Category: Commerce

  • MIL-OSI: No KYC. 100x Leverage. Double Deposit Bonus. Crypto Futures Trading Made Easy on BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the price of Bitcoin fluctuating above $100,000, many analysts are predicting a prolonged period of high volatility in the cryptocurrency market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages. The platform now features a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing exceptional opportunities for investors.

    Advantages of 100x Leverage Crypto Futures

    1. Amplified Profits: Control large positions with a small amount of capital, capturing more profits from market fluctuations.
    2. Low Capital Requirement: Participate in high-value trades with minimal investment, lowering the entry barrier.
    3. Increased Market Opportunities: Profit quickly from price fluctuations, especially in volatile markets.
    4. High Capital Efficiency: Leverage enables better use of your capital, expanding your investment potential.
    5. Profit from Both Up and Down Markets: Adapt to any market conditions, with opportunities to profit whether the market goes up or down.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Why recommend BexBack?

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    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

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    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China slams US for abusing export controls on Huawei chips

    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 15 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Commerce on Thursday condemned the United States for abusing export controls on Ascend chips developed by Chinese tech company Huawei, vowing to take strong measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

    “The US has abused its export controls and imposed stricter restrictions on Chinese chip products based on baseless allegations,” said Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian, commenting on a recent US claim that the use of Huawei’s Ascend chips anywhere in the world violates US export controls.

    She further noted that the US actions seriously violate the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, seriously threaten the stability of the chip industrial chain and supply chain, and seriously undermine market rules and the international trade and economic order.

    The restrictions will also not be conducive to the long-term, mutually beneficial and sustainable cooperation between the two countries’ companies for their further development, she said, demanding that the US immediately correct its wrongdoings, promising to take decisive steps to protect the rights and interests of Chinese companies. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China International Fair for Trade in Services to be held in Beijing in September

    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 15 (Xinhua) — The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services will open in Beijing on Sept. 10, Zhao Qizhou, an official with the Beijing Bureau of Commerce, announced at a press conference on Thursday.

    Starting this year, the fair will be held annually on the second Wednesday of September, he added.

    The upcoming fair will be held in the 3 square kilometer Shougang Park, the venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

    The fair’s honorary guest country will be Australia. The event will last only five days – the first three days are for professional visitors, and the last two – for the general public.

    The fair is organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Beijing. The event covers sectors such as finance, culture, tourism, education, sports, supply chain and medical services.

    The China International Fair for Trade in Services, which was first held in 2012, brings together enterprises from all over the world.

    Last year, it was attended by representatives of more than 450 Fortune 500 companies, other leading global companies, representatives of 85 countries and international organizations. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China urges US to suspend Section 232 tariffs

    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 15 (Xinhua) — China has called on the United States to suspend its tariff measures imposed as a result of the Article 232 investigation as soon as possible, He Yongqian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said Thursday.

    Speaking at a press conference, He Yongqian noted that the US’s Section 232 tariff measures on imported automobiles, steel and aluminum, as well as its Section 232 investigation into imported pharmaceuticals, are typical manifestations of unilateralism and protectionism.

    Such actions not only harm the rights and interests of other countries and undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system, but also do not benefit the US’s own industry, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

    China calls on the US to end the Article 232 tariff measures as soon as possible and properly address the concerns of all parties concerned through equal dialogue, He Yongqian concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Drone as a Service Market Well Poised for Sustained Growth in Commercial, Industrial and Civic Usage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Industry experts are expecting the Drone Service market to flourish. One such report from FACT.MR projected that the drone services market is valued at USD 8.66 billion in 2025 and the industry will grow at a CAGR of 14.3% and reach USD 32.96 billion by 2035. The report said: “In 2024, the drone services industry recorded dynamic shifts fueled by regulatory clarity, commercial adoption, and end-user digitization efforts. Fact.MR analysis found that demand surged notably in the precision agriculture segment, particularly across North America and Western Europe, as growers adopted drone-based imaging and multispectral analysis to improve field-level decision-making. In the mining as well as construction sectors, companies increased use of aerial mapping, which provided real-time volumetric analysis as well as site safety compliance. At the same time, drone-enabled monitoring made substantial progress in city policing and border security, with large pilot schemes initiated in the Middle East and South Asia. Commercial media organizations, event producers, and property agents also ramped up drone-based photography as well as filming in anticipation of increasing visual content needs. These trends reinforced a larger move away from use-case limitations toward operational adoption across industries.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR).

    FACT.MR continued: “As the sector moves into 2025, the environment is on the cusp of increased scalability. Business drone fleets are moving from pilot to standard operations, particularly in logistics and asset inspection. Fact.MR indicates that increasing adoption of AI-driven navigation, enhanced battery density, and BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) capabilities will drastically enhance service accuracy and cost-effectiveness. Valued at USD 8.66 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 32.96 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 14.3%, the industry is well placed for sustained growth in industrial and civic usage. To stay ahead, companies must immediately pivot toward building integrated drone service platforms that combine AI-enabled flight autonomy, sector-specific analytics, and BVLOS capabilities. This intelligence highlights a shift from isolated deployments to enterprisescale drone ecosystems, requiring the client to reprioritize R&D toward modular, scalable solutions for logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Reports Nearly Double Revenue Year-Over-Year for the First Quarter of 2025 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces financial results for the first quarter 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights:

    • Total revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were $1.13 million, up 92% compared to $591,379 for the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth.
    • ZenaTech’s new Drone as a Service or DaaS segment grew from completing two acquisitions of land survey drone servicing companies ─ Oregon-based Weddle Surveying and Florida-based KJM Land Surveying. The Company also signed five LOIs (Letter of Intent) for additional acquisitions during the quarter.
    • The company acquired Othership, a UK workplace management software company supporting its enterprise SaaS software segment, where it plans to leverage workplace AI and quantum computing productivity solutions targeting business and government customers.
    • The company made investments in longer term growth and in new segment development that caused general and administrative expenses to increase to $5.75 million in Q1 2025 versus about $0.7 million in Q1 of 2024. This primarily consisted of sales and marketing activities, new hires, professional services, and finance expenses.
    • ZenaTech made investments in its subsidiary ZenaDrone’s UAE manufacturing capabilities during the quarter, including hiring 35 new engineers and technicians. Also announced was the opening of a drone testing facility in Turkey for beyond-the-line-of-sight drone testing.
    • Drone product highlights in Q1 include finalizing the third-generation design and “production model” of the ZenaDrone 1000 drone that will enable the start of scaling up of production. The company also announced the IQ Square drone has moved from prototype to manufacturing stage.
    • The commence of work on a heavy-lift gas-powered ZD 1000 model for longer fight times for US defense applications took place during the quarter. Testing also commenced on a new high-density drone battery and a proprietary communications system for this drone.
    • The company reported that ZenaDrone is preparing for Green UAS followed by Blue UAS certification required to sell to the US Military. Additionally, it is reviewing and putting in place cybersecurity practices, documentation, and internal controls necessary to apply for this certification.
    • ZenaTech further expanded its Taiwan drone component manufacturer─ Spider Vision Sensors, adding additional engineering and business development staff. It also announced the first Blue UAS-certifiable drone sensors are under development.

    “The first quarter of 2025 was a very strong and encouraging start to the year as revenue nearly doubled, up 92% primarily due to acquisitions and organic growth across both our software and drone segments,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. “During the first quarter we launched our Drone as a Service or DaaS business segment with a vision to have a national footprint in the US and globally.”

    “Although expenses increased during the first quarter, these are investments intended to grow the company over the long-term, namely in marketing, manufacturing, product development and testing capacity, which we believe will yield future rewards.

    “We believe that this quarter’s performance demonstrates that our strategy to disrupt legacy businesses like land surveys via a DaaS business model is on track. Our momentum is strong, and we are well positioned to expand our range of drone services with a pipeline of over 20 acquisitions over the next 12 months,” concluded Dr. Passley. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Exterior Building Power Washing to Dubai Tapping into a Global Drone Cleaning Services Market Growing to USD 13 Billion by 2030 – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announced it is expanding its United Arab Emirates (UAE) presence by establishing a new office to sell Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings based in Dubai. Initially this office will focus on delivering drone-powered cleaning services for building exteriors using the IQ Square drone tethered to a water pipe and electrical cord. The company is currently obtaining a permit from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to begin power wash testing and operations. Supporting this expansion, ZenaTech will hire two business development managers and up to four additional drone pilots, with drones supplied from its subsidiary ZenaDrone which has a manufacturing hub in nearby Sharjah.

    The global drone power washing market falls under a broader drone cleaning services market category that was valued at approximately USD 4.36 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 13.2 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 17% according to market analyst Valuates Reports , fueled by increasing demand for safe, efficient and cost-effective maintenance solutions.

    “With rising demand for tech-enabled and efficient maintenance solutions, whether for power washing buildings, renewable energy assets, or public spaces, we believe AI-powered drones will bring new safety standards, cost-efficiency, and greater environmental sustainability to maintenance tasks. UAE’s openness to innovative technology makes it an ideal launchpad for these DaaS solutions that we hope to expand to all seven emirates in addition to the US and Europe,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, recently provided an operating update and released financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The first quarter 2025 results filing is accessible on the Company’s investor relations website.

    Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said: “2025 is on pace to be a transformational year for Vertical as we advance our piloted flight test programme and move into the final flight test phases. With the announcement of our hybrid-electric programme – opening up new high-value markets – and the expansion of our partnership with Honeywell to certify critical flight systems, we are deepening our technical and commercial edge. With growing regulatory confidence in the VX4 and a strong team behind us, we’re well positioned to deliver a scalable, certifiable aircraft to the global market.”

    Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC) (“Unusual Machines” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of drone components, recently announced it will exhibit at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, the premier event for autonomy and uncrewed systems, taking place May 20-22, 2025, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

    Unusual Machines will host a booth on the expo floor, where the Company will feature its new U.S.-made FPV motors and its growing portfolio of Blue UAS Framework-approved drone components. These offerings underscore Unusual Machines’ commitment to delivering high-performance, NDAA-compliant drone technology for defense, commercial, and public safety applications.

    Attendees are invited to visit the booth for product demonstrations and to meet with representatives from Unusual Machines. The Company will be actively engaging with integrators, OEMs, and procurement professionals throughout the event and will be ready to take orders on-site.

    Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Jetson Orin generative AI computing modules into its 3D-perception system.

    Foresight is using Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson AGX Orin modules to improve the capabilities of its perception systems deployed in various use cases, with a major focus on autonomous drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    The Jetson modules, which are used in generative AI, computer vision and advanced robotics, upgrade Foresight’s vision system with the computing power needed for autonomous drones and UAVs, according to Foresight.

    Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) recently announced operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The Company issued a shareholder letter discussing those results, as well as its second quarter 2025 estimates.

    Commenting on first quarter 2025 results, Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO, said: “Archer’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and reshaping the future of aviation for years to come. This quarter, the team made strong progress across our civil and defense efforts as we continue to deepen our strategic partner relationships and prepare for commercialization in the UAE later this year.”

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    DISCLAIMER:  FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Congress began losing power decades ago − and now it’s giving away what remains to Trump

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charlie Hunt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

    Where did Congress go? Julia Nikhinson/Bloomberg Creative via Getty Images

    Republicans in Congress have been making behind-the-scenes efforts to pass major domestic legislation via the federal budget process. They include potential cuts to Medicaid and extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts.

    But even though it’s Congress’ job to pass a budget and set tax policy, most media outlets have been content to frame key elements of the legislation as being driven not by Congress but by the president.

    So the news media say that the purpose of the bill is to “deliver Trump’s agenda” or to pass the “Trump tax cuts.” Many have even adopted President Donald Trump’s trademark name for the legislation: his “big, beautiful bill.”

    Along with Casey Burgat and SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, I am co-author of a textbook titled “Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch.” In that book, it was important to us to highlight Congress’ clear role as the preeminent lawmaking body in the federal government.

    But since Trump’s inauguration, Congress has ceded huge swaths of its policymaking responsibility to the president. That makes the media’s focus on Trump unsurprising. And there’s no denying that Trump has had enormous impact during his first 100 days in office.

    During that time, Congress has been unwilling to assert itself as an equal branch of government. Beyond policymaking, Congress has been content to hand over many of its core constitutional powers to the executive branch. As a Congress expert who loves the institution and profoundly respects its constitutionally mandated role, this renunciation of responsibility has been difficult to watch.

    And yet, Congress’ path to irrelevance as a body of government did not begin in January 2025.

    It is the result of decades of erosion that created a political culture in which Congress, the first branch of government listed in the Constitution, is relegated to second-class status.

    President Donald Trump holds one of the many executive orders he has signed during his second term.
    Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images

    The Constitution puts Congress first

    The 18th-century framers of the Constitution viewed Congress as the foundation of republican governance, deliberately placing it first in Article 1 to underscore its primacy. Congress was assigned the pivotal tasks of lawmaking and budgeting because controlling government finances was seen as essential to limiting executive power and preventing abuses that the framers associated with monarchy.

    Alternatively, a weak legislature and an imperial executive were precisely what many of the founders feared. With legislative authority in the hands of Congress, power would at least be decentralized among a wide variety of elected leaders from different parts of the country, each of whom would jealously guard their own local interests.

    But Trump’s first 100 days turned the founders’ original vision on its head, leaving the “first branch” to play second fiddle.

    Like most recent presidents, Trump came in with his party in control of the presidency, the House and the Senate. Yet despite the lawmaking power that this governing trifecta can bring, the Republican majorities in Congress have mostly been irrelevant to Trump’s agenda.

    Instead, Congress has relied on Trump and the executive branch to make changes to federal policy and in many cases to reshape the federal government completely.

    Trump has signed more than 140 executive orders, a pace faster than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Republican Congress has shown little interest in pushing back on any of them. Trump has also aggressively reorganized, defunded or simply deleted entire agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

    These actions have been carried out even though Congress has a clear constitutional authority over the executive branch’s budget. Again, Congress has shown little to no interest in reasserting its power, even during recent budget talks.

    Many causes, no easy solutions

    Even so, Congress’ weakening did not begin with Trump. There’s no one culprit but instead a collection of factors that have provided the ineffectual Congress of today.

    One overriding factor is a process that has unfolded over the past 50 or more years called political nationalization. American politics have become increasingly centered on national issues, parties and figures rather than more local concerns or individuals.

    This shift has elevated the importance of the president as the symbolic and practical leader of a national party agenda. Simultaneously, it weakens the role of individual members of Congress, who are now more likely to toe the party line than represent local interests.

    A participant holds a sign during a GOP town hall meeting with U.S. Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy on March 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City.
    AP Photo/Rick Egan

    As a result, voters focus more on presidential elections and less on congressional ones, granting the president greater influence and diminishing Congress’ independent authority.

    The more Congress polarizes among its members on a party-line basis, the less the public is likely to trust the legitimacy of their opposition to a president. Instead, congressional pushback − sometimes as extreme as impeachment − can thus be written off not as principled or substantive but as partisan or politically motivated to a greater extent than ever before.

    Congress has also been been complicit in giving away its own power. Especially when dealing with a polarized Congress, presidents increasingly steer the ship in budget negotiations, which can lead to more local priorities – the ones Congress is supposed to represent – being ignored.

    But rather than Congress staking out positions for itself, as it often did through the turn of the 21st century, political science research has shown that presidential positions on domestic policy increasingly dictate – and polarize – Congress’ own positions on policy that hasn’t traditionally been divisive, such as funding support for NASA. Congress’ positions on procedural issues, such as raising the debt ceiling or eliminating the filibuster, also increasingly depend not on bedrock principles but on who occupies the White House.

    In the realm of foreign policy, Congress has all but abandoned its constitutional power to declare war, settling instead for “authorizations” of military force that the president wants to assert. These give the commander in chief wide latitude over war powers, and both Democratic and Republican presidents have been happy to retain that power. They have used these congressional approvals to engage in extended conflicts such as the Gulf War in the early 1990s and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan a decade later.

    What’s lost with a weak Congress

    Americans lose a lot when Congress hands over such drastic power to the executive branch.

    When individual members of Congress from across the country take a back seat, their districts’ distinctly local problems are less likely to be addressed with the power and resources that Congress can bring to an issue. Important local perspectives on national issues fail to be represented in Congress.

    Even members of the same political party represent districts with vastly different economies, demographics and geography. Members are supposed to keep this in mind when legislating on these issues, but presidential control over the process makes that difficult or even impossible.

    Maybe more importantly, a weak Congress paired with what historian Arthur Schlesinger called the “Imperial Presidency” is a recipe for an unaccountable president, running wild without the constitutionally provided oversight and checks on power that the founders provided to the people through their representation by the first branch of government.

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

    ref. Congress began losing power decades ago − and now it’s giving away what remains to Trump – https://theconversation.com/congress-began-losing-power-decades-ago-and-now-its-giving-away-what-remains-to-trump-254984

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: Beeline Appoints Veteran Public Company Executive Frank Knuettel II to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Providence, RI, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beeline Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLNE), a next-generation digital mortgage lender focused on transforming real estate investment financing, today announced the appointment of Frank Knuettel II to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

    Mr. Knuettel brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience across dynamic, early-stage public companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Channel Therapeutics Corporation since 2023, having started as CFO in 2022. Known for his operational discipline and M&A acumen, Mr. Knuettel has helped companies scale aggressively, including spearheading a revenue expansion at Unrivaled Brands from $10 million to $100 million annualized in just six quarters through strategic acquisitions.

    “Frank’s addition to the board marks a pivotal moment in Beeline’s growth story,” said Nick Liuzza, CEO of Beeline. “His deep capital markets knowledge, proven ability to lead and scale businesses, and transactional experience across more than 15 M&A deals will be invaluable as we expand our footprint and product offerings in the investment lending market.”

    Throughout his career, Mr. Knuettel has raised over $400 million in public and private capital and has held leadership roles at multiple high-growth companies, including CFO of IP Commerce, a fintech platform provider, and Chief Strategy Officer at MJardin Group. He currently serves on the board of Etheros Pharmaceuticals Corp. and has held board seats at both public and private companies.

    Mr. Knuettel holds a BA with honors in Economics from Tufts University and earned his MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

    “I’m excited to join the Beeline board at such a dynamic time,” said Mr. Knuettel. “The company’s technology-driven approach to simplifying investment property financing has significant potential, and I look forward to supporting the team as they execute on their ambitious vision.”

    About Beeline Beeline Financial Holdings, Inc. is a trailblazing mortgage fintech transforming the way people access property financing. Through its fully digital, AI-powered platform, Beeline delivers a faster, smarter path to home loans—whether for primary residences or investment properties. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Beeline is reshaping mortgage origination with speed, simplicity, and transparency at its core. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Beeline Holdings and also operates Beeline Labs, its innovation arm focused on next-generation lending solutions.

    Contact: 
    ir@makeabeeline.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Moore & Giles Elevates Customer Experience and Brand Agility with BigCommerce

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), an open SaaS, composable ecommerce platform for fast-growing and established B2C and B2B brands and retailers, today announced that Moore & Giles, a leading global leather supplier through Moore & Giles Leather and a purveyor of refined leather bags, accessories, home goods and furniture via Moore & Giles, has launched new websites on the BigCommerce platform. The innovative new online storefronts elevate Moore & Giles’ digital presence with a scalable, high-performance platform that reflects the brand’s dedication to quality, craftsmanship and customer experience.

    Built on BigCommerce’s flexible Stencil framework and in partnership with Zaelab, a leading digital commerce consultancy, the new DTC and B2B storefronts deliver the freedom and control Moore & Giles needed to execute bold marketing and merchandising strategies. The result is a refined, high-performance experience that enhances the company’s ability to manage and scale its digital presence, while staying true to its values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation.

    “BigCommerce and Zaelab helped us build a modern, flexible foundation that not only works better for our team, but also elevates the shopping experience for our customers—whether they’re ordering leather samples or shopping for a weekend bag,” said Janine Coleman, ecommerce manager at Moore & Giles. “With a scalable, easy-to-manage solution, our team can execute marketing and merchandising strategies more effectively than ever before.”

    “Moore & Giles turned to Zaelab to bring their legacy of craftsmanship to life through a digital experience that’s as refined, adaptable, and forward-thinking as their brand,” said Joey Hoer, business systems analyst at Zaelab. “The Moore & Giles theme is a testament to what’s possible on BigCommerce and proof that BigCommerce can power visually rich, brand-authentic experiences without compromising flexibility or maintainability. By replatforming to BigCommerce and delivering a fully customizable theme, we’ve transformed how they manage content and design. The result is a powerful yet intuitive theme that supports two distinct storefronts, each tailored to unique audiences, all within a unified, flexible design system that’s easy to update and cost-effective to maintain.”

    The new implementation supports both Moore & Giles’ consumer-facing DTC and B2B websites with a unified theme. Both the DTC and B2B sites feature ERP and PIM integrations, implemented by Shout it Louder, to ensure real-time syncing of product, pricing and inventory data and accuracy across the sites, reducing manual effort and improving operational efficiency. The B2B infrastructure is designed to deliver a tailored, immersive experience for wholesale buyers while preserving brand consistency across both digital storefronts.

    The robust ecommerce foundation for Moore & Giles’ DTC site accommodates three distinct product categories – Finished Goods, Furniture and Wholesale Leather – each with a shopping experience customized to its audience. To enhance product discovery and customer engagement, the new theme includes:

    • 360° Product Viewer powered by Cylindo for real-time leather and color configuration
    • Dynamic Product Badging for attributes like “Pre-Order” and “Limited Edition”
    • Interactive Product Cards with rollover images and variant swatches
    • Enhanced Filtering for Furniture (e.g., “Made to Order” vs. “Ready to Ship”)
    • Seamless Monogramming with automatic price calculations
    • Filterable Variants and default variant logic by category

    Moore & Giles’ B2B storefront streamlines sample ordering for trade professionals, functioning as both a self-service resource and a tool for sales reps to offer tailored support. The experience is designed to enhance efficiency and maintain consistency across all interactions. Key features include:

    • Find a Rep Tool: API-powered functionality that connects buyers with their dedicated sales representative for personalized support and streamlined communication.
    • Gated Content by Customer Group: Logged-in users are shown custom product assortments, pricing, and promotions based on their account profile, ensuring a curated and relevant experience.
    • Variant Listing Pages: A grid-style layout that mimics category pages, allowing buyers to easily browse, compare, and bulk-add multiple SKUs—ideal for ordering leather samples in volume.
    • Product Comparison Tool: Enables side-by-side evaluation of wholesale leather options, helping B2B buyers make informed purchasing decisions.

    Behind the scenes, the Moore & Giles marketing team benefits from a highly agile content management setup. With over 30 custom widgets, drag-and-drop functionality through Page Builder and JSON-powered modules, the team can launch campaigns, adjust layouts and update content without developer involvement, dramatically reducing time to market.

    Since launching the new site, Moore & Giles has already seen measurable improvements in design flexibility, site speed and overall performance. By leveraging native BigCommerce functionality such as metafields and the GraphQL API, the company has established a future-ready ecommerce presence built for continued growth.

    “Moore & Giles exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking brand we love to support,” said Al Williams, general manager of B2C at BigCommerce. “By embracing the flexibility and scalability of our platform for both DTC and B2B, they’ve been able to deliver a beautifully branded shopping experience for customers and wholesalers while improving operational efficiency and enabling their team to act faster to support all of their customers. It’s a great example of what’s possible with BigCommerce.”

    Moore & Giles was recently honored as the recipient of BigCommerce’s 2025 Shopper Experience Award in the Americas region, acknowledging exceptional customer and user experiences that set new standards.

    Moore & Giles joins a growing list of fashion and apparel brands on BigCommerce, including Saddleback Leather Company, AS Colour and Grenson.

    About BigCommerce
    BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated professional-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact:
    Brad Hem
    pr@bigcommerce.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Partisia and Trust Stamp partner to make digital IDs safer and more private by securely linking them to unique biometrics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Copenhagen, Denmark, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trust Stamp (Nasdaq: IDAI), the Privacy-First Identity Company™ today announced a strategic partnership with fellow deep tech innovator Partisia. In a major step toward strengthening digital security and privacy, the two companies will collaborate to develop a more accessible and resilient solution for biometric holder binding. This partnership aims to deliver a foundational technology for reliably and securely verifying identity across a broad range of digital platforms.

    By combining Trust Stamp’s trusted biometric technology with Partisia’s proven Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and platform for privacy-preserving data solutions the two companies are providing the digital identity and cybersecurity industry with a simplified, privacy-centric solution for securely linking digital credentials to an individual’s unique biometric data. This approach guarantees that only the legitimate owner can use the credential, without ever exposing sensitive personal information.

    Unlike traditional methods, this joint solution places user privacy at the center by ensuring that biometric data remains within the user’s control. Trust Stamp eliminates the need for traditional templates or centralized databases by transforming live biometric input into a secure, non-reversible representation. This allows users’ identities to be established cryptographically without exposing their privacy—without storing sensitive biometric data or cryptographic keys. Paired with Partisia’s MPC architecture, the result is a seamless, privacy-first identity solution built to prevent unauthorized access and eliminate single points of failure.

    A key aspect of this partnership is the leverage of GODS (Global Omnichain Data Service) Network, which enables trustworthy representation of data across networks and web3 in general. Utilizing GODS network streamlines the adoption of this approach across diverse ecosystems – including finance, digital services, government, and Web3 platforms. The interoperable credential format allows for the reuse of a verified and bound identity across multiple platforms, eliminating repetitive onboarding processes and the unnecessary exposure of personal data.

    “Our collaboration is about accelerating the industry’s progress toward delivering the ease users expect—while enabling a secure, reusable identity across platforms. It’s a step toward a future where seamless login replaces repetitive onboarding and protects personal data,” Jonathan Patscheider, Vice President at Trust Stamp says. “By joining forces with Partisia, we are making it easier for organizations to adopt best-in-class privacy-first technologies without compromising performance or user experience.”

    Mark Medum Bundgaard, Chief Product Officer at Partisia, adds: “Biometric holder binding is fundamental to establishing trust in digital identity. Our work with Trust Stamp makes this trust more accessible, demonstrating that robust privacy standards and ease of use can coexist in harmony. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to delivering tools that empower users, protect their data, and ensure broad interoperability across digital landscapes.”

    For sectors facing increasing pressure to modernize their identity systems, particularly in banking and other regulated industries, Trust Stamp and Partisia aim to introduce a unified solution, leveraging advanced biometric authentication and decentralized technology to streamline onboarding, mitigate fraud risks, and ensure compliance across sectors like finance, healthcare, and government services. The combination of a privacy-first biometric identity verification together with secure authentication mechanisms, offers a forward-looking approach to identity authentication

    Together, Trust Stamp and Partisia are building a digital identity ecosystem where individuals can prove who they are without giving up control of their personal information, and where credentials stay securely linked to the unique person they belong to.

    About Partisia.com:

    At Partisia, we’re pioneering digital trust for today’s data-sensitive world. Imagine seamless collaboration, breakthrough innovation, and a real competitive edge – all achieved without ever compromising your valuable data. Our advanced Multi-Party Computation technology, a cornerstone of everything Partisia does, makes this powerful vision a tangible reality. We cut through complex data silos and navigate stringent compliance effortlessly, empowering your organization to unlock crucial insights and forge strategic partnerships with absolute confidentiality and unwavering security. At Partisia we’re building a future where data privacy fuels progress, not hinders it.

    About Trust Stamp:

    Trust Stamp is a global provider of AI-powered services for use in multiple sectors including banking and finance, regulatory compliance, government, healthcare, real estate, communications, and humanitarian services. Its technology empowers organizations via advanced solutions that reduce fraud, tokenize and secure data, securely authenticate users while protecting personal privacy, reduce friction in digital transactions, and increase operational efficiency, enabling customers to accelerate secure financial inclusion and reach and serve a broader base of users worldwide.

    With team members from twenty-two nationalities in eight countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, Trust Stamp trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market (Nasdaq: IDAI).

    Safe Harbor Statement: Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Remarks
    All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The information in this announcement may contain forward-looking statements and information related to, among other things, the company, its business plan and strategy, and its industry. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events-based information currently available and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The company does not undertake any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    Business enquiries:

    Partisia:
    Name: Line Stephansen, Senior Business Developer
    Mail: ls@partisia.com

    Trust Stamp:
    Name: Jonathan Patscheider
    Mail: jpatscheider@truststamp.net

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bitdeer Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) (“Bitdeer” or the “Company”), a world-leading technology company for Bitcoin mining, today released its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Q1 2025 Financial Highlights
    All amounts compared to Q1 2024 unless otherwise noted

    • Total revenue was US$70.1 million vs. US$119.5 million.
    • Cost of revenue was US$73.4 million vs. US$85.4 million.
    • Gross profit was negative US$3.2 million vs. positive US$34.1 million.
    • Net income was US$409.5 million vs. US$0.6 million.
    • Adjusted EBITDA1 was negative US$56.1 million, vs. positive US$27.32 million.
    • Cash and cash equivalents were US$215.6 million as of March 31, 2025.
    • Crypto balance: US$131.1 million as of March 31, 2025.

    Management Commentary

    “This quarter marked the continued execution of our SEALMINER roadmap,” said Matt Kong, Chief Business Officer at Bitdeer. “We have energized 3.7 EH/s and 0.5 EH/s of SEALMINER A1 and SEALMINER A2, respectively, bringing our self-mining hashrate to 12.4 EH/s by the end of April. With our SEALMINER mining rigs quickly coming off the production line and ample global power capacity available, we expect to achieve rapid growth in our self-mining hashrate towards our 40 EH/s target by October 2025. Looking ahead, our R&D efforts are now focused on our SEALMINER A4 project, for which we are targeting an unprecedent chip efficiency of approximately 5 J/TH at the chip level. We believe this new chip design will revolutionize the way Bitcoin mining ASICs are made in the future and tape-out is on track for Q4 2025. We believe SEALMINER A4, along with our 3rd generation chip, will position Bitdeer as the leading supplier of the world’s most energy efficient mining rigs.”

    Mr. Kong concluded, “On the energy front, construction of our global power infrastructure remains on schedule. We expect to have nearly 1.6 GW of available global power capacity by the end of Q2 2025 and 1.8 GW by year-end. As part of our HPC/AI initiative, we engaged Northland Capital Markets in March to serve as our financial advisor for the development of our HPC/AI data center strategy. We have advanced our discussions with development partners and potential end users regarding selected large-scale sites in the U.S. targeted for HPC and AI cloud infrastructure.”

    Operational Summary

    Metrics Three Months Ended Mar 31
      2025 2024
    Total hash rate under management (EH/s) 24.2 22.5
    – Proprietary hash rate 12.1 8.4
    – Self-mining 11.5 6.7
    – Cloud Hash Rate 1.7
    – Delivered but not yet hashing 0.6
    – Hosting 12.1 14.1
    Mining rigs under management 175,000 226,000
    – Self-owned 97,000 86,000
    – Hosted 78,000 140,000
    Bitcoin mined (self-mining only) 350 911
    Bitcoins held 1,156 58
    Total power usage (MWh) 881,000 1,361,000
    Average cost of electricity ($/MWh) 48 43
    Average miner efficiency (J/TH) 29.0 31.7
     

    Power Infrastructure Summary (as of April 30, 2025)

    Site / Location Capacity (MW) Status Timing3
    Electrical capacity      
    – Rockdale, Texas 563 Online Completed
    – Knoxville, Tennessee 86 Online Completed
    – Wenatchee, Washington 13 Online Completed
    – Molde, Norway 84 Online Completed
    – Tydal, Norway 120 Online Completed
    – Gedu, Bhutan 100 Online Completed
    – Jigmeling, Bhutan 132 Online Completed
    Total electrical capacity 1,098    
    Pipeline capacity      
    – Tydal, Norway Phase 2 105 In progress Q2 2025
    – Massillon, Ohio 221 In progress Q3-Q4 2025
    – Clarington, Ohio Phase 1 266 Paused TBD
    – Clarington, Ohio Phase 2 304 Pending approval TBD
    – Jigmeling, Bhutan 368 In progress Q2 2025
    – Rockdale, Texas 179 In planning Estimate 2026
    – Alberta, Canada 99 In planning Q4 2026
    – Oromia Region, Ethiopia 50 In planning Q4 2025
    Total pipeline capacity 1,592    
    Total global electrical capacity 2,690    
     

    Financial MD&A
    All variances are current quarter compared to the same quarter last year. All figures in this section are rounded4.

    Q1 2025 High-Level P&L and Disaggregated Revenue Details:

    US $ in millions Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Total revenue 70.1 69.0 119.5
    Cost of revenue (73.4) (63.9) (85.4)
    Gross profit/(loss) (3.2) 5.1 34.1
    Net profit/(loss) 409.5 (531.9) 0.6
    Adjusted EBITDA (56.1) (3.8) 27.32
    Cash and cash equivalents 215.6 476.3 118.5
    US $ in millions Three Months Ended Mar 31, 2025
    Business lines Self-Mining Cloud Hash Rate General Hosting Membership Hosting Sales of SEALMINERs
    Revenue 37.2 0.1 9.6 16.3 4.1
    Cost of revenue          
     – Electricity cost in operating mining rigs (24.0) (6.8) (11.4)
     – Depreciation and SBC expenses (13.7) (0.1) (1.5) (2.6)
     – Cost of products sold (3.3)
     – Other cash costs (3.4) (0.9) (1.5)
    Total cost of revenue (41.0) (0.1) (9.1) (15.4) (3.3)
    Gross profit/(loss) (3.8) 0.5 0.9 0.8
    US $ in millions Three Months Ended Mar 31, 2024
    Business lines Self-Mining Cloud Hash Rate General Hosting Membership Hosting Sales of SEALMINERs
    Revenue 48.4 18.1 29.0 19.5
    Cost of revenue          
     – Electricity cost in operating mining rigs (26.2) (5.3) (14.0) (13.1)
     – Depreciation and SBC expenses (8.7) (3.2) (3.0) (2.0)
     – Other cash costs (2.7) (1.0) (1.6) (1.1)
    Total cost of revenue (37.6) (9.6) (18.6) (16.2)
    Gross profit 10.8 8.5 10.3 3.2
     

    Q1 2025 Management’s Discussion and Analysis (compared to Q1 2024)

    Revenue

    • Total revenue was US$70.1 million vs. US$119.5 million.
    • Self-mining revenue was US$37.2 million vs. US$48.4 million, primarily due to the effect of the April 2024 halving and higher global network hashrate, partially offset by the increase in the average self-mining hashrate for the quarter by 44.8% to 9.7 EH/s from 6.7 EH/s last year and higher year-over-year Bitcoin prices.
    • Cloud Hash Rate revenue was US$0.1 million vs. US$18.1 million. The decline was primarily due to expiration of long-term Cloud Hashrate contracts and subsequent reallocation of nearly all machines to self-mining operations by the end of 2024.
    • General Hosting revenue was US$9.6 million vs. US$29.0 million. The decline was primarily due to the expiration of certain hosting customer contracts as well as the removal of older and less efficient machines by other hosting customers following the April 2024 halving as a result of reduced mining economics.
    • Membership Hosting revenue was US$16.3 million vs. US$19.5 million. Similar to general hosting, the decline was primarily driven by customers scaling down operations for older and less efficient rigs following the April 2024 halving as a result of reduced mining economics.
    • SEALMINER sales revenue was US$4.1 million.

    Cost of Revenue

    • Cost of revenue was US$73.4 million vs US$85.4 million. The decrease was primarily driven by lower power usage from hosted mining rigs, partially offset by the increase in costs of SEALMINERs sold to customers and depreciation expenses for SEALMINER launched in our datacenters during Q1 2025.

    Gross Profit and Margin

    • Gross profit was negative US$3.2 million vs. positive US$34.1 million.
    • Gross margin was -4.6% vs. 28.6%.

    Operating Expenses

    • The sum of the operating expenses below was US$75.8 million vs. US$37.8 million.
      • Selling expenses were US$1.4 million vs. US$1.7 million, about flat year-over-year.
      • General and administrative expenses were US$15.4 million vs. US$15.0 million, about flat year-over-year.
      • Research and development expenses were US$59.0 million vs. US$21.2 million, primarily due to higher R&D costs related to the one-off development and tape out costs of SEAL03 chip, higher engineering costs related to the Company’s ASIC development roadmap, and non-cash amortization expenses of intangible assets related to the acquisition of FreeChain in Q4 2024.

    Other Net Gain

    • Other net gain was US$503.1 million primarily due to the non-cash, fair value changes of derivative liabilities, which were the US$448.7 million of gain on fair value changes for the convertible notes issued in August 2024 and November 2024 and the US$58.4 million of gain on fair value changes for the Tether warrants. 

    Net Income

    • Net income was US$409.5 million vs. US$0.6 million.

    Adjusted Profit / (Loss) (Non-IFRS)5

    • Adjusted loss was US$89.8 million vs. adjusted profit of US$9.72 million. The change was primarily due to the year-over-year revenue decline, lower gross profit margins and higher R&D expenses as described above.

    Adjusted EBITDA (Non-IFRS)

    • Adjusted EBITDA was negative US$56.1 million vs. positive US$27.32 million. The decrease was primarily due to the year-over-year revenue decline, lower gross profit margins as a result of the halving and higher R&D expenses as described above.

    Cash Flows

    • Net cash used in operating activities was US$284.0 million, primarily driven by working capital payments to suppliers for SEALMINER mass production.
    • Net cash used in investing activities was US$73.6 million, which included US$45.7 million of capital expenditures for infrastructure construction and mining rigs, US$18.2 million for the purchase of cryptocurrencies, US$21.9 million to acquire the site and gas-fired power project in Alberta, and US$12.3 million of proceeds from disposal of cryptocurrencies from principal business.
    • Net cash generated from financing activities was US$94.9 million, primarily driven by US$118.4 million net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares and partially offset by US$21.0 million used for share repurchases.

    Capex

    • 2025 power and datacenter infrastructure capex lowered to be in the range of US$260 to US$290 million from prior guidance of US$340 to US$370 million primarily due to the pause of bitcoin-mining infrastructure construction at Bitdeer’s Clarington, Ohio site due to advancing discussions with development partners and potential end users for HPC/AI. This updated range includes reported infrastructure capex in Q1.

    Balance Sheet
    As of March 31, 2025 unless stated otherwise (compared to December 31, 2024)

    • US$215.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, US$131.1 million in cryptocurrencies and US$215.4 million in borrowing.
    • US$381.7 million prepayments and other assets, up from US$310.2 million. Change primarily driven by advanced payments to suppliers for SEALMINER mass volume production.
    • US$153.7 million inventories, up from US$64.9 million. Increase driven by wafers, chips, WIP and finished SEALMINER inventory.
    • US$256.8 million derivative liabilities mainly due to the issuance of warrants to Tether, and convertible senior notes issued in August 2024 and November 2024.

    Further information regarding the Company’s first quarter 2025 financial and operations results can be found on the SEC’s website https://sec.gov and the Company’s Investor Relations website https://ir.bitdeer.com.

    About Bitdeer Technologies Group
    Bitdeer is a world-leading technology company for Bitcoin mining. Bitdeer is committed to providing comprehensive Bitcoin mining solutions for its customers. The Company handles complex processes involved in computing such as equipment procurement, transport logistics, datacenter design and construction, equipment management and daily operations. The Company also offers advanced cloud capabilities to customers with high demand for artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitdeer has deployed datacenters in the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. To learn more, please visit https://ir.bitdeer.com/ or follow Bitdeer on X @BitdeerOfficial and LinkedIn @ Bitdeer Group.

    Investors and others should note that Bitdeer may announce material information using its website and/or on its accounts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Therefore, Bitdeer encourages investors and others to review the information it posts on the social media and other communication channels listed on its website.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “look forward to,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bitdeer’s annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Bitdeer’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Bitdeer specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward- looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.

    BITDEER GROUP UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
           
      As of March 31,   As of December 31,
    (US $ in thousands) 2025   2024
    ASSETS      
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 215,642     476,270  
    Restricted cash 12,107     9,144  
    Cryptocurrencies 131,144     77,537  
    Trade receivables 10,263     9,627  
    Amounts due from a related party 15,810     15,512  
    Prepayments and other assets 335,071     291,929  
    Inventories 153,740     64,888  
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 4,540     4,540  
    Total current assets  878,317     949,447  
           
    Non-current assets      
    Restricted cash 5,906     8,212  
    Prepayments and other assets 46,652     18,244  
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 35,428     37,981  
    Mining rigs 101,581     67,324  
    Right-of-use assets 75,338     69,273  
    Property, plant and equipment 302,210     251,377  
    Investment properties 30,529     30,723  
    Intangible assets 78,303     83,235  
    Goodwill 35,818     35,818  
    Deferred tax assets 8,543     6,220  
    Total non-current assets  720,308     608,407  
    TOTAL ASSETS  1,598,625     1,557,854  
           
    LIABILITIES      
    Current liabilities      
    Trade payables 50,729     31,471  
    Other payables and accruals 38,098     40,617  
    Amounts due to a related party 7,788     8,747  
    Income tax payables 2,437     2,729  
    Derivative liabilities 256,775     763,939  
    Deferred revenue 61,016     39,029  
    Borrowings 215,436     208,127  
    Lease liabilities 6,895     5,460  
    Total current liabilities  639,174     1,100,119  
           
    Non-current liabilities      
    Other payables and accruals 1,786     1,650  
    Deferred revenue 68,449     90,200  
    Lease liabilities 78,846     72,673  
    Deferred tax liabilities 15,721     16,614  
    Total non-current liabilities 164,802     181,137  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES  803,976     1,281,256  
           
    NET ASSETS  794,649     276,598  
           
    EQUITY      
    Share capital *   *
    Treasury equity (181,065 )   (160,926 )
    Accumulated deficit (239,531 )   (649,004 )
    Reserves 1,215,245     1,086,528  
    TOTAL EQUITY 794,649     276,598  
     

    * Amount less than US$1,000

    BITDEER GROUP UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
           
       Three months ended March 31, 
    (US $ in thousands) 2025   2024
           
    Revenue 70,128     119,506  
    Cost of revenue (73,353 )   (85,375 )
    Gross profit / (loss) (3,225 )   34,131  
    Selling expenses (1,393 )   (1,690 )
    General and administrative expenses (15,389 )   (14,969 )
    Research and development expenses (59,014 )   (21,164 )
    Other operating income / (expenses) (7,789 )   1,746  
    Other net gain 503,050     2,447  
    Profit from operations 416,240     501  
    Finance income / (expenses) (9,343 )   151  
    Profit before taxation 406,897     652  
    Income tax benefit / (expenses) 2,576     (46 )
    Profit for the period 409,473     606  
    Other comprehensive income      
    Income for the period 409,473     606  
    Other comprehensive income for the period    
    Item that may be reclassified to profit or loss      
    Exchange differences on translation of financial statements 166     32  
    Other comprehensive income for the period, net of tax 166     32  
    Total comprehensive income for the period 409,639     638  
           
    Earnings / (loss) per share (in US$)      
    Basic 2.15     0.01  
    Diluted (0.37 )   0.01  
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding (thousand shares)
    Basic 190,199     114,843  
    Diluted 228,561     117,041  
               
    BITDEER GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
           
      Three months ended March 31,
    (US $ in thousands) 2025   2024
           
    Cash flows from operating activities      
    Cash used in operating activities: (280,889 )   (132,867 )
    Interest paid on leases (702 )   (652 )
    Interest paid on borrowings (4,493 )   (465 )
    Interest received 2,724     1,813  
    Income tax paid (628 )    
    Net cash used in operating activities  (283,988 )   (132,171 )
           
    Cash flows from investing activities      
    Purchase of property, plant and equipment, investment properties and intangible assets (44,770 )   (29,615 )
    Purchase of mining rigs (955 )   (1,560 )
    Purchase of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (132 )   (992 )
    Purchase of cryptocurrencies (18,159 )    
    Proceeds from disposal of cryptocurrencies 12,283     90,380  
    Cash paid for the site and gas-fired power project in Alberta, Canada (21,870 )    
    Net cash generated from / (used in) investing activities  (73,603 )   58,213  
           
    Cash flows from financing activities      
    Capital element of lease rentals paid (1,942 )   (1,338 )
    Proceeds from issuance of shares for exercise of share rewards 530     37  
    Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares, net of transaction costs 118,403     49,931  
    Payment for the future issuance cost     (303 )
    Acquisition of treasury shares (21,010 )    
    Payment for transaction costs in connection with convertible senior notes (1,119 )    
    Net cash generated from financing activities  94,862     48,327  
           
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (262,729 )   (25,631 )
    Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 476,270     144,729  
    Effect of movements in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents held 2,101     (637 )
    Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 215,642     118,461  
     

    Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures
    In evaluating the Company’s business, the Company considers and uses non-IFRS measures, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted profit / (loss), as supplemental measures to review and assess its operating performance. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude share-based payment expenses under IFRS 2, changes in fair value of derivative liabilities, and changes in fair value of cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables, and defines adjusted profit/(loss) as profit/(loss) adjusted to exclude share-based payment expenses under IFRS 2, changes in fair value of derivative liabilities, and changes in fair value of cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables.

    The Company presents these non-IFRS financial measures because they are used by its management to evaluate its operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company also believes that the use of these non-IFRS measures facilitate investors’ assessment of its operating performance. These measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, investors should not consider these measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, the Company’s profit or loss for the periods, as determined in accordance with IFRS. The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling these non-IFRS financial measures to the nearest IFRS performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating its performance. The Company encourages investors to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

    The following table presents a reconciliation of profit/(loss) for the relevant period to adjusted EBITDA and adjusted profit/ (loss), for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

    BITDEER GROUP UNAUDITED NON-IFRS ADJUSTED EBITDA AND ADJUSTED PROFIT / (LOSS) RECONCILIATION
           
      Three months ended March 31,
    (US $ in thousands) 2025   2024
    Adjusted EBITDA      
    Profit for the period 409,473     606  
    Add      
    Depreciation and amortization 25,387     18,187  
    Income tax (benefit) / expenses (2,576 )   46  
    Interest (income) / expense, net 10,880     (608 )
    Share-based payment expenses 10,404     7,803  
    Changes in fair value of derivative liabilities (507,162 )    
    Changes in fair value of cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables (2,551 )   1,305  
    Total of Adjusted EBITDA (56,145 )   27,3392  
           
    Adjusted Profit / (loss)      
    Profit for the period 409,473     606  
    Add      
    Share-based payment expenses 10,404     7,803  
    Changes in fair value of derivative liabilities (507,162 )    
    Changes in fair value of cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables (2,551 )   1,305  
    Total of Adjusted Profit / (loss) (89,836 )   9,7142  
     

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations
    Yujia Zhai
    Orange Group
    bitdeerIR@orangegroupadvisors.com

    Public Relations
    Nishant Sharma
    BlocksBridge Consulting
    bitdeer@blocksbridge.com

    ____________________________
    1
    “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude share-based payment expenses under IFRS 2, changes in fair value of derivative liabilities, and changes in fair value of cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables.
    2 During the current period, we revised definition of our previously reported non-IFRS Adjusted Profit and Adjusted EBITDA and recast the prior period for comparability. This revision, which resulted in a US$1.3 million revision to Q1 2024 metrics, reflects non-cash fair value changes in cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables as they do not represent normal operating expenses (or income) necessary to operate our business.
    3 Indicative timing. All timing references are to calendar quarters and years.
    4 Figures may not add due to rounding.
    5 “Adjusted profit/(loss)” is defined as profit/(loss) adjusted to exclude share-based payment expenses under IFRS 2, changes in fair value of derivative liabilities, and changes in fair value of cryptocurrency-settled receivables and payables.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Next Hydrogen Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. (the “Company” or “Next Hydrogen”) (TSXV:NXH, OTC:NXHSF), a designer and manufacturer of electrolyzers, is pleased to report its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025.

    “The value proposition offered by our unique water electrolyzers is clear and well supported by over 40,000 hours of data. This has resulted in partnerships with blue chip industry partners such as Casale, GE Vernova and Pratt & Whitney,” said Raveel Afzaal, President & CEO. “The focus for 2025 is to (1) scale up our product line up to 8MW, (2) demonstrate a strong execution pathway for large volume manufacturing, and (3) show further and significant growth in our sales backlog. We are executing well on all three of these goals which should unlock long-term funding solutions for Next Hydrogen.”  

    Q1 2025 Financial Highlights

    • Cash balance was $1.5M as of March 31, 2025, compared to $3.5M as of December 31, 2024.
    • Revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 was $0.3M compared to $0.6M in the same period of the prior year.
    • Net loss and comprehensive loss for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 was $3M compared to $3.4M in the same period of the prior year.

    Management is proud to highlight several recent milestones that demonstrate significant recent progress:

    • In April 2025, Next Hydrogen received a $5M working capital debt facility from the Export Development Canada (“EDC”), of which approximately $3M has been received in cash and the remaining $2M is expected later in the year. Next Hydrogen intends to use the funds for its scale up and general corporate purposes.
    • Next Hydrogen has achieved over 40,000 hours of data on its test platform driving the significant improvement in cell performance achieved to date.
    • In March 2025, Next Hydrogen partnered with a leading hydrogen production system manufacturer with an existing gigawatt scale manufacturing facility to accelerate the scale-up and commercialization of its water electrolysis technology. This partnership provides Next Hydrogen with world-leading manufacturing capacity and competitively positions it to bid on large-scale projects globally starting in 2026. Next Hydrogen will continue to maintain control over intellectual property and electrolyzer design. The Company also aims to further expand its Canadian operations to ensure flexible supply chain and production that aligns with evolving clean energy policies, driving global green hydrogen adoption.
    • In March 2025, Next Hydrogen received ISO 9001-2015 and ISO 45001-2018 certifications for its 6610 Edwards Boulevard site in Mississauga, Canada. This demonstrates and certifies Next Hydrogen’s standardized quality systems, health and safety management systems, supplier selection processes, and continuous improvement processes. These certifications show that the Company has an efficient operating system capable of scaling to support its expanding customer base.
    • In March 2025, the Company appointed Adarsh Mehta to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”). Ms. Mehta filled the vacancy on the Board resulting from the resignation of Mr. Matthew Fairlie, who resigned from the Board effective January 15, 2025. Ms. Mehta is VP of Business Development at Jenner Renewable Consulting, with 22 years of experience in renewable energy, leading technical reviews, due diligence, and development for over 2,500MW of wind and solar projects in the Americas. She served on the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s Board from 2008 to 2015 and was Chairperson in 2011. Her extensive expertise in renewable energy and project development is crucial for the Company’s growth.
    • As of December 2024, the Company closed a private placement offering (the “Offering”) and received unsecured convertible debentures (each, a “Debenture”) consisting of about $2.7M principal amount of Debentures. Next Hydrogen intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to invest in its scale-up efforts and for general corporate purposes.
    • In November 2024, Next Hydrogen and Pratt & Whitney announced a collaboration to demonstrate the use of hydrogen in aircraft engines as an enabler for reducing CO2 emissions. This project is partially funded by Canada’s Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (“INSAT”) and will accelerate the Company’s efforts towards high efficiency, low-cost electrolyzers which are needed for establishing hydrogen production infrastructure for aviation fuel.
    • In October 2024, the Company successfully completed a durability test of its second-generation water electrolyzer technology (“GEN2”) electrolysis cells used in the efficient production of green hydrogen. The GEN2 cells will be deployed in Next Hydrogen electrolyzers at customer sites for commercial operation. Next Hydrogen previously reported that it has achieved its energy efficiency targets cell performance of 1.90 V/cell at 1 A/cm2 and 70°C for its GEN2 water electrolyzer technology which exceeded the reported US Department of Energy (“DOE”) technical targets status for energy efficiency. The GEN2 performance achievement has positioned the Company to being the industry leader in electrolysis cell performance.
    • In September 2024, the Company successfully completed an extended Factory Acceptance Test for its GEN2 electrolysis cells. The Company plans to commission the system at an external reference site for market demonstration in 2025.
    • In August 2024, the Company was awarded a contract by the University of Minnesota (“UMN”) for its latest generation electrolysis technology to be installed at the UMN West Central Research and Outreach Center (“WCROC”). The WCROC project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency (“ARPA-E”) as well as other partners including RTI International (“RTI”) and will include technologies from Casale SA, RTI, UMN, Nutrien and Shell to demonstrate the production of ammonia from renewable energy targeting emerging energy markets and existing agricultural markets. Next Hydrogen will be supplying its latest third-generation Alkaline Water Electrolyzers featuring further advancements in energy efficiency, current density and operating pressure.

    For a more detailed discussion of Next Hydrogen’s first quarter results, please see the Company’s financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis, which are available on the Company’s website at nexthydrogen.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    In addition, to better understand our achievements from 2024 and the outlook for 2025, please refer to the CEO letter included in the 2024 year-end MD&A.

    About Next Hydrogen

    Founded in 2007, Next Hydrogen is a designer and manufacturer of electrolyzers that use water and electricity as inputs to generate clean hydrogen for use as an energy source. Next Hydrogen’s unique cell design architecture supported by 40 patents enables high current density operations and superior dynamic response to efficiently convert intermittent renewable electricity into green hydrogen on an infrastructure scale. Following successful pilots, Next Hydrogen is scaling up its technology to deliver commercial solutions to decarbonize industrial and transportation sectors.

    Contact Information

    Raveel Afzaal, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc.
    Email: rafzaal@nexthydrogen.com
    Phone: 647-961-6620

    www.nexthydrogen.com

    Cautionary Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the hydrogen industry in general; delays or changes in plans with respect to infrastructure development or capital expenditures; cell efficiency targets; expected order sizes for the product line; customer relationships and customer terms for testing of products at a customer site; the ability of the Corporation to optimize energy efficiencies; the Corporation’s available resources to double its growing backlog; uncertainty with respect to the timing of any contemplated transactions or partnerships, or whether such contemplated transactions or partnerships will be completed at all; whether the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to costs and expenses; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to infrastructure developments or capital expenditures; currency exchange rate fluctuations; as well as general economic conditions, stock market volatility; and the ability to access sufficient capital. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, there will be no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung ‘Galaxy empowered’ launches Immersive Programme for Bhutan’s Teaching Community

    Source: Samsung

    The ‘Galaxy empowered’ Community from Bhutan
     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, is welcoming passionate educators from remote corners of Bhutan into its growing community, ‘Galaxy empowered’, a one-of-a-kind community-led programme designed to transform education by empowering teachers, principals, and administrators in the education sector.
     
    ‘Galaxy empowered’, which aims to prepare teachers for the classrooms of tomorrow through recurring on-ground and online learning events, was launched in India in December 2024. Now, through immersive workshops and collaborative learning, Bhutanese teachers are also part of the movement that is redefining classrooms with technology and innovation.
     
    Samsung organised a ‘Galaxy empowered’ immersion programme for these educators, many of whom serve in remote and underserved communities in Bhutan, at its Executive Business Centre (EBC) in Gurugram. During the immersion programme, teachers gained hands-on experience with the Galaxy ecosystem, including Galaxy smartphones, Galaxy Books, Tablets, flipboards, and displays.
     
    In addition, they were introduced to Samsung’s latest innovations in education, including Galaxy devices and Galaxy AI applications tailored for modern, inclusive teaching. This was facilitated in partnership with the Teacher and Educational Leadership Division (TELD), Department of School Education, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Bhutan.
     
    “I had never used an interactive whiteboard before. Seeing it in action gave me so many ideas for making lessons more engaging for my students,” said Khandu, teacher at Wangdue Primary School.
     
    Innovation spreading smiles across
     
    The Immersion Programme at Samsung Regional Headquarter witnessed the participation of educators from various schools across Bhutan, including Khandothang Primary School (Samtse), Pelrithang Higher Secondary School (Gelephu, Sarpang), Lobesa Lower Secondary School (Punakha Dzongkhag), Yoechen Central School (Pema Gatshel), Phuentsholing Primary School (Phuentsholing Thromde), and Chhukha Dzongkhag, among others.
     
    “The technology we saw today showed how classrooms can become more exciting and student-friendly. I am thinking about how we can try small changes in our own schools,” said Ghana Shyam Dhungana, Academic Head at Pelrithang Higher Secondary School (Gelephu, Sarpang).
     
    As a global leader in technology, Samsung is dedicated to transforming the future of education by developing future-ready classrooms that empower teachers to integrate the latest technology and modern teaching methodologies. Through initiatives such as ‘Galaxy empowered’, Samsung not only supports educators but also helps schools emerge as leaders in educational innovation.
     
    Taking a glance into the future
     
    “At Samsung, we understand that empowering a teacher is about inspiring a transformation that turns classrooms into vibrant spaces of curiosity, creativity, and connection. Through ‘Galaxy empowered’, we aim to ignite a spark that shapes the minds of future generations. We are proud to see this programme expand its reach beyond India, evolving into a global platform for learning and collaboration,” said a Samsung India spokesperson.
     
    The ‘Galaxy empowered’ programme is offered free of charge to both teachers and schools, ensuring that valuable resources for educational advancement are accessible without financial constraints. It offers no-cost online training, self-paced courses on the Galaxy empowered site, and physical boot camps.
     
    “This visit reminded me that technology is not only for big cities. With the right support, even remote schools can benefit from these innovations,” said Pema Dorji, Officiating Principal at Jigmeling Primary School (Tang, Bumthang).
     
    In India, under the umbrella of ‘Galaxy empowered’, over 4,800 teachers from more than 250 schools have been awarded certificates since December 2024. The programme aims to empower 20,000 teachers across 600 schools of India by 2025.
     

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint trade statement between New Zealand and United Kingdom

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Joint trade statement between New Zealand and United Kingdom

    Summary of a Joint Statement following the meeting of the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand and Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

    This Joint Statement follows the meeting of the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand and Secretary of State for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom on 12 May 2025.

    At their meeting, the Ministers celebrated the successful trading relationship between the UK and New Zealand, which reached a record £3.7bn1 or $7.3bn of trade in goods and services in 2024.

    At the meeting, the Ministers opened the second Joint Committee of the New Zealand-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

    Significant progress has been made under the FTA, including amongst other things, the commencement of an artists’ resale royalty scheme, the inclusion of further wine making (oenological) practices, the establishment of a legal services regulatory dialogue, the renewal of the engineers’ Admissions Pathways Agreement, a sustainable finance dialogue, a women in STEM event, and a visit to the UK by a delegation of Māori women technology entrepreneurs.

    Ministers commended the significant uptake of the Agreement.

    Since entry into force, £752.3m ($1,588m NZD) of traded goods successfully used preferential tariffs; i.e. around 82.2% of goods traded between the UK and New Zealand made use of preferences where one was available.

    The strong uptake of the Agreement’s benefits is resulting in real savings with the potential to benefit both businesses and consumers.

    Between June 2023 and Dec 2024:

    • £164.2m or $344.5m NZD (80.7%) of goods imports into New Zealand from the UK used preferential tariffs4. Had these occurred at standard Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates, they could have encountered an additional £9.3m ($19.5m NZD) in duties.

    • £588.1m or $1,243m NZD (82.6%) of goods imports into the UK from New Zealand used preferential tariffs6. Had these occurred at standard MFN tariff rates, they could have encountered an additional £67.4m ($141.8m NZD) in duties.5

    The Ministers noted that free trade is a cornerstone of prosperity in both countries. Recognising that open markets, and reliable legal and regulatory frameworks are essential for trade, the Ministers committed to strengthening the rules-based trading system.

    The Ministers agreed to work together to strengthen the role that free trade, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (which the United Kingdom and New Zealand are Parties to), plays in increasing prosperity and reinforcing resilience against economic turbulence.

    This includes growing the agreement ambitiously through further accessions, modernising the agreement through the ongoing General Review, and working with partners to defend the rules-based trading system upon which we rely.

    Note to editors:

    Sources:  Trade data sourced from the ONS publication of UK total trade: all countries seasonally adjusted October to December 2024 data.

    Source: Source: Statistics New Zealand, publicly accessible through New Zealand Trade Dashboard  

    Trade asymmetries exist between the UK and New Zealand official trade statistics, but this does not mean that either country is inaccurate in their estimation. Differences can be caused by a range of conceptual and measurement variations between the estimation practices of different countries.

    Based on data from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Statistics New Zealand, Customs import utilisation data, April 2025

    Estimated duty savings are based on exchanged country tariff schedules and preference utilisation data (footnotes 4 and 6). For UK imports, these are all calculated used the Ad Valorem, Specific, or Compound tariffs applied at the CN8 level. Where appropriate, Ad Valorem Equivalent tariffs were used (source: MacMap). The Bank of England spot exchange rates (June-December 2023, and 2024) was used to convert from GBP to NZD.

    The underlying data for the imports into the UK preference utilisation figures were sourced from HM Revenue and Custom’s (HMRC) UK goods imports by tariff regime, February 2025 data. This data is provided on a country of origin basis.

    The methodology used to calculate UK preference utilisation rates can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/preference-utilisation-of-uk-trade-in-goods-technical-annex/preference-utilisation-of-uk-trade-in-goods-official-statistics-technical-annex#methodology-note-for-preference-utilisation-of-uk-trade-in-goods

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s service trade fair to open in September

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

    BEIJING, May 15 — The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) is scheduled to open on Sept. 10 in Beijing, with Australia invited as the guest country of honor.

    Starting this year, the fair will adopt a fixed schedule, opening on the second Wednesday of September every year, Zhao Qizhou, an official with the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, told a press conference on Thursday.

    It will be held at Shougang Park, a 3-square-kilometer industrial heritage site and a previous venue of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

    The fair consists of sectors including finance, culture and tourism, education, sports, supply chain and healthcare services.

    The event will run for five days — the first three days designated for professional visitors and the last two for public access.

    The Global Trade in Services Summit, co-hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Beijing municipal government, will be held on Sept. 10.

    Since its inception in 2012, CIFTIS has brought together enterprises from around the world to share opportunities stemming from China’s opening up and development of trade in services.

    Last year’s edition attracted over 450 Fortune 500 enterprises and companies taking the lead in their respective industries, as well as participants from 85 countries and international organizations.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: T1 Energy Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — T1 Energy Inc. (NYSE: TE) (“T1,” “T1 Energy,” or the “Company”) reported financial and operating results for the first quarter 2025 today.

    Headlines

    • T1 has signed 253 MW 2025 sales agreement with U.S. utility-scale developer. This sales agreement, which is the first new customer commitment the Company has signed as T1 Energy, underscores T1’s commercial appeal to U.S. developer customers. With this sales agreement, T1 has now secured 1.75 GW of 2025 customer module sales and offtake commitments for G1 Dallas.
    • Reducing 2025 guidance, maintaining integrated G1/G2 guidance. T1 is lowering its 2025 full-year EBITDA guidance to $25 – $50 million from a prior range of $75 – $125 million based on a reduced production forecast of 2.6 – 3.0 GW from a prior expectation of 3.4 GW. The reduction in 2025 guidance reflects T1’s assumption of limited to no merchant sales from G1 Dallas during 2025 due to near-term trade policy uncertainties that are obscuring Bill of Materials cost visibility and creating a temporary lull in bidding activity, the elective conversion of three production lines from PERC to TOPCon technology, and a potential 800 MW inventory build. At the low-end of the updated EBITDA guidance range, T1 expects to exit 2025 with a cash and liquidity position of more than $100 million after approximately $70 million of cash debt service. There are no changes to T1’s projected $650 – $700 million annual run-rate EBITDA estimate based on optimized production at G1 Dallas and G2 Austin.
    • G1 Dallas revenues and production continue to ramp. Following the full handover of G1 Dallas to T1’s operating team in April, the Company’s U.S. module manufacturing facility has continued to ramp sales and production volumes. During Q1 2025, T1 generated $64.6 million of revenue from G1 Dallas exclusively associated with deliveries under the Trina offtake contract. During Q2 2025, deliveries under the RWE offtake contract have commenced. As of May 11th, T1 had produced 690 MW of modules from G1.
    • T1 has entered into a Heads of Agreement with a partner aligned with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to explore a potential investment in G2 Austin. T1 announced this morning that the Company has entered into a non-binding agreement to pursue an investment in the Company’s planned G2 Austin U.S. solar cell manufacturing facility. The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Riyadh this week hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Investment to commemorate the U.S. administration’s ‘America First’ program and the Kingdom’s commitment to investing in critical U.S. energy infrastructure projects.

    “T1’s rapid corporate transformation gained momentum during and following the first quarter,” said Daniel Barcelo, T1’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “Although potential changes to trade policy are creating near-term uncertainties in the merchant sales market for T1 and our developer customers, we are well positioned to manage this sales environment with 1.7 GW of 2025 contracted module offtake coverage, a robust cash and liquidity position, and the continued production and sales ramp up at G1 Dallas. In addition, our plans to establish a vertically integrated U.S. solar value chain, coupled with our domestic content strategy, are generating meaningful interest from customers, prospective capital providers, and industrial partners. As we sprint forward with our key strategic initiatives, we will continue to prioritize value generating opportunities that enhance T1’s competitive position as an emerging leader in the U.S. solar and storage markets.”

    Highlights of First Quarter 2025 and Subsequent Events

    • G1 Dallas fully operational following term conversion of construction loan. On April 30th, T1 achieved term conversion of the G1 Dallas construction loan to a $235 million term loan in line with the previously communicated timeline. The conversion of the loan was conditioned upon third-party verification that construction, commissioning, and testing of all G1 Dallas production line equipment was complete. All production lines have been handed over to T1’s operations team.
    • Key additions strengthen T1’s leadership team. On April 28th, T1 announced the additions of Andy Munro as Chief Legal Officer and Russell Gold as Executive Vice President of Strategic Communications. Mr. Munro and Mr. Gold bring deep solar energy legal and communications experience to T1’s mission to create a vertically integrated, solar plus storage manufacturing and technology leader in the United States.
    • U.S. tariffs align with T1’s strategy to establish an integrated U.S. solar value chain based on high domestic content. On April 4th, T1 published a communication highlighting the potential long-term benefits to T1 from its domestic vertical integration strategy. Although solar industrial and tariff policy uncertainty are creating some near-term headwinds for T1 and utility-scale developers, T1 believes that it is positioned to benefit from public policies that promote U.S. manufacturing, technology transfer, and job creation.

    Business Outlook and Guidance

    • Reducing 2025 guidance, maintaining integrated G1/G2 guidance. T1 is lowering its 2025 full-year EBITDA guidance to $25 – $50 million from a prior range of $75 – $125 million based on a reduced production forecast of 2.6 – 3.0 GW from a prior expectation of 3.4 GW. The reduction in 2025 guidance reflects T1’s assumption of limited to no merchant sales from G1 Dallas during 2025 due to near-term trade policy uncertainties that are obscuring Bill of Materials cost visibility and creating a temporary lull in bidding activity; the elective conversion of three production lines from PERC to TOPCon technology; and a potential 800 MW inventory build. There are no changes to T1’s projected $650 – $700 million annual run-rate EBITDA estimate based on optimized production at G1 Dallas and G2 Austin.
    • Strong liquidity outlook despite reductions to 2025 to EBITDA guidance. At the low-end of T1’s updated 2025 EBITDA guidance range, the Company expects to exit 2025 with a cash and liquidity position of more than $100 million after approximately $70 million of cash debt service. T1’s significant liquidity position is supported by 1.5 GW of high-margin customer offtake contracts, the anticipated start of Section 45X Production Tax Credit (“PTC”) monetizations in Q2 or Q3 2025, and the expected roll off of $20 million of legacy annual General & Administrative expenses by 2026 associated with the wind down of T1’s legacy European business.
    • T1 is advancing financing processes for G2 Austin. T1 initiated several capital formation initiatives in parallel during the first quarter to pursue funding for the Company’s planned G2 Austin U.S. solar cell facility. The Company is currently advancing a project financing with its consortium of commercial lenders, the monetization of Section 45X PTCs, and possible mezzanine financing options to complement expected customer offtake deposits to reserve G2 capacity.
    • Update on European Portfolio Optimization. The Company continues to make progress with the wind down of legacy European operations and the European Portfolio Optimization initiative. As personnel-related expenses roll off T1’s P&L, cost savings from the wind down should accelerate later in 2025, representing a projected $20 million of General & Administrative costs that will not recur in 2026. T1’s Board of Directors is concurrently overseeing the process of potentially harvesting value from legacy European assets, including Giga Arctic, the Customer Qualification Plant, and the Giga Vasa project. Securing access to additional power for these assets is expected to be a key value driver, and T1 will provide additional updates as the process develops.

    Q1 2025 Results Overview

    • T1 Energy reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders for the first quarter 2025 of $17.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $28.5 million, or $0.20 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2024. Net loss from continuing operations was $4.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $11.3 million or $0.08 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2024. Net loss from discontinued operations was $12.1 million or $0.08 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $17.4 million or $0.12 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2024.
    • As of March 31, 2025, T1 had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $51.1 million.

    Presentation of First Quarter 2025 Results

    A presentation will be held today, May, 15, 2025, at 8:00 am Eastern Daylight Time to discuss financial and operating results for the first quarter. The results and presentation material will be available for download at https://ir.t1energy.com/.

    To access the conference call, listeners should proceed as follows:

    1. Click on the call link and complete the online registration form.
    2. Upon registering, you will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call as well as an email confirmation with details.
    3. Select a method for joining the call:
      1. Dial in: A dial in number and unique PIN are displayed to connect directly by phone.
      2. Call Me: Enter your phone number and a click “Call Me” for an immediate callback from the system. The call will come from a U.S. number.
      3. The call will also be available by clicking the webcast link.

        About T1 Energy

        T1 Energy Inc. (NYSE: TE) is an energy solutions provider building an integrated U.S. supply chain for solar and batteries. In December 2024, T1 completed a transformative transaction, positioning the Company as one of the leading solar manufacturing companies in the United States, with a complementary solar and battery storage strategy. Based in the United States with plans to expand its operations in America, the Company is also exploring value optimization opportunities across its portfolio of assets in Europe.

        To learn more about T1, please visit www.T1energy.com and follow us on social media.

        Investor contact:

        Jeffrey Spittel
        EVP, Investor Relations and Corporate Development
        jeffrey.spittel@T1energy.com
        Tel: +1 409 599-5706

        Media contact:

        Russell Gold
        EVP, Strategic Communications
        russell.gold@T1energy.com
        Tel: +1 214 616-9715

        Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

        This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation with respect to: the Company’s commercial appeal to U.S. developer customers; the Company’s financial, production and operational guidance; the existence of trade policy uncertainties and lack of cost visibility; the Company’s inventory build resulting from production at G1; the Company’s projected cash and liquidity position; the ability of the Company to ramp sales and production volumes at G1; the speed and success of the Company’s corporate transformation; the Company’s ability to manage the current sales environment; the Company’s plans to establish a vertically integrated U.S. solar value chain, coupled with its domestic content strategy; interest from the Company’s customers, prospective capital providers and industrial partners; the prioritization of value generating opportunities that enhance the Company’s competitive position as an emerging leader in the U.S. solar and storage markets; the potential for an investment in the Company’s planned G2 Austin U.S. solar cell manufacturing facility by a partner aligned with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; the Company’s potential long-term benefits of tariffs and other public policies that promote U.S. manufacturing, technology transfer, and job creation; the elective conversion of three production lines from PERC to TOPCon technology; the anticipated start of Section 45X Production Tax Credit (“PTC”) monetizations in Q2 or Q3 2025; the expected roll off of $20 million of legacy annual General & Administrative expenses by 2026 associated with the wind down of T1’s legacy European business; and the Company’s goals and projections for securing project financing at G2; These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual future events, results, or achievements to be materially different from the Company’s expectations and projections expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in (i) T1’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2025, as amended and supplemented by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2025, (ii) T1’s post-effective amendment no. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on January 4, 2024, and (iii) T1’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on September 8, 2023 and subsequent amendments thereto filed on October 13, 2023, October 19, 2023 and October 31, 2023. All of the above referenced filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

        T1 intends to use its website as a channel of distribution to disclose information which may be of interest or material to investors and to communicate with investors and the public. Such disclosures will be included on T1’s website in the ‘Investor Relations’ section. T1, and its CEO and Chairman of the Board, Daniel Barcelo, also intend to use certain social media channels, including, but not limited to, X, LinkedIn and Instagram, as means of communicating with the public and investors about T1, its progress, products, and other matters. While not all the information that T1 or Daniel Barcelo post to their respective digital platforms may be deemed to be of a material nature, some information may be. As a result, T1 encourages investors and others interested to review the information that it and Daniel Barcelo posts and to monitor such portions of T1’s website and social media channels on a regular basis, in addition to following T1’s press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. The contents of T1’s website and its and Daniel Barcelo’s social media channels shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

            March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
        ASSETS
        Current assets:        
        Cash and cash equivalents   $ 48,881     $ 72,641  
        Restricted cash     2,210       4,004  
        Accounts receivable trade, net – related parties     18,005        
        Government grants receivable, net     14,080       687  
        Inventory     333,032       274,549  
        Advances to suppliers     164,248       164,811  
        Other current assets     7,908       1,569  
        Current assets of discontinued operations     38,312       64,909  
        Total current assets     626,676       583,170  
        Property and equipment, net     310,246       285,187  
        Goodwill     74,527       74,527  
        Intangible assets, net     270,686       281,881  
        Right-of-use asset under operating leases     149,570       111,081  
        Total assets   $ 1,431,705     $ 1,335,846  
        LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        Current liabilities:        
        Accounts payable   $ 108,532     $ 61,708  
        Accrued liabilities and other     76,845       91,346  
        Deferred revenue     61,525       48,155  
        Derivative liabilities     1,556       14,905  
        Current portion of long-term debt     56,492       42,867  
        Current portion of long-term debt – related party     59,000       51,500  
        Payables to related parties     88,947       52,534  
        Current liabilities of discontinued operations     40,204       51,009  
        Total current liabilities     493,101       414,024  
        Long-term deferred revenue     30,000       32,000  
        Convertible note – related party     82,083       80,698  
        Operating lease liability     139,921       101,787  
        Long-term debt     170,753       188,316  
        Long-term debt – related party     234,829       238,896  
        Deferred tax liability     20,232       21,227  
        Other long-term liabilities     9,581       21,761  
        Total liabilities     1,180,500       1,098,709  
        Commitments and contingencies        
        Redeemable preferred stock        
        Convertible series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000 issued and outstanding as of both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (includes accrued dividends and accretion of $978 and $87 as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively)     49,266       48,375  
        Stockholders’ equity:        
        Common stock, $0.01 par value, 155,938 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and 155,928 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024     1,559       1,559  
        Additional paid-in capital     974,767       971,416  
        Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (32,910 )     (58,975 )
        Accumulated deficit     (741,477 )     (725,238 )
        Total equity     201,939       188,762  
        Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock, and equity   $ 1,431,705     $ 1,335,846  
         
         
            Three months ended March 31,
              2025       2024  
        Net sales – related parties   $ 64,647     $  
        Cost of sales     35,671        
        Gross profit     28,976        
        Selling, general and administrative     52,587       15,004  
        Loss from continuing operations     (23,611 )     (15,004 )
        Other income (expense):        
        Warrant liability fair value adjustment     1,567       146  
        Derivative liabilities fair value adjustment     25,229        
        Interest (expense) income, net     (9,853 )     1,405  
        Foreign currency transaction (loss) gain     (14 )     554  
        Other income, net     34       1,594  
        Total other income     16,963       3,699  
        Loss from continuing operations before income taxes     (6,648 )     (11,305 )
        Income tax benefit     2,513        
        Net loss from continuing operations     (4,135 )     (11,305 )
        Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax     (12,104 )     (17,385 )
        Net loss     (16,239 )     (28,690 )
        Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests           147  
        Preferred dividends and accretion     (891 )      
        Net loss attributable to common stockholders   $ (17,130 )   $ (28,543 )
                 
        Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding – basic and diluted     155,933       139,705  
        Net loss per share from continuing operations – basic and diluted   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.08 )
        Net loss per share from discontinued operations – basic and diluted   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.12 )
        Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders – basic and diluted   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.20 )
                 
        Other comprehensive income (loss):        
        Net loss   $ (16,239 )   $ (28,690 )
        Foreign currency translation adjustments     26,065       (26,044 )
        Total comprehensive income (loss)     9,826       (54,734 )
        Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests           147  
        Preferred dividends and accretion     (891 )      
        Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders   $ 8,935     $ (54,587 )
         
         
            Three months ended March 31,
              2025       2024  
        Cash flows from operating activities:        
        Net loss   $ (16,239 )   $ (28,690 )
        Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:        
        Share-based compensation expense     3,939       3,551  
        Depreciation and amortization     14,678       2,211  
        Change in fair value of derivative liabilities     (25,229 )      
        Gain on sale of property and equipment     (5,675 )      
        Accretion of discount on long-term debt     4,640        
        Reduction in the carrying amount of right-of-use assets     1,689       277  
        Warrant liability fair value adjustment     (1,567 )     (146 )
        Deferred income taxes     (995 )      
        Share of net loss of equity method investee     425       156  
        Foreign currency transaction net unrealized gain     251       (1,359 )
        Other     1,311        
        Changes in assets and liabilities:        
        Inventory     (58,483 )      
        Advances to suppliers and other current assets     (358 )     2,852  
        Trade accounts receivable     (18,005 )      
        Government grants receivable     (13,393 )      
        Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other     56,827       4,930  
        Deferred revenue     11,370        
        Net cash used in operating activities     (44,814 )     (16,218 )
        Cash flows from investing activities:        
        Proceeds from the return of property and equipment deposits     1,202       19,021  
        Purchases of property and equipment     (29,141 )     (21,455 )
        Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment     50,000        
        Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     22,061       (2,434 )
        Cash flows from financing activities:        
        Debt fees paid     (3,760 )      
        Net cash used in financing activities     (3,760 )      
        Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash     959       (4,324 )
        Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash     (25,554 )     (22,976 )
        Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period     76,645       275,742  
        Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period   $ 51,091     $ 252,766  
         

        A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41e3f5da-8114-4e43-9b08-944982bb0e1d

      The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Katapult Delivers 15.4% Gross Originations and 10.6% Revenue Growth in the First Quarter, Above Outlook

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Expects Growth to Accelerate In Second Quarter
    Reiterates 2025 Guidance

    PLANO, Texas, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Katapult Holdings, Inc. (“Katapult” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: KPLT), an e-commerce-focused financial technology company, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    “2025 is off to a strong start and we are well positioned to achieve our full year targets,” said Orlando Zayas, CEO of Katapult. “We achieved double-digit gross originations and revenue growth, driven by increasing engagement with the Katapult app marketplace, including 57% growth in KPay originations. Our marketplace is thriving – from application growth to repeat purchase rates, to high Net Promoter scores and beyond, we believe we have all the hallmarks of a healthy ecosystem and we intend to lean into opportunities to accelerate our growth. We are excited about the future and as we continue to execute on our consumer and merchant initiatives, we feel confident that we can create value for all of our stakeholders.”

    Operating Progress: Recent Highlights

    • Increased activity within the Katapult app marketplace
      • ~59% of first quarter gross originations started in the Katapult app marketplace, making it the single largest customer referral source. Total app originations grew 42% year-over-year.
      • Applications grew ~59% year-over-year in the first quarter
      • Customer satisfaction remained high and Katapult had a Net Promoter Score of 66 as of March 31, 2025
      • 57.4% of gross originations for the first quarter of 2025 came from repeat customers1
    • Grew consumer engagement by adding app functionality and features and executing targeted marketing campaigns
      • KPay conversion rate increased during the first quarter leading to unique customer count growth of more than 65% year-over-year
      • KPay gross originations grew approximately 57% year-over-year in the first quarter; 35% of total gross originations were transacted using KPay
      • Launched Ashley and Bed Bath & Beyond in the Katapult app marketplace, bringing the total number of merchants in our KPay ecosystem to 35
    • Made strong progress against merchant engagement initiatives
      • Direct and waterfall gross originations, which represented 65% of total first quarter originations, grew approximately 40%, excluding the home furnishings and mattress category
      • Continued to expand our waterfall partnerships by kicking off a new partnership with Finti, a modern waterfall financing platform that connects consumers with a curated network of lenders and financing providers
      • Together with several merchant-partners, we launched targeted co-branded, co-promoted marketing campaigns that delivered year-over-year gross originations growth ranging from 7% to more than 75% depending on the campaign

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights

    (All comparisons are year-over-year unless stated otherwise.)

    • Gross originations were $64.2 million, an increase of 15.4%. Excluding the home furnishings and mattress category, gross originations grew 51% year-over-year.
    • Total revenue was $71.9 million, an increase of 10.6%
    • Total operating expenses in the first quarter increased 17.3%. Our fixed cash operating expenses2, which exclude litigation settlement and other non-cash and variable expenses, increased approximately 10.8%.
    • Net loss was $5.7 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared with net loss of $0.6 million reported for the first quarter of 2024. The higher net loss was mainly due to higher cost of sales and higher operating expenses.
    • Adjusted net loss2 was $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to adjusted net income of $1.0 million reported for the first quarter of 2024
    • Adjusted EBITDA2 was $2.2 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to Adjusted EBITDA2 of $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2024. The year-over-year performance was impacted by higher cost of sales related to rapid, faster-than-expected gross originations growth during the first quarter of 2025 and the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Katapult ended the quarter with total cash and cash equivalents of $14.3 million, which includes $8.3 million of restricted cash. The Company ended the quarter with $77.8 million of outstanding debt on its credit facility.
    • Write-offs as a percentage of revenue were 9.0% in the first quarter of 2025 and are within the Company’s 8% to 10% long-term target range. This compares with 8.4% in the first quarter of 2024.

    [1] Repeat customer rate is defined as the percentage of in-quarter originations from existing customers.
    [2] Please refer to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure and Certain Other Data” section and the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation tables below for more information.

    Second Quarter and Full Year 2025 Business Outlook

    The Company is continuing to navigate a challenging macro environment particularly within the home furnishings category. Given the current breadth of our merchant selection as well as our plans to introduce new merchants to the Katapult App Marketplace during 2025, our strategic marketing and our strong consumer offering, we believe we are well positioned to deliver continued growth in 2025. We continue to believe that we have a large addressable market of underserved, non-prime consumers, and it’s important to note that lease-to-own solutions have historically benefited when prime credit options become less available.

    Given our quarter-to-date progress, Katapult expects the following results for the second quarter of 2025:

    • 25% to 30% year-over-year increase in gross originations
    • 17% to 20% year-over-year increase in revenue
    • Approximately breakeven Adjusted EBITDA

    Based on the macroeconomic assumptions above and the operating plan in place for the full year 2025, Katapult is reiterating its expectations for full year 2025:

    • We expect gross originations to grow at least 20%

    This outlook does not include any material impact from prime creditors tightening or loosening above us and assumes that there are no significant changes to the macro environment.

    Both our second quarter and full year outlooks assume that the gross originations for the home furnishings and mattress category do not improve materially from our 2024 performance.

    • We also expect to maintain strong credit quality in our portfolio. This will be driven by ongoing enhancements to our risk modeling, onboarding high quality new merchants through integrations, and repeat customers engaging with Katapult Pay
    • Revenue growth is expected to be at least 20%
    • Finally, with the continued execution of our disciplined expense management strategy combined with our growing top-line, we expect to deliver at least $10 million in positive Adjusted EBITDA

    “The first quarter came in stronger than our outlook, and we are continuing to successfully grow our top-line without meaningfully increasing our expense base,” said Nancy Walsh, CFO of Katapult. “The second quarter is off to a great start and we believe we can continue to scale our business by offering a transparent and fair LTO product to consumers and a growth engine to our partners. Our team’s hard work and agile execution is fueling our growth and we are looking forward to a great 2025.”

    Conference Call and Webcast

    The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 8:00 AM ET on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to discuss the Company’s financial results. Related presentation materials will be available before the call on the Company’s Investor Relations page at https://ir.katapultholdings.com. The conference call will be broadcast live in listen-only mode and an archive of the webcast will be available for one year.

    About Katapult

    Katapult is a technology driven lease-to-own platform that integrates with omnichannel retailers and e-commerce platforms to power the purchasing of everyday durable goods for underserved U.S. non-prime consumers. Through our point-of-sale (POS) integrations and innovative mobile app featuring Katapult Pay(R), consumers who may be unable to access traditional financing can shop a growing network of merchant partners. Our process is simple, fast, and transparent. We believe that seeing the good in people is good for business, humanizing the way underserved consumers get the things they need with payment solutions based on fairness and dignity.

    Contact

    Jennifer Kull
    VP of Investor Relations
    ir@katapult.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements included in this Press Release and on our quarterly earnings call that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potentially,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: in this Press Release and on our associated earnings call, statements regarding our second quarter of 2025 and full year 2025 business outlook and underlying expectations and assumptions and statements regarding our ability to obtain a comprehensive maturity extension amendment to our credit facility. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this Press Release, and on the current expectations of our management and are not predictions of actual performance.

    These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, our ability to refinance our indebtedness and continue as a going concern, the execution of our business strategy and expanding information and technology capabilities; our market opportunity and our ability to acquire new customers and retain existing customers; adoption and success of our mobile application featuring Katapult Pay; the timing and impact of our growth initiatives on our future financial performance; anticipated occurrence and timing of prime lending tightening and impact on our results of operations; general economic conditions in the markets where we operate, the cyclical nature of customer spending, and seasonal sales and spending patterns of customers; risks relating to factors affecting consumer spending that are not under our control, including, among others, levels of employment, disposable consumer income, inflation, prevailing interest rates, consumer debt and availability of credit, consumer confidence in future economic conditions, political conditions, and consumer perceptions of personal well-being and security and willingness and ability of customers to pay for the goods they lease through us when due; risks relating to uncertainty of our estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; risks related to the concentration of a significant portion of our transaction volume with a single merchant partner, or type of merchant or industry; the effects of competition on our future business; meet future liquidity requirements and complying with restrictive covenants related to our long-term indebtedness; the impact of unstable market and economic conditions such as rising inflation and interest rates; reliability of our platform and effectiveness of our risk model; data security breaches or other information technology incidents or disruptions, including cyber-attacks, and the protection of confidential, proprietary, personal and other information, including personal data of customers; ability to attract and retain employees, executive officers or directors; effectively respond to general economic and business conditions; obtain additional capital, including equity or debt financing and servicing our indebtedness; enhance future operating and financial results; anticipate rapid technological changes, including generative artificial intelligence and other new technologies; comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business, including laws and regulations related to rental purchase transactions; stay abreast of modified or new laws and regulations applying to our business, including with respect to rental purchase transactions and privacy regulations; maintain and grow relationships with merchants and partners; respond to uncertainties associated with product and service developments and market acceptance; the impacts of new U.S. federal income tax laws; material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting which, if not identified and remediated, could affect the reliability of our financial statements; successfully defend litigation; litigation, regulatory matters, complaints, adverse publicity and/or misconduct by employees, vendors and/or service providers; and other events or factors, including those resulting from civil unrest, war, foreign invasions (including the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict), terrorism, public health crises and pandemics (such as COVID-19), trade wars, or responses to such events; our ability to meet the minimum requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market; and those factors discussed in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 that we filed with the SEC.

    If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this Press Release or on our quarterly earnings call. All forward-looking statements contained herein or expressed on our quarterly earnings call are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events, except as required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

    Key Performance Metrics

    Katapult regularly reviews several metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate its business, measure its performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions, which may also be useful to an investor: gross originations, total revenue, gross profit, adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA.

    Gross originations are defined as the retail price of the merchandise associated with lease-purchase agreements entered into during the period through the Katapult platform. Gross originations do not represent revenue earned. However, we believe this is a useful operating metric for both Katapult’s management and investors to use in assessing the volume of transactions that take place on Katapult’s platform.

    Total revenue represents the summation of rental revenue and other revenue. Katapult measures this metric to assess the total view of pay through performance of its customers. Management believes looking at these components is useful to an investor as it helps to understand the total payment performance of customers.

    Gross profit represents total revenue less cost of revenue, and is a measure presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a description and presentation of adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures utilized by management.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement the financial measures presented in this press release and related conference call or webcast in accordance with GAAP, the Company also presents the following non-GAAP and other measures of financial performance: adjusted gross profit, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income/(loss) and fixed cash operating expenses. The Company believes that for management and investors to more effectively compare core performance from period to period, the non-GAAP measures should exclude items that are not indicative of our results from ongoing business operations.The Company urges investors to consider non-GAAP measures only in conjunction with its GAAP financials and to review the reconciliation of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to its comparable GAAP financial measures, which are included in this press release.

    Adjusted gross profit represents gross profit less variable operating expenses, which are servicing costs, and underwriting fees. Management believes that adjusted gross profit provides a meaningful understanding of one aspect of its performance specifically attributable to total revenue and the variable costs associated with total revenue.

    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as net loss before interest expense and other fees, interest income, change in fair value of warrants and loss on issuance of shares, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software, provision of impairment of leased assets, loss on partial extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation expense, litigation settlement and other related expenses, and debt refinancing costs.

    Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as net loss before change in fair value of warrants and loss on issuance of shares, stock-based compensation expense and litigation settlement and other related expenses and debt refinancing costs.

    Fixed cash operating expenses is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as operating expenses less depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software, stock-based compensation expense, litigation settlement and other related expenses, debt refinancing costs, and variable lease costs such as servicing costs and underwriting fees. Management believes that fixed cash operating expenses provides a meaningful understanding of non-variable ongoing expenses.

    Adjusted gross profit, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss are useful to an investor in evaluating the Company’s performance because these measures:

    • Are widely used to measure a company’s operating performance;
    • Are financial measurements that are used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate the Company’s credit worthiness; and
    • Are used by the Company’s management for various purposes, including as measures of performance and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.

    Management believes that the use of non-GAAP financial measures, as a supplement to GAAP measures, is useful to investors in that they eliminate items that are not part of our core operations, highly variable or do not require a cash outlay, such as stock-based compensation expense. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating operating performance and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help indicate underlying trends in the business, are important in comparing current results with prior period results and are useful to investors and financial analysts in assessing operating performance. However, these non-GAAP measures exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing Katapult’s financial results. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to revenue, net loss, gross profit, cash flows from operations or other measures of profitability, liquidity or performance under GAAP. You should be aware that Katapult’s presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

     
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
    (amounts in thousands, except per share data)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
           
    Revenue      
    Rental revenue $ 71,078     $ 64,142  
    Other revenue   868       919  
    Total revenue   71,946       65,061  
    Cost of revenue   57,597       48,573  
    Gross profit   14,349       16,488  
    Operating expenses   14,885       12,688  
    Income (loss) from operations   (536 )     3,800  
    Interest expense and other fees   (5,144 )     (4,527 )
    Interest income   57       324  
    Change in fair value of warrant liability   (36 )     (162 )
    Loss before income taxes   (5,659 )     (565 )
    Provision for income taxes   (29 )     (5 )
    Net loss $ (5,688 )   $ (570 )
           
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted   4,618       4,242  
           
    Net loss per common share – basic and diluted $ (1.23 )   $ (0.13 )
     
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
      March 31,   December 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)    
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,965     $ 3,465  
    Restricted cash   8,346       13,087  
    Property held for lease, net of accumulated depreciation and impairment   66,913       67,085  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   4,445       6,731  
    Total current assets   85,669       90,368  
    Property and equipment, net   244       253  
    Capitalized software and intangible assets, net   2,155       2,076  
    Right-of-use assets, non-current   376       383  
    Security deposits   91       91  
    Total assets $ 88,535     $ 93,171  
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT      
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 3,040     $ 1,491  
    Accrued liabilities   18,945       17,372  
    Accrued litigation settlement   2,199       2,199  
    Unearned revenue   5,711       4,823  
    Revolving line of credit, net   77,663       82,582  
    Term loan, net, current   31,490       30,047  
    Lease liabilities   129       179  
    Total current liabilities   139,177       138,693  
    Lease liabilities, non-current   431       444  
    Other liabilities   614       828  
    Total liabilities   140,222       139,965  
    STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT      
    Common stock, $.0001 par value– 250,000,000 shares authorized; 4,483,544 and 4,446,540 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively          
    Additional paid-in capital   102,452       101,657  
    Accumulated deficit   (154,139 )     (148,451 )
    Total stockholders’ deficit   (51,687 )     (46,794 )
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $ 88,535     $ 93,171  
     
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
    (dollars in thousands)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net loss $ (5,688 )   $ (570 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   39,392       34,026  
    Depreciation for early lease purchase options (buyouts)   9,664       7,613  
    Depreciation for impaired leases   6,632       5,636  
    Change in fair value of warrants and other non-cash items   36       162  
    Stock-based compensation   1,066       1,391  
    Amortization of debt discount   963       669  
    Amortization of debt issuance costs, net   88       66  
    Accrued PIK interest expense   480       347  
    Amortization of right-of-use assets   76       76  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Property held for lease   (55,185 )     (45,249 )
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,217       1,029  
    Accounts payable   1,549       754  
    Accrued liabilities   1,573       (4,123 )
    Accrued litigation   (250 )      
    Lease liabilities   (63 )     (55 )
    Unearned revenues   888       208  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   3,438       1,980  
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Purchases of property and equipment   (24 )      
    Additions to capitalized software   (377 )     (126 )
    Net cash used in investing activities   (401 )     (126 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Proceeds from revolving line of credit   5,128       10,058  
    Principal repayments on revolving line of credit   (10,135 )     (2,840 )
    Repurchases of restricted stock   (271 )     (312 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (5,278 )     6,906  
    Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (2,241 )     8,760  
    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period   16,552       28,811  
    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 14,311     $ 37,571  
    Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
    Cash paid for interest $ 3,661     $ 3,382  
    Cash paid for income taxes $     $ 112  
    Cash paid for operating leases $ 111     $ 82  
     
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES AND CERTAIN OTHER DATA (UNAUDITED)
    (amounts in thousands)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
           
    Net loss $ (5,688 )   $ (570 )
    Add back:      
    Interest expense and other fees   5,144       4,527  
    Interest income   (57 )     (324 )
    Change in fair value of warrants   36       162  
    Provision for income taxes   29       5  
    Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software   330       266  
    Provision for impairment of leased assets   150       173  
    Stock-based compensation expense   1,066       1,391  
    Litigation settlement and other related expenses   259     $  
    Debt refinancing costs $ 971        
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 2,240     $ 5,630  
     
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
           
    Net loss $ (5,688 )   $ (570 )
    Add back:      
    Change in fair value of warrants   36       162  
    Stock-based compensation expense   1,066       1,391  
    Litigation settlement and other related expenses   259        
    Debt refinancing costs   971        
    Adjusted net income (loss) $ (3,356 )   $ 983  
     
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
           
    Operating expenses $ 14,885     $ 12,688  
    Less:      
    Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software   330       266  
    Stock-based compensation expense   1,066       1,391  
    Servicing costs   1,085       1,132  
    Underwriting fees   772       509  
    Litigation settlement and other related expenses   259        
    Debt refinancing costs   971     $  
    Fixed cash operating expenses $ 10,402     $ 9,390  
    (in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025       2024  
             
    Total revenue $ 71,946     $ 65,061  
    Cost of revenue   57,597       48,573  
    Gross profit   14,349       16,488  
    Less:        
    Servicing costs   1,085       1,132  
    Underwriting fees   772       509  
    Adjusted gross profit $ 12,492     $ 14,847  
     
    CERTAIN KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
     
    (in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025       2024  
    Total revenue $ 71,946     $ 65,061  
     
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.
    GROSS ORIGINATIONS BY QUARTER
        Gross Originations by Quarter
    ($ millions)   Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4
    FY 2025   $ 64.2     $     $     $  
    FY 2024   $ 55.6     $ 55.3     $ 51.2     $ 64.2  
    FY 2023   $ 54.7     $ 54.7     $ 49.6     $ 67.5  
    FY 2022   $ 46.7     $ 46.4     $ 44.1     $ 59.8  
    FY 2021   $ 63.8     $ 64.4     $ 61.0     $ 58.9  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Xunlei Announces Unaudited Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xunlei Limited (“Xunlei” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: XNET), a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. 

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

    • Total revenues were US$88.8 million, representing an increase of 10.5% year-over-year.
    • Subscription revenues were US$35.7 million, representing an increase of 7.7% year-over-year. 
    • Live-streaming and other services revenues were US$28.4 million, representing an increase of 66.0% year-over-year. 
    • Cloud computing revenues were US$24.7 million, representing a decrease of 18.0% year-over-year. 
    • Gross profit was US$44.1 million, representing an increase of 2.9% year-over-year, and gross profit margin was 49.7% in the first quarter, compared with 53.3% in the same period of 2024. 
    • Net loss was US$0.9 million in the first quarter, compared with net income of US$3.6 million in the same period of 2024. 
    • Non-GAAP net income1 was US$0.1 million in the first quarter, compared with non-GAAP net income of US$4.5 million in the same period of 2024. 
    • Diluted loss per ADS was US$0.01 in the first quarter, compared with diluted earnings per ADS of US$0.06 in the same period of 2024. 
    • Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS2 were US$0.004 in the first quarter, compared with non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS of US$0.07 in the same period of 2024.

    “Our quarterly revenue was in line with our expectations, and we achieved consistent top-line growth of 10.5% year-over-year in total revenues to US$88.8 million in the first quarter of 2025,” commented Mr. Jinbo Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xunlei. “Notably, our subscription revenue increased by 7.7% year-over-year, primarily due to intensified efforts in diversifying marketing channels for user acquisition. Additionally, the 79.2% year-over-year growth in revenue from our live-streaming business reflected a recovery and an expansion of our market presence overseas. I believe the result underscores our strategic efforts to adapt to international markets, leveraging localized operation and innovative technologies to meet diverse user preferences.” 

    “This year will be pivotal for Xunlei, marked by the strategic acquisition of Hupu and proactive exploration of corporate development initiatives aimed at diversifying revenue streams to achieve sustainable growth in both top-line and bottom-line. Supported by our strong capital structure and ample financial liquidity, we remain committed to delivering value to users while harnessing our outstanding technological capabilities and operational expertise to capitalize on AI-driven applications and other new opportunities, and to create long-term value for shareholders,” Mr. Li concluded.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Total Revenues

    Total revenues were US$88.8 million, representing an increase of 10.5% year-over-year. The increase in total revenues was mainly attributable to the increased revenues generated from our subscription business and overseas audio live-streaming business.

    Revenues from subscription were US$35.7 million, representing an increase of 7.7% year-over-year. The increase in subscription revenues was mainly driven by the increase in the number of subscribers. The number of subscribers was 6.04 million as of March 31, 2025, compared with 5.76 million as of March 31, 2024. The average revenue per subscriber for the first quarter was RMB40.9, compared with RMB39.5 in the same period of 2024. The higher average revenue per subscriber was due to the increased proportion of premium subscribers which have higher average revenue per subscriber.

    Revenues from live-streaming and other services were US$28.4 million, representing an increase of 66.0% year-over-year. The increase in live-streaming and other services revenues was mainly due to the increase in revenues from our overseas audio live-streaming businesses.

    Revenues from cloud computing were US$24.7 million, representing a decrease of 18.0% year-over-year. The decrease in cloud computing revenues was mainly due to the reduced sales of our cloud computing services and hardware devices as a result of heightened competition, pricing pressure and evolving regulatory environment.

    Costs of Revenues

    Costs of revenues were US$44.4 million, representing 50.0% of our total revenues, compared with US$37.1 million, or 46.2% of the total revenues, in the same period of 2024. The increase in costs of revenues was mainly attributable to the increase in revenue-sharing expenses in our overseas audio live-streaming operations, generally in line with the growth in live-streaming and other service revenues.

    Bandwidth costs, as included in costs of revenues, were US$26.6 million, representing 30.0% of our total revenues, compared with US$27.1 million, or 33.8% of the total revenues, in the same period of 2024. The decrease in bandwidth costs was primarily due to the reduced sales of our cloud computing services during the quarter, partially offset by the increased usage of Xunlei Cloud as a result of the increased subscribers.

    The remaining costs of revenues mainly consisted of costs related to the revenue-sharing costs for our live streaming business and payment handling charges.

    Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin

    Gross profit for the first quarter of 2025 was US$44.1 million, representing an increase of 2.9% year-over-year. Gross profit margin was 49.7% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 53.3% in the same period of 2024. The increase in gross profit was mainly driven by the increase in gross profit generated from our overseas audio live-streaming business and subscription business. The decrease in gross profit margin was mainly attributable to the decreased gross profit margin of cloud computing business.

    Research and Development Expenses

    Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$18.7 million, representing 21.1% of our total revenues, compared with US$17.6 million, or 22.0% of our total revenues, in the same period of 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increased labor costs incurred during the quarter.

    Sales and Marketing Expenses

    Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$15.5 million, representing 17.5% of our total revenues, compared with US$10.1 million, or 12.5% of our total revenues, in the same period of 2024. The increase was primarily due to more marketing expenses incurred during the quarter for our subscription and overseas audio live-streaming businesses as part of our ongoing efforts on user acquisition.

    General and Administrative Expenses

    General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$11.8 million, representing 13.3% of our total revenues, compared with US$11.1 million, or 13.9% of our total revenues, in the same period of 2024.

    Operating (Loss)/Income

    Operating loss was US$1.9 million, compared with an operating income of US$4.0 million in the same period of 2024. The decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to the decrease in gross profit margin and the increase in sales and marketing expenses during the quarter, compared with the same period of 2024.

    Other Income, Net

    Other income, net was US$1.2 million, compared with other income, net of US$0.3 million in the same period of 2024. The increase was primarily due to impairment on one of our long-term investments that occurred during the first quarter of 2024.

    Net (Loss)/Income and (Loss)/Earnings Per ADS

    Net loss was US$0.9 million compared with net income of US$3.6 million in the same period of 2024. The net loss was primarily due to the increase in operating loss, partially offset by the increased other income as discussed above. Non-GAAP net income was US$0.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared with US$4.5 million in the same period of 2024.

    Diluted loss per ADS in the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.01, compared with diluted earnings per ADS of US$0.06 in the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS was US$0.004 in the first quarter, compared with non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS of US$0.07 in the same period of 2024.

    Cash Balance

    As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of US$274.6 million, compared with US$287.5 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments was mainly due to the first tranche of payment for the acquisition of Hupu, spending on share repurchase and repayment of bank loans during the quarter, partially offset by the net cash inflow from operating activities.

    Share Repurchase Program

    On June 4, 2024, Xunlei announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a new plan for the repurchase of up to US$20 million of its ADSs or shares over the 12 months that followed. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had spent US$6.5 million on share buybacks under the new share repurchase program, among which US$0.9 million was spent in the first quarter of 2025.

    Guidance for the Second Quarter of 2025

    For the second quarter of 2025, Xunlei estimates total revenues to be between US$91 million and US$96 million, and the midpoint of the range represents a quarter-over-quarter increase of approximately 5.3%. This estimate represents management’s preliminary view as of the date of this press release, which is subject to change and any change could be material.

    Conference Call Information.

    Xunlei’s management will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on May 15, 2025 (8:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time), to discuss the Company’s quarterly results and recent business developments.

    Participant Online Registration: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIe31316b11951413ca6026dd0a7227b38

    Please register to join the conference using the link provided above and dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. Once registered, the participants will receive an email with personal PIN and dial-in information, and participants can choose to access either via Dial-In or Call Me. A kindly reminder that “Call Me” does not work for China number.

    The Company will also broadcast a live audio webcast of the conference call. The webcast will be available at http://ir.xunlei.com. Following the earnings conference call, an archive of the call will be available at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/vrett8r2

    About Xunlei

    Founded in 2003, Xunlei Limited (Nasdaq: XNET) is a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China. Xunlei provides a wide range of products and services across cloud acceleration, shared cloud computing and digital entertainment to deliver an efficient, smart and safe internet experience.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the management’s quotations and the “Guidance” section in this press release, as well as the Company’s strategic, operational and acquisition plans, contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to continue to innovate and provide attractive products and services to retain and grow its user base; the Company’s ability to keep up with technological developments and users’ changing demands in the internet industry; the Company’s ability to convert its users into subscribers of its premium services; the Company’s ability to deal with existing and potential copyright infringement claims and other related claims; the Company’s ability to react to the governmental actions for its scrutiny of internet content in China and the Company’s ability to compete effectively. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

    About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement Xunlei’s consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), Xunlei uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission: (1) non-GAAP operating (loss)/income, (2) non-GAAP net income, (3) non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share for common shares, and (4) non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

    Xunlei believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information to investors regarding the Company’s operating performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss of goodwill, which are not expected to result in future cash payments. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to Xunlei’s historical performance and assist the Company’s financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a recurring expense in Xunlei’s results of operations. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying reconciliation tables at the end of this release include details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures the Company has presented.

     
    XUNLEI LIMITED
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Amounts expressed in thousands of USD, except for share, per share (or ADS) data)
     
      March 31, Dec 31,
      2025 2024
      US$ US$
    Assets    
         
    Current assets:    
    Cash and cash equivalents 163,136   177,329  
    Short-term investments 111,436   110,209  
    Accounts receivable, net 40,034   32,662  
    Inventories 1,024   1,255  
    Due from related parties 30,482   31,519  
    Prepayments and other current assets 15,464   10,058  
    Total current assets 361,576   363,032  
         
    Non-current assets:    
    Restricted cash 218   218  
    Long-term investments 31,049   30,599  
    Deferred tax assets 10,720   10,528  
    Property and equipment, net 54,631   55,430  
    Intangible assets, net 8,416   8,310  
    Long-term prepayments and other assets 18,718   5,334  
    Operating lease assets 532   450  
    Total assets 485,860   473,901  
         
    Liabilities    
    Current liabilities:    
    Accounts payable 24,900   22,964  
    Due to related parties, current 17   17  
    Contract liabilities, current portion 41,253   39,936  
    Lease liabilities 331   253  
    Income tax payable 10,466   9,386  
    Accrued liabilities and other payables 61,242   52,093  
    Short-term bank borrowings and current portion of long-term bank borrowings 697   2,087  
    Total current liabilities 138,906   126,736  
         
    Non-current liabilities:    
    Contract liabilities, non-current portion 588   458  
    Lease liabilities, non-current portion 174   161  
    Deferred tax liabilities 1,090   1,154  
    Bank borrowings, non-current portion 27,166   27,127  
    Other long-term payables 711   480  
    Total liabilities 168,635   156,116  
         
    Equity    
    Common shares (US$0.00025 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 375,001,940 shares issued and 307,351,196 shares outstanding as at December 31, 2024; 375,001,940 issued and 311,860,331 shares outstanding as at March 31, 2025) 78   77  
    Treasury shares (67,650,744 shares and 63,141,609 shares as at December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively) 16   16  
    Additional paid-in-capital 477,350   477,244  
    Statutory reserves 8,718   8,718  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss (21,412 ) (21,694 )
    Accumulated deficits (147,105 ) (146,305 )
    Total Xunlei Limited’s shareholders’ equity 317,645   318,056  
    Non-controlling interests (420 ) (271 )
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 485,860   473,901  
    XUNLEI LIMITED
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss)/Income
    (Amounts expressed in thousands of USD, except for share, per share (or ADS) data)

      Three months ended
       
      Mar 31, Dec 31, Mar 31,
      2025  2024  2024 
      US$ US$ US$
    Revenues, net of rebates and discounts 88,764   84,302   80,359  
    Business taxes and surcharges (310 ) (313 ) (379 )
    Net revenues 88,454   83,989   79,980  
    Costs of revenues (44,350 ) (40,416 ) (37,139 )
    Gross profit 44,104   43,573   42,841  
           
    Operating expenses      
    Research and development expenses (18,743 ) (18,716 ) (17,642 )
    Sales and marketing expenses (15,522 ) (12,461 ) (10,061 )
    General and administrative expenses (11,791 ) (12,102 ) (11,132 )
    Credit loss write-back/(expenses), net 65   (75 ) 26  
    Impairment of goodwill   (20,748 )  
    Total operating expenses (45,991 ) (64,102 ) (38,809 )
           
    Operating (loss)/income (1,887 ) (20,529 ) 4,032  
    Interest income 1,072   1,173   1,221  
    Interest expense (220 ) (139 ) (242 )
    Other income, net 1,234   1,541   290  
    Income/(loss) before income taxes 199   (17,954 ) 5,301  
    Income tax (expense)/benefit (1,145 ) 8,083   (1,663 )
    Net (loss)/income (946 ) (9,871 ) 3,638  
           
    Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interest (146 ) (97 ) (1 )
    Net (loss)/income attributable to common shareholders (800 ) (9,774 ) 3,639  
           
    (Loss)/earnings per share for common shares      
    Basic (0.0026 ) (0.0312 ) 0.0113  
    Diluted (0.0026 ) (0.0312 ) 0.0112  
           
    (Loss)/earnings per ADS      
    Basic (0.0130 ) (0.1560 ) 0.0565  
    Diluted (0.0130 ) (0.1560 ) 0.0560  
           
    Weighted average number of common shares used in calculating:      
    Basic 306,082,940   313,664,089   323,341,607  
    Diluted 306,082,940   313,664,089   323,491,768  
           
    Weighted average number of ADSs used in calculating:      
    Basic 61,216,588   62,732,818   64,668,321  
    Diluted 61,216,588   62,732,818   64,698,354  
           
           
           
    XUNLEI LIMITED
    Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results
    (Amounts expressed in thousands of USD, except for share, per share (or ADS) data)
      Three months ended
       
      Mar 31, Dec 31, Mar 31,
      2025  2024  2024 
      US$ US$ US$
           
    GAAP operating (loss)/income (1,887 ) (20,529 ) 4,032  
    Share-based compensation expenses 1,058   390   901  
    Impairment of goodwill   20,748    
    Non-GAAP operating (loss)/income (829 ) 609   4,933  
           
    GAAP net (loss)/income (946 ) (9,871 ) 3,638  
    Share-based compensation expenses 1,058   390   901  
    Impairment of goodwill   20,748    
    Non-GAAP net income 112   11,267   4,539  
           
    GAAP (loss)/earnings per share for common shares:      
    Basic (0.0026 ) (0.0312 ) 0.0113  
    Diluted (0.0026 ) (0.0312 ) 0.0112  
           
    GAAP (loss)/earnings per ADS:      
    Basic (0.0130 ) (0.1560 ) 0.0565  
    Diluted (0.0130 ) (0.1560 ) 0.0560  
           
    Non-GAAP earnings per share for common shares:      
    Basic 0.0008   0.0362   0.0140  
    Diluted 0.0008   0.0362   0.0140  
           
    Non-GAAP earnings per ADS:      
    Basic 0.0040   0.1810   0.0700  
    Diluted 0.0040   0.1810   0.0700  
           
    Weighted average number of common shares used in calculating:      
    Basic 306,082,940   313,664,089   323,341,607  
    Diluted 306,082,940   313,664,089   323,491,768  
           
    Weighted average number of ADSs used in calculating:      
    Basic 61,216,588   62,732,818   64,668,321  
    Diluted 61,216,588   62,732,818   64,698,354  


    CONTACT:

    Investor Relations
    Xunlei Limited
    Email: ir@xunlei.com
    Tel: +86 755 6111 1571
    Website: http://ir.xunlei.com

    __________________________
    1 Non-GAAP net income is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information, please see the section of “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the table captioned “Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” contained in this press release.
    2 Non-GAAP earnings per ADS is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information, please see the section of “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the table captioned “Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” contained in this press release.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Calfrac Reports First Quarter 2025 Results with Record Financial Performance in Argentina

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calfrac Well Services Ltd. (“Calfrac” or “the Company”) (TSX: CFW) announces its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The following press release should be read in conjunction with the management’s discussion and analysis and interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as at March 31, 2025. Readers should also refer to the “Forward-looking statements” legal advisory and the section regarding “Non-GAAP Measures” at the end of this press release. All financial amounts and measures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. Additional information about Calfrac is available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca, including the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    CFO’S MESSAGE

    Calfrac achieved revenue of $370.1 million during the first quarter in 2025, a 3 percent decline from the fourth quarter in 2024, primarily due to a normal seasonal slowdown in activity in the Rockies region of North America. As experienced over the last couple of years, activity in the Rockies region continues to be very challenging during the first quarter due to limited customer activity, resulting from the higher costs of operating in extreme cold weather. However, the Company’s Argentina operations delivered a sequential increase in revenue of 56 percent as it operated two unconventional fracturing spreads in the Vaca Muerta shale play for a portion of the first quarter.

    Calfrac’s Chief Financial Officer, Mike Olinek commented: “I am very pleased with the strong operating and financial performance demonstrated by Calfrac’s team in Argentina during the first quarter and look forward to building on this positive momentum throughout the remainder of the year. I am also confident that the Company’s North American DGB fracturing fleets will remain in high demand and allow us to successfully navigate any potential slowdown in North America and deliver on our strategic priorities.”

    SELECT FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – CONTINUING OPERATIONS

      Three Months Ended Mar. 31,
     
      2025   2024   Change  
    (C$000s, except per share amounts) ($)   ($)   (%)  
    (unaudited)      
    Revenue 370,057   330,096   12  
    Adjusted EBITDA(1) 55,317   26,057   112  
    Cash flows provided by operating activities (7,050 ) 11,958   NM  
    Capital expenditures 42,132   48,072   (12 )
    Net income (loss) 7,796   (2,903 ) NM  
    Per share – basic 0.09   (0.03 ) NM  
    Per share – diluted 0.09   (0.03 ) NM  
    As at Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Change  
      2025 2024    
    (C$000s) ($) ($) (%)  
    (unaudited)      
    Cash and cash equivalents 15,463 44,045 (65 )
    Working capital, end of period(2) 266,087 229,856 16  
    Total assets, end of period 1,254,979 1,234,840 2  
    Long-term debt, end of period 341,095 320,908 6  
    Net debt(1)(3) 348,674 300,347 16  
    Total consolidated equity, end of period 660,262 653,330 1  

    (1)Refer to “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 6 for further information.
    (2)Working capital excludes cash and cash equivalents and the current portion of long-term debt of $341.1 million.
    (3)Refer to note 10 of the consolidated interim financial statements for further information.

    FIRST QUARTER OVERVIEW

    In the first quarter of 2025, the Company:

    • generated revenue of $370.1 million, an increase of 12 percent from the first quarter in 2024 resulting primarily from higher pricing and activity in Argentina, offset partially by lower pricing in North America;
    • reported Adjusted EBITDA of $55.3 million versus $26.1 million in the first quarter of 2024 due to record quarterly financial results in Argentina with the commencement of a second large fracturing fleet in the Vaca Muerta shale play during a portion of the first quarter;
    • had cash flow from operating activities of negative $7.1 million, which included $12.7 million of interest paid and cash used for working capital purposes of $35.0 million, as compared to $12.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, which was net of $9.7 million of interest paid and cash used for working capital purposes of $1.6 million;
    • reported net income from continuing operations of $7.8 million or $0.09 per share diluted compared to a net loss of $2.9 million or $0.03 per share diluted during the first quarter in 2024;
    • had a cash position of $15.5 million of which approximately 70 percent was held in Argentina. The Argentina cash balance includes an investment of US$6.1 million in Argentinean government bonds (BOPREAL Bonds) that will be repatriated to Canada before the end of the third quarter in 2025;
    • reported an increase in period-end working capital to $266.1 million from $229.9 million at December 31, 2024, primarily due to an increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2025 with a greater proportion generated from Argentina, which has longer lead times to collection than North America; and
    • incurred capital expenditures of $42.1 million, which included approximately $22.3 million of expansion capital in Argentina and $9.3 million related to the Company’s fracturing fleet modernization program in North America, including auxiliary support equipment.

    FINANCIAL OVERVIEW – CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    THREE MONTHS AND YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025 VERSUS 2024

    NORTH AMERICA

      Three Months Ended Mar. 31,
     
      2025 2024 Change  
    (C$000s, except operational and exchange rate information) ($) ($) (%)  
    (unaudited)      
    Revenue 227,902 248,959 (8 )
    Adjusted EBITDA(1) 6,131 14,872 (59 )
    Adjusted EBITDA (%)(1) 2.7 6.0 (55 )
    Fracturing revenue per job ($) 25,060 33,518 (25 )
    Number of fracturing jobs 8,709 7,176 21  
    Active pumping horsepower, end of year (000s) 898 951 (6 )
    US$/C$ average exchange rate(2) 1.4352 1.3486 6  

    (1)Refer to “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 6 for further information.
    (2)Source: Bank of Canada.

    OUTLOOK

    The uncertainty caused by geopolitical tensions, OPEC+ supply increases, and changes to the United States trade and tariff regimes, have affected the economic outlook for the global economy and triggered a recent decline in near-term crude oil prices. While activity in North America has not been significantly impacted as yet, oil-weighted completion activity is expected to be lower year-over-year, but more resilient than past cycles as a focus on capital discipline by the E&P sector has resulted in activity that only supports the maintenance of current production levels. However, completions activity within the Company’s natural gas producing regions in North America is anticipated to be slightly higher than the previous year given the relative strength in natural gas prices.

    The Company has been evaluating the implication of tariffs across its North American operations over the last few months and has commenced with mitigation efforts, wherever possible, including seeking applicable tariff exemptions for critical items that are sourced from the United States.

    Calfrac’s previously announced Tier IV modernization program is nearing completion. These strategic investments in next-generation Dynamic Gas Blending (“DGB”) pumping technology have resulted in the Company exiting the quarter with the equivalent of five Tier IV DGB fleets operating in the field. Calfrac’s dual-fuel capable fracturing fleets in North America are expected to remain in high demand during the second quarter, despite the current headwinds, and fleet utilization is expected to increase sequentially from the first quarter as certain clients in the Rockies region commence with their 2025 programs.

    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

    REVENUE

    Revenue from Calfrac’s North American operations decreased to $227.9 million during the first quarter of 2025 from $249.0 million in the comparable quarter of 2024. The Company’s North American activity was impacted by extreme cold weather and was significantly lower than the comparable quarter in 2024 despite the 21 percent increase in the number of jobs completed. The Company’s client mix was different than the comparable period in 2024 with the completion of a larger quantity of smaller jobs, which also impacted the fracturing revenue per job. The Company reduced its operating footprint to 11 active fracturing fleets to begin the first quarter to address the seasonal challenges experienced in the Rockies region. The Company recommenced operations in the Appalachian basin in January with an additional fracturing crew, which helped offset the lower revenue experienced in the Rockies. Pricing in North America was lower relative to the comparable quarter in 2024, which contributed to the 8 percent reduction in revenue. Coiled tubing revenue was consistent with the first quarter in 2024 as slightly lower activity was offset by the completion of larger jobs.

    ADJUSTED EBITDA

    The Company’s operations in North America generated Adjusted EBITDA of $6.1 million or 3 percent of revenue during the first quarter of 2025 compared to $14.9 million or 6 percent of revenue in the same period in 2024. This decrease was primarily due to the decline in fracturing fleet utilization and lower pricing.

    ARGENTINA

      Three Months Ended Mar. 31,
      2025 2024 Change
    (C$000s, except operational and exchange rate information) ($) ($) (%)
    (unaudited)      
    Revenue 142,155 81,137 75
    Adjusted EBITDA(1) 53,265 16,100 231
    Adjusted EBITDA (%)(1) 37.5 19.8 89
    Fracturing revenue per job ($) 124,874 74,354 68
    Number of fracturing jobs 741 672 10
    Active pumping horsepower, end of period (000s) 153 139 10
    US$/C$ average exchange rate(2) 1.4352 1.3486 6

    (1)Refer to “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 6 for further information.
    (2)Source: Bank of Canada.

    OUTLOOK

    Argentina continued to demonstrate year-over-year operational and financial improvement by achieving record quarterly financial performance during the first quarter of 2025. Calfrac expects its full-year financial results in Argentina will be very strong, building on the significant momentum generated during the first quarter. The Company benefited from spot work for its second large fracturing fleet in the Vaca Muerta shale play during the first quarter at operating margins that are not expected to be maintained during the remainder of the year. The Company’s 2025 capital program also contemplates the addition of in-house wireline capabilities in Argentina during the fourth quarter which will further bolster its service offering in Neuquén. Recent Argentina government announcements related to the cash repatriation regime in that country reaffirm the Company’s expectations of a greater ability to repatriate excess cash flow following the completion of its significant 2025 capital program.

    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

    REVENUE

    Calfrac’s Argentinean operations generated revenue of $142.2 million during the first quarter of 2025 versus $81.1 million in the comparable quarter in 2024. The 75 percent increase in revenue was driven by improved pricing for spot work and an increase in the number of fracturing jobs completed during the quarter. The Company operated two unconventional fracturing fleets in the Vaca Muerta shale play for a portion of the first quarter. The Company also demonstrated growth in activity across its other service lines as the Company permanently transferred equipment from Las Heras to Neuquén following the completion of a long-term contract. The Company’s offshore coiled tubing unit also contributed to the increase in revenue versus the comparable quarter in 2024.

    ADJUSTED EBITDA

    The Company’s operations in Argentina generated Adjusted EBITDA of $53.3 million during the first quarter of 2025 compared to $16.1 million in the same quarter of 2024, while the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA margins increased to 37 percent from 20 percent. This increase was primarily due to the significant revenue growth and efficiencies resulting from operating two unconventional fracturing fleets simultaneously during parts of the quarter and higher pricing for spot work. In addition, the Company received an early termination fee related to the closure of its operations in Las Heras following the completion of a long-term contract with a major client in that region. This revenue offset costs that were incurred in 2024 to permanently close this district.

    SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS – CONTINUING OPERATIONS

    Three Months Ended Jun. 30, Sep. 30, Dec. 31, Mar. 31,   Jun. 30, Sep. 30,   Dec. 31,   Mar. 31,
      2023 2023 2023 2024   2024 2024   2024   2025
    (C$000s, except per share and operating data) ($) ($) ($) ($)   ($) ($)   ($)   ($)
    (unaudited)                
    Financial                
    Revenue 466,463 483,093 421,402 330,096   426,047 430,109   381,230   370,057
    Adjusted EBITDA(1) 87,785 91,286 62,591 26,057   65,386 65,039   34,512   55,317
    Net income (loss) 50,531 97,523 13,202 (2,903 ) 24,549 (6,687 ) (6,424 ) 7,796
    Per share – basic 0.62 1.20 0.16 (0.03 ) 0.29 (0.08 ) (0.07 ) 0.09
    Per share – diluted 0.58 1.09 0.15 (0.03 ) 0.29 (0.08 ) (0.07 ) 0.09
    Capital expenditures 30,718 50,825 49,397 48,072   66,753 22,509   32,955   42,132

    (1)Refer to “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 6 for further information.

    CAPITAL EXPENDITURES – CONTINUING OPERATIONS

      Three Months Ended Mar. 31,
     
      2025 2024 Change  
    (C$000s) ($) ($) (%)  
    North America 12,941 37,174 (65 )
    Argentina 29,191 10,898 168  
    Continuing Operations 42,132 48,072 (12 )

    Capital expenditures were $42.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which included approximately $22.3 million of expansion capital in Argentina and $9.3 million related to the Company’s fracturing fleet modernization program in North America, including auxiliary support equipment versus $48.1 million in the comparable period in 2024.

    Calfrac’s Board of Directors approved a 2025 capital budget totalling approximately $135.0 million. The program includes approximately $50.0 million to facilitate the expansion of the Company’s fracturing operations in the Vaca Muerta shale play in Argentina that will be funded locally from cash flow. The 2025 Argentina capital program includes additional fracturing pumping units, an expansion of the Company’s deep coiled tubing capabilities and the introduction of in-house wireline services. The balance of the 2025 program will fund maintenance capital for all operating divisions as well as additional investments in the North American Tier IV fleet modernization program and coiled tubing fleet. Due to a delay in spending related to the Company’s 2024 capital program, approximately $30.0 million of 2024 capital commitments will be funded in 2025, mainly related to the expansion in Argentina, of which approximately $20.0 million occurred during the first quarter.

    NON-GAAP MEASURES

    Certain supplementary measures presented in this press release, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA percentage and Net Debt do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and, because IFRS have been incorporated as Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), these supplementary measures are also non-GAAP measures. These measures have been described and presented to provide shareholders and potential investors with additional information regarding the Company’s financial results, liquidity and ability to generate funds to finance its operations. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities, and are explained below.

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income or loss for the period less interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, foreign exchange losses (gains), non-cash stock-based compensation, and gains and losses that are extraordinary or non-recurring. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it gives an indication of the results from the Company’s principal business activities prior to consideration of how its activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to evaluate the performance of the Company and is also used as a basis for monitoring the Company’s compliance with covenants under the revolving credit facility. Adjusted EBITDA for the period was calculated as follows:

      Three Months Ended March 31,
     
      2025   2024  
    (C$000s) ($)   ($)  
         
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations 7,796   (2,903 )
    Add back (deduct):    
    Depreciation 31,922   27,995  
    Foreign exchange losses (gains) 1,693   (1,049 )
    Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment 124   (6,241 )
    Restructuring charges 516    
    Stock-based compensation (925 ) 2,185  
    Interest, net 7,944   6,032  
    Income taxes 6,247   38  
    Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations 55,317   26,057  
    Less: IFRS 16 lease payments (3,679 ) (3,235 )
    Less: Argentina EBITDA threshold adjustment(1) (45,397 ) (5,428 )
    Bank EBITDA for covenant purposes 6,241   17,394  

    (1)Refer to note 4 of the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

    Adjusted EBITDA percentage is a non-GAAP financial ratio that is determined by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by revenue for the corresponding period.

    Net Debt is defined as long-term debt less unamortized debt issuance costs plus lease obligations, less cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations. The calculation of net debt is disclosed in note 10 to the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements for the corresponding period.

    OTHER NON-STANDARD FINANCIAL TERMS

    MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION CAPITAL

    Maintenance capital refers to expenditures in respect of capital additions, replacements or improvements required to maintain ongoing business operations. Expansion capital refers to expenditures primarily for new items, upgrades and/or equipment that will expand the Company’s revenue and/or reduce its expenditures through operating efficiencies. The determination of what constitutes maintenance capital expenditures versus expansion capital involves judgement by management.

    BUSINESS RISKS

    The business of Calfrac is subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Prior to making any investment decision regarding Calfrac, investors should carefully consider, among other things, the risk factors set forth in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Information Form under the heading “Risk Factors” which is available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company’s profile. Copies of the Annual Information Form may also be obtained on request without charge from Calfrac at Suite 500, 407 – 8th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 1E5, or at www.calfrac.com.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Calfrac’s common shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “CFW”.

    Calfrac provides specialized oilfield services to exploration and production companies designed to increase the production of hydrocarbons from wells with continuing operations focused throughout western Canada, the United States and Argentina. During the first quarter of 2022, management committed to a plan to sell the Company’s Russian division, resulting in the associated assets and liabilities being classified as held for sale and presented in the Company’s financial statements as discontinued operations. The results of the Company’s discontinued operations are excluded from the discussion and figures presented above unless otherwise noted. See Note 4 to the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 for additional information on the Company’s discontinued operations.

    Further information regarding Calfrac Well Services Ltd., including the most recently filed Annual Information Form, can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.calfrac.com or under the Company’s public filings found at www.sedarplus.ca.

    FIRST QUARTER CONFERENCE CALL AND AGM UPDATE

    Calfrac will no longer be conducting the previously announced conference call to review its 2025 first-quarter results on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Any interested parties can reach out to Mike Olinek, Chief Financial Officer at the contact information below should they wish to ask any questions regarding the Company’s quarterly financial results.

    The Company will be holding its Annual General Meeting at 1:30 pm on Thursday May 15, 2025 in the Viking Room of the Calgary Petroleum Club.

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

      March 31,   December 31,  
      2025   2024  
    (C$000s) ($)   ($)  
    ASSETS    
    Current assets    
    Cash and cash equivalents 15,463   44,045  
    Accounts receivable 306,957   251,108  
    Inventories 130,596   145,506  
    Prepaid expenses and deposits 21,797   26,452  
      474,813   467,111  
    Assets classified as held for sale 47,053   45,335  
      521,866   512,446  
    Non-current assets    
    Property, plant and equipment 684,123   673,381  
    Right-of-use assets 19,990   20,013  
    Deferred income tax assets 29,000   29,000  
      733,113   722,394  
    Total assets 1,254,979   1,234,840  
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
    Current liabilities    
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 160,129   173,974  
    Income taxes payable 23,301   9,700  
    Current portion of long-term debt 341,095   150,000  
    Current portion of lease obligations 9,833   9,536  
      534,358   343,210  
    Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale 32,677   30,945  
      567,035   374,155  
    Non-current liabilities    
    Long-term debt   170,908  
    Lease obligations 13,209   13,948  
    Deferred income tax liabilities 14,473   22,499  
      27,682   207,355  
    Total liabilities 594,717   581,510  
    Capital stock 911,900   911,785  
    Contributed surplus 76,190   77,159  
    Accumulated deficit (373,875 ) (379,490 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income 46,047   43,876  
    Total equity 660,262   653,330  
    Total liabilities and equity 1,254,979   1,234,840  

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

      Three Months Ended March 31,
     
      2025   2024  
    (C$000s, except per share data) ($)   ($)  
         
    Revenue 370,057   330,096  
    Cost of sales 330,576   316,208  
    Gross profit 39,481   13,888  
    Expenses    
    Selling, general and administrative 15,677   18,011  
    Foreign exchange losses (gains) 1,693   (1,049 )
    Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment 124   (6,241 )
    Interest, net 7,944   6,032  
      25,438   16,753  
    Income (loss) before income tax 14,043   (2,865 )
    Income tax expense (recovery)    
    Current 14,240   6,414  
    Deferred (7,993 ) (6,376 )
      6,247   38  
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations 7,796   (2,903 )
    Net (loss) income from discontinued operations (2,181 ) 750  
    Net income (loss) 5,615   (2,153 )
         
    Earnings (loss) per share – basic    
    Continuing operations 0.09   (0.03 )
    Discontinued operations (0.03 ) 0.01  
      0.07   (0.02 )
         
    Earnings (loss) per share – diluted    
    Continuing operations 0.09   (0.03 )
    Discontinued operations (0.03 ) 0.01  
      0.07   (0.02 )

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

      Three Months Ended March 31,
     
      2025   2024  
    (C$000s) ($)   ($)  
    CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED IN)   Restated
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
    Net income (loss) 7,796   (2,903 )
    Adjusted for the following:    
    Depreciation 31,922   27,995  
    Stock-based compensation (925 ) 2,185  
    Unrealized foreign exchange losses 1,846   2,627  
    Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment 124   (6,241 )
    Interest 7,944   6,032  
    Interest paid (12,716 ) (9,717 )
    Deferred income taxes (7,993 ) (6,376 )
    Changes in items of working capital (35,048 ) (1,644 )
    Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations (7,050 ) 11,958  
    Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations 10,231   (8,185 )
    Net cash flows provided by operating activities 3,181   3,773  
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
    Purchase of property, plant and equipment (38,498 ) (55,727 )
    Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 1,553   11,508  
    Proceeds on disposal of right-of-use assets 206   227  
    Cash flows used in investing activities from continuing operations (36,739 ) (43,992 )
    Cash flows used in investing activities from discontinued operations (1,457 ) (678 )
    Net cash flows used in investing activities (38,196 ) (44,670 )
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
    Issuance of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs 30,000   60,000  
    Long-term debt repayments (10,000 )  
    Lease obligation principal repayments (3,244 ) (2,840 )
    Proceeds on issuance of common shares from the exercise of stock options 71    
    Cash flows provided by financing activities from continuing operations 16,827   57,160  
    Cash flows provided by financing activities from discontinued operations    
    Net cash flows provided by financing activities 16,827   57,160  
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 550   (1,464 )
    (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (17,638 ) 14,799  
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 50,776   45,190  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 33,138   59,989  
    Included in the cash and cash equivalents per the balance sheet 15,463   58,239  
    Included in the assets held for sale/discontinued operations 17,675   1,750  


    ADVISORIES

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    In order to provide Calfrac shareholders and potential investors with information regarding the Company and its subsidiaries, including management’s assessment of Calfrac’s plans and future operations, certain statements contained in this press release, including statements that contain words such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “forecast” or similar words suggesting future outcomes, are forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”).

    In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations regarding trends in, and prospects of, the global oil and gas industry; activity, demand, utilization and outlook for the Company’s continuing operations, including the potential impacts of, and mitigation strategies for, the trade tariffs implemented by the U.S. and Canada on the Company’s North American segment and the strong activity and profitability outlook for the Argentina segment; the supply and demand fundamentals of the pressure pumping industry; input costs, margin and service pricing trends and strategies; operating and financing strategies, performance, priorities, metrics and estimates, including the Company’s ability to repatriate cash from Argentina and the timing thereof; the Company’s Russian segment, including the planned sale of the Russian division; the Company’s service quality and competitive position; capital investment plans, including the progress of the Company’s fleet modernization plan in North America and planned wireline investments to bolster the Company’s service offering in Argentina; and the Company’s expectations and intentions with respect to the foregoing.

    These statements are derived from certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including, but not limited to, the economic and political environment in which the Company operates, including the continued implementation of Argentina economic reforms and liberalization of its oil and gas industry as well as the current state of the trade war between Canada and the U.S. and its expected impact on the pressure pumping market in North America; the Company’s expectations for its customers’ capital budgets, demand for services and geographical areas of focus; the level of merger and acquisition activity among oil and gas producers and its impact on the demand for well completion services; the anticipated effects of artificial intelligence power requirements and the commissioning of liquified natural gas terminals on supply and demand fundamentals for oil and natural gas; the ability of newly deployed Tier IV DGB pumping units to achieve manufacturer claims with respect to operational performance, diesel displacement and costs savings in the field; the effect of environmental, social and governance factors on customer and investor preferences and capital deployment; the status of the military conflict in the Ukraine and related Canadian, United States and international sanctions and restrictions involving Russia and counter-sanctions, restrictions, and political measures that may be undertaken in respect of the Company’s ownership and planned sale of the Russian division; industry equipment levels including the number of active fracturing fleets marketed by the Company’s competitors and the timing of deployment of the Company’s fleet upgrades; the continued effectiveness of cost reduction measures instituted by the Company; the Company’s existing contracts and the status of current negotiations with key customers and suppliers; and the likelihood that the current tax and regulatory regime will remain substantially unchanged.

    Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Such risk factors include but are not limited to: (A) industry risks, including but not limited to, global economic conditions and the level of exploration, development and production for oil and natural gas in North America and Argentina; a shift in strategy by exploration and production companies prioritizing shareholders returns over production growth; excess equipment levels; impacts of conservation measures and technological advances on the demand for the Company’s services; an intensely competitive oilfield services industry; and hazards inherent in the industry; (B) geopolitical risks, including but not limited to, the impacts of the trade war between Canada and United States; foreign operations exposure, including risks relating to repatriation of cash from foreign jurisdictions, unsettled political conditions, war, foreign exchange rates and controls; and risks that the sale of the discontinued operations in Russia may not occur or may be delayed; (C) financial risks, including but not limited to, restrictions on the Company’s access to capital, including the impacts of covenants under the Company’s lending documents; direct and indirect exposure to volatile credit markets, including interest rate risk; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; price escalation and availability of raw materials, diesel fuel and component parts; actual results which are materially different from management estimates and assumptions; the Company’s access to capital and common share price given a significant number of common shares are controlled by two directors of the Company; possible dilution from outstanding stock-based compensation, additional equity or debt securities; and changes in tax rates or reassessment risk by tax authorities; (D) business operations risks, including but not limited to, fleet reinvestment risk, including the ability of the Company to finance the capital necessary for equipment upgrades to support its operational needs while meeting government and customer requirements and preferences; risks of delays and quality of equipment due to Company’s reliance on equipment manufacturers, suppliers and fabricators; seasonal volatility; constrained demand for the Company’s services due to merger and acquisition activity; a concentrated customer base; cybersecurity risks; difficulty retaining, replacing or adding personnel; failure to continuously improve equipment, proprietary fluid chemistries and other products and services; climate change; failure to maintain safety standards and records; improper access to confidential information; failure to effectively and timely address the energy transition; risks of various types of activism; and failure to realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; (E) legal and regulatory risks, including but not limited to, federal, provincial and state legislative and regulatory initiatives and laws; health, safety and environmental laws and regulations; the direct and indirect costs of various existing and proposed climate change regulations; and legal and administrative proceedings. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties may be found under the heading “Business Risks” above.

    Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized, or that they will have the expected consequences or effects on the Company or its business or operations. These statements speak only as of the respective date of this press release or the documents incorporated by reference herein. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws.

    For further information, please contact:

    Mike Olinek, Chief Financial Officer

    Telephone: 403-266-6000        
    www.calfrac.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: KE Holdings Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KE Holdings Inc. (“Beike” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BEKE; HKEX: 2423), a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Business and Financial Highlights for the First Quarter 2025

    • Gross transaction value (GTV)1 was RMB843.7 billion (US$116.3 billion), an increase of 34.0% year-over-year. GTV of existing home transactions was RMB580.3 billion (US$80.0 billion), an increase of 28.1% year-over-year. GTV of new home transactions was RMB232.2 billion (US$32.0 billion), an increase of 53.0% year-over-year.
    • Net revenues were RMB23.3 billion (US$3.2 billion), an increase of 42.4% year-over-year.
    • Net income was RMB855 million (US$118 million), an increase of 97.9% year-over-year. Adjusted net income2 was RMB1,393 million (US$192 million), relatively flat year-over-year.
    • Number of stores was 56,849 as of March 31, 2025, a 28.6% increase from one year ago. Number of active stores3 was 55,210 as of March 31, 2025, a 29.6% increase from one year ago.
    • Number of agents was 550,290 as of March 31, 2025, a 24.3% increase from one year ago. Number of active agents4 was 490,862 as of March 31, 2025, a 23.0% increase from one year ago.
    • Mobile monthly active users (MAU)5 averaged 44.5 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 47.7 million in the same period of 2024.

    Mr. Stanley Yongdong Peng, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Beike, commented, “Building on the stable market performance and the continued effectiveness of our growth strategy, our business maintained strong growth in the first quarter, with our total transaction value increasing by 34.0% year-over-year and net revenues rising by 42.4%. Our housing transaction services continue to significantly outperform the market. Our platform continually empowers more industry partners, with the numbers of active stores and agents increasing notably by 29.6% and 23.0% year-over-year, respectively, and with improvements in both agent and store efficiency. Our home renovation and furnishing services saw steady revenue growth, achieving a record high in contribution margin, with initial progress in improving customer experience and operational efficiency. The home rental services managed over 500,000 units by the end of the first quarter, with ongoing improvements in operational capabilities. We are also advancing our AI applications, deploying multiple intelligent tools on both the C-end and B-end, enhancing customer experience and boosting service efficiency.”

    “Looking ahead, we are confident in the long-term development of our Company under the ‘One Body, Three Wings’ strategy and will continue to invest firmly in AI applications. At the same time, we will be more prudent in other types of investments this year, focusing on the return on investment to strengthen the foundation for safe operations and ensure that shareholders who support the Company’s long-term vision can benefit from our sustainable development,” concluded Mr. Peng.

    Mr. Tao Xu, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Beike, added, “In the first quarter, the market performance was very stable, continuing the positive impact resulting from the policies implemented in September last year. National new home sales remained relatively flat year-over-year in the first quarter, better than the substantial year-over-year decline in the same period last year, and the existing home market remained at a high level in activity.

    For performance in the first quarter, our net revenues reached RMB23.3 billion, up 42.4% year-over-year. Net revenues from existing home transaction services reached RMB6.9 billion in Q1, up 20.0% year-over-year. Net revenues from new home transaction services reached RMB8.1 billion in Q1, up 64.2% year-over-year. Net revenues from non-housing transaction services grew by 46.2% year-over-year, accounted for 35.9% of total net revenues. Among these, net revenues from home rental services reached a record high of RMB5.1 billion, up 93.8% year-over-year. Our operational efficiency further improved. The operating expenses in the first quarter were RMB4.2 billion, down 31.3% quarter-over-quarter. The profitability also improved. The net income in the first quarter reached RMB855 million, up 97.9% year-on-year. The adjusted net income reached RMB1,393 million.

    With robust cash reserves, we continued to reward our shareholders who have grown with us. In the first quarter, we allocated approximately US$139 million to share repurchases, and the repurchased shares accounted for approximately 0.6% of the Company’s total issued shares at the end of 2024.

    We will continue to support long-term business development by fully backing our ‘One Body, Three Wings’ strategic initiatives and actively exploring the AI technology.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Net Revenues

    Net revenues increased by 42.4% to RMB23.3 billion (US$3.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB16.4 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the increase of total GTV and the expansion of home rental business. Total GTV increased by 34.0% to RMB843.7 billion (US$116.3 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB629.9 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the sustained growth of existing home transaction market and the Company’s enhanced capabilities in market coverage.

    • Net revenues from existing home transaction services were RMB6.9 billion (US$0.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, increased by 20.0% from RMB5.7 billion in the same period of 2024. GTV of existing home transactions increased by 28.1% to RMB580.3 billion (US$80.0 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB453.2 billion in the same period of 2024. The higher growth rate in GTV compared to net revenues in existing home transaction services was primarily attributable to a) a higher contribution from GTV of existing home transaction services served by connected agents on the Company’s platform, for which revenue is recorded on a net basis from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services, while for GTV served by Lianjia brand, the revenue is recorded on a gross commission revenue basis, and b) a lower proportion of GTV from existing home rental transaction services as of total existing home transaction services, which has a higher commission rate than existing home sales transaction services.

      Among that, (i) commission revenue was RMB5.6 billion (US$0.8 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, increased by 20.5% from RMB4.6 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the increase of GTV of existing home transactions served by Lianjia stores of 23.6% to RMB221.4 billion (US$30.5 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB179.2 billion in the same period of 2024; and

      (ii) revenues derived from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services, which are mostly charged to connected stores and agents on the Company’s platform increased by 17.6% to RMB1.3 billion (US$0.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB1.1 billion in the same period of 2024, mainly due to an increase of GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents on the Company’s platform of 31.0% to RMB358.9 billion (US$49.5 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB274.0 billion in the same period of 2024, partially offset by incentive-based reductions in platform service and franchise service fees for connected stores.

    • Net revenues from new home transaction services increased by 64.2% to RMB8.1 billion (US$1.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB4.9 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily due to the increase of GTV of new home transactions of 53.0% to RMB232.2 billion (US$32.0 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB151.8 billion in the same period of 2024. Among that, the GTV of new home transactions facilitated on Beike platform through connected agents, dedicated sales team with the expertise on new home transaction services and other sales channels increased by 58.3% to RMB192.0 billion (US$26.5 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB121.3 billion in the same period of 2024, and the GTV of new home transactions served by Lianjia brand increased by 32.1% to RMB40.3 billion (US$5.5 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB30.5 billion in the same period of 2024.
    • Net revenues from home renovation and furnishing increased by 22.3% to RMB2.9 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB2.4 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the increase in home renovation orders referred by home transaction services.
    • Net revenues from home rental services increased by 93.8% to RMB5.1 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB2.6 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the increase of the number of rental units under the Carefree Rent model.
    • Net revenues from emerging and other services were RMB350 million (US$48 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB700 million in the same period of 2024.

    Cost of Revenues

    Total cost of revenues increased by 51.0% to RMB18.5 billion (US$2.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB12.3 billion in the same period of 2024.

    • Commission – split. The Company’s cost of revenues for commissions to connected agents and other sales channels increased by 66.6% to RMB5.7 billion (US$0.8 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, from RMB3.4 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily due to the increase in net revenues from new home transaction services derived from transactions facilitated through connected agents and other sales channels.
    • Commission and compensation – internal. The Company’s cost of revenues for internal commission and compensation increased by 33.1% to RMB4.8 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB3.6 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily due to an increase in the net revenues from existing and new home transactions derived from transactions facilitated through Lianjia agents and the increase in fixed compensation costs mainly driven by the increased number of Lianjia agents and improved benefits for them.
    • Cost of home renovation and furnishing. The Company’s cost of revenues for home renovation and furnishing increased by 18.8% to RMB2.0 billion (US$0.3 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB1.7 billion in the same period of 2024, which was in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing.
    • Cost of home rental services. The Company’s cost of revenues for home rental services increased by 91.3% to RMB4.7 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB2.5 billion in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the growth of net revenues from home rental services.
    • Cost related to stores. The Company’s cost related to stores increased by 4.6% to RMB717 million (US$99 million) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB685 million in the same period of 2024, primarily attributable to the increased number of Lianjia stores.
    • Other costs. The Company’s other costs increased to RMB0.5 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB0.4 billion in the same period of 2024, mainly due to the increased tax and surcharges in line with the increased net revenues and an increase in provision and funding costs of financial services.

    Gross Profit

    Gross profit increased by 17.0% to RMB4.8 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB4.1 billion in the same period of 2024. Gross margin decreased to 20.7% in the first quarter of 2025 from 25.2% in the same period of 2024, primarily due to a) a lower proportion of net revenues from existing home transaction services with a relatively higher contribution margin than other revenues streams, and b) a lower contribution margin of existing home transaction services led by the increased fix compensation costs as percentage of net revenues from existing home transaction services.

    Income from Operations

    Total operating expenses were RMB4.2 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB4.1 billion in the same period of 2024.

    • General and administrative expenses were RMB1.9 billion (US$0.3 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, compared with RMB2.0 billion in the same period of 2024, mainly due to the decrease in share-based compensation expenses.
    • Sales and marketing expenses increased by 9.2% to RMB1.8 billion (US$0.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB1.6 billion in the same period of 2024, mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses for home renovation and furnishing business.
    • Research and development expenses increased by 24.9% to RMB584 million (US$80 million) in the first quarter of 2025 from RMB467 million in the same period of 2024, primarily due to the increased headcount of research and development personnel and the increased technical service costs.

    Income from operations was RMB591 million (US$81million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB12 million in the same period of 2024. Operating margin was 2.5% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 0.1% in the same period of 2024, primarily due to the improved operating leverage, compared to the same period of 2024.

    Adjusted income from operations6 was RMB1,148 million (US$158 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB960 million in the same period of 2024. Adjusted operating margin7 was 4.9% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 5.9% in the same period of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA8 was RMB1,842 million (US$254 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB1,666 million in the same period of 2024.

    Net Income

    Net income was RMB855 million (US$118 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB432 million in the same period of 2024.

    Adjusted net income was RMB1,393 million (US$192 million) in the first quarter of 2025, relatively flat compared to RMB1,392 million in the same period of 2024.

    Net Income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s Ordinary Shareholders

    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders was RMB856 million (US$118 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB432 million in the same period of 2024.

    Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders9 was RMB1,393 million (US$192 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB1,392 million in the same period of 2024.

    Net Income per ADS

    Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders10 were RMB0.76 (US$0.10) and RMB0.73 (US$0.10) in the first quarter of 2025, respectively, compared to RMB0.38 and RMB0.37 in the same period of 2024, respectively.

    Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders11 were RMB1.24 (US$0.17) and RMB1.19 (US$0.16) in the first quarter of 2025, respectively, compared to RMB1.21 and RMB1.18 in the same period of 2024, respectively.

    Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

    As of March 31, 2025, the combined balance of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments amounted to RMB54.8 billion (US$7.6 billion).

    Share Repurchase Program

    As previously disclosed, the Company established a share repurchase program in August 2022 and upsized and extended it in August 2023 and August 2024, under which the Company may purchase up to US$3 billion of its Class A ordinary shares and/or ADSs until August 31, 2025, subject to obtaining another general unconditional mandate for the repurchase from the shareholders of the Company at the next annual general meeting to continue its share repurchase after the expiry of the existing share repurchase mandate granted by the annual general meeting held on June 14, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, the Company in aggregate has purchased approximately 116.6 million ADSs (representing approximately 349.9 million Class A ordinary shares) on the New York Stock Exchange with a total consideration of approximately US$1,764.8 million under this share repurchase program since its launch.

    Conference Call Information

    The Company will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 15, 2025 (8:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Thursday, May 15, 2025) to discuss the financial results.

    For participants who wish to join the conference call using dial-in numbers, please complete online registration using the link provided below at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Dial-in numbers, passcode and unique access PIN would be provided upon registering.

    Participant Online Registration:

    English Line: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10046740-j8h7g6.html

    Chinese Simultaneous Interpretation Line (listen-only mode): https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10046741-h6g53.html

    A replay of the conference call will be accessible through May 22, 2025, by dialing the following numbers:

    United States: +1-855-883-1031
    Mainland, China: 400-1209-216
    Hong Kong, China: 800-930-639
    International: +61-7-3107-6325
    Replay PIN (English line): 10046740
    Replay PIN (Chinese simultaneous interpretation line): 10046741
       

    A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.ke.com.

    Exchange Rate

    This press release contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB7.2567 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2025, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. For analytical presentation, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial information contained in this earnings release.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    The Company uses adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and formulating its business plan. Beike believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in the Company’s business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that the Company includes in its net income (loss). Beike also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in formulating its business plan. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP financial measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in the Company’s business.

    The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to gross profit, net income (loss) or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review these non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data. Beike encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Adjusted income (loss) from operations is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, and (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement. Adjusted operating margin is defined as adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of investments, and (v) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of investments, (v) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vi) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, and (vii) impairment of investments. Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.

    Please see the “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” included in this press release for a full reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to its respective comparable GAAP measure.

    About KE Holdings Inc.

    KE Holdings Inc. is a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company is a pioneer in building infrastructure and standards to reinvent how service providers and customers efficiently navigate and complete housing transactions and services in China, ranging from existing and new home sales, home rentals, to home renovation and furnishing, and other services. The Company owns and operates Lianjia, China’s leading real estate brokerage brand and an integral part of its Beike platform. With more than 23 years of operating experience through Lianjia since its inception in 2001, the Company believes the success and proven track record of Lianjia pave the way for it to build its infrastructure and standards and drive the rapid and sustainable growth of Beike.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release, as well as Beike’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Beike may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about KE Holdings Inc.’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Beike’s goals and strategies; Beike’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; Beike’s ability to empower services and facilitate transactions on Beike platform; competition in the industry in which Beike operates; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the industry; Beike’s ability to protect the Company’s systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; Beike’s dependence on the integrity of brokerage brands, stores and agents on the Company’s platform; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in KE Holdings Inc.’s filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and KE Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please visit: https://investors.ke.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:
    KE Holdings Inc.
    Investor Relations
    Siting Li
    E-mail: ir@ke.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Jenny Cai
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:
    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

    Source: KE Holdings Inc.

    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data)
     
        As of
    December 31,
      As of
    March 31,
        2024   2025
        RMB   RMB   US$
                 
    ASSETS            
    Current assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents   11,442,965   12,772,700   1,760,125
    Restricted cash   8,858,449   10,145,685   1,398,113
    Short-term investments   41,317,700   31,876,941   4,392,760
    Financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB147,330 and RMB162,302 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively   2,835,527   2,073,051   285,674
    Accounts receivable and contract assets, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB1,636,163 and RMB1,643,867 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively   5,497,989   5,139,299   708,214
    Amounts due from and prepayments to related parties   379,218   390,196   53,770
    Loan receivables from related parties   18,797   194,086   26,746
    Prepayments, receivables and other assets   6,252,700   7,573,610   1,043,672
    Total current assets   76,603,345   70,165,568   9,669,074
    Non-current assets            
    Property, plant and equipment, net   2,400,211   2,427,395   334,504
    Right-of-use assets   23,366,879   23,536,212   3,243,377
    Long-term investments, net   23,790,106   27,618,510   3,805,932
    Intangible assets, net   857,635   823,140   113,432
    Goodwill   4,777,420   4,777,420   658,346
    Long-term loan receivables from related parties   131,410   19,360   2,668
    Other non-current assets   1,222,277   1,244,856   171,546
    Total non-current assets   56,545,938   60,446,893   8,329,805
    TOTAL ASSETS   133,149,283   130,612,461   17,998,879
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data)
     
        As of
    December 31,
      As of
    March 31,
        2024   2025
        RMB   RMB   US$
                 
    LIABILITIES            
    Current liabilities            
    Accounts payable   9,492,629   7,868,788   1,084,348
    Amounts due to related parties   391,446   427,753   58,946
    Employee compensation and welfare payable   8,414,472   5,226,229   720,194
    Customer deposits payable   6,078,623   7,452,000   1,026,913
    Income taxes payable   1,028,735   823,746   113,515
    Short-term borrowings   288,280   182,010   25,082
    Lease liabilities current portion   13,729,701   13,579,265   1,871,273
    Contract liabilities and deferred revenue   6,051,867   6,583,215   907,191
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   7,268,505   10,618,658   1,463,290
    Total current liabilities   52,744,258   52,761,664   7,270,752
    Non-current liabilities            
    Deferred tax liabilities   317,697   317,697   43,780
    Lease liabilities non-current portion   8,636,770   8,579,296   1,182,259
    Other non-current liabilities   2,563   2,465   340
    Total non-current liabilities   8,957,030   8,899,458   1,226,379
    TOTAL LIABILITIES   61,701,288   61,661,122   8,497,131
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data)
     
        As of
    December 31,
      As of
    March 31,
        2024   2025
        RMB   RMB   US$
                 
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
    KE Holdings Inc. shareholders’ equity            
    Ordinary shares (US$0.00002 par value; 25,000,000,000 ordinary shares authorized, comprising of 24,114,698,720 Class A ordinary shares and 885,301,280 Class B ordinary shares. 3,479,616,986 Class A ordinary shares issued and 3,337,567,403 Class A ordinary shares outstanding(1) as of December 31, 2024; 3,477,710,889 Class A ordinary shares issued and 3,346,161,732 Class A ordinary shares outstanding(1) as of March 31, 2025; and 145,413,446 and 144,042,476 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively)   461     460     63  
    Treasury shares   (949,410 )   (462,581 )   (63,745 )
    Additional paid-in capital   72,460,562     68,618,103     9,455,827  
    Statutory reserves   926,972     926,972     127,740  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   609,112     616,892     85,010  
    Accumulated deficit   (1,723,881 )   (868,114 )   (119,629 )
    Total KE Holdings Inc. shareholders’ equity   71,323,816     68,831,732     9,485,266  
    Non-controlling interests   124,179     119,607     16,482  
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   71,447,995     68,951,339     9,501,748  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   133,149,283     130,612,461     17,998,879  

    (1) Excluding the Class A ordinary shares registered in the name of the depositary bank for future issuance of ADSs upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under our share incentive plans and the Class A ordinary shares repurchased but not cancelled in the form of ADSs.

    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      RMB   RMB   US$
               
    Net revenues          
    Existing home transaction services 5,727,030     6,870,407     946,767  
    New home transaction services 4,916,515     8,074,995     1,112,764  
    Home renovation and furnishing 2,408,848     2,945,443     405,893  
    Home rental services 2,625,203     5,087,776     701,114  
    Emerging and other services 699,718     349,726     48,194  
    Total net revenues 16,377,314     23,328,347     3,214,732  
    Cost of revenues          
    Commission-split (3,418,179 )   (5,693,140 )   (784,536 )
    Commission and compensation-internal (3,620,949 )   (4,818,277 )   (663,976 )
    Cost of home renovation and furnishing (1,671,718 )   (1,985,956 )   (273,672 )
    Cost of home rental services (2,480,497 )   (4,746,056 )   (654,024 )
    Cost related to stores (685,047 )   (716,809 )   (98,779 )
    Others (378,838 )   (547,217 )   (75,408 )
    Total cost of revenues(1) (12,255,228 )   (18,507,455 )   (2,550,395 )
    Gross profit 4,122,086     4,820,892     664,337  
    Operating expenses          
    Sales and marketing expenses(1) (1,623,737 )   (1,772,957 )   (244,320 )
    General and administrative expenses(1) (2,019,195 )   (1,873,760 )   (258,211 )
    Research and development expenses(1) (467,300 )   (583,610 )   (80,424 )
    Total operating expenses (4,110,232 )   (4,230,327 )   (582,955 )
    Income from operations 11,854     590,565     81,382  
    Interest income, net 309,675     268,568     37,010  
    Share of results of equity investees (4,086 )   7,345     1,012  
    Fair value changes in investments, net 7,765     110,486     15,225  
    Impairment loss for equity investments accounted for using measurement alternative (6,147 )        
    Foreign currency exchange loss (17,748 )   (39,633 )   (5,462 )
    Other income, net 537,638     445,447     61,384  
    Income before income tax expense 838,951     1,382,778     190,551  
    Income tax expense (406,829 )   (527,455 )   (72,685 )
    Net income 432,122     855,323     117,866  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      RMB   RMB   US$
               
    Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (348 )   444     61  
    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc. 431,774     855,767     117,927  
    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 431,774     855,767     117,927  
               
    Net income 432,122     855,323     117,866  
    Currency translation adjustments 36,335     (23,695 )   (3,265 )
    Unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments, net of reclassification 25,331     31,475     4,337  
    Total comprehensive income 493,788     863,103     118,938  
    Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (348 )   444     61  
    Comprehensive income attributable to KE Holdings Inc. 493,440     863,547     118,999  
    Comprehensive income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 493,440     863,547     118,999  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      RMB   RMB   US$
               
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net income per share, basic and diluted          
    —Basic 3,439,606,429   3,362,716,016   3,362,716,016
    —Diluted 3,541,861,506   3,522,002,071   3,522,002,071
               
    Weighted average number of ADS used in computing net income per ADS, basic and diluted          
    —Basic 1,146,535,476   1,120,905,339   1,120,905,339
    —Diluted 1,180,620,502   1,174,000,690   1,174,000,690
               
    Net income per share attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders          
    —Basic 0.13   0.25   0.03
    —Diluted 0.12   0.24   0.03
               
    Net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders          
    —Basic 0.38   0.76   0.10
    —Diluted 0.37   0.73   0.10
               
    (1) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:
    Cost of revenues 124,433   109,558   15,097
    Sales and marketing expenses 47,303   45,295   6,242
    General and administrative expenses 577,134   331,203   45,641
    Research and development expenses 44,510   41,113   5,666
               
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      RMB   RMB   US$
               
    Income from operations 11,854     590,565     81,382  
    Share-based compensation expenses 793,380     527,169     72,646  
    Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 154,293     29,883     4,118  
    Adjusted income from operations 959,527     1,147,617     158,146  
               
    Net income 432,122     855,323     117,866  
    Share-based compensation expenses 793,380     527,169     72,646  
    Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 154,293     29,883     4,118  
    Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration 13,191     (13,084 )   (1,803 )
    Impairment of investments 6,147          
    Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (6,916 )   (6,494 )   (895 )
    Adjusted net income 1,392,217     1,392,797     191,932  
               
    Net income 432,122     855,323     117,866  
    Income tax expense 406,829     527,455     72,685  
    Share-based compensation expenses 793,380     527,169     72,646  
    Amortization of intangible assets 158,506     35,171     4,847  
    Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 165,169     178,254     24,564  
    Interest income, net (309,675 )   (268,568 )   (37,010 )
    Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration 13,191     (13,084 )   (1,803 )
    Impairment of investments 6,147          
    Adjusted EBITDA 1,665,669     1,841,720     253,795  
               
    Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 431,774     855,767     117,927  
    Share-based compensation expenses 793,380     527,169     72,646  
    Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 154,293     29,883     4,118  
    Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration 13,191     (13,084 )   (1,803 )
    Impairment of investments 6,147          
    Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (6,916 )   (6,494 )   (895 )
    Effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (7 )   (7 )   (1 )
    Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 1,391,862     1,393,234     191,992  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      RMB   RMB   US$
               
    Weighted average number of ADS used in computing net income per ADS, basic and diluted          
    —Basic 1,146,535,476   1,120,905,339   1,120,905,339
    —Diluted 1,180,620,502   1,174,000,690   1,174,000,690
               
    Weighted average number of ADS used in calculating adjusted net income per ADS, basic and diluted          
    —Basic 1,146,535,476   1,120,905,339   1,120,905,339
    —Diluted 1,180,620,502   1,174,000,690   1,174,000,690
               
    Net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders          
    —Basic 0.38   0.76   0.10
    —Diluted 0.37   0.73   0.10
               
    Non-GAAP adjustments to net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders          
    —Basic 0.83   0.48   0.07
    —Diluted 0.81   0.46   0.06
               
    Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders          
    —Basic 1.21   1.24   0.17
    —Diluted 1.18   1.19   0.16
               
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
    (All amounts in thousands)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      RMB   RMB   US$
               
    Net cash used in operating activities (2,108,532 )   (3,965,271 )   (546,429 )
    Net cash provided by investing activities 1,290,426     6,285,669     866,188  
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (252,538 )   261,073     35,977  
    Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (3,505 )   35,500     4,892  
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (1,074,149 )   2,616,971     360,628  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period 25,857,461     20,301,414     2,797,610  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period 24,783,312     22,918,385     3,158,238  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION MEASURE
    (All amounts in thousands)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
        March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
        RMB   RMB   US$
    Existing home transaction services            
    Net revenues   5,727,030     6,870,407     946,767  
    Commission and compensation   (3,180,925 )   (4,252,291 )   (585,981 )
    Contribution   2,546,105     2,618,116     360,786  
    New home transaction services            
    Net revenues   4,916,515     8,074,995     1,112,764  
    Commission and compensation   (3,821,103 )   (6,185,772 )   (852,422 )
    Contribution   1,095,412     1,889,223     260,342  
    Home renovation and furnishing            
    Net revenues   2,408,848     2,945,443     405,893  
    Material costs, commission and compensation   (1,671,718 )   (1,985,956 )   (273,672 )
    Contribution   737,130     959,487     132,221  
    Home rental services            
    Net revenues   2,625,203     5,087,776     701,114  
    Property leasing costs, commission and compensation   (2,480,497 )   (4,746,056 )   (654,024 )
    Contribution   144,706     341,720     47,090  
    Emerging and other services            
    Net revenues   699,718     349,726     48,194  
    Commission and compensation   (37,100 )   (73,354 )   (10,109 )
    Contribution   662,618     276,372     38,085  
    KE Holdings Inc.
    UNAUDITED SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION MEASURE (Continued)
    (All amounts in thousands)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
        March 31,
    2024
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
        RMB   RMB   US$
    Reconciliation of profit            
    Cost related to stores   (685,047 )   (716,809 )   (98,779 )
    Other costs   (378,838 )   (547,217 )   (75,408 )
    Amounts not allocated to segment:            
    Sales and marketing expenses   (1,623,737 )   (1,772,957 )   (244,320 )
    General and administrative expenses   (2,019,195 )   (1,873,760 )   (258,211 )
    Research and development expenses   (467,300 )   (583,610 )   (80,424 )
    Total operating expenses   (4,110,232 )   (4,230,327 )   (582,955 )
    Income from operations   11,854     590,565     81,382  
     

    1 GTV for a given period is calculated as the total value of all transactions which the Company facilitated on the Company’s platform and evidenced by signed contracts as of the end of the period, including the value of the existing home transactions, new home transactions, home renovation and furnishing and emerging and other services (excluding home rental services), and including transactions that are contracted but pending closing at the end of the relevant period. For the avoidance of doubt, for transactions that failed to close afterwards, the corresponding GTV represented by these transactions will be deducted accordingly.
    2 Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of investments, and (v) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    3 Based on our accumulated operational experience, we have introduced the operating metrics of number of active stores and number of active agents on our platform, which can better reflect the operational activeness of stores and agents on our platform.
    “Active stores” as of a given date is defined as stores on our platform excluding the stores which (i) have not facilitated any housing transaction during the preceding 60 days, (ii) do not have any agent who has engaged in any critical steps in housing transactions (including but not limited to introducing new properties, attracting new customers and conducting property showings) during the preceding seven days, or (iii) have not been visited by any agent during the preceding 14 days. The number of active stores was 42,593 as of March 31, 2024.
    4 “Active agents” as of a given date is defined as agents on our platform excluding the agents who (i) delivered notice to leave but have not yet completed the exit procedures, (ii) have not engaged in any critical steps in housing transactions (including but not limited to introducing new properties, attracting new customers and conducting property showings) during the preceding 30 days, or (iii) have not participated in facilitating any housing transaction during the preceding three months. The number of active agents was 399,159 as of March 31, 2024.
    5 “Mobile monthly active users” or “mobile MAU” are to the sum of (i) the number of accounts that have accessed our platform through our Beike or Lianjia mobile app (with duplication eliminated) at least once during a month, and (ii) the number of Weixin users that have accessed our platform through our Weixin Mini Programs at least once during a month. Average mobile MAU for any period is calculated by dividing (i) the sum of the Company’s mobile MAUs for each month of such period, by (ii) the number of months in such period.
    6 Adjusted income (loss) from operations is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, and (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    7 Adjusted operating margin is adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues.
    8 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, and (vii) impairment of investments. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    9 Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of investments, (v) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vi) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.
    10 ADS refers to American Depositary Share. Each ADS represents three Class A ordinary shares of the Company. Net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.
    11 Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted. Please refer to the section titled “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” for details.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ireland’s Competitiveness Confirmed – Minister Peter Burke

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, has welcomed the publication of Re-estimating Ireland’s International Competitiveness Performance, the latest bulletin by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC).

    Minister Burke said:

     “This analysis marks a very welcome contribution by the Council and confirms that the Irish economy is internationally competitive. However, we cannot become complacent, and there remains work to do in many areas. The Council’s findings will make a valuable contribution in the preparation of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.”

    “Despite our strong international performance, we are also aware that there are challenges, and it is important that we do not take our current strengths for granted. This is reflected in the decision taken by Cabinet to expedite delivery of the Action Plan, which will play a key role in addressing these challenges and safeguarding our competitiveness performance into the future.”

    This Bulletin explores how Ireland’s performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2024 is affected when selected indicators are rescaled using Modified Gross National Income (GNI*) in place of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

    The findings show that Ireland’s competitiveness performance remains strong with this adjustment. In fact, it rises by one position in the ranking, with improvements in three of the four pillars. The analysis explores how Ireland’s competitiveness profile changes when key metrics are recalibrated to better reflect the scale of the domestic economy.

    The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking is a widely used international benchmark, assessing over 60 economies across four key pillars and 20 sub-pillars, and based on 250 individual measures. In the 2024 IMD results, Ireland was ranked 4th overall. The analysis included in this Bulletin involves replicating the IMD methodology from the ground up, in order to facilitate the substitution of GNI* for GDP for Ireland. 

    Key findings from the Bulletin include:

    • Ireland’s competitiveness ranking improves by one place when GDP-based indicators are adjusted using GNI*, with notable gains in Economic Performance (up seven places) and Infrastructure (up two places). Business Efficiency is unchanged, while Government Efficiency declines slightly, reflecting a more constrained fiscal profile when public finance metrics are expressed over a smaller income base.
    • The analysis underscores the importance of context-sensitive benchmarking, especially when using international indices to inform national policy. This Bulletin highlights the need to interpret international indices critically, understanding their underlying assumptions, and where necessary, supplementing them with alternative analyses that better capture national circumstances.

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) was established in 1997 (then the National Competitiveness Council) to report to the Taoiseach, through the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, on key competitiveness issues facing the Irish economy.   In 2019, the NCPC was designated as Ireland’s National Productivity Board. 

     As part of its work, the NCPC makes recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland’s competitive position. The NCPC publishes three main research outputs:

    • The Competitiveness Scorecard benchmarks Ireland against international competitors on areas of competitiveness and productivity. This is published every three years (and was last published in 2024).
    • The Competitiveness Challenge is an annual publication in which the NCPC makes recommendations for Government on key challenges to Ireland’s international competitiveness.
    • NCPC Bulletins are short and focused research notes, examining specific topics within the sphere of competitiveness and productivity. The NCPC releases multiple Bulletins each year. These short pieces often feed into the NCPC’s main Challenges report.

     The members of the Council are:

    Dr. Frances Ruane      Chair, National Competitiveness and Productivity Council

    Dr. Laura Bambrick    Head of Social Policy & Employment Affairs, ICTU

    Edel Clancy                Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Musgrave Group

    Kevin Sherry               Interim Chief Executive, Enterprise Ireland 

    Ciaran Conlon             Director of Public Policy, Microsoft Ireland

    Luiz de Mello             Director of Country Studies, Economics Department, OECD

    Maeve Dineen             Chair of Ireland’s Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman

    Brian McHugh            Chairperson, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

    Gary Tobin                 Assistant Secretary, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

    Michael Lohan            Chief Executive, IDA Ireland

    Liam Madden             Independent Consultant, Semiconductor Industry

    Neil McDonnell          Chief Executive, ISME 

    Bernadette McGahon  Director of Innovation Services, Industry Research & Development Group 

    Danny McCoy             Chief Executive, IBEC

    Michael Taft               Research Officer, SIPTU

    Representatives from the Departments of An Taoiseach; Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Environment, Climate and Communications; Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Social Protection; Finance; Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Justice; Public Expenditure and Reform; Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Transport attend Council meetings in an advisory capacity.

    Research, Analysis and Secretariat from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment:

    Dr. Dermot Coates      

    Rory Mulholland                    

    Dr. Keith Fitzgerald

    Pádraig O’Sullivan                 

    Erika Valiukaite

    Jordan O’Donoghue

    Patrick Connolly

    ENDS

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New energy upgrades for public buildings to save taxpayers money

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New energy upgrades for public buildings to save taxpayers money

    Schools, community centres and care homes receive new awards to upgrade their buildings and save money off bills in the long term.

    • Local community buildings will benefit from cheaper energy bills in the years to come, thanks to funding allocated by the government
    • schools, community centres and care homes will benefit from upgrades, contributing to an estimated £650 million in savings for taxpayers per year on average to 2037

    Pupils at schools, residents at care homes, and users of community centres will all be given a boost today, as the government allocates funding to help cut energy bills for public buildings in the years to come. 

    The social institutions that allow local communities to thrive, such as schools, hospitals, and care homes, will be given extra help to make energy saving upgrades and tackle costs, allowing more money to be spent on the services that people care about. 

    More than £630 million has been awarded for measures including heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and double glazing, helping to make Britain energy secure as part of the Plan for Change while contributing to an estimated £650 million in savings for taxpayers per year on average over the next 12 years.

    The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been awarded over £30 million to install heat pumps at Queens Park Leisure Centre, Birkenhead Central Library and Chase Heys Home for the Elderly, while the Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust will receive more than £14 million to replace fossil fuel heating at two sites, helping power these pillars of the local community with cleaner, homegrown energy. 

    The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands will benefit from £1 million to install heat pumps and solar panels at one of its aircraft hangars, and Worcester City Council will receive £90,000 to upgrade the King George V Community Centre, which is used for employability training and youth activities, with new heat pumps, solar panels and double glazing. 

    The University of York has been awarded £35 million to capture energy from beneath the Earth’s surface to help deliver low-carbon heat to buildings on campus, while the National Portrait Gallery has been awarded over £5 million to switch to heat pumps in its main public gallery and Orange Street building, which houses the historic archives of the library.

    Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said:  

    Today we are providing even more support for Britain’s buildings – from schools to museums and galleries – helping to rebuild vital public services as part of the Plan for Change. 

    This investment will see local communities benefit from our sprint to clean power, with warm public buildings, run more affordably.

    An extra £102 million from the Green Heat Network Fund will help to develop new and existing heat networks in England, including the Hemiko South Westminster Area Network (SWAN), which could help to decarbonise iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament using waste heat from the River Thames.  

    This follows Great British Energy’s first major project to put solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, helping them to reinvest savings on their energy bills in teaching and healthcare.  

    Vice-Chancellor Professor at the University of York Charlie Jeffery said: 

    Our geothermal project will be a powerful catalyst in our journey towards net zero, offering a significant reduction in carbon emissions and a greener future. 

    Beyond its crucial environmental impact, the site will serve as a living laboratory that will drive research, educate our students and bring benefits beyond our campus. 

    The support from the government is a vital catalyst for this transformative endeavour, which we believe will empower the next generation of sustainability leaders and deepen community understanding of renewable energy technologies.

    Policy Manager at Energy UK Louise Shooter said: 

    High energy bills have been a big headache for schools, hospitals, leisure centres and other community facilities in recent years – so it’s great to see them being helped to install energy saving measures and other green technology that will cut energy costs permanently while also enabling them to do their bit to reduce emissions. Energy UK’s members have been helping schools and hospitals across the country do the same and save money which means more funding for the essential services they provide. It’s a very tangible example of the benefits that come from investing in the switch to cleaner energy.

    Head of External Affairs at ADE: Heat Networks Pablo John said: 

    Today’s investment in heat networks like the University of York’s geothermal project is a blueprint for Britain’s clean heat revolution. These networks capture every kilowatt of renewable energy and waste heat we produce, turning it into affordable warmth for consumers. York’s 78% cut in fossil fuels proves that when we back heat networks now – even outside of zones – we secure energy independence for good. Let’s build on this momentum by supporting heat network innovation everywhere and stop wasting the heat under our feet.

    Director of Content and Programmes at the RAF Museum Karen Whitting said:  

    Warm thanks to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for their investment through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This will enable us to introduce new, low/no-carbon technologies to a historic 1938 Type-C aircraft hangar as part of our Inspiring Everyone: RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme. The re-developed hangar will be used as a Learning Centre and exhibition gallery which will welcome and inspire around 500,000 visitors a year, sharing the nationally important Royal Air Force story. The project will make a major contribution to the RAF Museum’s Strategy including our commitment to achieving Carbon Net Zero.

    Notes to editors

    Decarbonising the public sector with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures will save the public sector an estimated £650 million per year on average to 2037. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is contributing towards delivering these savings for public sector organisations. 

    Applications for Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme opened in October 2024. Funding for this phase is worth approximately £940 million and will run until financial year 2027/2028. Some remaining funding awards will be issued in the coming weeks. 

    As of May 2025, the regional breakdown for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 4 funding is as follows:  

    • North East: £65,191,456 
    • Yorkshire and the Humber: £81,262,778 
    • North West: £116,815,617 
    • East Midlands: £73,405,602 
    • West Midlands: £84,306,700 
    • East of England: £29,149,553 
    • South East: £35,720,404 
    • South West: £30,002,246 
    • Greater London: £113,914,685 
    • Wales: £2,500,000 
    • Across Regions: £1,325,000 

    The Green Heat Network Fund supports new and existing heat networks in England to adopt low carbon technologies such as heat pumps, recovered heat, geothermal and energy from waste. A total of over £484 million in awards to 40 projects has been made public since the launch of the scheme in 2022.  

    The projects included in this announcement, which have been awarded a total of over £102 million in grant funding are:  

    • Derby Energy Network (Derby Energy Ltd): £23,240,000  
    • Bristol City Centre (Bristol Heat Networks/Vattenfall): £21,300,000 
    • SWAN (Hemiko): £21,000,000  
    • Lincoln (Hemiko): £15,508,000  
    • East London Energy (Bring Energy): £8,813,120 
    • Trafford Civic Quarter Heat Networks (Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council): £5,750,000   
    • West Bromwich Heat Network (Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council): £4,939,421  
    • Mersey Biochar Heat Network (Severn Wye Energy Agency Ltd): £1,728,890

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA recommendation for new duties on Chinese excavators accepted

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    TRA recommendation for new duties on Chinese excavators accepted

    The Government has accepted the TRA’s recommendation to impose new anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of excavators from China to the UK.

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has accepted the TRA’s recommendation to impose new anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of excavators from China to the UK.

    The anti-dumping duties range from 18.81% for a sampled exporter to 40.08% for the residual rate; while the countervailing duties range from 0% to 2.98%. The TRA has estimated that the measures could benefit UK excavator producers by up to £26 million per year.

    The measures will be imposed on imports of excavators from China weighing 11 tonnes or more, but less than 80 tonnes as the TRA found that there is no UK industry for the production of excavators weighing 80 tonnes or above. The TRA has therefore determined that the UK industry would not be injured by these products.

    The TRA opened its investigation in November 2023 in response to an application from JCB, a Staffordshire-based multinational business. It found that Chinese exporters were able to use reduced production costs to price their exports below UK competitors who did not benefit from an artificially low-cost base.

    In February, Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd. (CXL) launched a judicial review against the TRA and the Department of Business and Trade’s decision to impose provisional anti-dumping measures on imports of Chinese excavators.

    The judgment in the judicial review was handed down on 9 May, with the claims against both the TRA and Secretary of State for Business and Trade ruled as unarguable. The judge in the case concluded that the TRA, in its decisions surrounding the provisional anti-dumping measures, had acted lawfully, rationally and in a procedurally fair manner. The judgement did not affect the decision to apply definitive anti-dumping or countervailing measures.

    Background information:

    • The periods of investigation for both the anti-dumping and countervailing cases were 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023.
    • The TRA is the UK body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
    • Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to act against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value – this is defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market.
    • Countervailing duties are designed to counteract government subsidies that cause material injury to domestic industries.
    • The judgement in the judicial review can be read in full here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Covid fraud investigations to be led by Insolvency Service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Covid fraud investigations to be led by Insolvency Service

    Insolvency Service to take over NATIS’s ongoing covid fraud investigations

    DBT – COVID FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS TO BE LED BY INSOLVENCY SERVICE

    • Insolvency Service to take over NATIS’s ongoing covid fraud investigations
    • Decision comes after review of previous government contracts proved taxpayers’ money was not being spent efficiently
    • Government focussed on reducing waste in the public sector and recovering public money lost through pandemic-related fraud

    The Insolvency Service will take over NATIS’s viable investigation cases of Covid-19 financial support fraud in a bid to recoup taxpayers’ money lost to fraudsters.

    Following a review of National Investigation Service (NATIS) performance to ensure the state works for people – it showed that public money was not being spent effectively – which is why all ongoing viable cases will be transferred from the organisation to the Insolvency Service over the coming months.

    This is the latest move as part of the government’s Plan for Change to reduce waste in the public sector and reform institutions so they protect taxpayers money, and make the public sector more efficient and effective.

    The decision to appoint NATIS – an agency based in Thurrock Council – was taken under the previous government and has cost the taxpayer approximately £38.5 million. Despite this, NATIS has only secured 14 convictions with the overall amount recovered by NATIS remaining unclear.

    Within months of coming to power, this Government kicked off a review into their performance, to ensure public money is spent properly and not wasted. This investigation has revealed problems with NATIS governance and how recoveries are reported. As a result the government has asked The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) to conduct an additional audit of NATIS to determine and report accurate recovery figures.

    Following this review, the department has taken decisive action to transfer cases to the Insolvency Service – who have a proven track record of effectively tackling fraud – giving taxpayers’ money the best possible value.

    Whilst over £46bn has been issued by lenders to support businesses, there have been over 100,000 cases of loss to fraud and error. This measure will ensure the continuation of ongoing investigations and expedite the recovery of millions estimated to be lost due to covid-era fraud.

    Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said:

    Since coming to office, we have been clear that this government will protect taxpayers’ cash and remove unnecessary waste and inefficiency within the public sector.

    Today’s decision to transfer cases to the Insolvency Service will ensure lost funds from covid-era fraud are recovered more quickly and effectively, so they can be reinvested back into the economy and our public services, as part of our Plan for Change.

    The Insolvency Service will be taking responsibility for NATIS casework, helping to conclude investigations to continue the important work to claw back money for the public. 

    The Insolvency Service has a proven track record tackling fraud and misconduct connected to covid support schemes since 2020 using its powers to investigate trading companies, prosecute criminal offences, disqualify directors and impose bankruptcy restrictions. 

    By the end of March 2025, they had secured more than 2,000 director disqualifications as well as 62 criminal convictions, helping to secure more than £6 million in compensation related to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Insolvency Service to take on the work of the National Investigation Service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Insolvency Service to take on the work of the National Investigation Service

    Move will see transfer of casework relating to COVID-19 loan fraud

    Today the Department for Business and Trade has announced its intention to conclude its contract with the National Investigation Service (NATIS) and transfer existing casework, relating to COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud, to the Insolvency Service.

    In response, Alec Pybus, Interim Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service said:  

    We welcome this decision by the Department of Business and Trade.  

    The Insolvency Service is well placed to take on these investigations as part of our ongoing and successful work tackling fraudulent use of COVID-19 loans. 

    We are working with our colleagues at the Department of Business and Trade and at Thurrock Council to deliver a smooth and swift transition of ongoing cases, and any potential transfer of staff.

    To date, the Insolvency Service has obtained disqualifications against 2,167 directors, bankruptcy restrictions against 343 individuals and successfully prosecuted 54 individuals in respect of COVID-19 financial support scheme misconduct.  

    The Agency has also helped to secure more than £6 million in compensation related to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse. 

    The Agency already has plans to deliver further enforcement outcomes and financial recoveries in 2025/26, and will now work at pace to take on viable casework from NATIS in support of the UK Government’s drive to hold to account those who fraudulently claimed support during the pandemic.

    Further information

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Science Unites: Polytechnic and Universities of Uzbekistan Build a Sustainable Future

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Teachers of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU took part in the largest scientific events in the leading universities of Uzbekistan – inKarshi State University and the Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov, and also held open lectures for students of the Tashkent State University of Economics.

    The international conference “Green Energy and Green Economy” was held at Karshi University, bringing together specialists from various countries. It was attended by teachers from three Higher Schools of IPMEiT: the Higher School of Engineering and Economics (HSE), the Higher School of Industrial Management (HSIM), and the Higher School of Service and Trade (HSST).

    Professor of VIES Alexander Babkin, at the invitation of the organizing committee, became a speaker, plenary speaker and moderator of the section “Formation of a green economy”. He presented a report on the topic “Green digital intelligent economy and Industry 5.0/6.0”, in which he outlined a new paradigm of a green intelligent economy based on the ESG concept, focusing on the rapid development of digital technologies both in the economy and industry.

    Interaction with specialists from the Faculty of Economics of Karshi State University has been going on for more than two years and is developing successfully. Having gathered on its site representatives of universities, scientific and public organizations, industrial enterprises, this conference has become a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience in the field of sustainable ESG development, – emphasized Alexander Vasilyevich.

    At the plenary session in an online format, Olga Kalinina, Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management, spoke with a report on the results of the work obtained by the teachers of the Higher School of Industrial Management, working within the framework of the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in energy management.

    The second day of work was held in the format of sectional meetings, where the discussion of current issues on the conference topic continued. The sections in the online format were attended by teachers of the Higher School of Management and Management — associate professors Maxim Izmailov, Alexander Titov, Roman Okorokov and assistant Sergey Chayuk. They presented their scientific research in the field of strategies and methods for reducing the carbon footprint, prospects for using wave power plants in the context of digital transformation, features of digital transformation in the energy sector, as well as the practical application of artificial intelligence in the energy sector.

    The second significant event for the development of international cooperation of the Polytechnic University was the participation of IPMEiT teachers at the invitation of the Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov (TashSTU) in the international scientific and practical conference “Optimization of Industrial Economics and Management Based on Innovative Technologies: Modern Approaches”.

    Professor of VIES Alexander Babkin spoke at the plenary session with a report on the topic “The concept of digital strategizing the development of intelligent industrial ecosystems in the context of Industry 5.0/6.0”. At the plenary session of the TashSTU conference, Olga Kalinina, Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management, and Irina Zaychenko, Head of Educational Programs of the Functional Management Cluster, Associate Professor, spoke with a joint report on the topic: “The Role of Higher Education in the Sustainable Development of Society in the Training of Management Personnel for Industry in the Context of Digitalization”. In their speech, the colleagues highlighted the main features of training highly qualified personnel in the context of ensuring technological leadership.

    Our cooperation with the Department of Economics and Management in Industry of TashSTU, headed by Professor Gulchekhra Allaeva, began in April 2022. During this time, not only certain scientific results were achieved, but also partnership and friendly relations were established between our structural divisions. I hope that we will not stop there and will continue to increase cooperation, – Olga Kalinina noted.

    At the sectional meeting, Ekaterina Fedorakhina, an intern at the Higher School of Management and Management of Management, a 2nd-year Master of the educational program “Digital Business Management”, presented a report on the topic “Trends in the development of industry in the Russian Federation in the context of digital transformation.”

    The reports of our colleagues from St. Petersburg set a high scientific level for the discussion. Their approaches to training personnel are especially relevant for our educational environment, – emphasized the organizer of the conference, head of the Department of Economics and Management in Industry at TashSTU Gulchekhra Allaeva.

    Concluding the visit of Polytechnic representatives to universities in Uzbekistan, Acting Director of the Higher School of Public Administration Olga Nadezhina visited the Tashkent State University of Economics (TSUE), which is partner of our university from 2022.

    She took part in a methodological seminar for teachers, organized by the Department of Economic Security of TSUE, where key areas of development of personnel training in the field of AML/CFT were discussed, including the introduction of advanced educational and scientific practices of the HSSU IPMEiT, the organization of joint scientific events for teachers and students, and the development of partnerships between the educational structural divisions of the two universities.

    Cooperation between our universities opens new horizons for students and teachers, combining best practices and innovative approaches in education and science. I am confident that joint initiatives will make a significant contribution to the development of academic dialogue and the training of highly qualified specialists for our countries, Olga Nadezhina emphasized.

    In addition, lectures and practical classes on the course “Food Security” were held for TSUE students, which aroused great interest and facilitated the exchange of relevant knowledge in this area.

    Participation of IPMET representatives in major events of three universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan became another important step in strengthening scientific and educational cooperation and exchange of experience between Russian and Uzbek universities. Colleagues presented the results of fundamental, applied and methodological research that are part of the joint international research agenda in the field of green economy, industry and economic security in the context of digitalization and new reality, – summed up the work of IPMET representatives, Director of the Institute Vladimir Shchepinin.

    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 Asia-Pac: Speech by SCED at APEC MRT Meeting discussion session on AI Innovation for Trade Facilitation (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the discussion session entitled “AI Innovation for Trade Facilitation” at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Jeju, Korea, today (May 15):
     
         Good afternoon, Chair and fellow Ministers.
     
         Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to Korea for the warm hospitality extended to the Hong Kong, China (HKC) delegation and for hosting us in this beautiful island of Jeju.
     
         Digitalisation, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), has been quickly transforming businesses, unlocking new opportunities, and redefining how goods and services move across borders these days. As part of HKC’s wider efforts in developing the AI industry, we have, as early as in 2022, set out clear strategic directions and a detailed action plan for promoting the development of AI in our Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint.
     
         HKC is also keen to embrace the transformative power of AI in trade. For instance, innovative technologies such as AI-powered tools have been adopted to ensure effective enforcement controls while streamlining customs clearance procedures. Our final phase of the Trade Single Window will establish a highly automated cargo risk assessment engine to expedite clearance using AI, and we expect this to be rolled out next year. Our Customs and Excise Department is also modernising its information technology infrastructure, thus enabling the use of a sophisticated data pipeline with the latest AI technologies.
      
         As with every new innovative development, whilst we grasp the opportunities and benefits, it is at the same time crucial to ensure such developments are ethical, responsible and inclusive. To this end, HKC has adopted a pro-innovation regulatory approach to construct a well-balanced governance framework that could cater to all stakeholders in the AI ecosystem. Just a few weeks ago, the Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Technical and Application Guideline was released to provide practical operational guidelines for technology developers, service providers and users in the application of generative AI technology. Furthermore, we plan to amend our legislation in order to further enhance HKC’s copyright regime regarding protection for AI technology development.
     
         We recognise that AI is utilised across different sectors, with trade being just one of them. We are also acutely aware that there are a number of ongoing discussions in international forums to discuss AI development, including rules setting and governance. This notwithstanding, we see much room for collaboration amongst member economies on AI in trade, particularly on its applications for trade facilitation measures and customs procedures in APEC.
     
         In the current era with rising protectionism and unilateralism, it has become even more important for APEC to showcase to the world that regional economic co-operation in the area of AI matters and can bring benefits to the people of the entire region. APEC should leverage its role to foster regional dialogue on ensuring safe and responsible use of AI for trade, exchange experiences and knowledge, promote public-private collaboration, enhance transparency of regulatory frameworks, and strengthen partnerships among member economies, taking into account the different development stages of member economies.
     
         HKC is ready to contribute and collaborate with fellow member economies to harness AI for trade and to drive high-quality growth across the region.
     
         Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCED at APEC MRT Meeting discussion session on Connectivity through Multilateral Trading System (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the discussion session entitled “Connectivity through Multilateral Trading System” at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Jeju, Korea, today (May 15):

         Good afternoon, Chair, WTO Director-General (Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala), and colleagues.

         The recent upheaval caused by one economy’s unilateral tariff measures on all other economies poses a threat to the multilateral trading system, representing an imminent challenge to the global trade landscape today.

         We are pleased to note the substantive progress made at the high-level meetings between two economies, where both sides have agreed to significantly reduce their bilateral tariffs and continue discussions in a spirit of openness, continuous communication, co-operation and mutual respect. This development marks a pivotal step towards fostering stability in global trade and reinforces our shared commitment to advancing constructive economic relations within the APEC region and beyond. Continued collaboration under this framework will undoubtedly contribute to inclusive growth and a rules-based multilateral trading system.

         Hong Kong, China (HKC), as one of the freest economies in the world, reaffirms our unwavering commitment to free trade principles and the WTO-centred multilateral trading system. We firmly believe that sustainable solutions to trade disputes can only be achieved through constructive dialogue, adherence to internationally agreed rules, and a shared pursuit of equitable outcomes. We call upon all members to unite in defending the open, predictable and inclusive character of global trade.

         As the WTO commemorates its 30th anniversary this year, it is deeply disheartening to witness one of its founding members attempting to rip the organisation apart, after years of unilateral action in crippling its dispute settlement function. While reforms are indeed necessary to keep the decades-old organisation relevant amid evolving global challenges, aggressive and erratic trade actions that create economic chaos only serve to escalate tensions and instability.

         As a free port, HKC has long championed free trade in the past and remains firmly committed to the rules-based multilateral trading system now and in the future. We remain committed to engaging in constructive dialogues to enhance the WTO’s functionality, resilience and effectiveness. At this critical time, we call on APEC member economies who cherish the multilateral trading system to collaborate closely to uphold and strengthen the system, thereby safeguarding global economic stability.

         Looking ahead to the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) which is less than a year away, with the rapidly evolving situation, telling what lies ahead until then may seem elusive. Nevertheless, HKC remains hopeful and determined to achieve tangible and positive outcomes at MC14 – many of which are in fact long overdue. Beyond the dispute settlement reform, our priorities include bringing into force the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and concluding the second wave of the fisheries subsidies negotiations, both of which are still so near, yet so far. We must strive to finish the unfinished business at MC13 to incorporate the plurilateral Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement into the WTO legal architecture. In this regard, we fully support the APEC Statement in support of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on IFD, championed by Korea, which would send a strong political signal of APEC’s commitment to the swift and successful integration of this landmark agreement into the WTO framework.

         We also stand by finding a permanent solution to, or at least securing an extension of the WTO e-commerce moratorium, and support the early incorporation of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO legal framework, which will provide the much needed clarity and stability for e-commerce business worldwide. We strongly encourage APEC member economies to intensify collaborative efforts to achieve these goals by MC14. Demonstrating concrete progress will assure the global community that the WTO remains vibrant, effective and capable of addressing contemporary trade challenges effectively.

         Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCED urges APEC member economies to unite in defending rules-based multilateral trading system (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, stressed the importance of upholding the rules-based multilateral trading system at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Jeju, Korea, today (May 15).
     
         Speaking at the session entitled “Connectivity through Multilateral Trading System”, Mr Yau said that the recent upheaval caused by unilateral tariff measures poses a threat to the multilateral trading system, representing an imminent challenge to the global trade landscape. The substantive progress made at the high-level meetings between two economies, where both sides have agreed to significantly reduce their bilateral tariffs and continue discussions in a spirit of openness, continuous communication, co-operation and mutual respect, marked a pivotal step towards fostering stability in global trade and reinforces the shared commitment to advancing constructive economic relations within the APEC region and beyond.
     
         He pointed out that, as a free port, Hong Kong has long championed free trade in the past and remains firmly committed to the rules-based multilateral trading system now and in the future. Hong Kong also remains committed to engaging in constructive dialogues to enhance the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s functionality, resilience and effectiveness.
     
         Mr Yau called upon member economies to unite in defending the open, predictable and inclusive character of global trade and to collaborate closely to uphold and strengthen the system, thereby safeguarding global economic stability.
     
         Meanwhile, Mr Yau encouraged member economies to intensify collaborative efforts to finish the unfinished business at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, such as bringing into force the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and incorporating the plurilateral Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO legal architecture. Demonstrating concrete progress will assure the global community that the WTO remains vibrant, effective and capable of addressing contemporary trade challenges effectively.
     
         At another discussion session entitled “AI Innovation for Trade Facilitation”, Mr Yau said that digitalisation, coupled with AI, has been quickly transforming businesses, unlocking new opportunities, and redefining how goods and services move across borders these days.
     
         He noted that Hong Kong is keen to embrace the transformative power of AI in trade. For instance, innovative technologies such as AI-powered tools have been adopted to ensure effective enforcement controls while streamlining customs clearance procedures. The final phase of the Trade Single Window will establish a highly automated cargo risk assessment engine to expedite clearance using AI.
     
         Mr Yau said that while there are a number of ongoing discussions in international forums to discuss AI development, including rules setting and governance, there is much room for collaboration among member economies on AI in trade. He added that in the current era with rising protectionism and unilateralism, it has become even more important for APEC to showcase to the world that regional economic co-operation in the area of AI matters and can bring benefits to the people of the entire region. He added that Hong Kong is ready to contribute and collaborate with fellow member economies to harness AI for trade and to drive high-quality growth across the region.
     
         On the margins of the MRT Meeting today, Mr Yau met with the China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr Li Chenggang; the Deputy Minister for Trade of Korea, Mr Park Jong-won; as well as the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay, separately to exchange views on various issues of mutual concern.
     
         Mr Yau also paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Mr Oh Young Hun, yesterday (May 14) to give him an update on the latest developments of Hong Kong and exchange views on promoting closer bilateral relations.
     
         Mr Yau will continue to join the MRT Meeting tomorrow (May 16).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s financial policy package injects cash and confidence to economy

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

    BEIJING, May 15 — A 0.5 percentage-point reduction in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for eligible financial institutions takes effect Thursday, with the move expected to inject roughly 1 trillion yuan (about 139 billion U.S. dollars) of long-term liquidity into China’s financial market.

    The RRR cut, the first such move since the start of this year, came after the seven-day reverse repos rate cut by 0.1 percentage point by the Chinese central bank, which already took effect on May 8.

    The reduction in RRR and reverse repos rate, along with expanding re-lending facilities and sci-tech innovation bonds issuance, were among a raft of supportive measures announced last week by monetary and financial regulatory bodies, as the world’s second-largest economy steps up efforts to stabilize markets and sustain economic recovery amid external headwinds.

    Analysts believe this package of supportive financial policies, by boosting liquidity supplies and reducing borrowing costs for both businesses and residents, will create a favorable financial environment for stabilizing market expectations and make an impact on consumption growth and economic restructuring.

    GROWING LIQUIDITY SUPPORT

    These supportive policies are in line with the guiding principles unveiled at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in April, which called for efforts to accelerate the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies and make full use of a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy.

    Maintaining ample liquidity through measures such as the RRR cut can provide sufficient resources for financial institutions and support lending to the real economy, while the reduction in interest rates and innovation in structural monetary policy tools will help stimulate effective domestic demand, a view broadly shared by experts.

    “A 0.5 percentage-point cut in the RRR will effectively meet the market’s demand for long-term liquidity,” said Dong Ximiao, chief researcher at Merchants Union Consumer Finance Company Limited.

    Also starting Thursday, the RRR for auto financing and financial leasing companies is slashed by 5 percentage points to zero percent, with the cut expected to increase the credit supply capacity of these two types of institutions in their respective fields.

    Dong said that this notable RRR cut targeting auto financing and financial leasing companies has drawn much market attention because of their anticipated impact on boosting car consumption and equipment upgrade investment.

    REDUCED BORROWING COSTS

    China’s central bank governor Pan Gongsheng said last week that the seven-day reverse repos rate cut is expected to result in the loan prime rate (LPR), a market-based benchmark lending rate, dropping by 0.1 percentage point.

    Effective on May 8, the interest rates on personal housing provident fund loans were also lowered by 0.25 percentage points. Meanwhile, the rate of re-lending, a structural monetary tool via which the central bank provides loans to financial institutions, was also lowered by 0.25 percentage points starting from May 7, with the cut aiming to guide financial institutions to enhance financial support for the nation’s key strategies and development fields as well as weak links.

    Chen Wenjing, director of policy research at the China Index Academy, said that the reduction in the interest rate for personal housing provident fund loans is expected to further alleviate the pressure on residents to purchase houses and boost home purchase demand. “With more supporting policies gradually being implemented, housing demand is expected to be further strengthened, which will help shore up the real estate market.”

    Based on the central bank’s announcements last week, the total re-lending facility quota, including increased quota and newly established quota, will reach 1.1 trillion yuan for the areas spanning agriculture, private firms, sci-tech innovation, services consumption and elderly care.

    Analysts say the adjustment and optimization of the structural monetary policy tools are in line with the nation’s economic restructuring efforts and are geared toward promoting consumption and sci-tech innovation, with all these recent supportive policies helping boost market confidence amid external uncertainties.

    Wang Qing, chief macro analyst of Golden Credit Rating, believed that there is still room for further easing in China’s moderately loose monetary policy going forward, which will continue to provide key support for effectively hedging against external shocks and maintaining the economy’s stable growth.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: YBUOJ Secures U.S. MSB License, Taking a Key Step in Global Compliance Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Recently, a major announcement shook the global crypto asset trading industry: YBUOJ has officially obtained the Money Services Business (MSB) license issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This achievement marks a substantial breakthrough in the global compliance operations of the platform.

    YBUOJ CEO Berton Hosea stated, “Securing the U.S. MSB license is a significant milestone in our globalization strategy. It not only strengthens the trust foundation among our users but also signifies that YBUOJ has entered a new phase of compliant operations.”

    To meet the requirements for the MSB qualification, YBUOJ underwent comprehensive upgrades from its technical infrastructure to compliance processes. This included the introduction of a dynamic KYC system, AI-based risk monitoring models, and multi-signature encryption with cold and hot wallet segregation strategies. The platform also integrated a global regulatory change tracking engine to achieve intelligent compliance through “real-time regulatory policy matching”, ensuring every transaction occurs within a secure framework.

    In the context of accelerating global digital currency expansion, compliance is becoming the “lifeline” for the sustainable development of trading platforms. The successful approval of YBUOJ signifies recognition not only in technology and service but also in policy compliance and financial transparency. Through continuous technological investment and compliance development, YBUOJ has built its own “moat” and established a standard template for the industry.

    YBUOJ views the MSB approval as the starting point for “global compliance ecosystem construction”. Berton Hosea added, “In the present-day crypto asset market, only by establishing comprehensive compliance infrastructure can we truly earn the trust of users and the market.”

    By operating legally and compliantly, driving innovation through technology, and coordinating global strategies, YBUOJ is steadfastly advancing towards becoming a world-class digital asset trading platform. In the future, with more regulatory licenses and service network expansions, YBUOJ will further strengthen its global competitiveness, becoming a significant force in the international digital asset market.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d093d68-1243-4c32-8409-c26ad31d6d2e

    The MIL Network