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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: TrueCommerce Unveils ReplenishAI™: an Industry-First, AI-Enhanced, Demand Planning and Replenishment Solution for Vendor Managed Inventory 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PITTSBURGH, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TrueCommerce, a global provider of supply chain and trading partner connectivity, integration and omnichannel solutions, today announced the launch of ReplenishAI. This industry-first, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution leverages AI algorithms to analyze historical sales and generate demand pattern clusters, equipping businesses with clearer insights into optimal replenishment strategies with unprecedented accuracy. 

    Identifying products that follow promotional or seasonal sales patterns is a very manual and time-consuming process—sometimes taking weeks or months. ReplenishAI dramatically shortens this timeline to hours, efficiently reviewing tens of thousands of items, identifying key demand trends, and predicting when inventory spikes will occur. The AI-driven data is seamlessly integrated into TrueCommerce’s VMI solution, delivering superior demand planning and replenishment optimization. For added confidence, the models are validated against historical data to ensure accuracy and reliability.

    The ReplenishAI solution leverages AI to analyze a company’s entire product portfolio, automatically grouping items into clusters based on their unique demand patterns. Some key processes of the solution include:

    • Data Standardization: Takes product-level demand data over time and standardizes it, ensuring consistency across different units of measure, whether the product is tracked by case, pallet, or other metrics. 
    • Demand Smoothing: Eliminates disruptive data spikes, making it easier to produce generalized, actionable insights for replenishment.
    • AI-Powered Clustering: Applies sophisticated algorithms to group products into distinct profiles based on yearly demand trends, unlocking more accurate, efficient replenishment strategies.

    “Driving innovation that addresses our customer needs is a strategic priority of our team, and ReplenishAI delivers on this strategy,” said TrueCommerce’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of VMI solutions, Lee Kimball. “This AI-driven solution reduces human effort and error while optimizing inventory levels throughout the seasons. With ReplenishAI, maximizing sales and minimizing residual inventory in support of seasonal and promotional demand becomes a reality for our customers. We’re excited to be leading the charge as the first mover in this space, demonstrating how advanced VMI technology can deliver even greater efficiency and impact than ever before.”

    For more information visit: https://www.truecommerce.com/solutions/vmi/.

    Connect with TrueCommerce

    About TrueCommerce

    At TrueCommerce, we empower businesses to improve their supply chain performance and drive better business outcomes. Through a single connection to our high-performance global supply chain network, businesses receive more than just EDI, they get access to a fully integrated network that connects their customers, suppliers, logistics partners and internal systems. Our cloud-based, fully managed services help businesses achieve end-to-end supply chain management, streamlined delivery, and simplified operations. With 25+ years of expertise and trusted partnership, TrueCommerce helps businesses reach their true supply chain potential today while preparing them for the future with our integration-agnostic network. That’s why thousands of companies—from SMBs to the global Fortune 100, across various industries—rely on us. To learn more, visit https://www.truecommerce.com.

    TrueCommerce and ReplinishAI are trademarks of True Commerce, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [ECKOH PLC – 21 10 2024] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 ECKOH PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 21 OCTOBER 2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

    Class of relevant security: 10p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 20,473,326 7.0460    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 20,473,326 7.0460    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    10p ORDINARY SALE 151,565 42.415p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

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

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

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

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

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

    NONE

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

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

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 22 OCTOBER 2024
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tuttle Capital Management Launches European Aerospace and Defense Industry ETF

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWICH, Conn., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — The Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF (the “Fund”) will start trading today. The Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in the component securities of the STOXX® Europe Total Market Aerospace & Defense Index. The Fund will also invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in exchange listed common stock or ADRs of companies based (headquartered) in Europe who derive at least 50% of their revenue from the manufacture, service, supply and distribution of aeronautical equipment, components, hardware, software or electronic systems; and equipment, systems, components, infrastructure support services, and hardware, software and electronics that directly support civil and military defense efforts.

    Visit the Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF here: http://www.select-funds.com
      
    Matthew Tuttle, CEO of Tuttle Capital Management (“TCM”), said in a news release that “given the global state of tensions, and the possibility that the US may pull back from European security commitments, we think there could be an investment edge in these names”.

    About Tuttle Capital Management

    TCM believes it is an industry leader in offering thematic ETFs and first of their kind ETFs Please visit http://www.tuttlecap.com for more information about TCM.

    The STOXX Europe Total Market Aerospace & Defense Index is intellectual property (including registered trademarks) of STOXX Ltd., Zug, Switzerland (“STOXX”), Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, which is used under license. The Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF is neither sponsored nor promoted, distributed, or in any other manner supported by STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, research partners or data providers and STOXX. Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research partners or data providers do not give any warranty and exclude any liability (whether in negligence or otherwise) with respect thereto generally or specifically in relation to any errors, omissions, or interruptions in the STOXX Europe Total Market Aerospace & Defense Index or its data.

    An investor should consider the objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF (the “Fund”) before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund. A copy of the prospectus is available above or by calling Shareholder Services at 1-800-773-3863. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Current and future holdings are subject to change and risk.

    An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of some or the entire principal amount invested. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its investment objective. Investment in the Fund is also subject to the following risks:

    Equity Securities Risk: Investments in equity securities may fluctuate in value response to many factors, including general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes.

    Non-Diversification Risk: The fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in a limited number of companies than a diversified fund. Because a relatively high percentage of the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of a limited number of companies that could be in the same or related economic sectors, the Fund’s portfolio may be more susceptible to any single economic, technological, or regulatory occurrence than the portfolio of a diversified fund.

    Aerospace and Defense Sector Risk: The aerospace and defense sectors can be significantly affected by government regulation and spending policies because companies involved in these sectors rely, to a significant extent, on government demand for their products and services. 

    Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund could be subject to greater risks because the Fund’s performance may depend on issues other than the performance of a particular company or U.S. market sector. Changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect the Fund than a fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies.

    Limited History of Operations Risk: The Fund has a limited history of operations. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders.

    Passive Investment Risk: The Fund is not actively managed and, therefore, would not sell an equity security due to current or projected underperformance of such security, industry, or sector, unless that security is removed from the Index.

    While the shares of the Fund are tradable on secondary markets, they may not readily trade in all market conditions and may trade at significant discounts in periods of market stress. ETFs trade more like stocks, are subject to investment risks, fluctuate in market value, and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. More information about these risks can be found in the Fund’s prospectus.

    The Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF is distributed by Capital Investment Group, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, 100 E. Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609. There is no affiliation between Tuttle Capital Management, LLC, including their principals, and Capital Investment Group, Inc. RCSTOX1024001

    Contact:
    mtuttle@tuttlecap.com
    Wire Service Contact:
    IBN
    Los Angeles, California
    http://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    310.299.1717 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – Learning Technologies Group Plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    8.3

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

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: Rathbones Group Plc
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Learning Technologies Group Plc
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 21/10/2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 No

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

    Class of relevant security: 0.375p Ord
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 30,648,547 3.86%    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 30,648,547 3.86%    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    0.375p Ordinary Shares Sale 3,312 92.9612p
    0.375p Ordinary Shares Sale 4,735 92.31p
    0.375p Ordinary Shares Sale 49,277 92.35p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

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

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

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

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

    (ii)        Exercise

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

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

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    0.375p Ordinary Shares Internal transfer from Execution-Only to Discretionary account 8,570  
    0.375p Ordinary Shares Internal transfer from Execution-Only to Discretionary account 4,020  

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

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

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

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? No
    Date of disclosure: 22/10/2024
    Contact name: Chinwe Enyi – Compliance Department
    Telephone number: 0151 243 7053

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

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

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Employ Recruiter Nation Report 2024 Uncovers Data and Insights that Can Help Recruiters Prioritize a People-First Approach to Hiring

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Employ Inc., a leading provider of people-first recruiting and talent acquisition solutions including JazzHR, Lever, Jobvite and NXTThing RPO, today announced the release of the Employ Recruiter Nation Report 2024.

    The annual report, this year titled “Empowering People-First Recruiting,” leverages findings from a survey of more than 1,200 talent acquisition decision makers and recruiters in North America and proprietary recruiting data from 22,000+ Employ customers. The report provides key insights into the current state of talent acquisition, top challenges, and where future investments should be made to scale recruiting efforts and influence outcomes.

    The most significant challenges recruiters face today were shared by one-third of respondents: competition for talent from other employers (37 percent in 2024 versus 30 percent in 2023), not enough people to fill open positions (33 percent in 2024 versus 3 percent in 2023), and too many candidates applying for open positions (26 percent in 2024 versus 24 percent in 2023).

    TA decision-makers also indicated not being able to offer remote or hybrid work (22 percent), poor communication from candidates in the hiring process (21 percent), and not being able to compete on salary requirements (20 percent) as top challenges their companies face when hiring.

    “Businesses have responded to market challenges through strategic investments made to enhance hiring processes and focus on flexibility, scalability and speed,” said Steve Cox, CEO of Employ. “Employ data shows that 64 percent of businesses expect to increase their recruiting budgets in the next 12 months, with 64 percent of that group expected to increase investments in new recruitment technology processes specifically.”

    Cox added, “The challenge is not only finding candidates fast but also finding qualified candidates and meeting them where they are. Whether you’re exploring the use of AI or improving your reporting capabilities, putting candidates and their needs at the center of your hiring process will be critical. When choosing where to invest, look for a solution that solves current and evolving needs and also one that puts people first.”

    The report also revealed:

    • Time to fill roles has dropped by seven days (41 in 2024, down from 48 in 2023).
    • Forty-seven percent of TA leaders focused on a faster hiring process overall in 2024 compared to 42 percent in 2023, followed by incorporating AI-powered technologies, which made a 10 percent jump to 44 percent compared to 34 percent in 2023, and increasing salaries for new open jobs (41 percent in 2024 versus 40 percent in 2023).
    • Sixty-three percent of recruiters and TA decision-makers already use AI to augment their current recruitment technology, up from 58 percent last year. Similarly, 89 percent of this group are using AI frequently or very frequently—an increase of 7 percent from last year’s 82 percent.
    • To further support the traction AI-powered recruiting tools are gaining, 71 percent plan to increase their budgets in that area, up 12 percent from 2023. The next ranking area, candidate relationship management, came in at 46 percent, followed by applicant tracking systems (44 percent), diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (41 percent), and sourcing (40 percent).
    • Job boards increased as the most effective channel in growing employer brand in 2024, with a 12 percent increase over last year taking it to 67 percent. Social media also saw a relevant increase of 7 percent (up to 54 percent). Employee referrals and career websites tied for third at 35 percent, while internal hires fell 13 percent to 22 percent.
    • A growing number of organizations are expected to move to a 100 percent in-office model—34 percent in 2024 compared to 17 percent in 2023, bringing fully remote policies to 9 percent versus 27 percent last year.

    “Hearts and minds are won and lost in the acquisition process,” said Stephanie Manzelli, CHRO of Employ. “That’s why a people-first experience is so essential. Giving talent acquisition teams more time to focus on building employer brand and cultivating relationships with candidates will positively impact both short- and long-term business results.”

    To read more about additional challenges and opportunities for TA leaders and an outlook for 2025, download “Empowering People-First Recruiting” here.   

    To learn more about Employ Inc. and its solutions, please visit http://www.employinc.com.

    About Employ Inc.
    Employ Inc. provides people-first recruiting solutions that empower companies to overcome their greatest hiring challenges. Serving SMBs to global enterprises, Employ focuses on the unique recruiting needs of each organization — from foundational hiring to sophisticated talent acquisition. Employ is the only organization to offer companies choice in their hiring solutions, providing a curated set of recruiting technologies and services. Together, Employ and its solutions (JazzHR, Lever, Jobvite and NXTThing RPO) serve more than 22,000 customers across multiple industries. For more information, visit http://www.employinc.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC – 21 10 2024] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 21 OCTOBER 2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

    Class of relevant security: 1p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 1,340,469 1.6645    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 1,340,469 1.6645    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    1p ORDINARY SALE 545 2445p
    1p ORDINARY SALE 4,025 2445.0002p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

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

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

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

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

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

    NONE

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

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

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 22 OCTOBER 2024
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Onex to Announce Third Quarter 2024 Results on November 8, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated 

    TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Onex Corporation (TSX: ONEX) will release its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 on November 8, 2024.

    A live broadcast of Onex’ webcast to discuss the results will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET on November 8, 2024. A link to the webcast and on-line replay will be available at http://www.onex.com/events-and-presentations.

    About Onex

    Onex invests and manages capital on behalf of its shareholders and clients across the globe. Formed in 1984, we have a long track record of creating value for our clients and shareholders. Our investors include a broad range of global clients, including public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. In total, Onex has $49 billion in assets under management, of which $8.5 billion is Onex’ own investing capital. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey and London, Onex and its experienced management teams are collectively the largest investors across Onex’ platforms.

    Onex is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit http://www.onex.com. Onex’ security filings can also be accessed at http://www.sedarplus.ca.

    For further information:
    Zev Korman
    Vice President, Shareholder Relations and Communications
    +1 416.362.7711

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cangrade Launches Jules for Self-Discovery—Your Free, Personalized AI Life Coach

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WATERTOWN, Mass., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cangrade today introduced Jules for self-discovery—a new, breakthrough feature that empowers anyone with a growth mindset and a desire for self-improvement to find their purpose and direction. Serving as your own, free-to-use, generative AI-powered career and life coach, Jules for self-discovery can help individuals navigate challenges, uncover personal insights, and reach their goals based on their unique personality intelligence.

    While AI-backed self-reflection and personality assessment tools exist, current solutions lack the breadth of personal data required for true self-discovery. Additionally, human life coaches can be hard to access, time- and resource-intensive, and specialize in different areas. Jules for self-discovery can solve these challenges by measuring 50 unique personality traits and building contextual awareness to uncover not only what drives you, but where you want to go.

    Some questions Jules Self-Discovery can shed light on include:

    • What skills do I need to work on to get a promotion?
    • How can I set better boundaries?
    • How can I stop comparing myself to others on social media and focus on my journey?
    • I’m procrastinating on a project, how can I get motivated?
    • What role should I take on next in my career?

    “Understanding and being true to ourselves can lead to massive shifts in our personal and professional lives, but as humans, we often need outside sources to make sense of this information,” said Gershon Goren, Founder and CEO, Cangrade. “Jules goes beyond simple personality quizzes and generalized insights, giving you highly personalized, actionable strategies to help you up-level your life and career. In just 15 minutes, you can start making real moves to get a promotion, improve your sleep schedule, navigate difficult conversations, and beyond.”

    Jules for self-discovery is the natural progression of Jules, the company’s AI Copilot for Human Resources (HR), announced last month. Unlike the initial offering, which focuses on helping HR professionals make more strategic, data-backed talent decisions, Jules for self-discovery is for anyone interested in navigating and accelerating their personal and professional life.

    To start enhancing your career and life today, get started with Jules. For more information about Cangrade’s AI-powered, bias-free hiring and talent management solutions, visit http://www.cangrade.com.

    About Cangrade
    For HR leaders, Cangrade is the bias-free, AI-powered talent intelligence platform. By integrating data into talent acquisition and management processes, Cangrade enables businesses to make strategic and efficient decisions from initial screening through the entire employee lifecycle. Delivering 10x more accurate predictions of talent success and retention than traditional methods, the company’s Pre-Hire Assessment has helped organizations like Wayfair, FDNY, Lamar Advertising, and Applied Industrial Technologies make the right hiring decisions for over 10 million candidates and counting. For more information, visit http://www.cangrade.com.

    Media Contact:
    Gina Devine
    Public Relations
    press@cangrade.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sophos Appoints Torjus Gylstorff as Sophos’ Chief Revenue Officer and Jon Bove as Sophos’ Senior Vice President of Americas Sales

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OXFORD, United Kingdom, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sophos, a global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today announced that Torjus Gylstorff has joined the company as chief revenue officer (CRO). Sophos has also appointed Jon Bove senior vice president of Americas sales. Sophos hired Gylstorff and Bove, two key industry executives, to further accelerate sales of Sophos’ portfolio of cybersecurity services and products, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services and endpoint, network, email, and cloud security.

    Gylstorff is responsible for driving revenue growth through effective leadership of Sophos’ global sales organization and partner and customer networks. This includes expanding Sophos’ presence beyond its already strong customer base of more than 600,000 organizations worldwide in the small and mid-sized business market. Gylstorff will also leverage his skills in the channel to develop strategies that strengthen and drive additional business with existing and new Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

    Gylstorff has more than 25 years of experience in sales, channels and business development across the technology and cybersecurity sectors, leading worldwide sales teams and building global channel ecosystems. Prior to joining Sophos, Gylstorff was the worldwide sales leader for Thales’ Application and Data Security Business. Prior to Thales, he was vice president of Worldwide Channels and Alliances at Symantec. Before that, Gylstorff led emerging business initiatives at Blue Coat Systems and managed major turnarounds in Japan and South Korea. His career includes significant tenures at Norman Shark, IBM and Lotus Software, where he held various senior sales and leadership positions across Europe. 

    As senior vice president of Americas sales for Sophos, Bove is working closely with the company’s extensive partner network in North America and Latin America to develop new revenue streams and ensure partners and their customers have the proper security needed to defend against ransomware, data breaches and other persistent cyberattacks. Bove will also direct and oversee the growth of new partners and MSPs in the region to increase sales of Sophos security solutions, which plug into the Sophos Central management platform. With Sophos Central, partners and MSPs can elevate and streamline customer defenses and operations, upgrades, renewals and much more, increasing revenue opportunities, while also improving customers’ security.

    Bove brings more than 20 years of sales experience, with 15 years in cybersecurity and channel sales leadership, to Sophos. Most recently, Bove served as vice president sales, U.S. enterprise, at Fortinet, where he was responsible for driving significant revenue growth through channel sales in North America. At Fortinet, Bove grew the small and medium business (SMB) sales organization and defined the company’s channel sales strategy to expand focus on the enterprise market. Bove also previously held sales and channel leadership positions at Proofpoint.

    “Sophos is already a leading provider of security services and technologies for the midmarket and smaller organizations that need help defeating cyberattacks, due to resource constraints such as skills gaps, limited budgets and other issues that cause them to be under protected. Our vision at Sophos is a world where organizations of any size and means have a clear path to superior cybersecurity outcomes, and the work we do every day aims to close the cybersecurity divide and protect more organizations in the most at-risk segments of the market. The best and most efficient way to do this is by scaling with channel partners and MSPs,” said Joe Levy, CEO, Sophos. “With Torjus and Jon, both of whom have decades of experience in leading channel sales, managing sales operations and developing relationships with customers, we can scale faster and in a way that accelerates growth for partners, MSPs and Sophos. I’m excited to have Torjus and Jon on board to help drive the next phase of Sophos’ go to market evolution.”

    About Sophos
    Sophos is a global leader and innovator of advanced security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and incident response services and a broad portfolio of endpoint, network, email, and cloud security technologies. As one of the largest pure-play cybersecurity providers, Sophos defends more than 600,000 organizations and more than 100 million users worldwide from active adversaries, ransomware, phishing, malware, and more. Sophos’ services and products connect through the Sophos Central management console and are powered by Sophos X-Ops, the company’s cross-domain threat intelligence unit. Sophos X-Ops intelligence optimizes the entire Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem, which includes a centralized data lake that leverages a rich set of open APIs available to customers, partners, developers, and other cybersecurity and information technology vendors. Sophos provides cybersecurity-as-a-service to organizations needing fully managed security solutions. Customers can also manage their cybersecurity directly with Sophos’ security operations platform or use a hybrid approach by supplementing their in-house teams with Sophos’ services, including threat hunting and remediation. Sophos sells through reseller partners and managed service providers (MSPs) worldwide. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at http://www.sophos.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Descope Named SINET16 Innovator, Included in Cyber 150 List of Fastest Growing Security Companies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ALTOS, Calif., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Descope, the drag & drop customer identity and access management (CIAM) platform, today announced that it has been named a 2024 winner of the SINET16 Innovator Award and has been included in the annual Cyber 150 list, both recognitions validating the company’s fast growth and innovation in the customer identity space.

    The Descope no / low code CIAM platform helps organizations easily create and customize their entire authentication and user journey using visual workflows. Hundreds of customers including GoFundMe, Databricks, and Navan use Descope to reduce user friction during onboarding, enhance protection against account takeover attacks, and unify identities across customer-facing apps.

    The SINET16 and Cyber 150 recognitions follow on the back of Descope being named in the Redpoint InfraRed 100, Fortune Cyber 60, and Notable Capital’s Rising in Cyber. The company was also recently named a Momentum Leader based on customer reviews in the G2 Crowd Fall 2024 Reports in the CIAM and Passwordless categories.

    The SINET16 Innovator Award selected Descope as one of 16 emerging companies identified as the most innovative and compelling technologies in their fields to address cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. Winners were selected from a pool of 230 applications from 13 countries, with applications being evaluated by the SINET Judging Committee composed of over 100 security professionals including security and risk leaders, government intelligence and defense experts, venture capitalists, and investment bankers.

    Robert D. Rodriguez, Chairman of SINET, said: “SINET is a purpose-driven community whose mission is to advance innovation to defeat Cybersecurity threats. In support of this calling, I am proud to congratulate this year’s class of SINET16 winners. We look forward to watching these companies continue to mature as they progress on their amazing entrepreneurial journeys and their goal to protect our critical infrastructures and national security interests.”

    The Cyber 150 list is annually curated by IT-Harvest and was founded by noted industry analyst Richard Stiennon. The list used a variety of objective metrics to highlight the 150 fastest growing cybersecurity companies in the world with employees between 50-500. The Cyber 150 acts as a benchmark for the industry, highlighting companies that lead and redefine security standards and practices.

    Richard Stiennon, Chief Research Analyst at IT-Harvest, said: “Congratulations to the Descope team for being named in the Cyber 150. As one of the youngest companies in the list, Descope’s inclusion is a testament to their fast growth and customer momentum in a crowded IAM market. I look forward to seeing where their journey leads.”

    Slavik Markovich, Co-Founder and CEO of Descope, said: “We’re delighted to be named a SINET16 Innovator and to be included in the IT-Harvest Cyber 150 list. Any industry recognition Descope receives is a result of the trust our customers place in us and the work our employees put in every second. This reaffirms our commitment to improving the way organizations manage their customer identities by making it less about code and more about the user journey. We’re already booted up and ready to climb the next mountain!”

    About Descope

    Descope is a drag & drop CIAM platform. Our no / low code solution helps hundreds of organizations easily create and customize their entire user journey using visual workflows – from authentication and authorization to MFA and federated SSO. Hundreds of customers use Descope to reduce user friction, prevent account takeover, and get a unified view of their customer journey. Founded in 2022, Descope is backed by Lightspeed and Notable Capital (previously GGV Capital) and is a member of the FIDO Alliance.

    Media Contact

    Erica Anderson

    Offleash for Descope

    descope@offleashpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: “Rage Deletion” is Real – and GenZ is admitting to doing it the most

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nearly one in six workers has experienced a co-worker intentionally deleting important company data before quitting a job. One in twenty has personally committed “Rage Deletion,” with GenZ employees being twice as likely (one in ten) to admit to doing so. That’s according to new research from backup and recovery leader CrashPlan. With the US presidential election approaching, 15% of respondents also worry that political activism could drive intentional deletion by departing co-workers.

    CrashPlan surveyed more than 2,300 workers as part of its forthcoming Work Trend Security Report. It found that certain industries and roles were more vulnerable to Rage Deletion.

    • Worry is highest (20%) among employees concerned about job security.
    • Concern over Rage Deletion is highest in the technology industry (21%) and among programmers and developers (25%).
    • The five roles that were most likely to admit to personally Rage Deleting were designers and design engineers (11%), writers and editors (9%), programmers and developers (7%) and video producers (7%).
    • Millennials are most worried about political activism driving Rage Deletion (17%)
    • Only 43% of companies provide tools that ensure employee data is backed up and only 39% provide clear policies mandating their use.

    Where is all the rage coming from?
    Rage Deleters are significantly less engaged at work and more frustrated than other employees. They are more likely to feel increased pressure to show productivity at work, are more concerned about their job security, and are more than twice as likely as others to be seeking new jobs. They’re less often managers, but they are also more likely than others to have worked overtime more than ten times in the previous month. They have received cybersecurity training less often and are less likely to feel their employer invests sufficiently in professional development. Rage Deleters are less likely to look forward to going to work and significantly less proud of their workplaces. And they are twice as likely as others to have already experienced a co-worker’s Rage Deletion.

    “The signs of employee disengagement and dissatisfaction show up in the way they use technology. Obviously, it doesn’t usually escalate to sabotage, but our research clearly shows that disengaged employees are less careful with their data,” said CrashPlan CISO Todd Thorsen. “Every company has a simple choice – with a few keystrokes their intellectual property or important records can vanish forever, or just as quickly they can restore the data a disgruntled employee intended to destroy.”

    To learn more about CrashPlan, visit http://www.crashplan.com

    About CrashPlan
    CrashPlan provides cyber-ready data resilience and governance in a single platform for organizations whose ideas power their revenue. With its comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities for data stored on servers, on endpoint devices, and in SaaS applications, CrashPlan’s solutions are trusted by entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses of all sizes worldwide. From ransomware recovery and breaches to migrations and legal holds, CrashPlan’s suite of products ensures the safety and compliance of your data without disruption.

    Media Contact:
    Brianna Bruinsma
    Firebrand Communications
    crashplan@firebrand.marketing

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Alvarez & Marsal selects Intapp to strengthen deal management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intapp (NASDAQ: INTA), a leading global provider of AI-powered solutions for professionals at advisory, capital markets, and legal firms, today announced that global consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal has selected Intapp DealCloud as its deal and pipeline management solution. Alvarez & Marsal’s rapidly expanding Corporate Finance practice group will use DealCloud to manage origination, sales pipeline, and deal workflows.

    Supporting teams with technology
    “We see Intapp DealCloud as a key foundational element that will let us establish best practices as we build our Corporate Finance practice,” said Jonathan Boyers, Managing Director and Head of Alvarez & Marsal’s Corporate Finance practice in EMEA. “With DealCloud, we’ll create a centralized deal management hub that will help us efficiently manage complex deals and speed execution.”

    Modernizing deal management
    Using DealCloud as its centralized deal management platform, Alvarez & Marsal’s Corporate Finance team will be able to efficiently manage origination, pipeline, deals, and execution using a single solution. The firm’s corporate finance professionals will find and reference communications, workflows, and other data relating to deals and client pursuits in the platform. In addition, access to collective firm intelligence will help teams accurately track and forecast deals and pipeline, and accelerate execution. By centralizing engagement data, DealCloud will help Alvarez & Marsal transform average daily activities into actionable trends and industry developments.

    Alvarez & Marsal will use DealCloud’s advisory industry blueprint, which is preconfigured specifically for consulting firms. The blueprint includes key features like automated data management, pipeline and forecasting, execution and process management, and reporting capabilities. The industry blueprint and Intapp’s templated data migration process will accelerate Alvarez & Marsal’s implementation, delivering faster time to value.

    Multiplying success with Intapp
    “We’re excited to work with Alvarez & Marsal’s Corporate Finance group to provide a foundational deal management hub that will help them manage their business,” said Erin Guinan, General Manager of DealCloud at Intapp. “We’re thrilled to see consulting firms, especially those as prominent as Alvarez & Marsal, continue to turn to Intapp for software that improves firm performance.”

    About Intapp 
    Intapp software helps professionals unlock their teams’ knowledge, relationships, and operational insights to increase value for their firms. Using the power of Applied AI, we make firm and market intelligence easy to find, understand, and use. With Intapp’s portfolio of vertical SaaS solutions, professionals can apply their collective expertise to make smarter decisions, manage risk, and increase competitive advantage. The world’s top firms — across accounting, consulting, investment banking, legal, private capital, and real assets — trust Intapp’s industry-specific platform and solutions to modernize and drive new growth. For more information, visit intapp.com and connect with us on X, formerly Twitter (@intapp) and LinkedIn.

    About Alvarez & Marsal
    Companies, investors and government entities around the world turn to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) for leadership, action and results. Privately held since its founding in 1983, A&M is a leading global professional services firm that provides advisory, business performance improvement, and turnaround management services. When conventional approaches are not enough to create transformation and drive change, clients seek our deep expertise and ability to deliver practical solutions to their unique problems.

    With more than 10,000 people providing services across six continents, we deliver tangible results for corporates, boards, private equity firms, law firms, and government agencies facing complex challenges. Our senior leaders and their teams leverage A&M’s restructuring heritage to help companies act decisively, catapult growth, and accelerate results. We are experienced operators, world-class consultants, former regulators, and industry authorities with a shared commitment to telling clients what’s really needed for turning change into a strategic business asset, managing risk and unlocking value at every stage of growth.

    To learn more, visit: AlvarezandMarsal.com

    Intapp
    Ali Robinson
    Global Media Relations Director, Intapp
    press@intapp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Orbital Materials to Advance Materials and Climate Technologies with AI, Using Investment from NVentures

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Princeton, N.J., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Orbital Materials (Orbital), a company that uses its proprietary AI platform to incubate advanced materials and climate technologies, announced that it has received a significant investment from NVentures, NVIDIA’s venture capital arm.

    “This investment is a milestone for Orbital. With NVentures’ backing, we will continue to push the frontier of engineering at the atomic scale by accelerating our investment in compute, team and our pipeline of advanced materials and climate technologies,” said Jonathan Godwin, CEO and Co-Founder of Orbital Materials.

    “AI is a key enabler for climate science and sustainability, from improving resource efficiency to climate and weather prediction,” said Mohamed ‘Sid’ Siddeek, corporate vice president at NVIDIA and head of NVentures. “Orbital Materials’ application of AI to the discovery of new advanced materials can help spur design and deployment for new climate technologies faster  and across a variety of fundamental technologies.”

    Better advanced materials, such as semiconductors, batteries, and catalysts, are the building blocks of the next generation of transformational technologies. However, the development of advanced materials normally takes years of trial and error. Orbital leverages its proprietary AI technologies at its advanced materials R&D facility in Princeton, NJ to design, test, and deploy new advanced materials and climate technologies faster and more accurately than is possible with human input alone.

    Orbital recently released ‘Orb’, the world’s fastest and most accurate AI model for simulating advanced materials. Built upon Orbital’s proprietary foundation model (LINUS), Orb outcompetes models from Google and Microsoft on accuracy and speed. Read about ‘Orb’ here.

    To learn more about Orbital, visit http://www.orbitalmaterials.com 

    About Orbital:
    Launched in 2022, Orbital Materials (Orbital) is leveraging AI to accelerate and redefine the discovery,  testing, and deployment of advanced materials and climate technologies. Traditional methods of discovering these technologies have long relied on time-consuming trial and error processes in the lab, often resulting in years of experimentation before success is achieved. By leveraging its proprietary AI technologies at its advanced materials R&D facility in Princeton, Orbital designs, synthesizes and deploys end-to-end climate technologies quicker than possible with human input alone. 

    LEARN MORE:

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Qpoint Raises $4M to Deliver First eBPF-Powered Platform to Monitor and Secure External Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qpoint today announced it closed $4 million in pre-seed funding led by Mango Capital with participation from Preface Ventures, Scribble Ventures and Bloomberg Beta. Qpoint leverages next generation eBPF technology to give platform teams and operators unmatched visibility and control over their applications’ critical external dependencies and traffic flows, to enhance reliability, maximize productivity, and safeguard sensitive data. The funds will be used to further product development and meet rising demand.

    Modern production applications rely on a wide range of external services to deliver the features required to meet business objectives. This paradigm powers innovation and reduces time to market, but introduces unpredictable operational challenges and potential security risks for ops teams. The lack of specialized tooling to manage dependencies and external traffic can result in prolonged outages due to vendor issues, countless hours wasted on troubleshooting and unintended exposure of sensitive data. Home-grown proxy-based solutions create single points of failure, add certificate management overhead and further increase security risk.

    Qpoint transforms how companies oversee their external integrations by providing ops teams with a purpose-built solution that delivers real-time, granular visibility and control over the flow of traffic. Powered by cutting-edge eBPF technology that runs in the Linux kernel, Qpoint taps directly into the request flow between the primary applications and their external dependencies, providing unparalleled insights without impacting performance or requiring data to leave the environment. This enables teams to boost reliability, streamline troubleshooting, reduce cloud spend and minimize security risk with minimal operational hassle.

    “Modern applications are highly dependent on the stability of external services in order to run smoothly. When you can’t easily see or control those connections, vendor issues become your interruptions and you waste countless hours trying to resolve reliability and security problems in the dark,” said Tyler Flint, co-founder and CEO of Qpoint. “By delivering comprehensive visibility and control over your applications’ interactions with their external dependencies, Qpoint becomes a game changer for platform teams and site reliability engineers.”

    With founding members from Shopify, Instacart, DigitalOcean, Hashicorp and NS1 (acquired by IBM), the Qpoint team has a history of success building software and scaling operations for globally influential technology companies.

    Qpoint Solves Critical Operational Challenges

    Qpoint enables an operations team to tackle a wide range of integration-related use cases, including:

    • External Service Reliability: Immediately identify issues or anomalous behavior with external services to minimize impacts on mission-critical applications.
    • Rate Limit Detection: Continuously track external API usage, providing alerts when nearing capacity limits to prevent throttling and maintain availability for production systems.
    • Root Cause Analysis and Debugging: Enable improved analysis and troubleshooting of integration-related issues for dramatically faster mean time to resolution.
    • Cloud Bandwidth and Billing Attribution: Get insight into bandwidth utilization to accurately attribute resource usage and cloud costs to specific teams or projects.
    • Vendor Audit Trails: Track vendor API interactions to provide clear evidence of SLA violations and ensure vendor accountability
    • Zero Trust Security: Limit access to external endpoints to only those applications that have been explicitly authorized, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and sensitive data exposure.

    “Modern applications increasingly rely on a myriad of external services, which drastically increases management complexity and system reliability,” said Robin Vasan, founder and general partner at Mango Capital. “Qpoint’s novel approach leveraging eBPF and seamlessly integrating with existing solutions is a breakthrough for managing third-party dependencies and traffic flows.”

    Learn more about Qpoint’s innovative technology or sign up for a free trial.
    ‍
    ‍About Qpoint

    Qpoint provides comprehensive visibility and control over external service dependencies and traffic flows for modern, highly connected applications. It uses the latest eBPF tech to empower platform teams, SREs, and operators to improve reliability, boost productivity, optimize costs, and ensure data governance without sacrificing developers ability to drive innovation at high velocity. The company is venture-backed by Mango Capital, Preface Ventures, Scribble Ventures and Bloomberg Beta.

    Learn more about Qpoint at qpoint.io and on the company’s LinkedIn.

    Contact Information

    Bryan Scanlon
    Look Left Marketing
    qpoint@lookleftmarketing.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd6a6f49-1c68-4908-aaa2-ed355b9d2e98

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Central 1 concludes digital banking review

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Central 1 Credit Union (Central 1) today announced its intention to wind down its digital banking business and transition clients to one or more alternative digital banking providers.

    Central 1’s digital banking business provides online and mobile banking applications to credit unions and other financial institutions. The decision follows a comprehensive strategic review of this business, concluding that the investment and innovation required to meet the needs of clients and sustain the company’s digital banking offering into the future would not be sustainable over the long term.

    “The Central 1 team reviewed several strategic alternatives with deep consideration for our clients’, stakeholders’ and Central 1’s interests,” explained Sheila Vokey, CEO of Central 1. “Though this is not the outcome we were striving for, our team is committed to supporting our clients through a smooth transition to an alternative digital banking solution.”

    “Central 1 remains committed to continue being an aggregator for credit unions and other financial service providers for clearing and settlements, payments and treasury services,” said Shelley McDade, Board Chair of Central 1.

    Central 1 is currently completing the necessary planning to support clients to smoothly transition to other provider(s). While no firm date has been set for completing this transition, Central 1 is working with digital banking providers and clients to complete transitions within a three to four year timeline.

    About Central 1: Central 1 cooperatively empowers credit unions and other financial institutions who deliver banking choice to Canadians. With assets of $11.2 billion as of June 30, 2024, Central 1 provides critical payments, treasury and clearing and settlement services at scale to enable the credit union system. We do this by collaborating with our clients, developing strategies, products, and services to support the financial well-being of their more than five million diverse customers in communities across Canada. For more information, visit http://www.central1.com.

    Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements
    This press release and announcement contains historical and forward-looking statements. All statements and other information about anticipated future events may constitute “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities laws. These include, without limitation, statements relating to Central 1’s intention to wind down its digital banking business, and the timeline and processes relating to the same, Central 1’s plans to transition its clients to alternative digital banking providers, as well as statements that contain the words “may,” “will,” “intends” and “anticipates” and other similar words and expressions.

    Forward-looking information are or may be based on assumptions, uncertainties, and management’s best estimates of future events. Central 1 has based the forward-looking statements on current plans, information, data, estimates, expectations, and projections about, among other things, results of operations, financial, condition, prospects, strategies and future events, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Securityholders are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Certain important assumptions by Central 1 in making forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, competitive conditions, economic conditions and regulatory considerations. Important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include economic risks, regulatory risks (including legislative and regulatory developments), risks and uncertainty from the impact of rising or falling interest rates, information technology and cyber risks, environmental and social risk (including climate change), digital disruption and innovation, reputation risk, competitive risk, privacy, data and third-party related risks, risks related to business and operations, risks relating to the transition of clients to alternative digital banking providers, and other risks detailed from time to time in Central 1’s periodic reports filed with securities regulators. Given these risks, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Central 1 undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

    Contact
    Amanda LeNeve
    AVP, Communications & Marketing
    Central 1
    E aleneve@central1.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Starbox Launches “StarboxAI VI-Pro – Live Streaming System”: Supporting Starbox’s Merchants in Live Streaming Social Commerce

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Starbox Group Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: STBX) (“Starbox” or the “Company”), a service provider of cash rebates, advertising, and payment solutions, is excited to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Starbox Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (“Starbox Technologies”), is launching “StarboxAI VI-Pro – Live Streaming System,” a platform designed to support Starbox’s over 800 existing merchants in their live streaming social commerce efforts. This artificial intelligence (“AI”)-powered system enhances digital interaction and is expected to boost sales performance with automated content creation and real-time engagement tools.

    What distinguishes StarboxAI VI-Pro – Live Streaming System is its integration with the Company’s existing cash rebates ecosystem, which currently serves Starbox’s over 2 million existing users. The integration allows merchants to offer real-time cash rebates during live streaming events, creating a seamless experience for merchants and users alike, incentivizing users to engage and purchase products. Starbox Technologies will keep a percentage of the cash rebates generated from successful sales as revenue.

    With StarboxAI VI-Pro – Live Streaming System, merchants can broadcast 24/7 on platforms such as WeChat Channels, allowing continuous audience engagement. The system can read out live streaming content, respond to audience questions in real time, and guide the audience toward purchasing products. These features can help merchants provide immersive shopping experiences and are anticipated to increase sales conversion rates.

    Lee Choon Wooi, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Starbox, remarked: “The launch of StarboxAI VI-Pro – Live Streaming System reflects our commitment to empowering merchants with AI technology. We believe this unique link to our existing cash rebates ecosystem with over 2 million users will enhance the live streaming experience while driving sales. With real-time interaction, 24/7 live streaming, and seamless purchase guidance, merchants may be able to engage customers and expand their market reach.”

    This launch aligns with Starbox’s vision to strengthen the social commerce landscape, complementing the recent successful launch of AI-Driven Digital Human System for merchants on WeChat Channels. As demand for personalized and interactive content grows, Starbox expects to continue to introduce innovative solutions to improve how businesses communicate, engage, and succeed in the digital era.

    About Starbox Group Holdings Ltd.

    Headquartered in Malaysia, Starbox is a technology-driven, rapidly growing company with innovation as its focus. Starbox is aiming to be a comprehensive technology solutions provider within Southeast Asia and also engages in building a cash rebate, advertising, and payment solution business ecosystem, targeting micro, small, and medium enterprises that lack the bandwidth to develop an in-house data management system for effective marketing. The Company connects retail merchants with retail shoppers to facilitate transactions through cash rebates offered by retail merchants on its GETBATS website and mobile app. The Company provides digital advertising services to advertisers through its SEEBATS website and mobile app, GETBATS website and mobile app and social media. The Company also provides payment solution services to merchants. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://ir.starboxholdings.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “assesses,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. References and links (including QR codes) to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

    For more information, please contact: 

    Starbox Group Holdings Ltd.
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@starboxholdings.com

    Ascent Investor Relations LLC
    Tina Xiao
    Phone: +1-646-932-7242
    Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Stifel Receives Final Approval for Private Equity Fund Aimed at Investing in National Security Supply Chain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. LOUIS, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today announced final federal approval for its Stifel North Atlantic AM-Forward Fund (the “Fund”), designed to provide capital to small and mid-sized American manufacturers in the aerospace and defense industries, with a specific focus on increasing additive and advanced manufacturing capabilities in the domestic supply chain.

    As part of the final approval process, the Fund has earned a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) license from the Small Business Administration, in partnership with the Department of Defense under the SBIC Critical Technology (SBICCT) initiative. With this structure, the Fund is eligible for SBA leverage, which can supplement the amount of private capital raised, and expand investment reach. Earlier this year, the Fund became the first applicant to receive initial “green light” approval to actively raise private capital under this historic SBICCT initiative.

    “We are pleased to receive this license from the SBA,” said Victor Nesi, Stifel Co-President. “In collaboration with our strategic partners, we are proud to give America’s emerging small businesses the capital and strategic support they need to advance innovation that supports our supply chain, creates domestic jobs, amplifies manufacturing capacity, and importantly, increases national security.”

    The Fund aims to use a range of financing structures targeted to the specific needs of small businesses. The initial funding for the Fund includes significant capital commitments from industry-leading contractors including Lockheed Martin, GE Aerospace, and ASTM International, among others.

    “Small and medium sized manufacturers are at the core of ASTM International, and we are excited that our global standards and solutions will serve as an innovative tool in connecting the diverse supply chains of our aerospace and defense industries,” commented Andy Kireta, ASTM International President.

    Capital from the Fund will connect manufacturers with lead system integrators to meet the growing industry demand for low-volume high-mix components. Additionally, the Fund’s investments will enable manufacturers to acquire new fixed assets, expand their working capital and traverse rigorous aerospace and defense certification and qualification protocols.

    The Fund was originated to support the White House’s AM Forward initiative, which was created in 2022 with the goal of improving the competitiveness of America’s small and medium-sized manufacturers and enhance domestic supply chain activity.

    The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (“ASTRO America”), a not-for-profit, non-partisan research institute and think tank and leader in the AM Forward initiative, selected Stifel as the financial partner and North Atlantic Capital Management, a Stifel Company, to manage the Fund based on their extensive middle market investment experience and over 30 years’ history of managing SBIC Funds. The Fund’s Technical Advisory Board, a partnership between the Fund and its strategic investors, will be led by Neal Orringer, President of ASTRO America and former Director of Manufacturing at the Department of Defense.

    Stifel Company Information

    Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel’s broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

    Media Contact:
    Neil Shapiro, +1 (212) 271-3447
    shapiron@stifel.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Joel Jeffrey, +1 (212) 271-3610
    investorrelations@stifel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Šiaulių Bankas will announce Q3 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    We would like to invite our shareholders, investors, analysts and other stakeholders to join Šiaulių Bankas Investors webinar for Q3 2024 financial results and highlights scheduled on 31 October, 2024 at 8:30 pm (EET). The presentation will be held online in English.

    The webinar will be hosted by Vytautas Sinius, CEO, Tomas Varenbergas, Head of Investment Management Division and Tautvydas Mėdžius, Strategy Partner, who will introduce the Bank’s financial results for the third quarter of 2024 and recent developments, as well participants questions will be answered.

    Please send your questions in advance to tautvydas.medzius@sb.lt  

    How to join the webinar?

    To join the webinar, please register via following link https://sb.zoomtv.lt. After successful registration You will be provided with the webinar link.

    Additional information:
    Tomas Varenbergas
    Head of Investment Management Division
    tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LPL Financial Welcomes Financial Advisor William Fenwick

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC, announced today that financial advisor William “Bill” Fenwick of Fenwick Financial has joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA and custodial platforms. He reported serving approximately $210 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets,* and joins LPL from First Kentucky Securities.

    Based in Louisville, Ky., Fenwick is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer with 38 years of experience in the financial services industry. He believes his military experience, coupled with his astute study of the markets and economy, shaped his ability to guide clients through market fluctuations and build personal relationships that extend across generations.

    “The leadership skills and sense of responsibility gained from serving in the Marine Corps overlap into financial services,” Fenwick said. “Veterans in our industry tend to have a deeper understanding of service and advocacy, which is the foundation for a fiduciary-focused investment practice. I enjoy educating my clients and making a difference in their lives by providing advice and counseling them on important financial decisions.”

    Although Fenwick was a founding member and part owner of First Kentucky Securities, a regional brokerage firm, he came to realize his business needs and client expectations were outgrowing the firm. He sought a new partner to take his business to the next level, and his due diligence process led him to LPL.

    “The industry has gone through significant change over the past decades. What was once a focus on sales has now shifted to prioritizing the client’s needs,” said Fenwick, who is supported by his wife, Karen, and registered assistant Patricia Hughes. “The fiduciary standard is something I’ve been drawn to from the start. I am committed to serving my clients as an advisor and investment manager with their best interests at heart, offering a foundation of honesty and integrity. The longevity of my practice is a testament to the confidence my clients have in me and my team.”

    He added, “The shared mission and dedication to client service at LPL resonate with our own, and we are proud to be associated with a partner of such high caliber. LPL’s commitment to providing advisors with the resources and support they need to be successful was a key factor in my decision to make this move. I look forward to continuing to grow my practice and to helping my clients pursue their financial goals.”

    With an eye to the future, Fenwick said the move was not merely a strategic decision for his practice today, but also a foundational one for its future. His son, William “Trey” Fenwick, III, recently returned from his service in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) and plans to join the practice in the coming months, helping to ensure clients are taken care of for generations to come.

    Scott Posner, LPL Executive Vice President, Business Development, said, “We welcome Bill to LPL and thank him for his many years of military service. The acceleration of advisors moving to LPL from regional firms is a testament to the strong support we provide to help financial professionals realize their growth and succession plans. We look forward to supporting Bill’s team and their goals for the future as they build out a generational practice with clients top of mind.”

    Related

    Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) was founded on the principle that LPL should work for advisors and institutions, and not the other way around. Today, LPL is a leader in the markets we serve, serving more than 23,000 financial advisors, including advisors at approximately 1,000 institutions and at approximately 580 registered investment advisor firms nationwide. We are steadfast in our commitment to the advisor-mediated model and the belief that Americans deserve access to personalized guidance from a financial professional. At LPL, independence means that advisors and institution leaders have the freedom they deserve to choose the business model, services and technology resources that allow them to run a thriving business. They have the flexibility to do business their way. And they have the freedom to manage their client relationships, because they know their clients best. Simply put, we take care of our advisors and institutions, so they can take care of their clients.

    Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial and its affiliated companies provide financial services only from the United States. Fenwick Financial and LPL are separate entities.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    *Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2023.

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com 
    (704) 996-1840

    Tracking #645012

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia opens regional Innovation Center in Morocco to serve EMEA customers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Nokia opens regional Innovation Center in Morocco to serve EMEA customers

    • Nokia launches its first Innovation Center in Africa and the Middle East, equipped with cutting-edge technologies from its entire Network Infrastructure portfolio, including Fixed, IP, and Optical Networks.
    • The center will benefit and contribute to Digital Morocco 2030 by playing a pivotal role in advancing digital skills and supporting 5G readiness across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
    • The event is also an opportunity to showcase some of Nokia’s latest innovations for major football events.

    22 October 2024
    Salé, Morocco – Nokia today announced the opening of its Innovation Center in Salé, Morocco, officiated by Ghita Mezzour, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform.

    Designed as a regional hub to serve EMEA, the Nokia Innovation Center (NIC) is equipped with advanced technologies from Nokia’s entire Network Infrastructure portfolio, spanning Fixed Networks, IP, and Optical Networks. The NIC will not only benefit but also contribute to Digital Morocco 2030 by playing a pivotal role in advancing digital skills, supporting 5G readiness and fostering innovation across EMEA.

    As the first of its kind in the MEA region, the NIC features a comprehensive range of technologies, including IP, optical transport and fiber solutions, housed within a state-of-the-art data center. This facility supports diverse use cases from 5G mobile backhaul to data center fabric and security, and will be a focal point for innovation in critical network technologies, enabling testing, verification, deployment and training of advanced solutions across the EMEA region.

    Beyond technology, the NIC strengthens Nokia’s role within Morocco’s ICT ecosystem by offering practical training to engineering schools and universities. This collaborative platform not only nurtures local engineering talent through certification programs like Service Routing Architect (SRA) and Network Routing Specialist (NRS II) but also provides Gen-AI integration tools using natural language thus contributing to the upskilling and reskilling of young Moroccan talent, aligning with Morocco’s 2030 digital vision.

    The inauguration event was also an opportunity to showcase state-of-the art solutions demonstrating Nokia’s capabilities and determination to support Morocco’s ambitions in hosting major football events.

    Mrs. Ghita Mezzour, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, said: “The opening of Nokia’s Innovation Center in Morocco is a testament to our country’s ability to attract leading global technology companies and foster innovation. This center will not only enhance our position as a regional hub for digital services across EMEA but will also play a crucial role in developing local talent. By aligning with Digital Morocco 2030, the center contributes to our efforts in advancing STEM education, equipping our youth with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy, and supporting our nation’s 5G readiness and technological future.”

    Pierre Chaume, Vice President of North, West and Central Africa for Network Infrastructure at Nokia, said: “We are proud to establish this Innovation Center in Morocco, which will serve our customers and partners in the EMEA region and contribute to the development of local talent and the broader digital ecosystem, in line with Digital Morocco 2030. This center underscores our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the growth of critical networks that drive digital transformation across industries.”

    Resources and Additional Information:
    Webpage: Fixed networks
    Webpage: IP networks
    Webpage: Optical networks

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

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

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

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Communications, Middle East and Africa
    Email: cordia.so@nokia.com

    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Gabelli Utility Trust Rights Offering Concludes Raising $58 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RYE, New York, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE: GUT) (the “Fund”) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its transferable rights offering (the “Offering” or “Offer”). Preliminary results indicate that the Fund will issue 11,624,109 common shares, for gross proceeds to the Fund of $58,120,545 (including over-subscription requests and notices of guaranteed delivery).

    Pursuant to the Offering, the Fund issued one transferable right (a “Right”) for each common share of the Fund held by shareholders of record as of September 9, 2024 (“record date shareholders”). Holders of Rights were entitled to purchase common shares by submitting five Rights and $5.00 for each share to be purchased (the subscription price). The Offering expired at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on October 21, 2024 and the Rights no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

    Subject to approval of the over-subscription privilege by the Board of Trustees’ pricing committee, the over-subscription shares will be allocated in full among those fully exercising record date shareholders who over-subscribed in the Offering.

    The new common shares subscribed for will be issued on or about October 25, 2024.

    Any common shares issued as a result of the Offering will be eligible for the Fund’s monthly distribution to be paid on November 21, 2024 to shareholders of record on November 14, 2024 but will not be record date shares for the Fund’s monthly distribution to be paid on October 24, 2024 and will not be entitled to receive such distribution.

    We thank all our subscribing shareholders as well as the full service brokers and financial advisers who assisted our shareholders throughout the Offering.

    The information herein is not complete and is subject to change. This document is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. This document is not an offering, which can only be made by a final prospectus. Investors should consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The base prospectus contains this and additional information about the Fund and the prospectus supplement contains this and additional information about the Offering. For further information regarding the Offering, or to obtain a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, please contact the Fund at 800-GABELLI or 914-921-5070.

    About The Gabelli Utility Trust

    The Gabelli Utility Trust is a diversified, closed-end management investment company with $362 million in total net assets, after giving effect to the Offering and assuming the over-subscription privilege is exercised, whose primary investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital and income by investing primarily in utility companies involved in the generation and distribution of electricity, gas, and water. The Fund is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, a subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (OTCQX: GAMI).

    NYSE – GUT
    CUSIP – 36240A101

    For information:
    David Schachter
    (914) 921-5057

    Investor Relations Contact:
    David Schachter
    (914) 921-5057
    dschachter@gabelli.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Exclusive Markets Honoured with “Top Trusted Financial Institution in the Financial Markets” Award in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Exclusive Markets, a globally celebrated online multi-asset trading platform, has been awarded the prestigious title of Top Trusted Financial Institution in the Financial Markets, by Top 100 Trusted Financial Institutions at the Middle East Financial Markets Awards Ceremony 2024 | 2ndedition, held in Dubai. This recognition marks yet another milestone in the company’s continued journey of excellence and trust-building within the financial industry.

    Trust is the cornerstone of Exclusive Markets’ operations. As a financial institution operating in highly dynamic and complex global markets, the company has consistently prioritised transparency, integrity, and reliability in every aspect of its service. From secure trading platforms to customer-first policies, Exclusive Markets has set itself apart by fostering a deep sense of trust among its clients, enabling them to confidently navigate the world of trading.

    While receiving the award, Lambros Lambrou, CEO of Exclusive Markets, expressed his gratitude for this recognition, stating, “At Exclusive Markets, trust isn’t just a value, it’s a fundamental part of who we are. Receiving the ‘Top Trusted Financial Institution’ award is an incredible honour and a reflection of our ongoing efforts to ensure our clients and partners feel secure and supported at every step of their trading journey.”

    This award highlights the growing importance of trust in the financial markets, especially as traders seek reliable partners in an increasingly complex landscape. As Exclusive Markets continues to evolve and innovate, its commitment to fostering trust will remain at the forefront of its mission, paving the way for continued growth and success in the global financial arena.

    About Exclusive Markets

    Exclusive Markets is dedicated to providing traders with a robust, secure, and transparent platform for investing in a variety of financial instruments. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and holding ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Certification by MSECB, Exclusive Markets offers traders an exceptional platform that seamlessly integrates advanced features with user-friendly interfaces.

    Traders can access a wide array of trading instruments, including CFD stocks, commodities, forex, and spot metals. The company’s expert team is committed to meeting the evolving needs of its clients by continually expanding its range of products and services, allowing traders to invest according to their preferences.

    Risk Warning: Trading involves risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6274d2b5-b001-47e1-bf0d-224d1e190174

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Four Companies With Misleading Cyber Disclosures

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged four current and former public companies – Unisys Corp., Avaya Holdings Corp., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, and Mimecast Limited – with making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions. The SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. The companies agreed to pay the following civil penalties to settle the SEC’s charges:

    • Unisys will pay a $4 million civil penalty;
    • Avaya. will pay a $1 million civil penalty;
    • Check Point will pay a $995,000 civil penalty; and
    • Mimecast will pay a $990,000 civil penalty.

    The charges against the four companies result from an investigation involving public companies potentially impacted by the compromise of SolarWinds’ Orion software and by other related activity.

    “As today’s enforcement actions reflect, while public companies may become targets of cyberattacks, it is incumbent upon them to not further victimize their shareholders or other members of the investing public by providing misleading disclosures about the cybersecurity incidents they have encountered,” said Sanjay Wadhwa, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “Here, the SEC’s orders find that these companies provided misleading disclosures about the incidents at issue, leaving investors in the dark about the true scope of the incidents.”

    According to the SEC’s orders, Unisys, Avaya, and Check Point learned in 2020, and Mimecast learned in 2021, that the threat actor likely behind the SolarWinds Orion hack had accessed their systems without authorization, but each negligently minimized its cybersecurity incident in its public disclosures. The SEC’s order against Unisys finds that the company described its risks from cybersecurity events as hypothetical despite knowing that it had experienced two SolarWinds-related intrusions involving exfiltration of gigabytes of data. The order also finds that these materially misleading disclosures resulted in part from Unisys’ deficient disclosure controls. The SEC’s order against Avaya finds that it stated that the threat actor had accessed a “limited number of [the] Company’s email messages,” when Avaya knew the threat actor had also accessed at least 145 files in its cloud file sharing environment. The SEC’s order against Check Point finds that it knew of the intrusion but described cyber intrusions and risks from them in generic terms. The order charging Mimecast finds that the company minimized the attack by failing to disclose the nature of the code the threat actor exfiltrated and the quantity of encrypted credentials the threat actor accessed.

    “Downplaying the extent of a material cybersecurity breach is a bad strategy,” said Jorge G. Tenreiro, Acting Chief of the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit. “In two of these cases, the relevant cybersecurity risk factors were framed hypothetically or generically when the companies knew the warned of risks had already materialized.  The federal securities laws prohibit half-truths, and there is no exception for statements in risk-factor disclosures.”

    The SEC’s orders find that each company violated certain applicable provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and related rules thereunder. Without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, each company agreed to cease and desist from future violations of the charged provisions and to pay the penalties described above. Each company cooperated during the investigation, including by voluntarily providing analyses or presentations that helped expedite the staff’s investigation and by voluntarily taking steps to enhance its cybersecurity controls.

    The SEC’s investigation involving the four companies was conducted by Arsen Ablaev and Michael Baker of the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit (CACU) and David D’Addio in the Boston Regional Office. It was supervised by Amy Flaherty Hartman and Mr. Tenreiro of the CACU and Kathryn A. Pyszka of the Chicago Regional Office. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Victorian ghost photographs amused viewers with spooky thrills

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Andrea Kaston Tange, Professor of English, Macalester College

    ‘The Haunted Lane,’ a stereoscope card from L.M. Melander & Bro., 1875.
     Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

    October has long been associated with ghosts – from ancient Celtic festivals to ward off restless spirits after harvest time to the modern standby of using an old sheet to make a last-minute Halloween costume. In the middle of the 19th century, however, popular portrayals of ghosts became a year-round staple, in part because photographers discovered that they could depict them.

    The first ghost photographs were accidents. Early cameras required 30 seconds or more to take a photo. If someone wandered briefly into the shot, the resulting picture would contain their ghostly trace superimposed over substantial furniture, buildings or people who had held still for the full exposure.

    When shrewd photographers realized that the inconvenience of long exposure time could become an asset, detailed directions for creating these illusions proliferated. Photographers could cut ghost figures from transparent material and place them onto glass negatives or inside camera bodies. Or they could make real people half-transparent through tricks of double exposure.

    As early as 1856, experts gleefully noted that one could create images of ghosts “for the purpose of amusement.” Commercial photographers began producing this spectacular phenomenon for fun and profit and – as I have found while researching early portrait photography – thereby helped feed media fascination with all things ghostly.

    Turning accident into amusement

    Photographs became collectible amusements partly thanks to the midcentury invention of the stereoscope – a device that created three-dimensional optical illusions.

    Stereoscope cards contain two pictures of the same scene, photographed from slightly different angles. A viewer selects a card, inserts it and then presses the instrument to their face. The device isolates their eyes, so each sees only one picture. As the brain, trying to avoid double vision, merges these images into one, the result is a 3D effect.

    The Perfecscope from 1895 and a collection of stereoscopic cards.
    Andrea Kaston Tange, CC BY

    In the 1850s, reading aloud was the primary form of at-home entertainment. Daily newspapers ran no images, and the technology to reproduce photographs in books or periodicals was still 40 years away. But this affordable gizmo could bring the whole world into your living room.

    My archival research has turned up newspapers full of articles and ads promoting stereoscopic “marvels.” The London Stereoscopic Co. advertised “effects almost miraculous” and marketed the device for family entertainment. By 1856, a mere two years after the company’s founding, its catalog listed over 100,000 cards, including views of dramatic landscapes, exotic tourist destinations, famous portraits and card sets that told stories.

    Among these collections of sights unseen were plenty of ghostly images. “The Ghost in the Stereoscope,” a colorized card, shows two men in open-mouthed surprise at the sudden appearance of a ghost at their supper table. The title signals the jump scare that the image maker hoped would likewise amaze the viewer when the 3D ghost loomed before their very eyes.

    ‘The Ghost in the Stereoscope,’ a hand-colored card.
    Photographer unknown, 1856. London Stereoscopic Company. Met Museum collection

    On another card, “That’s Too Thin,” a ghost points an accusatory arm at one man sitting at a gaming table. The 1876 guide “How to Write Letters” lists “too thin” among its “slang words and phrases” to be avoided for their “low associations and vulgar ideas,” which suggests that the offender is doing something unseemly for a respectable man. This visual joke relied on a pot-kettle formula: A figure so thin as to be see-through is calling out someone else as “too thin.”

    ‘That’s Too Thin’ card.
    L.M. Melander & Bro., 1874. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

    Popular ghosts

    Nothing was meant to imply that these were pictures of actual spirits. Some – like “The Haunted Lane,” in which two men who cower in supposed terror from a ghost are obviously photographed in a studio with “lane” props – were so melodramatic as to be funny. Others were more melancholy and featured mourning husbands whose ghost-wives played the piano beside them, or orphaned children whose ghost-mothers watched over them from beyond the grave. All of them were performances.

    And all of them helped stoke a midcentury market hungry for ghostly thrills. In 1859, novelist Wilkie Collins published his spectral “The Woman in White” in installments in Charles Dickens’ weekly magazine. It sold over 100,000 copies and launched a decade-long craze for hair-raising sensation fiction.

    The “Illustrated Police News,” launched in 1864, contained supposedly true tabloid-style stories that often featured ghosts. And in 1862, John Henry Pepper, a British scientist and popular lecturer, refined a projection technique that could create apparitions onstage during live theater productions. Commonly known as Pepper’s Ghost, the dramatic illusions began appearing immediately on both sides of the Atlantic.

    Some stereoscope cards referenced multiple forms of popular entertainment to create ghost images that worked as layered visual jokes. The 1865 card “A Dream After Seeing Pepper’s Ghost” is a great example of how the Victorian penchant for allusions and wordplay found its way into this visual pastime.

    The sleeping young woman’s “dream” is a photographic ghost: The looming, gauzy figure filling the dark space of the window beside her bed would have appeared to float in 3D stereoscope. “Seeing Pepper’s Ghost” obviously refers to a play she has attended: Her fine clothes tossed haphazardly on the furniture indicate a late evening out.

    But the ghost has the head of a cow and wears a necklace on which is lettered “MUSTARD.” A Victorian viewer accustomed to wordplay riddles would realize that this ghost-of-pepper also implies that the sleeper ate too much of an overly seasoned roast beef dinner, for indigestion was commonly understood to cause bad dreams.

    Together, these details may allude to Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” A theater company in 1865 would undoubtedly use the sensational new Pepper’s technique to place the ghost of Jacob Marley onstage to torment his former business partner, the miser Scrooge. And Scrooge quite famously dismisses Marley’s ghost initially as “an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard” – that is, as merely a bad dream brought on by overeating. A clever viewer would delight in puzzling through these playful layers of stereoscopic magic.

    There were, of course, also Victorian photographers who purported to capture actual ghosts. They sometimes worked with mediums at séances, and their claims to record the spirit world engendered huge controversy.

    But in the Halloween season, it’s fun to contemplate the lighter side of this history, when an appetite for haunting tales inspired photographic ghost effects that seem delightfully ahead of their time.

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

    – ref. Victorian ghost photographs amused viewers with spooky thrills – https://theconversation.com/victorian-ghost-photographs-amused-viewers-with-spooky-thrills-240776

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nebraska Democrats hope Omaha will be a ‘blue dot’ on the state’s red electoral map − and their lawn sign is a vibe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Christina Elizabeth Dando, Professor of Geography, University of Nebraska Omaha

    White signs emblazoned with a big blue dot are going up in yards across Omaha, Nebraska, in an unusual political statement of support for Democratic candidates.

    Nebraska splits its electoral votes, giving Omaha’s congressional district a single electoral vote out of the state’s total of five. If enough of Omaha’s metropolitan voters back Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris for president, Omaha will appear on the electoral map as a “blue dot” on a field of Republican red.

    With Harris running neck and neck with former President Donald Trump, the White House could come down to this one vote.

    Power of the dot

    Most U.S. states award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the state’s election, no matter the margin of victory. Only Nebraska and Maine split their electoral votes.

    Nebraska awards one vote to each congressional district, plus two votes to the state’s overall winner. It began this practice in 1992 to draw more presidential campaigns to the state. Nebraska, as a whole, so predictably leans conservative that neither Republicans nor Democrats had bothered to campaign there.

    In the eight presidential elections since 1992, Omaha has turned blue only twice – in 2008 and 2020, backing Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

    Democratic voters hope to buck statewide trends again in 2024.

    The blue dot movement began in mid-August 2024 in Omaha’s Dundee neighborhood, when local residents Jason Brown and Ruth Huebner-Brown spray-painted a blue circle on a white sign and put it on their lawn as a conversation starter.

    One sign grew to 10, 100, 1,000, snowballing into a movement. Now blue dot signs can be found well beyond Omaha, even in other states. On Facebook and Reddit, people share where to find the signs and how to make your own.

    A simple blue dot on a white background has become a powerful political symbol – a reference to a map that does not have to be seen to be visualized. For Omahans in the know, the sign is a reminder of what the city’s place on the map might be come Nov. 5.

    For others, the enigmatic sign simply raises questions, creating opportunities for Omahans to discuss the importance of voting in Nebraska.

    Blue dot, black spot

    I am a professor of geography at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

    The sly way the blue dot sign refers to an election map without actually showing that map reminded me of my suffrage movement research.

    In the 1910s, women activists campaigning to get American women the vote used a map as part of their campaign. It depicted U.S. states that had passed suffrage in white and the rest in black – dark marks on the nation.

    The suffragists plastered their map across the country and sold it through the National Woman Suffrage Publishing Company. In newsletters and magazines, they shared how to make maps for rallies using easily accessible materials. The map became so familiar to the American public by 1912 that it was referred to in speeches and newspaper articles without the visual.

    At suffrage parades and pageants they formed “living suffrage maps,” with women dressed in white representing states with the vote and those in black representing states where they could not.

    As women’s suffrage momentum grew, spreading from western to eastern U.S. states, the map had ever-fewer black spots. In 1914, Nevada became the last western state to pass suffrage.

    “The suffrage map showing Nevada as the last ‘black spot’ in the West was printed in every newspaper and on every leaflet,” suffragists later wrote about their efforts. It was “put up in public places and on large banners hung in the streets.”

    With Nebraska’s blue dot signs, Omahans are fighting to keep their spot on the map, not erase it. They are an act of claiming space, making Democrats visible in a state so strongly associated with Republicans.

    On Oct. 20, 2024, in yet another echo of the women’s suffrage movement, they even created a “human blue dot” at a rally in a local park.

    A Republican red dot in Omaha.
    Christina Dando, CC BY

    Blue dot signs have inspired Republican countersigns.

    Two I’ve seen are a white sign depicting just an entirely red Nebraska, and a white sign with a large red dot with a golden wave on its top that resembles Trump’s hair.

    These red dot and red Nebraska signs are catching on, but not in the same way as blue dot signs have.

    Bye-bye, blue dot?

    Aware of Omaha’s sudden electoral importance, Republicans have begun trying to end Nebraska’s system of splitting its electoral votes.

    In April 2024, Trump and the conservative commentator Charlie Kirk called on state legislators to propose a bill changing the state to a winner-take-all system.

    Kirk described Nebraska as “being one of the most Republican states” and said the state’s electoral votes must “go towards electing the candidate the vast majority of Nebraskans prefer.”

    Many people reacted with fury, and the bill did not advance in Nebraska’s one-house state Legislature. That’s another of the state’s political quirks: Nebraska is the only state to have a state legislature without an upper and lower chamber of lawmakers.

    The system, called the unicameral, is officially partyless, meaning its 49 representatives are elected without their party on the ballot.

    The unicameral dates from 1937 when it was thought this less costly, nonpartisan system would be a more representative form of government. So is splitting the state’s electoral votes: Voters can feel more confident that their vote counts and that every vote counts.

    When South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham visited Nebraska in September 2024, he pushed Gov. Jim Pillen, a fellow Republican, to implement a winner-take-all system for the 2024 election.

    Pillen said he would not call a special session of the unicameral unless he has the 33 votes needed to pass the change to the state’s electoral system. That appears unlikely to happen before November.

    Red + blue = purple?

    A winner-take-all approach to Electoral College votes has the effect of erasing nuance and difference on the map of America by painting states as entirely red or blue.

    No state has ever voted 100% Democrat or Republican. The country should be drawn in shades of purple.

    Nebraska has the misleading appearance of overwhelming redness because of its many Republican-leaning rural counties with low population density. Yet Nebraska’s registered voters are approximately two-thirds Republicans and one-third Democrats. Many registered Democrats live in cities such as Omaha and Lincoln.

    But they can be found throughout the state – just look for the blue dot.

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

    – ref. Nebraska Democrats hope Omaha will be a ‘blue dot’ on the state’s red electoral map − and their lawn sign is a vibe – https://theconversation.com/nebraska-democrats-hope-omaha-will-be-a-blue-dot-on-the-states-red-electoral-map-and-their-lawn-sign-is-a-vibe-240528

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: On Ukraine, candidate Trump touts his role as dealmaker while Harris sticks with unwavering support

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lena Surzhko Harned, Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science, Penn State

    Continued support from the White House for Ukraine could hinge on the presidential election. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

    The U.S. presidential election isn’t drawing eyes only at home – Moscow and Kyiv are watching closely, too.

    Regardless of who wins in November, there will be significant implications for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia in a war heading toward a fourth year.

    Washington’s continued support is seen by some as no less than an existential issue for Ukraine. Without U.S. arms and aid, it is unlikely that the nation would be able to continue repelling its larger, better-armed neighbor.

    During the presidential debate on Sept. 10, 2024, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump had a chance to clarify their positions on Ukraine. Trump evaded ABC moderator David Muir’s question regarding the importance of Ukraine’s victory over Russia, twice. Instead, he repeated his long-standing line that he would achieve a negotiated peace quickly – even before taking office as president.

    At the same debate, Harris dismissed the idea of Trump negotiating with “a dictator who would eat you for lunch.” She instead emphasized the Biden policy to support Ukraine “as long as it takes” in concert with U.S. allies.

    But detail has been light on what either candidate would actually do to support Ukraine and end the war. So, what do we know about each candidate’s approach to Ukraine based on their records?

    Trump: A ‘very fair and rapid deal’?

    Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Trump has repeatedly stated that ending the war is in the U.S.’s best interests and that he can end the war quickly. In fact, Trump is certain that had he remained president after the 2020 election, Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded – an unsubstantiated claim he repeated during the Sept. 10 presidential debate.

    Trump has often reiterated that both Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy respect him, and he would be able to use his “good relationship” with both to bring them to the negotiating table and end the war.

    Yet, Trump’s record on his relationships with Zelenskyy and Putin is rather complicated.

    Trump’s admiration for Putin is well documented and dates back to his first presidential run in 2016, sparking numerous investigations and reports of collusion. Most recently, Bob Woodward reported that Trump secretly sent COVID-19 tests to Putin in the midst of a pandemic shortage, a claim confirmed by the Kremlin.

    Trump’s relationship with Zelenskyy is similarly laden with baggage. A 2019 phone call between the two men, during which Trump pressured Ukraine’s president to open a criminal investigation into Joe Biden, led to Trump’s impeachment. In exchange, Ukraine would have received continued U.S. support for the country’s defense against Russia, which had been waging a proxy war in eastern regions of Ukraine since 2014. During the subsequent hearings in Congress, one of Trump’s aids testified that “Trump did not give a sh*t about Ukraine” and was only interested in his own political gains.

    Standing next to Zelenskyy during a meeting at the Trump Tower on Sept. 27, 2024 – their first meeting since Sept. 25, 2019 – Trump said he was sure that both Zelenskyy and Putin are interested in peace and that a “very fair” and “rapid” deal is possible.

    When asked what that deal might entail, Trump responded that it’s “too early” to discuss details and that both he and Zelenskyy have “their own ideas.”

    While the Republican candidate has not been explicit on the details of negotiations or possible conditions, some of his proxies have voiced proposals. Trump’s vice presidential pick, JD Vance, has laid out a plan that includes potential land concessions on the part of Ukraine and the creation of a demilitarized zone along the battle lines of the Russian-occupied territory of eastern Ukraine.

    Meanwhile, Trump’s son Donald Jr. co-authored a piece with former presidential candidate turned Trump ally Robert F Kennedy Jr., arguing that a concession to Russian demands for “Ukrainian neutrality and a halt to NATO’s eastward expansion” were reasonable to avoid a nuclear game of chicken. Although these have not been echoed in Trump’s own statements on Ukraine, both men have the ear of the Republican candidate.

    These plans have been criticized as closely resembling those of the Kremlin. Prior to meeting with Trump in New York, Zelenskyy had also criticized Vance’s plan and expressed doubts that Trump and his team really know how to end the war.

    Harris: ‘Strategic interest, not charity’

    Harris has been harshly critical of Trump’s approach to Ukraine. “They are not proposals for peace,” Harris said in response to suggestions that Ukraine cede territory for peace. “Instead they are proposals for surrender,” she added.

    Such views are in line with Harris’ record. As part of the Biden administration, Harris has given vocal support to Ukraine’s fight for political sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    At the onset of the full-scale invasion in early 2022, Harris traveled to Europe to help shore up a coalition of European allies to support Ukraine.

    As vice president, Harris has repeatedly condemned Russian war crimes in Ukraine. In February 2023, while attending the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, she announced that the U.S. has determined that Russian actions in Ukraine amounted to “crimes against humanity,” affirming U.S. commitment to the international rule of law.

    Along with continued support, the U.S. has provided substantial aid for Ukraine, totaling US$61.3 billion in military aid since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

    The Biden administration also has said that rising costs and keeping pressure on Russia through sanctions are important mechanisms to keep Moscow accountable. Harris reiterated this need to maintain sanctions and broad coalition support for Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference in February 2024 and again in June at the peace summit organized by Ukraine in Switzerland.

    As a presidential candidate, Harris has openly signaled her commitment to supporting Kyiv – not only for Ukraine survival but for the collective security of NATO allies and the U.S. itself. Harris emphasized this point in the September debate, suggesting that Ukraine was not Putin’s final stop and that he has “his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland.”

    Standing next to Zelenskyy in Washington on Sept. 26, 2024, Harris reiterated the point: “The United States supports Ukraine not out of charity, but because it’s in our strategic interest.”

    Yet, White House policy on Ukraine has been criticized for being slow and hesitant in supplying weaponry. The U.S. has imposed rules on the use of heavy weaponry against targets inside Russia. Furthermore, the U.S. has so far been reticent on Ukraine’s invitation to join NATO, which is seen as crucial for any lasting peace in Kyiv. How Harris’ White House would differ from Biden’s on these issues is not clear.

    Beyond the candidates

    Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the U.S. Congress has passed five bills that provide aid to Ukraine, totaling US$175 billion.

    However, a six-month delay in aid in early 2024 highlighted growing partisan tension in Congress over continued aid to Ukraine.

    The composition of Congress after the November election is another unknown factor in Washington’s support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy met with congressional leaders during his visit to the U.S. in September, but notably absent was Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who in the past has shown reluctance to support continued funding.

    For the large part, support for Ukraine remains bipartisan in Congress and among American voters. Yet there is a risk the election could further politicize the issue. And the outcome of November’s vote could determine whether U.S. efforts going forward focus more on pushing for a negotiated deal or on-going support for Ukraine.

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

    – ref. On Ukraine, candidate Trump touts his role as dealmaker while Harris sticks with unwavering support – https://theconversation.com/on-ukraine-candidate-trump-touts-his-role-as-dealmaker-while-harris-sticks-with-unwavering-support-237534

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colonialism’s legacy has left Caribbean nations much more vulnerable to hurricanes

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Farah Nibbs, Assistant Professor of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Hillside streets can quickly become muddy rivers during hurricane rains in the islands. Estailove St-Val/AFP via Getty Images

    Long before colonialism brought slavery to the Caribbean, the native islanders saw hurricanes and storms as part of the normal cycle of life.

    The Taino of the Greater Antilles and the Kalinago, or Caribs, of the Lesser Antilles developed systems that enabled them to live with storms and limit their exposure to damage.

    On the larger islands, such as Jamaica and Cuba, the Taino practiced crop selection with storms in mind, preferring to plant root crops such as cassava or yucca with high resistance to damage from hurricane and storm winds, as Stuart Schwartz describes in his 2016 book “Sea of Storms.”

    The Kalinago avoided building their settlements along the coast to limit storm surges and wind damage. The Calusa of southwest Florida used trees as windbreaks against storm winds.

    In fact, it was the Kalinago and Taino who first taught the Europeans – primarily the British, Dutch, French and Spanish – about hurricanes and storms. Even the word ‘hurricane’ comes from Huracán, a Taino and Mayan word denoting the god of wind.

    But then colonialism changed everything.

    A French advertising card from around 1900 depicts colonial power in Guadeloupe, with a trader sitting comfortably among sacks of cotton, cocoa and coffee while islanders work in the field.
    Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    I study natural disasters in the Caribbean, including how history molded responses to disasters today.

    The current disaster crisis that the Caribbean’s small islands are experiencing as hurricanes intensify did not start a few decades ago. Rather, the islands’ vulnerability is a direct result of the exploitative systems forced upon the region by colonialism, its legacies of slave-based land policies and ill-suited construction and development practices, and its environmental injustices.

    Forcing people into harm’s way

    The colonial powers changed how Caribbean people interacted with the land, where they lived and how they recovered from natural hazard events.

    Rather than growing crops that could sustain the local food supply, the Europeans who began arriving in the 1600s focused on exploitative extractive economic models and export cash crops through the plantation economy.

    They forced Indigenous people off their lands and built settlements along the coast, which made it easier to import enslaved peoples and goods and to export cash crops such as sugar and tobacco to Europe – and also left communities vulnerable to storms. They also developed settlements in low-lying areas, often near rivers and streams, which could provide transportation for agricultural produce but which became flood risks during heavy rains.

    Homes built to the water’s edge in Saint-Martin, an overseas collectivity of France, were devastated when Hurricane Irma hit in 2017.
    Helene Valenzuela/AFP via Getty Images

    Today, more than 70% of the Caribbean’s population lives along the coast, often less than a mile from the shore. These coastlines are not only highly exposed to hurricanes but also to sea-level rise fueled by climate change.

    Legacies of slave-based land policies

    Colonialism’s legacy of land policies has also made recovery from disasters much harder today.

    When colonial powers took over, a few landowners were given control of most of the land, while the majority of the population was forced onto marginal and small areas. The local population had no legal right to the land, as the people did not possess land certificate titles or deeds and were often forced to pay rent to landlords.

    After independence, most island governments tried to acquire land from former plantations or estates and to redistribute it to the working class. But these efforts, mainly in the 1960s and ’70s, largely failed to transform land ownership, improve economic development or reduce vulnerability.

    One colonial legacy perpetuating vulnerability to this day is known as crown land, or state land. In the English-speaking Caribbean, all land for which there was no land grant was considered property of the British crown. Crown land can be found in every English-speaking island to this day.

    How colonial powers controlled the Caribbean over time.

    For example, in Barbuda, all land is vested in the “crown in perpetuity” on behalf of Barbudans. This means that an individual born on the island of Barbuda cannot individually own land.

    Instead, land is communally owned, which limits access to the credit and development opportunities that were sorely needed to reconstruct the island after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Most Barbudans were unable to insure their homes because they had no title deeds to their property.

    This and other collective land tenure systems created by colonialism places Caribbean residents at greater risk from a variety of natural hazards and limits their ability to seek financial credit for disaster recovery today.

    The roots of poor construction

    Vulnerability to disasters in the Caribbean also has roots in post-slavery housing construction and subsequent failures to institute proper building codes.

    After emancipation from slavery, freed people had no right nor access to land. To build houses, they were forced to lease land from the former enslavers who at a whim could terminate their employment or kick them off the land.

    This led to the development of a particular type of housing structure known as chattel houses in countries such as Barbados. These houses are tiny and were constructed in a way in which they could be easily taken apart and loaded onto carts, should the residents be forced out by their former enslavers. Many Bajans still live in these houses today, although quite a few have been converted to restaurants or shops.

    Chattel houses are still used as homes in Barbados.
    Shardalow via Wikimedia, CC BY

    In Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, owned by the Dutch, slave huts were built along the coast, on land not suitable for agriculture and easily damaged by storms. These former slave huts are now tourist attractions, but the colonial patterns of settling along the coast has left many coastal communities exposed to hurricane damage and rising seas.

    The vulnerability of such houses is not only a result of their exposure to natural hazards but also the underlying social structures.

    Slave huts were built on the coast in Bonaire, where they were vulnerable to storm surge.
    Leslie Ket via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    In many islands today, poorer residents can’t afford protective measures, such as installing storm shutters or purchasing solar-powered generators.

    They often live in marginal and disaster-prone areas, such as steep hillsides, where housing tends to be cheaper. Houses in these areas are also often poorly constructed with low-grade materials, such as galvanized sheeting for roofs and walls.

    This situation is made worse by the informal and unregulated nature of residential housing construction in the region and the poor enforcement of building codes.

    Due to the legacy of colonialism, most housing or building standards or codes in the Commonwealth Caribbean are relics from the United Kingdom and in the French Antilles from France. Building standards across the region lack uniformity and are generally subjective and uncontrolled. Financial limitations and staffing constraints mean that codes and standards more often than not remain unenforced.

    Progress, but still a lot of work to do

    The Caribbean has made progress in developing wind-related building codes to try to increase resilience in recent years. And while damage from torrential rain is still not properly addressed in most Caribbean building standards, scientific guidance is available through the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados.

    Individual islands, including Dominica and Saint Lucia, have new minimum building standards for recovery after disasters. The island of Grenada is hoping to guide new construction as it recovers from Hurricane Beryl. Trinidad and Tobago has developed a national land use strategy but has struggled to use it.

    Construction standards can help the islands build resilience. But work remains to be done to overcome the legacy of colonial-era land policies and development that have left island towns vulnerable to increasing storm risks.

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

    – ref. Colonialism’s legacy has left Caribbean nations much more vulnerable to hurricanes – https://theconversation.com/colonialisms-legacy-has-left-caribbean-nations-much-more-vulnerable-to-hurricanes-231913

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The whip-poor-will has been an omen of death for centuries − what happened to this iconic bird of American horror?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jared Del Rosso, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver

    An illustration, drawn and engraved, of an eastern whip-poor-will, by Richard Polydore Nodder. Florilegius/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    In one of the most haunting scenes of Stephen King’s 1975 novel “Salem’s Lot,” a gravedigger named Mike Ryerson races to bury the coffin of a local boy named Danny Glick. As night approaches, a troubling thought overtakes Mike: Danny has been buried with his eyes open. Worse, Mike senses that Danny is looking through the closed coffin back at him.

    A mania overcomes Mike. Prayers run through his head – “the ways things like that will for no good reason.” Then more disturbing thoughts intrude: “Now I bring you spoiled meat and reeking flesh.” Mike leaps into the hole he’s dug and furiously shovels soil off the coffin. The reader knows what he’s going to do, but ought not to do, next: Mike will open the coffin, freeing whatever Danny has become.

    Enter the whip-poor-wills. Several of them, King writes, “had begun to lift their shrilling call,” the demand for violence that gives the species its name: whip-poor-will.

    This isn’t the first time whip-poor-wills appear in “Salem’s Lot,” nor is it the last time King would invoke them in his work. But despite the importance of the species to King, whip-poor-wills never appear in film and television adaptations of “Salem’s Lot.”

    Released on Oct. 3, 2024, the most recent adaptation of “Salem’s Lot” incorporates birdsong but makes little use of them. Here and there, an American crow or blue jay calls. Sparrowlike chirps pepper scenes at night. And as Mike unburies the undead Danny, the less threatening call of a barred owl replaces that of whip-poor-wills.

    The whip-poor-will got its name from the male’s three-note call that sounds like it’s wailing, ‘Whip poor will.’

    As a cultural sociologist writing a book about eastern whip-poor-wills, I’m interested in this omission not because it reflects an unfaithful recreation of King’s novel. Rather, I see the erasure of whip-poor-wills from “Salem’s Lot” as a symptom of broader ecological changes, one in which species loss is also tied to cultural loss.

    The horror of the night

    As least as early as Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the call of whip-poor-wills, a member of the nocturnal nightjar family, haunted American fiction.

    Perhaps the best known whip-poor-wills in American horror appear in H.P. Lovecraft’s novella “The Dunwich Horror.” Lovecraft references the species nearly two dozen times in his story, with the birds often appearing around the deaths of the Whateley family, who live in the fictional town of Dunwich, Massachusetts.

    By behaving in ways that real whip-poor-wills never do, Dunwich’s nightjars symbolize the horrors the Whateleys unleash on the townspeople. The birds also act as psychopomps: beings who guide the souls of the newly deceased to the afterlife.

    Horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Dunwich’s whip-poor-wills remain in the town until Halloween – “unnaturally belated,” Lovecraft writes – as they chant in unison with the dying breaths of Whateleys. (Indeed, most whip-poor-wills leave the Northeast by the end of September, and they usually don’t coordinate their singing.) But though whip-poor-wills are essential to the plot of “The Dunwich Horror,” another common owl, this one a great horned owl, replaces whip-poor-wills in the 1970 film adaptation of Lovecraft’s story.

    King, too, uses whip-poor-wills to great effect. In “Jerusalem’s Lot,” the short story King later published as a prelude to “Salem’s Lot,” whip-poor-wills haunt the Maine town. And in his 1989 novel “The Dark Half,” King references the lore of whip-poor-wills as psychopomps.

    Lovecraft’s and King’s fictional whip-poor-wills draw on widespread Indigenous, European and American beliefs about the species. A whip-poor-will singing near one’s home was an especially ominous sign, usually meaning that death would soon take someone in the house. An 1892 article in the American Journal of Folklore documents this belief in King’s home state, Maine. It also offers a story, probably apocryphal, as evidence: “A whippoorwill sang at a back door repeatedly; finally, the woman’s son was brought home dead, and the corpse brought into the house through the back door.”

    Birds and belief disappear

    For the better part of the 19th and early 20th centuries, whip-poor-will lore circulated among people who encountered the bird. Outside of the world of folklore studies, you can find passing mention of ill omens in the nature writing of Henry David Thoreau and Susan Fenimore Cooper, though neither gave credence to these superstitions. Into the 20th century, local newspapers continued to share lore about the birds with their readers.

    But as erasure of the species from horror suggest, broader cultural familiarity with whip-poor-wills has atrophied. In one exception, “Chapelwaite,” a 2021 television series based on King’s “Jerusalem’s Lot,” the characters explicitly discuss the birds’ behaviors, so that viewers understand the reference.

    The cultural erasure of whip-poor-wills mirrors the species’ actual decline. Conservationists estimate that eastern whip-poor-will populations have declined by about 70% since the 1970s. This decline is likely leading to what the naturalist Robert Michael Pyle calls the “extinction of experience.” Pyle reasons that when a species declines, people lose opportunities to encounter it in local landscapes and are less likely to be familiar with it in the first place.

    Such declines also drive social and cultural losses. This is most stark when a species goes extinct. Consider the passenger pigeon. As the writer Jennifer Price shows in her book “Flight Maps,” the life of Americans was once entwined with the species. When massive flocks of passenger pigeons arrived, communities gathered to hunt the birds, which were once an integral part of the American diet. Now, however, the species is remembered almost exclusively as a symbol of human-induced extinction.

    A passenger pigeon pictured in the early 20th century, shortly before the species went extinct.
    Bettmann/Getty Images

    Similarly, the decline of common birds alters people’s relationships to the environment. For instance, in the U.K., the decline of house sparrows robs landscapes of the beloved sight and sound of a once ubiquitous species. The loss of common cuckoos, meanwhile, means that spring arrives in the U.K. without its iconic song.

    Beyond cultures of loss

    I think we are witnessing similar cultural changes with whip-poor-wills. Their absence in the adaptations of King’s work mirrors their absence both in the landscape and in people’s lives. But though loss and grief rightfully characterize many people’s relationship with whip-poor-wills and other declining species, I want to make a case for hope.

    On one hand, there’s reason to be hopeful about the possibility of conservation: Whip-poor-wills appear to respond well to forest management practices that create diverse forests with a mix of younger and older trees. Many places where whip-poor-wills breed have active conservation plans to support the bird and other species that share their habitats.

    Nor are whip-poor-wills culturally extinct.

    After all, readers still find their way to the works of Lovecraft and King. These and other enduring references to the species offer people an opportunity to find their way back to the bird – and to what the species meant to all those who have cared for them.

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

    – ref. The whip-poor-will has been an omen of death for centuries − what happened to this iconic bird of American horror? – https://theconversation.com/the-whip-poor-will-has-been-an-omen-of-death-for-centuries-what-happened-to-this-iconic-bird-of-american-horror-240873

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Basel III implementation – update and a roadmap for liquidity standards

    Source: Isle of Man

    Background

    Basel III is an internationally agreed set of measures and standards developed and issued by the international standard setting body, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee).  It expanded upon and replaced Basel II.  The various Basel III reforms were brought together into one consolidated set of standards, collectively referred to as the Basel Framework. 

    Implementation of the components of the Basel Framework continues to progress internationally, and the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority is committed to meeting international standards where it is appropriate and proportionate to do so. 

    We have to take into account that many of our banks are part of large international banking groups that are subject to consolidated supervision in countries that have, or are moving towards, Basel III implementation.  At the same time, implementation of reforms in the Island needs to be suitable and effective for the profile of the sector.

    We have updated our Basel III webpage to help explain our approach to implementation and to set out the core components of the Basel Framework.

    Updating the liquidity framework

    We have already implemented several elements of the Basel III reforms, including a framework for domestic systemically important banks, requirements for better quality and levels of capital, and reporting of the leverage ratio (a non-risk-based capital ratio). 

    Although further reforms to capital adequacy will need to be considered, implementing the Basel III liquidity reforms is a key priority for the Authority to help maintain an effective regulatory and supervisory framework and to continue to provide adequate protection for consumers.

    We have therefore set out today a roadmap for the implementation of the Basel III liquidity standards in the Isle of Man and look forward to working with the sector to bring these changes into operation.

    Enquiries

     

    Prudential Supervision Division:

    Andrew Kermode

    Head of Division

    T: +44 (0)1624 689320

    E: andrew.kermode@iomfsa.im

    Marc Barlow

    Senior Manager – Banking

    T: +44 (0)1624 689369

    E: marc.barlow@iomfsa.im

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Acceleware Selected to Attend the Chile-Canada Mining Innovation Summit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acceleware Ltd. (“Acceleware” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: AXE), a leading innovator of transformative technologies targeting the decarbonization of industrial process heat, is very pleased to announce that it is one of 10 companies selected by The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) and by Chilean mining operators to attend the Chile-Canada Mining Innovation Summit (CCMIS) on October 24, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. In addition, Acceleware will participate in Global Mining Group’s (GMG) Santiago Forum, “Igniting Action: Building the Mines of The Future Today” on October 22- 23, 2024.

    The intent of CCMIS is to focus on accelerating the adoption of new technologies and sustainable practices in mining and is ideally suited for Acceleware to present potential benefits of EM Powered Heat to operators and mining equipment innovators active in Chile. As part of the commitment under the Canada/Chile memorandum of understanding signed at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2024 conference in Toronto, the CCMIS summit will enable Canada to leverage its leadership in Chile’s world-class mining industry. This collaboration will promote the sustainable use of natural resources and uphold Canada’s position as a leader in clean, efficient technologies and smart mining innovations.

    “Acceleware is very excited to be heading to Santiago, Chile for these two events, where we will have the opportunity to network with mining companies and innovators including BHP, Codelco, Glencore, Teck, Hatch, South32, Anglo Gold and others. These events are specifically focused on bringing together operators and innovators who are actively working to evaluate decarbonization opportunities and deploy electrification technologies like ours,” said Geoff Clark, Chief Executive Officer. “We see a significant opportunity for our mining decarbonization technologies to be of interest there, especially given that Chile is the world’s largest copper producer with one third of world production and reserves, and is also a leading producer of molybdenum, gold, silver and lithium.”

    In addition to having the opportunity to showcase its technology and solutions, Acceleware will also engage in pre-arranged meetings with Chilean mine operators, integrators and industry leaders. MICA will share an update on collaboration or pilot projects that result from the CCMIS initiative at PDAC 2025 in Toronto.

    About Acceleware
    Acceleware is an advanced electromagnetic (EM) heating company with highly scalable EM solutions for large industrial applications. The Company’s solutions provide an opportunity to economically electrify and decarbonize industrial process heat applications previously considered difficult to abate, which could have a significant impact on global GHG emissions.

    Acceleware is piloting RF XL, its patented low-cost, low-carbon EM thermal production technology for heavy oil and oil sands that is materially different from any heavy oil recovery technique used today. The Company is also working with a consortium of world-class potash partners on a pilot project using its patented and field proven Clean Tech Inverter (CTI) to decarbonize drying of potash ore and other minerals. Acceleware is actively developing partnerships for EM heating of other industrial applications in mining, steel, agriculture, cement, hydrogen and other clean fuels.

    Acceleware and Saa Dene Group (co-founded by Jim Boucher) have created Acceleware | Kisâstwêw to raise the profile, adoption, and value of Acceleware technologies. The partnership is intended to improve the environmental and economic performance of industry by supporting ideals that are important to Indigenous peoples, including respect for land, water, and clean air.

    Acceleware is a public company listed on Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “AXE”.

    About MICA
    MICA was created on July 9, 2021 through an investment of $40 million from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund. MICA is a $112.4 million pan-Canadian initiative bringing together stakeholders from a wide range of fields to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies to make the mining sector more productive and sustainable.

    Disclaimers

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “continues”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations or negatives of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might”, “shall” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

    In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements relating to the benefits of CTI electrification, and future development plans and timing. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The material facts and assumptions include initial studies of applicability of CTI technology to industrial applications are accurate, third party estimates of market size are correct, and the timeline estimates are reasonable. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive and additional risk factors risk factors are described in detail in Acceleware’s continuous disclosure documents, which are filed on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

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

    For further information:
    Geoff Clark, CEO
    Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099
    geoff.clark@acceleware.com
    Acceleware Ltd.
    435 10th Avenue SE
    Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3 Canada
    Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099
    http://www.acceleware.com

    The MIL Network –