to return due to insecurity. Almost 3,000 additional metric tonnes are on standby in Bor – a humanitarian cargo hub along the Nile River – ready for delivery as soon as conditions allow.

    “Children are already the first to suffer during emergencies, if we can’t get nutrition supplies through, we are likely to see escalating malnutrition in areas already at breaking point,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Representative in South Sudan. “This is already one of the most food-insecure regions in South Sudan with extremely high rates of malnutrition, in these situations every day makes a difference for a malnourished child in need of life-saving treatment.”

    Due to security concerns and the high value of nutrition supplies, WFP and UNICEF are unable to preposition stock in insecure areas as doing so would leave health facilities and warehouses increasingly vulnerable to looting. Already, in Upper Nile, almost 2,000 cartons of life-saving nutrition supplies (around 26 metric tonnes) have been looted since the onset of the conflict, robbing around 1,900 children of their only chance of treatment and recovery.

    “We have reluctantly taken the unprecedented step of holding back supplies for fear that they will not reach the children that so desperately need them, due to the ongoing fighting, looting and disruption of the river route,” UNICEF’s OIC Representative, Obia Achieng. “If this continues, we are in danger of simply running out of supplies in counties across the state by the end of May 2025, with potentially catastrophic results for the youngest, most vulnerable children,” Achieng added.

    WFP and UNICEF warn that without an urgent, safe resumption of deliveries, children across Upper Nile will face the devastating consequences of interrupted treatment—reversing hard-won gains in the fight against malnutrition and putting the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable at even greater risk.

    #                                     #                              #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_SouthSudan @unicefssudan

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ Māori Council, PSNA appeal for urgent action over Gaza starvation

    Asia Pacific Report

    The New Zealand Māori Council and Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa made a high profile appeal to Foreign Minister Winston Peters over Gaza today, calling for urgent action over humanitarian supplies for the besieged Palestinian enclave.

    “Starving a civilian population is a clear breach of international humanitarian law and a war crime under the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court,” said the open letter published by the two organisations as full page advertisements in three leading daily newspapers.

    Noting that New Zealand has not joined the International Court of Justice for standing up to “condemn the use of starvation as a weapon of war”, the groups still called on the government to use its “internationally respected voice” to express solidarity for humanitarian aid.

    The plea comes amid Israel’s increased attacks on Gaza which have killed at least 61 people since dawn, targeting civilians in crowded places and a Gaza City market.

    The more than two-month blockade by the the enclave by Israel has caused acute food shortages, accelerating the starvation of the Palestinian population.

    Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza — food, water, fuel and medical supplies — while more than 3000 trucks laden with supplies are stranded on the Egyptian border blocked from entry into Gaza.

    At least 57 Palestinians have starved to death in Gaza as a result of Israel’s punishing blockade. The overall death toll, revised in view of bodies buried under the rubble, stands at 62,614 Palestinians and 1139 people killed in Israel.

    The open letter, publlshed by three Stuff-owned titles — Waikato Times in Hamilton, The Post in the capital Wellington, and The Press in Christchurch, said:

    Rt Hon Winston Peters
    Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Winston.Peters@parliament.govt.nz

    Open letter requesting government action on the future of Gaza

    Kia ora Mr Peters,

    The situation in Occupied Gaza has reached another crisis point.

    We urge our country to speak out and join other nations demanding humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

    For more than two months, Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza — food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The World Food Programme says food stocks in Gaza are fully depleted. UNICEF says children face “growing risk of starvation, illness and death”. The International Committee of the Red Cross says “the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse”.

    Meanwhile, 3000 trucks laden with desperately needed aid are lined up at the Occupied Gaza border. Israeli occupation forces are refusing to allow them in.

    Starving a civilian population is a clear breach of International Humanitarian Law and a War Crime under the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court.

    At the International Court of Justice many countries have stood up to condemn the use of starvation as a weapon of war and to demand accountability for Israel to end its industrial-scale killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

    New Zealand has not joined that group. Our government has been silent to date.

    After 18 months facing what the International Court of Justice has described as a “plausible genocide”, it is grievous that New Zealand does not speak out and act clearly against this ongoing humanitarian outrage.

    Minister Peters, as Minister of Foreign Affairs you are in a position of leadership to carry New Zealand’s collective voice in support of humanitarian aid to Gaza to the world. We are asking you to speak on behalf of New Zealand to support the urgent international plea for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and to initiate calls for a no-fly zone to be established over the region to prevent further mass killing of civilians.

    We believe the way forward for peace and security for everyone in the region is for all parties to follow international law and United Nations resolutions, going back to UNGA 194 in 1948, so that a lasting peace can be established based on justice and equal rights for everyone.

    New Zealand has an internationally respected voice — please use it to express solidarity for humanitarian aid to Gaza, today.

    Ann Kendall QSM, Co-chair
    Tā Taihākurei Durie, Pou [cultural leader]
    NZ Māori Council

    Maher Nazzal and John Minto, National Co-chairs
    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

    The NZ Māori Council and Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa advertisement in New Zealand media today. Image: PSNA

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Video: 15th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    15th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0jlSJ5CV28

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Video: Advocate Lebeya briefs the media to give an update on successes and progress on high profile cases

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Advocate Lebeya briefs the media to give an update on successes and progress on high profile cases for the 4th Quarter financial year 2024/2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSDBJJp1Pec

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI: NRD Cyber Security recorded strong growth and international expansion in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NRD Cyber Security has enjoyed a year of significant growth, innovation and international expansion in 2024. The company generated consolidated revenue of EUR 10,194 million last year, an increase of 37.6% compared to 2023. Net profit increased by 23.3% to EUR 1,012 million last year.

    “These results reflect not only the growing global demand for cybersecurity services, but also the ability of our team to implement complex projects both in Lithuania and in international markets. We notice and respond to the growing need of organisations to increase their cyber resilience not only at the operational level by organizing their business processes and procedures, but also to strengthen the resilience of their IT infrastructure and improve the detection mechanisms for cyber threats,” says Vilius Benetis, Director of NRD Cyber Security.

    In addition to providing cybersecurity services, the company has developed internationally recognised security solutions such as the centralised cyber threat monitoring platform Natrix. In 2024, there was a continued cooperation with the Central Bank of Egypt, extending the capabilities of Natrix, which has already been deployed in the Egyptian financial sector.

    In 2024, NRD Cyber Security made significant additions to its portfolio of international projects with other large-scale projects. A major cross-cutting project with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) was completed to strengthen the cyber resilience of EU countries. NRD Cyber Security carried out a risk assessment and tested the cyber security preparedness of the public sector. Other projects of note include the development of a postal ISAC for the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN), and the design of a cybersecurity incident response team for the Eastern Caribbean Region.

    NRD Cyber Security, which is growing rapidly, not only strengthens cyber resilience in different countries, but also actively invests in the development of innovative solutions that meet both national and EU strategic priorities. The company’s built-in mechanisms already allow Security Operations Centres (SOCs) to exchange critical information in real time and to identify and report cyber threats more quickly either to their own organisations, or to the customers they serve.

    About NRD Cyber Security

    NRD Cyber Security offers cybersecurity solutions, consulting, and other services. The company aims to create secure digital environments for countries, governments, and businesses, and undertakes a wide range of projects around the world. The company is managed by INVL Technology, a Nasdaq Vilnius-listed IT investment company.

    The person authorized to provide additional information:
    INVL Technology Managing Partner
    Kazimieras Tonkūnas
    E-mail  k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Preliminary Results for the twelve months ended 31 January 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

      ICG Enterprise Trust plc
    Preliminary Results for the twelve months ended 31 January 2025
    8 May 2025
     
         
         
      Highlights

    • Actively-managed Portfolio focused on global mid-market private companies generating resilient growth
    • NAV per Share reaches 2,073p; NAV per Share Total Return* of 10.5% during the year and five-year annualised return of 14.5%
    • Portfolio Return* on a Sterling basis of 10.6%; portfolio companies reporting ~15% LTM earnings growth1
    • 40 Full Exits executed at a weighted-average Uplift to Carrying Value of 19.0%
    • Shareholder-focused capital allocation policy: £59m (5% of opening NAV) returned to shareholders in FY252 (FY24: £35m), of which £36m through buybacks (FY24: £13m) and £23m through dividends of 36p per share (FY24: £22m, 33p per share)
    • Wide range of potential outcomes to market transaction activity; secondaries market could present compelling opportunities
    • Sector positioning, strong origination network and robust balance sheet position us well in current environment
    • Post period-end, announced an additional £107m proceeds from a secondary sale and the realisation of Minimax (largest portfolio company, 3.1% of Portfolio at 31 January 2025)

    1 EBITDA, based on Enlarged Perimeter covering 67% of the Portfolio
    2 Based on dividends declared or proposed for Q1 FY25 – Q4 FY25 inclusive, and buybacks up to and including 31 January 2025

    *This is an Alternative Performance Measure. Please refer to the Glossary for the definition.

     
         
      Jane Tufnell   Oliver Gardey    
      Chair of ICG Enterprise Trust   Portfolio Manager for ICG Enterprise Trust    
        Today’s results demonstrate that our investment strategy can deliver long-term value. Our portfolio companies grew earnings by 15% in the year1, and ICGT generated NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5%, ending the year with NAV per Share of 2,073p.

    During the year, the Board and Manager have been careful in allocating our shareholders’ capital. New investments continued, deploying £181m and making commitments of £83m. Alongside this, we returned £59m of cash to shareholders (5% of our opening NAV) through buybacks and dividends.

    As we enter another period of uncertainty, I am confident our long-term approach can generate value for our shareholders, and I thank you for your continued support.

        Our portfolio companies are delivering solid operational performance (15% earnings growth LTM1). Our resilient Portfolio and robust balance sheet position us well for the current market environment.

    Our active approach to portfolio management is a differentiator for ICGT. As well as making a number of new commitments and investments during the year, we executed a secondary sale post period-end at a 5.5% discount that generated net cash proceeds of £62m for ICGT.

    The investment trust structure enables shareholders to invest efficiently in privately-owned companies. With our track record and network, ICGT is an attractive proposition for those seeking exposure to mature, profitable, cash-generative businesses.

       

    PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

            Annualised
    Performance to 31 January 2025 3 months 6 months 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
    Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis 2.9% 6.2% 10.2% 8.9% 15.8% 15.3%
    NAV per Share Total Return 4.3% 7.4% 10.5% 8.9% 14.5% 13.8%
    Share Price Total Return 9.7% 1.5% 12.5% 6.6% 9.6% 11.8%
    FTSE All-Share Index Total Return 6.9% 4.3% 17.1% 7.9% 6.6% 6.5%
    Financial year ended: Jan 2021 Jan 2022 Jan 2023 Jan 2024 Jan 2025
    Fund performance Portfolio return (local currency) 24.9% 24.4% 10.5% 5.9% 10.2%
    Portfolio return (sterling) 26.4% 27.6% 17.0% 3.2% 10.6%
    NAV £952m £1,158m £1,301m £1,283m £1,332m
    NAV per Share Total Return (%) 22.5% 24.4% 14.5% 2.1% 10.5%
                 
    Investment activity New Investments £139m £304m £287m £137m £181m
    As % opening Portfolio 17% 32% 24% 10% 13%
    Realisation Proceeds £137m £334m £252m £171m £151m
    As % opening Portfolio 17% 35% 21% 12% 11%
                 
    Shareholder experience Closing share price 966p 1,200p 1,150p 1,226p 1,342p
    Total dividends per share 24p 27p 30p 33p 36p
    Share Price Total Return 2.8% 27.1% (2.3)% 9.6% 12.5%
    Total shareholder distributions £17m £21m £22m £35m £59m
    As % Realisation Proceeds 12% 6% 9% 20% 39%
               
    – o/w distributions dividends (%) 94% 86% 91% 63% 38%
    – o/w distributions buybacks (%) 6% 14% 9% 37% 62%
    Portfolio activity overview for FY25 Primary Direct Secondary Total ICG-managed
    Local Currency return 8.2% 16.3% 6.4% 10.2% 8.4%
    Sterling return 8.2% 17.0% 7.3% 10.6% 8.8%
    New Investments £115m £58m £8m £181m £21m
    Total Proceeds £101m £13m £37m £151m £60m
    New Fund Commitments £64m £20m £83m £20m
    Closing Portfolio value £789m £507m £228m £1,523m £433m
    % Total Portfolio 52% 33% 15% 100% 28%

    COMPANY TIMETABLE
    A presentation for investors and analysts will be held at 11:00 BST today. A link to the presentation can be found on the Results & Reports page of the Company website. A recording of the presentation will be made available on the Company website after the event.

        FY25 Final Dividend
    Ex-dividend date   3 July 2025
    Record date   4 July 2025
    Dividend payment date   18 July 2025
    Annual General Meeting
    The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 24 June 2025. The Board will be communicating the format of the meeting separately in the Notice of Meeting. This will include details of how shareholders may register their interest in attending the Annual General Meeting.
    Shareholder Seminar
    We will be holding a Shareholder Seminar for institutional shareholders and research analysts at 3:30pm BST on Wednesday 18 June 2025, with registration starting at 3:15pm BST.

    Shareholders should contact icg-enterprise@icgam.com should they wish to attend.

    Please note that for regulatory reasons this event is only open to institutional investors and research analysts.

    ENQUIRIES

    Institutional investors and analysts:  
    Martin Li, Shareholder Relations, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1816
    Nathan Brown, Deutsche Numis +44 (0) 20 7260 1426
    David Harris, Cadarn Capital +44 (0) 20 7019 9042
       
    Media:  
    Clare Glynn, Corporate Communications, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1395

    ABOUT ICG ENTERPRISE TRUST

    ICG Enterprise Trust is a leading listed private equity investor focused on creating long-term growth by delivering consistently strong returns through selectively investing in profitable, cash-generative private companies, primarily in Europe and the US, while offering the added benefit to shareholders of daily liquidity.

    We invest in companies directly as well as through funds managed by ICG plc and other leading private equity managers who focus on creating long-term value and building sustainable growth through active management and strategic change.

    NOTES

    Included in this document are Alternative Performance Measures (“APMs”). APMs have been used if considered by the Board and the Manager to be the most relevant basis for shareholders in assessing the overall performance of the Company, and for comparing the performance of the Company to its peers and its previously reported results. The Glossary includes further details of APMs and reconciliations to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) measures, where appropriate.

    In the Manager’s Review and Supplementary Information, all performance figures are stated on a Total Return basis (i.e. including the effect of re-invested dividends). ICG Alternative Investment Limited, a regulated subsidiary of Intermediate Capital Group plc, acts as the Manager of the Company.

    DISCLAIMER

    The information contained herein and on the pages that follow does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire or subscribe for, any securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation is unlawful or would impose any unfulfilled registration, qualification, publication or approval requirements on ICG Enterprise Trust PLC (the “Company”) or its affiliates or agents. Equity securities in the Company have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa (each an “Excluded Jurisdiction”). The equity securities in the Company referred to herein and on the pages that follow may not be offered or sold within an Excluded Jurisdiction, or to any U.S. person (“U.S. Person”) as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or to any national, resident or citizen of an Excluded Jurisdiction.

    The information on the pages that follow may contain forward looking statements. Any statement other than a statement of historical fact is a forward looking statement. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward looking statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward looking statement, which speaks only as of the date of its issuance.

    CHAIR’S STATEMENT

    Dear fellow shareholders,

    For the 12 months to 31 January 2025 ICG Enterprise Trust delivered a NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5% and a Share Price Total Return of 12.5%. Over the last five years, the annualised returns have been 14.5% and 9.6% respectively.

    The Board has declared dividends for the year of 36p (+9% compared to FY24) and reduced ICGT’s share count by 4.3% during the year by returning £36m to shareholders through share buybacks at a weighted average discount of 36.6%.

    INVESTMENT STRATEGY

    The Company’s Portfolio grew 10.2% on a Local Currency Basis during the year (last five years annualised: 15.8%).

    We invest in resilient private companies and are geographically balanced between North America and Europe. During the year we evolved our target portfolio mix towards having more Direct and Secondary Investments, which will help to optimise Portfolio concentration and liquidity.

    COST BASE

    ICGT’s ongoing charges for FY25 were 1.38% (FY24: 1.37%). As a Board, we are committed to providing value for our shareholders and transparent disclosure around our cost. The change in fees and cost savings instigated by the Board in FY24 continued to enhance the net return of our investment strategy delivering £2.0m savings in FY25. We publish a Statement of Expenses that sets out the impact of ICGT’s expenses on the financial returns to shareholders (available at www.icg-enterprise.co.uk/soe) and which has been updated for our FY25 expenses.

    CAPITAL ALLOCATION

    The Board has continued its proactive approach to capital allocation. We balance the potential long-term compounding returns of investments into new portfolio companies with cash returns to shareholders at par via dividends and the value accretion of buying back shares at a discount to NAV. ICGT was the first in our sector to introduce a long-term share buyback programme in FY23, and in FY25 we supplemented this with an opportunistic buyback that has been renewed for FY26.

    Over the last five years, ICGT’s dividend per share has grown at an annualised rate of 9.4% (including the proposed 10.5p final dividend being declared for FY25). The ICGT ordinary dividend per share has now increased for the twelfth consecutive year.

    Since October 2022 our share buybacks have returned £51m to shareholders and acquired shares at a weighted-average discount of 37.5%, increasing NAV per Share by 54p (2.7%). We believe the share buybacks have also increased the liquidity and reduced the volatility of our shares.

    BALANCE SHEET

    We continue to implement our objective of being fully invested through cycles alongside maintaining a robust balance sheet. This allows us to manage our resources in line with our capital allocation policy.

    Having increased our credit facility during the year from €240m to €300m, at 31 January 2025 ICG Enterprise Trust had total available liquidity of £125m and net gearing of 10%. We have announced two transactions post period-end that in aggregate generated Total Proceeds to ICGT of over £100m.

    SALES AND MARKETING

    In aggregate across the Board and Manager we own in excess of 270,000 shares, and are aligned to the success of an investment in ICG Enterprise Trust shares.

    ICGT’s discount remains at levels that the Board feels do not reflect the fundamental value of the shares. The discount is currently 41%. We continue to be challenged by the share price trading at such a discount to NAV and the Board is active in its pursuit of ways to improve the Company’s rating.

    I had a year of strong shareholder engagement, welcomed several new holders to our register and received valuable feedback that has been shared with the Board and Manager. In conjunction with our Manager, our Corporate Broker and our distribution partner we will continue the programme to help the market understand ICGT’s shareholder proposition and its role within investment portfolios.

    OUTLOOK

    Our focus on investing in private equity-owned companies that have resilient growth characteristics gives shareholders access to investments that they cannot reach through public market strategies. ICGT plays a valuable role in our shareholders’ portfolios.

    I believe there is substantial value in our Portfolio and in the new investments the Manager is making on our shareholders’ behalf. Our Portfolio is performing well, and I thank all shareholders for your continued support.

    Jane Tufnell
    Chair
    7 May 2025

    MANAGER’S REVIEW

    Alternative Performance Measures

    The Board and the Manager monitor the financial performance of the Company on the basis of Alternative Performance Measures (‘APM’), which are non-UK-adopted IAS (‘IAS’) measures. The APM predominantly form the basis of the financial measures discussed in this review, which the Board believes assists shareholders in assessing their investment and the delivery of the investment strategy.

    The Company holds certain investments in subsidiary entities. The substantive difference between APM and IAS is the treatment of the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries. The APM basis ‘looks through’ these subsidiaries to the underlying assets and liabilities they hold, and it reports the investments as the Portfolio APM, gross of the liability in respect of the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. Under IAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are reported separately. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries, which include the liability in respect of the Co-investment Incentive Scheme, are presented on the face of the IAS balance sheet as a single carrying value. The same is true for the IAS and APM basis of the cash flow statement.

    The following table sets out IAS metrics and the APM equivalents:

    IFRS (£m) 31 January 2025 31 January 2024 APM (£m) 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Investments 1,470 1,296 Portfolio 1,523 1,349
    NAV 1,332 1,283 Realisation Proceeds 151 171
    Cash flows from the sale of portfolio investments 20 41 Total Proceeds 151 239
    Cash flows related to the purchase of portfolio investments 34 25 Total New Investment 181 137

    The Glossary includes definitions for all APM and, where appropriate, a reconciliation between APM and IAS.

    Why private equity

    Every day the lives of those living and working in the US and Western Europe are touched by companies owned by private equity: retailers, payments processors, home security, pet food, health services – the list is long. What typically unites these businesses is that they are profitable and cash generative. These businesses are actively managed by their shareholders, with management teams heavily incentivised to generate returns. Increasingly companies with these characteristics are choosing to grow under private equity ownership and to stay private for longer. Within that, ICGT focuses on a subset of those companies that we expect will generate resilient growth. As more businesses are owned by private equity, we believe it is a structurally attractive allocation within an investment portfolio, with a track record of attractive returns, and significant opportunity to continue that trajectory.

    A share in ICGT gives you access to a unique portfolio of private companies.

    Our investment strategy

    Within developed markets, we focus on investing in buyouts of profitable, cash-generative businesses that exhibit resilient growth characteristics, which we believe will generate strong long-term compounding returns across economic cycles.

    We take an active approach to Portfolio construction, with a flexible mandate that enables us to deploy capital in Primary, Secondary and Direct Investments. Geographically, we focus on the developed markets of North America and Europe which have deep and mature private equity markets.

      Medium-term target Five-year average 31 January 2025
    1. Target Portfolio composition 1      
    Investment category      
    Primary ~40-50% 57% 52%
    Direct ~30-35% 28% 33%
    Secondary ~25-30% 15% 15%
    Geography2      
    North America ~50% 40% 46%
    Europe (inc. UK) ~50% 52% 48%
    Other 8% 6%
           
    2. Balance sheet      
    Net cash/(Net Debt)3 ~0% (1)% (10)%
    1. Five-year average is the linear average of FY exposures for FY21-FY25.
    2. As a percentage of Portfolio.
    3. (Net cash)/debt as a percentage of NAV. Post period-end, we announced Total Proceeds of over £100m from a secondary sale and the realisation of Minimax, see page 14

    ICG Enterprise Trust benefits from access to ICG-managed funds and Direct Investments, which represented 28% of the Portfolio value at period end and generated a 8.4% return on a Local Currency Basis.

    Performance overview

    At 31 January 2025, our Portfolio was valued at £1,523m, and the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis for the financial year was 10.2% (FY24: 5.9%).

    Due to the geographic diversification of our Portfolio, the reported value is impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates. During the period, FX movements affected the Portfolio positively by £5.4m, driven by US dollar appreciation. In sterling terms, Portfolio growth during the period was 10.6%.

    The net result for shareholders was that ICG Enterprise Trust generated a NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5% during FY25, ending the period with a NAV per Share of 2,073p.

    Movement in the Portfolio
    £m
    Twelve months to 31 January 2025 Twelve months to 31 January 2024
    Opening Portfolio1 1,349 1,406
    Total New Investments 181 137
    Total Proceeds (151) (239)
    Portfolio net cashflow 30 (102)
    Valuation movement2 138 83
    Currency movement 6 (39)
    Closing Portfolio 1,523 1,349
    1. Refer to the Glossary. 

    2. 97% of the Portfolio is valued using 31 December 2024 (or later) valuations (FY24: 94%). 

       
    NAV per Share Total Return Twelve months to 31 January 2025 Twelve months to 31 January 2024
    % Portfolio growth (local currency) 10.2% 5.9%
    % currency movement 0.4% (2.7%)
    % Portfolio growth (Sterling) 10.6% 3.2%
    Impact of gearing 0.7% (0.3)%
    Finance costs and other expenses (0.6)% (0.2)%
    Management fee (1.3)% (1.2)%
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual (0.7)% (0.1)%
    Impact of share buybacks 1.8% 0.7%
    NAV per Share Total Return 10.5% 2.1%

    For Q4 the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis was 2.9% and the NAV per Share Total Return was 4.3%

    Executing our investment strategy

    Commitments
    in the financial year
    Total New Investments
    in the financial year
    Growth
    in the financial year
    Total Proceeds
    in the financial year
    Making commitments to funds, which expect to be drawn over 3 to 5 years Cash deployments into portfolio companies, either through funds or directly Driving growth and value creation of our portfolio companies Cash realisations of investments in Portfolio companies, plus Fund Disposals
    £83m
    (FY24: £153m)
    £181m
    (FY24: £137m)
    £138m
    (FY24: £83m)
    £151m
    (FY24: £239m)

    Commitments

    Our evergreen structure and flexible investment mandate enable us to commit through the cycle, maintaining vintage diversification for our Portfolio and sowing the seeds for future growth.

    During the year we made 7 new Fund Commitments totalling £83.4m, including £19.8m to funds managed by ICG plc, as detailed below:

    Fund Manager Commitment during the period
        Local currency £m
    ICG Strategic Equity V ICG $25.0 m £19.8 m
    Leeds VIII Leeds Equity $20.0 m £15.7 m
    Investindustrial VIII Investindustrial €15.0 m £12.9 m
    Oak Hill VI Oak Hill $15.0 m £11.9 m
    Thoma Bravo XVI Thoma Bravo $15.0 m £11.7 m
    Valeas I Valeas $10.0 m £7.5 m
    American Securities IX American Securities $5.0 m £4.0 m

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust had outstanding Undrawn Commitments of £553.2m

    Movement in outstanding Commitments Year to 31 January 2025
    £m
    Undrawn Commitments as at 1 February 2024 552.0
    New Fund Commitments 83.4
    New Commitments relating to Direct Investments 65.3
    Total New Investments (181.4)
    Currency and other movements 33.9
    Undrawn commitments as at 31 January 2025 553.2

    Total Undrawn Commitments at 31 January 2025 comprised £419.1m of Undrawn Commitments to funds within their Investment Period, and a further £134.1m was to funds outside their Investment Period.

      31 January 2025
    £m
    31 January 2024
    £m
    Undrawn Commitments – funds in Investment Period 419.1 434.2
    Undrawn Commitments – funds outside Investment Period 134.1 117.7
    Total Undrawn Commitments 553.2 552.0
    Total available liquidity (including debt facility) (124.6) (195.9)
    Overcommitment net of total available liquidity 428.6 356.1
    Overcommitment % of net asset value 31.1% 27.7%

    Commitments are made in the funds’ underlying currencies. The currency split of the Undrawn Commitments at 31 January 2025 was as follows:

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Undrawn Commitments £m % £m %
    US Dollar 310.3 56.1% 290 52.5%
    Euro 213.1 38.5% 236 42.7%
    Sterling 29.8 5.4% 26 4.8%
    Total 553.2 100.0% 552.0 100.0%

    Investments

    Total new investments of £181.4m during the period, of which 12% (£21.1m) were alongside ICG. New investment by category detailed in the table below:

    Investment Category

    Cost (£m)

    % of New Investments
    Primary 115.5 63.6%
    Direct 58.4 32.2%
    Secondary 7.6 4.2%
    Total 181.4 100.0%

    The five largest new investments in the period were as follows:

    Investment Description Manager Country Cost £m1
    Datasite Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms ICG United States 18.4
    Visma Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Hg Norway 14.5
    Audiotonix Manufacturer of audio mixing consoles PAI United Kingdom 14.0
    Multiversity Provider of online higher education courses. ICG/CVC Italy 9.4
    Avid Bioservices Provider of biologics development and manufacturing services GHO United States 7.3
    Top 5 largest underlying new investments 63.6

    1 Represents ICG Enterprise Trust’s indirect investment (share of fund cost) plus any Direct Investments in the period.

    Occasionally ICGT simultaneously has both a realisation from and an investment into the same company in the same period. This typically occurs when an underlying fund sells a company that is purchased by another fund within ICGT’s portfolio. During FY25 shareholders will note that Datasite and Visma appear both in the top 5 realisations and top 5 new investments, which is a result of this situation.

    GROWTH

    The Portfolio grew by £138.0m (+10.2%) on a Local Currency Basis in the 12 months to 31 January 2025.

    Growth across the Portfolio was split as follows:

    • By investment type: growth was spread across Primary (8.2%), Secondary (6.4%) and Direct (16.3%)
    • By geography: North America and Europe experienced growth of 12.1% and 8.4% respectively

    The growth in the Portfolio is underpinned by the performance of our portfolio companies, which delivered robust financial performance during the period:

      Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    Portfolio coverage 41% 67%
    Last Twelve Months (‘LTM’) revenue growth 9.0% 11.2%
    LTM EBITDA growth 15.5% 15.3%
    Net Debt / EBITDA 4.0x 4.4x
    Enterprise Value / EBITDA 15.4x 15.2x
    Note: values are weighted averages for the respective portfolio segment; see Glossary for definition and calculation methodology

    QUOTED COMPANY EXPOSURE

    We do not actively invest in publicly quoted companies but gain listed investment exposure when IPOs are used as a route to exit an investment. In these cases, exit timing typically lies with the manager with whom we have invested.

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust’s exposure to quoted companies was valued at £73.1m, equivalent to 4.8% of the Portfolio value (31 January 2024: 4.8%). Across the Portfolio, quoted positions resulted in a £4.3m increase in Portfolio NAV during the period. The share price of our largest listed exposure, Chewy, increased by 119% in local currency (USD) during the period. This positively impacted the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis by approximately 0.8%.

    At 31 January 2025 Chewy was the only quoted investment that individually accounted for 0.5% or more of the Portfolio value:

    Company Ticker 31 January 2025
    % of Portfolio value
    Chewy CHWY-US 2.0%
    Other companies   2.8%
    Total   4.8%

    REALISATIONS

    During FY25, the ICG Enterprise Trust Portfolio generated Total Proceeds of £150.8m.

    Realisation activity during the period included 40 Full Exits generating proceeds of £73.7m. These were completed at a weighted average Uplift to Carrying Value of 19% and represent a weighted average Multiple to Cost of 2.9x for those investments.

    Realisation Manager Description Country Proceeds £m
    VettaFi ICG Provider of master limited partnerships (“MLP”) indices United States 10.2
    Visma ICG Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Norway 8.2
    Datasite ICG Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms United States 7.8
    Compass Community Graphite Provider of fostering services and children residential care United Kingdom 7.4
    IRIS ICG Provider of software and services for the accountancy and payroll sectors United Kingdom 7.0
    Total of 5 largest underlying realisations   40.7

    Balance sheet and liquidity

    Net assets at 31 January 2025 were £1,332m, equal to 2,073p
    per share.

    The Company had net debt of £128m and at 31 January 2025, the Portfolio represented 114% of net assets (31 January 2024: 105%).

      £m % of net assets
    Portfolio 1,523.1 114.3%
    Cash 3.9 0.3%
    Drawn debt (131.9) (9.9)%
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual (53.9) (4.0)%
    Other net current liabilities (8.8) (0.7)%
    Net assets 1,332.4 100.0%

    Our objective is to be fully invested through the cycle, while ensuring that we have sufficient financial resources to be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities as they arise.

    During the year, our balance sheet flexibility was enhanced through an increase in the credit facility size from €240m to €300m. This change was effective from 20 December 2024.

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust had a cash balance
    of £3.9m (31 January 2024: £11.2m) and total available liquidity of £124.6m (31 January 2024: £195.9m).

      £m
    Cash at 31 January 2024 11.2
    Total Proceeds 150.8
    New investments (181.4)
    Debt drawn down 111.9
    Shareholder returns (58.2)
    Management fees (16.0)
    FX and other expenses (13.5)
    Cash at 31 January 2025 3.9
    Available undrawn debt facilities 120.7
    Total available liquidity 124.6

    Dividend and share buyback

    ICG Enterprise Trust has a progressive dividend policy alongside two share buyback programmes to return capital to shareholders.

    DIVIDENDS

    The Board has declared a dividend of 10.5p per share in respect of the fourth quarter, taking total dividends for the year to 36p (FY24: 33p). It is the twelfth consecutive year of ordinary dividend per share increases.

    SHARE BUYBACKS

    The following purchases have been made under the Company’s share buyback programmes:

      Long-term Opportunistic Total
      FY253 Since inception1 FY253 Since inception2 FY253 Since
    inception
    Number of shares purchased 1,420,500 2,752,688 1,492,175 1,492,175 2,912,675 4,244,863
    % of opening shares since buyback started         4.3% 6.2%
    Capital returned to shareholders £17.3m £32.6m £18.3m £18.3m £35.6m £50.8m
    Number of days shares have been acquired 87 183 11 11 98 194
    Weighted average discount to last reported NAV 37.0% 38.3% 36.2% 36.2% 36.6% 37.5%
    NAV per Share accretion (p)         36.5 54.1
    NAV per Share accretion (% of NAV)         1.8% 2.7%

    1.Since October 2022 (which was when the long-term share buyback programme was launched) up to and including 31 January 2025.

    2. Since May 2024 (which was when the opportunistic buyback programme was launched) up to and including 31 January 2025.

    3. Based on company-issued announcements / date of purchase, rather than date of settlement.

    Note: aggregate consideration excludes commission, PTM and SDRT.

    The Board believes the long-term buyback programme demonstrates the Manager’s discipline around capital allocation; underlines the Board’s confidence in the long-term prospects of the Company, its cash flows and NAV; will enhance the NAV per Share; and, over time, may positively influence the volatility of the Company’s discount and its trading liquidity.

    During the period, the Board announced an opportunistic share buyback programme for FY25 of up to £25m. This is intended to enable us to take advantage of current trading levels, when the ability to purchase shares in meaningful size at a significant discount presents itself. It was renewed for FY26 for an additional year up to £25m.

    Foreign exchange rates

    The details of relevant foreign exchange rates applied in this report are provided in the table below:

      Average rate for FY25 Average rate for FY24 31 January 2025 year end 31 January 2024 year end
    GBP:EUR 1.18 1.15 1.20 1.17
    GBP:USD 1.28 1.25 1.24 1.27
    EUR:USD 1.08 1.08 1.04 1.08

    Activity since the period end

    Notable activity between 1 February 2025 and 31 March 2025 has included:

    • Four new Fund Commitments for a combined value of £64m
    • New investments of £39m
    • Realisation Proceeds of £26m

    From 1 February 2025 up to and including 30 April 2025, 718,000 shares (£8.9m) were bought back at a weighted-average discount to NAV of 37.9%.

    In addition, during the month of April 2025, we announced that proceeds of £107m were received as a result of two transactions:

    • Secondary sale (£62m net proceeds), executed at a discount of 5.5% to 30 September 2024 valuation and realising a 1.6x return on invested cost (15% IRR)
    • Realisation of Minimax (€53m (£45m) proceeds), ICGT’s largest portfolio company at 31 January 2025 (3.1% of Portfolio value). ICG Enterprise Trust is reinvesting €10m in the next stage of Minimax’s growth alongside Management and other investors including certain ICG funds.

    ICG Private Equity Funds Investment Team

    7 May 2025

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

    This section presents supplementary information regarding the Portfolio (see Manager’s Review and the Glossary for further details and definitions).

    Portfolio composition

    Portfolio by calendar year of investment % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2025
    % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2024
    2025 0.5% —%
    2024 10.1% —%
    2023 7.6% 6.9%
    2022 18.5% 18.7%
    2021 25.7% 27.9%
    2020 8.6% 11.4%
    2019 10.3% 12.4%
    2018 7.3% 10.5%
    2017 2.2% 4.2%
    2016 and older 9.2% 8.0%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    Portfolio by sector % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2025
    % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2024
    TMT 29.9% 25.3%
    Consumer goods and services 18.1% 17.5%
    Healthcare 11.5% 11.3%
    Business services 12.4% 13.1%
    Industrials 7.8% 7.9%
    Education 5.0% 7.4%
    Financials 7.6% 5.7%
    Leisure 4.0% 7.3%
    Other 3.7% 4.5%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    Portfolio by fund currency1 31 January 2025
    £m
    31 January 2025
    %
    31 January 2024
    £m
    31 January 2024
    %
    US Dollar 796 52.3% 674 49.9%
    Euro 584 38.4% 555 41.2%
    Sterling 140 9.2% 120 8.9%
    Total 1,523   1,349 100.0%
    1 Currency exposure by reference to the reporting currency of each fund .

    Portfolio Dashboard

    The tables below provide disclosure on the composition and dispersion of financial and operational performance for the Top 30 and the Enlarged Perimeter. At 31 January 2025, the Top 30 Companies represented 40.2% of the Portfolio by value and the Enlarged Perimeter represented 66.9% of total Portfolio value. This information is prepared on a value-weighted basis, based on contribution to Portfolio value at 31 January 2025. Datasets for Top 30 companies and ‘Enlarged perimeter’ are not distinct and will have some overlap.

      % of value at 31 January 2025
    Sector exposure Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    TMT 17.3% 30.2%
    Business services 16.9% 13.9%
    Consumer goods and services 14.0% 17.3%
    Industrials 27.3% 8.7%
    Healthcare 8.4% 10.0%
    Education 6.9% 6.5%
    Leisure 6.8% 5.1%
    Financials 2.4% 5.1%
    Other —% 3.2%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
      % of value at 31 January 2025
    Geographic exposure1 Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    North America 43.6% 45.0%
    Europe 50.3% 50.5%
    Other 6.1% 4.5%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    1 Geographic exposure is calculated by reference to the location of the headquarters of the underlying Portfolio companies
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    LTM revenue growth Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <-10% 3.2% 4.0%
    `-10-0% 9.0% 10.2%
    0-10% 59.4% 47.0%
    10-20% 15.2% 20.6%
    20-30% 3.6% 5.6%
    >30% 9.6% 10.0%
    n.a.1 —% 2.7%
    Weighted average 9.0% 11.2%
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    LTM EBITDA growth Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <-10% 5.8% 7.2%
    `-10-0% 9.7% 10.3%
    0-10% 31.4% 27.5%
    10-20% 21.9% 23.0%
    20-30% 7.2% 8.9%
    >30% 24.0% 19.9%
    n.a1 —% 3.2%
    Weighted average 15.5% 15.3%
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    EV/EBITDA multiple Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    0-10x 8.5% 10.4%
    10-12x 17.2% 16.4%
    12-13x 8.1% 7.8%
    13-15x 18.6% 18.0%
    15-17x 25.9% 21.7%
    17-20x 6.5% 7.7%
    >20x 15.2% 15.4%
    n.a.1 —% 2.6%
    Weighted average 15.4x 15.2x
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    Net Debt / EBITDA Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <2x 27.2% 17.3%
    2-4x 17.3% 19.9%
    4-5x 14.1% 15.7%
    5-6x 6.7% 13.2%
    6-7x 26.0% 17.8%
    >7x 8.7% 11.2%
    n.a.1 —% 5.1%
    Weighted average 4.0x 4.4x
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.

    Top 30 companies
    The table below presents the 30 companies in which ICG Enterprise Trust had the largest investments by value at 31 January 2025. The valuations are gross of underlying managers fees and carried interest.

      Company Manager Year of investment Country Value as a % of Portfolio
    1 Minimax        
      Supplier of fire protection systems and services ICG 2018 Germany 3.1%
    2 Froneri        
      Manufacturer and distributor of ice cream products PAI 2013 / 2019 United Kingdom 2.5%
    3 Chewy        
      Online retailer of premium pet food and products BC Partners 2022 United States 2.0%
    4 Datasite        
      Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms ICG 2024 United States 1.9%
    5 Leaf Home Solutions        
      Provider of home maintenance services Gridiron 2016 United States 1.6%
    6 Visma        
      Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Hg/ICG 2024 Norway 1.6%
    7 Circana        
      Provider of mission-critical data and predictive analytics to consumer goods manufacturers New Mountain 2022 United States 1.6%
    8 European Camping Group        
      Operator of premium campsites and holiday parks PAI 2021 / 2023 France 1.5%
    9 Davies Group        
      Provider of speciality business process outsourcing services BC Partners 2021 United Kingdom 1.5%
    10 Ambassador Theatre Group        
      Operator of theatres and ticketing platforms ICG 2021 United Kingdom 1.4%
    11 Precisely        
      Provider of enterprise software Clearlake/ICG 2021 / 2022 United States 1.3%
    12 Newton        
      Provider of management consulting services ICG 2021 / 2022 United Kingdom 1.3%
    13 David Lloyd Leisure        
      Operator of premium health clubs TDR 2013 / 2020 United Kingdom 1.3%
    14 Curium Pharma        
      Supplier of nuclear medicine diagnostic pharmaceuticals ICG 2020 United Kingdom 1.3%
    15 PSB Academy        
      Provider of private tertiary education ICG 2018 Singapore 1.3%
    16 Crucial Learning        
      Provider of corporate training courses focused on communication skills and leadership development Leeds Equity 2019 United States 1.3%
    17 Class Valuation        
      Provider of residential mortgage appraisal management services Gridiron 2021 United States 1.3%
    18 Domus        
      Operator of retirement homes ICG 2017 / 2021 France 1.2%
    19 Yudo        
      Designer and manufacturer of hot runner systems ICG 2017 / 2018 South Korea 1.2%
    20 ECA Group        
      Provider of autonomous systems for the aerospace and maritime sectors ICG 2022 France 1.1%
    21 Brooks Automation        
      Provider of semiconductor manufacturing solutions THL 2021 / 2022 United States 1.0%
    22 Planet Payment        
      Provider of integrated payments services focused on hospitality and luxury retail Advent/Eurazeo/ICG 2021 Ireland 1.0%
    23 Ivanti        
      Provider of IT management solutions Charlesbank/ICG 2021 United States 1.0%
    24 Vistage        
      Provider of CEO leadership and coaching for small and mid-size businesses in the US Gridiron 2022 United States 1.0%
    25 Audiotonix        
      Manufacturer of audio mixing consoles PAI 2024 United Kingdom 0.9%
    26 DigiCert        
      Provider of enterprise security solutions ICG 2021 United States 0.9%
    27 Ping Identity        
      Provider of intelligent access management solutions Thoma Bravo 2022 / 2023 United States 0.9%
    28 KronosNet        
      Provider of tech-enabled customer engagement and business solutions ICG 2022 Spain 0.8%
    29 Archer Technologies        
      Provider of governance, risk and compliance software Cinven 2023 United States 0.7%
    30 Silvus Technologies        
      Developer of mobile communications datalinks used in law enforcement, unmanned systems and other commercial/industrial applications TJC 2019 United States 0.7%
      Total of the 30 largest underlying investments       40.2%

    The 30 largest fund investments
    The table below presents the 30 largest fund investments by value at 31 January 2025. The valuations are net of underlying managers’ fees and carried interest.

      Fund Year of commitment Value £m Outstanding commitment £m
    1 PAI Strategic Partnerships **      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2019 34.6 0.2
    2 ICG Strategic Equities Fund IV      
      GP-led secondary transactions 2021 32.9 7.1
    3 ICG Strategic Equities Fund III      
      GP-led secondary transactions 2018 31.0 11.2
    4 ICG Europe VII      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buyouts 2018 30.7 6.1
    5 CVC European Equity Partners VII      
      Large buyouts 2017 25.7 2.9
    6 PAI Europe VII      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2017 24.6 2.4
    7 ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp      
      Secondary portfolio 2021 23.8 13.6
    8 ICG Europe VIII      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buy-outs 2021 23.6 14.3
    9 Gridiron Capital Fund III      
      Mid-market buyouts 2016 23.4 1.3
    10 Resolute IV      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 23.0 0.9
    11 Gridiron Capital Fund IV      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 21.5 0.5
    12 ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor **      
      Secondary fund restructurings 2018 20.5 17.8
    13 Oak Hill V      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 19.9 0.6
    14 Seventh Cinven      
      Large buyouts 2019 19.8 1.8
    15 Graphite Capital Partners VIII *      
      Mid-market buyouts 2013 19.3 4.1
    16 Graphite Capital Partners IX      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 18.4 2.3
    17 ICG Ludgate Hill III      
      Secondary portfolio 2022 18.0 5.7
    18 Resolute V      
      Mid-market buyouts 2021 17.1 1.4
    19 Advent Global Private Equity IX      
      Large buyouts 2019 16.4 0.5
    20 ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp      
      Secondary portfolio 2022 16.0 5.4
    21 New Mountain Partners VI      
      Mid-market buy-outs 2020 14.9 0.5
    22 Investindustrial VII      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 14.0 4.9
    23 ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buyouts 2019 13.5 5.5
    24 CVC Capital Partners VIII      
      Large buyouts 2020 13.4 0.5
    25 Bowmark Capital Partners VI      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 13.1 3.4
    26 Tailwind Capital Partners III      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 13.1 2.2
    27 BC European Capital X      
      Large buyouts 2016 13.1 1.4
    28 Thomas H Lee Equity Fund IX      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2021 12.9 4.0
    29 Permira VII      
      Large buyouts 2019 12.6 1.6
    30 ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP      
      LP-led secondary transactions 2022 12.2 41.1
      Total of the largest 30 fund investments   593.0 165.3
      Percentage of total investment Portfolio   39.1%  

    *All or part of interest acquired through a secondary sale.

    **Includes the associated Top Up funds.

    HOW WE MANAGE RISK

    Identifying and evaluating the strategic, financial and operational impact of our key risks

    The execution of the Company’s investment strategy is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, and the Board and Manager have identified several principal risks to the Company’s business. As part of this process, the Board has put in place an ongoing process to identify, assess and monitor the principal and emerging risks facing the Company, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

    RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

    The Board is responsible for risk management and determining the Company’s overall risk appetite. The Audit Committee assesses and monitors the risk management framework and specifically reviews the controls and assurance programmes in place.

    PRINCIPAL RISKS

    The Company’s principal risks are individual risks, or a combination of risks, that could threaten the Company’s business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

    Details of the Company’s principal risks, potential impact, controls and mitigating factors are set out on pages 23 to 27.

    OTHER RISKS

    Other risks, including reputational risk, are potential outcomes of the principal risks materialising. These risks are actively managed and mitigated as part of the wider risk management framework of the Company and the Manager.

    EMERGING RISKS

    Emerging risks are considered by the Board and are regularly assessed to identify any potential impact on the Company and to determine whether any actions are required. Emerging risks often include those related to regulatory/legislative change and macro-economic and political change.

    The Company depends upon the experience, skill and reputation of the employees of the Manager. The Manager’s ability to retain the service of these individuals, who are not obligated to remain employed by the Manager, and recruit successfully, is a significant factor in the success of the Company.

    PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

    The Company considers its principal risks (as well as several underlying risks comprising each principal risk) in four categories:

    1. Investment risks: the risk to performance resulting from ineffective or inappropriate investment selection, execution or monitoring.
    2. External risks: the risk of failing to deliver the Company’s investment objective and strategic goals due to external factors beyond the Company’s control.
    3. Operational risks: the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people or systems and external events, including regulatory risk.
    4. Financial risks: the risk of adverse impact on the Company due to having insufficient resources to meet its obligations or counterparty failure and the impact any material movement in foreign exchange rates may have on underlying valuations.

    RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS

    A comprehensive risk assessment process is undertaken regularly to re-evaluate the impact and probability of each risk materialising and the strategic, financial and operational impact of the risk. Where the residual risk is determined to be outside appetite, appropriate action is taken. Further information on risk factors is set out within the financial statements.

    Risk appetite and tolerance

    The Board acknowledges and recognises that in the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to risk and it is willing to accept a certain level of risk in managing the business to achieve its targeted returns. The Board’s risk appetite framework provides a basis for the ongoing monitoring of risks and enables dialogue with respect to the Company’s current and evolving risk profile, allowing strategic and financial decisions to be made on an informed basis.

    The Board considers several factors to determine its acceptance for each principal risk and categorises acceptance for each risk as low, moderate and high. Where a risk is approaching or is outside the tolerance set, the Board will consider the appropriateness of actions being taken to manage the risk. In particular, the Board has a lower tolerance for financing risk with the aim to ensure that even under a stress scenario, the Company is likely to meet its funding requirements and financial obligations. Similarly, the Board has a low risk tolerance concerning operational risks including legal, tax and regulatory compliance and business process and continuity risk.

    How we manage and mitigate our key risks

    RISK IMPACT MITIGATION CHANGE IN THE YEAR
    INVESTMENT RISKS      
    INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

    The Manager selects the fund investments and Direct Investments for the Company’s Portfolio, executing the investment strategy approved by the Board. The underlying managers of those funds in turn select individual investee companies. The origination, investment selection and management capabilities of both the Manager and the third-party managers are key to the performance of the Company.

    Poor origination, investment selection and monitoring by the Manager and/or third-party managers which may have a negative impact on Portfolio performance. The Manager has a strong track record of investing in private equity through multiple economic cycles. The Manager has a highly selective investment approach and disciplined process, which is overseen by ICG Enterprise Trust’s Investment Committee within the Manager, which comprises a balance of skills and perspectives.

    Further, the Company’s Portfolio is diversified, reducing the likelihood of a single investment decision impacting Portfolio performance.

    Stable

    The Board is responsible for ensuring that the investment policy is met. The day-to-day management of the Company’s assets is delegated to the Manager under investment guidelines determined by the Board. The Board regularly reviews these guidelines to ensure they remain appropriate and monitors compliance with the guidelines through regular reports from the Manager, including performance reporting. The Board also reviews the investment strategy at least annually.

    Following this assessment and other considerations, the Board concluded that investment performance risk has remained stable.

    VALUATION

    In valuing its investments in private equity funds and unquoted companies and publishing its NAV, the Company relies to a significant extent on the accuracy of financial and other information provided by the underlying managers to the Manager. There is the potential for inconsistency in the valuation methods adopted by the managers of these funds and companies and for valuations to be misstated.

    Incorrect valuations being provided would lead to an incorrect overall NAV. The Manager carries out a formal valuation process quarterly including a review of third-party valuations.

    This process includes a comparison of unaudited valuations to latest audited reports, as well as a review of any potential adjustments that are required to ensure the valuations of the underlying investments are in accordance with the fair market value principles required under UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (‘IAS’).

    Stable

    The Board regularly reviews and discusses the valuation process in detail with the Manager, including the sources of valuation information and methodologies used.

    Following this assessment and other considerations, the Board concluded that there was no material change in valuation risk.

    EXTERNAL RISKS      
    POLITICAL AND MACRO-ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
    Political and macro-economic uncertainty and other global events, such as pandemics, that are outside the Company’s control could adversely impact the environment in which the Company and its investment portfolio companies operate.
    Changes in the political or macro-economic environment could significantly affect the performance of existing investments (and valuations) and prospects for realisations. In addition, they could impact the number of credible investment opportunities the Company can originate. The Manager uses a range of complementary approaches to inform strategic planning and risk mitigation, including active investment management, profitability and balance sheet scenario planning and stress testing to ensure resilience across a range of outcomes.
    The process is supported by a dedicated in-house economist and professional advisers where appropriate.
    Increasing
    The Board monitors and reviews the potential impact on the Company from political and economic developments on an ongoing basis, including input and discussions with the Manager.
    Incorporating these views and other considerations, the Board concluded that this risk had increased.
    CLIMATE CHANGE
    The underlying managers of the fund investments and Direct Investments in the Company’s Portfolio fail to ensure that their portfolio companies respond to the emerging threats from climate change.
    Climate-related transition risks, driven in particular by abrupt shifts in the political and technological landscape, impact the value of the Company’s Portfolio. The Manager has a well-defined, firm-wide Responsible Investing Policy and sustainable investing framework in place.
    A tailored sustainable investing framework applies across all stages of the Company’s investment process.
    Stable

    The Board monitors and reviews the potential impact to the Company from failures by underlying managers to mitigate the impact of climate change on portfolio company valuation.

    THE LISTED PRIVATE
    EQUITY SECTOR
    The listed private equity sector could fall out of favour with investors leading to a reduction in demand for the Company’s shares.
    A change in sentiment to the sector has the potential to damage the Company’s reputation and impact the performance of the Company’s share price and widen the discount the shares trade at relative to NAV per Share, causing shareholder dissatisfaction. Private equity continues to outperform public markets over the long term and has proved to be an attractive asset class through various cycles. The Manager is active in marketing the Company’s shares to a wide variety of investors to ensure the market is informed about the Company’s performance and investment proposition.
    In setting the capital allocation policy, including the allocations to dividends and share buybacks, the Board monitors the discount to NAV and considers appropriate solutions to address any ongoing or substantial discount to NAV.
    Increasing
    The persistence of the discount to NAV, together with other sector uncertainties, indicates an increase in risk.
    The Board receives regular updates from the Company’s broker and is kept informed of all material discussions with investors and analysts.
    FOREIGN EXCHANGE
    The Company has continued to expand its geographic diversity by making investments in different countries. Accordingly, most investments are denominated in US dollars and euros.
    The Company does not hedge its foreign exchange exposure. Therefore, movements in exchange rates between these currencies may have a material effect on the underlying sterling valuations of the investments and performance of the Company. The Board regularly reviews the Company’s exposure to currency risk and reconsiders possible hedging strategies on at least an annual basis.
    Furthermore, the Company’s multicurrency bank facility permits the borrowings to be drawn in euros and US dollars, if required.
    Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to currency risk and possible hedging strategies and concluded that there was no material change in foreign exchange risk during the year and that it remains appropriate for the Company not to hedge its foreign exchange exposure.
    OPERATIONAL RISKS      
    REGULATORY, LEGAL
    AND TAX COMPLIANCE
    Failure by the Manager to comply with relevant regulation and legislation could have an adverse impact on the Company. Additionally, adherence to changes in the legal, regulatory and tax framework applicable to the Manager could become onerous, lessening competitive or market opportunities.
    The failure of the Manager and the Company to comply with the rules of professional conduct and relevant laws and regulations could expose the Company to regulatory sanction and penalties as well as significant damage to its reputation. The Board is responsible for ensuring the Company’s compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and tax requirements. Monitoring of this compliance has been delegated to the Manager, of which the in-house Legal, Compliance and Risk functions provide regular updates to the Board covering relevant changes to regulation and legislation.
    The Board and the Manager continually monitor regulatory, legislative and tax developments to ensure early engagement in any areas of potential change.
    Stable
    The Company remains responsive to a wide range of developing regulatory areas; and will continue to enhance its processes and controls in order to remain compliant with current and expected legislation.
    KEY PROFESSIONALS
    Loss of key professionals at the Manager could impair the Company’s ability to deliver its investment strategy and meet its external obligations if replacements are not found in a timely manner.
    If the Manager’s team is not able to deliver its objectives, investment opportunities could be missed or misevaluated, while existing investment performance may suffer. The Manager regularly updates the Board on team developments and succession planning. The Manager places significant focus on:
    Developing key individuals to ensure that there is a pipeline of potential succession candidates internally. External appointments are considered if that best satisfies the business needs.
    A team-based approach to investment decision-making, i.e. no one investment professional has sole responsibility for an investment or fund manager relationship.
    Sharing insights and knowledge widely across the investment team, including discussing all potential new investments and the overall performance of the Portfolio.
    Designing and implementing a compensation policy that helps to minimise turnover of key people.
    Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to people risk and concluded that the Manager continues to operate sustainable succession, competitive remuneration and retention plans.
    The Board believes that the risk in respect of people remains stable.
    THE MANAGER AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS (INCLUDING BUSINESS PROCESSES, BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND CYBER)
    The Company is dependent on third parties for the provision of services and systems, especially those of the Manager, the Administrator and the Depositary.
    Failure by a third-party provider to deliver services in accordance with its contractual obligations could disrupt or compromise the functioning of the Company. A material loss of service could result in, among other things, an inability to perform business critical functions, financial loss, legal liability, regulatory censure and reputational damage.
    The failure of the Manager and Administrator to deliver an appropriate cyber security platform for critical technology systems could result in unauthorised access by malicious third parties, breaching the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Company data, negatively impacting the Company’s reputation.
    The performance of the Manager, the Administrator, the Depositary and other third-party providers is subject to regular review and reported to the Board.
    The Manager, the Administrator and the Depositary produce internal control reports to provide assurance regarding the effective operation of internal controls. These reports are provided to the Audit Committee for review. The Committee would seek further representations from service providers if not satisfied with the effectiveness of their control environment.
    The Audit Committee formally assesses the internal controls of the Manager, the Administrator and Depositary on an annual basis to ensure adequate controls are in place.
    The assessment in respect of the current year is discussed in the Report of the Audit Committee.
    The Management Agreement and agreements with other third-party service providers are subject to notice periods that are designed to provide the Board with adequate time to put in place alternative arrangements.
    Stable
    The Board carries out a formal annual assessment (supported by the Manager’s internal audit function) of the Manager’s internal controls and risk management systems.
    The Board also received regular reporting from the Manager and other third parties.
    Following this review and other considerations, the Board concluded that there was no material change in the Manager and other third-party suppliers risk.
    FINANCIAL RISKS      
    FINANCING
    The Company has outstanding commitments to private equity funds in excess of total liquidity that may be drawn down at any time. The ability to fund this difference is dependent on receiving cash proceeds from investments (the timing of which are unpredictable) and the availability of financing facilities.
    If the Company encountered difficulties in meeting its outstanding commitments, there would be significant reputational damage as well as risk of damages being claimed from managers and other counterparties. The Manager monitors the Company’s liquidity, overcommitment ratio and covenants on a frequent basis, and undertakes cash flow monitoring, and provides regular updates on these activities to the Board. Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to financing risk, noting the Net Debt position, the increase in available facility and the short-term realisation forecast and concluded that this risk was stable.

    Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 January 2025

    INCOME STATEMENT

    Year to 31 January 2025 Year to 31 January 2024
      Notes Revenue
    return
    £’000
    Capital return
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Revenue
    return
    £’000
    Capital return
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Investment returns              
    Income, gains and losses on investments 2,10 1,060 134,156 135,216 2,365 39,369 41,734
    Deposit interest 2 48 48 405 405
    Other income 2 5 5 104 104
    Foreign exchange gains and losses   (729) (729) 1,193 1,193
        1,113 133,427 134,540 2,874 40,562 43,436
    Expenses              
    Investment management charges 3 (1,618) (14,558) (16,175) (1,615) (14,533) (16,148)
    Other expenses including finance costs 4 (2,439) (8,417) (10,855) (2,520) (7,402) (9,922)
        (4,057) (22,974) (27,031) (4,135) (21,935) (26,070)
                   
    Profit/(loss) before tax   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Taxation 6    
    Profit/(loss) for the period   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Attributable to:              
    Equity shareholders   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Basic and diluted earnings per share 7     163.95p     25.63p
                   

    The columns headed ‘Total’ represent the income statement for the relevant financial years and the columns headed ‘Revenue return’ and ‘Capital return’ are supplementary information in line with guidance published by the AIC. There is no Other Comprehensive Income.

    All profits are from continuing operations.

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    BALANCE SHEET

     

    Notes

    31 January
    2025
    £’000

    31 January
    2024
    £’000

    Non-current assets      
    Investments held at fair value 9,10,17 1,469,549 1,296,382
           
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 11 3,927 9,722
    Prepayments and receivables 12 2,018 2,258
        5,945 11,980
    Current liabilities      
    Borrowings   (131,931) (20,000)
    Payables 13 (11,171) (5,139)
           
    Net current assets / (liabilities)   (137,157) (13,159)
    Total assets less current liabilities   1,332,392 1,283,223
           
    Capital and reserves      
    Share capital 14 7,292 7,292
    Capital redemption reserve   2,112 2,112
    Share premium   12,936 12,936
    Capital reserve   1,315,727 1,279,751
    Revenue reserve   (5,675) (2,733)
    Total equity   1,332,392 1,283,223
           
    Net Asset Value per Share (basic and diluted) 15 2072.9p 1909.4p

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    The financial statements on pages 30 to 59 were approved by the Board of Directors on 7 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

    Jane Tufnell        Alastair Bruce
    Director                Director

    CASH FLOW STATEMENT

      Notes Year to 31 January 2025
    £’000
    Year to 31st January 2024
    £’000
    Operating activities      
    Sale of portfolio investments   19,966 40,611
    Purchase of portfolio investments   (34,144) (25,162)
    Cash flow to subsidiaries’ investments   (152,174) (116,084)
    Cash flow from subsidiaries’ investments   125,769 195,300
    Interest income received from portfolio investments   494 1,695
    Dividend income received from portfolio investments   547 779
    Other income received   53 509
    Investment management charges paid   (16,021) (15,647)
    Other expenses paid   (1,881) (2,596)
    Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities   (57,391) 79,405
           
    Financing activities      
    Bank facility fee paid   (2,011) (3,970)
    Interest paid   (545) (5,571)
    Credit Facility utilised   139,762 128,109
    Credit Facility repaid   (27,831) (174,954)
    Purchase of shares into treasury   (35,851) (13,068)
    Equity dividends paid 8 (22,308) (21,694)
    Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities   51,215 (91,148)
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (6,176) (11,743)
           
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 11 9,722 20,694
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (6,176) (11,743)
    Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates   381 771
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 11 3,927 9,722
    1. Includes settlement of unbilled management fees relating to the prior year (see note 13).

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

     

    Share capital
    £’000

    Capital
    redemption
    reserve
    £’000

    Share premium
    £’000

    Realised
    capital
    reserve1
    £’000
    Unrealised
    capital
    reserve
    £’000
    Revenue
    reserve1
    £’000
    Total
    shareholders’
    equity
    £’000
           
    Opening balance at 1 February 2024 7,292 2,112 12,936 473,015 790,602 (2,733) 1,283,223
    Profit for the period and total comprehensive income (6,033) 116,485 (2,942) 107,510
    Capital distribution by subsidiary2
    Dividends paid (22,308) (22,308)
    Purchase of shares into treasury (36,033) (36,033)
    Closing balance at 31 January 2025 7,292 2,112 12,936 408,641 907,087 (5,675) 1,332,392
                   
     

    Share capital
    £’000

    Capital redemption
    reserve
    £’000

    Share premium
    £’000

    Realised
    capital
    reserve1
    £’000
    Unrealised
    capital
    reserve
    £’000
    Revenue
    reserve1
    £’000
    Total
    shareholders’
    equity
    £’000
           
    Opening balance at 1 February 2023 7,292 2,112 12,936 468,054 811,698 (1,473) 1,300,619
    Profit for the period and total comprehensive income 31,032 (12,405) (1,261) 17,366
    Capital distribution by subsidiary2 8,691 (8,691)
    Dividends paid (21,694) (21,694)
    Purchase of shares into treasury (13,068) (13,068)
    Closing balance at 31 January 24 7,292 2,112 12,936 473,015 790,602 (2,734) 1,283,223
    1. Distributable reserves.
    2. During the prior reporting period ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership made a distribution of realised profits totalling £8.6m to the Company.

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

    General information

    These financial statements relate to ICG Enterprise Trust Plc (‘the Company’). ICG Enterprise Trust Plc is registered in England and Wales and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Company is domiciled in the United Kingdom and its registered office is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW. The Company’s objective is to provide long-term growth by investing in private companies managed by leading private equity managers.

    (a) Basis of preparation

    The financial information for the year ended 31 January 2025 has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (‘UK-IAS’) and the Statement of Recommended Practice (‘SORP’) for investment trusts issued by the Association of Investment Companies in July 2022.

    UK-IAS comprises standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) and the IFRS Interpretations Committee.

    These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and on the historical cost basis of accounting, modified for the revaluation of certain assets at fair value. The directors have concluded that the preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis continues to be appropriate.

    Going concern

    In assessing the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis of accounting, the Board has assessed the financial position and prospects of the Company. The Company’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its future development, performance, position and cash flows, are set out in the Chair’s statement on page 5, and the Manager’s review on page 7.

    As part of this review, the Board assessed the potential impact of principal risks on the Company’s business activities, the Company’s cash position, the availability of the Company’s credit facility and compliance with its covenants, and the Company’s cash flow projections.

    Based on this assessment, the Board expects that the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due until, at least, 31 May 2026, a period of more than 12 months from the signing of the financial statements. Therefore it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis of preparation of the Company’s financial statements.

    Climate change

    In preparing the financial statements, the directors have considered the impact of climate change, particularly in the context of the climate change risks identified in the Principal risks and uncertainties section of this Report, and the impact of climate change risk on the valuation of investments.

    These considerations did not have a material impact on the financial reporting judgements and estimates in the current year, nor were they expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s going concern or viability.

    Accounting policies

    The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. These policies have been applied consistently throughout the current and prior year. In order to reflect the activities of an investment trust company, supplementary information which analyses the income statement between items of revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the income statement. In analysing total income between capital and revenue returns, the directors have followed the guidance contained in the SORP as follows:

    Capital gains and losses on investments sold and on investments held arising on the revaluation or disposal of investments classified as held at fair value through profit or loss should be shown in the capital column of the income statement.

    Returns on any share or debt security for a fixed amount (whether in respect of dividends, interest or otherwise) should be shown in the revenue column of the income statement.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    The Board should determine whether the indirect costs of generating capital gains should also be shown in the capital column of the income statement. If the Board decides that this should be so, the management fee should be allocated between revenue and capital in accordance with the Board’s expected long-term split of returns, and other expenses should be charged to capital only to the extent that a clear connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of investments can be demonstrated.

    The accounting policy regarding the allocation of expenses is set out in note 1(i).

    In accordance with IFRS 10 (amended), the Company is deemed to be an investment entity on the basis that:

    (a) it obtains funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing investors with investment management services;

    (b) it commits to its investors that its business purpose is to invest funds for both returns from capital appreciation and investment income; and

    (c) it measures and evaluates the performance of substantially all of its investments on a fair value basis.

    As a result, the Company’s controlled structured entities (‘subsidiaries’) are deemed to be investments and are classified as held at fair value through profit and loss.

    (b) Financial assets

    The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss; and at amortised cost. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. The classification of financial assets is determined at initial recognition.

    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

    The Company classifies its quoted and unquoted investments as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. These assets are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value and further details of the accounting policy are disclosed in note 1(c).

    Financial assets at amortised cost

    Financial assets at amortised cost are non-derivative financial assets which pass the contractual cash flow test and are held to receive contractual cash flows. These are classified as current assets and measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. The Company’s financial assets at amortised cost comprise cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables in the balance sheet.

    (c) Investments

    Investments comprise fund investments and portfolio company investments held by the Company directly, together with the fair value of the Company’s interest in controlled structured entities (see note 9) which themselves invest in fund investments and portfolio company investments.

    All investments are classified upon initial recognition as held at fair value through profit or loss (described in these financial statements as investments held at fair value) and are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value. All investments are fair valued in line with IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’, using industry standard valuation guidelines such as the International Private Equity and Venture Capital (‘IPEV’) valuation guidelines. Changes in the value of all investments held at fair value, which include returns on those investments such as dividends and interest, are recognised in the income statement and are allocated to the revenue column or the capital column in accordance with the SORP (see note 1(a)). More detail on certain categories of investment is set out below. Given that the subsidiaries and associates are held at fair value and are exposed to materially similar risks as the Company, we do not expect the risks to materially differ from those disclosed in note 17.

    Unquoted Investments

    Fund investments and Co-investments (collectively ‘unquoted investments’) are fair valued using the net asset value of those unquoted investments as determined by the third-party investment manager of those funds. The third-party investment manager performs periodic valuations of the underlying investments in their funds, typically using earnings multiple or discounted cash flow methodologies to determine enterprise value in line with IPEV Guidelines. In the absence of contrary information, these net asset valuations received from the third-party investment managers are deemed to be

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    appropriate by the Manager, for the purposes of the Manager’s determination of the fair values of the unquoted investments. A robust assessment is performed by the Manager’s experienced Investment Committee to determine the capability and track record of the investment manager. All investment managers are scrutinised by the Investment Committee and an approval process is recorded before any new investment manager is approved and an investment made. This level of scrutiny provides reasonable comfort that the investment manager’s valuation will be consistent with the requirement to use fair value.

    Adjustments may be made to the net asset values provided or an alternative valuation method may be adopted if deemed to be more appropriate. The most common reason for adjustments to the value provided by an underlying manager is to take account of events occurring between the date of the manager’s valuation and the reporting date, for example, subsequent cash flows or notification of an agreed sale.

    Subsidiary undertakings

    The investments in the controlled structured entities (‘subsidiaries’) are recognised at fair value through profit and loss.

    The valuation of the subsidiaries takes into account an accrual for the estimated value of interests in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. Under these arrangements, ICG (the ‘Manager’) and certain of its executives and, in respect of certain historic investments, the executives and connected parties of Graphite Capital Management LLP (the ‘Former Manager’) (together ‘the Co-investors’), are required to co-invest alongside the Company, for which they are entitled to a share of investment profits if certain performance hurdles are met. At 31 January 2024, the accrual was estimated as the theoretical value of the interests if the Portfolio had been sold at the carrying value at that date.

    Associates

    The Company holds an interest (including indirectly through its subsidiaries) of more than 20% in a small number of investments that may normally be classified as subsidiaries or associates. These investments are not considered subsidiaries or associates as the Company does not exert control or significant influence over the activities of these companies/structured entities as they are managed by other third parties.

    (d) Prepayments and receivables

    Receivables include unamortised fees which were incurred directly in relation to the agreement of a financing facility. These fees will be amortised over the life of the facility on a straight-line basis.

    (e) Payables

    Other payables are non-interest bearing and are stated at their amortised cost, which is not materially different from fair value.

    (f) Cash and cash equivalents

    Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

    (g) Dividend distributions

    Dividend distributions to shareholders are recognised in the period in which they are paid.

    (h) Income

    When it is probable that economic benefits will flow to the Company and the amount can be measured reliably, interest is recognised on a time apportionment basis.

    Dividends receivable on quoted equity shares are brought into account on the ex-dividend date. Dividends receivable on equity shares where no ex-dividend date is applicable are brought into account when the Company’s right to receive payment is established.

    UK dividend income is recorded at the amount receivable. Overseas dividend income is shown net of withholding tax. Income distributions from funds are recognised when the right to distributions is established.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    (i) Expenses

    All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses are allocated to the revenue column in the income statement, consistent with the SORP, with the following exceptions:

    • Expenses which are incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments (transaction costs) are allocated to the capital column
    • The Board expects the majority of long-term returns from the Portfolio to be generated from capital gains. Expenses are allocated 90% to the capital column and 10% to the revenue column, reflecting the Company’s current and future return profile. Other expenses are allocated to the capital column where a clear connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of investments can be demonstrated.
    • All expenses allocated to the capital column are treated as realised capital losses (see note 1(l)).

    (j) Taxation

    Investment trusts which have approval as such under Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 are not liable for taxation on capital gains.
    Tax recognised in the income statement represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax charged or credited in the year. The tax effect of different items of expenditure is allocated between capital and revenue on the same basis as the particular item to which it relates.

    Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on the difference between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method.

    Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are not recognised in respect of tax losses carried forward to future periods.

    Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the assets are realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

    (k) Foreign currency translation

    The functional and presentation currency of the Company is sterling, reflecting the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

    Transactions in currencies other than sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.

    Gains and losses arising on the translation of investments held at fair value are included within gains and losses on investments held at fair value in the income statement. Gains and losses arising on the translation of other financial assets and liabilities are included within foreign exchange gains and losses in the income statement.

    (l) Revenue and capital reserves

    The revenue return component of total income is taken to the revenue reserve within the statement of changes in equity. The capital return component of total income is taken to the capital reserve within the statement of changes in equity.

    Gains and losses on the realisation of investments including realised exchange gains and losses and expenses of a capital nature are taken to the realised capital reserve (see note 1(i)). Changes in the valuations of investments which are held at the year end and unrealised exchange differences are accounted for in the unrealised capital reserve.

    Net gains on the realisation of investments in the controlled structured entities (see note 9) are transferred to the Company by way of profit distributions.

    The revenue reserve is distributable by way of dividends to shareholders. The realised capital reserve is distributable by way of dividends and share buybacks. The capital redemption reserve is not distributable and represents the nominal value of shares bought back for cancellation.

    (m) Treasury shares

    Shares that have been repurchased into treasury remain included in the share capital balance, unless they are cancelled.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    (n) Critical estimates and assumptions

    Estimates and judgements used in preparing the financial information are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable. The resulting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results.

    In preparing the financial statements, the directors have considered the impact of climate change on the key estimates within the financial statements.

    The only estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next financial year relate to the valuation of unquoted investments. Unquoted investments are primarily the Company’s investments in unlisted funds, managed by third-party investment fund managers and ICG. As such there is significant estimation in the valuation of the unlisted fund at a point in time. Note 1(c) sets out the accounting policy for unquoted investments. The carrying amount of unquoted investments at the year end is disclosed within note 10.

    (o) Segmental reporting

    Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the segments has been identified as the Board. It is considered that the Company’s operations comprise a single operating segment.

    2 INVESTMENT RETURNS

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
      £’000 £’000  
    Income from investments      
    Overseas interest and dividends 1,060 2,365  
      1,060 2,365  
    Deposit interest on cash 48 405  
    Other 5 104  
      53 509  
    Total income 1,113 2,874  
    Analysis of income from investments      
    Unquoted 1,060 2,365  
      1,060 2,365  

    3 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CHARGES

    Management fees paid to ICG for managing ICG Enterprise Trust amounted to 1.25% (2024: 1.25%) of the average net assets in the year. The reduction in the fee is due to the application of the cap.

    From 1 February 2023 the management fee is subject to a cap of 1.25% of net asset value.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    3 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CHARGES CONTINUED

    The amounts charged during the year are set out below:

      Year ended 31 January 2025 Year ended 31 January 2024
      Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investment management charge 1,617 14,558 16,175 1,615 14,533 16,148

    The Company and its subsidiaries also incur management fees in respect of its investment in funds managed by members of ICG on an arms-length basis.

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    ICG Europe VIII 434 467
    ICG Strategic Equity V 353 131
    ICG Strategic Equity IV 340 593
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 325 55
    ICG Europe VII 238 257
    ICG Strategic Equity III 238 183
    ICG Europe Mid-Market II 95 87
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor II 89 91
    ICG Europe Mid-Market 87 120
    ICG North American Private Debt II 68 74
    ICG Strategic Secondaries II 36 74
    ICG Europe VI 23 41
    ICG Asia Pacific III 15 30
    ICG Recovery Fund 2008B 3 31
    ICG Europe V 2 1
      2,346 2,235

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    4 OTHER EXPENSES

    The Company did not employ any staff in the year to 31 January 2025 (2024: none).

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Directors’ fees (see note 5)   340   316
    Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts 170   239  
    Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:        
    – Audit of the accounts of the subsidiaries 108   139  
    – Audit-related assurance services 71   53  
    Total auditors’ remuneration   349   431
    Administrative expenses   811   1,021
        1,500   1,768
    Bank facility costs allocated to revenue   277   258
    Interest costs allocated to revenue   661   493
    Expenses allocated to revenue   2,438   2,519
    Bank facility costs allocated to capital   8,417   7,403
    Total other expenses   10,855   9,922
             

    1. The auditors of the Company have additionally provided £16k (2024: £14k) of non-audit related services permitted under the Financial Reporting Council’s (‘FRC’) Revised Ethical Standards. The service related to agreed upon procedures over the Company’s carried interest scheme. These expenses have been charged to the Manager of the Company.

    Included within Total other expenses above are £9.4m (2024: £8.2m) of costs related to financing and £(0.2)m (credit) (2024: £0.1m) of other expenses which are non-recurring and are excluded from the Ongoing Charges as detailed in the glossary on page 58.

    Professional fees of £0.2m (2024: £0.2m) incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments are included within gains/(losses) on investments held at fair value.

    5 DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION AND INTERESTS

    No income was received or receivable by the directors from any other subsidiary of the Company.

    6 TAXATION

    In both the current and prior years the tax charge was lower than the standard rate of corporation tax of 19%, principally due to the Company’s status as an investment trust, which means that capital gains are not subject to corporation tax. The effect of this and other items affecting the tax charge are shown in note 6(b) below.

    The UK’s main rate of corporation tax increased from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. A blended rate of 24% was applied for the year ended 31 January 2024, calculated by the number of days within the accounting period spanning the rate change. A corporation tax rate of 25% was applied for the year ended 31 January 2025.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
      £’000 £’000  
    a) Analysis of charge in the year      
    Tax credit on items allocated to revenue  
    Tax charge on items relating to prior years  
    Corporation tax  
    b) Factors affecting tax charge for the year      
    Profit on ordinary activities before tax 107,510 17,367  
    Profit before tax multiplied by rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25% (2024: 24%) 26,790 4,168  
    Effect of:      
    – net investment returns not subject to corporation tax (33,357) (9,735)  
    – dividends not subject to corporation tax (52) (187)  
    – expenses not deductible for tax purposes 1,353  
    – current year management expenses not utilised/(utilised) 489 5,754  
    – other deductions 4,777  
    Total tax charge  

    The Company has £70.0m excess management expenses carried forward (2024: £53.5m). No deferred tax assets or liabilities (2024: nil) have been recognised in respect of the carried forward management expenses due to the uncertainty that future taxable profit will be generated that these losses can be offset against. For all investments the tax base is equal to the carrying amount. There was no deferred tax expense relating to the origination and reversal of timing differences in the year (2024: nil).

    7 EARNINGS PER SHARE

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
    Revenue return per ordinary share (4.49p) (1.86p)  
    Capital return per ordinary share 168.38p 27.49p  
    Earnings per ordinary share (basic and diluted) 163.95p 25.63p  

    Revenue return per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the revenue return attributable to equity shareholders of £(2.9)m (2024: £(1.3)m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    Capital return per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the capital return attributable to equity shareholders of £102.4m (2024: £18.6m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to equity shareholders of £99.5m (2024: £17.4m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    The weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (excluding those held in treasury) during the year was 65,569,285 (2024: 67,761,359). There were no potentially dilutive shares, such as options or warrants, in either year.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    8 DIVIDENDS

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Third quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2024: 8p per share (2023: 6.0p) 5,345 4,781
    Final dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2024: 9p per share (2023: 9.0p) 5,894 6,105
    First quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2025: 8.5p per share (2024: 8.0p) 5,557 5,415
    Second quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2025: 8.5p per share (2024: 8.0p) 5,512 5,393
    Total 22,308 21,694

    The Company paid a third quarterly dividend of 8.5p per share in February 2025. The Board has proposed a final dividend of 10.5p per share (estimated cost £6.7m) in respect of the year ended 31 January 2025 which, if approved by shareholders, will be paid on 18 July 2025 to shareholders on the Register of Members at the close of business on 04 July 2025.

    9 SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS AND UNCONSOLIDATED STRUCTURED ENTITIES
    Subsidiary undertakings (controlled structured entities)

    Subsidiaries of the Company as at 31 January 2025 comprise the following controlled structured entities, which are registered in England and Wales. Subsidiaries of the Company’s direct subsidiaries are reported as indirect subsidiaries.

    Direct subsidiaries   Ownership interest 2025 Ownership interest 2024
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership   97.5% 97.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership   97.5% 97.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership   99.0% 99.0%
    Indirect subsidiaries   Ownership interest 2025 Ownership interest 2024
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP   99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Morse Partnership LP   99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP   99.5% 99.5%

    In accordance with IFRS 10 (amended), the subsidiaries are not consolidated and are instead included in unquoted investments at fair value.

    The value of the subsidiaries is shown net of an accrual for the interests of the Co-investors (ICG and certain of its executives and in respect of certain historical investments, the executives and connected parties of Graphite Capital, the Former Manager) in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. As at 31 January 2025 a total of £53.9m (2024: £54.4m) was accrued in respect of these interests. During the year the Co-investors invested £1.0m (2024: £0.7m) into ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership. Payments received by the Co-investors amounted to £10.8m or 7.1% of £150.8m of Total Proceeds received in the year (2024: £5.4m or 2.3% of £238.6m proceeds received).

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Unconsolidated structured entities

    The Company’s principal activity is investing in private equity funds and directly into private companies. Such investments may be made and held via a subsidiary. The majority of these investments are unconsolidated structured entities as defined in IFRS 12.
    The Company holds interests in closed-ended limited partnerships which invest in underlying companies for the purposes of capital appreciation. The Company and the other limited partners make commitments to finance the investment programme of the relevant manager, who will typically draw down the amount committed by the limited partners over a period of four to six years (see note 16).

    The table below disaggregates the Company’s interests in unconsolidated structured entities. The table presents for each category the related balances and the maximum exposure to loss.

      Unquoted investments
    £’000
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme accrual
    £’000
    Maximum loss exposure
    £’000
    As at 31 January 2025 1,523,459 (53,910) 1,469,549
    As at 31 January 2024 1,350,821 (54,439) 1,296,382

    Further details of the Company’s investment Portfolio are included in the Portfolio dashboard on page 16.

    10 INVESTMENTS

    The tables below analyse the movement in the carrying value of the Company’s investment assets in the year. In accordance with accounting standards, subsidiary undertakings of the Company are reported at fair value rather than on a ‘look-through’ basis.

    An investee fund is considered to generate realised gains or losses if it is more than 85% drawn and has returned at least the amount invested by the Company. All gains and losses arising from the underlying investments of such funds are presented as realised. All gains and losses in respect of fund investments that have not satisfied the above criteria are presented as unrealised.

    Direct Investments are considered to generate realised gains or losses when they are sold.

    Investments are held by both the Company and through its subsidiaries.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Quoted Unquoted Subsidiary undertakings Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cost at 1 February 2024 179,528 300,114 479,642
    Unrealised appreciation at 1 February 2024 80,768 735,972 816,740
    Valuation at 1 February 2024 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Movements in the year:        
    Purchases 34,144 151,292 185,436
    Sales        
    – capital proceeds   (20,214) (125,769) (145,983)
    – realised gains/(losses) based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date   1,530   1,530
    Movement in unrealised appreciation   29,473 102,711 132,184
    Valuation at 31 January 2025 305,229 1,164,320 1,469,549
    Cost at 31 January 2025 193,458 325,637 519,095
    Unrealised appreciation/ (depreciation) at 31 January 2025 111,771 838,683 950,454
    Valuation at 31 January 2025 305,229 1,164,320 1,469,549
     
      Quoted Unquoted Subsidiary undertakings Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cost at 1 February 2023 195,104 378,426 573,530
    Unrealised appreciation at 1 February 2023 74,074 701,471 775,545
    Valuation at 1 February 2023 269,178 1,079,897 1,349,075
    Movements in the year:        
    Purchases 25,181 116,988 142,169
    Sales        
    – capital proceeds   (40,757) (195,300) (236,057)
    – realised gains/(losses) based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date   (1,044)   (1,044)
    Movement in unrealised appreciation   7,739 34,500 42,239
    Valuation at 31 January 2023 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Cost at 31 January 2024 179,528 300,114 479,642
    Unrealised appreciation/ (depreciation) at 31 January 2024 80,768 735,972 816,740
    Valuation at 31 January 2024 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Realised gains/loss based on cost 1,530 (1,044)
    Amounts recognised as unrealised in previous years
    Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date 1,530 (1,044)
    Increase in unrealised appreciation 132,184 42,239
    Gains on investments 133,714 41,195

    ‘Realised gains based on cost’ represents the total increase in value, compared to cost, of those funds which meet the criteria set out in page 42. These gains are adjusted for amounts previously reported as unrealised (and included within the fair value at the previous balance sheet date) to determine the ‘Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date’.

    Gains on investments includes the ‘Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date’ together with the net fair value movement on the balance of the investee funds.

    Related undertakings

    At 31 January 2025, the Company held direct and indirect interests in six limited partnership subsidiaries. These interests, net of the incentive accrual as described in note 9, were:

    Investment 31 January 2025
    %
    31 January 2024
    %
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership 99.9% 99.9%
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership 66.5% 66.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership 66.0% 66.0%
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP 99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Morse Partnership LP 99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP 99.5% 99.5%

    The registered address and principal place of business of the subsidiary partnerships is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW.

    In addition the Company held an interest (including indirectly through its subsidiaries) of more than 20% in the following entities. These investments are not considered subsidiaries or associates as the Company does not exert control or have significant influence over the activities of these companies/partnerships.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    As at 31 January 2025        
    Investment Instrument % interest1    
    Graphite Capital Partners VII Top Up Plus Limited partnership interests 20.0%    
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII Top Up Limited partnership interests 41.1%    
    ICG Velocity3 Limited partnership interests 32.5%    
             
    As at 31 January 2024        
    Investment Instrument % interest1    
    Graphite Capital Partners VII Top Up Plus2 Limited partnership interests 20.0%    
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII Top Up2 Limited partnership interests 41.1%    
    ICG Velocity3 Limited partnership interests 32.5%    
    1. The percentage shown for limited partnership interests represents the proportion of total commitments to the relevant fund. The percentage shown for shares represents the proportion of total shares in issue.
    2. Address of principal place of business is 7 Air Street, Soho, London W1B 5AD.
    3. Address of principal place of business is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW.

    11 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Cash at bank and in hand 3,927 9,722

    12 PREPAYMENTS AND RECEIVABLES

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Prepayments and accrued income 2,018 2,258

    As at 31 January 2025, prepayments and accrued income included £2.0m (2024: £2.3m) of unamortised costs in relation to the bank facility. Of this amount £0.8m (2024: £0.5m) is expected to be amortised in less than one year.

    13 PAYABLES – CURRENT

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Accruals, including facility interest 11,171 5,139
    Bank facility drawn 131,931 20,000
    Payables 143,102 25,139

    Bank facility details are shown in the liquidity section of note 17 on page 52.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    14 SHARE CAPITAL

      Authorised Issued and fully paid
        Nominal   Nominal
    Equity share capital Number £’000 Number £’000
    Balance at 31 January 2025 120,000,000 12,000 72,913,000 7,292
    Balance at 31 January 2024 120,000,000 12,000 72,913,000 7,292

    All ordinary shares have a nominal value of 10.0p. At 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024, 72,913,000 shares had been allocated, called up and fully paid. During the year 2,932,675 shares were bought back in the market and held in treasury (2024: 1,130,708 shares). At 31 January 2025, the Company held 8,640,808 shares in treasury (2024: 5,708,133) and had 64,272,192 (2024: 67,204,867) shares outstanding, all of which have equal voting rights.

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Shares held in treasury 8,640,808 5,708,133
    Shares not held in treasury 64,272,192 67,204,867
    Total 72,913,000 72,913,000

    15 NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

    The net asset value per share is calculated on equity attributable to equity holders of £1,332.4m (2024: £1,283.2m) and on 67,272,192 (2024: 67,204,867) ordinary shares in issue at the year end. There were no potentially dilutive shares, such as options or warrants, at either year end. Calculated on both the basic and diluted basis the net asset value per share was 2,072.9p (2024: 1,909.4p).

    16 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    The Company and its subsidiaries had uncalled commitments in relation to the following Portfolio investments:

      31 January
    2025
    £’000
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 41,146 34,811
    ICG Strategic Equity V2 36,868 19,704
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund II1 19,245 21,316
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor2 17,775 17,365
    ICG Strategic Secondaries Fund II2 16,938 16,547
    ICG Europe VIII1 14,339 25,901
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp1 13,591 13,860
    ICG Strategic Equity Fund III2 11,201 10,942
    ICG MXV Co-Investment 8,361
    ICG Strategic Equity IV2 7,055 10,385
    ICG Europe VII1 6,082 6,541
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) IIIA Porsche SCSp2 5,691 4,652
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund1 5,524 5,476
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp2 5,392 5,267
    ICG Asia Pacific Fund III2 2,523 2,634
    ICG Europe VI1 4,013 4,311
    ICG North American Private Debt Fund II2 2,097 1,682
    ICG Colombe Co-investment1 1,811 2,378
    ICG Dallas Co-Investment2 1,240 1,280
    Commitments of less than £1,000,000 at 31 January 2025 5,746 5,991
    Total ICG 226,638 211,043
    Graphite Capital Partners IX 2,281 4,525
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII1 4,124 2,194
    Graphite Capital Partners VII1,2 456 456
    Total Graphite funds 6,861 7,175

    1.Includes interest acquired through a secondary fund purchase.

    2.Includes the associated Top Up funds.

      31 January
    2025
    £’000
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    Leeds VIII-A 16,135
    Bowmark VII 15,000 15,000
    New Mountain VII 14,299 15,763
    PAI Europe VIII 12,356 20,900
    Thoma Bravo XVI-A 12,101
    Investindustrial VIII 12,009
    Cinven VIII 11,748 12,789
    CVC IX A 10,546 12,789
    Bain VI 9,939 11,319
    CDR XII 8,908 11,822
    The Resolute Fund VI 8,577 11,822
    Hellman Friedman XI (Parallel) 8,067 7,881
    Advent International X-A 8,039 10,849
    Bregal Unternehmerkapital IV-A 7,762 8,526
    Green Equity Investors Side IX 7,618 15,611
    Permira VIII 7,618 9,356
    Genstar Capital Partners XI (EU) 7,455 7,850
    Apax XI EUR 6,860 8,383
    Gridiron V 6,578 9,008
    Oak Hill VI (Offshore) 5,034
    Investindustrial VII 4,895 4,219
    Audax Private Equity VII-B 4,546 5,830
    Integrum I 4,052 5,715
    American Securities IX 4,034
    Thomas H Lee Equity Fund IX 3,998 6,762
    PAI Mid-Market Fund 3,764 4,963
    BC XI 3,710 4,900
    Bowmark VI 3,357 1,357
    Hg Genesis X 3,326 3,469
    Ivanti 2,979 2,910
    Valeas Capital Partners I A 2,973
    CVC VII 2,944
    PAI VII 2,430 2,872
    GHO Capital III 2,257 2,617
    Bain XIII 2,247 2,739
    Audiotonix 2,243
    Bain Tech Opportunities II 2,239 2,276
    Tailwind III 2,203 1,517
    Ambassador Theatre Group 2,056 2,049
    Thomas H Lee Equity Fund VIII 1,940 2,011
    Thoma Bravo XV 1,901 2,648
    Hg Saturn III 1,840 2,714
    Seventh Cinven Fund 1,812 2,929
    GI Partners VI-A 1,789 2,168
    Charlesbank X 1,685 3,543
    Apax X 1,677 1,442
    Hellman Friedman X 1,631 2,194
    Bregal Unternehmerkapital III 1,575 2,113
    Carlyle Europe Partners V 1,553 2,243
    Resolute V 1,363 855
    FSN VI 1,303 2,946
    Gridiron III 1,289 4,080
    AEA VII 1,243 464
    Resolute 02 Continuation (SEC 1) 1,145 9,893
    CVC European Equity Partners VIII 512 3,402
    New Mountain VI 498 2,276
    European Camping Group 2 399 1,474
    Leeds VII 317 3,581
    Commitments of less than £2,000,000 at 31 January 2025 62,785 36,908
    Total third party 319,687 333,747
    Total commitments 553,186 551,965

    The Company and its subsidiaries had no other unfunded commitments to investment funds. Commitments made by the Company and its subsidiaries are irrevocable.

    As at 31 January 2025, the Company (excluding its subsidiaries) had uncalled commitments in relation to the above Portfolio of £114.3m (2024: £98.1m). The Company did not have any contingent liabilities at 31 January 2025 (2024: None).

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    The Company’s subsidiaries, which are not consolidated, had the balance of uncalled commitments in relation to the above Portfolio of £438.9m (2024: £453.9m). The Company is responsible for financing its pro-rata share of those uncalled commitments (see note 9).

    17 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

    The Company is an investment company as defined by Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006 and conducts its affairs so as to qualify as an investment trust under the provisions of Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (‘Section 1158’). The Company’s objective is to provide long-term growth by investing in private companies managed by leading private equity managers.

    Investments in funds have anticipated lives of approximately 10 years. Direct Investments are made with an anticipated holding period of between three and five years.

    Financial risk management

    The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (comprising currency risk, interest rate risk and price risk), investment risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company’s overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. The Board has overall responsibility for managing the risks and the framework for monitoring and coordinating these risks. The Audit Committee regularly reviews, identifies and evaluates the risks taken by the Company to allow them to be appropriately managed. All of the Company’s management functions are delegated to the Manager which has its own internal control and risk monitoring arrangements. The Committee makes a regular assessment of these arrangements, with reference to the Company’s risk matrix. The Company’s financial risk management objectives and processes used to manage these risks have not changed from the previous period and the policies are set out below:

    Market risk
    (i) Currency risk

    The Company’s investments are principally in continental Europe, the US and the UK, and are primarily denominated in euro, US dollars and sterling. There are also smaller amounts in other European currencies. The Company’s investments in controlled structured entities are reported in Sterling. The Company is exposed to currency risk in that movements in the value of sterling against these foreign currencies will affect the net asset value and the cash required to fund undrawn commitments. The Board regularly reviews the level of foreign currency denominated assets and outstanding commitments in the context of current market conditions and may decide to buy or sell currency or put in place currency hedging arrangements. No hedging arrangements were in place during the financial year.

    The composition of the net assets of the Company by reporting currency at the year end is set out below:

      Sterling Euro USD Other Total
    31 January 2025 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments 1,201,166 81,755 186,623 5 1,469,549
    Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets (139,168) 1,385 618 8 (137,157)
      1,061,998 83,140 187,241 13 1,332,392
               
      Sterling Euro USD Other Total
    31 January 2024 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments 1,068,115 81,164 146,881 222 1,296,382
    Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets (21,553) 4,504 3,878 12 (13,159)
      1,046,562 85,668 150,759 234 1,283,223

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    On a look-through basis to the currency of the portfolio company, the effect of a 25% increase or decrease in the sterling value of the euro would be a fall of £71.3m and a rise of £65.1m in the value of shareholders’equity and on profit after tax at 31 January 2025 respectively (2024: a fall of £74m and a rise of £56.1m based on 25% increase or decrease).The effect of a 25% increase or decrease in the sterling value of the US dollar would be a fall of £158m and a rise of £152.1m in the value of shareholders’ equity and on profit after tax at 31 January 2025 respectively (2024: a fall of £141.9m and a rise of £124.4m based on 25% movement). The percentages applied are based on market volatility in exchange rates observed in prior periods.

    (ii) Interest rate risk

    The Company’s assets primarily comprise non-interest bearing investments in funds and non-interest bearing investments in portfolio companies. The fair values of these investments are not significantly directly affected by changes in interest rates. The Company’s net debt balance is exposed to interest rate risk; the financial impact of this risk is currently immaterial.

    The Company is indirectly exposed to interest rate risk through the impact of interest rates on the performance of investments in funds and portfolio companies as a result of interest rate changes impacting the underlying manager valuation. This performance impact as a result of interest rate risk is recognised through the valuation of those investments, which will be affected by the impact of any change in interest rates on the financial performance of the underlying portfolio companies and also on any valuation of those investments for sale. The Company is not able to quantify how a change in interest rates would impact valuations.

    (iii) Price risk

    The risk that the value of a financial instrument will change as a result of changes to market prices is one that is fundamental to the Company’s objective, which is to provide long-term capital growth through investment in unquoted companies. The investment Portfolio is continually monitored to ensure an appropriate balance of risk and reward in order to achieve the Company’s objective.

    The Company is exposed to the risk of change in value of its private equity investments. For all investments the market variable is deemed to be the price itself. The table below shows the impact of a 30% increase or decrease in the valuation of the investment Portfolio. The percentages applied are reasonable based on the Manager’s view of the potential for volatility in the Portfolio valuations under stressed conditions.

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      Increase in variable Decrease in variable Increase in variable Decrease in variable
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    30% (2024: 30%) movement in the price of investments        
    Impact on profit after tax 423,339 (370,568) 374,044 (320,217)

    A reasonably possible percentage change in relation to the earnings estimates or Enterprise Value/EBITDA multiples used by the underlying managers to value the private equity fund investments and co-investments may result in a significant change in the fair value of unquoted investments.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Investment and credit risk

    (i) Investment risk

    Investment risk is the risk that the financial performance of the companies in which the Company invests either improves or deteriorates, thereby affecting the value of that investment. Investments in unquoted companies whether indirectly or directly are, by their nature, subject to potential investment losses. The investment Portfolio is highly diversified in order to mitigate this risk.

    (ii) Credit risk

    The Company’s exposure to credit risk arises principally from its investment in cash deposits. The Company aims to invest the majority of its liquid portfolio in assets which have low credit risk. The Company’s policy is to limit exposure to any one investment to 15% of gross assets. This is regularly monitored by the Manager as a part of its cash management process.

    Cash is held on deposit with Royal Bank of Scotland (‘RBS’) and totalled £3.9m (2024: £9.7m). RBS currently has a credit rating of A1 from Moody’s. This represented the maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date. No collateral is held by the Company in respect of these amounts. None of the Company’s cash deposits or money market fund balances were past due or impaired at 31 January 2025 (2024: nil) and as a result of this, no ECL provision has been recorded.

    Liquidity risk

    The Company makes commitments to private equity funds in advance of that capital being invested, typically in illiquid, unquoted companies. These commitments are in excess of the Company’s total liquidity, therefore resulting in an overcommitment. When determining the appropriate level of overcommitment, the Board considers the rate at which commitments might be drawn down, typically over four to six years, versus the rate at which existing investments are sold and cash realised. The Company has an established liquidity management policy, which involves active monitoring and assessment of the Company’s liquidity position and its overcommitment risk. This is regularly reviewed by the Board and incorporated into the Board’s assessment of the viability of the Company. This process incorporates balance sheet and cash flow projections, including scenarios with varying levels of Portfolio gains and losses, fund drawdowns and realisations, availability of the credit facility, exchange rates, and possible remedial action that the Company could undertake if required in the event of significant Portfolio declines.

    At the year end, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totalling £3.9m and had access to committed bank facilities of €300m maturing in May 2028, which is a multi-currency revolving credit facility provided by SMBC and Lloyds. The key terms of the facility are:

    • Upfront cost: 120bps.
    • Non-utilisation fees: 115bps per annum.
    • Margin on drawn amounts: 300bps per annum.

    As at 31 January 2025 the Company’s total financial liabilities amounted to £143.1m (2024: £25.1m) of payables which were due in less than one year, which includes accrued balances payable in respect of the credit facility above.

    Movement in financial liabilities arising from financing activities

    The following tables sets out the movements in total liabilities held at amortised cost arising from financing activities undertaken during the year.

      2025 2024
      £’000 £’000
    At 1 February 2024 22,062 67,700
    Proceeds from borrowings 139,762 128,109
    Repayment of long term borrowings (27,831) (174,954)
    Change in capitalisation of bank facility fees 782 1,206
    At 31 January 2025 134,775 22,061
         

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Capital risk management

    The Company’s capital is represented by its net assets, which are managed to achieve the Company’s investment objective. As at the year end, the Company had net debt of £135.9m (2024: £10.3m).

    The Board can manage the capital structure directly since it has taken the powers, which it is seeking to renew, to issue and buy back shares and it also determines dividend payments. The Company is subject to externally imposed capital requirements with respect to the obligation and ability to pay dividends by Section 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and by the Companies Act 2006, respectively. Total equity at 31 January 2025, the composition of which is shown on the balance sheet, was £1,332.4m (2024: £1,283.2m).

    Fair values estimation
    IFRS 13 requires disclosure of fair value measurements of financial instruments categorised according to the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

    • Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1).
    • Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices) (Level 2).
    • Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs) (Level 3).

    The valuation techniques applied to level 3 assets are described in note 1(c) of the financial statements. No investments were categorised as level 1 or level 2.

    The Company’s policy is to recognise transfers into and transfers out of fair value hierarchy levels at the end of the reporting year when they are deemed to occur.

    The sensitivity of the Company’s investments to a change in value is discussed on page 51.

    The following table presents the assets that are measured at fair value at 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024:

    31 January 2025        
    Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments held at fair value        
    Unquoted investments – indirect 150,987 150,987
    Unquoted investments – direct 154,242 154,242
    Quoted investments – direct
    Subsidiary undertakings 1,164,320 1,164,320
    Total investments held at fair value 1,469,549 1,469,549
    31 January 2024        
    Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments held at fair value        
    Unquoted investments – indirect 136,473 136,473
    Unquoted investments – direct 123,823 123,823
    Quoted investments – direct
    Subsidiary undertakings 1,036,085 1,036,085
    Total investments held at fair value 1,296,381 1,296,381

    All unquoted and quoted investments are valued at fair value in accordance with IFRS 13. The Company has no quoted investments as at 31 January 2025; quoted investments held by subsidiary undertakings are reported within Level 3.

    Investments in Level 3 securities are in respect of private equity fund investments and co-investments. These are held at fair value and are calculated using valuations provided by the underlying manager of the investment, with adjustments made to the statements to take account of cash flow events occurring after the date of the manager’s valuation, such as realisations or liquidity adjustments.

    The following tables present the changes in Level 3 instruments for the year to 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024.

    31 January 2025 Unquoted investments (indirect) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Unquoted investments (direct) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Subsidiary undertakings
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Opening balances 136,473 123,823 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Additions 18,124 16,020 151,292 185,436
    Disposals (16,076) (4,138) (125,769) (145,983)
    Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss 14,524 16,479 102,711 133,714
    Closing balance 153,045 152,184 1,164,320 1,469,549
    31 January 2024 Unquoted investments (indirect) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Unquoted investments (direct) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Subsidiary undertakings
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Opening balances 158,896 110,282 1,079,897 1,349,075
    Additions 14,933 10,248 116,988 142,169
    Disposals (37,167) (3,590) (195,300) (236,057)
    Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss (188) 6,883 34,500 41,194
    Closing balance 136,474 123,823 1,036,085 1,296,381

    18 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

    Significant transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries are shown below:

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Subsidiary Nature of transaction Year ended
    31 January
    2025
    £’000
    Year ended
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries
      (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries (8,689) (102)
      Income allocated
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries (2,956) 11,420
      (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries
      Income allocated (169) 151
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment LP Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries 33,229 (10,416)
      Income allocated 2,127 6,681
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries (45,725)
      Income allocated 4,224 6,819
    ICG Morse Partnership LP Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries (14,513)
      Decrease in amounts owed to subsidiaries
      Income allocated
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries 687 1,820
      Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries
      Income allocated

    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership transferred its remaining assets to ICG Enterprise Trust PLC during the year ended 31 January 2025. It will be dissolved during the year ended 31 January 2026 and will cease to be a subsidiary at that time.

    For the purpose of IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, key management personnel comprised the Board of Directors.

    Remuneration in the year (audited) Fees Expenses Total
    Name 2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    Jane Tufnell 74 71   74 71
    Alastair Bruce 60 58 60 58
    David Warnock 59 46   59 46
    Gerhard Fusenig 48 46 3 2 51 49
    Adiba Ighodaro 48 46 48 46
    Janine Nicholls 48 46 48 46
    Total 337 313 3 2 340 316

    Amounts owed by/to subsidiaries represent the Company’s loan account balances with those entities, to which the Company’s share of drawdowns and distributions in respect of those entities are credited and debited respectively.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Amounts owed by subsidiaries Amounts owed to subsidiaries
    Subsidiary 31 January 2025 £’000 31 January 2024 £’000 31 January 2025 £’000 31 January 2024 £’000
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership (492) 8,197
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership 31,372 34,328
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-Investment LP 273,555 240,326
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP
    ICG Morse Partnership LP
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP 8,569 7,881

    The Company and its subsidiaries’ total shares in funds and co-investments managed by the Company’s Manager are:

      Year ended 31 January 2025 Year ended 31 January 2024
    Fund/Co-investment Remaining
    commitment
    £’000
    Fair value investment
    £’000
    Remaining
    commitment
    £’000
    Fair value investment
    £’000
    ICG MXV Co-Investment 8,361 32,728 217 31,658
    ICG Strategic Equity Fund III 10,727 31,043 10,942 39,374
    ICG Europe VII 6,082 30,721 6,541 35,021
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp 13,591 23,814 13,860 24,366
    ICG Europe VIII 14,339 23,640 25,901 10,746
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor 17,775 20,469 17,365 15,533
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) III A Porsche SCSp 5,691 17,995 4,652 21,104
    ICG Newton Co-Investment 393 17,808 393 17,909
    ICG Progress Co-Investment 421 17,265 577 15,156
    ICG Vanadium Co-Investment 246 16,180 251 14,209
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp 5,392 16,030 5,267 14,721
    ICG Match Co-Investment 132 15,253 129 15,403
    ICG Colombe Co-investment 1,810 13,795 1,678 12,221
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund 5,524 13,494 5,476 13,819
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 41,146 12,175 34,811 21,980
    ICG Cheetah Co-Investment 635 11,123 669 11,570
    CX VIII Co-Investment 167 9,076 171 8,996
    ICG Asia Pacific Fund III 2,523 8,706 2,634 8,436
    ICG Dallas Co-Investment 1,240 8,172 1,280 8,245
    ICG Strategic Equity V 36,868 7,101 19,704 895
    ICG Strategic Equity IV 7,055 32,851 10,385 28,029
    ICG Sunrise Co-Investment 75 5,840 76 5,402
    ICG Crown Co-Investment 96 5,492 122 4,817
    ICG Recovery Fund 2008 B1 846 4,954 862 4,545
    ICG Strategic Secondaries Fund II 16,938 4,853 16,547 10,052
    ICG Holiday Co-Investor I 286 3,748 285 2,655
    ICG North American Private Debt Fund II 2,097 3,061 1,682 5,467
    ICG Europe VI 4,013 2,814 4,311 5,719
    ICG Holiday Co-Investor II 199 2,775 197 1,966
    ICG Europe Mid-Market II 19,245 1,534 21,316 (263)
    ICG Europe V 545 757 555 808
    ICG Cross Border 182 273 178 5,555
    ICG Diocle Co-Investment 145 81 148 98
    ICG Velocity Partners Co-Investor 650 18 635
    ICG European Fund 2006 B1 480 15 489 28
    ICG Topvita Co-Investment 687 700
    ICG Trio Co-Investment 36 37 7,988
    Ambassador Theatre Group 14,177
    Total 226,638 415,652 211,043 438,410

    At the balance sheet date the Company has fully funded its share of capital calls due to ICG-managed funds in which it is invested.

    19 Post balance sheet events

    On 2 April 2025, the Company announced the completion of a secondary sale of primary fund interests generating £62m net proceeds and releasing undrawn commitments of £10m. On 30 April 2025 the Company cancelled its Treasury shares (see note 14). 9,358,808 shares were cancelled.

    GLOSSARY

    Term Short form Definition
    Alternative Performance Measures APMs Alternative Performance Measures are a term defined by the European Securities and Markets Authority as “financial measures of historical or future performance, financial position, or cash flows, other than a financial measure defined or specified in the applicable financial reporting framework”.

    APMs are used in this report if considered by the Board and the Manager to be the most relevant basis for shareholders in assessing the overall performance of the Company and for comparing the performance of the Company to its peers, taking into account industry practice.

    Definitions and reconciliations to IFRS measures are provided in the main body of the report or in this Glossary, where appropriate.

    Buyback impact on NAV per Share   Buyback impact on NAV per Share is calculated by comparing the NAV per Share with an adjusted NAV per Share as follows:
      Year ended
    31 January 2025
    Since inception (Oct. 22)  
    Opening number of shares 67,190,867 68,523,055 A
    Number of shares bought back in period 2,912,675 4,244,863  
    Closing number of shares 64,278,192 64,278,192 B
    31 January 2025 NAV £1,332m £1,332m C
    Add back cash invested in buybacks £36m £51m  
    31 January 2025 NAV + cash invested in buybacks £1,368m £1,383m D
    31 January 2025 NAV per Share 2,072.9p 2,072.9p E (C/B)
    Pro forma NAV per share excluding buybacks 2,036.4p 2,018.8p F (D/A)
    Impact of buybacks 36.5p 54.1p G (E-F)
    NAV per Share accretion
    from buybacks
    1.8% 2.7% G/F
    Note: scenario excluding buyback does not include any cash impact of dividends that would have been paid to holders of those shares had the buyback not been undertaken
    Carried Interest   Carried interest is equivalent to a performance fee. This represents a share of the profits that will accrue to the underlying private equity managers, after achievement of an agreed Preferred Return.
    Cash drag   Cash drag is the negative impact on performance arising as a result of the allocation of a portion of the entity’s assets to cash.
    Co-investment   Co-investment is a Direct Investment in a company alongside a private equity fund.
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual   Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual represents the estimated value of interests in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme operated by the subsidiary partnerships of the Company.
    Commitment   Commitment represents the amount of capital that each investor agrees to contribute to a fund or a specific investment.
    Compound Annual Growth Rate CAGR The rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning balance to its ending balance, assuming the profits were reinvested at the end of each period of the investment’s life span.
    Deployment   Please see ‘Total new investment’.
    Direct Investment   An investment in a portfolio company held directly, not through a private equity fund. Direct Investments are typically co-investments with a private equity fund.
    Discount   Discount arises when the Company’s shares trade at a price below the Company’s NAV per Share. In this circumstance, the price that an investor pays or receives for a share would be less than the value attributable to it by reference to the underlying assets. The Discount is the difference between the share price and the NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. For example, if the NAV was 100p and the share price was 90p, the Discount would be 10%.
    Drawdowns   Drawdowns are amounts invested by the Company when called by underlying managers in respect of an existing Commitment.
    EBITDA   Stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, which is a widely used profitability measure in the private equity industry.
    Enlarged Perimeter   The aggregate Portfolio value of the Top 30 Companies and as many of the managers from within the Top 30 funds as practicable.
    Enterprise Value EV Enterprise Value is the aggregate value of a company’s entire issued share capital and Net Debt.
    Exclusion List   The Exclusion List defines the business activities which are excluded from investment.
    FTSE All-Share Index Total Return   The change in the level of the FTSE All-Share Index, assuming that dividends are re-invested on the day that they are paid.
    Full Exits   Full Exits are exit events (e.g., trade sale, sale by public offering, or sale to a financial buyer) following which the residual exposure to an underlying company is zero or immaterial; this does not include Fund Disposals. See ‘Fund Disposals’.
    Fund Disposals   Fund Disposals are where the Company receives sales proceeds from the full or partial sale of a fund position within the secondary market.
    General Partner GP The General Partner is the entity managing a private equity fund. This is commonly referred to as the manager.
    Hedging   Hedging is an investment technique designed to offset a potential loss on one investment by purchasing a second investment that is expected to perform in the opposite way.
    Initial Public Offering IPO An Initial Public Offering is an offering by a company of its share capital to the public with a view to seeking an admission of its shares to a recognised stock exchange.
    Internal Rate of Return IRR Internal Rate of Return is a measure of the rate of return received by an investor in a fund. It is calculated from cash drawn from and returned to the investor, together with the residual value of the investment.
    Investment Period   Investment Period is the period in which funds are able to make new investments under the terms of their fund agreements, typically up to five years after the initial Commitment.
    Last Twelve Months LTM Last Twelve Months refers to the timeframe of the immediately preceding 12 months in reference to financial metrics used to evaluate the Company’s performance.
    Limited Partner LP The Limited Partner is an institution or individual who commits capital to a private equity fund established as a Limited Partnership. These funds are generally protected from legal actions and any losses beyond the original investment.
    Limited Partnership   A Limited Partnership includes one or more General Partners, who have responsibility for managing the business of the partnership and have unlimited liability, and one or more Limited Partners, who do not participate in the operation of the partnership and whose liability is ordinarily capped at their capital and loan contribution to the partnership. In typical fund structures, the General Partner receives a priority share ahead of distributions to Limited Partners.
    Net Asset Value per Share NAV per Share Net Asset Value per Share is the value of the Company’s net assets attributable to one Ordinary share. It is calculated by dividing ‘shareholders’ funds’ by the total number of ordinary shares in issue. Shareholders’ funds are calculated by deducting current and long-term liabilities, and any provision for liabilities and charges, from the Company’s total assets.
    Net Debt   Net Debt is calculated as the total short-term and long-term debt in a business, less cash and cash equivalents.
    Ongoing charges   Ongoing Charges are calculated in line with guidance issued by the Association of Investment Companies (‘AIC’) and capture management fees and expenses, excluding finance costs, incurred at the Company level only. The calculation does not include the expenses and management fees incurred by any underlying funds.
        31 January 2025 Total per income statement
    £’000
    Amount excluded from AIC Ongoing Charges
    £’000
    Included Ongoing Charges
    £000
        Management fees 16,175 16,175
        General expenses 1,500 165 1,665
        Finance costs 9,354 (9,354)
        Total 27,029 (9,189) 17,840
        Total Ongoing Charges 17,840
        Average NAV 1,294,186
        Ongoing Charges as % of NAV 1.38%
               
        31 January 2024 Total per income statement
    £’000
    Amount excluded from AIC Ongoing Charges
    £’000
    Included Ongoing Charges
    £000
        Management fees 16,148 16,148
        General expenses 1,773 (209) 1,564
        Finance costs 8,152 (8,152)
        Total 26,073 (8,362) 17,712
        Total Ongoing Charges 17,712
        Average NAV 1,291,759
        Ongoing Charges as % of NAV 1.37%
        Included within General expenses above are £(0.2)m (credit) (2024: £0.2m) of other expenses which are non-recurring and are excluded from the Ongoing Charges.
    Other Net Liabilities   Other Net Liabilities at the aggregated Company level represent net other liabilities per the Company’s balance sheet. Net other liabilities per the balance sheet of the subsidiaries include amounts payable under the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual.
    Overcommitment   Overcommitment refers to where private equity fund investors make Commitments exceeding the amount of liquidity immediately available for investment. When determining the appropriate level of Overcommitment, careful consideration needs to be given to the rate at which Commitments might be drawn down, and the rate at which realisations will generate cash from the existing Portfolio to fund new investment.
    Portfolio   Portfolio represents the aggregate of the investment Portfolios of the Company and of its subsidiary Limited Partnerships. This APM is consistent with the commentary in previous annual and interim reports. The Board and the Manager consider that disclosing our Portfolio assists shareholders in understanding the value and performance of the underlying investments selected by the Manager. It is shown before the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual to avoid being distorted by certain funds and Direct Investments on which ICG Enterprise Trust Plc does not incur these costs (for example, on funds managed by ICG plc). Portfolio is related to the NAV, which is the value attributed to our shareholders, and which also incorporates the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual as well as the value of cash and debt retained on our balance sheet.

    The value of the Portfolio at 31 January 2025 is £1,523.1m (31 January 2024: £1,349.0m).

        31 January 2025 £m IFRS Balance sheet fair value Net assets of subsidiary limited partnerships Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual Total Company and subsidiary Limited Partnership
        Investments1 1,469.5 (0.3) 53.9 1,523.1
        Cash 3.9 3.9
        Other Net Liabilities (141.0) 0.3 (53.9) (194.6)
        Net assets 1,332.4 1,332.4
                 
        31 January 2024 £m IFRS Balance sheet fair value Balances receivable from subsidiary Limited Partnerships Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual Total Company and subsidiary Limited Partnership
        Investments1 1,296.4 (1.9) 54.4 1,349.0
        Cash 9.7 9.7
        Other Net Liabilities (22.9) 1.9 (54.4) (75.5)
        Net assets 1,283.2 1,283.2
        1Investments as reported on the IFRS balance sheet at fair value comprise the total of assets held by the Company and the net asset value of the Company’s investments in the subsidiary Limited Partnerships.
    Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis   Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis represents the change in the valuation of the Company’s Portfolio before the impact of currency movements and Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual. The Portfolio return of 10.2% is calculated as follows:
          £m 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Income, gains and losses on Investments   142.0 125.3
        Foreign exchange gains and losses included in gains and losses on investments   5.4 (38.6)
        Incentive accrual valuation movement   (9.3) (3.7)
        Total gains on Portfolio investments excluding impact of foreign exchange   138.1 83.1
        Opening Portfolio valuation   1,349.0 1,406.4
        Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis   10.2% 5.9%
                 
    Term Short form Definition
    Portfolio Company   Portfolio Company refers to an individual company in an investment portfolio.
    Primary   A Primary Investment is a Commitment to a private equity fund.
    Quoted Company   A Quoted Company is any company whose shares are listed or traded on a recognised stock exchange.
    Realisation Proceeds   Realisation Proceeds are amounts received in respect of underlying realisation activity from the Portfolio and exclude any inflows from the sale of fund positions via the secondary market.
    Realisations – Multiple to Cost   Realisations – Multiple to Cost is the average return from Full Exits from the Portfolio in the period on a primary investment basis, weighted by cost.
        £m   31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Realisation Proceeds from Full Exits in the year-to-date   73.7 100.8
        Cost   35.9 28.8
        Average return Multiple to Cost   2.9x 3.5x
    Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value   Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value is the aggregate uplift on Full exits from the Portfolio in the period excluding publicly listed companies that were exited via sell downs of their shares.
        £m   31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Realisation Proceeds from Full Exits in the year-to-date   73.7 100.8
        Prior Carrying Value (at previous quarterly valuation prior to exit)   62.0 89.2
        Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value   19.0% 29.5%
    Secondary Investments   Secondary Investments occur when existing private equity fund interests and Commitments are purchased from an investor seeking liquidity.
    Share Price Total Return   Share Price Total Return is the change in the Company’s share price, assuming that dividends are re-invested on the day that they are paid.
    Total New Investment   Total New Investment is the total of direct Co-investment and fund investment Drawdowns in respect of the Portfolio. In accordance with IFRS 10, the Company’s subsidiaries are deemed to be investment entities and are included in subsidiary investments within the financial statements.

    Movements in the cash flow statement within the financial statements reconcile to the movement in the Portfolio as follows:

          £m 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Purchase of Portfolio investments per cash flow statement   34.1 25.2
        Purchase of Portfolio investments within subsidiary investments   152.2 111.6
        Return of cost/expenses   (4.9) 0.0
        Total New Investment   181.4 136.7
    Term Short form Definition        
    Total Proceeds   Total Proceeds are amounts received by the Company in respect of the Portfolio, which may be in the form of capital proceeds or income such as interest or dividends. In accordance with IFRS 10, the Company’s subsidiaries are deemed to be investment entities and are included in subsidiary investments within the financial statements.
        £m     31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Sale of Portfolio investments per cash flow statement     20.0 40.6
        Sale of Portfolio investments, interest received, and dividends received within subsidiary investments     125.8 195.3
        Interest income per cash flow statement     0.5 1.7
        Dividend income per cash flow statement     0.5 0.8
        Other income per cash flow statement     0.1
        Return of invested cost     4.0 0.0
        Total Proceeds     150.8 238.6
        Fund Disposals     (67.6)
        Realisation Proceeds     150.8 171.0
    Total Return   The change in the Company’s Net Asset Value per Share, assuming that dividends are re-invested at the end of the quarter in which the dividend was paid.
    Undrawn Commitments   Undrawn Commitments are Commitments that have not yet been drawn down (please see ‘Drawdowns’).
    Unquoted Company   An Unquoted Company is any company whose shares are not listed or traded on a recognised stock exchange.
    Valuation Date   The date of the valuation report issued by the underlying manager.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: VAALCO Energy, Inc. Declares Second Quarter 2025 Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vaalco Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (“Vaalco” or the “Company”) today announced that it declared its quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share of common stock for the second quarter of 2025 ($0.25 annualized), which is payable on June 27, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 23, 2025. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

    George Maxwell, Vaalco’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to announce our second quarter 2025 dividend, marking our 14th consecutive quarterly dividend. We have an active investment program underway and we are seeing volatility in commodity prices, but we remain committed to paying a sustainable, meaningful dividend to our shareholders.”

    About Vaalco

    Vaalco, founded in 1985 and incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is a Houston, Texas, USA based, independent energy company with a diverse portfolio of production, development and exploration assets across Gabon, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Canada.

    For Further Information

       
    Vaalco Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +00 1 713 543 3422
    Website: www.vaalco.com
       
    Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations) +00 1 713 543 3422
    Al Petrie / Chris Delange  
       
    Buchanan (UK Financial PR) +44 (0) 207 466 5000
    Ben Romney / Barry Archer VAALCO@buchanan.uk.com
       

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release includes “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, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws and other applicable laws and may also include “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “aim,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “likely,” “plan” and “probably” or similar words may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to expectations of future dividends to stockholders. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Vaalco; the ability to generate cash flows that, along with cash on hand, will be sufficient to support operations and cash requirements; risks relating to the timing and costs of completion for scheduled maintenance of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel servicing the Baobab field; and the risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Vaalco’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2025 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

    Dividends beyond the second quarter of 2025 have not yet been approved or declared by the Board of Directors. The declaration and payment of future dividends remain at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be determined based on Vaalco’s financial results, balance sheet strength, cash and liquidity requirements, future prospects, crude oil and natural gas prices, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors reserves all powers related to the declaration and payment of dividends. Consequently, in determining the dividend to be declared and paid on Vaalco’s common stock, the Board of Directors may revise or terminate the payment level at any time without prior notice.

    Inside Information

    This announcement contains inside information as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on market abuse which is part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“MAR”) and is made in accordance with the Company’s obligations under article 17 of MAR. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Vaalco is Matthew Powers, Corporate Secretary of Vaalco.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Migration State Secretary Anders Hall visits Ethiopia

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Migration State Secretary Anders Hall visited Ethiopia on 3–6 March to discuss issues related to return and migration. During his trip, Mr Hall met various government and agency representatives, including State Minister of Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga and General Director, Immigration and Citizenship Services (ICS) Selamawit Dawit.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 11 terrorist leaders killed in military operations in Nigeria

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ABUJA, May 8 (Xinhua) — Eleven terrorist leaders have been killed in recent anti-terrorist operations by government forces in Nigeria, the country’s Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru said on Wednesday.

    One of the “most wanted” terrorist leaders in northern Nigeria, known as Bello Turji, is on the run as a result of ongoing military operations, he said.

    M. Badaru did not give an exact time for the anti-terrorist operations, adding that government troops have also doubled intelligence activities to prevent attacks by criminals. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘These violations should never have occurred’: the troubled history of intercountry adoption

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samara Kim, PhD Candidate & Researcher, Southern Cross University

    Korean adoptees worldwide are grappling with a devastating possibility: they were not truly orphans, but may have been made into orphans.

    For decades, adoptees were told they were “abandoned”, “rescued” or “unwanted”. Many were told their Korean families were too “poor” or “incapable” to raise them – and they should only ever feel grateful for being adopted.

    But these long-held stories are now under scrutiny.

    Our recent research interrogates the narratives that have obscured the darker realities of intercountry adoption. Rather than viewing adoption solely through the lens of “rescue”, our work examines the broader power structures that facilitated the mass migration of Korean children to western countries, including Australia.

    South Korea’s reckoning with its adoption history

    In March, South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its preliminary findings after collecting records and testimony from a coalition of overseas Korean adoptee-led organisations (including the Australia–US Korean Rights Group).

    The preliminary report revealed a disturbing pattern of human rights violations in the country’s adoption industry, including:

    • forced relinquishments
    • falsified records
    • babies switched at adoption
    • inadequate screening processes, and
    • deep-rooted institutional corruption.

    The commission’s chair described finding

    serious violations of the rights of adoptees, their biological parents – particularly Korean single mothers – and others involved. These violations should never have occurred.

    The commission is expected to release its final report soon, but due to the upcoming presidential election and political uncertainty in South Korea, the timeline remains unclear.

    Chilling cases

    This is not the first time intercountry adoption has made headlines for irregularities, human rights abuses, or illicit and illegal practices.

    While Australia was expanding the number of children for intercountry adoption from South Korea in the 1980s, Park In-keun – director of South Korea’s infamous Brothers Home, an illegal detention facility that sent children overseas for adoption – was arrested for embezzlement and illegal confinement.

    He was ultimately acquitted of the most serious charges in South Korea before escaping to Australia. He was then charged again in 2014 for embezzlement, including government subsidies and wages of inmates forced into slave labour in South Korea. He died two years later.

    Other allegations of human rights violations and abuses came to light around the same time with the arrest of Julie Chu.

    She was accused of facilitating a “baby export” syndicate. Children were believed to have been kidnapped from Taiwan to send to Western countries, including Australia, in the 1970s and 80s. She was convicted of forgery, but denied being involved in trafficking.

    Since then, other cases have continued to emerge involving countries such as Chile, Sri Lanka, India, Ethiopia and Guatemala.

    What is the adoption industrial complex?

    Intercountry adoption is not just a social practice. It’s also an economic and political system sometimes known as the transnational adoption industrial complex.

    This network of organisations, institutions, government policies and financial systems created a globalised adoption economy worth billions of dollars. According to numerous investigations, Western nations, as “receiving” countries, drove the demand for the continuous sourcing of children.

    As Park Geon-Tae, a senior investigator with South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said:

    To put it simply, there was supply because there was demand.

    Australia received an estimated 3,600 Korean children from the 1970s to the present, as part of more than 10,000 intercountry adoptions.

    Prospective parents typically paid between US$4,500 and $5,000 to facilitate acquiring a child in Australia in the 1980s, equivalent to A$21,000 today.

    Since colonisation, Australia has had a long and painful history of child removal. From the Stolen Generations involving First Nations children to the forced adoption of children born to unwed mothers, child separation has been deeply embedded in the nation’s social policy.

    While national apologies have acknowledged the irreparable harms caused by these policies, the same ideologies and structures were repurposed as the blueprint for intercountry adoption.

    In recent years, other western nations, such as Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, have begun to investigate their own roles in the intercountry adoption industry. These nations have either suspended their adoption programs, issued formal apologies or launched formal investigations.

    Thus far, Australia and the United States have not.

    Challenging the ‘rescue’ myth

    Intercountry adoption has long been framed as a humanitarian act. The central idea was that children needed “rescuing” and any life in a Western country would be “better” than one with their families in their home country.

    Many adoptees and their original families were expected to just move on or be grateful for being “saved”.

    However, research shows this gratitude narrative disregards the deep trauma caused by forced separation.

    Studies have reported that adoptees experience lifelong ruptures due to cultural, familial and ancestral displacement. Forced assimilation makes reconnection with family and culture complex or nearly impossible.

    Many intercountry adoptees have also voiced concerns about abuse, violence and mistreatment in adoptive homes.

    Questioning the ‘orphan crisis’ myth

    The myth of a global orphan crisis has also been a powerful driver of intercountry adoption.

    Adoption groups often reference outdated UNICEF estimates that there are 150 million orphans globally. However, this figure obscures the fact most of the children classified as “orphans” are children of single parents, or children currently living in homes with extended family or other caregivers.

    This was the case in South Korea. Most children sent for adoption were not true orphans, but children who had at least one parent or extended family they could have stayed with if they were adequately supported.

    The belief that millions of children of single parents were “orphans” in need of “rescue” was used to justify calls for faster, less regulated adoptions.

    Labelling these children as “orphans” also helped attract millions of dollars in philanthropic donations. However, donors were rarely interested in supporting children to stay with their families and communities in their home countries.

    Instead, the focus was often on removing and migrating them for the purpose of intercountry adoption.

    The question then emerges: was this about finding families for babies or finding babies for Western families?

    Samara Kim is a founding member of KADS Connect, an advocacy organisation for South Korean adoptees.

    Kathomi Gatwiri and Lynne McPherson do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. ‘These violations should never have occurred’: the troubled history of intercountry adoption – https://theconversation.com/these-violations-should-never-have-occurred-the-troubled-history-of-intercountry-adoption-254200

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Entities to Host the 13th Private Sector Forum in Algiers, Algeria (20-22 May 2025)

    SOURCE: Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group)

    The forum will enhance public-private partnerships by strengthening collaboration between governments and private enterprises to drive economic diversification and sustainable development

    ALGIERS, Algeria, May 6, 2025/ — The Entities of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group (www.IsDB.org), including the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH), are pleased to announce the 13th edition of the Private Sector Forum (PSF 2025), taking place from May 20 to 22, 2025, at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center in Algiers, Algeria. This prestigious event will take place on the sidelines of the IsDB Group Annual Meetings and is organized under the high patronage of His Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.

    Under the theme “Diversifying Economies, Enriching Lives” PSF 2025 aims to reinforce the pivotal role of the private sector in fostering sustainable economic growth, enhancing trade and investment flows, and unlocking opportunities for strategic partnerships across the IsDB member countries. The forum will provide an exclusive platform for key stakeholders to explore new business opportunities, exchange knowledge, and strengthen regional and international economic cooperation.

    PSF 2025 will promote investment and trade by highlighting emerging opportunities in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, technology, healthcare, and finance while facilitating cross-border investments and trade.  The forum will enhance public-private partnerships by strengthening collaboration between governments and private enterprises to drive economic diversification and sustainable development. It will also empower entrepreneurs and startups by providing a dedicated platform to support innovative startups and SMEs through networking, capacity-building, and funding opportunities.  Additionally, it will facilitate business networking by organizing B2B and B2G meetings, fostering strategic alliances between businesses, investors, policymakers, and financial institutions.  Finally, it will showcase success stories and best practices by sharing real-world insights from industry leaders and experts to inspire growth, resilience, and transformation within member economies.

    The event is expected to attract over 1,500 participants, including high-level government officials, chairpersons, presidents, and CEOs of leading local and international companies, multilateral development institutions, chambers of commerce and industry, business associations, investment promotion agencies, individual investors, and entrepreneurs.

    In addition to insightful panel discussions and keynote speeches, PSF 2025 will feature a dedicated exhibition where partners can showcase their projects, services, and investment opportunities. It will include a startup competition designed to foster innovation and highlight groundbreaking business ideas. For the third time, the event will introduce the IsDB Group recognition awards, honoring distinguished organizations and individuals for their contributions to economic development and trade facilitation.

    The forum will welcome prominent speakers, including the Chief Executive Officers of the IsDB Group entities, Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of ICIEC and Acting CEO of ICD, and Eng. Adeeb Al Aama, CEO of ITFC. These leaders, along with industry experts, will share success stories, experiences, and best practices to further strengthen investment and trade across the IsDB member countries.

    For further details, please visit the event’s official website: www.IsDBG-PSF.org

    About Islamic Development Bank (IsDB):
    The Islamic Development Bank is a multilateral development bank that works to improve the lives of those it serves by promoting social and economic development in Muslim countries and communities around the world and making a difference at scale. Through collaborative partnerships between communities in its 57 member countries, the Bank seeks to equip communities to drive their own economic and social progress at scale, and put the infrastructure in place to enable them to realize their potential. The Bank’s new business model of “making markets work for development” contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of our member countries in strategic industries in order to improve participation and upgrading in global value chains. This is in the field of food and agricultural industries, textiles, clothing, leather, shoes, petrochemicals and petroleum, construction, and Islamic finance. The Bank also promotes innovative and sustainable solutions to the biggest development challenges in the world, and takes advantage of the scientific potential in technology and innovation as strategic drivers of economic growth, and we also work to achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals.

    About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC)
    About ICIEC:
    ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC member countries and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is uniquely the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front in delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions to companies and parties in its member countries. ICIEC, for the 17th consecutive year, maintained an “Aa3” insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody’s, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) Industry. Additionally, ICIEC has been assigned a First-Time “AA-” long-term Issuer Credit Rating by S&P with Stable Outlook.  ICIEC’s resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, reinsurance, and risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than US$121 billion in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to several sectors – energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.

    For more information, visit: http://ICIEC.IsDB.org ,

    About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
    The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral organization affiliated with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). It supports the economic development of its member countries by providing financial assistance to private sector projects in accordance with the principles of Shari’ah. It also mobilizes additional resources for projects and encourages the development of Islamic finance. ICD’s operations complement the activities of IsDB in member countries and also those of national financial institutions. ICD has 55 member countries and five public financial institutions as its shareholders and has an authorized capital of USD 4 billion.

    About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$ 83 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

    About the Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH):
    The Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH) is the window of the IsDB Group that facilitate contact and coordination between entities concerned of the IsDB Group and private sector firms and related institutions in IsDB Group member countries. The main objective of THIQAH is to establish a unique platform for effective dialogue, cooperation and inclusive partnership for business leaders committed to partnering in promising investment opportunities. Through facilitation and catalyst roles, THIQAH will be leveraging IsDB Group’s resources to offer necessary services and confidence to investors and to establish strategic partnerships with the leaders of the private sector. The primary focus will be on maximizing cross-border investment among member countries to be supported by IsDB Group’s financial products and services. (www.IDBGBF.org)

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: People fleeing violence in North Darfur need shelter, water, and food story May 06, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    In the weeks since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted a large-scale ground offensive on Sudan’s Zamzam camp, where nearly 500,000 people were taking shelter, tens of thousands of people are fleeing to areas including the town of Tawila, in North Darfur, while intense fighting reportedly continues in the state capital, El Fasher. 

    People are arriving in Tawila from Zamzam in extreme need; famine was declared in the camp in August 2024, and many people have been seriously injured in the attack. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is providing medical care in dedicated health posts in Tawila, as well as distributing water and donating dry food, but the needs of the arriving people are overwhelming emergency and nutritional services at the local hospital that MSF supports. People speak of fleeing horrific violence.

    Why are people fleeing Zamzam and going to Tawila?

    • On April 11, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the parties in the war in Sudan, launched a massive ground offensive on Zamzam camp, North Darfur, which is home to at least 500,000 displaced people. Hundreds of people are estimated to have been killed.
    • MSF teams in Tawila, about 35 miles away, witnessed the arrival of thousands of displaced families, who told us that fighters  were going door-to-door, shooting people hiding in their homes, and burning large parts of the camp. 
    • The two health posts MSF set up at the main arrival sites in Tawila have been overwhelmed for two weeks in a row, providing up to 850 medical consultations per day, with patients suffering advanced states of dehydration and exhaustion. People have also arrived with gunshots and shrapnel injuries. MSF has set up a mass casualty plan, and in three weeks, our teams treated 779 patients with gunshot and shrapnel wounds, including 138 children under 15. Of these, 187 were severe cases (including 24 children). 
    • Tens of thousands of people have now set up makeshift shelters in the surroundings of Tawila, and are trying to survive in extremely dire conditions.

    Dr. Mohamed Abubaker examines a patient in the pediatrics department in Tawila. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

    The RSF came with their machine guns and drones,” says Mariam* who reached Tawila three days after the attack on Zamzam took place. “They attacked and killed [people]—including children. They burned our house with everything we had inside. They raped the women. They killed, they looted. Even before the attack, people had died of thirst and of starvation because of the siege that had been imposed on Zamzam for the past year. … They entered the house of one of my sisters, dragged her out, and killed her. My uncle’s son, my aunt’s son, and many people were killed. They slaughtered us like animals.”

    Mariam arrived in Tawila with 20 family members, including her mother, her sisters and their own children. They now spend their days crammed into a makeshift shelter they built with branches and a piece of fabric, sharing the little shade it provides.

    Makeshift shelters have filled what was an empty grass field in Tawila, as thousands of families flee the massive offensive on Zamzam camp. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

    Newly displaced people are living in fields

    Since April 12, when the people first began reaching Tawila from Zamzam, the areas surrounding the town have been completely transformed, with tens of thousands of people now estimated to be living in makeshift shelters in fields that were totally uninhabited just a few weeks ago.

    “For four days now, we have been staying here as you see us, with nothing: no walls, no roof,” says Ibrahim, who fled Zamzam on foot with 11 of his family members. He carried one of his children on his shoulders and another on his back for five days. It’s the fourth time in 10 years he has been displaced in similar circumstances. He describes how soldiers entered people’s homes, forced them outside, and opened fire. Three of his brothers were killed in this manner. On his way to Tawila, he was robbed and witnessed people being beaten so harshly that they could no longer move.

    “We don’t see any future anymore”

    “I’ve been displaced four times over the past 10 years. We arrived in Tawila on April 16. We have been living here since then, under this tree, all 11 of us.

    On Friday, April 11, it started with shelling directly on the camp. Shells were falling where people were gathering. Then they attacked on the ground. We heard gunfire everywhere. Many people got killed, including three of my brothers. Soldiers entered their houses, brought them outside, and opened fire.

    When we managed to leave Zamzam, we left on foot. We had no vehicles, no donkey, no cart, nothing. I had one of my children on my shoulders, another one on my back. My older son and daughter were carrying their younger siblings the same way. Everyone around us was doing the same.

    We were stopped at the exit of the camp by armed men. They searched everyone, even the smallest children. There were looking for anything that had value. Some of us were beaten so harshly, they were not able to move anymore.

    The first night, we took shelter a few miles from there, in the valley of Golo. But there as well, they came for us, to steal from us. We had nothing left, but all those who did, got looted and beaten, once again.

    For four days now, we have been staying here with nothing—no walls, no roof. Under this tree, it is so crowded. We’re lacking water, shelter, and there is nothing to eat. Everyone is hungry. We’re getting most of our food from community kitchens. Sometimes, we manage to get some rice when they distribute meals, but if we don’t, we must wait until the next day to eat something. For the water, we go to the well, which is a bit further away, with our jerrycans. But there are many people, and we have to wait hours to be able to drink. 

    We have nothing left—no money, nothing that could help us leave. We just stay here, hoping we will get enough food to survive on the next day. We don’t see any future anymore.”

    -Ibrahim*

    Needs far outweigh available assistance

    A handful of organizations are present in Tawila, but the number of people in need of assistance far exceeds the capacity to respond. MSF teams have set up two health posts at the main arrival sites to provide newcomers with water and immediate nutritional and medical support, and are referring critical patients to the local hospital that MSF has been supporting since October 2024.

    “Every single person they saw, they shot at”

    “In my life, I have been displaced many times by the violence, from Sarafaya to Mouqrin in 2014, then to Shagra last year, and to Zamzam earlier this year, to finally arrive here, in Tawila. It was on Monday, April 14.

    It was already a similar attack that made us flee from Shagra to Zamzam. In 2024, attackers came on camels and motorcycles and stole everything from us: our horses, our donkeys, our camels, even the tobacco we had just harvested. 

    When we got to Zamzam, the camp was already under siege. Everything was blocked, no supplies entering anymore. Everything became so expensive: food was not affordable anymore. Then the attack on Zamzam happened. It has started with a lot of shelling and then shooting. They came walking, directly inside the camp. Every single person they saw, they shot at them, not matter if it was a child, a woman, or an old person. 

    At the exit of the camp, they were waiting for us. They searched the women, they took anything they thought had value: our money, our cell phones, even our clothes. And on the road to Tawila, it happened again. What little we had left was looted on the way, including our blankets. 

    I arrived to Tawila with my children. I came walking, carrying my youngest children on our donkey. The little water we had was finished. I saw two bodies on the way, with my own eyes. Dead from thirst. 

    Living conditions here are terrible. My elder children go to the market, they buy big boxes of biscuits they then resell by unit. With that very little money, we manage to survive. For water, we can go to a water tank which is a bit further away, but sometimes it’s empty. We managed to buy two jerrycans on the market, but here as well, they were really expensive.

    My children are coughing a lot. We have been to MSF’s health post; they gave us medications, but their condition is not improving. Nights are so cold; we are sleeping on the floor and only have two blankets for the 11 of us.

    As long as we remain safe here, we will stay. And if not… well, we will leave. Once again.”

    Hamida* 

    Tiphaine Salmon, MSF head nurse, was working in the hospital on the day the mass influx of severe cases began on April 12. “The emergency room was overwhelmed,” she says. “Over the first few days, the number of patients in the hospital almost doubled. At one point, we had four patients in a bed because we did not have enough space. A lot of people had gunshot wounds and blast injuries—we’ve treated 779 people over the past three weeks, including 138 children. Of the 779 patients, 187 were severe cases. The youngest I saw was a 7-month-old baby with a bullet wound that went under his chin and into his shoulder. We also received patients as young as 1 day old suffering from dehydration. Many children arrived without their parents—and many parents were searching desperately for their children.”

    At the same time, our teams in the hospital witnessed an explosion of admissions in our intensive therapeutical feeding center, which treats children under 5 years old suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the week following the influx, admissions increased almost tenfold, from an average of 6 or 7 per week to more than 60. They were mostly children from Zamzam.

    MSF nurse Hitham checks a patient at an MSF health post in Tawila Umda, where hundreds of people suffering from exhaustion and dehydration have arrived over the past few days. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

    Disease and displacement make a deadly combination

    A suspected measles outbreak began in Tawila in March, worsening an already catastrophic situation. MSF has treated more than 900 suspected measles cases since early February, with more than 300 patients in such severe condition that they required hospitalization. This situation led our teams to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign in the city in the first week of April, reaching 18,000 children under 5 years old.

    Only one week after the massive influx of people from Zamzam began, our teams saw several suspected cases among children who had just arrived from the camp, meaning that measles had already begun to spread in displacement sites.

    In such sites with a high population density and low hygiene conditions, malnutrition and measles can be an especially deadly combination, with disastrous consequences for young children.

    “They just slaughtered us like animals” 

    “Our household is composed of 20 people, including my 12 children, my mother, my sisters and their own children. We arrived from Zamzam five days ago. We were living there since 2014.

    The RSF came with their machine guns and drones. They attacked and killed, including children. They burned our house with everything we had inside. They raped the women. They killed, they looted. But even before that, people died of thirst and of starvation, because of the siege they imposed on Zamzam for the past year. Everything was so expensive and so unaffordable in the end.

    I’ve seen a full group of children being killed during the attack by a shelling. I’ve seen it with my own eyes as we were fleeing.

    Nobody will ever go there and bury them now.

    They entered the house of one of my sisters, dragged her out, and killed her. My uncle’s son, my aunt’s son, and many people were killed. They slaughtered us like animals. 

    On our way to Shagra, at a checkpoint, I asked them why they were killing us like this. They didn’t answer. They raped several girls there. They beat the people, and loot them once again, whatever they had. We had a bit of water left, but they took the bottle and emptied it on the ground, in front of us. They also took our luggage, threw everything on the ground, and chose what they wanted to keep. I only had about 1,500 Sudanese pounds on me [about $2.25], even that they took from me. 

    On the way, there were six checkpoints like this one. At every single checkpoint, they emptied our luggage, searched, and kept what had value. Then they ordered us to pick up the rest and leave immediately. 

    Here, in Tawila, there is no food. Some people in Tawila shared a bit of millet flour with us, from which we make porridge. This is how we have survived so far: begging. We have one blanket for all of us.

    We don’t have any other place to go, and even if we did, we wouldn’t have the money to do so. So, we’re just staying here, hoping to receive a bit of help. We need a better place to stay than this shelter we built with our hands.”

    Mariam*

    Immediate scale-up of aid is imperative

    MSF is continuing to scale up its intervention in Tawila. As well as carrying out hundreds of medical consultations per day, our organization has donated food to local community kitchens, enabling them to prepare and distribute more than 16,000 meals per day. We have also been providing 100,000 liters of clean water daily, and we have additional plans to construct 300 latrines.

    But the needs of people in Tawila are immense and far outstrip our capacity to respond. Although other actors have also mobilized, and a first mass food distribution has taken place, the humanitarian response still needs to be urgently and rapidly scaled up. We urge UN agencies to substantially increase their presence on the ground so they can coordinate a response with the magnitude to meet the ever-growing needs.

    *Names have been changed for privacy. 

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 12 killed in road accident in Chad

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    YAOUNDE, May 8 (Xinhua) — At least 12 people were killed in a head-on collision between two cars in Chad’s Kanem province on Wednesday night.

    Local media reported, citing police, that a Toyota Hilux with passengers collided with a heavy truck.

    As a result of the accident, several people were injured, the victims were rushed to a local hospital. Among the victims were students.

    An official investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Tunisia: Year-long arbitrary detention of human rights defenders working with refugees and migrants  

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Tunisian authorities must immediately release human rights defenders, NGO workers, and former local officials who have been held in arbitrary pre-trial detention for one year because of their legitimate support for refugees and migrants, Amnesty International said today. The ongoing crackdown, part of a broader assault on civil society in Tunisia, was fueled by escalating xenophobia and has severely disrupted crucial assistance for refugees and migrants. 

    Since May 2024, Tunisian authorities have raided at least three NGOs providing critical assistance to refugees and migrants, arresting and detaining at least eight NGO workers, as well as two former local officials who cooperated with them. They also opened criminal investigations into at least 40 other individuals in relation to legitimate NGO work to support refugees and migrants.  

    “It is deeply shocking that these human rights defenders have now spent over a year in arbitrary detention, for simply assisting refugees and migrants in precarious situations. They should have never been arrested in the first place,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.  

    The Tunisian authorities must immediately release and drop all charges against those detained solely for their human rights and humanitarian work.

    Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

    “This reckless crackdown on the staff of organizations operating under Tunisian law has had devastating humanitarian consequences for refugees and migrants in the country and represents a deeply harmful setback for human rights in Tunisia. The Tunisian authorities must immediately release and drop all charges against those detained solely for their human rights and humanitarian work.”  

    On 3 and 4 May 2024, Tunisian police arrested Mustapha Djemali and Abderrazak Krimi, respectively director and project manager of the Tunisian Council for Refugees (CTR), a Tunisian NGO working with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Tunisian authorities to pre-register asylum seekers and provide essential assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. Authorities have held them under successive pretrial detention orders for over a year now, while investigating them for “assisting the clandestine entry” of foreign nationals and “providing [them] shelter”, solely based on their work for the CTR. 

    From 7 to 13 May 2024, the police arrested Sherifa Riahi, Yadh Bousselmi and Mohamed Joo, respectively former director, director and administrative and financial director of Terre d’asile Tunisie, the Tunisian branch of French NGO France Terre d’asile.  

    Judicial authorities have held them in pretrial detention since then and are prosecuting them on charges of “sheltering individuals illegally entering or leaving the territory” and “facilitating the irregular entry, exit, movement or stay of a foreigner”, solely for providing critical assistance to refugees and migrants. When closing the investigation, the investigative judge cited a “European-backed civil society plan to promote the social and economic integration of irregular migrants into Tunisia and their permanent settlement” to support the charge.  

    On 11 May 2024, the police also arrested former deputy mayor of Sousse Imen Ouardani under the same charges, as well as the additional charge of using her position as public official “to obtain an unjustified advantage or harm the administration,” solely because of the collaboration between the municipality and Terre d’asile Tunisie.  

    Under international law, pretrial detention should only be used as an exception, to avoid undermining the presumption of innocence, and based on an individualized assessment which shows that the detention is necessary and proportionate because of a substantial risk of flight, interference with the investigation, harm to others or reiteration of the alleged offence. The Tunisian authorities have not demonstrated any of these grounds with regard to these individuals.  

    “Detaining human rights defenders criminalizes essential human rights and humanitarian work. Providing support to refugees and migrants – irrespective of their legal status – is protected under international law and should never be equated with human smuggling or trafficking,” said Sara Hashash. 

    Tunisia is party to the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, which set out precise standards for the definition of human smuggling and trafficking, exempting legitimate human rights and humanitarian work.  

    The May 2024 crackdown took place after xenophobic and racist social media smear campaigns against several organizations including the CTR and Terre d’asile Tunisie, after the CTR published a tender for hotels to shelter asylum seekers and refugees in precarious situations, in response to a request for assistance from UNHCR and local authorities. 

    On 6 May 2024, President Kais Saied accused NGOs working on migration of being “traitors” and “[foreign] agents”, and of seeking the “settlement” of Sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia. A day later, a public prosecutor in Tunis announced the opening of an investigation against NGOs for providing “financial support to illegal migrants”.  

    The crackdown which has involved the detention of NGO staff and freezing of NGOs’ bank accounts has triggered the suspension of vital services since May 2024, disrupting access to asylum procedures, shelter, healthcare, child protection, and legal aid. This has left potentially thousands of refugees and migrants, including unaccompanied children, in precarious and uncertain situations and at greater risk of facing human rights violations and abuse.  

    In April 2025, Tunisia’s Interior Minister, Khaled Ennouri, said that the authorities were prepared to “confront all plans to alter the demographic composition of the Tunisian population”. Such comments have contributed to an ongoing spike in racist violence against Black refugees and migrants, notably in border regions. Social media users have shared videos of themselves “tracking down [Black] Africans” and threatening violence and other abuse against them.  

    Other organizations targeted include anti-racism organization Mnemty – nine of their staff and partners have been under investigation since May 2024 for financial crimes for which the authorities have yet to provide evidence – and the children’s rights NGO Children of the Moon of Medenine. Authorities have also detained the executive director of the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference (ADD), Salwa Ghrissa, since 12 December 2024, pending investigation into the organization’s funding.

    Tunisian authorities must immediately cease the criminalization of human rights and humanitarian work and end the dangerous scapegoating and vilification of civil society.

    Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

    “Tunisian authorities must immediately cease the criminalization of human rights and humanitarian work and end the dangerous scapegoating and vilification of civil society,” said Sara Hashash. 

    Background  

    Racist and xenophobic rhetoric has been repeated by Tunisian officials and members of the parliament over the past two years, starting with racist remarks made by President Kais Saied in February 2023.  

    Since May 2024, Tunisian authorities have also continued to carry out forced evictions and unlawful collective expulsions of refugees and migrants to Libya and Algeria regularly. In early April 2025, authorities announced an “operation of dismantlement” in the eastern region of Sfax, where refugees and migrants had established makeshift camps in the past two years, after having been forcibly evicted and relocated from urban areas by the authorities.  

    The wave of arrests of May 2024 is part of a wider attack on civil society. Ahead of the 2024 October presidential elections, authorities opened investigations into NGOs I Watch and Mourakiboun in relation to their funding and prevented them from observing the elections. 

    Tunisian financial authorities have subsequently opened investigations into at least a dozen organizations over funding and activities protected under the right to freedom of association, while banks have increasingly delayed or obstructed incoming transfers of funds from abroad, demanding excessive documentation regarding the transfers, thereby impeding NGO operations. 

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: New Book – Modernising Islam? The Limits of Liberal Reforms in Muslim Nations – by Rumy Hasan

    Source: MTP.Agency a book by Rumy Hasan

    Modernising Islam? The Limits of Liberal Reforms in Muslim Nations explores the complex and often fraught attempts at modernisation in Muslim-majority countries. From Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 to the UAE’s drive for economic diversification, and from Turkey’s reversal of Atatürk’s secular reforms to Tunisia’s struggles post-Arab Spring, this book critically examines the challenges of reconciling liberal reforms with deeply entrenched religious and political structures.

    Author Rumy Hasan provides a thought-provoking analysis of whether these reforms represent genuine progress or merely superficial adjustments to maintain power. Drawing on historical context and contemporary developments, he explores key issues, including the role of Sharia law, the status of women, freedom of expression, and the relationship between Islam and democracy.

    With in-depth case studies spanning the Gulf states, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, this book questions whether meaningful change is possible in societies where religion remains deeply intertwined with governance. It also considers whether Saudi Arabia’s recent reformist rhetoric could set a precedent for the wider Islamic world—or whether entrenched theological doctrines will continue to limit progress.

    A compelling and incisive read, this book is essential for anyone interested in global politics, Middle Eastern affairs, and the intersection of religion and modernity.

    This book is instructive, precise and very well documented. Taking in consideration different Islamic countries, it explains how difficult the reformation of Islam is. And when reforms have been adopted, there remains always the danger of cancelling them, as happened with Turkey after Atatürk’s death.

    – Prof Sami Aldeeb, Director, Centre of Arab and Islamic Law, St Sulpice, Switzerland

    Rumy Hasan approaches difficult issues in the Muslim world with a sharp intellect and penetrating analysis.

    – Sir Alan Duncan, former UK Foreign Minister

    Paperback (236 pages) £9.99; $13.25; Ebook £3.99; $4.50
    Michael Terence Publishing, 2025;
    ISBN-139781800949836; 9781805880196
    ASIN: ‏B0F4FLKJKN

    Available now from book outlets and distributors worldwide.
     
    About the Author
    Rumy Hasan is Associate Professor at SPRU, University of Sussex and a Visiting Professorial Research Fellow at Civitas. His previous books include Multiculturalism: Some Inconvenient Truths; Dangerous Liaisons: The Clash between Islamism and Zionism; Religion and Development in the Global South; and Modern Europe and the Enlightenment.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Video: Yemen, Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (7 May 2025)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Secretary-General’s Travel
    Yemen
    Sudan
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Ukraine
    Haiti
    Security Council
    Science, Technology and Innovation Forum

    SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TRAVEL
    The Secretary-General is Denmark today, where tomorrow he will chair the meeting of the Chief Executives Board of the United Nations which brings together the heads of the UN system. 
    Earlier today, the Secretary-General met with Ms. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Denmark’s steadfast cooperation with and support for the United Nations, including for its role as host of UN agencies as well as its constructive role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
    The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Denmark’s steadfast cooperation, as well as its constructive role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. 
    Prior to meeting the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General toured UN City, the compound in Copenhagen that houses United Nations offices in the Danish capital. During a townhall meeting, the Secretary-General congratulated the staff for the work they are doing. 
    This evening, the Secretary-General and the heads of the United Nations system are attending a welcome diner hosted by the King and Queen of Denmark.

    YEMEN
    The UN welcomes the announcement made by the Sultanate of Oman regarding an agreement between the United States and the Houthis in Yemen on 6 May, and commend Oman for its efforts in this regard.
    The UN had consistently called for restraint and de-escalation in and around Yemen and the wider region. We also have called for an immediate cessation of Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels in line with relevant Security Council resolutions. We reaffirm the need for all to respect the rights and obligations relating to maritime navigation in accordance with international law. We remain committed to supporting the Yemeni parties to reach a negotiated political settlement to end the conflict.
    The UN encourages all parties to engage constructively with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to this end.

    SUDAN
    Moving to Sudan, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, expressed deep concern over the ongoing drone strikes in Port Sudan, which is a hub for our humanitarian operations and key entry point for aid.
    Mr. Fletcher stressed that international humanitarian law must be respected and that constant care must be taken to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure.
    Flights of the UN Humanitarian Air Services – or UNHAS – to and from Port Sudan have been suspended since May 4th. The World Food Programme, which manages UNHAS, says it will resume air operations as soon as conditions allow.
    These disruptions are impacting the movement of humanitarian personnel into Sudan and onward to other parts of the country, further straining the delivery of urgently needed assistance. Meanwhile, OCHA reports that drone attacks have also affected the states of Kassala and River Nile. Earlier this week in Kassala, strikes near the airport displaced about 2,900 people and led to the temporary suspension or relocation of some aid activities.
    Meanwhile, River Nile State is still facing a power blackout following a drone strike on the transformer station in Atbara on April 25th. The outage is contributing to growing fuel and bread shortages and long queues at petrol stations and bakeries.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    Turning to the situation in Gaza, our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warn that the situation there is growing worse by the day. Yet we and our partners are committed to staying and delivering to help alleviate the suffering of the people exhausted by many months of fighting.
    Attacks on schools sheltering displaced people continue to be reported, leading to casualties. Yesterday in Deir al Balah, an UNRWA school in Al Bureij camp was hit twice in several hours, with dozens of people reportedly killed, including women and children. Another school in Gaza city sheltering displaced people was also struck yesterday, with reports that 20 people were killed.
    Across Gaza, community kitchens serving hot meals continue to shut down, as they use up their last remaining supplies. As of yesterday, one in every three community kitchens supported by the UN and our partners in Gaza has closed.

    Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=07%20May%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4A1_sSsDPg

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania – RC-B10-0260/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
    replacing the following motions:
    B10‑0260/2025 (Verts/ALE)
    B10‑0261/2025 (S&D)
    B10‑0263/2025 (Renew)
    B10‑0264/2025 (PPE)
    B10‑0265/2025 (ECR)

    Sebastião Bugalho, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Michał Szczerba, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomas Tobé, Liudas Mažylis, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Mirosława Nykiel, Wouter Beke, Luděk Niedermayer, Vangelis Meimarakis, Milan Zver, Tomáš Zdechovský, Danuše Nerudová, Miriam Lexmann, Jan Farský, Loránt Vincze, Jessica Polfjärd, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Marit Maij
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Adam Bielan, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Assita Kanko, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Alberico Gambino
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Michal Wiezik, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Catarina Vieira
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    Document selected :  

    RC-B10-0260/2025

    Texts tabled :

    RC-B10-0260/2025

    Texts adopted :

    European Parliament resolution on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania

    (2025/2690(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

     having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas Tundu Lissu, leader of Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party, was arrested on 9 April 2025 in Mbinga, following a peaceful rally advocating electoral reforms;

    B. whereas Lissu narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and was forced into exile, only to face renewed persecution upon his return to Tanzania;

    C. whereas on 10 April 2025, Lissu was charged with treason, along with three offences of publication of false information under cybercrime laws; whereas treason in Tanzania carries a potential death sentence; whereas the EU is unequivocally opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances;

    D. whereas shortly after Lissu’s arrest, Chadema was disqualified from the October 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections, based on the party’s refusal to sign an electoral code of conduct;

    E. whereas ahead of the November 2024 local elections, Tanzania’s Government impeded opposition meetings, arbitrarily arrested hundreds of opposition supporters, imposed restrictions on social media access and banned independent media; whereas thousands of opposition candidates were disqualified from participating; whereas at least four government critics were forcibly disappeared and one Chadema official was abducted and brutally killed;

    F. whereas Tanzania’s ranking in Freedom House’s freedom report was downgraded in 2025 to ‘not free’;

    1. Condemns the arrest of Lissu and expresses grave concern over the charges against him, which appear to be politically motivated and carry the risk of capital punishment; calls on the Tanzanian Government to immediately and unconditionally release him, ensuring his safety and his right to a fair trial and legal representation;

    2. Urges the Tanzanian authorities to end the escalating crackdown, arbitrary arrests, violence, attacks and harassment against opposition members, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, LGBTIQ+ activists, journalists and civil society organisations, and to independently investigate police abuses and enforced disappearances, to uphold the rule of law, freedom of expression, press, media and association, and judicial independence, to bring Tanzania’s cybercrime and media laws in line with international human rights law, to respect the rights of political parties and to ensure free and fair elections;

    3. Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to reinstate Chadema’s full participation in the October 2025 elections and to engage with all political parties in transparent and inclusive dialogue on electoral reform, in consultation with civil society groups and other stakeholders;

    4. Calls for the EU and its Member States to critically engage with the Tanzanian authorities regarding Lissu’s case and to closely monitor the trial; urges them to consider appropriate measures if the human rights situation continues to deteriorate; urges Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences;

    5. Reiterates the need for the EU to ensure that its development cooperation with Tanzania, including the Global Gateway initiative, is consistent with the promotion of human rights, freedom of expression and fair trial standards;

    6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Tanzania, the African Union and the VP/HR.​

     

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia – RC-B10-0249/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
    replacing the following motions:
    B10‑0249/2025 (Verts/ALE)
    B10‑0250/2025 (S&D)
    B10‑0252/2025 (Renew)
    B10‑0255/2025 (PPE)
    B10‑0258/2025 (ECR)

    Sebastião Bugalho, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Sandra Kalniete, Željana Zovko, Andrzej Halicki, Michał Szczerba, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Ana Miguel Pedro, Dariusz Joński, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomas Tobé, Reinhold Lopatka, Liudas Mažylis, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Mirosława Nykiel, Wouter Beke, Luděk Niedermayer, Vangelis Meimarakis, Milan Zver, Tomáš Zdechovský, Danuše Nerudová, Miriam Lexmann, Ondřej Kolář, Jan Farský, Loránt Vincze, Jessica Polfjärd, Andrey Kovatchev, Ewa Kopacz, Matej Tonin, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Thijs Reuten, Evin Incir, Pina Picierno
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Adam Bielan, Rihards Kols, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Aurelijus Veryga, Reinis Pozņaks, Alexandr Vondra, Maciej Wąsik, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Michał Dworczyk, Assita Kanko, Jaak Madison, Mariusz Kamiński, Roberts Zīle, Charlie Weimers, Beatrice Timgren, Dick Erixon, Sebastian Tynkkynen
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Petras Auštrevičius, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Abir Al‑Sahlani, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Michał Kobosko, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Eugen Tomac, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Villy Søvndal
    on behalf of The Left Group
    Hanna Gedin, Jonas Sjöstedt, Merja Kyllönen

    Document selected :  

    RC-B10-0249/2025

    Texts tabled :

    RC-B10-0249/2025

    Texts adopted :

    European Parliament resolution on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia

    (2025/2691(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

     having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,

     having regard to the UN Charter, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN Convention on the rights of the child, and the Genocide Convention (CPPCG),

     having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas since February 2022 around 20 000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to the Russian Federation and Belarus or detained in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, with only 1 293 returned and 624 confirmed dead, according to President Zelenskyy’s ‘Bring Kids Back UA’ initiative; whereas according to the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) the real figures are probably much higher, as these transfers and deportations continue;

    B. whereas international law prohibits forcible transfer to an occupied territory or deportation from an occupied territory to the territory of the occupier, which is a war crime under the Rome Statute and may amount to genocide under the CPPCG;

    C. whereas on 17 March 2023 the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for their responsibility for the war crime of unlawful transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children;

    1. Strongly condemns the violent actions of the Russian Federation and the complicity of Belarus in the mistreatment of Ukrainian children, including murder, forced transfer and deportation, illegal adoption, sexual abuse and exploitation, forced Russification and militarisation; stresses that these acts form part of a genocidal strategy to erase Ukrainian identity;

    2. Urges the EU to hold those responsible to account and to sanction individuals and entities implicated in these crimes;

    3. Demands that these crimes cease immediately and that Russia reports the identities and whereabouts of all deported Ukrainian children and ensures their well-being and safe and unconditional return;

    4. Urges Russian federal and local authorities to grant international organisations, such as the ICRC, OHCHR and UNICEF, access to all deported Ukrainian children;

    5. Denounces the forced imposition of Russian citizenship on deported children and their state-sponsored adoption by Russian families as part of a deliberate policy of forced assimilation;

    6. Calls for the EU to closely cooperate with and support Ukrainian authorities, international and non-governmental organisations in their efforts to document all missing and deported Ukrainian children; urges the international community, including the United States, to maintain HRL’s funding and the EU to ensure its continuation;

    7. Emphasises that any genuine peace deal must include the repatriation of these children and accountability for forcible transfers and deportations;

    8. Urges the international community to hold Russia accountable by reinforcing coordination through the ICC, the ICJ, and the Special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine;

    9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the President, Government and parliament of Ukraine, and to the United States, Russia and Belarus.

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: DG Okonjo-Iweala: Broad agreement on WTO reform as “central priority” for MC14

    Source: WTO

    Headline: DG Okonjo-Iweala: Broad agreement on WTO reform as “central priority” for MC14

    “We are now in the midst of one of the largest disruptions in world trade in history,” the Director-General told members.  “But we are also now less than a year away from MC14, and we must think of what we need to do to maximize our chances for success there, including tackling some of the issues thrown up by this trade crisis.”
    Against this backdrop, DG Okonjo-Iweala said, she has spent the past few weeks engaging with members to discuss what might constitute a credible roadmap to MC14, which will begin on 26 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
    The Director-General said members stressed the importance of MC14 sending a clear political message reaffirming the WTO’s relevance and resilience amidst ongoing global uncertainty.  There was also strong support for prioritizing WTO repositioning and reform at MC14, she noted.
    In regard to substance, many members have proposed forward-looking corrective actions to inadequacies in the WTO’s existing rulebook, together with reforms across core functions, including monitoring and transparency, negotiations, and dispute settlement, she said.
    “The present disruption is seen as a vital opportunity to address the system’s weaknesses and reposition the WTO for the future,” the Director-General said.  “We must not waste a crisis.”
    As part of this, workstreams could be established on issues such as dispute settlement reform, how to ensure the current WTO agreements remain dynamic and relevant, and looking at future trade rules so that the WTO remains responsive to evolving needs, the Director-General said. 
    She proposed a phased approach, consisting of a facilitator-led scoping exercise prior to MC14, ministerial guidance at MC14 on actionable steps for moving forward, and post-MC14 implementation within the workstreams, with the view to presenting concrete outcomes for endorsement at the 15th Ministerial Conference or earlier.
    “We must seize this reform opportunity with seriousness and urgency,” the Director-General declared. Members “need to consider not what the organization can do for us, but what we are willing to give up to reform the organization so it can survive and thrive.”
    The Director-General noted other priority areas identified for MC14, including agriculture, the “second wave” of fisheries subsidies negotiations, the e-commerce work programme and moratorium, the incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the joint initiative e-commerce agreement into the WTO framework, and development issues.
    On all these issues, a stocktaking of the progress made will take place in July, and by December members “will need to make a clear decision on which negotiating issues are mature enough to be carried forward to MC14, and which are not,” the Director-General said.  “The overarching goal in all this is to enable productive and meaningful ministerial engagement in Yaoundé.”
    Reports from negotiating chairs
    Members received updates from the chairs of the ongoing WTO negotiations on agriculture, fisheries subsidies, trade and development, the establishment of a multilateral system of notification and registration of geographical indications for wines and spirits, trade and environment, and services.
    Reporting in his capacity as Chair of the agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain (Pakistan) noted his consultations with members and the first negotiating group meeting since his appointment as Chair earlier this year.  He said there was “broad recognition” that delivering an outcome on agriculture is “critical for reinforcing the credibility of the WTO” but acknowledged that on substance, “the main positions have not shifted significantly.”
    On the way forward, the Chair said he would first give proponents space to intensify their engagement and then hold targeted meetings with both proponents and non-proponents to explore ways forward. This would be followed by open-ended meetings of the negotiating group, whenever needed, to ensure full transparency and inclusivity.  This could lead to a stocktaking event in late September or early October after which members will collectively assess the progress made and decide on the best path forward, including the nature of any possible outcomes at MC14.
    Reporting in his capacity as the Chair of the fisheries subsidies negotiations, Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson (Iceland) noted that he led a series of bilateral consultations in late March/early April to hear views on the next steps.  In light of this, the Chair said he would organize meetings over the coming weeks to exchange views on the “second wave” negotiations as well as the entry into force and implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, where 14 acceptances are still needed.
    In regard to the former, the Chair said four focused sessions would take place to give members the opportunity to bring a new thinking into the negotiations that could unlock the current stalemate.  Noting that an existing draft text exists which embodies “painstaking negotiation and numerous hard-fought compromises,” the Chair said: “We need not reinvent the wheel … with the right level of engagement and flexibility, meaningful progress remains within reach.”
    Reporting in her capacity as Chair of the negotiations on trade and development, Ambassador Kadra Hassan (Djibouti) noted that work is continuing through the facilitator-led processes in three areas of work: sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade; technology transfer; and trade-related investment measures.  She also noted the mandate from ministers at MC13 to continue work on the application of special and differential treatment provisions under various WTO agreements.  With MC14 drawing closer, the Chair called for “further flexibility, creativity and pragmatism from all delegations” in order to achieve outcomes.
    Ambassador Alfredo Suescum (Panama), Chair of the negotiations on the multilateral register for wines and spirits, said that no new proposals have been submitted and that members’ underlying positions remain unchanged. Ambassador Eunice M. Tembo Luambia (Zambia), Chair of the negotiations on trade and environment, said that her consultations with members made clear that WTO members “have no appetite to engage in negotiations on this topic at this time.” 
    Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid (Nigeria), Chair of the services negotiations, said he was in the process of consulting with members on the way forward in view of the built-in mandate to improve schedules of commitments, as well as the call by ministers at MC13 to reinvigorate work. 
    General Council Chair report on informal consultations
    The Chair of the General Council, Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of), reported on his recent informal consultations with members to explore the nexus between the current economic climate and its impact on the multilateral trading system.
    The assessment is clear, the Chair said: “The situation is challenging, but our resolve must be stronger. There is a firm belief that the WTO and the rules-based multilateral trading system it embodies must remain a cornerstone of our collective response to the challenges. Indeed, many members see this as an opportunity for the WTO to reaffirm its relevance and proactively address the current situation.”
    The Chair said he was considering convening an informal information session at the level of heads of delegations. This would start with a factual presentation on the current situation by WTO economists followed by a forward-looking exchange among heads of delegations on steps the WTO could take to address these impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable economies.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cameroonian citizen believed to be living in Canada is wanted for elder fraud, money laundering abusing the asylum system

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES – An arrest warrant for a Cameroonian citizen involved in a complex money laundering and elder fraud conspiracy was issued April 14, by a federal judge pursuant to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation in close coordination with the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

    Leslie Kibula Bongajum, 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

    Bongajum is the fourth Cameroonian national to be charged in a complex money laundering conspiracy being perpetuated by members of a transnational criminal organization carrying out various elder fraud scams and laundering the money stolen from their victims.

    Three additional Cameroonian nationals and conspirators of Bongajum were arrested in southern California Feb. 27. Sylas Nyuydzene Verdzekov, 38, of Chino Hills, and Lovert Che, 44, of Lomita, Mustapha Nkachiwouo Selly Yamie, 29, of Inglewood are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. At the time of their arrest, Bongajum was sought as a person of interest.

    According to the criminal complaint, from at least November 2021 and continuing to the present, Bongajum, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che, and their co-conspirators, created fake identification documents of fictitious people, including passports and driver’s licenses. Using these fake documents, the defendants and their co-conspirators created at least 36 shell companies in California, which conducted no legitimate business and were created solely to advance their crimes.

    Bongajum, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che, and their co-conspirators, also opened at least 145 bank accounts and at least 32 private mailboxes across southern California using fake identities and sham businesses.

    In one scheme specifically targeting elderly victims using phone calls and email pop-ups, the defendants and their co-conspirators posed as law enforcement personnel or employees with well-known companies attempting to help the victims maintain the security of their accounts. They then allegedly fabricated claims of victim bank accounts or payment accounts being compromised and needing to be resolved quickly.

    The defendants and their co-conspirators convinced the victims of their purported authority through pictures of fake badges and fake job titles, then requested the victims’ personally identifiable information and bank account information. Victims were told they needed to move money from their corrupted accounts quickly to ensure they kept all their money, and to move it into accounts that Bongajum, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che and their co-conspirators, fraudulently opened and controlled. Victims typically moved money via electronic bank transfers, money orders, cashier’s checks, or personal checks into these fraudulent bank accounts or mailboxes.

    The defendants and their co-conspirators then deposited the ill-gotten gains into the bank accounts they controlled with the intent of disguising the ownership and control of the funds. Bongajum, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che and their co-conspirators then withdrew large cash amounts to use the stolen funds on personal expenses, including rental payments.

    In a similar scam, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly posed as a real estate owner selling property. Using fake identification and credentials, the defendants deceived victims into believing that they were entering into a legitimate sale of the property and tricked the victims into wiring money or mailing a check to an account or mailbox the defendants and their co-conspirators controlled.

    In total, Bongajum, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che and their co-conspirators, laundered at least $10 million in funds taken from at least 100 victims.

    Authorities obtained information that Bongajum has fled to Canada after learning authorities had evidence of his involvement in the criminal conspiracy. They also learned that Bongajum falsified information on his application to seek asylum in the United States and was exploiting the United States immigration system to obtain a benefit he was not qualified for.

    To date, four other Cameroonian nationals associated with this criminal organization have been arrested for immigration violations.

    If convicted, Bongajum, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che face a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

    Indictments contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    To report suspected cybercrime, contact the ICE tip-line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or submit the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE HSI’s mission to protect the U.S. economy in your community on X at @HSILosAngeles.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Marking Victory in Europe Day’s 80th anniversary

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is encouraging New Zealanders to mark Victory in Europe Day’s 80th anniversary today by paying tribute to those who fought for freedom and peace.

    “On the 8th of May 1945, the Second World War in Europe came to an end, bringing relief and hope to millions after six years of devastating conflict,” Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

    “Today marks a significant milestone in world history, and a poignant moment for New Zealand.

    “I encourage all New Zealanders to commemorate this day in their own way. Whether that is by laying a tribute at a local war memorial, pausing to take a moment of quiet reflection, or simply learning more about New Zealand’s effort in this global fight for peace,” Mr Goldsmith says.

    “New Zealand played a crucial role in the Second World War, with about 140,000 New Zealanders serving in military forces overseas,” Defence Minister Judith Collins says.

    “By the end of the war, nearly 12,000 New Zealanders had lost their lives, and 9,000 had been taken as prisoners of war. Many more served on the home front, supporting the war effort in numerous ways.”

    “The nation’s contributions spanned various theatres of war, from Egypt, Italy, and Greece to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and our people lie in cemeteries around the world.

    “We must never forget their service and their sacrifice,” Ms Collins says.

    “VE day is a time to remember the immense sacrifice of all who contributed to the Second World War effort, in particular our veterans, of whom fewer than 100 remain with us,” Veterans Minister Chris Penk says.

    “As we honour this significant anniversary, we reflect on the courage of those who fought for peace and acknowledge that the most meaningful way to uphold their legacy is by striving for a world free from conflict.”

    The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has detailed a variety of ways people can commemorate this significant moment on its website.

    The Second World War ended for New Zealand on 15 August 1945, when conflict ceased in the Asia-Pacific region with Japan’s surrender. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Leaders of Belarus and Guinea-Bissau held talks in Minsk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    MINSK, May 7 (Xinhua) — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Guinea-Bissau President Oumarou Sisoko Embalo held talks in Minsk on Wednesday. The Belarusian leader announced his readiness to establish cooperation with the African country in all areas. The corresponding information was published by the press service of the Belarusian head of state.

    According to A. Lukashenko, Belarus is ready to supply Guinea-Bissau with a wide range of necessary products, including food, clothing, footwear, and industrial goods. “I know that you really need to develop agriculture to the highest level. You probably understand very well that we are capable of providing you with the appropriate technological and technical support and services. You can count on us in this regard,” A. Lukashenko said.

    In turn, U. Sisoku Embalo noted that Belarus’s vast experience in developing the agro-industrial complex is of great interest to his country. “We know that Belarus has accumulated vast experience in the agro-industrial complex. We would like to take advantage of this experience and thus open a kind of door to the future. I very much count on cooperation with Belarus,” he emphasized.

    On the same day, representatives of Belarus and Guinea-Bissau signed documents aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. Among them is an intergovernmental agreement on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. A memorandum of cooperation in the field of agriculture was also signed. In addition, the parties signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Industry of Belarus and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Guinea-Bissau. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Indian airstrikes in Kashmir following tourist attack raises fears of a regional conflict

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By MD Rakib Jahan, PhD Student, Department of Political Studies, International Relations, Queen’s University, Ontario

    In response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir last month,, India has launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of targeted airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

    The killing of 26 tourists in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley on April 22 did more than shatter a moment of peace in one of South Asia’s most scenic regions. The assault has significantly increased India-Pakistan tensions and generated worries of possible military conflict between two nuclear-armed countries.

    Though Pakistan denies the charges, India has specifically held Pakistan responsible for sheltering terrorist groups.

    In response to the attack, India has taken several actions against Pakistan, including downgrading diplomatic ties, recalling diplomats, suspending participation in a vital water-sharing agreement and closing a significant border crossing.

    This rapidly deteriorating situation underscores the broader consequences of the devastating Pahalgam assault.




    Read more:
    India and Pakistan have fought many wars in the past. Are we on the precipice of a new one?


    Human tragedy

    Described by the region’s chief minister, Omar Abdullah, as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” the assault in Pahalgam is not only a humanitarian tragedy and a blow to Kashmir’s economy but a flashpoint in an already fragile regional relationship.

    The Pahalgam attack’s timing coincided with United States Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India in April. This mirrors a grim pattern that includes former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s 2000 trip, when militants struck Chittisinghpura in Jammu and Kashmir hours before his arrival.

    By staging violence during diplomatic milestones, militants aim to amplify global attention and send a message to the Indian government. As global attention shifts back to Kashmir, the Baisaran massacre appears to mark a new chapter in the long-fought battle over this territory — one that risks tourism, targets civilians and threatens to unravel regional stability.

    Strategic targeting of Kashmir’s economy

    Though Kashmir has seen warfare for decades, militant groups had mostly avoided targeting visitors because of the the economic significance of tourism to Kashmir.

    The calculated selection of Pahalgam — one of Kashmir’s top tourist sites — reveals a plan to attack the core of Kashmir’s economy. According to counter-terrorism expert Ajai Sahni, the local community and militant groups have an implicit understanding not to compromise the tourism industry.

    By breaking this unwritten rule, the militants have demonstrated a willingness to inflict economic harm on the population.

    Nearly everyone in Kashmir, particularly in the valley, depends on tourism either directly or indirectly. Tourism, which has seen a resurgence since the COVID-19 pandemic, generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs and more than eight per cent of Kashmir’s GDP.

    Experts like Amitabh Mattoo, from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, warn that Kashmir may experience long-term devastating effects from a drop in tourism. A significant exodus of travellers from Kashmir has already taken place.




    Read more:
    Why are India and Pakistan on the brink of war and how dangerous is the situation? An expert explains


    Challenging India’s post-2019 Kashmir narrative

    The assault also weakens India’s narrative on Kashmir, an area that has been disputed by both Pakistan and India since their independence from Britain in 1947.

    The attack took place as India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to open a multi-billion-dollar railway project to the Kashmir Valley, which his government contends will enhance tourism and economic development.

    Modi’s administration has presented the rise in tourism as proof of “normalcy” coming back to Kashmir following India’s removal of special status to Kashmir.

    The intentional targeting of visitors sends a message that the illusion of normalcy is misleading.

    A deadly departure from past tactics

    The Resistance Front (TRF), a rather unknown militant group founded in 2019 and designated as a “terrorist organization” by the Indian government in January 2023, claimed responsibility for the assault via social media. They offered no proof to back their assertion.

    TRF represents a new breed of militant Kashmiri nationalism and resistance. Indian intelligence agencies have connected the group to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.

    TRF’s communication regarding the assault emphasized resistance to new “outsider” residency rights. This corresponds with worries voiced by some Kashmiris after 2019 modifications permitted non-locals to acquire land and get employment in the area.

    The government disclosed in April 2025 that 83,000 individuals have been given residence certificates under these new standards in the last two years.

    The future of Kashmir’s stability

    Apart from causing obvious human sorrow, the Pahalgam slaughter also endangers years of economic development and could send Jammu and Kashmir back into a cycle of bloodshed and instability.

    Targeting tourists could mean militants are willing to risk Kashmir’s economic core. The assault appears to be an attempt to internationalize the Kashmir problem at a time when worldwide interest had started to fade. It also exploits religious divides, and has succeeded in inciting severe security reactions.

    The future seems more and more uncertain for ordinary Kashmiris caught between security crackdowns and militant brutality. Historical trends indicate that more militancy usually results in more security policies, putting more strain on civilian life.

    For many teenagers and young people in Jammu and Kashmir, the lack of consistent income, mobility limitations and increased monitoring intensifies sensations of marginalization and anger.

    Radical groups can take advantage of these frustrations. To counter this, economic policies must address these inequalities.




    Read more:
    India-Pakistan strikes: 5 essential reads on decades of rivalry and tensions over Kashmir


    A strategy for the way ahead

    The Pahalgam incident calls for a counter-terrorism strategy that balances security with socio-economic stability.

    For example, tourism profit-sharing systems could be implemented and tax advantages or subsidies could be offered to tour businesses, especially those employing young marginalized demographics. This could help to bring some financial respite as well as long-term stability and has been successful in countries like Rwanda.

    The failure to pre-empt the attack despite heightened security during the Vance’s visit and the Hindu pilgrimage season reveals systematic intelligence failures.

    The way ahead calls for tackling both security issues and the underlying complaints still driving militancy in Jammu and Kashmir as the region once again confronts the possibility of violence.

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both nations to de-escalate and return to diplomacy.

    MD Rakib Jahan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Indian airstrikes in Kashmir following tourist attack raises fears of a regional conflict – https://theconversation.com/indian-airstrikes-in-kashmir-following-tourist-attack-raises-fears-of-a-regional-conflict-256166

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-Evening Report: Vietnam is poised to become a top 20 economy, so why is Australia taking so long to make trade and investment links?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Vo, Senior lecturer in Vietnamese culture and politics, University of Wollongong

    Aritra Deb/Shutterstock

    At a time of widespread global trade instability, Australia should be expanding and diversifying its economic partnerships. Supply chains remain fragile, and protectionist rhetoric is once again gaining traction in major Western economies.

    US President Donald Trump’s America First agenda includes sweeping tariffs on imports, withdrawal from multilateral agreements and pressure to take production in-house.

    At the same time, China, Australia’s largest trading partner, has often used trade for geopolitical leverage. In 2020, Beijing imposed tariffs of more than 200% on Australian wine. This wiped 30% off the sector’s export value.

    So economic diversification is not only desirable but strategically imperative.

    An opportunity

    Fifty years on from the fall of Saigon, Vietnam presents a compelling opportunity for economic and strategic diversification. The reunited country is eager to move beyond its wartime image and assert itself as an emerging economic powerhouse.

    Vietnam’s capital, Ho Chi Min City. The country has shifted from being a place synonymous with war to becoming one of the world’s top economies.
    Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin/Shutterstock

    Since the launch of the Doi Moi reforms in 1986, Vietnam has embraced economic liberalisation and market-oriented policies. The Doi Moi reforms opened the economy to foreign trade, allowed private ownership and restructured state-owned enterprises.

    From a growth rate of just 1.6% in 1980, Vietnam is now set to become one of the world’s top 20 economies by 2050. In 2023 alone, it attracted A$8.5 billion in foreign direct investment, underscoring strong investor confidence.

    The 50th anniversary of reunification on April 30 provided insights into the country’s growth. Celebrations included military parades, 3D virtual reality displays and exhibitions promoting advances in technology.

    Slow to act

    Yet Australia has been slow to act. Despite geographic proximity and shared interests, Australia’s economic footprint in Vietnam remains surprisingly small. In 2023, Australian foreign direct investment totalled just A$3 million. It ranked 22nd, behind countries including Switzerland and Seychelles.

    In trade, the disparity is similarly stark. Vietnam accounts for only 2.33% of Australia’s exports and 1.4% of imports. Two-way trade between the two countries reached $26.3 billion in 2022. At the same time, Vietnam’s trade with the United States, topped A$191.9 billion.

    Some Australian firms are already making inroads. BlueScope Steel, Linfox, and SunRice have invested significantly in manufacturing, logistics and agriculture. And RMIT University has been a key player in transnational education since it opened the first of three campuses in Vietnam in 2000.

    ANZ and Qantas also have a visible presence. However, small and medium-sized enterprises – which comprise more than 98% of Australian businesses – remain largely absent. Many prefer export partnerships or distributor agreements over direct investment.

    Potential obstacles

    Australian companies have long favoured English-speaking or high-income markets. These offer greater institutional and cultural familiarity and regulatory certainty.

    Vietnam’s relationship-based commercial environment poses challenges, especially for firms lacking embedded networks and local knowledge. Concerns around regulatory transparency, intellectual property protection, contract enforcement and corruption – though improving – continue to weigh on corporate decisions.

    Small to medium enterprises, in particular, face extra barriers due to limited institutional support, regulatory understanding, market intelligence and in-country networks.

    Help from government

    The Australian government has taken some steps to catch up. The Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, launched in 2021, aims to double two-way investment and elevate both nations to top ten trading partner status.

    It identifies priority sectors such as agriculture, education, clean energy, digital technology and manufacturing. However, the strategy contains no enforceable legal protections, tariff concessions or means of dispute resolution.

    Manufacturing is one of the priority areas recognised in Australia’s Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy for Vietnam.
    Hien Phung Tu/Shutterstock

    The lack of these matters. Japan, South Korea and the European Union have pursued coordinated economic strategies that include concessional loans, robust legal frameworks and in-market support services. These help their businesses thrive in Vietnam’s complex regulatory environment.

    Similarly, the EU has integrated trade promotion with legal certainty under agreements like the EU Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

    More needs to be done

    Without comparable tools, Australia’s initiatives risk being more aspirational than actionable.

    Last year’s upgrade in bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signals growing political will.

    For Australia to realise the potential of its relationship with Vietnam it should back long-term policies. These policies should reduce market entry barriers, incentivise small to medium enterprises and increase joint skills development.

    Investors also need legal and institutional support.

    Australia has strong potential to expand into emerging sectors. These include renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare, vocational education and training, green and smart infrastructure and agritech.

    Vietnam’s push for environmentally sustainable economic growth, digital transformation and workforce training aligns closely with Australian strengths. This creates opportunities for strategic investment and cooperation.

    There is the potential for Australia to build a dynamic partnership with Vietnam central to its long-term economic position in the Indo-Pacific.

    Anne Vo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Vietnam is poised to become a top 20 economy, so why is Australia taking so long to make trade and investment links? – https://theconversation.com/vietnam-is-poised-to-become-a-top-20-economy-so-why-is-australia-taking-so-long-to-make-trade-and-investment-links-255722

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Security: Phoenix Man Sentenced to Prison for His Role in Online Romance Scams

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore, 40, of Glendale, was sentenced on May 5, 2025, by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi to 17 months in prison. Ibhadore, a Nigerian citizen and lawful U.S. resident, previously pleaded guilty to Conspiring to Commit Structuring for his role in withdrawing over $500,000 in criminal proceeds from bank accounts, in amounts below federal reporting requirements to avoid detection by authorities.

    Ibhadore served as a “money mule” in a criminal scheme by transferring fraud proceeds, in relatively small amounts, between fictitious bank accounts to avoid federal reporting requirements and detection. Specifically, Ibhadore used 24 bank accounts under multiple aliases to conceal and distribute funds obtained through online romance scams that were initiated by other individuals. Romance scams are online scams where criminals impersonate individuals to gain trust and affection from their victims, ultimately with the goal of stealing money. These scammers often build fake online profiles, engage in elaborate deception, and manipulate their victims to send them money under various pretexts, such as medical emergencies, travel expenses, or investments. 

    Between July 2019 and March 2020, Ibhadore deposited romance scam proceeds into accounts opened with false names and passports, then withdrew sums in amounts designed to avoid triggering financial institutions’ currency reporting requirements. Even after Ibhadore confirmed that the money he was depositing came from romance scams, he continued to withdraw large sums of cash in ways meant to evade federal reporting. Surveillance footage also captured him conducting transactions using fraudulent identities at major banks across Arizona.

    The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation in this case. Kristen Brook and Raymond Woo, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-22-01392-PHX-JJT
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-072_Ibhadore

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Ormat Technologies Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REVENUE GROWTH AND RECORD QUARTERLY ADJUSTED EBITDA SUPPORT ONGOING STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO EXPANSION

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • TOTAL REVENUES AND NET INCOME1 IMPROVED 2.5% AND 4.6%, RESPECTIVELY
    • RECORD ADJUSTED EBITDA OF $150.3 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 6.4% VS LAST YEAR
    • ENERGY STORAGE SEGMENT REVENUES INCREASED BY 120% DRIVING MEANINGFUL MARGIN INCREASE
    • SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE THE 20MW BLUE MOUNTAIN GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT FROM CYRQ ENERGY
    • COMPANY REITERATES ITS 2025 FULL-YEAR GUIDANCE, REFLECTING STRONG EXECUTION AND CONFIDENCE IN THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK

    RENO, Nev., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) (the “Company” or “Ormat”), a leading renewable energy company, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS

      Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Change (%)
    GAAP Measures      
    Revenues ($ millions)      
                 Electricity 180.2   191.3   (5.8 %)
                 Product 31.8   24.8   27.9 %
                 Energy Storage 17.8   8.1   119.7 %
    Total Revenues 229.8   224.2   2.5 %
           
    Gross Profit 72.9   78.8   (7.5 %)
    Gross margin (%)      
    Electricity 33.5 % 39.0 %  
    Product 22.3 % 14.8 %  
    Energy Storage 30.6 % 7.5 %  
    Gross margin (%) 31.7 % 35.2 %  
    Operating income ($ millions) 50.9   52.6   (3.2 %)
    Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 40.4   38.6   4.6 %
    Diluted EPS ($) 0.66   0.64   3.1 %
    Non-GAAP Measures      
    Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 41.5   39.6   4.8 %
    Adjusted Diluted EPS ($) 0.68   0.65   4.6 %
    Adjusted EBITDA2($ millions) 150.3   141.2   6.4 %

    1 Net Income attributable to the Company’s stockholder
    2 See reconciliation table below

    “Ormat had a strong start to 2025, achieving a 2.5% increase in revenue, a 4.6% rise in net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders, and a 6.4% increase in adjusted EBITDA. This growth was driven by improved performance in both our Product and Storage segments,” said Doron Blachar, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat Technologies. “Our Storage segment benefited from new capacity added over the last 12 months and from higher merchant prices in the PJM market. We expect continued good performance throughout 2025 as we transition our Storage segment to a more predictable portfolio designed to maximize profitability.”

    “While our Electricity segment experienced a slight year-over-year decline in the quarter due to previously disclosed curtailments in California and Nevada, the balance of our geothermal operations delivered a consistent, solid performance. We have several projects under development that we anticipate will reach commercial operation by the end of 2025, which we expect will deliver solid generation growth and further strengthen our earnings trajectory. Additionally, we believe that the potential easing of project permitting timelines combined with increased focus on geothermal exploration will further support our growth in the segment, expand our revenues, and help us achieve our long-term targets.”

    “I am pleased to announce that Ormat signed an agreement to acquire the Blue Mountain geothermal power plant from Cyrq Energy for $88 million, subject to standard working capital adjustments. The 20 MW facility, located in Humboldt County, was built using Ormat technology, features an existing 51 MW interconnection capacity and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NV Energy (NVE) that expires at the end of 2029. Following the acquisition, Ormat plans to upgrade the power plant, increasing its capacity by 3.5 MW. Additionally, subject to permit and PPA approval, Ormat intends to add a 13 MW solar facility to support the plant’s auxiliaries. The acquisition is anticipated to close towards the end of the second quarter. This acquisition underscores Ormat’s capability to strategically expand and enhance assets in the U.S., leveraging our advanced technology and expertise to optimize performance and efficiency. The planned upgrades and solar addition demonstrate our commitment to innovation and maximizing renewable energy output, contributing to a sustainable future.”

    Blachar continued, “The demand for electricity, particularly from baseload renewable sources, remains strong, and we continue to observe high PPA pricing in the Electricity Segment, and increased Resource Adequacy (RA) pricing in the Storage Segment. Regarding the recent reciprocal tariffs, we anticipate a limited short-term impact on our Storage Segment as we have already procured batteries for all projects currently under construction. Additionally, our Electricity Segment operations and project development have limited exposure to China, mitigating potential adverse effects from the tariffs. Ormat remains committed to delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions and enhancing shareholder value. We will continue navigating this fluid regulatory environment with a focus on maintaining our growth trajectory and supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.”

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    • Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders for the first quarter was $40.4 million, an increase of 4.6% compared to last year. Diluted EPS for the first quarter was $0.66, an increase of 3.1%, compared to the prior year period. This increase is mainly driven by income tax benefits related to the storage facilities expected to commence commercial operation during 2025.
    • Adjusted net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted diluted EPS for the first quarter increased 4.8% and 4.6%, respectively.
    • Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $150.3 million, an increase of 6.4% compared to 2024. The year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by the Energy Storage segment, due to the contribution of new assets, higher merchant pricing in the East Coast markets, and a legal settlement with a battery supplier. In the Product segment, the increase was derived from a higher backlog and improved contract’ margins. The increase in the Storage and Product segments was partly offset by the reduction in Electricity segment EBITDA mainly due to curtailments in the U.S.
    • Electricity segment revenues decreased by 5.8% during the first quarter, compared to last year. The year-over-year decrease in the first quarter revenue was driven by the previously disclosed energy curtailments, mainly at our McGinness complex, maintenance on the transmission line by the local grid operator, and wildfires in California, which forced grid operators to curtail part of the supplied power.
    • Product segment revenues increased by 27.9% in the first quarter, driven largely by the timing of revenue recognition and our higher backlog. Gross margin increased from 14.8% in the first quarter 2024 to 22.3% in 2025, reflecting marked growth in revenue.
    • Product segment backlog stands at approximately $314 million as of May 7th, 2025, and includes the recently signed Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the development of the Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal plant in New Zealand and the BOT project in Dominica.
    • Energy Storage segment revenues increased 119.7% for the first quarter compared to 2024. The improvement was driven by strong performance in the PJM merchant market, where a spike in cold weather along the East Coast contributed to elevated merchant pricing.

    BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS:

    • In early May, the company signed an agreement to acquire the 20MW Blue Mountain geothermal power plant from Cyrq Energy for $88 million. Closing is expected by the end of the second quarter.
    • In February 2025, Ormat won a tender issued by the Israeli Electricity Authority and was awarded two 15-year tolling agreements for two energy storage facilities with a combined capacity of approximately 300MW/1200MWh. Ormat will retain a 50% equity interest.
    • Ormat commenced commercial operations of the 35MW Ijen geothermal power plant in Indonesia in February 2025, holding a 49% equity interest.
    • In January 2025, Ormat signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Calpine Energy Solutions for up to 15MW of carbon-free geothermal capacity at favorable terms. This PPA will replace the current lower-priced PPA with Southern California Edison for Mammoth 2 in the first quarter of 2027.
    • We currently do not expect material impact from the new import tariffs on our 2025 and 2026 financial results. All batteries required for our projects arrived or were in transit to the U.S. before significant increased tariffs were imposed.

    2025 GUIDANCE

    • Total revenues of between $935 million and $975 million.
    • Electricity segment revenues of between $710 million and $725 million.
    • Product segment revenues of between $172 million and $187 million.
    • Energy Storage revenues of between $53 million and $63 million.
    • Adjusted EBITDA to be between $563 million and $593 million.
      • Adjusted EBITDA attributable to minority interest of approximately $21 million.

    The Company provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure for the three months ended March 31, 2025. However, the Company does not provide guidance on net income and is unable to provide a reconciliation for its Adjusted EBITDA guidance range to net income without unreasonable efforts due to high variability and complexity with respect to estimating certain forward-looking amounts. These include impairments and disposition and acquisition of business interests, income tax expense, and other non-cash expenses and adjusting items that are excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA.

    DIVIDEND

    On May 7, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved, and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy. The dividend will be paid on June 4, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 21, 2025. In addition, the Company expects to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share in each of the next three quarters.

    CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

    Ormat will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and other matters discussed in this press release on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

    Participants within the United States and Canada, please dial +1-800-715-9871, approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. If you are calling outside of the United States and Canada, please dial +1-646-960-0440. The access code for the call is 3818407. Please request the “Ormat Technologies, Inc. call” when prompted by the conference call operator. The conference call will also be accompanied by a live webcast which will be hosted on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

    A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call. To access the replay within the United States and Canada, please dial 1-800-770-2030. From outside of the United States and Canada, please dial +1-647-362-9199. Please use the replay access code 3818407. The webcast will also be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

    ABOUT ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES

    With over five decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company, and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (“REG”), with robust plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market and to establish a leading position in the U.S. energy storage market. The Company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter – a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. The Company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed for utilities and developers worldwide, totaling approximately 3,400 MW of gross capacity. Ormat leveraged its core capabilities in the geothermal and REG industries and its global presence to expand the Company’s activity into energy storage services, solar Photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage plus Solar PV. Ormat’s current total generating portfolio is 1,538MW with a 1,248MW geothermal and solar generation portfolio that is spread globally in the U.S., Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, and Guadeloupe, and a 290MW energy storage portfolio that is located in the U.S.

    ORMAT’S SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

    Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as our projections of annual revenues and Adjusted EBITDA, expenses and debt service coverage with respect to our debt securities, future capital expenditures, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, development or operation of generation assets, legal, market, industry and geopolitical developments and incentives, demand for renewable energy, and the growth of our business and operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, or “contemplate” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words or expressions. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat’s plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management’s current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Although we believe that our plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we may not achieve these plans or objectives. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties and other risks described under “Risk Factors” as described in Ormat’s most recent annual report, and in subsequent filings.

    These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and, except as legally required, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, and 2024
     
      Three Months Ended March 31,
      2025   2024  
    Revenues: (Thousands, except per share data)
    Electricity         180,241   191,253  
    Product         31,769   24,832  
    Energy storage          17,752   8,081  
    Total revenues         229,762   224,166  
    Cost of revenues:    
    Electricity         119,833   116,730  
    Product         24,684   21,154  
    Energy storage          12,318   7,472  
    Total cost of revenues         156,835   145,356  
    Gross profit         72,927   78,810  
    Operating expenses:    
    Research and development expenses         2,542   1,564  
    Selling and marketing expenses         4,172   5,126  
    General and administrative expenses         17,909   19,537  
    Other operating income         (3,125 )  
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration and storage activities         516    
    Operating income         50,913   52,583  
    Other income (expense):    
    Interest income         1,313   1,839  
    Interest expense, net         (34,473 ) (30,968 )
    Derivatives and foreign currency transaction gains (losses)         2,060   (1,582 )
    Income attributable to sale of tax benefits         17,571   17,476  
    Other non-operating income, net         222   26  
    Income from operations before income tax and equity in earnings of investees         37,606   39,374  
    Income tax (provision) benefit         3,795   147  
    Equity in earnings (losses) of investees         (367 ) 829  
    Net income         41,034   40,350  
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest         (672 ) (1,763 )
    Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders         40,362   38,587  
    Earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders:    
    Basic: 0.67   0.64  
    Diluted: 0.66   0.64  
    Weighted average number of shares used in computation of earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders:    
    Basic         60,559   60,386  
    Diluted         60,840   60,536  
         
    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
    For the Period Ended March 31, 2025, and the Period Ended December 31, 2024
     
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
    ASSETS                                       (In thousands)
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents          112,704     94,395  
    Restricted cash and cash equivalents (primarily related to VIEs)         112,001     111,377  
    Receivables:      
         Trade less allowance for credit losses of $249 and $163 respectively (primarily related to VIEs)         173,590     164,050  
         Other         45,489     50,792  
    Inventories         42,107     38,092  
    Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 20,940     29,243  
    Prepaid expenses and other         94,023     59,173  
              Total current assets         600,854     547,122  
    Investment in unconsolidated companies          158,618     144,585  
    Deposits and other         89,021     75,383  
    Deferred income taxes         165,983     153,936  
    Property, plant and equipment, net ($3,261,700 and $3,271,248 related to VIEs, respectively) 3,497,915     3,501,886  
    Construction-in-process ($370,762 and $251,442 related to VIEs, respectively) 844,873     755,589  
    Operating leases right of use ($13,725 and $13,989 related to VIEs, respectively)         32,232     32,114  
    Finance leases right of use (none related to VIEs)         2,935     2,841  
    Intangible assets, net         295,225     301,745  
    Goodwill         151,291     151,023  
              Total assets         5,838,947     5,666,224  
           
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses         201,354     234,334  
    Commercial paper (less deferred financing costs of $22 and $23, respectively)         99,978     99,977  
    Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 52,198     23,091  
    Current portion of long-term debt:      
         Limited and non-recourse (primarily related to VIEs) 70,453     70,262  
         Full recourse         184,227     161,313  
         Financing Liability         5,905     4,093  
         Operating lease liabilities         3,657     3,633  
         Finance lease liabilities         1,451     1,375  
              Total current liabilities         619,223     598,078  
    Long-term debt, net of current portion:      
    Limited and non-recourse: (primarily related to VIEs and less deferred financing costs of $8,216 and $8,849, respectively) 560,824     578,204  
    Full recourse: (less deferred financing costs of $4,782 and $4,671, respectively) 957,027     822,828  
    Convertible senior notes (less deferred financing costs of $6,138 and $6,820, respectively) 470,299     469,617  
    Financing Liability         213,810     216,476  
    Operating lease liabilities         22,722     22,523  
    Finance lease liabilities         1,544     1,529  
    Liability associated with sale of tax benefits         144,081     152,292  
    Deferred income taxes         71,479     68,616  
    Liability for unrecognized tax benefits         6,481     6,272  
    Liabilities for severance pay         11,147     10,488  
    Asset retirement obligation         131,431     129,651  
    Other long-term liabilities         33,533     29,270  
         Total liabilities         3,243,601     3,105,844  
           
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest         9,573     9,448  
           
    Equity:      
    The Company’s stockholders’ equity:      
    Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 60,662,626 and 60,500,580 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively         61     61  
    Additional paid-in capital         1,640,910     1,635,245  
    Treasury stock, at cost (258,667 shares held as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively)         (17,964 )   (17,964 )
    Retained earnings         847,607     814,518  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)         (9,410 )   (6,731 )
    Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Company’s stockholders         2,461,204     2,425,129  
    Noncontrolling interest         124,569     125,803  
    Total equity         2,585,773     2,550,932  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity         5,838,947     5,666,224  


    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

    Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, and 2024

    We calculate EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, adjusted for (i) mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments; (ii) stock-based compensation, (iii) merger and acquisition transaction costs; (iv) gain or loss from extinguishment of liabilities; (v) cost related to a settlement agreement; (vi) non-cash impairment charges; (vii) write-off of unsuccessful exploration and storage activities; and (viii) other unusual or non-recurring items. We adjust for these factors as they may be non-cash, unusual in nature and/or are not factors used by management for evaluating operating performance. We believe that presentation of these measures will enhance an investor’s ability to evaluate our financial and operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance or liquidity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net earnings as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our Board of Directors and senior management use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our financial performance. However, other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do.

    The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024:

      Three Months Ended March 31,  
      2025    2024   
      (Dollars in thousands)  
    Net income 41,034     40,350    
    Adjusted for:        
    Interest expense, net (including amortization of deferred financing costs) 33,160     29,129    
    Income tax provision (benefit) (3,795 )   (147 )  
    Adjustment to investment in unconsolidated companies: our proportionate share in interest expense, tax and depreciation and amortization in Sarulla and Ijen 3,421     3,352    
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion 69,157     61,676    
    EBITDA 142,977     134,360    
    Mark-to-market (gains) or losses of derivative instruments 939     813    
    Stock-based compensation 4,911     4,769    
    Allowance for bad debts 26        
    Merger and acquisition transaction costs     1,299    
    Settlement agreement 900        
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration and storage activities 516        
    Adjusted EBITDA 150,269     141,241    


    ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted EPS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, and 2024

    Adjusted Net Income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted diluted EPS are adjusted for one-time expense items that are not representative of our ongoing business and operations. The use of Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted diluted EPS is intended to enhance the usefulness of our financial information by providing measures to assess the overall performance of our ongoing business.

    The following tables reconciles Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders and Adjusted diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024.

      Three Months Ended March 31,  
      2025   2024  
      (Dollars in millions, except per share data)  
    GAAP Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 40.4   38.6  
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration and storage activities 0.41    
    Merger and acquisition transaction costs   1.0  
    Allowance for bad debts 0.02    
    Settlement agreement 0.71    
    Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders 41.5   39.6  
    GAAP diluted EPS 0.66   0.64  
    Write-off of unsuccessful exploration and storage activities 0.01    
    Merger and acquisition transaction costs   0.02  
    Allowance for bad debts 0.00    
    Settlement agreement 0.01    
    Adjusted Diluted EPS ($) 0.68   0.65  
    Ormat Technologies Contact:
    Smadar Lavi
    VP Head of IR and ESG Planning & Reporting
    775-356-9029 (ext. 65726)
    slavi@ormat.com 
    Investor Relations Agency Contact:
    Joseph Caminiti or Josh Carroll
    Alpha IR Group
    312-445-2870
    ORA@alpha-ir.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: APA Corporation Announces First-Quarter 2025 Financial and Operational Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today announced first-quarter 2025 results. Results can be found on the company’s website by visiting www.apacorp.com or investor.apacorp.com.

    APA will host a conference call on May 8 at 10 a.m. Central time via the webcast link available on the company website to discuss the results. Following the conference call, a replay will be available for one year on the “Investors” page of the company’s website.

    About APA

    APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, www.apacorp.com.

         
    Contacts    
         
    Investor:   (281) 302-2286
    Media:   (713) 296-7276
    Website:   www.apacorp.com 
         

    APA-F

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reconciliation Recommendations of the House Committee on Financial Services

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Legislation Summary

    H. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, instructed the House Committee on Financial Services to recommend legislative changes that would decrease deficits by at least $1 billion over the 2025-2034 period. As part of the reconciliation process, the House Committee on Financial Services approved legislation on April 30, 2025, that would reduce deficits.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    The reconciliation recommendations of the House Committee on Financial Services would, on net, decrease deficits by $5.2 billion over the 2025-2034 period. The estimated budgetary effects of the legislation are shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget functions 370 (commerce and housing credit) and 600 (income security).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of Reconciliation Recommendations Title V, House Committee on Financial Services, as Ordered Reported on April 30, 2025

     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

       
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2025-2029

    2025-2034

     

    Decreases in Direct Spending

       

    Budget Authority

    -138

    -527

    -863

    -889

    -933

    -978

    -1,026

    -1,109

    -1,178

    -1,219

    -3,350

    -8,860

    Estimated Outlays

    -16

    -352

    -800

    -926

    -948

    -973

    -1,013

    -1,090

    -1,160

    -1,200

    -3,042

    -8,478

     

    Increases or Decreases (-) in Revenues

       

    Estimated Revenues

    0

    -473

    -724

    -720

    -752

    1,081

    -410

    -427

    -443

    -455

    -2,669

    -3,323

     

    Net Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit

    From Changes in Direct Spending and Revenues

       

    Effect on the Deficit

    -16

    121

    -76

    -206

    -196

    -2,054

    -603

    -663

    -717

    -745

    -373

    -5,155

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted in summer 2025. CBO’s estimates are relative to its January 2025 baseline and cover the period from 2025 through 2034.

    Direct Spending and Revenues

    CBO estimates that enacting the bill would decrease direct spending by $8.5 billion and decrease revenues by $3.3 billion; the deficit would decrease by $5.2 billion over the 2025‑2034 period (see Table 2).

    Green and Resilient Retrofit Program for Multifamily Family Housing

    Section 50001 would rescind the unobligated balances of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program. Using information from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, CBO estimates that enacting the rescission would decrease direct spending by $138 million over the 2025-2034 period.

    Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

    Section 50002 would transfer the authorities of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) no later than one year after enactment. At the time of that transfer, the SEC would not be permitted to collect and spend accounting support fees authorized under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that the PCAOB currently collects. Those fees, which fund the board’s activities, are treated as revenues and are available to be spent without further appropriation.

    CBO expects that the board’s authorities would be transferred to the SEC around the end of fiscal year 2026 and that, starting in 2027, accounting support fees would no longer be collected and spent. CBO estimates that eliminating the authority to collect the fees would decrease direct spending by $3.2 billion over the 2027-2034 period.

    Eliminating the fee authority also would reduce collections of fees by $3.3 billion. However, reducing such fees tends to increase taxable income for workers and businesses, leading to increased collections of income and payroll taxes. As a result, CBO expects that the reduction in fee collections would be partially offset by increases in tax receipts of about 25 percent of the gross fee reduction each year. CBO estimates that, on net, revenues would decrease by $2.4 billion over the 2027-2034 period.

    Although CBO anticipates that the SEC would collect fees of similar magnitude to fund those activities, the collection and spending of fees imposed by the SEC are contingent on annual appropriations providing that authority to the agency. CBO has not reviewed this legislation for effects on spending subject to appropriation, so any costs for the SEC to implement the legislation are not included in this estimate.

    Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

    Section 50003 would decrease the maximum amount that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) may request from the Federal Reserve each year to cover operating expenses. Under current law, the CFPB may request a transfer of up to 12 percent of the Federal Reserve’s operating expenses from 2009, adjusted for inflation each year beginning in 2013. The provision would reduce the cap to 5 percent of the Federal Reserve’s operating expenses in 2009, adjusted for inflation each year beginning in 2025.

    CBO expects that the new cap would take effect at the beginning of 2026 and that the CFPB will have already received its final quarterly funding from the Federal Reserve for 2025. CBO estimates that enacting the provision would reduce transfers from the Federal Reserve by about $4.2 billion and reduce direct spending by $3.9 billion over the 2026-2034 period.

    The Federal Reserve System transmits its net income to the Treasury as remittances, which are recorded as revenues. Transfers to the CFPB reduce those remittances but are recorded as other miscellaneous receipts in the budget; those two revenue streams net to zero over the 2025-2034 period. Changes in costs for the Federal Reserve banks have historically resulted in changes to remittances during the same year. However, since fiscal year 2023, the central bank has recorded a deferred asset to account for accrued net losses from expenses in excess of income. As a result, remittances have been largely suspended. In CBO’s projections, remittances from the Federal Reserve will generally be suspended until 2030, and most of the changes in costs incurred by the system during that time will not be recorded as a change in remittances until they resume.

    Consumer Financial Civil Penalty Fund

    Section 50004 would prohibit the CFPB from spending amounts in the Civil Penalty Fund for any purpose other than to pay victims of violations of consumer financial law for which penalties have been imposed. Under current law, the CFPB deposits penalties collected from judicial or administrative actions into the Civil Penalty Fund; in addition to paying victims of violations, the CFPB uses those amounts for consumer education and financial literacy programs.

    Under current rules, the CFPB may use amounts associated with one penalty to pay victims associated with another penalty. This provision would effectively prohibit that practice and also would bar the CFPB from spending amounts on consumer education or financial literacy programs. Based on an analysis of the amounts returned to the fund in recent years and using other information from the CFPB, CBO expects that enacting this provision would reduce direct spending by $9 million over the 2025-2034 period.

    Financial Research Fund

    Section 50005 wouldcap assessments collected by the Office of Financial Research (OFR) and deposited into the Financial Research Fund at a three-year moving average of the expenses of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). Under current law, the OFR collects assessments from large financial institutions to fund its operations and the operations of the FSOC. Those assessments are recorded as revenues and are available to be spent without future appropriation. CBO estimates that enacting the provision would decrease direct spending on OFR and FSOC activities by $1.2 billion.

    Capping assessments also would reduce revenues by $1.2 billion. However, reducing such fees tends to increase taxable income for workers and businesses, leading to increased collections of income and payroll taxes. As a result, CBO expects that the reduction in fee collections would be partially offset by increases in tax receipts of about 25 percent of the gross fee reduction each year. On net, CBO estimates that revenues would decrease by $906 million under this provision.

    Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

    The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays and revenues that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Chief, Finance, Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit

    Joshua Shakin
    Chief, Revenue Estimating Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    Christina Hawley Anthony
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    H. Samuel Papenfuss 
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Chad Chirico 
    Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IADC Suez University Chapter Organizes Petroleum Engineering Advancements & Knowledge Summit

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: IADC Suez University Chapter Organizes Petroleum Engineering Advancements & Knowledge Summit

    On 29 April, the IADC Suez University Student Chapter organized an impactful one-day event alongside the SPE Student Chapter at the British University in Egypt (BUE). The first-ever Petroleum Engineering and Advancements Summit, also known as PEAKS 2025, brought together students, professionals, and industry leaders. 

    Attendees had the opportunity to engage with industry pioneers through expert-led sessions that delivered real-world knowledge and valuable technical insights. There were many technical sessions and live demonstrations, as well as opportunities for students to network in person with top energy companies. The event celebrated dedication and potential through exciting giveaways and competitions. 

    According to Ahmed Mobasher, IADC Suez University Treasurer: 

    “We’re incredibly proud of what we achieved together and grateful to every speaker, guest, and student who made it possible. We can’t wait to continue this journey and make the next edition of PEAKS even bigger. Here’s to the future of petroleum engineering — and to the bright minds who will lead it.”

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Historic breakthrough: over 40 Nigerian civil society organisations unite to launch climate justice movement

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Abuja, Nigeria: May 7, 2025 –In a watershed moment for the promotion of environmental justice in Nigeria, more than 40 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) joined forces to launch the Nigerian Climate Justice Movement (CJM). A declaration was issued at the end of a landmark two-day event held in Abuja. The declaration reinforces the resolve of CSOs in holding corporations accountable for environmental damage and biodiversity destruction while amplifying Africa’s demands in global climate justice debates.

    The Climate Justice Movement, spearheaded by Greenpeace Africa, aims to connect isolated climate voices and responses under one umbrella movement to collectively address the disproportionate impact of climate change on the African continent. 

    Ogunlade Olamide Martins, Associate Director (Climate Change) for Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), one of the signatories, stated: “This declaration represents a turning point for grassroots environmental movements in Nigeria. For too long, our struggles have been fragmented despite facing common threats from extractive industries. By uniting under the Climate Justice Movement, we multiply our collective power and create space for community voices to shape the solutions.”

    Sherelee Odayar, Oil and Gas Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, said:  “For decades, oil giants like Shell have extracted billions in profits from Nigerian soil while leaving behind devastated ecosystems and broken communities. Recent media investigations exposing Shell’s negligence in the Niger Delta is an example of the toxicity and selfish, unempathetic profiteering that communities have endured for generations. Through this declaration, we’re sending a clear message: the era of unchecked pollution and corporate impunity is over – it’s time for polluters to pay.”

    Cynthia Moyo, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, said: “Nigeria stands at a crossroads in its energy future. As we witness intensifying flooding in the Niger Delta and advancing desertification in the north, it’s clear that climate change requires systemic solutions. This movement isn’t just about cleaning up past damage – it’s about shaping a just transition that centres African realities and protects communities from both climate impacts and false solutions like carbon trading that simply perpetuate exploitation.”

    Elizabeth Atieno, Food Security Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, highlighted the connection between pollution and food security: “Oil spills have contaminated once-fertile soils and fishing grounds across the Niger Delta, creating a food crisis that disproportionately affects women and children. When farmers can’t farm and fisherfolk can’t fish, entire communities face malnutrition and economic devastation. Climate justice is fundamentally about securing the right to food sovereignty in the face of corporate environmental abuses.”

    Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa suffers some of the most severe climate impacts, with warming already exceeding the global average. Between July and October 2024, floods affected 34 states across Nigeria, impacting over 4 million people, with more than 300 lives lost and over 2,854 people injured. Nigeria’s catastrophic 2022 floods killed over 600 people, displacing 1.4 million citizens, and affecting more than 4.4 million across 33 states. The disaster destroyed over 200,000 homes and damaged 676,000 hectares of farmland, worsening food insecurity in a country already facing economic challenges. 

    Another signatory, Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin, Program Manager at Yanayl Haki Afriqya, added, “The youth of Nigeria are demanding accountability from corporations and policymakers. We refuse to inherit a country where profits routinely take precedence over people and planet, having lived the realities that climate change impacts pose to our communities. This declaration is our pledge to transform environmental advocacy in Nigeria from isolated campaigns into a formidable, unified force that drives positive change towards access to a safe and healthy environment for all, which is a fundamental human right.”

    The CJM declaration outlines comprehensive demands, including immediate remediation of oil-polluted sites in the Niger Delta, compensation for communities affected by decades of extraction, ending gas flaring practices, transitioning to renewable energy infrastructure, strengthening regulatory frameworks against corporate environmental abuses and rejection of false solutions like carbon trading. 

    The coalition brings together diverse organisations working across environmental sectors, including ocean conservation, forest protection, climate advocacy, and community rights. CJM Nigeria is the fourth launch, with successful previous launches in the DRC, Cameroon, and Ghana.

    The coalition will now focus on implementing a coordinated action plan, engaging government authorities, and expanding the movement across West Africa. 

    ENDS

    For more information or interview requests, please contact:

    Dr. Ignatius Emeka Onyekwere, Media Consultant for CJM Nigeria, [email protected], +234 810 038 5897

    Ferdinand Omondi, Communication Manager, Greenpeace Africa, [email protected], +254 722 505 233

    Notes to Editors:

    About Greenpeace Africa:

    Greenpeace Africa is an independent environmental campaigning organisation established in 2008 that operates across the African continent with offices in Senegal, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and South Africa. As part of the global Greenpeace network, the organisation works to protect and conserve Africa’s natural environment while advocating for peace and environmental justice. 

    About the Climate Justice Movement

    The Climate Justice Movement (CJM) is a pan-African initiative that unites grassroots organisations to address environmental challenges across the continent.

    The CJM represents a cornerstone of Greenpeace Africa’s strategy to build people-powered movements that challenge corporate environmental exploitation while elevating local communities as agents of change in environmental decision-making processes.

    MIL OSI NGO