Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: Enstar Completes Previously Announced Transaction with Atrium Syndicate 609

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enstar Group Limited (“Enstar”) (Nasdaq: ESGR) announced today its Lloyd’s syndicate (“Syndicate 2008”), managed by Enstar Managing Agency Limited, has completed the previously announced transaction with Atrium Syndicate 609, managed by Atrium Underwriters Limited.

    Under the terms of the loss portfolio transfer agreement, Atrium Syndicate 609 ceded net loss reserves of approximately $196 million, based on Atrium’s carried reserves as at Q3 2024, to Enstar’s Syndicate 2008. The reinsurance relates to business underwritten in the 2023 and prior years of account, with all claims handling transferring to Syndicate 2008.

    Completion of the transaction followed receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of various other closing conditions.

    About Enstar

    Enstar is a NASDAQ-listed leading global insurance group that offers innovative capital release solutions through its network of group companies in Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, and other international locations. A market leader in completing legacy acquisitions, Enstar has acquired more than 120 companies and portfolios since its formation in 2001. For further information about Enstar, see www.enstargroup.com.

    Contact:

    For Enstar:
    For Investors: Matthew Kirk (investor.relations@enstargroup.com)
    For Media: Jenna Kerr (communications@enstargroup.com)

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Greystone Housing Impact Investors Files Form 10-K and Issues Investor Schedule K-1s 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMAHA, Neb., March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP, a Delaware limited partnership, (NYSE: GHI) (the “Partnership”) today announced that it filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2025.  A copy of this Form 10-K is available on the Partnership’s website at www.ghiinvestors.com/sec-filings/annual-reports. The Partnership’s unitholders may receive a hard copy of the Form 10-K free of charge upon request to the Partnership’s Investor Services department at (855) 428-2951.

    The Partnership also announced that investors may now access their Tax Year 2024 Schedule K-1 forms using the Tax Package Support website at www.taxpackagesupport.com/greystone. Investors with existing access to Tax Package Support can access their Partnership Schedule K-1 information using their existing accounts. Investors needing to set up an account can do so by clicking on the “Sign Up” link. Tax Package Support representatives are available to assist users at (833) 608-3512. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm CST.

    In addition to being available electronically, paper copies of investor Tax Year 2024 Schedule K-1 forms will be printed and mailed to investor addresses on file unless the investor has chosen paperless delivery through the Tax Package Support website.

    Further information can be found on the “K-1 Information” page of the Partnership’s website at www.ghiinvestors.com/resources/k-1-information. You may also contact the Partnership’s Investor Services department at (855) 428-2951 or via email at ghiK1s@greyco.com.

    About Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP

    Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP was formed in 1998 under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for the primary purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for affordable multifamily, seniors and student housing properties. The Partnership is pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments on a leveraged basis. The Partnership expects and believes the interest earned on these mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership seeks to achieve its investment growth strategy by investing in additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments as permitted by its Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, dated December 5, 2022, taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the securities market, and entering into interest rate risk management instruments. Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP press releases are available at www.ghiinvestors.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements,” which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks involving current maturities of our financing arrangements and our ability to renew or refinance such maturities, fluctuations in short-term interest rates, collateral valuations, mortgage revenue bond investment valuations and overall economic and credit market conditions. For a further list and description of such risks, see the reports and other filings made by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The Partnership disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Karen Marotta
    Greystone
    212-896-9149
    Karen.Marotta@greyco.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Andy Grier
    Investors Relations
    402-952-1235

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited to Ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell on March 5, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex Limited” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DGNX), an impact technology company specializing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, announced today that it will ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, marking a key milestone following its successful listing in January 2025.

    Diginex Limited’s Chairman and Founder, Miles Pelham, will lead the ceremony, joined by members of the board of directors, executive leadership, business partners, key advisors, and other stakeholders who have been instrumental in the Company’s success.

    “Ringing the Nasdaq Closing Bell is a momentous occasion for Diginex Limited as we continue expanding our presence in the sustainability focused RegTech space,” said Miles Pelham, Chairman and Founder of Diginex Limited. “This milestone reflects the dedication of our team, the support of our stakeholders, and our unwavering commitment to driving long-term value. We look forward to accelerating our mission of empowering businesses to operate more sustainably.”

    The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Nasdaq website at https://www.nasdaq.com/marketsite/bell-ringing-ceremony, with live footage and event highlights starting at 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Event photos and videos will be available shortly after the ceremony on Diginex Limited’s corporate website and social media channels.

    About Diginex Limited

    Diginex Limited is a Cayman Islands exempted company, with subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Diginex Limited conducts operations through its wholly owned subsidiary Diginex Solutions (HK) Limited, a Hong Kong corporation (“DSL”) and DSL is the sole owner of (i) Diginex Services Limited, a corporation formed in the United Kingdom and (ii) Diginex USA LLC, a limited liability company formed in the State of Delaware. DSL commenced operations in 2020, and is a software company that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. DSL is an impact technology business that helps organizations address the some of the most pressing ESG, climate and sustainability issues, utilizing blockchain, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate social responsibility and climate action.

    Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email:ir@diginex.com

    IR Contact Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Medallion Financial Corp. Reports 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Medallion Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: MFIN, “Medallion” or the “Company”), a specialty finance company that originates and services loans in various consumer and commercial industries, along with offering loan origination services to fintech strategic partners, announced today its results for the quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2024.

    2024 Fourth Quarter Highlights

    • Net income was $10.1 million, or $0.43 per share, compared to $14.3 million, or $0.60 per share, in the prior year quarter, and included $1.3 million of taxi medallion recoveries in the current quarter compared to $12.5 million in the prior year quarter.
    • Net interest income grew 6% to $52.0 million from $49.0 million in the prior year quarter.
    • Net interest margin on net loans was 8.15%, compared to 8.50% in the prior year quarter, and on gross loans it was 7.84%, compared to 8.20% in the prior year quarter.
    • Loan originations grew 69% to $285.7 million, compared to $169.1 million in the prior year quarter.
    • Credit loss provision increased to $20.6 million from $10.8 million in the prior year quarter.
    • The Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend 10% to $0.11 per share.
    • In connection with a pending agreement in principle with the SEC’s Division of Enforcement on terms of settlement, the Company recorded a charge of $3.0 million as well as a benefit of $5.5 million related to insurance coverage of legal costs incurred.

    2024 Full-Year Highlights

    • Net income was $35.9 million, or $1.52 per share, compared to $55.1 million, or $2.37 per share, in the prior year, and included $6.9 million of taxi medallion recoveries in the current year compared to $29.6 million in the prior year.
    • Net interest income grew 8% to $202.5 million from $188.1 million in the prior year.
    • Net interest margin on net loans was 8.35%, compared to 8.68% in the prior year, and on gross loans it was 8.05%, compared to 8.38% in the prior year.
    • Loan originations were $1.0 billion, compared to $960.0 million in the prior year.
    • Total loans, including loans held for sale, grew 12% to $2.5 billion as of December 31, 2024, compared to $2.2 billion a year ago.
    • Credit loss provision increased to $76.5 million from $37.8 million in the prior year.
    • The Company repurchased 570,404 shares of common stock at an average cost of $8.07 per share in the year, for a total of $4.6 million.
    • Total assets grew to $2.9 billion as of December 31, 2024, an 11% increase over December 31, 2023.

    Executive Commentary – Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion

    “We continue to be pleased with our quarterly and full-year performance. In the fourth quarter of 2023, taxi medallion recoveries added $0.37 to our bottom line compared to only $0.04 this quarter. For the full year, and the first time in our history, we originated over $1 billion of loans, more than half of which were high yielding recreation loans. We are quite pleased with this accomplishment.

    Our commercial lending group, Medallion Capital, exited a portfolio investment during the quarter generating net gains of $3.8 million on equity investments, with full year net gains of $6.9 million. Although our equity investments are small, over time they have generated meaningful earnings to our bottom line, with net gains totaling nearly $15 million over the past three years.

    Finally, in the quarter we reached an agreement in principle on terms of settlement and recorded a charge of $3.0 million related to the SEC matter as well as recognized a $5.5 million benefit related to insurance coverage of legal costs associated with this matter. The agreement is subject to approval of the Commissioners of the SEC and the court, and we look forward to bringing closure to this matter. 

    We are quite happy with where we are as a company, especially with the performance we have delivered over the past several years. We finished the year with record total interest income, net interest income, assets, strategic partnership loan volume, and total equity. We believe we are well-positioned for 2025 and the years ahead.” 

    Business Segment Highlights

    Recreation Lending Segment

    • Originations were $72.2 million during the quarter, compared to $62.7 million a year ago.
    • Recreation loans, including loans held for investment and loans held for sale, grew 15% to $1.5 billion, or 62% of total loans, as of December 31, 2024, compared to $1.3 billion, or 60% of total loans, a year ago.
    • Interest income grew 15% to $51.3 million for the quarter, from $44.4 million in the prior year quarter.
    • The average interest rate was 15.07% at year-end, compared to 14.79% a year ago.
    • Recreation loans 90 days or more past due were $10.0 million, or 0.67% of gross recreation loans, as of December 31, 2024, compared to $9.1 million, or 0.70%, a year ago.
    • Allowance for credit loss was 5.00% at year-end for loans held for investment, compared to 4.31% a year ago.
    • In December 2024, we signed a letter of intent to sell up to $121 million of recreation loans at a premium to par value.

    Home Improvement Lending Segment

    • Originations were $82.5 million during the quarter, compared to $66.0 million a year ago.
    • Home improvement loans grew 9% to $827.2 million, or 33% of total loans, as of December 31, 2024, compared to $760.6 million, or 34% of total loans, a year ago.
    • Interest income grew 16% to $19.9 million for the quarter, from $17.2 million in the prior year quarter.
    • The average interest rate was 9.81% at year-end, compared to 9.51% a year ago.
    • Home improvement loans 90 days or more past due were $1.4 million, or 0.17% of gross home improvement loans, as of December 31, 2024, compared to $1.5 million, or 0.20%, a year ago.
    • Allowance for credit loss was 2.48% at year-end, compared to 2.76% a year ago.

    Commercial Lending Segment

    • Commercial loans were $111.3 million at 2024, compared to $114.8 million a year ago.
    • The average interest rate on the portfolio was 12.97%, compared to 12.87% a year ago.

    Taxi Medallion Lending Segment

    • The Company collected $2.6 million of cash on taxi medallion-related assets during the quarter.
    • Total net taxi medallion assets declined to $7.7 million, a 37% reduction from a year ago, and represented less than 0.5% of the Company’s total assets, as of December 31, 2024.

    Capital Allocation

    Quarterly Dividend

    • The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share, payable on March 31, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2025.

    Stock Repurchase Plan

    • As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $15.4 million remaining under its $40 million share repurchase program. During 2024, the Company purchased 570,404 shares for $4.6 million.

    Conference Call Information

    The Company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full-year financial results tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.

    In connection with its earnings release, the Company has updated its quarterly supplement presentation, which is now available at www.medallion.com.

    How to Participate

    • Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
    • Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern time
    • U.S. dial-in number: (833) 816-1412
    • International dial-in number: (412) 317-0504
    • Live webcast: Link to Webcast of 4Q24 Earnings Call

    A link to the live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s IR website.

    Replay Information

    The webcast replay will be available at the Company’s IR website until the next quarter’s results are announced.

    The conference call replay will be available following the end of the call through Wednesday, March 12

    • U.S. dial-in number: (844) 512-2921
    • International dial-in number: (412) 317-6671
    • Passcode: 1019 6407

    About Medallion Financial Corp.

    Medallion Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: MFIN) and its subsidiaries originate and service a growing portfolio of consumer loans and mezzanine loans in various industries. Key industries served include recreation (towable RVs and marine) and home improvement (replacement roofs, swimming pools, and windows). Medallion Financial Corp. is headquartered in New York City, NY, and its largest subsidiary, Medallion Bank, is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, please visit www.medallion.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Please note that this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to business performance, cash flow, net interest income and expenses, other expenses, earnings, growth, and our growth strategy. These statements are often, but not always, made using words or phrases such as “will” and “continue” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These statements relate to future public announcements of our earnings, the impact of the pending SEC litigation, expectations regarding our loan portfolio, including collections on our medallion loans, the potential for future asset growth, and market share opportunities. Medallion’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. For example, statements about the effects of the current economy, whether inflation or the risk of recession, operations, financial performance and prospects constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impacts may differ, possibly materially, from what is reflected in those forward-looking statements due to factors and future developments that are uncertain, unpredictable and in many cases beyond Medallion’s control. In addition to risks relating to the current economy, a description of certain risks to which Medallion is or may be subject, including risks related to the pending SEC litigation, the settlement of which remains subject to SEC and court approval, please refer to the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Medallion’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    Company Contact:
    Investor Relations
    212-328-2176
    InvestorRelations@medallion.com

    MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (UNAUDITED)
     
        December 31,  
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)   2024     2023  
    Assets            
    Cash, cash equivalents, and federal funds sold   $ 169,572     $ 149,845  
    Investment and equity securities     64,003       65,712  
    Loans     2,362,796       2,215,886  
    Allowance for credit losses     (97,368 )     (84,235 )
    Net loans receivable     2,265,428       2,131,651  
    Loans held for sale, at lower of amortized cost or fair value     128,226        
    Goodwill and intangible assets, net     169,949       171,394  
    Property, equipment, and right-of-use lease asset, net     13,756       14,076  
    Accrued interest receivable     15,314       13,538  
    Loan collateral in process of foreclosure     9,932       11,772  
    Other assets     32,426       29,839  
    Total assets   $ 2,868,606     $ 2,587,827  
    Liabilities            
    Deposits   $ 2,090,071     $ 1,866,657  
    Long-term debt     232,159       235,544  
    Short-term borrowings     49,000       8,000  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net     20,995       21,207  
    Operating lease liabilities     5,128       7,019  
    Accrued interest payable     8,231       6,822  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     24,064       30,804  
    Total liabilities     2,429,648       2,176,053  
    Total stockholders’ equity     370,170       342,986  
    Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries     68,788       68,788  
    Total equity     438,958       411,774  
    Total liabilities and equity   $ 2,868,606     $ 2,587,827  
    Number of shares outstanding     23,135,624       23,449,646  
    Book value per share   $ 16.00     $ 14.63  
    MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP.‌
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (UNAUDITED)‌
     
        Three Months Ended December 31,     Years Ended December 31,  
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Total interest income   $ 76,519     $ 67,585     $ 290,702     $ 251,040  
    Total interest expense     24,507       18,567       88,167       62,946  
    Net interest income     52,012       49,018       202,535       188,094  
    Provision for credit losses     20,572       10,764       76,502       37,810  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     31,440       38,254       126,033       150,284  
    Other income (loss)                        
    Gain on equity investments, net     3,782       2,989       6,917       5,178  
    Gain on sale of loans and taxi medallions     123       413       1,293       4,992  
    Write-down of loan collateral in process of foreclosure     (509 )     (1,393 )     (528 )     (1,696 )
    Other income     846       979       3,648       2,846  
    Total other income, net     4,242       2,988       11,330       11,320  
    Other expenses                        
    Salaries and employee benefits     9,997       9,757       38,344       37,562  
    Loan servicing fees     2,820       2,459       10,771       9,543  
    Collection costs     1,581       1,271       6,380       6,000  
    Regulatory fees     969       710       3,795       3,194  
    Professional fee costs (benefits), net     (4,806 )     1,663       (1,372 )     5,886  
    Rent expense     663       617       2,682       2,472  
    Amortization of intangible assets     361       361       1,445       1,445  
    Penalties     3,000             3,000        
    Other expenses     2,628       2,246       9,382       9,466  
    Total other expenses     17,213       19,084       74,427       75,568  
    Income before income taxes     18,469       22,158       62,936       86,036  
    Income tax provision     6,815       6,328       21,011       24,910  
    Net income after taxes     11,654       15,830       41,925       61,126  
    Less: income attributable to the non-controlling interest     1,512       1,512       6,047       6,047  
    Total net income attributable to Medallion Financial Corp.   $ 10,142     $ 14,318     $ 35,878     $ 55,079  
    Basic net income per share   $ 0.45     $ 0.63     $ 1.59     $ 2.45  
    Diluted net income per share   $ 0.43     $ 0.60     $ 1.52     $ 2.37  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding                        
    Basic     22,455,498       22,608,243       22,546,051       22,510,435  
    Diluted     23,757,406       23,765,866       23,605,493       23,248,323  
    Dividends declared per common share   $ 0.11     $ 0.10     $ 0.41     $ 0.34  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises Strengthens Executive Leadership to Drive Growth in American-Made Energy Storage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), America’s leading innovator in designing, manufacturing, and providing zinc-based long duration energy storage (LDES) systems sourced and manufactured in the United States, today announced two leadership appointments that will further support its growth strategy and strengthen its market position. Effective March 5, 2025, Nathan Kroeker will transition from his current Chief Financial Officer role to become Eos’ Chief Commercial Officer. In conjunction with this strategic transition, the Company has appointed Eric Javidi as its new Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive investing, operating and organizational leadership experience in the energy and energy infrastructure spaces.

    “Over the past two years, Nathan secured over $850 million in transformative financing, positioning Eos for significant operational expansion. His prior experience as CEO, where he successfully led an energy trading and marketing company operating assets like those of our customers, gives him a unique understanding of both the complexities of the industry and the evolving needs of customers,” said Joe Mastrangelo, Eos Chief Executive Officer. “Nathan’s background as Chief Financial Officer gives him a unique advantage in understanding both the financial and commercial landscapes of the industry, allowing him to create customer-centric solutions that are not only impactful, but also financially sustainable.”

    Kroeker will be responsible for expanding into new geographies, driving customer project financing, and ensuring that Eos’ offering is aligned with the diverse needs of its customer base. His expertise will help guide the Company’s growth by strengthening customer relationships and bankability, providing financing solutions, and positioning Eos as the preferred partner in long duration energy storage.

    “I am also very pleased to welcome Eric Javidi as our next Chief Financial Officer,” continued Mastrangelo. “Eric brings over 15 years of experience within the energy and energy infrastructure space, having held a variety of executive roles in both the public and private sectors. His extensive experience as a strategic leader will be invaluable as we scale our company. He has a proven track record of driving performance and growth through strategic decision making and tactical capital allocation decisions. His leadership will be crucial in maximizing profitability and shareholder value.”

    Javidi is an experienced executive with extensive industry experience having previously served as Managing Partner and Co-head of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, LP’s (“Kayne Anderson”) Energy Infrastructure strategy. In addition to his six years at Kayne Anderson, Javidi has served in C-suite executive roles for several public and private companies, including as the Chief Financial Officer of Archaea Energy, Inc. (NYSE: LFG) and CrossAmerica Partners LP (NYSE: CAPL), and as President and CEO of Southcross Holdings LP. Additionally, he has provided ongoing strategic consulting services to some of the world’s largest infrastructure private equity firms related to their energy transition investments and strategies. Javidi began his career as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers, Barclays and UBS and holds an MBA from Duke University.

    “These two appointments are vital to our continued success,” added Mastrangelo. “Nathan’s transition to Chief Commercial Officer and the addition of Eric as Chief Financial Officer bring two uniquely qualified executives to key roles in the Company. Together, they will lead our efforts to scale operations, profitability and achieving long-term strategic growth in American-made energy storage.”

    “I am thrilled to be part of such an innovative and dynamic team and organization,” said Javidi. “With the energy storage market rapidly evolving to longer duration storage, Joe’s leadership and ability to execute, in addition to the world-class strategic partnership with Cerberus, it couldn’t be a more exciting time to join Eos. I look forward to leveraging my experience to support the Company’s growth, drive value creation and help position Eos for both near-term and long-term success. With Nathan in his new role as Chief Commercial Officer, Eos is poised to enhance both our financial strength and our customer focused approach as we expand our domestic and international footprint and deliver industry-leading solutions.”

    This leadership change comes at a pivotal time as Eos continues to focus on expanding its presence in the fast-growing long duration energy storage market that require increased access to financing options that enable customers to adopt innovative technologies with greater ease and accessibility.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Eos (NASDAQ: EOSE), visit eose.com.


    Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expected revenue, for the fiscal years December 31, 2025, our path to profitability and strategic outlook, statements regarding orders backlog and opportunity pipeline, statements regarding our expectation that we can continue to increase product volume on our state-of-the-art manufacturing line, statements regarding our future expansion and its impact on our ability to scale up operations, statements regarding our expectation that we can continue to strengthen our overall supply chain, statements regarding our expectation that our new comprehensive insurance program will provide increased operational and economic certainty, statements that refer to the delayed draw term loan with Cerberus, milestones thereunder and the anticipated use of proceeds, statements that refer to outlook, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected.

    Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; our ability to forecast trends accurately; our ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; our ability to achieve the operational milestones on the delayed draw term loan; our ability to raise financing in the future; risks associated with the credit agreement with Cerberus, including risks of default, dilution of outstanding Common Stock, consequences for failure to meet milestones and contractual lockup of shares; our customers’ ability to secure project financing; the amount of final tax credits available to our customers or to Eos pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act; the timing and availability of future funding under the Department of Energy Loan Facility; our ability to continue to develop efficient manufacturing processes to scale and to forecast related costs and efficiencies accurately; fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; competition from existing or new competitors; our ability to convert firm order backlog and pipeline to revenue; risks associated with security breaches in our information technology systems; risks related to legal proceedings or claims; risks associated with evolving energy policies in the United States and other countries and the potential costs of regulatory compliance; risks associated with changes to the U.S. trade environment; our ability to maintain the listing of our shares of common stock on NASDAQ; our ability to grow our business and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain our management and key employees; risks related to the adverse changes in general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and increased interest rates; risk from supply chain disruptions and other impacts of geopolitical conflict; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Eos may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; other factors beyond our control; risks related to adverse changes in general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to additional risks, uncertainties, and factors, including those more fully described in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent periodic and current reports and other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks and uncertainties may emerge that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises Meets 2024 Revised Revenue Guidance and Reports Fourth Quarter & Full-Year 2024 Financial Results; Reaffirms 2025 Revenue Guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Achieved Cerberus third tranche of operational performance milestones and secured final $40.5 million to fully fund $210.5 million Delayed Draw Term Loan
    • Closed $303.5 million loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office and secured first funding of $68.3 million
    • Secured $8 million standalone BESS order for Naval Base of San Diego to advance American energy independence
    • Grew customer orders backlog to $682 million, a 28% increase year over year
    • Launched Factory 2 Works with eight states responding to Requests for Proposals and multiple sites now shortlisted
    • Reiterates 2025 full-year revenue guidance range of $150 million – $190 million
    • Strengthened executive leadership, appointed current Chief Financial Officer, Nathan Kroeker to Chief Commercial Officer; welcomed new Chief Financial Officer, Eric Javidi, who brings extensive investing, operating and leadership experience within the energy and energy infrastructure spaces, along with a track record of success with high growth companies

    EDISON, N.J., March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), America’s leading innovator in designing, manufacturing, and providing zinc-based long duration energy storage (LDES) systems sourced and manufactured in the United States, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2024.

    Fourth Quarter Highlights

    • Revenue totaled $7.3 million, a 10% increase compared to the prior year and 749% increase compared to last quarter.
    • Gross loss of $23.5 million, consistent with prior year, on lower Z3 material costs offset by higher project execution costs related to commissioning and field operations.
    • Operating expenses totaled $28.2 million, a 52% increase compared to prior year, with 45% of the total representing non-cash items. Cash operating expenses remained relatively flat, with $8.5 million (or 88% of the increase over prior year) driven by non-cash items such as PP&E write offs and stock-based compensation expense as a result of a significant stock price increase.
    • Net loss attributable to shareholders of $268.1 million, largely driven by non-cash change in fair value tied to mark-to-market adjustments related to the Company’s increased December 31, 2024, stock price. Adjusted EBITDA loss of $44.6 million, a 20% increase compared to the prior year, driven by an increase in Gen 2.3 PP&E write offs and Cerberus debt issuance costs.
    • Total cash of $103.4 million, including restricted cash, as of December 31, 2024.
    • $14.4 billion commercial opportunity pipeline, a 9% increase from prior year, with a $682 million orders backlog, an increase of 16% compared to prior quarter and 28% compared to December 31, 2023.
    • Achieved SOX compliance by strengthening the Company’s internal controls, eliminating previously disclosed material weakness.

    Full-Year 2024 Highlights

    • Revenue totaled $15.6 million in line with the Company’s revised 2024 revenue guidance.
    • Gross loss of $83.3 million, a 13% increase compared to the prior year; lower Z3 material costs were more than offset by labor and overhead inefficiencies related to manual sub assembly and increased project execution.
    • Operating expenses totaled $91.9 million, a 16% increase compared to the prior year, with 29% of the total representing non-cash items. The year over year increase included $7.7 million in cash expenses which was primarily driven by strategic investments in sales, sourcing, software engineering, and controllership to position the Company for scaled growth.
    • Net loss attributable to shareholders of $685.9 million, largely driven by non-cash change in fair value tied to mark-to market adjustments stemming from the increase in stock price as of December 31, 2024. Adjusted EBITDA loss of $156.6 million.

    “Over the past 12 months the team delivered significant results. The organization brought the first state-of-the-art manufacturing line into full operation, reduced Z3 costs, increased commercial opportunity pipeline and orders backlog and secured two major financing investments with Cerberus and the Department of Energy,” said Joe Mastrangelo, Eos Chief Executive Officer. “These two critical proof points strongly validate our long-term strategy and capabilities, positioning the Company to scale with the growing demand for long-duration energy storage. With the announcement of Factory 2 Works and plans to order three additional manufacturing lines, Eos is now hyper-scaling its capacity expansion to secure larger orders and deliver for customers and shareholders.”

    2025 Outlook

    • For the full-year 2025, Eos expects to achieve revenue between $150 million and $190 million. This projected growth is expected to be driven by increased production volume on the Company’s first state-of-the-art manufacturing line as staged sub-assembly automation comes online.

    Recent Business Highlights

    Cerberus Strategic Investment
    As announced in January, Eos successfully achieved the third tranche of performance milestones previously agreed upon between Eos and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management LP (“Cerberus”) as part of their strategic investment in the Company. Meeting these performance milestones allowed the Company to access the final $40.5 million of the Delayed Draw Term Loan (DDTL), fueling ongoing operations and U.S. production expansion. The $210.5 million DDTL announced in June 2024 is now fully funded, driven by the Company consistently achieving key operational milestones related to the Company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing line, raw materials cost-out, Z3 technology performance improvement and customer cash conversion. The Company surpassed its January raw materials cost-out target by 6% while delivering manufacturing cycle times below 10 seconds and maintaining 98% first pass yield to further demonstrate continued operational efficiency and progress towards profitable growth.

    Commercial Growth & Bankability
    In the fourth quarter, the Company secured several key standalone storage orders including contracts with a municipal cooperative in Springfield Missouri, the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton in San Diego and most recently the Naval Base of San Diego. Eos deployment of American-made energy storage systems is becoming increasingly vital, not only for enhancing military resilience but also for strengthening the U.S. against global energy disruptions and securing America’s energy independence.

    To drive further growth, the Company launched a comprehensive insurance program in partnership with Ariel Green, a division of Ariel Re, to enhance the bankability of the Company’s technology. These products include investment tax credit (ITC) and ITC recapture protections, along with contractual warranty and performance guarantee backstop coverage. Most recently, the Company also updated its standard warranty to a 3-year term with the option to extend to 5 or 10 years. These customer-focused solutions, combined with extensive third-party validations and a more robust Company balance sheet, provide greater risk mitigation, enhanced operational stability and increased economic certainty.

    Operational Capacity Expansion
    Demand for safe, multi-cycle, American-made energy storage has reached a level that requires significant capacity expansion. As announced in December 2024, the Company launched its search for Factory 2 Works, submitting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to eight states, with multiple sites now shortlisted. In parallel, Eos is progressing with plans to procure three additional manufacturing lines, including sub-assemblies, battery manufacturing, and cube assembly to support 6 GWh of additional annualized manufacturing capacity. This expansion is a crucial step in scaling operations to meet the growing demand for reliable, high performance energy storage.

    The Company is expanding its first manufacturing line from 1.25 GWh to 2 GWh annualized capacity and continues to progress through Factory Acceptance Testing with its staged sub-assembly automation implementation. The Company expects full implementation to occur in the second and early third quarter, which is essential for increasing throughput and reducing labor and overhead costs.

    Earnings Conference Call and Webcast
    Eos will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 results on March 5, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The live webcast of the earnings call will be available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at Eos Investors or may be accessed using this link (registration link). To avoid delays, we encourage participants to join the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

    The conference call replay will be available via webcast through Eos’ investor relations website for twelve months following the live presentation. The webcast replay will be available from approximately 11:30 a.m. ET on March 5, 2025, and can be accessed by visiting Eos Investors.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Eos (NASDAQ: EOSE), visit eose.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expected revenue, for the fiscal years December 31, 2025, our path to profitability and strategic outlook, statements regarding orders backlog and opportunity pipeline, statements regarding our expectation that we can continue to increase product volume on our state-of-the-art manufacturing line, statements regarding our future expansion and its impact on our ability to scale up operations, statements regarding our expectation that we can continue to strengthen our overall supply chain, statements regarding our expectation that our new comprehensive insurance program will provide increased operational and economic certainty, statements that refer to the delayed draw term loan with Cerberus, milestones thereunder and the anticipated use of proceeds, statements that refer to outlook, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected.

    Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; our ability to forecast trends accurately; our ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; our ability to achieve the operational milestones on the delayed draw term loan; our ability to raise financing in the future; risks associated with the credit agreement with Cerberus, including risks of default, dilution of outstanding Common Stock, consequences for failure to meet milestones and contractual lockup of shares; our customers’ ability to secure project financing; the amount of final tax credits available to our customers or to Eos pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act; the timing and availability of future funding under the Department of Energy Loan Facility; our ability to continue to develop efficient manufacturing processes to scale and to forecast related costs and efficiencies accurately; fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; competition from existing or new competitors; our ability to convert firm order backlog and pipeline to revenue; risks associated with security breaches in our information technology systems; risks related to legal proceedings or claims; risks associated with evolving energy policies in the United States and other countries and the potential costs of regulatory compliance; risks associated with changes to the U.S. trade environment; our ability to maintain the listing of our shares of common stock on NASDAQ; our ability to grow our business and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain our management and key employees; risks related to the adverse changes in general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and increased interest rates; risk from supply chain disruptions and other impacts of geopolitical conflict; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Eos may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; other factors beyond our control; risks related to adverse changes in general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to additional risks, uncertainties, and factors, including those more fully described in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent periodic and current reports and other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks and uncertainties may emerge that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Key Metrics

    Backlog. Our backlog represents the amount of revenue that we expect to realize from existing agreements with our customers for the sale of our battery energy storage systems and performance of services. The backlog is calculated by adding new orders in the current fiscal period to the backlog as of the end of the prior fiscal period and then subtracting the shipments in the current fiscal period. If the amount of an order is modified or cancelled, we adjust orders in the current period and our backlog accordingly, but do not retroactively adjust previously published backlogs. There is no comparable US-GAAP financial measure for backlog. We believe that the backlog is a useful indicator regarding the future revenue of our Company.

    Pipeline. Our pipeline represents projects for which we have submitted technical proposals or non-binding quotes plus letters of intent (“LOI”) or firm commitments from customers. Pipeline does not include lead generation projects.

    Booked Orders. Booked orders are orders where we have legally binding agreements with a Purchase Order (“PO”), or Master Supply Agreement (“MSA”) executed by both parties.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we have disclosed in this earnings release non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS, which are non-GAAP financial measures as defined under the rules of the SEC. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures of the Company’s calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company believes adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EPS are useful measures in evaluating its financial and operational performance distinct and apart from financing costs, certain non-cash expenses and non-operational expenses.

    We believe that non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively may be helpful to our investors in assessing its operating performance. There are a number of limitations related to the use of these non-GAAP financial measures and their nearest GAAP equivalents. For example, the Company’s definitions of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Below is a description of the non-GAAP financial information included herein as well as reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. You should review the reconciliations below but not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings (net loss) attributable to Eos adjusted for interest expense, income tax, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, change in fair value of debt and derivatives, debt extinguishment, and other non-cash or non-recurring items as determined by management which it does not believe to be indicative of its underlying business trends. Adjusted EPS is defined as GAAP net loss per common share as adjusted for non-cash stock-based compensation expense change in fair value of debt and derivatives and debt extinguishment per common share.

    EOS ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
      For the Years Ended December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Revenue $ 15,606     $ 16,378  
    Cost of goods sold   98,867       89,798  
    Gross profit (loss)   (83,261 )     (73,420 )
    Operating expenses      
    Research and development expenses   22,758       18,708  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses   60,047       53,650  
    Loss from write-down of property, plant and equipment   9,133       7,159  
    Total operating expenses   91,938       79,517  
    Operating loss   (175,199 )     (152,937 )
    Other (expense) income      
    Interest expense, net   (8,718 )     (18,770 )
    Interest expense – related parties   (19,499 )     (37,466 )
    Change in fair value of debt – related party   33,823        
    Change in fair value of warrants   (171,226 )     (24,980 )
    Change in fair value of derivatives – related parties   (405,388 )     9,983  
    Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment   68,478       (3,510 )
    Other expense   (8,120 )     (1,795 )
    Loss before income taxes $ (685,849 )   $ (229,475 )
    Income tax expense   21       31  
    Net loss attributable to shareholders $ (685,870 )   $ (229,506 )
    Accretion of Preferred Stock – related party   (278,330 )      
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (964,200 )   $ (229,506 )
    Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to common shareholders      
    Change in fair value of debt – credit risk – related party   (43,490 )      
    Foreign currency translation adjustment   (13 )     1  
    Comprehensive loss attributable to common shareholders $ (1,007,703 )   $ (229,505 )
    Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to common shareholders      
    Basic $ (4.55 )   $ (1.81 )
    Diluted $ (4.55 )   $ (1.81 )
    Weighted average shares of common stock      
    Basic   212,039,775       126,967,756  
    Diluted   212,039,775       126,967,756  
                   
    EOS ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    (In thousands)
      December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Balance sheet data      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 74,292     $ 69,473  
    Other current assets   105,620       52,858  
    Property, plant and equipment, net   45,660       37,855  
    Other assets   34,746       26,306  
    Total assets   260,318       186,492  
    Total liabilities   842,085       297,292  
    Mezzanine equity – preferred stock   488,696        
    Total deficit   (1,070,463 )     (110,800 )
                   
    EOS ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS
    (In thousands)
      December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Cash used in operating activities $ (153,936 )   $ (145,018 )
    Cash used in investing activities   (33,186 )     (29,461 )
    Cash provided by financing activities   205,834       227,918  
    Effect of foreign exchange on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (17 )     5  
    Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   18,695       53,444  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year   84,667       31,223  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year $ 103,362     $ 84,667  
    EOS ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (In thousands)

        For the three months
    ended December 31,
      For the twelve months
    ended December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net loss   $ (268,124 )   $ (41,208 )   $ (685,870 )   $ (229,506 )
    add: Interest expense     5,248       8,565       28,217       56,236  
    add: Income tax expense     4       6       21       31  
    add: Depreciation and amortization     2,640       2,435       7,899       9,751  
    EBITDA loss     (260,232 )     (30,202 )     (649,733 )     (163,488 )
    add: Stock based compensation     7,840       3,934       18,780       14,057  
    add (deduct): Change in fair value of derivatives     244,877       (10,922 )     576,614       14,997  
    deduct: Change in fair value of debt     (37,099 )           (33,823 )      
    (deduct) add: (Gain) loss on debt extinguishment                 (68,478 )     3,510  
    Adjusted EBITDA loss   $ (44,614 )   $ (37,190 )   $ (156,640 )   $ (130,924 )
     
    EOS ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NET (LOSS) INCOME
    TO ADJUSTED NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)

      For the three months
    ended December 31,
      For the twelve months
    ended December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (481,516 )   $ (41,208 )   $ (964,200 )   $ (229,506 )
    add: Stock based compensation   7,840       3,934       18,780       14,057  
    add (deduct): Change in fair value of derivatives   244,877       (10,922 )     576,614       14,997  
    deduct: Change in fair value of debt   (37,099 )           (33,823 )      
    (deduct) add: (Gain) loss on debt extinguishment               (68,478 )     3,510  
    Adjusted net loss attributable to common shareholders   (265,898 )     (48,196 )     (471,107 )     (196,942 )
                   
    Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to common shareholders
    Basic $ (2.20 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (4.55 )   $ (1.81 )
    Diluted $ (2.20 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (4.55 )   $ (1.81 )
                   
    Basic and diluted adjusted loss per share attributable to common shareholders
    Basic $ (1.22 )   $ (0.29 )   $ (2.22 )   $ (1.55 )
    Diluted $ (1.22 )   $ (0.29 )   $ (2.22 )   $ (1.55 )
                   
    Weighted average shares of common stock              
    Basic   218,640,092       164,780,351       212,039,775       126,967,756  
    Diluted   218,640,092       164,780,351       212,039,775       126,967,756  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Cipher Mining Announces February 2025 Operational Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) (“Cipher” or the “Company”) today released its unaudited production and operations update for February 2025.

    Key Highlights

    Key Metrics February 2025
    BTC Mined1 180
    BTC Sold 235
    BTC Held2 1,032
    Deployed Mining Rigs 75,000
    Month End Operating Hashrate (EH/s) 13.5
    Month End Fleet Efficiency (J/TH) 18.9
     
    1 Includes February power sales estimates (based on current meter data and nodal prices) equivalent to 4 bitcoin (using month-end bitcoin price of $86,154) and 24 BTC mined at JV data centers representing Cipher’s ownership
    2 Includes ~394 BTC pledged as collateral
     

    Management Commentary for February

    Cipher delivered strong production in February despite a brief, planned shutdown at our Odessa site for annual high-voltage electrical maintenance. The work was completed promptly and successfully, thanks to our well-organized and disciplined Operations team. As a reminder, Cipher reported earnings on February 25th. A webcast replay is available from the investor relations section of Cipher’s website at https://investors.ciphermining.com.

    Bitcoin Production and Operations Updates for February 2025

    Cipher produced ~1801 BTC in February. As part of its regular treasury management process, Cipher sold ~235 BTC in February, ending the month with a balance of ~1,0322 BTC.

    Recent arrival of the first substation transformer at our Black Pearl site.

    About Cipher

    Cipher is focused on the development and operation of industrial-scale data centers for bitcoin mining and HPC hosting. Cipher aims to be a market leader in innovation, including in bitcoin mining growth, data center construction and as a hosting partner to the world’s largest HPC companies. To learn more about Cipher, please visit https://www.ciphermining.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws of the United States. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, such as, statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations regarding its planned business model and strategy, its bitcoin mining and HPC data center development, timing and likelihood of success, capacity, functionality and timing of operation of data centers, expectations regarding the operations of data centers, potential strategic initiatives, such as joint ventures and partnerships, and management plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “future,” “forecasts,” “opportunity,” “predicts,” “potential,” “would,” “will likely result,” “continue,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cipher and its management, are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: volatility in the price of Cipher’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and regulated industry in which Cipher operates, Cipher’s evolving business model and strategy and efforts it may make to modify aspects of its business model or engage in various strategic initiatives, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Cipher’s business, and the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and to identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of Cipher’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 25, 2025, and in Cipher’s subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Cipher assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Website Disclosure

    The company maintains a dedicated investor website at https://investors.ciphermining.com/ (“Investors’ Website”). Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible through the Investors Website. Cipher uses its Investors’ Website as a distribution channel of material information about the Company, including through press releases, investor presentations, reports and notices of upcoming events. Cipher intends to utilize its Investors’ Website as a channel of distribution to reach public investors and as a means of disclosing material non-public information for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. In addition, you may sign up to automatically receive email alerts and other information about the Company by visiting the “Email Alerts” option under the Investors Resources section of Cipher’s Investors’ Website and submitting your email address.

    Contacts:
    Investor Contact:
    Courtney Knight
    Head of Investor Relations at Cipher Mining
    courtney.knight@ciphermining.com

    Media Contact:
    Ryan Dicovitsky / Kendal Till
    Dukas Linden Public Relations
    CipherMining@DLPR.com

    1 Includes February power sales estimates (based on current meter data and nodal prices) equivalent to 4 bitcoin (using month-end bitcoin price of $86,154) and 24 BTC mined at JV data centers representing Cipher’s ownership

    2 Includes ~394 BTC pledged as collateral

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8bcd4ca3-6a06-49de-946c-d2b4de457bf0

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Hanmi Financial to Participate in the Piper Sandler Western Bank Forum

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: HAFC, or “Hanmi”), the parent company of Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”), today announced its participation in the Piper Sandler Western Bank Forum on Monday, March 10 and Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Marina del Rey, CA.

    Anthony Kim, Chief Banking Officer, and Ron Santarosa, Chief Financial Officer, will host one-on-one and small group meetings throughout the day.

    A copy of the presentation being used for meetings with institutional investors will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.hanmi.com.

    About Hanmi Financial Corporation
    Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Hanmi Financial Corporation owns Hanmi Bank, which serves multi-ethnic communities through its network of 32 full-service branches, five loan production offices and three loan centers in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Hanmi Bank specializes in real estate, commercial, SBA and trade finance lending to small and middle market businesses. Additional information is available at www.hanmi.com.       

    Investor Contacts:
    Romolo (Ron) Santarosa
    Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
    213-427-5636

    Lisa Fortuna
    Investor Relations
    Financial Profiles, Inc.
    lfortuna@finprofiles.com
    310-622-8251

    Source: Hanmi Bank

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: Beyond the garage: How important are spaces to business creation?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Etienne Capron, Postdoctoral fellow, HEC Montréal

    Cities, and on a smaller scale, neighbourhoods and meeting places, play a significant role in promoting innovation. (Shutterstock)

    There is an enduring myth that many technological innovations have come out of garages, bedrooms and basements.

    One of the most famous garages is the one at Steve Jobs’ parents’ house where he was rumoured to have designed the Apple I computer, along with Steve Wozniak and some colleagues. The myth was so persistent, that the garage was designated as a site of historical importance in 2013. It was a similar story for the founders of Google, who set up their first offices in an actual garage in Menlo Park in San Jose, Calif.

    Then there was William Hewlett and David Packard, who developed a low-distortion frequency oscillator in their garage in Palo Alto, before going on to found the information technology company HP Inc. One of their first customers was Walt Disney, who used it for the sound in his 1940 film Fantasia.

    The garage is an important site in the founding myths of many entrepreneurial adventures. Before a company becomes successful, where it starts out is as important as the visionaries who invest in it. And in addition to the specific space of the garage, the surrounding urban environment is also important. What a city offers, and the way it is organized, both contribute to innovation.


    This article is part of our series Our cities from yesterday to tomorrow. Urban life is going through many transformations, each with cultural, economic, social – and, in this election year, political – implications. To shed light on these diverse issues, The Conversation Canada is inviting researchers to discuss the current state of our cities.

    Multiplicity of creative spaces

    There are many spaces specifically designed to support entrepreneurship today, including incubators, accelerators and collaborative workspaces. In addition to providing a place to work, these spaces facilitate both networking with potential partners and access to business opportunities.

    It is also interesting to note how these creative spaces have multiplied in most cities, sometimes with a specialization. They can be found in the fields of health, social innovation and digital technologies.

    The Apple garage, located in Steve Jobs’s childhood home, was a meeting place for Apple’s founders.
    (Shutterstock)

    Yet, as important as they may be for some players, these spaces are not the only factors that contribute to entrepreneurial success. Other places, sometimes unexpected, such as the fast food restaurant where Nvidia was born or the Californian saunas that have replaced luxury hotels for business meetings between investors and entrepreneurs, also contribute to the creation and development of new companies. Nor can the success of an entrepreneurial venture be explained by a single place.

    That raises the question: what do we know about how cities, and the variety of places within them, affect the development of entrepreneurial capacity?

    As a postdoctoral researcher at HEC Montréal (MOSAIC) and a professor of innovation management at the IAE Nantes University, respectively, we have explored this question as part of our research in innovation management, particularly in a recent piece of research.

    The city, an ecosystem

    Research has long focused on specific types of places. The aim is both to understand what happens there and to extract lessons that can be replicated elsewhere. Accessing a shared workspace offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to socialize. This was also the great promise of the American company WeWork: to be a member of a community.




    À lire aussi :
    WeWork : chute d’une entreprise ou fin du coworking ?


    Specific technologies or tools for prototyping can be found in a fab lab or a collaborative manufacturing workshop. Presenting your project to investors is easier from an incubator or accelerator. For example, by presenting a project at Y-Combinator in California, an accelerator renowned for supporting promising projects, entrepreneurs know they’ll get noticed by investors.

    Similarly, it is easier to meet potential partners or pick up on the latest trends in a market or technologies by spending the evening in a trendy café or bar. Informal exchanges are easier there and these play a big role in the entrepreneurial dynamics of a territory.

    WeWork shared office space in Two Summerlin, Nevada, USA.
    (Shutterstock)

    And then, quite simply, where does the initial idea come from? As the American columnist and writer Steven Johnson shows through the examples of Gutenberg and Darwin, it is clear this often happens at odd times and in unusual places.

    As a result, whether innovators are entrepreneurs, artists or scientists, it is unlikely that all the resources they require will be available to everyone, all the time, in one place.

    As the American urban planner and sociologist Jane Jacobs so aptly put it, individuals experience the city. They do not got to a single place: they visit or pass by a variety of places, each of which, in its own way, can nurture the creativity and career of an entrepreneur. Our research reveals that it is above all the combination of a city’s places – their diversity of size, function, purpose and location – that produces entrepreneurial capacity.

    Observing artists to better understand entrepreneurship

    Let’s take the example of creators who produce projection mapping works in Montréal. Thanks to a six-month survey of 21 Montréal artists, we were able to show the heterogeneity of places they visited regularly throughout the process of creation and development.


    Thousands of subscribers already receive The Conversation’s Canada Daily newsletter. And you? Subscribe today to our newsletter to better understand today’s major issues.

    _

    Our study led to two main conclusions.

    Firstly, depending on the profile of individuals and their creative approach, the places they visit regularly are different, and sometimes distinctive. This is the case, for example, of an artist who benefits from a residency in a printing workshop to create a projection on fabrics. It is also the case of a designer who goes to a fab lab to experiment with sensors.

    This suggests that there are specific trajectories for each individual, and therefore, no single path that leads to innovation.

    The need for structuring places

    Secondly, this observation suggests that the convergence around certain places does not owe to chance: multiple resources, sometimes crucial for recognition in a field, are mobilized there.

    For example, many of the artists in our study regularly visited Montréal’s Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), a renowned meeting place that has helped the careers of many artists. The artists we met go there to take courses, attend shows, and meet musicians with whom they may eventually collaborate.

    That’s how a venue’s reputation is built. As we have shown, this can become essential at a particular stage of the entrepreneur’s journey.

    But before or after this stage, other places may be more beneficial.

    In fact, depending on the phase of the innovation project, the types of places visited and their number vary greatly. So, since needs are different, the capacity to innovate depends on the places and possibilities that exist in a city. For example, Montréal’s diverse cultural offerings, with its artist-run centres and performance halls, strongly inspire projection mapping artists.

    Workshops are obviously important places for experimentation and creation, but they are only used when a prototype or final work is being produced.

    The territory of innovation

    In a more global context, where there are many technological, societal and environmental challenges, innovations are necessary.

    Ideas and entrepreneurs are essential to make innovation happen. Entrepreneurs need skills and financial resources. They need to be part of collectives and communities. But also, and perhaps even above all, they need to be in territories that offer a wide range of places where they can take advantage of complementary resources to carry out their projects.

    The city as a whole, and on a smaller scale, its neighbourhoods, are the melting pot from which ideas circulate and mix, where projects mature and take shape. The urban morphology, which can be seen as a particular arrangement of places and transport or travel infrastructures, then becomes a new deciding factor in entrepreneurial capacity.

    Les auteurs ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possèdent pas de parts, ne reçoivent pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’ont déclaré aucune autre affiliation que leur organisme de recherche.

    ref. Beyond the garage: How important are spaces to business creation? – https://theconversation.com/beyond-the-garage-how-important-are-spaces-to-business-creation-250130

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bill Gates’ origin story describes a life of privilege, exposing the DNA of some of the tech industry’s problems

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dana McKay, Associate Dean, Interaction, Technology and Information, RMIT University

    Bill Gates, cofounder of Microsoft, is one of the world’s richest men. He is also a highly controversial figure.

    On one hand, he contributes to social, medical and environmental causes through his foundation, making grants worth more than US$77 billion ($A123 billion) from its inception to the end of 2023. On the other, he has confirmed associations with Jeffrey Epstein and was the subject of spurious COVID conspiracy theories.

    Even Gates’ Microsoft days were controversial. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the first tech giant, but Gates has been repeatedly described as ruthless, both personally and professionally.


    Review: Source Code, My Beginnings – Bill Gates (Penguin)


    He was accused by his late long-term friend and business partner Paul Allen, of canvassing ways to dilute Allen’s shares in Microsoft when the latter was undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Gates reportedly apologised to Allen, and they repaired their relationship, and were on good terms by the time Allen died.

    Still, as a leader, his style has been characterised by some who worked with him in the 1980s and 1990s as bullying. (Gates’ spokesperson has denied he mistreated employees.)

    Childhood

    In Source Code, Gates sets out to tell his own story, and the story of the birth of the tech industry.

    His parents were the children of hardworking strugglers. His father, Bill Senior, was educated as a lawyer on the GI bill; his mother, Mary, was, according to Gates, an innovative and engaged homemaker, who later shattered glass ceilings.

    Born in 1955 Gates describes himself as the kind of kid his mother had to warn his preschool teachers about. He responded to not knowing how to fit in with other kids by becoming a class clown, and was pushed by his mother to relate to other adults.


    He was introduced to mathematics by his maternal grandmother, a Christian Scientist and a card sharp. She played assiduously with her grandchildren. She did not believe in losing to them deliberately. Through cards, Gates learned two key lessons: that you can learn the mathematics of a problem, and that practising a skill will hone it.

    His relationship with his father was loving and respectful, but his relationship with his mother was more fraught. She encouraged him, but he resented her expectation that he live up to social mores so much that peace had to be brokered by a family therapist.

    The privilege of private school

    Gates was sent to a private school for boys, and his stories about Lakeside School in Seattle are probably the most engaging segment of the book. It was at Lakeside that he learned to apply himself academically, after his class-clown act failed to impress. There, he also met Allen, who would become co-founder of Microsoft, and got his hands on his first computer.

    In the late 1960s and early 1970s, computer time was charged by the minute. Gates used lucky connections and his entreprenurial spirit to get a job coding, so he could do more of what he loved. This was how he clocked up 500 hours coding before he left high school, a mean feat even by today’s standards.

    Gates describes a degree of freedom almost unimaginable in today’s regimented education system. He had access to the computer lab at all hours and was able to take an entire semester off to code.

    He continued his elite education at Harvard. Eventually, he chose to major in applied mathematics, partly because it gave him some of the same freedom he had been accustomed to. He soon realised he was not the best at pure mathematics, as he had anticipated.

    Gates again got early access to computers at Harvard. He used this access to build his first microprocessor software (“Micro-Soft”), with Allen, which he and Allen sold to a company called MITS in 1975.

    He was sanctioned by Harvard for this project. Their computers were not supposed to be for commercial use. He was also bringing non-students into the lab.

    At this point, aged 19, he decided to take a semester off to focus on his business.

    But they stole my software!

    In 1975 Gates went to work with MITS, the company that built the first desktop computer, where he expanded his software.

    The first version of this software was literally stolen at a trade fair, reducing Microsoft’s profits and creating a rift between Gates and many of the hobbyists who were using this software

    Gates believed that software should be paid for; many of the hobbyists believed software should be free and open source.

    Gates describes the head of MITS, Ed Roberts, as loud and somewhat mercurial, an irony that is not lost as we read Gates’ letters to his friends and business partners, in whom he is frequently disappointed.

    Eventually, the relationship with MITS broke down. MITS failed to meet the terms of its contract to promote and license Gates’s software.

    The end of this contract left Gates free to sell his software to a range of companies, including Apple and Texas Instruments. A legal judgement confirmed MITS had not fulfilled its contract to Microsoft, and that Microsoft had full ownership of its software and the right to sell it. This judgement is probably the foundation of the for-profit software industry.

    In early adulthood, Gates already showed little respect for other people and social norms. He describes subscribing to the ideology of the lone genius, being arrested for speeding (where the famous mugshot of him comes from), and even joyriding on parked bulldozers.

    This section of the book is probably the least readable. It presents a limited account of an exciting time in computing. Steven Levy’s Hackers is a great alternative account.

    The DNA of computer programs

    The “source code” is the DNA of the computer programs we use. Gates’ book sets out the source code of Microsoft, as a company, and in many ways, of the tech industry as a business.

    Gates created not just Microsoft, but arguably an entire industry: selling software. His book describes the unique set of personal characteristics that made him the right person for this (single minded focus, which Gates attributes to likely autism, and a willingness to ignore all other considerations to get the job done).

    It also describes a lucky set of circumstances. Gates benefited from a legal education at his father’s knee, a family history of entrepreneurship, and early access to computers.

    The book ends in the late 1970s just as this combination of circumstances is about to bear fruit and a full four years before the launch of Microsoft’s first operating system. It does not cover Microsoft’s heyday, nor Gates’ substantial philanthropic activities later in life.

    It isn’t clear why Gates has written this book now. If it is to rehabilitate his image, he makes a poor job of it. He describes a life of consistent privilege and only acknowledges this privilege at the end of the book, which rings hollow.

    He displays a profound belief that he has been right in his interactions with others, going so far as to describe his relationship with Steve Jobs at Apple as “sometimes rivalrous, sometimes friendly”, even though Apple famously sued Microsoft over the rights to the windows style of user interface we are all used to today.

    There is little acknowledgement in the book even of the regrets he has expressed elsewhere, for example over his treatment of Paul Allen. There is little to dilute the impression that Gates was ruthless, though perhaps a later memoir may document changes later in life.

    A male-dominated industry

    While Gates’ focus and drive were clearly fundamental to the growth of the tech industry, this book also exposes the DNA of some of the tech industry’s problems.

    He describes his father as a feminist, but his mother’s social expectations were a source of irritation to him, and he barely mentions his two sisters. He got his first access to computers at an elite boys’ school – a school where, notably, his best friend protested the integration of the sister school for fear it would reduce academic standards.

    This school, and later Harvard (then another male bastion), were the source of all early Microsoft employees, sowing the seeds of today’s male-dominated industry, with all its attendant problems.

    Gates’ attitude to property underpins Microsoft’s aggressive business practices. He was clearly prepared to borrow what isn’t his (bulldozers, computer lab time), but he is incensed by the theft of his intellectual property. This attitude is evident in the long history of Microsoft litigation.

    The company has been repeatedly prosecuted for antitrust behaviour and sued for copyright infringement. Conversely, it aggressively pursued those it believes to be infringing, including, famously, a 17-year-old entrepreneur, who was probably not unlike Gates himself.

    Gates doesn’t draw these connections. He is largely uncritical of his own path, only occasionally admitting he treated someone poorly.

    Ultimately, his book is a useful insight into the source code of the tech industry, but not always in the ways Gates likely anticipates.

    Dana McKay has previously received funding from Google.

    ref. Bill Gates’ origin story describes a life of privilege, exposing the DNA of some of the tech industry’s problems – https://theconversation.com/bill-gates-origin-story-describes-a-life-of-privilege-exposing-the-dna-of-some-of-the-tech-industrys-problems-247577

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 04.03.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    4 March 2025 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 04.03.2025

    Espoo, Finland – On 4 March 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 2,620,152 4.76
    CEUX 1,073,651 4.75
    BATE
    AQEU 100,000 4.75
    TQEX
    Total 3,793,803 4.76

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 4 March 2025 was EUR 18,043,327. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 142,405,206 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: KraneShares AI ETF AGIX Buys Anthropic Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KraneShares today announced its KraneShares Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (Ticker: AGIX) has become one of the first US-listed exchange-traded funds to directly invest in a private company1, acquiring shares in Anthropic. KraneShares believes this places AGIX at the forefront of ETF innovation, delivering investors unparalleled access to high-growth private AI opportunities.

    As of the date of this release, Anthropic represented 4.60% of AGIX’s net assets.2 Holdings are subject to change.

    AGIX was launched on July 18, 2024, by KraneShares in collaboration with Etna Capital Management, an established pioneer in AI venture investing. Etna’s expertise is underscored by its early-stage investments in groundbreaking AI innovators such as Anthropic, xAI, and Perplexity.

    AGIX offers shareholders direct exposure to Anthropic, a pioneer in large language models (LLMs) and enterprise-focused AI solutions.

    Anthropic is an artificial intelligence research company founded in 2021. It is backed by technology giants, including Amazon and Google, and focuses on developing safe and ethical AI systems. Its flagship product, the Claude AI assistant, has become a cornerstone for businesses seeking advanced yet responsible AI capabilities.

    “This transaction redefines what’s possible for ETFs in private markets,” said Derek Yan, Senior Investment Strategist at KraneShares. “KraneShares has always been dedicated to unlocking investment opportunities that were once out of reach for most investors. By securing direct ownership in Anthropic – a leading private AI company – we are making investing in private companies more accessible.”

    “We believe we are at the dawn of a new era of intelligence, and Anthropic is uniquely positioned to lead the global competition among AI model companies. This leadership will be driven by Anthropic’s commitment to cutting-edge research, strategic capital deployment, comprehensive model training data preparation, and a strong focus on delivering controllable and safe models tailored for enterprise needs,” said Solomon Bier, Partner at Etna Capital Management. “We are thrilled about AGIX’s investment in Anthropic and are actively working on expanding the pipeline of private investments for AGIX, positioning it as a solution for investors seeking exposure to AI companies across both public and private markets.”

    AGIX is designed to prepare investors’ portfolios for the era of artificial general intelligence (AGI) by investing in companies driving progress toward this goal. We believe the inclusion of Anthropic, a leading LLM company, enhances AGIX’s distinctive role in delivering comprehensive exposure to the full AI value chain across public and private markets.

    For more information on the KraneShares Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (Ticker: AGIX), top 10 holdings, and its innovative structure, please visit https://kraneshares.com/agix.

    About KraneShares

    KraneShares is an investment manager focused on providing innovative, high-conviction, and first-to-market ETFs based on extensive investing knowledge. KraneShares identifies groundbreaking capital market opportunities and offers investors cost-effective and transparent tools for gaining exposure to diverse asset classes. Founded in 2013, KraneShares serves institutions and financial professionals globally.

    Citations:

    1. Data from Bloomberg as of 2/14/2025.
    2. Data from Bloomberg as of 3/3/2025. *Up to limits permitted by the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.

    Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Funds’ full and summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting: www.kraneshares.com/agix. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

    Risk Disclosures:

    Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its stated objectives. Indices are unmanaged and do not include the effect of fees. One cannot invest directly in an index.

    This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative, educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change. Certain content represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results; material is as of the dates noted and is subject to change without notice.

    AGIX may invest in derivatives, which are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify AGIX’s gains or losses. A derivative (i.e., futures/forward contracts, swaps, and options) is a contract that derives its value from the performance of an underlying asset. The primary risk of derivatives is that changes in the asset’s market value and the derivative may not be proportionate, and some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives are also subject to liquidity and counterparty risk. AGIX is subject to liquidity risk, meaning that certain investments may become difficult to purchase or sell at a reasonable time and price. If a transaction for these securities is large, it may not be possible to initiate, which may cause AGIX to suffer losses. Counterparty risk is the risk of loss in the event that the counterparty to an agreement fails to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative.

    AI-exposed companies face profitability challenges due to high research costs, competition, IP reliance, and regulatory risk. Product failures or safety concerns could be detrimental. Identifying AI companies accurately is complex. Tech firms face risks of product failure, obsolescence, regulatory impact, and uncertain profitability due to technological advancements and government policies. Certain tech investments may lack current profitability and future success is uncertain. AGIX is subject to non-U.S. issuers risk, which may be less liquid than investments in U.S. issuers, may have less governmental regulation and oversight, are typically subject to different investor protection standards than U.S. issuers, and the economic instability of the non-U.S. countries. Fluctuations in currency of foreign countries may have an adverse effect to domestic currency values. AGIX may invest in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile. In addition, as AGIX increases in size, the impact of IPOs on AGIX’s performance will generally decrease.

    Large capitalization companies may struggle to adapt fast, impacting their growth compared to smaller firms, especially in expansive times. This could result in lower stock returns than investing in smaller and mid-sized companies. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, investments in smaller companies typically exhibit higher volatility. AGIX is new and does not yet have a significant number of shares outstanding. If AGIX does not grow in size, it will be at greater risk than larger funds of wider bid-ask spreads for its shares, trading at a greater premium or discount to NAV, liquidation and/or a trading halt. Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility. AGIX’s assets are expected to be concentrated in a sector, industry, market, or group of concentrations to the extent that the Underlying Index has such concentrations. The securities or futures in that concentration could react similarly to market developments. Thus, AGIX is subject to loss due to adverse occurrences that affect that concentration.

    A large number of shares of AGIX are held by a single shareholder or a small group of shareholders. Redemptions from these shareholders can harm Fund performance, especially in declining markets, leading to forced sales at disadvantageous prices, increased costs, and adverse tax effects for remaining shareholders. AGIX is non-diversified.

    ETF shares are bought and sold on an exchange at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. However, shares may be redeemed at NAV directly by certain authorized broker-dealers (Authorized Participants) in very large creation/redemption units. The returns shown do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Beginning 12/23/2020, market price returns are based on the official closing price of an ETF share or, if the official closing price isn’t available, the midpoint between the national best bid and national best offer (“NBBO”) as of the time the ETF calculates the current NAV per share. Prior to that date, market price returns were based on the midpoint between the Bid and Ask price. NAVs are calculated using prices as of 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

    The KraneShares ETFs and KFA Funds ETFs are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Company (SIDCO), 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, which is not affiliated with Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, the Investment Adviser for the Funds, or any sub-advisers for the Funds.

    Contact:
    KraneShares Investor Relations
    info@kraneshares.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New population of critically endangered kākāriki established

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  05 March 2025

    The taonga were released on the predator-free island in Fiordland’s Tamatea/Dusky Sound on Friday, after two days in acclimatisation aviaries on the island.

    The manu were bred and raised at The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch before being flown to Invercargill, where they were met by representatives from Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka on behalf of Kaitiaki Rōpū Ki Murihiku.

    Joshua Kingipotiki and Alex Taurima from Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka accompanied the manu on their helicopter journey to the island, welcoming them with karakia and waiata.

    “Being part of this release was a big learning experience and rather humbling, as it was the first time that I have been in the presence of kākāriki karaka,” Joshua Kingipotiki says.

    Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kākāriki Karaka Species Representative Yvette Couch-Lewis says it is exciting to have mana whenua representatives from Ōraka-Aparima leading the tikanga and kawa of welcoming the kākāriki karaka onto the motu, with assistance from a kaitiaki ranger.

    “Ngāi Tahu is definitely on a journey with this manu,” Yvette Couch-Lewis says.

    “Kākāriki karaka are our smallest parrots, but they have a great deal of mana and are proof that the best things can come in small packages.”

    “For me it is a very emotional process seeing these manu, which have been born and raised in captivity, being released into the wild. There is a sense of amnesia associated with engaging with this manu because we haven’t had the opportunity in generations to observe them in their natural environment.

    “Translocations such as this are important because they build the population up so that one day we can engage with kakariki karaka again.”

    DOC Kākāriki Karaka Operations Manager Wayne Beggs says setting up a secure new wild site is a huge step forward for the recovery of the species.

    “Kākāriki karaka are extremely vulnerable to introduced predators, so finding safe places for them to live and breed in the wild is vitally important for the species’ survival.

    “The predator-free beech and rimu forest on Pukenui/Anchor Island should be a great site for kākāriki karaka to flourish.”

    Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust (ICWT) CEO Rob Kinney says the last six months of intensive husbandry by staff at ICWT is a testament to their dedication and expertise in caring for this critically endangered bird species.

    “We are proud of our partnership with DOC and our involvement in this important conservation project.”

    The vision of the recently released kākāriki karaka recovery strategy, Te Ara Mōrehu, is that kākāriki karaka will be thriving independently in the wild, with ten self-sustaining populations in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā in the next 20 years.

    The recovery programme thanks tourism operator RealNZ and specialist insole company Formthotics for their significant donations which made the translocation and follow-up monitoring possible.

    “RealNZ’s purpose is to help the world fall in love with conservation, and one of our flagship events aligned to this purpose is our annual Conservation Ball, aligning with the Department of Conservation to identify key projects that would benefit from our support,” says RealNZ CEO Dave Beeche.

    “It’s incredible to see the funds raised from the 2023 Conservation Ball in action, assisting with the translocation of these critically endangered manu to Pukenui Anchor Island.”

    Wayne says a lot of planning, effort, and cost goes into a translocation like this, and its success relies on a range of people and groups working together.

    “We plan to do more translocations in the future. The NZ Nature Fund is raising money for this work and the public can contribute through their website.”

    The kākāriki karaka recovery programme is supported by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, Orana Wildlife Park, Canterbury University, Mainpower, and the NZ Nature Fund.

    Related links

    Background information

    Kaitiaki Rōpū Ki Murihiku represent the four southern Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga: Te Rūnanga o Hokonui, Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka, Waihōpai Rūnaka, and Te Rūnaka o Awarua.

    With about 450 left in the wild, kākāriki karaka are the rarest mainland forest bird in Aotearoa. The population naturally fluctuates based on environmental conditions.

    They were once plentiful across the country but proved an easy meal for introduced predators and were affected by habitat loss, which saw their numbers dwindle.

    Because they nest and roost in holes in trees, kākāriki karaka are extremely vulnerable to rats, stoats and cats.

    The species was twice declared extinct in the past (in 1919 and 1965) before being rediscovered in the late 1980s.

    Anchor Island/Pukenui is already home to a range of threatened bird species including kākāpō.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy – Africa’s Oil & Gas Sector hires lobbying firm to push African issues in Washington and the Trump administration

    SOURCE: African Energy Chamber

    Stryk Global Diplomacy will coordinate efforts between African and U.S. players to attract greater investment across the African oil and gas value chain

    SANDTON, South Africa, March 4, 2025/ — The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) – representing the voice of the African energy sector – has enlisted international consulting firm Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD) to support oil and gas engagement between the U.S. and Africa. This collaboration will not only ensure that Africa’s energy interests are effectively represented in U.S. legislative and policy discussions, but also aims to facilitate greater capital and technology injection by U.S. firms into African oil and gas projects.

    The strategic partnership will strengthen U.S. understanding of Africa’s vital role in enhancing global energy security, while fostering greater investment and cooperation. SGD will also advise the AEC on fostering a more inclusive and constructive approach to G20 energy dialogues in the lead-up to and during the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place in Cape Town from September 29 to October 3, 2025. The collaboration will address ongoing challenges such as financing and policy issues that impact African oil and gas projects. Led by Founder and Chairman Robert Stryk, SGD offers strategic diplomatic solutions, making it a strong partner for the AEC as it works to accelerate energy development across the continent.

    “Africa needs to produce energy for its people, its development and meet global demand so we avoid volatile energy markets that hurt both American and African consumers,” stated Stryk. “Vilifying Africa’s energy industry – the economic engine of multiple nations – because it is based on fossil fuels, although the proportion of renewables is growing, is not justified. Africans need energy to fix energy poverty issues and spur economic growth. They should be allowed to make their own choices. Our firm will work to bring energy matters of Africans to the important decision markets globally.”

    As Africa’s oil and gas industry faces increasing pressure from climate groups and stringent Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) regulations, this collaboration will tackle critical challenges, with finance and climate policies being the most pressing. In recent years, regulations restricting oil and gas financing have limited Africa’s ability to develop its natural resources. Notably, the European Union has sought to reduce or eliminate funding for fossil fuel projects, while environmental organizations such as Greenpeace continue to oppose lending. Up to 11 European banks have cut access to financing for upstream oil and gas projects, despite rising demand across the EU and broader global economy.

    In this context, the U.S. – with its extensive network of major oil and gas companies and financial institutions – stands to play a key role. African national oil companies, indigenous firms, independents and international energy companies are struggling to secure the financing needed to develop new oil and gas projects and combat energy poverty. However, strengthened collaboration with the U.S. could reverse this trend. The U.S. is not only one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers but, under its new administration, is expected to have an increased presence in Africa’s energy sector. There are significant opportunities for U.S. oil and gas companies in Africa.

    In the oil sector, Africa’s mature producers including Angola, Libya and Nigeria are launching licensing rounds in 2025 to attract fresh investment in exploration projects. Emerging markets such as Senegal, Namibia and Ivory Coast are also seeking increased upstream investment following billion-barrel offshore discoveries. Countries like Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Algeria – some of the continent’s largest oil producers – are facing potential phase-out of finance and production, which could devastate these economies and leave their populations in the dark.

    Meanwhile, Africa’s natural gas sector, with over 620 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, offers the promise of increased energy supplies and reduced emissions. With over 600 million lacking access to electricity and 900 million relying on traditional biomass for cooking, Africa’s energy future must be driven by pragmatic, Africa-centric solutions. As a cleaner-burning fuel, natural gas offers a sustainable pathway to industrialization and economic empowerment. Major projects like Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin developments, Senegal and Mauritania’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG, Tanzania LNG and the Republic of Congo’s Marine XII permit have the potential to transform the continent’s energy matrix, but more investment is needed to address energy poverty effectively.

    “Stryk is a super Lobbyist. He understands Africa and he gets results. He is adaptive and forward-thinking. He achieves results by building consensus. I am confident he is going to help give the African energy sector a voice in Washington,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

    “Given that 600 million people on the continent lack access to electricity and 900 million people lack access to clean cooking technologies, it’s impossible — even inhumane — to discuss climate change without addressing energy poverty. The notion that producing energy in Africa will lead to a ‘carbon bomb’ is misleading and ignores the critical need for energy access across the continent. Our partnership with SGD is a crucial step in ensuring U.S. policymakers understand the importance of oil and gas in Africa’s economic development. Energy poverty remains one of the biggest threats to Africa’s future, and we must work with partners who recognize that natural gas is not the problem – it is part of the solution,” concluded Ayuk.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Plantpeddler

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Plantpeddler of Howard County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “Shipping over 15 million plants each year, Plantpeddler has rooted themselves as the go-to small business for all horticulture needs,” said Chair Ernst. “From garden mums to begonias, Plantpeddler serves 3,200 growers domestically and abroad, leafing an impact felt far beyond Iowa.”
    After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in horticulture, Mike and Rachel Gooder purchased Cresco Greenhouse in 1980 with plans to revitalize and rebrand it. The couple modernized the infrastructure, optimized production methods, and diversified the variety of plants grown, eventually renaming their business to Plantpeddler.
    In 1984, Plantpeddler established a wholesale division, providing independent and middle-market retailers with a wide range of premium crops and plants. In 2001, they continued to expand and created a Young Plants division, positioning the business as a major propagator of vegetative genetics in the floriculture industry. In 2014, John Gooder, Mike and Rachel’s son, joined the company. John pushed for advancements in automation and genetic research, ultimately becoming part-owner in 2024. This June, Plantpeddler looks forward to celebrating its 45th anniversary.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Termination of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement – E-000841/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000841/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christophe Bay (PfE), Christophe Gomart (PPE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), France Jamet (PfE), André Rougé (PfE), Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Marie Dauchy (PfE), Sarah Knafo (ESN), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE)

    The EU-Algeria Association Agreement, in force since 2005, was intended to secure a balanced economic partnership. However, for several years now, and increasingly since 2021, Algeria has been repeatedly violating this agreement by imposing unilateral protectionist measures wholly at odds with its obligations.

    The imposition of arbitrary restrictions on European imports, the discriminatory granting of licences, the blocking of payments, as well as the reintroduction of the 51-49% rule for foreign investments illustrate a clear desire on the part of the Algerian authorities to distort competition to the detriment of European companies. Algeria has also ceased to apply preferential tariff quotas in respect of agricultural and industrial products.

    Despite the Commission’s warnings and the initiation of a dispute settlement procedure in June 2024, no improvement has been observed.

    Maintaining this agreement and considering its renegotiation in 2025 would therefore be tantamount to condoning these violations and undermining the credibility of the EU’s trade commitments.

    In light of the foregoing, can the Commission clarify:

    • 1.What measures does it intend to take to immediately suspend the Agreement, in accordance with Article 107 thereof, in order to protect the EU’s economic interests?
    • 2.Is it considering imposing targeted economic sanctions and a more restrictive trade policy on this country which has failed to honour its commitments?

    Supporters[1]

    Submitted: 25.2.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by Members other than the authors: Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The transparency and impact of the preparatory process for the European Commission’s Omnibus Sustainability package on the EU’s sustainability goals and businesses – E-000842/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000842/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Li Andersson (The Left)

    According to the latest information, the European Commission will be publishing its Omnibus Sustainability package this week. It contains amendments to key acts in EU legislation, such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Directive on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD). Leaked information suggests that the Commission is proposing measures that would significantly undermine companies’ duty of diligence, such as opportunities for victims to seek justice, fines for those who break the law and the implementation of climate requirements. Furthermore, it is proposed that the requirements concerning reporting be limited to the biggest companies only, meaning that a large number of companies would not need to report on sustainability. This would compromise the EU’s sustainability goals and would result in legal uncertainty, both for companies and the Member States, which have begun to implement the current legislation.

    It is worth noting that, when the Omnibus project was being prepared, no proper assessment was undertaken of its impact and there was no public consultation on it. There were serious flaws in evidence in the selection of those to attend the ‘Reality Check and Roundtable’ organised by the Commission in February: participating in the talks were mainly representatives of large companies, including companies that are currently the subject of legal proceedings for human rights violations and environmental offences, while the voices of civil society, trade unions and responsible companies virtually went unheard. This is a breach of the Commission’s own principle of ‘better regulation’ and jeopardises the EU’s principles of the rule of law and democracy.

    • 1.How can the Commission justify the preparation of the Omnibus project in the absence of any adequate assessment of its impact or any public consultation, especially given the fact that the changes may seriously undermine the EU’s sustainability goals?
    • 2.Does the Commission think that the preparatory process for the Omnibus package was transparent, democratic and in line with the Commission’s own principle of ‘better regulation’?
    • 3.How will the Commission respond to those companies that have already invested substantially in implementing the current sustainability requirements?

    Supporters[1]

    Submitted: 25.2.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by Members other than the author: Jussi Saramo (The Left), Merja Kyllönen (The Left)
    Last updated: 4 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive – E-000833/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000833/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (PfE)

    On 12 December 2024, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. As stipulated in the directive, producers of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products should cover 80 % of the additional costs of quaternary water treatment given that their products are considered to be ‘the main sources of micropollutants found in urban wastewater’.

    However, some in these sectors have voiced their disagreement, as although the Commission has attributed 92 % of the toxic load of micropollutants to these sectors, it has not provided the methodology used to calculate this figure. Independent research suggests a much lower figure of around 10 %.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Can the Commission provide more detail on the methodology used to calculate the percentage in question?
    • 2.Is the Commission considering imposing a moratorium on the financial obligations incumbent on companies from these sectors under the ‘omnibus package’ until the pollution percentage has been correctly assessed?

    Submitted: 25.2.2025

    Last updated: 4 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Zimbabwe: Stanbic Bank and EIB Global launch €20 million credit line for SMEs and women entrepreneurs

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The EIB Global facility will support businesses owned by women, run by women, employing or serving women, in line with the 2X Challenge.
    • The credit line will offer longer-term loans tailored to the needs of small businesses. It will help to grow the economy and create decent jobs by boosting private-sector investment.
    • The EIB loan is backed by the European Commission and European Union member states through the African, Caribbean and Pacific Trust Fund.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and Stanbic have launched a €20 million (ZWG 525.9 million) credit line, to provide longer-term loans at favourable conditions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Zimbabwe. The facility will focus on SMEs and businesses owned or run by women, which employ a significant number of women, or which offer services specifically to women.

    The African continent has one of the highest percentages of women entrepreneurs in the world. More than half the SMEs in Zimbabwe are led by women, while over half of Zimbabwean companies say that limited access to credit is preventing their growth. Worldwide, women-run businesses are less likely to be able to access the finance they need. In line with the EU’s Global Gateway which contributes to narrowing the global investment gap worldwide, the EIB-Stanbic facility will address this financing gap with financial tools targeting the needs of women entrepreneurs and advance women’s economic empowerment in Zimbabwe. It contributes to the 2X Challenge, an initiative to mobilise investment that increases women’s participation in the economy in emerging markets, by improving women’s access to finance, leadership opportunities and quality employment.

    “With over half of the SMEs in Zimbabwe owned by women, EIB Global support for these businesses will have a real impact on economic growth, jobs and prosperity,” commented Thomas Östros, EIB Vice-President responsible for diversity and inclusion as well as for operations in Southern Africa. “Backing women in business contributes to more sustainable and inclusive growth, strengthening communities.”

    “This initiative aligns with our core belief that Zimbabwe is our home, we drive her growth. By supporting SMEs and enterprises owned or run by women and employing significant numbers of women we are fostering economic inclusion and national development. By empowering SMEs and women-run businesses we are empowering families, communities, and ultimately, the nation. Through this partnership, we are committed to driving meaningful change and unlocking opportunities for women entrepreneurs and SMEs across Zimbabwe through provision of much-needed medium-term funding,” said Solomon Nyanhongo, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank.

    Jobst von Kirchmann, Ambassador of the European Union to Zimbabwe, added, “Investing in women is investing in Zimbabwe’s future. Through the Team Europe Initiative on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, the EU and EU Member States are working together to create a transformative impact for Zimbabwean women. This dedicated credit line complements Team Europe’s efforts on the ground in implementing the Global Gateway Strategy – we are not only unlocking opportunities for women entrepreneurs but also driving inclusive economic growth. This partnership between the EU, EIB Global, and Stanbic demonstrates our commitment to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion, creating jobs, and strengthening Zimbabwe’s private sector.”

    The EIB loan is backed by the European Commission and European Union member states through the African, Caribbean and Pacific Trust Fund (ACP Trust Fund).

    Background information

    About EIB Global 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.  

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 — around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here. 

    The 2X Challenge is an initiative to mobilise investment that increases women’s participation in the economy in emerging markets, by improving women’s access to finance, leadership opportunities and quality employment. To improve the impact of its activities on women and girls, the EIB has adopted a Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment and a Gender Action Plan with the aim of embedding gender equality and, in particular, women’s economic empowerment in the EIB’s business model covering its lending, blending and advising work within and outside the European Union.

    More information on EIB gender equality initiatives

    Global Gateway is the European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. Through a ‘Team Europe approach’, Global Gateway brings together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions to mobilise the private sector to leverage investments promoting sustainable growth.

    Between 2021 and 2027, Team Europe is mobilising up to €300 billion of investments for sustainable, transformational and high-quality projects, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities. This allows EU’s partners to create resilient and sustainable societies and economies, but also create opportunities for the EU Member States’ private sector to invest and remain competitive, whilst ensuring the highest environmental and labour standards, as well as sound financial management.

    More information on Global Gateway

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 300 companies from Donbass and Novorossiya have already become participants in the free economic zone

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Since the beginning of the year, the register of participants in the free economic zone (FEZ) of the new regions has been replenished with another 23 companies from the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions and now includes more than 300 organizations. Among the new participants are enterprises in the spheres of housing and road construction, metallurgy, woodworking and food industries, agriculture, trade and services, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

    “The SEZ in Donbass and Novorossiya is one of the youngest in the country, and already has 307 investors interested in working in the reunited regions. Their total investment portfolio, declared to date, amounts to almost 120 billion rubles. Thus, the SEZ allows us to solve strategic tasks in general, and also gives impetus to the powerful development of the territories,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    Developers from the Donetsk People’s Republic were among the last to sign the agreement on joining the FEZ. They will build two residential buildings in Mariupol with 230 apartments and a total area of over 13,000 square meters, which they plan to commission by the end of 2026. An organization engaged in the repair and construction of highways also joined the FEZ participants. One of the largest investors from the DPR in recent times was a full-cycle metallurgical enterprise that specializes in the production of commercial cast iron, commercial blanks, rolled products and sheets.

    The investment project of the organization from the Luhansk People’s Republic is based on the revival of the machine-building enterprise that produces railway gondola cars and special rolling stock in the city of Stakhanov. In addition, companies that produce building materials and are engaged in agriculture have become participants in the SEZ from the LPR.

    Entrepreneurs from Zaporizhia and Kherson regions have also entered the free economic zone. Thus, five Zaporizhia organizations operate in the spheres of industry, agriculture, trade and services. A manufacturer from Kherson region is engaged in the woodworking industry and plans to establish a semi-automatic production line. Another company intends to organize uninterrupted fuel trade in Kherson region.

    The authorized body for regulating the SEZ is the Ministry of Construction, and the functions of the management company are assigned to the PPK “Territorial Development Fund”.

    “The number of SEZ participants is updated literally weekly. This once again confirms the interest of companies in receiving SEZ preferences. In addition, more than 89.6 thousand people will be involved in the implementation of projects. Both confirm the effectiveness of the economic instrument,” added Ilshat Shagiakhmetov, General Director of the Territorial Development Fund.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida woman ordered to pay $3+ million for wire, tax fraud scheme

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Florida woman has been sentenced March 3 to house arrest and ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for wire fraud and tax fraud following a joint investigation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    Feliciano Rodriguez, 47, of Orlando, was ordered to pay $3,338,558 in restitution, and ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release. The court also entered a money judgment against Rodriguez in the amount of $347,760, representing the proceeds of the wire fraud.

    “Fraudulent schemes that provide under-the-table cash payments ultimately exploit undocumented aliens for large profits and undermines the integrity of the industry, endangering both the workers and the system that’s meant to protect them,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “ICE, alongside our law enforcement partners, will investigate those who engage in illegal practices and hold them accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, Rodriguez established a shell company that purported to be involved in the construction industry. She obtained a workers’ compensation insurance policy in the name of the shell company to cover a minimal payroll for a few purported employees, then “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance to work crews who had obtained subcontracts with construction contractors on projects in various Florida counties as well as contractors in other states. Rodriguez sent the contractors a certificate as “proof” that the work crews had workers’ compensation insurance, as required by Florida law. By sending the certificate Rodriguez falsely represented that the work crews worked for the shell company. Over the course of the scheme, Rodriguez “rented” the certificates to dozens of work crews, defrauding the worker’s compensation carrier, typically allowing numerous undocumented illegal workers to be employed unlawfully.

    As part of the scheme, the contractors issued payroll checks for the workers’ wages to the shell companies and Rodriguez cashed these checks, then distributed the cash to the work crews, after deducting their fee, which was typically about 6 percent of the payroll. During the scheme, Rodriguez cashed payroll checks totaling approximately $13 million. Neither the shell company nor the contractors reported to government authorities the wages that were paid to the workers, nor did they pay either the employees’ or the employer’s portion of payroll taxes – including Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax. The amount of payroll taxes due on wages collected by Rodriguez totaled over $3 million.

    The scheme also facilitated the avoidance of the higher cost of obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance for the numerous workers on the work crews to whom Rodriguez “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance. The policy that Rodriguez purchased and then “rented” out was for an estimated payroll of $121,800 and the insurance company issued a policy for a premium of approximately $8,006. Had a workers’ compensation insurance policy been purchased for the actual payroll totaling approximately $5 million dollars, the policy premium would have totaled about $461,679.

    “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that off the books payroll schemes which enable illegal immigrants the ability to work without paying taxes will not be tolerated. These schemes are violations of a number of serious federal criminal statutes including wire fraud and tax evasion. The impact of this scheme, and others like it, harm law-abiding businesses and legal workers who are unable to compete against the tax-free labor of illegal immigrants,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Tampa Field Office. “We are proud to work alongside our partners at Homeland Security Investigations on this case, and we will continue this partnership to ensure all employers are on an even playing field.”

    This case was investigated by ICE Jacksonville, IRS-CI, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Sets Coverage for Intuitive Machines’ Second Private Moon Landing

    Source: NASA

    Carrying NASA technology demonstrations and science investigations, Intuitive Machines is targeting their Moon landing no earlier than 12:32 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 6. The company’s Nova-C lunar lander is slated to land in Mons Mouton, a lunar plateau near the Moon’s South Pole, as part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign to establish a long-term lunar presence.
    Watch live landing coverage of the Intuitive Machines 2 (IM-2) landing, hosted by NASA and Intuitive Machines, on NASA+ starting no earlier than 11:30 a.m., approximately 60 minutes before touchdown. Beginning at 11 a.m. the agency will share blog updates as landing milestones occur.
    Following the Moon landing, NASA and Intuitive Machines will host a news conference from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the mission, technology demonstrations, and science opportunities that lie ahead as lunar surface operations. begin.
    U.S. media interested in participating in person must request accreditation by 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, by contacting the NASA Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov. A copy of NASA’s media accreditation policy is online. To ask questions via phone, all media must RSVP by 4 p.m. March 5 to the NASA Johnson Newsroom, and dial in at least 15 minutes before the briefing begins.
    Full coverage of the IM-2 mission includes (all times Eastern):
    Thursday, March 6

    11:30 a.m. – Landing coverage begins on NASA+
    12:32 p.m. – Landing
    4 p.m. – Post-landing news conference on NASA+

    After landing, NASA and Intuitive Machines leaders will participate in the news conference: 

    Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters  
    Clayton Turner, associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters 
    Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters 
    Steve Altemus, CEO, Intuitive Machines
    Tim Crain, chief growth officer, Intuitive Machines

    The IM-2 mission launched at 7:16 p.m. Feb. 26 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lander is carrying NASA technology that will measure the potential presence of resources from lunar soil that could be extracted and used by future explorers to produce fuel or breathable oxygen.
    In addition, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array on the top deck of the lander will bounce laser light back at any orbiting or incoming spacecraft to give future spacecraft a permanent reference point on the lunar surface. Other technologies on this delivery will demonstrate a robust cellular network to help future astronauts communicate and deploy a propulsive drone that can hop across the lunar surface to navigate its challenging terrain.
    NASA continues to work with multiple American companies to deliver technology and science to the lunar surface through the agency’s CLPS initiative. This pool of companies may bid on contracts for end-to-end lunar delivery services, including payload integration and operations, launching from Earth, and landing on the surface of the Moon. NASA’s CLPS contracts are indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a cumulative maximum value of $2.6 billion through 2028. The agency awarded Intuitive Machines the contract to send NASA science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon using its American-designed and -manufactured lunar lander for approximately $62.5 million.
    Through the Artemis campaign, commercial robotic deliveries will test technologies, perform science experiments, and demonstrate capabilities on and around the Moon to help NASA explore in advance of Artemis Generation astronaut missions to the lunar surface, and ultimately crewed missions to Mars.
    Learn how to watch NASA content on various platforms, including social media, and follow all events at: 
    https://www.plus.nasa.gov
    Let people know you’re following the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtag #Artemis. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts: 
    X: @NASA, @NASA_Johnson, @NASAArtemis, @NASAMoon, @NASA_Technology
    Facebook: NASA, NASAJohnsonSpaceCenter, NASAArtemis, NASATechnology
    Instagram: @NASA, @NASAJohnson, @NASAArtemis 
    For more information about the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative: 
    https://www.nasa.gov/clps
    -end-
    Karen Fox / Jasmine HopkinsHeadquarters, Washington 202-358-1600  karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov
    Natalia Riusech / Nilufar RamjiJohnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 natalia.s.riusech@nasa.gov / nilufar.ramji@nasa.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lagniappe for March 2025

    Source: NASA

    Explore Lagniappe for March 2025 featuring:

    NASA Stennis Teams Install New Production RS-25 Engine for Upcoming Hot Fire
    NASA Stennis Flashback: Learning About Rocket Engine Exhaust for Safe Space Travel
    NASA in NOLA for Super Bowl

    Welcome to March. It is the month that refuses to sit still. One day, the sun is shining, and the next day, the wind is howling through the trees, especially in the 125,000-acre buffer zone at NASA Stennis.
    The buffer zone and location of NASA Stennis helps provide the right conditions for around-the-clock propulsion test capabilities.
    March, like NASA Stennis, is full of possibilities.
    The month kicks off a season of new beginnings. It is a time when farmers begin to plant seeds.
    Did you know powering space dreams at NASA Stennis is a lot like farmers planting seeds?
    Planting a seed is simple, yet profound. It signals a fresh start no matter if you are an experienced planter or if it is your first time.
    Picking the right seed, carefully choosing the spot, and preparing the soil are ways to get going. Anticipation begins in March as planters set the stage for something that will happen over time.
    Similarly, NASA Stennis is the right place to pick for many aerospace companies large and small. It is where the road to launch begins.
    Whether the company is brand new to the field, like a first-time planter, or more experienced, the soil is right at NASA Stennis. South Mississippi is where a team of experts can help companies achieve a successful outcome.
    Ah yes, the month of March and NASA Stennis are indeed alike.
    They both can be a bridge between what was and what is to come – one, a time of year and the other, a place to shake off the winter slumber, take a deep breath, and step into something new.
    There is something magical about planting seeds, just like there is something magical about powering space dreams at NASA Stennis.

    NASA Stennis Teams Install New Production RS-25 Engine for Upcoming Hot Fire
    NASA marked a key milestone Feb. 18 with installation of RS-25 engine No. E20001, the first new production engine to help power the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on future Artemis missions to the Moon.

    NASA Stennis Flashback: Learning About Rocket Engine Exhaust for Safe Space Travel
    NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is widely known as the nation’s largest rocket propulsion test site.

    NASA in NOLA for Super Bowl

    NASA Stennis Leaders Visit Kennedy Space Center

    Leadership Class Visits NASA Stennis

    Rocket Lab Leader Visits NASA Stennis

    Jason Hopper’s journey to NASA started with assessing the risk of stepping into the unknown.

    Lagniappe is published monthly by the Office of Communications at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The NASA Stennis office may be contacted by at 228-688-3333 (phone); ssc-office-of-communications@mail.nasa.gov (email); or NASA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS, Attn: LAGNIAPPE, Mail code IA00, Building 1111 Room 173, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (mail).
    The Lagniappe staff includes: Managing Editor Lacy Thompson, Editor Bo Black, and photographer Danny Nowlin.
    To subscribe to the monthly publication, please email the following to ssc-office-of-communications@mail.nasa.gov – name, location (city/state), email address.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: How NASA Employee Went from Rock Climbing to Rocket Propulsion

    Source: NASA

    Jason Hopper’s journey to NASA started with assessing the risk of stepping into the unknown.
    One day, while taking a break from his hobby of rock climbing at Mississippi State University, a fellow student noticed Hopper reading a rocket propulsion textbook with a photo of a space shuttle launch on the cover.
    Rocket propulsion – the technology that propels vehicles into space, usually through liquid rocket engines or solid rocket motors – is a highly complex field. Engineers rigorously test the propulsion systems and components to understand their capabilities and limitations, ensuring rockets can safely reach space.
    “A guy just walked up and randomly said, ‘Hey, my dad works testing rocket engines,’” Hopper recalled.
    Hopper, an aerospace engineering student at the time, did not know about NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He soon would learn more.
    The fellow student provided him with contact information, and the rest is history.
    A Meridian, Mississippi, native, Hopper graduated from Mississippi State in 2007 and made his way to America’s largest rocket propulsion test site in south Mississippi.
    On the other side of Hopper’s risk of stepping into the unknown came the reward of realizing how far he had come from reading about rocket propulsion work to contributing to it.
    The career highlight happened when Hopper watched a space shuttle launch, powered in part by an engine he had fired up as a test conductor working at NASA Stennis.  
    “You cannot really put it into words because it permeates all through you, knowing that you are a part of something that big while at the same time, you are just a little piece of it,” he said. 
    Hopper transitioned from his contractor position to a civil servant role as test conductor when he joined NASA in 2011.
    His work as a test conductor throughout all the NASA Stennis test areas and as test director at the E Test Complex has benefited NASA and industry, while giving him a good perspective on the value of the center’s work.
    Among the projects he has played a large role in include the J-2X engine test program, build up for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) core stage hot fire ahead of the successful Artemis I launch and multiple projects throughout the E Test Complex.
    “We offer operational excellence that I would argue you cannot get anywhere else,” Hopper said. “NASA Stennis is a smaller, family-oriented center renowned for excellence in rocket propulsion testing. It is a small place, where we do amazing things.”
    Propulsion test customers at NASA Stennis include government and commercial projects. The NASA center is engaged in two projects to support the agency’s SLS rocket – testing of RS-25 engines to help power SLS launches and of NASA’s new exploration upper stage to fly on future missions to the Moon.
    Current commercial companies conducting work at NASA Stennis include Blue Origin; Boeing; Evolution Space; Launcher, a Vast company; Relativity Space; and Rolls-Royce. Three companies – Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, and Evolution Space – are establishing production and/or test operations onsite.
    After leaving south Mississippi for a four-year stint at NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Hopper returned to NASA Stennis as risk manager of NASA’s Rocket Propulsion Test Program Office.
    In his day-to-day work, Hopper assesses risk around two questions – what is the risk and what do I really need to be focusing on?
    Making decisions through this filter helps the Poplarville, Mississippi, resident make the best use of the agency’s rocket propulsion test assets, activities, and resources.
    “With a risk perspective, if things are high risk, we need to address these items and focus our attention on them,” Hopper said. “If we lose a national test capability, that impacts more than just NASA; it impacts the nation because NASA is a significant enabler of commercial spaceflight.”
    Hopper helps oversee the maintenance and sustainment of propulsion test capabilities across four sites – NASA Stennis; NASA Marshall; NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio; and NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
    By establishing and maintaining world-class test facilities, the agency’s Rocket Propulsion Test Program Office ensures that NASA and its partners can conduct safe, efficient, and cost-effective rocket propulsion tests to support the advancement of space exploration and technology development. 
    Hopper looks to the future with optimism.
    “We have an opportunity to redefine kind of what we as NASA and NASA Stennis do and how we do it,” he said. “Before, we were trying to help commercial companies figure things out. We were trying to get them up and going, but now we are in more of a support role in a lot of ways and so if you look at it, and approach it the right way, it can be very exciting.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA is Still in Georgia to Help Applicants

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    lthough the deadline for disaster assistance has passed, FEMA is still in Georgia helping survivors impacted by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene. You can visit any U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) locations listed below to meet with a FEMA representative about your application or to update your contact information.
    FEMA representatives are working with their SBA partners at these locations:
    Bulloch County 
    Statesboro-Bulloch County Library
    124 S. Main St.
    Statesboro, GA 30458
    Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.
    Coffee County
    Satilla Regional Library
    200 S Madison Ave
    Douglas, GA 31533
    Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.
    Jeff Davis County
    Jeff Davis County Recreation Department
    83 Buford Road
    Hazlehurst, GA 31539
    Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.
    Lowndes County  
    Valdosta State University Foundation Inc.
    901 North Patterson Street
    Valdosta, GA 31601 
    Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; closed Sunday.
    Richmond County
    Centro Cristiano Oasis VIP
    3265 Deans Bridge Rd
    Augusta, GA 30906
    Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sundays
    Telfair County
    Telfair Community Service Center
    91 Telfair Ave # D
    McRae-Helena, GA 31055
    Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday; Closed Saturdays and Sundays
    Toombs County
    Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
    208 E 1st St
    Vidalia, GA 30474
    Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday; Closed Saturdays and Sundays
    There are additional ways to check the status of your application or update your contact information:

    Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
    The FEMA App for mobile devices.
    Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors can also contact the Georgia Call Center Monday through Friday at 678-547-2861 for assistance with their application.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Missouri Secretary of State Launches “Don’t Fall for the Call” Campaign to Combat Investment Scams

    Source: US State of Missouri

     

     

    For Immediate Release:   March 4, 2025

     

    Missouri Secretary of State Launches “Don’t Fall for the Call” Campaign to Combat Investment Scams

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Securities Division of the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office today announced the launch of its new public awareness campaign, “Don’t Fall for the Call,” aimed at educating Missouri residents about the dangers of investment fraud and phone scams targeting vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly.

    “Scammers are increasingly using phone calls to prey on unsuspecting individuals, often offering fraudulent investment opportunities that are too good to be true,” said Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, CPA. “With this campaign, we aim to empower Missouri investors with the knowledge they need to recognize and avoid scams, helping to protect their hard-earned money and financial security.”

    The “Don’t Fall for the Call” initiative is designed to educate citizens about how scammers often use high-pressure tactics to convince people to invest in fake opportunities. The Missouri Securities Division emphasizes the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any unsolicited phone call or investment offer before taking action.

    Missouri Securities Commissioner Michael O’Donnell also underscored the significance of proactive fraud education.

    “Missouri’s older citizens are often targeted by fraudsters who exploit their trust and desire for financial security,” O’Donnell said. “Our goal with this campaign is to raise awareness and make it clear that no legitimate investment opportunity will ever pressure you into making decisions on the spot. If something feels off, trust your instincts—don’t fall for the call.”

    Scammers often use aggressive tactics to convince victims to act quickly, claiming urgent financial opportunities, and offering promises of high returns with little risk. The Securities Division urges individuals, especially older adults, to be cautious of unsolicited calls and to report any suspicious activity to the Missouri Securities Division immediately.

    As part of the campaign, the Missouri Secretary of State’s office continues to develop resources for consumers on how to recognize phone scams and protect themselves. The Securities Division will also continue to partner with local community organizations to offer educational materials and workshops to help residents spot fraud before it becomes a financial loss.

    Missouri residents who believe they may have been targeted by a fraudulent investment scheme are encouraged to contact the Missouri Securities Division’s Hotline at 1-800-721-7996 or file a complaint online at www.sos.mo.gov/securities/mipc/complaint.

    “Missouri’s consumers deserve to feel confident and informed about their financial choices,” Hoskins added. “We want to ensure that they can recognize fraud and make smart, confident investment decisions.”

     

    For more information, please contact:

    Office of the Missouri Secretary of State Securities Division
    Commissioner Michael O’Donnell
    (573) 751-4136
    http://www.sos.mo.gov/securities

    Missouri Secretary of State Communications Division
    Communications Director Rachael Dunn
    [email protected]
    (573) 751-0949

    — 30 —

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft AI powers a new energy future

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft AI powers a new energy future

    Global energy leaders from the power and utilities, oil and gas, and mining sectors are turning to the power of data and AI for streamlined workflows, more efficient operating systems, and better performing assets—the types of changes that help companies to empower their people and grow sustainable business. We’re prioritizing this work with customers and partners because we believe that widespread AI adoption signifies a pivotal shift for the energy industry, with huge value to be gained from digital and AI transformation. But beyond the individual productivity and efficiency gains that AI brings for any single company or industry, it can help us collectively expand renewables, decarbonize the energy value chain, and ignite climate innovation—and that’s a win for everyone.  

    We look forward to participating in CERAWeek 2025 to connect with business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs across the global energy ecosystem from March 10 to 14, 2025, where we’ll explore the theme of “Moving ahead: energy strategies for a complex world”. This year’s theme covers a variety of topics across energy sectors and technologies and will include deep dives into geopolitics, business strategies, AI transformation, and climate impact. 

    Microsoft at CERAWeek

    Power the new energy future with AI.

    AI innovation and digital transformation in energy 

    Across the energy ecosystem, AI-powered solutions are becoming the foundation of global success stories in which companies like Maaden save thousands of hours of worktime, while Aydem Energy boosts customer satisfaction with a digital assistant powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Sevice. Another one of our leading customers, JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company, uses Azure OpenAI to drive digital transformation. The collaboration helps JERA to access advanced AI tools and cloud infrastructure, facilitating innovation and the development of new energy solutions for energy performance management, failure prediction, and advanced maintenance, leading to significant cost savings and increased reliability. JERA’s Digital Power Plant (DPP) project is improving functionality in the areas of operations, maintenance, performance management and health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE), and helps promote innovation and workplace safety at power stations. As a result, the number of remote monitoring sites provided by the Global Data Analyzing Center increased by 25% last year, and the number of sites offering 24-hour services tripled. JERA also implemented a dedicated AI agent called Emily which is being used by 3,000 employees and in some cases, has achieved operational efficiencies of more than 90%. By utilizing AI and data analytics, JERA can make more informed decisions, improve energy management, and support Japan’s energy transition efforts.

    We’re eager to highlight these and other success stories at CERAWeek, where leaders from our energy, sustainability, cloud and AI, and security teams will share perspectives on the role of AI and digital technologies in the energy sector. For example, we will dive into sustainability topics such as carbon capture and emissions reduction, highlighting the many ways AI and cloud solutions are reshaping the energy landscape and driving net-zero goals across the energy value chain like Cosmo Energy who harnesses the power of Microsoft AI solutions to better analyze data and improve its ESG results. We’ll also discuss the latest learnings and opportunities around innovative services such as direct air capture and CO2 as a service.  

    Cybersecurity is another topic of increasing urgency, especially in the power and utilities sector. Throughout the week, we’ll discuss AI-powered approaches to securing grid infrastructure, as well as how to address vulnerabilities to allow resilient energy delivery. We’ll also join other power and utilities leaders at a fireside chat to discuss how AI adoption can help grid operators break through common industry roadblocks and drive faster, more secure innovation.  

    I look forward to participating in a Strategic Roundtable conversation on the topic of “AI Applications and Impacts in Action,” where we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI in driving sustainable business initiatives.  

    These conversations are both inspiring and insightful, as we’re witnessing every day the impact AI is having across the industry. Whether it’s Uniper strengthening cybersecurity, Petrobras streamlining employee workflows, or Enerjisa Uretim accelerating data processing for improved decision making, AI is changing the way we work in energy. We’re looking forward to not only sharing success stories, but also hearing from other technology and energy experts about how AI is creating more value for them.      

    Startups accelerate AI transformation and the energy transition 

    The climate crisis impacts everyone, and diversity in the startup ecosystem helps to ensure that solutions also reach everyone. People of color are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet Black and Latino founders receive less than 1.5% of total United States venture capital funding, women-founded organizations receive 1.9% of those funds, and Black and Latino women founders less than 0.1%1

    An important outcome of CERAWeek is knowledge sharing with a diverse group of global energy leaders that represent vastly different backgrounds and stages of business experience. Energy startups are a tremendous source of knowledge and innovation driving real impact across the industry. Transformation starts with people, not technology, and Microsoft is proud to support climate technology from underrepresented startups and CEOs. This year, we’ll hear from nine innovative startups sharing their unique perspectives on advancing diversity and inclusion in energy, and how they think creatively to secure reliable and sustainable energy sources.   

    Partnership, collaboration, and AI innovation in energy 

    The energy industry’s biggest challenges call for strategic collaboration and innovation across sectors and geographies, as real progress cannot be accomplished alone. Our partners are at the forefront of accelerating data modernization and AI innovation, helping to improve safety, efficiency, and productivity for the industry at large. You can hear from many of them at this year’s Innovation Agora, a marketplace buzzing with energy innovation and emerging technologies. The Agora promotes partnership, connection, and sharing among the energy community, and we’re excited to uncover new synergies, lead demonstrations, and explore opportunities to learn from other industry leaders.  

    At the Microsoft Agora House, we’re joined by partners and customers in sharing some of the ways they empower an AI-first energy workforce, operate for a secure and efficient energy future, advance their net-zero journeys, and grow sustainable and AI-powered businesses. Be sure to explore the Microsoft Experience Zone, featuring presentations from many partners that showcase transformative solutions and foster insightful discussions on energy innovation. 

    We’re honored to highlight many of the change-makers attending CERAWeek with us this year, including the following partners: 

    Accenture  Hertha Metals* 
    AIQ Honeywell 
    Amperon  IBM
    Aveva  IFS
    Axis Sky Renewables*  Kanin* 
    Baker Hughes Kauel*
    c3.AI  Kongsberg Digital 
    Carbon Negative Solutions* Loop Bioproducts*    
    Cegal  Mars Materials* 
    Cognite  NobleAI 
    Context Labs  NVIDIA 
    Crux OCM*  Schneider Electric
    Decimetrix*  SLB
    EY Worlds
    Halliburton 

    *Microsoft startup partner 

    Recently, Microsoft, alongside our partners SLB, Halliburton, Cognite, and AspenTech, convened in Munich, Germany with many of our customers, who shared AI-powered transformation stories driving increased productivity and improved operating efficiencies. Events like this allow us to not only highlight the work of our industry partners and customers, but also to share their expertise and create new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.  

    Power an AI-first energy future 

    Together with our customers and partners, we’re collectively empowering organizations to innovate for a new energy future and advance sustainability goals with AI you can trust. We look forward to engaging with you on the future of carbon markets, regional energy challenges, latest developments in consumer energy, and unlocking AI to transform the energy and resources value chain.   

    Learn more about Microsoft at CERAWeek.

    Learn how Microsoft can help accelerate your AI and digital transformation journey: 


    Source:

    1McKinsey and Company, Underrepresented start-up founders: The untapped opportunity, June 2023. 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Speaks Out Against Trump’s Tariffs On Mexico & Canada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 04, 2025
    Durbin: Instead of improving the lives of and lowering prices for Americans, President Trump is doing the very opposite
    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. As of today, President Trump has instituted a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10 percent on goods from China, bringing the total to 20 percent tariffs on China. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that the Trump tariffs would not lower prices, as he promised during his campaign, but instead spike prices for Americans.
    “Instead of improving the lives of or lowering prices for Americans, we are seeing policies of the Trump Administration do exactly the opposite. The President has spent his time trying to systematically dismantle the federal government, creating rifts with our closest allies, and now, imposing destructive tariffs on our biggest trading partners. The tariffs that he has unleashed… will hurt American consumers and supply chains and undermine American manufacturing.” 
    Durbin pointed to the harm that will come to Illinois’ economy as a result of the Trump tariffs, as Illinois relies on Canada and Mexico to purchase the state’s goods and agricultural products. In 2023, Illinois, which ranks first among the 50 states in imports from Canada, exported a total of $20.55 billion in products to Canada. Additionally, Illinois exports to Mexico in 2023 totaled $12.93 billion.
    “Illinois is the fourth largest exporter in the nation… These tariffs will hurt Illinois’ farmers, workers, and manufacturers—not to mention consumers,” Durbin said. “Additional tariffs on our three biggest trading partners will add to the economic strain that is already beginning to show under the new Administration. A survey of consumer sentiment published last month recorded its largest monthly decline in four years, due in large part to concerns about trade and tariffs. Tariffs are taxes and they are taxes that the consumers of America will have to pay. These levels of concern have not been seen since the trade wars in President Trump’s first term.”
    Durbin concluded, “While the President claims that foreign countries will pay for U.S. tariffs, that isn’t the truth and we know what the truth is—the burden of tariffs is carried by American companies and passed on to American customers. Indiscriminately slapping tariffs on the goods American consumers need will mean higher costs—higher costs on groceries, gas, and cars, while inspiring retaliatory tariffs, and even boycotts, on American-made products, further hurting our economy.”
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada is now in a trade war with the U.S. — here’s what you need to know to prepare for it

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Xiaodan Pan, Associate Professor, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University

    United States President Donald Trump has officially imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, sending shockwaves through Canadian consumers and businesses.

    The decision escalates tensions in an increasingly fragile relationship between the countries, marking a significant shift in North American economic ties.

    The unfolding trade war between is expected to have far-reaching consequences for people and businesses on both sides of the border. How can Canadians navigate the trade war and minimize the financial strain of the tariffs?

    As experts in supply chain management, we aim to break down the impact of these tariffs and offer practical strategies for Canadians to help navigate the economic turbulence ahead.

    How consumers react to trade wars

    When the news of a potential trade war is first publicized, consumers tend to react by monitoring the situation until further information is available.

    Once the government announces which products will be affected, consumers begin to take action. Some Canadians have already started stockpiling products whose prices are likely to rise or be in short supply following the imposition of tariffs.

    Stockpiling can lead to product shortages at retailers, which may be worsened by the fear of missing out. Media headlines highlighting empty shelves can act as reinforcement loops, further fuelling frenzied shopping behaviour.

    This kind of “panic buying” is common in times of crisis, much like the rush to buy supplies before the onset of a major hurricane and the hoarding of essential supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Consumers and retailers face challenges

    With a trade war breaking out, both consumers and retailers will need to adapt.

    Shortages are likely to occur as new importation procedures slow the time products take to cross the border. The ensuing delays, along with higher tariff rates, will push some retailers to raise prices to cover cost increases. Others may limit purchases to discourage hoarding behaviour.

    Some firms may even take advantage of the situation by raising prices on products not covered by the tariffs to pad their profits — a practice known as “greedflation,” which happened during the pandemic. Another potential consequence is “shrinkflation,” where package sizes become smaller while prices remain unchanged.

    As consumers adapt by changing their shopping habits or using their stockpiled reserves, some of the shortages may be eased. However, retailers may struggle to manage their inventories as demands fluctuate — a phenomena known as the “bullwhip effect.” Navigating these shifts will require careful planning.

    Challenges of buying domestic

    Trump’s trade war has intensified calls to “buy Canadian” as a way to support domestic products.

    Recently, the Canadian government has threatened counter-tariffs on imported products that have Canadian substitutes — for example, targeting Kentucky bourbon in favour of Canadian whiskey or Florida orange juice for Canadian apple juice.




    Read more:
    ‘Buying Canadian’ is an opportunity to reflect on the ethics of consumerism


    However, fully replacing imports with domestic goods presents significant challenges. Many Canadian farmers and manufacturers lack the capacity to quickly scale up production to meet demand, at least in the short run.

    Production costs may also be significantly higher in Canada than abroad, which is a major reason for relying on imports in the first place. Apparel manufacturing is a good example. It has a high labour component — the reason that most of it has been moved to low-cost countries in Asia.

    In general, U.S. productivity is higher than Canadian productivity, contributing to lower costs in the U.S. In addition, some products simply cannot be produced in Canada at all, such as tropical fruits and vegetables.

    Furthermore, trade wars create uncertainty, making farmers and manufacturers hesitant to make large-scale investments that may not pay off once the trade conflict ends. While this approach foregoes potential short-term gains for long term stability, it also exacerbates shortages and price hikes during and after the trade war.

    The new normal

    Unlike one-off events like hurricanes, or fluctuating disruptions such as COVID-19, the outcome of a trade war is difficult to predict. This makes it difficult to forecast what the “new normal” will be.

    Certainly, some consumers who substitute domestic products for imported products may continue to do so in the long run. However, others may switch back to imported products if the tariffs are lifted and prices are lowered.

    Knowing that this might happen, domestic producers may not ramp up production during a tariff war. Those who do increase production may later find themselves with excess capacity and inventory surpluses after the conflict ends.

    Meanwhile, manufacturers and retailers that raise prices to cover tariff-related costs may choose to keep them elevated even after tariffs are removed. For instance, canned food prices saw a significant price rise following the implementation of the 2018 U.S. steel tariffs.

    Consumer acceptance of the price increases, adjustments to new higher cost supply chain structures, or efforts to maintain profit margins, may potentially establish a higher baseline prices in the post-trade-war economy.

    Navigating the trade war

    How can Canada best shield itself from the effects of the trade war? The easy answer is to become more self-reliant, but this is a costly option that requires technology, skilled labour and capital investments.

    As a result, this option should only be chosen for the most necessary and essential items, like certain pharmaceuticals and food staples. Other strategies must also be considered:

    1. Building supply chain resilience: Sourcing from multiple suppliers and retaining inventories of the most essential products may increase inventory and purchasing costs, but will reduce risks. It allows enterprises to withstand short-term supply chain disruptions and puts them in a better position to survive a trade war.

    2. Engaging in honest communication: Governments and retailers should regularly update the public on negotiations, new tariff schedules and potential price changes, reducing the guesswork that fuels panic buying and stockpiling. Transparency allows individuals to make the best purchasing decisions.

    3. Protecting low-income consumers: Retailers should limit sales quantities of staple products during disruptions to avoid hoarding behaviour. Governments should consider tax relief and subsidies aimed at budget-constrained individuals to relieve the burden of higher tariff-related costs.

    Supply chain disruptions inevitably result in higher costs and product shortages, often impacting low-income households the hardest. Even after the trade war ends, higher prices may persist as the new norm. To minimize the impact of tariffs, governments and enterprises need to adopt policies that reduce economic strain and result in fairer outcomes for all.

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

    ref. Canada is now in a trade war with the U.S. — here’s what you need to know to prepare for it – https://theconversation.com/canada-is-now-in-a-trade-war-with-the-u-s-heres-what-you-need-to-know-to-prepare-for-it-250989

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: It’s important to protect trans athletes on campuses, and this benefits all students

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Del Gobbo, Assistant Professor and Chair in Law, Gender & Sexual Justice, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor

    United States President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender and gender diverse (trans) women athletes from competing in women’s sports, at the beginning of his presidential term on Feb. 5, showed the president accelerating a long-standing moral panic about queer and trans people.

    Bearing the offensive title “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” the executive order misinterprets a U.S. law called Title IX to suggest falsely that trans-inclusive policies in collegiate and elite-level sports are somehow harmful to cisgender women. The force of this claim is backed by a threat: ban trans women, or face having your funding rescinded. The order came following a flurry of political moves entrenching transphobia in U.S. law and society.

    The moral panic around trans women athletes can be seen in Canada as well. In both countries, the issue has emerged as fundamental to a right-wing strategy that positions trans women athletes as scapegoats, fuelling social anxieties about trans inclusion and gender equality more broadly. As leading trans scholar and professor of political science, women’s and gender studies Paisley Currah puts it, “the situation is dire — an unrelenting assault on our ability to go about our daily lives.”

    Canadian universities must take action to protect trans students as part of a comprehensive strategy to promote gender equality on campuses.

    Myths about trans women athletes, debunked

    Right-wing commentators rely on two main arguments in support of banning trans women athletes.

    The first argument is the so-called “lost opportunity” argument, which holds that trans women athletes prevent cisgender women from participating by taking up limited spots reserved for women. This claim is based on a misapprehension.

    The number of trans athletes competing in women’s sports at the collegiate and elite levels is extremely small. In 2024, NCAA President Charlie Baker told a U.S. Senate panel that, to his knowledge, fewer than 10 of the 510,000 student athletes competing in NCAA schools were trans. It is unclear how many identify as trans women, a group that is systemically underrepresented in every level of sports, both in terms of participation and results in competitions.




    Read more:
    Transgender athletes face an uncertain future at the Olympics as reactionary policies gain ground


    The second argument is the so-called “unfair advantage” argument, which roots itself in the idea that “natural” biological sex-based differences exist that give trans women a competitive edge. This claim is equally problematic.

    In 2024, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport released a review of research that summarized the data on trans women athletes. It found that research in this area is limited, often methodologically flawed and inconclusive in its results. Evidence indicates that trans athletes who have undergone testosterone suppression, for example, have no clear advantages over cisgender women.

    Even if certain advantages exist, however — and that’s a big “if” — the fact remains that cisgender male athletes like Michael Phelps, an American swimmer and 23-time Olympic gold medalist, are celebrated for their physiological differences from other athletes. The choice to ban trans athletes is based on a pretext, not principle.

    Harms of excluding trans people

    Trans women athletes have faced backlash. A notable target of these attacks is Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania and the NCAA Division I champion who was banned from competing at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials.

    As of February 2025, Fox News had published over 3,200 stories about Thomas, many of which contain dehumanizing language about trans people.

    Racialized and Indigenous athletes face additional obstacles, particularly when they fail to meet racial and gender stereotypes about women. The barriers are often greatest in colonial sporting cultures where whiteness is upheld as a standard of femininity.

    At the 2024 Olympics, right-wing commentators singled out Imane Khelif, a cisgender woman from Algeria who won the gold medal in women’s 66 kg boxing, based on false claims that she was trans. President Trump repeatedly misgendered Khelif, feeding the fire of racist, misogynistic and transphobic attacks that scrutinized Khelif’s appearance and behaviour to assess her gender conformity.

    Effects on campus

    Myths about trans athletes have turned Canadian universities into battlegrounds. In 2024, Harriette Mackenzie, a trans basketball player at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C. spoke out about her mistreatment, saying she was physically targeted by an opposing team after their coach said she should not have been allowed to compete against cisgender women.

    Cases like Mackenzie’s affect not only trans students who experience discrimination on campus at disproportionate rates. They affect everyone because transphobia reinforces the gender binary and its assumptions about how people should look, act and compete in sports. The problem extends to broader academic climate and culture at universities, given that escalating rhetoric and hatefulness can amplify risks of gender-based violence on campuses.




    Read more:
    The stabbing attack at the University of Waterloo underscores the dangers of polarizing rhetoric about gender


    How universities can lead the change

    Every province has passed human rights legislation providing that students have the right to be free from discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Canadian universities have a legal and moral responsibility to provide trans women athletes with equal opportunities to participate in campus life.

    As a first step, universities should protect trans athletes in their non-discrimination and gender-based violence policies, many of which have been criticized on equality grounds. Through needs assessments studies (like the one conducted at University of British Columbia focussed on trans, two-spirit and gender diversity, completed in 2023), universities can identify gaps in their policies and programming and make recommendations.

    Consider the issue of access. Many universities continue to show men’s and women’s bathrooms and locker rooms on campus maps without highlighting the location of trans-inclusive facilities. Research confirms that trans students are more likely to feel isolated and marginalized when campus services exclude them.

    Additionally, universities should expand their athletics programs, improve training for coaches and staff, and create gender and sexuality support and affinity centres to celebrate the achievements of trans athletes and foster acceptance of trans students generally. These efforts should form part of a comprehensive strategy to promote equality, diversity, inclusion and decolonization on campuses, particularly in the face of right-wing pressure to curb these initiatives without good reason.

    Finally, it bears mentioning that for many trans athletes, particularly those who face barriers to inclusion in other family and community spaces, the opportunity to participate in sports is more than a human right — it can be life-saving for them. Athletics provide an important outlet for trans people’s self-expression, discovery and community building at a formative time in their lives. Gender equality is not a game for these students. Universities must recognize that.

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

    ref. It’s important to protect trans athletes on campuses, and this benefits all students – https://theconversation.com/its-important-to-protect-trans-athletes-on-campuses-and-this-benefits-all-students-249664

    MIL OSI – Global Reports