Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown files a lawsuit against Fidelity Information Services to protect the personal data of people who apply for or receive food assistance benefits

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE – Attorney General Nick Brown today filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Fidelity Information Services (FIS) to block the company from illegally disclosing the private, personal data of more than one million Washington residents who receive or applied for food assistance benefits to the federal government for its deportation efforts.

    Since 2015, FIS has served as the contractor for Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to deliver benefit payments to recipients. DSHS administers food assistance programs including the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the state-funded Food Assistance Program (FAP). FAP provides food benefits to people who would be eligible for SNAP but are excluded from the federal program because of their immigration status.

    “People who need food assistance for themselves and their families should be able to trust that their data will be protected and kept private,” Brown said. “If a contractor fails to uphold the terms they’ve agreed to, we will hold them accountable under the law.”

    Washington law requires that the information of public benefits applicants and recipients be protected from unauthorized disclosure or improper use. Additionally, the contract with FIS requires the company to get DSHS’s express written consent before disclosing this information and to follow DSHS policies and rules protecting recipients’ information.

    Nevertheless, FIS informed DSHS on May 9 that it intended to turn over the personal data of SNAP cardholders and data about transactions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That came in the wake of guidance from USDA incorrectly claiming it could use federal food benefits law to obtain SNAP data directly from contractors, rather than state agencies, to use for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

    DSHS told FIS on May 14 that the agency does not consent to the disclosure of confidential information to USDA, and FIS initially pledged that it would refrain from sharing the data until authorized. But since then, as USDA has continued its efforts to collect personal data of SNAP recipients, FIS failed to respond to repeated requests from DSHS asking for confirmation that it would not turn over any data without DSHS’s express consent.

    In the complaint, filed in Thurston County Superior Court, Brown argues that DSHS is entitled to a court order blocking FIS from disclosing confidential information to USDA and a declaration that unauthorized disclosure would constitute a breach of contract. The complaint also asks the court to determine that any unauthorized disclosure of confidential and personally identifiable information would violate the Washington Consumer Protection Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

    Brown is asking the court to order FIS not to disclose any confidential information to any third party without the express written consent of DSHS.

    A copy of the complaint is available here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Case dismissed: WSDOT seeks sanctions against former employee and his lawyers over baseless lawsuit

    Source: Washington State News 2

    OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Transportation is asking a judge to sanction both the law firm and the former employee who spent more than a year pursuing an unfounded lawsuit against the agency, only to later drop the case when confronted with evidence he likely destroyed text messages in violation of a court order.

    In court filings (PDF 355KB), WSDOT asks to be reimbursed for the taxpayer dollars required to defend the case. WSDOT argues that, early on, the Citizen Action Defense Fund law firm had ample evidence that the case was not “well-grounded in fact,” as required by court rules. In addition, it asks the judge to sanction former employee Scott Smith for not following a court order to save text messages from a crucial period. Smith initially said the messages didn’t exist. When the state presented evidence of the texts from other individuals’ phones, Smith changed his story, claiming they were “lost.”

    WSDOT previously requested a forensic examination of Smith’s phone. “That suspicious timing and other facts make it highly likely these ‘lost’ text messages were deleted by Smith himself, though only a forensic examination of his phone could ascertain that with certainty,” the WSDOT court filing states. Before the court could rule on WSDOT’s request for a forensic review of his phone, Smith withdrew his case.

    Defendants are not typically entitled to their costs and fees when successfully defending a lawsuit. However, because Smith and his attorneys pursued the case knowing the claims were baseless, and because the state asserts Smith destroyed text messages, WSDOT is asking the court to order Smith and Citizen Action Defense Fund to pay its costs and fees for defending the case as a sanction. The amount of these fees would be determined in a separate hearing.

    Smith left WSDOT in November 2023. In March 2024, Smith filed a lawsuit claiming WSDOT retaliated against him as part of an alleged conspiracy to cover up the effects of Washington’s cap-and-invest program on fuel prices. Depositions and extensive documents produced in discovery disproved Smith’s allegations.

    In April 2024, an outside investigation likewise did not substantiate any of Smith’s claims, including his claims about the integrity of the state’s transportation forecast.

    In February 2025, WSDOT informed Citizen Action Defense Fund that the agency might seek sanctions because the firm pursued the lawsuit despite having received numerous records disproving Smith’s claims. WSDOT offered to not seek sanctions if the law firm ended the case. Instead, Citizen Action Defense Fund rejected WSDOT’s offer and insisted on prolonging the baseless lawsuit, thereby increasing the cost to taxpayers.

    During the subsequent proceedings, WSDOT’s lawyers discovered a gap in Smith’s text messages. According to the new WSDOT filing, Smith’s lawyers told WSDOT he did not text a former co-worker during the four-month period, but when the co-worker’s messages were subpoenaed, they included several highly relevant texts from Smith during that time. Further investigation found similar conspicuous gaps in Smith’s texts with at least 10 other individuals.

    Shortly after WSDOT notified Citizen Action Defense Fund about the text message discrepancies, the law firm said it would need to stop representing Smith due to professional ethics concerns. The firm later reversed that decision and continued to represent Smith. Soon after that, Smith asked the judge to dismiss the case. The judge granted that request Friday, May 16, ending Smith’s lawsuit, while noting that WSDOT still could pursue a sanctions request.

    The sanctions matter is scheduled for a hearing Friday, Aug. 22, in Thurston County Superior Court.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Athabasca Oil Announces 2025 Second Quarter Results Highlighted by Strong Operational Results, Continued Share Buybacks and a Pristine Financial Position

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (“Athabasca” or the “Company”) is pleased to report its second quarter results marked by strong operational performance, consistent financial results and execution on return of capital commitments. With low corporate break-evens, differentiated long-life assets and a pristine balance sheet, the Company is well positioned to advance its strategic priorities.

    Q2 2025 Consolidated Corporate Results

    • Production: Average production of 39,088 boe/d (98% Liquids), representing 4% (15% per share) growth year-over-year.
    • Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $128 million ($0.25 per share). Cash Flow from Operating Activities of $101 million. Free Cash Flow of $66 million from Athabasca (Thermal Oil).
    • Capital Program: $73 million total capital expenditures including $54 million at Leismer to support the 40,000 bbl/d phased growth project.
    • Shareholder Returns: Purchased 24 million shares through its buy-back program year-to-date. The Company is committed to returning 100% of Free Cash Flow (Thermal Oil) to shareholders in 2025 and has completed ~$600 million in share buybacks since March 31, 2023, reducing its fully diluted share count by 21%.

    Operations Highlights

    • Leismer: Production currently ~28,000 bbl/d (June 2025) with four sustaining well pairs expected to be placed on production through the balance of the year. The progressive growth project remains on time and on budget. The Company expects production to stay flat until the next growth plateau of 32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026.
    • Hangingstone: Production currently ~8,900 bbl/d (June 2025) following the start-up of two extended reach well pairs which are outperforming management’s expectations. The asset continues to deliver meaningful free cash flow generation.
    • Duvernay Energy (“DEC”): A four well pad (30% working interest) with ~5,000 meter laterals was completed in mid July and will be placed on production in August. Completion operations are expected to commence on a three well pad (100% working interest) in September. DEC is positioned for strong operational momentum into year end with an exit target of ~6,000 boe/d.

    Resilient Producer

    • Pristine Financial Position: The Company has a Net Cash position of $119 million, Liquidity of $437 million (including $304 million cash) and a long-dated maturity of 2029 on its term debt. The Company also has $2.2 billion of tax pools (~80% high-value and immediately deductible).
    • Low Break-evens: Long-life, low decline assets afford Athabasca with a sustaining capital advantage. The Company’s 2025 Thermal Oil capital program which includes growth initiatives is fully funded within cash flow below US$50/bbl WTI. Long term sustaining capital investment is estimated at ~C$8/bbl (five‐year annual average) to hold production flat.

    2025 Corporate Guidance

    • Consolidated Production Outlook: The Company anticipates production at the upper end of guidance of 37,500 – 39,500 boe/d with an exit rate of ~41,000 boe/d. Thermal Oil production is trending at the upper end of its prior guidance of 33,500 – 35,500 bbl/d. Duvernay Energy is expected to average ~4,000 boe/d with an exit target of ~6,000 boe/d following the tie-in of two multi-well pads.
    • Thermal Capital: The forecast capital budget for Thermal oil is unchanged at ~$250 million, including sustaining capital and the Leismer expansion project. This $300 million expansion project (over three years) is highly economic (~$25,000/bbl/d capital efficiency) and provides flexibility with interim growth targets to ~32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026 and ~35,000 bbl/d in H1 2027 before achieving the regulatory approved 40,000 bbl/d capacity at the end of 2027. Athabasca’s Thermal Oil capital projects are flexible, highly economic and have phased optionality on timing based on the macroeconomic environment. By year-end 2025, the Company anticipates being ~50% complete of total capital exposure for the expansion project.
    • Duvernay Energy Corporation Capital: The 2025 capital program of ~$75 million will drive production momentum in H2 2025. The capital program in DEC is flexible and designed to be self-funded. The Company has a deep inventory of ~444 gross future drilling locations with no near-term land expiries.
    • Free Cash Flow Focus: The Company forecasts consolidated Adjusted Funds Flow between $525 – $550 million1, including $475 – $500 million from its Thermal Oil assets. 2025 Thermal Oil Free Cash Flow is forecasted at ~$250 million and is planned to be returned to shareholders through share buybacks. Every +US$1/bbl move in West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) and Western Canadian Select (“WCS”) heavy oil impacts annual Adjusted Funds Flow by ~$10 million and ~$17 million, respectively.

    Corporate Consolidated Strategy

    • Value Creation: The Company’s Thermal Oil division provides a differentiated liquids weighted growth platform supported by financial resiliency to execute on return of capital initiatives. Athabasca’s subsidiary company, Duvernay Energy Corporation, is designed to enhance value for Athabasca’s shareholders by providing a clear path for self-funded production and cash flow growth in the Kaybob Duvernay resource play. Athabasca (Thermal Oil) and DEC have independent strategies and capital allocation frameworks.
    • Steadfast Focus on Cash Flow Per Share Growth: Athabasca’s disciplined capital allocation framework is designed to unlock shareholder value by prioritizing multi-year cash flow per share growth. The Company forecasts ~20% compounded annual cash flow per share growth between 2025-2029 driven by investing in attractive capital projects and prioritizing share buybacks with 100% of Free Cash Flow. The Company sees significant intrinsic value not reflected in the current share price and intends to remain active with its share buyback strategy.

    Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Strategy

    • Large Resource Base: Athabasca’s top-tier assets underpin a strong Free Cash Flow outlook with low sustaining capital requirements. The long life, low decline asset base includes ~1.2 billion barrels of Proved plus Probable reserves and ~1 billion barrels of Contingent Resource.
    • Strong Financial Position: Prudent balance sheet management is a core tenet of Athabasca’s strategy. The Company has a Net Cash position of $119 million, Liquidity of $437 million (including $304 million cash) and a long-dated maturity of 2029 on its term debt.
    • Leismer Progressive Growth: This $300 million expansion project (over three years) is highly economic (~$25,000/bbl/d capital efficiency) and provides flexibility with interim growth targets to ~32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026 and ~35,000 bbl/d in H1 2027 before achieving the regulatory approved 40,000 bbl/d capacity at the end of 2027. On completion of the expansion project, the Company can maintain Leismer at 40,000 bbl/d for approximately fifty years (Proved plus Probable Reserves).
    • Sustaining Hangingstone: The Hangingstone asset is very competitive and continues to deliver meaningful cash flow contributions to the Company. The objective is to sustain production and maintain competitive netbacks ($36.51/bbl H1 2025 Operating Netback).
    • Corner – Future Optionality: The Company’s Corner asset is a large de-risked oil sands asset adjacent to Leismer with 351 million barrels of Proved plus Probable reserves and 520 million barrels Contingent Resource (Best Estimate Unrisked). There are over 300 delineation wells and ~80% seismic coverage, with reservoir qualities similar to or better than Leismer. The asset has a 40,000 bbl/d regulatory approval for development with the existing pipeline corridor passing through the Corner lease. The Company has updated its development plans and is finalizing facility cost estimates, with a focus on capital efficient modular design.
    • Significant Multi-Year Free Cash Flow: Inclusive of the progressive growth at Leismer, Athabasca (Thermal Oil) expects to generate in excess of $1.8 billion of Free Cash Flow1 during the five-year time frame of 2025-29. Free Cash Flow will continue to support the Company’s return of capital initiatives.
    • Sound Heavy Oil Fundamentals: Canadian heavy oil markets remain strong supported by the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline and sustained global refining demand. This has resulted in tighter and less volatile WCS heavy differentials with August index pricing at ~US$10/bbl. Athabasca is a direct beneficiary of structurally tighter differentials that are forecasted to hold in the coming years.
    • Thermal Oil Royalty Advantage: Athabasca has significant unrecovered capital balances on its Thermal Oil Assets that ensure a low Crown royalty framework (~6%1). Leismer is forecasted to remain pre-payout until late 20271 and Hangingstone is forecasted to remain pre-payout beyond 20301.
    • Tax Free Horizon Advantage: Athabasca (Thermal Oil) has $2.2 billion of valuable tax pools and does not forecast paying cash taxes this decade.

    Duvernay Energy Strategy

    • Accelerating Value: DEC is an operated, private subsidiary of Athabasca (owned 70% by Athabasca and 30% by Cenovus Energy). DEC accelerates value realization for Athabasca’s shareholders by providing a clear path for self-funded production and cash flow growth without compromising Athabasca’s capacity to fund its Thermal Oil assets or its return of capital strategy.
    • Kaybob Duvernay Focused: Exposure to ~200,000 gross acres in the liquids rich and oil windows with ~444 gross future well locations, including ~46,000 gross acres with 100% working interest.
    • Self-Funded Growth: Near-term activity will be funded within Adjusted Funds Flow, initial seed capital and the DEC credit facility. The Company has growth potential to in excess of ~20,000 boe/d (75% Liquids) by the late 2020s1.

    Footnote: Refer to the “Reader Advisory” section within this news release for additional information on Non‐GAAP Financial Measures (e.g. Adjusted Funds Flow, Free Cash Flow, Net Cash, Liquidity) and production disclosure.
    1 Pricing assumptions: H1 2025 actualized and US$65 WTI, US$12.50 WCS heavy differential, C$2 AECO, and 0.725 C$/US$ FX for H2 2025. 2026+ US$70 WTI, US$12.50 WCS heavy differential, C$3 AECO, and 0.725 C$/US$ FX

    Financial and Operational Highlights

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025     2024     2025     2024    
    CORPORATE CONSOLIDATED(1)                
    Petroleum and natural gas production (boe/d)(2)   39,088       37,621       38,404       35,546    
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales $ 360,070     $ 401,738     $ 727,914     $ 712,854    
    Operating Income(2) $ 141,707     $ 179,751     $ 287,297     $ 284,886    
    Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging(2)(3) $ 142,101     $ 178,176     $ 286,048     $ 284,756    
    Operating Netback ($/boe)(2) $ 38.81     $ 52.46     $ 41.30     $ 44.77    
    Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging ($/boe)(2)(3) $ 38.92     $ 52.00     $ 41.12     $ 44.75    
    Capital expenditures $ 73,066     $ 48,453     $ 136,399     $ 124,464    
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 101,432     $ 135,083     $ 224,785     $ 211,721    
    per share – basic $ 0.20     $ 0.24     $ 0.44     $ 0.38    
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2) $ 127,591     $ 165,746     $ 257,266     $ 253,518    
    per share – basic $ 0.25     $ 0.30     $ 0.51     $ 0.45    
    ATHABASCA (THERMAL OIL)                
    Bitumen production (bbl/d)(2)   36,476       33,765       35,613       32,651    
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales $ 355,160     $ 395,279     $ 717,535     $ 700,320    
    Operating Income(2) $ 135,803     $ 161,694     $ 271,119     $ 262,143    
    Operating Netback ($/bbl)(2) $ 39.79     $ 52.59     $ 42.02     $ 44.91    
    Capital expenditures $ 56,110     $ 34,084     $ 106,486     $ 76,203    
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2) $ 122,097     $ 149,413     $ 243,450     $ 233,126    
    Free Cash Flow(2) $ 65,987     $ 115,329     $ 136,964     $ 156,923    
    DUVERNAY ENERGY(1)                
    Petroleum and natural gas production (boe/d)(2)   2,612       3,856       2,791       2,895    
    Percentage Liquids (%)(2) 72 %   80 %   73 %   77 %  
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales $ 13,526     $ 26,749     $ 31,145     $ 38,287    
    Operating Income(2) $ 5,904     $ 18,057     $ 16,178     $ 22,743    
    Operating Netback ($/boe)(2) $ 24.84     $ 51.46     $ 32.03     $ 43.17    
    Capital expenditures $ 16,956     $ 14,369     $ 29,913     $ 48,261    
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2) $ 5,494     $ 16,333     $ 13,816     $ 20,392    
    Free Cash Flow(2) $ (11,462 )   $ 1,964     $ (16,097 )   $ (27,869 )  
    NET INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                
    Net income and comprehensive income(4) $ 56,870     $ 96,076     $ 128,874     $ 134,685    
    per share – basic(4) $ 0.11     $ 0.17     $ 0.25     $ 0.24    
    per share – diluted(4) $ 0.11     $ 0.17     $ 0.25     $ 0.24    
    COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING                
    Weighted average shares outstanding – basic   502,593,860       557,299,962       508,393,229       562,188,451    
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted   510,591,132       566,559,671       512,076,328       569,058,329    
      June 30,   December 31,  
    As at ($ Thousands) 2025   2024  
    LIQUIDITY AND BALANCE SHEET (CONSOLIDATED)        
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 304,048   $ 344,836  
    Available credit facilities(5) $ 133,074   $ 136,324  
    Face value of term debt $ 200,000   $ 200,000  
     
    (1) Corporate Consolidated and Duvernay Energy reflect gross production and financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
    (2) Refer to the “Reader Advisory” section within this News Release for additional information on Non-GAAP Financial Measures and production disclosure.
    (3) Includes realized commodity risk management gain of $0.4 million and loss of $1.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (three and six months ended June 30, 2024 – loss of $1.6 million and $0.1 million).
    (4) Net income and comprehensive income per share amounts are based on net income and comprehensive income attributable to shareholders of the Parent Company. In the calculation of diluted net income per share for the three months ended June 30, 2025 net income was increased by $0.4 million, to account for the impact to net income had the outstanding warrants been converted to equity. In the calculation of diluted net income per share for the three months ended June 30, 2024 net income was reduced by $0.4 million, to account for the impact to net income had the outstanding warrants been converted to equity.
    (5) Includes available credit under Athabasca’s and Duvernay Energy’s Credit Facilities and Athabasca’s Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility.
     

    Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Q2 2025 Highlights and Operations Update

    • Production: Production of 36,476 bbl/d (27,818 bbl/d at Leismer and 8,658 bbl/d at Hangingstone).
    • Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $122.1 million; Operating Income of $135.8 million with an Operating Netback of $39.79/bbl ($42.02/bbl H1 2025).
    • Capital: $56.1 million of capital expenditures in Q2, with $53.9 million at Leismer as the Company advances the 40,000 bbl/d progressive growth project.
    • Free Cash Flow: $66.0 million of Free Cash Flow supporting return of capital commitment.

    Leismer

    Earlier this year, the Company brought six extended reach redrills on Pad L1 (1,000 – 1,700 meter laterals) on production supporting current production of ~28,000 bbl/d (June 2025). Four well pairs on Pad L10 are expected to maintain production rates at facility capacity for the balance of 2025. The first two wells started steaming in April with production expected in Q3, and the final two will begin steaming this summer with first production expected in Q4. Another six well pairs will be drilled on Pad 11 in H2 2025.

    Activity at Leismer remains focused on advancing progressive growth to 40,000 bbl/d by the end of 2027. The project cost is estimated at $300 million generating a capital efficiency of approximately $25,000/bbl/d. The $300 million will be spent between 2025 and 2027 and includes an estimated $190 million for facility capital and an estimated $110 million for growth wells. By year-end 2025, the Company anticipates being ~50% complete of total capital exposure for the expansion project. The project remains on budget and on schedule with the original sanction plans announced in July 2024. The progressive build provides flexibility with interim growth targets to ~32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026 following the next planned turnaround, and ~35,000 bbl/d in H1 2027 before achieving the regulatory approved 40,000 bbl/d capacity at the end of 2027.

    Hangingstone

    At Hangingstone, two extended reach sustaining well pairs (~1,400 meter average laterals) were placed on production in March with production of ~8,900 bbl/d (June 2025). The well pairs ramped up faster than anticipated, benefiting from favorable reservoir temperatures and pressure supported by offsetting wells. Current well pair performance between 800 – 1,000 bbl/d per well has exceeded management’s expectations. Hangingstone continues to deliver meaningful cash flow contributions to the Company.

    Duvernay Energy Corporation Q2 2025 Highlights and Operations Update

    • Production: Production of 2,612 boe/d (72% Liquids).
    • Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $5.5 million with an Operating Netback of $24.84/boe ($32.03/boe H1 2025).
    • Capital: $17.0 million of capital expenditures including completions on a 30% working interest four-well pad.  

    During the quarter completions operations commenced on a four well pad (30% working interest) with average laterals of ~5,000 meters. Completion operations on this pad were completed in mid July and the wells are expected to be on production in early August. A three well pad (100% working interest) is scheduled to be completed in early Fall and on production shortly thereafter. Earlier in 2025, a strategic gathering system was completed connecting the operated wells to existing operated infrastructure.

    Production from new wells drilled in 2024 continue to validate DEC’s type curve expectations. The five wells placed on production have averaged IP30’s of ~1,200 boe/d per well (86% Liquids) and IP90s of ~940 boe/d (86% Liquids) per well.

    DEC retains significant operational flexibility with no near-term land expiries and the ability to adjust spending in response to commodity price movements.

    About Athabasca Oil Corporation

    Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and light oil assets. Situated in Alberta’s Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base of extensive, high quality resources. Athabasca’s light oil assets are held in a private subsidiary (Duvernay Energy Corporation) in which Athabasca owns a 70% equity interest. Athabasca’s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol “ATH”. For more information, visit www.atha.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Reader Advisory:

    This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “plan”, “project”, “continue”, “maintain”, “may”, “estimate”, “expect”, “will”, “target”, “forecast”, “could”, “intend”, “potential”, “guidance”, “outlook” and similar expressions suggesting future outcome are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather is based on the Company’s current plans, objectives, goals, strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the Company’s industry, business and future operating and financial results. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this News Release should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this News Release. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, but not limited to, the following: our strategic plans; the allocation of future capital; timing and quantum for shareholder returns including share buybacks; the terms of our NCIB program; our drilling plans and capital efficiencies; production growth to expected production rates and estimated sustaining capital amounts; timing of Leismer’s and Hangingstone’s pre-payout royalty status; applicability of tax pools; Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow over various periods; type well economic metrics; number of drilling locations; forecasted daily production and the composition of production; break-even metrics, our outlook in respect of the Company’s business environment, including in respect of commodity pricing; and other matters.

    In addition, information and statements in this News Release relating to “Reserves” and “Resources” are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and that the reserves and resources described can be profitably produced in the future. With respect to forward-looking information contained in this News Release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: commodity prices; the regulatory framework governing royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts and will conduct business and the effects that such regulatory framework will have on the Company, including on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations; the Company’s financial and operational flexibility; the Company’s financial sustainability; Athabasca’s cash flow break-even commodity price; the Company’s ability to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the applicability of technologies for the recovery and production of the Company’s reserves and resources; future capital expenditures to be made by the Company; future sources of funding for the Company’s capital programs; the Company’s future debt levels; future production levels; the Company’s ability to obtain financing and/or enter into joint venture arrangements, on acceptable terms; operating costs; compliance of counterparties with the terms of contractual arrangements; impact of increasing competition globally; collection risk of outstanding accounts receivable from third parties; geological and engineering estimates in respect of the Company’s reserves and resources; recoverability of reserves and resources; the geography of the areas in which the Company is conducting exploration and development activities and the quality of its assets. Certain other assumptions related to the Company’s Reserves and Resources are contained in the report of McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (“McDaniel”) evaluating Athabasca’s Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Contingent Resources as at December 31, 2024 (which is respectively referred to herein as the “McDaniel Report”).

    Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Information Form (“AIF”) dated March 5, 2025 available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca, including, but not limited to: weakness in the oil and gas industry; exploration, development and production risks; prices, markets and marketing; market conditions; trade relations and tariffs; climate change and carbon pricing risk; statutes and regulations regarding the environment including deceptive marketing provisions; regulatory environment and changes in applicable law; gathering and processing facilities, pipeline systems and rail; reputation and public perception of the oil and gas sector; environment, social and governance goals; political uncertainty; state of capital markets; ability to finance capital requirements; access to capital and insurance; abandonment and reclamation costs; changing demand for oil and natural gas products; anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; royalty regimes; foreign exchange rates and interest rates; reserves; hedging; operational dependence; operating costs; project risks; supply chain disruption; financial assurances; diluent supply; third party credit risk; indigenous claims; reliance on key personnel and operators; income tax; cybersecurity; advanced technologies; hydraulic fracturing; liability management; seasonality and weather conditions; unexpected events; internal controls; limitations and insurance; litigation; natural gas overlying bitumen resources; competition; chain of title and expiration of licenses and leases; breaches of confidentiality; new industry related activities or new geographical areas; water use restrictions and/or limited access to water; relationship with Duvernay Energy Corporation; management estimates and assumptions; third-party claims; conflicts of interest; inflation and cost management; credit ratings; growth management; impact of pandemics; ability of investors resident in the United States to enforce civil remedies in Canada; and risks related to our debt and securities. All subsequent forward-looking information, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

    Also included in this News Release are estimates of Athabasca’s 2025 outlook which are based on the various assumptions as to production levels, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and other assumptions disclosed in this News Release. To the extent any such estimate constitutes a financial outlook, it was approved by management and the Board of Directors of Athabasca and is included to provide readers with an understanding of the Company’s outlook. Management does not have firm commitments for all of the costs, expenditures, prices or other financial assumptions used to prepare the financial outlook or assurance that such operating results will be achieved and, accordingly, the complete financial effects of all of those costs, expenditures, prices and operating results are not objectively determinable. The actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results may vary from the amounts set forth herein, and such variations may be material. The outlook and forward-looking information contained in this New Release was made as of the date of this News release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligations to update or revise such outlook and/or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law.

    Oil and Gas Information

    “BOEs” may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

    Initial Production Rates 

    Test Results and Initial Production Rates: The well test results and initial production rates provided herein should be considered to be preliminary, except as otherwise indicated. Test results and initial production rates disclosed herein may not necessarily be indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.

    Reserves Information

    The McDaniel Report was prepared using the assumptions and methodology guidelines outlined in the COGE Handbook and in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, effective December 31, 2024. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of bitumen, light crude oil and medium crude oil, tight oil, conventional natural gas, shale gas and natural gas liquids reserves and the future cash flows attributed to such reserves. The reserve and associated cash flow information set forth above are estimates only. In general, estimates of economically recoverable reserves and the future net cash flows therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the properties, production rates, ultimate reserve recovery, timing and amount of capital expenditures, marketability of oil and natural gas, royalty rates, the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies and future operating costs, all of which may vary materially. For those reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, classification of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues associated with reserves prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times, may vary. The Company’s actual production, revenues, taxes and development and operating expenditures with respect to its reserves will vary from estimates thereof and such variations could be material. Reserves figures described herein have been rounded to the nearest MMbbl or MMboe. For additional information regarding the consolidated reserves and information concerning the resources of the Company as evaluated by McDaniel in the McDaniel Report, please refer to the Company’s AIF.

    Reserve Values (i.e. Net Asset Value) is calculated using the estimated net present value of all future net revenue from our reserves, before income taxes discounted at 10%, as estimated by McDaniel effective December 31, 2024 and based on average pricing of McDaniel, Sproule and GLJ as of January 1, 2025.

    The 444 gross Duvernay drilling locations referenced include: 87 proved undeveloped locations and 85 probable undeveloped locations for a total of 172 booked locations with the balance being unbooked locations. Proved undeveloped locations and probable undeveloped locations are booked and derived from the Company’s most recent independent reserves evaluation as prepared by McDaniel as of December 31, 2024 and account for drilling locations that have associated proved and/or probable reserves, as applicable. Unbooked locations are internal management estimates. Unbooked locations do not have attributed reserves or resources (including contingent or prospective). Unbooked locations have been identified by management as an estimation of Athabasca’s multi-year drilling activities expected to occur over the next two decades based on evaluation of applicable geologic, seismic, engineering, production and reserves information. There is no certainty that the Company will drill all unbooked drilling locations and if drilled there is no certainty that such locations will result in additional oil and gas reserves, resources or production. The drilling locations on which the Company will actually drill wells, including the number and timing thereof is ultimately dependent upon the availability of funding, commodity prices, provincial fiscal and royalty policies, costs, actual drilling results, additional reservoir information that is obtained and other factors.

    Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures, and Production Disclosure

    The “Corporate Consolidated Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Corporate Consolidated Adjusted Funds Flow per Share”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Duvernay Energy Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Corporate Consolidated Free Cash Flow”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Free Cash Flow”, “Duvernay Energy Free Cash Flow”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Income”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income”, “Duvernay Energy Operating Income”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Netback”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Netback”, “Duvernay Energy Operating Netback” and “Cash Transportation and Marketing Expense” financial measures contained in this News Release do not have standardized meanings which are prescribed by IFRS and they are considered to be non-GAAP financial measures or ratios. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and should not be considered in isolation with measures that are prepared in accordance with IFRS. Net Cash and Liquidity are supplementary financial measures. The Leismer and Hangingstone operating results are supplementary financial measures that when aggregated, combine to the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) segment results.

    Adjusted Funds Flow, Adjusted Funds Flow Per Share and Free Cash Flow

    Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to represent cash flow from operating activities, net earnings or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. The Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow measures allow management and others to evaluate the Company’s ability to fund its capital programs and meet its ongoing financial obligations using cash flow internally generated from ongoing operating related activities. Adjusted Funds Flow per share is a non-GAAP financial ratio calculated as Adjusted Funds Flow divided by the applicable number of weighted average shares outstanding. Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow are calculated as follows:

      Three months ended
    June 30, 2025
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 101,142   $ 290   $ 101,432  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   20,922     5,207     26,129  
    Settlement of provisions   33     (3 )   30  
    ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   122,097     5,494     127,591  
    Capital expenditures   (56,110 )   (16,956 )   (73,066 )
    FREE CASH FLOW $ 65,987   $ (11,462 ) $ 54,525  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
      Six months ended
    June 30, 2025
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 214,569   $ 10,216   $ 224,785  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   28,152     3,595     31,747  
    Settlement of provisions   729     5     734  
     ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   243,450     13,816     257,266  
    Capital expenditures   (106,486 )   (29,913 )   (136,399 )
     FREE CASH FLOW $ 136,964   $ (16,097 ) $ 120,867  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
      Three months ended
    June 30, 2024
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 124,027   $ 11,056   $ 135,083  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   25,375     5,390     30,765  
    Settlement of provisions   11     (113 )   (102 )
    ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   149,413     16,333     165,746  
    Capital expenditures   (34,084 )   (14,369 )   (48,453 )
    FREE CASH FLOW $ 115,329   $ 1,964   $ 117,293  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
      Six months ended
    June 30, 2024
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 197,068   $ 14,653   $ 211,721  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   34,761     5,535     40,296  
    Settlement of provisions   1,297     204     1,501  
     ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   233,126     20,392     253,518  
    Capital expenditures   (76,203 )   (48,261 )   (124,464 )
     FREE CASH FLOW $ 156,923   $ (27,869 ) $ 129,054  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
     

    Duvernay Energy Operating Income and Operating Netback

    The non-GAAP measure Duvernay Energy Operating Income in this News Release is calculated by subtracting the Duvernay Energy royalties, operating expenses and transportation & marketing expenses from petroleum and natural gas sales which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Duvernay Energy Operating Netback per boe is a non-GAAP financial ratio calculated by dividing the Duvernay Energy Operating Income by the Duvernay Energy production. The Duvernay Energy Operating Income and the Duvernay Energy Operating Netback measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Company’s Duvernay Energy assets.

    The Duvernay Energy Operating Income is calculated using the Duvernay Energy Segments GAAP results, as follows:

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Petroleum and natural gas sales $ 13,526   $ 26,749   $ 31,145   $ 38,287  
    Royalties   (1,792 )   (3,498 )   (4,553 )   (5,812 )
    Operating expenses   (4,870 )   (4,063 )   (8,656 )   (7,703 )
    Transportation and marketing   (960 )   (1,131 )   (1,758 )   (2,029 )
    DUVERNAY ENERGY OPERATING INCOME $ 5,904   $ 18,057   $ 16,178   $ 22,743  
                             

    Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income and Operating Netback

    The non-GAAP measure Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income in this News Release is calculated by subtracting the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) segments cost of diluent blending, royalties, operating expenses and cash transportation & marketing expenses from heavy oil (blended bitumen) and midstream sales which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Netback per bbl is a non-GAAP financial ratio calculated by dividing the respective projects Operating Income by its respective bitumen sales volumes. The Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income and the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Netback measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) assets.

    The Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income is calculated using the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Segments GAAP results, as follows:

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Heavy oil (blended bitumen) and midstream sales $ 355,160   $ 395,279   $ 717,535   $ 700,320  
    Cost of diluent   (147,065 )   (148,166 )   (299,197 )   (282,026 )
    Total bitumen and midstream sales   208,095     247,113     418,338     418,294  
    Royalties   (9,431 )   (28,823 )   (25,395 )   (40,360 )
    Operating expenses – non-energy   (26,810 )   (24,417 )   (51,697 )   (47,542 )
    Operating expenses – energy   (13,621 )   (11,635 )   (27,128 )   (28,193 )
    Transportation and marketing(1)   (22,430 )   (20,544 )   (42,999 )   (40,056 )
    ATHABASCA (THERMAL OIL) OPERATING INCOME $ 135,803   $ 161,694   $ 271,119   $ 262,143  
    (1) Transportation and marketing excludes non-cash costs of $0.6 million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (three and six months ended June 30, 2024 – $0.6 million and $1.1 million).
     

    Corporate Consolidated Operating Income and Corporate Consolidated Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging and Operating Netbacks

    The non-GAAP measures of Corporate Consolidated Operating Income including or excluding realized hedging in this News Release are calculated by adding or subtracting realized gains (losses) on commodity risk management contracts (as applicable), royalties, the cost of diluent blending, operating expenses and cash transportation & marketing expenses from petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Corporate Consolidated Operating Netbacks including or excluding realized hedging per boe are non-GAAP ratios calculated by dividing Corporate Consolidated Operating Income including or excluding hedging by the total sales volumes and are presented on a per boe basis. The Corporate Consolidated Operating Income and Corporate Consolidated Operating Netbacks including or excluding realized hedging measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Company’s Duvernay Energy and Athabasca (Thermal Oil) assets combined together including the impact of realized commodity risk management gains or losses (as applicable).

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales(1) $ 368,686   $ 422,028   $ 748,680   $ 738,607  
    Royalties   (11,223 )   (32,321 )   (29,948 )   (46,172 )
    Cost of diluent(1)   (147,065 )   (148,166 )   (299,197 )   (282,026 )
    Operating expenses   (45,301 )   (40,115 )   (87,481 )   (83,438 )
    Transportation and marketing(2)   (23,390 )   (21,675 )   (44,757 )   (42,085 )
    Operating Income   141,707     179,751     287,297     284,886  
    Realized gain (loss) on commodity risk mgmt. contracts   394     (1,575 )   (1,249 )   (130 )
    OPERATING INCOME NET OF REALIZED HEDGING $ 142,101   $ 178,176   $ 286,048   $ 284,756  
    (1) Non-GAAP measure includes intercompany NGLs (i.e. condensate) sold by the Duvernay Energy segment to the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) segment for use as diluent that is eliminated on consolidation.
    (2) Transportation and marketing excludes non-cash costs of $0.6 million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (three and six months ended June 30, 2024 – $0.6 million and $1.1 million).
     

    Cash Transportation and Marketing Expense

    The Cash Transportation and Marketing Expense financial measures contained in this News Release are calculated by subtracting the non-cash transportation and marketing expense as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows from the transportation and marketing expense as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) and are considered to be non-GAAP financial measures.

    Net Cash

    Net Cash is defined as the face value of term debt, plus accounts payable and accrued liabilities, plus current portion of provisions and other liabilities plus income tax payable less current assets, excluding risk management contracts.

    Liquidity

    Liquidity is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus available credit capacity.

    Production volumes details

        Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    Production   2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Duvernay Energy:                  
    Oil and condensate NGLs(1) bbl/d   1,608     2,806     1,723     2,006  
    Other NGLs bbl/d   282     266     304     223  
    Natural gas(2) mcf/d   4,329     4,706     4,585     3,998  
    Total Duvernay Energy boe/d   2,612     3,856     2,791     2,895  
    Total Thermal Oil bitumen bbl/d   36,476     33,765     35,613     32,651  
    Total Company production boe/d   39,088     37,621     38,404     35,546  
    (1) Comprised of 99% or greater of tight oil, with the remaining being light and medium crude oil.
    (2) Comprised of 99% or greater of shale gas, with the remaining being conventional natural gas.
     

    This News Release also makes reference to Athabasca’s forecasted average daily Thermal Oil production of 33,500 ‐ 35,500 bbl/d for 2025. Athabasca expects that 100% of that production will be comprised of bitumen. Duvernay Energy’s forecasted total average daily production of ~4,000 boe/d for 2025 is expected to be comprised of approximately 65% tight oil, 25% shale gas and 10% NGLs.

    Liquids is defined as bitumen, light crude oil, medium crude oil and natural gas liquids.

    Break Even is an operating metric that calculates the US$WTI oil price required to fund operating costs (Operating Break-even), sustaining capital (Sustaining Break-even), or growth capital (Total Capital) within Adjusted Funds Flow.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Athabasca Oil Announces 2025 Second Quarter Results Highlighted by Strong Operational Results, Continued Share Buybacks and a Pristine Financial Position

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (“Athabasca” or the “Company”) is pleased to report its second quarter results marked by strong operational performance, consistent financial results and execution on return of capital commitments. With low corporate break-evens, differentiated long-life assets and a pristine balance sheet, the Company is well positioned to advance its strategic priorities.

    Q2 2025 Consolidated Corporate Results

    • Production: Average production of 39,088 boe/d (98% Liquids), representing 4% (15% per share) growth year-over-year.
    • Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $128 million ($0.25 per share). Cash Flow from Operating Activities of $101 million. Free Cash Flow of $66 million from Athabasca (Thermal Oil).
    • Capital Program: $73 million total capital expenditures including $54 million at Leismer to support the 40,000 bbl/d phased growth project.
    • Shareholder Returns: Purchased 24 million shares through its buy-back program year-to-date. The Company is committed to returning 100% of Free Cash Flow (Thermal Oil) to shareholders in 2025 and has completed ~$600 million in share buybacks since March 31, 2023, reducing its fully diluted share count by 21%.

    Operations Highlights

    • Leismer: Production currently ~28,000 bbl/d (June 2025) with four sustaining well pairs expected to be placed on production through the balance of the year. The progressive growth project remains on time and on budget. The Company expects production to stay flat until the next growth plateau of 32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026.
    • Hangingstone: Production currently ~8,900 bbl/d (June 2025) following the start-up of two extended reach well pairs which are outperforming management’s expectations. The asset continues to deliver meaningful free cash flow generation.
    • Duvernay Energy (“DEC”): A four well pad (30% working interest) with ~5,000 meter laterals was completed in mid July and will be placed on production in August. Completion operations are expected to commence on a three well pad (100% working interest) in September. DEC is positioned for strong operational momentum into year end with an exit target of ~6,000 boe/d.

    Resilient Producer

    • Pristine Financial Position: The Company has a Net Cash position of $119 million, Liquidity of $437 million (including $304 million cash) and a long-dated maturity of 2029 on its term debt. The Company also has $2.2 billion of tax pools (~80% high-value and immediately deductible).
    • Low Break-evens: Long-life, low decline assets afford Athabasca with a sustaining capital advantage. The Company’s 2025 Thermal Oil capital program which includes growth initiatives is fully funded within cash flow below US$50/bbl WTI. Long term sustaining capital investment is estimated at ~C$8/bbl (five‐year annual average) to hold production flat.

    2025 Corporate Guidance

    • Consolidated Production Outlook: The Company anticipates production at the upper end of guidance of 37,500 – 39,500 boe/d with an exit rate of ~41,000 boe/d. Thermal Oil production is trending at the upper end of its prior guidance of 33,500 – 35,500 bbl/d. Duvernay Energy is expected to average ~4,000 boe/d with an exit target of ~6,000 boe/d following the tie-in of two multi-well pads.
    • Thermal Capital: The forecast capital budget for Thermal oil is unchanged at ~$250 million, including sustaining capital and the Leismer expansion project. This $300 million expansion project (over three years) is highly economic (~$25,000/bbl/d capital efficiency) and provides flexibility with interim growth targets to ~32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026 and ~35,000 bbl/d in H1 2027 before achieving the regulatory approved 40,000 bbl/d capacity at the end of 2027. Athabasca’s Thermal Oil capital projects are flexible, highly economic and have phased optionality on timing based on the macroeconomic environment. By year-end 2025, the Company anticipates being ~50% complete of total capital exposure for the expansion project.
    • Duvernay Energy Corporation Capital: The 2025 capital program of ~$75 million will drive production momentum in H2 2025. The capital program in DEC is flexible and designed to be self-funded. The Company has a deep inventory of ~444 gross future drilling locations with no near-term land expiries.
    • Free Cash Flow Focus: The Company forecasts consolidated Adjusted Funds Flow between $525 – $550 million1, including $475 – $500 million from its Thermal Oil assets. 2025 Thermal Oil Free Cash Flow is forecasted at ~$250 million and is planned to be returned to shareholders through share buybacks. Every +US$1/bbl move in West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) and Western Canadian Select (“WCS”) heavy oil impacts annual Adjusted Funds Flow by ~$10 million and ~$17 million, respectively.

    Corporate Consolidated Strategy

    • Value Creation: The Company’s Thermal Oil division provides a differentiated liquids weighted growth platform supported by financial resiliency to execute on return of capital initiatives. Athabasca’s subsidiary company, Duvernay Energy Corporation, is designed to enhance value for Athabasca’s shareholders by providing a clear path for self-funded production and cash flow growth in the Kaybob Duvernay resource play. Athabasca (Thermal Oil) and DEC have independent strategies and capital allocation frameworks.
    • Steadfast Focus on Cash Flow Per Share Growth: Athabasca’s disciplined capital allocation framework is designed to unlock shareholder value by prioritizing multi-year cash flow per share growth. The Company forecasts ~20% compounded annual cash flow per share growth between 2025-2029 driven by investing in attractive capital projects and prioritizing share buybacks with 100% of Free Cash Flow. The Company sees significant intrinsic value not reflected in the current share price and intends to remain active with its share buyback strategy.

    Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Strategy

    • Large Resource Base: Athabasca’s top-tier assets underpin a strong Free Cash Flow outlook with low sustaining capital requirements. The long life, low decline asset base includes ~1.2 billion barrels of Proved plus Probable reserves and ~1 billion barrels of Contingent Resource.
    • Strong Financial Position: Prudent balance sheet management is a core tenet of Athabasca’s strategy. The Company has a Net Cash position of $119 million, Liquidity of $437 million (including $304 million cash) and a long-dated maturity of 2029 on its term debt.
    • Leismer Progressive Growth: This $300 million expansion project (over three years) is highly economic (~$25,000/bbl/d capital efficiency) and provides flexibility with interim growth targets to ~32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026 and ~35,000 bbl/d in H1 2027 before achieving the regulatory approved 40,000 bbl/d capacity at the end of 2027. On completion of the expansion project, the Company can maintain Leismer at 40,000 bbl/d for approximately fifty years (Proved plus Probable Reserves).
    • Sustaining Hangingstone: The Hangingstone asset is very competitive and continues to deliver meaningful cash flow contributions to the Company. The objective is to sustain production and maintain competitive netbacks ($36.51/bbl H1 2025 Operating Netback).
    • Corner – Future Optionality: The Company’s Corner asset is a large de-risked oil sands asset adjacent to Leismer with 351 million barrels of Proved plus Probable reserves and 520 million barrels Contingent Resource (Best Estimate Unrisked). There are over 300 delineation wells and ~80% seismic coverage, with reservoir qualities similar to or better than Leismer. The asset has a 40,000 bbl/d regulatory approval for development with the existing pipeline corridor passing through the Corner lease. The Company has updated its development plans and is finalizing facility cost estimates, with a focus on capital efficient modular design.
    • Significant Multi-Year Free Cash Flow: Inclusive of the progressive growth at Leismer, Athabasca (Thermal Oil) expects to generate in excess of $1.8 billion of Free Cash Flow1 during the five-year time frame of 2025-29. Free Cash Flow will continue to support the Company’s return of capital initiatives.
    • Sound Heavy Oil Fundamentals: Canadian heavy oil markets remain strong supported by the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline and sustained global refining demand. This has resulted in tighter and less volatile WCS heavy differentials with August index pricing at ~US$10/bbl. Athabasca is a direct beneficiary of structurally tighter differentials that are forecasted to hold in the coming years.
    • Thermal Oil Royalty Advantage: Athabasca has significant unrecovered capital balances on its Thermal Oil Assets that ensure a low Crown royalty framework (~6%1). Leismer is forecasted to remain pre-payout until late 20271 and Hangingstone is forecasted to remain pre-payout beyond 20301.
    • Tax Free Horizon Advantage: Athabasca (Thermal Oil) has $2.2 billion of valuable tax pools and does not forecast paying cash taxes this decade.

    Duvernay Energy Strategy

    • Accelerating Value: DEC is an operated, private subsidiary of Athabasca (owned 70% by Athabasca and 30% by Cenovus Energy). DEC accelerates value realization for Athabasca’s shareholders by providing a clear path for self-funded production and cash flow growth without compromising Athabasca’s capacity to fund its Thermal Oil assets or its return of capital strategy.
    • Kaybob Duvernay Focused: Exposure to ~200,000 gross acres in the liquids rich and oil windows with ~444 gross future well locations, including ~46,000 gross acres with 100% working interest.
    • Self-Funded Growth: Near-term activity will be funded within Adjusted Funds Flow, initial seed capital and the DEC credit facility. The Company has growth potential to in excess of ~20,000 boe/d (75% Liquids) by the late 2020s1.

    Footnote: Refer to the “Reader Advisory” section within this news release for additional information on Non‐GAAP Financial Measures (e.g. Adjusted Funds Flow, Free Cash Flow, Net Cash, Liquidity) and production disclosure.
    1 Pricing assumptions: H1 2025 actualized and US$65 WTI, US$12.50 WCS heavy differential, C$2 AECO, and 0.725 C$/US$ FX for H2 2025. 2026+ US$70 WTI, US$12.50 WCS heavy differential, C$3 AECO, and 0.725 C$/US$ FX

    Financial and Operational Highlights

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025     2024     2025     2024    
    CORPORATE CONSOLIDATED(1)                
    Petroleum and natural gas production (boe/d)(2)   39,088       37,621       38,404       35,546    
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales $ 360,070     $ 401,738     $ 727,914     $ 712,854    
    Operating Income(2) $ 141,707     $ 179,751     $ 287,297     $ 284,886    
    Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging(2)(3) $ 142,101     $ 178,176     $ 286,048     $ 284,756    
    Operating Netback ($/boe)(2) $ 38.81     $ 52.46     $ 41.30     $ 44.77    
    Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging ($/boe)(2)(3) $ 38.92     $ 52.00     $ 41.12     $ 44.75    
    Capital expenditures $ 73,066     $ 48,453     $ 136,399     $ 124,464    
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 101,432     $ 135,083     $ 224,785     $ 211,721    
    per share – basic $ 0.20     $ 0.24     $ 0.44     $ 0.38    
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2) $ 127,591     $ 165,746     $ 257,266     $ 253,518    
    per share – basic $ 0.25     $ 0.30     $ 0.51     $ 0.45    
    ATHABASCA (THERMAL OIL)                
    Bitumen production (bbl/d)(2)   36,476       33,765       35,613       32,651    
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales $ 355,160     $ 395,279     $ 717,535     $ 700,320    
    Operating Income(2) $ 135,803     $ 161,694     $ 271,119     $ 262,143    
    Operating Netback ($/bbl)(2) $ 39.79     $ 52.59     $ 42.02     $ 44.91    
    Capital expenditures $ 56,110     $ 34,084     $ 106,486     $ 76,203    
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2) $ 122,097     $ 149,413     $ 243,450     $ 233,126    
    Free Cash Flow(2) $ 65,987     $ 115,329     $ 136,964     $ 156,923    
    DUVERNAY ENERGY(1)                
    Petroleum and natural gas production (boe/d)(2)   2,612       3,856       2,791       2,895    
    Percentage Liquids (%)(2) 72 %   80 %   73 %   77 %  
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales $ 13,526     $ 26,749     $ 31,145     $ 38,287    
    Operating Income(2) $ 5,904     $ 18,057     $ 16,178     $ 22,743    
    Operating Netback ($/boe)(2) $ 24.84     $ 51.46     $ 32.03     $ 43.17    
    Capital expenditures $ 16,956     $ 14,369     $ 29,913     $ 48,261    
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2) $ 5,494     $ 16,333     $ 13,816     $ 20,392    
    Free Cash Flow(2) $ (11,462 )   $ 1,964     $ (16,097 )   $ (27,869 )  
    NET INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                
    Net income and comprehensive income(4) $ 56,870     $ 96,076     $ 128,874     $ 134,685    
    per share – basic(4) $ 0.11     $ 0.17     $ 0.25     $ 0.24    
    per share – diluted(4) $ 0.11     $ 0.17     $ 0.25     $ 0.24    
    COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING                
    Weighted average shares outstanding – basic   502,593,860       557,299,962       508,393,229       562,188,451    
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted   510,591,132       566,559,671       512,076,328       569,058,329    
      June 30,   December 31,  
    As at ($ Thousands) 2025   2024  
    LIQUIDITY AND BALANCE SHEET (CONSOLIDATED)        
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 304,048   $ 344,836  
    Available credit facilities(5) $ 133,074   $ 136,324  
    Face value of term debt $ 200,000   $ 200,000  
     
    (1) Corporate Consolidated and Duvernay Energy reflect gross production and financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
    (2) Refer to the “Reader Advisory” section within this News Release for additional information on Non-GAAP Financial Measures and production disclosure.
    (3) Includes realized commodity risk management gain of $0.4 million and loss of $1.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (three and six months ended June 30, 2024 – loss of $1.6 million and $0.1 million).
    (4) Net income and comprehensive income per share amounts are based on net income and comprehensive income attributable to shareholders of the Parent Company. In the calculation of diluted net income per share for the three months ended June 30, 2025 net income was increased by $0.4 million, to account for the impact to net income had the outstanding warrants been converted to equity. In the calculation of diluted net income per share for the three months ended June 30, 2024 net income was reduced by $0.4 million, to account for the impact to net income had the outstanding warrants been converted to equity.
    (5) Includes available credit under Athabasca’s and Duvernay Energy’s Credit Facilities and Athabasca’s Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility.
     

    Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Q2 2025 Highlights and Operations Update

    • Production: Production of 36,476 bbl/d (27,818 bbl/d at Leismer and 8,658 bbl/d at Hangingstone).
    • Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $122.1 million; Operating Income of $135.8 million with an Operating Netback of $39.79/bbl ($42.02/bbl H1 2025).
    • Capital: $56.1 million of capital expenditures in Q2, with $53.9 million at Leismer as the Company advances the 40,000 bbl/d progressive growth project.
    • Free Cash Flow: $66.0 million of Free Cash Flow supporting return of capital commitment.

    Leismer

    Earlier this year, the Company brought six extended reach redrills on Pad L1 (1,000 – 1,700 meter laterals) on production supporting current production of ~28,000 bbl/d (June 2025). Four well pairs on Pad L10 are expected to maintain production rates at facility capacity for the balance of 2025. The first two wells started steaming in April with production expected in Q3, and the final two will begin steaming this summer with first production expected in Q4. Another six well pairs will be drilled on Pad 11 in H2 2025.

    Activity at Leismer remains focused on advancing progressive growth to 40,000 bbl/d by the end of 2027. The project cost is estimated at $300 million generating a capital efficiency of approximately $25,000/bbl/d. The $300 million will be spent between 2025 and 2027 and includes an estimated $190 million for facility capital and an estimated $110 million for growth wells. By year-end 2025, the Company anticipates being ~50% complete of total capital exposure for the expansion project. The project remains on budget and on schedule with the original sanction plans announced in July 2024. The progressive build provides flexibility with interim growth targets to ~32,000 bbl/d in H2 2026 following the next planned turnaround, and ~35,000 bbl/d in H1 2027 before achieving the regulatory approved 40,000 bbl/d capacity at the end of 2027.

    Hangingstone

    At Hangingstone, two extended reach sustaining well pairs (~1,400 meter average laterals) were placed on production in March with production of ~8,900 bbl/d (June 2025). The well pairs ramped up faster than anticipated, benefiting from favorable reservoir temperatures and pressure supported by offsetting wells. Current well pair performance between 800 – 1,000 bbl/d per well has exceeded management’s expectations. Hangingstone continues to deliver meaningful cash flow contributions to the Company.

    Duvernay Energy Corporation Q2 2025 Highlights and Operations Update

    • Production: Production of 2,612 boe/d (72% Liquids).
    • Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $5.5 million with an Operating Netback of $24.84/boe ($32.03/boe H1 2025).
    • Capital: $17.0 million of capital expenditures including completions on a 30% working interest four-well pad.  

    During the quarter completions operations commenced on a four well pad (30% working interest) with average laterals of ~5,000 meters. Completion operations on this pad were completed in mid July and the wells are expected to be on production in early August. A three well pad (100% working interest) is scheduled to be completed in early Fall and on production shortly thereafter. Earlier in 2025, a strategic gathering system was completed connecting the operated wells to existing operated infrastructure.

    Production from new wells drilled in 2024 continue to validate DEC’s type curve expectations. The five wells placed on production have averaged IP30’s of ~1,200 boe/d per well (86% Liquids) and IP90s of ~940 boe/d (86% Liquids) per well.

    DEC retains significant operational flexibility with no near-term land expiries and the ability to adjust spending in response to commodity price movements.

    About Athabasca Oil Corporation

    Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and light oil assets. Situated in Alberta’s Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base of extensive, high quality resources. Athabasca’s light oil assets are held in a private subsidiary (Duvernay Energy Corporation) in which Athabasca owns a 70% equity interest. Athabasca’s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol “ATH”. For more information, visit www.atha.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Reader Advisory:

    This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “plan”, “project”, “continue”, “maintain”, “may”, “estimate”, “expect”, “will”, “target”, “forecast”, “could”, “intend”, “potential”, “guidance”, “outlook” and similar expressions suggesting future outcome are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather is based on the Company’s current plans, objectives, goals, strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the Company’s industry, business and future operating and financial results. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this News Release should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this News Release. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, but not limited to, the following: our strategic plans; the allocation of future capital; timing and quantum for shareholder returns including share buybacks; the terms of our NCIB program; our drilling plans and capital efficiencies; production growth to expected production rates and estimated sustaining capital amounts; timing of Leismer’s and Hangingstone’s pre-payout royalty status; applicability of tax pools; Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow over various periods; type well economic metrics; number of drilling locations; forecasted daily production and the composition of production; break-even metrics, our outlook in respect of the Company’s business environment, including in respect of commodity pricing; and other matters.

    In addition, information and statements in this News Release relating to “Reserves” and “Resources” are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and that the reserves and resources described can be profitably produced in the future. With respect to forward-looking information contained in this News Release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: commodity prices; the regulatory framework governing royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts and will conduct business and the effects that such regulatory framework will have on the Company, including on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations; the Company’s financial and operational flexibility; the Company’s financial sustainability; Athabasca’s cash flow break-even commodity price; the Company’s ability to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the applicability of technologies for the recovery and production of the Company’s reserves and resources; future capital expenditures to be made by the Company; future sources of funding for the Company’s capital programs; the Company’s future debt levels; future production levels; the Company’s ability to obtain financing and/or enter into joint venture arrangements, on acceptable terms; operating costs; compliance of counterparties with the terms of contractual arrangements; impact of increasing competition globally; collection risk of outstanding accounts receivable from third parties; geological and engineering estimates in respect of the Company’s reserves and resources; recoverability of reserves and resources; the geography of the areas in which the Company is conducting exploration and development activities and the quality of its assets. Certain other assumptions related to the Company’s Reserves and Resources are contained in the report of McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (“McDaniel”) evaluating Athabasca’s Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Contingent Resources as at December 31, 2024 (which is respectively referred to herein as the “McDaniel Report”).

    Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Information Form (“AIF”) dated March 5, 2025 available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca, including, but not limited to: weakness in the oil and gas industry; exploration, development and production risks; prices, markets and marketing; market conditions; trade relations and tariffs; climate change and carbon pricing risk; statutes and regulations regarding the environment including deceptive marketing provisions; regulatory environment and changes in applicable law; gathering and processing facilities, pipeline systems and rail; reputation and public perception of the oil and gas sector; environment, social and governance goals; political uncertainty; state of capital markets; ability to finance capital requirements; access to capital and insurance; abandonment and reclamation costs; changing demand for oil and natural gas products; anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; royalty regimes; foreign exchange rates and interest rates; reserves; hedging; operational dependence; operating costs; project risks; supply chain disruption; financial assurances; diluent supply; third party credit risk; indigenous claims; reliance on key personnel and operators; income tax; cybersecurity; advanced technologies; hydraulic fracturing; liability management; seasonality and weather conditions; unexpected events; internal controls; limitations and insurance; litigation; natural gas overlying bitumen resources; competition; chain of title and expiration of licenses and leases; breaches of confidentiality; new industry related activities or new geographical areas; water use restrictions and/or limited access to water; relationship with Duvernay Energy Corporation; management estimates and assumptions; third-party claims; conflicts of interest; inflation and cost management; credit ratings; growth management; impact of pandemics; ability of investors resident in the United States to enforce civil remedies in Canada; and risks related to our debt and securities. All subsequent forward-looking information, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

    Also included in this News Release are estimates of Athabasca’s 2025 outlook which are based on the various assumptions as to production levels, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and other assumptions disclosed in this News Release. To the extent any such estimate constitutes a financial outlook, it was approved by management and the Board of Directors of Athabasca and is included to provide readers with an understanding of the Company’s outlook. Management does not have firm commitments for all of the costs, expenditures, prices or other financial assumptions used to prepare the financial outlook or assurance that such operating results will be achieved and, accordingly, the complete financial effects of all of those costs, expenditures, prices and operating results are not objectively determinable. The actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results may vary from the amounts set forth herein, and such variations may be material. The outlook and forward-looking information contained in this New Release was made as of the date of this News release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligations to update or revise such outlook and/or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law.

    Oil and Gas Information

    “BOEs” may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

    Initial Production Rates 

    Test Results and Initial Production Rates: The well test results and initial production rates provided herein should be considered to be preliminary, except as otherwise indicated. Test results and initial production rates disclosed herein may not necessarily be indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.

    Reserves Information

    The McDaniel Report was prepared using the assumptions and methodology guidelines outlined in the COGE Handbook and in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, effective December 31, 2024. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of bitumen, light crude oil and medium crude oil, tight oil, conventional natural gas, shale gas and natural gas liquids reserves and the future cash flows attributed to such reserves. The reserve and associated cash flow information set forth above are estimates only. In general, estimates of economically recoverable reserves and the future net cash flows therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the properties, production rates, ultimate reserve recovery, timing and amount of capital expenditures, marketability of oil and natural gas, royalty rates, the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies and future operating costs, all of which may vary materially. For those reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, classification of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues associated with reserves prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times, may vary. The Company’s actual production, revenues, taxes and development and operating expenditures with respect to its reserves will vary from estimates thereof and such variations could be material. Reserves figures described herein have been rounded to the nearest MMbbl or MMboe. For additional information regarding the consolidated reserves and information concerning the resources of the Company as evaluated by McDaniel in the McDaniel Report, please refer to the Company’s AIF.

    Reserve Values (i.e. Net Asset Value) is calculated using the estimated net present value of all future net revenue from our reserves, before income taxes discounted at 10%, as estimated by McDaniel effective December 31, 2024 and based on average pricing of McDaniel, Sproule and GLJ as of January 1, 2025.

    The 444 gross Duvernay drilling locations referenced include: 87 proved undeveloped locations and 85 probable undeveloped locations for a total of 172 booked locations with the balance being unbooked locations. Proved undeveloped locations and probable undeveloped locations are booked and derived from the Company’s most recent independent reserves evaluation as prepared by McDaniel as of December 31, 2024 and account for drilling locations that have associated proved and/or probable reserves, as applicable. Unbooked locations are internal management estimates. Unbooked locations do not have attributed reserves or resources (including contingent or prospective). Unbooked locations have been identified by management as an estimation of Athabasca’s multi-year drilling activities expected to occur over the next two decades based on evaluation of applicable geologic, seismic, engineering, production and reserves information. There is no certainty that the Company will drill all unbooked drilling locations and if drilled there is no certainty that such locations will result in additional oil and gas reserves, resources or production. The drilling locations on which the Company will actually drill wells, including the number and timing thereof is ultimately dependent upon the availability of funding, commodity prices, provincial fiscal and royalty policies, costs, actual drilling results, additional reservoir information that is obtained and other factors.

    Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures, and Production Disclosure

    The “Corporate Consolidated Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Corporate Consolidated Adjusted Funds Flow per Share”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Duvernay Energy Adjusted Funds Flow”, “Corporate Consolidated Free Cash Flow”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Free Cash Flow”, “Duvernay Energy Free Cash Flow”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Income”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income”, “Duvernay Energy Operating Income”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Netback”, “Corporate Consolidated Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging”, “Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Netback”, “Duvernay Energy Operating Netback” and “Cash Transportation and Marketing Expense” financial measures contained in this News Release do not have standardized meanings which are prescribed by IFRS and they are considered to be non-GAAP financial measures or ratios. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and should not be considered in isolation with measures that are prepared in accordance with IFRS. Net Cash and Liquidity are supplementary financial measures. The Leismer and Hangingstone operating results are supplementary financial measures that when aggregated, combine to the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) segment results.

    Adjusted Funds Flow, Adjusted Funds Flow Per Share and Free Cash Flow

    Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to represent cash flow from operating activities, net earnings or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. The Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow measures allow management and others to evaluate the Company’s ability to fund its capital programs and meet its ongoing financial obligations using cash flow internally generated from ongoing operating related activities. Adjusted Funds Flow per share is a non-GAAP financial ratio calculated as Adjusted Funds Flow divided by the applicable number of weighted average shares outstanding. Adjusted Funds Flow and Free Cash Flow are calculated as follows:

      Three months ended
    June 30, 2025
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 101,142   $ 290   $ 101,432  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   20,922     5,207     26,129  
    Settlement of provisions   33     (3 )   30  
    ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   122,097     5,494     127,591  
    Capital expenditures   (56,110 )   (16,956 )   (73,066 )
    FREE CASH FLOW $ 65,987   $ (11,462 ) $ 54,525  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
      Six months ended
    June 30, 2025
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 214,569   $ 10,216   $ 224,785  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   28,152     3,595     31,747  
    Settlement of provisions   729     5     734  
     ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   243,450     13,816     257,266  
    Capital expenditures   (106,486 )   (29,913 )   (136,399 )
     FREE CASH FLOW $ 136,964   $ (16,097 ) $ 120,867  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
      Three months ended
    June 30, 2024
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 124,027   $ 11,056   $ 135,083  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   25,375     5,390     30,765  
    Settlement of provisions   11     (113 )   (102 )
    ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   149,413     16,333     165,746  
    Capital expenditures   (34,084 )   (14,369 )   (48,453 )
    FREE CASH FLOW $ 115,329   $ 1,964   $ 117,293  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
      Six months ended
    June 30, 2024
     
     ($ Thousands) Athabasca
    (Thermal Oil)
      Duvernay Energy(1)   Corporate
    Consolidated(1)
     
    Cash flow from operating activities $ 197,068   $ 14,653   $ 211,721  
    Changes in non-cash working capital   34,761     5,535     40,296  
    Settlement of provisions   1,297     204     1,501  
     ADJUSTED FUNDS FLOW   233,126     20,392     253,518  
    Capital expenditures   (76,203 )   (48,261 )   (124,464 )
     FREE CASH FLOW $ 156,923   $ (27,869 ) $ 129,054  
    (1) Duvernay Energy and Corporate Consolidated reflect gross financial metrics before taking into consideration Athabasca’s 70% equity interest in Duvernay Energy.
     

    Duvernay Energy Operating Income and Operating Netback

    The non-GAAP measure Duvernay Energy Operating Income in this News Release is calculated by subtracting the Duvernay Energy royalties, operating expenses and transportation & marketing expenses from petroleum and natural gas sales which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Duvernay Energy Operating Netback per boe is a non-GAAP financial ratio calculated by dividing the Duvernay Energy Operating Income by the Duvernay Energy production. The Duvernay Energy Operating Income and the Duvernay Energy Operating Netback measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Company’s Duvernay Energy assets.

    The Duvernay Energy Operating Income is calculated using the Duvernay Energy Segments GAAP results, as follows:

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Petroleum and natural gas sales $ 13,526   $ 26,749   $ 31,145   $ 38,287  
    Royalties   (1,792 )   (3,498 )   (4,553 )   (5,812 )
    Operating expenses   (4,870 )   (4,063 )   (8,656 )   (7,703 )
    Transportation and marketing   (960 )   (1,131 )   (1,758 )   (2,029 )
    DUVERNAY ENERGY OPERATING INCOME $ 5,904   $ 18,057   $ 16,178   $ 22,743  
                             

    Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income and Operating Netback

    The non-GAAP measure Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income in this News Release is calculated by subtracting the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) segments cost of diluent blending, royalties, operating expenses and cash transportation & marketing expenses from heavy oil (blended bitumen) and midstream sales which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Netback per bbl is a non-GAAP financial ratio calculated by dividing the respective projects Operating Income by its respective bitumen sales volumes. The Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income and the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Netback measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) assets.

    The Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Operating Income is calculated using the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) Segments GAAP results, as follows:

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Heavy oil (blended bitumen) and midstream sales $ 355,160   $ 395,279   $ 717,535   $ 700,320  
    Cost of diluent   (147,065 )   (148,166 )   (299,197 )   (282,026 )
    Total bitumen and midstream sales   208,095     247,113     418,338     418,294  
    Royalties   (9,431 )   (28,823 )   (25,395 )   (40,360 )
    Operating expenses – non-energy   (26,810 )   (24,417 )   (51,697 )   (47,542 )
    Operating expenses – energy   (13,621 )   (11,635 )   (27,128 )   (28,193 )
    Transportation and marketing(1)   (22,430 )   (20,544 )   (42,999 )   (40,056 )
    ATHABASCA (THERMAL OIL) OPERATING INCOME $ 135,803   $ 161,694   $ 271,119   $ 262,143  
    (1) Transportation and marketing excludes non-cash costs of $0.6 million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (three and six months ended June 30, 2024 – $0.6 million and $1.1 million).
     

    Corporate Consolidated Operating Income and Corporate Consolidated Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging and Operating Netbacks

    The non-GAAP measures of Corporate Consolidated Operating Income including or excluding realized hedging in this News Release are calculated by adding or subtracting realized gains (losses) on commodity risk management contracts (as applicable), royalties, the cost of diluent blending, operating expenses and cash transportation & marketing expenses from petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Corporate Consolidated Operating Netbacks including or excluding realized hedging per boe are non-GAAP ratios calculated by dividing Corporate Consolidated Operating Income including or excluding hedging by the total sales volumes and are presented on a per boe basis. The Corporate Consolidated Operating Income and Corporate Consolidated Operating Netbacks including or excluding realized hedging measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Company’s Duvernay Energy and Athabasca (Thermal Oil) assets combined together including the impact of realized commodity risk management gains or losses (as applicable).

      Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Petroleum, natural gas and midstream sales(1) $ 368,686   $ 422,028   $ 748,680   $ 738,607  
    Royalties   (11,223 )   (32,321 )   (29,948 )   (46,172 )
    Cost of diluent(1)   (147,065 )   (148,166 )   (299,197 )   (282,026 )
    Operating expenses   (45,301 )   (40,115 )   (87,481 )   (83,438 )
    Transportation and marketing(2)   (23,390 )   (21,675 )   (44,757 )   (42,085 )
    Operating Income   141,707     179,751     287,297     284,886  
    Realized gain (loss) on commodity risk mgmt. contracts   394     (1,575 )   (1,249 )   (130 )
    OPERATING INCOME NET OF REALIZED HEDGING $ 142,101   $ 178,176   $ 286,048   $ 284,756  
    (1) Non-GAAP measure includes intercompany NGLs (i.e. condensate) sold by the Duvernay Energy segment to the Athabasca (Thermal Oil) segment for use as diluent that is eliminated on consolidation.
    (2) Transportation and marketing excludes non-cash costs of $0.6 million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (three and six months ended June 30, 2024 – $0.6 million and $1.1 million).
     

    Cash Transportation and Marketing Expense

    The Cash Transportation and Marketing Expense financial measures contained in this News Release are calculated by subtracting the non-cash transportation and marketing expense as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows from the transportation and marketing expense as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) and are considered to be non-GAAP financial measures.

    Net Cash

    Net Cash is defined as the face value of term debt, plus accounts payable and accrued liabilities, plus current portion of provisions and other liabilities plus income tax payable less current assets, excluding risk management contracts.

    Liquidity

    Liquidity is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus available credit capacity.

    Production volumes details

        Three months ended
    June 30,
      Six months ended
    June 30,
     
    Production   2025   2024   2025   2024  
    Duvernay Energy:                  
    Oil and condensate NGLs(1) bbl/d   1,608     2,806     1,723     2,006  
    Other NGLs bbl/d   282     266     304     223  
    Natural gas(2) mcf/d   4,329     4,706     4,585     3,998  
    Total Duvernay Energy boe/d   2,612     3,856     2,791     2,895  
    Total Thermal Oil bitumen bbl/d   36,476     33,765     35,613     32,651  
    Total Company production boe/d   39,088     37,621     38,404     35,546  
    (1) Comprised of 99% or greater of tight oil, with the remaining being light and medium crude oil.
    (2) Comprised of 99% or greater of shale gas, with the remaining being conventional natural gas.
     

    This News Release also makes reference to Athabasca’s forecasted average daily Thermal Oil production of 33,500 ‐ 35,500 bbl/d for 2025. Athabasca expects that 100% of that production will be comprised of bitumen. Duvernay Energy’s forecasted total average daily production of ~4,000 boe/d for 2025 is expected to be comprised of approximately 65% tight oil, 25% shale gas and 10% NGLs.

    Liquids is defined as bitumen, light crude oil, medium crude oil and natural gas liquids.

    Break Even is an operating metric that calculates the US$WTI oil price required to fund operating costs (Operating Break-even), sustaining capital (Sustaining Break-even), or growth capital (Total Capital) within Adjusted Funds Flow.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Newfoundland and Labrador issue RFEI for 150 MW capacity and 500 GWh energy

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Newfoundland and Labrador issue RFEI for 150 MW capacity and 500 GWh energy

    CanREA members are eager to propose new, affordable, wind and solar energy projects in Newfoundland & Labrador.

    Toronto, July 24, 2025—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) welcomes Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s new Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI), as announced July 9.

    An information session held by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro on July 23 confirmed that this RFEI is for the supply of energy and/or capacity that, in combination, can provide up to 150 megawatts (MW) of firm capacity and up to 500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of firm energy, to meet the increasing demands of the province’s Island Interconnected System.

    “With this announcement, CanREA is now tracking wind energy, solar energy and energy storage activity coast-to-coast in Canada, with a clear focus on building clean energy projects at scale and pace,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO.

    The RFEI will help the utility gather market information to support the development of a Request for Proposals (RFP) and a Request for Information (RFI) later this year.

    “Newfoundland and Labrador needs more power, and our members are ready to compete for the opportunity to develop wind, solar and battery storage projects to help meet these needs, provide affordable, reliable and clean electricity to Newfoundlanders and support economic growth across the province,” said Jean Habel, CanREA’s Senior Director for Québec and Atlantic Canada.  

    Wind and solar energy, coupled with energy storage capacity, can contribute to a decarbonized energy grid, create local economic benefits and improve the resilience of the electricity system.

    CanREA will continue to engage with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure this RFEI process will result in the lowest-cost, highest-benefit outcomes for consumers.  

    “This RFEI is a high-priority item for CanREA’s members in Atlantic Canada, and we are confident that it will build momentum in Newfoundland and Labrador over the coming years,” said Eddie Oldfield, CanREA’s Manager for Atlantic Canada. 

    The deadline for questions is Friday, August 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (NDT, and the RFEI bid closing date is Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 3 p.m. (NDT).

    Quotes

    “With this announcement, CanREA is now tracking wind energy, solar energy and energy storage activity coast-to-coast in Canada, with a clear focus on building clean energy projects at scale and pace.”
    —Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    “Newfoundland and Labrador needs more power, and our members are ready to compete for the opportunity to develop wind, solar and battery storage projects to help meet these needs, provide affordable, reliable and clean electricity to Newfoundlanders and support economic growth across the province.”
    —Jean Habel, Senior Director for Québec and Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) 

    “This RFEI is a high-priority item for CanREA’s members in Atlantic Canada, and we are confident that it will build momentum in Newfoundland and Labrador over the coming years.”
    —Eddie Oldfield, Atlantic Canada Manager, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    Canadian Renewable Energy Association 

    Communications Canadian Renewable Energy Association communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

    About CanREA 

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. 

    The post Newfoundland and Labrador issue RFEI for 150 MW capacity and 500 GWh energy appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI USA News: H.R. 4 and H.R. 517 Signed into Law S. 1582

    Source: US Whitehouse

    On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the President signed into law:
     
    H.R. 4, the “Rescissions Act of 2025,” which rescinds certain budget authority proposed to be rescinded in special messages transmitted to the Congress by the President on June 3, 2025, in accordance with section 1012(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974;
     
    H.R. 517, the “Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act,” which amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the rules for postponing certain deadlines by reason of disaster; and
     
    S. 1596, the “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act,” which renames the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge located in the State of Texas as the “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge”.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Volcano Watch — Ancient volcanoes are critical to our modern world, and our future

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. 

    The Ha‘akulamanu trail within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park passes through the Sulphur Banks area, where long-term degassing near Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) has altered the basalt to colorful minerals including yellow sulfur, white gypsum, and reddish-brown hematite. USGS photo by C. Sealing.

    Volcanoes act as windows into the deep Earth. They help us understand the formation of our planet and others like it in the solar system. Living on or near an active volcano can be both beneficial, due to their rich soils and tourism appeal, but they also pose hazards to the communities around them. For this reason, we need to understand what drives volcanic eruptions and monitor volcanoes to keep communities safe. 

    Long after magma has stopped rising through the crust and the last eruption at a volcano has ceased, another process takes places in volcanic systems deep underground. Fluids begin to percolate through the system—they flow through the old magma reservoirs, the dykes and sills, buried lava flows and hydrothermal systems—transporting elements and chemically altering the surrounding rocks. Unlike the geologically short and violent lives of volcanoes, the formation of mineral systems is a slow, quiet process that can take millions of years. 

    According to the Energy Act of 2020, “critical minerals” are those minerals, elements, substances, or materials designated as critical because they serve an essential function for energy technology and have a high risk of supply chain disruption. The list of critical minerals includes elements like lithium, nickel, magnesium, platinum, iridium, and rare earth elements, among others. These elements have become important for our everyday lives, and are used in everything from solar panels, batteries, vehicles, power plants, medical devices, to smartphones.

    More than half of the world’s critical mineral resources formed in ancient volcanic systems. When exploring for mineral resources, your location within the volcanic system will determine the type of ore bodies you’d expect to find. 

    For instance, deep in the volcanic system, minerals like chromium, titanium, vanadium, and platinum-group elements are found in layered intrusive rocks that were once bodies of magma that never made it to the surface.

    The most abundant source of rare earth elements are strange magmas called carbonatites that are found at the edges of ancient continents and in ancient rift systems within continents. In other volcanic systems, like submarine volcanoes, magmatic-hydrothermal systems yield minerals like copper, lead, zinc, and gold.

    The richest mineral deposits are often found in the oldest volcanic rocks. They’ve been weathered down, eroded, and buried, while fluids have moved through continuously altering the rocks themselves. You probably wouldn’t recognize them as old volcanic systems without a geology degree—and even then, it’s hard!

    As geologists, we use observations of our modern world to help us understand the formations of the past. Studying recent and active volcanic systems—where they form, how they’re shaped inside, what magmas they produce, and how they interact with the surrounding environment—allows us to better understand and explore for these ancient, mineral-bearing systems that power the modern and future world.  So, next time you visit a national park with volcanoes like Kīlauea or Yellowstone, imagine you are hiking on what could be a future ore deposit millions of years from now.

    Volcano Activity Updates

    Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

    Episode 29 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on July 20, with approximately 13 hours of fountaining from predominantly the north vent. Summit region inflation since the end of episode 29, along with persistent tremor, suggests that another episode is possible and could start July 31 or later. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

    One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 1 km (0 mi) S of Kealakekua at 9 km (5 mi) depth on July 21 at 9:07 p.m. HST.

    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

    Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast on France Recognizing ‘State of Palestine’

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued the following statement in response to President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France will recognize the “State of Palestine:”

    “Choosing to reward terrorism, hostage taking, and genocide against Jews is the wrong choice.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor launches self-audit programs to help regulated community strengthen compliance with federal labor laws

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced several programs designed to help employers, unions, and pension plans voluntarily assess and improve their compliance with federal labor laws.

    The self-audit programs, which include new and updated offerings, aim to enhance worker protections while reducing the likelihood of formal investigation or litigation.  

    “Self-audits are one of the most effective ways to build a culture of compliance and trust,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “These programs are designed to give employers, unions, and benefit plan officials the tools they need to correct potential violations proactively. By empowering the regulated community with clarity and collaboration, we are continuing to fulfill the Department of Labor’s mission to put both workers and employers first.”

    The following agencies offer self-audit programs:

    • Employee Benefits Security Administration: EBSA offers two key self-correction programs for fiduciaries and benefits plan administrators: the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program, which encourages employers and plan officials to voluntarily correct violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program, which encourages voluntary compliance with ERISA’s annual reporting requirements and offers incentives to late filers, including paying lower penalties.
    • Mine Safety and Health Administration: MSHA’s new Compliance Assistance in Safety and Health program features resources available to mining operations via an information hub on the MSHA.gov website. This hub provides links to a variety of safety and health topics to assist mining operations and provides direct contact to safety and health specialists to address their needs related to compliance assistance.
    • Occupational Safety and Health Administration: OSHA is expanding its Voluntary Protection Programs to meet businesses where they are on their safety journey to help develop strong safety programs and lower injury rates, allowing them to undergo regular self-evaluations and avoid routine inspections. OSHA is increasing its efforts to support voluntary compliance through its On-Site Consultation Program, which offers no-cost and confidential safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses.
    • Office of Labor-Management Standards: OLMS administers the Voluntary Compliance Partnership program to help unions assess their compliance with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The program focuses on key areas such as reporting and disclosure requirements, as well as financial integrity.
    • Veterans’ Employment and Training Service: VETS has launched a new program, SALUTE: Support and Assistance for Leaders in USERRA Training and Employment, to help employers proactively review their policies and practices under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The program aims to foster good-faith compliance and ensure the employment rights of service members are respected.
    • Wage and Hour Division: The Wage and Hour Division is restarting the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program to enable employers to self-identify and resolve minimum wage, overtime, and leave violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act

    Visitors can access resources, toolkits, and program-specific guidance at dol.gov/SelfAudit.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor recovers $155K in wages, benefits for 19 employees underpaid by Colorado contractor on federally funded project

    Source: US Department of Labor

    DENVER  The U.S. Department of Labor recovered a total of $155,066 in back wages and fringe benefits for 19 employees who were underpaid for their work on a project funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

    The department’s Wage and Hour Division found that AAA Fire Protection Inc. was contracted to install sprinklers at a newly constructed mixed-use apartment and retail complex in Denver. The company incorrectly classified 16 employees as apprentices and failed to provide fringe benefits and proper prevailing wages in violation of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. AAA Fire Protection also neglected to pay overtime premiums to employees working more than 40 hours in a workweek and failed to keep proper records, both violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

    “An employer cannot simply classify workers as apprentices and pay them a lower rate. Any workers classified as apprentices must be part of a registered apprenticeship program,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director David Skinner in Denver. “Contractors can contact us for compliance assistance to learn how to properly classify workers to meet their legal obligation to pay them the wages and benefits they are rightfully due.”

    Located in Commerce City, AAA Fire Protection Inc. is a specialty contractor focusing on fire suppression. In addition to the $155,066 in back wages and fringe benefits, the employer agreed to comply with the Davis-Bacon Act and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in all future contracts that are subject to the acts. 

    The Wage and Hour Division offers free virtual prevailing wage seminars to provide training and outreach on topics such as the Davis-Bacon Act, the Service Contract Act, Executive Orders 13658 and 13706, wage determinations and conformances, and compliance assistance and enforcement processes.

    Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division and the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division and how to file an online complaint. For compliance assistance, employees and employers can call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). 

    Download the agency’s free Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices to ensure hours and pay are accurate. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer praises One Big Beautiful Bill Act during ‘America at Work’ stops in Georgia

    Source: US Department of Labor

    ATLANTA – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer continued her America at Work listening tour this week in Atlanta, where she met with linemen at Georgia Power’s Klondike Training Center, spoke at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ 42nd Annual Conference, and toured a Coca-Cola bottling facility. 

    Throughout these visits, the Secretary emphasized the Trump Administration’s commitment to building a stronger American workforce and delivering results through the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

    “At every stop on my ‘America at Work’ listening tour, I hear from hardworking men and women like the Coca-Cola bottlers in Atlanta who are grateful to finally have a President who puts American Workers First, including through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “From no tax on tips or overtime to expanded Pell Grant access for trade and technical schools, this pro-growth legislation means more take-home pay and more opportunities for families to get ahead. President Trump and I are committed to the same goal: making sure every American worker can build a good life and achieve the American Dream.”

    Georgia Power

    On Tuesday, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer visited Geogia Power’s Klondike Training Center where she met with linemen who keep the lights on for millions of Americans every day. She observed training demonstrations and learned how Georgia Power’s Lineworker Entry Program equips workers with in-demand skills for good-paying jobs.

    NALEO Conference

    On Wednesday, the Secretary addressed NALEO’s annual conference, underscoring the Administration’s commitment to expanding economic opportunity for all Americans. She highlighted how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s pro-worker provisions – including expanded access to Pell Grants for two-year educational programs – will help connect more workers with the skills training they need to fill mortgage-paying jobs. She also updated attendees on her America at Work tour, noting how listening directly to workers is shaping policies that will strengthen the workforce and the economy.

    Coca-Cola Bottling Facility

    Secretary Chavez-DeRemer also toured a Coca-Cola bottling facility in Atlanta, where she saw how advanced technologies like semi-automated picking systems are boosting production and efficiency. The Secretary emphasized the importance of upskilling America’s workforce in the age of artificial intelligence and automation to ensure they are prepared to fill the jobs of the future. She also visited the company’s Commercial Driver’s License training area and fleet mechanic shop, hearing firsthand how investments at the federal, state, and local level help workers secure good-paying jobs that support their families and communities.

    The America at Work listening tour will continue in the weeks ahead as Secretary Chavez-DeRemer travels the country to listen to workers, gather feedback, and take their voices back to Washington to inform pro-growth, pro-worker policies. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Press Briefing Transcript: Julie Kozack, Director, Communications Department, July 24, 2025

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    July 24, 2025

    SPEAKER:  Ms. Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department, IMF

    MS. KOZACK: Good morning, and welcome to the IMF Press Briefing. It is wonderful to see all of you, both those of you here in person and colleagues online as well. I’m Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department at the IMF. As usual, this briefing is embargoed until 11 A.M. Eastern Time in the United States. I’ll start with a few announcements and then I’ll take your questions in person on Webex and via the Press Center.
    First, we will be releasing our flagship publication, the World Economic Outlook Update, next Tuesday, July 29th. The report will offer fresh insights into the current global economic trends and external imbalances.
    For your planning purposes, our Executive Board will be in recess from August 4th through the 15th, and we will notify you in due course on the date of our next press briefing.
    And with that, I will now open the floor for your questions. For those connecting virtually, please turn on both your camera and microphone when speaking, and the floor is opened.

    QUESTIONER: Just wanted to ask you about the tariff situation that’s unfolding at the moment, given the recent trade deals that the U.S. has struck with its key trading partners, including Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, just recently. The European Union is under negotiations that’s coming to fruition soon. It looks like the consensus is kind of around a 15 to 20% tariff rate in that range, that the US is, sort of agreeing with its partners for. And I just wanted to know if the IMF views that as an acceptable rate? Whether this would be detrimental to the global economy. I know we have the WEO coming out in a few days. Just wanted to get your take on what’s unfolding right now.

    MS. KOZACK: Let us see if there’s any other questions on this topic before I answer. If anyone online wants to come in on this topic, please let us know.
    So let me start with where we are. Since April, when we think about the global economy, we see activity indicators that reflect a complex backdrop shaped by trade tensions. We also saw that in the first quarter of the year, the data showed some front-loading of exports and imports ahead of, at that time, what was expected tariff increases. The more recent data points to trade diversion and to some unwinding of the front-loading. And at the same time, we are seeing some trade deals. Some have lowered tariffs. And at the same time, there’s also been some deals or some, not deals, but we have seen increases in tariffs, for example, on steel, aluminum, and copper. So, our team is assessing all of this information as it is coming in. And they will put together a comprehensive picture, which we will talk about in the WEO next week.

    I would also just remind that when we released our WEO in April, we talked about a period of very high uncertainty. And at that time, we had in our WEO a reference forecast, right? And that reflected the fact that we were in an uncertain environment where there were many different paths forward. For example, we had an effective tariff rate of the U.S. of about 25 percent based on April 2nd announcements. That effective tariff rate for the U.S. declined to 14 percent based on the pause of April 9th. And of course, one of the important factors for assessing the impact of the deals on the U.S. economy and the global economy will be what is the new effective tariff rate that will prevail.
    So, all of that work is ongoing, and we will have a full assessment next week in the WEO.

    QUESTIONER: So, would the 15 to 20 percent rate be higher than what we saw in the April WEO?

    MS. KOZACK: I think the way I would answer that is to simply say that we are looking at all the deals in April, and we had an effective rate around 14 percent. There, of course, has been movement since April. There have been deals. There have been some reductions in some tariff rates. There have been increases in other tariff rates. So, the team is going to have to put together that comprehensive assessment to determine what would be the new effective tariff rate that would prevail. And then, we would be in a position to compare it to what we had based on the April 2 announcement, what we had based on the April 9 pause, and then where we are today.
    And another very important factor will be what is the overall impact on uncertainty, right? We have talked about being in a very highly uncertain environment. So, of course, we will be looking at that closely as well.

    QUESTIONER: The president of Ukraine recently signed a law that regulates the anti-corruption bodies in the country. How does the IMF view this law, and how can this impact IMF Ukraine cooperation moving forward? And secondly, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Ukraine is facing a significant budget shortfall and is likely seeking a new IMF loan. What is the IMF’s assessment of the possibility of launching a new program?

    MS. KOZACK: Any other questions on Ukraine?

    QUESTIONER: I just wanted to follow up on whether, despite the moves by the Ukrainian government, can the IMF land to Ukraine?

    MS. KOZACK: Are there questions online on Ukraine? On Ukraine, let me just step back and remind kind of where we are with Ukraine.
    On June 30th, the IMF Board completed the Eighth Review of the EFF program and that enabled a disbursement of half a billion U.S. dollars. And that brought total disbursements under the program to U.S. $10.6 billion. Ukraine’s economy remains resilient. The authorities met, and this was reported as part of the Eighth Review, all of the end-March and continuous quantitative performance criteria; they met the prior action that was required for that review, and they also met two structural benchmarks.
    With respect to the specific questions, on the first question that you had, the enacted law, as we see it, neutralizes the effectiveness of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. And from our perspective, that would be very problematic for macroeconomic stability and growth in Ukraine. Stepping back a bit, you know, the establishment and the development of independent institutions to detect and prosecute corruption cases has been central to the IMF’s engagement with Ukraine over the past 10 years. And these institutions have contributed to an improvement in governance in Ukraine over that period.
    Why is this important for Ukraine? From our perspective, Ukraine needs a robust anti-corruption architecture. And that will help level the playing field, improve the business climate, and attract private investment into Ukraine. And it’s a central piece of Ukraine’s reform agenda. So, from our perspective, safeguarding the independence of anti-corruption institutions remains a critical policy priority.
    We do take note of the government’s intention to introduce a new bill to restore the independence of the anti-corruption institutions.
    So, what I can say now is that in the coming weeks, the IMF Staff and the authorities are expected to intensify discussions about the 2026 budget and s to do an assessment of Ukraine’s financing needs, both for 2026 and over the medium term. They will be intensifying discussions to put together that comprehensive picture. That work is essential for the current program and any future potential engagement that we would have with Ukraine.

    QUESTIONER: If it finishes, what was the Staff assessment of the First Review of the agreement with Argentina and when would the Board’s definition be? And following the report on external reserves published this week, I think it was on Monday, does the IMF’s concerns continue?

    QUESTIONER: Has the Board already met to evaluate the First Review? And do you know if Argentina has requested a waiver? And how does the IMF assess the recent rate in this area, action rate and interest rates? And what are the causes of this change in monetary and exchange rate policy? Thank you.

    QUESTIONER: Yes, to add up to what was asked if there are any concerns regarding the impact of the exchange rates on inflation as well? And also, if the concerns remain regarding the weak external position for Argentina.

    QUESTIONER: President Milei has already confirmed that, for fiscal reasons, he will veto the laws recently passed by the Congress to increase pensions, extend the pension moratorium and declare an emergency disability. So, then has this intention being talked with the IMF previously or what is the IMF position on this matter?

    MS. KOZACK: On Argentina, here is what I can share today. So first, I want to mention that discussions on the First Review, which many of you have mentioned, are very advanced at this stage. And the next step in these discussions will be to reach a Staff-Level Agreement between the authorities and Staff. And we believe that that can happen very shortly. After the Staff-Level Agreement is reached, then Staff will present the documents to the Executive Board for their approval and consideration.
    What I can also add, and we have talked about that before here, is that the program has been off to a strong start. It has been underpinned by the continued implementation of tight macroeconomic policies, including a strong fiscal anchor and a tight monetary policy stance. The transition to a more flexible exchange rate regime has been smooth. Disinflation has resumed. And Argentina has reassessed international capital markets earlier than had been initially anticipated under the program.
    Given that our Staff and the authorities are very engaged in these discussions, which again are at an advanced stage, I’m not going to provide any further details now. We will give space for them to bring those discussions to a conclusion, and then we will, of course, communicate once those discussions have come to a conclusion. And again, we do think that a Staff-Level agreement could happen very, very shortly.

    QUESTIONER: Will the Board meeting be before, and start the holiday recess, or after? Because we are talking about 15 days, if not.

    MS. KOZACK: So right now, I don’t have any further details to share with you, but certainly once a Staff-Level Agreement is reached, we will be communicating, including the potential timing for formal Board discussion.

    QUESTIONER: Can you please kindly update us on the current status of the discussion between the IMF and the Republic of Senegal regarding the temporarily suspended disbursements? Especially with the Annual Meetings approaching in October in Washington, is there a realistic prospect of finalizing the matter before then? This is the first question.
    The second one, following the recent meeting between His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and Mrs. Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, could you kindly also share some insight into the key topics discussed? What were the main points of their exchange, particularly in regard to economic and financial cooperation?

    MS. KOZACK: Any other questions on Senegal Online? Does anyone want to come in on Senegal?

    QUESTIONER: I have a follow-up because investors have been expecting the Board to consider the waiver by September. Is that timeline realistic? And the government also said it shared everything in its findings for reconciliation with the IMF. Does the Fund feel it has everything it needs in order to make the decision on the waiver?

    QUESTIONER: Have you received the report done by Mazars? And, is it enough to conclude the misreporting, and can we have maybe a time for the Board? And then, when can we expect also a new program?

    MS. KOZACK: So, let me turn to these questions.
    I’ll start by saying that the IMF remains closely engaged with Senegal. And as part of this process, as was noted, First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath met with President Bassirou Faye during his visit to Washington, D.C. on July 9th. Our First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD), Gopinath, emphasized the IMF’s continued support, as Senegal works to resolve the misreporting matter. And the President reaffirmed his government’s strong commitment to transparency and reform.

    What I can also share is that an IMF Staff team will visit Dakar. The mission is tentatively planned for later in August. The purpose of the mission is going to be to discuss the steps needed to bring the misreporting case to our Executive Board. And the team will also use the opportunity to initiate discussions on the contours of a new IMF-supported program for Senegal. We are also working closely with the authorities to design the corrective actions aimed at addressing the root causes of the misreporting and, of course, to strengthen capacity development in Senegal.

    With respect to the questions on the report by Mazars, what I can share there is that we have received a preliminary debt inventory that has been prepared by Forvis Mazars. Our IMF Staff are currently reviewing that report and all the information in detail. The preliminary assessment in the report is broadly aligned with expectations, and the final validation is ongoing. And I will leave it at that on Senegal. That is what I can share for now.

    QUESTIONER: My question is on Japan. Last week, the upper house election in Japan was over, but still unclear on the composition of a new government. And what is it you are recommending? But almost all parties pledged fiscal — expansionary fiscal policies, from providing cash to reduction of consumption tax. And what is your recommendation to the new government, especially on fiscal policy, given the power of debt in Japan? And my second question is on monetary policy of Federal Reserve next week. And should the Federal Reserve cut interest rates preemptively under the circumstance of huge pressure from President Donald Trump.

    MS. KOZACK: Let us start with Japan. So maybe let me just step back a little bit to give an overview of how we assessed the Japanese economy in our April WEO.
    So, at that time, we expected growth to strengthen in Japan, and we expected inflation to converge to the Bank of Japan’s 2 percent target by 2027. Growth was projected to accelerate from 0.2 percent in 2024 to 0.6 percent this year. At the same time, and as has been the case for quite some time, Japan continues to have high levels of public debt. And because of that, our advice for Japan is for a clear fiscal consolidation plan to offset pressures from rising interest payments and also from aging-related spending. And because of this advice, we assess that Japan has limited fiscal space, again because of high public debt and these future spending needs.

    In the near term, our advice to Japan is that given this limited fiscal space, it is essential that any response to shocks, any fiscal response to shocks, is both temporary and also targeted. And by targeted, I mean targeted toward vulnerable households and firms that may be most affected by shocks. Generalized subsidies and tax cuts, in our view, should be avoided. And that is because they are not targeted to the most vulnerable, and they are not an efficient use of Japan’s limited fiscal space.

    And then, on your second question, what I can say about the U.S. economy is that the U.S. economy has proven to be resilient in the past few years. It is something that we have been talking about for quite some time. But we do see high-frequency data that indicate moderating domestic demand and low consumer and business sentiment in the U.S. In addition, and as we mentioned before, there was a strong front-loading of imports into the U.S. in the first quarter. And that, in anticipation of tariffs, and that led to an important drag on growth in the first quarter. At the same time, in the U.S., labor markets remain resilient, and the unemployment rate remains relatively low.

    With respect to inflation, we do see inflation on a path towards the Fed’s 2 percent target, but it is subject to upside risks. And that means that the Fed’s task is complex given the very highly uncertain economic environment. So the Fed will need to take into account both policies undertaken by the U.S. administration, as well as incoming data in, and of course, data on potential wage pressures as it comes to thinking about, you know, the extent of rate decisions and the timing of any rate decisions going forward.

    QUESTIONER: On Argentina, can the IMF confirm that there was a meeting on Tuesday between the Board and Staff regarding the first program review? And I know you said you wouldn’t be able to divulge much details, but I’m going to ask it anyway. When should you expect Argentina’s $2 billion disbursement?

    MS. KOZACK: So, on the first question, all I can say on this is that it’s not unusual for IMF Staff to informally brief the Executive Board on a broad range of issues. And on the timing of the disbursement, as I already indicated, we will provide more information on the timing for a formal Board meeting only once a Staff-Level Agreement has been reached. And that formal Board meeting would indicate the time when any disbursement would be made available to the Argentine authorities.

    QUESTIONER: First, let me say on behalf of my colleague from the U.S., around the world, as well as in Africa, to say thank you to Gita for everything that she has done. Our engagements with African journalists, especially. So that’s part of what I wanted to say, thank you to her. I know she’s leaving.
    And my question now goes to if you can provide updates on African nations. And I have two specific questions, one on Malawi and one on South Africa. The recent reports on Malawi said the country is facing macroeconomic challenges. I know in 2020 they received the completed HIPC program. Could you provide any updates on whether the country has reached out for any assistance regarding HIPC? Whether they qualify for another Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) program to help them? We know in the past year, they’ve experienced floods, droughts, and natural issues that have affected the economy. I was wondering if the IMF is providing any assistance to them.
    The other question is on South Africa. We see growing tension between South Africa and the U.S. So, can you talk about if there’s any economic implication? South Africa is the largest economic in. Africa is also seen as a gateway to the continent. What are the macroeconomic issues, implications for the South African Development Community region (SADC), and also for the continent as a whole?

    MS. KOZACK: With respect to Malawi, what I can say is we completed the Article IV Consultation with Malawi just yesterday, July 22nd, 2025, or two days ago. So that was the 2025 Article IV Consultation that has been completed. And of course, there will be a lot of rich discussion of the state of the Malawian economy in that report. With respect to your more specific question on HIPC, what I can say is that Malawi completed the HIPC process in 2006. And at that time, Malawi secured U.S. $3.1 billion of debt relief through the HIPC Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative or otherwise known as MDRI. Since 2006, our assessment is that public debt in Malawi has returned to unsustainable levels. Total public debt is reached 88 percent of GDP at the end of 2024. And the interest bill on public debt is estimated to approach about 7 percent of GDP, which is quite high.

    We continue to urge the authorities to take decisive steps to restore public debt sustainability. Completing an external debt Restructuring and addressing the high cost of domestic borrowing are both essential to do this. And of course, strengthening public debt management and securing concessional financing will also be critical. So again, Malawi already completed the HIPC process in 2006.

    And then, on South Africa. What I can say about South Africa, I can talk a bit about how we see the outlook for South Africa, the economic outlook. So right now, based on the April WEO, we see the current economic outlook for South Africa as subdued. We projected growth in April at 1 percent for this year and 1.3 percent for next year. Uncertainty, including related to global trade policies, is weighing on activity in South Africa. And that it’s causing firms and households to delay their investment decisions and also consumption decisions.

    And I would also refer you to the April REO, Regional Economic Outlook, for Africa, and that includes some estimates on the impact of uncertainty and financial conditions on the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
    And finally, we of course continue to assess developments in South Africa, and we’ll be providing an update in the July WEO.

    QUESTIONER: I just had two follow-up questions. One was on your comments about the Fed. As you know, the tension between the Trump administration and the Fed, particularly Chair Powell, has been increasing lately. The President is going to go tour the Fed building that’s being renovated. It is a subject of controversy. Given that the IMF has been a stalwart defender of Central Bank independence, should any of this lead to Chair Powell’s replacement or his resignation? Just wondering, what kind of signal that would send to financial markets, to other countries, what kind of precedent would that set? And secondly, regarding First Deputy Managing Director Gopinath’s departure, can you walk us through the process for choosing a replacement for her?
    Traditionally, this has been a position that the U.S. has had a very strong hand in choosing. It has typically been an American. Do you expect the U.S. Treasury Department, for example, to basically recommend a candidate to the Managing Director?

    MS. KOZACK: On your first question for quite some time, the IMF has consistently advocated for Central Bank independence. And we’ve said it’s critical to ensuring that Central Banks are able to achieve their mandated objectives, such as low and stable inflation. And as we have seen through the disinflation process that has been taking place over the last few years, the credibility of Central Banks around the world has been instrumental in anchoring inflation expectations and in bringing down inflation across, you know, across the world. And across many countries in the world. And it is also important that independence, of course, it must coexist with clear accountability to the public.
    And on the question about the process, on Gita Gopinath’s decision to return to Harvard, maybe just to step back to say that on July 21st, you know, the Managing Director announced that Gita Gopinath, our First Deputy Managing Director, would be leaving the Fund at the end of August to return to Harvard University. She will be the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics.

    And for your background, Ms. Gopinath joined the Fund in January 2019 as the first female Chief Economist of the Fund. And she was promoted to First Deputy Managing Director in January of 2022. I can add that this was a personal decision for Ms. Gopinath. She will return to her roots in academia, where she will continue to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics. And she will also be training the next generation of economists.
    With respect to the selection of process and how the process works, the Managing Director selects and appoints the First Managing Director and the three Deputy Managing Directors of the Fund. The appointment is subject to approval by the Fund’s Executive Board. And in making the selection, the Managing Director consults with the Executive Board regarding the type of qualifications that, in the view of the Executive Board, a First Deputy Managing Director or a Deputy Managing Director should possess.

    QUESTIONER: My first question is regarding Sri Lanka. When can we expect the next review for the IMF-supported program? And secondly, given the uncertainties and risks that are currently opposing the economy for Sri Lanka, is there any decision or any exploration by the IMF to revisit some of the targets that have been implemented in the program that was given to Sri Lanka?

    QUESTIONER: I would like to know that now Sri Lanka has already finished four reviews, and now we are heading for the fifth one. What is the overall view of the IMF? That Sri Lanka’s performance, how we perform during these four reviews? And what are the expectations for the next review in brief? Thank you very much.

    MS. KOZACK: I have a question here that came in through the Press center on Sri Lanka. The question is what is the status of the IMF review of Sri Lanka’s program, an assessment of the macroeconomic outlook as well as the status of the review of the current mission that is visiting Sri Lanka. So, let me go ahead and take these. So, stepping back, on July 1st, the IMF’s Executive Board completed the Fourth Review under the EFF arrangement with Sri Lanka. This provided the country with U.S. $350 million to support its economic policies and reforms, and it brought total IMF financial support to U.S. $1.74 billion.

    What I can add is that Sri Lanka’s ambitious reform agenda continues to deliver commendable outcomes. Inflation remains low, revenue collection is improving and reserves, international reserves, continue to accumulate for the country. The post-crisis growth rebound to 5 percent in 2024 is quite remarkable. The revenue-to-GDP ratio improved from 8.2 percent in 2022 to 13.5 percent in 2024. The debt restructuring is nearly complete. And program performance has been generally strong overall, and the government remains committed to program objectives.

    What I can also add is that although the economic outlook remains positive for Sri Lanka, global trade policy and uncertainties do pose risks. And so, as the team moves forward to the Fifth Review, which we expect will be held in the fall, they will, of course, be looking at the overall and making an overall assessment of Sri Lanka’s economy. You know, including any implications from trade tensions or uncertainty. And of course, that will be — they will take that into account in discussions with the authorities on policies, and all of the program matters as part of the Fifth Review.

    QUESTIONER: Hi Julie. Thank you for taking my question. I have two questions, one on Syria and one on Egypt. So today there was the Saudi Syrian Investment Forum in Damascus, and it was said that in addition to the Saudi investments in support that there will be some global support on this. And the IFC was mentioned as well. So, what’s the IMF’s call on this, given that we have one of the G20 countries pledging this huge amount of investments in support? And how will the IMF contribute in this? That’s on Syria.

    And on Egypt, a few weeks ago in our press briefing here, it was mentioned that the two reviews, the Fifth and the Sixth, will be done together in the fall. Can we say that this is going to be in fall after the Annual Meeting, after the WEO report is published for the — for the region and for the global? And what, what is the main factor that we’re looking at here that would ultimately change the way it’s viewed, how Egypt’s economy is viewed in light of all the recent developments?

    MS. KOZACK: On Syria, what I can say is, and as we discussed here before, an IMF staff team did visit Syria from June 1st through 5th, and that was the first visit since 2009. The team was there to assess economic and financial conditions in Syria and to discuss with the authorities their economic policy and capacity building priorities, ultimately to support the recovery of the Syrian economy. With your specific question, what I can say there is that we have mentioned that Syria will need substantial international assistance to support the authorities’ efforts to rehabilitate the economy, meet urgent humanitarian needs, and rebuild essential institutions and infrastructure. And this not only includes concessional financial support, but it also extends to capacity development. And here, the IMF is committed to supporting Syria in its recovery efforts. The IMF Staff is working in coordination with other partners to develop a detailed roadmap for policy and capacity building priorities for some of the key economic institutions. So that’s kind of within our mandate, and that includes the Finance Ministry, the Central Bank, and the Statistics Agency.

    With respect to Egypt, what I can say on Egypt is that the IMF Staff conducted a mission to Cairo in May 2025. The mission noted continued progress under Egypt’s macroeconomic reform program, including improvements in inflation and foreign exchange reserves. However, additional time was needed to finalize key policy measures, particularly those related to reducing the state’s footprint in the economy by advancing the implementation of the state ownership policy and leveling the playing field for businesses. To allow for this continued work, the Fifth and Sixth Reviews under the EFF will be combined, and they are expected to be completed in the fall. Our team remains committed to supporting Egypt in advancing reforms to strengthen resilience and foster inclusive and private sector led growth.

    MS. KOZACK: Coming back to the Press Center, I have a question that has come in on Ghana. It says Ghana’s Finance Minister is presenting the mid-year budget today, following a first half marked by notable improvements in key economic indicators. However, concerns are rising about potential new fiscal slippages, and that could undermine gains in inflation control, currency stability, and overall recovery. Does the IMF share these concerns? And second question, what is your view on the role of monetary policy at this point, especially as the Bank of Ghana prepares to review its policy stance?

    Again, stepping back, on July 7th, the IMF’s Executive Board completed the Fourth Review of Ghana’s ECF arrangement. And after Board approval, Ghana received about U.S. $367 million, bringing total support to around U.S. $2.3 billion since May 2023.
    With respect to the budget here, I can say that the IMF has welcomed the government’s corrective actions, including a strong 2025 budget and an audit of payables to quantify and address the pre-election fiscal slippages. The authorities have recently implemented changes to their public financial management and public procurement acts, and this helps improve the overall fiscal responsibility framework in Ghana. And the authorities have also adopted a strategy to address issues in the energy sector. I can add that the mid-year budget review is fully in line with the parameters and objectives of the IMF-supported program.

    And with respect to the question on monetary policy, what I can say is that Ghana has made good progress since the beginning of the program in reducing inflation. Inflation was extremely high at the end of 2022 at 54 percent. It has now come down substantially to 14 percent at end June 2025. Going forward, it will be important for monetary policy to remain sufficiently tight, consistent with bringing inflation down to the Bank of Ghana’s target range, which is 8 percent plus or minus 2 percentage points.

    QUESTIONER: I’m going to ask about digital assets. One very specifically. There’s this controversy with El Salvador that is going around and around, but the government says they’re still buying Bitcoin, and it seems that the IMF is saying they are just moving things around between wallets. And I wanted you to address that. Also, with the passage here in the U.S. of the GENIUS Act, I guess, what does the IMF, what do they think the impacts of this sort of increasing legitimization of digital assets in the U.S. is going to be in terms of other economies, in terms of the ability to implement monetary policy? I just wonder if you have any comment on that. Thank you very much for taking the question.

    QUESTIONER: I have a question, specifically on El Salvador. How does the IMF assess the country’s continued Bitcoin accumulation in the context of the fiscal and transparency standards embedded in the Extended Fund Facility, the $1.4 billion program that was agreed last December? To what extent could this strategy complicate monitoring or risk management of this program?

    MS. KOZACK: So, on El Salvador, I’ll start with El Salvador and then Matthew, I’ll get to your question on the GENIUS Act. So again, stepping back. So, on June 27th, the IMF Executive Board completed El Salvador’s annual Article IV Consultation and concluded the First Review of the EFF that enabled El Salvador to have access to U.S. $118 million. And so far, $231 million has been disbursed under the EFF program that was approved in February.
    Program performance has been solid in El Salvador. The economy has continued to expand as macroeconomic imbalances are being addressed. The key fiscal and reserve targets were met at the time of the review with margins. And substantial progress continues with the ambitious reform agenda in the areas of governance, transparency, and financial resilience.
    And risks from Bitcoin continue to be mitigated. Regarding the questions on Bitcoin, I don’t have much new to say other than as we have stated in the past, the total amount of Bitcoin held across government-owned wallets remains unchanged, and that is consistent with El Salvador’s program commitments. The accumulation of Bitcoin by the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund is consistent with program conditionality. And the increases in the Bitcoin Reserve Fund relate to movements across various government-owned wallets.
    And on your second question on the GENIUS Act, let me get to this one. Let me just step back for a moment, and then I’ll kind of come directly to the GENIUS Act.

    So, first, the GENIUS Act covers stablecoins, and stablecoins are a key type of privately issued crypto asset that aims to maintain a stable value. They do bring potential benefits, including cheaper and faster cross-border payments, increased financial inclusion, and greater portfolio diversification. So those are some of the potential benefits. There are operational risks, of course, associated with stablecoins if they are not properly regulated under an appropriate policy framework.

    Now, turning to the GENIUS Act. The GENIUS Act provides a comprehensive foundation for financial innovation and deepening. And that is balanced with consideration of consumer protection and market integrity goals and a clear identification of the institutional framework for oversight.
    Now, with respect to the kind of implications of the GENIUS Act, we, of course, are continuing to very actively monitor developments of stablecoins. We are assessing the potential implications of the GENIUS Act. And for us at the IMF, what is going to be especially important are going to be the implications for the international monetary system and the potential for spillovers to other jurisdictions. So that’s work that is ongoing, and our teams are making those assessments at this time.

    QUESTIONER: Any update on UAE economy outlook for GCC region and oil economy in general?

    MS. KOZACK: What I can share on UAE and the GCC in general, and I’ll be — and, of course, next week as part of the WEO update, we will, of course, be providing an update for the GCC region.
    So, starting with the UAE. Near-term growth in the UAE has been strong, and it is expected to remain healthy at over 4 percent in 2025. That was the assessment at the time of the April WEO. What we are seeing is robust growth in the non-hydrocarbon activity, and it is boosted by tourism, construction, public expenditure, and financial services. So those are the drivers of growth. Oil production is also increasing faster than expected, given the reversal of oil production cuts. And the UAE economy has demonstrated resilience to lower oil prices and increased oil price volatility this year.

    Now, turning to the GCC, what I can say for the GCC is that despite oil production cuts, GCC growth is estimated to have rebounded to 1.4 percent in 2024. And our projection at the time of the April WEO was that it will increase further to 3.3 percent in 2025. Non-hydrocarbon output growth is expected to remain strong, supported by rapid investment, construction, and accelerated reforms to diversify the GCC economies.
    Inflation remains low in the GCC, and our policy advice is for fiscal policy to remain prudent while strengthening fiscal reform implementation. And of course, we encourage policymakers in the region to continue reforms to support economic diversification. And as I noted, we will be providing an update of this assessment as part of the WEO update.
    And with that, I’m going to bring this Press Briefing to a close. Thank you all for your participation today.

    As a reminder, this briefing is embargoed until 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time in the United States. A transcript will be made available later on our website, IMF.org. Should you have any clarifications or additional queries, please do reach out to my colleagues via media@imf.org.

    This concludes our Press Briefing. I wish everyone a wonderful day, and I look forward to seeing you all next time.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Meera Louis

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy debunks Big Beautiful Bill myths: ‘Unless your soup of the day is gin, you know that is a lie’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:

    “Let me start with the reconciliation bill, which President Trump and others called the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    “I continue to go through the bill, and every time I do, I’m impressed. This is a breathtaking bill in the sense that it covers so many subjects. I think each of us could spend hours talking about this bill. I’ll just hit the highlights. This is one of the most far-reaching pieces of legislation that this body will ever pass.

    “We extended the 2017 tax cuts—no small feat in itself. Had we not done that, the American people would have suffered under a $4.3 trillion tax increase. So, we stopped that tax increase. And some of my friends and colleagues talk about, ‘Well, all you did was stop a tax increase on the billionaires.’ That is nonsense. That is nonsense on a stick.

    “Unless your soup of the day is gin, you know that is a lie.

    “Half of that tax increase would have hit working men and working women and working families in this country. The other half would have hit our small businesses. And, yes, some of our large businesses. We stopped that. We made some of those tax cuts permanent.

    “We cut taxes on tips. In this bill, we cut taxes on overtime. We cut taxes on Social Security. We cut taxes on car loans. We expanded a tax credit for childcare to help moms and dads pay for the childcare so they can work. We increased the child tax credit. We increased the standard deduction—and that’s going to take effect immediately. 

    “We funded school choice. For years and years and years, I have tried—we all have tried, many of us have tried—to provide the American people, moms and dads, with school choice. This bill did it.

    “I went to a public school. I’m proud of that, but competition makes all of us better. I can go to my overpriced Capitol Hill apartment or Capitol Hill grocery store and choose from six or seven types of mayonnaise. Why shouldn’t we give parents, moms and dads, choices for their education? We’re doing that with the school choice portion of this bill. 

    “We increase money for the border, and we increased money for defense.

    “Now, we also addressed the problem in Medicaid. And I’ve been very disappointed because some commentators have said that we’re going to throw off from the Medicaid rolls, I read, anywhere from 10 to 12 million people. And the implication in some of these articles and some of these comments is that we’re just going to look at the Medicaid rolls and go through and say, ‘You’re gone. We can’t afford you.’ And that’s not what this bill does. 

    “The first thing you have to realize is that actually Medicaid is not going to be cut at all under this bill. Under our bill that we just passed, our spending on Medicaid over the next 10 years is going to go up 20%. So, nobody is cutting Medicaid.

    “There are some people, as a result of the new provisions that we have put into law, who will no longer be eligible for Medicaid and will no longer get Medicaid, but they weren’t entitled to get it in the first place. So, when you say, ‘Well, you’re throwing people off from Medicaid.’ They weren’t entitled to it in the first place. 

    “You’re not entitled to Medicaid if you’re making $200,000 a year, and you didn’t tell the truth when you signed up for the Medicaid in your state, and your state didn’t verify your statements.

    “But let me give you one example. CMS just put out a report. . . . 2.8 million of those Americans who will lose Medicaid are double dippers. They signed up twice. We have 1.2 million people on the Medicaid rolls who are signed up in two states. And the American taxpayer is paying twice. . . . Most states use Managed Care, and they pay per Medicaid patient. So, if a state is paying—let’s say, I’ll pick a number—$18,000 per Medicaid patient per year to the health care organization to provide their care, and that person is signed up in two states, they’re double dipping, and it’s costing the American taxpayer two $8,000 payments a year. That’s cheating.

    “So, from one perspective, ‘You’re throwing these people off Medicaid.’ They weren’t entitled to double-dip in the first place. CMS also came out with a report—by CMS, I mean the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is the federal agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid.

    “CMS has also found that there are 1.6 million people who are on Medicaid today who are receiving both Medicaid and Obamacare.

    “Well, what’s Obamacare? I’ll refresh everyone’s memory. Medicaid is supposed to be for the poor and disabled. And Medicare is for the elderly. And a lot of other Americans have health insurance through their job. But there are certain numbers of Americans who don’t have health insurance because they’re not old enough for Medicare, and they’re not poor enough for Medicaid, and maybe their employer doesn’t offer health insurance. So, they can go to an exchange—we call them the Obamacare exchange—and buy health insurance. 

    “Now, President Obama and some of my colleagues—I wasn’t here then—but when we passed Obamacare, the Obamacare exchanges, the Affordable Care Act, we were told health insurance would be cheaper. And we were told it would be more accessible. It’s been neither. We were also told, ‘If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.’ That wasn’t true either. But the point is that we have a number of Americans who—if they don’t qualify for Medicare, they don’t qualify for Medicaid, they don’t get insurance through their employer—they go to the Obamacare exchanges. 

    “But CMS found we’ve got 1.6 million people who are getting both health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges, which we subsidized, taxpayers do, and through Medicaid. That’s called double dipping. It’s illegal. And CBO [Congressional Budget Office] can put out all the reports that they want to, saying, ‘Oh, you’re throwing all of these people off Medicaid.’ Technically, they’re right, but they’re not eligible to be on Medicaid.

    “I just gave you an example: 2.8 million people who are double-dipping. It’s illegal to double-dip. It’s immoral to double-dip. It’s unfair to taxpayers to double-dip. All our bill does is say, ‘You can’t double-dip.’ Cheating is wrong.

    “Is that throwing people off Medicaid? Technically, yes, but once again, as the other provisions in this bill also do, we’re taking people off Medicaid who weren’t eligible for it in the first place. As a result of these 2.8 million people, I think CMS—I’m looking for their figure—I think it costs the American taxpayers, because of these 2.8 million folks who are double dipping, $14 billion a year over a ten-year window, which is the horizon we used. That’s $140 billion that we’re going to save, and that savings is going to go back into Medicaid to make it even stronger.

    “That’s just one example of how much of the reporting on our bill is misleading.”

     Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Cramer: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Nomination of Nick Chase to Be U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    07.24.25

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer today announced that the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the nomination of Nicholas W. Chase to serve as United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. The senators recommended that President Trump nominate Chase to the position and have been working to secure his confirmation. Chase’s nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

    “Nick Chase has the right background and experience to serve as the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota,” said Senators Hoeven and Cramer. “He’s tried cases ranging from trafficking and child exploitation to narcotics to fraud and money laundering, helping to make our state safer and more secure. We appreciate the Senate Judiciary Committee for approving his nomination and will continue working to secure his confirmation by the full Senate.”

    Currently, Chase serves as a North Dakota District Court Judge for the East Central Judicial District, having been appointed by Governor Doug Burgum. He previously served for 20 years in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of North Dakota, including as Acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney. A North Dakota native, Chase has worked in private practice and as a federal judicial law clerk.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magic Valley Times-News: The One Big Beautiful Bill Will Help Idaho’s Rural Hospitals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has been signed into law, providing significant benefits to Idahoans, including cutting taxes for working families, promoting American manufacturing and energy dominance, and strengthening health care programs to support our most vulnerable populations.

    Nevertheless, the “politics of fear” have continued and disinformation misleads Idahoans about the law’s impact on Idaho’s health care system. In reality, this law represents the largest investment in rural health care in decades.

    The OBBBA ensures a more responsible use of taxpayer dollars by ending loopholes certain states use to get higher Medicaid payments from the federal government. There are two main tools states use to draw down more funds: state-directed payments and provider taxes.

    However, it is important to know that Idaho is not one of the states playing games with federal funding. Idaho does not use state-directed payments and does not have non-nursing home provider taxes above 3.5 percent.

    A responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, Idaho will not be affected by these reforms. Instead, Idaho’s rural hospitals will benefit from a new Rural Health Transformation Program that allocates money to all states, not just those using gimmicks to draw down more federal money.

    This $50 billion rural hospital fund is available to all states and 50 percent will be divided equally among states. This means Idaho stands to gain at least $100 million per year for five years.

    This is arguably the single largest investment in rural health care in more than 20 years. While it provides a way for states that do rely disproportionately on federal funding to make a financial plan, states like Idaho can provide immediate relief to rural hospitals and establish the tools necessary to be successful in the future.

    To understand how the bill’s reforms will save taxpayer dollars, it is important to understand how state-directed payments and provider taxes work.

    State-directed payments are used with Medicaid managed care and allow states to increase rates to providers over the base reimbursement rate. The Biden Administration expanded these payments to reach as high as the average commercial rate, much higher than those routinely paid by federal health programs. The OBBBA prohibits new state-directed payments over Medicare rates immediately and gradually phases down existing payments beginning in 2028. Again, Idaho does not currently use state-directed payments, but there is nothing in the law to prevent it from using these payments in the future.

    For provider taxes, states levy these fees on hospitals and other entities, then use that revenue to collect more federal dollars. For every dollar states spend on Medicaid, the federal government matches at a higher rate. The match is nine-to-one for the Obamacare expansion population, which gives states an incentive to spend more on healthy, able-bodied individuals than on vulnerable patients.

    The OBBBA stops provider tax gaming immediately and incrementally lowers states’ maximum rate beginning in 2028 until it reaches 3.5 percent. Because Idaho does not currently have a non-nursing home provider tax above 3.5 percent, it is ahead of the curve. Recognizing nursing homes overwhelmingly serve vulnerable patients, Congress exempts those provider taxes from the phase down.

    Curbing waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program provides past-due and desperately needed improvement to the program and does not jeopardize rural hospitals. The states that have relied on financing gimmicks have necessary budgetary decisions to make in the years ahead. However, the reality is for states like Idaho, this bill represents a reward for the wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars and a historic investment in rural health care.

     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Spain, 29 June – 1 July

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, arrived in Sevilla, Spain, on Sunday, 29 June, to take part in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), which was being co-hosted by Spain and took place from 30 June to 3 July.

    In the afternoon, he met with His Majesty Don Felipe VI, King of Spain.  They discussed ongoing efforts to advance the international financing for development agenda.  During the meeting, the Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude for Spain’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the UN system, as well as its leadership role in international cooperation and as a permanent bridge builder between the North and the South.

    In the evening, the Secretary-General attended a dinner hosted by H.H.M.M. the King and Queen of Spain.

    On Monday morning, 30 June, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón.  They discussed efforts to advance international financing for development and Spain’s cooperation with the UN in this regard.  The Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for the magnificent organization of the Conference and Spain’s warm hospitality.

    Soon after, together with President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General met and greeted Heads of State and Government.  This was followed by a family photo.

    Then, also with the President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General welcomed Don Felipe VI, King of Spain, and Queen Letizia.

    The Secretary-General then delivered remarks during the Conference’s opening session and underscored that financing is the engine of development, and right now, this engine is sputtering.  He warned that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future, is in danger.

    The Secretary-General stressed that the Conference wasn’t about charity, it was about restoring justice and lives of dignity.  He also added that the Conference wasn’t about money, it was about investing in the future we want to build, together.

    Speaking to the media afterwards, in a joint press encounter with the President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General underscored that with the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment document, countries are proving their dedication to getting the engine of development revving again.  Above all, he added, Sevilla was about solutions and finding these solutions at a divided and difficult moment for the human family.

    The Secretary-General said that it was his hope that the collective efforts in Sevilla can inspire and motivate the countries of the world to work as one to solve other global challenges.

    In the afternoon, at the launch of the Sevilla Platform for Action, the Secretary-General highlighted that the Platform offers an ambitious, action-oriented response to the global financing challenge.  He pointed out that in the midst of a world of division, conflict and economic uncertainty, the Platform contains more than 130 specific initiatives that demonstrate what we can achieve by working together.

    Soon after, at the opening of the International Business Forum, the Secretary-General underscored that by uniting public and private sector leaders, regulators and development banks, we can ensure that the Conference is not an end, but rather a beginning.

    Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General held a series of bilateral meetings, including with the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa Azín, with the Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis,  with the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

    The Secretary-General also met Deemah AlYahya, the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, and also held a bilateral meeting with Mark Suzman, CEO and Board Member of the Gates Foundation.

    Later in the evening, the Secretary-General attended a cocktail-style dinner hosted by the President of the Government of Spain with Heads of State and Government.

    On Tuesday morning, 1 July, the Secretary-General held a closed-door meeting with Heads of the multilateral development banks, which the President of the Government of Spain also participated, as well as the Deputy-Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.

    He then had a meeting with Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia and the First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, before leaving Sevilla, Spain.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Iraq Presents Credentials

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The new Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, Lukman Al-Faily, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

    (As provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

    I. General Information:

    Name:  Lukman Al-Faily

    Date of birth: 06.02.1966

    Place of birth: Baghdad, Iraq

    Nationality: Iraqi

    Social Status:    Married to Mrs Lameis AL-AMEERI
    with five children

    Email: LFaily@iraqmission-un.com

    Link: Twitter:  @FailyLukman

    II. Academic Certificates:

    –     Master Business Administration, MBA, Technology Management (2006)

    –     Postgraduate Diploma Computing for Commerce and Industry (2007)

    –     Bachelor Computing Science and Mathematics (1988)

    –     Member of the Institute of Project Management (PMP)

    III. Administrative Posts:

    08/2021 – 07/2025 Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the Federal Republic of Germany

    09/2020 – 08/2021 Chief of Staff, Bureau Minister of Foreign Affairs, MFA, Baghdad, Iraq

    09/2019 – 08/2021 Head of America Department, MFA, Baghdad, Iraq

    09/2019 – 11/2020 Head of the Legal Department, MFA, Baghdad, Iraq 

    11/2018 – 09/2019 Official Spokesman of the President of the Republic of Iraq

    07/2016 – 10/2018 Communication, Business and Strategic Planning, Consultant in UK and Iraq

    06/2013 – 06/2016 Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the USA, Washington DC

    06/2010 – 05/2013 Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Japan, Tokyo

    06/2006 – 06/2009 Program Manager for Information Technology EDS Ltd. (recently HP) UK

    IV. Language Skills:

    Kurdish –  Mother Tongue

    Arabic – Fluent

    English – Fluent

    V.  Publications:

    2016  L. Faily  Paper:  Social Harmony: An Iraqi Perspective 

    2019  L. Faily Book:   Building Iraq: – Reality, External Relation and the Dream of Democracy

    2021  L. Faily Book:   Between Two Generations, a novel

    2022  L. Faily  Book:   Weimar Republic and its lessons for Iraq 2023  L. Faily Paper:  Strategic insight, A necessary skill for future transformation

    2024  L. Faily Book:   The Iraqi Character: Between Cafés, Palaces, and Minarets

    2025  L. Faily  Paper:  Developing Iraqi Think Tanks

    Ambassador Faily has also published in Arabic and English many papers, articles in many Western and Iraqi media outlets and newspapers.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Gottheimer, ADL Announce Legislation to Combat Terrorists & Disinformation on Social Media

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, Gottheimer, ADL Announce Legislation to Combat Terrorists & Disinformation on Social Media

    Social Media Apps are Breeding Ground for Terrorist Organizations and Sympathizers; Follows Grok AI’s Antisemitic and Violent Posts

    Washington – Reps. Don Bacon (NE-2) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt held a press conference to announce bipartisan legislation — the Stopping Terrorists Online Presence and Holding Accountable Tech Entities (STOP HATE) Act — to combat terrorists and disinformation on social media.

    Video of the press conference can be found here.

    “Everybody in our country is entitled to respect and not to be the object of hate and scorn. We want to be in a country that makes clear that antisemitism or any kind of racism is repugnant, unacceptable, not allowed in an online space, and that we have zero tolerance for it,” said Rep. Bacon. “We need to work with our social media companies to clean this up because what is going on is wrong. We need to hold these companies accountable and work with them to take it off the airwaves.”

    “We’ve seen an explosion of disinformation and antisemitic hate online in America and around the world — especially since the horrific October 7 terrorist attacks…After the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum, anti-Zionist extremists used social media to call for further violence, posting messages like ‘may all Zionists burn.’ Even AI platforms like Grok have posted deeply disturbing content, praising Adolf Hitler and Nazism,” said Rep. Gottheimer. “There is a massive disinformation campaign influencing us every day. Our legislation will be a new tool in our online arsenal to protect our nation against terrorists and foreign adversaries that continue to threaten us in new ways.”

    “The world’s oldest hate is crossing borders and going viral. One of the main drivers supercharging the global rise in antisemitism is the unregulated proliferation of extremists online who are looking to seed divisions among us and drive hate,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director“Today’s extremists exploit social media to recruit, radicalize, and incite violence – often in violation of these platforms’ own terms of service. As antisemitism and hate surge to record levels, the STOP HATE Act is a vital bipartisan bill that will hold tech platforms accountable for hosting terrorist and extremist content. This bill will provide essential oversight and ensure companies enforce their own policies. I am grateful for Congressmen Gottheimer and Bacon for their leadership and partnership on this issue, and urge Congress to pass the STOP HATE Act without delay.”

    Since the brutal October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, social media organizations have failed to stop the spread of disinformation and antisemitic hate online. State sponsors of terror and their proxies — especially Iran, Hamas, and its affiliates — consistently use social media platforms to spread propaganda and disinformation. Additionally, foreign-owned platforms — including CCP-connected TikTok — have vague content moderation policies that easily expose young Americans to propaganda from our adversaries.

    Bacon and Gottheimer are announcing the bipartisan STOP HATE Act to help stop terrorism and disinformation on social media and online. This legislation is supported by ADL.

    The bipartisan STOP HATE Act will:

    • Require social media companies to release detailed reports of violations to their terms of service and how they are addressing content generated by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
    • Require social media companies to explain the standard by which they would judge whether content generated or proliferated by terrorists would be deemed in a violation of the company’s terms of service.
      • Every day social media companies do not comply, it will result in a $5 million fine.
    • Require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to report on the use of social media by terrorist organizations.

    Social media platforms are breeding grounds for antisemitic hate and disinformation:

    • The ADL’s 2024 Social Media Scorecard found that the five major social media platforms — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X — routinely failed to act on antisemitic hate reported to them.
    • Earlier this month, Grok — the AI chatbot developed by xAI — posted deeply alarming messages on the social media platform X, including support for Adolf Hitler, Nazism, extreme violence, and sexual assault.
    • After the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum, anti-Zionist extremist groups flocked to social media to call for further violence. 
      • On Instagram, extremist groups posted news of the attack with the caption: “May all Zionists burn.” 
      • One group leader posted the text, “Death to Nazis,” on top of photos of the victims.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Torres FY26 Community Projects $21 Million to California’s 35th Congressional District

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    July 24, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced the inclusion of 15 Community Project Funding requests in the House Appropriations Committee funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026. The bills including these projects have all been considered at the subcommittee level, and most have passed through the full Appropriations Committee and now advance to the House floor for consideration.  If fully funded, these locally driven proposals would bring more than $21,772,000 in federal resources directly to communities across California’s 35th Congressional District.

    “As a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to advocate for strategic federal investments that reflect the real needs of our region—from clean water and safer streets to affordable housing and economic development,” said Congresswoman Torres. “Every one of these projects was developed in close partnership with our local governments, schools, and nonprofits. They will improve public safety, support small businesses, enhance critical infrastructure, and uplift the people of the Inland Empire.”

    Project Include: 

    Autism Society Inland Empire’s Law Enforcement Training Initiative – $1,031,000

    Provides training and resources for law enforcement to foster safer interactions with community members with a condition or disability that may impact communication or require additional accommodations or awareness during an interaction in several cities in the 35th District.

    Chino Basin Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility – $1,092,000

    First-of-its-kind water purification facility to increase water quality and long-term resilience.

    Chino Benson Emergency Power Generator Project – $1,092,000

    Backup power to ensure continued water delivery in Chino during outages.

    Chino Valley Innovation Center – $2,000,000

    Establishes a local entrepreneurship hub to support business growth and job creation.

    City of Montclair Fire Department Tractor Tiller Truck – $850,000

    Funds a high-maneuverability fire truck to enhance emergency response.

    City of Upland Campus Avenue Storm Drain Improvement – $1,092,000

    Upgrades storm drain system to prevent flooding and protect homes, schools, and businesses.

    Cypress Grove Supportive Housing – $2,000,000

    Supports the construction of permanent housing to address local homelessness in Fontana.

    Eastvale Library and Innovation Center – $3,100,000

    Expands access to information, education, and community programming.

    Los Serranos Flood Protection Project – $1,092,000

    Installs storm drain system to mitigate flood risk in Chino Hills.

    Merrill Center Crisis Stabilization Unit Rehabilitation – $1,100,000

    Rehabilitates critical behavioral health facilities to support those in crisis in Ontario.

    Monte Vista Water District Pipeline Replacement Project –$1,092,000

    Replaces aging pipeline infrastructure in Montclair to prevent leaks and improve water flow.

    Ontario-Montclair School District’s Safer Schools Initiative – $1,031,000

    Improves school safety infrastructure in collaboration with local law enforcement.

    Ontario Section 219 Recycled Water Expansion Project – $3,200,000

    Constructs 13 miles of new infrastructure to deliver recycled water to public landscapes.

    The Hub on Holt: Space for Entrepreneurship, Creation, and Innovation – $1,000,000

    Revitalizes a blighted corridor to support small businesses and community engagement in Ontario.

    Vista Verde II Affordable Housing Development – $1,000,000

    Adds affordable housing and promotes economic growth through construction jobs in Ontario.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin and Paraguayan President Peña hold meeting, reaffirming rock-solid diplomatic ties

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    July 15, 2025  No. 245
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with President Santiago Peña on July 14 while leading a delegation to the Republic of Paraguay. During their meeting, Minister Lin delivered greetings and best wishes from President Lai Ching-te and conveyed sincere friendship to the government and people of Paraguay on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan.
     
    Welcoming Minister Lin’s delegation, President Peña communicated his highest regards to President Lai and reaffirmed the rock-solid diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Paraguay. Acknowledging the fraternal bond between the two countries, the president said that many years of cooperation had yielded diverse and fruitful results in a host of areas. He said that looking ahead, Paraguay would remain undaunted by foreign pressure and threats and continue to work hand in hand with Taiwan so as to move forward together.
     
    In his remarks, Minister Lin thanked President Peña for mentioning Taiwan first among Paraguay’s diplomatic allies during his inauguration speech in August 2023, which he said reflected the significance of Taiwan-Paraguay ties. He said that his visit to Paraguay was being undertaken to celebrate the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations and to lead a delegation of representatives from the semiconductor, ICT, technology, construction, smart agriculture, high-performance textile, green energy, furniture, and food processing industries—sectors with high potential for collaboration with their Paraguayan counterparts. He noted that a number of representatives had already decided to invest in factories in the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park so as to develop business opportunities and create win-win outcomes. 
     
    Minister Lin also pointed out that Taiwan’s active promotion of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in Paraguay included such flagship initiatives as the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University, the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park, an electric bus pilot program, and the development of a health information system (HIS) through the Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project, as well as the planning and implementation of sovereign AI, 5G clean network, and HIS 2.0 programs. He said that these initiatives aimed to help Paraguay develop the technology sector and implement digital transformation, and exemplified the results of bilateral cooperation guided by the mindset that “Taiwan can help, Paraguay can lead.”
     
    President Peña and Minister Lin also attended the Paraguay-Taiwan Investment Opportunities Forum together. Speaking at the event, President Peña underlined the long-standing and solid diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Paraguay. He stated that Paraguay’s firm support for Taiwan over the past 68 years had been based on such shared values as freedom, democracy, and people’s right to self-determination, adding that this would not change for any economic interests or pressure. He said that helping Taiwan maintain its international presence was an important extension of Paraguay’s own legacy and sense of national dignity.
     
    President Peña went on to say that Paraguay’s economy was advancing steadily and that his country boasted an exceptional investment environment. He said he hoped that Taiwanese businesses would gain an in-depth understanding of Paraguay’s development potential and seize investment opportunities.
     
    Taiwan and Paraguay enjoy cordial and strong diplomatic relations. The two countries will continue to deepen their collaboration in education, technology, energy, agriculture, public health, infrastructure, and other fields so as to jointly expand progress and mutual prosperity. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Texas Man Pleads Guilty for Filing False Tax Returns

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Texas man pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns with the IRS before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower for the Western District of Texas. The plea must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Jason Smith, of Kerrville, was an independent distributor for a multi-level marketing (MLM) business that sold, among other things, essential oils and aromatherapy products. Smith created an entity, Live Young Now International Ministries (Live Young Now), and directed the MLM business to pay his compensation to that entity. Smith maintained control over Live Young Now’s bank accounts and used those funds to pay for personal expenses including his mortgage, automobiles, a motorcycle, a tractor, and an airplane. Although he received tax forms from the MLM business reporting his compensation as over $1,400,000 each year for both 2018 and 2019, Smith did not provide those forms to his return preparer and falsely told his return preparer that he did not have any such forms. This caused Smith’s return preparer to prepare false tax returns that omitted more than $2.9 million in income that Smith had earned from the MLM and instead reported that Smith earned only $43 from it. Instead, Smith reported earning only $43 from the MLM. In total, Smith caused a tax loss to the IRS over $1,500,000.

    Smith is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Parker Tobin and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Cut Taxes for Veterans Opening Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced a bipartisan bill to cut taxes for veterans who start a small business in underserved communities. The bipartisan Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act would create new tax credits to provide veterans who are starting a small business with a 15 percent tax credit on the first $50,000 of the startup costs. 
    “Our veterans deserve to have every resource available as they transition into civilian life,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to work across the aisle to cut taxes for Nevada veterans who start small businesses in our state and create jobs. As long as I’m in the Senate, I’ll continue working to ensure our veterans have all of the resources they need.”
    “By offering support to veteran entrepreneurs, we can help bolster local economies and channel the military work ethic into local communities,” said Senator Moran. “Veteran-owned small businesses play an important role in rural communities and underserved areas, and this legislation will empower veterans to start their own businesses while benefiting the communities they invest in.”
    Senator Rosen has been leading bipartisan efforts to ensure that Nevada veterans have federal support. Last year, she secured funding to increase access to affordable housing for veterans, continue building Nevada’s first national veterans cemetery in Elko, and increase funding for veterans’ access to telehealth. She also helped pass bipartisan legislation to increase veterans’ awareness of the VA home loan program. Additionally, Senator Rosen pushed to build a new veterans hospital in Reno, which she successfully convinced the white house to include in the 2024 budget.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bill to Protect Access to Birth Control

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Access to Birth Control Act. This legislation would guarantee women timely access to birth control at pharmacies nationwide—including by requiring pharmacies to provide patients with their preferred form of birth control medication.“When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it opened the floodgates to extreme attacks on reproductive freedoms across our nation. Anti-choice extremists have now made it clear that they will target women’s access to birth control and the ability to make their own family planning decisions,” said Senator Rosen. “Women, not anti-choice politicians, should decide what happens with their own bodies. I’m proud to have helped introduce this bill to protect women’s right to access birth control, and I’ll continue standing up to protect women’s ability to make decisions over their own bodies.”
    Senator Rosen continues fighting back against efforts to restrict women’s reproductive freedoms. She helped introduce the Right to Contraception Act, which was blocked by anti-choice Republicans last Congress. She also helped introduce the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act to protect doctors and other health care professionals from being prosecuted for providing reproductive care to their patients, as well as the Women’s Health Protection Act to protect reproductive freedoms in federal law.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Applauds DOJ Lawsuit to Hold NYC Accountable for Dangerous Sanctuary Policies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    July 24, 2025

    (NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued the following statement regarding the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against New York City over its sanctuary city policies.

     

    “I thank Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice for taking action to hold New York City accountable for its dangerous sanctuary policies, which have enabled violent crime in our streets, cost innocent lives, and resulted in billions of taxpayer dollars coming out of New Yorkers’ pockets. 

     

    Restoring public safety in our communities starts with New York City cooperating with ICE’s detainer requests. Failing to do so keeps dangerous criminals on our streets. I filed a Freedom of Information Law request that revealed just how far-reaching the consequences of these failed policies have become. The data showed that over 16,000 crimes were committed by thousands of perpetrators who were residing at hotels and shelters at taxpayer expense. The facts speak for themselves: sanctuary policies aren’t just misguided they are costly and dangerous.

     

    I look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Justice and the Trump Administration to enforce immigration laws, protect our communities, and hold city officials accountable for putting politics before public safety.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Advances Over $18 Million for Nebraska Water Infrastructure Projects

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced over $18 million in funding for critical Nebraska water infrastructure projects.
    The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.“Strong, reliable water infrastructure is an essential part of our daily lives. I’m proud to advance this funding for these critical projects, which will improve the lives of Nebraskans for years to come. I look forward to supporting this bill through to final passage and returning more taxpayer money back to our state,” Fischer said.Fischer advanced funding to support critical water infrastructure projects:
    $8.25 million to improve the Santee Sioux Tribe’s water source
    $3.2 million to repair and upgrade the water treatment plant in McCook
    $2.3 million to construct a retention lagoon, lift station, and sanitary sewer extensions in Greeley
    $1.4 million for watershed and stream improvements in the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District
    $776,000 for reconstruction of water and storm sewer facilities in Gothenburg
    $696,000 to replace an aging well and renovate the sanitary water storage tank in Farwell
    $620,000 to construct a new well and transmission line in Genoa
    $600,000 to construct an additional lagoon cell in Shelby
    $468,000 to line the sewer mains in Valparaiso
    $100,000 to renovate an existing lagoon cell and install a depth mark in Ong

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Takano Signs onto Bipartisan Epstein Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)

    July 24, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.Rep. Mark Takano signed onto H.Res.581, bipartisan legislation that would ensure the American public can know the truth about convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. 

    “I cosponsored this bipartisan legislation because the American people deserve the truth. Jeffrey Epstein committed horrific crimes andfor years, powerful people helped him, enabled him, or looked the other way. The public deserves to know who was involved.

    But instead of helping us shine a light, House Republicans are doing everything they can to keep the truth hidden. They are shutting down the House to avoid a vote on this bill. They promised transparency. What they are delivering is a cover-up.”

    If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, resources are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces July 2025 Cash Distributions for ETF Series Securities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the July 2025 cash distributions for its ETF Series securities. The record date for the distributions is July 31, 2025. All distributions are payable on August 8, 2025.

    The per-unit July 2025 distributions are detailed below:


    About Ninepoint Partners

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

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

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

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

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

    Sales Inquiries:

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

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Heritage Commerce Corp Reports Second Quarter and First Six Months of 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heritage Commerce Corp (Nasdaq: HTBK), (the “Company”), the holding company for Heritage Bank of Commerce (the “Bank”) today announced its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2025. All data are unaudited.

    REPORTED SECOND QUARTER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS:
               
    Net Income Earnings Per Share Pre-Provision Net Revenue
    (“PPNR”)
    (1)
    Fully Tax Equivalent
    (“FTE”) Net Interest
    Margin
    (1)
    Efficiency Ratio(1) Tangible Book Value Per
    Share
    (1)
               
    $6.4 million $0.10 $9.4 million 3.54 % 80.23 % $8.49
               
    ADJUSTED SECOND QUARTER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS:(1)
          
               
    Net Income Earnings Per Share PPNR(1) FTE Net Interest Margin(1) Efficiency Ratio(1) Tangible Book Value Per
    Share
    (1)
               
               
    $13.0 million $0.21 $18.6 million 3.54 % 61.01 % $8.59
               

    CEO COMMENTARY:
    “We executed well in the second quarter, generating a higher level of net income and earnings per share, excluding significant charges primarily related to a legal settlement,” said Clay Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We had positive trends in loan growth, an expansion in our net interest margin, and stable asset quality, while deposits declined due to seasonal outflows that we typically see in the second quarter. Our loan growth was well diversified across our portfolios. We continue to successfully add new clients by offering a superior banking experience and generate loan growth while maintaining our disciplined underwriting and pricing criteria.”

    “We have a strong balance sheet with a high level of capital and liquidity and healthy asset quality, which provides a strong foundation to weather periods of economic volatility. We are well positioned to navigate the current environment and expect to see positive trends in loan growth, the net interest margin, and expense management,” said Mr. Jones.

       
    LINKED-QUARTER BASIS YEAR-OVER-YEAR

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:

      • Total revenue of $47.8 million, an increase of 4%, or $1.7 million
    • Noninterest expense of $38.3 million includes an accrual of $9.2 million for pre-tax charges primarily related to a legal settlement
    • Reported net income of $6.4 million and earnings per share of $0.10, down 45% and 47%, from $11.6 million and $0.19, respectively
    • Adjusted net income(1) of $13.0 million and adjusted earnings per share(1) of $0.21, both metrics up 11% from $11.6 million and $0.19, respectively
      • Total revenue of $47.8 million, an increase of 15%, or $6.1 million
    • Noninterest expense of $38.3 million includes an accrual of $9.2 million for pre-tax charges primarily related to a legal settlement
    • Reported net income of $6.4 million and earnings per share of $0.10, down 31% and 33%, from $9.2 million and $0.15, respectively
    • Adjusted net income(1) of $13.0 million and adjusted earnings per share(1) of $0.21, both metrics up 40% from $9.2 million and $0.15, respectively

    FINANCIAL CONDITION:

      • Loans held-for-investment (“HFI”) of $3.5 billion, up $47.4 million or 1%
    • Total deposits of $4.6 billion, down $55.9 million, or 1%
    • Loan to deposit ratio of 76.38%, up from 74.45%
    • Total shareholders’ equity of $694.7 million, down $1.5 million
      • Increase in loans HFI of $154.5 million, or 5%

    • Increase in total deposits of $182.7 million, or 4%       
    • Loan to deposit ratio of 76.38%, up from 76.04%
    • Increase in total shareholders’ equity of $15.5 million

    CREDIT QUALITY:

      • Nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) to total assets of 0.11% for both quarters
    • NPAs to total assets of 0.11% for both quarters
      • Classified assets to total assets of 0.69%, compared to 0.73%
    • Classified assets to total assets of 0.69%, compared to 0.64%

    KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS:

      • FTE net interest margin(1) of 3.54%, an increase from 3.39%
    • Common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 13.3%, compared to 13.6%
    • Total capital ratio of 15.5%, compared to 15.9%
    • Tangible common equity ratio(1) of 9.85%, an increase of 1% from 9.78%
      • FTE net interest margin(1) of 3.54%, an increase from 3.26%
    • Common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 13.3%, compared to 13.4%
    • Total capital ratio of 15.5%, compared to 15.6%
    • Tangible common equity ratio(1) of 9.85%, a decrease of 1% from 9.91%

    (1)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release. All references to “adjusted” operating metrics exclude the $9.2 million of charges primarily related to a legal settlement in the second quarter and first six months of 2025 as presented in the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release.

    Results of Operations:

    Reported net income was $6.4 million, or $0.10 per average diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2025. Adjusted net income(2) was $13.0 million, or $0.21 per average diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $11.6 million, or $0.19 per average diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2025, and $9.2 million, or $0.15 per average diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2024. The annualized return on average assets was 0.47% and annualized return on average equity was 3.68% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 0.85% and 6.81%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2025, and 0.71% and 5.50%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2024. The adjusted annualized return on average assets(2) was 0.95% and adjusted annualized return on average tangible common equity(2) was 9.92% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 0.85% and 9.09%, respectively, for the first quarter ended of 2025, and 0.71% and 7.43%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2024.

    Reported net income was $18.0 million, or $0.29 per average diluted common share, for the first six months of 2025. Adjusted net income(2) was $24.6 million, or $0.40 per average diluted common share, for the first six months of 2025, compared to $19.4 million, or $0.32 per average diluted common share, for the first six months of 2024. The annualized return on average assets was 0.66% and annualized return on average equity was 5.23% for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to 0.75% and 5.79%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The adjusted annualized return on average assets(2) was 0.90% and annualized return on average tangible common equity(2) was 9.51% for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to 0.75% and 7.84%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

    Total revenue, which is defined as net interest income before provision for credit losses on loans plus noninterest income, increased $1.7 million, or 4%, to $47.8 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $46.1 million for the first quarter of 2025, and increased $6.1 million, or 15%, from $41.7 million for the second quarter of 2024. Total revenue increased $9.9 million, or 12%, to $93.8 million for the first six months of 2025, compared to $83.9 million for the first six months of 2024.

    For the second quarter and first six months of 2025, the Company’s reported PPNR(2), which is defined as total revenue less adjusted noninterest expense(2) was $9.4 million and $26.0 million, respectively. The adjusted PPNR(2) was $18.6 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $16.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, and $13.5 million for the second quarter of 2024. For the six months of 2025, the Company’s adjusted PPNR(2) was $35.2 million, compared to $28.1 million for the six months of 2024.

    Net interest income totaled $44.8 million for the second quarter of 2025, an increase of $1.4 million, or 3%, compared to $43.4 million for the first quarter of 2025. The FTE net interest margin(2) was 3.54% for the second quarter of 2025, an increase over 3.39% for the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to an increase in the average yields and average balances of loans and securities, partially offset by a decrease in the average balances of deposits resulting in a lower average balance of overnight funds.

    Net interest income increased $5.9 million, or 15%, to $44.8 million, compared to $38.9 million for the second quarter of 2024. The FTE net interest margin(2) increased from 3.23% for the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to lower rates paid on customer deposits, an increase in the average yields and average balances of loans and securities, and an increase in the average balance of deposits resulting in a higher average balance of overnight funds, partially offset by a lower average yield on overnight funds.

    For the first six months of 2025, net interest income increased $9.8 million, or 12% to $88.2 million, compared to $78.4 million for the first six months of 2024. The FTE net interest margin(2) increased 20 basis points to 3.47% for the first six months of 2025, from 3.27% for the first six months of 2024, primarily due to an increase in the average balances of average interest earning assets, and an increase in the average yields on loans and securities, partially offset by higher rates paid on client deposits and a lower yield on overnight funds.

    We recorded a provision for credit losses on loans of $516,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $274,000 for the first quarter of 2025, and $471,000 for the second quarter of 2024. There was a provision for credit losses on loans of $790,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $655,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The increase in the provision for credit losses on loans for the second quarter and first six months of 2025 was primarily due to loan growth.

    Total noninterest income increased to $3.0 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, and $2.9 million for the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to higher termination and facility fees. The increase in noninterest income in the second quarter of 2025 was partially offset by a $219,000 gain on proceeds from company-owned life insurance in the second quarter of 2024.

    Total noninterest income increased 3% to $5.7 million for the first six months of 2025, compared to $5.5 million for the first six months of 2024, primarily due to higher termination and facility fees, partially offset by a $219,000 gain on proceeds from company-owned life insurance in the first six months of 2024.

    (2)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

    Reported noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2025 and first six months of 2025 totaled $38.3 million and $67.8 million, respectively. During the second quarter of 2025, the Company recorded expenses of $9.2 million, primarily due to pre-tax charges related to the settlement of certain litigation matters, including the anticipated settlement of a previously disclosed class action and California Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) lawsuit that alleged the violation of certain California wage-and-hour and related laws and regulations, and charges related to the planned closure of a Bank branch. Adjusted noninterest expense(3) was $29.1 million, compared to $29.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, and $28.2 million for the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted noninterest expense(3) for the first six months of 2025 was $58.6 million, compared to $55.7 million for the first six months of 2024.

    Income tax expense decreased to $2.5 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $4.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, and $3.8 million for the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower pre-tax income. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2025 was 28.5%, compared to 28.8% for the first quarter of 2025, and 29.4% for the second quarter of 2024.

    Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $7.2 million, compared to $8.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The effective tax rate for six months ended June 30, 2025 was 28.7%, compared to 29.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

    The reported efficiency ratio(3) for the second quarter and first six month of 2025 was 80.23% and 72.24%, respectively. The adjusted efficiency ratio(3) improved to 61.01% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 63.96% for the first quarter of 2025, as a result of higher total revenue. The adjusted efficiency ratio(3) improved from 67.55% for the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to higher total revenue, partially offset by higher noninterest expense. The adjusted efficiency ratio(3) improved to 62.45% for the first six months of 2025 from 66.44% for the first six months of 2024, primarily due to higher total revenue, partially offset by higher noninterest expense.

    Full time equivalent employees were 350 at both June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025, and 353 at June 30, 2024.

    Financial Condition and Capital Management:

    Total assets remained relatively flat at $5.5 billion at both June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025. Total assets increased 4% from $5.3 billion at June 30, 2024, primarily due to an increase in deposits resulting in an increase in overnight funds, and an increase in loans.  

    Investment securities available-for-sale (at fair value) decreased to $307.0 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $371.0 million at March 31, 2025, primarily due to maturities and paydowns, partially offset by purchases. Investment securities available-for-sale totaled $273.0 million at June 30, 2024. The pre-tax unrealized loss on the securities available-for-sale portfolio was $448,000, or $396,000 net of taxes, which equaled less than 1% of total shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2025.

    During the first six months of 2025, the Company purchased $87.2 million of agency mortgage-backed securities, $79.8 million of collateralized mortgage obligations, and $44.8 million of U.S. Treasury securities, for total purchases of $211.8 million in the available-for-sale portfolio. Securities purchased had a book yield of 4.82% and an average life of 4.55 years.

    Investment securities held-to-maturity (at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses of ($16,000), totaled $561.2 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $576.7 million at March 31, 2025, and $621.2 million at June 30, 2024. The fair value of the securities held-to-maturity portfolio was $486.5 million at June 30, 2025. The pre-tax unrecognized loss on the securities held-to-maturity portfolio was $74.7 million, or $52.7 million net of taxes, which equaled 7.6% of total shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2025.

    The unrealized and unrecognized losses in both the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity portfolios were due to higher interest rates at June 30, 2025 compared to when the securities were purchased. The issuers are of high credit quality and all principal amounts are expected to be repaid when the securities mature. The fair value is expected to recover as the securities approach their maturity date and/or market rates decline.

    Loans HFI, net of deferred costs and fees, increased $47.4 million, or 1% to $3.5 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $3.5 billion at March 31, 2025, and increased $154.5 million, or 5%, from $3.4 billion at June 30, 2024. Loans HFI, excluding residential mortgages, increased $58.3 million, or 2% to $3.1 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $3.0 billion at March 31, 2025, and increased $184.9 million, or 6%, from $2.9 billion at June 30, 2024.

    Commercial and industrial line utilization was 32% at June 30, 2025, compared to 31% at both March 31, 2025, and June 30, 2024. Commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans totaled $2.0 billion at June 30, 2025, of which 31% were owner occupied and 31% were investor CRE loans. Owner occupied CRE loans totaled 31% at March 31, 2025 and 32% at June 30, 2024. Approximately 24% of the Company’s loan portfolio consisted of floating interest rate loans at both June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025, compared to 27% at June 30, 2024.

    At June 30, 2025, paydowns and maturities of investment securities and fixed interest rate loans maturing within one year totaled $311.0 million.

    (3)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

    Total deposits decreased $55.9 million, or 1%, to $4.6 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $4.7 billion at March 31, 2025, primarily due to season outflows. Total deposits increased $182.7 million, or 4% from $4.4 billion at June 30, 2024.

    The following table shows the Company’s deposit types as a percentage of total deposits at the dates indicated:

                       
        June 30,      March 31,     June 30,   
    DEPOSITS TYPE % TO TOTAL DEPOSITS      2025         2025         2024  
    Demand, noninterest-bearing   25 %     24 %     27 %  
    Demand, interest-bearing   21 %     20 %     21 %  
    Savings and money market   28 %     29 %     25 %  
    Time deposits — under $250   1 %     1 %     1 %  
    Time deposits — $250 and over   4 %     5 %     4 %  
    Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”)/Certificate of Deposit Registry                  
    Service (“CDARS”) – interest-bearing demand, money                  
    market and time deposits   21 %     21 %     22 %  
    Total deposits   100 %     100 %     100 %  

    The loan to deposit ratio was 76.38% at June 30, 2025, compared to 74.45% at March 31, 2025, and 76.04% at June 30, 2024.

    The Company’s total available liquidity and borrowing capacity was $3.1 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $3.2 billion at March 31, 2025, and $3.0 billion at June 30, 2024.

    Total shareholders’ equity was $694.7 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $696.2 million at March 31, 2025, and $679.2 million at June 30, 2024. The change in shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2025 is primarily a function of net income and the decrease in the total accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by dividends to stockholders.

    Total accumulated other comprehensive loss of $5.0 million at June 30, 2025 was comprised of $2.5 million in actuarial losses associated with split dollar insurance contracts, $2.2 million in actuarial losses associated with the supplemental executive retirement plan, unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale of $396,000, and a $42,000 unrealized gain on interest-only strip from SBA loans.

    The Company’s consolidated capital ratios exceeded regulatory guidelines and the Bank’s capital ratios exceeded regulatory guidelines under the prompt corrective action (“PCA”) regulatory guidelines for a well-capitalized financial institution, and the Basel III minimum regulatory requirements at June 30, 2025.

    Reported tangible book value per share(4) was $8.49 at June 30, 2025. Adjusted tangible book value per share(4) was $8.59 at June 30, 2025, compared to $8.48 at March 31, 2025, and $8.22 at June 30, 2024.

    The Company is authorized to repurchase up to $15.0 million of the Company’s shares of its issued and outstanding common stock under its share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in July 2024. During the second quarter of 2025, the Company repurchased 207,989 shares of its common stock with a weighted average price of $9.19 for a total of $1.9 million. The remaining capacity under this share repurchase program was $13.1 million at June 30, 2025. In July 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors extended the program for one year, expiring on July 31, 2026.

    Credit Quality:
    The provision for credit losses on loans totaled $516,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to a $274,000 provision for credit losses on loans for the first quarter of 2025 and a provision for credit losses on loans of $471,000 for the second quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs totaled $145,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $965,000 for the first quarter of 2025, and $405,000 for the second quarter of 2024. 

    The provision for credit losses on loans totaled $790,000 for the first six months of 2025, compared to a $655,000 provision for credit losses on loans for the first six months of 2024. Net charge-offs totaled $1.1 million for the first six months of 2025, compared to $659,000 for the first six months of 2024. 

    The allowance for credit losses on loans (“ACLL”) at June 30, 2025 was $48.6 million, or 1.38% of total loans, representing 787% of total nonperforming loans. The ACLL at March 31, 2025 was $48.3 million, or 1.38% of total loans, representing 765% of total nonperforming loans. The ACLL at June 30, 2024 was $48.0 million, or 1.42% of total loans, representing 795% of total nonperforming loans. The reduction to the allowance for credit on losses on loans reflects our credit assessment and economic factors.

    NPAs were $6.2 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $6.3 million at March 31, 2025, and $6.0 million at June 30, 2024. There were no foreclosed assets on the balance sheet at June 30, 2025, March 31, 2025, or June 30, 2024. There were no Shared National Credits (“SNCs”) or material purchased participations included in NPAs or total loans at June 30, 2025, March 31, 2025, or June 30, 2024.

    Classified assets totaled $37.5 million, or 0.69% of total assets, at June 30, 2025, compared to $40.0 million, or 0.73% of total assets, at March 31, 2025, and $33.6 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2024.

    (4)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

    Heritage Commerce Corp, a bank holding company established in October 1997, is the parent company of Heritage Bank of Commerce, established in 1994 and headquartered in San Jose, CA with full-service branches in Danville, Fremont, Gilroy, Hollister, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Redwood City, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, San Rafael, and Walnut Creek. Heritage Bank of Commerce is an SBA Preferred Lender. Bay View Funding, a subsidiary of Heritage Bank of Commerce, is based in San Jose, CA and provides business-essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.heritagecommercecorp.com. The contents of our website are not incorporated into, and do not form a part of, this release or of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Reclassifications

    During the first quarter of 2025, we reclassified Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock dividends from interest income to noninterest income and the related average asset balances were reclassified from interest earning assets to other assets on the “Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin” tables. The amounts for the prior periods were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These reclassifications did not affect previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Financial results are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios are used by management to evaluate and measure the Company’s performance. These measures include “adjusted” operating metrics that have been adjusted to exclude notable expenses incurred in the second quarter as well as other performance measures and ratios adjusted for notable items. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures enhance comparability between periods and in some instances are common in the banking industry. These non-GAAP financial measures should be supplemental to primary GAAP financial measures and should not be read in isolation or relied upon as a substitute for primary GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is presented in the tables at the end of this press release under “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

    Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

    Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain in that they reflect plans and expectations for future events. These statements may include, among other things, those relating to the Company’s future financial performance, plans and objectives regarding future events, expectations regarding changes in interest rates and market conditions, projected cash flows of our investment securities portfolio, the performance of our loan portfolio, loan growth, expenses, net interest margin, estimated net interest income resulting from a shift in interest rates, expectation of high credit quality issuers ability to repay, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations from expected developments or events. Any statements that reflect our belief about, confidence in, or expectations for future events, performance or condition should be considered forward-looking statements. Readers should not construe these statements as assurances of a given level of performance, nor as promises that we will take actions that we currently expect to take. All statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control and some of which may fall outside our ability to predict or anticipate. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from our projected results, and we may take actions or experience events that we do not currently expect. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our financial performance to differ materially from our goals, plans, expectations and projections expressed in forward-looking statements include those set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Item 1A of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and include: (i) cybersecurity risks that may affect us directly or may impact us indirectly by virtue of their effects on our clients, markets or vendors, including our ability to identify and address cybersecurity risks, including those posed by the increasing use of artificial intelligence (such as, but not limited to, ransomware, data security breaches, “denial of service” attacks, “hacking” and identity theft) affecting us, our clients, and our third-party vendors and service providers; (ii) events that affect our ability to attract, recruit, and retain qualified officers and other personnel to implement our strategic plan, and that enable current and future personnel to protect and develop our relationships with clients, and to promote our business, results of operations and growth prospects; (iii) media items and consumer confidence as those factors affect our clients’ confidence in the banking system generally and in our bank specifically; (iv) adequacy of our risk management framework, disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (v) the effects of recent wildfires affecting Southern California, which have affected certain clients and certain loans secured by mortgages in Los Angeles County, and which are affecting or may, in the future, affect other clients in those and other markets throughout California; (vi) market, geographic and sociopolitical factors that arise by virtue of the fact that we operate primarily in the general San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California; (vii) risks of geographic concentration of our client base, our loans, and the collateral securing our loans, as those clients and assets may be particularly subject to natural disasters and to events and conditions that directly or indirectly affect those regions, including the particular risks of natural disasters (including earthquakes, fires, and flooding) and other events that disproportionately affect that region; (viii) political events that have accompanied or that may in the future accompany or result from recent political changes, particularly including sociopolitical events and conditions that result from political conflicts and law enforcement activities that may adversely affect our markets or our clients; (ix) our ability to estimate accurately, and to establish adequate reserves against, the risk of loss associated with our loan and lease portfolios and our factoring business; (x) inflationary pressures and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins and yields, the fair value of financial instruments or our level of loan originations, or increase the level of defaults, losses and prepayments on loans to clients, whether held in the portfolio or in the secondary market; (xi) factors that affect the value and liquidity of our investment portfolios, particularly the values of securities available-for-sale; (xii) factors that affect our liquidity and our ability to meet client demands for withdrawals from deposit accounts and undrawn lines of credit, including our cash on hand and the availability of funds from our own lines of credit; (xiii) increased capital requirements for our continual growth or as imposed by banking regulators, which may require us to raise capital at a time when capital is not available on favorable terms or at all; (xiv) the expense and uncertain resolution of litigation matters whether occurring in the ordinary course of business or otherwise, particularly including but not limited to the effects of recent and ongoing developments in California labor and employment laws, regulations and court decisions; (xv) operational issues stemming from, and/or capital spending necessitated by, the potential need to adapt to industry changes in information technology systems, on which we are highly dependent; and (xvi) our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing factors.

    Member FDIC

    For additional information, email:
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        For the Quarter Ended:   Percent Change From:     For the Six Months Ended:
    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS      June 30,       March 31,       June 30,       March 31,       June 30,         June 30,       June 30,       Percent  
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   2025   2025   2024   2025     2024       2025   2024   Change  
    Interest income   $ 63,025   $ 61,832   $ 58,489   2   %   8   %   $ 124,857   $ 115,450   8   %
    Interest expense     18,220     18,472     19,622   (1 ) %   (7 ) %     36,692     37,080   (1 ) %
    Net interest income before provision                                              
    for credit losses on loans     44,805     43,360     38,867   3   %   15   %     88,165     78,370   12   %
    Provision for credit losses on loans     516     274     471   88   %   10   %     790     655   21   %
    Net interest income after provision                                              
    for credit losses on loans     44,289     43,086     38,396   3   %   15   %     87,375     77,715   12   %
    Noninterest income:                                                   
    Service charges and fees on deposit                                              
    accounts     929     892     891   4   %   4   %     1,821     1,768   3   %
    FHLB and FRB stock dividends     584     590     588   (1 ) %   (1 ) %     1,174     1,178      
    Increase in cash surrender value of                                              
    life insurance     548     538     521   2   %   5   %     1,086     1,039   5   %
    Termination fees     227     87     100   161   %   127   %     314     113   178   %
    Gain on sales of SBA loans     87     98     76   (11 ) %   14   %     185     254   (27 ) %
    Servicing income     61     82     90   (26 ) %   (32 ) %     143     180   (21 ) %
    Gain on proceeds from company-owned                                              
    life insurance             219   N/A   (100 ) %         219   (100 ) %
    Other     541     409     379   32   %   43   %     950     750   27   %
    Total noninterest income     2,977     2,696     2,864   10   %   4   %     5,673     5,501   3   %
    Noninterest expense:                                                   
    Salaries and employee benefits     16,227     16,575     15,794   (2 ) %   3   %     32,802     31,303   5   %
    Occupancy and equipment     2,525     2,534     2,689   0   %   (6 ) %     5,059     5,132   (1 ) %
    Professional fees     1,819     1,580     1,072   15   %   70   %     3,399     2,399   42   %
    Other     17,764     8,767     8,633   103   %   106   %     26,531     16,890   57   %
    Total noninterest expense     38,335     29,456     28,188   30   %   36   %     67,791     55,724   22   %
    Income before income taxes     8,931     16,326     13,072   (45 ) %   (32 ) %     25,257     27,492   (8 ) %
    Income tax expense     2,542     4,700     3,838   (46 ) %   (34 ) %     7,242     8,092   (11 ) %
    Net income   $ 6,389   $ 11,626   $ 9,234   (45 ) %   (31 ) %   $ 18,015   $ 19,400   (7 ) %
                                                   
    PER COMMON SHARE DATA                                              
    (unaudited)                                                 
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.10   $ 0.19   $ 0.15   (47 ) %   (33 ) %   $ 0.29   $ 0.32   (9 ) %
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.10   $ 0.19   $ 0.15   (47 ) %   (33 ) %   $ 0.29   $ 0.32   (9 ) %
    Weighted average shares outstanding – basic     61,508,180     61,479,579     61,279,914   0   %   0   %     61,493,880     61,233,269   0   %
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted     61,624,600     61,708,361     61,438,088   0   %   0   %     61,664,942     61,446,484   0   %
    Common shares outstanding at period-end     61,446,763     61,611,121     61,292,094   0   %   0   %     61,446,763     61,292,094   0   %
    Dividend per share   $ 0.13   $ 0.13   $ 0.13   0   %   0   %   $ 0.26   $ 0.26   0   %
    Book value per share   $ 11.31   $ 11.30   $ 11.08   0   %   2   %   $ 11.31   $ 11.08   2   %
    Tangible book value per share(1)   $ 8.49   $ 8.48   $ 8.22   0   %   3   %   $ 8.49   $ 8.22   3   %
                                                   
    KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS                                                      
    (in $000’s, unaudited)                                                      
    Annualized return on average equity     3.68 %     6.81 %     5.50 %   (46 ) %   (33 ) %     5.23 %     5.79 %   (10 ) %
    Annualized return on average tangible                                              
    common equity(1)     4.89 %     9.09 %     7.43 %   (46 ) %   (34 ) %     6.97 %     7.84 %   (11 ) %
    Annualized return on average assets     0.47 %     0.85 %     0.71 %   (45 ) %   (34 ) %     0.66 %     0.75 %   (12 ) %
    Annualized return on average tangible assets(1)     0.48 %     0.88 %     0.74 %   (45 ) %   (35 ) %     0.68 %     0.78 %   (13 ) %
    Net interest margin (FTE)(1)     3.54 %     3.39 %     3.23 %   4   %   10   %     3.47 %     3.27 %   6   %
    Total revenue   $ 47,782   $ 46,056   $ 41,731   4   %   15   %     93,838     83,871   12   %
    Pre-provision net revenue(1)   $ 9,447   $ 16,600   $ 13,543   (43 ) %   (30 ) %     26,047     28,147   (7 ) %
    Efficiency ratio(1)     80.23 %     63.96 %     67.55 %   25   %   19   %     72.24 %     66.44 %   9   %
                                                   
    AVERAGE BALANCES                                                     
    (in $000’s, unaudited)                                                      
    Average assets   $ 5,458,420   $ 5,559,896   $ 5,213,171   (2 ) %   5   %   $ 5,508,878   $ 5,195,903   6   %
    Average tangible assets(1)   $ 5,284,972   $ 5,386,001   $ 5,037,673   (2 ) %   5   %   $ 5,335,207   $ 5,020,134   6   %
    Average earning assets   $ 5,087,089   $ 5,188,317   $ 4,840,670   (2 ) %   5   %   $ 5,137,424   $ 4,825,587   6   %
    Average loans held-for-sale   $ 2,250   $ 2,290   $ 1,503   (2 ) %   50   %   $ 2,270   $ 2,126   7   %
    Average loans held-for-investment   $ 3,504,518   $ 3,429,014   $ 3,328,358   2   %   5   %   $ 3,466,975   $ 3,312,799   5   %
    Average deposits   $ 4,618,007   $ 4,717,517   $ 4,394,545   (2 ) %   5   %   $ 4,667,487   $ 4,377,347   7   %
    Average demand deposits – noninterest-bearing   $ 1,146,494   $ 1,167,330   $ 1,127,145   (2 ) %   2   %   $ 1,156,854   $ 1,152,111   0   %
    Average interest-bearing deposits   $ 3,471,513   $ 3,550,187   $ 3,267,400   (2 ) %   6   %   $ 3,510,633   $ 3,225,236   9   %
    Average interest-bearing liabilities   $ 3,511,237   $ 3,589,872   $ 3,306,972   (2 ) %   6   %   $ 3,550,338   $ 3,264,788   9   %
    Average equity   $ 697,016   $ 692,733   $ 675,108   1   %   3   %   $ 694,886   $ 673,700   3   %
    Average tangible common equity(1)   $ 523,568   $ 518,838   $ 499,610   1   %   5   %   $ 521,215   $ 497,931   5   %
                                                   
                                                   

    (1)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

                                     
        For the Quarter Ended:  
    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS      June 30,       March 31,       December 31,       September 30,      June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   2025   2025   2024   2024   2024  
    Interest income   $ 63,025   $ 61,832   $ 64,043   $ 60,852   $ 58,489  
    Interest expense     18,220     18,472     20,448     21,523     19,622  
    Net interest income before provision                                
    for credit losses on loans     44,805     43,360     43,595     39,329     38,867  
    Provision for credit losses on loans     516     274     1,331     153     471  
    Net interest income after provision                                
    for credit losses on loans     44,289     43,086     42,264     39,176     38,396  
    Noninterest income:                                 
    Service charges and fees on deposit                                
    accounts     929     892     885     908     891  
    FHLB and FRB stock dividends     584     590     590     586     588  
    Increase in cash surrender value of                                
    life insurance     548     538     528     530     521  
    Termination fees     227     87     18     46     100  
    Gain on sales of SBA loans     87     98     125     94     76  
    Servicing income     61     82     77     108     90  
    Gain on proceeds from company-owned                                
    life insurance                     219  
    Other     541     409     552     554     379  
    Total noninterest income     2,977     2,696     2,775     2,826     2,864  
    Noninterest expense:                                     
    Salaries and employee benefits     16,227     16,575     16,976     15,673     15,794  
    Occupancy and equipment     2,525     2,534     2,495     2,599     2,689  
    Professional fees     1,819     1,580     1,711     1,306     1,072  
    Other     17,764     8,767     9,122     7,977     8,633  
    Total noninterest expense     38,335     29,456     30,304     27,555     28,188  
    Income before income taxes     8,931     16,326     14,735     14,447     13,072  
    Income tax expense     2,542     4,700     4,114     3,940     3,838  
    Net income   $ 6,389   $ 11,626   $ 10,621   $ 10,507   $ 9,234  
                                     
    PER COMMON SHARE DATA                                
    (unaudited)                                    
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.10   $ 0.19   $ 0.17   $ 0.17   $ 0.15  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.10   $ 0.19   $ 0.17   $ 0.17   $ 0.15  
    Weighted average shares outstanding – basic     61,508,180     61,479,579     61,320,505     61,295,877     61,279,914  
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted     61,624,600     61,708,361     61,679,735     61,546,157     61,438,088  
    Common shares outstanding at period-end     61,446,763     61,611,121     61,348,095     61,297,344     61,292,094  
    Dividend per share   $ 0.13   $ 0.13   $ 0.13   $ 0.13   $ 0.13  
    Book value per share   $ 11.31   $ 11.30   $ 11.24   $ 11.18   $ 11.08  
    Tangible book value per share(1)   $ 8.49   $ 8.48   $ 8.41   $ 8.33   $ 8.22  
                                     
    KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS                                     
    (in $000’s, unaudited)                                     
    Annualized return on average equity     3.68 %     6.81 %     6.16 %     6.14 %     5.50 %  
    Annualized return on average tangible                                
    common equity(1)     4.89 %     9.09 %     8.25 %     8.27 %     7.43 %  
    Annualized return on average assets     0.47 %     0.85 %     0.75 %     0.78 %     0.71 %  
    Annualized return on average tangible assets(1)     0.48 %     0.88 %     0.78 %     0.81 %     0.74 %  
    Net interest margin (FTE)(1)     3.54 %     3.39 %     3.32 %     3.15 %     3.23 %  
    Total revenue   $ 47,782   $ 46,056   $ 46,370   $ 42,155   $ 41,731  
    Pre-provision net revenue(1)   $ 9,447   $ 16,600   $ 16,066   $ 14,600   $ 13,543  
    Efficiency ratio(1)     80.23 %     63.96 %     65.35 %     65.37 %     67.55 %  
                                     
    AVERAGE BALANCES                                     
    (in $000’s, unaudited)                                     
    Average assets   $ 5,458,420   $ 5,559,896   $ 5,607,840   $ 5,352,067   $ 5,213,171  
    Average tangible assets(1)   $ 5,284,972   $ 5,386,001   $ 5,433,439   $ 5,177,114   $ 5,037,673  
    Average earning assets   $ 5,087,089   $ 5,188,317   $ 5,235,986   $ 4,980,082   $ 4,840,670  
    Average loans held-for-sale   $ 2,250   $ 2,290   $ 2,260   $ 1,493   $ 1,503  
    Average loans held-for-investment   $ 3,504,518   $ 3,429,014   $ 3,388,729   $ 3,359,647   $ 3,328,358  
    Average deposits   $ 4,618,007   $ 4,717,517   $ 4,771,491   $ 4,525,946   $ 4,394,545  
    Average demand deposits – noninterest-bearing   $ 1,146,494   $ 1,167,330   $ 1,222,393   $ 1,172,304   $ 1,127,145  
    Average interest-bearing deposits   $ 3,471,513   $ 3,550,187   $ 3,549,098   $ 3,353,642   $ 3,267,400  
    Average interest-bearing liabilities   $ 3,511,237   $ 3,589,872   $ 3,588,755   $ 3,393,264   $ 3,306,972  
    Average equity   $ 697,016   $ 692,733   $ 686,263   $ 680,404   $ 675,108  
    Average tangible common equity(1)   $ 523,568   $ 518,838   $ 511,862   $ 505,451   $ 499,610  
                                     
                                     
                                     

    (1)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

                                 
        End of Period:   Percent Change From:  
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS      June 30,       March 31,       June 30,       March 31,       June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   2025     2025     2024     2025     2024    
    ASSETS                                 
    Cash and due from banks   $ 55,360     $ 44,281     $ 37,497     25   %   48   %
    Other investments and interest-bearing deposits                            
    in other financial institutions     666,432       700,769       610,763     (5 ) %   9   %
    Securities available-for-sale, at fair value     307,035       370,976       273,043     (17 ) %   12   %
    Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost     561,205       576,718       621,178     (3 ) %   (10 ) %
    Loans – held-for-sale – SBA, including deferred costs     1,156       1,884       1,899     (39 ) %   (39 ) %
    Loans – held-for-investment:                             
    Commercial     492,231       489,241       477,929     1   %   3   %
    Real estate:                             
    CRE – owner occupied     627,810       616,825       594,504     2   %   6   %
    CRE – non-owner occupied     1,390,419       1,363,275       1,283,323     2   %   8   %
    Land and construction     149,460       136,106       125,374     10   %   19   %
    Home equity     120,763       119,138       126,562     1   %   (5 ) %
    Multifamily     285,016       284,510       268,968     0   %   6   %
    Residential mortgages     454,419       465,330       484,809     (2 ) %   (6 ) %
    Consumer and other     14,661       12,741       18,758     15   %   (22 ) %
    Loans     3,534,779       3,487,166       3,380,227     1   %   5   %
    Deferred loan fees, net     (446 )     (268 )     (434 )   66   %   3   %
    Total loans – held-for-investment, net of deferred fees     3,534,333       3,486,898       3,379,793     1   %   5   %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     (48,633 )     (48,262 )     (47,954 )   1   %   1   %
    Loans, net     3,485,700       3,438,636       3,331,839     1   %   5   %
    Company-owned life insurance     82,296       81,749       80,153     1   %   3   %
    Premises and equipment, net     9,765       9,772       10,310     0   %   (5 ) %
    Goodwill     167,631       167,631       167,631     0   %   0   %
    Other intangible assets     5,532       5,986       7,521     (8 ) %   (26 ) %
    Accrued interest receivable and other assets     125,125       115,853       121,190     8   %   3   %
    Total assets   $ 5,467,237     $ 5,514,255     $ 5,263,024     (1 ) %   4   %
                                 
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                              
    Liabilities:                              
    Deposits:                             
    Demand, noninterest-bearing   $ 1,151,242     $ 1,128,593     $ 1,187,320     2   %   (3 ) %
    Demand, interest-bearing     955,504       949,068       928,246     1   %   3   %
    Savings and money market     1,320,142       1,353,293       1,126,520     (2 ) %   17   %
    Time deposits – under $250     35,356       37,592       39,046     (6 ) %   (9 ) %
    Time deposits – $250 and over     210,818       213,357       203,886     (1 ) %   3   %
    ICS/CDARS – interest-bearing demand, money market                            
    and time deposits     954,272       1,001,365       959,592     (5 ) %   (1 ) %
    Total deposits     4,627,334       4,683,268       4,444,610     (1 ) %   4   %
    Subordinated debt, net of issuance costs     39,728       39,691       39,577     0   %   0   %
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities     105,471       95,106       99,638     11   %   6   %
    Total liabilities     4,772,533       4,818,065       4,583,825     (1 ) %   4   %
                                 
    Shareholders’ Equity:                                 
    Common stock     509,888       511,596       508,343     0   %   0   %
    Retained earnings     189,794       191,401       182,571     (1 ) %   4   %
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (4,978 )     (6,807 )     (11,715 )   (27 ) %   (58 ) %
    Total shareholders’ equity     694,704       696,190       679,199     0   %   2   %
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 5,467,237     $ 5,514,255     $ 5,263,024     (1 ) %   4   %
                                 
                                   
        End of Period:
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS      June 30,       March 31,       December 31,       September 30,      June 30, 
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   2025     2025     2024     2024     2024  
    ASSETS                                   
    Cash and due from banks   $ 55,360     $ 44,281     $ 29,864     $ 49,722     $ 37,497  
    Other investments and interest-bearing deposits                              
    in other financial institutions     666,432       700,769       938,259       906,588       610,763  
    Securities available-for-sale, at fair value     307,035       370,976       256,274       237,612       273,043  
    Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost     561,205       576,718       590,016       604,193       621,178  
    Loans – held-for-sale – SBA, including deferred costs     1,156       1,884       2,375       1,649       1,899  
    Loans – held-for-investment:                              
    Commercial     492,231       489,241       531,350       481,266       477,929  
    Real estate:                              
    CRE – owner occupied     627,810       616,825       601,636       602,062       594,504  
    CRE – non-owner occupied     1,390,419       1,363,275       1,341,266       1,310,578       1,283,323  
    Land and construction     149,460       136,106       127,848       125,761       125,374  
    Home equity     120,763       119,138       127,963       124,090       126,562  
    Multifamily     285,016       284,510       275,490       273,103       268,968  
    Residential mortgages     454,419       465,330       471,730       479,524       484,809  
    Consumer and other     14,661       12,741       14,837       14,179       18,758  
    Loans     3,534,779       3,487,166       3,492,120       3,410,563       3,380,227  
    Deferred loan fees, net     (446 )     (268 )     (183 )     (327 )     (434 )
    Total loans – held-for-investment, net of deferred fees     3,534,333       3,486,898       3,491,937       3,410,236       3,379,793  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     (48,633 )     (48,262 )     (48,953 )     (47,819 )     (47,954 )
    Loans, net     3,485,700       3,438,636       3,442,984       3,362,417       3,331,839  
    Company-owned life insurance     82,296       81,749       81,211       80,682       80,153  
    Premises and equipment, net     9,765       9,772       10,140       10,398       10,310  
    Goodwill     167,631       167,631       167,631       167,631       167,631  
    Other intangible assets     5,532       5,986       6,439       6,966       7,521  
    Accrued interest receivable and other assets     125,125       115,853       119,813       123,738       121,190  
    Total assets   $ 5,467,237     $ 5,514,255     $ 5,645,006     $ 5,551,596     $ 5,263,024  
                                   
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                              
    Liabilities:                                 
    Deposits:                                 
    Demand, noninterest-bearing   $ 1,151,242     $ 1,128,593     $ 1,214,192     $ 1,272,139     $ 1,187,320  
    Demand, interest-bearing     955,504       949,068       936,587       913,910       928,246  
    Savings and money market     1,320,142       1,353,293       1,325,923       1,309,676       1,126,520  
    Time deposits – under $250     35,356       37,592       38,988       39,060       39,046  
    Time deposits – $250 and over     210,818       213,357       206,755       196,945       203,886  
    ICS/CDARS – interest-bearing demand, money market                              
    and time deposits     954,272       1,001,365       1,097,586       997,803       959,592  
    Total deposits     4,627,334       4,683,268       4,820,031       4,729,533       4,444,610  
    Subordinated debt, net of issuance costs     39,728       39,691       39,653       39,615       39,577  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities     105,471       95,106       95,595       97,096       99,638  
    Total liabilities     4,772,533       4,818,065       4,955,279       4,866,244       4,583,825  
                                   
    Shareholders’ Equity:                                   
    Common stock     509,888       511,596       510,070       509,134       508,343  
    Retained earnings     189,794       191,401       187,762       185,110       182,571  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (4,978 )     (6,807 )     (8,105 )     (8,892 )     (11,715 )
    Total shareholders’ equity     694,704       696,190       689,727       685,352       679,199  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 5,467,237     $ 5,514,255     $ 5,645,006     $ 5,551,596     $ 5,263,024  
                                   
                                 
        At or For the Quarter Ended:   Percent Change From:  
    CREDIT QUALITY DATA      June 30,       March 31,       June 30,       March 31,       June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   2025   2025   2024   2025     2024    
    Nonaccrual loans – held-for-investment:                            
    Land and construction loans   $ 4,198   $ 4,793   $ 4,774   (12 ) %   (12 ) %
    Home equity and other loans     728     927     108   (21 ) %   574   %
    Residential mortgages     607           N/A   N/A  
    Commercial loans     491     324     900   52   %   (45 ) %
    CRE loans     31           N/A   N/A  
    Total nonaccrual loans – held-for-investment:     6,055     6,044     5,782   0   %   5   %
    Loans over 90 days past due                            
    and still accruing     123     268     248   (54 ) %   (50 ) %
    Total nonperforming loans     6,178     6,312     6,030   (2 ) %   2   %
    Foreclosed assets               N/A   N/A  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 6,178   $ 6,312   $ 6,030   (2 ) %   2   %
    Net charge-offs during the quarter   $ 145   $ 965   $ 405   (85 ) %   (64 ) %
    Provision for credit losses on loans during the quarter   $ 516   $ 274   $ 471   88   %   10   %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans   $ 48,633   $ 48,262   $ 47,954   1   %   1   %
    Classified assets   $ 37,525   $ 40,034   $ 33,605   (6 ) %   12   %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans     1.38 %     1.38 %     1.42 %   0   %   (3 ) %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total nonperforming loans     787.20 %     764.61 %     795.26 %   3   %   (1 ) %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %   0   %   0   %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     0.17 %     0.18 %     0.18 %   (6 ) %   (6 ) %
    Classified assets to Heritage Commerce Corp                            
    Tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses on loans     7 %     7 %     6 %   0   %   17   %
    Classified assets to Heritage Bank of Commerce                            
    Tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses on loans     6 %     7 %     6 %   (14 ) %   0   %
                                 
    OTHER PERIOD-END STATISTICS                                 
    (in $000’s, unaudited)                                 
    Heritage Commerce Corp:                                 
    Tangible common equity (1)   $ 521,541   $ 522,573   $ 504,047   0   %   3   %
    Shareholders’ equity / total assets     12.71 %     12.63 %     12.91 %   1   %   (2 ) %
    Tangible common equity / tangible assets (1)     9.85 %     9.78 %     9.91 %   1   %   (1 ) %
    Loan to deposit ratio     76.38 %     74.45 %     76.04 %   3   %   0   %
    Noninterest-bearing deposits / total deposits     24.88 %     24.10 %     26.71 %   3   %   (7 ) %
    Total capital ratio     15.5 %     15.9 %     15.6 %   (3 ) %   (1 ) %
    Tier 1 capital ratio     13.3 %     13.6 %     13.4 %   (2 ) %   (1 ) %
    Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio     13.3 %     13.6 %     13.4 %   (2 ) %   (1 ) %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     9.9 %     9.8 %     10.2 %   1   %   (3 ) %
    Heritage Bank of Commerce:                            
    Tangible common equity / tangible assets (1)     10.28 %     10.15 %     10.28 %   1   %   0   %
    Total capital ratio     15.1 %     15.4 %     15.1 %   (2 ) %   0   %
    Tier 1 capital ratio     13.8 %     14.1 %     13.9 %   (2 ) %   (1 ) %
    Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio     13.8 %     14.1 %     13.9 %   (2 ) %   (1 ) %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     10.4 %     10.2 %     10.6 %   2   %   (2 ) %
                                 

    (1)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

                                     
        At or For the Quarter Ended:  
    CREDIT QUALITY DATA      June 30,       March 31,       December 31,       September 30,      June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   2025   2025   2024   2024   2024  
    Nonaccrual loans – held-for-investment:                                
    Land and construction loans   $ 4,198   $ 4,793   $ 5,874   $ 5,862   $ 4,774  
    Home equity and other loans     728     927     290     84     108  
    Residential mortgages     607                  
    Commercial loans     491     324     1,014     752     900  
    CRE loans     31                  
    Total nonaccrual loans – held-for-investment:     6,055     6,044     7,178     6,698     5,782  
    Loans over 90 days past due                                
    and still accruing     123     268     489     460     248  
    Total nonperforming loans     6,178     6,312     7,667     7,158     6,030  
    Foreclosed assets                      
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 6,178   $ 6,312   $ 7,667   $ 7,158   $ 6,030  
    Net charge-offs during the quarter   $ 145   $ 965   $ 197   $ 288   $ 405  
    Provision for credit losses on loans during the quarter   $ 516   $ 274   $ 1,331   $ 153   $ 471  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans   $ 48,633   $ 48,262   $ 48,953   $ 47,819   $ 47,954  
    Classified assets   $ 37,525   $ 40,034   $ 41,661   $ 32,609   $ 33,605  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans     1.38 %     1.38 %     1.40 %     1.40 %     1.42 %  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total nonperforming loans     787.20 %     764.61 %     638.49 %     668.05 %     795.26 %  
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.14 %     0.13 %     0.11 %  
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     0.17 %     0.18 %     0.22 %     0.21 %     0.18 %  
    Classified assets to Heritage Commerce Corp                                
    Tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses on loans     7 %     7 %     7 %     6 %     6 %  
    Classified assets to Heritage Bank of Commerce                                
    Tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses on loans     6 %     7 %     7 %     6 %     6 %  
                                     
    OTHER PERIOD-END STATISTICS                                     
    (in $000’s, unaudited)                                     
    Heritage Commerce Corp:                                     
    Tangible common equity (1)   $ 521,541   $ 522,573   $ 515,657   $ 510,755   $ 504,047  
    Shareholders’ equity / total assets     12.71 %     12.63 %     12.22 %     12.35 %     12.91 %  
    Tangible common equity / tangible assets (1)     9.85 %     9.78 %     9.43 %     9.50 %     9.91 %  
    Loan to deposit ratio     76.38 %     74.45 %     72.45 %     72.11 %     76.04 %  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits / total deposits     24.88 %     24.10 %     25.19 %     26.90 %     26.71 %  
    Total capital ratio     15.5 %     15.9 %     15.6 %     15.6 %     15.6 %  
    Tier 1 capital ratio     13.3 %     13.6 %     13.4 %     13.4 %     13.4 %  
    Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio     13.3 %     13.6 %     13.4 %     13.4 %     13.4 %  
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     9.9 %     9.8 %     9.6 %     10.0 %     10.2 %  
    Heritage Bank of Commerce:                                
    Tangible common equity / tangible assets (1)     10.28 %     10.15 %     9.79 %     9.86 %     10.28 %  
    Total capital ratio     15.1 %     15.4 %     15.1 %     15.1 %     15.1 %  
    Tier 1 capital ratio     13.8 %     14.1 %     13.9 %     13.9 %     13.9 %  
    Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio     13.8 %     14.1 %     13.9 %     13.9 %     13.9 %  
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     10.4 %     10.2 %     10.0 %     10.4 %     10.6 %  

    (1)This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.

                                       
        For the Quarter Ended   For the Quarter Ended  
        June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025  
                    Interest      Average               Interest      Average  
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN   Average   Income/   Yield/   Average   Income/   Yield/  
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   Balance   Expense   Rate   Balance   Expense   Rate  
    Assets:                                        
    Loans, core bank   $ 3,020,534       41,738     5.54 %   $ 2,945,072     $ 39,758     5.47 %  
    Prepayment fees           473     0.06 %           224     0.03 %  
    Bay View Funding factored receivables     67,756       3,347     19.81 %     60,250       2,942     19.80 %  
    Purchased residential mortgages     420,280       3,548     3.39 %     427,963       3,597     3.41 %  
    Loan fair value mark / accretion     (1,802 )     172     0.02 %     (1,981 )     181     0.02 %  
    Loans, gross (1)(2)     3,506,768       49,278     5.64 %     3,431,304       46,702     5.52 %  
    Securities – taxable     902,642       6,346     2.82 %     876,092       5,559     2.57 %  
    Securities – exempt from Federal tax (3)     30,259       272     3.61 %     30,480       275     3.66 %  
    Other investments and interest-bearing deposits                                  
    in other financial institutions     647,420       7,186     4.45 %     850,441       9,354     4.46 %  
    Total interest earning assets (3)     5,087,089       63,082     4.97 %     5,188,317       61,890     4.84 %  
    Cash and due from banks     31,044                  31,869               
    Premises and equipment, net     9,958                  10,007               
    Goodwill and other intangible assets     173,448                  173,895               
    Other assets     156,881                  155,808               
    Total assets   $ 5,458,420                $ 5,559,896               
                                       
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:                                    
    Deposits:                                    
    Demand, noninterest-bearing   $ 1,146,494                $ 1,167,330               
                                       
    Demand, interest-bearing     949,867       1,484     0.63 %     944,375       1,438     0.62 %  
    Savings and money market     1,313,054       8,205     2.51 %     1,323,038       8,073     2.47 %  
    Time deposits – under $100     11,456       49     1.72 %     11,383       47     1.67 %  
    Time deposits – $100 and over     231,644       1,995     3.45 %     234,421       2,129     3.68 %  
    ICS/CDARS – interest-bearing demand, money market                                  
    and time deposits     965,492       5,949     2.47 %     1,036,970       6,248     2.44 %  
    Total interest-bearing deposits     3,471,513       17,682     2.04 %     3,550,187       17,935     2.05 %  
    Total deposits     4,618,007       17,682     1.54 %     4,717,517       17,935     1.54 %  
                                       
    Short-term borrowings     19           0.00 %     18           0.00 %  
    Subordinated debt, net of issuance costs     39,705       538     5.43 %     39,667       537     5.49 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     3,511,237       18,220     2.08 %     3,589,872       18,472     2.09 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities and demand,                                  
    noninterest-bearing / cost of funds     4,657,731       18,220     1.57 %     4,757,202       18,472     1.57 %  
    Other liabilities     103,673                  109,961               
    Total liabilities     4,761,404                  4,867,163               
    Shareholders’ equity     697,016                  692,733               
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 5,458,420                $ 5,559,896               
                                       
    Net interest income / margin (3)            44,862     3.54 %            43,418     3.39 %  
    Less tax equivalent adjustment (3)            (57 )                 (58 )       
    Net interest income          $ 44,805     3.53 %          $ 43,360     3.39 %  
                                       

    (1)Includes loans held-for-sale. Nonaccrual loans are included in average balances.
    (2)Yield amounts earned on loans include fees and costs. The accretion of net deferred loan fees into loan interest income was $253,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $214,000 for the first quarter of 2025.  Prepayment fees totaled $473,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $224,000 for the first quarter of 2025.
    (3)Reflects the FTE adjustment for Federal tax-exempt income based on a 21% tax rate. This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial
    Measures” in this press release.

                                       
        For the Quarter Ended   For the Quarter Ended  
        June 30, 2025   June 30, 2024  
                    Interest      Average               Interest      Average  
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN   Average   Income/   Yield/   Average   Income/   Yield/  
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   Balance   Expense   Rate   Balance   Expense   Rate  
    Assets:                                        
    Loans, core bank   $ 3,020,534     $ 41,738     5.54 %   $ 2,830,260     $ 38,496     5.47 %  
    Prepayment fees           473     0.06 %           54     0.01 %  
    Bay View Funding factored receivables     67,756       3,347     19.81 %     54,777       2,914     21.40 %  
    Purchased residential mortgages     420,280       3,548     3.39 %     447,687       3,739     3.36 %  
    Loan fair value mark / accretion     (1,802 )     172     0.02 %     (2,863 )     267     0.04 %  
    Loans, gross (1)(2)     3,506,768       49,278     5.64 %     3,329,861       45,470     5.49 %  
    Securities – taxable     902,642       6,346     2.82 %     942,532       5,483     2.34 %  
    Securities – exempt from Federal tax (3)     30,259       272     3.61 %     31,803       285     3.60 %  
    Other investments and interest-bearing deposits                                   
    in other financial institutions     647,420       7,186     4.45 %     536,474       7,311     5.48 %  
    Total interest earning assets (3)     5,087,089       63,082     4.97 %     4,840,670       58,549     4.86 %  
    Cash and due from banks     31,044                  33,419               
    Premises and equipment, net     9,958                  10,216               
    Goodwill and other intangible assets     173,448                  175,498               
    Other assets     156,881                  153,368               
    Total assets   $ 5,458,420                $ 5,213,171               
                                       
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:                                    
    Deposits:                                    
    Demand, noninterest-bearing   $ 1,146,494                $ 1,127,145               
                                       
    Demand, interest-bearing     949,867       1,484     0.63 %     932,100       1,719     0.74 %  
    Savings and money market     1,313,054       8,205     2.51 %     1,104,589       7,867     2.86 %  
    Time deposits – under $100     11,456       49     1.72 %     10,980       46     1.68 %  
    Time deposits – $100 and over     231,644       1,995     3.45 %     228,248       2,245     3.96 %  
    ICS/CDARS – interest-bearing demand, money market                                  
    and time deposits     965,492       5,949     2.47 %     991,483       7,207     2.92 %  
    Total interest-bearing deposits     3,471,513       17,682     2.04 %     3,267,400       19,084     2.35 %  
    Total deposits     4,618,007       17,682     1.54 %     4,394,545       19,084     1.75 %  
                                       
    Short-term borrowings     19           0.00 %     19           0.00 %  
    Subordinated debt, net of issuance costs     39,705       538     5.43 %     39,553       538     5.47 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     3,511,237       18,220     2.08 %     3,306,972       19,622     2.39 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities and demand,                                  
    noninterest-bearing / cost of funds     4,657,731       18,220     1.57 %     4,434,117       19,622     1.78 %  
    Other liabilities     103,673                  103,946               
    Total liabilities     4,761,404                  4,538,063               
    Shareholders’ equity     697,016                  675,108               
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 5,458,420                $ 5,213,171               
                                       
    Net interest income / margin (3)            44,862     3.54 %            38,927     3.23 %  
    Less tax equivalent adjustment (3)            (57 )                 (60 )       
    Net interest income          $ 44,805     3.53 %          $ 38,867     3.23 %  

    (1)Includes loans held-for-sale. Nonaccrual loans are included in average balances.
    (2)Yield amounts earned on loans include fees and costs. The accretion of net deferred loan fees into loan interest income was $253,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $117,000 for the second quarter of 2024. Prepayment fees totaled $473,000 for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $54,000 for the second quarter of 2024.
    (3)Reflects the FTE adjustment for Federal tax-exempt income based on a 21% tax rate. This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this press release.  

                                       
        For the Six Months Ended   For the Six Months Ended  
        June 30, 2025   June 30, 2024  
                    Interest      Average               Interest      Average  
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN   Average   Income/   Yield/   Average   Income/   Yield/  
    (in $000’s, unaudited)   Balance   Expense   Rate   Balance   Expense   Rate  
    Assets:                                        
    Loans, core bank   $ 2,983,011     $ 81,496     5.51 %   $ 2,812,805     $ 76,217     5.45 %  
    Prepayment fees           697     0.05 %           78     0.01 %  
    Bay View Funding factored receivables     64,024       6,289     19.81 %     54,144       5,752     21.36 %  
    Purchased residential mortgages     424,101       7,145     3.40 %     450,964       7,527     3.36 %  
    Loan fair value mark / accretion     (1,891 )     353     0.02 %     (2,988 )     496     0.04 %  
    Loans, gross (1)(2)     3,469,245       95,980     5.58 %     3,314,925       90,070     5.46 %  
    Securities – taxable     889,440       11,905     2.70 %     992,508       11,666     2.36 %  
    Securities – exempt from Federal tax (3)     30,369       547     3.63 %     31,871       571     3.60 %  
    Other investments, interest-bearing deposits in other                                  
    financial institutions and Federal funds sold     748,370       16,540     4.46 %     486,283       13,263     5.48 %  
    Total interest earning assets (3)     5,137,424       124,972     4.91 %     4,825,587       115,570     4.82 %  
    Cash and due from banks     31,454                  33,316               
    Premises and equipment, net     9,982                  10,115               
    Goodwill and other intangible assets     173,671                  175,769               
    Other assets     156,347                  151,116               
    Total assets   $ 5,508,878                $ 5,195,903               
                                       
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:                                      
    Deposits:                                      
    Demand, noninterest-bearing   $ 1,156,854                $ 1,152,111               
                                       
    Demand, interest-bearing     947,137       2,922     0.62 %     926,074       3,273     0.71 %  
    Savings and money market     1,318,018       16,278     2.49 %     1,086,085       14,516     2.69 %  
    Time deposits – under $100     11,420       96     1.70 %     10,962       88     1.61 %  
    Time deposits – $100 and over     233,025       4,124     3.57 %     224,730       4,309     3.86 %  
    ICS/CDARS – interest-bearing demand, money market                                  
    and time deposits     1,001,033       12,197     2.46 %     977,385       13,818     2.84 %  
    Total interest-bearing deposits     3,510,633       35,617     2.05 %     3,225,236       36,004     2.24 %  
    Total deposits     4,667,487       35,617     1.54 %     4,377,347       36,004     1.65 %  
                                       
    Short-term borrowings     19           0.00 %     17           0.00 %  
    Subordinated debt, net of issuance costs     39,686       1,075     5.46 %     39,535       1,076     5.47 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     3,550,338       36,692     2.08 %     3,264,788       37,080     2.28 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities and demand,                                  
    noninterest-bearing / cost of funds     4,707,192       36,692     1.57 %     4,416,899       37,080     1.69 %  
    Other liabilities     106,800                 105,304              
    Total liabilities     4,813,992                  4,522,203               
    Shareholders’ equity     694,886                  673,700               
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 5,508,878                $ 5,195,903               
                                         
    Net interest income / margin (3)            88,280     3.47 %            78,490     3.27 %  
    Less tax equivalent adjustment (3)            (115 )                (120 )      
    Net interest income          $ 88,165     3.46 %          $ 78,370     3.27 %  

    (1)Includes loans held-for-sale. Nonaccrual loans are included in average balances.
    (2)Yield amounts earned on loans include fees and costs. The accretion of net deferred loan fees into loan interest income was $467,000 for the first six months of 2025, compared to $277,000 for the six months of 2024. Prepayment fees totaled $697,000 for the first six months of 2025, compared to $78,000 for the first six months of 2024.
    (3)Reflects the FTE adjustment for Federal tax-exempt income based on a 21% tax rate. This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and discussed under “Non-GAAP Financial
       Measures” in this press release.

    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

    Management considers net income and earnings per share adjusted to exclude the $9.2 million of charges primarily related to a legal settlement in the second quarter and first six months of 2025 as a useful measurement of the Company’s profitability compared to prior periods.

    The following table summarizes components of net income and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated:

                                   
    NET INCOME AND   For the Quarter Ended:
    DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,   September 30,   June 30, 
    (in $000’s, except per share amounts, unaudited)      2025     2025        2024   2024   2024
    Reported net income (GAAP)   $ 6,389     $ 11,626   $ 10,621   $ 10,507   $ 9,234
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184                  
    Less: related income taxes     (2,618 )                
    Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)   $ 12,955     $ 11,626   $ 10,621   $ 10,507   $ 9,234
                                   
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted     61,624,600       61,708,361     61,679,735     61,546,157     61,438,088
                                   
    Reported diluted earnings per share   $ 0.10     $ 0.19   $ 0.17   $ 0.17   $ 0.15
                                   
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share   $ 0.21     $ 0.19   $ 0.17   $ 0.17   $ 0.15
                 
    NET INCOME AND   For the Six Months Ended:
    DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE   June 30,    June 30, 
    (in $000’s, except per share amounts, unaudited)      2025     2024
    Reported net income (GAAP)   $ 18,015     $ 19,400
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184      
    Less: related income taxes     (2,618 )    
    Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)   $ 24,581     $ 19,400
                 
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted     61,664,942       61,446,484
                 
    Reported diluted earnings per share   $ 0.29     $ 0.32
                 
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share   $ 0.40     $ 0.32

    Management considers tangible book value per share as a useful measurement of the Company’s equity. The Company references the return on average tangible common equity and the return on average tangible assets as measurements of profitability.

    The following table summarizes components of the tangible book value per share at the dates indicated:

                                     
    TANGIBLE BOOK VALUE PER SHARE   June 30,    March  31,    December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2025     2025     2024        2024    
    Capital components:                                
    Total equity (GAAP)   $ 694,704     $ 696,190     $ 689,727     $ 685,352     $ 679,199    
    Less: preferred stock                                
    Total common equity     694,704       696,190       689,727       685,352       679,199    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (5,532 )     (5,986 )     (6,439 )     (6,966 )     (7,521 )  
    Reported tangible common equity (non-GAAP)     521,541       522,573       515,657       510,755       504,047    
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184                            
    Less: related income taxes     (2,618 )                          
    Adjusted tangible common equity (non-GAAP)   $ 528,107     $ 522,573     $ 515,657     $ 510,755     $ 504,047    
                                     
    Common shares outstanding at period-end     61,446,763       61,611,121       61,348,095       61,297,344       61,292,094    
                                     
    Reported tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)   $ 8.49     $ 8.48     $ 8.41     $ 8.33     $ 8.22    
                                     
    Adjusted tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)   $ 8.59     $ 8.48     $ 8.41     $ 8.33     $ 8.22    

    The following tables summarize components of the annualized return on average equity, annualized return on average tangible common equity and the annualized return on average assets for the periods indicated:

                                     
    RETURN ON AVERAGE TANGIBLE COMMON   For the Quarter Ended:  
    EQUITY AND AVERAGE ASSETS   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2025          2024     2024     2024       
    Reported net income (GAAP)   $ 6,389     $ 11,626     $ 10,621     $ 10,507     $ 9,234    
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184                            
    Less: related income taxes     (2,618 )                          
    Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)   $ 12,955     $ 11,626     $ 10,621     $ 10,507     $ 9,234    
                                     
    Average tangible common equity components:                                
    Average equity (GAAP)   $ 697,016     $ 692,733     $ 686,263     $ 680,404     $ 675,108    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (5,817 )     (6,264 )     (6,770 )     (7,322 )     (7,867 )  
    Total average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)   $ 523,568     $ 518,838     $ 511,862     $ 505,451     $ 499,610    
                                     
    Annualized return on average equity (GAAP)      3.68      6.81   %    6.16   %    6.14   %    5.50   %
                                     
    Reported annualized return on average                                
    tangible common equity (non-GAAP)     4.89   %     9.09   %     8.25   %     8.27   %     7.43   %  
                                               
    Adjusted annualized return on average                                
    tangible common equity (non-GAAP)     9.92   %     9.09   %     8.25   %     8.27   %     7.43   %  
                                     
    Average assets (GAAP)   $ 5,458,420     $ 5,559,896     $ 5,607,840     $ 5,352,067     $ 5,213,171    
                                     
    Reported annualized return on average assets (GAAP)     0.47   %     0.85   %     0.75   %     0.78   %     0.71   %  
                                     
    Adjusted annualized return on average assets (non-GAAP)     0.95   %     0.85   %     0.75   %     0.78   %     0.71   %  
                   
    RETURN ON AVERAGE TANGIBLE COMMON   For the Six Months Ended:  
    EQUITY AND AVERAGE ASSETS   June 30,    June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2024       
    Reported net income (GAAP)   $ 18,015     $ 19,400    
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184          
    Less: related income taxes     (2,618 )        
    Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)   $ 24,581     $ 19,400    
                   
    Average tangible common equity components:              
    Average equity (GAAP)   $ 694,886     $ 673,700    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (6,040 )     (8,138 )  
    Total average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)   $ 521,215     $ 497,931    
                   
    Annualized return on average equity (GAAP)      5.23      5.79   %
                   
    Reported annualized return on average              
    tangible common equity (non-GAAP)     6.97   %     7.84   %  
                       
    Adjusted annualized return on average              
    tangible common equity (non-GAAP)     9.51   %     7.84   %  
                   
    Average assets (GAAP)   $ 5,508,878     $ 5,195,903    
                   
    Reported annualized return on average assets (GAAP)     0.66   %     0.75   %  
                   
    Adjusted annualized return on average assets (non-GAAP)     0.90   %     0.75   %  

    Management reviews yields on certain asset categories and the net interest margin of the Company on an FTE basis. In this non-GAAP presentation, net interest income is adjusted to reflect tax-exempt interest income on an equivalent before-tax basis using tax rates effective as of the end of the period. This measure ensures comparability of net interest income arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources. The following tables summarize components of FTE net interest income of the Company for the periods indicated:

                                     
        For the Quarter Ended:  
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,    September 30,    June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025   2025   2024   2024   2024  
    Net interest income before                                
    credit losses on loans (GAAP)   $ 44,805   $ 43,360   $ 43,595   $ 39,329   $ 38,867  
    Tax-equivalent adjustment on securities –                                
    exempt from Federal tax     57     58     58     59     60  
    Net interest income, FTE (non-GAAP)   $ 44,862   $ 43,418   $ 43,653   $ 39,388   $ 38,927  
                                     
    Average balance of total interest earning assets   $ 5,087,089   $ 5,188,317   $ 5,235,986   $ 4,980,082   $ 4,840,670  
                                     
    Net interest margin (annualized net interest income divided by the                                
    average balance of total interest earnings assets) (GAAP)     3.53 %     3.39 %     3.31 %     3.14 %     3.23 %  
                                     
    Net interest margin, FTE (annualized net interest income, FTE,                                
    divided by the average balance of total                                
    earnings assets) (non-GAAP)     3.54 %     3.39 %     3.32 %     3.15 %     3.23 %  
                   
        For the Six Months Ended:  
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN   June 30,    June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025   2024  
    Net interest income before              
    credit losses on loans (GAAP)   $ 88,165   $ 78,370  
    Tax-equivalent adjustment on securities – exempt from Federal tax     115     120  
    Net interest income, FTE (non-GAAP)   $ 88,280   $ 78,490  
                   
    Average balance of total interest earning assets   $ 5,137,424   $ 4,825,587  
                   
    Net interest margin (annualized net interest income divided by the              
    average balance of total interest earnings assets) (GAAP)     3.46 %     3.27 %  
                   
    Net interest margin, FTE (annualized net interest income, FTE, divided by the              
    average balance of total interest earnings assets) (non-GAAP)     3.47 %     3.27 %  

    Management views its non-GAAP PPNR as a key metric for assessing the Company’s earnings power. The following table summarizes the components of PPNR for the periods indicated:

                                   
        For the Quarter Ended:
    PRE-PROVISION NET REVENUE   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,   September 30,   June 30, 
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2025     2024     2025     2024  
    Net interest income before credit losses on loans   $ 44,805     $ 43,360     $ 43,595     $ 39,329     $ 38,867  
    Noninterest income     2,977       2,696       2,775       2,826       2,864  
    Total revenue     47,782       46,056       46,370     $ 42,155     $ 41,731  
    Less: Noninterest expense     (38,335 )     (29,456 )     (30,304 )     (27,555 )     (28,188 )
    Reported PPNR (non-GAAP)     9,447       16,600       16,066     $ 14,600     $ 13,543  
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184                          
    Adjusted PPNR (non-GAAP)   $ 18,631     $ 16,600     $ 16,066     $ 14,600     $ 13,543  
                 
        For the Six Months Ended:
    PRE-PROVISION NET REVENUE   June 30,    June 30, 
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2024  
    Net interest income before credit losses on loans   $ 88,165     $ 78,370  
    Noninterest income     5,673       5,501  
    Total revenue     93,838       83,871  
    Less: Noninterest expense     (67,791 )     (55,724 )
    Reported PPNR (non-GAAP)     26,047       28,147  
    Add: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     9,184        
    Adjusted PPNR (non-GAAP)   $ 35,231     $ 28,147  

    The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is calculated by dividing noninterest expense by total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income), and measures how much it costs to produce one dollar of revenue. The following tables summarize components of noninterest expense and the efficiency ratio of the Company for the periods indicated:

                                     
        For the Quarter Ended:  
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE AND EFFICIENCY RATIO   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2025   2024   2024   2024  
    Reported noninterest expense (GAAP)   $ 38,335     $ 29,456   $ 30,304   $ 27,555   $ 28,188  
    Less: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     (9,184 )                  
    Adjusted noninterest expense (non-GAAP)   $ 29,151     $ 29,456   $ 30,304   $ 27,555   $ 28,188  
                                     
    Net interest income before credit losses on loans   $ 44,805     $ 43,360   $ 43,595   $ 39,329   $ 38,867  
    Noninterest income     2,977       2,696     2,775     2,826     2,864  
    Total revenue   $ 47,782     $ 46,056   $ 46,370   $ 42,155   $ 41,731  
                                     
    Reported efficiency ratio (noninterest expense divided                                
    by total revenue) (non-GAAP)     80.23   %     63.96 %     65.35 %     65.37 %     67.55 %  
                                     
    Adjusted efficiency ratio (adjusted noninterest expense                                
    divided by total revenue) (non-GAAP)     61.01   %     63.96 %     65.35 %     65.37 %     67.55 %  
                   
        For the Six Months Ended:  
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE AND EFFICIENCY RATIO   June 30,    June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2024  
    Reported noninterest expense (GAAP)   $ 67,791     $ 55,724  
    Less: pre-tax legal settlement and other charges     (9,184 )      
    Adjusted noninterest expense (non-GAAP)   $ 58,607     $ 55,724  
                   
    Net interest income before credit losses on loans   $ 88,165     $ 79,548  
    Noninterest income     5,673       4,323  
    Total revenue   $ 93,838     $ 83,871  
                   
    Reported efficiency ratio (noninterest expense divided              
    by total revenue) (non-GAAP)     72.24   %     66.44 %  
                   
    Adjusted efficiency ratio (adjusted noninterest expense              
    divided by total revenue) (non-GAAP)     62.46   %     66.44 %  

    Management considers the tangible common equity ratio as a useful measurement of the Company’s and the Bank’s equity. The following table summarizes components of the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of the Company at the dates indicated:

                                     
    TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY TO TANGIBLE ASSETS   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,       September 30,      June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2025        2024        2024        2024    
    Capital components:                                
    Total equity (GAAP)   $ 694,704     $ 696,190     $ 689,727     $ 685,352     $ 679,199    
    Less: preferred stock                                
    Total common equity     694,704       696,190       689,727       685,352       679,199    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (5,532 )     (5,986 )     (6,439 )     (6,966 )     (7,521 )  
    Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP)   $ 521,541     $ 522,573     $ 515,657     $ 510,755     $ 504,047    
                                     
    Asset components:                                
    Total assets (GAAP)   $ 5,467,237     $ 5,514,255     $ 5,645,006     $ 5,551,596     $ 5,263,024    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (5,532 )     (5,986 )     (6,439 )     (6,966 )     (7,521 )  
    Total tangible assets (non-GAAP)   $ 5,294,074     $ 5,340,638     $ 5,470,936     $ 5,376,999     $ 5,087,872    
                                     
    Tangible common equity / tangible assets (non-GAAP)     9.85   %     9.78   %     9.43   %     9.50   %     9.91   %  

    The following table summarizes components of the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of the Bank at the dates indicated:

                                     
    TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY TO TANGIBLE ASSETS   June 30,    March 31,    December 31,       September 30,   June 30,   
    (in $000’s, unaudited)      2025     2025        2024        2024        2024    
    Capital components:                                
    Total equity (GAAP)   $ 717,103     $ 715,605     $ 709,379     $ 704,585     $ 697,964    
    Less: preferred stock                                
    Total common equity     717,103       715,605       709,379       704,585       697,964    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (5,532 )     (5,986 )     (6,439 )     (6,966 )     (7,521 )  
    Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP)   $ 543,940     $ 541,988     $ 535,309     $ 529,988     $ 522,812    
                                     
    Asset components:                                
    Total assets (GAAP)   $ 5,464,618     $ 5,512,160     $ 5,641,646     $ 5,548,576     $ 5,260,500    
    Less: goodwill     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )     (167,631 )  
    Less: other intangible assets     (5,532 )     (5,986 )     (6,439 )     (6,966 )     (7,521 )  
    Total tangible assets (non-GAAP)   $ 5,291,455     $ 5,338,543     $ 5,467,576     $ 5,373,979     $ 5,085,348    
                                     
    Tangible common equity / tangible assets (non-GAAP)     10.28   %     10.15   %     9.79   %     9.86   %     10.28   %  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Introduces the Streamlining Rural Housing Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), along with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), introduced the Streamlining Rural Housing Act.  The bill directs the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the feasibility of joint environmental review and inspection processes.  By streamlining the review and inspection processes between HUD and USDA, this bill would make rural housing development more efficient for home builders, affordable housing non-profits, and state housing finance agencies.

    “Duplicative red tape and burdensome regulations create additional costs and deter much-needed investments in rural affordable housing,” said Ricketts.  “The Streamlining Rural Housing Act is the first step to enhance efficiency and eliminate conflicting requirements that delay approvals so that we can build more housing in rural Nebraska.  When I was Governor of Nebraska, our state created a rural workforce housing fund to help administer support to communities for rural housing needs, like construction costs, down payment assistance, and technical assistance.”

    “Across Kansas, the demand for rural housing has been on the rise, and it’s important that we find innovative solutions to address this issue,” said Moran.  “Streamlining rural housing regulations between HUD and USDA will simplify the regulatory process for developers, allowing them to more efficiently address the growing housing needs in Kansas and across the country.”

    “To address the shortage of quality, affordable housing in rural areas, federal regulations need to work for communities rather than against them,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would improve and streamline environmental reviews and housing unit inspections so that we can build more homes and lower costs where it’s needed most.” 

    “Americans are facing an affordable housing crisis.  We need to build more housing and build it fast to bring down costs and get more people into homes,” said Gallego.  “Government should be part of the solution, but right now it’s part of the problem.  By reducing red tape and streamlining redundant processes, this bipartisan bill will accelerate construction, lower costs, and get more desperately needed homes on the market.”

    The Streamlining Rural Housing Act would direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to:

    • Create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to evaluate categorical exclusion under the environmental review process for housing projects that use combined funding;
    • Create an MOU to develop a process for designating a lead agency.
      • This process will streamline adoption of Environmental Impact Statements and Environment Assessments approved by the other Department to construct housing projects funded by both agencies;
    • Create an MOU to evaluate the feasibility of a joint inspection process for housing projects that use combined funding;
    • Establish an advisory working group to consult on the MOUs consisting of:
      • Affordable housing non-profits;
      • State housing and housing finance agencies;
      • Non-profit and for-profit home builders and housing developers;
      • Property management companies;
      • Owners of multifamily properties;
      • Public housing agencies;
      • Residents in housing assisted by HUD and USDA;
      • Housing contract administrators.

    “The Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH) applauds the efforts of Senators Moran, Ricketts, Shaheen, and Gallego in introducing this important legislation which will help streamline program requirements at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development (RD) programs,” said Colleen Fisher, Executive Director of the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH).  “Many times when housing developers and owners are operating a property here is a need to have multiple sources of funding so that the property can cash flow and rents are at levels that low-income residents can afford.  When this occurs, the agencies require separate if not identical inspections, somewhat negating the purpose of having the multiple layers of funding, thus increasing regulatory costs.  By requiring one inspection, operating costs will be reduced or redirected toward services on properties.  The approach envisioned in the bill has been supported by several different Administrations, with the goal of reducing regulatory burdens and improving the delivery of affordable housing programs.”

    BACKGROUND

    Often, when a housing project draws federal funding from Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, one has to follow separate processes for environmental review and housing inspections for both agencies.   This can incur more costs, lead to delays in project completion, and present challenges in getting over excessive bureaucratic procedures. This is burdensome especially at a time when housing needs in rural America are growing and existing housing supply is aging.  Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) are an effective way to address duplicative compliance requirements and regulatory misalignment across different federal, state, and local agencies.

    Full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: USS Thomas Hudner Returns from Deployment to 4th and 6th Fleet

    Source: United States Navy

    The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) returned to Naval Station Mayport July 23, concluding a five-month deployment across multiple geographic theaters, including the U.S. 4th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

    The crew departed Feb. 18, 2025, with their mission focused on strengthening international maritime security and relations with partner nations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. Shortly after arrival on station, Thomas Hudner welcomed the Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, who recognized Thomas Hudner’s high-performing Sailors during his tour of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Guantanamo Bay facilities.

    Upon departing NSA Guantanamo Bay, Thomas Hudner conducted trilateral operations in the Caribbean Sea with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), the United Kingdom Royal Navy River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Medway (P 223) and the Royal Netherlands Navy Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Groningen (P843), enhancing interoperability among Allied naval forces. Thomas Hudner also conducted freedom of navigation operations off the coast of Cuba, reinforcing the U.S. Navy’s commitment to unity, security, and stability in the Caribbean, Central and South American maritime regions.

    “The crew of Thomas Hudner has consistently proven their unwavering commitment in safeguarding America’s national security interests and maintaining the U.S. Navy’s maritime dominance worldwide,” said Cmdr. Cameron Ingram, commanding officer of Thomas Hudner. “I could not be more proud of my team!”

    Throughout their deployment in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, Thomas Hudner’s crew trained and engaged in a variety of activities, from maritime security operations to joint exercises with Allied and partner navies in the European theater.

    Thomas Hudner participated in several notable exercises, including Formidable Shield 2025, executed alongside 11 NATO Allies in the North and Norwegian Seas and North Atlantic Ocean. During Formidable Shield 2025, Thomas Hudner executed joint, live-fire Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) training utilizing NATO command and control reporting structures to enhance interoperability among Allied naval forces.

    Thomas Hudner also conducted several port visits and collaborative operations with Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain and Greece, reinforcing the U.S. Navy’s commitment to unity, security and stability in the region. During the 81st anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy, Thomas Hudner also had the honor of representing the U.S. Navy and hosting a reception with Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and various other distinguished government and military leaders in the European theater.

    Following operations in U.S. 6th Fleet’s northern flank, Thomas Hudner was assigned to conduct national tasking in the Eastern Mediterranean supporting Operation Cobalt Shield. Through this mission, Thomas Hudner successfully conducted maritime security operations and promoted regional stability while executing ballistic missile defense operations.

    Thomas Hudner served as the flagship for multiple distinguished visitors throughout her deployment, including the Honorable Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary; Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Adm. Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander, U.S. Southern Command; Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; and members of the German, French and Royal navies.

    “Over the course of a five-month deployment, USS Thomas Hudner and her exceptional crew exemplified the strength of American naval power and international cooperation,” said Capt. Aaron Anderson, Commander, Naval Surface Group Southeast. “Their efforts reflect the strength of our commitment to maritime security and cooperation with our Allies.”

    Thomas Hudner is a multi-mission air warfare, undersea warfare, naval surface fire support, surface warfare and ballistic missile defense surface combatant capable of supporting carrier battle groups and amphibious forces, operating independently, or operating as the flagship of a surface action group.

    U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests.

    For more U.S. 2nd Fleet news and photos, visit facebook.com/US2ndFleet, https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/, X – @US2ndFleet, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/commander-u-s-2nd-fleet.

    MIL Security OSI