Category: Banking

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [Alpha Group International PLC (GB)]

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: Danske Bank A/S
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
     
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    Alpha Group International PLC (GB)
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    02 May 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: Equity
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 727 830,00 1,72    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    727 830,00 1,72    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    Equity Purchase          727 830,00
           
           
    2.764.711538 GBP

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
             

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 06 May 2025
    Contact name: Kotryna Cinciuke
    Telephone number*: +37060405825

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Live Oak Bank Announces $600,000 Grant in Support of Child Care Providers in New Hanover County

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, N.C., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Live Oak Bank has announced a $600,000 grant to help licensed early child care providers connect with qualified substitute teachers to ensure both continuity of care and strong student-teacher ratios in the classroom. 

    “At Live Oak Bank, we believe in the power of strengthening our local community, and that starts with access to quality early education,” said BJ Losch, president of Live Oak Bank. “We are proud to partner with Wonderschool to offer New Hanover County preschool providers access to a platform that directly supports the stability of local childcare, a cornerstone for working families.”  

    This grant, paid out over two years, gives public and private early child care providers in New Hanover County free access to Wonderschool’s innovative technology that allows them to review and match with pre-qualified substitute teachers, an otherwise time-consuming process that includes recruitment, critical background screening and training.  

    “Sometimes life gets in the way for early educators, and that can have a big impact on working parents, families and children. We’re building technology to try and make their lives just a little bit easier,” said Chris Bennett, founder and CEO of Wonderschool. “We’re teaming up with Live Oak to build a qualified and caring pool of substitutes who are ready to ensure not just continuous, but quality preschool experiences day in and day out.” 

    Live Oak’s philanthropic efforts prioritize workforce development, specifically helping people secure jobs with family-supporting wages, benefits and career advancement opportunities. “To achieve this vision,” said Kate Groat, Live Oak’s director of corporate philanthropy, “working parents must have access to reliable, high-quality childcare from educators they can trust.” 

    About Live Oak Bank 
    Live Oak Bank, a subsidiary of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: LOB), is a digitally focused, FDIC-insured bank serving customers across the country. Live Oak brings efficiency and excellence to the banking process, without branches, by using a focused approach to technology and innovation. To learn more, visit www.liveoak.bank.  

    About Wonderschool 
    Wonderschool’s comprehensive technology and business support platform is designed to address every aspect of the child care and early learning ecosystem. Wonderschool’s vision is to ensure that quality early care and education are conveniently accessible to every child within a 5-minute radius of their home. As leaders in collaborating with governments and employers, Wonderschool spearheads initiatives to scale and enhance child care access for every community across the country. Named one of Time’s Most Influential Companies in 2022, Wonderschool is venture-backed by Goldman Sachs, Andreessen Horowitz, First Round, Omidyar, Unusual Ventures, and Gary Community Investments, among others. Learn more at www.wonderschool.com

    Contacts: 

    Claire Parker
    Live Oak Bank, Corporate Communications
    910.597.1592 
    claire.parker@liveoak.bank 

    Madison Carlos
    Live Oak Bank, Corporate Communications
    910.386.6616 
    madison.carlos@liveoak.bank 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Change of share capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company Announcement No 19/2025

    Peberlyk 4
    6200 Aabenraa
    Denmark

    Tel +45 74 37 37 37
    Fax +45 74 37 35 36

    Sydbank A/S
    CVR No DK 12626509, Aabenraa
    sydbank.dk

    6 May 2025  

    Dear Sirs

    Change of share capital

    At the AGM of Sydbank A/S held on 20 March 2025 it was resolved to
    reduce the Bank’s share capital by nominally DKK 33,839,600 by
    cancelling 3,383,960 shares which were purchased under the Bank’s
    share buyback programme in 2024.

    The creditors’ time limit for filing claims has expired and the Board of
    Directors has subsequently decided to implement the capital reduction.

    The capital reduction will be registered with the Danish Business
    Authority.

    Sydbank’s total share capital represents nominally DKK 512,044,600,
    equal to 51,204,460 shares of DKK 10 each (51,204,460 voting rights).
    As a result of the capital reduction the Bank’s Articles of Association have
    been amended with respect to the size of the share capital. The revised
    Articles of Association are available at sydbank.dk and sydbank.com.

    Yours sincerely

            
    Sydbank A/S

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Lord Mayor visits Dromore charity ‘Breaker Breaker’ to strengthen community support links

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Kyle Savage with Leanne Lyons from BReaker Breaker and Catherine Harris, Community Development Officer.

    The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Kyle Savage recently visited Dromore-based charity ‘Breaker Breaker’, to explore how the ABC Community Food Hub, Social Supermarkets and wraparound services could help support this fantastic charity.

    Breaker Breaker, established by Leanne Lyons to support the mental health and wellbeing within the Haulage Industry, operates a unique Mobile Welfare Hub – a 45ft trailer equipped with referral rooms, health check facilities, a barber station, and a safe space for confidential conversations.

    With many haulage workers operating long, unsociable hours and facing isolation on the road, access to flexible, mobile support services is crucial for their physical and mental wellbeing.

    The visit highlighted the shared goals of both organisations, with Breaker Breaker gaining valuable information and access to the ABC Community Food Hub, Social Supermarket and Wraparound Services. These services offer essential support including food, advice, and household items to those in need.

    Breaker Breaker extended their heartfelt thanks to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and the ABC Community Hub for their support and commitment to improving community wellbeing in the borough.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Australia card acquiring market to hit $700 billion in 2025 as growth set to slow amid global uncertainty, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Australia card acquiring market to hit $700 billion in 2025 as growth set to slow amid global uncertainty, says GlobalData

    Posted in Banking

    The Australian card acquiring market is projected to grow by 5.5% to reach AUD1.1 trillion ($713.4 billion) in 2025. Despite this growth, global economic uncertainty linked to recent US tariffs may weigh on momentum, slowing the pace of expansion compared to previous years of stronger performance driven by cashless trends and consumer spending, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Merchant Acquiring Analytics reveals that the card acquiring value in Australia registered a growth of 7.5% in 2024, driven by the rise in consumer spending and increasing consumer preference for cashless transactions. However, the current global uncertainty because of latest US tariffs can pose a challenge for the Australia’s overall economic growth, which is expected to impact even payment industry resulting a slower growth in card acquiring value in 2025.

    Asha Lalitha, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Domestic transactions with Australian-issued cards dominate the acquiring space in the country, accounting for over 97% of the total value of acquiring transactions. Well-established card acceptance infrastructure, nearly-100% banking population, and the burgeoning e-commerce market are all contributing to this.”

    The number of POS terminals per one million inhabitants in Australia rose from 36,012 in 2020 to 40,055 in 2025. In addition to the traditional POS terminals, companies are offering POS solutions designed to target SMEs. For instance, Fiserv launched “Clover” POS solution in March 2025, especially targeting SMEs operating in the hospitality, service, and retail sectors.

    Debit cards accounted for 59% of the total domestic card acquiring value in 2024. Credit and charge cards, on the other hand, accounted for 75.3% share in the total foreign card acquiring value, supported by high usage of foreign issued credit and charge cards for purchases of goods and services in Australia both online and in-person.

    Traditional banks such as Commonwealth Bank (CommBank), Westpac, and National Australian Bank held significant share in Australia’s card acquiring space, accounting for around 60% of total acquiring value in 2024. CommBank is the leading operator in the Australian merchant acquiring market. The bank offers a wide range of POS terminals, including mobile POS terminals. In May 2023, CommBank rolled out the Smart Mini reader for small businesses, enabling them to accept all types of card payments. The terminals are equipped with features such as surcharging, tipping, and digital receipts.

    In addition to banks, non-bank financial institutions such as Tyro, Worldline, and Fiserv also have a presence in the acquiring space in the country.

    Asha concludes: “The Australian card acquiring market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%, reaching AUD1.3 trillion ($866.7 billion) by 2029. This growth is supported by strong consumer awareness of digital payments, wider merchant acceptance, and a rising preference for contactless and e-commerce transactions.”

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB Group and Cetelem join forces to provide €200 million financing for energy efficiency investments to households

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The EIB Group has signed a €93 million synthetic securitisation agreement with Cetelem, BNP Paribas Personal Finance commercial brand in Spain, to support sustainable projects in the country.
    • The agreement will allow Cetelem to unlock €200 million to finance projects carried out by households aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency of homes.

    The EIB Group, composed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has signed a €93 million synthetic securitisation agreement with Cetelem, BNP Paribas Personal Finance commercial brand in Spain, targeting 100% green projects that support energy efficiency in the country. The operation will help Cetelem to mobilise €200 million to finance projects carried out by households that will increase the energy efficiency of homes.

    The operation will originate a new portfolio of climate action and environmental sustainability loans to households. These loans will support residential property renovations, small scale renewable energy projects, and the purchase of energy-efficient equipment in Spain. Eligible investments in energy-efficient housing equipment will include, among others, the installation of high-energy performance boilers, insulation windows or solar panels. The projects financed by this operation will improve energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and help mitigate climate change.

    A significant number of these projects are expected to be implemented in cohesion regions where the income per capita is below the EU average.

    This operation is one more demonstration of the EIB Group’s role of promoting new financial instruments like securitisation that help unlock capital for green projects, reduce the risk borne by sponsoring financial institutions and strengthen the EU capital markets union.

    “We are very pleased to join forces for the first time with Cetelem in Spain to make easier for households investing in energy efficiency projects”, stated Gemma Feliciani, EIB Director of Financial Institutions. “Supporting financial institutions to unlock capital that make the energy transition accessible to all is at the core of EIB vision to advance climate action and the integration of the European capital markets”.

    EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt added: This securitisation operation is a good example of how innovative financing methods can help the transition to a greener and more sustainable future. The agreement with Cetelem will make loans available to households so that they can invest in improving the energy efficiency of their homes and making them a relevant actor in the combat against global warming”.

    María Ruiz-Manahan, CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance Spain, confirms with satisfaction that “this agreement will enable both, our clients and commercial partners, to benefit from better financing conditions, contributing to a more inclusive and responsible consumption models”. Ruiz-Manahan adds that “thanks to this operation and EIB support, BNP Paribas Personal Finance Spain through its commercial brand Cetelem, reinforce its position in the financing of solar panel and sustainable solutions for households, aligned with the purpose of our company.”

    The agreement with Cetelem contributes to the EIB Group’s strategic priorities of climate action, sustainable housing, cohesion and the capital markets union. These are part of the Group’s eight priorities set out in its Strategic Roadmap for the years 2024-2027.

    Transaction details

    This transaction is the first synthetic securitisation entered into between Banco Cetelem and the EIB Group, referencing a portfolio of Spanish consumer auto exposures.  Both entities of the EIB Group are involved in the transaction. The EIF is providing protection on the mezzanine tranche of €93 million which is in turn counter-guaranteed by the EIB. The junior tranche is fully retained by Cetelem. Key features of the transaction include synthetic excess spread, a one-year revolving period and pro-rata amortisation of the tranches, subject to performance triggers.

    Background information

    About the EIB Group

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

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

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

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024, helping power the country’s green and digital transition and promote economic growth, competitiveness and better services for its people.

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

    About BNP Paribas Personal Finance

    “Promote access to more responsible and sustainable consumption to support our customers and partners”

    BNP Paribas Personal Finance, known in the Spanish market through its commercial brand Cetelem, is a bank specializing in consumer credit, personal loans, card management, current accounts, paid savings accounts and deposits, operating in Spain since 1988.

    Financial partner of major companies in the distribution of durable consumer goods and the motor industry, it is also a reference for market information and analysis thanks to studies by the Cetelem Observatory.

    The Cetelem Observatory has been publishing its studies in Spain since 1997. It is a benchmark for the analysis of Spanish consumer habits and trends. The Cetelem Observatory has been consolidated with five important annual reports (Motor, Consumption Europe, Sustainability, Consumption Spain and Bike), monthly editions, and specific thematic and seasonal studies.

    BNP Paribas Personal Finance is located in the International Financial Services area, within the retail banking division of BNP Paribas. BNP Paribas Personal Finance is an active member of the Spanish Association of Credit Institutions (ASNEF), the Association of Spanish Companies Against Fraud (AEECF) and the Association for the Development of Customer Experience (DEC).

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Europe’s burgeoning aerospace and defence companies to get stock- listings support under EIB accord with Euronext

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB teams up with bourse Euronext to help European aerospace and defence entrepreneurs raise finance publicly
    • EIB Advisory accord covers Euronext stock-listings programme planned for later this year   
    • Deal to empower next generation of European innovators

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is joining forces with bourse Euronext to bolster small and Mid-Cap companies in Europe’s aerospace and defence industries.  Under an advisory agreement, the EIB will support Euronext in setting up a programme to ensure scale-up companies in the two sectors are able to navigate financial markets and access European capital.

    The goal is to help aerospace and defence entrepreneurs understand their financing options and the steps needed to prepare for stock-market listings, also known as initial public offerings or IPOs. The planned Euronext programme, called IPOready Defence, is due to begin between 1 July and 30 September this year.

    “Our collaboration with Euronext is important in empowering European innovators,” said EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot. “By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to support companies in the defence and aerospace sectors, helping them grow and maintain their strategic independence. This initiative focuses on enhancing autonomy in security and defence, steering Europe towards a stronger growth model that ensures European companies born in Europe to stay in Europe.”

    In March, the EIB further expanded the eligibilities for security and defence investments. The accord involving the EIB’s advisory services marks the bank’s latest move to step up support for European Union security and defence.

     “This partnership will enhance our IPOready programme,” said Euronext Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Boujnah. ”The programme aims to give innovative and high-growth small and mid-sized companies that contribute to the European continent’s strategic autonomy increased visibility and access to capital markets.”

    In addition to facilitating innovation in the security and defence fields, the EIB support for the Euronext programme  advances with a concrete step towards the improvement of the EU Capital Markets Union by filling a gap for European companies’ competitiveness.

    The initiative is part of the EIB Action Plan to help European innovators scale up their businesses, getting listed on the stock market, and channel savings into productive investments.

    Euronext  

    Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

    As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.

    For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow Euronext on X and LinkedIn.

    Background information

    EIB   

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

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.    The EIB Group stepped up its support to Europe’s security and defence industry in 2024 by enlarging the scope of projects eligible for financing and setting up a one-stop shop to streamline processes, doubling investment to €1 billion. The EIB expects to double this amount in 2025.

    The Board of Directors approved in March a series of additional measures to further contribute to European peace, and included peace and security as a cross-cutting PPG to finance large-scale strategic projects in areas such as land border protection, military mobility, critical infrastructures, military transport, space, cybersecurity, anti-jamming technologies, radar systems, military equipment and facilities, drones, bio-hazard and seabed infrastructure protection, critical raw materials and research. 

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

    In addition to financing, the EIB offers advisory services that help public and private partners develop and implement high-quality, investment-ready projects. In 2024 alone, our advisory teams helped mobilise over €200 billion of investment across Europe and beyond.

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

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – EP TODAY – Tuesday, 6 May

    Source: European Parliament

    EU response to US tariffs

    From 9:00, MEPs, Commissioner Šefčovič and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka will discuss how the EU should respond to the tariffs imposed by the US Administration. MEPs will consider the countermeasures adopted by the EU – which were later suspended – and review EU trade opportunities elsewhere in the world.

    Lieven COSIJN

    (+32) 473 86 41 41

    EPTrade

    MEPs’ priorities for the EU’s next long-term budget

    From around 13:00, Parliament will outline its demands and priorities for the EU’s next long-term budget (2028-2034), in a debate with Commissioner Serafin. MEPs are expected to call for a significantly more ambitious long-term budget to reflect EU citizens’ expectations amidst an increasingly complex global landscape. A resolution will be put to a vote by MEPs on Wednesday, followed by a press conference with the co-rapporteurs. An off-the-record technical briefing for journalists will take place on Tuesday after the debate, from 15:30 to16:30.

    Eszter ZALÁN

    (+32) 477 99 20 73

    EP Trade

    EP_Budgets

    Fast-tracking CO2 flexibility measures for car manufacturers: vote

    In a vote at noon, plenary will decide whether to apply its “urgent procedure” to proposed legislation giving car manufacturers more flexibility to comply with C02 emissions requirements. Ahead of the vote, there will be one round of statements from the political group representatives. If MEPs agree to fast-track the proposal, they will vote on its substance on Thursday.

    Dana POPP

    (+32) 470 95 17 07

    EP_Environment

    EP_PublicHealth

    Wolves: MEPs to vote on changing EU protection status

    At noon, MEPs will also decide on whether to apply the “urgent procedure” to draft legislation that would change the EU’s wolf protection status from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’, aligning it with the Bern Convention. If the vote goes through, MEPs will vote on the substance of the proposal on Thursday.

    Thomas HAAHR

    (+32) 470 88 09 87

    EP_Environment

    MEPs to assess EU-Türkiye relations

    In the evening, MEPs and Commissioner Kos will review Türkiye’s accession progress and relations with the EU. The draft text – on which plenary will vote on Wednesday – states that Türkiye’s EU accession process cannot resume under the current circumstances, given the widening values gap between Türkiye and the EU. The rapporteur will hold a press conference on Wednesday morning ahead of the plenary vote.

    Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

    (+32) 470 96 08 19

    EP_Democracy

    EP_ForeignAff

    Viktor ALMQVIST

    (+32) 470 88 29 42

    EP_ForeignAff

    EP_Defence

    EP_HumanRights

    In brief

    Kosovo and Serbia. In the evening, MEPs and Commissioner Kos will evaluate Kosovo and Serbia’s progress towards EU membership. The vote will take place on Wednesday, followed by a press conference.

    Water resilience strategy. In the early evening, Parliament and Commissioner Roswall will debate MEPs’ views on water resilience ahead of the European Commission’s strategy, due in July 2025. The vote is on Wednesday.

    Greenland. In a late afternoon debate with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, MEPs are expected to call for the protection of Greenland’s right to decide its own future.

    Budget discharge. From around 15:00, MEPs and Commissioner Serafin will assess the EU’s budget management for 2023, followed by votes on Wednesday.

    Votes

    At noon, MEPs will also vote, among other things, on

    • protecting the EU’s financial interests and combating fraud (2023 annual report);
    • the financial activities of the European Investment Bank (2023 annual report), and
    • EU aid worth €8 million for 2,400 dismissed workers in Belgium.

    Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming site and on EbS+.

    For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter.

    Find more information regarding plenary.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Pula exchange rate depreciated by 0.3 percent against the South African rand

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    Over the twelve months period to April 2025, the nominal Pula exchange rate depreciated by 2.7 percent and 0.3 percent against the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) against the South African rand, respectively. With respect to the SDR constituent currencies, the Pula depreciated by 8.7 percent against the Japanese yen, 6.1 percent against British pound and 5.7 percent against the euro, while it appreciated by 0.5 percent against the Chinese renminbi and 0.4 percent against the US dollar.

    The Pula appreciated by 1.7 percent against the South African rand, while it depreciated by 1.9 percent against the SDR over the one-month period to April 2025. It depreciated by 4.7 percent against the euro, 4 percent against the Japanese yen and 3.1 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated by 0.2 percent each against the Chinese renminbi and the US dollar.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: Marquette National Corporation Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Marquette National Corporation (OTCQX: MNAT) today reported net loss of $2.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to net income of $8.5 million for the first three months of 2024. The loss per share for the first three months of 2025 was $(0.67), as compared to income of $1.93 per share for the comparable period in 2024.

    At March 31, 2025, total assets were $2.217 billion, an increase of $9.6 million, compared to $2.208 billion at December 31, 2024. Total loans increased by $4.6 million, to $1.410 billion compared to $1.405 billion at the end of 2024. Total deposits increased by $10.3 million, or 1%, to $1.750 billion compared to $1.740 billion at the end of 2024.

    Paul M. McCarthy, Chairman & CEO, said, “the primary reason for the decrease in consolidated earnings was a lower level of unrealized gains on the Company’s equity portfolio in the first quarter of 2025. The decrease in unrealized gains on the Company’s equity portfolio was partially offset by an increase in net interest income. Other comprehensive income was positive for the first quarter and helped deliver an increase to tangible book value per share for the first quarter.”

    Marquette National Corporation is a diversified financial holding company and the parent of Marquette Bank, a full-service, community bank that serves the financial needs of communities in Chicagoland. The Bank has branches located in: Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Summit and Tinley Park, Illinois.

    For further information on financial results, visit: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/MNAT/disclosure.

    Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements. 
    This document contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “bode”, “predict,” “suggest,” “project”, “appear,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” ”annualize,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “likely,” “might,” “potential,” “continue,” “annualized,” “target,” “outlook,” as well as the negative forms of those words, or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

    A number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (i) the strength of the local, state, national and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints); (ii) effects on the U.S. economy resulting from the implementation of policies proposed by the new presidential administration, including tariffs, mass deportations and tax regulations; (iii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats and attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of war or threats thereof (including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East), or other adverse events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets, and the response of the local, state and national governments to any such adverse external events; (iv) new or revised accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (v) changes in local, state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business and any changes in response to the bank failures in 2023; (vi) the imposition of tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the value of products produced by the Company’s commercial borrowers; (vii) increased competition in the financial services sector, including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and fintech companies, and the inability to attract new customers; (viii) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (ix) unexpected results of acquisitions which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (x) the loss of key executives and employees, talent shortages and employee turnover; (xi) changes in consumer spending; (xii) unexpected outcomes and costs of existing or new litigation or other legal proceedings and regulatory actions involving the Company; (xiii) the economic impact on the Company and its customers of climate change, natural disasters and exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, floods and blizzards; (xiv) fluctuations in the value of securities held in our securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; (xv) credit risk and risks from concentrations (by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral and industry) within our loan portfolio and large loans to certain borrowers (including CRE loans); (xvi) the overall health of the local and national real estate market; (xvii) the ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; (xviii) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and who may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (xix) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact the Company’s cost of funds; (xx) the level of non-performing assets on our balance sheets; (xxi) interruptions involving our information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers; (xxii) the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our third-party vendors’ information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools or as a result of insider fraud; (xxiii) changes in the interest rates and repayment rates of the Company’s assets; (xxiv) the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management framework, and (xxv) the ability of the Company to manage the risks associated with the foregoing as well as anticipated. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

    Marquette National Corporation and Subsidiaries
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited)
    (in thousands, except share and per share data)
                     
    Balance Sheet
      03/31/25   12/31/24   Percent
    Change
     
                     
    Total assets $2,217,293     $2,207,663     0 %
    Total loans, net 1,395,105     1,390,799     0 %
    Total deposits 1,750,071     1,739,799     1 %
    Total stockholders’ equity 174,216     173,579     0 %
                     
    Shares outstanding 4,367,449     4,367,477     0 %
    Book value per share $39.89     $39.74     0 %
    Tangible book value per share $31.80     $31.65     0 %
                     
    Operating Results
      Three Months Ended March 31,   Percent
    Change
     
      2025   2024      
    Net Interest income $12,098     $11,025     10 %
    Provision for credit losses 328     200     64 %
    Realized securities gains, net 6,316     215       *
    Unrealized holding gains (losses) on equity securities and exchange traded funds (11,963 )   9,860       *
    Other income 3,658     4,331     -16 %
    Other expense 14,086     13,835     2 %
    Income tax expense (benefit) (1,357 )   2,930       *
                     
    Net income (loss) (2,948 )   8,466       *
                     
    Basic and fully diluted earnings (loss) per share $(0.67 )   $1.93       *
    Weighted average shares outstanding 4,367,473     4,381,148     0 %
                     
    Cash dividends declared per share $0.31     $0.28     11 %
                     
    Comprehensive income $1,992     $7,404     -73 %
                     
    * Not meaningful
                     

    For more information:
    Patrick Hunt
    EVP & CFO
    708-364-9019
    phunt@emarquettebank.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Carlos Scarpero Helps Veterans with Bad Credit Unlock the Door to Homeownership with VA Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dayton, Ohio, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veterans facing credit challenges now have a powerful ally in the mortgage process. Carlos Scarpero, a trusted mortgage broker based in Dayton, Ohio, is offering expert guidance to help veterans secure VA home loans, even with poor credit.

    Carlos Scarpero, a mortgage broker with Edge Home Finance

    In his newly published article, “How to Get a VA Home Loan with Bad Credit,” Scarpero outlines practical steps for veterans to qualify for home financing using their VA benefits, dispelling common myths about credit score requirements and loan eligibility.

    “Many veterans assume bad credit disqualifies them from homeownership,” says Scarpero. “That’s simply not true. With the right guidance and a little planning, it’s possible to buy a home—even with less-than-perfect credit.”

    Key Insights from the Guide:
    No Minimum Credit Score Set by the VA
    The VA doesn’t require a minimum credit score for home loans. However, individual lenders often set their own thresholds, commonly around 580 to 620.

    Lender Flexibility Exists
    Some lenders may consider applicants with scores as low as 500, especially if other financial strengths, such as stable income or savings, are present.

    Manual Underwriting as an Option
    For borrowers with unique financial circumstances or limited credit history, manual underwriting allows lenders to evaluate alternative data like rent and utility payment history.

    Handling Collections and Financial Setbacks
    Scarpero details how medical collections, child support, credit card debt, and IRS obligations are treated during the VA loan process—and how to address them effectively.

    Post-Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Recovery
    Veterans with a history of bankruptcy or foreclosure may still qualify for a VA loan, often with shorter waiting periods compared to other mortgage options.

    About Carlos Scarpero

    Carlos Scarpero is a licensed mortgage broker with Edge Home Finance, specializing in VA and non-traditional home loans. With over a decade of experience and a passion for helping veterans achieve homeownership, he serves clients throughout Ohio, including Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus.

    Scarpero’s approach is built on transparency, education, and tailored solutions—especially for those who may feel left behind by traditional lenders.

    To read the full guide or get started with a VA loan, visit:
    www.scarpero.com/how-to-get-a-va-home-loan-with-bad-credit

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iceland: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 6, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund mission, led by Magnus Saxegaard and comprising Thomas Gade, Amit Kara, and Yurii Sholomytskyi, conducted discussions for the 2024 Article IV consultation with Iceland virtually during April 7-11, 2025, and in Reykjavik, Iceland, during April 28 to May 5, 2025. At the conclusion of the visit, the mission issued the following statement:

    A successful tightening of macroeconomic policies has slowed the economy and reduced imbalances accumulated after the pandemic. The challenges now are to fully return inflation back to target while ensuring a soft landing for the economy; to build resilience by gradually increasing fiscal buffers; and to strengthen productivity and further diversify the economy to support medium-term growth and reduce Iceland’s vulnerability to shocks.

    The economy slowed sharply in 2024, but growth is expected to pick up in 2025 and medium-term prospects remain favorable. Growth slowed to 0.5 percent in 2024 (from 5.6 percent in 2023) due largely to idiosyncratic factors (e.g., a disappointing fishing season and constraints on energy supply) that reduced exports, as well as subdued consumption growth. Growth is expected to rise to 1.8 percent in 2025 and 2.4 percent in 2026 supported by a recovery in exports, higher real wages, and continued monetary easing. The direct impact of escalating global trade tensions is projected to be limited given that most goods exports are destined for Europe; this projection assumes that the pharmaceutical sector, which is more reliant on the US market, remains exempt from tariffs. However, Iceland will be indirectly affected by lower growth in its trading partners. Inflation is projected to remain sticky due to elevated inflation expectations and still high wage growth, declining gradually to the Central Bank of Iceland’s (CBI’s) 2.5 percent inflation target in the second half of 2026. The medium-term growth outlook is positive, with the expansion of higher value-added export-oriented sectors expected to boost productivity growth, and migrant labor inflows facilitating a modest increase in employment.

    Risks to growth are tilted to the downside while risks to inflation are broadly balanced. The impact of rising trade tensions could be larger than projected if US tariffs are extended to pharmaceuticals products, or if Iceland is affected by potential EU retaliation. Also, a reduction in the number of tourists travelling to and from the US could negatively impact tourism. Inflation could rise if trade tensions trigger supply chain disruptions or capital flight weakens the exchange rate. Conversely, capital inflows could put upward pressure on the exchange rate and weaken competitiveness. On the domestic side, attacks on physical or digital infrastructure could disrupt payment flows and thus economic activity and financial stability. A continuation of recent years’ dry weather could curtail energy supply and weaken exports. Second-round effects from higher wage growth could keep inflation elevated, while a premature loosening of monetary policy could further de-anchor inflation expectations. Upside risk include a reduction in household savings that would bolster consumption, and a faster-than-anticipated expansion of activity in pharmaceuticals and aquaculture.

    Fiscal Policy: Building Buffers to Bolster Resilience

    The authorities’ fiscal targets are suitably ambitious. The Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) projects a general government deficit this year of 1.3 percent of GDP, close to staff’s projection of 1.2 percent of GDP and down from 3.5 percent of GDP in 2024. The resulting 0.6 percentage point contractionary fiscal impulse is appropriate given still elevated inflation. The authorities’ medium-term fiscal targets, which entail turning the fiscal deficit into a surplus by 2028, are suitably ambitious considering that Iceland’s public indebtedness is higher than that of most Nordic countries despite the economy being more shock prone.

    The consolidation measures in the MTFS will help the authorities achieve their fiscal targets. Staff welcomes that this year’s MTFS identifies all fiscal measures planned by the authorities to achieve their medium-term fiscal targets; this significantly increases the credibility of the consolidation. Measures appropriately include a combination of expenditure reductions (e.g., streamlining operations and merging of institutions) and revenue measures (e.g., expanding kilometer-based taxation to all vehicles and increasing natural resource rent taxation on tourism and fisheries). Staff projections that only include measures that have been presented to Parliament in a legislative proposal, indicate that about 0.5 percent of GDP in additional measures will be needed over the next five years to meet the authorities’ targets. The measures outlined in the MTFS would cover this gap, but additional fiscal effort could be necessary if spending increases more than anticipated or if the yield from revenue measures falls short of expectations (see below).

    Increasing infrastructure spending while safeguarding fiscal sustainability would bolster Iceland’s growth prospects. The government’s intention to scale up public investment is welcome given infrastructure gaps in transport and energy. However, the MTFS projects a medium-term decline in government investment as a share of GDP compared to recent years. Staff recommends to, at a minimum, maintain the current level of government investment within the MTFS deficit targets. As noted in the MTFS, identifying opportunities for Iceland’s pension funds to scale up their financing of infrastructure in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties could help complement these efforts, though care should be taken to contain any increase in fiscal risks. Partnering with multilateral investment banks or international infrastructure funds could provide useful expertise with private financing of infrastructure projects. Streamlining permitting and licensing procedures would help speed up infrastructure deployment.

    Additional fiscal effort could be required if planned measures fall short of expectations, or to scale up government investment. In such a scenario, the authorities could consider: (i) increasing the preferential VAT rate and/or limiting the items that benefit from it; (ii) increasing housing taxation (see below); (iii) streamlining R&D incentives including by reassessing the 2020 increase in the ceiling on eligible business R&D expenditure (see below); and (iv) carrying out a comprehensive review of public expenditure to identify potential savings.

    Activation of revised fiscal rules in 2026 is welcome; however, their credibility would be enhanced by strengthening the Fiscal Council.

    • The revised fiscal framework—which broadly aligns with staff’s recommendations in the 2024 Article IV—includes a net expenditure growth rule instead of the previous budget balance rule. It preserves the 30 percent of GDP net debt ceiling though the speed at which this is to be achieved will be more flexible than in the past. The revised framework will allow the authorities to factor in the state of the economy in their consolidation plans and reduce procyclicality.
    • The Fiscal Council, which will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the fiscal rules, should be tasked with evaluating the macroeconomic and fiscal projections underpinning the MTFS. The intention is also that the Council will be responsible for monitoring productivity developments and for making proposals for reforms. This would require a significant increase in the capacity and resources of the Fiscal Council.
    • To bolster transparency and enable the Fiscal Council to monitor fiscal developments and compliance with the fiscal rules on an ongoing basis, the authorities should start publishing fiscal data corresponding to the coverage of the fiscal rules on a quarterly rather than annual basis as is currently the case, and ensure that these data are independently verifiable. Expanding the coverage of the budget and the fiscal rules to encompass the entirety of the central government would facilitate these efforts. This would also reduce incentives to shift spending and borrowing to parts of the government not covered by the fiscal rules.

    Monetary Policy: Calibrating the Pace of Monetary Easing

    As inflation declines toward the target, the policy rate should be reduced. The current monetary stance is appropriately tight given still elevated inflation and inflation expectations. Staff’s inflation forecast, which envisions reaching the 2.5 percent target in the second half of 2026, is in the IMF’s view consistent with a 250 basis points reduction in the policy rate over the next 4–5 quarters. This policy trajectory, which maintains a tight policy stance (but progressively less so) until inflation expectations become reanchored to the inflation target, would balance the trade-offs between bringing inflation sustainably to target and the risk to the economy from an overly restrictive policy stance. Persistent wage increases above productivity growth or a rise in imported inflation would warrant a more gradual easing of the monetary policy stance, while indications that inflation is likely to undershoot the target on a sustained basis would call for a more rapid reduction in the policy rate. The current elevated uncertainty suggests the pace of monetary easing should be guided more than usual by incoming data. As uncertainty declines the CBI should transition to a more forecast-based inflation targeting environment to increase predictability and reduce financial market volatility.

    The CBI’s decision to commence regular purchases of foreign exchange is opportune given current favorable market conditions and will strengthen its ability to stabilize the foreign exchange market during times of stress. The purchase program, which will be revised as conditions warrant, will help offset a projected decline in reserve coverage over the next two years. Staff agree that, given the current uncertain external environment and the shock prone nature of the economy, it is prudent to maintain a level of reserves well above the lower end of the 100-150 percent of the Fund’s Reserve Adequacy (ARA) range. As noted in the 2024 Article IV consultation, the authorities should also explore options to gradually deepen the foreign currency derivatives market when conditions allow, to encourage greater participation of foreign investors in the domestic bond market and to facilitate hedging of foreign currency risk.

    Financial Sector: Maintaining a Robust Financial System

    The banking system remains resilient and systemic risks are contained, but pockets of vulnerabilities remain that require continued vigilance. Financial institutions are well capitalized and have ample liquidity buffers, while non-performing loans remain low compared to their pre-pandemic average. The financial cycle has decelerated but remains somewhat elevated, while the CBI’s domestic systemic risk indicator has increased slightly although it is below its long-term average. These indicators suggest risks are primarily concentrated in the housing market. An abrupt fall in house prices combined with higher-for-longer interest rates and an economic slowdown could result in a deterioration in asset quality. Risks are partially mitigated by conservative loan-to-value ratios and the strong equity position of most borrowers. Corporate credit risk has increased modestly, including in the hospitality sector, and could rise further if rising trading tensions trigger a decline in tourist arrivals. Meanwhile, cybersecurity threats are an increasing concern, and staff welcomes the authorities’ efforts to enhance operational security and enhance the resilience of the domestic payment system.

    The current macroprudential stance is broadly appropriate, though there may be scope for some easing if financial conditions improve as anticipated. Overall capital requirements on Icelandic banks are relatively high compared to other European countries, bolstering banks’ resilience in a shock prone economy. While these requirements are broadly appropriate given still elevated risks in the housing market, there may be scope for some easing if systemic risks recede. It would be prudent to defer such a decision until the impact of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) III—expected to take effect by mid-2025—is clear. Any easing of the macroprudential stance should take care to safeguard the availability of releasable capital under the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB). Borrower-based measures (BBMs) have contributed to contain household credit risk and should remain on hold for now. The government’s plans to reduce the prevalence of CPI-indexed mortgage loans should be carefully timed given the beneficial impact indexation has had on borrower resilience and financial stability.

    Sustaining the momentum in implementing Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) recommendations will require continued efforts. Staff welcomes the significant progress achieved in implementing the recommendations from the 2023 FSAP. Since the 2024 Article IV, progress has been made on operationalizing an Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) framework, while efforts are ongoing with technical assistance from the Fund to enhance AML/CFT supervision of banks. Steps have been taken to strengthen the supervision of pension funds, but more progress is needed on legislative changes to enhance pension fund governance, internal risk controls, and risk management. Focusing on incremental changes rather than comprehensive reforms may facilitate progress moving forward. Further steps are also needed to safeguard the independence and effectiveness of the CBI’s supervisory activities, including through a streamlined and independent budgetary process for financial supervision and improved legal protection for supervisors. Lastly, efforts should continue to strengthen the CBI’s and the financial sector’s operational risk management capacity.

    Structural Policies to Boost Productivity and Diversify the Economy

    Investments in physical and human capital, along with continued efforts to promote innovation and improve allocative efficiency are needed to sustain productivity growth.

    • While the level of labor productivity is high, productivity growth has slowed since the global financial crisis due to lower total factor productivity (TFP) growth and decreasing capital intensity. Staff analysis suggests this is largely the result of a lower share of jobs in high productivity sectors (likely due to the financial sector shrinking to more sustainable levels and the expansion of the tourism sector) rather than a decline in within-sector productivity growth. Meanwhile, the share of fast-growing firms that can drive economy-wide productivity gains is below the EU average.
    • The authorities’ ambition to increase productivity growth is welcome. To achieve this they should: (i) focus on improving infrastructure to facilitate firms’ access to domestic and international markets; (ii) continue their efforts to promote innovation and the creation of more high-growth businesses; (iii) work with stakeholders in the labor market to strengthen incentives for pursuing higher education in fields where there is a shortage of skills; and (iv) streamline professional licensing requirements for foreign nationals.

    Incentives to promote innovation and diversification of the economy are bearing fruit, but there is scope to improve the efficiency of R&D support schemes. Generous tax incentives have made Iceland one of the most attractive jurisdictions in the OECD for R&D investment and contributed to the emergence of several fast-growing innovative firms. However, the sharp increase in public R&D spending has raised concerns about budgetary costs and efficiency. Plans to revise the R&D legislation provide an opportunity to clarify eligibility criteria and thus increase the predictability of the scheme. Also, as noted previously, there may be merit in reassessing the 2020 increase in the ceilings on eligible business R&D expenditures given that it primarily benefits medium and large firms where research suggests R&D support has less impact. Allowing businesses to deduct R&D expenses from payroll taxes could bolster the impact of the scheme given evidence that payroll tax offsets have a greater impact on firms’ R&D tax expenditure. This would also reduce administrative costs by eliminating the need for refunds to loss-making companies.

    Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could bolster productivity growth. Iceland’s strong digital infrastructure, relatively high levels of human capital, and robust legal framework suggest that it is well placed to benefit from AI. Staff analysis indicates that the proportion of jobs that are well positioned to take advantage of productivity gains from AI is higher than in other advanced economies. Conversely, the share of jobs at risk of displacement from AI is smaller, though still significant. To mitigate potential disruptions to the labor market the authorities should provide opportunities for re-skilling and scale up active labor market policies to facilitate the movement of workers between sectors and provide support to the most vulnerable.

    Further efforts are needed to develop a housing strategy that meets the needs of Iceland’s growing population. The government’s plans to tighten control over short-term rentals and increase the supply of housing could help improve housing affordability. Targeted homeowner assistance programs can play a complementary role, though such programs would need to be designed in a way that minimizes fiscal risks and risks to macroeconomic and financial stability. Housing taxation can also play a supportive role in reducing housing market imbalances. For instance, increasing capital gains taxation on secondary homes and investment properties and raising the tax rate on vacant lots in urban areas could not only raise revenue but also play a supportive role in curbing speculative demand and incentivizing supply.

    The IMF team would like to thank the authorities and other interlocutors for their generous hospitality and constructive dialogue.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Boris Balabanov

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/05/mcs-iceland-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Open Market Operation (OMO) – Purchase of Government of India Securities held on May 06, 2025: Cut-Offs

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Security 7.06% GS 2028 6.10% GS 2031 8.32% GS 2032 7.18% GS 2033 7.10% GS 2034 7.40% GS 2035 7.23% GS 2039
    Total amount notified Aggregate amount of ₹50,000 crore
    (no security-wise notified amount)
    Total amount (face value) accepted by RBI (₹ in crore) 4,501 7,578 7,637 6,405 10,003 7,962 5,914
    Cut off yield (%) 6.0218 6.1886 6.3422 6.3366 6.3674 6.3638 6.4600
    Cut off price (₹) 102.74 99.54 111.32 105.35 104.92 107.75 107.00
    Detailed results will be issued shortly.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/260

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IMF‘s Article IV concluding statement on Iceland for 2025 published

    Source: Central Bank of Iceland

    The IM­F‘s an­nual Art­icle IV re­port on the Icelandic eco­nomy was pub­lished today. Reg­u­lar re­ports on the status and pro­spects of the eco­nom­ies of IMF mem­ber coun­tries are is­sued on the basis of Art­icle IV of the IM­F‘s Art­icles of Agree­ment. A mis­sion from the IMF vis­ited Ice­land last May for dis­cus­sions with the Icelandic au­thor­it­ies and other stake­hold­ers.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: BIS and South African Reserve Bank invite global innovators to take up G20 TechSprint challenge for trust and integrity in scalable and open finance

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    • The sixth edition of the G20 TechSprint global competition calls for solutions to address trust and integrity in finance.
    • The G20 TechSprint invites development of innovative solutions for verifiable digital identity, consumer-consented credit data portability and fraud and cyber risk mitigation.
    • Open to developers worldwide; winners to be chosen in November by an independent judging panel.

    The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) today launched the sixth edition of the G20 TechSprint focused on developing innovative solutions to promote integrity and trust in finance.

    The G20 TechSprint is an international competition to explore innovation and develop cutting-edge technological solutions to pressing global challenges. Following the success of the previous competitions in the areas of regulatory compliance and supervision, green and sustainable finance, central bank digital currencies, cross-border payments and solutions to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this year’s TechSprint will focus on three problem statements, as formulated by the BIS Innovation Hub and SARB: 

    • Digital identity solutions: establish trust among financial institutions through innovative, verifiable and privacy-preserving digital identity technologies.
    • Credit data portability: improve the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises to access finance through secure, consumer-consented data exchange solutions that facilitate seamless cross-border sharing of credit information.
    • Solutions to mitigate fraud and cyber risks: drive the wider adoption of fast payment systems globally – and consequently promote financial inclusion and economic growth – through technology designed to reduce fraud and cyber risks.

    The G20 TechSprint is more than a competition. It is a collaborative effort to redefine the future of finance. Our collective challenge is clear: to develop scalable, adaptable, and inclusive solutions that reinforce trust and integrity across borders. The themes of South Africa’s presidency- solidarity, equality, and sustainability-should inspire us to break down barriers and forge partnerships that have lasting global impact.

    Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the BIS

    Innovation must drive inclusion, build trust and deliver lasting impact on our continent and across the world. We are looking forward to solutions that will bring more people into the digital economy and enable cross-border trade.

    Lesetja Kganyago, Governor, SARB

    How to participate

    The G20 TechSprint 2025 is open to developers from around the world. To participate, register at: https://app.apixplatform.com/h1/g20southafricahack and submit technological solutions to one or more problem statements.

    • Shortlisted teams will be invited to develop their solutions over an eight-week period and will have an opportunity to showcase them and receive feedback from national authorities and invited experts.
    • An independent panel of experts will choose one winning solution for each problem statement, to be announced by November.
    • The winners for each category (problem statement) will receive an award of USD 30,000. All short-listed projects receive a stipend of USD 5,000.

    The last day to submit proposals is 20 June 2025.

    For more information, visit: www.resbank.co.za or www.bis.org. 

    To apply, visit the competition page: https://app.apixplatform.com/h1/g20southafricahack.    

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Euro area bank interest rate statistics: March 2025

    Source: European Central Bank

    6 May 2025

    Bank interest rates for corporations

    Chart 1

    Bank interest rates on new loans to, and deposits from, euro area corporations

    (percentages per annum)

    Data for cost of borrowing and deposit interest rates for corporations (Chart 1)

    The composite cost-of-borrowing indicator, which combines interest rates on all loans to corporations, decreased in March 2025. The interest rate on new loans of over €1 million with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to three months decreased by 31 basis points to 3.67%. The rate on new loans of the same size with an initial rate fixation period of over three months and up to one year stayed almost constant at 3.78%. The interest rate on new loans of over €1 million with an initial rate fixation period of over ten years increased by 13 basis points to 3.57%. In the case of new loans of up to €250,000 with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to three months, the average rate charged fell by 35 basis points to 4.02%.
    As regards new deposit agreements, the interest rate on deposits from corporations with an agreed maturity of up to one year fell by 18 basis points to 2.32% in March 2025. The interest rate on overnight deposits from corporations fell by 5 basis points to 0.67%.
    The interest rate on new loans to sole proprietors and unincorporated partnerships with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to one year decreased by 19 basis points to 4.36%.

    Table 1

    Bank interest rates for corporations

    i.r.f. = initial rate fixation
    * For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.

    Data for bank interest rates for corporations (Table 1)

    Bank interest rates for households

    Chart 2

    Bank interest rates on new loans to, and deposits from, euro area households

    Data for cost of borrowing and deposit interest rate for households (Chart 2)

    The composite cost-of-borrowing indicator, which combines interest rates on all loans to households for house purchase, remained broadly unchanged in March 2025. The interest rate on loans for house purchase with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to one year decreased by 8 basis points to 3.92%. The rate on housing loans with an initial rate fixation period of over one and up to five years stayed almost constant at 3.51%. The interest rate on loans for house purchase with an initial rate fixation period of over five and up to ten years remained broadly unchanged at 3.36%. The rate on housing loans with an initial rate fixation period of over ten years stayed almost constant at 3.10%. In the same period the interest rate on new loans to households for consumption decreased by 7 basis points to 7.52%.
    As regards new deposits from households, the interest rate on deposits with an agreed maturity of up to one year decreased by 10 basis points to 2.09%. The rate on deposits redeemable at three months’ notice stayed almost constant at 1.50%. The interest rate on overnight deposits from households remained broadly unchanged at 0.31%.

    Table 2

    Bank interest rates for households

    i.r.f. = initial rate fixation
    * For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories; deposits placed by households and corporations are allocated to the household sector. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.
    ** For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.

    Data for bank interest rates for households (Table 2)

    Further information

    The data in Tables 1 and 2 can be visualised for individual euro area countries on the bank interest rate statistics dashboard. Additionally, tables containing further breakdowns of bank interest rate statistics, including the composite cost-of-borrowing indicators for all euro area countries, are available from the ECB Data Portal. The full set of bank interest rate statistics for both the euro area and individual countries can be downloaded from ECB Data Portal. More information, including the release calendar, is available under “Bank interest rates” in the statistics section of the ECB’s website.

    For media queries, please contact Nicos Keranis, tel.: +49 69 1344 7806

    Notes:

    • In this press release “corporations” refers to non-financial corporations (sector S.11 in the European System of Accounts 2010, or ESA 2010), “households” refers to households and non-profit institutions serving households (ESA 2010 sectors S.14 and S.15) and “banks” refers to monetary financial institutions except central banks and money market funds (ESA 2010 sector S.122).
    • The composite cost-of-borrowing indicators are described in the article entitled “Assessing the retail bank interest rate pass-through in the euro area at times of financial fragmentation” in the August 2013 issue of the ECB’s Monthly Bulletin (see Box 1). For these indicators, a weighting scheme based on the 24-month moving averages of new business volumes has been applied, in order to filter out excessive monthly volatility. For this reason the developments in the composite cost of borrowing indicators in both tables cannot be explained by the month-on-month changes in the displayed subcomponents. Furthermore, the table on bank interest rates for corporations presents a subset of the series used in the calculation of the cost of borrowing indicator.
    • Interest rates on new business are weighted by the size of the individual agreements. This is done both by the reporting agents and when the national and euro area averages are computed. Thus changes in average euro area interest rates for new business reflect, in addition to changes in interest rates, changes in the weights of individual countries’ new business for the instrument categories concerned. The “interest rate effect” and the “weight effect” presented in this press release are derived from the Bennet index, which allows month-on-month developments in euro area aggregate rates resulting from changes in individual country rates (the “interest rate effect”) to be disentangled from those caused by changes in the weights of individual countries’ contributions (the “weight effect”). Owing to rounding, the combined “interest rate effect” and the “weight effect” may not add up to the month-on-month developments in euro area aggregate rates.
    • In addition to monthly euro area bank interest rate statistics for March 2025, this press release incorporates revisions to data for previous periods. Hyperlinks in the main body of the press release lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Unless otherwise indicated, these euro area statistics cover the EU Member States that had adopted the euro at the time to which the data relate.
    • As of reference period December 2014, the sector classification applied to bank interest rates statistics is based on the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). In accordance with the ESA 2010 classification and as opposed to ESA 95, the non-financial corporations sector (S.11) now excludes holding companies not engaged in management and similar captive financial institutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS urges co-operation in Milan

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    During day two of the 58th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Milan, Italy, yesterday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan pointed out that it is important for member countries to enhance collaboration.

     

    Speaking at the ADB annual meeting’s Business Session, Mr Chan emphasised the need for member countries to strengthen co-operation amidst significant disruptions caused by unilateralism and protectionism to the global economy and trade order.

     

    He expressed hope that the ADB would continue to be guided by its core principles, supporting projects with actual needs and promoting more inclusive regional development.

     

    Mr Chan stated that Hong Kong, China supports the reform agenda of the ADB following the Mid-term Review of its “2030 Strategy”, which focuses on addressing climate change, developing the private sector, advancing regional co-operation and digital transformation.

     

    He highlighted that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong maintains its status as a free port, implements free trade policies and ensures the free flow of capital, goods, people and information.

     

    Mr Chan reiterated Hong Kong’s steadfast support for a rules-based multilateral trading system. As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is willing to share experiences in innovative financing arrangements with ADB members, including infrastructure loan securitisation and catastrophe bonds, to support high-quality infrastructure and green projects.

     

    Moreover, he said that Hong Kong is open to sharing solutions in the digital economy and innovative technologies with other ADB members to contribute to more inclusive regional economic development.

     

    Mr Chan also met Governor of the Bank of Italy Fabio Panetta to share Hong Kong’s latest economic and financial developments. They exchanged views on the international economic landscape.

     

    Additionally, the Financial Secretary attended yesterday’s opening ceremony of the annual meeting, lunch and dinner for governors, during which he discussed regional development issues, common challenges and strategies in response with other governors.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues SEK 500 million notes under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    6 May 2025 at 10:00 am (EEST)

    Municipality Finance issues SEK 500 million notes under its MTN programme

    Municipality Finance Plc issues SEK 500 million notes on 7 May 2025. The maturity date of the notes is 28 December 2027. The notes bear interest at a floating rate equal to 3-month Stibor plus 13 bps per annum.

    The notes are issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the notes to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 7 May 2025.

    Danske Bank A/S act as the Dealer for the issue of the notes.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland. The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic, but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: www.munifin.fi

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Digitalization Can Reduce Persistent Inequality in Asia and the Pacific

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Digitalization can be a powerful tool to help reduce persistent economic inequality in Asia and the Pacific—but to harness its potential, governments need to narrow “digital gaps,” including gaps in infrastructure, access, and skills, according to a new report by ADB.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.84 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.84 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, May 6, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB405 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on May 6, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.50%

    RMB405 billion

    RMB405 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年05月06日

    MIL OSI China News

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — William Lundin, IPC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, comments: “We are pleased to announce another strong quarter of operational and financial performance for Q1 2025. IPC achieved an average net daily production during the quarter of 44,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). Our results during the quarter were in line with the 2025 guidance announced at our Capital Markets Day in February as we continue to execute according to plan across our operations in Canada, Malaysia and France. Notably, the transformational Blackrod Phase 1 development project in Canada has progressed substantially during the quarter and forecast first oil is maintained with the original project sanction guidance for late 2026. We also continued with purchases of IPC common shares under the normal course issuer bid, having completed approximately 60% of the current 2024/2025 program between December 2024 to March 2025.”

    Q1 2025 Business Highlights

    • Average net production of approximately 44,400 boepd for the first quarter of 2025, within the guidance range for the period (52% heavy crude oil, 15% light and medium crude oil and 33% natural gas).(1)
    • Continued progressing Phase 1 development activity as well as future phase resource maturation works at the Blackrod asset.
    • At Onion Lake Thermal, all four planned production infill wells and the final Pad L well pair have been successfully drilled.
    • 3.9 million IPC common shares purchased and cancelled during Q1 2025 and continuing with target to complete the full 2024/2025 NCIB this year.

    Q1 2025 Financial Highlights

    • Operating costs per boe of USD 17.3 for Q1 2025, in line with guidance.(3)
    • Operating cash flow (OCF) generation of MUSD 75 for Q1 2025, in line with guidance.(3)
    • Capital and decommissioning expenditures of MUSD 99 for Q1 2025, in line with guidance.
    • Free cash flow (FCF) generation for Q1 2025 amounted to MUSD -43 (MUSD 37 pre-Blackrod capital expenditure).(3)
    • Gross cash of MUSD 140 and net debt of MUSD 314 as at March 31, 2025.(3)
    • Net result of MUSD 16 for Q1 2025.

    Reserves and Resources

    • Total 2P reserves as at December 31, 2024 of 493 MMboe, with a reserve life index (RLI) of 31 years.(1)(2)
    • Contingent resources (best estimate, unrisked) as at December 31, 2024 of 1,107 MMboe.(1)(2)
    • 2P reserves net asset value (NAV) as at December 31, 2024 of MUSD 3,083 (10% discount rate).(1)(2)

    2025 Annual Guidance

    • Full year 2025 average net production guidance range forecast maintained at 43,000 to 45,000 boepd.(1)
    • Full year 2025 operating costs guidance range forecast maintained at USD 18 to 19 per boe.(3)
    • Full year 2025 OCF revised guidance estimated at between MUSD 240 and 270 (assuming Brent USD 60 to 75 per barrel for the remainder of 2025) from previous guidance of between MUSD 210 and 280 (assuming Brent USD 65 to 85 per barrel).(3)(4)
    • Full year 2025 capital and decommissioning expenditures guidance forecast maintained at MUSD 320.
    • Full year 2025 FCF revised guidance estimated at between MUSD -135 and -110 (assuming Brent USD 60 to 75 per barrel for the remainder of 2025) from previous guidance of between MUSD -150 and -80 (assuming Brent USD 65 to 85 per barrel), after taking into account MUSD 230 of forecast full year 2025 capital expenditures relating to the Blackrod asset.(3)(4)
      Three months ended March 31
    USD Thousands 2025 2024
    Revenue 178,492   206,419  
    Gross profit 44,149   55,184  
    Net result 16,231   33,719  
    Operating cash flow(3) 74,790   89,301  
    Free cash flow(3) (43,172)   (43,311)  
    EBITDA(3) 70,946   87,020  
    Net cash/(debt)(3) (314,255)   (60,572)  
             

    During the first quarter of 2025, oil prices were relatively stable, with Brent prices averaging just below USD 76 per barrel. Following the quarter, commodity prices pulled back with spot Brent rates falling to USD 60 per barrel in April 2025. The physical crude market remained tight throughout the first quarter, prompting OPEC and the OPEC+ group to increase supply ahead of expectations. The timing of the supply increases coincided with the United States proposing harsh tariffs to countries deemed in a trade surplus of US goods. These two events have impacted future crude supply and demand outlooks, in turn weighing on spot and future oil benchmark prices. Despite the poor market sentiment, global inventories remain below the 5-year average, high geopolitical tensions persist, non-OPEC 2025 oil production (namely, in the US) is unlikely to grow at current prices, and US Federal Reserve Bank rate cuts are likely to occur in the near future. IPC prudently supplemented downside protection measures at the beginning of the first quarter of 2025 through financial swap hedging arrangements which in total represent nearly 40% of our forecast 2025 oil production at around USD 76 and USD 71 per barrel for Dated Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI), respectively, for the remainder of 2025.

    In Canada, WTI to Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude price differentials during the first quarter of 2025 averaged just under USD 13 per barrel, with spot differentials decreasing to around USD 9 per barrel in April 2025. The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) petroleum producers have greatly benefited from the TMX pipeline expansion with differentials tightening to levels not seen since 2020. There are currently no tariffs on Canadian crude exports to the United States, which remain covered by the US Mexico Canada free trade agreement. IPC has hedged the WTI/WCS differential for approximately 50% of our forecast 2025 Canadian oil production at USD 14 per barrel for 2025.

    Natural gas markets in Canada for the first quarter of 2025 remained weak, given the softer than average winter weather conditions and high natural gas storage levels. The average AECO gas price was CAD 2.1 per Mcf for the first quarter of 2025. The forward strip implies improved pricing for Canadian gas benchmark prices, driven by the pending startup of the West Coast LNG Canada project later this year. Approximately 50% of our net long exposure is hedged at CAD 2.4 per Mcf to end October 2025, dropping to around 15% for November and December at CAD 2.6 per mcf.

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights and Full Year 2025 Guidance

    During the first quarter of 2025, our portfolio delivered average net production of 44,400 boepd, in line with guidance. Operational performance from our producing assets was strong to start the year as high facility and well uptimes were achieved. Drilling activity commenced in the first quarter of 2025 at Onion Lake Thermal, which aims to sustain production levels at the asset for 2025. In Malaysia, drilling and well maintenance works are planned to start in the second quarter of 2025, in line with plan. We maintain the full year 2025 average net production guidance range of 43,000 to 45,000 boepd.(1)

    Our operating costs per boe for the first quarter of 2025 was USD 17.3, in line with guidance. Full year 2025 operating expenditure guidance of USD 18.0 to 19.0 per boe remains unchanged.(3)

    Operating cash flow (OCF) generation for the first quarter of 2025 was MUSD 75. Full year 2025 OCF guidance is tightened to MUSD 240 to 270 (assuming Brent USD 60 to 75 per barrel for the remainder of 2025).(3)(4)

    Capital and decommissioning expenditure for the first quarter of 2025 was MUSD 99 in line with guidance. Full year 2025 capital and decommissioning expenditure of MUSD 320 is maintained.

    Free cash flow (FCF) generation was MUSD -43 (MUSD 37 pre-Blackrod capital expenditure) during the first quarter of 2025. Full year 2025 FCF guidance is tightened to MUSD -135 to -110 (assuming Brent USD 60 to 75 per barrel for the remainder of 2025) after taking into account MUSD 320 of forecast full year 2025 capital expenditures (including MUSD 230 relating to the Blackrod asset).(3)(4)

    As at March 31, 2025, IPC’s net debt position was MUSD 314, from a net debt position of MUSD 209 as at December 31, 2024, mainly driven by the funding of forecast capital expenditures and the continuing share repurchase program (NCIB). Gross cash on the balance sheet as at March 31, 2025 amounts to MUSD 140 and IPC has access to an undrawn Canadian credit facility of greater than 130 MUSD. The access to liquidity supports IPC to follow through on its key strategic objectives of enhancing stakeholder value through organic growth, stakeholder returns, and pursuing value adding M&A.(3)

    Blackrod

    During the first quarter of 2025, IPC continued to advance the Phase 1 development of the Blackrod asset. Growth capital expenditure to first oil is maintained at MUSD 850. First oil of the Phase 1 development is estimated to be in late 2026, with forecast net production of 30,000 boepd by 2028. IPC forecasts capital expenditure in 2025 at the Blackrod asset of MUSD 230, of which MUSD 77 was invested in the Phase 1 development project during Q1 2025. Since the transformational organic growth project was sanctioned in early 2023, MUSD 669, or approximately 80% of the total multi-year project capital budget, has been incurred.(1)

    Project activities for the multi-year Blackrod Phase 1 development have progressed according to plan. Engineering, procurement and fabrication is substantially complete with greater than 90% of all facility modules delivered to site. Equipment installation, piping inter-connects, electrical and instrumentation are the key areas of focus for construction at the Central Processing Facility (CPF) and well pad facilities.

    Resource maturation drilling for future phase expansion considerations took place during Q1 2025. Commercial operational readiness planning has ramped up in line with our progressive turnover strategy to ensure a seamless transition from build to start-up. IPC intends to fund the remaining Blackrod capital expenditure with forecast cash flow generated by its operations, cash on hand and drawing under the existing Canadian credit facility if needed.(3)

    Stakeholder Returns: Normal Course Issuer Bid

    In Q4 2024, IPC announced the renewal of the NCIB, with the ability to repurchase up to approximately 7.5 million common shares over the period of December 5, 2024 to December 4, 2025. Under the 2024/2025 NCIB, IPC repurchased and cancelled approximately 0.8 million common shares in December 2024, 3.7 million common shares during Q1 2025, and a further 0.2 million common shares purchased under other exemptions in Canada. The average price of common shares purchased under the 2024/2025 NCIB during Q1 2025 was SEK 146 / CAD 20 per share.

    As at March 31, 2025, IPC had a total of 115,176,514 common shares issued and outstanding and IPC held no common shares in treasury. As at April 30, 2025, IPC had a total of 114,248,119 common shares issued and outstanding and IPC held no common shares in treasury.

    Notwithstanding the final major capital investment year at Blackrod in 2025, IPC had purchased and cancelled 73% of the maximum 7.5 million common shares allowed under the 2024/2025 NCIB by the end of April 2025 and intends to purchase and cancel the remaining 2.0 million common shares under that program in 2025. This would result in the cancellation of 6.2% of common shares outstanding as at the beginning of December 2024. IPC continues to believe that reducing the number of shares outstanding in combination with investing in long-life production growth at the Blackrod project will prove to be a winning formula for our stakeholders.

    Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance

    During the first quarter of 2025, IPC recorded no material safety or environmental incidents.

    As previously announced, IPC targets a reduction of our net GHG emissions intensity by the end of 2025 to 50% of IPC’s 2019 baseline and IPC remains on track to achieve this reduction. IPC has also made a commitment to maintain 2025 levels of 20 kg CO2/boe through to the end of 2028.(5)

    Notes:

      (1) See “Supplemental Information regarding Product Types” in “Reserves and Resources Advisory” below. See also the annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 (AIF) available on IPC’s website at www.international-petroleum.com and under IPC’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
      (2) See “Reserves and Resources Advisory“ below. Further information with respect to IPC’s reserves, contingent resources and estimates of future net revenue, including assumptions relating to the calculation of net present value (NPV), are described in the AIF. NAV is calculated as NPV less net debt of USD 209 million as at December 31, 2024.
      (3) Non-IFRS measures, see “Non-IFRS Measures” below and in the MD&A.
      (4) OCF and FCF forecasts at Brent USD 60 and 70 per barrel assume Brent to WTI differential of USD 3 and 5 per barrel, respectively, and WTI to WCS differential of USD 10 and 15 per barrel, respectively, for the remainder of 2025. OCF and FCF forecasts assume gas price on average of CAD 2.25 per Mcf for the remainder of 2025.
      (5) Emissions intensity is the ratio between oil and gas production and the associated carbon emissions, and net emissions intensity reflects gross emissions less operational emission reductions and carbon offsets.
         

    International Petroleum Corp. (IPC) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a high quality portfolio of assets located in Canada, Malaysia and France, providing a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth. IPC is a member of the Lundin Group of Companies. IPC is incorporated in Canada and IPC’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange under the symbol “IPCO”.

    For further information, please contact:

    Rebecca Gordon
    SVP Corporate Planning and Investor Relations
    rebecca.gordon@international-petroleum.com
    Tel: +41 22 595 10 50
    Or Robert Eriksson
    Media Manager
    reriksson@rive6.ch
    Tel: +46 701 11 26 15
         

    This information is information that International Petroleum Corporation is required to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 07:30 CEST on May 6, 2025. The Corporation’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements (Financial Statements) and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and are also available on the Corporation’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains statements and information which constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, “forward-looking statements”) relate to future events, including the Corporation’s future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, unless otherwise indicated. IPC does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

    All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, forecasts, guidance, budgets, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “forecast”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “budget” and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements”.

    Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

    • 2025 production ranges (including total daily average production), production composition, cash flows, operating costs and capital and decommissioning expenditure estimates;
    • Estimates of future production, cash flows, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on IPC’s current business plans and assumptions regarding the business environment, which are subject to change;
    • IPC’s financial and operational flexibility to navigate the Corporation through periods of volatile commodity prices;
    • The ability to fully fund future expenditures from cash flows and current borrowing capacity;
    • IPC’s intention and ability to continue to implement its strategies to build long-term shareholder value;
    • The ability of IPC’s portfolio of assets to provide a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth;
    • The continued facility uptime and reservoir performance in IPC’s areas of operation;
    • Development of the Blackrod project in Canada, including estimates of resource volumes, future production, timing, regulatory approvals, third party commercial arrangements, breakeven oil prices and net present values;
    • Current and future production performance, operations and development potential of the Onion Lake Thermal, Suffield, Brooks, Ferguson and Mooney operations, including the timing and success of future oil and gas drilling and optimization programs;
    • The potential improvement in the Canadian oil egress situation and IPC’s ability to benefit from any such improvements;
    • The ability to maintain current and forecast production in France and Malaysia;
    • The intention and ability of IPC to acquire further Common Shares under the NCIB, including the timing of any such purchases;
    • The return of value to IPC’s shareholders as a result of the NCIB;
    • IPC’s ability to implement its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity and climate strategies and to achieve its net GHG emissions intensity reduction targets;
    • IPC’s ability to implement projects to reduce net emissions intensity, including potential carbon capture and storage;
    • Estimates of reserves and contingent resources;
    • The ability to generate free cash flows and use that cash to repay debt;
    • IPC’s continued access to its existing credit facilities, including current financial headroom, on terms acceptable to the Corporation;
    • IPC’s ability to identify and complete future acquisitions;
    • Expectations regarding the oil and gas industry in Canada, Malaysia and France, including assumptions regarding future royalty rates, regulatory approvals, legislative changes, tariffs, and ongoing projects and their expected completion; and
    • Future drilling and other exploration and development activities.

    Statements relating to “reserves” and “contingent resources” are also deemed to be forward-looking statements, 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 can be profitably produced in the future. Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

    The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by IPC, including expectations and assumptions concerning: the potential impact of tariffs implemented in 2025 by the U.S. and Canadian governments and that other than the tariffs that have been implemented, neither the U.S. nor Canada (i) increases the rate or scope of such tariffs, or imposes new tariffs, on the import of goods from one country to the other, including on oil and natural gas, and/or (ii) imposes any other form of tax, restriction or prohibition on the import or export of products from one country to the other, including on oil and natural gas; prevailing commodity prices and currency exchange rates; applicable royalty rates and tax laws; interest rates; future well production rates and reserve and contingent resource volumes; operating costs; our ability to maintain our existing credit ratings; our ability to achieve our performance targets; the timing of receipt of regulatory approvals; the performance of existing wells; the success obtained in drilling new wells; anticipated timing and results of capital expenditures; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the timing, location and extent of future drilling operations; the successful completion of acquisitions and dispositions and that we will be able to implement our standards, controls, procedures and policies in respect of any acquisitions and realize the expected synergies on the anticipated timeline or at all; the benefits of acquisitions; the state of the economy and the exploration and production business in the jurisdictions in which IPC operates and globally; the availability and cost of financing, labour and services; our intention to complete share repurchases under our normal course issuer bid program, including the funding of such share repurchases, existing and future market conditions, including with respect to the price of our common shares, and compliance with respect to applicable limitations under securities laws and regulations and stock exchange policies; and the ability to market crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids successfully.

    Although IPC believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because IPC can give no assurances that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks.

    These include, but are not limited to: general global economic, market and business conditions; the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to reserves, resources, production, revenues, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price fluctuations; interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental and climate-related risks; competition; innovation and cybersecurity risks related to our systems, including our costs of addressing or mitigating such risks; the ability to attract, engage and retain skilled employees; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or dispositions; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals; geopolitical conflicts, including the war between Ukraine and Russia and the conflict in the Middle East, and their potential impact on, among other things, global market conditions; political or economic developments, including, without limitation, the risk that (i) one or both of the U.S. and Canadian governments increases the rate or scope of tariffs implemented in 2025, or imposes new tariffs on the import of goods from one country to the other, including on oil and natural gas, (ii) the U.S. and/or Canada imposes any other form of tax, restriction or prohibition on the import or export of products from one country to the other, including on oil and natural gas, and (iii) the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on other countries and responses thereto could have a material adverse effect on the Canadian, U.S. and global economies, and by extension the Canadian oil and natural gas industry and the Corporation; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties, environmental and abandonment regulations. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

    Additional information on these and other factors that could affect IPC, or its operations or financial results, are included in the MD&A (See “Risk Factors”, “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” and “Reserves and Resources Advisory”), the Corporation’s Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year ended December 31, 2024, (See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information”, “Reserves and Resources Advisory” and “Risk Factors”) and other reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including previous financial reports, management’s discussion and analysis and material change reports, which may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or IPC’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

    Management of IPC approved the production, operating costs, operating cash flow, capital and decommissioning expenditures and free cash flow guidance and estimates contained herein as of the date of this press release. The purpose of these guidance and estimates is to assist readers in understanding IPC’s expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

    Estimated production and FCF generation are based on IPC’s current business plans over the periods of 2025 to 2029 and 2030 to 2034, less net debt of USD 209 million as at December 31, 2024, with assumptions based on the reports of IPC’s independent reserves evaluators, and including certain corporate adjustments relating to estimated general and administration costs and hedging, and excluding shareholder distributions and financing costs. Assumptions include average net production of approximately 57 Mboepd over the period of 2025 to 2029, average net production of approximately 63 Mboepd over the period of 2030 to 2034, average Brent oil prices of USD 75 to 95 per bbl escalating by 2% per year, and average Brent to Western Canadian Select differentials and average gas prices as estimated by IPC’s independent reserves evaluator and as further described in the AIF. IPC’s current business plans and assumptions, and the business environment, are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from forward-looking estimates and forecasts.

    Non-IFRS Measures
    References are made in this press release to “operating cash flow” (OCF), “free cash flow” (FCF), “Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization” (EBITDA), “operating costs” and “net debt”/”net cash”, which are not generally accepted accounting measures under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other public companies. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

    The definition of each non-IFRS measure is presented in IPC’s MD&A (See “Non-IFRS Measures” therein).

    Operating cash flow
    The following table sets out how operating cash flow is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

      Three months ended March 31
    USD Thousands 2025   2024  
    Revenue 178,492   206,419  
    Production costs and net sales of diluent to third party 1 (103,188)   (115,745)  
    Current tax (514)   (1,373)  
    Operating cash flow 74,790   89,301  

    1Includes net sales of diluent to third party amounting to USD 191 thousand for the first quarter of 2025.

    Free cash flow
    The following table sets out how free cash flow is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

      Three months ended March 31
    USD Thousands 2025   2024  
    Operating cash flow – see above 74,790   89,301  
    Capital expenditures (98,886)   (125,256)  
    Abandonment and farm-in expenditures1 (321)   (122)  
    General, administration and depreciation expenses before depreciation2 (4,358)   (3,653)  
    Cash financial items3 (14,397)   (3,581)  
    Free cash flow (43,172)   (43,311)  

    1 See note 16 to the Financial Statements
    2 Depreciation is not specifically disclosed in the Financial Statements
    3 See notes 4 and 5 to the Financial Statements

    EBITDA
    The following table sets out the reconciliation from net result from the consolidated statement of operations to EBITDA:

      Three months ended March 31
    USD Thousands 2025   2024  
    Net result 16,231   33,719  
    Net financial items 18,855   9,770  
    Income tax 4,679   7,746  
    Depletion and decommissioning costs 29,016   33,153  
    Depreciation of other tangible fixed assets 1,917   2,262  
    Exploration and business development costs 31   75  
    Sale of assets 1 (94)    
    Depreciation included in general, administration and depreciation expenses 2 311   295  
    EBITDA 70,946   87,020  

    1 Sale of assets is included under “Other income/(expense)” but not specifically disclosed in the Financial Statements
    2 Item is not shown in the Financial Statements

    Operating costs
    The following table sets out how operating costs is calculated:

      Three months ended March 31
    USD Thousands 2025   2024  
    Production costs 103,379   115,745  
    Cost of blending (37,726)   (45,206)  
    Change in inventory position 3,500   5,277  
    Operating costs 69,153   75,816  
             

    Net cash/(debt)
    The following table sets out how net cash / (debt) is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

    USD Thousands March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
    Bank loans (4,449)   (5,121)  
    Bonds1 (450,000)   (450,000)  
    Cash and cash equivalents 140,194   246,593  
    Net cash/(debt) (314,255)   (208,528)  

    1 The bond amount represents the redeemable value at maturity (February 2027).

    Reserves and Resources Advisory
    This press release contains references to estimates of gross and net reserves and resources attributed to the Corporation’s oil and gas assets. For additional information with respect to such reserves and resources, refer to “Reserves and Resources Advisory” in the MD&A. Light, medium and heavy crude oil reserves/resources disclosed in this press release include solution gas and other by-products. Also see “Supplemental Information regarding Product Types” below.

    Reserve estimates, contingent resource estimates and estimates of future net revenue in respect of IPC’s oil and gas assets in Canada are effective as of December 31, 2024, and are included in the reports prepared by Sproule Associates Limited (Sproule), an independent qualified reserves evaluator, in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (NI 51-101) and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the COGE Handbook) and using Sproule’s December 31, 2024 price forecasts.

    Reserve estimates, contingent resource estimates and estimates of future net revenue in respect of IPC’s oil and gas assets in France and Malaysia are effective as of December 31, 2024, and are included in the report prepared by ERC Equipoise Ltd. (ERCE), an independent qualified reserves auditor, in accordance with NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook, and using Sproule’s December 31, 2024 price forecasts.

    The price forecasts used in the Sproule and ERCE reports are available on the website of Sproule (sproule.com) and are contained in the AIF. These price forecasts are as at December 31, 2024 and may not be reflective of current and future forecast commodity prices.

    The reserve life index (RLI) is calculated by dividing the 2P reserves of 493 MMboe as at December 31, 2024 by the mid-point of the 2025 CMD production guidance of 43,000 to 45,000 boepd.

    IPC uses the industry-accepted standard conversion of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil (6 Mcf = 1 bbl). A BOE conversion ratio of 6:1 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 6:1 conversion basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

    Supplemental Information regarding Product Types

    The following table is intended to provide supplemental information about the product type composition of IPC’s net average daily production figures provided in this press release:

             
      Heavy Crude Oil
    (Mbopd)
    Light and Medium Crude
    Oil (Mbopd)
    Conventional Natural Gas
    (per day)
    Total
    (Mboepd)
    Three months ended        
    March 31, 2025 23.2 6.5 88.2 MMcf
    (14.7 Mboe)
    44.4
    March 31, 2024 24.9 7.9 96.0 MMcf
    (16.0 Mboe)
    48.8
    Year ended        
    December 31, 2024 23.9 7.7 95.1 MMcf
    (15.8 Mboe)
    47.4
             

    This press release also makes reference to IPC’s forecast total average daily production of 43,000 to 45,000 boepd for 2025. IPC estimates that approximately 52% of that production will be comprised of heavy oil, approximately 15% will be comprised of light and medium crude oil and approximately 33% will be comprised of conventional natural gas.

    Currency
    All dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in United States dollars, except where otherwise noted. References herein to USD mean United States dollars and to MUSD mean millions of United States dollars. References herein to CAD mean Canadian dollars.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 06, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 6,428
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 6,428
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/258

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Warren Call for Investigation Into Trump Administration Delaying Disaster Recovery Funding, Effects on Communities Including Spokane

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Senator Murray secured $44 million in long-term disaster recovery funding for Spokane in December—new letter calls for investigation into Trump administration actions leading to delays and confusion with the recovery program

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, wrote to the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) calling for an investigation into the Trump Administration delaying HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, which supports recovery in disaster-stricken communities across the country. 

    In January, Senator Murray announced over $44 million in CDBG-DR funding for Spokane County disaster recovery efforts from the Gray and Oregon Road fires in August 2023, which burned more than 21,000 acres in Eastern Washington and were among the most destructive in Washington state history. The funding came from the disaster relief bill that Senator Murray negotiated as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee last Congress and that was signed into law by President Biden on December 21st, 2024.

    However, recent actions by the Trump administration—including abrupt changes to the CDBG-DR program requirements, the mass termination of thousands of employees at HUD who are responsible for getting critical funding out the door, and a lack of communication with partners on the ground—have potential ramifications for the funding Spokane is owed. Senator Murray has also pushed to permanently authorize and codify HUD’s CDBG-DR program, reduce unnecessary delays and red tape, and avoid ad-hoc changes to the program like those being made by the Trump administration now.

    “At his confirmation hearing, Secretary Turner stated that getting the CDBG-DR funds out to communities was a ‘top priority’ for him. However, his actions have not matched that stated commitment. The last three months have been marked by chaos, confusion, and poor communication with the people and communities that rely on this funding the most,” Senators Murray and Warren wrote. “Nearly a quarter of HUD’s workforce has either been terminated or resigned through the Deferred Resignation Program, and with that, HUD will lose immeasurable institutional and operational know-how needed to execute its programs. On March 19, HUD announced updates to CDBG-DR funding requirements ‘to align requirements with the President’s executive orders,’ which principally undercut anti-discrimination requirements and increase the chances of waste, fraud, and abuse by not requiring grantees to adequately account for future disaster risk. On March 31, HUD issued yet another set of revisions to the Universal Notice it had already revised earlier in the month, and in recognition of the setback these changes would represent for grantees, HUD granted a 60-day extension for grantees to its action plan submission deadline.”

    The senators pressed for answers on delays, asking: “What analysis, if any, did HUD conduct on the potential for delays in the availability of CDBG-DR funding as a result of changing eligibility requirements?” and “To what extent have grantees been able to receive clear and timely responses to their questions?,” among other questions. 

    The senators also outlined how the Trump Administration’s changes to the CDBG-DR program have “undercut anti-discrimination requirements and increased the chances of waste, fraud, and abuse by not requiring grantees to adequately account for future disaster risk,” among other issues.

    The letter follows news that the Trump administration is slashing funding for community disaster preparation as well as reporting that the Trump Administration prioritized FEMA funding to states based on who they voted for.

    The full text of the letter is HERE.

    CDBG-DR funding supports disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation, in the most impacted and distressed areas. As the only federal disaster recovery assistance to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income households and communities, CDBG-DR funding can be used to:

    • Replace damaged affordable housing and build it back more resiliently;
    • Strengthen infrastructure through repairs, upgrades, and activities to increase the resilience of public facilities and infrastructure including roadways, water systems, and utilities;
    • Support economic revitalization including support for small businesses, creation of jobs, and assistance for residents; and
    • Implement disaster mitigation measures to reduce risk of damage from future extreme weather and disaster events.

    The allocated funds will help communities fill the funding gaps in disaster recovery and mitigation not covered by insurance and other federal and local sources. The total allocation amount is based on a formula which considers an estimate of unmet needs for housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure, plus an additional 15 percent for mitigation activities.

    Senator Murray pushed nonstop to approve additional disaster relief funding for well over a year—and negotiated the bipartisan disaster relief package that was signed into law on December 21st, 2024. In November, she chaired a full committee hearing on the president’s updated disaster relief request, at which she again underscored the need to finally pass a robust disaster relief package, noting it has been one of the longest stretches in her memory that Congress has failed to provide such relief.

    In September 2023, Senator Murray spoke on the Senate Floor about the devastation the Gray and Oregon Road Fires caused in Eastern Washington, making clear that “communities in Eastern Washington have a long way to go on the road to recovery—so, I will absolutely be staying in close touch with folks in my state, and on the frontlines, and making sure our families and communities have the support they need to get through this.”In October 2023, Senator Murray and others sent a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Washington state as a result of the significant damages incurred by the fires. In February 2024, Senator Murray called President Biden to emphasize the importance of approving the Major Disaster Declaration request—the declaration was granted shortly afterward.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar strengthened by 6 basis points

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) — The central parity rate of the Chinese yuan against the U.S. dollar strengthened by 6 basis points to 7.2008 yuan per dollar on Thursday from the previous trading day, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trading Center.

    On the previous trading day, the yuan to dollar exchange rate was 7.2014 yuan per dollar.

    By order of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, Central Bank), the China Foreign Exchange Center published data according to which the exchange rate of the yuan against other major currencies on the country’s interbank foreign exchange market was: 8.1535 yuan per euro, 5.0269 yuan per 100 yen, 0.92903 yuan per Hong Kong dollar, 9.5808 yuan per pound sterling, 11.1706 rubles per yuan. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on May 05, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India


    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)

      Volume
    (One Leg)
    Weighted
    Average Rate
    Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,16,544.88 5.73 0.01-6.00
         I. Call Money 20,121.34 5.89 4.95-6.00
         II. Triparty Repo 3,93,130.00 5.76 5.70-5.89
         III. Market Repo 2,01,954.54 5.66 0.01-6.00
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,339.00 5.95 5.95-5.96
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 252.55 5.96 5.50-6.16
         II. Term Money@@ 521.00 5.75-6.15
         III. Triparty Repo 7,043.25 5.86 5.80-6.00
         IV. Market Repo 0.00
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Mon, 05/05/2025 1 Tue, 06/05/2025 5,646.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Mon, 05/05/2025 1 Tue, 06/05/2025 395.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Mon, 05/05/2025 1 Tue, 06/05/2025 1,62,616.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,56,575.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo Fri, 02/05/2025 14 Fri, 16/05/2025 149.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       9,479.16  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     35,359.16  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,21,215.84  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 05, 2025 9,51,672.77  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 16, 2025 9,41,653.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 05, 2025 5,646.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on April 18, 2025 2,02,749.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/257

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: DMG Blockchain Solutions Announces Preliminary April Operational Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. (TSX-V: DMGI) (OTCQB: DMGGF) (FRANKFURT: 6AX) (“DMG” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated blockchain and data center technology company, today announces its preliminary operational results for April 2025:

    • Bitcoin Mined: 30 BTC (vs 32 BTC in Mar 2025)
    • Hashrate: 1.93 EH/s (vs 1.82 EH/s in Mar 2025)
    • Bitcoin Holdings: 351 BTC (vs 458 BTC in Mar 2025)

    DMG’s April results reflect stable mining operations alongside key strategic investments. The Company mined 30 BTC during the month, slightly down from 32 BTC in March due to increased network difficulty and one day shorter duration. Meanwhile, DMG increased its realized hashrate to 1.93 EH/s, supported by the deployment of additional Bitmain S21+ Hydro miners and has now reached its 2.1 EH/s target, which may be slightly trimmed on an ongoing operational basis, at least through the summer months, to best manage its fleet in a higher ambient temperature environment.

    DMG liquidated a portion of its Bitcoin holdings, reducing its treasury from 458 BTC in March to 351 BTC in April. Proceeds were used mainly to fund the acquisition of 2 megawatts capacity of prefabricated artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure as well to make the first material paydown on its Sygnum Bank loan, which had a $20 million balance at the end of March. These actions mark a significant step in executing DMG’s broader strategy to shift its data center capacity towards AI, while delevering its balance sheet.

    Sheldon Bennett, DMG’s CEO, commented, “We remain focused on advancing our AI strategy while maintaining a cash generating Bitcoin operation. With the purchase of 2 megawatts of AI data center infrastructure, we have made a demonstrative shift to utilize the returns generated from Bitcoin mining to fund our initial AI capital expenditures, which we believe will accelerate our ability to secure off-take agreements. Our focus remains on high-value government and enterprise users seeking sovereign AI solutions for Canada.”

    About DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc.

    DMG is a publicly traded and vertically integrated blockchain and data center technology company that manages, operates and develops end-to-end digital solutions to monetize the digital asset and artificial intelligence compute ecosystems. Systemic Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of DMG, is an integral component of DMG’s carbon-neutral Bitcoin ecosystem, which enables financial institutions to move Bitcoin in a sustainable and regulatory-compliant manner.

    For additional information about DMG Blockchain Solutions and its initiatives, please visit www.dmgblockchain.com. Follow @dmgblockchain on X, LinkedIn and Facebook, and subscribe to the DMG YouTube channel to stay updated with the latest developments and insights.

    For further information, please contact:

    On behalf of the Board of Directors,

    Sheldon Bennett, CEO & Director
    Tel: +1 (778) 300-5406
    Email: investors@dmgblockchain.com
    Web: www.dmgblockchain.com

    For Investor Relations:
    investors@dmgblockchain.com

    For Media Inquiries:
    Chantelle Borrelli
    Head of Communications
    chantelle@dmgblockchain.com

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

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This news release contains forward-looking information or statements based on current expectations. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements regarding DMG’s strategies and plans, executing on DMG’s broader strategy to shift its data center capacity towards AI, securing high-value AI off-take agreements, the opportunity and plans to monetize bitcoin transactions and provide additional products and services to customers and users, the continued investment in Bitcoin network software infrastructure and applications, the expected allocation of capital, developing and executing on the Company’s products and services, increasing self-mining, increasing hashrate, efforts to improve the operation of its mining fleet, the potential trimming of self-mining due to higher ambient temperature environment, the launch of products and services, events, courses of action, and the potential of the Company’s technology and operations, among others, are all forward-looking information.

    Future changes in the Bitcoin network-wide mining difficulty rate or Bitcoin hashrate may materially affect the future performance of DMG’s production of bitcoin, and future operating results could also be materially affected by the price of bitcoin and an increase in hashrate mining difficulty.

    Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as “may”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “believe” and “continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, market and other conditions, volatility in the trading price of the common shares of the Company, business, economic and capital market conditions; the ability to manage operating expenses, which may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition; the ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; regulatory uncertainties; access to equipment; market conditions and the demand and pricing for products; the demand and pricing of bitcoin; the demand and pricing of Gen AI data centers and usage; security threats, including a loss/theft of DMG’s bitcoin; DMG’s relationships with its customers, distributors and business partners; the inability to add more power to DMG’s facilities; DMG’s ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet customers’ needs; the ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; competition in the industry; the impact of technology changes on the products and industry; failure to develop new and innovative products; the ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; the impact of intellectual property litigation that could materially and adversely affect the business; the ability to manage working capital; and the dependence on key personnel. DMG may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, the ability to successfully develop software, that there will be no regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business, anticipated costs, the ability to secure sufficient capital to complete its business plans, the ability to achieve goals and the price of bitcoin. Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The securities of DMG are considered highly speculative due to the nature of DMG’s business. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Company’s filings on www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, DMG’s past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance.

    Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, equipment failures, lack of supply of equipment, power and infrastructure, failure to obtain any permits required to operate the business, the impact of technology changes on the industry, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company’s ability to operate, secure equipment, and hire personnel, competition, security threats including stolen bitcoin from DMG or its customers, consumer sentiment towards DMG’s products, services and blockchain and Gen AI technology generally, failure to develop new and innovative products, litigation, adverse weather or climate events, increase in operating costs, increase in equipment and labor costs, equipment failures, decrease in the price of Bitcoin, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of or statements made by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Banking: France and Spain launch Tiger MkIII programme

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: France and Spain launch Tiger MkIII programme

    OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), on behalf of the French and Spanish Armament General Directorate, the DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) and the DGAM (Dirección General de Armamento y Material) has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters for the development, production, and initial in-service support of the Tiger MkIII.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Airbus inaugurates new campus to train the pilots of tomorrow

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: Airbus inaugurates new campus to train the pilots of tomorrow

    Airbus Flight Academy Europe (AFAE), a 100% subsidiary of Airbus, has inaugurated a new campus, in Angoulême, South-West France. During the ceremony, Airbus confirmed that Volotea, the Barcelona-based airline, is the first to recruit its Airbus pilot cadets.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Galileo 2nd generation satellites ready to navigate into the future

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: Galileo 2nd generation satellites ready to navigate into the future

    Airbus has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its system concept for the second generation Galileo navigation satellites. During this important milestone, Airbus’ proposed preliminary design and the customer’s system requirements have been fully reviewed and agreed.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Airbus reports share buyback transactions 28 Feb to 3 March 2022

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: Airbus reports share buyback transactions 28 Feb to 3 March 2022

    Airbus SE reports the following share buyback transactions from 28 February to 3 March 2022 under Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (“EU Market Abuse Regulation”).

    MIL OSI Global Banks