Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: Amundi General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amundi General Meeting
    Olivier Gavalda becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors
    All resolutions have been approved with an average approval rate of 98.34%

    Shareholders’ General Meeting of Amundi was held on Tuesday 27 May 2025. With a quorum of 92.79%, the General Meeting approved all the resolutions submitted by the Board of Directors, with an average approval rate of 98.34%.

    After approving the financial statements for 2024, the General Meeting of Amundi has notably approved the distribution of a dividend of €4.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is set at 10 June 2025 and the dividend will be paid from 12 June 2025.

    The General Meeting also approved the appointment as Director of Olivier Gavalda, who becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the appointment of Jean-Christophe Mieszala as independent Director.

    The detailed results of the votes of the General Meeting will be available on the website https://about.amundi.com/ within the regulatory timeframe.

    Biographies

    Olivier Gavalda has spent his entire career at Crédit Agricole. He joined Crédit Agricole du Midi in 1988 where he successively held the positions of Organisation Project Manager, Branch Manager, Training Manager and finally Head of Marketing. In 1998, he joined Crédit Agricole Ile-de-France as Regional Director, then in 2002 he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Sud Rhône-Alpes, in charge of Development and Human Resources. In 2007 he became Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Champagne-Bourgogne. In 2010, he joined Crédit Agricole S.A. as Head of the Regional Banks Division and then in 2015 he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Development, Customer and Innovation Division. In 2016, he became Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Ile-de-France. In November 2022, he has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole S.A. in charge of Universal Bank. Olivier Gavalda is Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole S.A. since 14 May 2025.

    Olivier Gavalda holds a master’s degree in Econometrics and a DESS (post-graduate diploma) in organisation/computing from Arts et Métiers.

    Jean-Christophe Mieszala served as a French civil servant and worked at the World Bank, until he joined McKinsey & Company in 1994. After several years in the United States, he moved to France and was elected Partner in France in 2000, then Senior Partner in 2006. He served as Managing Partner France (chief executive officer) from 2010 to 2017, then Global Chief Risk Officer from 2018 to 2024. He was also a member of McKinsey’s Global Board of Directors from 2018. He left McKinsey in September 2024. In addition to his consulting activity for companies for nearly 30 years, he has been making regular contributions to various think tanks (WEF, Institut de l’Entreprise, MGI, etc.) and market initiatives concerning the French financial system and the French industrial ecosystem.

    Jean-Christophe Mieszala is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Banque de France, a board member of Ecole des Mines ParisTech and of Allianz France.

    Former student of the Ecole Polytechnique (class of 1985), Jean-Christophe Mieszala trained at the Corps des Mines (French civil service) until 1991 and obtained his MBA with honors from INSEAD in 1994.

    ***

    About Amundi

    Amundi, the leading European asset manager, ranking among the top 10 global players1, offers its 100 million clients – retail, institutional and corporate – a complete range of savings and investment solutions in active and passive management, in traditional or real assets. This offering is enhanced with IT tools and services to cover the entire savings value chain. A subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group and listed on the stock exchange, Amundi currently manages more than €2.2 trillion of assets2.

    With its six international investment hubs3, financial and extra-financial research capabilities and long-standing commitment to responsible investment, Amundi is a key player in the asset management landscape.

    Amundi clients benefit from the expertise and advice of 5,700 employees in 35 countries.

    Amundi, a trusted partner, working every day in the interest of its clients and society

    www.amundi.com   

    Press contacts:        
    Natacha Andermahr 
    Tel. +33 1 76 37 86 05
    natacha.andermahr@amundi.com 

    Corentin Henry
    Tel. +33 1 76 36 26 96
    corentin.henry@amundi.com

    Investor contacts:
    Cyril Meilland, CFA
    Tel. +33 1 76 32 62 67
    cyril.meilland@amundi.com 

    Thomas Lapeyre
    Tel. +33 1 76 33 70 54
    thomas.lapeyre@amundi.com 

    Annabelle Wiriath

    Tel. + 33 1 76 32 43 92

    annabelle.wiriath@amundi.com


    1Source: IPE “Top 500 Asset Managers” published in June 2024, based on assets under management as at 31/12/2023
    2Amundi data as at 31/03/2025
    3Paris, London, Dublin, Milan, Tokyo and San Antonio (via our strategic partnership with Victory Capital)

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

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

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 27, 2025

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

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

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team held discussions for the 2025 Article IV consultation for Tuvalu in Funafuti, during May 20-27. The team issued the following statement at the conclusion of the mission.

    RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, OUTLOOK, AND RISKS

    Tuvalu’s economy has experienced a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. After falling for three consecutive years in 2020-22, GDP growth rebounded strongly at 7.9 percent in 2023, driven by the resumption of construction activity, the trade recovery, and higher government spending. GDP growth in 2024 is estimated to have reached 3.3 percent, supported by continued effects of reopening and major infrastructure projects. Since peaking at 14.2 percent in 2022Q3, inflation has been trending down and slowed to 1.2 percent in 2024, in line with global food and commodities prices and continued easing of shipping bottlenecks.

    The economic recovery is expected to continue, but growth is projected to moderate gradually over the medium term. Growth in 2025 is projected at 3 percent, driven by the construction of the new phase of Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project and an increase in public spending. While externally-financed projects are expected to continue to support economic activities, growth is projected to decline gradually to around 1.8 percent over the medium term, due to sluggish productivity growth, increasing emigration, and vulnerability to climate events. Inflation is expected to remain below 2 percent in 2025, reflecting the negative CPI at end-2024 and lower global commodity prices, and to rise gradually to 2.5 percent over the medium term, aligning with inflation dynamics of Tuvalu’s trading partners.

    The fiscal balance is projected to turn to a surplus in 2025 reflecting higher grants but would deteriorate again starting in 2026. Higher grants are expected to more than offset the increase in expenditures and improve the fiscal balance from a deficit of 7 percent of GDP in 2024 to a surplus of 2.9 percent of GDP in 2025. Over the medium term, grants are projected to gradually decline to historical levels of around 27 percent of GDP, while current expenditure pressures would remain elevated. As a result, fiscal balances are expected to deteriorate gradually and reach -6.8 percent of GDP by 2030. Because the projected withdrawals from Tuvalu’s sovereign funds are not sufficient to fully finance the fiscal deficits, foreign financing will be required to close the financing gap. Under these baseline projections, Tuvalu is assessed to remain at a high risk of debt distress.

    Downside risks to the outlook remain high. The global environment has significantly changed this year, reflecting escalated trade tensions, heightened policy uncertainty, and tighter financial conditions.  While Tuvalu’s export exposure is limited, heightened global uncertainty and volatility could affect Tuvalu’s external revenues, including from its internet domain, fishing licenses, and development assistance, and significantly impact Tuvalu’s public finances, external position, and growth outlook. Global risks of heightened trade tensions and higher commodity prices could also increase inflation. A sharp downward correction in financial market returns could affect the performance of Tuvalu’s sovereign funds. Under-performance of public corporations could cause fiscal risks, and further loss of CBRs would severely disrupt cross-border payments. An acceleration of outward migration would exacerbate labor shortages. Extreme climate events and climate change remain major risks to Tuvalu’s economic outlook. Upside risks include higher fishing licenses and grants and greater structural reform momentum, which could accelerate economic growth.

    FISCAL POLICY

    Fiscal policy should balance ensuring fiscal sustainability and supporting Tuvalu’s development priorities. Tuvalu’s high vulnerability to external shocks requires fiscal sustainability and adequate buffers against downside risks. Meanwhile, the government faces significant near-term spending pressures in order to deliver essential public services, while also having to address medium-term climate adaptation costs and labor shortages stemming from increasing emigration.

    A multi-pronged fiscal strategy is required to address these challenges. Given persistent fiscal deficits and Tuvalu’s limited fiscal space, the main elements of the strategy should include: i) gradually reducing fiscal deficits; ii) increasing spending for priority areas; and iii) appropriately using fiscal buffers to stabilize fiscal accounts, cushion against shocks, and address long-term challenges. IMF staff’s simulations show that reducing the fiscal deficit gradually to around 2.3 percent of GDP by 2030 (compared to 6.8 percent of GDP in the baseline scenario) by utilizing the returns of the Tuvalu Trust Fund and the Consolidated Investment Fund (CIF) to finance deficits would keep public debt on a downward path. The domestic current balance would provide an appropriate anchor and is expected to improve to -40 percent of GDP by 2045 under the consolidation scenario, and the value of the buffer fund (CIF) would stabilize at around 40 percent of GDP, which is needed to cover major shocks and downside risks.

    The recommended fiscal strategy entails a combination of revenue mobilization, expenditure rationalization, and resource reprioritization measures. Expenditure measures should primarily focus on unwinding the recent increases in current expenditure, including containing the increase in the wage bill, implementing cost-saving measures for the Medical Referral Scheme and overseas scholarships, unwinding the increase in goods and services spending, and cutting broad-based utility subsidies. Revenue mobilization should prioritize strengthening the compliance and efficiency of tax collection, while considering reviewing tax policies and exploring options to boost tax revenue and streamline tax incentives. Part of the savings from the above measures should be redirected to areas such as targeted protection for the most vulnerable, infrastructure, human capital, and climate resilience.

    Improving public financial management (PFM) can help manage revenue volatility and fiscal risks. The authorities have made progress in PFM, including introducing the new Financial Management Information System and formulating the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. The publication of Tuvalu’s Fiscal Risk Reports is also welcome. Further efforts are needed to improve budget reliability, strengthen investment management to enhance absorption capacity, implement climate budget tagging, enhance fiscal reporting and transparency on extra-budgetary funds and SOEs, and reinforce procurement management.

    FINANCIAL SECTOR POLICIES

    Establishing effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks is urgently needed. Priorities include strengthening the statutory role and expanding the supervisory perimeter of the Banking Commission of Tuvalu (BCT), issuing the proposed new prudential standards, enforcing the timely submission of prudential returns, and addressing delays in the audits of the financial statements of the financial institutions. These measures should be supported through adequate resourcing of the BCT to conduct both on-site and off-site supervision.

    Continued efforts are needed to strengthen Tuvalu’s connectivity to the global payment system and improve financial inclusion. Tuvalu’s membership of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is a welcome step, and the authorities should continue strengthen the legal framework and compliance. Efforts to address Correspondent Banking Relationship pressures should also take into account potentially low ML/TF risk environment in Tuvalu and focus on the outreach to the key foreign regulatory authorities, including a corridor risk assessment. The ongoing efforts to modernize banking services, including the recent launch of Tuvalu’s first ATMs, can help overcome geographical barriers and improve efficiency. Improving financial literacy and establishing a reliable national digital ID system are also crucial for financial inclusion. Meanwhile, introducing digital services should consider supervisory capacities and ensure financial integrity.

    STRUCTURAL REFORMS

    Structural reforms need to be carefully prioritized, focusing on addressing development bottlenecks and attaining higher growth potential. Priorities should include: i) collaborating with local communities to effectively develop the reclaimed land; ii) improving internet connectivity and leveraging IT technology to deliver more public services; iii) ensuring proper maintenance of key infrastructure assets, particularly transportation and utilities including renewable energy; iv) strengthening SOE governance and performance, accompanied by reviewing utility pricing to ensure cost recovery; and v) exploring economic diversification in sectors with higher potential, including agricultural products such as coconut, eco-tourism, and commercial fishery.

    Mitigating the impact of emigration and enhancing climate resilience are crucial. While outward emigration has supported remittances and consumption, measures to enhance both human capital and labor supply are required to address labor shortage issues. The authorities should focus on improving education access and quality, enhancing training, and attracting returning migrants and promoting skill transfer. Facilitating female labor force participation could help bridge significant gender gaps in employment, while alleviating labor shortages. Tuvalu should continue to engage with development partners to secure climate financing and implement major climate resilient projects. In addition, the authorities need to further enhance disaster management through enforcement of amended building codes, use of risk maps to inform planning, and strengthening community disaster preparedness. Accelerating renewable energy production can lower Tuvalu’s energy costs, reduce its external sector vulnerability, and enhance energy security.

    ***

    The mission would like to thank the Tuvaluan authorities and various stakeholders for their excellent hospitality and cooperation and candid discussions during the mission.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pemba Sherpa

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/27/mcs-tuvalu-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Reopening of East Haddam Swing Bridge Following Major Rehabilitation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HADDAM, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today joined Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto and Congressman Joe Courtney at a news conference to announce the completion of the East Haddam Swing Bridge rehabilitation project.

    The historic, 112-year-old bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River between Haddam and East Haddam, has been upgraded with new mechanical and electrical systems, substructure repairs, and roof replacement to enhance structural performance and reliability for the 12,000 vehicles that cross this bridge every day.

    A new sidewalk on the south side of the bridge is connected to newly constructed sidewalks on both sides of the river, offering a safe, accessible crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

    Administered and overseen by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, this $88.8 million project was funded through a mix of 80% federal and 20% state funds. Construction spanned from September 2022 through May 2025 and was completed on time.

    “The East Haddam Swing Bridge is both a transportation lifeline and a state landmark,” Governor Lamont said. “Thanks to this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re preserving a key piece of infrastructure for the next generation while making it safer and more accessible for everyone who uses it.”

    “We’re no longer applying a ‘band-aid’ fix. This full rehabilitation ensures the East Haddam Swing Bridge will continue serving Connecticut for many decades to come,” Commissioner Eucalitto said. “We’re grateful to the Haddam and East Haddam communities for their patience and partnership during construction, and we’re proud of the improvements made.”

    “The modernization of the iconic East Haddam Swing Bridge is a stellar example of how federal infrastructure dollars are supposed to work,” Congressman Courtney said. “Thanks to over $70 million from the federal infrastructure law, we were able to deliver a long-overdue, full-scale rehabilitation of a 112-year-old bridge that is safer for both motorists and pedestrians, while retaining its unique design. Congratulations to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the contractors who swiftly executed this complex project, which will endure for decades to come.”

    Originally built in 1913 by the American Bridge Company, the East Haddam Swing Bridge has now been fully rehabilitated by that same company, bringing the bridge into the 21st century while preserving its historic integrity.

    The East Haddam Swing Bridge consists of four spans, including a moveable swing span that required upgrades to address operational issues identified during inspections. Previous repairs were completed in 1988, 1998, 1999, 2007, and 2016.

    Tuesday’s news conference at Eagles Landing State Park in Haddam was capped by a special appearance from the Riendeau family, whose ancestors brought oxen to the original ribbon cutting for the East Haddam Swing Bridge in June 1913. More than a century later, the family returned to the bridge on Tuesday, this time with a new generation of oxen to help mark the bridge’s reopening.

     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Soitec Reports Fourth Quarter Revenue and Full-Year Results of Fiscal Year 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOITEC REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER REVENUE AND
    FULL-YEAR RESULTS OF FISCAL YEAR 2025

    • Q4’25 revenue reached €327m, stable at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24
    • FY’25 revenue amounted to €891m, down 9% both on a reported basis and at constant exchange rates and perimeter, in line with revised guidance
    • Soitec accelerated diversification confirmed with POI becoming Soitec’s fourth product to generate annual revenue of around $100m or more
    • Robust FY’25 EBITDA1margin2at 33.5%, current EBIT margin at 15.2%
    • Positive FY’25 Free Cash Flow, at €26m, while maintaining strong R&D and industrial investments
    • Q1’26 revenue, impacted by the anticipated phase-out of Imager-SOI, is expected down around 20% year-on-year at constant exchange rates and perimeter (Imager-SOI Q1’25 revenue: $25m)
    • FY’26 Capex cash-out expected around €150m, down from €230m in FY’25
    • Strong technology megatrends and Soitec’s innovative engineered substrates continue to sustain Soitec addressable market growth from ~5m wafers (200mm equivalent) in 2024 to ~12m in 2030
    • Given the current reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group withdraws any guidance, whether related to all or part of its activities. This includes the projection of a quite limited growth for FY’26, as well as the medium-term ambition to reach a revenue target of $2bn with an EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. Going forward, the Group will only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis

    Bernin (Grenoble), France, May 27th, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext Paris), a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials, today announced its revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and its full-year results of fiscal year 2025 (ended on March 31st, 2025). The financial statements3 were approved by the Board of Directors during its meeting today.

    Pierre Barnabé, Soitec’s CEO, commented: On the back of strong sales in the fourth quarter, we closed fiscal year 2025 in line with our revised guidance, with a high-single digit decline in full-year revenue. In this context, strict cost management enabled us to deliver a robust EBITDA margin, generate positive free cash flow, and continue investing both in innovation and in our industrial capacity – all while maintaining a very healthy balance sheet.

    In a volatile and uncertain economic environment, we are focusing on parameters within our control to strengthen our fundamentals and accelerate our diversification beyond RF-SOI and beyond Mobile Communications. With the growing adoption of our new products by industry leaders – POI becoming an industry standard for innovative smartphones and Photonics-SOI gaining traction among industry leaders to equip the next generation of AI Datacenters – we have been able to partially offset the ongoing RF-SOI inventory correction and mitigate the impact of the weakness in the automotive industry. While RF-SOI remains by far the first contributor to our revenue, three other products – FD-SOI, Power-SOI and POI – are now each generating around or above 100 million US dollars in revenue.

    This environment however provides limited visibility. We have therefore decided to suspend all previously issued guidance and to only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis. We expect Q1’26 to reflect the impact of the Imager-SOI phase out, which we had already anticipated and prepared for. Q1’26 revenue is hence expected to be down around 20% year on year, Imager-SOI contributing 25 million dollars in Q1’25.

    We remain confident in our solid fundamentals and in our ability to accelerate growth as soon as our end markets begin to recover. Our strong technology megatrends – 5G, Energy Efficiency and Artificial Intelligence – and our unique expertise in engineered substrates continue to support the expansion of our Addressable Market from around 5 million wafers (200-mm equivalent) in 2024 to around 12 million in 2030”, added Pierre Barnabé.

    Fourth quarter FY’25 consolidated revenue

      Q4’25 Q4’24 Q4’25/Q4’24
             
             
    (Euros millions)     change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter
             
    Mobile Communications 220 222 -1% -2%
    Automotive & Industrial 45 44 +1% 0%
    Edge & Cloud AI 63 70 -11% +2%
             
    Revenue 327 337 -3% -1%

    Soitec revenue reached 327 million Euros in Q4’25, down 3% on a reported basis compared with revenue of 337 million Euros achieved in Q4’24. This reflects a 1% year-on-year decline at constant exchange rates and perimeter, a negative scope4 effect of 3% related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses, and a positive currency impact of 1%.

    Each one of Soitec’s three divisions recorded an almost stable organic change in revenue in Q4’25 compared to the high base achieved in Q4’24. The slight organic decline in Mobile Communications revenue was partly offset by a small increase in Edge & Cloud AI revenue, while Automotive & Industrial was stable. This is however reflecting different dynamics per product, with further strong traction in POI wafers for smartphone filters and in Photonics-SOI wafers for data centers.

    Mobile Communications

    In the context of a moderately recovering smartphone market and with a progressively improving inventory situation across the supply chain, Mobile Communications revenue reached 220 million Euros in Q4’25, down 2% at constant exchange rates and perimeter year-on-year.

    On RF-SOI wafers, Soitec benefited, as expected, from a usually strong seasonal stock rebuilding at the beginning of the calendar year. Volumes of RF-SOI wafers sold were higher in Q4’25 than in Q4’24, with a slightly negative price / mix effect, thus partly mitigating a significant decrease in 200-mm RF-SOI volumes.

    Sales of POI (Piezoelectric-on-Insulator) wafers dedicated to RF filters continued to grow sequentially from one quarter to another, translating into a sharp year-on-year increase in Q4’25. The adoption of Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters on POI continued to accelerate. Ten customers are in volume production, and thirteen others in qualification phase.

    Sales of FD-SOI wafers, the only solution for fully integrated 5G mmWave system-on-chip, have been slightly growing in Q4’25 compared to Q4’24.

    Automotive & Industrial

    Automotive & Industrial revenue reached 45 million Euros in Q4’25, flat at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24, despite the ongoing difficulties of the automotive market.

    After the particularly low level reached in Q3’25, volumes of Power-SOI wafers were significantly higher in Q4’25 than in Q4’24, although with a slightly negative price effect. Sales benefited from customer restocking at the beginning of their calendar year. Despite very low visibility, OEMs were keen to avoid stockouts in the event of a market rebound, but this most likely came at the expense of volumes in H1’26. As the Automotive market recovers, the outlook for Battery Management Systems remains strong and supports Soitec’s product roadmap towards 300-mm, further strengthening its positioning.

    Conversely, after a very strong performance in Q3’25, FD-SOI wafer sales recorded a slight year-on-year decline in Q4’25 compared to Q4’24. Automotive FD-SOI continues to be mostly driven by adoption for microcontrollers, radar and wireless connectivity, delivering superior performance and greater power efficiency compared to other existing technologies.

    Regarding SmartSiCTM, while Soitec initiated a sixth customer qualification process early Q4’25, the slower-than-expected growth of the electric vehicle market, combined with the longer than initially anticipated customers’ qualification cycles confirm the previously mentioned delay in the initially expected wafer production ramp-up.

    Edge & Cloud AI

    Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 63 million Euros in Q4’25, up 2% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24. On a reported basis revenue went down 11% as a result of the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses.

    Sales of Photonics-SOI wafers recorded another high sequential increase in Q4’25, as Soitec continues to benefit from a strong momentum in Cloud infrastructure investments across the Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence supply chains. On a year-on-year basis, sales were much higher than in Q4’24. As the exponential growth of AI-related computing power capabilities drives the need for more powerful and more energy-efficient data centers, Photonics-SOI has become a standard technology platform for high-speed and high bandwidth optical interconnections in data centers. Photonics-SOI are adopted in pluggable optical transceivers and used for the development of Co-Packaged Optics.

    In Q4’25 sales of FD-SOI wafers were above the level reached in Q3’25 but slightly down year-on-year compared to the high level recorded in Q4’24. This is mainly the consequence of deliveries requests put on hold by a couple of customers. FD-SOI technology is a key enabler for AI-driven consumer and industrial IoT applications due to its unique power efficiency, performance, thermal management and reliability advantages.

    Sales of Imager-SOI wafers for 3D imaging applications tapered off in Q4’25 due to the phase out of this product, as expected.

    FY’25 consolidated revenue

      FY’25 FY’24 FY’25/FY’24
             
    (Euros millions)     change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter
             
    Mobile Communications 546 611 -11% -12%
    Automotive & Industrial 129 163 -21% -22%
    Edge & Cloud AI 216 204 +6% +11%
             
    Revenue 891 978 -9% -9%

    Consolidated revenue reached 891 million Euros in FY’25, down 9% on a reported basis compared to 978 million Euros in FY’24. This reflects a 9% decline at constant exchange rates and perimeter, in line with Soitec’s latest guidance, a negative scope4 effect of 1% and a slightly positive currency impact of 1%.

    Overall, the sharp increase in sales of Photonics-SOI and POI wafers partly offset the drop in revenue recorded both in RF-SOI and in Power-SOI.

    • Mobile Communications revenue reached 546 million Euros in FY’25, down 11% on a reported basis and down 12% at constant exchange rates and perimeter year-on-year. Revenue was impacted by weaker RF-SOI volumes in connection with further inventory adjustment at customer level, especially in H1’25. RF-SOI performance was partly offset by a strong growth in POI wafer sales throughout the fiscal year and by slightly higher FD-SOI wafer sales. Mobile communications represented 61% of total revenue, almost stable vs FY’24.
    • Automotive & Industrial revenue amounted to 129 million Euros in FY’25, down 21% on a reported basis and down 22% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to FY’24. This revenue decline was primarily driven by lower Power-SOI volumes, reflecting weakness in the automotive market. Revenue from SmartSiC™ technology in connection with the initial phase of Soitec’s cooperation agreement with STMicroelectronics have also decreased year-on-year. This was partially offset by higher FD-SOI wafer sales. Automotive & Industrial represented 15% of total revenue against 17% in FY’24.
    • Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 216 million Euros in FY’25, up 6% on a reported basis and up 11% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to FY’24. The organic increase in revenue was driven by higher sales of Photonics-SOI wafers, which benefit from sustained investment in Cloud infrastructure. Sales of FD-SOI went slightly down but remained at a high level, supported by the need for low-power computing devices and edge-AI applications. Imager-SOI sales were almost flat year-on-year despite the phase out of this product from early H2’25 onward. Edge & Cloud AI represented 24% of total revenue against 21% in FY’24.

    EBITDA1margin2maintained at a robust level

    Consolidated income statement (part 1)

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24 % change
           
    Revenue 891 978 -9%
           
           
    Gross profit 286 332 -14%
    As a % of revenue 32.1% 34.0%  
           
    Net research and development expenses (85) (61) +39%
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (65) (63) +4%
           
           
    Current operating income 136 208 -35%
    As a % of revenue 15.2% 21.3%  
           
           
    EBITDA1,5 298 332 -10%
    As a % of revenue 33.5% 34.0%  

    Current operating income went down from 208 million Euros in FY’24 (21.3% of revenue) to 136 million Euros in FY’25 (15.2% of revenue). This reflects the weaker activity recorded in FY’25, but also higher R&D investment and higher depreciation expenses, as Soitec continues to invest to secure its competitiveness.

    • Gross profit reached 286 million Euros, down from 332 million Euros in FY’24. Gross margin declined by 1.9 points to 32.1% of revenue. This was essentially due to the lower sales volumes, of RF-SOI in particular, leading to a lower utilization of some of the industrial capacities, combined with an overall slightly negative price / mix effect. In addition, depreciation costs went up, reflecting the Group’s investment profile. These factors were mitigated by strong discipline in cost management, including lower purchase prices, by some agility in resource allocation between plants, and by higher subsidies.
    • Net R&D expenses increased from 61 million Euros in FY’24 (6.3% of revenue) to 85 million Euros in FY’25 (9.5% of revenue). Gross R&D expenses before capitalization went up 11% to 152°million Euros, as part of Soitec’s innovation strategy aimed at further investing in the next generation of SOI products, in compound semiconductors, as well as in new engineered substrates. In addition, Soitec booked a much lower amount of capitalized development costs in FY’25 (12 million Euros against 31 million Euros in FY’24). This was only partly offset by the recognition of higher R&D subsidies and higher prototype sales.
    • Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses amounted to 65 million Euros in FY’25 (7.3% of revenue), up from 63 million Euros in FY’24. This slight increase is essentially due to non-recurring positive effects on labor costs recorded in FY’24 and higher depreciation expenses, notably related to recent IT investments in cybersecurity. On the other hand, lower share-based compensation and the divestment of Dolphin Design both had positive effects.

    EBITDA1,5 amounted to 298 million Euros in FY’25 compared to 332 million Euros in FY’24. EBITDA1,5 margin2 remained at a robust level, reaching 33.5%, only 50 basis points below the level of 34.0% recorded in FY’24. The combination of a lesser absorption of fixed costs due to lower volumes and higher level of R&D investments was offset by higher non-cash items, notably depreciation and amortization expenses and inventory valuation effects.

    Consolidated income statement (part 2)

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24 % change
           
           
       
    Current operating income 136 208 -35%
           
           
    Other operating income / (expenses) (16) (3)  
           
           
    Operating income 119 205 -42%
           
    Net financial expense (9) (5)  
    Income tax (19) (23)  
           
           
    Net profit from continuing operations 91 178 -49%
           
    Net profit from discontinued operations 1 0  
           
           
    Net profit, Group share 92 178 -48%
           
           
    Basic earnings per share (in €) 2.57 5.00 -49%
           
    Diluted earnings per share (in €) 2.56 4.88 -48%
           
           
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares 35,670,651 35,655,679  
           
    Weighted average number of diluted ordinary shares 35,868,688 37,710,587  

    Other operating expenses amounted to 16 million Euros in FY’25, mainly reflecting a 13 million Euros loss on the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses.

    Consequently, the operating income stood at 119 million Euros, down from 205 million Euros in FY’24.

    The net financial result came as an expense of 9 million Euros in FY’25 compared to an expense of 5 million Euros in FY’24. Net financial expenses were 2 million Euros higher than in FY’24, reflecting new financing arrangements, while a net foreign exchange loss of 2 million Euros was recorded in FY’25 against a gain of 1 million Euros in FY’24.

    The income tax expense amounted to 19 million Euros in FY’25, down from 23 million Euros in FY’24. The effective tax rate, however, increased from 11% in FY’24 to 17% in FY’25, as a result of specific one-off items.

    In line with the decline in operating income, the net profit amounted to 92 million Euros in FY’25 (10.3% of revenue), down from 178 million Euros in FY’24 (18.2% of revenue).

    Positive Free Cash Flow generation

    Consolidated cash-flows

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24
         
    Continuing operations    
         
    EBITDA1,6 298 332
         
    Inventories (38) (19)
    Trade receivables (30) (94)
    Trade payables (15) (45)
    Other receivables and liabilities 4 17
    Change in working capital requirement (79) (142)
    Tax paid (17) (25)
         
         
    Net cash generated by operating activities 202 165
         
    Net cash used in investing activities (176) (208)
         
         
    Free Cash Flow 26 (43)
         
    New loans and debt repayment (including finance leases), drawing on credit lines (36) (15)
    Financial expenses (14) (12)
    Liquidity contract and other items (1) (7)
         
         
    Net cash used in financing activities (50) (33)
         
    Impact of exchange rate fluctuations 4 (3)
         
    Net change in cash (21) (80)

    The Group generated a positive Free Cash Flow of 26 million Euros in FY’25, which represents a 69 million Euros improvement compared to the 43 million Euros negative Free Cash Flow recorded in FY’24. Despite a lower EBITDA1,5, this strong increase essentially comes as a result of a better change in working capital. It also benefited from lower tax paid and from reduced capital expenditure.

    Change in working capital remained under control with a cash outflow at 79 million Euros in FY’25, compared to a cash outflow of 142 million Euros in FY’24. FY’25 cash outflow is essentially reflecting:

    • a 38 million Euros increase in inventories as a couple of customers requested to put some deliveries on hold while some late changes in product mix also resulted in an increase in bulk material inventories,
    • a 30 million Euros increase in trade receivables, explained by a different customer mix,
      • a 15 million Euros decrease in trade payables.

    The net cash used in investing activities amounted to 176 million Euros in FY’25, compared to 209 million Euros in FY’24. It takes into account financial income from cash investment of 19 million Euros (17 million Euros in FY’24). Including new production equipment under leases (31 million Euros in FY’25 vs. 51 million Euros in FY’24), total cash out related to capital expenditure amounted to 230 million Euros as expected. It compares with 276 million Euros spent in FY’24. Capital expenditure was essentially related to industrial investments, including:

    • additional POI manufacturing tools in Bernin to increase capacity,
    • production capacity for new SOI products (RF-SOI and Photonics-SOI) in Singapore and 300-mm SOI refresh capacity in Bernin,
    • the ongoing extension of Singapore 300-mm facility (for the part already started),
    • completion of the 200-mm SmartSiCTM pilot line in Bernin.

    Capital expenditure also included IT investments as well as investments supporting the Group’s innovation strategy and its environmental policy.

    Net cash used in financing activities amounted to 50 million Euros in FY’25 (33 million Euros in FY’24) essentially reflecting a net decrease in borrowings and related interest paid.

    In total, including a 4 million Euros positive impact of exchange rate fluctuations (3 million Euros negative impact in FY’24), the net cash outflow reached 21 million Euros in FY’25 (80 million Euros in FY’24) resulting in a steady strong cash position of 688 million Euros on March 31st, 2025.

    Strong balance sheet maintained

    Soitec maintained a strong balance sheet as of March 31st, 2025.

    Shareholders’ equity stood at 1.6 billion Euros on March 31st, 2025, up 100 million Euros from March 31st, 2024.

    Financial debt on March 31st, 2025, was slightly up, at 782 million Euros against 747 million Euros on March 31st, 2024. Taking into account the 21 million Euros cash outflow recorded in FY’25, the net debt position6 was kept at a moderate level, at 94 million Euros on March 31st, 2025, up from 39 million Euros on March 31st, 2024.

    FY’26 outlook

    Given the current reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group withdraws any guidance, whether related to all or part of its activities. This includes the projection of a quite limited growth for FY’26, as well as the medium-term ambition to reach a revenue target of $2bn with an EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. Going forward, the Group will only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis.

    Q1’26 revenue, impacted by the anticipated phase-out of Imager-SOI, is expected down around 20% year-on-year (Imager-SOI Q1’25 revenue: $25m). FY’26 Capex cash-out is expected around €150m, down from €230m in FY’25.

    Operating model at scale

    Soitec continues to pursue its long-term growth strategy, supported by structural trends in its end markets and the accelerated diversification of its product portfolio.

    In this context, Soitec has defined an operating model at scale, representing the financial profile the Group could achieve when operating at a higher volume level. This model reflects the Group’s internal assessment of the efficiencies and profitability enabled by its current industrial and technological platform.

    Based on its market assessment and competitive positioning, Soitec continues to grow its manufacturing capacity, in line with market growth and customer demand. The Group anticipates investing ~€770m to scale its production capacity to enable a $2bn revenue run-rate, which should yield significant operating leverage and cash generation improvement. Given ongoing reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group will not guide on a specific timing, which will be influenced by external factors beyond its control.

    This operating model and the associated ambitions and financial information are not guidance and should not be interpreted as a financial objective or forecast. Actual results will depend on market dynamics, customer adoption, and execution.

    Key events of Q4 FY’25

    Divestment of Dolphin Design’s main businesses

    Dolphin Design’s mixed-signal IP activities have been acquired on October 31st, 2024, by Jolt Capital, a private equity firm specializing in European deeptech investments. Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities were sold to NanoXplore, a major player in SoC and FPGA semiconductor design, on December 30th, 2024.

    Dolphin Design, acquired by Soitec in 2018, has long been at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge semiconductor design solutions in mixed-signal IP and ASICs. The sale of Dolphin Design’s two main business activities will support Soitec’s focus on strategic development and growth opportunities in its core advanced semiconductor materials business.

    A 13 million Euros loss on the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses was recorded in other operating expenses in FY’25. There will be no further impact on Soitec financial statements from FY’26.

    Soitec contributes to accelerated development of integrated optical connectivity solutions for AI data centers with its silicon photonics SOI technology

    On March 19th, 2025, Soitec welcomed recent industry steps to accelerate development and commercialization of co-packaged optics (CPO) solutions for data centers. The rapidly rising data requirements of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are driving demand for silicon photonics-based CPO architectures. For data centers, CPO adoption enables energy savings of around 30% compared with current optical transceiver-based solutions. The momentum for widespread CPO adoption is building up. Following the earlier introduction of groundbreaking CPO products and demonstrators by Broadcom, Intel, and Marvell, NVIDIA unveiled its first CPO products, Spectrum-X and Quantum-X. Soitec is at the forefront of the transition from electrical to optical interconnects. CPO components are reliant on specialist silicon-on-insulator (Photonics-SOI) substrates, in which Soitec is a leader. The coming shift to CPO-based data center architectures is a major opportunity for Soitec.

    Soitec joins the SEMI Silicon Photonics industry alliance

    Soitec also announced on March 19th, 2025, that it has joined the SEMI Silicon Photonics Industry Alliance (SEMI SiPhIA), a group of more than 100 semiconductor industry partners, with TSMC and ASE serving as the alliance’s advocates. The alliance’s mission is to drive silicon photonics innovation and applications, advance industry standards, and foster knowledge-sharing, resource integration, and technical exchange. Through its membership, Soitec will contribute to strengthening supply chain partnerships and fostering international collaboration on the deployment of key next-generation technologies, including CPO.

    Soitec confirms its excellence in innovation with progress up 2024 INPI patent ranking

    On March 31st, 2025, Soitec once again demonstrated its excellence in innovation through its rise in the 2024 ranking of patent filers published by the INPI (the French National Institute of Industrial Property). This recognition highlights Soitec’s unwavering commitment to innovation and confirms its central role in the development of disruptive technologies, driven by a global strategy and a network of research centers spread across several continents. With 76 patents filed in France in 2024, compared to 62 the previous year, Soitec confirms its 1st place among the most innovative mid-sized companies, for the second consecutive year, and rises to 22nd place nationally, up three places. With approximately 400 patents filed worldwide each year, Soitec has established itself as an essential technology leader.

    # # #

    FY’25 results will be commented during an analyst and investor meeting in Paris on May 28th, 2025, at 2pm CET. The meeting will be held in English.

    The live webcast will be available on: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/soitec/20250528_1/

    The investor presentation is available for download on:
    https://www.soitec.com/home/investors/full-year-results-of-fiscal-year-2024—2025

    # # #

    Annual General Meeting

    At its meeting today, the Board of Directors decided to convene the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on July 22nd, 2025. On this occasion, it decided to renew three of the four directors’ terms of office due to expire (Bpifrance Participations, CEA Investissement and Fonds Stratégique de Participations). Regarding Kai Seikku, the latter did not wish to be re-elected.

    Q1’26 revenue

    Q1’26 revenue is due to be published on July 22nd, 2025, after market close.

    # # #

    Disclaimer

    This document is provided by Soitec (the “Company”) for information purposes only.

    The Company’s business operations and financial position are described in the Company’s 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document (which notably includes the Annual Financial Report) which was filed on June 5th, 2024, with the French stock market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, or AMF) under number D.24-0462, as well as in the Company’s 2024-2025 half-year financial report released on November 20th, 2024. The French versions of the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document and the 2024-2025 half-year financial report, together with English courtesy translations for information purposes of both documents, are available for consultation on the Company’s website (www.soitec.com), in the section Company – Investors – Financial Reports.

    Your attention is drawn to the risk factors described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the Company’s 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document.

    This document contains summary information and should be read in conjunction with the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document and the 2024-2025 half-year financial report.

    This document contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s future prospects, developments and strategy and are based on analyses of earnings forecasts and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties as they relate to future events and are dependent on circumstances that may or may not materialize in the future. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of the Company’s future performance. The occurrence of any of the risks described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document may have an impact on these forward-looking statements.

    The Company’s actual financial position, results and cash flows, as well as the trends in the sector in which the Company operates may differ materially from those contained in this document. Furthermore, even if the Company’s financial position, results, cash-flows and the developments in the sector in which the Company operates were to conform to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, such elements cannot be construed as a reliable indication of the Company’s future results or developments.

    The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or make any correction to any forward-looking statement in order to reflect an event or circumstance that may occur after the date of this document.

    This document does not constitute or form part of an offer or a solicitation to purchase, subscribe for, or sell the Company’s securities in any country whatsoever. This document, or any part thereof, shall not form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract, commitment or investment decision.

    Notably, this document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase, subscribe for or to sell securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company’s shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. Neither the Company nor any other person intends to conduct a public offering of the Company’s securities in the United States.

    # # #

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge & Cloud AI (previously Smart Devices). The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,200 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,200 patents.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on X: @Soitec_Official

    # # #

    # # #

    Financial information and consolidated financial statements in appendix include:

    – Consolidated revenue per quarter

    – FY’25 consolidated income statement

    – Balance sheet at March 31st, 2025

    – FY’25 consolidated cashflows

    Consolidated revenue per quarter

    Quarterly revenue Q1’24 Q2’24 Q3’24 Q4’24 Q1’25 Q2’25 Q3’25 Q4’25   FY’24 FY’25
    (Euros millions)                      
    Mobile Communications 89   169   130   222 48   124   154   220   611 546  
    Automotive & Industrial 37 38 44 44 26 33 25 45   163 129
    Edge & Cloud AI 31 37 65 70 46 61 47 63   204 216
                           
    Revenue 157   245   240   337 121   217   226   327   978   891  
    Change in quarterly revenue Q1’25/Q1’24 Q2’25/Q2’24 Q3’25/Q3’24 Q4’25/Q4’24   FY’25/FY’24
    (vs. previous year) Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1   Reported
    Change
    Organic change1
                           
    Mobile Communications -45% -46% -27% -25% +18% +11% -1% -2%   -11% -12%
    Automotive & Industrial -29% -31% -13% -11% -43% -47% +1% 0%   -21% -22%
    Edge & Cloud AI +49% +47% +62% +66% -28% -30% -11% +2%   +6% +11%
                           
    Revenue -23% -24% -11% -9% -6% -10% -3% -1%   -9% -9%

    1         At constant exchange rates and comparable scope of consolidation:

    • there was no scope effect in Q1’25 and Q2’25 vs. Q1’24 and Q2’24
    • in Q3’25 there is a negative scope effect related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s mixed signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024)
    • in Q4’25, in addition to Dolphin Design’s mixed signal IP activities, the negative scope effect also includes the divestment of Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024).

    Consolidated financial statements for FY’25

    As previously reported, Soitec’s refocus on Electronics operations decided in January 2015 was nearly completed on March 31st, 2016. Consequently, the FY’25 residual income and expenses relating to Solar and Other activities are reported under ‘Net result from discontinued operations’, below the ‘Operating income’ line, meaning that down to the line ‘Net result after tax from continuing operations’, the consolidated income statement fully and exclusively reflects the Electronics activity as well as the Group’s corporate functions expenses. This was already the case in FY’24 financial statements.

    Consolidated income statement

      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended

    March 31st, 2025)

    (ended

    March 31st, 2024)

    Revenue 891 978
    Cost of sales (605) (646)
         
    Gross profit 286 332
    Research and development expenses (85) (61)
    General, sales and administrative expenses (65) (63)
    Current operating income 136 208
    Other operating expenses (16) (3)
    Operating income 119 205
    Financial income 19 21
    Financial expenses (28) (25)
    Net financial expense (9) (5)
    Profit before tax 110 201
    Income tax (19) (23)
    Net profit from continuing operations 91 178
    Net profit from discontinued operations 1 0
    Consolidated net profit 92 178
    Net profit, Group share 92 178
    Basic earnings per share (in €) 2.57 5.00
    Diluted earnings per share (in €) 2.56 4.88
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares 35,670,651 35,655,679
    Weighted average number of diluted ordinary shares 35,868,688 37,710,587

    Balance sheet

    Assets March 31st, 2025 March 31st, 2024
    (Euros millions)    
         
    Non-current assets    
    Intangible assets 130 156
    Property, plant and equipment 1,003 913
    Non-current financial assets 30 19
    Other non-current assets 73 70
    Deferred tax assets 59 62
    Total non-current assets 1,295 1,220
         
    Current assets    
    Inventories 231 209
    Trade receivables 463 448
    Other current assets 124 101
    Current financial assets 7 7
    Cash and cash equivalents 688 708
    Total current assets 1,512 1,472
         
    Total assets 2,807 2,692
    Equity and liabilities March 31st, 2025 March 31st, 2024
    (Euros millions)    
         
    Equity    
    Share capital 71 71
    Share premium 228 228
    Reserves and retained earnings 1,280 1,180
    Other reserves 15 15
    Equity-Group share 1,595 1,495
    Total equity 1,595 1,495
         
    Non-current liabilities    
    Non-current financial debt 375 669
    Provisions and other non-current liabilities 94 79
    Total non-current liabilities 469 748
         
    Current liabilities    
    Current financial debt 406 78
    Trade payables 153 169
    Provisions and other current liabilities 185 202
         
    Total current liabilities 743 449
         
    Total equity and liabilities 2,807 2,692

    Consolidated cash flows

      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended
    March 31st, 2025)
    (ended
    March 31st, 2024)
    Consolidated net profit 92 178
    of which continuing operations 91 178
    Depreciation and amortization expense 140 126
    Provision expense/(reversals), net 6 4
    Provisions expense / (reversals) for retirement benefit obligations, net 0 0
    (Gains)/losses on disposals of assets 15 0
    Income tax 19 23
    Net financial expense 9 5
    Share-based payments 11 14
    Other non-cash items 7 (17)
    Non-cash items related to discontinued operations (1) (1)
    EBITDA1 298 332
    of which continuing operations 298 332
    Inventories (38) (19)
    Trade receivables (30) (94)
    Trade payables (15) (45)
    Other receivables and payables 4 17
    Income tax paid (17) (25)
    Changes in working capital requirement and income tax paid related to discontinued operations (0) (0)
    Change in working capital requirement and income tax paid (96) (167)
    of which continuing operations (96) (167)
    Net cash generated by operating activities 201 165
    of which continuing operations 202 166
      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended
    March 31st, 2025)
    (ended
    March 31st, 2024)
    Net cash generated by operating activities 201 165
    of which continuing operations 202 166
    Purchases of intangible assets (27) (48)
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment (172) (177)
    Interest received 19 17
    Disposals/(acquisitions) of financial assets 4 (1)
    Divestment flows related to discontinued operations 1 0
    Net cash used in investing activities (1) (176) (208)
    of which continuing operations (1) (176) (209)
    Loans and drawdowns on credit lines 45 55
    Repayment of borrowings and lease liabilities (81) (70)
    Interest paid (14) (12)
    Liquidity agreement (8)
    Change in interest in subsidiaries without change of control (1) (0)
    Other financing flows 2
    Financing flows related to discontinued operations (0) (0)
    Net cash used in financing activities (50) (33)
    of which continuing operations (50) (33)
    Effects of exchange rate fluctuations 4 (3)
    Net change in cash (21) (80)
    of which continuing operations (21) (80)
    Cash at beginning of the period 708 788
    Cash at end of the period 688 708

    (1) Net cash used in investing activities is net of leases and interest received. Total cash out related to capital expenditure amounted to 230 million Euros in FY’25 compared to 276 million Euros in FY’24.


    1 The EBITDA represents operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment of non-current assets, non-cash items relating to share-based payments, provisions for impairment of current assets and for contingencies and expenses, and disposals gains and losses. EBITDA is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to EBITDA as reported by other groups. It represents additional information and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income or net cash generated by operating activities.

    2 EBITDA margin = EBITDA from continuing operations / Revenue.

    3 Audit procedures were completed and the audit report is in the process of being issued.

    4 The scope effect is related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s mixed-signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024) and that of Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024)

    5 EBITDA from continuing operations.
    6 Financial debt less cash and cash equivalents

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Soitec announces appointment of new Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Soitec announces appointment of new Chief Financial Officer

    Bernin (France), May 27, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in the design and production of innovative semiconductor materials, is pleased to announce the appointment of Albin Jacquemont as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective today.

    Albin Jacquemont brings over 30 years of international experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and corporate governance. His career spans listed and private equity-backed industrial and technology companies, including Inetum, Saur, Altran Technologies, Darty, and Carrefour. Throughout his tenure in these organizations, he has led major financial transformations and delivered significant value through operational performance improvement, cash-flow optimization and M&A execution.

    In his new role, Albin Jacquemont will be responsible for all finance-related matters at Group level. He will play a pivotal role in reinforcing Soitec’s financial and operational foundations and supporting the company’s next phase of sustainable growth and value creation.

    He succeeds Léa Alzingre, who will be stepping down to pursue new professional opportunities, having supported Soitec’s growth over the past six years.

    We are delighted to welcome Albin Jacquemont to Soitec’s Executive Committee. His extensive experience across complex industrial and technology environments, combined with his proven track record in financial transformation and value creation, will be instrumental as we continue to scale globally. I am confident that his leadership will strengthen our financial strategy and support the acceleration of our sustainable growth ambitions. I would also like to warmly thank Léa Alzingre for her strong commitment and valuable contributions to Soitec’s development during her tenure”, commented Pierre Barnabé, Soitec’s CEO.

    I am honored and excited to join Soitec’s Executive Committee, a global leader in innovative semiconductor materials. After a career spanning over three decades in senior financial leadership roles across Europe, the U.S., and emerging markets — including listed groups and private equity-owned companies — I look forward to bringing my experience to support Soitec’s global ambitions and pioneering technologies”, Albin Jacquemont stated.

    *****

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,300 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,000 patents.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X: @Soitec_Official

    *****

    Media Relations: media@soitec.com

    Investor Relations: investors@soitec.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, McCormick introduce bill to address threats associated with increased cooperation between US adversaries

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and David McCormick (R-Pa.) last week introduced the Defending International Security by Restricting Unlawful Partnerships and Tactics (DISRUPT) Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill to address the increased cooperation between U.S. adversaries that threatens our nation’s interests. 

    Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have deepened their cooperation in recent years, including an increased transfer of weapons and munitions, sharing military technologies, launching disinformation campaigns, and coordinating joint operations that threaten the stability of the international order. Despite this looming threat, the U.S. lacks a strategic response to our adversaries increasing alignment.

    “Our adversaries are becoming friends,” said Senator Coons. “We cannot continue to sit back and watch as they gain strength before our eyes – in weapons, in their armies, in their economic power. They want to make our country less secure and our economy less prosperous. The DISRUPT Act is the first step to stopping their progress and keeping Americans safe.”

    “China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are rapidly strengthening their ties, solidifying an axis of destruction and chaos bent on undermining the United States and our allies and partners around the world,” said Senator McCormick. “Senator Coons and I are introducing this legislation to help focus the interagency’s diplomatic, economic, defense, and intelligence priorities to define and combat this emerging adversarial alliance.”

    Specifically, the DISRUPT Act of 2025 will:

    • Direct the intelligence community to report on the trajectory of adversary collaboration across diplomatic, informational, military, and economic domains and its impact on U.S. interests
    • Require the development of a whole-of-government strategy to approach this phenomenon
    • Create interagency task forces within key departments such as State, Defense, Commerce, Treasury, and the Directors of National Intelligence and of the Central Intelligence Agency to ensure a coordinated, long-term response

    The DISRUPT Act highlights the need for the U.S. to disrupt the most dangerous aspects of this adversarial cooperation, reduce its expanding footprint, and prepare for the growing likelihood of simultaneous challenges across multiple regions. The bill also reinforces America’s commitment to strategic leadership, strengthening alliances, and creating a long-term strategy to preserve our national interests. 

    Senator Coons is the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • India highlights textile and handicraft capabilities at INDEX Dubai 2025 amid rising UAE demand

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ndia has made a significant impact at INDEX Dubai 2025, the Middle East and North Africa’s leading interior design and furniture exhibition, with 55 companies showcasing their products to tap into the region’s expanding $25 billion interior design market, projected to grow to $35 billion by 2031.

    The three-day exhibition, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 27 to 29, has long served as a vital platform connecting international brands with buyers from across the Middle East. This year’s Indian presence was coordinated by key export promotion councils, including the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil), which brought 10 companies; the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which facilitated 12 participants under The Hotel Show segment; and Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan, representing 11 companies.

    The 250-square-meter India Pavilion was established to spotlight India’s diverse offerings in home textiles and handicrafts—ranging from bed linen, towels, and bathrobes to rugs, kitchen linen, and decorative items. The pavilion was inaugurated by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, who interacted with exhibitors and emphasized India’s growing role in the region’s interior and hospitality supply chains.

    The Hotel Show, running parallel to INDEX, attracted buyers from across the GCC including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan. Indian participants received encouraging feedback and strong interest in products such as duvets, curtains, and pillows, driven by rising demand from the UAE’s expanding residential, hospitality, and healthcare sectors.

    India’s robust participation is supported by the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ,which came into effect in May 2022. The agreement provides Indian textile exporters, especially in the cotton segment, with zero-duty market access to the UAE, enhancing competitiveness.

    Textiles and clothing imports into the UAE stand at around $2.5 billion annually. Notably, the textile share has increased to 40%– up from a previous average of 20–25% with cotton textiles alone accounting for $95–110 million annually over the past three years. Indian companies noted that UAE hotels generally source through wholesalers due to smaller order sizes, creating specific opportunities for Indian SMEs offering bundled solutions in smaller quantities.

    INDEX Dubai 2025 features over 530 exhibitors and expects more than 30,000 trade visitors, including architects, designers, developers, and retailers. The event also hosts the “INDEX Design Talks” conference series, where industry leaders explore trends such as sustainable design, AI integration, client engagement, and redefining luxury. Nearly half of the speakers are making their INDEX debut, reflecting the show’s focus on innovation and fresh perspectives.

    Running alongside The Hotel Show and WORKSPACE, INDEX Dubai continues to strengthen Dubai’s role as a global center for interior design, with the city’s dynamic real estate and hospitality sectors driving demand for high-quality, sustainable interior solutions. For Indian exporters, the exhibition reaffirms the growing potential of the UAE market, particularly under the CEPA framework.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to continue strengthening role of economic and technological development zones in attracting foreign investment

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) — China will continue to strengthen the role of national-level economic and technological development zones in attracting foreign investment amid its ongoing efforts to expand opening up to the outside world, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

    The international economic and trade order is currently facing serious upheavals, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Lin Ji said at a press conference, noting that the role of national-level economic and technological development zones as a basis for stabilizing foreign trade and investment is becoming increasingly prominent.

    By the end of 2024, the number of such zones across the country reached 232, with their combined gross regional product (GRP) amounting to 16.9 trillion yuan (about $2.35 trillion), according to the ministry.

    During the same period, the foreign trade volume in these zones reached 10.7 trillion yuan, accounting for 24.5 percent of the country’s total import and export volume. The actual foreign investment used in these zones reached 27.2 billion US dollars, accounting for 23.4 percent of the country’s total.

    According to Lin Ji, the country’s economic and technological development zones have made significant contributions to promoting the construction of a new open economic system, coordinated regional development and high-quality industrial development.

    Last week, China’s Ministry of Commerce released a work plan to deepen reform and innovation in economic and technological development zones at the national level, with a focus on achieving high-quality development through high-level opening-up.

    In order to improve the quality of the use of foreign investment, this document provides for the priority inclusion of projects financed from abroad in national-level technical and economic development zones in sectors such as integrated circuits, biomedicine and the production of modern equipment in the list of large and key projects with foreign investment.

    The document called for such zones to deepen their engagement with leading global investors and financial institutions through trade promotion platforms, while also promising support for sending delegations abroad to attract foreign capital.

    The ministry said it would focus on promoting the implementation of the work plan in the next stage by supporting national-level economic and technological development zones to expand sources of foreign investment and facilitating reinvestment by China-based foreign-invested enterprises. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns for Failing to Report Business Earnings

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio − Sidney L. Glover, Jr., 36, of Warren, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to failing to report three years’ worth of business earnings to the IRS.

    According to court documents, Glover was the sole owner of Teaching Excellence, LLC, a business dedicated to providing home healthcare services for individuals with disabilities. Because it specialized in serving clients with special needs, most of the company’s income was generated from the Ohio Department of Disabilities, which receives its funding through Ohio Medicaid.

    IRS records analysis confirmed that the defendant did not file income tax returns for calendar years 2015 and 2016, but he eventually prepared and filed those documents two years later in April 2018. At that time, he also submitted the filing for the 2017 tax year. During the investigation, authorities learned that Glover’s Teaching Excellence business, in fact, generated more than $1 million in gross receipts for 2015, 2016, and 2017 combined, and that he did not report those earnings in his tax filings for those years. Investigators also found that Glover had spent some of the unreported business earnings on various personal expenses.

    In total, the defendant’s failure to report business income resulted in a loss of approximately $155,000 in unpaid taxes owed to the United States Treasury.

    On May 21, 2025, Glover pleaded guilty to making and subscribing false tax returns for which he faces a maximum of up to three years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled.

    The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Brenna L. Fasko prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former President of Local Oilfield Consulting Service Business Sentenced in Federal Court for Money Laundering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brian T. Owen, 52, of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, has been sentenced for money laundering. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Owen to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, $100,000 fine, and ordered him to pay $1,157,154.39 in restitution.   

               Owen pleaded guilty in October 2024 to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of money laundering in connection with his unlawful activities as president of an oilfield consulting service business headquartered in Bossier City. According to information introduced in court, in June 2020, the company filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. 

               In January 2021, as part of the company’s bankruptcy plan of reorganization, a Distribution Trust was established to pay back creditors, and Owen executed a Distribution Trust Agreement in his role as president of the company. According to this plan, if Owen received any additional compensation from the company, he was required to pay 30% of that directly to the Distribution Trust. 

               In 2021, the company began applying for Employee Retention Credits (“ERCs”), which are a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owen then devised a scheme to defraud the Distribution Trust by intercepting the physical U.S. Department of Treasury Checks before they were deposited into the company’s working accounts. Unbeknownst to other senior leadership at the company, Owen had opened a bank account in the name of the company while it was still in bankruptcy. As part of the scheme, he deposited a total of $3.8 million in ERC funds for himself as additional compensation. Owen did not pay the Distribution Trust the 30% as he had agreed, but instead used the money for his own personal expenses, including to pay off gambling debts.         

               The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Phase 2 sanctions thematic report published

    Source: Isle of Man

    The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has published the findings of its inspections focusing on compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Code 2019 in relation to sanctions.

    The phase 2 report, which is available to view online, highlights examples of good practice and areas for improvement identified by the Authority during the onsite inspections.

    There was an excellent level of cooperation among the inspected firms, including constructive feedback that will be considered as part of the Authority’s commitment to continuous improvement. All firms had in place documented procedures and controls to assist the identification, management and mitigation of sanctions risk. Most were also able to demonstrate clear escalation processes and evidence their transaction monitoring procedures.

    The Authority’s inspection teams observed several areas where there is scope for further improvement, including better documentation of decision-making processes, more robust customer due diligence, more effective use of screening tools, and a stronger consideration of sanctions risk within a firm’s Business Risk Assessment.

    The inspection findings built on the information gathered during the initial phase of the sanctions thematic review, which saw a questionnaire issued to all supervised entities in the Island. The data will feed into the Island’s National Risk Assessment, as well as informing the Authority’s overall picture of risk to support its work to protect consumers, reduce financial crime and maintain confidence in the finance industry through effective regulation.

    All relevant persons in the Island are required to have a comprehensive understanding of their responsibilities in respect of sanctions, which are used by countries to impose restrictions on certain international trade and services.

    In line with the Island’s constitutional position, sanctions imposed by the UK Government are automatically implemented and enforced in the Isle of Man by the Customs & Immigration Division of the Treasury, with updates published online.

    Stacey Kneen, Manager, AML/CFT Supervision Division, said: ‘We would like to thank all the firms that took part in the second phase of the sanctions thematic exercise. Our officers experienced an exemplary level of cooperation, which ensured the successful completion of the process.’

    She added: ‘While the inspections were targeted, the learning points can be applied across all sectors of the Island’s finance industry. Firms are encouraged to read the phase 2 report and consider any action necessary to ensure their own compliance regimes are effective, up-to-date and properly documented.’

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: Terranet invites you to a digital investor meeting on June 3, 2025 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    In connection with the subscription period for Terranet AB’s rights issue of units, which runs from May 27 to June 11, 2025, the company invites shareholders and other interested parties to a digital investor meeting. The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams on June 3, 2025, at 14:00 CEST.

    During the session, Terranet’s CEO Lars Lindell will present the company’s latest progress, including the development of BlincVision, plans for the launch of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and continued collaborations with leading industry partners. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in real-time via the chat function.

    Registration
    Please register by emailing corporatefinance@mangold.se as soon as possible, no later than Monday, June 2, 2025. Questions can be submitted in advance and will be answered during the Q&A session if time allows. It will also be possible to ask questions live during the meeting.

    The purpose of the meeting is to provide shareholders and investors with an update on Terranet’s technological and commercial progress.

    More information about the rights issue is available on Terranet AB’s website.
    The presentation will be held in Swedish.

    Preliminary timetable for the Rights Issue

    May 27, 2025 – June 5, 2025 Trading with unit rights
    May 27, 2025 – June 11, 2025 Subscripition period
    May 27, 2025 – June 30, 2025 Trading in paid subscribed units (BTU)
    June 13, 2025 Preliminary date for publication of the outcome in the Rights Issue

    Advisers
    Mangold Fondkommission AB is the financial advisor to Terranet in connection with the Rights Issue. Eversheds Sutherland Advokatbyrå AB is the legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Rights Issue.

    For more information, please contact:
    Lars Lindell, CEO
    E-mail: lars.lindell@terranet.se

    About Terranet AB (publ) 

    Terranet’s goal is to save lives in urban traffic. The company develops innovative technical solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV). Terranet’s anti-collision system BlincVision laser scans and detects road objects up to ten times faster than any other ADAS technology available today.
    The company is headquartered in Lund, with offices in Gothenburg and Stuttgart. Since 2017, Terranet has been listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (Nasdaq: TERRNT-B).

    Follow our journey at: www.terranet.se

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Fusion Fuel Green PLC Signs Non-Binding Heads of Terms for Strategic UK Energy Distribution Acquisition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fusion Fuel Green PLC (Nasdaq: HTOO) (“Fusion Fuel” or the “Company”), a provider of integrated energy solutions, today announced that it has executed non-binding Heads of Terms (“Heads of Terms”) with a privately-held United Kingdom-based fuel distribution business (“Target”) to acquire 100% of the equity of Target and certain related companies from their existing shareholders. The signing of the Heads of Terms follows the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent between the parties, which was previously announced by the Company on April 9, 2025.

    For the fiscal year ending April 30, 2024, Target generated revenues of approximately $50 million and net income of approximately $5 million. Target showed strong growth in the following fiscal year ending April 30, 2025, achieving revenues of approximately $58 million and net income of approximately $7 million. As of April 30, 2025, Target had no debt except for approximately $1 million under a revolving credit line. 1

    Under the Heads of Terms, subject to execution of one or more definitive agreements with the existing shareholders of Target, Fusion Fuel will acquire the entire share capital of Target for total consideration of £50 million, consisting of £40 million in debt-financed cash and £10 million in Fusion Fuel ordinary shares in accordance with certain shareholder approval and securities registration requirements.

    The Heads of Terms include equity value protection provisions with respect to the equity portion of the purchase price, consisting of certain downside price protection terms for the sellers, a buy-back option, and an upside cap provision.

    It is anticipated that the definitive agreements will contain customary representations, warranties and covenants made by Fusion Fuel, Target, and Target’s shareholders, including covenants relating to the parties using their commercially reasonably efforts to cause the transactions contemplated by the agreement to be satisfied, covenants regarding obtaining the requisite approvals of directors and shareholders, indemnification of directors and officers, and Fusion Fuel and Target’s conduct of their respective businesses between the date of signing of definitive agreements and the closing, and other customary conditions to closing. It is anticipated that definitive agreements will also contain certain termination rights for both Fusion Fuel and Target, and, in connection with the termination of any such definitive agreements under certain circumstances, Fusion Fuel and Target may be required to pay the other party a termination fee. Entry into definitive agreements will also be subject to: (i) legal, tax and accounting structuring advice, (ii) the satisfactory completion of due diligence investigation by the parties on all aspects of business, operations, financial condition and other assets and liabilities appropriate for a transaction of this nature, and (iii) the satisfaction of the conditions described in the Heads of Terms. 

    Although generally non-binding, the Heads of Terms contain certain binding exclusivity and confidentiality terms and other binding terms and provisions. The Heads of Terms provides that Target will not solicit or negotiate with other parties for 90 days from signing of the Heads of Terms.

    John-Paul Backwell, CEO of Fusion Fuel, commented: “The Heads of Terms mark another significant step in our growth journey. Target represents a strong and profitable business that complements our strategy of building a synergistic, diversified portfolio across the energy value chain. In particular, Target has a complimentary business to our Al Shola Gas brand, and has the potential to support and expand its service offerings.”

    About Fusion Fuel Green PLC

    Fusion Fuel Green PLC (NASDAQ: HTOO) is a growing energy company providing engineering, advisory, and fuel distribution solutions through its brands Al Shola Gas and BrightHy. The Company services clients across commercial, residential, and industrial sectors and is actively expanding into new verticals and geographies to support energy transition and infrastructure resilience.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target”, “may”, “intend”, “predict”, “should”, “would”, “predict”, “potential”, “seem”, “future”, “outlook” or other similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company’s ability to enter into a definitive share purchase agreement with the shareholders of Target, the ability of the parties to complete their due diligence and all other closing conditions, the Company’s ability to complete the proposed acquisition and integrate Target’s business, the parties’ ability to obtain all necessary regulatory and other consents and approvals in connection with the transaction, the ability of Target to complete the audit process and the possibility that the reported results of its operations for its fiscal years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024 will change materially upon completion of the audit process, and those set forth in Fusion Fuel’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2025, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are, in some cases, beyond the parties’ control and could materially affect results. If one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors become applicable, or if these underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or other matters and attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    Investor Relations Contact
    ir@fusion-fuel.eu
    www.fusion-fuel.eu

    Wire Service Contact:
    IBN
    Austin, Texas
    www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    512.354.7000 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    ____________________

    1 Target’s financial results for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024 are subject to audit or re-audit, and actual results are subject to adjustment following completion of the audit process. There is no assurance that the audited or re-audited results of Target will not differ materially from those stated herein.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Inside the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) mobile threat landscape: Middle East attacks rise, Africa and Turkiye remain targeted

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 27, 2025/APO Group/ —

    At the 10th annual Cyber Security Weekend – META 2025 conference held recently, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) Global Research and Analysis Team experts shared their insights on the latest trends in the mobile threat landscape across the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region.  

    While the overall attack rate in the region remained relatively stable in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, the Middle East experienced a significant surge, with attacks increasing by 43%, reaching over 57,000 attacks.  

    In contrast, both Africa and Turkiye showed a positive trend, with a decline in mobile attacks. Africa saw a 17% decrease, with 94,270 recorded attacks, while Turkiye experienced a 16% reduction, totaling 28,592 attacks. 

    “The decline in the number of mobile attacks in some parts of the META region is certainly a positive sign and may indicate that awareness and protective measures are starting to pay off,” said Tatyana Shishkova, Lead Security Researcher at Kaspersky. “However, the threat is far from gone. Cybercriminals are becoming more skilled and selective, increasingly leveraging sophisticated AI-powered and targeted attacks.” 

    All of these recorded threats were successfully blocked by Kaspersky’s mobile security solutions, with data from Kaspersky protection systems running on Android devices. The company’s experts highlight that the latest trends point to a cascade-style infection strategy, where attackers find multiple ways to sneak onto victims’ devices. As more services shift to mobile platforms – and as people increasingly rely on smartphones for nearly every aspect of their lives – mobile devices have become highly attractive targets for cybercriminals. 

    Many of these threats are distributed via social media platforms or unofficial app stores, as seen in the Tria Trojan campaign, which spread through fake wedding invitations shared over WhatsApp and Telegram. Victims were tricked into downloading and installing a malicious APK file disguised as a legitimate app. 

    However, even big official platforms are not immune. A recent discovery revealed SparkCat, a sophisticated data-stealing Trojan leveraging artificial intelligence. Distributed through both the App Store and Google Play, SparkCat was downloaded more than 242,000 times. It used machine learning to scan for cryptocurrency and sensitive data in nine different languages. 

    Alarmingly, even brand-new phones can be compromised before they reach their owners, arriving with pre-installed malware. Counterfeit versions of popular smartphone models, often sold at discounted prices, have been discovered to come preloaded with a modified variant of the Android malware known as Triada. 

    “Even the most vigilant individuals can miss a well-crafted threat. That’s why cybersecurity must be proactive—not reactive. Staying ahead of cybercriminals takes innovation from tech companies, expertise from security professionals, and awareness from users. It’s a shared responsibility,” adds Tatyana Shishkova. 

    To protect yourself from mobile threats, Kaspersky recommends: 

    • Download apps only from official stores like Apple AppStore, Google Play or Amazon Appstore. Apps from these markets are not 100% failsafe, but at least they get checked by the moderators and there is some filtration system — not every app can get onto these stores. It’s worth looking through user reviews of an app to see if there is any negative feedback on its functionality. 
    • Check the permissions of apps that you use and think carefully before permitting an app, especially when it comes to high-risk permissions such as Accessibility Services. 
    • A reliable mobile security solution like Kaspersky Premium (https://apo-opa.co/3H90T7B) can help you to detect malicious apps and adware before they start behaving badly on your device. 
    • Update your operating system and important apps as updates become available. Many safety issues can be solved by installing updated versions of software. 
    • Kaspersky calls on the mobile industry to enhance cyber protection at all levels, including security for users, by providing tailored cybersecurity services. Kaspersky Consumer Business Alliances enable companies to offer their customers complete cybersecurity portfolios by backing them with Kaspersky’s global support and expertise. 

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Global: Korean pear juice, IV drips, vitamin patches: do these trendy hangover cures actually work?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Blair Aitken, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology

    Isabella Mendes/Pexels

    We’ve all been there. The pounding headache, relentless nausea, and the kind of tired no amount of coffee can fix. Hangovers are a reminder that last night’s fun comes at a cost.

    These days, hangovers aren’t just something to complain about over a greasy breakfast – they’re big business. The global market for hangover cures is now valued at US$2.29 billion (A$3.53 billion) and projected to reach US$6.71 billion (A$10.33 billion) by 2032.

    These products – ranging from capsules to drinks to patches – appear to be popular. Nearly 70% of drinkers say they would buy an effective hangover remedy. But any scientific evidence they work is thin.

    First, what causes hangovers?

    Despite years of research, the exact cause of a hangover is still unclear. But we know several biological processes contribute to that hungover feeling.

    1. Your immune system is in overdrive

    When you drink, your body treats alcohol like a threat. It breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct that triggers an immune response, releasing inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.

    These chemicals are the same ones your body uses to fight infections, which is why a hangover can feel eerily similar to being sick.

    2. You’re dehydrated

    Alcohol blocks vasopressin, a hormone that helps the body retain water. Without it, you make more frequent trips to the bathroom and lose more fluid than you take in, leading to thirst, dry mouth, and the classic hangover headache.

    3. Your sleep takes a hit

    Although alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, it disrupts your natural sleep pattern. You get more deep sleep early on, but less rapid eye movement (REM) and light sleep stages.

    As the alcohol wears off, your brain rebounds with more REM sleep and frequent wake ups, leaving you groggy and cognitively impaired the next day.

    4. Your brain is recalibrating

    Alcohol disrupts several brain chemicals. It boosts gamma-aminobutyric acid, a calming neurotransmitter, and suppresses glutamate, which normally keeps you stimulated and alert. That’s part of why drinking feels relaxing. But as your body tries to rebalance, you may be left feeling anxious or irritable.

    When we feel rough the day after a big night of drinking, several things are happening in our body.
    Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

    What’s in hangover ‘remedies’?

    Modern hangover remedies have evolved well beyond the “hair of the dog”. You’ve got liver-protecting capsules, electrolyte-packed drinks, vitamin patches for while you party, and strips that dissolve on your tongue – all with the goal of accelerating recovery.

    A 2025 analysis which looked at hangover products marketed in Australia found B vitamins and sodium were the most common ingredients, appearing in nearly half of all products reviewed.

    B vitamins are often included based on the idea alcohol depletes them, while sodium is thought to support rehydration. However, there’s little solid evidence that either significantly improves hangover symptoms in otherwise healthy people.

    Natural ingredients such as ginger and dihydromyricetin, a compound extracted from the Japanese raisin tree, were also popular, featuring in more than one-quarter and one-third of products respectively.

    Ginger is widely used to treat nausea and vomiting, and there’s some evidence to support its effectiveness for gastrointestinal symptoms. However, this is not specific to hangovers.

    Dihydromyricetin has been marketed as a revolutionary hangover fighter, with claims it helps the liver process alcohol more efficiently. Yet, when tested under controlled conditions, it failed to reduce hangover severity more than a placebo.

    Other popular ingredients show similarly underwhelming results. The amino acid L-cysteine has shown some benefits in one study, but the sample was too small to draw firm conclusions.

    Another product often marketed as a hangover remedy is Korean pear juice. If consumed before drinking, it may help the body break down alcohol more efficiently. A 2013 study found it slightly lowered blood alcohol levels and improved focus. However the effects were small, and it offered little benefit once a hangover had already set in.

    The juice from Korean pears is often sold as a hangover remedy.
    ND700/Shutterstock

    Another natural remedy that has shown some promise is red ginseng. One study found participants who drank red ginseng extract after alcohol were less thirsty, fatigued, had fewer stomach aches, and even had improved memory compared to people who drank just plain water.

    Mouse trials of ginseng have also shown consistent benefits across symptoms and biological markers of alcohol-related stress.

    How about IV drips and vitamin patches?

    Not all remedies come in pill or plant form. IV drips, often marketed as wellness boosters for energy, immunity, and even glowing skin, are now offered at clinics and “drip bars” for hangovers too. But unless you’re severely dehydrated, there’s little evidence these pricey infusions work any better than water, food and rest.

    Vitamin patches are also trending, claiming to deliver nutrients through the skin while bypassing digestion. But again, studies don’t necessarily support this. Most vitamins are better absorbed through food or oral supplements.




    Read more:
    A patch a day? Why the vitamin skin patches spruiked on social media might not be for you


    There’s no magic cure for a hangover

    As the hangover remedy market continues to grow, science hasn’t kept pace with marketing claims. However, these science-backed strategies may help:

    • pacing yourself and having no more than one standard drink an hour gives your liver time to keep up, so you’re less likely to feel too drunk or hungover the next day

    • stay hydrated by alternating alcoholic drinks with water

    • eating before drinking slows alcohol absorption and can help reduce stomach irritation

    • get plenty of sleep after a big night out, as your body does most of its recovery while you rest. Even a short nap the next day can help you feel better.

    Practising moderation can be difficult in the moment. But it’s likely to be your best bet to avoid waking up feeling rough the next day.

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

    ref. Korean pear juice, IV drips, vitamin patches: do these trendy hangover cures actually work? – https://theconversation.com/korean-pear-juice-iv-drips-vitamin-patches-do-these-trendy-hangover-cures-actually-work-255947

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Lived experience’ is valued in activism – but is it doing more harm than good?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dr Jody Moore-Ponce, Assistant lecturer in Sociology University College Cork, University College Cork

    A Pride march in Istanbul, 2018. Lumiereist/Shutterstock

    The idea of “lived experience” – knowledge gained through direct, personal experience – is now central in activism, academia and politics. Popularised by feminist thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir and concepts like standpoint theory, it makes sense that people see the world differently based on what they’ve been through. And movements like #MeToo showed how sharing personal stories, particularly for oppressed, marginalised or victimised groups, can drive real change.

    Lived experience lends authority to those long excluded from public debate, offering insight traditional expertise may miss. But it also raises questions about who gets to speak. Those without direct experience of an issue can find their place in activism questioned.

    High-profile cases like Rachel Dolezal and Andrea Smith, activists who falsely claimed black and Native American ancestry, respectively, highlight how powerful the claim to lived experience has become – so much so that some feel compelled to lie about it in order to be heard.

    My research, based on in-depth interviews with 20 activists from a range of movements and backgrounds across Europe, India and the US, shows what challenges arise when lived experience is treated as the ultimate credential in activism. The interviewees revealed how emphasis on personal testimony can shift activism away from political action, toward guilt, polarisation and disengagement.

    This matters, because it affects who feels able to participate in movements pushing for social change.

    One trans activist stressed the importance of lived experience in leading the fight for transgender rights, warning that without trans voices at the centre, the movement risks overlooking key perspectives that are often absent from research and politics.

    For others, the emphasis on lived experience creates internal dilemmas. Activists without lived experience can feel unsure of their place. One white anti-racist activist based in the UK put it this way: “I would definitely be silent in a lot of things, and I wouldn’t be proud of it. But I wouldn’t have the right to speak up.”

    Another white female activist working in international development described a growing discomfort with her role: “I fundamentally question whether I have legitimacy in leadership. Can I legitimately show up? Or do I just need to leave the development sector entirely?”


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    In some activist spaces, speaking without relevant lived experience is seen as a transgression. Identity becomes a kind of moral litmus test for who gets to speak and lead.

    Activists described an overwhelming sense of guilt about their own social advantages. One reflected on how acknowledging those advantages, by recognising the privileges they hold (and their subsequent lack of marginalised lived experience) can be a barrier to activism: “I think it is important to engage in self-awareness, but sometimes it moves into self-criticism. You can stall if you’re always feeling guilty.”

    One interviewee observed a “collective inertia” among allies, activists and academics who, unsure of their place, chose silence over action.

    Another described how guilt about having a privileged lived experience shifts the focus away from collective political action and toward perfecting the self — a kind of confessional self-work that risks becoming inward-focused, rather than leading to meaningful social change.

    These comments reflect concerns raised in social justice research about how guilt, humility and lived experience can shape or stall activism. My findings suggests that while lived experience remains vital, the way it’s used matters — when it isolates rather than unites, or fuels self-focus over action, we need to use it more carefully, in ways that build connection and drive change.

    Identity, experience and diversity of opinion

    Some activists strongly defended the idea that those with the least privilege should have the most say. As one LGBTQ+ activist put it: “The person who has the least privilege in society gets to decide what is true. If you’re straight and cis, and you’re a guy, middle-aged, and white, check your privileges.”

    While this perspective centres voices long pushed to the margins, it can also wrongly assume everyone with a particular lived experience will have the same views on an issue.

    Many writers and philosophers, such as Frantz Fanon, have challenged the idea that identity alone dictates political outlooks. As British writer Kenan Malik recently argued: “Black and Asian communities are as politically diverse as white communities.”

    Latino and black voters’ support for Donald Trump in the US has challenged many people’s assumptions about how identity dictates political allegiance.

    A Black Lives Matter march in London, June 2020.
    Avel Shah/Shutterstock

    This tension has prompted some activist organisations to rethink their approach. The UK charity Migrant Rights Network shifted their messaging from “lived experience-led” activism to “lived experience and values-led” activism in 2023.

    They argued that figures like Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman demonstrate that lived experience alone does not guarantee shared values. Both come from immigrant backgrounds and have experienced racism, yet their support for restrictive immigration policies has led critics to question whether their personal histories count as valid lived experience.

    At the heart of this is an uncomfortable question: should lived experience only be recognised when it aligns with certain political values?




    Read more:
    Minority ethnic politicians are pushing harsh immigration policies – why representation doesn’t always mean racial justice


    A way forward

    My research suggests that if we only value lived experience when it confirms our own views, we risk turning it into a selective tool rather than a genuine commitment to listening.

    If we say lived experience matters, we have to be willing to engage with it across the spectrum — even when it challenges us. That doesn’t mean we have to agree, but it does mean staying open to dialogue.

    None of this means lived experience should be dismissed – it provides essential insight into how injustice is felt, understood and navigated by those most affected. However, when it becomes the sole measure of credibility, it can create divisions within activist spaces and silence people who want to contribute.

    A more productive approach would be to view lived experience not as the final word or the end of a conversation, but as a starting point — one that invites listening, dialogue and ultimately, collective action.

    As one activist in my study reflected: “If you take the time to talk and listen, you’re not disqualified just because you didn’t grow up in that context. The key is humility.”

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

    ref. ‘Lived experience’ is valued in activism – but is it doing more harm than good? – https://theconversation.com/lived-experience-is-valued-in-activism-but-is-it-doing-more-harm-than-good-253467

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why carrying spuds and playing sudoku could be good measures of your overall health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Catherine Norton, Associate Professor Sport & Exercise Nutrition, University of Limerick

    simona pilolla 2/Shutterstock

    While ageing is inevitable, ageing well is something we can influence. It’s not just about the number of candles on your birthday cake – it’s whether you’ve got the puff to blow them out, the balance to carry the cake and the memory to remember why you’re celebrating.

    As we age, our bodies change. Muscle mass shrinks, bones weaken, reaction times slow. But that doesn’t mean we’re all destined for a future of walking frames and daytime TV.

    Ageing well isn’t about staying wrinkle-free – it’s about staying independent, mobile, mentally sharp and socially connected. In gerontology, there’s a saying: we want to add life to years, not just years to life. That means focusing on quality – being able to do what you love, move freely, think clearly and enjoy time with others.

    There’s no one-size-fits-all definition, but some simple home tests can give you a good idea. No fancy lab required – just a toothbrush, a stopwatch and a sense of humour.


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    Balance

    One fun (and surprisingly useful) way to test your balance is to stand on one leg while brushing your teeth. If you can do this for 30 seconds or more (eyes open), that’s a great sign of lower-body strength, coordination, and postural stability.

    A 2022 study found that people who couldn’t balance on one leg for ten seconds had an 84% higher risk of death over a median follow-up of seven years compared than those who could. As such, balance is like a superpower for healthy ageing — it reduces falls, supports mobility, and can be improved at any age.

    Grip

    Grip strength is more than just opening jars. It’s a powerful indicator of overall health, predicting heart health, cognitive function and even mortality risk.

    Research shows that for every 5kg decrease in grip strength, the risk of death from all causes rose by 16%.

    You can test grip strength using a hand-dynamometer (many gyms or clinics have them), or simply take note of everyday tasks – is opening bottles, carrying groceries, or using tools becoming harder?

    Floor-to-feet feat

    Can you sit on the floor and stand up without using your hands? This test is a true measure of your lower-body strength and flexibility, which are essential for daily activities and reducing the risk of falls. If you can do it, you’re in great shape.




    Read more:
    Why sitting down – and getting back up – might be the most important health test you do today


    If it’s too tough, try the sit-to-stand test. Using a chair (no arms),see how many sit-to-stand transitions you can do in 30 seconds. This task is a good measure of lower limb function, balance and muscle strength, it can also predict people at risk of falls and cardiovascular issues.

    Mental sharpness

    Cognitive function can be measured in all sorts of complex ways, but some basic home tests are surprisingly telling. Try naming as many animals as you can in 30 seconds. Fewer than 12 might indicate concern; more than 18 is a good sign.

    Try spelling “world” backwards or recalling a short list of three items after a few minutes. This skill is an important strategy to enhance memory in older adults. Challenge yourself with puzzles, Sudoku, or learning a new skill. These kinds of “verbal fluency” and memory recall tests are simple ways to spot early changes in brain health – but don’t panic if you blank occasionally. Everyone forgets where they left their keys sometimes.

    Lifestyle matters

    There’s no magic bullet to ageing well – but, if one existed, it would probably be a combination of exercise, diet, sleep and social connections.

    Some of the best-studied strategies include:

    Daily movement: walking, resistance training, swimming or tai chi keep your muscles and bones strong and support balance and heart health.

    Healthy eating: a Mediterranean-style diet — rich in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts – is linked to better brain and heart health.

    Sleep: seven to nine hours of quality sleep support memory, immunity and mood.

    Connection: some research suggests that loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Stay engaged, join a club, volunteer, or just pick up the phone to a friend.

    If you can balance on one leg while brushing your teeth, carry a bag of potatoes up the stairs, and name 20 animals under pressure, then you’re doing very well. If not (yet), that’s OK, these are skills you can build over time. Ageing well means taking a proactive approach to health: making small, consistent choices that lead to better mobility, clearer thinking and richer social connections down the line.

    So tonight, give the one-leg toothbrush challenge a go. Your future self might thank you, especially if they still have all their teeth.

    Catherine Norton has received funding from external organisations for related research.

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

    ref. Why carrying spuds and playing sudoku could be good measures of your overall health – https://theconversation.com/why-carrying-spuds-and-playing-sudoku-could-be-good-measures-of-your-overall-health-256380

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to create a thriving forest, not box-checking ‘tree cover’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas Murphy, Lecturer in Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth

    A Chinese proverb says that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is today. But it’s not easy to ensure the trees of today actually become the healthy, functioning forests of tomorrow.

    This is a key issue in the UK, which recently announced it will plant 20 million trees to create a new “national forest” in the west of England. Given the UK is one of the least forested countries in Europe, and one of the most nature-depleted in the world, more trees are definitely needed.

    But I know from years of trying to research and restore native forest on Dartmoor in the south west of England, that creating healthy forests requires attention to detail. Unless we are careful, these new woodlands might damage rather than improve the environment: 20 million non-native conifers (or any single tree species), densely planted row on row is not a recipe for a healthy or resilient forest.

    So what could a successful forest expansion look like – and how could the UK get there?

    Forests for the future

    When planting a sapling, we are starting a journey not reaching a destination.
    The aim isn’t to just grow dense forests everywhere, but to create a diverse “treescape” that includes woodland, pasture, orchards and hedgerows. Including glades and clearings allow plants and animals from the surrounding landscape to move in, helping to create a richer, more complex forest over time.

    A wild pony hangs out in a glade in the New Forest in southern England.
    Helen Hotson / shutterstock

    In this ideal future, Britain’s bigger, more diverse, and better joined-up forests would have a higher chance of coping with the hotter summers, wetter winters and other climate changes including extreme weather. That’s because these larger more connected forests limit whats is known as the “edge effect” where the benefits of the forest’s microclimate is reduced. Having more different tree species – mostly native but not always – would help these woodlands cope with, and adapt to, the projected increase in pests, disease and other environmental stresses.

    These larger more biodiverse woodlands would also store more carbon in trees, soils and decaying wood. Research I published with colleagues showed new native forests can alleviate flood risk rather quickly too. Over time, many could also provide timber for low-carbon construction, and charcoal-like “biochar”.

    Where to grow a forest – and how

    Creating woodland for biodiversity and these wider benefits requires planning and management. This can be done by studying the land beforehand – looking at habitats, soils and the animals that graze there, but importantly considering the wider landscape. Digital tools can model a combination of land features, climate and other data to help planners decide where trees should be targeted for the biggest wins, especially as the climate changes.

    The idea is to support, not replace, Britain’s many existing ancient trees. Some new forests would help buffer woodlands from damage at their edges, while others help connect isolated forest fragments and lone trees.

    For example, in Britain’s wet valleys where temperate rainforests could grow, saplings planted in the 2020s might provide new homes for rare lichens and mosses. This will help shield highly vulnerable sites such as Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor from changes in climate.

    Restoring these rainforests will usually require active control of grazing animals. One promising solution is to plant small, carefully chosen patches of diverse tree species and protect them at first from the sheep, cattle, ponies and deer that eat young trees. Over time, through a process known as “applied nucleation”, these patches could help trees naturally spread, creating a mix of woodland and pasture.

    On Britain’s moorlands, hungry animals eat saplings before they can turn into fully-grown (and less tasty) trees.
    Digital Wildlife Scotland / shutterstock

    It’s true that sapling-munching deer have surged to unsustainable levels, and many uplands areas in particular are overgrazed by sheep. However, when moderated and managed carefully, these animals are essential ingredients for dynamic forests. Grazing, browsing and rootling (pigs and wild boar) animals create glades and clearings, and support natural processes. Trees and forests in return provide animals with forage, shade, shelter and more.

    We should embrace the potential for mutual benefit between animals and forests. By integrating more trees and forests into agricultural areas we may even make both our forests more dynamic and our agricultural areas more resilient.

    Local leadership and community roots

    The public generally considers tree planting a positive thing, but local people often feel left out of the process and its benefits. Getting them onboard and involved is critical. That’s particularly the case in Britain’s northern and western uplands, where few trees are left and many people feel threatened by national woodland policies that might affect how they use the land.

    Moor Trees community tree nurseries on Dartmoor, or collectively owned and community forests in 15 regions of England show there are ways to get locals involved and empowered.

    Larger forests near towns and cities would offer more space for recreation and education, taking pressure off smaller and more fragile woodlands. In the urban areas themselves, we could grow more micro “Miyawacki” forests. These are tennis court-sized areas of diverse and densely packed native trees, which allow children to connect with nature every day in their school grounds (the UK already has more than 280 such forests).

    Tree planting is only a start

    This is a rather optimistic vision for the future, of course. To get there, we’ll have to learn from experience. That means tracking what works and involving local people in citizen science. These projects not only help gather valuable data, they also give volunteers a meaningful experience and support their appreciation of the natural world.

    There are plenty of recommended guidelines for forest restoration, but turning young trees into healthy resilient woodlands isn’t about following a strict rulebook. Instead, success will come from using a range of strategies – working with local communities, supporting natural processes and adapting over time based on what is shown to work.

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

    ref. How to create a thriving forest, not box-checking ‘tree cover’ – https://theconversation.com/how-to-create-a-thriving-forest-not-box-checking-tree-cover-254160

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin met with entrepreneurs participating in the Made in Moscow project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The flagship site of the Green Market program is operating on Bolotnaya Square “Made in Moscow”. Sergei Sobyanin met there with representatives of small and medium-sized businesses – participants in the capital’s “Made in Moscow” program.

    According to the Mayor of Moscow, the departure of foreign brands from the Russian market has given the capital’s entrepreneurs additional opportunities to promote their brands and products. The city, in turn, provides businesses with a wide range of various support measures that allow companies to actively develop, improve their products and present them to a wide audience, including abroad.

    “It’s not just about Western brands, but about the fact that Moscow as a whole has a lot of competition. There are about a million small and medium-sized businesses registered in Moscow, imagine the volume – millions of workers, trillions of turnover. And this is, in fact, such a powerful competitive environment, from which the best ones grow, who not only trade in Moscow, not only in Russia, but also throughout the world. It is, of course, wonderful that we have survived all the difficulties, the difficulties with Covid, with sanctions. You have not only survived, but are developing, demonstrating a high level of your work. This is, of course, great. I thank you and wish you success,” said the Mayor of Moscow.

    The head of the press service of the capital’s cosmetics company, Tasha Rydvanova, in turn thanked Sergei Sobyanin for the opportunities provided. According to her, thanks to the support of the Moscow Export Center, they supply their products to more than 20 countries around the world. The company also takes part in the city program “Made in Moscow”.

    According to Irina Amosova, co-founder of one of the capital’s companies, over the past two years, capital entrepreneurs have created 33 thousand new brands. Currently, the top 10 cosmetics brands are Russian. This became possible, among other things, thanks to the city’s support, in particular grants to reimburse the costs of purchasing equipment. Now their company exports its products to 13 countries, including Vietnam and Türkiye.

    “The Made in Moscow program, which was launched in 2022 and has already become a flagship in the field of supporting Moscow manufacturers, helps promote our brands. The program unites companies producing goods in more than 35 categories. Their products and services are in demand both in the capital and far beyond its borders,” the Moscow Mayor wrote in

    on your telegram channel.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    Currently, more than seven thousand companies are participants in the program — representatives of small, medium and large businesses. The main objectives of the program are to promote the growth of Moscow consumer product brands, increase customer loyalty and enter new markets.

    “Green Market” on Bolotnaya Square

    May 25, 2025 as part of the project “Summer in Moscow” The Green Market of the Made in Moscow program has opened. A total of 12 art pavilions with products from local brands will be presented at the tourist sites.

    The Green Market of the Made in Moscow project has opened on Bolotnaya Square

    The flagship site is located on Bolotnaya Square. In its main pavilion, the greenhouse, more than 500 brands demonstrate what they produce: clothing, accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, children’s and sports goods, furniture, household goods, food, souvenirs. In total, over 30 thousand products are presented there.

     

    An important task of the market is to support participants of the special military operation (SVO) and residents of new regions. Part of the proceeds from the sale of goods will be sent to the charity fund “People’s Front. Everything for Victory!”

    The meeting with the Mayor of Moscow was attended by entrepreneurs representing such Moscow brands as:

    — Veter Sport (founded by Anton Ivanov) — produces custom-designed equipment for the local cycling sports community. With the city’s support, the company was able to purchase equipment and launch a new production line. The product catalog has three main areas: cycling, running, and triathlon equipment;

    — Silver Spoon (founder — Tamara Pularia) — produces stylish and high-quality clothing for children and teenagers. Thanks to a preferential loan provided by the city, they were able to scale their own retail network;

    — Maneken Brand (founded by Sergey Alimov) — produces designer clothing and accessories. In 2025, the company became one of the first participants in the preferential lending program secured by intellectual property rights and was able to scale up production;

    — Icon Skin (founder — Irina Amosova) — produces highly effective medical cosmetics that are used in beauty salons and clinics. Thanks to grants for the development of export activities and the acquisition of equipment, they increased the number of employees and expanded their own production;

    — Mere (founded by Maria Rafikova) — produces designer clothing, the concept of which is based on pure geometry, simple forms and the spirit of the metropolis. A preferential loan received with the support of the city allowed to increase the staff and production in 2024;

    — Como Casa (founder — Mikhail Grachev) — produces designer furniture at its own production facility in Moscow. The company opened after the departure of major foreign brands in 2022. Participation in city events, including Moscow Interior and Design Week, allowed it to increase its revenue several times;

    — Climtcosmetics (founder — Alexander Soshilov) — produces decorative cosmetics. In 2024, the company actively participated in the Made in Moscow programs. Thanks to the city’s support, the brand strengthened its position on the market and from a startup started by four participants, it turned into a company with 25 employees;

    — “Akademiya T” (CEO — Enver Tokayev) — an innovative research and production company, whose main activity is the release of new high-tech sports and therapeutic nutrition products, as well as research and development in the field of nutrition and biotechnology. The brand’s catalog includes vitamins, concentrates, and useful supplements. The company is the official supplier of products for the Russian national teams, and is implementing its project in the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”;

    — SportDots (founded by Kirill Orlov) — produces smart clothing for professional and amateur athletes. The items have integrated flat elastic elements — dots — that help increase endurance, thereby improving the effectiveness of training. The company participated in the Made in Moscow market at the 2025 Moscow Half Marathon in the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, which increased brand awareness;

    — Ecolatier (owner — Daria Ostromenskaya) — produces everyday care cosmetics based on natural and organic components. The company regularly participates in Beauty Week and other major specialized exhibitions. With the support of the Moscow Government, the brand has increased sales of its products;

    — Vitmins (CEO — Andrey Garmashov) — produces vitamins for sports and life. Thanks to the programs of the Moscow Venture Fund, the company attracted additional financing, which allowed it to increase its staff and establish production.

    Moscow brands are increasing production and creating new lines of clothing and accessories

    The main pavilion has a master class area where Moscow entrepreneurs conduct training sessions with children and adults. Market guests can use the fitting rooms and relax in the food court on the second floor.

    In addition, the flagship site has a stage for educational and leisure events, including lectures, performances by artists and musicians, prize draws from local brands and presentations of new products. There is a rollerdrome for young visitors. The decoration of the Green Market on Bolotnaya Square is a miracle tree, which attracts attention in the evenings with a bright light show.

    The work of the “Green Market” “Made in Moscow” will last until September 7, 2025. Details can be found on the website.

    Development of small and medium-sized businesses in Moscow

    Entrepreneurship is one of the key sectors of the Moscow economy. Small and medium-sized businesses today are more than 927 thousand enterprises, which is 14 percent of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Russia. In 2024, they provided 1.2 trillion rubles in tax revenues (27 percent) to the city budget and more than a third of the capital’s employment (almost 40 percent – 3.4 million people).

    The stable growth of SMEs is indicated by the indicators of transition to larger categories. Thus, last year about 11 thousand Moscow companies exceeded the threshold values of their category and moved from microenterprises to small, from small to medium, from medium to large enterprises. This is 40 percent more than the year before (7.9 thousand).

    The largest sectors in terms of the number of SMEs are trade, professional activities (science, research), real estate transactions and construction.

    To accommodate small and medium-sized innovative businesses, 47 technology parks have been created in Moscow, in which 2.2 thousand companies work – this is 74.2 thousand jobs. In terms of the level of development of innovative infrastructure, the Russian capital ranks first in Europe.

    The Moscow Innovation Cluster (MIC) provides cooperation with the main participants of the innovation ecosystem. The cluster’s digital platform i.moscow https://i.moscow/ has more than 50 electronic services for business development and scaling. Enterprises from 87 regions of Russia are registered on the platform, and the number of services they have received has exceeded 125 thousand. Thanks to i.moscow services, companies have received support from the city in the amount of more than 19.3 billion rubles and attracted over 46.6 billion rubles in investments. With the participation of MIC, every second transaction on the venture market of the capital is carried out and 37 percent of Moscow patents are registered. With its help, businesses have implemented 18.4 thousand innovative projects, including six thousand in cooperation with other participants and partners of the cluster.

    In 2024, on the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, a strategy for the development of entrepreneurship in the capital was developed. The key objectives are to increase the share of the technology sector in the city’s economy and support the growth and efficiency of the capital’s business. These priorities reflect the main goals of national projects in the economic sphere.

    As part of the implementation of the strategy, the Moscow Government provides comprehensive support to small and medium-sized businesses.

    According to the results of 2024, every 11th business was covered by various support measures – more than 80 thousand entrepreneurs received over 300 thousand services.

    Moscow is the first region of Russia to launch regional preferential lending programs in 2020, which are the most popular measure of financial support for SMEs. Over the past period, Moscow entrepreneurs have concluded over 37 thousand loan agreements, which allowed them to attract more than 380 billion rubles in additional funding for business development.

    Another effective measure of financial support is guaranteeing credit obligations, which solves the problem of a lack of own collateral.

    The guarantees of the Moscow Fund for Assistance to Lending cover up to 70 percent of the loan amount, in total – up to 100 million rubles. Moscow entrepreneurs have been provided with over 20 thousand guarantees, under which they attracted financing in the amount of more than 392 billion rubles.

    In total, more than 15 financial support measures are available to entrepreneurs.

    Non-financial support measures are also in high demand. They are aimed at increasing entrepreneurial literacy: free consultations, educational and business events, as well as electronic services.

    Every year, SME representatives receive more than 130 thousand consultations. More than 140 thousand entrepreneurs use educational programs. The number of requests for online products exceeds 160 thousand.

    The city helps capital producers enter foreign markets. The Moscow Export Center (MEC) plays a key role in this, providing a wide range of support measures.

    Among them are educational and acceleration programs that help companies improve their export competence and formulate a step-by-step plan for entering foreign markets. In addition, the MEC promotes Moscow brands abroad and assists in establishing sales on international platforms.

    In addition, it helps businesses obtain financial support from the city – in particular, to obtain preferential loans for the implementation of export contracts and to apply for an export grant.

    Thanks to the comprehensive support provided by the MEC, Moscow companies have concluded export contracts worth over 120 billion rubles with partners from more than 60 friendly countries.

    50 companies received support in the competition “Grant for registration of 100 first”The Made in Moscow project will present new art pavilions for businesses this summer

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12856050/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The future of the film industry was discussed at the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    At the State University of Management, as part of the All-Russian Student Film Festival “KinoSfera”, a round table was organized on the topic: “Problems of the modern Russian film industry: practice and prospects for the application of artificial intelligence”.

    The participants discussed current issues in the Russian film industry, the possibility of using AI in film production, as well as the problems and prospects of its application, and shared practical experience.

    The participants came to the conclusion that at the moment AI is far from always able to help optimize the use of resources. Although in a number of areas AI is actively used and minimizes costs (editing, restoration of AVP, etc.). The experts agreed that in the near future the situation will most likely change, and the scope of application of AI and technologies in the Russian film industry will significantly expand.

    The round table was attended by:

    Lecturers of the Department of Management in the Sphere of Culture, Cinema, TV and Entertainment Industry of the State University of Management: Anna Akopyan, Marina Kosinova, Artur Arakelyan, Viktor Krysov; Viktor Alisov – producer, actor and screenwriter; Ekaterina Kozhushanaya — screenwriter, director, artist and editor Irina Borovskaya — director, screenwriter, teacher (acting, pantomime, clowning) Tatyana Efimova — AI artist, prompt director Roman Isaev — producer, one of the members of the Council of the Association of Cinema Owners Vasily Solovyov — film producer, general producer of the Visual Story company Timur Sitnikov — founder and CEO of the posthouse Sitnikov.Pro, computer graphics director, post-production producer, VFX and onset supervisor Kornei Dravi — managing partner of the post-production studio Sitnikov.Pro, editing director, post-production producer, DIT and CG supervisor Artem Vitkin — screenwriter, director and producer Svetlana Buharaeva — film producer, teacher

    Let us recall that the All-Russian Student Film Festival “KinoSfera” is being held at the State University of Management for the sixth time. This year, students learned how to break into cinema from director Alexander Zhigalkin and talked to actress Vasilina Yuskovets.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [CRANEWARE PLC – 23 05 2025] – (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
    CRANEWARE 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
    23 MAY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

    Class of relevant security: 1p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 1,709,457 4.8276    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 1,709,457 4.8276    

    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 447 2050.2p
    1p ORDINARY SALE 80 2075.0001p
    1p ORDINARY SALE 2,500 2083p
    1p ORDINARY SALE 300 2091p

    (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: 27 MAY 2025
    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 www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Approved base prospectus of UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE IN THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE BELOW.

    On 16 May 2025 an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos”, the closed-end investment company intended for informed investors (hereinafter, the “Company”) approved up to EUR 100,000,000 nominal value Unsecured Fixed Rate Note Programme (hereinafter, the “Notes”). The Company has drafted the base prospectus for the Notes issued under the programme to be introduced to trading on the regulated market AB Nasdaq Vilnius Bond list (hereinafter, the “Prospectus”), which was approved by the Bank of Lithuania on 27 May 2025 (please see the attached documents).

    IMPORTANT NOTICE:

    This notification is not for distribution to United States news agencies or for dissemination in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia or elsewhere where such dissemination is not appropriate.

    Distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the securities may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

    No offer or invitation to acquire securities of the Company is being made by or in connection with this notification. The Prospectus is the only legally binding document containing information on the Company, the Notes and their admission to trading on the regulated market. The Prospectus is published on the website of the Company https://lordslb.lt/aei_green_bonds_2025/ as well as on www.nasdaqbaltic.com and www.crib.lt.

    Approval of the Prospectus shall not be understood as an endorsement of the securities admitted to trading on a regulated market. The potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. Furthermore, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons unless the securities are registered under the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. No public offering of the securities will be made in the United States.

    Additional information:

    Mantas Auruškevičius

    Manager of the Investment Company

    mantas.auruskevicius@lordslb.lt

    Attachments:

    1. Base Prospectus
    2. Decision of the Bank of Lithuania regarding approval of the prospectus (in Lithuanian)

    Attachments

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [GLOBALDATA PLC – 23 05 2025] – (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
    GLOBALDATA 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
    23 MAY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

    Class of relevant security: 0.01p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 11,043,755 1.3693    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 11,043,755 1.3693    

    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
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 8,200 188.94p

    (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: 27 MAY 2025
    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 www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Blockmate Launches Bitcoin Mining Subsidiary With 200MW Capacity and ‘Mine-and-Hold’ Strategy in Wyoming, USA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blockmate Ventures Inc. (TSX.V: MATE) (OTCQB: MATEF) (FSE: 8MH) (“Blockmate” or the “Company”), a Blockchain & Web3 venture builder focused on digital asset infrastructure, has launched its wholly owned subsidiary Blockmate Mining, a dedicated Bitcoin mining business with ambitions to become a major player in the North American market. The new entity will pursue a long-term “mine-and-hold” strategy, accumulating Bitcoin on its balance sheet as it scales operations.

    Blockmate Mining has secured a site in Wyoming, USA, adjacent to a major power substation, with the potential to support up to 200 megawatts (MW) of mining capacity. The Company plans to roll out operations in phases, beginning with an initial 10MW deployment within the next 6 to 12 months and scaling up to 50MW, subject to capital availability. At full capacity (200MW), the site is estimated to produce approximately 200 Bitcoin per month, based on current network conditions and mining difficulty, which may vary over time.

    “Blockmate Mining is a natural extension of our mission to deliver long-term value through real digital asset infrastructure,” said Justin Rosenberg, CEO of Blockmate Ventures. “With our Wyoming site secured and investor interest already strong, we’re positioned to build a highly scalable and capital-efficient mining operation. We’re focused on both generating Bitcoin and maximizing its long-term value for shareholders.”

    The Wyoming site offers an electricity cost of just USD 3.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, among the most competitive rates in North America. The Company intends to hold a significant portion of mined Bitcoin on its balance sheet—seeking both capital appreciation and 7–15% annual yield through institutional-grade custody and yield-generating strategies such as staking or lending.

    In parallel, Blockmate is actively exploring capital raise opportunities, including traditional equity, strategic investor partnerships, and innovative tokenized financing models linked to future Bitcoin output (hashpower). The first funding milestone targets USD $15 million to activate the initial 10MW, with a follow-on $55 million to scale to 50MW. Over time, the Company plans to spin out Blockmate Mining as a separately listed entity, with NASDAQ as the preferred destination.

    “We see a significant opportunity beyond Bitcoin,” added Domenic Carosa, Founder & Chairman of Blockmate Ventures. “With rising global demand for compute infrastructure, our Wyoming site offers the flexibility to support both AI and HPC workloads alongside Bitcoin mining. Blockmate Mining is uniquely positioned to capitalize on both the digital asset and AI revolutions.”

    Blockmate Mining is already in early-stage discussions with strategic partners in the AI and data center space, exploring hybrid infrastructure models that fully leverage its land and power footprint. In parallel, Blockmate is actively exploring capital raise opportunities, including traditional equity and strategic investor partnerships.


    About Blockmate Ventures Inc.

    Blockmate Ventures (TSX.V: MATE) is a Blockchain & Web3 venture builder investing in and operating scalable blockchain, mining, and digital infrastructure companies. From decentralized computing with Hivello to the newly launched Blockmate Mining, the Company’s portfolio provides investors with diversified exposure to emerging sectors within Web3 and beyond.


    To learn more, visit www.blockmate.com.

    Blockmate welcomes investors to join the Company’s mailing list for the latest updates, webinars and industry research by subscribing at https://www.blockmate.com/subscribe.

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    Justin Rosenberg, CEO
    Blockmate Ventures Inc
    justin@blockmate.com
    (+1-580-262-6130)

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

    Forward-Looking Information
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on the assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Raindrop disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ (MI) to bolster American semiconductor manufacturing. Peters’ Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would strengthen federal efforts to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains. The legislation aims to build on the CHIPS and Science Act, which Peters helped craft and pass into law to expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, bring home good-paying jobs, and strengthen U.S. national security. 
    “In order to remain a global economic powerhouse, we need to build on the investments we made in the CHIPS and Science Act to continue expanding our vital semiconductor industry,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “This bipartisan bill would help drive further investment in American manufacturers and supply chains to reduce our dependence on foreign competitors for these critical technologies and create more good-paying jobs in Michigan. I’m pleased the bill passed the Senate and I’ll continue working to see it enacted into law.”
    The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would direct the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program to collaborate with federal agencies and state economic development organizations to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains. Peters’ bill – which passed the Senate last Congress – would help to address the ongoing global shortage of semiconductor technologies that has disrupted a range of industries in recent years – including manufacturers and automakers in Michigan. Peters reintroduced the bill with U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). 
    The SelectUSA program, established in 2011, focuses on attracting job-creating business investments to the United States. This legislation would enhance SelectUSA’s role in strengthening private sector investments across the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.
    The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would also require SelectUSA to engage with state-level economic development organizations to identify strategies and address challenges in attracting foreign direct investment for semiconductor manufacturing. The goal is to develop comprehensive strategies to increase investments in this critical sector.
    Peters has worked to address the semiconductor shortage crisis that has stymied automotive innovation in recent years and impacted consumers, workers, and industries across the country – including the Michigan auto industry. Peters secured multiple provisions in the CHIPS and Science Act that was signed into law to bolster U.S. semiconductor production, including a provision he championed with former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) to create a $2 billion supplemental incentive fund to support the domestic production of mature semiconductor technologies and ensure that projects supporting critical manufacturing industries are given priority status, which would include the automotive sector. This is in addition to $50 billion already in the bill to incentivize the production of semiconductors of all kinds in the U.S. – for a total of $52 billion.
    The CHIPS and Science Act also included Peters’ bipartisan Investing in Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing Act, which will ensure federal incentives to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing include U.S. suppliers that produce the materials and manufacturing equipment that enable semiconductor manufacturing – bolstering semiconductors supply chains and Michigan manufacturers. Peters’ provision directly supports Michigan manufacturers like Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC) in Hemlock, Michigan which was recently awarded up to $325 million in CHIPS and Science Act funding to build a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The project will allow the company to expand production of hyper-pure polysilicon needed to manufacture semiconductor chips and is expected to create 180 good-paying manufacturing jobs, as well as thousands of construction jobs, in Michigan.        

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Peters, Blackburn, Scott Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 05.27.2025
    Legislation Aims to Bolster Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing, Create Good-Paying American Jobs

    WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) aimed at bolstering domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would strengthen federal efforts to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains.
    “In order to remain a global economic powerhouse, we need to build on the investments we made in the CHIPS and Science Act to continue expanding our vital semiconductor industry,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “This bipartisan bill would help drive further investment in American manufacturers and supply chains to reduce our dependence on foreign competitors for these critical technologies and create more good-paying jobs in Michigan. I’m pleased the bill passed the Senate and I’ll continue working to see it enacted into law.”
    “The United States must end its dependence on Communist China for semiconductor production,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Senate’s passage of our bipartisan Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act is a win for Tennessee manufacturers who rely on semiconductors to support local and global supply chains. We need to work with local leaders to encourage domestic semiconductor production to protect our supply chain, economy, and national security. This legislation does exactly that.”
    The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would direct the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program to collaborate with federal agencies and state economic development organizations to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains. The bill – which previously passed in the Senate – would help to address the ongoing global shortage of semiconductor technologies that has disrupted a range of industries in recent years.
    The SelectUSA program, established in 2011, focuses on attracting job-creating business investments to the United States. This legislation would enhance SelectUSA’s role in strengthening private sector investments across the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.
    The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act would also require SelectUSA to engage with state-level economic development organizations to identify strategies and address challenges in attracting foreign direct investment for semiconductor manufacturing. The goal is to develop comprehensive strategies to increase investments in this critical sector.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cartoon Network changed animation forever – Warner Bros shouldn’t let it die

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jacqueline Ristola, Lecturer in Digital Animation, University of Bristol

    Many people – myself included – remember Cartoon Network as their favourite TV channel to watch after school. Launched in 1992, Cartoon Network became a global cable brand, available in over 180 countries.

    But while the channel had international recognition and commercial success with original hits such as The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005) and Adventure Time (2010-2018), lately its iconic status has been diminished in the backdrop of the streaming platform wars.

    In fact, Cartoon Network is an excellent case study for how the conditions of media conglomeration shape how media is made and curated. And in making a wide variety of animation available, Cartoon Network also helped make audiences think differently about animation.

    The network’s story began in 1991, when media mogul Ted Turner bought the animated television titan Hanna-Barbera Productions. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the studio created more than 100 animated television series that dominated Saturday morning programming.

    Turner bought Hanna-Barbera not for the studio itself, but for its impressive content library – which provided much of Cartoon Network’s initial programming. But while Cartoon Network began as a rerun channel, its programmers were ambitious for something more.


    This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.


    In 1993, they went to Turner asking for money to produce original programming. Turner turned them away, telling them: “I bought you a library, now utilise it.”

    So, in the face of these corporate budget restrictions, Cartoon Network programmers innovated. By reusing the corporate library of Hanna-Barbera cartoons, they created their first fully original television series, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast (1994-2008).

    This series skewered the conventions of late-night talk shows through its characters’ surreal scenes and bizarre behaviour. It was made from the Hanna-Barbera content library itself, remixing the animations with new voices.

    In my research, I argue that the series enabled Cartoon Network programmers to reflect on their own precarious place within Turner’s giant corporation. The series made fun of television conventions, with characters sometimes discussing the process of making television while working for a major media conglomerate.

    The first episode of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.

    Space Ghost: Coast to Coast is the first example of how Cartoon Network’s conglomerate ownership shaped its forms of production.

    Cartoon Network continued to make original programming, beginning with What a Cartoon! in 1995. Created by former MTV executive Fred Seibert, the series comprised animated shorts, with the most popular ones then being green-lit to series. The show launched several original series, starting with Dexter’s Laboratory in 1996. These were precursors for the groundbreaking, adult-oriented cartoon series and brand, Adult Swim, in 2001.

    Through this innovative approach, Cartoon Network helped revive television animation in the 1990s, giving emerging animators a platform to share their work.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.


    Animation for kids and adults

    While the channel was initially aimed at kids, many of its series challenged typical expectations of children’s television.

    Samurai Jack (2001-2004 and 2017) blended sophisticated storytelling with a unique aesthetic. Later series such as Steven Universe (2013-2019) and Infinity Train (2019-2021) blended heady science fiction and fantasy with deep, emotional stories.

    And many series were just really, really funny. Johnny Bravo (1997-2004), for example, subtly undermined patriarchal norms through slapstick comedy.

    Cartoon Network series also paved the way for queer representation in children’s media. Adventure Time and Steven Universe featured both implicit and explicit queer representation throughout. These series were immensely popular with children and adults alike, and paved the way for other series to represent queerness in animation.

    Since its debut, Cartoon Network has always attracted a broad audience of adults. This is what prompted the launch of Adult Swim in 2001 – an adult-oriented programme block with edgy and subversive series, many of which were animated. Adult Swim pushed the envelope, creating animation that was crass, crude – and sometimes profound.

    Much of the humour of early Adult Swim series was predicated on the contrast between the assumption that animation is “for kids” and the crass material depicted. At the same time, they helped push animation to be considered as a form for everyone, regardless of age.

    Lost in the shuffle of media conglomeration

    Built through the resources of Turner’s media conglomerate, Cartoon Network established itself in a competitive cable marketplace – and such corporate conglomeration has continued to shape the channel, its content and brand. But the sale of Warner Bros. to Discovery in 2022 and subsequent corporate strategy shifts has left the channel and its content lost in the shuffle.

    Characters like the Powerpuff Girls have been firm fan favourites for years.
    Jamaica Parambita/Dupe

    During AT&T’s ownership of Warner Bros. (2018-2022), Cartoon Network was positioned as the central brand to reach kids and family audiences worldwide.

    But in 2022, AT&T sold the company to Discovery, creating Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This merger produced turmoil in the media industry, as the newly formed conglomerate quickly announced layoffs and cut content, including animated content.

    While WBD publicly committed to reaching family audiences, several animated works (kid-focused or otherwise) got the axe. These apparent discrepancies between the company’s content and business strategies have arguably produced brand confusion, with Cartoon Network caught in the middle.

    Since 2024, most of Cartoon Network’s content has been cut from streaming libraries. What was once a prominent brand in the Warner Bros. portfolio seems forgotten. But as industry analysts note, kids content, animated or otherwise, remains an important component in any media portfolio. WBD should recognise the value Cartoon Network offers with its great animation and unique history.

    Jacqueline Ristola receives funding from ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum.

    ref. Cartoon Network changed animation forever – Warner Bros shouldn’t let it die – https://theconversation.com/cartoon-network-changed-animation-forever-warner-bros-shouldnt-let-it-die-257173

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Banking: China’s biopharma commands $30 billion in oncology licensing deals, triples US output in 2024, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    China’s biopharma commands $30 billion in oncology licensing deals, triples US output in 2024, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    China’s biopharmaceutical sector experienced a notable increase in oncology drug licensing deals in 2024, particularly for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), with a combined deal value of $30 billion. The mAbs and ADCs licensed from Chinese biopharma accounted for 89% of all molecule types, with the total deal value being three times that of similar deals licensed out from the US, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    This underscores the growing innovative capabilities of Chinese drugmakers, spurred by government policies that prioritize innovation. Significant reforms in clinical development processes and regulatory reviews in China have led to faster drug approvals, positioning the country as a vital source of novel therapies and a partner in innovative drug development.

    The ongoing US-China trade developments pose significant implications for the global economy. An agreement announced on 12 May 2025, which reduced US President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% and China’s retaliatory tariffs on US imports from 125% to 10% for an initial 90-day period, has alleviated immediate tensions. However, persistent uncertainties and high tariffs may hinder economic growth and cross-border licensing, prompting Chinese companies to explore more stable opportunities outside the US.

    In 2024, ADCs dominated oncology licensing activity in China, constituting 56% of the total deal value at $19 billion, followed by mAbs at 33% ($11 billion) and small molecules at 9% ($4 billion), according to GlobalData’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center Deals Database.

    Ophelia Chan, Senior Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Notably, over half (52%) of these ADC deals involved bispecific ADCs, indicating a shift towards more complex biologics and a growing interest in China’s next-generation innovative assets.”

    From 2023 to 2024, the licensing value of oncology drugs from Chinese biopharma increased 24% to $33 billion, while the value from US biopharma fell 24% to $35 billion, signaling China’s emphasis on innovation and global confidence in its biopharmaceutical assets. In 2024, 27 deals worth $28 billion were made with non-Chinese companies, 68% ($18.7 billion) of which were licensed to US companies, marking a 269% increase in deal value from 2023, reflecting growing US interest in Chinese oncology innovations.

    Chan concludes: “Despite the growing appeal of Chinese innovation, US-China trade tensions create uncertainty in the licensing landscape. Temporary tariff reductions provide short-term relief, however shifting policies and potential new restrictions may disrupt the existing agreements and deter future partnerships.”

    For further insights into the latest Deal Trends in the Pharma Sector, please see GlobalData’s Venture Capital Investment Trends In Pharma – Q1 2025 and M&A Trends in Pharma – Q1 2025 reports.

    Note: A single deal may include multiple drugs across various indications and modalities. This figure includes all announced and completed oncology licensing agreements across all active development stages (marketed, pre-registration, Phase III, Phase II, Phase I, pre-clinical, and discovery) for target companies headquartered in China and the US from 2020 to 2025 YTD with lead drug in the deal. The analysis includes the highest deal stage, which is the highest development stage of the most advanced drug in the deal at the time of the deal. “Other” includes all remaining modalities encompassed within the deals.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: 2025 World Snooker Championship sees $1.71 million sponsorship amid digital surge and commercial shift, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    2025 World Snooker Championship sees $1.71 million sponsorship amid digital surge and commercial shift, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Sport

    The 2025 World Snooker Championship highlighted the evolving commercial landscape of the sport, generating an estimated $1.71 million in sponsorship revenue despite a 20% drop in naming rights value. A last-minute title deal with British workflow automation software brand Halo and record-breaking digital viewership reflect strong audience demand, while growing interest from China and Saudi Arabia points to a potentially global shift in the tournament’s future, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s report, “Post Event Analysis – World Snooker Championship 2025,” revealed that the tournament saw a total prize money of £2.395 million ($3.196 million). The World Snooker Championship boasts the highest prize money of any professional snooker tournament worldwide

    Olivia Snooks, Sport Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This decrease in naming rights revenue compared to 2024 is partly down to the fact that the deal was signed on the eve of the tournament, reducing the scope exposure and activation, as well as part of a continuing pattern across a sport that is steadily moving away from vice title sponsorship.”

    The 2025 World Snooker Championship set a record with 29 million streams on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website, and BBC Sport app, reflecting a 25% increase from the previous year. The event’s cumulative television audience across BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC Four reached 12.6 million viewers. The final, broadcast on BBC Two, attracted a peak audience of 3 million viewers.

    Snooks continues: “At the beginning of 2025, the World Snooker Tour renewed its long-running rights deal with the UK public-service broadcaster BBC until 2032. The five-year deal extension ensures that the World Snooker Tour’s flagship ‘Triple Crown’ events remain free-to-air across the UK.”

    Ticket prices for the 2025 World Snooker Championship depended on the day and the session. The face value of tickets for Round 1, played between April 19 and April 24, 2025, started as low as £45 ($60). The most expensive tickets which were able to be purchased for face value were the final session of the 5 May, which saw tickets for the Century Club priced at £170 ($947). The Crucible Theatre has a seating capacity of 980, which limits ticket sales and revenue. The tournament schedule included three sessions daily and the Crucible achieved full attendance for every session of the tournament.

    The future of the Crucible Theatre as the venue for the World Snooker Championship remains in doubt. The agreement to host the tournament at the Sheffield theater is set to expire in 2027. The competitions longstanding association with Sheffield may be subject to change as China has engaged in repeated discussions to become a potential host, reflecting the rise in Chinese participants on the tour. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is expanding its involvement in snooker and is poised to host its inaugural ranking event, the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, in August.

    Snooks concludes: “The 2025 World Snooker Championship reaffirmed the sport’s enduring appeal while signaling a shift in its commercial dynamics. As digital viewership breaks records and non-traditional markets like China and Saudi Arabia express growing interest, the tournament faces a pivotal juncture, balancing its heritage with global expansion to sustain long-term commercial growth and fan engagement.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: GenAI VC funding in early 2025 highlights widening gap between US and China, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    GenAI VC funding in early 2025 highlights widening gap between US and China, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) continues to capture the venture capital (VC) investors’ attention, with funding in the US soaring past $50 billion in the first five months of 2025 alone. Despite a rebound in early 2025, China still trails significantly due to regulatory headwinds, highlighting a widening gap between the two markets in their pursuit of dominance in GenAI innovation, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that the US has emerged as a clear leader. Although China has also garnered investors’ attention but lagged significantly compared to the US.

    In the US, the number of VC deals announced in the GenAI space has surged from around 50 deals in 2020 to more than 600 deals in 2024 while 2025 (January to 26 May) so far has already seen the announcement of more than 200 deals. Similarly, the total VC deal value in the US skyrocketed from around $800 million in 2020 to a staggering $39 billion in 2024. Notably, it has already surpassed $50 billion in just the first five months of 2025. This explosive growth underscores the robust appetite for innovation and investment in the GenAI space.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This growth trajectory positions the US as a powerhouse in GenAI investment, showcasing a strong commitment to fostering technological advancement. The underlying factors contributing to the US’ dominance in the GenAI space include a well-established venture capital ecosystem, a culture of innovation, and a regulatory environment that encourages investment in emerging technologies.”

    Meanwhile, China’s VC funding activity in the GenAI space has also shown growth but lags far behind the US. Starting with just one deal in 2020 and peaking at 39 deals in 2024, the country has seen the announcement of 14 deals in 2025 so far.

    China’s VC deal value has also remained relatively lower, from around $40 million in 2020 to peaking at around $400 million in 2023 followed by a decline to around $140 million in 2024. However, VC funding value rebounded strongly in early 2025 with the first five months of the year itself seeing around $250 million worth of deals announcement.

    Bose concludes: “The US has positioned itself as a global leader in the GenAI space driven by substantial investments from venture capitalists eager to capitalize on the transformative potential of this technology. In contrast, China’s challenges in attracting similar levels of investment reflect broader issues within its tech ecosystem, including regulatory constraints. Nevertheless, China’s ability to adapt and create a more favorable environment for GenAI development will be crucial for its long-term competitiveness in the global tech landscape.”

    Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain.

    MIL OSI Global Banks