Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: Dayforce Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results¹

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dayforce® recurring revenue of $333.2 million, up 19%

    Total revenue of $440.0 million, up 17%

    Year-to-date net cash provided by operating activities of $200.1 million, up 54%

    MINNEAPOLIS and TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dayforce, Inc. (“Dayforce” or the “Company”) (NYSE:DAY) (TSX:DAY), a global leader in human capital management (“HCM”) technology, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

    “Our dedicated team achieved excellent results in the third quarter, positioning us to finish 2024 with strength,” said David Ossip, Chair and CEO of Dayforce. “Dayforce recurring revenue grew 19% year-over-year, and year-to-date cash flows from operating activities were up 54%, underscoring our ability to both grow and generate profits at scale. We continue to see organizations across the globe realize greater value as they simplify their people operations with the all-in-one Dayforce platform.”

    “In the third quarter, we repurchased approximately $30 million worth of shares under our $500 million share repurchase program that we launched last quarter highlighting our progress in enhancing our overall profit profile and the flexibility of our cash-generative business model,” said Jeremy Johnson, CFO of Dayforce. “Looking forward, we are excited to meet many of our investors in-person at our inaugural Investor Day alongside our Dayforce Discover conference in Las Vegas where we will outline our strategy for future growth.” 

    Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter 20241

    • Total revenue was $440.0 million, an increase of 16.6%, or 16.7% on a constant currency basis.
    • Dayforce recurring revenue was $333.2 million, an increase of 19.2%, or 19.3% on a constant currency basis. Excluding float revenue, Dayforce recurring revenue was $292.0 million, an increase of 18.9%, or 19.0% on a constant currency basis.
    • Cloud recurring gross margin was 79.0%, compared to 77.0%. Adjusted cloud recurring gross margin was 79.9%, compared to 78.3%.
    • Operating profit was $20.8 million compared to $26.5 million. Adjusted operating profit was $103.2 million compared to $89.4 million.
    • Net income was $2.0 million, compared to net loss of $3.8 million. Adjusted net income was $74.5 million, compared to $58.3 million.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was $126.1 million, compared to $107.2 million.
    • Diluted net income per share was $0.01, compared to diluted net loss per share of $0.02. Adjusted diluted net income per share was $0.47, compared to $0.37.
    • Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $200.1 million, compared to $129.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Free cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $117.3 million, compared to $41.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

    Supplemental Detail

    • 6,730 customers were live on the Dayforce platform as of September 30, 2024, an increase of 73 customers since June 30, 2024 and an increase of 384 customers since September 30, 2023, or 6.1% year-over-year.2
    • Dayforce recurring revenue per customer was $159,496 for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2024, an increase of 14.9%.3
    • The average float balance for Dayforce’s customer funds during the quarter was $4.48 billion and the average yield on Dayforce’s float balance was 4.0%, an increase of 20 basis points year-over-year. Float revenue from invested customer funds was $45.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
    • The average U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar foreign exchange rate was $1.36 for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $1.34 for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Dayforce presents percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis in order to exclude the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations, which it believes is useful to management and investors. Percentage change in revenue was calculated on a constant currency basis by applying the average foreign exchange rate in effect during the comparable prior period.

    1 The financial highlights are on a year-over-year basis, unless otherwise stated. All financial results are reported in United States (“U.S.”) dollars and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”), unless otherwise stated.
    2 Excluding Ascender, ADAM HCM, and eloomi.
    3 Excluding float revenue, Ascender, ADAM HCM, and eloomi revenue, and on a constant currency basis. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for discussion of percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis.

    Business Highlights

    • Dayforce was named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises for the fifth consecutive year in October 2024. The Company also scored highest in both North American Compliance Suite 1,000-2,500 and North American Compliance Suite 2,500+ in the 2024 Critical Capabilities report for Cloud HCM Suites for Enterprises with 1000+ Employees.
    • The Company earned a 2024 Top HR Products of the Year Award from Human Resources Executive Magazine for Dayforce Career Explorer and placed on the Constellation ShortList™ within four categories: Workforce Management Suites, HCM Suites with a North American Focus, Global HCM Suites, and Payroll for North American SMBs.
    • Dayforce attained a five-star rating for the second year in a row on Newsweek’s list of America’s Greenest Companies 2025, recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2024, named a Top 10 company for workers by JUST Capital, placed on the Most Loved Workplaces list for young professionals, and awarded a TrustRadius Tech Cares award for the company’s efforts in social responsibility and volunteerism.

    Sales Highlights

    • A North American hospitality company that specializes in managing and developing luxury hotels and resorts selected the full Dayforce suite to support 22,000 employees across U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
    • A major multi-brand Australian retailer has selected Dayforce as its unified HCM solution to support their 12,000 employees across Australia and New Zealand.
    • A global manufacturing and distribution leader, operating in over 12 countries, selected the full Dayforce suite to enhance the experience of 8,500 employees across the United States and Canada.
    • A wholesale distributor of food service and janitorial supplies, with 7,200 employees in the U.S. and Canada chose Dayforce as its comprehensive human capital management solution, opting for the full Dayforce suite of products with Managed Benefits.
    • A world-leading manufacturer and retailer of footwear chose the full Dayforce suite to support its 5,300 employees globally.
    • A U.S.-based online gaming and sports entertainment company chose Dayforce Managed Payroll Services to support its 4,100 employees across the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”).
    • A U.K.-based clothing retailer chose the full Dayforce Talent suite and Global Payroll to effectively manage its workforce of 3,800 employees across 12 countries.
    • A U.S. construction company selected the full Dayforce suite for consolidating and modernizing its systems across 48 states and 32 unique FEINs for its 3,500 employees.
    • A regional commuter railroad corporation in the U.S. has chosen Dayforce as its unified HCM solution, including the full Talent Suite, to effectively manage its workforce of 3,300 employees.
    • A global manufacturer and distributor of medical devices operating in 33 countries, chose Dayforce for Global Pay, Time, and Managed Benefits in the U.S. to support 2,300 employees.

    New Customer Highlights

    • A British multinational hotel and restaurant company with 38,000 employees went live across the U.K. with Dayforce Managed Payroll, HR, Workforce Management, and Talent.
    • A prominent U.S. manufacturer recently went live with Dayforce HR, Payroll, Time, Wallet, Document Management for its 10,000 employees.
    • A U.K. fashion retailer with 400 stores and 10,000 employees has recently implemented Dayforce HR, Workforce Management, Payroll, and Dayforce Wallet.
    • A leading senior living organization recently deployed the full Dayforce suite, supporting 6,300 active employees across the U.S.
    • A well-established U.S. logistics company has gone live with the full Dayforce suite to support its 5,200 employees.
    • A well-established U.S.-based insurance company has gone live with the full Dayforce suite supporting its 4,800 employees across North America.
    • A North American technology company migrated to Dayforce Managed Payroll to support nearly 4,700 U.S. employees.
    • A global office furniture manufacturer has implemented Dayforce HR, Payroll, Time, Analytics, and Dayforce Wallet for almost 4,000 U.S. employees.
    • A U.S.-based energy services company with 1,200 employees has implemented Dayforce Payroll, Benefits, Time, Core HR, Onboarding, and Recruiting.
    • A nonprofit organization dedicated to the governance and promotion of golf in America recently undertook a full-suite implementation of Dayforce to support its 400 employees.

    Product Roadmap Highlights

    In the third quarter, Dayforce launched new product capabilities to help Dayforce customers realize quantifiable value through enriched workforce engagement, enhanced analytics, and improved employee financial wellness, and to update their compliance capabilities.

    • The new Dayforce Learning was announced, with enhancements that will better equip organizations with the advanced learning and development capabilities needed to grow, engage, and enrich their workforces.
    • Dayforce People Analytics enhancements include:
      • Measures, a new KPI and performance management tool, that surfaces performance across 28+ metrics, allowing organizations to configure intelligent nudges that can surface changes requiring their attention
      • Data Cards display Measures in the Advanced Experience Hub, embedding awareness of performance metrics across the organization
      • Machine learning enhanced prediction gives organizations a view into future performance
    • Dayforce Wallet updates include a new Savings feature, which allows users to route some of their earnings into a saving plan, a new Cashless Tips feature, which allows employers to pay out pre-tax or net tips by automating their distribution at the end of a shift, and a new Dayforce Wallet widget that integrates on-demand pay into Dayforce Hub, allowing employees to view and request available pay directly. As of September 30, 2024, over 1,290 customers were live on Dayforce Wallet.
    • Dayforce Payroll enhancements include a reimagined payroll experience that offers real-time insight into pay variances, helping users detect anomalies by highlighting areas needing attention.
    • 240+ compliance updates up to the end of the third quarter, will bolster the Company’s industry-leading position in compliance by addressing changes in regional taxes, workers’ compensation, garnishments, and multiple state and city rate changes.

    Business Outlook

    Based on information available as of October 30, 2024, Dayforce is issuing the following guidance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024 as indicated below. Comparisons are on a year-over-year basis, unless stated otherwise.

    Guided Metrics   Full Year 2024   Fourth Quarter 2024
    Total revenue   $1,747 million to $1,752 million, an increase of 15% to 16% on a GAAP basis or 16% on a constant currency basis.   $452 million to $457 million, an increase of 13% to 14% on a GAAP basis or 13% to 15% on a constant currency basis.
    Dayforce recurring revenue, excluding float   $1,163 million to $1,168 million, an increase of 21% on a GAAP and on a constant currency basis.   $311 million to $316 million, an increase of 21% to 23% on a GAAP and on a constant currency basis.
    Float revenue   $192 million   $37 million
    Adjusted EBITDA   $492 million to $507 million   $120 million to $135 million

    Dayforce is also providing an initial outlook for full year 2025 as follows:

    • Total revenue growth, excluding float, between 14% and 15%, on a constant currency basis
    • Adjusted EBITDA margin above 31%
    • Free cash flow as a percentage of total revenue above 12%

    Dayforce has not reconciled the Adjusted EBITDA ranges, Adjusted EBITDA margin, or free cash flow for the fourth quarter or full years of 2024 or 2025 to the directly comparable GAAP financial measures because applicable information for the future period, on which these reconciliations would be based, is not available without unreasonable efforts due to uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and other items.

    Foreign Exchange

    For the fourth quarter of 2024, Dayforce’s guidance assumes an average U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar foreign exchange rate of $1.38, which results in an average rate of $1.37 for the full year of 2024, compared to an average rate of $1.36 and $1.35 for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023, respectively.

    Conference Call Details

    Dayforce will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss the third quarter 2024 earnings at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2024. Those wishing to participate via the webcast should access the call through the Investor Relations section of the Dayforce website. Those wishing to participate via the telephone may dial in at 877-497-9071 (USA) or 201-689-8727 (International). The webcast replay will be available through the Investor Relations section of the Dayforce website.

    About Dayforce

    Dayforce makes work life better. Everything we do as a global leader in HCM technology is focused on improving work for thousands of customers and millions of employees around the world. Our single, global people platform for HR, Pay, Time, Talent, and Analytics equips Dayforce customers to unlock their full workforce potential and operate with confidence. To learn how Dayforce helps create quantifiable value for organizations of all sizes and industries, visit dayforce.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact or relating to present facts or current conditions included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give Dayforce’s current expectations and projections relating to its financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. Users can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements relating to the fourth quarter and full fiscal years of 2024 and 2025, as well as those relating to future growth initiatives. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “assume”, “project,” “seek,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “continue,” “likely,” “should,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events, but not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on assumptions that Dayforce has made in light of its industry experience and its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. As users consider this press release, it should be understood that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. These assumptions and Dayforce’s future performance or results involve risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond its control). In particular:

    • its inability to maintain its high Cloud solutions growth rate, manage its domestic and international growth effectively, or execute on its growth strategy;
    • the impact of disruptions to the movement of funds to initiate payroll-related transactions on behalf of  customers;
    • its failure to manage its aging technical operations infrastructure;
    • system breaches, interruptions or failures, including cyber-security breaches, identity theft, or other disruptions that could compromise customer information or sensitive company information, including its ongoing consent order with the Federal Trade Commission regarding data protection;
    • its failure to comply with applicable privacy, data protection, information security, and financial services laws, regulations and standards;
    • its inability to successfully compete in the markets in which Dayforce operates and expand its current offerings into new markets or further penetrate existing markets due to competition;
    • its failure to properly update its solutions to enable its customers to comply with applicable laws;
    • its failure to provide new or enhanced functionality and features, including those that may involve artificial intelligence or machine learning;
    • its inability to maintain necessary third-party relationships, and third-party software licenses, and identify errors in the software it licenses;
    • its inability to offer and deliver high-quality technical support, implementation, and professional services;
    • its inability to attract and retain senior management employees and highly skilled employees;
    • the impact of its outstanding debt obligations on its financial condition, results of operations, and value of its common stock;
    • its ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, and the effect of the existing material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting on its business, financial condition, and results of operations; or
    • the impact of adverse economic and market conditions on its business, operating results, or financial condition.

    Although Dayforce has attempted to identify important risk factors, additional factors or events that could cause Dayforce’s actual performance to differ from these forward-looking statements may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Dayforce to predict all of them. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of Dayforce’s assumptions prove incorrect, its actual financial condition, results of operations, future performance, and business may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements. In addition to any factors and assumptions set forth above in this press release, the material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the general economy remains stable; the competitive environment in the HCM market remains stable; the demand environment for HCM solutions remains stable; Dayforce’s implementation capabilities and cycle times remain stable; foreign exchange rates, both current and those used in developing forward-looking statements, specifically U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar, remain stable at, or near, current rates; Dayforce will be able to maintain its relationships with its employees, customers, and partners; Dayforce will continue to attract qualified personnel to support its development requirements and the support of its new and existing customers; and that the risk factors noted above, individually or collectively, do not have a material impact on Dayforce. Any forward-looking statement made by Dayforce in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Dayforce undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Unaudited)
     
       
        September 30,     December 31,  
        2024     2023  
    (In millions, except per share data)            
    Assets            
    Current assets:            
    Cash and equivalents   $ 494.1     $ 570.3  
    Restricted cash           0.8  
    Trade and other receivables, net     255.8       228.8  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     153.3       126.7  
    Total current assets before customer funds     903.2       926.6  
    Customer funds     4,000.7       5,028.6  
    Total current assets     4,903.9       5,955.2  
    Right of use lease assets, net     14.7       19.1  
    Property, plant, and equipment, net     228.3       210.1  
    Goodwill     2,394.5       2,293.9  
    Other intangible assets, net     228.3       230.2  
    Deferred sales commissions     215.6       192.1  
    Other assets     131.7       110.3  
    Total assets   $ 8,117.0     $ 9,010.9  
                 
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity            
    Current liabilities:            
    Current portion of long-term debt   $ 7.3     $ 7.6  
    Current portion of long-term lease liabilities     6.0       7.0  
    Accounts payable     73.1       66.7  
    Deferred revenue     42.7       40.2  
    Employee compensation and benefits     77.9       92.9  
    Other accrued expenses     66.3       30.4  
    Total current liabilities before customer funds obligations     273.3       244.8  
    Customer funds obligations     4,004.6       5,090.1  
    Total current liabilities     4,277.9       5,334.9  
    Long-term debt, less current portion     1,209.9       1,210.1  
    Employee benefit plans     25.0       27.7  
    Long-term lease liabilities, less current portion     14.0       18.9  
    Other liabilities     34.2       21.1  
    Total liabilities     5,561.0       6,612.7  
    Commitments and contingencies            
    Stockholders’ equity:            
    Common stock, $0.01 par, 500.0 shares authorized, 157.8 and 156.3 shares issued and outstanding, respectively     1.6       1.6  
    Additional paid in capital     3,291.5       3,151.1  
    Accumulated deficit     (340.5 )     (317.8 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (396.6 )     (436.7 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     2,556.0       2,398.2  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 8,117.0     $ 9,010.9  
       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Unaudited)
     
       
        Three Months Ended
    September 30,
        Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
     
        2024     2023     2024     2023  
    (In millions, except per share data)                        
    Revenue:                        
    Recurring   $ 375.9     $ 325.4     $ 1,123.6     $ 958.2  
    Professional services and other     64.1       52.1       171.2       155.8  
    Total revenue     440.0       377.5       1,294.8       1,114.0  
    Cost of revenue:                        
    Recurring     87.4       80.5       265.1       239.4  
    Professional services and other     75.1       66.1       210.8       197.0  
    Product development and management     55.4       53.3       166.8       153.5  
    Depreciation and amortization     20.8       17.1       58.6       47.4  
    Total cost of revenue     238.7       217.0       701.3       637.3  
    Gross profit     201.3       160.5       593.5       476.7  
    Selling and marketing     86.4       61.8       248.5       177.5  
    General and administrative     94.1       72.2       269.4       204.9  
    Operating profit     20.8       26.5       75.6       94.3  
    Interest expense, net     8.8       8.9       33.2       27.2  
    Other (income) expense, net     (6.3 )     5.1       5.7       6.6  
    Income before income taxes     18.3       12.5       36.7       60.5  
    Income tax expense     16.3       16.3       29.4       51.3  
    Net income (loss)   $ 2.0     $ (3.8 )   $ 7.3     $ 9.2  
    Net income (loss) per share:                        
    Basic   $ 0.01     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.05     $ 0.06  
    Diluted   $ 0.01     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.05     $ 0.06  
    Weighted average shares outstanding:                        
    Basic     158.1       155.7       157.6       155.0  
    Diluted     159.7       155.7       159.9       158.2  
       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Unaudited)
     
       
        Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
     
        2024     2023  
    (In millions)            
    Cash flows from operating activities            
    Net income   $ 7.3     $ 9.2  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:            
    Deferred income tax (benefit) expense     (27.5 )     13.9  
    Depreciation and amortization     151.5       84.1  
    Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount     3.2       3.3  
    Loss on debt extinguishment     4.3        
    Provision for doubtful accounts     4.7       4.2  
    Net periodic pension and postretirement cost     7.6       0.9  
    Share-based compensation expense     118.4       118.0  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration     9.0       11.8  
    Other     (1.2 )     0.3  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisitions:            
    Trade and other receivables     (26.2 )     (62.0 )
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     (4.5 )     (20.1 )
    Deferred sales commissions     (22.9 )     (25.9 )
    Accounts payable and other accrued expenses     5.9       8.5  
    Deferred revenue     (6.5 )     7.5  
    Employee compensation and benefits     (16.1 )     (23.2 )
    Accrued taxes     22.5       11.0  
    Payment of contingent consideration     (20.9 )      
    Other assets and liabilities     (8.5 )     (11.9 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities     200.1       129.6  
                 
    Cash flows from investing activities            
    Purchases of customer funds marketable securities     (483.2 )     (252.0 )
    Proceeds from sale and maturity of customer funds marketable securities     283.4       326.4  
    Purchases of marketable securities     (10.0 )      
    Proceeds from sale and maturity of marketable securities     7.6        
    Expenditures for property, plant, and equipment     (8.7 )     (15.4 )
    Expenditures for software and technology     (74.1 )     (72.9 )
    Acquisition costs, net of cash acquired     (173.1 )      
    Other           (1.0 )
    Net cash used in investing activities     (458.1 )     (14.9 )
                 
    Cash flows from financing activities            
    (Decrease) increase in customer funds obligations, net     (1,049.9 )     311.0  
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans     22.0       40.3  
    Repurchases of common stock     (28.8 )      
    Proceeds from debt issuance     650.0        
    Repayment of long-term debt obligations     (646.5 )     (6.0 )
    Payment of debt refinancing costs     (11.4 )      
    Payment of contingent consideration     (3.0 )      
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     (1,067.6 )     345.3  
                 
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, restricted cash, and equivalents     (18.2 )     5.1  
    Net (decrease) increase in cash, restricted cash, and equivalents     (1,343.8 )     465.1  
    Cash, restricted cash, and equivalents at beginning of period     3,421.4       3,151.2  
    Cash, restricted cash, and equivalents at end of period   $ 2,077.6     $ 3,616.3  
                 
    Reconciliation of cash, restricted cash, and equivalents to the condensed consolidated balance sheets            
    Cash and equivalents   $ 494.1     $ 510.3  
    Restricted cash           0.8  
    Restricted cash and equivalents included in customer funds     1,583.5       3,105.2  
    Total cash, restricted cash, and equivalents   $ 2,077.6     $ 3,616.3  
       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Revenue Financial Measures
    (Unaudited)
     
       
        Three Months Ended September 30,     Percentage change in revenue     Impact of
    changes in
    foreign
    currency (a)
        Percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis (a)  
        2024     2023     2024 vs. 2023           2024 vs. 2023  
        (In millions)                    
    Revenue:                              
    Recurring revenue:                              
    Dayforce recurring, excluding float   $ 292.0     $ 245.6       18.9 %     (0.1 )%     19.0 %
    Dayforce float     41.2       34.0       21.2 %     (0.3 )%     21.5 %
    Total Dayforce recurring     333.2       279.6       19.2 %     (0.1 )%     19.3 %
    Powerpay recurring, excluding float     20.2       19.6       3.1 %     (2.0 )%     5.1 %
    Powerpay float     4.2       4.4       (4.5 )%     (2.2 )%     (2.3 )%
    Total Powerpay recurring     24.4       24.0       1.7 %     (2.0 )%     3.7 %
    Total Cloud recurring     357.6       303.6       17.8 %     (0.3 )%     18.1 %
    Other recurring (b)     18.3       21.8       (16.1 )%     0.9 %     (17.0 )%
    Total recurring revenue     375.9       325.4       15.5 %     (0.2 )%     15.7 %
    Professional services and other (c)     64.1       52.1       23.0 %     (— )%     23.0 %
    Total revenue   $ 440.0     $ 377.5       16.6 %     (0.1 )%     16.7 %
    a) Dayforce has calculated percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis by applying the average foreign exchange rate in effect during the comparable prior period. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for discussion of percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis.
    b) Float attributable to Other recurring was $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
    c) For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Professional services and other consisted of $61.8 million and $2.3 million associated with Dayforce and Other, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, Professional services and other consisted of $48.2 million, $3.8 million, and $0.1 million associated with Dayforce, Other, and Powerpay, respectively.
        Nine Months Ended September 30,     Percentage change in revenue    
    Impact of

    changes in
    foreign
    currency (a)
        Percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis (a)  
        2024     2023     2024 vs. 2023           2024 vs. 2023  
        (In millions)                    
    Revenue:                              
    Recurring revenue:                              
    Dayforce recurring, excluding float   $ 852.1     $ 706.5       20.6 %     (0.2 )%     20.8 %
    Dayforce float     139.9       112.5       24.4 %     (0.2 )%     24.6 %
    Total Dayforce recurring     992.0       819.0       21.1 %     (0.2 )%     21.3 %
    Powerpay recurring, excluding float     60.6       58.8       3.1 %     (1.2 )%     4.3 %
    Powerpay float     14.4       13.4       7.5 %     (0.7 )%     8.2 %
    Total Powerpay recurring     75.0       72.2       3.9 %     (1.1 )%     5.0 %
    Total Cloud recurring     1,067.0       891.2       19.7 %     (0.3 )%     20.0 %
    Other recurring (b)     56.6       67.0       (15.5 )%     (1.0 )%     (14.5 )%
    Total recurring revenue     1,123.6       958.2       17.3 %     (0.3 )%     17.6 %
    Professional services and other (c)     171.2       155.8       9.9 %     (0.2 )%     10.1 %
    Total revenue   $ 1,294.8     $ 1,114.0       16.2 %     (0.3 )%     16.5 %
    a) Dayforce has calculated percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis by applying the average foreign exchange rate in effect during the comparable prior period. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for discussion of percentage change in revenue on a constant currency basis.
    b) Float attributable to Other recurring was $0.9 million and $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
    c) For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Professional services and other consisted of $164.4 million, $6.6 million, and $0.2 million associated with Dayforce, Other, and Powerpay, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, Professional services and other consisted of $144.6 million, $11.1 million, and $0.1 million associated with Dayforce, Other, and Powerpay, respectively.
       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Share-Based Compensation Expense and Related Employer Taxes
    (Unaudited)
     
       
        Three Months Ended
    September 30,
        Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
     
        2024     2023     2024     2023  
        (in millions)  
    Cost of revenue – Cloud   $ 3.0     $ 3.9     $ 9.6     $ 11.9  
    Cost of revenue – Other     0.6       0.5       1.7       1.2  
    Professional services and other     4.0       4.4       11.7       13.5  
    Product development and management     8.1       7.8       25.0       25.7  
    Sales and marketing     9.4       6.4       27.2       19.0  
    General and administrative     14.5       13.4       43.2       47.0  
    Total   $ 39.6     $ 36.4     $ 118.4     $ 118.3  
       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    (Unaudited)
     
       
    The following tables reconcile Dayforce’s reported results to its non-GAAP financial measures:  
       
        Three Months Ended September 30, 2024  
        As reported     As reported margins (a)     Share-based
    compensation
        Amortization     Other (b)     As adjusted (b)     As adjusted margins (a)  
        (Dollars in millions, except per share data)  
    Cost of Cloud recurring revenue   $ 75.1       79.0 %   $ 3.0     $     $ 0.1     $ 72.0       79.9 %
                                               
    Operating profit   $ 20.8       4.7 %   $ 39.6     $ 29.6     $ 13.2     $ 103.2       23.5 %
                                               
    Net income   $ 2.0       0.5 %   $ 39.6     $ 29.6     $ 3.3     $ 74.5       16.9 %
    Interest expense, net     8.8                               8.8        
    Income tax expense (c)     16.3                         (4.0 )     20.3        
    Depreciation and amortization     52.1                   29.6             22.5        
    EBITDA   $ 79.2           $ 39.6     $     $ 7.3     $ 126.1       28.7 %
                                               
    Net income per share – diluted (d)   $ 0.01           $ 0.25     $ 0.19     $ 0.02     $ 0.47        
    a) Cloud recurring gross margin is defined as total Cloud recurring revenue less cost of Cloud recurring revenue as a percentage of total Cloud recurring revenue. Operating profit margin and net profit margin are determined by calculating the percentage operating profit and net (loss) income are of total revenue. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted margins.
    b) The as adjusted column is a non-GAAP financial measure, adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain other items including $9.0 million related to the fair value adjustment for the DataFuzion contingent consideration, $3.2 million of restructuring expenses, $3.2 million of costs associated with the planned termination of its frozen U.S. pension plan, $1.0 million of fees associated with initiating the receivables securitization program, and $9.1 million of foreign exchange gain, along with a $4.0 million net adjustment for the effect of income taxes related to these items. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted metrics.
    c) Income tax effects have been calculated based on the statutory tax rates in effect in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions during the period.
    d) GAAP and Adjusted diluted net income per share are calculated based upon 159.7 million weighted average shares of common stock.
        Three Months Ended September 30, 2023  
        As reported     As reported margins (a)     Share-based
    compensation
        Amortization     Other (b)     As adjusted (b)     As adjusted margins (a)  
        (Dollars in millions, except per share data)  
    Cost of Cloud recurring revenue   $ 69.9       77.0 %   $ 3.9     $     $     $ 66.0       78.3 %
                                               
    Operating profit   $ 26.5       7.0 %   $ 36.4     $ 20.5     $ 6.0     $ 89.4       23.7 %
                                               
    Net (loss) income   $ (3.8 )     (1.0 )%   $ 36.4     $ 20.5     $ 5.2     $ 58.3       15.4 %
    Interest expense, net     8.9                               8.9        
    Income tax expense (c)     16.3                         (5.5 )     21.8        
    Depreciation and amortization     38.7                   20.5             18.2        
    EBITDA   $ 60.1           $ 36.4     $     $ 10.7     $ 107.2       28.4 %
                                               
    Net (loss) income per share – diluted (d)   $ (0.02 )         $ 0.23     $ 0.13     $ 0.03     $ 0.37        
    a) Cloud recurring gross margin is defined as total Cloud recurring revenue less cost of Cloud recurring revenue as a percentage of total Cloud recurring revenue. Operating profit margin and net profit margin are determined by calculating the percentage operating profit and net income are of total revenue. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted margins.
    b) The as adjusted column is a non-GAAP financial measure, adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain other items including $4.7 million of foreign exchange loss, $4.6 million related to the impact of the fair value adjustment for the DataFuzion contingent consideration, $1.2 million of restructuring expenses, and $0.2 million related to the abandonment of certain leased facilities, along with a $5.5 million net adjustment for the effect of income taxes related to these items. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted metrics.
    c) Income tax effects have been calculated based on the statutory tax rates in effect in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions during the period.
    d) GAAP diluted net loss per share is calculated based upon 155.7 weighted average shares of common stock, and Adjusted diluted net income per share is calculated based upon 158.8 million weighted average shares of common stock.
        Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024  
        As reported     As reported margins (a)     Share-based
    compensation
        Amortization     Other (b)     As adjusted (b)     As adjusted margins (a)  
        (Dollars in millions, except per share data)  
    Cost of Cloud recurring revenue   $ 228.5       78.6 %   $ 9.6     $     $ 0.9     $ 218.0       79.6 %
                                               
    Operating profit   $ 75.6       5.8 %   $ 118.4     $ 87.5     $ 25.7     $ 307.2       23.7 %
                                               
    Net income   $ 7.3       0.6 %   $ 118.4     $ 87.5     $ 5.5     $ 218.7       16.9 %
    Interest expense, net     33.2                               33.2        
    Income tax expense (c)     29.4                         (27.0 )     56.4        
    Depreciation and amortization     151.5                   87.5             64.0        
    EBITDA   $ 221.4           $ 118.4     $     $ 32.5     $ 372.3       28.8 %
                                               
    Net income per share – diluted (d)   $ 0.05           $ 0.74     $ 0.55     $ 0.03     $ 1.37        
    a) Cloud recurring gross margin is defined as total Cloud recurring revenue less cost of Cloud recurring revenue as a percentage of total Cloud recurring revenue. Operating profit margin and net profit margin are determined by calculating the percentage operating profit and net income are of total revenue. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted margins.
    b) The as adjusted column is a non-GAAP financial measure, adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain other items including $15.7 million of restructuring expenses, $9.7 million of costs associated with the planned termination of its frozen U.S. pension plan, $9.0 million related to the fair value adjustment for the DataFuzion contingent consideration, $1.0 million of fees associated with initiating the receivables securitization program, and $2.9 million of foreign exchange gain, along with a $27.0 million net adjustment for the effect of income taxes related to these items. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted metrics.
    c) Income tax effects have been calculated based on the statutory tax rates in effect in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions during the period.
    d) GAAP and Adjusted diluted net income per share are calculated based upon 159.9 million weighted average shares of common stock.
        Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023  
        As reported     As reported margins (a)     Share-based
    compensation
        Amortization     Other (b)     As adjusted (b)     As adjusted margins (a)  
        (Dollars in millions, except per share data)  
    Cost of Cloud recurring revenue   $ 204.8       77.0 %   $ 11.9     $     $     $ 192.9       78.4 %
                                               
    Operating profit   $ 94.3       8.5 %   $ 118.3     $ 32.7     $ 15.6     $ 260.9       23.4 %
                                               
    Net income   $ 9.2       0.8 %   $ 118.3     $ 32.7     $ (1.8 )   $ 158.4       14.2 %
    Interest expense, net     27.2                               27.2        
    Income tax expense (c)     51.3                         (22.7 )     74.0        
    Depreciation and amortization     84.1                   32.7             51.4        
    EBITDA   $ 171.8           $ 118.3     $     $ 20.9     $ 311.0       27.9 %
                                               
    Net income per share – diluted (d)   $ 0.06           $ 0.75     $ 0.21     $ (0.01 )   $ 1.00        
    a) Cloud recurring gross margin is defined as total Cloud recurring revenue less cost of Cloud recurring revenue as a percentage of total Cloud recurring revenue. Operating profit margin and net profit margin are determined by calculating the percentage operating profit and net income are of total revenue. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted margins.
    b) The as adjusted column is a non-GAAP financial measure, adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain other items including $11.8 million related to the impact of the fair value adjustment for the DataFuzion contingent consideration, $5.3 million of foreign exchange loss, $3.4 million of restructuring expenses, and $0.4 million related to the abandonment of certain leased facilities, along with a $22.7 million net adjustment for the effect of income taxes related to these items. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional information on the as adjusted metrics.
    c) Income tax effects have been calculated based on the statutory tax rates in effect in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions during the period.
    d) GAAP and Adjusted diluted net income per share are calculated based upon 158.2 million weighted average shares of common stock.
       
    Dayforce, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow
    (Unaudited)
     
       
        Three Months Ended
    September 30,
        Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
     
        2024     2023     2024     2023  
        (In millions)  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 91.8     $ 36.6     $ 200.1     $ 129.6  
    Expenditures for property, plant, and equipment     (2.0 )     (5.3 )     (8.7 )     (15.4 )
    Expenditures for software and technology     (26.4 )     (26.5 )     (74.1 )     (72.9 )
    Free cash flow   $ 63.4     $ 4.8     $ 117.3     $ 41.3  


    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Dayforce uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release including:

    Non-GAAP Financial Measure   GAAP Financial Measure
    EBITDA   Net (loss) income
    Adjusted EBITDA   Net (loss) income
    Adjusted EBITDA margin   Net profit margin
    Adjusted Cloud recurring gross margin   Cloud recurring gross margin
    Adjusted operating profit   Operating profit
    Adjusted operating profit margin   Operating profit margin
    Adjusted net income   Net (loss) income
    Adjusted net profit margin   Net profit margin
    Adjusted diluted net income per share   Diluted net (loss) income per share
    Free cash flow   Net cash provided by operating activities
    Percentage change in revenue, including total revenue and revenue by solution, on a constant currency basis   Percentage change in revenue, including total revenue and revenue by solution
    Dayforce recurring revenue per customer   No directly comparable GAAP measure

    Dayforce believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to management and investors as supplemental measures to evaluate its overall operating performance including comparison across periods and with competitors. Dayforce’s management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures to assess operating performance because these financial measures exclude the results of decisions that are outside the normal course of its business operations, and are used for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes both for short- and long-term operating plans. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is a component of its management incentive plan and Adjusted Cloud recurring gross margin and Adjusted operating profit are components of certain performance based equity awards for its named executive officers. Additionally, Dayforce believes that the non-GAAP financial measure free cash flow is meaningful to investors because it is a measure of liquidity that provides useful information in understanding and evaluating the strength of Dayforce’s liquidity and future ability to generate cash that can be used for strategic opportunities or investing in its business. The exclusion of capital expenditures facilitates comparisons of Dayforce’s liquidity on a period-to-period basis and excludes items that management does not consider to be indicative of Dayforce’s liquidity.

    These non-GAAP financial measures are not required by, defined under, or presented in accordance with, GAAP, and should not be considered as alternatives to Dayforce’s results as reported under GAAP, have important limitations as analytical tools, and its use of these terms may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies in its industry. Dayforce’s presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed to imply that its future results will be unaffected by similar items to those eliminated in this presentation. Please refer to Dayforce’s full financial results, including further discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, on the Investor Relations portion of its website at investors.dayforce.com.

    Dayforce defines its non-GAAP financial measures as follows:

    • EBITDA is defined as net (loss) income before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA, as adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, and certain other items.
    • Adjusted EBITDA margin is determined by calculating the percentage Adjusted EBITDA is of total revenue.
    • Adjusted Cloud recurring gross margin is defined as Cloud recurring gross margin, as adjusted to exclude share-based compensation and related employer taxes, and certain other items, as a percentage of total Cloud recurring revenue.
    • Adjusted operating profit is defined as operating profit, as adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain other items.
    • Adjusted net income is defined as net (loss) income, as adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense and related employer taxes, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and certain other items, all of which are adjusted for the effect of income taxes.
    • Adjusted net profit margin is determined by calculating the percentage Adjusted net income is of total revenue.
    • Adjusted diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. When adjusted diluted net income per share is positive, diluted weighted average common shares outstanding incorporate the effect of dilutive equity instruments.
    • Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, as adjusted to exclude capital expenditures.
    • Percentage change in revenue, including total revenue and revenue by solution, on a constant currency basis is calculated by applying the average foreign exchange rate in effect during the comparable prior period.
    • Dayforce recurring revenue per customer is an indicator of the average size of Dayforce recurring revenue customers. To calculate Dayforce recurring revenue per customer, the Company starts with Dayforce recurring revenue on a constant currency basis by applying the same exchange rate to all comparable periods for the trailing twelve months and excludes float revenue and Ascender, ADAM HCM, and eloomi revenue. This amount is divided by the number of live Dayforce customers at the end of the trailing twelve month period, excluding Ascender, ADAM HCM, and eloomi. The Company has not reconciled the Dayforce recurring revenue per customer because there is no directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

    Source: Dayforce, Inc.

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations
    1-844-829-9499
    investors@dayforce.com

    Public Relations
    1-647-417-2117
    teri.murphy@dayforce.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Amplify ETFs Declares October Income Distributions for its Income ETFs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify ETFs announces October income distributions for its income ETFs.

    ETF Name Ticker Amount per Share Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date
    Amplify Samsung SOFR ETF SOFR $ 0.40475 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24
    Amplify Cash Flow High Income ETF HCOW $ 0.17240 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24
    Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF DIVO $ 0.16419 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24
    Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF IDVO $ 0.15609 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24
    Amplify CWP Growth & Income ETF QDVO $ 0.15131 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24
    Amplify Natural Resources Dividend Income ETF NDIV $ 0.12455 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24
    Amplify High Income ETF YYY $ 0.12000 10/30/24 10/30/24 10/31/24

    About Amplify ETFs
    Amplify ETFs, sponsored by Amplify Investments, has over $10 billion in assets across its suite of ETFs (as of 10/21/2024). Amplify ETFs deliver expanded investment opportunities for investors seeking growth, income, and risk-managed strategies across a range of actively managed and index-based ETFs. Learn more visit AmplifyETFs.com.

    Sales Contact:
    Amplify ETFs
    855-267-3837
    info@amplifyetfs.com
    Media Contacts:
    Gregory FCA for Amplify ETFs
    Kerry Davis
    610-228-2098
    amplifyetfs@gregoryfca.com

    This information is not intended to provide and should not be relied upon for accounting, legal or tax advice, or investment recommendations. To receive a distribution, you must be a registered shareholder of the fund on the record date. Distributions are paid to shareholders on the payment date. There is no guarantee that distributions will be made in the future. Your own trading will also generate tax consequences and transaction expenses. Past distributions are not indicative of future distributions. Please consult your tax professional or financial adviser for more information regarding your tax situation.

    Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in Amplify Funds’ statutory and summary prospectuses, which may be obtained at AmplifyETFs.com. Read the prospectuses carefully before investing.

    Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

    Amplify ETFs are distributed by Foreside Services, LLC.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Navient posts third quarter 2024 financial results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HERNDON, Va., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Navient (Nasdaq: NAVI) today posted its 2024 third quarter financial results. Complete financial results are available on the company’s website at Navient.com/investors. The materials will also be available on a Form 8-K on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Navient will hold a live audio webcast today, Oct. 30, 2024, at 8 a.m. ET, hosted by David Yowan, president and CEO, and Joe Fisher, CFO.

    Analysts and investors who wish to ask questions are requested to pre-register at Navient.com/investors at least 15 minutes ahead of start time to receive their personal dial-in access details. Others who wish to join in listen-only mode do not need to pre-register and may simply visit Navient.com/investors to access the webcast.

    Supplemental financial information and presentation slides used during the call will be available no later than the start time. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the event’s conclusion.

    About Navient
    Navient (Nasdaq: NAVI) provides technology-enabled education finance and business processing solutions that simplify complex programs and help millions of people achieve success. Our customer-focused, data-driven services deliver exceptional results for clients in education and government. Learn more at navient.com.

    Contact:
    Media: Paul Hartwick, 302-283-4026, paul.hartwick@navient.com   
    Investors: Jen Earyes, 703-984-6801, jen.earyes@navient.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Banco Santander-Chile Announces Third Quarter 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Banco Santander Chile (NYSE: BSAC; SSE: Bsantander) announced today its results1 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, and third quarter 2024 (3Q24).

    ROAE2of 23.1% in 3Q243and 18.2% in 9M244.

    In the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24), the Bank’s net income attributable to shareholders totaled $243,133 million ($1.29 per share and US$ 0.58 per ADR), reflecting an increase of 11.7% compared to the previous quarter (2Q24), with an ROAE of 23.1%.

    As of September 30, 2024, the Bank’s net income attributable to shareholders totaled $581.109 billion ($3.08 per share and US$1.37 per ADR), reflecting an increase of 81.9% compared to the same period of the previous year and with an ROAE of 18.2%.

    The increase in results in the quarter is explained by an increase in the Bank’s main income lines, with operating income increasing by 6.3% in the quarter, driven by a better interest margin and readjustments.

    Strong recovery of NIM5to 3.9% in 3Q24 and 3.4% in 9M24.

    Net interest and readjustment income (NII) accumulated as of September 30, 2024 increased by 74.8% compared to the same period in 2023. This increase in NII was due to higher interest income due to improvements in the cost of funds resulting from a lower monetary policy rate, partially offset by lower readjustment income due to lower inflation in the period.

    In 3Q24, total net interest and readjustment income increased by 4.2% compared to 2Q24. This is explained by higher net interest income due to lower funding costs and better investment portfolio performance, offset by lower net readjustment income due to lower UF variation in the quarter.

    Net fees increase 8.3% in the quarter, reaching recurrence6levels of 63.4%.

    Net fees increased 8.3% QoQ due to increased customer numbers and greater use of products such as mutual funds, cards and current accounts. With this, the recurrence ratio (total net fees divided by total core expenses) is 63.4% in 3Q24, demonstrating that more than half of the Bank’s expenses are financed by fees generated by our customers.

    In the nine months to September 30, 2024, fees increased by 5.4% compared to the same period in 2023, mainly due to higher fees from current accounts, mutual fund brokerage and Getnet. This was partially offset by the impact of interchange fee regulation.

    Getnet’s customer base continues to grow and its expansion continues

    As a result of our strategy to strengthen digital products, the Bank’s market share in current accounts remains strong. According to the latest publicly available information, which is as of July 2024, our market share reaches 23.8% in current accounts, which includes products such as Santander Life and PYME Life, while our US$ current account solution is already attracting 41.2% of customers in this market. In total, our digital customers total around 2.2 million and represent 86% of our active customers, with the products with the greatest traction being deposits, credit cards, investment funds and general insurance brokerage.

    Getnet’s entry into the Chilean acquiring market continues to surprise with good results, with net commissions of $54 billion in 9M24 (not including operating expenses). Customer reception has been high, with more than 182 thousand affiliated merchants and more than 243 thousand operational POSs, with a strong demand from SME clients and an expansion towards larger clients that require a Host to Host solution, offering an integrated payment system for more sophisticated clients. Thanks to Getnet and other initiatives such as the Cuenta Pyme Life, we are seeing significant growth in current accounts for SMEs and companies, growing 26.7% YoY by July 2024, and with a market share of 39.3% according to the CMF.

    For the fifth consecutive year we are Top 1 in NPS among our Chilean peers

    As a result of all our efforts, our customers are the most satisfied with us. As of September 2024, our NPS is 59 points, top 1 among our peers. We also rank first in net satisfaction in the evaluation of our account executives and contact center with 66 and 72 points respectively. Regarding digital channels, they also continue to be a strength, with the website standing out with a net satisfaction of 72 and the App with 74 points.

    Efficiency ratio of 36.3% in the quarter as income improves and costs remain under control

    The Bank’s efficiency ratio reached 40.0% as of September 30, 2024, better than the 48.0% of the same period last year, with a quarterly efficiency ratio of 36.3%, explained by the recovery of revenues in the quarter and solid cost control.

    Core support expenses (salaries, administration and amortization) grew 4.4% in 9M24 compared to 9M23 and 0.4% compared to 2Q24, in line with the growth of inflation, as we mentioned in our previous guidance. Total operating expenses (which includes other expenses) increased 13.1% in 9M24 compared to the same period in 2023 driven by higher other operating expenses, related to a provision for the restructuring of our branch network and the transformation to Work/Café and also the progress in Digital Banking.

    Cost of credit of 1.28% in 9M24, in line with the evolution of asset quality given the economic scenario.

    During the Covid-19 pandemic, asset quality benefited from state aid and pension fund withdrawals, which led to a positive performance in assets during that period, before normalizing in line with the performance of the economy and the drainage of excess liquidity from households. Currently, our clients’ performance is reflecting the state of the economy and the labor market, where delinquency is higher than the levels we saw before the pandemic with the non-performing loans (NPL) ratio increasing to 3.1% and the impaired portfolio to 6.7% at September 2024. Overall the cost of credit remained stable at 1.28% in the quarter.

    Solid capital levels with a BIS7ratio of 17.2% and a CET18of 10.7%.

    Our total BIS ratio reached 17.2% as of September 30, 2024 and the CET1 ratio remains solid at 10.7%, even considering that we increased the dividend provision for the 2024 income from 30% to 60% in June 2024 and then to 70% in September 2024. Risk-weighted assets (RWA) increased 0.8% since December 31, 2023 and 0.3% QoQ, explained by a growth in market risk-weighted assets offset by a decrease in credit risk-weighted assets. Additionally, in January 2024, the CMF announced the Pillar II charges for six banks in the Chilean system, and we highlight that, on this occasion, they did not assign a charge to the Bank.

    Upgrading guidance for 2024 and soft guidance for 2025

    Given the strong recovery in our results and our current economic estimates for the fourth quarter, we are improving our ROAE guidance for 2024 to 18%-19%. We have upgraded our medium term guidance for ROAEs to 18%-20% and our soft guidance for 2025 indicates a ROAE within this range.

    Banco Santander Chile is one of the companies with the highest risk classifications in Latin America with an A2 rating from Moody’s, A- from Standard and Poor’s, A+ from Japan Credit Rating Agency, AA- from HR Ratings and A from KBRA. All our ratings as of the date of this report have a Stable Outlook.

    As of September 30, 2024, the Bank has total assets of $65,890,254 million (US$73,419 million), total gross loans (including loans to banks) at amortized cost of $40,362,740 million (US$44,975 million), total deposits of $29,617,085 million (US$33,001 million) and shareholders’ equity of $4,218,883 million (US$4,701 million). The BIS capital ratio was 17.2%, with a core capital ratio of 10.7%. As of September 30, 2024, Santander Chile employed 8,861 people and has 234 branches throughout Chile.

    CONTACT INFORMATION
    Cristian Vicuña
    Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Investor Relations
    Banco Santander Chile
    Bandera 140, Floor 20
    Santiago, Chile
    Email: irelations@santander.cl Website: www.santander.cl


    1 The information contained in this report is presented in accordance with Chilean Bank GAAP as defined by the Financial Markets Commission (FMC).
    2 Annualized net income attributable to shareholders of the Bank divided by the average equity attributable to equity holders
    3 The third quarter of 2024
    4 The nine months accumulated as of September 30, 2024
    5 NIM: Net interest margin. Annualized net interest income and annualized readjustments divided by interest-earning assets
    6Recurrence: Net commissions divided by structural operating expenses (excludes other operating expenses).
    7 Regulatory capital divided by risk-weighted assets, according to CMF BIS III definitions
    8 Core capital divided by risk-weighted assets, according to CMF BIS III definitions.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Dragonfly Energy to Report Third Quarter 2024 Financial and Operational Results on November 14, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (“Dragonfly Energy” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DFLI), maker of Battle Born Batteries® and an industry leader in energy storage, today announced that the Company will release its financial and operational results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 after market close on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The earnings press release will be followed by a conference call on November 14, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

    Interested investors and other parties may access the live webcast via the link found here or through the Events and Presentations page within the Investor Relations section of Dragonfly Energy’s website at https://investors.dragonflyenergy.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. The call can also be accessed live via telephone by dialing (800) 549-8228, toll-free in North America, or for international callers +1 (289) 819-1520, and referencing conference ID: 64729. Please log in to the webcast or dial in for the call at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the event.

    An archive of the webcast will be available for a period of time shortly after the call on the Events and Presentations page on the Investor Relations section of Dragonfly Energy’s website, along with the earnings press release.

    About Dragonfly Energy
    Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) is a comprehensive lithium battery technology company, specializing in cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and full system integration. Through its renowned Battle Born Batteries® brand, Dragonfly Energy has established itself as a frontrunner in the lithium battery industry, with hundreds of thousands of reliable battery packs deployed in the field through top-tier OEMs and a diverse retail customer base. At the forefront of domestic lithium battery cell production, Dragonfly Energy’s patented dry electrode manufacturing process can deliver chemistry-agnostic power solutions for a broad spectrum of applications, including energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. The Company’s overarching mission is the future deployment of its proprietary, nonflammable, all-solid-state battery cells.

    To learn more about Dragonfly Energy and its commitment to clean energy advancements, visit www.dragonflyenergy.com/investors.

    Investor Relations
    Caldwell Bailey
    DragonflyIR@icrinc.com

    Source: Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Redoxblox Closes $40.7 Million Series A to Support Industrial Decarbonization and Grid Storage with Next-Gen Thermochemical Energy Storage System

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Redoxblox raised an additional $30M in Series A funding, led by Prelude Ventures and joined by Imperative Ventures and New System Ventures, alongside existing investors Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Khosla Ventures. This brings the total Series A round to $40.7M. Redoxblox is pioneering a new class of low-cost thermochemical energy storage systems (TCES) designed to accelerate industrial decarbonization and address long duration energy storage needs for the grid. The company’s TCES units store energy both chemically and as heat at high temperatures, allowing for continuous or on-demand discharge for industrial processes or electricity generation. The system can fast charge when electricity prices are low or during periods of surplus renewables generation.

    Today, 95% of industrial heat is provided by fossil fuels, which accounts for 30% of global carbon emissions. Decarbonizing this sector has been historically challenging due to a lack of affordable emissions-free alternatives. With a conversion efficiency comparable to lithium-ion batteries, higher energy density, and direct high temperature air discharge, Redoxblox provides the first reliable, cost-competitive solution to effectively use electricity as an alternative to fossil fuels. The system also offers space efficient, grid-scale long duration energy storage, enabling intermittent renewables to meet baseload needs.

    The company also announces the appointment of a new CEO, Pasquale Romano, formerly President and CEO of ChargePoint and currently Member of The President of the United States’ National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Romano will lead the company through its next phase of growth, expanding into key industrial heat and long duration grid scale storage markets.

    “Decarbonization depends on widespread adoption of cost-competitive alternatives to fossil fuels for industrial heat applications that address the time-varying nature of electricity demand and fluctuating renewable generation. Our goal is to address the density, cycle life, reliability, efficiency, and cost requirements to enable the world to decarbonize without economic compromise,” said Romano. “Decarbonization has to be a natural side effect of utilizing cost-competitive technologies to meet the world’s energy needs.”

    The company’s Series A funding follows grants from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Redoxblox was selected by the CEC for a project to demonstrate the ability to provide 24 hours of electricity storage capacity in collaboration with UC San Diego and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Similarly, the DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office chose Redoxblox for an industrial-scale thermochemical energy storage project, partnering with Dow Chemical and EPRI to decarbonize steam production at Dow’s West Virginia plant. Both initiatives represent significant strides toward decarbonizing industrial heat and grid storage at scale.

    Redoxblox’s technology offers several advantages over traditional energy storage. The storage modules are built with stable, long-lasting, non-toxic, non-flammable, and recyclable materials that can operate at temperatures up to 1500°C. After extensive cycle testing, the material proved capable of supporting mission critical industrial applications and as a reliable energy store for the grid. A single unit can store up to 20 MWh of energy at 95% round trip efficiency. Multiple units can be combined to meet the energy requirements at large facilities and can charge in as little as two hours. The system is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing industrial processes, allowing businesses to adopt without significant alterations to how their business works.

    “Redoxblox is tackling one of the toughest sectors to decarbonize, industrial heat,” said Gabriel Kra, Managing Partner at Prelude Ventures. “They’ve accomplished what once seemed impossible: creating an electrical alternative to natural gas that is affordable, easy to adopt, and charges more quickly than other solutions. We’re excited to support them as they continue to scale and bring this solution to market.”

    About Redoxblox
    Located in San Diego, Redoxblox is pioneering a new class of low-cost thermochemical energy storage systems (TCES) designed to accelerate industrial decarbonization and address long duration energy storage needs for the grid. The company’s TCES units store energy both chemically and as heat at very high temperatures that can be discharged continuously or as needed directly into industrial processes or as an energy source for electricity generation. The system can be fast charged when electricity prices are low or during surplus renewables generation and discharged as needed. Redoxblox is backed by Prelude Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Imperative Ventures, and New System Ventures. To learn more, visit the website or follow Redoxblox on LinkedIn.

    About Prelude Ventures
    Prelude Ventures is a climate-focused venture capital firm that invests in and supports early-stage startups with the greatest potential to mitigate climate change. For over a decade, Prelude Ventures has sought out purpose-driven founders and provided the capital and expertise needed to build the next generation of category-defining businesses that will reshape our global economy for the greater good of people and the planet. Located in San Francisco, Prelude Ventures has approximately $2 billion under management.

    LaunchSquad for Prelude Ventures
    prelude@launchsquad.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Foresight Ventures Announces Strategic Partnership with Deep Blue and Arta TechFin to Enhance Stablecoin and RWA Business Initiatives

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Ventures, the leading investment firm specializing in Web3 projects, today announced a strategic partnership with Deep Blue, a newly launched Jersey-based stablecoin issuer and Arta TechFin Corporation Limited (Arta TechFin, HKSE: 0279), a Hong Kong listed company via its subsidiaries operating regulated financial institutions and leading blockchain developments. The alliance aims to drive innovation and growth of the Stablecoin and Real-World Asset (RWA) ecosystem.

    Deep Blue is an issuance platform for Stablecoins bringing best-in-class practices and best partners in both digital assets and traditional finance, enabling users to operate across multiple use cases.

    Arta TechFin will bring in its capabilities as a regulated blockchain financial services provider, collaborating with Foresight Ventures and Deep Blue on Stablecoin and RWA businesses including but not limited to origination, tokenization, market making, and providing liquidity. 

    Julien Bahurel, co-founder of Deep Blue, commented on the partnership: “We are excited to join forces with Foresight Ventures to accelerate our efforts in the Stablecoin and RWA sectors. This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the emerging blockchain economy; leveraging on key crypto partners, large Asia-based conglomerates and financial institutions.”

    Foresight Ventures, known for its commitment to fostering Web3 projects that promote decentralization and mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency, will provide Deep Blue with strategic collaborations that include media and network resources. This partnership is expected to elevate Deep Blue’s initiatives, bringing them to a wider audience and enhancing their impact on the global financial landscape. Both parties look to leverage off each other’s access to the blockchain and traditional finance ecosystems. 

    Forest Bai, Representative at Foresight Ventures, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Deep Blue and ArtaTechFin, companies that share our vision of a decentralized future where blockchain and traditional finance coexist seamlessly. Our strategic resources and industry expertise will help Deep Blue scale its ecosystem and make a lasting impact in the stablecoin and RWA domains.”

    This strategic partnership marks a new chapter for all companies as they work together to pioneer cutting-edge financial solutions that will shape the future of the global economy.

    For more information, please visit Deep Blue Limited or ArtaTechFin

    About Foresight Ventures

    Foresight Ventures is the leading global crypto venture capital firm, managing over $400 million in assets across 100+ investments. With a research-driven approach, Foresight Ventures bridges Eastern and Western markets, focusing on early-stage opportunities in Web3. Its diverse portfolio spans blockchain infrastructure, AI and consumer applications with investments in top companies like Bitget, Aptos Labs, and TON. Through its premier owned media network, including The Block, Coinness and BlockTempo, the firm provides exposure to transformative technologies that shape the future of financial ecosystems.

    Foresight Ventures backs the boldest upcoming innovations, encouraging concepts that challenge conventional platforms with real-life use cases built on emerging technologies. Dedicated to accelerating crypto adoption for billions of people worldwide, Foresight Ventures breaks down barriers empowering global financial freedom and inclusion to all.

    For general enquiries, please email: fv@foresightventures.com

    Contact

    Media Team

    Foresight Ventures

    fv@foresightventures.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Gilat Receives Approximately $5 Million in Orders from US Defense Customers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PETAH TIKVA, Isreal, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILT, TASE: GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, today announced that it has been awarded contracts valued at approximately $5 million from multiple U.S. based defense organizations. These orders are for Gilat’s cutting-edge satellite communications (SATCOM) technologies and comprehensive services, set to enhance mission-critical connectivity and operational capabilities for defense applications worldwide. The orders are expected to be delivered within the coming months.

    The equipment and services provided will ensure reliable, high-performance communication in a variety of challenging environments. Gilat will supply X, Ku, and Ka-band Block Upconverters (BUCs) for Communications-on-the-Move (COTM) systems, along with test and evaluation, repair, upgrades and engineering services, and field service.

    “We are honored to support U.S. defense organizations with our cutting-edge SATCOM technology and full suite of essential services that meet the stringent requirements of mission-critical defense operations,” said Nicole Robinson, President of DataPath. “These orders reflect the confidence our defense customers place in our comprehensive approach to SATCOM connectivity, ensuring they remain connected in even the most challenging environments.”

    About Gilat

    Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT) is a leading global provider of satellite-based broadband communications. With over 35 years of experience, we create and deliver deep technology solutions for satellite, ground, and new space connectivity and provide comprehensive, secure end-to-end solutions and services for mission-critical operations, powered by our innovative technology. We believe in the right of all people to be connected and are united in our resolution to provide communication solutions to all reaches of the world.

    Our portfolio includes a diverse offering to deliver high-value solutions for multiple orbit constellations with very high throughput satellites (VHTS) and software-defined satellites (SDS). Our offering is comprised of a cloud-based platform and high-performance satellite terminals; high-performance Satellite On-the-Move (SOTM) antennas; highly efficient, high-power Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) and Block Upconverters (BUC) and includes integrated ground systems for commercial and defense, field services, network management software, and cybersecurity services.

    Gilat’s comprehensive offering supports multiple applications with a full portfolio of products and tailored solutions to address key applications including broadband access, mobility, cellular backhaul, enterprise, defense, aerospace, broadcast, government, and critical infrastructure clients all while meeting the most stringent service level requirements. For more information, please visit: www.gilat.com

    Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gilat to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, inability to maintain market acceptance to Gilat’s products, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications, rapid changes in the market for Gilat’s products, loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition, introduction of competing products by other companies, inability to manage growth and expansion, loss of key OEM partners, inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, inability to protect the Company’s proprietary technology and risks associated with Gilat’s international operations and its location in Israel, including those related to the current terrorist attacks by Hamas, and the war and hostilities between Israel and Hamas and Israel and Hezbollah. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with Gilat’s business, reference is made to Gilat’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

    Contact:

    Gilat Satellite Networks
    Hagay Katz, Chief Products and Marketing Officer
    hagayk@gilat.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Do we need a European DARPA to cope with technological challenges in Europe?

    Source: The Conversation – France – By David W. Versailles, Professor, strategic management and innovation management, co-director of PSB’s newPIC chair, PSB Paris School of Business

    The headquarters of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Virginia. ajay_suresh/Flickr, CC BY

    The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is often held as a model for driving technology advances. For decades, it has contributed to military and economic dominance by bridging the gap between military and civilian applications. European policymakers frequently reference DARPA in discussions, as outlined in the 2024 Draghi Report, but an EU equivalent has yet to materialise. To create such an agency, the governance and management of European innovation programmes would need drastic changes.

    DARPA supports disruptive innovation

    Founded in 1958, DARPA operates under the US Department of Defense (DoD) with a straightforward mission: to fund high-risk technological programmes that could lead to radical innovation. DARPA provides support throughout the innovation process, focusing on environments where new uses for technology must be invented or adapted. Although part of the DoD, DARPA funds projects that promise technological and economic superiority whether they align with current military priorities or not. DARPA has backed projects like ARPANET, the precursor to the internet, and the GPS. Today, DARPA shows interest in autonomous vehicles for urban areas and new missile technologies.

    As part of its core mission, DARPA accepts high financial risks on exploration projects and makes long-term commitments to these projects. Many emblematic successes explain why DARPA is a reference agency. However, the list of failed projects is even longer. Both failures and successes feed the exploration process in emerging industrial sectors. They represent opportunities to learn together and build collective strategies in innovation ecosystems.

    Five key principles of DARPA

    DARPA’s success stems not just from its stability but from adhering to five organisational principles that allow it to explore deep tech in an open innovation context:

    • Independence: DARPA operates independently from other military services, research & development centres and federal agencies, allowing it to explore options outside dominant research paradigms. While cooperation is possible, its decisions and directions are not influenced by other parts of the federal administration.

    • Agility: The agency’s flat organisational structure minimises bureaucracy. Its independent decision-making processes and streamlined contracting allow it to pivot quickly, test new concepts and collaborate with academic or private sector partners. Agility also enables DARPA to test new exploration or experimentation methods that are often based on user-centric approaches. Potential military or civilian end-users are involved very early in innovation projects to discuss potential uses and applications. This approach has recently led DARPA to absorb the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), where officers from the different military services (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines) and all military ranks test new technological solutions (from different maturity levels), fostering co-creation processes with military innovators and expanding the agency’s impact.

    • Sponsorship: High-ranking executives within the DoD and other federal administrations (NASA, Department of Energy) endorse, but do not commission, DARPA’s projects. This sponsorship model increases a project’s potential impact and allows for swift adaptation if a project fails.

    • Community building: DARPA creates innovation communities with a mix of diverse expertise. By bringing different perspectives together, it fosters collective strategies essential for disruptive innovation.

    • Diverse leadership: Project managers come from a range of backgrounds, including civilian experts, military officers and private-sector professionals. All have demonstrated scientific and technological expertise and a solid capability to bridge dreams and foresight with reality. All have a perfect command of risk and complexity management. Managers serve three- to four-year terms focused on driving technological disruption and building new innovation ecosystems. Their diverse expertise sets DARPA apart from other federal agencies.

    The challenge of a European DARPA

    The Draghi Report on European competitiveness suggests that a European DARPA could help bridge technological gaps, reduce dependencies and accelerate the green transition. However, implementing this model would require a seismic shift in how European agencies operate. Creating a new agency would be ineffective without ensuring that all principles underlying the success of DARPA are implemented in Europe.

    Even if Europe actively promotes deep tech and devotes significant budgets to it, European public policies and ways of working prevailing in national and European agencies are hardly consistent with the DARPA model. European agencies do not have much autonomy in their decisions about the exploration of new ventures or human resource management. They clearly demonstrate an outcome-focused orientation inconsistent with DARPA’s approach to risk.

    Two main challenges

    European agencies often lack the stable missions, scope and ambition seen at DARPA. The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Defence Agency (EDA) and Eurocontrol highlight the difficulties in developing cohesive, cross-border innovation ecosystems. A European DARPA would require a unified ambition among EU member states, a challenging feat given the institutional and geopolitical divides within Europe. The debates around the European Defence Fund illustrate how complex it is to reach consensus on shared objectives and funding.

    Adopting DARPA’s five organisational principles would represent a cultural revolution for European agencies in relation to EU bureaucratic norms and the budgetary controls of individual member states. Implementing these changes would also disrupt the existing power balance between countries. The DARPA model is inconsistent with the European “fair returns” model that refers to proportionality rules between funding, research operations and then industrial repartition during the production phase between member states in each project. The DARPA model would only focus on existing competencies, excellence, risk-taking approaches and entrepreneurial mindsets.

    Establishing a European DARPA would require a fundamental rethinking of public policy management in Europe. Its success would depend on whether European stakeholders are willing to adopt DARPA’s core principles, including its independence, agility and willingness to accept failure. Creating an agency is one thing; ensuring it adheres to the structures that make DARPA effective is another. The question remains: Is Europe ready for this transformation?

    David W. Versailles has received funding from the French Ministry of Defence to develop this research.

    Valérie Mérindol has received funding from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces to develop this research.

    ref. Do we need a European DARPA to cope with technological challenges in Europe? – https://theconversation.com/do-we-need-a-european-darpa-to-cope-with-technological-challenges-in-europe-240696

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa’s fight against extreme poverty needs a new strategy – model shows how social grants could work

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ramos Emmanuel Mabugu, Professor, Sol Plaatje University

    South Africa has been struggling for decades to reduce poverty, inequality and unemployment and raise the rate of economic growth.

    Economic growth has been slow since a recession in 2008. The annual growth rate averaged 1.1% between 2009 and 2021, slowing to 0.6% in 2023.

    Unemployment remains stubbornly above 30%. It was 32.9% in the first quarter of 2024.

    The country’s Gini coefficient, a measure of how income is distributed across the population, is estimated to be 0.63, one of the worst in the world. Poverty levels remain high too. A large number of people live in extreme poverty. According to Statistics South Africa, an estimated 40.0% of the population (or 25 million people) have a monthly consumption expenditure of below R9,096 (which is used as the lower-bound poverty line). And 55.5% of the population falls within the upper-bound poverty line, with monthly consumption expenditure of below R13,656.

    This is despite government’s extensive spending on social assistance and other support mechanisms. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, there were 18.8 million social grant beneficiaries (about 35% of the population) with an annual cost to the fiscus of R217.1 billion (US$12.2 billion). This is expected to increase to R259.3 billion (US$14.6 billion) in 2026/27.

    Social support also includes spending on health, education, social protection, community development and employment programmes which protect the most vulnerable groups. In addition, the government has extended the Social Relief of Distress Grant which was introduced during the COVID pandemic.

    Based on my research as an economist for the last 20 years, I believe the government won’t make much progress in reducing unemployment, inequality and poverty unless it adopts a different strategy – one that targets extreme poverty reduction explicitly.

    In a recent paper, colleagues and I identify key conditions for reducing extreme poverty through social transfers. We designed an economic simulation model to track the effect of increasing social grants to very poor South Africans to move them out of extreme poverty. This would be done by transferring an average of R4,020 (US$225) to every extremely poor South African. Based on our assumptions, about 25 million individuals would be eligible for this social transfer.

    Moving about 25 million South Africans out of extreme poverty would cost on average US$6.5 billion per year. We argue that this cost is worth carrying. Our model also showed that, under certain conditions, poverty-alleviation social transfers can be good for the broader economy.

    Additional benefits

    We know that social grants are important instruments to fight poverty and inequality in South Africa. They can produce sizeable multiplier effects in the economy.

    But we wanted to know more about how society benefits when a large share of the public budget is transferred to poor households.

    What makes the model we built to explore this different is that we simulated the economic implications of a hypothetical South Africa with lower poverty and inequality outcomes. More precisely, we set the poverty headcount rate at the lower-bound poverty line at 5.0% under both unconstrained and constrained scenarios. This is the conventionally accepted definition of extreme poverty eradication.

    The tool combined a macroeconomic model to project the economic impacts and a micro-simulation model to work out the poverty and inequality effects.

    We tested a combination of policy options, including social grants, and their multiplier effects and funding implications. We considered two financing scenarios: one that involved a budget deficit and one which was budget-neutral.

    Under a budget-neutral scenario, funding for interventions would be taken from budgets allocated for other purposes and put towards poverty alleviation instead.

    Key findings

    The model showed that the South African economy, measured by the level of gross domestic product (GDP), would grow faster (by 0.5 percentage points) when the transfer was designed to support poor people’s progressive engagement in economic participation rather than simply providing them with a basic cash grant. This can be done, for instance, by expanding and upgrading the current social assistance schemes such as the public work programmes. These have been shown to have positive outcomes for economic participation.

    When people who receive income transfers are able to work, they contribute to a higher supply of goods and services as well as to higher demand.

    The inflationary effects, in particular food price increases, are limited under this scenario.

    On the other hand, GDP deteriorates by 1 percentage point when there is no requirement or condition for participation (when grant recipients still don’t have a job). Under this scenario food demand increases and related price increases contribute to reducing consumers’ purchasing power.

    What needs to be done

    Our model shows how poverty-alleviation social transfers can have positive economic outcomes under two conditions.

    First, the expansion of the grant lifting approximately 25 million South Africans above the lower-bound poverty line of R9,606 has to be done under a budget-neutral funding arrangement.

    Second, the transfer has to be made with a requirement that there is an increase in the economic participation of extremely poor beneficiaries. In other words, the grant only has a positive effect if the very poor beneficiaries can find work or are required to participate in a certain kind of public work activity.

    The fiscal cost of the poverty alleviating grant transfer would be around 1.6% of GDP or 4.9% of public expenditure. This would mean increasing social spending by 4.9%. Alternatively, spending on other areas would have to be cut by the same proportion.

    In either scenario, the findings show that this constraint might even be relaxed if the fiscal transfer enabled poor people to get work or if the cash transfer was conditional on recipients doing certain work.

    In our view the benefits of this are massive in terms of extreme poverty eradication.

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

    ref. South Africa’s fight against extreme poverty needs a new strategy – model shows how social grants could work – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-fight-against-extreme-poverty-needs-a-new-strategy-model-shows-how-social-grants-could-work-241694

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Consumption of water resources by data centres – E-002228/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    22.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002228/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    Article 12 EED[1] establishes an obligation for Member States to require data centres to publish information on their energy performance and sustainability, including water consumption (Annex VII), and mandates the Commission to set up a Union-wide database containing such information.

    The database is ready and the energy parameters are defined, but there is no detailed section on water consumption. A recent study[2] (2023) estimated that data centres used for AI could account for up to 6 600 million cubic metres in water consumption in 2027.

    • 1.What measures is the Commission considering to address the consumption of water resources by data centres, including possible measures under the EU Water Resilience Strategy?
    • 2.Are companies obliged to report on the water consumption of data centres?
    • 3.How can the Commission oblige data centre owners and operators to reduce their water consumption?

    Submitted: 22.10.2024

    • [1] Recast Energy Efficiency Directive (EED)
    • [2] https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03271
    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Breach of the principles of the rule of law in France by the Minister for the Interior – E-002173/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    18.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002173/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marina Mesure (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Younous Omarjee (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left)

    On Saturday 28 September, the French Minister of Interior, Bruno Retailleau, said in Le Journal du dimanche that ‘the rule of law is not inviolable or sacred’. A statement of that kind from the Minister responsible for the proper exercise of civil liberties is more than simply shocking – it is dangerous. More than anything, it is wholly at odds with the values of the European Union, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

    When Hungary severely violated the values of the European Union laid down in Article 2 TEU, as well as the principles of the rule of law, the Commission was able to trigger the procedures provided for in Article 7 TEU and in the Regulation on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget.

    • 1.Will the Commission be able to exercise the same vigilance where France is concerned?
    • 2.Is it concerned about the statements made by the French Minister of the Interior?
    • 3.Does it plan to take steps to protect the rule of law?

    Submitted: 18.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Czech trains to be upgraded with €300 million EIB loan to national railway operator

    Source: European Investment Bank

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending CZK 7.61 billion Czech korunas (€300 million) to the Czech Republic’s national railway operator, České dráhy, to buy new train carriages and locomotives as well as upgrade existing ones. České dráhy will use the loan to purchase 180 passenger coaches and 20 electric locomotives. The company will also retrofit 219 existing coaches and locomotives with modern technology known as the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The improvements, due to be completed by the end of 2028, will benefit Czech cohesion regions and cross-border connections.

    “This financing exemplifies our unwavering commitment to sustainable transport,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “By modernising the rolling stock of České dráhy, we are not only enhancing the safety and efficiency of rail services but also advancing the EU’s climate-action goals.”

    The loan builds on years of EIB- České dráhy cooperation to upgrade infrastructure and rolling stock. Last year alone, the EIB committed €880 million to Czech rail projects.

    “The funds from the European Investment Bank help us to invest into the modernisation of our rolling stock. We are using the funds obtained in this way primarily for improvement of the quality of long-distance trains, including the acquisition of the most modern ComfortJet trainsets, which will run on the lines interconnecting Prague with Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Hungary, as well as for equipment of other vehicles with the on-board part of the European Train Control System (ETCS). Thanks to these investments, we will offer our passengers more comfortable, more convenient, and safer trains and we will further strengthen the competitive edge of the modern and environment-friendly railway transport,” said Lukáš Svoboda, Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director General of ČD for Economics and Purchasing.  

    The new and retrofitted rolling stock will improve service reliability, shorten journey times, and lower maintenance costs.

    The use of ERTMS will enhance safety and interoperability across the European rail network. The fleet to be retrofitted with ERTMS is expected to be operated for regional and long-distance connections under public-service contracts mainly in the Czech Republic and to a limited extent in neighbouring countries.

    The environmental benefits include reductions in emissions and energy consumption, contributing to the EU’s climate action goals. The project will also support economic and social cohesion by improving mobility for people primarily in the country’s less-developed regions and by strengthening connections to other EU countries.

    Furthermore, the initiative is projected to create around 160 permanent jobs, primarily for train drivers, accompanying staff and maintenance personnel.

    The EIB loan complements grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The CEF is a key EU funding instrument designed to promote growth, jobs, and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investments.

    Background information

    About the EIB

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union. It finances sound investments that contribute to EU policy goals and works closely with other EU institutions to advance shared policy priorities, such as equitable growth and a just transition to climate neutrality. In 2023 alone, the EIB Group provided €1.88 billion for Czech projects. We are significantly investing in the rail sector, with close to €1 billion dedicated to rail projects last year. Since its inception, the EIB has provided substantial financing to the Czech Republic, contributing to the development of its infrastructure and economy.

    About České dráhy, a.s

    The joint stock company “České dráhy” plays the role of the national carrier in the Czech Republic and on the basis of orders from the state and regions it ensures basic transport services for the state. During recent years it was possible to register a significant rejuvenation of the rolling stock, in both regional and long-distance transport sectors. In its effort of making railway transport more attractive and increasing its competitiveness on the open market the firm has invested dozens of billions of Czech crowns in purchases and modernisation of vehicles.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Removing barriers to the digitalisation of public services – E-002201/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    21.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002201/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Piotr Müller (ECR)

    In connection with investment in digital infrastructure and the provision of universal access to very fast internet, which is crucial for the digitalisation of public services in the European Union, please could the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.What action is the Commission taking to remove investment barriers hampering the development of broadband infrastructure, especially in rural areas and white spots, which are delaying the digitalisation of public services?
    • 2.Is the Commission considering new legislative initiatives or financial support programmes which could help Member States accelerate the deployment of digital public services and remove barriers concerning digital infrastructure, such as difficulties in accessing real estate or infrastructure?
    • 3.What specific action is the Commission planning to ensure that the digitalisation of public services will be carried out evenly across all Member States, irrespective of existing legal or technical barriers?

    Investment in digitalisation and broadband is crucial for the development of modern public services and it is therefore important to remove existing obstacles and speed up the process.

    Submitted: 21.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A green fix for steel

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Finding more sustainable production processes can raise steel prices a lot. This is because companies must spend millions of euros on research, new equipment and training. One estimate suggests that it is 25% more expensive to make low-carbon steel. A lot of steel research today focuses on making a product that emits less carbon and does not increase costs substantially.

    Most of the so-called green steel is not able to compete with cheaper steel made from traditional blast furnaces, but it is still in demand. Industries such as the automotive sector will pay a premium for a sustainable, high-quality product. And new regulations in the European Union and other regions are making it mandatory that companies use more low-carbon steel or pay tariffs.

    Tonteling, the senior engineer at the European Investment Bank, says the one thing we can’t do with steel in the future is stop making it.

    “Just think about how you got out of bed this morning,” he says. “There is steel in the bed. And think how many times you use steel to leave the home, get to work, ride a bike, drive or take public transport. Steel is everywhere and it can’t be replaced. There is no other method or material that has the same properties and that is this abundant and relatively cheap.”



    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: How the Line Manager Induction Programme helped me as a leader

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ministry of Justice senior project manager Cathryn Rees says the Line Manager Induction programme helped her to support her team better.

    Cathryn Rees, Ministry of Justice

    Despite more than ten years line management experience before joining the Civil Service, Ministry of Justice senior project manager Cathryn Rees opted to do the Line Manager Induction Programme to find out about how things were done in her new workplace.

    Discovering the induction programme

    Cathryn’s primary motivation for signing up for the Induction was a desire to help her direct reports more effectively. “I know some research out there says people don’t leave organisations, they leave their manager,” she said. “It’s crucial to provide the right support to avoid that.” She also wanted to align her management style with the latest standards in the Civil Service, particularly as her team was rolling out its own line management training targeted at new managers. 

    Practical insights and personal growth 

    What stood out to Cathryn during the training was the programme’s practical focus and reflective exercises. One module, in particular, resonated with her, encouraging self-assessment and helping her understand how her decisions and prioritisation impacted her team. “It was enlightening to reflect on how people might see me and how I affect others.” 

    The structure of the programme was another highlight for Cathryn. She appreciated the flexible, bite-sized approach to learning available through Civil Service Learning. “I liked that I could start and stop as needed, which made it easy to fit into my schedule,” she explained. 

    The open, non-prescriptive tone of the training also appealed to her, as it encouraged exploration and personal growth rather than rigid rule following. 

    Benefits of the induction

    Cathryn’s experience underscored how the programme benefits both new and experienced managers alike. “The induction helped me understand what my team members might be going through and allowed me to support them better,” she said. She also saw the value in the training for her own development, as it provided insights into managing not just downwards but across her team and upwards in the organisation. “It wasn’t just about line management – it was about improving all your communication and leadership skills,” she reflected. 

    For Cathryn, the Line Manager Induction Programme provided a framework for consistent, effective management practices, which was essential in her work to build a positive culture within her team. “Good line management starts with individual conversations and support,” she said. “This programme gave me the tools to have those conversations and to grow both myself and my team.” 

    Cathryn recommends the programme to anyone stepping into a managerial role or looking to refine their leadership approach. “Whether you’re new to line management or experienced, the induction is a practical and valuable resource. It helps you not only support your team better but also develop your own leadership skills in the process.”

    The Line Management Induction Programme is available to do on Civil Service Learning and is part of the Civil Service recommended learning curriculum.

    Read the stories of civil servants who have completed the Line Managemer Induction Programme:

    HMRC senior manager Nikki Fisher

    Department for Business and Trade senior manager Marc Fitchett

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Continental cuisine and culture returning to Hanley

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 30th October 2024

    Noodles, burritos, chimney cakes and souvlaki are just a few of the foods making their way back to Hanley as the Continental Market returns.

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced that the market will return this November, treating shoppers to a wide array of continental cuisine.

    There will also be a fantastic range of gifts and products, brought to you by traders from all over the world across several continents, including Europe, Asia and South America.

    The stalls will be located on Parliament Row and Upper Market Square and will join the regular outdoor traders’ who operate in the city centre, from Thursday 7th November to Sunday 10th November between 10am – 6pm (closing at 4pm on Sunday).

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration said: “We are delighted that the Continental Market is making a return in November.

    “Each year, the delicious food and amazing crafts that traders bring highlight so many amazing cultures and this is a great thing for a city like Stoke-on-Trent. We have wonderful local businesses and traders and events like the market attract more people to the area and increase footfall in these businesses.

    “We would strongly encourage people to go and check out the market, because there are some amazing food and products on show in what promises to be a great event for the city.”

    Businesses on the stalls will include Taste of Germany, Little China Noodles Bar and Aunty Sally Fudge.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Building partnerships to protect the UK from cyber crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, delivered a speech at the PREDICT 2024 Conference on 22 October.

    Thank you and good morning.

    It’s a great privilege to be with you at PREDICT 2024 today taking place right in the very heart of London’s thriving knowledge quarter.

    I’d like at the outset to take this opportunity to thank Recorded Future for your hard work in bringing us together over these 2 days.

    Not least because I think that forums like these provide us with a crucial platform to connect, share ideas and to learn from one another.

    When our world feels increasingly less certain and increasingly more volatile, it is reassuring to know that last night, as with every night, many of you here today, made it safer.

    Across the UK, millions of phones charging next to our beds were patched whilst we were sleeping – better protecting our messages, our photos and our personal information, frankly, our entire lives these days from constantly mutating cyber threats.

    For ministers like me, there will be 2, maybe even 3, phones next to our beds, but add them to millions more devices and their networks that our world now relies on to function.

    The role that the global community of defenders plays in disrupting and defeating cyber-crime is more than just vital – it’s existential.

    So, I want to say this morning that this country, our country, is enormously in the debt of many of you in this room who strive, day in, day out to protect us all.

    Your work, your dedication and your accomplishments have never been more important.

    Yet, it may be the case, that they have never been more taken for granted, because most will only notice, could only ever notice, when things go wrong.

    Who knew what Synnovis were and the vital service they provide to the NHS until ransomware criminals struck?

    Outside of tech circles, who knew the name Crowdstrike before a wayward patch ground international aviation to a halt?

    How many of the millions of Australian or US citizens, who relied on their services, could have identified the logos of Colonial Pipeline or Medibank before they were attacked? So today, I want to focus on this unnoticed and often unappreciated reality.

    I want to talk about the need for constant vigilance in defending our digital world and how we can do so better and together.

    Now, as I’ve already touched upon, our international rules-based system is being severely tested and technological advances continue to evolve at pace.

    Advances in technology bring both risks and opportunities for us all.

    We have all moved our lives online. In this respect, the UK stands out from other countries in its digital development.

    Indeed, it was national news when the card machine stopped working across Greggs’ stores one morning in March this year. Alongside paying for sausage rolls with our smart watches, there are opportunities to harness technology’s vast potential in areas such as healthcare, education and, of course, security.

    But we must also address the evolving risks and maintain a posture of constant vigilance, including by keeping up with developments in artificial intelligence, which show unstoppable momentum.

    Emerging technologies are changing the nature of diplomacy, trade and competition, driving it online and thus onto our devices and into our pockets.

    The much bigger global IT outage in July demonstrated our near universal dependence on technology.

    For businesses, physical premises are interchangeable with digital platforms when it comes to delivering services and making money.

    Beyond AI, quantum technologies, future, telecoms, connected devices, robotics and drones are rapidly reshaping the landscape.

    Put simply, cyber security is national security.

    Therefore, cyber incidents such as ransomware attacks, network intrusions for cyber espionage or IP theft have significant and complex consequences.

    When organisations are targeted, there can be knock on effects on the UK’s economic resilience.

    Data is becoming an ever more valuable commodity. Last year, the UK saw over a million reported Computer Misuse Act offences, most of which sort out personal data.

    These crimes are estimated to cost the UK economy billions of pounds every year.

    When public services or critical national infrastructure are targeted, there are implications for our national security.

    Criminals exploit this and are early adopters of the latest technology.

    The UK, and the international response must keep pace, and where possible, develop a competitive edge to mitigate these risks.

    If misused, artificial intelligence and machine learning can intensify the impact and scale of cyber-crime.

    Criminals are offering exploitation kits and hacking as a service, making it systems and data compromise increasingly accessible network attack surfaces and opportunities to target third party suppliers are expanding exponentially.

    Unauthorised computer access can lead to a wide range of frauds, theft, extortion, and can also facilitate stalking, domestic abuse and harassment.

    These crimes cause significant harm to the UK, destroying businesses and ruining lives.

    That’s why the government is reviewing the threats that we face and addressing priority cyber threats like ransomware, which is the most acute cyber threat facing most UK organisations.

    It’s also why we are making progress on counter ransomware, and the UK continues to lead international efforts, including through the counter ransomware initiative and by sanctioning 36 cyber-criminal actors since 2021, including ransomware actors like Evil Corps, the clue is in the name, LockBit and Trickbot.

    This year, the UK’s National Crime Agency also led a global effort to disrupt LockBit, the world’s most prolific ransomware group.

    Now we are increasingly seeing the impactful effects of combining law enforcement efforts, disruptive operations and interventions like sanctions that de-anonymise, disrupt and deter cyber criminals through a whole government response.

    But there is much more that we need to do.

    We are considering all options available to us, including reviewing the Computer Misuse Act to strengthen our response to the threat.

    But it’s not only criminals who use cyber to target the UK.

    Our intelligence agencies and international partners work around the clock to expose and counter malicious activities that threaten our interests.

    As Mi5 Director General Ken McCallum set out earlier this month, autocratic states persist in their efforts to undermine UK security.

    States, including Russia and China, are investing in advanced cyber operations, and it is a national security priority to detect, disrupt and deter this activity.

    Russia is home to one of the most expansive and destructive cyber-criminal communities in the world, which targets global businesses with ransomware and other forms of cyber-attack for profit.

    The Kremlin deliberately turns a blind eye to the activities of many cyber criminals within its jurisdiction, choosing not to prosecute, as long as their crimes serve the regime’s interests.

    But the Russian state also has extensive cyber capabilities of its own.

    The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has confirmed Russian attempts to target key sectors of the British economy, including the UK media, telecommunications, political and democratic institutions and energy infrastructure.

    We will not tolerate Russian cyber interference and will continue to work with our international allies to expose Russian cyber aggression and hold the Kremlin to account for its malign activity.

    Compared to Russia, China presents a more complex and significant long term cyber challenge, and there have been a number of high-profile China linked cyber-attacks over the past few years, varying in intensity and sophistication.

    We will continue to engage with China, and we want to see a constructive debate aimed at making cyberspace a safer place to do business for companies and consumers.

    That is why we regularly raise issues with China, and we will keep calling out all state and non-state actors for malicious activity when it is necessary to do so.

    For instance, the UK supported by global allies, publicly attributed and sanctioned Chinese state-affiliated actors responsible for malicious cyber campaigns targeting the UK democratic institutions.

    Working alongside our Five Eyes partners and others, the UK continues to strengthen our defences, safeguard our institutions and protect sensitive data from these ever-growing threats.

    NCSC, combining its cyber expertise with unique intelligence insights, remains decisive in ensuring that the UK stays ahead of these state sponsored threats.

    As this year is a year of elections around the world with around 4 billion people going to vote, and we know that malign actors target the freedoms and democratic processes which are integral to our way of life.

    Foreign states and domestic actors use disinformation and harmful material online in a bid to undermine our democratic institutions.

    The recent general election here in the UK was a prime opportunity for our adversaries to mount a major information attack on the UK in an attempt to affect the outcome.

    Government planned for such an incident, but fortunately, this did not happen.

    Although attempts at interference do not stop with electoral events, and we are alive to this ever present-threat to our democracy, especially the use of disinformation.

    Vigilance and effective cross government working is especially needed as AI technology threatens to exacerbate existing information threats, enabling harmful messages to spread at speed and scale, and making disinformation more difficult to spot.

    We are particularly concerned that a steady stream of disinformation and harmful material online can lead to a slow poisoning of our public discourse that attempts to divide our communities.

    We saw some of this play out during the summer with false information and inflammatory content spread rapidly online, contributing to violent disorder in some parts of our country.

    These are complex issues which many democracies face, and that’s why we are working with international allies to share learning and expertise and with social media companies to hold them accountable for keeping online users safe.

    The defending democracy Task Force is at the heart of much of this work. It is an enduring function that coordinates government’s response to these ever-present threats to our democracy.

    The first duty of any government is to protect the nation and in an ever-evolving world with new and complex threats, collaborative working across government, law enforcement, industry and civil society is absolutely fundamental to driving innovative approaches to the UK’s most pressing challenges.

    This can only be achieved if our work to keep our country safe and secure goes hand in hand with our plan to improve UK prosperity.

    Without national security, we cannot kick start economic growth, become a clean energy superpower, take back our streets, break down barriers to opportunity, or build an NHS fit for the future.

    Our work in National Security provides the foundation to enable these missions.

    Breaking down barriers to opportunity enhances the protective factors for those vulnerable to radicalisation, mis and disinformation, or serious and organised crime. We continuously seek to support and strengthen our national security machinery.

    The government is reviewing several policy areas, especially in light of the spending review. The perspectives of the private sector, will be pivotal in these decisions and discussions.

    Indeed, collaboration between the government, the private, and third sectors are key to addressing national security risks.

    By building an enduring and balanced partnership, we can work together to strengthen the UK’s response and resilience.

    The NCSC leads the industry 100 i 100 initiative which enables diverse minds to challenge thinking and tackle systemic vulnerabilities in cyber security.

    The cyber insurance industry is another key partner and is crucial in the cyber threat mitigation ecosystem, providing protection from cyber based risks such as ransomware and hacking.

    In May of this year, 3 major UK insurance bodies, the Association of British Insurers, the British Insurers Brokers Association and the International Underwriting Association, united with the NCSC to publish joint guidance. This guidance, aimed at 14 cyber-criminals’ profits by reducing the number of ransoms paid by UK ransomware victims, was a powerful show of collaborative government and industry working.

    Since then, and with continued partnership from the three insurance bodies, this guidance has since been internationalised through the Counter Ransomware Initiative, with 40 countries and 8 global insurance bodies signing up.

    The government will continue to work closely with industry researchers, academics and the wider public sector to collectively address risks to our national security.

    The work done across these sectors by organisations like Recorded Future, and those here in the room today, are vital to securing the UK’s National Security.

    To conclude, the threats that we face are evolving rapidly, but so too are the opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

    The challenge for all of us, whatever our sector or discipline, is to stay ahead of the threats whilst maximising the opportunities.

    That is why events like PREDICT 2024 are so important, and it is why we must tackle this critical mission together in a spirit of true partnership and collaboration.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two new fire stations built in TiNAO

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In TiNAO, two modern fire stations with four parking spaces each have been built. They were built under the Safe City program, which is part of the Moscow City Targeted Investment Program. This was reported by Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “New fire brigade buildings have appeared in the village of Pervomayskoye in the Filimonkovsky District and the village of Nikulskoye in Shcherbinka. Their total area is 5.3 thousand square meters. The construction of the facilities is fully completed. Now the permitting documentation is being processed and the equipment is being installed. This year, a fire brigade building for two parking spaces was also erected in the village of Rassudovo in the Bekasovo District. Thus, in 2024, three fire brigade buildings for 10 parking spaces will appear in TiNAO,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    All the facilities were equipped with training towers with a climbing wall, sports grounds, and training fire hydrants. The builders also constructed gas boiler houses and material warehouses. Each housed rooms for fire-fighting equipment and its maintenance, a communications center, rest and dining rooms, classrooms, a gym, and a paramedic’s office with a treatment room. Convenient access roads were built to the special facilities.

    “In TiNAO today two more buildings for fire brigades are being built in the Kommunarka area – in the settlement of Voskresenskoye and the village of Kartmazovo. Their construction is planned to be completed in 2025,” added the head of the capital’s Department for the Development of New Territories

    Vladimir Zhidkin.

    On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, special attention in the capital is being paid to the quality of construction of infrastructure facilities that ensure the safety of the city and its residents.

    According to the Chairman of the Committee for State Construction Supervision of the City of Moscow (Mosgosstroynadzor) Anton Slobodchikova, the construction of two fire stations for eight parking spaces was supervised by the department’s inspectors. During the entire period, 20 on-site inspections were carried out, to which specialists from the subordinate Center for Expertise in Research and Testing in Construction were involved. The specialists carried out a set of laboratory and instrumental studies to assess the compliance of the quality of work and materials used with the requirements of the design documentation.

    New fire stations in TiNAO significantly increase the speed of response of special services to emergency situations. Today, the average time of arrival of crews to the fire site has been halved.

    A fire station will be built in the village of VoskresenskoyeA new fire and rescue team has started working in TiNAO

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145938073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.214 [2024]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.214 [2024]

    (Open Market Operations Office, October 30, 2024)

    In order to keep liquidity adequate at a reasonable level in the banking system at month-end, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB431 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on October 30, 2024.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Volume

    Rate

    7 days

    RMB431 billion

    1.50%

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2024年10月30日

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: W&T Offshore Announces Timing of Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: W & T Offshore Inc

    Headline: W&T Offshore Announces Timing of Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    HOUSTON, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) (the “Company”) today announced the timing of its third quarter 2024 earnings release and conference call.

    The Company said it will issue its third quarter 2024 earnings release on Thursday, November 7, 2024, after the close of trading on the NYSE and host a conference call to discuss financial and operational results on Friday morning, November 8, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.)

    Interested parties may participate by dialing (844) 739-3797. International parties may dial (412) 317-5713. Participants should request to be joined to the “W&T Offshore, Inc. Conference Call.” This call will also be webcast and available on W&T Offshore’s website at www.wtoffshore.com under “Investors.” An audio replay will be available on the Company’s website following the call.

    About W&T Offshore

    W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and has grown through acquisitions, exploration and development. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had working interests in 63 fields in federal and state waters (which include 55 fields in federal waters and eight in state waters). The Company has under lease approximately 678,100 gross acres (520,400 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 519,000 gross acres on the conventional shelf, approximately 153,500 gross acres in the deepwater and 5,600 gross acres in Alabama state waters. A majority of the Company’s daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T, please visit the Company’s website at www.wtoffshore.com.

         
    CONTACTS: Al Petrie Sameer Parasnis
      Investor Relations Coordinator Executive VP and CFO
      investorrelations@wtoffshore.com sparasnis@wtoffshore.com
      713-297-8024 713-513-8654
         

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    Source: W&T Offshore, Inc.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Video: CEO Climate Alliance Letter | Ester Baiget

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Ester Baiget, Novonesis CEO, says ramping up existing nature-based solutions could cut global carbon emissions by 8%.

    In an open letter to public and private sector, leaders ahead of COP29, the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders calls for urgent action to combat climate change. Highlighting the critical role of collaborative leadership from business and government, the letter advocates for ambitious, science-based targets to improve the business case for climate action and spur investment.

    Read the full letter: wef.ch/COP29OpenLetter24

    #AllianceofCEOClimateLeaders #Climate #ClimateChange #COP29 #biosolutions

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

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

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Video: CEO Climate Alliance | Jesper Brodin

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ingka Group [IKEA], says businesses and governments need to work closely together to ensure the world meets climate targets.

    In an open letter to public and private sector leaders ahead of COP29, the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders calls for urgent action to combat climate change. Highlighting the critical role of collaborative leadership from business and government, the letter advocates for ambitious, science-based targets to improve the business case for climate action and spur investment.

    Read the full letter: wef.ch/COP29OpenLetter24

    #AllianceofCEOClimateLeaders

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHKqnS_ru7w

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn, EPA Launch Regional Environmental Justice Center

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A multi-disciplinary team of researchers at UConn has received a five-year $10 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lead a New England regional center focused on environmental justice.

    On Wednesday, Oct. 30, UConn launched the Environmental Justice Thriving Community Technical Assistance Center (EJ-TCTAC). In close partnership with the EPA, the University will provide critical support to communities throughout New England.

    The center will benefit cities, towns, and recognized Tribes throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, offering assistance with navigating the federal grant process, engagement efforts, and identifying funding opportunities as the region embraces evolving environmental challenges.

    “As Connecticut’s flagship university, UConn takes pride in service to our communities and helping to prepare them for the environmental challenges they face in the present and the future,” says Pamir Alpay, UConn Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. “With the EPA’s generous support, we are proud to extend our expertise and resourcefulness to support environmental justice throughout the cities, towns, and Tribes of New England.”

    UConn won the grant through a competitive process among other universities in the region. UConn is well-positioned to lead the Center thanks to the expertise of faculty working in various areas related to environmental justice and existing connections with community organizations.

    “Too often, communities with the most pressing environmental justice concerns have been left behind due to barriers in accessing federal funding,” says EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “UConn’s technical assistance center is a game-changer for New England and will provide greater access to services to ensure overburdened and underserved communities and our Tribal nations can access historic investments to address generational environmental and health disparities.”

    The center became operational with the launch of its website, environmental-justice.program.uconn.edu.

    Carolyn A. Lin, professor in the Department of Communication, leads the team as the director of the EJ-TCTAC. The team includes associate directors Rupal Parekh, assistant professor in the School of Social Work; David Chacon-Hurtado, assistant research professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering; Diego Cerrai, assistant professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering; and Chris Newell, the director of Native American Cultural Programs as the tribal liaison.

    “We have a very large group of talented faculty and researchers who have been working on environment-related projects and a lot of them have an environmental justice focus as well,” Lin says. “We hope to excel and do even more than is anticipated successfully.”

    Environmental justice highlights that certain communities, typically lower-income and communities of color, are more likely to be at risk of suffering from environmental harms like pollution and vulnerability to climate change-related impacts like flooding.

    “The need for environmental justice work is very high,” Lin says. “Climate change does not wait for us. The problems are here, and the consequences are obvious. They may not all manifest all at once, but people who live in those communities understand those consequences and they have suffered from them.”

    The Center will support urban, rural, and Tribal communities throughout New England, helping organizations access funding from federal and state agencies to complete environmental justice projects.

    Community organizations will be able to submit requests for free support with tasks like needs assessment, identifying funding sources, grant preparation, grant applications, and grant management. The team will engage partners directly and create digital informational resources, including webinars, podcasts and videos.

    Through this technical assistance, the Center will support projects aimed at improving the quality of life and economic development of communities most affected by environmental injustices.

    “My hope for the Center is that we can use our combined talent and resources, not to mention our passion for this line of work, to truly make a difference in the New England region across urban, rural, and tribal communities,” Lin says.

    The Center is partnering with the EPA; the Institute for New England Native American Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Boston; the New England Environmental Finance Center at the University of Southern Maine; the New England Rural Health Association; Groundwork USA, and the Environmental Protection Network. These partnerships will help the team strengthen its connection with communities and better understand their needs.

    “The only purpose of our Center is to serve the needs of communities across New England,” Lin says. “We have a very strong commitment to pulling together any kind of resources we can and building coalitions with communities and state governments and tribal nations. Because if you unite you are much bigger and much stronger in what you can do.”

    For example, one environmental justice concern in Connecticut is transportation equity. Expanding public transit networks is not only good for the environment, as it cuts carbon emissions by reducing dependence on cars, but it also increases mobility for people who do not own a car.

    “How do we improve our transportation system so that disadvantaged communities who don’t have good access to public transportation will be able to travel more efficiently in terms of time and cost to actually have better educational and economic opportunities,” asks Lin.

    Other initiatives may tackle health disparities related to pollution exposure and toxic infrastructures, helping community organizations combat sources of pollution, develop educational resources, or connect community residents to healthcare services.

    “Environmental issues are directly relevant to our health,” Lin says. “The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil beneath us all affect our well-being.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: DeFi Technologies’ Subsidiary Valour Expands Offerings with First-Ever Valour Bittensor (TAO) SEK ETP in the Nordics on Spotlight Stock Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Introduction of Valour Bittensor (TAO) SEK ETP: DeFi Technologies’ subsidiary Valour Inc. has launched the Valour Bittensor (TAO) ETP on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market, marking the first Bittensor ETP in the Nordics and expanding its suite of digital asset products with this cutting-edge decentralized machine learning asset. With a market cap of $3.9 billion, TAO ranks #25 among digital assets globally.
    • Investment Opportunities in Decentralized Machine Learning: The Valour Bittensor (TAO) SEK ETP provides Nordic investors with unique exposure to TAO, the native token of the Bittensor network, now accessible for the first time in the region. Bittensor revolutionizes machine learning by creating a decentralized, peer-to-peer marketplace where machine intelligence can be exchanged, fostered, and traded. This network functions as a hive mind, pooling AI model intelligence into an ever-growing digital knowledge base and incentivizing global collaboration among developers.
    • Strategic Product Expansion: The launch of the first Valour Bittensor ETP in the Nordics underscores Valour’s commitment to bringing innovative digital assets to the market. Listed on the Spotlight Stock Market, this ETP offers Nordic investors the opportunity to invest in groundbreaking advancements within decentralized AI and machine learning, representing a significant step forward in providing regional access to transformative digital assets.

    TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DeFi Technologies Inc. (the “Company” or “DeFi Technologies”) (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF), a crypto-native technology company at the forefront of merging traditional capital markets with decentralized finance (“DeFi“), proudly announces that its subsidiary Valour Inc. (“Valour“), a leading issuer of exchange-traded products (“ETPs“) providing simplified access to digital assets, has listed the first-ever Valour Bittensor (TAO) ETP in the Nordics on the Spotlight Stock Market. This launch provides investors with seamless access to TAO, the token that fuels Bittensor’s decentralized machine learning protocol. With a market cap of $ 3.9 billion, TAO ranks #25 among digital assets globally.

    The Valour Bittensor (TAO) SEK ETP (ISIN: CH1213604619) is the latest addition to Valour’s range of innovative digital asset products, now available to Nordic investors. The ETP brings unparalleled exposure to the Bittensor network, which turns machine intelligence into a tradable asset within a decentralized marketplace. TAO’s unique utility extends beyond traditional token use by representing individual contributions to this shared intelligence pool, embodying the collective insights within the Bittensor ecosystem. Featuring a 1.9% management fee, this ETP provides streamlined access to the rapidly growing world of decentralized AI.

    “With the TAO ETP, we’re setting a new standard for AI-backed investments, linking investors to the future of decentralized intelligence,” commented Elaine Buehler, Head of Product at Valour. “This launch brings traditional investors into a dynamic AI ecosystem, pushing the boundaries of digital asset investment in the Nordics for the first time.”

    Unlike traditional centralized machine learning models, Bittensor allows AI models to exchange capabilities and predictions directly in a peer-to-peer network. This decentralized structure encourages diversity and innovation, making Bittensor a key driver in the evolution of machine learning.

    “By launching the Valour Bittensor ETP in Sweden, we’re expanding investor access to the transformative potential of decentralized machine learning,” said Johanna Belitz, Head of Nordics at Valour. “Our focus remains on providing high-quality products that reflect current market demands and foster innovation. This is an important milestone as the first Bittensor ETP in the Nordics.”

    About DeFi Technologies
    DeFi Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF) is a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). With a dedicated focus on industry-leading Web3 technologies, DeFi Technologies aims to provide widespread investor access to the future of finance. Backed by an esteemed team of experts with extensive experience in financial markets and digital assets, we are committed to revolutionising the way individuals and institutions interact with the evolving financial ecosystem. Follow DeFi Technologies on Linkedin and Twitter, and for more details, visit https://defi.tech/  

    About Valour
    Valour Inc. and Valour Digital Securities Limited (together, “Valour”) issues exchange traded products (“ETPs”) that enable retail and institutional investors to access digital assets in a simple and secure way via their traditional bank account. Valour is part of the asset management business line of DeFi Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF).

    In addition to their novel physical backed digital asset platform, which includes 1Valour Bitcoin Physical Carbon Neutral ETP, 1Valour Ethereum Physical Staking, and 1Valour Internet Computer Physical Staking, Valour offers fully hedged digital asset ETPs with low to zero management fees, with product listings across European exchanges, banks and broker platforms. Valour’s existing product range includes Valour Uniswap (UNI), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX), Cosmos (ATOM), Binance (BNB), Ripple (XRP), Toncoin (TON), Internet Computer (ICP), Chainlink (LINK), Hedera (HBAR), Core (CORE), Enjin (ENJ), Valour Bitcoin Staking (BTC), Bitcoin Carbon Neutral (BTCN), Sui (SUI), Valour Digital Asset Basket 10 (VDAB10) and 1Valour STOXX Bitcoin Suisse Digital Asset Blue Chip ETPs with low management fees. Valour’s flagship products are Bitcoin Zero and Ethereum Zero, the first fully hedged, passive investment products with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as underlyings which are completely fee free. For more information about Valour, to subscribe, or to receive updates, visit valour.com.

    Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information:
    This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the the listing of Valour Bittensor (TAO) ETP; the development of the TAO token; investor confidence in Valour’s ETPs; investor interest and confidence in digital assets; the regulatory environment with respect to the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by the Company and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited the acceptance of Valour exchange traded products by exchanges; growth and development of decentralised finance and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to decentralised finance and cryptocurrency; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    THE CBOE CANADA EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

    For further information, please contact:

    Olivier Roussy Newton
    Chief Executive Officer
    ir@defi.tech
    (323) 537-7681

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: InspireSemi Announces Annual General and Special Meeting and Appointment of Director

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia and AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inspire Semiconductor Holdings Inc. (TSXV: INSP) (“Inspire” or the “Company”), a chip design company that provides revolutionary high-performance, energy-efficient accelerated computing solutions for High Performance Computing (HPC), AI, graph analytics, and other compute-intensive workloads, is pleased to announce that the Annual General and Special meeting (the “AGSM“) for the year ended December 31, 2023 will be held in person at the Company’s offices at 11305 Four Points Drive, Suite 2-250, Austin, TX 78726 at 9:30 a.m. (Austin time) on November 20, 2024.

    The Notice of AGSM, Management Information Circular (the “Circular”), Financial Statements Request Form, Form of Proxy and Voting Instruction Form (the “Materials”) will be mailed to shareholders and posted on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca not later than the date of this release. The Materials can also be found on the Company’s website at www.inspiresemi.com, investors tab.

    Shareholders of record as of October 11, 2024 are entitled to vote their shares of the Company at the AGSM. The Company encourages its shareholders to vote in advance of the AGM using the instructions on the Voting Instruction Form or the Form of Proxy that were mailed to them with the Materials. Shareholders are reminded that proxies must be received by 9.30 a.m. (Austin Time) on November 18, 2024.

    In addition to the usual matters presented to shareholders at an annual general meeting, the Company will be seeking the approval of its shareholders to delist its subordinate voting shares from the TSX Venture Exchange. For reasons further explained in the Circular, the Company deems the delisting to be an extremely important matter for the Company. The Company encourages all shareholders to review the information in the Circular and to vote in favour of the delisting at the AGSM.

    If any shareholder has not received their voting instructions by mail by mid November and wishes to vote at the AGSM, the Company encourages those shareholders to contact the Corporate Secretary by email to secretary@inspiresemi.com who will be happy to assist with retrieving your individual voting instructions.

    Advance Notice

    This press release is deemed notice, in accordance with the Company’s Advance Notice By-Law (the “By-Law”), which amongst other things, includes a provision that requires advance notice to the Company in circumstances where nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors are made by shareholders of the Company other than pursuant to: (i) a requisition of a meeting made pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Act”); or (ii) a shareholder proposal made pursuant to the provisions of the Act.

    In the case of an annual meeting of shareholders, notice to the Company must be made not less than 30 nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that, in the event that the annual meeting is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice may be made not later than the close of business on the 10th day following such public announcement. Therefore, in this case of the AGSM notice of any nomination must be received by the Company by November 9, 2024.

    Shareholders must provide notice of any nomination for director to the Corporate Secretary by email to secretary@inspiresemi.com and in proper written form and including all the details required in accordance with the By Law, a copy of which can be found on the Company’s website at www.inspiresemi.com, investors tab.

    Appointment of Director

    The Company is also pleased to announce that it has appointed Mr. Jeff Brown to its board of directors effective October 29, 2024.

    Mr. Brown has had a long and successful career in the media industry, with extensive experience in distribution, digital marketing and brand management. He currently owns and runs JB & Associates, a strategic and business building consulting firm and is a Faculty Lecturer in Entertainment Media Management, Cinema and Television Arts at California State University.

    Previously he was with Warner Bros for over 26 years as a prominent executive in the Home Entertainment division, ending as Executive Vice President in January 2023. He helped lead Warner Bros. with its move into streaming, digital (VOD/EST) and physical media (DVD/Blu-ray). He managed P&L for distribution of television content, including WBTV, HBO, Turner productions and third-party partner brands such as the BBC and Peanuts, leading to Warner Bros. holding the top placed market share for nearly 20 years. He
    oversaw the implementation of new customer acquisition strategies and adherence to best-in-class data driven analytics. He also previously worked in brand management and finance for other large brands including Nestle, General Mills and the Gap.

    Mr. Brown holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, a BSE in Finance from Wharton, University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Political Science from University of Pennsylvania.

    The Company welcomes Mr. Brown to the board and looks forward to his future contributions to the success of Inspire.

    Mr. Brown was nominated as a director by Humanitario Capital LLC pursuant to nomination rights granted to it under the Convertible Loan Agreement between it and the Company dated September 23, 2024. Further information regarding the Convertible Loan Agreement can be found in the Company’s press released dated September 23, 2024.

    About InspireSemi

    InspireSemi (TSXV: INSP) provides revolutionary high-performance, energy-efficient accelerated computing solutions for High-Performance Computing (HPC), AI, graph analytics, and other compute-intensive workloads. The Thunderbird I ‘supercomputer-cluster-on-a-chip’ is a disruptive, next-generation datacenter accelerator designed to address multiple underserved and diversified industries, including financial services, computer-aided engineering, energy, climate modeling, cybersecurity, and life sciences & drug discovery. Based on the open standard RISC-V instruction set architecture, InspireSemi’s solutions set new standards of performance, energy efficiency, and ease of programming. InspireSemi is headquartered in Austin, TX.

    For more information visit https://inspiresemi.com
    Follow InspireSemi on LinkedIn

    Company Contact
    Ron Van Dell, CEO
    (737) 471-3230
    rvandell@inspiresemi.com

    Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
    This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Statements concerning InspireSemi’s objectives, goals, strategies, priorities, intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and the business, operations, financial performance and condition of InspireSemi are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass.

    Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company including expectations with respect to production and development; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans, strategies or beliefs as of the date of this presentation, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of InspireSemi, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect management’s expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information reflects management’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to them and on assumptions they believe to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: (i) statements relating to the business and future activities of, and developments related to, the Company after the date of this press release; (ii) expectations for other economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the technology industry generally; (iv) the risk factors referenced in this news release and as described from time to time in documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca; and (v) other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

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

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Safe Harbor Financial to Report Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on Tuesday, November 12, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GOLDEN, Colo., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a/ Safe Harbor Financial (“Safe Harbor”) (NASDAQ: SHFS), a leader in facilitating financial services and credit facilities to the regulated cannabis industry, today announced that it will report financial results for the third quarter of 2024 ended September 30, 2024 on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, after the close of the market.

    Safe Harbor will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30p.m. ET / 1:30p.m. PT on November 12, 2024, to discuss Safe Harbor’s financial results.

    For those interested in listening in to the conference call, please dial in and ask to join the Safe Harbor Financial call.

    About Safe Harbor
    Safe Harbor is among the first service providers to offer compliance, monitoring and validation services to financial institutions, providing traditional banking services to cannabis, hemp, CBD, and ancillary operators, making communities safer, driving growth in local economies, and fostering long-term partnerships. Safe Harbor, through its financial institution clients, implements high standards of accountability, transparency, monitoring, reporting and risk mitigation measures while meeting Bank Secrecy Act obligations in line with FinCEN guidance on cannabis-related businesses. Over the past eight years, Safe Harbor has facilitated more than $23 billion in deposit transactions for businesses with operations spanning over 41 states and US territories with regulated cannabis markets. For more information, visit www.shfinancial.org.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain information contained in this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included herein may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to trends in the cannabis industry, including proposed changes in U.S and state laws, rules, regulations and guidance relating to Safe Harbor’s services; Safe Harbor’s growth prospects and Safe Harbor’s market size; Safe Harbor’s projected financial and operational performance, including relative to its competitors and historical performance; new product and service offerings Safe Harbor may introduce in the future; the impact volatility in the capital markets, which may adversely affect the price of Safe Harbor’s securities; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Safe Harbor; and other statements regarding Safe Harbor’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “outlook,” “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 predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Safe Harbor’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Safe Harbor undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

    Safe Harbor Media
    Nick Callaio, Marketing Manager
    720.951.0619
    Nick@SHFinancial.org

    Safe Harbor Investor Relations
    ir@SHFinancial.org

    KCSA Strategic Communications
    Phil Carlson
    safeharbor@kcsa.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Stock Yards Bancorp to Participate in the 2024 Hovde Group Financial Services Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in Louisville, central, eastern and northern Kentucky, as well as the Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan markets, today announced that Ja Hillebrand, Chairman and CEO and T. Clay Stinnett, EVP and CFO will participate in the 2024 Hovde Group Financial Services Conference to be held November 6th through November 8th, and will participate in a series of meetings with institutional investors.

    Management’s discussion materials to be used at this conference will be posted to the investor section of the Company’s website, www.syb.com, on or before November 6, 2024.

    Louisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with $8.4 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company’s common shares trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “SYBT.”

    Contact:
    T. Clay Stinnett
    Executive Vice President,
    Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
    (502) 625-0890

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Mattr to Present and Host 1×1 Investor Meetings at the 16th Annual Southwest Ideas Investor Conference on November 20th in Dallas, TX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mattr Corp. (“Mattr” or the “Company”) (TSX: MATR), today announced Mike Reeves, President & CEO and Tom Holloway, SVP Finance & CFO will present at the Southwest IDEAS Investor Conference on Wednesday November 20, 2024 at The Statler in Dallas, TX. Mattr’s presentation is scheduled to begin at 8:35am CT. The presentation is webcast and can be accessed through the conference host’s main website: https://www.threepartadvisors.com/southwest and in the investor relations section of the company’s website: http://www.mattr.com.

    About IDEAS Investor Conferences

    The mission of the IDEAS Conferences is to provide independent regional venues for quality companies to present their investment merits to an influential audience of investment professionals. Unlike traditional bank-sponsored events, IDEAS Investor Conferences are “SPONSORED BY INVESTORS. FOR INVESTORS.” and for the benefit of regional investment communities. Conference sponsors collectively have more than $200 billion in assets under management and include: 1102 Partners, Adirondack Research and Management, Allianz Global Investors: NFJ Investment Group, Ariel Investments, Aristotle Capital Boston, Ascend Wealth Advisors, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss, BMO Global Asset Management, Constitution Research & Management, Inc., Diamond Hill, First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc., Granahan Investment Management, Great Lakes Advisors, Greenbrier Partners Capital Management, LLC, Hodges Capital Management, Ironwood Investment Management, Keeley Teton Advisors, Luther King Capital Management, Marble Harbor Investment Counsel, North Star Investment Management, Perritt Capital Management, Punch & Associates, Shepherd Kaplan Krochuk, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., and William Harris Investors.

    The IDEAS Investor Conferences are held annually and are produced by Three Part Advisors, LLC. Additional information about the events can be located at www.IDEASconferences.com.

    If interested in participating or learning more about the IDEAS conferences, please contact Lacey Wesley at (817) 769 -2373 or lWesley@IDEASconferences.com.

    About Mattr

    Mattr is a growth-oriented, global materials technology company broadly serving critical infrastructure markets, including transportation, communication, water management, energy and electrification. The Company operates through a network of fixed manufacturing facilities. Its two business segments, Composite Technologies and Connection Technologies, enable responsible renewal and enhancement of critical infrastructure while lowering risk.

    For further information, please contact:

    Meghan MacEachern

    VP, External Communications & ESG

    Telephone: 437.341.1848

    Email: meghan.maceachern@mattr.com

    Website: www.mattr.com

    Source: Mattr Corp.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI to conduct 14-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under LAF on October 31, 2024

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on October 31, 2024, Thursday, as under:

    Sl. No. Notified Amount
    (₹ crore)
    Tenor
    (day)
    Window Timing Date of Reversal
    1 1,75,000 14 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM November 14, 2024
    (Thursday)

    2. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1403

    MIL OSI Economics