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Category: Commerce

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Discusses Infrastructure and Energy in Capital Region

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    BATON ROUGE –Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) hosted his final rural community funding summit of 2024, to connect elected leaders in the Capital Region with opportunities in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to improve roads, fix sewage and water problems, and reduce their risk of flooding.
    “We have a partnership with mayors and other leaders in the Capital Region to use the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to meet the needs of this growing community,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Already we’re replacing gas lines in Donaldsonville and East Feliciana and reducing flood risk across the Baton Rouge area. This region is moving forward.”
    Cassidy also discussed the IIJA before the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. Communities in the Capital Region have been major beneficiaries of the law. Just last week, Iberville Parish was awarded over $2.54 million and the village of Morganza over $1.87 million to upgrade their natural gas pipe systems. Additionally, Cassidy announced last October that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development received $88.3 million for Phase One of the LA 415 Interconnector Project, which would help fund the construction of highways and bridges and reduce traffic congestion in the Baton Rouge area, including in West Baton Rouge Parish.
    Other major grant announcements for communities around Baton Rouge include over $10.4 million from the drinking water state revolving fund for the Livingston Ward 2 Water District and West Feliciana Parish, $30 million in 2023 and 2024 to replace aging gas pipes in the City of Donaldsonville, over $33 million for dredging and surveys along the Atchafalaya River and in Bayous Chene, Boeuf and Black, over $39 million for improvements to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and $100 million to launch a manufacturing plant in St. Gabriel that will produce lithium hexafluorophosphate, which is necessary for batteries. Major highway projects are also being funded throughout the region.
    At the rural community funding summit and the West Baton Rouge Chamber, Cassidy was welcomed by community leaders and thanked for his service.
    “I appreciate Senator Cassidy coming to Gonzales to make sure that communities in Ascension Parish and throughout the region know how we can take advantage of his infrastructure bill,” said Mayor Ryland Percy, of Gonzales, Louisiana. “I also appreciate his work to protect the energy industry that keeps people here and throughout the parish. That’s the kind of leadership we need in Washington.”
    “Thanks to Senator Cassidy, the people in West Baton Rouge Parish employed by our manufacturers and energy companies will be able to stay employed and make a life in this community,” said Ms. Anna Johnson, Executive Director of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. “And his infrastructure bill will make it easier for them to get to work, to their kids’ school, and back home in the evening. We appreciate Senator Cassidy for making life easier and better for our neighbors.”
    Later, Cassidy toured Turner Industries’ modular fabrication facility in Port Allen, from which they also transport modules. They build major modules (or components) for industrial facilities such as refineries and petrochemical plants, and then ship them to worksites for more efficient installation. Their facility is also being used to build modules for LNG plants that will process liquefied natural gas, to be delivered to the rest of the world while supporting jobs in Louisiana.
    “Turner is building modules for the Venture Global plant,” said Dr. Cassidy. “They’re part of a job creating process that starts at the wellhead and ends at the LNG terminal, but along the way produces thousands of great paying Louisiana jobs.”
    Turner’s Port Allen facility features a 415 Yard, which spans 35 acres, has a 24,000-square-foot module assembly building, and sits along 1,100 feet of intracoastal waterway in order to more easily ship modules. The 415 Yard is one of three similar facilities that Turner owns. As part of their module construction, they provide welding, blasting and painting, steel and pipe support fabrication, and specialty alloy work. Additionally, Turner has a pipe fabrication facility nearby, which is capable of producing more than 6,500 spools per month. Turner Industries provides its array of services in over 400 facilities across the nation.
    Cassidy has also worked to protect Louisiana’s energy industry. On October 16, Cassidy convened the Louisiana Energy Security Summit in Baton Rouge, which brought together senior officials from previous Republican administrations and leaders in Louisiana’s energy industry and research community to discuss how to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States by developing the state’s energy resources. Cassidy also introduced the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which would improve U.S. trade policy to help Louisiana’s manufacturers counter the unfair competition they face from foreign adversaries like China.
    There are over 400 employees at Turner’s Port Allen facility. In total, Turner has over 19,000 employees. Cassidy was thanked in advance for his work in a statement by Mr. Stephen Toups, CEO of Turner Industries.
    “On behalf of the Turner team, we thank Senator Cassidy for visiting us in Port Allen today,” said Mr. Toups. “I am so glad that he got to meet the men and women who are constructing the modules for the Liquefied Natural Gas projects here in the state. Our state has supported so many energy projects for our country and for the world. Thanks to our employees, we are supporting the Senators vision to keep America energy independent, and to use that energy to produce jobs here at home. We look forward to working with the Senator as he writes laws that continue to make our work possible.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Franklin, Colleagues Demand Compensation for Agricultural Land

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
    Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought high winds, flooding, and damage across Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the total crop and infrastructure losses range from $1.5 to $2.5 billion.The State of Florida has requested federal agriculture disaster designations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to compensate impacted counties. 
    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL), and colleagues sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to ensure Florida producers and farmers are provided critical aid and policy flexibilities as they recover from the storms.
    “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs.…. As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.”
    Joining Rubio and Franklin were U.S. Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Federica Wilson (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Kathy Castor (D-FL).
    The full text of the letter is below. 
    Dear Secretary Vilsack:
    We write to strongly urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) take immediate action to deliver critical aid to agricultural producers affected by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs.
    Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast just 13 days after Helene and brought high winds, flooding and damage across the entire state. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (FDACS), the preliminary estimate of total crop and infrastructure losses ranges from $1.5 to $2.5 billion, and the State of Florida has requested federal agriculture disaster designations for impacted counties in response to both storms.
    Milton’s path impacted some of Florida’s most productive agricultural areas for aquaculture, avocados, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, cattle, citrus, christmas trees, corn, cotton, cucumbers, dairy, equine, floriculture, grapes, leafy greens, mangos, other animal products, peaches, peanuts, pecans, potatoes, poultry, rice, snap beans, soybeans, strawberries, sugarcane, sweet corn, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelons, and more. Agricultural lands and agribusiness more than 100 miles away from the eye of the storm experienced tornadoes and other devastating effects which compounded losses.
    Block Grants:
    In 2018, after Hurricane Irma, Congress appropriated relief to Florida agriculture and USDA delivered that aid through a block grant to the state. The State of Florida was successful in getting that aid to those in need quickly and efficiently. During a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing held on March 9, 2023, USDA Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong was asked about the effectiveness of this block grant and she stated, “[i]n that instance, FSA successfully partnered with Florida to deliver assistance to the citrus farmers.” She went on to say: “I think that is an example, within your own state, where that kind of block grant program can work.” We ask that you support both an appropriation request and authority to deliver the assistance in the form of a block grant to our state.
    USDA must work to deliver aid to communities affected by disasters as quickly and efficiently as possible. FSA offices across Florida are still having trouble facilitating disaster assistance programs designed to help after 2022 Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. However, these funds were not in the form of a block grant and as a result, there are hundreds of producers who are still awaiting assistance.
    Creating a new disaster program each time funds are appropriated by Congress not only complicates the disaster relief application process, but also delays delivery of critical assistance for the producers who feed our state and nation. Block grants administered by the state expedite disbursement, free up personnel at FSA to efficiently carry out routine programs and provide needed flexibility for states.
    As you are aware, the Block Grant Assistance Act (H.R 662 & S.180) was designed to authorize USDA to administer calendar year 2022 disaster relief via block grants. This would give USDA the ability, when reasonable, to issue block grants and expedite payment to producers. This bill is cosponsored by the entire Florida delegation and unanimously passed the House on June 12, 2023. We remain steadfast in our support for standing block grant authority and continue to urge USDA to support this measure giving them additional flexibility in administering disaster programs.
    Farm Service Agency:
    Unlike most commodity crop programs, Florida specialty crop programs are disaster based and time consuming to deliver. Additionally, permanent FSA staff are needed in the county offices to administer the USDA disaster programs efficiently and effectively. We ask that USDA approve an expedited review of applications and deployment of existing authority for FSA offices to waive requirements that are redundant or unnecessary.
    In many other states, straightforward programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage enable producers to easily enroll and receive payments. These routine programs influence FSA workload metrics and help the agency prioritize personnel and resources. However, the situation differs significantly in Florida with specialty crops. Most of our programs are disaster-based, which are notably more time-consuming to administer and manage. These factors are not accounted for when allocating staff. As a result, our FSA county offices are not adequately staffed and have not finalized Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) payments to producers for 2022.
    Disaster Appropriation:
    Per USDA data, losses in agriculture across calendar year 2022 totaled $14 billion, yet Congress only appropriated $3.7 billion in relief to our nation’s producers in the December 2022 omnibus. We recognize this led to difficult decisions on how to distribute the disaster assistance. However, the “Progressive Payment Factor” being applied to ERP 2022 payments was an unnecessary and harmful program flaw that has resulted in the producers who suffered the most severe losses receiving pennies on the dollars in assistance. Federal disaster assistance is never meant to make producers whole, but Congress has a duty to prevent a failure like this from occurring again. We look forward to working with USDA to ensure adequate funding for 2023 and 2024 losses.
    Improved Crop Insurance Options:
    Crop insurance is another tool USDA can use to improve the farm safety net alongside these suggestions for improving delivery of FSA disaster programs. The 2024 Farm Bill that passed the House Committee on Agriculture includes language to improve crop insurance options for specialty crop growers, including the Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies (TEMP) Act (H.R.6186 & S.3253).4 Many of Florida’s specialty crop growers do not have insurance on their crops because of the high price of the premiums and low payouts from claims. The Florida Delegation will continue its efforts to work with USDA to prioritize improving crop insurance options for growers as outlined in the 2024 Farm Bill passed by the House Committee on Agriculture earlier this year.
    To ensure USDA and Congress are equipped to provide adequate support for producers, please respond to the following questions and provide the following documents and information no later than November 29, 2024.
    A statement of agency policy for utilization of block grants within USDA disaster-based programs.
    A document detailing calendar year 2024 calendar year losses up to October 29, 2024, and a budgetary request to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to ensure adequate funding of relief programs.
    An updated document detailing FSA county office leadership, and how many FTEs are employed at each.
    A report on the number of FTEs Florida FSA offices need to efficiently administer a disaster-based program to Florida producers.
    A plan for strike team deployment to Florida FSA offices including timeline, number of employees and where these teams will be placed.
    As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: EU tariffs on Chinese EVs face backlash

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China does not acknowledge or accept the European Union’s final ruling to impose additional tariffs on electric vehicles manufactured in the Chinese market, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday, vowing to take all necessary measures to protect the interests of companies.

    The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, announced on Tuesday the conclusion of its anti-subsidy investigation, resulting in the imposition of definitive countervailing duties on EVs produced in China. The measures will expire at the end of a five-year period unless an expiration review is initiated before that date, the commission said in a news release.

    In response, China has filed a complaint under the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism.

    China has repeatedly pointed out that the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into EVs manufactured in China is irrational and fraught with numerous noncompliance issues, and is a protectionist move under the guise of “fair competition”, the Ministry of Commerce said in an online statement.

    Noting that the EU is still willing to continue talks on price commitments for Chinese-made EVs, the ministry said that China always advocates the resolution of trade disputes through dialogue and consultation.

    The EU’s new tariffs will range from 7.8 percent for the Chinese output of United States EV maker Tesla Inc, to 18.8 percent for Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and up to 35.3 percent for Shanghai-based carmaker SAIC Motor Corp, in addition to the EU’s existing 10 percent duty on imported cars.

    Other Chinese EV manufacturers face an average tariff of 20.7 percent, with rates reaching up to 35.3 percent for those classified as “noncooperative”.

    SAIC Motor expressed disappointment on Wednesday with the decision and said that it plans to pursue necessary legal action by filing a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the European Union to ensure its legitimate rights and interests.

    The Chinese automaker said that it is implementing a series of measures to strengthen its resilience against the EU’s trade barriers.

    These tariffs on Chinese, European and US EV producers operating in China neither enhance the EU’s resilience in EV manufacturing nor promote innovation or job creation. Instead, they represent a politically motivated approach, the Brussels-based China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said on Wednesday.

    Market watchers warned that these additional tariffs will likely intensify trade friction between China and the EU, and may trigger a global rise in trade protectionism within the automotive industry.

    Zhang Yongjun, secretary-general of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, said that based on the principle of reciprocity, the EU’s decision will inevitably trigger countermeasures, potentially having an impact on competitive EU export industries that trade with China.

    “Under such circumstances, European consumers may suffer, facing either increased costs for Chinese EVs or limited options from alternative suppliers,” he added.

    Wei Jianguo, former vice-minister of commerce, said that the EU’s move could weaken Chinese investors’ confidence in Europe, especially those in the automobile, power battery, industrial parts and logistics industries.

    Erik Solheim, former executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, told China Daily on Wednesday: “Tariffs on superior Chinese electric cars go contrary to all economic wisdom. It will make us all poorer and slow down the green transformation in Europe.

    “Green competition is a race to the top, tariffs and protectionism is a race to the bottom. Europe should invite investments from BYD and all the other Chinese car makers to help share technology and help shape competition so that European car makers can catch up.”

    Also on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China’s opposition to the EU’s tariff measure. The move clearly violates WTO rules and contradicts the principles of free trade, Wang said while meeting in Beijing with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

    China has always believed that openness leads to progress while protectionism has no future, and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization serves the interests of all parties, Wang added.

    Believing that dialogue is the best path forward, Chen Huiqing, head of the legal service branch at the Beijing-based China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, said that talks remain the most effective way to prevent the escalation of bilateral economic and trade tensions.

    Currently, technical teams from both sides are engaged in a new phase of consultations, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Simon Court responds to feedback on licencing trust bill

    Source: ACT Party

    ACT MP Simon Court, who sponsors the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Repeal of Licensing Trust Monopolies) Amendment Bill, responds to recent reporting and feedback on the bill:

    “My bill has received a very positive response from Westies frustrated with being denied choice and competition in pubs and bars,” says Mr Court.

    “Some outlets have reported that my bill abolishes licencing trusts. This is not correct. Rather, it removes the trusts’ monopoly status, allowing new businesses to operate and compete.

    “Trusts in Invercargill and Mataura, which do not restrict competition to the same extent as those in West Auckland, would be less affected by bill. However, Southlanders would be able to buy beer and wine from supermarkets and a range of liquor stores, as they do in most parts of the country.

    “Claims that my bill undermines local democracy are fundamentally misguided. The free market is a democracy. Consumers are able to take a dollar and decide which goods and services they would like represented in the market, and which they don’t. With monopoly powers removed from trusts, individual consumers could choose whether to support the trusts or shop around.

    “Other than with legislation, the only way to remove trusts’ monopoly powers is for locals to gather verified signatures from 15 percent of the residents and initiate a local referendum. That is higher than the national threshold of 10 percent for a citizen-initiated referendum, and in West Auckland it has proven a very difficult process despite the trusts’ own polling showing most residents oppose the trust monopolies.

    “Finally, the trusts derive most of their profit from pokies, not alcohol. The trusts’ revenue is already well-diversified so they should not be concerned about competition from other hospitality venues, liquor stores, or supermarkets.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: US GDP grows at annual rate of 2.8% in Q3

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the third quarter of this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported in an advance estimate released Wednesday.

    In the second quarter, real GDP rose 3.0 percent, according to the department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

    The increase in real GDP in the third quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, exports and federal government spending. Imports, a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

    The report noted that the slowdown in real GDP growth in the third quarter, compared to the second quarter, primarily reflected a downturn in private inventory investment and a larger drop in residential fixed investment.

    These declines were partly offset by accelerations in exports, consumer spending and federal government spending, while imports also rose.

    Disposable personal income rose by 3.1 percent in the third quarter, down from a 5.0 percent increase in the second quarter, suggesting potential weakness in future consumption.

    Real disposable personal income, adjusted for taxes and inflation, grew by 1.6 percent, down from a 2.4 percent increase in the previous period.

    The newly released GDP estimate for the third quarter is based on incomplete source data that may be revised by the BEA, the report said. The second estimate for the third quarter, based on more complete source data, will be released on Nov. 27.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Microsoft reports Q1 results

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Microsoft on Wednesday posted a revenue of 65.6 billion U.S. dollars for the first quarter of its 2025 fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024, up 16 percent from the same period of the previous year.

    The company generated quarterly net profits of 24.7 billion dollars, an increase of 11 percent year on year. Diluted earnings per share were 3.3 dollars, up 10 percent, compared to the same period a year ago.

    Its operating income was 30.6 billion dollars, an increase of 14 percent from the same period last year, Microsoft said in its financial report.

    The company’s revenue in Productivity and Business Processes was 28.3 billion dollars, an increase of 12 percent; its revenue in Intelligent Cloud was 24.1 billion dollars, up 20 percent; and its revenue in More Personal Computing was 13.2 billion dollars, increasing 17 percent.

    Microsoft returned 9.0 billion dollars to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends in the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

    “AI-driven transformation is changing work, work artifacts, and workflow across every role, function, and business process,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft. “We are expanding our opportunity and winning new customers as we help them apply our AI platforms and tools to drive new growth and operating leverage.”

    “Strong execution by our sales teams and partners delivered a solid start to our fiscal year with Microsoft Cloud revenue of 38.9 billion dollars, up 22 percent year over year,” said Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ecological projects get a boost in Upper Harbour

    Source: Auckland Council

    More than $500,000 has been committed to ecological projects by the Upper Harbour Local Board.

    The funding covers a cross-section of projects ranging from community-led ecological projects, construction waste education to industrial pollution prevention and the Waiarohia Stream restoration.

    Chair Anna Atkinson says funding to provide an increased level of service in the Albany Library which isn’t needed this financial year has been reallocated to other projects.

    “We are fortunate to have a community that is passionate about the environment – enhancing and protecting it, and we can work alongside them to safeguard our special areas,” she says.

    “Much of what we have funded is designed to take action this financial year and we remain committed to helping our volunteers lead restoration and conservation efforts in their own communities.”

    The Upper Harbour Local Board Local Environmental Work Programme includes:

    • Upper Harbour Ecological Initiatives – $264,806

    • Waiarohia Stream restoration – $93,500

    • Industry Pollution Prevention Programme – $65,115

    • Construction Waste Education and Leadership – $41,000

    • Local Streams (Sustainable Schools) – $32,000

    • Īnanga spawning habitat restoration – $26,000

    • Te Ao Māori and community-led conservation – $5,000

    Funding for Upper Harbour Ecological Initiatives enables multiple ecological projects to be delivered by the community including pest animal and plant control, implementing the pest management strategy, biodiversity monitoring, and restoration planting on private land which are high value ecological sites.

    Local schools can continue the planting programme at Waiarohia Stream which began three years ago. It’s a massive undertaking creating a plant corridor for native birds and insects between Hobsonville and Whenuapai.

    Atkinson says, “The plants are doing well but only nine per of the stream edge is planted. This is a long-term commitment, and we have doubled our investment in this project which is going to be great for Whenuapai which has very little tree cover and the goal is 30 per cent tree cover across Auckland.” 

    Businesses are being helped to reduce industrial pollution risks to waterways and the Waitematā Harbour. One hundred businesses will be visited in Rosedale and the new industrial area on Hobsonville Road is also part of the programme.

    “There are site inspections and practical recommendations for the businesses involved and they also understand what they must do if something goes wrong,” says Atkinson.

    With construction and demolition waste the single biggest contributor of waste in Auckland, and the scale of development in Hobsonville, the programme focusses on this area. The construction and demolition waste advisor works with builders and developers to improve site practices and compliance including the installation of silt and security fences.

    Read the full report in the Upper Harbour Local Board Meeting agenda on 24 October 2024 at infocouncil.govt.nz (item 12)

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff, Secure Over $60 Million to Improve Rail Safety Across Georgia Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff, Secure Over $60 Million to Improve Rail Safety Across Georgia Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

    The Georgia Department of Transportation will receive $8,496,000 to improve rail line in Lowndes and Berrien Counties
    The Georgia Ports Authority will receive $26,521,740 to finalize designs and build improvements at Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island Terminal
    Funding provided through federal CRISI program Senator Reverend Warnock championed through the Senate Commerce committee 
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver historic investments for Georgians in every corner of the state. This latest grant will help mitigate congestion, build new tracks, and reinforce existing tracks leading to safer, more efficient, and more sustainable rail transportation and shipping”
    Senator Ossoff: “After hearing from communities statewide about aging railroad infrastructure conditions Senator Warnock and I elevated this as one of our highest priorities”

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a member of the Senate Commerce committee charged with overseeing the nation’s transportation policies, and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced they secured $60,324,102 in federal funding to strengthen railroad safety across Georgia. The funds were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, championed by the senators for its investments in Georgia, and administered through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. Senator Warnock successfully strengthened the CRISI Program to deliver for Georgia during negotiations for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and wrote letters of support championing funding for the Georgia Ports Authority, Patriot Rail Company, and OmniTRAX Holdings projects. 

    The Georgia Ports Authority will receive $26,521,740 to finalize designs and build improvements at Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island Terminal. This includes constructing a new South Side Rail Yard with four additional tracks (about 23,735 feet), an auto parking area, and a perimeter road, as well as adding a grade separation at SCM Road. Additionally, the existing Myd-Harris Yard will be reconfigured to improve efficiency and shift rail operations away from nearby neighborhoods.

    The Georgia Department of Transportation will receive $8,496,000 to improve the CPR GF rail line in Lowndes and Berrien Counties. This project includes upgrading tracks, rehabilitating bridges and sidings, and adding a new spur. These upgrades will help maintain large freight capacity, enable speeds of 25 mph, enhance crossing safety, improve reliability, reduce future maintenance costs, and support local economic growth with improved infrastructure.

    “Our communities thrive when we are better connected, which is why I have been focused on strengthening rail safety and infrastructure in Georgia, and why I was proud to champion efforts in the Senate to strengthen the CRISI program allowing these funds to flow our state,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver historic investments for Georgians in every corner of the state. This latest grant will help mitigate congestion, build new tracks, and reinforce existing tracks leading to safer, more efficient, and more sustainable rail transportation and shipping.”

    “After hearing from communities statewide about aging railroad infrastructure conditions Senator Warnock and I elevated this as one of our highest priorities. Resources through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are now flowing across the State of Georgia to plan and begin construction to address this crisis. We’ve listened, we’ve heard, we’ve acted, and help is on the way,” said Senator Ossoff.

    The purpose of the CRISI Program is to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints to support the more efficient movement of both people and goods; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors.

    See a full breakdown of the grants below:

    Grant Recipient Project Description Federal Award Amount
    Georgia Ports Authority Final design and construction to improve the Myd-Harris Yard and build the new South Side Rail Yard at the Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick, GA. Specifically, for the South Side Rail Yard, the project would construct four new yard tracks, estimated at approximately 23,735 feet of track, and construct south side auto parking area and a perimeter road, as well as grade separate the existing crossing at SCM Road. Additionally, it would lengthen and reconfigure tracks at the existing Myd-Harris Yard to improve operational efficiency and bring rail switching activities inside the terminal and away from the adjacent neighborhood. $26,521,740
    Georgia Department of Transportation Final design/construction for a track and rail rehabilitation/upgrade, multibridge rehabilitation, siding rehabilitation, and the construction of a new spur on the CPR GF Line across Lowndes and Berrien Counties, Georgia. The objective of this Project is to preserve the railroad’s ability to accommodate 286,000-lb carloads and 25 mph operating speeds, enhance safety at grade crossings, support the reliability of freight movement by improving state of good repair, reduce future maintenance costs, and support economic development with new and improve siding and spur tracks. $8,496,000
    Patriot Rail Company LLC Final design and construction activities to improve track conditions on eight Patriot railroads across the southeast. $12,840,150
    OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc. Final design and construction activities to replace railroad ties on four OmniTRAX-owned short lines across four states – Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, and Washington. $12,466,212

    Last December, Senators Warnock and Ossoff delivered $12 million in new Federal funding for a project in Jenkins County that will improve mobility by helping eliminate railway-highway crossings through the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program. Last year, Senator Warnock secured the passage of two critical provisions in the Railway Safety Act of 2023 to address stalled trains trapping Atlanta residents in their neighborhood, and would update the grant program to provide additional support for projects that would eliminate crossings near schools, along school bus routes. In August 2023, Senator Warnock urged Secretary Buttigieg to approve rail crossing improvements in Millen, GA, and in 2021, Senator Warnock joined Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) to introduce the bipartisan Railway Upgrades for Rural American Lines (RURAL) Act to build on the successes already found through the Section 130 grant program and help states modernize unsafe or functionally outdated railroad warning devices.

    Senator Ossoff has worked alongside Senator Reverend Warnock to help Georgia communities address railroad crossings blockages. In September 2023, Senator Ossoff urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support GDOT and Millen’s project. In June 2023, Senators Ossoff and Warnock delivered Federal resources for Chatham, DeKalb, and Gwinnett Counties through the bipartisan infrastructure law’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Deputy PM: Ti-Tree Bend tank in the mix for Tamar fix

    Source: Minister of Infrastructure

    Work to improve the quality of Launceston’s biggest waterway has reached a new milestone, with construction of a giant storage tank at Ti-Tree Bend underway, following the recent completion of upgrades to the Margaret Street Pump Station and Western Rising Main.

    The 10-megalitre concrete tank will be connected to the new pipeline under the Kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary riverbed – boosting the storage capacity of Launceston’s combined sewage and stormwater system, and significantly reducing untreated overflows.

    Ahead of construction, mass soil mixing works of more than 28,000 cubic metres of soil – the equivalent to filling 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools – were undertaken, along with the installation of 120 concrete piles to a depth of 20 metres.

    With these essential ground improvement and foundation works completed, TasWater is now beginning construction of the new 10-megalitre covered storage facility and supporting infrastructure, with the project expected to be completed in 2026.

    The project is supporting up to 80 jobs during construction, and includes the services of local Tasmanian contractors, One Earth Excavations.  

    It is part of the $140.7 million Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan, with the Albanese Government providing $49 million, the Tasmanian Government $47.5 million, TasWater $33.2 million, and the City of Launceston $11 million – an initiative of the $609.4 million Launceston City Deal.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP:

    “It was fantastic to be back in Launceston to see this infrastructure continuing to take shape, with construction of this 10-megalitre tank marking an exciting milestone in this region-shaping project.

    “Upgrading Launceston’s sewage and stormwater system will not only ensure it keeps pace with the city’s growing population, it will significantly boost the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, supporting commercial and recreational opportunities on this waterway into the future.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz:

    “Alongside the recently completed pipeline, this latest milestone will continue improvements in the overall health of the Estuary.

    “The work being conducted under the Launceston City Deal and Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce demonstrates once again what can be achieved when the three levels of government collaborate.

    “The Tamar Estuary is a major asset for Launceston and Northern Tasmania and the more focus we have on its health and amenity, the better.”

    Quotes attributable to Senator for Tasmania, Helen Polley:

    “Improving the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary is something that people in Launceston have long called for, which is why we’re getting on with the job of delivering these critical upgrades to the city’s sewage and stormwater system.

    “With work kickstarting on this storage tank installation, we’re another step closer to this estuary becoming a recreational waterway, which will really transform how this part of Launceston is utilised by locals and visitors long into the future.” 

    Quotes attributable to Simon Wood, Liberal Member for Bass:

    “We appreciate the river’s importance to Launceston and the wider community, which is why we are making investments today to ensure its health for future generations.

    “The health of the Tamar is a daily topic of conversation around Launceston.

    “People can be confident that the Tasmanian Government, as part of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce and through the Launceston City Deal, is helping to protect this waterway.”

    Quotes from City of Launceston Council Mayor Matthew Garwood:

    “The City of Launceston is proud to work alongside our Launceston City Deal partners to continue to make improvements to the health of our waterways,” Mayor Garwood said.

    “The work TasWater has been undertaking to progress new and improved sewage infrastructure is phenomenal and is going to make a really positive difference to the natural environment over coming decades.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Electronics Announces Results for Third Quarter of 2024

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024.
     
    The Company posted KRW 79.1 trillion in consolidated revenue, an increase of 7% from the previous quarter, on the back of the launch effects of new smartphone models and increased sales of high-end memory products. Operating profit declined to KRW 9.18 trillion, largely due to one-off costs, including the provision of incentives in the Device Solutions (DS) Division.
     
    The strength of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar resulted in a negative impact on company-wide operating profit of about KRW 0.5 trillion compared to the previous quarter.
     
    In the fourth quarter, while memory demand for mobile and PC may encounter softness, growth in AI will keep demand at robust levels. Against this backdrop, the Company will concentrate on driving sales of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and high-density products. The Foundry Business aims to increase order volumes by enhancing advanced process technologies. Samsung Display Corporation (SDC) expects the demand of flagship products from major customers to continue, while maintaining a quite conservative outlook on its performance. The Device eXperience (DX) Division will continue to focus on premium products, but sales are expected to decline slightly compared to the previous quarter.
     
    For 2025, the Company will remain focused on enhancing competitiveness in advanced technologies and strengthening leadership in premium products and AI capabilities amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. The DS Division will address demand for differentiated products based on advanced technologies and high value-added products such as HBM and server SSDs. In addition, the Company plans to leverage the mass production on the 2 nanometer (nm) Gate-All-Around (GAA) process to win new clients. SDC will aim to maintain leadership in the high-end product category and broaden its product portfolio. The DX Division will continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences through enhanced AI features and product connectivity.
     
    With over 500 million diverse products being delivered to consumers globally every year, the Company is tailoring its AI technology in each product to help lead the market. By leveraging the SmartThings platform with 360 million users and capabilities in product intelligence, spatial intelligence, and personalization, the Company plans to firmly establish itself in the home of the future, where AI will be widespread. In the AI era for the home, the Company will focus on the security of its products, convenience in device connectivity, intelligent technology to save energy and time, and the health and well-being of users and their families.
     
     
    Memory Achieves Revenue Growth in Q3
    The DS Division posted KRW 29.27 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 3.86 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.
     
    For the Memory Business, demand for AI and conventional servers was strong, as major datacenter and technology companies continued to invest. But mobile demand was relatively soft due to inventory adjustments by some customers, and the supply-demand situation was impacted somewhat by the increasing supply of legacy products in the China market.
     
    The Company focused on actively responding to the demand for AI and server products while depleting aging inventories of legacy products to further improve the inventory level and mix. Therefore, compared to the previous quarter, the Company achieved significant revenue growth in HBM, DDR5 and Server SSD.
     
    However, performance decreased due to a reduced reversal of inventory valuation loss compared to the previous quarter, one-off expenses such as the provision of incentives, and currency effects due to a weak dollar.
     
    For the fourth quarter, the demand trends experienced in the previous quarter are expected to continue. The Company plans to accelerate the conversion of cutting-edge nodes in legacy lines and aims to strengthen its business fundamentals by completing the normalization of the inventory level and mix by the end of the year.
     
    For DRAM, the Company plans to expand sales in line with the increase in HBM capacity, accelerate the transition to 1b nanometer1 for server DDR5 and actively expand the sales portion of high-density modules based on 32Gb DDR5. For NAND, the Company will expand sales of 8th generation (V8) based PCIe Gen5 and plans to mass-produce the 64TB product for the quad-level cell (QLC) market, which has high growth potential.
     
    Looking ahead to 2025, datacenter and enterprise investments are likely to remain strong in association with AI, and build demand for conventional servers, in addition to AI servers, is expected to be steadily strong.
     
    For DRAM, the Company plans to expand the sales of HBM3E and the portion of high-end products such as DDR5 modules with 128GB density or higher for servers and LPDDR5X for mobile, PC, servers, and so on. For NAND, the Company will proactively respond to the high-density trend based on QLC products — including 64TB and 128TB SSDs — and solidify leadership in the PCIe Gen5 market by accelerating the tech migration from V6 to V8.
     
    The System LSI Business posted modest sales growth, but earnings declined due to increased one-off costs. System-on-chip (SoC) shipments increased as flagship products were adopted for new models by a major customer. Sales of image sensors were affected by H1’s inventory accumulation, resulting in some adjustments, while display driver IC (DDI) sales expanded with new model launches by key customers.
     
    In the fourth quarter, supply of the Exynos 2400 will continue to expand with higher customer adoption, but weak demand for image sensors is expected to continue. For DDIs, the System LSI Business is focusing on growth areas, such as the expansion of IT-oriented OLED products.
     
    Looking ahead to 2025, the momentum of on-device AI is expected to remain strong, and the Company will focus on capturing opportunities in areas such as SoCs and cameras. The System LSI Business plans to concentrate on supplying SoCs for flagship products of a major customer while preparing for next-generation 2nm products. Image sensors will aim to maximize new product supply through HDR, low-power and zoom features, while DDIs will seek to develop low-power products using advanced processes.
     
    The Foundry Business saw its overall earnings decline compared to the previous quarter due to the impact of one-off costs. Still, the Foundry Business successfully met its order targets — particularly in sub-5nm technologies — and released the 2nm GAA process design kit (PDK), enabling customers to proceed with their product designs.
     
    While mobile and PC demand may remain weak in the fourth quarter, high performance computing (HPC) and AI-related demand will continue to be robust. The Foundry Business will strive to acquire customers by improving the process maturity of its 2nm GAA technology, and it will continue to develop competitive technology and design infrastructure to expand additional business opportunities.
     
    For 2025, the overall foundry market is expected to show double-digit growth, driven by HPC and AI applications in advanced technology nodes. The Foundry Business aims to expand revenue through ongoing yield improvements in advanced technology while securing major customers through successful 2nm mass production. In addition, integrating advanced process nodes and packaging solutions to further develop the HBM buffer die is expected to help acquire new customers in the AI and HPC sectors.
     
     
    Mobile Display Records Solid Results; Will Maintain Leadership in the High-End Market
    SDC posted KRW 8.0 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 1.51 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.
     
    For the mobile display business, SDC achieved sequential improvements in both sales and profits thanks to the flagship product launches of major customers. For the large display business, SDC reported a slight weakening in operating profit, but sales volume improved from the previous quarter, driven by the stable demand of TV and monitor products.
     
    In the fourth quarter, SDC expects continued demand for flagship products from major customers, and sales growth of IT and automotive products. However, SDC’s performance outlook is quite conservative compared to the previous quarter, due to headwinds from rising competition among panel makers.
     
    For the large display business, SDC will keep striving to expand sales by meeting the fourth quarter demand of major customers through improved production efficiency, and it aims to respond to the demand for new products in 2025 with timely supply.
     
    In 2025, SDC will continue to maintain its leadership in the foldable and high-end smartphone markets, based on innovative OLED technologies optimized for AI devices and accelerate the expansion of IT and automotive products to further diversify its business portfolio.
     
    For the large display business, SDC will continue to leverage the performance advantage of QD-OLED panels to strengthen its position in the premium TV market. And for monitors, SDC will broaden its lineup by adding high-resolution products and diverse refresh rate options, aiming not only to solidify its competitive edge in the gaming monitor market but also to actively enter the B2C monitor market.
     
     
    MX Business To Achieve Double-Digit Annual Sales Growth in Flagships
    The MX and Networks businesses posted KRW 30.52 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 2.82 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.
     
    Overall market demand for smartphones grew modestly as the residual effects of global inflation slowed the recovery in consumer spending.
     
    The MX Business recorded sequential growth in both revenue and operating profit, bolstered by the launch of new smartphone, tablet and wearable products. Sales increased — with a focus on flagship models — and profitability neared double digits, despite rising material costs as product specifications improved to boost competitiveness.
     
    In the fourth quarter, seasonal factors are expected to lead to sequential growth in the smartphone market. At the same time, competition in the mass market segment is expected to increase as a result of rising demand, particularly in emerging markets.
     
    The MX Business will continue to maintain solid sales of its AI smartphones, such as foldables and the S24 series, with various sales promotions in anticipation of the holiday season, aiming for annual flagship sales growth of double digits. In addition, the MX Business will expand sales linked to year-end seasonality for tablets and wearables, especially on new premium products with significantly enhanced performance, to contribute to the MX Business’ sales and profits.
     
    In 2025, the macroeconomic environment is expected to stabilize to a degree as a result of interest rate cuts, leading to slight growth in the smartphone market. The mass market segment is expected to grow, along with demand for ecosystem products, and the smartwatch and true wireless stereo (TWS) markets will expand with broader applications of AI capabilities.
     
    The MX Business will drive sales growth and improve profitability with a focus on flagship products, including smartphones, foldables, tablets and wearables, based on further advancements of Galaxy AI.
     
     
    Visual Display To Focus on Premium Models and Service Expansion
    The Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses posted KRW 14.14 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.53 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.
     
    The Visual Display Business saw improved profitability both from the previous quarter and a year earlier by prioritizing sales of strategic products such as Neo QLEDs, OLEDs, and big TVs. Additionally, service business sales increased.
     
    In the fourth quarter, overall demand in the TV market is expected to recover due to year-end peak seasonality amid intensifying competition. The Visual Display Business plans to capture peak season demand by enhancing sales programs through strategic collaborations with major retail partners, and will focus on expanding sales and securing profitability by emphasizing the competitiveness of TVs in terms of security, design, and content.
     
    In 2025, the overall TV market is expected to post modest growth, with strategic products like QLEDs, OLEDs, and big TVs continuing to gain market share. To solidify its leading position globally, the Visual Display Business will continue to differentiate AI functionalities and innovate its products centering on premium and Lifestyle screens.
     
    By utilizing AI, the Company aims to enhance core TV features such as picture and sound quality, while also improving the overall user experience within the SmartThings ecosystem. The Company plans to drive sales of premium products centered on Neo QLED, OLED and super big TVs, and it will maintain leadership in the Lifestyle screen category by leveraging well-established competitive advantages.
     
    Furthermore, by capitalizing on the extensive installed base that has been established through hardware leadership, the Visual Display Business will continue to expand the service platform business through advertisement and media such as Samsung TV Plus.
     
     
    1 Refers to Samsung’s fifth-generation 10nm class DRAM

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Ti-Tree Bend tank in the mix for Tamar fix

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    Work to improve the quality of Launceston’s biggest waterway has reached a new milestone, with construction of a giant storage tank at Ti-Tree Bend underway, following the recent completion of upgrades to the Margaret Street Pump Station and Western Rising Main.

    The 10-megalitre concrete tank will be connected to the new pipeline under the Kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary riverbed – boosting the storage capacity of Launceston’s combined sewage and stormwater system, and significantly reducing untreated overflows.

    Ahead of construction, mass soil mixing works of more than 28,000 cubic metres of soil – the equivalent to filling 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools – were undertaken, along with the installation of 120 concrete piles to a depth of 20 metres.

    With these essential ground improvement and foundation works completed, TasWater is now beginning construction of the new 10-megalitre covered storage facility and supporting infrastructure, with the project expected to be completed in 2026.

    The project is supporting up to 80 jobs during construction, and includes the services of local Tasmanian contractors, One Earth Excavations.  

    It is part of the $140.7 million Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan, with the Albanese Government providing $49 million, the Tasmanian Government $47.5 million, TasWater $33.2 million, and the City of Launceston $11 million – an initiative of the $609.4 million Launceston City Deal.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP:

    “It was fantastic to be back in Launceston to see this infrastructure continuing to take shape, with construction of this 10-megalitre tank marking an exciting milestone in this region-shaping project.

    “Upgrading Launceston’s sewage and stormwater system will not only ensure it keeps pace with the city’s growing population, it will significantly boost the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, supporting commercial and recreational opportunities on this waterway into the future.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz:

    “Alongside the recently completed pipeline, this latest milestone will continue improvements in the overall health of the Estuary.

    “The work being conducted under the Launceston City Deal and Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce demonstrates once again what can be achieved when the three levels of government collaborate.

    “The Tamar Estuary is a major asset for Launceston and Northern Tasmania and the more focus we have on its health and amenity, the better.”

    Quotes attributable to Senator for Tasmania, Helen Polley:

    “Improving the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary is something that people in Launceston have long called for, which is why we’re getting on with the job of delivering these critical upgrades to the city’s sewage and stormwater system.

    “With work kickstarting on this storage tank installation, we’re another step closer to this estuary becoming a recreational waterway, which will really transform how this part of Launceston is utilised by locals and visitors long into the future.” 

    Quotes attributable to Simon Wood, Liberal Member for Bass:

    “We appreciate the river’s importance to Launceston and the wider community, which is why we are making investments today to ensure its health for future generations.

    “The health of the Tamar is a daily topic of conversation around Launceston.

    “People can be confident that the Tasmanian Government, as part of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce and through the Launceston City Deal, is helping to protect this waterway.”

    Quotes from City of Launceston Council Mayor Matthew Garwood:

    “The City of Launceston is proud to work alongside our Launceston City Deal partners to continue to make improvements to the health of our waterways,” Mayor Garwood said.

    “The work TasWater has been undertaking to progress new and improved sewage infrastructure is phenomenal and is going to make a really positive difference to the natural environment over coming decades.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale: Third quarter 2024 earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESULTS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

    Press release                                                        
    Paris, 31 October 2024

    SOLID BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN Q3 24,
    GROUP NET INCOME OF EUR 1.4 BILLION

    Revenues of EUR 6.8 billion, up +10.5% vs. Q3 231, driven notably by the strong rebound in net interest income in France, in line with end of year estimate, and by another solid performance of Global Banking and Investor Solutions, in particular in Equities and Transaction Banking

    Strong positive jaws, control of operating expenses, down by -0.8% vs. Q3 23

    Cost-to-income ratio at 63.3% in Q3 24, improved by 7.1 points vs. Q3 23

    Stable cost of risk at 27 basis points in Q3 24

    Profitability (ROTE) at 9.6% vs. 3.8% for Q3 23

    9M 24 NET INCOME UP 53% VS. 9M 23 AT EUR 3.2 BILLION,
    DRIVEN BY THE IMPROVEMENT IN OPERATING PERFORMANCE

    Revenues of EUR 20.2 billion, up +5.3% vs. 9M 23

    Stable operating expenses, +0.1% vs. 9M 23

    Cost-to-income ratio at 68.8%, improved by 3.6 percentage points vs. 9M 23

    Profitability (ROTE) at 7.1% vs. 5.0% for 9M 23

    SOLID CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY RATIOS

    CET 1 ratio of 13.2%2at end of Q3 24, around 300 basis points above the regulatory requirement

    Liquidity Coverage Ratio at 152% at end of Q3 24

    Distribution provision of EUR 1.663per share at end-September 2024

    DECISIVE EXECUTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN

    Capital build-up ahead of Capital Markets Day trajectory

    Continuous improvement in efficiency and profitability

    Reshaping of the business portfolio well underway

    Slawomir Krupa, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
    “We are publishing solid quarterly results that continue to show strong improvement. It demonstrates that we are executing our strategic plan which is impacting our results in a positive and tangible way. Our revenues are up thanks to the solid performance of our businesses with a strong rebound of the net interest income in France and another remarkable contribution from Global Banking and Investor Solutions. Operating expenses are stable and cost of risk is contained. We are posting a clear improvement of cost-to-income ratio and profitability, and our capital ratio continues to strengthen.
    For the past year we have been working relentlessly. Our teams are mobilized and we have made progress in three fundamental areas: capital build-up, improvement of profitability, and the reshaping of our business portfolio. We continue to implement our various strategic initiatives such as BoursoBank’s development, LeasePlan’s integration within Ayvens and the acceleration of our contribution to the energy transition. Our goal remains unchanged: a sustainable performance that will create long-term value.”

    1. GROUP CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 Change 9M 24 9M 23 Change
    Net banking income 6,837 6,189 +10.5% +11.8%* 20,167 19,147 +5.3% +6.5%*
    Operating expenses (4,327) (4,360) -0.8% -0.3%* (13,877) (13,858) +0.1% +0.5%*
    Gross operating income 2,511 1,829 +37.3% +41.0%* 6,290 5,289 +18.9% +22.4%*
    Net cost of risk (406) (316) +28.4% +30.5%* (1,192) (664) +79.6% +81.0%*
    Operating income 2,105 1,513 +39.1% +43.2%* 5,098 4,625 +10.2% +13.9%*
    Net profits or losses from other assets 21 6 x 3.5 x 3.4* (67) (92) +27.5% +27.3%*
    Income tax (535) (624) -14.3% -12.7%* (1,188) (1,377) -13.7% -11.3%*
    Net income 1,591 563 x 2.8 x 3.0* 3,856 2,836 +35.9% +41.3%*
    O.w. non-controlling interests 224 268 -16.5% -16.1%* 696 774 -10.1% -11.2%*
    Reported Group net income 1,367 295 x 4.6 x 5.1* 3,160 2,062 +53.2% +62.2%*
    ROE 8.4% 0.9%     6.2% 3.6% +0.0% +0.0%*
    ROTE 9.6% 3.8%     7.1% 5.0% +0.0% +0.0%*
    Cost to income 63.3% 70.4%     68.8% 72.4% +0.0% +0.0%*

    Societe Generale’s Board of Directors, which met on 30 October 2024 under the chairmanship of Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, examined Societe Generale Group’s results for Q3 24 and for the first nine months of 2024.

    Net banking income 

    Net banking income stood at EUR 6.8 billion, up by +10.5% vs. Q3 23.

    Revenues of French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance were up by +18.7% vs. Q3 23 and totalled EUR 2.3 billion in Q3 24. Net interest income continued its rebound in Q3 24 (+43% excluding PEL/CEL provision vs. Q3 23), in line with latest estimates, in the context of a still muted loan environment and the pursuit of increasing interest-bearing deposits. Assets under management in the Private Banking and Insurance businesses continued to rise, respectively recording a growth of +8% and +10% in Q3 24 vs. Q3 23. Last, BoursoBank continued its controlled client acquisition, onboarding once again more than 300,000 new clients over the quarter, reaching close to 6.8 million clients at end-September 2024. Likewise, assets under administration rose by over 14% vs. Q3 23. As in Q2 24, BoursoBank posted a positive contribution to Group net income in Q3 24.

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions registered a +4.9% increase in revenues relative to Q3 23. Revenues totalled EUR 2.4 billion over the quarter, still driven by strong dynamics of Global Markets’ and Global Transaction & Payment Services’ activities, with revenues increasing by a respective +7.6% and +9.0% in Q3 24 vs. Q3 23. Within Global Markets, revenues of Equity businesses grew by +10.1%. This is the second best third quarter ever. Fixed income and Currencies also recorded a solid performance, with a +6.1% increase in revenues amid a falling interest rates. Financing and Advisory’s revenues totalled EUR 843 million, stable vs. Q3 23. The commercial momentum in the securitisation businesses remained very solid and the performance of financing activities continued to be good, albeit slower relative to an elevated Q3 23. Likewise, Global Transaction & Payment Services’ activities posted an +9.0% increase in revenues vs. Q3 23, driven by a favourable market environment and sustained commercial development in the cash management and correspondent banking activities.

    Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services’ revenues were down by -5.4% vs. Q3 23 mainly owing to base effects at Ayvens. International Retail Banking recorded a +1.4% increase in revenues vs. Q3 23 to EUR 1.1 billion, driven by favourable momentum across all regions. Mobility and Financial Services’ revenues contracted by -11.4% vs. Q3 23 owing to an unfavourable non-recurring base effect on Ayvens.

    The Corporate Centre recorded revenues of EUR +54 million in Q3 24. They include the booking of exceptional proceeds of approximately EUR 0.3 billion4.

    Over 9M 24, net banking income increased by +5.3% vs. 9M 23.

    Operating expenses 

    Operating expenses came to EUR 4,327 million in Q3 24, down -0.8% vs. Q3 23.

    The cost-to-income ratio stood at 63.3% in Q3 24, a sharp decrease vs. Q3 23 (70.4%) and Q2 24 (68.4%).

    Over 9M 24, operating expenses were stable (+0.1% vs. 9M 23) and the cost-to-income ratio came to 68.8% (vs. 72.4% for 9M 23), which is lower than the 71% target set for FY 2024.

    Cost of risk

    The cost of risk was stable and contained over the quarter at 27 basis points, i.e., EUR 406 million. This comprises a EUR 400 million provision for doubtful loans (around 27 basis points) and a provision on performing loan outstandings for EUR +6 million.

    At end-September 2024, the Group’s provisions on performing loans amounted to EUR 3,122 million, down by a slight EUR -56 million relative to 30 June 2024 notably as per the application of IFRS5 accounting standards on activities under disposal. The EUR -450 million contraction relative to 31 December 2023 is mainly owing to the application of IFRS 5 accounting standards for activities under disposal.

    The gross non-performing loan ratio stood at 2.95%5,6 at 30 September 2024, down vs. end of June 2024 (3.03%). The net coverage ratio on the Group’s non-performing loans stood at 84%7 at 30 September 2024 (after netting of guarantees and collateral).

    Net profits from other assets

    In Q3 24, the Group booked net profit of EUR 21 million driven, on the one hand, by the sale of the headquarters of KB in the Czech Republic and, on the other hand, by the accounting impacts mainly owing to the current sale of assets.

    Group net income

    Group net income stood at EUR 1,367 million in Q3 24, equating to a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 9.6%.

    Over 9M 24, Group net income came to EUR 3,160 million, equating to a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 7.1%.

    2.   STRATEGIC PLAN FULLY ON TRACK

    Since announcing its strategic plan in September 2023, the Group has made significant progress in its implementation, the benefits of which are starting to materialise, including on financials aspects. Fundamental milestones have notably been reached in three major areas: capital build-up, the continuous improvement in efficiency and profitability and the reshaping of the business portfolio.

    Regarding the business portfolio, the Group has been proactive in recent months, announcing the disposal of several non-core and non-synergistic assets. These latest divestments not only contribute to simplifying the Group but will also reinforce the capital ratio by around 60 basis points, of which around 15 basis points are expected by year-end.

    At the same time, the Group is preparing the future by investing in our core franchises, as demonstrated by the development of BoursoBank, the integration of LeasePlan in Ayvens, the creation of Bernstein, the partnership with Brookfield, the merger of our networks in France and the digitalization of our networks in the Czech Republic.

    The rollout of our ESG roadmap is also progressing well, particularly on the alignment of our portfolio. The Group has already reduced by more than 50% its upstream Oil & Gas exposure at Q2 24 compared to 20198.

    Last quarter, the Group reached its EUR 300 billion sustainable finance target set between 2022-2025. Societe Generale announces today a new sustainable finance target to facilitate EUR 500 billion over the 2024-2030 period that breaks down as follows:
    – EUR 400 billion in financing and EUR 100 billion in sustainable bonds9
    – EUR 400 billion in environmental activities and EUR 100 billion in social

    A major portion of financing will be for dedicated transactions in clean energy, sustainable real estate, low carbon mobility, and other industry and environmental transition topics.

    3.   THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

    At 30 September 2024, the Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 13.2%10, around 300 basis points above the regulatory requirement. Likewise, the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was well ahead of regulatory requirements at 152% at end-September 2024 (156% on average for the quarter), and the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) stood at 116% at end-September 2024.

    All liquidity and solvency ratios are well above the regulatory requirements.

      30.09.2024 31.12.2023 Requirements
    CET1(1) 13.2% 13.1% 10.22%
    CET1 fully loaded 13.2% 13.1% 10.22%
    Tier 1 ratio (1) 15.5% 15.6% 12.15%
    Total Capital(1) 18.2% 18.2% 14.71%
    Leverage ratio (1) 4.25% 4.25% 3.60%
    TLAC (% RWA)(1) 27.8% 31.9% 22.29%
    TLAC (% leverage)(1) 7.6% 8.7% 6.75%
    MREL (% RWA)(1) 32.2% 33.7% 27.56%
    MREL (% leverage)(1) 8.8% 9.2% 6.23%
    End of period LCR 152% 160% >100%
    Period average LCR 156% 155% >100%
    NSFR 116% 119% >100%
    In EURbn 30.09.2024 31.12.2023
    Total consolidated balance sheet 1,580 1,554
    Group shareholders’ equity 67 66
    Risk-weighted assets 392 389
    O.w. credit risk 331 326
    Total funded balance sheet 948 970
    Customer loans 453 497
    Customer deposits 608 618

    At 11 October 2024, the parent company had issued a total of EUR 38.0 billion in medium/long-term debt, of which EUR 17.5 billion in vanilla notes. The 2024 long-term vanilla funding programme is completed. The subsidiaries had issued EUR 4.6 billion. In all, the Group has issued a total of EUR 42.6 billion.

    The Group is rated by four rating agencies: (i) FitchRatings – long-term rating “A-”, stable outlook, senior preferred debt rating “A”, short-term rating “F1” (ii) Moody’s – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A1”, negative outlook, short-term rating “P-1” (iii) R&I – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A”, stable outlook; and (iv) S&P Global Ratings – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A”, stable outlook, short-term rating “A-1”.
    4.   FRENCH RETAIL, PRIVATE BANKING AND INSURANCE

    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 Change 9M 24 9M 23 Change
    Net banking income 2,254 1,900 +18.7% 6,390 6,090 +4.9%
    Net banking income excl. PEL/CEL 2,259 1,895 +19.2% 6,392 6,090 +5.0%
    Operating expenses (1,585) (1,608) -1.4% (4,962) (5,073) -2.2%
    Gross operating income 669 292 x 2.3 1,428 1,017 +40.5%
    Net cost of risk (178) (144) +23.4% (597) (342) +74.7%
    Operating income 491 148 x 3.3 831 675 +23.1%
    Net profits or losses from other assets (1) 0 n/s 7 4 x 2.1
    Reported Group net income 368 109 x 3.4 631 506 +24.8%
    RONE 9.4% 2.8%   5.4% 4.4%  
    Cost to income 70.3% 84.7%   77.7% 83.3%  

    Commercial activity

    SG Network, Private Banking and Insurance 

    Average outstanding deposits of the SG Network amounted to EUR 236 billion in Q3 24, up by +0.6% vs. the previous quarter (-1% vs. Q3 23), with a continued rise in interest-bearing deposits and financial savings.

    The SG Network’s average loan outstandings contracted by -5% vs. Q3 23 to EUR 195 billion. Outstanding loans to corporate and professional clients were stable vs. Q3 23 (excluding government-guaranteed PGE loans), with the share of medium to long-term loans increasing relative to Q2 24. Home loan production continued its recovery (2.4x vs. Q3 23 and +15% vs. Q2 24).

    The average loan to deposit ratio came to 82.5% in Q3 24, down by -3.3 percentage points relative to Q3 23.

    Private Banking activities saw their assets under management11 reach a new record of EUR 154 billion in Q3 24, up by +8% vs. Q3 23. Net gathering stood at EUR 5.9 billion in 9M 24, the net asset gathering pace (net new money divided by AuM) has risen by +5.5% since the start of the year. Net banking income stood at EUR 368 million over the quarter, stable vs. Q3 23. Over 9M 24, net banking income came to EUR 1,121 million, a +1% increase vs. 9M 23.

    Insurance, which covers activities in and outside France, posted a very strong commercial performance. Life insurance outstandings increased sharply by +10% vs. Q3 23 to reach a record EUR 145 billion at end-September 2024. The share of unit-linked products remained high at 40%. Gross life insurance savings inflows amounted to EUR 3.6 billion in Q3 24, up by +35% vs. Q3 23.

    Personal protection and P&C premia were up by +5% vs. Q3 23.

    BoursoBank 

    BoursoBank registered almost 6.8 million clients at end-September 2024, a +27% increase vs. Q3 23 (an increase of around 1.4 million clients year on year). The pace of new client acquisition (around 310,000 new clients in Q3 24) is fully in line with the target of 7 million clients by the end of 2024. BoursoBank can build on an active, loyal and high-quality client base. The brokerage activity registered two million transactions, up by +18% vs. Q3 23. Last, proof of the efficiency of the model and of the very high client satisfaction level, the churn rate has remained low at around 3% and below the market rate.

    Average loan outstandings rose by +4,2% compared to Q3 23, at EUR 15 billion in Q3 24.

    Average outstanding savings including deposits and financial savings were +13.8% higher vs. Q3 23 at EUR 63 billion. Deposits outstanding totalled EUR 38 billion at Q3 24, posting another sharp increase of +16.2% vs. Q3 23. Life insurance outstandings came to EUR 12 billion in Q3 24 and rose by +7.3% vs. Q3 23 (o/w 47% unit-linked products, a +3.3 percentage points increase vs. Q3 23). The activity continued to register strong gross inflows over the quarter (+55% vs. Q3 23, around 53% unit-linked products).

    For the second quarter in a row, BoursoBank recorded a positive contribution to Group net income in Q3 24.

    Net banking income

    Over the quarter, revenues came to EUR 2,254 million, up +19% vs. Q3 23 and up +6% vs Q2 24. Net interest income grew by +43% vs. Q3 23 (excluding PEL/CEL) and +19% (EUR 169 million) vs. Q2 24. Fee income rose by +5.0% relative to Q3 23.

    Over 9M 24 revenues came to EUR 6,390 million, up by +4.9% vs. 9M 23. Net interest income excluding PEL/CEL was up by +15.9% vs. 9M 23. Fee income increased by +1.7% relative to 9M 23.

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses came to EUR 1,585 million, down -1.4% vs. Q3 23. Operating expenses for Q3 24 include EUR 12 million in transformation costs. The cost-to-income ratio stood at 70.3% for Q3 24, improving by more than +14 percentage points vs. Q3 23.

    Over 9M 24, operating expenses came to EUR 4,962 million (-2.2% vs. 9M 23). The cost-to-income ratio stood at 77.7% and improved by +5.7 percentage points vs. 9M 23.

    Cost of risk

    In Q3 24, the cost of risk amounted to EUR 178 million or 30 basis points stable on Q2 24
    (29 basis points).

    Over 9M 24, the cost of risk totalled EUR 597 million or 34 basis points.

    Group net income

    Over the quarter, Group net income totalled EUR 368 million. RONE stood at 9.4% in Q3 24.

    Over 9M 24, Group net income totalled EUR 631 million. RONE stood at 5.4% in 9M 24.
    5.   GLOBAL BANKING AND INVESTOR SOLUTIONS

    In EUR m Q3 24 Q3 23 Variation 9M 24 9M 23 Change
    Net banking income 2,422 2,309 +4.9% +5.2%* 7,666 7,457 +2.8% +2.8%*
    Operating expenses (1,494) (1,478) +1.1% +1.3%* (4,898) (5,187) -5.6% -5.5%*
    Gross operating income 928 831 +11.6% +12.0%* 2,768 2,270 +21.9% +21.8%*
    Net cost of risk (27) (14) +95.3% x 2.0* (29) 8 n/s n/s
    Operating income 901 817 +10.2% +10.5%* 2,739 2,278 +20.2% +20.0%*
    Reported Group net income 699 645 +8.2% +8.5%* 2,160 1,814 +19.1% +18.8%*
    RONE 18.0% 16.8% +0.0% +0.0%* 19.0% 15.6% +0.0% +0.0%*
    Cost to income 61.7% 64.0% +0.0% +0.0%* 63.9% 69.6% +0.0% +0.0%*

    Net banking income

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions continued to deliver very strong performances, posting revenues of EUR 2,422 million, up +4.9% versus Q3 23.

    Over 9M 24, revenues climbed by +2.8% vs. 9M 23 (EUR 7,666 million vs. EUR 7,457 million).

    Global Markets and Investor Services recorded a rise in revenues over the quarter vs. Q3 23 of +7.6% to EUR 1,579 million. Over 9M 24, revenues totalled EUR 5,063 million, i.e., a +3.1% increase vs. 9M 23. Growth was mainly driven by Global Markets which recorded revenues of EUR 1,410 million in Q3 24, up by +8.6% relative to Q3 23 amid a positive environment that was particularly conducive to Equities. Over 9M 24, revenues totalled EUR 4,553 million, up by +4.5% vs. 9M 23.

    The Equities business again delivered a solid performance, recording revenues of EUR 880 million in Q3 24, up by a strong +10.1% vs. Q3 23, notably on the back of a very good performance from derivatives amid favourable market conditions. This is the second best third quarter ever. Over 9M 24, revenues increased sharply by +12.9% relative to 9M 23 to EUR 2,739 million.

    Fixed Income and Currencies registered a +6.1% increase in revenues to EUR 530 million in Q3 24, notably owing to robust demand for rates and forex flow activities, particularly from US clients. Over 9M 24, revenues decreased by -6.0% to EUR 1,814 million.

    Securities Services’ revenues were up +0.6% versus Q3 23 at EUR 169 million, but increased by +9.9% excluding the impact of equity participations. The business continued to reap the benefit of a positive fee generation trend and robust momentum in private market and fund distribution. Over 9M 24, revenues were down by -8.2%, but rose by +2.1% excluding equity participations. Assets under Custody and Assets under Administration amounted to EUR 4,975 billion and EUR 614 billion, respectively.

    The Financing and Advisory business posted revenues of EUR 843 million, stable versus Q3 23. Over 9M 24, revenues totalled EUR 2,602 million, up by +2.3% vs. 9M 23.

    The Global Banking and Advisory business posted a -3.2% decline in revenues relative to Q3 23. Securitised products again delivered a solid performance and momentum was strong in the distribution activity. Financing activities posted a good performance, albeit down on the high baseline in Q3 23. Investment banking activities turned in resilient performances. Over 9M 24, revenues dipped slightly by -0.3% relative to 9M 23.

    Global Transaction & Payment Services again delivered a very robust performance compared with Q3 23, posting an +9.0% increase in revenues, driven by strong momentum in cash management and the correspondent banking activities. Over 9M 24, revenues grew by +10.1%.

    Operating expenses

    Operating expenses came to EUR 1,494 million over the quarter and included EUR 21 million in transformation costs. Operating expenses rose by +1.1% compared with Q3 23, equating to a cost-to-income ratio of 61.7% in Q3 24.

    Over 9M 24, operating expenses decreased by -5.6% compared with 9M 23 and the cost-to-income ratio came to 63.9%.

    Cost of risk

    Over the quarter, the cost of risk was low at EUR 27 million, or 7 basis points vs. 3 basis points in Q3 23.

    Over 9M 24, the cost of risk was EUR 29 million, or 2 basis points.

    Group net income

    Group net income increased by +8.2% vs. Q3 23 to EUR 699 million. Over 9M 24, Group net income rose sharply by +19.1% to EUR 2,160 million.

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions reported high RONE of 18.0% for the quarter and RONE of 19.0% for 9M 24.

    6.   MOBILITY, INTERNATIONAL RETAIL BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 Change   9M 24 9M 23 Change
    Net banking income 2,108 2,228 -5.4% -2.8%*   6,403 6,491 -1.4% +1.8%*
    Operating expenses (1,221) (1,239) -1.4% +0.3%*   (3,832) (3,479) +10.2% +12.7%*
    Gross operating income 887 989 -10.4% -6.6%*   2,570 3,013 -14.7% -10.9%*
    Net cost of risk (201) (175) +14.9% +18.1%*   (572) (349) +63.7% +65.9%*
    Operating income 685 814 -15.8% -12.0%*   1,998 2,663 -25.0% -21.2%*
    Net profits or losses from other assets 94 1 x 77.0 x 76.7*   98 0 x 375.7 x 304.1
    Non-controlling interests 223 237 -6.1% -3.6%*   623 674 -7.6% -7.8%*
    Reported Group net income 367 377 -2.4% +3.1%*   956 1,325 -27.8% -22.1%*
    RONE 14.1% 14.9%       12.2% 18.6%    
    Cost to income 57.9% 55.6%       59.9% 53.6%    

    (122)()

    Commercial activity

    International Retail Banking

    International Retail Banking1 posted robust commercial momentum in Q3 24, with an increase in loan outstandings of +4.2%* vs. Q3 23 (+1.8%, outstandings of EUR 68 billion in Q3 24) and growth of +4.1%* vs. Q3 23 (+1.2%, outstandings of EUR 83 billion in Q3 24).

    Activity in Europe was solid across client segments for both entities. Loan outstandings increased by +6.0%* vs. Q3 23 (+3.1% at current perimeter and exchange rates, outstandings of EUR 43 billion in Q3 24), driven by home loans and medium and long-term corporate loans in a lower rates environment. Deposit outstandings increased by +4.6%* vs. Q3 23 (+1.9% at current perimeter and exchange rates, outstandings of EUR 55 billion in Q3 24), mainly on interest-bearing products.

    In Africa, Mediterranean Basin and French Overseas Territories, loan outstandings totalled EUR 25 billion in Q3 24 (+1.2%* vs. Q3 23, stable at current perimeter and exchange rates) on back of a +5.6%* rise vs. Q3 23 in sub-Saharan Africa (stable vs. Q3 23 at current perimeter and exchange rates). Deposit outstandings totalled EUR 27 billion at Q3 24. They increased by +3.0%* vs. Q3 23 (stable at current perimeter and exchange rates) across all client segments in Africa.

    Mobility and Financial Services

    Overall, Mobility and Financial Services maintained a good commercial performance.

    Ayvens’ earning assets totalled EUR 53.1 billion at end-September 2024, a +5.8% increase vs.                                end-September 2023.

    The Consumer Finance business posted loans outstanding of EUR 23 billion for Q3 24, down -4.5% vs. Q3 23 in a still uncertain environment.

    Equipment Finance posted outstandings of EUR 15 billion in Q3 24, the same level as in Q3 23.

    Net banking income

    Over the quarter, Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services’ revenues totalled EUR 2,108 million, a decrease of -2.8%* vs. Q3 23 (-5.4% at current perimeter and exchange rates).

    Over 9M 24, revenues came to EUR 6,403 million, up slightly by +1.8%* vs. 9M 23 (-1.4% at current perimeter and exchange rates).

    International Retail Banking recorded a solid performance over the quarter, with a net banking income of EUR 1,058 million, up by +5.1%* vs. Q3 23 (+1.4% at current perimeter and exchange rates). Over 9M 24, revenues totalled EUR 3,131 million, a +4.0%* increase vs. 9M 23 (stable at current perimeter and exchange rates).

    Europe recorded revenues of EUR 506 million in Q3 24, an increase for both entities (+3.0%* vs. Q3 23, stable at current perimeter and exchange rates).

    The Africa, Mediterranean Basin and French Overseas Territories region continued to post robust commercial momentum with revenues of EUR 552 million in Q3 24. These increased by +7.2%* vs. Q3 23 (+2.8% at current perimeter and exchange rates), driven by a significant rise in net interest income in Africa (+10.5%* vs. Q3 23).

    In Q3 24, Mobility and Financial Services’ revenues decreased by -11.4% vs. Q3 23 to EUR 1,049 million. Over the first nine months of 2024, they contracted by -2.9% to EUR 3,271 million.

    Ayvens’ net banking income stood at EUR 732 million, a decrease of -14,8% in Q3 24 vs. Q3 23 and of
    -4,0% restated from non-recurring items13. The amount of underlying margins was stable vs. Q3 23 at around EUR 690 million1. The average used car sale result per vehicle (UCS) continued to normalise but remained at a high level of EUR 1,4201 per unit in Q3 24 vs. EUR 1,4801 in Q2 24.

    Consumer Finance activities, down by -3.5% vs. Q3 23, have stabilised since Q2 24 with the business posting net banking income of EUR 218 million in Q3 24. Equipment Finance revenues were also stable vs. Q3 23 (EUR 99 million in Q3 24).

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses were stable (+0.3%* vs. Q3 23, -1.4%) at EUR 1,221 million and included EUR 29 million in transformation costs. The cost-to-income ratio came to 57.9% in Q3 24.

    Over 9M 24, operating expenses totalled EUR 3,832 million, up +12.7%* vs. 9M 23 (+10.2% at current perimeter and exchange rates). They include around EUR 148 million of transformation charges.

    In a context of a strong transformation, International Retail Banking costs rose by +3.4%* vs. Q3 23 (stable at current perimeter and exchange rates, EUR 567 million in Q3 24), notably due to the impact of a new banking tax in Romania which entered into force in January 2024.

    The Mobility and Financial Services business recorded a decrease in operating expenses compared to Q3 23 (-2.4% vs. Q3 23, EUR 654 million in Q3 24).

    Cost of risk

    Over the quarter, the cost of risk normalised at 48 basis points (or EUR 201 million).

    Over 9M 24, the cost of risk stood at 45 basis points vs. 32 basis points in 9M 23.

    Group net income

    Over the quarter, Group net income came to EUR 367 million, down -2.4% vs. Q3 23. RONE stood at 14.1% in Q3 24. RONE was 21.4% for International Retail Banking (positive impact on Group net income of around EUR 40 million related to the sale of KB head office premises), and 9.2% in Mobility and Financial Services in Q3 24.

    Over 9M 24, Group net income came to EUR 956 million, down by -27.8% vs. 9M 23. RONE stood at 12.2% for 9M 24. RONE was 16.4% in International Retail Banking, and 9.5% in Mobility and Financial Services in 9M 24.
    7.   CORPORATE CENTRE

    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 Change 9M 24 9M 23 Change
    Net banking income 54 (249) n/s n/s (291) (891) +67.3% +67.8%*
    Operating expenses (27) (35) -22.8% -25.8%* (185) (119) +55.2% +48.2%*
    Gross operating income 27 (283) n/s n/s (476) (1,010) +52.9% +54.2%*
    Net cost of risk 1 17 +95.9% +95.9%* 6 19 +70.6% +70.6%*
    Net profits or losses from other assets (73) 4 n/s n/s (172) (96) -78.9% -79.1%*
    Income tax (26) (214) -87.7% -87.5%* 118 (85) n/s n/s
    Reported Group net income (67) (836) +92.0% +92.2%* (587) (1,582) +62.9% +63.7%*

    The Corporate Centre includes:

    • the property management of the Group’s head office,
    • the Group’s equity portfolio,
    • the Treasury function for the Group,
    • certain costs related to cross-functional projects, as well as several costs incurred by the Group that are not re-invoiced to the businesses.

    Net banking income

    Over the quarter, the Corporate Centre’s net banking income totalled EUR +54 million vs.  EUR -249 million in Q3 23. It includes the booking of exceptional proceeds received of approximately EUR 0.3 billion14.

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses totalled EUR 27 million vs. EUR 35 million in Q3 23.

    Net losses from other assets

    Pursuant notably to the application of IFRS 5, the Group booked in Q3 24 various impacts from ongoing disposals of assets.

    Group net income

    Over the quarter, the Corporate Centre’s Group net income totalled EUR -67 million vs. EUR -836 million in Q3 23.

    8.   2024 AND 2025 FINANCIAL CALENDAR

    2024 and 2025 Financial communication calendar
    February 6th, 2025 Fourth quarter and full year 2024 results
    April 30th, 2025 First quarter 2025 results
    May 20th, 2025 2024 Combined General Meeting
    The Alternative Performance Measures, notably the notions of net banking income for the pillars, operating expenses, cost of risk in basis points, ROE, ROTE, RONE, net assets and tangible net assets are presented in the methodology notes, as are the principles for the presentation of prudential ratios.

    This document contains forward-looking statements relating to the targets and strategies of the Societe Generale Group.

    These forward-looking statements are based on a series of assumptions, both general and specific, in particular the application of accounting principles and methods in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted in the European Union, as well as the application of existing prudential regulations.

    These forward-looking statements have also been developed from scenarios based on a number of economic assumptions in the context of a given competitive and regulatory environment. The Group may be unable to:

    – anticipate all the risks, uncertainties or other factors likely to affect its business and to appraise their potential consequences;

    – evaluate the extent to which the occurrence of a risk or a combination of risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in this document and the related presentation.

    Therefore, although Societe Generale believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters not yet known to it or its management or not currently considered material, and there can be no assurance that anticipated events will occur or that the objectives set out will actually be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, overall trends in general economic activity and in Societe Generale’s markets in particular, regulatory and prudential changes, and the success of Societe Generale’s strategic, operating and financial initiatives.

    More detailed information on the potential risks that could affect Societe Generale’s financial results can be found in the section “Risk Factors” in our Universal Registration Document filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (which is available on https://investors.societegenerale.com/en).

    Investors are advised to take into account factors of uncertainty and risk likely to impact the operations of the Group when considering the information contained in such forward-looking statements. Other than as required by applicable law, Societe Generale does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. Unless otherwise specified, the sources for the business rankings and market positions are internal.

    9.   APPENDIX 1: FINANCIAL DATA

    GROUP NET INCOME BY CORE BUSINESS

    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 Variation 9M 24 9M 23 Variation
    French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance 368 109 x 3.4 631 506 +24.8%
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions 699 645 +8.2% 2,160 1,814 +19.1%
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services 367 377 -2.4% 956 1,325 -27.8%
    Core Businesses 1,434 1,131 +26.7% 3,747 3,644 +2.8%
    Corporate Centre (67) (836) +92.0% (587) (1,582) +62.9%
    Group 1,367 295 x 4.6 3,160 2,062 +53.2%

    MAIN EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS

    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 9M 24 9M 23
    Net Banking Income – Total exceptional items 287 0 287 (240)
    One-off legacy items – Corporate Centre 0 0 0 (240)
    Exceptional proceeds received – Corporate Centre 287 0 287 0
             
    Operating expenses – Total one-off items and transformation charges (62) (145) (538) (662)
    Transformation charges (62) (145) (538) (627)
    Of which French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance (12) (46) (139) (330)
    Of which Global Banking & Investor Solutions (21) (41) (204) (102)
    Of which Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services (29) (58) (148) (195)
    Of which Corporate Centre 0 0 (47) 0
    One-off items 0 0 0 (35)
    Of which French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance 0 0 0 60
    Of which Global Banking & Investor Solutions 0 0 0 (95)
             
    Other one-off items – Total 13 (625) 13 (704)
    Net profits or losses from other assets 13 (17) 13 (96)
    Of which Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services 86 0 86 0
    Of which Corporate Centre (73) (17) (73) (96)
    Goodwill impairment – Corporate Centre 0 (338) 0 (338)
    Provision of Deferred Tax Assets – Corporate Centre 0 (270) 0 (270)

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

    In EUR m   30.09.2024 31.12.2023
    Cash, due from central banks   199,140 223,048
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss   528,259 495,882
    Hedging derivatives   8,265 10,585
    Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income   93,795 90,894
    Securities at amortised cost   29,908 28,147
    Due from banks at amortised cost   87,153 77,879
    Customer loans at amortised cost   446,576 485,449
    Revaluation differences on portfolios hedged against interest rate risk   (330) (433)
    Insurance and reinsurance contracts assets   438 459
    Tax assets   4,535 4,717
    Other assets   75,523 69,765
    Non-current assets held for sale   39,940 1,763
    Investments accounted for using the equity method   384 227
    Tangible and intangible fixed assets   60,970 60,714
    Goodwill   5,031 4,949
    Total   1,579,587 1,554,045
    In EUR m   30.09.2024 31.12.2023
    Due to central banks   10,134 9,718
    Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   391,788 375,584
    Hedging derivatives   14,621 18,708
    Debt securities issued   162,997 160,506
    Due to banks   105,320 117,847
    Customer deposits   526,100 541,677
    Revaluation differences on portfolios hedged

    against interest rate risk

      (5,074) (5,857)
    Tax liabilities   2,516 2,402
    Other liabilities   93,909 93,658
    Non-current liabilities held for sale   29,802 1,703
    Insurance contracts related liabilities   150,295 141,723
    Provisions   3,954 4,235
    Subordinated debts   15,985 15,894
    Total liabilities   1,502,347 1,477,798
    Shareholder’s equity   – –
    Shareholders’ equity, Group share   – –
    Issued common stocks and capital reserves   21,166 21,186
    Other equity instruments   8,918 8,924
    Retained earnings   34,074 32,891
    Net income   3,160 2,493
    Sub-total   67,318 65,494
    Unrealised or deferred capital gains and losses   128 481
    Sub-total equity, Group share   67,446 65,975
    Non-controlling interests   9,794 10,272
    Total equity   77,240 76,247
    Total   1,579,587 1,554,045

    10.    APPENDIX 2: METHODOLOGY

    1 –The financial information presented for the third quarter and nine-month 2024 was examined by the Board of Directors on October 30th, 2024 and has been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted in the European Union and applicable at that date. This information has not been audited.

    2 – Net banking income

    The pillars’ net banking income is defined on page 42 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. The terms “Revenues” or “Net Banking Income” are used interchangeably. They provide a normalised measure of each pillar’s net banking income taking into account the normative capital mobilised for its activity.

    3 – Operating expenses

    Operating expenses correspond to the “Operating Expenses” as presented in note 5 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements as at December 31st, 2023. The term “costs” is also used to refer to Operating Expenses. The Cost/Income Ratio is defined on page 42 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document.

    4 – Cost of risk in basis points, coverage ratio for doubtful outstandings

    The cost of risk is defined on pages 43 and 770 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. This indicator makes it possible to assess the level of risk of each of the pillars as a percentage of balance sheet loan commitments, including operating leases.

    In EURm   Q3 24 Q3 23 9M 24 9M 23
    French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance Net Cost Of Risk 178 144 597 342
    Gross loan Outstandings 234,420 243,740 236,286 248,757
    Cost of Risk in bp 30 24 34 18
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions Net Cost Of Risk 27 14 29 (8)
    Gross loan Outstandings 163,160 167,057 163,482 170,165
    Cost of Risk in bp 7 3 2 (1)
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services Net Cost Of Risk 201 175 572 349
    Gross loan Outstandings 168,182 162,873 167,680 145,227
    Cost of Risk in bp 48 43 45 32
    Corporate Centre Net Cost Of Risk (1) (17) (6) (19)
    Gross loan Outstandings 25,121 22,681 24,356 19,364
    Cost of Risk in bp (1) (31) (3) (13)
    Societe Generale Group Net Cost Of Risk 406 316 1,192 664
    Gross loan Outstandings 590,882 596,350 591,804 583,512
    Cost of Risk in bp 27 21 27 15

    The gross coverage ratio for doubtful outstandings is calculated as the ratio of provisions recognised in respect of the credit risk to gross outstandings identified as in default within the meaning of the regulations, without taking account of any guarantees provided. This coverage ratio measures the maximum residual risk associated with outstandings in default (“doubtful”).

    5 – ROE, ROTE, RONE

    The notions of ROE (Return on Equity) and ROTE (Return on Tangible Equity), as well as their calculation methodology, are specified on pages 43 and 44 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. This measure makes it possible to assess Societe Generale’s return on equity and return on tangible equity.
    RONE (Return on Normative Equity) determines the return on average normative equity allocated to the Group’s businesses, according to the principles presented on page 44 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document.
    Group net income used for the ratio numerator is the accounting Group net income adjusted for “Interest paid and payable to holders if deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation”. For ROTE, income is also restated for goodwill impairment.
    Details of the corrections made to the accounting equity in order to calculate ROE and ROTE for the period are given in the table below:

    ROTE calculation: calculation methodology

    End of period (in EURm) Q3 24 Q3 23 9M 24 9M 23
    Shareholders’ equity Group share 67,446 68,077 67,446 68,077
    Deeply subordinated and undated subordinated notes (8,955) (11,054) (8,955) (11,054)
    Interest payable to holders of deeply & undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation(1) (45) (102) (45) (102)
    OCI excluding conversion reserves 560 853 560 853
    Distribution provision(2) (1,319) (1,059) (1,319) (1,059)
    Distribution N-1 to be paid – – – –
    ROE equity end-of-period 57,687 56,715 57,687 56,715
    Average ROE equity 57,368 56,572 56,896 56,326
    Average Goodwill(3) (4,160) (4,279) (4,079) (3,991)
    Average Intangible Assets (2,906) (3,390) (2,933) (3,128)
    Average ROTE equity 50,302 48,903 49,884 49,207
             
    Group net Income 1,367 295 3,160 2,063
    Interest paid and payable to holders of deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation (165) (165) (521) (544)
    Cancellation of goodwill impairment – 338 – 338
    Adjusted Group net Income 1,202 468 2,639 1,858
    ROTE 9.6% 3.8% 7.1% 5.0%

    151617

    RONE calculation: Average capital allocated to Core Businesses (in EURm)

    In EURm Q3 24 Q3 23 Change 9M 24 9M 23 Change
    French Retail , Private Banking and Insurance 15,695 15,564 +0.8% 15,602 15,457 +0.9%
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions 15,490 15,324 +1.1% 15,149 15,485 -2.2%
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services 10,433 10,136 +2.9% 10,425 9,505 +9.7%
    Core Businesses 41,618 41,024 +1.4% 41,177 40,448 +1.8%
    Corporate Center 15,750 15,548 +1.3% 15,719 15,878 -1.0%
    Group 57,368 56,572 +1.4% 56,896 56,326 +1.0%

    6 – Net assets and tangible net assets

    Net assets and tangible net assets are defined in the methodology, page 45 of the Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. The items used to calculate them are presented below:
    1819

    End of period (in EURm) 9M 24 H1 24 2023
    Shareholders’ equity Group share 67,446 66,829 65,975
    Deeply subordinated and undated subordinated notes (8,955) (9,747) (9,095)
    Interest of deeply & undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation(1) (45) (19) (21)
    Book value of own shares in trading portfolio 97 96 36
    Net Asset Value 58,543 57,159 56,895
    Goodwill(2) (4,178) (4,143) (4,008)
    Intangible Assets (2,895) (2,917) (2,954)
    Net Tangible Asset Value 51,471 50,099 49,933
           
    Number of shares used to calculate NAPS(3) 796,498 787,442 796,244
    Net Asset Value per Share 73.5 72.6 71.5
    Net Tangible Asset Value per Share 64.6 63.6 62.7

    7 – Calculation of Earnings Per Share (EPS)

    The EPS published by Societe Generale is calculated according to the rules defined by the IAS 33 standard (see page 44 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document). The corrections made to Group net income in order to calculate EPS correspond to the restatements carried out for the calculation of ROE and ROTE.
    The calculation of Earnings Per Share is described in the following table:

    Average number of shares (thousands) 9M 24 H1 24 2023
    Existing shares 802,314 802,980 818,008
    Deductions      
    Shares allocated to cover stock option plans and free shares awarded to staff 4,548 4,791 6,802
    Other own shares and treasury shares 2,930 3,907 11,891
    Number of shares used to calculate EPS(4) 794,836 794,282 799,315
    Group net Income (in EUR m) 3,160 1,793 2,493
    Interest on deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes (in EUR m) (521) (356) (759)
    Adjusted Group net income (in EUR m) 2,638 1,437 1,735
    EPS (in EUR) 3.32 1.81 2.17

    20
    8 – The Societe Generale Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 capital is calculated in accordance with applicable CRR2/CRD5 rules. The fully loaded solvency ratios are presented pro forma for current earnings, net of dividends, for the current financial year, unless specified otherwise. When there is reference to phased-in ratios, these do not include the earnings for the current financial year, unless specified otherwise. The leverage ratio is also calculated according to applicable CRR2/CRD5 rules including the phased-in following the same rationale as solvency ratios.

    9 – Funded balance sheet, loan to deposit ratio

    The funded balance sheet is based on the Group financial statements. It is obtained in two steps:

    • A first step aiming at reclassifying the items of the financial statements into aggregates allowing for a more economic reading of the balance sheet. Main reclassifications:

    Insurance: grouping of the accounting items related to insurance within a single aggregate in both assets and liabilities.
    Customer loans: include outstanding loans with customers (net of provisions and write-downs, including net lease financing outstanding and transactions at fair value through profit and loss); excludes financial assets reclassified under loans and receivables in accordance with the conditions stipulated by IFRS 9 (these positions have been reclassified in their original lines).
    Wholesale funding: Includes interbank liabilities and debt securities issued. Financing transactions have been allocated to medium/long-term resources and short-term resources based on the maturity of outstanding, more or less than one year.
    Reclassification under customer deposits of the share of issues placed by French Retail Banking networks (recorded in medium/long-term financing), and certain transactions carried out with counterparties equivalent to customer deposits (previously included in short term financing).
    Deduction from customer deposits and reintegration into short-term financing of certain transactions equivalent to market resources.

    • A second step aiming at excluding the contribution of insurance subsidiaries, and netting derivatives, repurchase agreements, securities borrowing/lending, accruals and “due to central banks”.

    The Group loan/deposit ratio is determined as the division of the customer loans by customer deposits as presented in the funded balance sheet.

    NB (1) The sum of values contained in the tables and analyses may differ slightly from the total reported due to rounding rules.
    (2) All the information on the results for the period (notably: press release, downloadable data, presentation slides and supplement) is available on Societe Generale’s website www.societegenerale.com in the “Investor” section.

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with more than 126,000 employees serving about 25 million clients in 65 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for nearly 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com. or visit our website societegenerale.com.


    Asterisks* in the document refer to data at constant perimeter and exchange rates
    1 +5.8% excluding exceptional proceeds recorded in Corporate Centre (~EUR 0.3bn)
    2 Including IFRS 9 phasing, proforma including Q3 24 results
    3 Based on a pay-out ratio of 50% of the Group net income, at the high-end of the 40%-50% pay-out ratio, as per regulation, restated from non-cash items and after deduction of interest on deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes
    4 As stated in Q2 24 results press release
    5 Ratio calculated according to European Banking Authority (EBA) methodology published on 16 July 2019
    6 Ratio excluding loans outstanding of companies currently being disposed of in compliance with IFRS 5
    7 Ratio of S3 provisions, guarantees and collaterals over gross outstanding non-performing loans
    8 Target: -80% upstream exposure reduction by 2030 vs. 2019, with an intermediary step in 2025 at -50% vs. 2019
    9 Only the Societe Generale participation is taken into account
    10 Including IFRS 9 phasing, proforma including Q3 24 results
    11 France and International, including Switzerland and United Kingdom
    1 Including entities reported under IFRS 5
    1 Excluding non-recurring items on either margins or UCS (mainly linked to fleet revaluation at EUR 114m in Q3 23 vs EUR 0m in Q3 24, the net impact related to prospective depreciation and Purchase Price Allocation for ~EUR 35m vs. Q3 23, hyperinflation in Turkey at EUR 46m in Q3 23 vs. EUR 10m in Q3 24 and MtM of derivatives at EUR -82m in Q3 23 vs. EUR -55m in Q3 24)
    14 As stated in Q2 24 results press release
    15 Interest net of tax
    16 The dividend to be paid is calculated based on a pay-out ratio of 50%, restated from non-cash items and after deduction of interest on deeply subordinated notes and on undated subordinated notes
    17 Excluding goodwill arising from non-controlling interests
    18 Interest net of tax
    19 Excluding goodwill arising from non-controlling interests
    20 The number of shares considered is the number of ordinary shares outstanding at end of period, excluding treasury shares and buybacks, but including the trading shares held by the Group (expressed in thousand of shares)
    4 The number of shares considered is the average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding treasury shares and buybacks, but including the trading shares held by the Group.

    Attachment

    • Societe-Generale-Q3-2024-Financial-Results-Press-release-en

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Šiaulių Bankas results for 9M 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Profit. Šiaulių Bankas earned a net profit of €63.6 million
    • Return on capital. Achieved a return on equity (RoE) of 15.4%
    • Loan portfolio. New loan financing contract volumes grew by 8%, with the loan portfolio exceeding €3.4 billion
    • Asset quality. The quality of the loan portfolio remains strong – the cost of risk (CoR) of the loan portfolio was 0.31%
    • Net fee and commission income. Net fee and commission income amounted to €21.0 million, an increase of 44% compared to the same period last year
    • Capital and liquidity. Two successful bond issues of €300 million and €50 million in the international capital markets strengthened the bank’s capital and liquidity position
    • New dividend policy. Šiaulių Bankas commits to pay out at least 50% of the previous year’s net profit

    “Šiaulių Bankas continues to maintain stable growth. We expanded our market share across all financing segments: the corporate financing portfolio grew, more new contracts were signed, and growth in the mortgage segment gained even stronger momentum. Net fee and commission income also increased, and we made a significant contribution to capital markets by issuing more bonds in the first three quarters than initially planned for the entire year.

    We are focusing on another key area – capital efficiency. Šiaulių Bankas made its international debut with substantial bond issues, strengthening our capital and liquidity position. We have introduced a new dividend policy and are continuing our share buyback program, committed to increasing returns to shareholders while meeting the capital requirements outlined in our strategy,” says Vytautas Sinius, CEO of Šiaulių Bankas.

    Šiaulių Bankas Group earned an unaudited net profit of €63.6 million in in the first three quarters of 2024, which is 3% less than in the corresponding period of 2023. Operating profit before impairment and income tax amounted to €85.4 million, an 8% decrease compared to operating profit of €93.1 million in the first three quarters of 2023.

    Net interest income in the first three quarters of 2024 grew by 4% compared to the corresponding period of 2023 to €121.1 million, while net fee and commission income grew by 44% to €21.0 million.

    All loan book segments grew in the first three quarters of the year, with the total loan portfolio increasing by 17% (€498 million) to €3.43 billion (growth of 8% or €241 million in Q3 alone). New credit agreements worth €1.3 billion were signed during the three quarters of the year, 29% more than in the corresponding period of 2023 (€1.0 billion).

    The quality of the loan portfolio remains strong with provisions of €7.3 million made in the first three quarters of the year due to the strong portfolio growth and model adjustment, compared to provisions of €8.4 million in corresponding period of 2023. The cost of risk (CoR) of the loan portfolio for three quarters of 2024 was 0.31% (0.41% in corresponding period of 2023).

    The deposit portfolio grew by 8% (€240 million) over the three quarter period and exceeded €3.4 billion at the end of September (growth of 2% or €78 million in Q3 alone). The bank’s funding structure was reinforced by a €300 million bond issue on the international market. After the quarter, in October, the bank issued an additional Tier 1 bond of €50 million, which strengthened its funding structure as well as capital structure. This will allow the bank to continue its rapid and sustainable growth and to implement its new dividend policy.

    Šiaulių Bankas maintained a high level of operational efficiency – the group’s cost-to-income ratio in the three quarters of this year reaching 45.6%1 (34.4%1 in the corresponding period of 2023) and the return on equity of 15.4% achieved (18.9% in the three quarters of 2023). The capital and liquidity position remained strong and prudential ratios were met by a wide margin. The capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 21.22%2 and the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) at 156.0%2.

    Income Statement (€’m) 2024 9M YTD  2023 9M YTD % ∆
           
    Net Interest Income 121.1 116.1 4%
    Net Fee and Commission Income 21.0 14.6 44%
    Other Income 24.9 13.6 84%
    Total Revenue 167.0 144.3 16%
           
    Salaries and Related Expenses (35.4) (25.5) 39%
    Other Operating Expenses (46.2) (25.6) 80%
    Total Operating Expenses (81.6) (51.1) 59%
           
    Operating Profit 85.4 93.1 (8%)
    Provisions (6.9) (8.5) (18%)
    Income Tax Expense (14.9) (19.0) (22%)
           
    Net Profit 63.6 65.7 (3%)
           
    Balance Sheet Metrics (€’m) 2024-09-30 2023-12-31 % ∆
           
    Loan Portfolio 3,429 2,932 17%
    Total Assets 4,944 4,809 3%
    Deposits 3,419 3,178 8%
    Equity 577 543 6%
           
    Assets under Management3 1,870 1,556 20%
    Assets under Custody 1,862 1,943 -4%
           
    KPIs 2024 9M YTD 2023 9M YTD ∆
           
    Net Interest Margin (NIM) 3.6% 4.3% -73bps
    Cost-to-Income Ratio (C/I)1 45.6% 34.4% +1125bps
    Return on Equity (RoE) 15.4% 18.9% -357bps
    Cost of Risk (CoR) 0.3% 0.4% -10bps
    Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)2 21.22% 21.34% -12bps

    Overview of Business Segments

    Corporate Client Segment

    The business loan portfolio grew by 24% year-on-year, driven by an increase in new lending volumes in the first 9 months of the year to €854 million, or 45% compared to the corresponding period last year. In the Q3 alone, the total amounted to €393 million. Since the beginning of the year, the portfolio has grown by €0.3 billion to over €1.8 billion.

    This underlines the favourable business environment in key strategic sectors including energy, manufacturing and retail. Šiaulių Bankas also further strengthens its commitment to green projects by financing a 29.5 MWh wind farm in western Lithuania, boosting the region’s economic growth and further diversifying its loan portfolio.

    Private Client Segment

    Lending activity in the retail segment increased significantly. New mortgage loans signed in the first nine months of 2024 amounted to €187 million and increased by 39% compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of the year, the total portfolio of housing loans has grown by 16% (€127 million) to over €0.9 billion.

    New consumer loans totaling €191 million were issued in the first nine months of the year, up 12% compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of the year, the consumer loan portfolio has grown by 21% (€61 million), reaching €0.35 billion.

    Šiaulių Bankas continues to prepare for a growth phase in retail banking segment. Along with implementing new core banking platform, preparations are being made for an active sales promotion phase: the number of direct marketing consents is growing, a new CRM system is being implemented, sales processes are being optimised and the competences of employees are being strengthened.

    Investment Client Segment

    In the first nine months of 2024, the volume of new bond issues reached €185 million, up 16% year-on-year, reflecting consistent investor interest and growing confidence in the bank’s financial products. In the third quarter of the year alone, due to the seasonality of the capital markets, new bond issues amounted to € 31 million.

    In Q3, the Bank also introduced a new option for investors to buy bonds through the Bank’s securities platform. This is an opportunity for customers to acquire bonds conveniently and quickly on their own online.

    Assets managed by SB Asset Management, the asset management company of Šiaulių Bankas Group, reached €1.38 billion at the end of Q3 2024 and increased by almost €200 million this year. Most of this increase was driven by the return on investment of the funds under management, which generated a profit of €142 million for clients.

    Pension funds managed by SB Asset Management maintain competitive performance in both the short and long term. In the Q3 of the year alone, the returns of Tier II pension funds were the highest in 7 out of 8 life cycle funds, and the 4-year performance of the funds was the best in 6 out of 8 life cycle funds, compared to other managers’ funds in the same age group.

    1 eliminating the impact of the client portfolio if SB draudimas
    2 preliminary data
    3 includes Asset Management and Modernisation Funds AuM

    Šiaulių Bankas invites shareholders, investors, analysts and all interested parties to a webinar presentation of the financial results and highlights for the second quarter of 2024. The webinar will start on 31 October 2024 at 8.30 am (EET). The webinar will be held in English. Please register here. Please find attached the information that will be presented at the webinar.

    If you would like to receive Šiaulių Bankas’ news for investors directly to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter.

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

    Attachments

    • 2024-3Q EN
    • Siauliu Bankas Q3`24 earnings results presentation

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: STMicroelectronics Reports 2024 Third Quarter Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PR No: C3290C

    STMicroelectronics Reports 2024 Third Quarter Financial Results

    • Q3 net revenues $3.25 billion; gross margin 37.8%; operating margin 11.7%; net income $351 million
    • YTD net revenues $9.95 billion; gross margin 39.9%; operating margin 13.1%; net income $1.22 billion
    • Business outlook at mid-point: Q4 net revenues of $3.32 billion and gross margin of 38%
    • Launch of a new company-wide program to reshape our manufacturing footprint accelerating our wafer fab capacity to 300mm Silicon and 200mm Silicon Carbide and resizing our global cost base

    Geneva, October 31, 2024 – STMicroelectronics N.V. (“ST”) (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, reported U.S. GAAP financial results for the third quarter ended September 28, 2024. This press release also contains non-U.S. GAAP measures (see Appendix for additional information).

    ST reported third quarter net revenues of $3.25 billion, gross margin of 37.8%, operating margin of 11.7%, and net income of $351 million or $0.37 diluted earnings per share.

    Jean-Marc Chery, ST President & CEO, commented:

    • “Q3 net revenues were in line with the midpoint of our business outlook range. Our revenues, compared to our expectations, were higher in Personal Electronics, declined less in Industrial and were lower in Automotive. Q3 gross margin of 37.8% was broadly in line with the mid-point of our business outlook range.”
    • “First nine months net revenues decreased 23.5% year-over-year across all reportable segments, particularly in Microcontrollers, which is impacted by a continuing weakness in the Industrial market. Operating margin was 13.1% and net income was $1.22 billion.”
    • “Our fourth quarter business outlook, at the mid-point, is for net revenues of $3.32 billion, decreasing year-over-year by 22.4% and increasing sequentially by 2.2%; gross margin is expected to be about 38%, impacted by about 400 basis points of unused capacity charges.”
    • “The midpoint of this outlook translates into full year 2024 revenues of about $13.27 billion, representing a 23.2% year-over-year decrease, in the low-end of the range indicated in the previous quarter, and a gross margin slightly below that provided in such indication.”
    • “Based on our current customer order backlog and demand visibility, we anticipate a revenue decline between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 well above normal seasonality.”
    • “We are launching a new company-wide program to reshape our manufacturing footprint accelerating our wafer fab capacity to 300mm Silicon (Agrate and Crolles) and 200mm Silicon Carbide (Catania) and resizing our global cost base. This program should result in strengthening our capability to grow our revenues with an improved operating efficiency resulting in annual cost savings in the high triple-digit million-dollar range exiting 2027.”

    Quarterly Financial Summary (U.S. GAAP)

    (US$ m, except per share data) Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023 Q/Q Y/Y
    Net Revenues $3,251 $3,232 $4,431 0.6% -26.6%
    Gross Profit $1,228 $1,296 $2,109 -5.2% -41.8%
    Gross Margin 37.8% 40.1% 47.6% -230 bps -980 bps
    Operating Income $381 $375 $1,241 1.8% -69.3%
    Operating Margin 11.7% 11.6% 28.0% 10 bps -1,630 bps
    Net Income $351 $353 $1,090 -0.6% -67.8%
    Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.37 $0.38 $1.16 -2.6% -68.1%

    Third Quarter 2024 Summary Review

    Reminder: On January 10, 2024, ST announced a new organization which implied a change in segment reporting starting Q1 2024. Prior year comparative periods have been adjusted accordingly. See Appendix for more detail.

    Net Revenues by Reportable Segment (US$ m) Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023 Q/Q Y/Y
    Analog products, MEMS and Sensors (AM&S) segment 1,185 1,165 1,367 1.7% -13.3%
    Power and discrete products (P&D) segment 807 747 989 7.9% -18.4%
    Subtotal: Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors (APMS) Product Group 1,992 1,912 2,356 4.2% -15.5%
    Microcontrollers (MCU) segment 829 800 1,466 3.6% -43.4%
    Digital ICs and RF Products (D&RF) segment 426 516 605 -17.4% -29.7%
    Subtotal: Microcontrollers, Digital ICs and RF products (MDRF) Product Group 1,255 1,316 2,071 -4.6% -39.4%
    Others 4 4 4 – –
    Total Net Revenues 3,251 3,232 4,431 0.6% -26.6%

    Net revenues totaled $3.25 billion, representing a year-over-year decrease of 26.6%. Year-over-year net sales to OEMs and Distribution decreased 17.5% and 45.4%, respectively. On a sequential basis, net revenues increased 0.6%, in line with the mid-point of ST’s guidance.

    Gross profit totaled $1.23 billion, representing a year-over-year decrease of 41.8%. Gross margin of 37.8%, 20 basis points below the mid-point of ST’s guidance, decreased 980 basis points year-over-year, mainly due to product mix and, to a lesser extent, to sales price and higher unused capacity charges.

    Operating income decreased 69.3% to $381 million, compared to $1.24 billion in the year-ago quarter. ST’s operating margin decreased 1,630 basis points on a year-over-year basis to 11.7% of net revenues, compared to 28.0% in the third quarter of 2023.

    By reportable segment1, compared with the year-ago quarter:

    In Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors (APMS) Product Group:

    Analog products, MEMS and Sensors (AM&S) segment:

    • Revenue decreased 13.3% mainly due to decreases in Imaging and in Analog.   
    • Operating profit decreased by 41.2% to $175 million. Operating margin was 14.8% compared to 21.8%.

    Power and Discrete products (P&D) segment:

    • Revenue decreased 18.4%.
    • Operating profit decreased by 54.0% to $121 million. Operating margin was 15.0% compared to 26.5%. 

    In Microcontrollers, Digital ICs and RF products (MDRF) Product Group:

    Microcontrollers (MCU) segment:

    • Revenue decreased 43.4% mainly due to a decrease in GP MCU.
    • Operating profit decreased by 78.2% to $116 million. Operating margin was 14.0% compared to 36.4%.

    Digital ICs and RF products (D&RF) segment:

    • Revenue decreased 29.7% mainly due to a decrease in ADAS (automotive ADAS and infotainment).
    • Operating profit decreased by 49.5% to $114 million. Operating margin was 26.8% compared to 37.3%. 

    Net income and diluted Earnings Per Share decreased to $351 million and $0.37 respectively compared to $1.09 billion and $1.16 respectively in the year-ago quarter.

    Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Highlights

            Trailing 12 Months
    (US$ m) Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023 Q3 2024 Q3 2023 TTM Change
    Net cash from operating activities 723 702 1,881 3,764 6,062 -37.9%
    Free cash flow (non-U.S. GAAP)2 136 159 707 813 1,725 -52.9%

    Net cash from operating activities was $723 million in the third quarter compared to $1.88 billion in the year-ago quarter.

    Net Capex (non-U.S. GAAP) was $565 million in the third quarter compared to $1.15 billion in the year-ago quarter.

    Free cash flow (non-U.S. GAAP) was $136 million in the third quarter, compared to $707 million in the year-ago quarter.

    Inventory at the end of the third quarter was $2.88 billion, compared to $2.81 billion in the previous quarter and $2.87 billion in the year-ago quarter. Days sales of inventory at quarter-end was 130 days, similar to the previous quarter, and compared to 114 days in the year-ago quarter.

    In the third quarter, ST paid cash dividends to its stockholders totaling $80 million and executed a $92 million share buy-back, as part of its current share repurchase program.

    ST’s net financial position (non-U.S. GAAP) was $3.18 billion as of September 28, 2024, compared to $3.20 billion as of June 29, 2024 and reflected total liquidity of $6.30 billion and total financial debt of $3.12 billion. Adjusted net financial position (non-U.S. GAAP), taking into consideration the effect on total liquidity of advances from capital grants for which capital expenditures have not been incurred yet, stood at $2.82 billion as of September 28, 2024.

    Corporate developments

    Since the beginning of 2024, ST has made significant changes in the way it is structured and operates, including the re-organization of its Product Groups. Since October 1, 2024, Lorenzo Grandi, President and CFO, has taken additional responsibilities, with a perimeter now also covering Supply Chain, Corporate Development and Integrated External Communication in addition to Finance, Global Procurement, Digital Transformation and Information Technology, Enterprise Risk Management and Resilience. ST’s Executive Committee remains unchanged and continues to report to Jean-Marc Chery, ST President and CEO.

    Business Outlook

    ST’s guidance, at the mid-point, for the 2024 fourth quarter is:

    • Net revenues are expected to be $3.32 billion, an increase of 2.2% sequentially, plus or minus 350 basis points.
    • Gross margin of 38%, plus or minus 200 basis points.
    • This outlook is based on an assumed effective currency exchange rate of approximately $1.11 = €1.00 for the 2024 fourth quarter and includes the impact of existing hedging contracts.
    • The fourth quarter will close on December 31, 2024.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information

    ST will conduct a conference call with analysts, investors and reporters to discuss its third quarter 2024 financial results and current business outlook today at 9:30 a.m. Central European Time (CET) / 4:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET). A live webcast (listen-only mode) of the conference call will be accessible at ST’s website, https://investors.st.com, and will be available for replay until November 15, 2024.

    2024 Capital Markets Day

    ST will conduct a live webcast of its 2024 Capital Markets Day meeting from Paris, France, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Central European Time (CET) / 3:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET). The live webcast featuring video, audio and presentation slides will be accessible at ST’s website, https://investors.st.com. Copies of the presentations and a recording of the event will be made available at https://investors.st.com.

    Use of Supplemental Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Information

    This press release contains supplemental non-U.S. GAAP financial information.

    Readers are cautioned that these measures are unaudited and not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for U.S. GAAP financial measures. In addition, such non-U.S. GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled information from other companies. To compensate for these limitations, the supplemental non-U.S. GAAP financial information should not be read in isolation, but only in conjunction with ST’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    See the Appendix of this press release for a reconciliation of ST’s non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to their corresponding U.S. GAAP financial measures.

    Forward-looking Information

    Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended) that are based on management’s current views and assumptions, and are conditioned upon and also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated by such statements due to, among other factors:

    • changes in global trade policies, including the adoption and expansion of tariffs and trade barriers, that could affect the macro-economic environment and adversely impact the demand for our products;
    • uncertain macro-economic and industry trends (such as inflation and fluctuations in supply chains), which may impact production capacity and end-market demand for our products;
    • customer demand that differs from projections which may require us to undertake transformation measures that may not be successful in realizing the expected benefits in full or at all;
    • the ability to design, manufacture and sell innovative products in a rapidly changing technological environment;
    • changes in economic, social, public health, labor, political, or infrastructure conditions in the locations where we, our customers, or our suppliers operate, including as a result of macroeconomic or regional events, geopolitical and military conflicts, social unrest, labor actions, or terrorist activities;
    • unanticipated events or circumstances, which may impact our ability to execute our plans and/or meet the objectives of our R&D and manufacturing programs, which benefit from public funding;
    • financial difficulties with any of our major distributors or significant curtailment of purchases by key customers;
    • the loading, product mix, and manufacturing performance of our production facilities and/or our required volume to fulfill capacity reserved with suppliers or third-party manufacturing providers;
    • availability and costs of equipment, raw materials, utilities, third-party manufacturing services and technology, or other supplies required by our operations (including increasing costs resulting from inflation);
    • the functionalities and performance of our IT systems, which are subject to cybersecurity threats and which support our critical operational activities including manufacturing, finance and sales, and any breaches of our IT systems or those of our customers, suppliers, partners and providers of third-party licensed technology;
    • theft, loss, or misuse of personal data about our employees, customers, or other third parties, and breaches of data privacy legislation;
    • the impact of intellectual property (“IP”) claims by our competitors or other third parties, and our ability to obtain required licenses on reasonable terms and conditions;
    • changes in our overall tax position as a result of changes in tax rules, new or revised legislation, the outcome of tax audits or changes in international tax treaties which may impact our results of operations as well as our ability to accurately estimate tax credits, benefits, deductions and provisions and to realize deferred tax assets;
    • variations in the foreign exchange markets and, more particularly, the U.S. dollar exchange rate as compared to the Euro and the other major currencies we use for our operations;
    • the outcome of ongoing litigation as well as the impact of any new litigation to which we may become a defendant;
    • product liability or warranty claims, claims based on epidemic or delivery failure, or other claims relating to our products, or recalls by our customers for products containing our parts;
    • natural events such as severe weather, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions or other acts of nature, the effects of climate change, health risks and epidemics or pandemics in locations where we, our customers or our suppliers operate;
    • increased regulation and initiatives in our industry, including those concerning climate change and sustainability matters and our goal to become carbon neutral by 2027 on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3;
    • epidemics or pandemics, which may negatively impact the global economy in a significant manner for an extended period of time, and could also materially adversely affect our business and operating results;
    • industry changes resulting from vertical and horizontal consolidation among our suppliers, competitors, and customers; and
    • the ability to successfully ramp up new programs that could be impacted by factors beyond our control, including the availability of critical third-party components and performance of subcontractors in line with our expectations.

    Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results and performance of our business to differ materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements. Certain forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “are expected to”, “should”, “would be”, “seeks” or “anticipates” or similar expressions or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

    Some of these risk factors are set forth and are discussed in more detail in “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 22, 2024. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this press release as anticipated, believed or expected. We do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    Unfavorable changes in the above or other factors listed under “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors” from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, could have a material adverse effect on our business and/or financial condition.

    About STMicroelectronics

    At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    INVESTOR RELATIONS:
    Jérôme Ramel
    EVP Corporate Development & Integrated External Communication
    Tel: +41 22 929 59 20
    jerome.ramel@st.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS:
    Alexis Breton
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: + 33 6 59 16 79 08
    alexis.breton@st.com

    STMicroelectronics N.V.    
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME    
    (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data ($))    
         
      Three months ended
      September 28, September 30,
      2024 2023
      (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
         
    Net sales 3,245 4,416
    Other revenues 6 15
    NET REVENUES 3,251 4,431
    Cost of sales (2,023) (2,322)
    GROSS PROFIT 1,228 2,109
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (385) (407)
    Research and development expenses (492) (519)
    Other income and expenses, net 30 58
    Total operating expenses (847) (868)
    OPERATING INCOME 381 1,241
    Interest income, net 55 44
    Other components of pension benefit costs (4) (5)
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST 432 1,280
    Income tax expense (71) (188)
    NET INCOME 361 1,092
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (10) (2)
    NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS 351 1,090
         
    EARNINGS PER SHARE (BASIC) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS 0.39 1.20
    EARNINGS PER SHARE (DILUTED) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS 0.37 1.16
         
    NUMBER OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN CALCULATING DILUTED EPS 938.6 943.8
         
    STMicroelectronics N.V.    
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME    
    (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data ($))    
         
      Nine months ended
      September 28, September 30,
      2024 2023
      (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
         
    Net sales 9,915 12,977
    Other revenues 32 27
    NET REVENUES 9,947 13,004
    Cost of sales (5,980) (6,666)
    GROSS PROFIT 3,967 6,338
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (1,229) (1,215)
    Research and development expenses (1,554) (1,579)
    Other income and expenses, net 123 44
    Total operating expenses (2,660) (2,750)
    OPERATING INCOME 1,307 3,588
    Interest income, net 166 114
    Other components of pension benefit costs (12) (14)
    Loss on financial instruments, net (1) –
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST 1,460 3,688
    Income tax expense (231) (547)
    NET INCOME 1,229 3,141
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (13) (6)
    NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS 1,216 3,135
         
    EARNINGS PER SHARE (BASIC) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS 1.35 3.47
    EARNINGS PER SHARE (DILUTED) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS 1.29 3.32
         
    NUMBER OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN CALCULATING DILUTED EPS 940.2 944.7
         
           
    STMicroelectronics N.V.      
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS      
    As at September 28, June 29, December 31,
    In millions of U.S. dollars 2024 2024 2023
      (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents 3,077 3,092 3,222
    Short-term deposits 977 975 1,226
    Marketable securities 2,242 2,218 1,635
    Trade accounts receivable, net 1,730 1,708 1,731
    Inventories 2,875 2,810 2,698
    Other current assets 1,062 1,066 1,295
    Total current assets 11,963 11,869 11,807
    Goodwill 303 296 303
    Other intangible assets, net 354 353 367
    Property, plant and equipment, net 11,258 10,869 10,554
    Non-current deferred tax assets 547 575 592
    Long-term investments 20 20 22
    Other non-current assets 1,071 924 808
      13,553 13,037 12,646
    Total assets 25,516 24,906 24,453
           
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
    Current liabilities:      
    Short-term debt 1,003 236 217
    Trade accounts payable 1,585 1,577 1,856
    Other payables and accrued liabilities 1,327 1,344 1,525
    Dividends payable to stockholders 177 257 54
    Accrued income tax 116 131 78
    Total current liabilities 4,208 3,545 3,730
    Long-term debt 2,112 2,850 2,710
    Post-employment benefit obligations 397 375 372
    Long-term deferred tax liabilities 60 37 54
    Other long-term liabilities 935 951 735
      3,504 4,213 3,871
    Total liabilities 7,712 7,758 7,601
    Commitment and contingencies      
    Equity      
    Parent company stockholders’ equity      
    Common stock (preferred stock: 540,000,000 shares authorized, not issued; common stock: Euro 1.04 nominal value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized, 911,281,920 shares issued, 901,550,639 shares outstanding as of September 28, 2024) 1,157 1,157 1,157
    Additional Paid-in Capital 3,032 2,985 2,866
    Retained earnings 13,118 12,813 12,470
    Accumulated other comprehensive income 657 421 613
    Treasury stock (400) (354) (377)
    Total parent company stockholders’ equity 17,564 17,022 16,729
    Noncontrolling interest 240 126 123
    Total equity 17,804 17,148 16,852
    Total liabilities and equity 25,516 24,906 24,453
           
           
    STMicroelectronics N.V.      
           
    SELECTED CASH FLOW DATA      
           
    Cash Flow Data (in US$ millions) Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023
           
    Net Cash from operating activities 723 702 1,881
    Net Cash used in investing activities (601) (628) (1,756)
    Net Cash from (used in) financing activities (142) (112) (223)
    Net Cash decrease (15) (41) (100)
           
    Selected Cash Flow Data (in US$ millions) Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023
           
    Depreciation & amortization 440 439 396
    Net payment for Capital expenditures (601) (546) (1,152)
    Dividends paid to stockholders (80) (73) (58)
    Change in inventories, net (17) (136) 147
           

    Appendix
    ST
    New organization

    On January 10, 2024, ST announced a new organization to deliver enhanced product development innovation and efficiency, time-to-market as well as customer focus by end market. This new organization implies a change in segment reporting which is applied from January 1, 2024.

    ST moved from three reportable segments (ADG, AMS and MDG) to four reportable segments as follows:

    • In Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors (APMS) Product Group:
      • Analog products, MEMS and Sensors (AM&S) segment, comprised of ST analog products, MEMS sensors and actuators, and optical sensing solutions.
      • Power and Discrete products (P&D) segment comprised of discrete and power transistor products.

    In this Press Release, “Analog” refers to ST analog products, “MEMS” to MEMS sensors and actuators and “Imaging” to optical sensing solutions.

    • In Microcontrollers, Digital ICs and RF products (MDRF) Product Group:
      • Microcontrollers (MCU) segment, comprised of general-purpose and automotive microcontrollers, microprocessors and connected security products (including EEPROM).
      • Digital ICs and RF Products (D&RF) segment, comprised of automotive ADAS, infotainment, RF and communications products.

    In this Press release, “Auto MCU” refers to Automotive microcontrollers and microprocessors, “GP MCU” to general purpose microcontrollers and microprocessors, “Connected Security” to connected security products (including EEPROM), “ADAS” to automotive ADAS and infotainment, “RF Communications” to RF and communications products.

    Prior year quarters comparative information has been adjusted accordingly.

    (Appendix – continued)
    ST
    Supplemental Financial Information

      Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q1 2024 Q4 2023 Q3 2023
    Net Revenues By Market Channel (%)          
    Total OEM 76% 73% 70% 70% 67%
    Distribution 24% 27% 30% 30% 33%
               
    €/$ Effective Rate 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.08 1.09
               
    Reportable Segment Data (US$ m)          
    Analog products, MEMS and Sensors (AM&S) segment          
    – Net Revenues 1,185 1,165 1,217 1,418 1,367
    – Operating Income 175 144 185 300 298
    Power and Discrete products (P&D) segment          
    – Net Revenues 807 747 820 965 989
    – Operating Income 121 110 138 245 262
    Subtotal: Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors (APMS) Product Group          
    – Net Revenues 1,992 1,912 2,037 2,383 2,356
    – Operating Income 296 254 323 545 560
    Microcontrollers (MCU) segment          
    – Net Revenues 829 800 950 1,272 1,466
    – Operating Income 116 72 185 378 534
    Digital ICs and RF Products (D&RF) segment          
    – Net Revenues 426 516 475 623 605
    – Operating Income 114 150 150 223 226
    Subtotal: Microcontrollers, Digital ICs and RF products (MDRF) Product Group          
    – Net Revenues 1,255 1,316 1,425 1,895 2,071
    – Operating Income 230 222 335 601 760
    Others (a)          
    – Net Revenues 4 4 3 4 4
    – Operating Income (Loss) (145) (101) (107) (123) (79)
    Total          
    – Net Revenues 3,251 3,232 3,465 4,282 4,431
    – Operating Income 381 375 551 1,023 1,241

    (a)  Net revenues of Others include revenues from sales assembly services and other revenues. Operating income (loss) of Others include items such as unused capacity charges, including incidents leading to power outage, impairment and restructuring charges, management reorganization costs, start-up and phase out costs, and other unallocated income (expenses) such as: strategic or special research and development programs, certain corporate-level operating expenses, patent claims and litigations, and other costs that are not allocated to reportable segments, as well as operating earnings of other products. Others includes:

    (US$ m) Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q1 2024 Q4 2023 Q3 2023
    Unused capacity charges 104 84 63 57 46

    (Appendix – continued)
    ST
    Supplemental Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Information
    U.S. GAAP – Non-U.S. GAAP Reconciliation

    The supplemental non-U.S. GAAP information presented in this press release is unaudited and subject to inherent limitations. Such non-U.S. GAAP information is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered as a substitute for U.S. GAAP measurements. Also, our supplemental non-U.S. GAAP financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled non-U.S. GAAP measures used by other companies. Further, specific limitations for individual non-U.S. GAAP measures, and the reasons for presenting non-U.S. GAAP financial information, are set forth in the paragraphs below. To compensate for these limitations, the supplemental non-U.S. GAAP financial information should not be read in isolation, but only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    ST believes that these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures provide useful information for investors and management because they offer, when read in conjunction with ST’s U.S. GAAP financials, (i) the ability to make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of ST’s on-going operating results, (ii) the ability to better identify trends in ST’s business and perform related trend analysis, and (iii) to facilitate a comparison of ST’s results of operations against investor and analyst financial models and valuations, which may exclude these items.

    Net Financial Position and Adjusted Net Financial Position (non-U.S. GAAP measures)

    Net Financial Position, a non-U.S. GAAP measure, represents the difference between our total liquidity and our total financial debt. Our total liquidity includes cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, if any, short-term deposits, and marketable securities, and our total financial debt includes short-term debt and long-term debt, as reported in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Starting Q4 2023, ST also presents adjusted net financial position as a non-U.S. GAAP measure, to take into consideration the effect on total liquidity of advances received on capital grants for which capital expenditures have not been incurred yet. Reporting periods prior to Q4 2023 are not impacted.

    ST believes its Net Financial Position and Adjusted Net Financial Position provide useful information for investors and management because they give evidence of our global position either in terms of net indebtedness or net cash by measuring our capital resources based on cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, if any, short-term deposits and marketable securities and the total level of our financial debt. Our definitions of Net Financial Position and Adjusted Net Financial Position may differ from definitions used by other companies, and therefore, comparability may be limited.

    (US$ m) Sep 28
    2024
    June 29
    2024
    Mar 30
    2024
    Dec 31
    2023
    Sep 30
    2023
    Cash and cash equivalents 3,077 3,092 3,133 3,222 3,011
    Short term deposits 977 975 1,226 1,226 506
    Marketable securities 2,242 2,218 1,880 1,635 1,537
    Total liquidity 6,296 6,285 6,239 6,083 5,054
    Short-term debt (1,003) (236) (238) (217) (173)
    Long-term debt (a) (2,112) (2,850) (2,875) (2,710) (2,418)
    Total financial debt (3,115) (3,086) (3,113) (2,927) (2,591)
    Net Financial Position 3,181 3,199 3,126 3,156 2,463
    Advances received on capital grants (366) (402) (351) (152) –
    Adjusted Net Financial Position 2,815 2,797 2,775 3,004 2,463

    (a)  Long-term debt contains standard conditions but does not impose minimum financial ratios. Committed credit facilities for $701 million equivalent, are currently undrawn.

    (Appendix – continued)

    Net Capex and Free Cash Flow (non-U.S. GAAP measures)

    ST presents Net Capex as a non-U.S. GAAP measure, which is reported as part of our Free Cash Flow (non-US GAAP measure), to take into consideration the effect of advances from capital grants received on prior periods allocated to property, plant and equipment in the reporting period.

    Net Capex, a non-U.S. GAAP measure, is defined as (i) Payment for purchase of tangible assets, as reported plus (ii) Proceeds from sale of tangible assets, as reported plus (iii) Proceeds from capital grants and other contributions, as reported plus (iv) Advances from capital grants allocated to property, plant and equipment in the reporting period.

    ST believes Net Capex provides useful information for investors and management because annual capital expenditures budget includes the effect of capital grants. Our definition of Net Capex may differ from definitions used by other companies.

    (US$ m) Q3
    2024
    Q2
    2024
    Q1
    2024
    Q4
    2023
    Q3
    2023
    Payment for purchase of tangible assets, as reported (669) (690) (1,145) (1,076) (1,158)
    Proceeds from sale of tangible assets, as reported 2 1 2 – 1
    Proceeds from capital grants and other contributions, as reported 66 143 149 278 5
    Advances from capital grants allocated to property, plant and equipment 36 18 27 – –
    Net Capex (565) (528) (967) (798) (1,152)

    Free Cash Flow, which is a non-U.S. GAAP measure, is defined as (i) net cash from operating activities plus (ii) Net Capex plus (iii) payment for purchase (and proceeds from sale) of intangible and financial assets and (iv) net cash paid for business acquisitions, if any.

    ST believes Free Cash Flow provides useful information for investors and management because it measures our capacity to generate cash from our operating and investing activities to sustain our operations.

    Free Cash Flow reconciles with the total cash flow and the net cash increase (decrease) by including the payment for purchases of (and proceeds from matured) marketable securities and net investment in (and proceeds from) short-term deposits, the net cash from (used in) financing activities and the effect of changes in exchange rates, and by excluding the advances from capital grants received on prior periods allocated to property, plant and equipment in the reporting period. Our definition of Free Cash Flow may differ from definitions used by other companies.

    (US$ m) Q3
    2024
    Q2
    2024
    Q1
    2024
    Q4
    2023
    Q3
    2023
    Net cash from operating activities 723 702 859 1,480 1,881
    Net Capex (565) (528) (967) (798) (1,152)
    Payment for purchase of intangible assets, net of proceeds from sale (20) (15) (26) (28) (22)
    Payment for purchase of financial assets, net of proceeds from sale (2) – – (2) –
    Free Cash Flow 136 159 (134) 652 707

    1See Appendix for the definition of reportable segments.

    2Non-U.S. GAAP. See Appendix for reconciliation to U.S. GAAP and information explaining why ST believes these measures are important.

    Attachment

    • C3290C – Q324 Earnings PR – Oct 30 2024

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Vantage Drilling Expands Managed Services Business, Enhancing Shareholder Value Through Strategic Asset Sale to ADES

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vantage Drilling International Ltd. (“Vantage Drilling” or the “Company”) today announced the successful completion of the sale of two contracted premium jackup rigs to ADES Holding Company (“ADES”), further strengthening Vantage’s position as a global leader in managed services while delivering enhanced value to shareholders.

    The sale includes the Topaz Driller jackup rig, operating in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area, and the Soehanah jackup rig, owned by Rig Finance Ltd. (RFL), which operates in Indonesia. The divestment of these high-quality assets underscores Vantage’s strategic focus on expanding its managed services business and maintaining a flexible, asset-light model that optimizes capital allocation.

    Ihab Toma, CEO of Vantage Drilling, commented: “This transaction is a significant step in Vantage’s ongoing strategy to enhance shareholder value. By strategically selling these contracted rigs, we have shifted to a net cash position, allowing us to focus on expanding our managed services portfolio, which remains an area of focus for the Company. We are confident this approach will further strengthen our financial position while providing ongoing, high-quality services to our clients.”

    “We are pleased to continue our strong partnership with ADES through this transaction. Southeast Asia is a key market, and the transfer of these rigs will enable ADES to further its expansion in the region, while Vantage remains well-positioned to grow its asset-light services business and deliver sustainable value to our shareholders.”

    This sale highlights Vantage Drilling’s commitment to maximizing operational efficiency and reinforcing its leadership in the managed services space, aligning with the Company’s strategic priorities of creating value for its shareholders and maintaining a strong, adaptable business model in a competitive market.

    About the Company:

    Vantage Drilling International Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor, with a current owned fleet of two ultra-deepwater drillships and two premium jackup drilling rigs. Vantage Drilling’s primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells globally for major, national and independent oil and gas companies. Vantage Drilling also markets, operates and provides management services in respect of drilling units owned by others. For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company’s website, www.vantagedrilling.com.

    Contact Info:

    Rafael Blattner

    Chief Financial Officer

    Vantage Drilling International Ltd.

    +971 4 449 34 28

    Attachment

    • Vantage Drilling Expands Managed Services Business, Enhancing Shareholder Value Through Strategic Asset Sale to ADES.pdf

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australia–Vietnam tourism surge

    Source: Minister for Trade

    Tourist numbers from Vietnam have grown significantly following the pandemic, with nearly 178,000 visitors from Vietnam visiting Australia in the 12 months to August 2024.

    The Albanese Government has been working to boost two-way tourism with Southeast Asia, creating jobs, and contributing to our economy.

    Since launching Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, a year ago, we’ve been stepping up our efforts across Southeast Asia, and tourism with Vietnam is shaping up to be a huge success story.

    Cooperation between the Australian and Vietnamese governments have delivered benefits for both countries, with Vietnam becoming Australia’s fastest-growing inbound market and more Australians travelling to Vietnam than prior to the pandemic.  

    The Albanese Government has provided funding for a number of initiatives designed to attract more visitors from Vietnam, including the Vietnam Host Program, a new addition to the suite of online training courses delivered by the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC). 

    ATEC’s programs, which are designed by leading industry professionals, help Australian businesses understand the needs of Vietnamese travellers and how to attract them.

    ATEC’s Meeting Place conference on the Gold Coast, which took place earlier this week, will continue to build momentum with Southeast Asia, with expert panels and Austrade briefings to highlight the growing opportunities for the region.

    These opportunities are highlighted in new reports released by Asialink Business and the Griffith Institute of Tourism which identify the potential for continued strong growth in two-way travel between Australia and Vietnam, and provide business with insights and data to help inform their investments.

    The government is supporting Australian businesses to embrace the enormous opportunities right on our doorstep.

    More information about the Government’s efforts to diversify Australia’s visitor markets, including links to the Asialink and Griffith Vietnam reports and the ATEC Vietnam Host program can be viewed at the Austrade website.

    Australian tourism businesses can register for the Vietnam Host Program via the Australian Tourism Export Council’s Tourism Training Hub.

    Quotes attributable to Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell:

    “Boosting tourism between our nations was a key topic of discussions when I visited Vietnam last year for our annual Economic Partnership Meeting, and again earlier this month when Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister His Excellency Bui Thanh Son and Minister of Planning and Investment, His Excellency Dr Nguyen Chi Dung visited Australia.

    “It is very encouraging to see strong growth in visitors from Vietnam to Australia, which is supporting Australian tourism businesses to succeed and grow.

    “Tourism is a key component of our strong relationship with the fast-growing economies of Southeast Asia. For too long we have flown over our friends and neighbours, overlooking the opportunity that is on our doorstep.

    “The Albanese Labor Government is proud to support efforts to increase links with our friends in the region.”

    Quotes attributable to Managing Director of ATEC Peter Shelley:

    “The Vietnam Host program gives Australian tourism businesses the tools they need to better understand and cater to Vietnamese visitors, helping them attract and engage with this growing market.

    “By taking part in the Vietnam Host program, businesses gain valuable insights into the preferences and expectations of Vietnamese travellers, equipping them to offer tailored, high-quality, culturally relevant experiences that will drive future growth from this market.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Improving macroeconomic environment and good customer activity drive progress, supported by cost focus and strong credit quality. Net profit of DKK 17.6bn for Q1-Q3 of 2024. 2024 net profit outlook revised upwards to DKK 22.5-23.5 billion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release  

    Bernstorffsgade 40
    DK – 1577 København V
    Tel. +45 45 14 14 00

    31 October 2024

    Improving macroeconomic environment and good customer activity drive progress, supported by cost focus and strong credit quality
    Net profit of DKK 17.6 billion for the first nine months of 2024
    2024 net profit outlook revised upwards. Now expects a net profit of DKK 22.5-23.5 billion, against previously 21-23 billion

    Carsten Egeriis, Chief Executive Officer, comments on the financial results:

    “During the first nine months of 2024, we consistently delivered satisfactory financial results, while progressing with our strategic priorities. Stable core income, consistent cost management, improved customer activity and continually strong credit quality led to an increase in net profit of 14% for the first nine months of the year relative to the same period last year.

    On the back of lower inflation, central banks have started to lower policy rates. In response to this, we lowered selected customer rates on lending and deposits during the first nine months of the year, while ensuring our offerings remain attractive across customer segments. This has resulted in an increase of 4% in deposit volumes for personal customers in Denmark during the period coupled with a substantial shift towards placing excess liquidity in our wide range of investment solutions, which contributed to a 10% increase in net fee income year-on-year. With continued growth in customer business volumes at our Business Customers unit and good traction during the year so far in our capital markets business at our Large Corporates & Institutions unit, there was progress across our business.

    We continue to execute on our Forward ’28 strategy, and with a return on equity of 13.4% and a cost/income ratio of 45.5%, we remain on track to meet our financial targets.”

    First nine months of 2024 vs first nine months of 2023
    Total income of DKK 41.8 billion (up 8.4% against the first nine months of 2023)
    Operating expenses of DKK 19.0 billion (up 1.0% against the first nine months of 2023)
    Loan impairments of DKK -436 million (against DKK 294 million in the first nine months of 2023)
    Net profit of DKK 17.6 billion (up 13.8% against the first nine months of 2023)
    Return on shareholders’ equity of 13.4% (against 12.5% in the first nine months of 2023)
    Strong capital position, with a total capital ratio of 23% and a CET1 capital ratio of 19.1%

    Macroeconomic environment more positive
    In the third quarter, the macroeconomic outlook improved, as inflation got under control and interest rates were lowered, which all in all is paving the way for an outlook for stable growth. Among the Nordic countries, the macroeconomic outlook is especially positive in Denmark where the labour market remains strong, inflation is low and economic growth is expected to be solid, even without the significant contribution from the pharmaceutical sector. Despite the more positive macroeconomic outlook, we remain prudently aware of the downside risks stemming from the geopolitical situation and concerns about a potential slowdown in economic activity.

    Although geopolitical tension has unfortunately become permanent and continues to be the global backdrop, the macroeconomic picture in the Nordic countries has improved, and we maintain our strong focus on our customers and are delivering according to the plan set out in our Forward ’28 strategy. Our focus on execution and our efforts to improve Danske Bank to the benefit of all stakeholders are moving us forward as expected.

    Improved commercial momentum in core banking
    We continue to see improved commercial momentum and good interest in our leading advisory solutions for customers with complex needs, and we continue to enhance our products to make everyday banking both simpler and safer.

    At our Personal Customers unit, we saw an increase in net fee income, particularly from everyday banking and investment fees, higher net interest income from deposits and a net loan impairment reversal. Good growth in customer business volumes across our Business Customers unit supported an increase in bank lending volumes in local currency across our Nordic markets, except for Denmark. And at our Large Corporates & Institutions unit, the positive momentum continued, among other things with good activity in Loan Capital Markets, where we in the third quarter supported the financing of some of the largest transactions in Europe.

    The improved momentum shows that Danske Bank’s underlying business is strong, our treasury asset and liability management is prudent, and our capital and liquidity positions continue to be strong, with significant buffers well above regulatory requirements.

    “Supported by the improving macroeconomic environment, our diversified business model and core activities continued to ensure commercial progress. Net interest income increased 6% in the first nine months of the year and net fee income was up 10% for the period as a result of both solid customer activity and our ongoing development of customer offerings across the business. We continued our consistent focus on costs and on creating further efficiency improvements in our processes, allowing us to keep operating expenses on par while still developing according to plan. Our sustained commercial momentum and focus on operational efficiency thus resulted in a cost/income ratio of 45.5% and a return on equity of 13.4%, with credit quality remaining strong, as reflected in a net loan impairment reversal across all countries. The continued cost focus and strong credit quality is furthermore the basis for our second upward revision this year, which is a testament to the robustness of the bank and our customers,” says Stephan Engels, CFO.

    Personal Customers
    During the first nine months of 2024, we continued to support our customers in managing their finances in a market environment characterised by falling interest rate levels. Our Danske Bolig Fri home finance products were in high demand and were named ‘Best in Test’ by the Danish Consumer Council. The same was the case for our loans targeting first-time home buyers. We also saw an increased flow of customers into our Private Banking unit. Profit before tax amounted to DKK 7.48 billion in the first nine months of 2024, representing an increase of 21% from the year-earlier period. The result was fuelled primarily by an increase in net fee income, particularly from everyday banking and investment fees, and a net loan impairment reversal.

    Business Customers
    In the first nine months of 2024, the economic landscape in which we operate continued to improve, due primarily to a stabilisation of interest rates in the first part of the period, followed by interest rate cuts by the central banks towards the latter part of the period. We continued to expand the customer base in our focus segments. In addition, we took strategic repricing actions and continued to enhance support for our customers by providing the best possible advice tailored to their needs. Profit before tax for the first nine months of 2024 amounted to DKK 6.69 billion, a decrease of 6% from the same period last year. Net fee income rose as a result of our subscription-based fee service model as well as repricing actions. However, we saw an increase in operating expenses attributable to investments made under our Forward ’28 strategy.

    Large Corporates & Institutions
    In the first nine months of 2024, we continued to see a positive underlying momentum, particularly in our fee business as higher fees from assets under management, everyday banking products and capital markets activities mitigated the decline in net trading income, thus demonstrating the value of our diversified business model. Furthermore, we continued to leverage our strategic commercial strengths as reflected in growth in our corporate customer portfolio outside Denmark, an increased market share of cash management services and the maintaining of our leading position in sustainable finance. Profit before tax increased to DKK 7.03 billion, an increase of 6% from the same period last year. The increase was driven by higher net fee income and loan impairment reversals, although the increase was partly offset by lower net trading income.

    Danica Pension
    Through high levels of volatility, the global markets continued their positive trend in the third quarter of 2024. The investment return on our pension customers’ savings in the first nine months of the year profited from the favourable trend in the global financial markets. We have thus had a prolonged period throughout 2023 and 2024 during which we have been able to deliver significant returns for our customers. However, we continued to see challenges in the health and accident business due to a rise in new health and accident claims. This reflects the general trend in society. Net income at Danica Pension increased to DKK 1.41 billion in the first nine months of 2024, up 53% from the level in the first nine months of 2023, due to an increase in the net financial result.

    Northern Ireland
    The strong underlying financial performance reflects business growth in a higher interest rate environment. Profit before loan impairments was 7% higher than in the first nine months of 2023, while profit before tax of DKK 1.51 billion represented an increase of 3% year-on-year.

    Outlook for 2024
    The outlook for 2023 is revised upwards to a net profit in the range of DKK 22.5-23.5 billion. At the release of our upward adjustment on 26 June 2024, we guided for a full-year 2024 net profit in the range of DKK 21-23 billion. The change in outlook is based on better cost trajectory as well as lower than expected loan impairments.

    The outlook is subject to uncertainty and depends on economic conditions.

    Danske Bank

    Contact: Stefan Singh Kailay, Head of Media Relations, tel. +45 45 14 14 00

    More information about Danske Bank’s financial results is available at danskebank.com/reports.

    Attachments

    • Danske Bank Interim Report – first nine months 2024
    • Danske Bank press release 31 October 2024

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: OP Financial Group’s Interim Report for 1 January–30 September 2024: Strong business performance continued – operating profit EUR 1,948 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OP Financial Group
    Interim Report 1 January–30 September 2024
    Stock Exchange Release 31 October 2024 at 9.00 EET

    OP Financial Group’s Interim Report for 1 January–30 September 2024: Strong business performance continued – operating profit EUR 1,948 million

    • Operating profit was EUR 1,948 million (1,570).
    • Income from customer business, or net interest income, insurance service result and net commissions and fees, increased by 7% to EUR 2,813 million (2,634). Net interest income grew by 10% to EUR 2,118 million (1,919). The insurance service result grew by 63% to EUR 95 million (58). Net commissions and fees decreased by 9% to EUR 599 million (656). The decrease was affected by the fact that owner-customers are being provided with daily banking services free of monthly charges in 2024. The value of this benefit was EUR 67 million during the reporting period.
    • Impairment loss on receivables in the income statement was EUR 72 million (170), accounting for 0.10% (0.22) of the loan and guarantee portfolio.
    • Investment income increased by 43% to EUR 419 million (294).
    • Total expenses grew by 4% to EUR 1,629 million (1,564). The cost/income ratio improved to 45% (47).
    • In the year to September, the loan portfolio decreased by 1% to EUR 98.0 billion (98.9). Deposits increased by 5% to EUR 76.2 billion (72.6).
    • CET1 ratio strengthened to 21.4% (19.2), which exceeds the minimum regulatory requirement by 7.9 percentage points.
    • Retail Banking segment’s operating profit rose to EUR 1,037 million (919). Net interest income grew by 11% to EUR 1,615 million (1,459). Impairment loss on receivables decreased by EUR 50 million to EUR 57 million (107). Net commissions and fees decreased by 13% to EUR 458 million (524). The cost/income ratio improved to 48% (49). The loan portfolio decreased by 1% year on year, to EUR 70.6 billion. Deposits increased by 1% to EUR 62.4 billion.
    • Corporate Banking segment’s operating profit rose to EUR 418 million (321). Net interest income grew by 12% to EUR 493 million (441). Impairment loss on receivables decreased by EUR 48 million to EUR 15 million (63). Net commissions and fees increased by 2% to EUR 146 million (143). The cost/income ratio improved to 37% (40). In the year to September, the loan portfolio decreased by 2% to EUR 27.5 billion. Deposits increased by 26% to EUR 14.4 billion.
    • Insurance segment’s operating profit rose to EUR 458 million (298). Insurance service result grew by 63% to EUR 95 million (58). Investment income increased by 52% to EUR 365 million (241). Combined ratio reported by non-life insurance was 95% (95).
    • Group Functions operating profit was EUR 4 million (–2).
    • OP Financial Group will increase the OP bonuses to be earned by owner-customers for 2025 by 40% compared to the normal level of 2022. In addition, owner-customers will get daily banking services free of monthly charges until the end of 2025. Together, these benefits are estimated to add up to more than EUR 400 million in value for owner-customers next year.
    • On 14 October 2024, OP Financial Group raised its earnings outlook for 2024. Operating profit for 2024 is expected to be higher than that for 2023. For more detailed information on the outlook, see “Outlook towards the year end”.

    OP Financial Group’s key indicators

      Q1–3/2024 Q1–3/2023 Change, % Q1–4/2023
    Operating profit, € million 1,948 1,570 24.1 2,050
    Retail Banking 1,037 919 12.8 1,223
    Corporate Banking 418 321 30.3 408
    Insurance 458 298 53.6 414
    Group Functions 4 -2 – -26
    New OP bonuses accrued to owner-customers,
    € million
    -233 -204 14.1 -275
    Total income** 3,650 3,304 10.5 4,520
    Total expenses -1,629 -1,564 4.2 -2,201
    Cost/income ratio, %** 44.6 47.3 -2.7* 48.7
    Return on equity (ROE), % 12.3 11.1 1.2* 10.6
    Return on equity, excluding OP bonuses, % 13.7 12.5 1.2* 12.0
    Return on assets (ROA), % 1.30 1.02 0.29* 0.98
    Return on assets, excluding OP bonuses, % 1.46 1.15 0.31* 1.11
      30 Sep 2024 30 Sep 2023 Change, % 31 Dec 2023
    CET1 ratio, % 21.4 19.1 2.3* 19.2
    Loan portfolio, € billion 98.0 98.9 -1.0 98.9
    Deposits, € billion 76.2 72.6 5.0 74.5
    Ratio of non-performing exposures to exposures, % 2.91 2.73 0.18* 2.94
    Ratio of impairment loss on receivables to loan and guarantee portfolio, % 0.10 0.22 -0.13* 0.26
    Owner-customers (1,000) 2,107 2,083 1.2 2,094

     Comparatives for the income statement are based on the corresponding figures in 2023. Unless otherwise specified, figures from 31 December 2023 are used as comparatives for balance-sheet and other cross-sectional items.
    * Change in ratio, percentage point(s).
    ** OP bonuses to owner-customers, which were previously shown on a separate line in the income statement, have been divided under the following items based on their accrual: interest income, interest expenses, and commission income from mutual funds. The line ‘OP bonuses to owner-customers’ is no longer shown in the income statement. Comparative information has been adjusted accordingly. For more detailed information on the change, see Note 1 to the Half-year Financial Report 1 January–30 June 2024, Accounting policies and changes in accounting policies and presentation.

    Comments by the President and Group Chief Executive Officer

    The Finnish economy is recovering as forecast – inflation continued to slow and market rates fell markedly

    Finland’s recovery, which began in the first half of the year, seems to be continuing into late 2024, mainly because the domestic market has been stronger than forecast. Consumer demand has been the mainstay of the economy this year. In contrast, investments have sharply reduced and exports are slightly down.

    Finland’s economy seems to have bottomed out in the summer. Annual GDP growth is expected to reach 2% next year, when exports should clearly outpace the current year’s performance as industry perks up and service exports recover.

    Inflation in Finland fell to 0.8%, which was clearly below the average for the euro area (1.7%). Short-term market rates fell sharply in the third quarter and the 12-month Euribor (the most commonly used reference rate for home loans) was at 2.75% at the end of September. Consumers, in particular, have benefited from lower inflation and interest rates.

    Third-quarter home purchase volumes and home loan demand were clearly higher than in the same period last year: there are signs of a gradual recovery in the housing market.

    Stock markets continued to perform well in July–September due to enduringly moderate global growth, better private-sector results and falling market rates.

    OP Financial Group’s business operations continued to grow strongly – the excellent results will benefit OP’s owner-customers

    OP Financial Group’s operating profit continued its excellent trend into the third quarter, growing by 24% year on year to EUR 1,948 million in January–September. This strong profit performance guarantees the continuance of highly competitive benefits for our owner-customers.

    We will increase the OP bonuses earned by owner-customers for 2025 by 40% compared to the normal level of 2022. Moreover, in 2025, we will not collect monthly charges from our owner-customers for use of daily banking services. Next year, these benefits will add up to more than EUR 400 million in value for our owner-customers. Being customer-owned, OP Financial Group will continue to share its financial success through a range of financial and other benefits for its owner-customers.

    OP Financial Group’s CET1 ratio strengthened again in the third quarter, to 21.4%, which exceeds the minimum regulatory requirement by 7.9 percentage points. OP Financial Group is one of Europe’s most financially solid large banks. Excellent profitability and strong capital adequacy and liquidity are critical factors for banks and insurance companies, building trust among customers, partners and other stakeholders. Trust is vital in the banking and insurance businesses.

    OP Financial Group’s income from customer business grew considerably in January–September 2024, mainly owing to the strong increase in net interest income. Net commissions and fees decreased by 9%, due to the benefit (provided for owner-customers) of zero monthly charges for daily banking services.

    The insurance service result for January–September clearly improved year on year, rising to EUR 95 million. It also improved considerably compared to the first half of 2024. Since the first quarter, there have been fewer large claims than usual and vehicle and health insurance claims fell in the summer months as favourable weather began and the flu season ended.

    Income from investment activities has fared extremely well this year, the result of EUR 419 million being 43% higher than for the same period in 2023. Total income was EUR 3,650 million, or 10% more year on year.

    At EUR 1,629 million, total expenses in January–September were 4% higher than in the same period in 2023, mainly due to rising personnel costs and higher investments in ICT development. OP Financial Group’s cost/income ratio markedly improved year on year, to an excellent 45%.

    All three business segments performed well in January–September. The Retail Banking segment’s operating profit rose by 13% from the same period in 2023, to EUR 1,037 million. Corporate Banking’s operating profit was EUR 418 million, up by 30% year on year. Operating profit in the Insurance segment totalled EUR 458 million, a rise of 54% on January–September 2023, largely because of the excellent result in investment income.

    Deposits grew strongly – but the loan portfolio decreased slightly

    OP Financial Group’s deposit portfolio grew by 5% year on year. There was moderate growth both in household and corporate deposits. OP Financial Group strengthened its position as Finland’s leading deposit bank in the first half of 2024; OP’s market share is now almost 40%.

    OP Financial Group’s loan portfolio shrank by around 1% year on year. Demand for new home loans and corporate loans remained fairly low. In the first half of 2024, OP Financial Group further strengthened its position as a provider of home loans in Finland; with a market share of 39%, it is the clear market leader. OP’s home loan customers have continued to manage their repayments well despite the general economic downturn. The number of loan modification applications was lower than the year before. Non-performing exposures totalled 2.9% (2.9). Impairment loss on receivables markedly decreased year on year.

    Strong growth in wealth management continued

    OP Financial Group aims to coach its customers to help them make better financial choices. We are therefore investing heavily in the range, quality and availability of the wealth management services we provide for our various customer categories. We want to promote our customers’ long-term financial wellbeing.

    Our customers remain interested in systematically investing in funds, with 33% more new systematic investment agreements being made in January–September than in the same period last year. The number of OP mutual fund unitholders rose to almost 1.38 million. There was also considerable growth in the number of active equity investors. At EUR 111 billion in value, investment assets managed by OP Financial Group grew by 13% year on year.

    Corporate Banking succeeded well as a provider of financing for big companies

    Corporate Banking had a highly successful nine months as a versatile intermediary of financing for large corporations. It was the lead arranger or arranger of 11 bond issues, which raised EUR 2.6 billion for companies from the capital markets. Sustainable financing provided by Corporate Banking also grew in the first half of 2024. By the end of September, the commitment portfolio totalled EUR 8.0 billion.

    The insurance business’s profitability improved in the third quarter

    Insurance revenue for January–September grew by 7% year on year. The rapid growth in claims expenditure of early 2024 slowed in the third quarter, but claims expenditure in January–September was still 8% higher than in the same period in 2023. Non-life insurance reported a combined ratio of 95%. Compensation was paid for 94% of all claims reported to Pohjola Insurance. There was a clear improvement in non-life insurance’s profitability in the third quarter.

    Life insurance’s performance has been excellent this year, with 10% growth in unit-linked insurance assets. Growing this business is one of OP Financial Group’s strategic focus areas.

    Strong growth in the number of customer interactions through the AI-based OP Aina

    In June, we launched OP Aina, a new personal assistant on OP-mobile. OP Aina helps our customers with a range of banking and insurance matters on a 24/7 basis. It is the first financial service in Finland to use artificial intelligence and alerts. We use the service to provide even more personalised and readily available services than before. Customers have been actively using the service. There have already been 4.8 million customer interactions with OP Aina and feedback has been positive.

    Cybersecurity is at the core of our operations

    OP Financial Group’s service availability has been excellent despite the rapidly growing number of denial of service attacks. We are investing strongly in cybersecurity to ensure that our customers’ money and data are secure and our service level is maintained under all circumstances. As phishing and scam attempts directed at our customers have proliferated, we have created several new ways of providing even better protection.

    Owner-customers have been benefiting from OP bonuses for more than 25 years and will continue to do so

    A total of more than EUR 3.7 billion in OP bonuses have accumulated for OP Financial Group’s owner-customers in more than 25 years. OP Financial Group has prepared for the possible change in the tax treatment of financial-sector customer bonuses in early 2026. A bill has been presented to the Finnish Parliament, which would bring OP bonuses accumulated from banking services under capital gains tax if they were used for non-banking services – to pay insurance premiums, for example. However, there is no need for concern among OP Financial Group’s 2.1 million owner-customers, who will continue to receive at least the same level of financial benefits as before, regardless of possible changes in the law. It therefore pays to be an owner-customer of OP Financial Group. In line with our mission, we will continue to promote the sustainable prosperity, security and wellbeing of our owner-customers.

    OP Financial Group is an attractive employer

    This year, OP Financial Group was ranked for the first time as Finland’s most attractive employer by business sector professionals, and as the fourth most attractive by IT professionals, in an annual employer branding survey by Universum. Year after year in the survey, professionals and students have ranked us as top performers.

    Over the years, one of our strategic priorities has been to ensure that our personnel are highly skilled, motivated and satisfied. The survey results are strong evidence of our success in fulfilling this priority. Our employer image, as a genuinely inclusive workplace based on high-level competencies, is critical to retaining our current talent and continuing to recruit the best for OP Financial Group.

    Together through time

    OP Financial Group is in great shape to be there for its customers through economic ups and downs. We want to be a pioneer in Finnish society, pointing the way towards futures filled with hope. The success of Finland and all those who live here is our number one priority now and in the future.

    My warm thanks to all our customers for the trust they have shown in OP Financial Group. We want to continue being worthy of your trust going forward. I would also like to give my heartfelt thanks to our employees and governing bodies for their fine work and commitment during the year. We have a superb basis for continuing to be successful in the times ahead.

    Timo Ritakallio
    President and Group CEO

    January–September

    OP Financial Group’s operating profit was EUR 1,948 million (1,570), up by 24.1% or EUR 378 million year on year. Income from customer business, or net interest income, net commissions and fees and insurance service result, increased by a total of 6.8% to EUR 2,813 million (2,634). The cost/income ratio improved to 44.6% (47.3). New OP bonuses accrued to owner-customers, which are included in earnings, increased by 14.1% to EUR 233 million.

    Net interest income grew by 10.4% to EUR 2,118 million. The development of market rates continued to increase net interest income. Net interest income reported by the Retail Banking segment increased by 10.7% to EUR 1,615 million and that by the Corporate Banking segment increased by 11.9% to EUR 493 million. OP Financial Group’s loan portfolio decreased by 1.0% to EUR 98.0 billion while deposits grew by 5.0% to EUR 76.2 billion, year on year. Household deposits increased by 1.7% year on year, to EUR 47.8 billion. New loans drawn down by customers during the reporting period totalled EUR 15.0 billion (16.0).

    Impairment loss on loans and receivables, which reduces earnings, totalled EUR 72 million (170). A year ago, expected credit losses concerning the real estate and construction sector increased the impairment loss on receivables. Final credit losses totalled EUR 38 million (42). At the end of the reporting period, loss allowance was EUR 964 million (929), of which management overlay accounted for EUR 85 million (109). Non-performing exposures accounted for 2.9% (2.9) of total exposures. Impairment loss on loans and receivables accounted for 0.10% (0.22) of the loan and guarantee portfolio.

    Owner-customers have received daily banking services without monthly charges since October 2023. This contributed to the decrease in payment transfer net commissions and fees. Net commissions and fees decreased by a total of 8.7% to EUR 599 million. Net commissions and fees for payment transfer services decreased by EUR 58 million to EUR 175 million, and those for residential brokerage by EUR 4 million to EUR 43 million. Meanwhile, commission income from life insurance investment contracts increased by EUR 3 million to EUR 21 million.

    Insurance service result increased by EUR 37 million to EUR 95 million. Insurance service result includes EUR 387 million (348) in operating expenses. Non-life insurance net insurance revenue including reinsurer’s share grew by 7.3% to EUR 1,299 million. Net claims incurred after reinsurer’s share grew by 7.9% to EUR 859 million. Combined ratio reported by non-life insurance was 95.0% (94.8).

    Investment income, or net investment income, net insurance finance expenses and income from financial assets held for trading, increased by a total of 42.7% to EUR 419 million. Investment income grew as a result of the increase in the value of equity and fixed income investments. Net investment income together with net finance income describe investment profitability in the insurance business. The combined return on investments at fair value of OP Financial Group’s insurance companies was 6.4% (2.7).

    Net income from financial assets recognised at fair value through profit or loss, or notes and bonds, shares and derivatives, totalled EUR 1,605 million (591). Net income from investment contract liabilities totalled EUR –689 million (–241). Net insurance finance expenses totalled EUR –565 million (–102). In banking, net income from financial assets held for trading grew by 77.2% to EUR 43 million due to the increase in interest income from derivatives.

    Other operating income increased to EUR 31 million (28).

    Total expenses grew by 4.2% to EUR 1,629 million. Personnel costs rose by 11.3% to EUR 781 million. The increase was affected by headcount growth and pay increases. OP Financial Group’s personnel increased by approximately 1,061 year on year. Depreciation/amortisation and impairment loss on PPE and intangible assets decreased by 22.1% to EUR 107 million. Other operating expenses grew by 2.3% to EUR 741 million. ICT costs increased to EUR 372 million (318). Development costs were EUR 249 million (194) and capitalised development expenditure EUR 43 million (66). Charges of financial authorities fell by EUR 62 million to EUR 1 million. The EU’s Single Resolution Board (SRB) will not collect stability contributions from banks for 2024. In 2023, OP Financial Group paid a total of EUR 62 million in stability contributions.

    The new OP bonuses to owner-customers have been divided under the following items based on their accrual: EUR 125 million (116) under interest income, EUR 61 million (49) under interest expenses, EUR 36 million (29) under commission income from mutual funds, and EUR 12 million (11) under insurance service result.

    Income tax amounted to EUR 388 million (312). The effective tax rate for the reporting period was 19.9% (19.9). Comprehensive income after tax totalled EUR 1,644 million (1,279).

    OP Financial Group’s equity amounted to EUR 17.7 billion (16.3). Equity included EUR 3.2 billion (3.3) in Profit Shares, terminated Profit Shares accounting for EUR 0.3 billion (0.4).

    OP Financial Group’s funding position and liquidity is strong. At the end of the reporting period, the Group’s LCR was 214% (199) and NSFR was 130% (130).

    Outlook towards the year end

    The Finnish economy was sluggish in the first half. GDP contracted over the previous year and unemployment increased. Forecast data suggests that the Finnish economy began to grow in the third quarter of 2024. Falling inflation and interest rates provide a basis for the recovery to continue. Risks associated with the economic outlook are still higher than usual. The escalation of geopolitical crises may abruptly affect capital markets and the economic environment.

    OP Financial Group’s operating profit for 2024 is expected to be higher than that for 2023.

    The key uncertainties affecting OP Financial Group’s earnings performance in late 2024 relate to developments in the business environment, changes in the interest rate and investment environment, and developments in impairment loss on receivables. Forward-looking statements in this Interim Report expressing the management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions are based on the current view on developments in the economy, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

    Press conference

    OP Financial Group’s financial performance will be presented to the media by President and Group Chief Executive Officer Timo Ritakallio in a press conference on 31 October 2024 at 11am at Gebhardinaukio 1, Vallila, Helsinki.

    Media enquiries: OP Corporate Communications, tel. +358 10 252 8719, viestinta@op.fi

    OP Corporate Bank plc and OP Mortgage Bank will publish their own interim reports.

    Schedule for financial reports for 2024:

    OP Amalgamation Pillar 3 Tables 30 September 2024 Week 45, 2024
    Report by the Board of Directors (incl. Sustainability Report) and Financial Statements 2024 Week 11, 2025 
    OP Financial Group’s Corporate Governance Statement 2024 Week 11, 2025 
    OP Financial Group’s Annual Report 2024 Week 11, 2025 
    OP Amalgamation Pillar 3 Disclosures 2024 Week 11, 2025 
    OP Financial Group’s Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies 2024 Week 11, 2025 
    Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies at OP Financial Group Week 11, 2025 

    Schedule for Financial Statements Bulletin 2024 and Interim Reports and Half-year Financial Report in 2025:

    Financial Statements Bulletin 1 January‒31 December 2024 6 February 2025
    Interim Report 1 January–31 March 2025 7 May 2025
    Half-year Financial Report 1 January–30 June 2025 30 July 2025
    Interim Report 1 January–30 September 2025 28 October 2025
    OP Amalgamation Pillar 3 Disclosures 31 March 2025 Week 19, 2025 
    OP Amalgamation Pillar 3 Disclosures 30 June 2025 Week 32, 2025 
    OP Amalgamation Pillar 3 Disclosures 30 September 2025 Week 45, 2025 

    Helsinki, 31 October 2024

    OP Cooperative
    Board of Directors

    Additional information:

    Timo Ritakallio, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, tel. +358 (0)10 252 4500
    Mikko Timonen, Chief Financial Officer, tel. +358 (0)10 252 1325
    Piia Kumpulainen, Chief Communications Officer, tel. +358 (0)10 252 7317

    DISTRIBUTION

    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Euronext Dublin (Irish Stock Exchange)
    London Stock Exchange
    Major media
    op.fi

    OP Financial Group is Finland’s largest financial services group, with more than two million owner-customers and over 14,000 employees. We provide a comprehensive range of banking and insurance services for personal and corporate customers. OP Financial Group consists of OP cooperative banks, its central cooperative OP Cooperative, and the latter’s subsidiaries and affiliates. Our mission is to promote the sustainable prosperity, security and wellbeing of our owner-customers and operating region. Together with our owner-customers, we have been building Finnish society and a sustainable future for 120 years now. www.op.fi

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls for pooling wisdom, strength to advance reform in steady and sustained manner

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

    Xi calls for pooling wisdom, strength to advance reform in steady and sustained manner

    BEIJING, Oct. 31 — On the morning of Oct. 29, a study session for senior provincial and ministerial-level officials to study and implement the guiding principles of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was inaugurated at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony. He emphasized the need to further study and implement the guiding principles of the third plenum, calling for guiding the entire Party and the nation to have more confidence in reform, and pool collective wisdom and strength to advance reform in a steady and sustained manner.

    Li Qiang presided over the opening ceremony. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi attended the event. They are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Han Zheng, Chinese vice president, also attended the event.

    Xi noted that the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee heralded a new journey to comprehensively deepen reform and to advance reform through systematic and comprehensive design in the new era. This session has broken new ground for reform and opening up, and is of epoch-making significance. Comprehensively deepening reform in the new era has yielded significant outcomes in practice, system, and theory, representing one of the most remarkable chapters in China’s history of reform and opening up. It has provided strong momentum and institutional support for building China into a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and for carrying on the “two great miracles” (sustained rapid economic growth and lasting social stability). It has also laid a solid foundation and offered valuable experience for further comprehensively deepening reform on the new journey.

    Xi emphasized that maintaining the right political orientation and breaking new ground is a major principle that must be firmly upheld in further comprehensively deepening reform. China’s reform has direction and principles to follow. We must uphold the Party’s overall leadership, Marxism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the people’s democratic dictatorship, with promoting social fairness and justice as well as enhancing people’s well-being as our starting point and ultimate goal. These principles are fundamental, directional, and long-term, reflecting the nature and mission of the Party, conforming to China’s realities, and tallying with the fundamental interests of the people. They must be firmly upheld on any occasion and at any time. We should continue to improve and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, work hard to realize the reform’s overall goal of modernizing the national governance system and governing capabilities, and consistently march forward in the direction guided by this overall goal, decisively reforming what should be reformed and never reforming what should not be reformed. In response to the new trends of the times, the new requirements for development, and the new expectations of the people, efforts should be made to advance reform in all aspects in a comprehensive and coordinated manner with an emphasis on economic structural reform, Xi said, urging vigorous work to promote innovations in theories, practice, institutions, culture, and other areas, so as to provide strong impetus and institutional support for Chinese modernization.

    Noting that reform is a systematic undertaking, Xi said relevant work should be done through proper means and by carefully balancing concerns in various aspects. He underlined the need to adhere to the coordination between reform and the rule of law, advance the rule of law with reform measures, further deepen reform in the realm of law-based governance, and continuously better the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. The role of the rule of law should be given better play in removing the obstacles in reform and consolidating the achievements of reform, and it is important to think in terms of the rule of law and adopt a law-based approach in advancing reform to ensure that major reforms are carried out in accordance with the law and the legitimate rights and interests of all citizens and legal entities are under equal protection, Xi said. He added that it is necessary to adhere to the dialectical unity of breaking the old and establishing the new, focusing on both parts with efforts for the latter coming first. What needs to be established should be put in place proactively; what is no longer needed should be repudiated in due course after what is needed is established; and reform should be promoted in a steady and rapid manner in the balanced development of both, Xi said. It is a must to maintain a unified approach to reform and opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up, actively align with international high-standard economic and trade rules, and deepen the reform of the management systems for foreign trade, foreign investment, and outbound investment, so as to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. It is essential to effectively manage the relationship between how work plans are made and how the arrangements are implemented. The design of reform plans must be made on the basis of how things should be done reasonably, and various measures for reform must be compatible with and support each other, so as to keep the orientation of the reform consistent. It is imperative to establish a working mechanism, under which responsibilities are clearly defined, and work in various aspects is well connected. Follow-up evaluation of work results must be strengthened to make sure that reform measures are implemented thoroughly and effectively.

    Xi emphasized that officials, particularly senior officials, bear the crucial responsibility of advancing reform. They must cultivate a strong sense of political responsibility and historical mission, confront problems and challenges head-on with political courage to tackle difficulties, decisively address entrenched issues, face up to risks without hesitation, and strive to break new ground for reform and development. The right approach should be adopted to promote reform, arrangements must be made systematically, and actions should never be taken before decisions are made.

    Xi noted that extensively building consensus and fully mobilizing all positive factors are quite important for smooth reform. It is imperative to do a good job in guiding public opinion, intensify efforts to conduct positive public communication, champion the overarching theme, and project positive energy. It is essential to conduct further research and interpretation on the major theoretical propositions put forward in the resolution adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, with a focus on strengthening public communication and interpretation of the propositions to the people. It is imperative to timely address confusions, respond to the concerns of society, and extensively build consensus, so as to consolidate the intellectual foundation and public support for the whole Party and entire society to jointly promote reform. Officials and the general public should be guided to think with a broad perspective and have a correct understanding of the adjustment of interests and personal gains and losses in the reform.

    Xi finally stressed that all regions and departments must conscientiously implement a slew of major measures decided by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, implement the existing and new policies to the letter, and employ a combination of policies to ensure that good results are delivered from the work in the next two months, and the economic and social development goals and tasks set for this year are fulfilled.

    Li Qiang, when presiding over the ceremony, said General Secretary Xi’s important speech is visionary, thought-provoking, incisive, and substantive. He said that the speech is of political, theoretical, targeted and guiding significance, and is of great importance for the Party, especially for senior officials, to comprehensively and faithfully understand the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and to grasp the guiding principles, overall targets, key rules and scientific methodology of the ongoing drive to further deepen reform. Studying the speech is also important for them to boost confidence in reform, follow the right direction, have a stronger sense of responsibility for reform, leverage synergies, and push for the desired delivery of reform measures.

    It is imperative to study Xi’s speech with a sense of mission and responsibility, and a focus on solving problems to have a thorough understanding of the connotations, essence and practical requirements of the speech. It is imperative to profoundly understand the decisive significance of “Two Affirmations”, resolutely act on “Two Upholds”, effectively align our thoughts and actions with the spirit of Xi’s speech and the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and creatively implement the reform tasks, Li said.

    Those who attended the ceremony included members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice-chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress who are Party members, State Councilors, the president of the Supreme People’s Court, the vice-chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference who are Party members, and members of the Central Military Commission.

    Those who participated in the study session included leading officials of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the relevant central and state departments, relevant people’s organizations, centrally-administered financial institutions, enterprises, universities, as well as leading officials from various units of the People’s Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force. Leaders of the central committees of the other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and relevant sectors sat in on the opening ceremony.

    Notes:

    “Two Affirmations”:

    The affirmation of Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the affirmation of the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

    “Two Upholds”:

    “Two Upholds” refers to upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and upholding the Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Scheme of Arrangement for Acquisition of i3 Energy plc Becomes Effective

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    31 October 2024

    RECOMMENDED AND FINAL CASH AND SHARE ACQUISITION

    for

    i3 Energy plc (“i3 Energy”)

    by

    Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (“Gran Tierra”)

    to be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

    SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE

    On 19 August 2024, the boards of directors of i3 Energy and Gran Tierra announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended and final cash and share acquisition of the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of i3 Energy (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition is being implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.

    i3 Energy published a circular in relation to the Scheme dated 29 August 2024 (the “Scheme Document“).

    On 29 October 2024, i3 Energy announced that the Court had sanctioned the Scheme at the Sanction Hearing held on 29 October 2024.

    i3 Energy and Gran Tierra are pleased to announce that, following delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies and satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set out in the Scheme Document, the Scheme has now become Effective in accordance with its terms and, pursuant to the Scheme, the entire issued and to be issued share capital of i3 Energy is now owned by Gran Tierra.

    Consideration

    A Scheme Shareholder on the register of members of i3 Energy at the Scheme Record Time, being 6.00 p.m. on 30 October 2024, will be entitled to receive one New Gran Tierra Share per every 207 i3 Energy Shares held and 10.43 pence cash per i3 Energy Share subject to any adjustments to such consideration resulting from valid Elections made under the Mix and Match Facility. For Scheme Shareholders holding Scheme Shares in certificated form, settlement of the consideration will be effected by electronic payment or (for those Scheme Shareholders who have not set up an electronic payment mandate) by the despatch of cheques. For Scheme Shareholders holding Scheme Shares in uncertificated form, settlement of consideration will be effected by the crediting of CREST or CDS accounts, as applicable. In each case settlement of consideration will occur as soon as practicable and in any event not later than 14 days after the date of this announcement, being 14 November 2024.

    Further to the announcement on 7 October 2024, i3 Energy confirms that, the Scheme having become Effective, the Acquisition Dividend totalling £3,084,278 will be paid as follows:

      Dividend: 0.2565 pence / i3 Energy Share
         
      Record Date: 6.00 p.m. on 30 October 2024
         
      Payment date: by 13 November 2024
         

    i3 Energy admission to listing on AIM

    An application was made for the suspension of admission to trading in i3 Energy Shares on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM Market (“AIM“) and such suspension has taken effect from 7.30 a.m. today. The cancellation of the admission to trading of the i3 Energy Shares on AIM has been applied for and is expected to take place by 8.00 a.m. on 1 November 2024. The delisting of the i3 Energy Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange has been applied for and is expected to take place at the close of markets on 1 November 2024.

    Gran Tierra admission of shares to listing

    An application has been made for the admission of 5,808,925 new shares (the “Consideration Shares“) of common stock of par value USD0.001 per share in Gran Tierra. Gran Tierra has applied for the Consideration Shares to be admitted to the Equity Shares (International Commercial Companies Secondary Listing) Category of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange PLC (together, “Admission“).

    Gran Tierra expects Admission of the Consideration Shares to occur at 8.00 a.m. on 1 November 2024. The Consideration Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with Gran Tierra’s existing shares of common stock of par value USD0.001 per share.

    Total Voting Rights

    Following Admission, Gran Tierra will have total issued share capital of 36,460,141 common shares, and holds no common shares in treasury. Gran Tierra Shareholders may use the figure of 36,460,141 as the denominator in calculations to determine if they are required to notify Gran Tierra of their interest in, or a change to their interest in Gran Tierra under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

    Cancellation of the Trafigura Loan Facility

    Gran Tierra also announces that the Loan Facility entered into on 19 August 2024 with Trafigura has today been cancelled. As announced on 18 September 2024, Gran Tierra completed an offering of an additional US$ 150 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029, the net proceeds of which are being applied to satisfy the cash consideration payable to i3 Energy Shareholders in place of the term loan facility available to Gran Tierra pursuant to the terms of the Loan Facility.

    Board and constitutional changes

    Each of the i3 Energy Directors has resigned as a director of i3 Energy with effect from the Scheme becoming Effective.

    Pedro Zutara, Adam Hewitson and Amy Lister have been appointed as directors of i3 Energy with effect from the Scheme becoming Effective.

    i3 Energy will in due course submit an application to cease to be a reporting issuer in each of the provinces of Canada under National Policy 11-206 – Process for Cease to be a Reporting Issuer Applications. i3 Energy is expected to be converted to a private limited company and its name changed to Gran Tierra UK Limited. As disclosed in the Scheme Document, i3 Energy Shares are expected to be transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gran Tierra following completion of the re-registration.

    Full details of the Acquisition are set out in the Scheme Document. Defined terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings set out in the Scheme Document. All references to times in this announcement are to London time.

    Enquiries:

    Gran Tierra
    Gary Guidry
    Ryan Ellson        
    Tel: +1 (403) 265 3221
       
    i3 Energy
    Majid Shafiq (CEO)
    c/o Camarco
    Tel: +44 (0) 203 757 4980 
       
    Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Financial Adviser to Gran Tierra)
    Callum Stewart
    Simon Mensley
    Tel: +44 (0) 20 7710 7600
       
    Eight Capital (Joint Financial Adviser to Gran Tierra)
    Tony P. Loria
    Matthew Halasz
    Tel: +1 (587) 893 6835
       
    Zeus Capital Limited (Rule 3 Financial Adviser, Nomad and Joint Broker to i3 Energy)
    James Joyce, Darshan Patel, Isaac Hooper 
     
    Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000 
       
    Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities – Canada, ULC (Financial Adviser to i3 Energy)
    Brendan Lines 
    Tel: +1 (403) 705 7830
       
    National Bank Financial Inc. (Financial Adviser to i3 Energy)
    Tarek Brahim Arun Chandrasekaran 
     
    Tel: +1 (403) 410 7749
       
    Camarco
    Georgia Edmonds, Violet Wilson, Sam Morris
    Tel: +44 (0) 203 757 4980
       

    No increase statement

    The financial terms of the Acquisition will not be increased save that Gran Tierra reserves the right to revise the financial terms of the Acquisition in the event: (i) a third party, other than Gran Tierra, announces a firm intention to make an offer for i3 Energy on more favourable terms than Gran Tierra’s Acquisition; or (ii) the Panel otherwise provides its consent.

    Notices relating to financial advisers

    Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (“Stifel“), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, is acting as financial adviser exclusively for Gran Tierra and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Gran Tierra for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Stifel, nor any of its affiliates, owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Stifel in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

    Eight Capital (“Eight Capital“), which is authorised and regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization in Canada, is acting exclusively for Gran Tierra and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Gran Tierra for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.

    Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus“), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for i3 Energy as financial adviser, nominated adviser and joint broker and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than i3 Energy for providing the protections afforded to clients of Zeus, or for providing advice in relation to matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Zeus nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Zeus in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

    Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities – Canada, ULC (“TPH&Co.”), which is regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, is acting exclusively for i3 Energy by way of its engagement with i3 Energy Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of i3 Energy, in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and for no one else, and will not be responsible to anyone other than i3 Energy for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement. Neither TPH&Co. nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of TPH&Co. in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

    National Bank Financial Inc. (“NBF”), which is regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, is acting as financial adviser to i3 Energy Canada Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of i3 Energy plc, in connection with the subject matter of this announcement. Neither NBF, nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of NBF in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

    Additional Information

    This announcement is for information purposes only. It is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, offer to acquire, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, or an offer to acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement or otherwise nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Gran Tierra or i3 Energy pursuant to the Acquisition in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable laws.

    This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. Any securities issued as part of the Acquisition are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemption from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act. Any New Gran Tierra Shares to be issued in connection with the Acquisition are expected to be issued in reliance upon the prospectus exemption provided by Section 2.11 or Section 2.16, as applicable, of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators and in compliance with the provincial securities laws of Canada.

    This announcement has been prepared in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, the Code, the AIM Rules for Companies and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England and Wales. 

    This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or circular or prospectus exempted document.

    Overseas Shareholders

    The availability of the Acquisition to i3 Energy Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Any person outside the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws and/regulations of another jurisdiction should inform themselves of, and should observe, any applicable legal and/or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

    Unless otherwise determined by Gran Tierra or required by the Code and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or form (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) within any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this document and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must observe these restrictions and must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any purported vote in respect of the Acquisition.

    Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure Requirements

    Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in one per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.

    An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

    Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in one per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant dealing. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

    Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4). Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

    Publication on website and availability of hard copies

    In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement is and will be available free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, for inspection on i3 Energy ‘s website  https://i3.energy/grantierra-offer-terms/ and on Gran Tierra’s website https://www.grantierra.com/investor-relations/recommended-acquisition/ by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of the website referred to in this announcement are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This announcement (including information incorporated by reference into this announcement), oral statements regarding the Acquisition and other information published by Gran Tierra and i3 Energy contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, strategies, objectives, results of operations and businesses of Gran Tierra and i3 Energy and their respective groups and certain plans and objectives with respect to the Combined Group. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Gran Tierra and i3 Energy about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward looking statements contained in this announcement include, without limitation, statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on Gran Tierra and i3 Energy, the expected timing and method of completion, and scope of the Acquisition, the expected actions of i3 Energy and Gran Tierra upon completion of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. Forward looking statements often use words such as “anticipate”, “target”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “strategy”, “focus”, “envision”, “goal”, “believe”, “hope”, “aims”, “continue”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by Gran Tierra, and/or i3 Energy in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, future developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and the factors described in the context of such forward looking statements in this announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward looking statements. Although it is believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking statements.

    There are several factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are changes in the global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future business acquisitions or dispositions.

    Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date of this announcement. Neither Gran Tierra nor i3 Energy, nor their respective groups assume any obligation to update or correct the information contained in this announcement (whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as required by applicable law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority.

    Early Warning Reporting Provisions of Canadian Securities Laws

    Certain of the information in this announcement is being issued under the early warning reporting provisions of Canadian securities laws. An early warning report with additional information in respect of the foregoing matters will be filed and made available under the SEDAR profile of i3 Energy at www.sedarplus.ca. The purpose of the Scheme was to enable Gran Tierra to acquire 100% of the share capital of i3 Energy. Immediately prior to the completion of the Scheme, Gran Tierra did not own, directly or indirectly, any securities of i3 Energy. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, you may also contact Phillip Abraham, Vice President, Legal & Business Development at 403-698-7918. Gran Tierra is an oil and gas company subsisting under the laws of Delaware, United States and its head office is located at 500 Centre Street SE, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1A6 and i3 Energy’s head office is located at 500, 207 – 9 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3.

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consumer NZ urges government to get domestic aviation market study off the ground

    Source: Consumer NZ

    Consumer NZ has written to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, urging him to direct the Commerce Commission to undertake a market study into New Zealand’s aviation sector.

    Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ CEO, says in sectors where any single company holds a significantly high market share, such as Air New Zealand, which holds an 86% share, there is a risk competition isn’t working as it should to keep prices reasonable.

    In particular, the advocacy organisation is concerned by the findings of its own research into Air New Zealand’s use of dynamic pricing.

    Duffy says a market study would determine to what extent Air New Zealand may be taking advantage of its virtual monopoly.

    “For many New Zealanders, there’s Air New Zealand or nothing – and high fares are affecting our regions.

    “Our research has identified numerous red flags affecting competition in the sector that must be put under the microscope to assure consumers the cost of flying in New Zealand is truly fair.”

    In addition to the limited choice New Zealanders have when it comes to air travel, Consumer is concerned high barriers to entry reduce the likelihood that other carriers will enter the market to compete with Air New Zealand.

    Duffy also points out the government is a 51% shareholder in Air New Zealand but believes that there is no one holding the national carrier to account.

    “We understand Air New Zealand is facing its own set of challenges, like constrained fleet availability and increasing costs in some areas.

    “Our concern remains – New Zealand has the most concentrated domestic aviation market in the world¹, so when Air New Zealand says its pricing is fair, we are forced to take their word for it. A market study would tell us whether we can rely on what we’re being told.

    “A Commerce Commission market study won’t solve anti-competitive behaviour, but getting information about how competition is working in the sector will highlight what interventions may be necessary and provide confidence New Zealanders aren’t being ripped off.”

    Notes

    ¹ Sabre Market Intelligence for the 2023 calendar year for domestic markets with more than 5 million seats operated by airlines. New Zealand has the most concentrated domestic aviation market in the world with one airline holding 86% of seats in the market.

    About Consumer

    Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Recommendations on merger control

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: Recommendations on merger control

    Competitive markets

    Download the recommendations

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    To enhance compliance and proper enforcement of merger control regulations, ICC proposes recommendations and underscores the importance of companies, lawyers and antitrust agencies working side by side to pursue shared goals.

    Share this:

    Why are ICC’s recommendations on merger control relevant? 

    Over the past 40 years, a growing number of countries have adopted merger rules to examine the impact of mergers on competition and ensure the functioning of their markets. This unprecedented development has been spurred by recommendations from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Competition Network.  

    As more jurisdictions establish merger control regimes, inconsistencies and procedural issues have emerged. Emphasising the importance of clear guidelines, ICC addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive framework and recommendations for improving merger control practices.  

    The recommendations cover key areas such as the concept of reportable mergers, notification thresholds, simplified forms, funding of antitrust agencies, guidelines and gun jumping fines. 

    They aim to  

    • enhance predictability, 
    • reduce costs, 
    • ensure effective enforcement,  
    • promote consistency at a global level and 
    • reduce administrative burdens.  

    What makes ICC’s recommendations on merger control unique? 

    The recommendations are the result of a cooperative and inclusive effort involving nearly 200 ICC in-house counsel, private practitioners from 20 key jurisdictions and several antitrust agencies providing feedback.  

    The broad representation included in the country annex ensures that the recommendations reflect a global perspective and consider the needs and challenges faced by companies operating across borders. 

    ICC underscores the importance of continued collaboration among companies, lawyers and antitrust agencies to pursue the following shared goals:  

    • ensure that transactions are reported in jurisdictions where they might have an impact on competition;  
    • secure and dedicate resources that are proportionate to the issues at stake in an individual case;  
    • enhance predictability and legal certainty with clear legal tests and consistent sanctions. 

    Who are the recommendations on merger control for?  

    • companies, private practitioners, and antitrust agencies involved in merger transactions;  
    • companies engaged in cross-border transactions involving multiple merger control jurisdictions; 
    • antitrust agencies seeking insights and proposals for streamlining processes and achieving more effective enforcement 

    Should you have any further questions, contact us. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: New Zealand business demography statistics: At February 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    New Zealand business demography statistics: At February 2024 – information release – 31 October 2024 – Business demography statistics provide an annual snapshot of the characteristics of New Zealand businesses. The statistics cover economically significant enterprises that produce goods and services in New Zealand.

    Key facts
    Provisional data showed that at February 2024:

    • New Zealand had 612,420 enterprises, an increase of 1.0 percent from February 2023; this followed a 2.0 percent increase in the previous February year
    • the number of paid employees in these enterprises (not an official employment statistic) was 2.5 million, up 1.5 percent from February 2023
    • these enterprises had 649,160 business locations, an increase of 0.9 percent from February 2023
    • of the 19 industries, 11 had more enterprises compared with February 2023, and 14 had more employees
    • of the 16 regions, 14 had more business locations than a year ago, and 11 had more employees.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

    • New Zealand business demography statistics: At February 2024
    • CSV files for download

     

    MIL OSI –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stats NZ information release: New Zealand business demography statistics: At February 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    New Zealand business demography statistics: At February 2024 – information release – 31 October 2024 – Business demography statistics provide an annual snapshot of the characteristics of New Zealand businesses. The statistics cover economically significant enterprises that produce goods and services in New Zealand.

    Key facts
    Provisional data showed that at February 2024:

    • New Zealand had 612,420 enterprises, an increase of 1.0 percent from February 2023; this followed a 2.0 percent increase in the previous February year
    • the number of paid employees in these enterprises (not an official employment statistic) was 2.5 million, up 1.5 percent from February 2023
    • these enterprises had 649,160 business locations, an increase of 0.9 percent from February 2023
    • of the 19 industries, 11 had more enterprises compared with February 2023, and 14 had more employees
    • of the 16 regions, 14 had more business locations than a year ago, and 11 had more employees.

    Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense Contractor, Former Executive Indicted for Bribing Government Employee

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Cask Technologies, LLC and former company executive Mark Larsen with bribing a government employee to win lucrative government contracts.

    According to court records, Larsen and his subordinates at Cask gave former Naval Information Warfare Center employee James Soriano various things of value, including expensive meals, golf outings, and full-time jobs for Soriano’s close family friend and immediate family member. At the time of the conspiracy, Larsen was the director, and later the managing director, vice president, and executive vice president of Cask with offices in San Diego and Stafford, Virginia.

    In return, Soriano took official action to benefit Cask, such as steering non-competitive small business contracts to Cask and its “family” of companies; allowing Larsen and other Cask employees to draft procurement documents for various contracting efforts, including competitive procurements; and allowing Larsen and others to “ghost write” emails, official government correspondence, and performance evaluations for Soriano’s signature, all to benefit Cask and others in its “family” of companies.

    Soriano also agreed in an email exchange to “create & award” a $50 million supposedly competitive contract for services to Cask. Soriano then allowed Cask to draft the contract requirements and the price the government was expected to pay, and took other actions to ensure that Cask was awarded the “competitive” contract.

    To conceal their activities, Larsen, Cask and Soriano failed to disclose organizational conflicts of interest in relation to their contracting efforts and that Cask was affiliated to other companies in its “family” of companies, including two Native Hawaiian 8(a) companies that were subcontracting millions of dollars of work on 8(a) contracts to Cask.

    Soriano has already pleaded guilty to multiple bribery schemes, including facts related to his relationship with Larsen and Cask. He is scheduled to be sentenced in May 2025.

    “Defense contracts support our military, and as such play an important role in keeping us all safe,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “Allowing bribery and corruption to dictate who obtains those important contracts undermines the system and dishonors our defense operations.”

    “This newest indictment is another constructive step toward accountability in this ongoing multi-year investigation,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “Mr. Larsen and Cask Technologies are accused of feeding their own greed by knowingly corrupting the government’s acquisition process and some government officials at the expense of our nation’s warfighters and taxpayers.”

    “The allegations in this case highlight the serious repercussions of undermining the integrity of the Department of the Navy’s procurement process. By prioritizing personal gain over fair competition, such actions can compromise the readiness and, potentially, the safety of our warfighters,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “We, alongside our investigative partners, are committed to exposing unlawful activity and restoring public trust in the systems designed to protect our nation’s security.”

    “This case demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to root out fraud and corruption in government contracting,” said Weston King, SBA OIG Western Region Special Agent in Charge. “These defendants are accused of working together to exploit the 8(a) program, actions that would defraud the government but also compromise the integrity of the program designed to uplift deserving entrepreneurs. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners for their continued pursuit of justice and holding accountable those who engage in fraudulent schemes.”

    “This indictment demonstrates IRS CI’s commitment to leaving no stone unturned when we investigate DOD contract fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Those who undermine the DOD contracting process put our warfighters at risk, and we will not rest on a case until we find all complicit parties and the evidence necessary to bring them to court.”

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Swan and Katherine McGrath.

    DEFENDANTS                                 Case Number 24cr2111-TWR                       

    Mark Larsen                                        Age: 46                                   San Diego, CA

    Cask Technologies, LLC                                                                   Stafford, VA

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Conspiracy to Commit Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371

    Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine

    Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201

    Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; $250,000 fine for an individual or $500,000 for an organization, or three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater.

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    Defense Criminal Investigative Service

    Naval Criminal Investigative Service

    Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General

    Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation

    Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General

    *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.

                                                                                   

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Julie Oates ACA

    Source: Isle of Man

    Published on: 31 October 2024

    Notice is hereby given that Julie Oates ACA, which was registered under the Designated Businesses (Registration & Oversight) Act 2015, has been de-registered in accordance with 12(1)(a) of this Act with effect from 31/10/2024.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: This summer, Samsung Announces Blockbuster Black Friday Deals for Shoppers

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated 2024 Black Friday campaign, bringing shoppers a season filled with Blockbuster Deals on premium products. This year, the tech giant is rolling out the red carpet for South Africans, and redefining the Black Friday narrative as an opportunity for every shopper to become the leading character in their own shopping story.
     
    It is going to be “ifilim”, as South Africans would say, as everyone gears up for this iconic annual shopping bonanza. Samsung will play its role and stick to the script by bringing its A-game with premium products at low prices, ensuring that every deal is a plot twist that leaves shoppers cheering for more. With incredible markdowns on a wide range of products, shoppers can access these deals from 1 November – 2 December, both online and at participating retailers nationwide. Read on to get a preview of what’s coming up.
     
    Unmissable Electronics and Home Appliance Deals
    Be prepared to get more this summer as Samsung has an impressive line-up of blockbuster deals for electronics and home appliances too. Elevate your kitchen with the RS64 Side by Side fridge, Non-plumbed Water & Ice dispenser, Gentle Black, 617L, now just R24,999*, offering a remarkable R6,000 saving, or the RB30 Bottom Freezer with Water Dispenser and Cool Pack, Metal Graphite, 303L, which is available for R9,999*, saving you R3,500.
     

     
    You can do your laundry like the main character with the WW11CGP44DSB AI 11kg Front Loader with Eco bubble washing machine, which is a steal at R12,999*, saving you R500 plus you score Buy & Get rewards worth R4,000, or you could opt for the WD70TA046BX 7/5kg Front Load Washer / Dryer Combo with Eco Bubble Technology, yours for only R10,999*, saving you R1,000.
     
    Work, watch and play with the 32″ Smart Monitor M7, available for R7,999*, saving you R3,000. For film aficionados who enjoy feeling like part of the action, the 98” Q80C 4K TV is available for R99,999* plus get R32 000 worth of gifts and enjoy hassle free signature service. While the 85” Crystal UHD DU8000 4K TV can find a new home in your lounge for only R22,999*, saving you a joy-inducing R10,000. To complement the viewing experience with great audio, you could get the Q600C Q-Series soundbar at R5,499*, giving you a saving of R2,500.
     
    “Get more this summer with Samsung, our range of electronics and home appliances are designed to elevate your lifestyle and transform your home into a connected smart home. Through our SmartThings ecosystem, we empower families to not just get more from their devices, but to truly live more. Imagine seamlessly controlling your home environment—from optimising AI energy savings, to automating daily tasks—making life easier and more enjoyable. Our products work together to enhance your everyday experiences, creating a network of products that adapt to your needs. We believe in helping you create your dream home while providing exceptional value for your spend. Embrace the summer season with technology that simplifies your life and enriches your moments, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—making memories with loved ones,” said Mike van Lier, Vice President: Consumer Experience at Samsung Electronics.
     
    For more Blockbuster Deals, visit www.samsung.com/za and https://samsungair.co.za/shop/[1]
     
    [1]Recommended retail price
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: Islands Business publisher Samantha Magick – storyteller, risk-taker and community champion

    By Teagan Laszlo, Queensland University of Technology

    For Samantha Magick, journalism isn’t just a job. It is a lifelong commitment to storytelling, advocacy, and empowering voices often overlooked in the Pacific.

    As the managing editor and publisher at Islands Business, the Pacific Islands’ longest surviving news and business monthly magazine, Magick’s commitment to quality reporting and journalistic integrity has established her as a leading figure in the region’s news industry.

    Magick’s passion for journalism began at a young age.

    “I wanted to be a journalist when I was like 12,” Magick recalls. “When I left school, that’s all I wanted to study.”

    She remembers her family’s disapproval when she would write stories as a child, as they thought she was “sharing secrets”. Despite that early condemnation, Magick’s thriving journalism career has taken her across continents and exposed her to diverse media landscapes.

    After completing a Bachelor of Communications with a major in journalism at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, Australia, Magick began her career at Communications Fiji Limited (CFL), a prominent Fijian commercial network.

    She progressed over 11 years from a cadet to CFL’s news director.

    Guidance of first boss
    Magick attributes some of her early success to the guidance of her first boss and CFL’s founder, William Parkinson. She considers herself fortunate to have had a supportive mentor who led by example and dared to take risks early in life, such as founding a radio station in his 20s.

    After leaving CFL, Magick’s career took her across the globe, including regional Pacific non-government organisations, news publications in Hawai’i and Indonesia, and even international legal organisations in Italy.

    Magick, who is of both Fijian and Australian heritage, returned to Suva in 2018, where she began her current role as Islands Business’s managing editor.

    “I’ve chosen to make my life in Fiji because I feel more myself here,” Magick says, reflecting on her deep connection to the island nation.

    Magick’s vision for Islands Business focuses on delving into the deeper, underlying narratives often overshadowed by breaking news cycles and free, readily available news content.

    “We need to be able to demonstrate the value of investigation, big picture reporting rather than the day-to-day stuff,” Magick says.

    Magick prides herself on creating a diverse and inclusive newsroom that reflects the communities it serves.

    Need for diverse newsroom
    “You have to have a diverse newsroom,” she emphasises, recognising the importance of amplifying marginalised voices. “For example, there is a conscious effort to make sure our magazine is not full of photos of men shaking hands with other men.”

    Magick also believes journalists have a responsibility to advocate for change, as demonstrated by Islands Business’s dedication to tackling pressing issues from climate change to media freedom.

    “Why would I give a climate change denier space?” Magick questions when discussing the need to balance objectivity and advocacy. “Because it’s kind of going to sell magazines? Because it’s going to create a bit of a stir online? That’s not something we believe in.”

    Despite her success, Magick’s career has not been without challenges. Magick worked through Fiji’s former draconian media restriction laws under the Media Industry Development Act 2010, while also navigating the shift to digital media.

    Islands Business managing editor Samantha Magick (right) with Fiji Times reporter Rakesh Kumar and chief editor Fred Wesley (centre) celebrating the repeal of the draconian Fiji media law last year . . . ““Why would I give a climate change denier space?” Image: Lydia Lewis/RNZ Pacific

    Magick emphasises the need to constantly upskill and re-evaluate strategies to ensure she and Islands Business can effectively navigate the constantly evolving media landscape.

    From learning to capitalise on social media analytics to locating reputable information sources when many of them feared to speak to the journalists due to the risk of legal retribution, Magick believes flexibility and perseverance are crucial to staying ahead in media.

    In her early career, Magick also faced sexism and misogyny in the media industry. “When I think back about the way I was treated as a young journalist, I feel sick,” Magick says as she reflects on how she and her female colleagues would warn each other against interviewing certain sources alone.

    Supporting aspiring journalists
    The challenges Magick has faced undoubtably contribute to her dedication to supporting aspiring journalists, as evident through Kite Pareti’s journey. Starting as a freelance writer with no newswriting experience in March 2022, Pareti has since progressed to one of two full-time reporters at Islands Business.

    Pareti expresses gratitude for the opportunities she’s had while working at Islands Business, and for the mentorship of Magick, whom she describes as “family”.

    “Samantha took a chance on me when I had zero knowledge on news writing,” Pareti says. “So I’m grateful to God for her life and for allowing me to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

    Magick reciprocates this sentiment. “Recently, I am inspired by some of our younger reporters in the field, and their ability to embrace and leverage technology — they’re teaching me.”

    Magick anticipates an exciting period ahead for Islands Business, as she aims to attract a younger, professionally driven, and regionally focused audience to their platforms.

    When asked about her aspirations for journalism in the region, Magick says she hopes to see a future where Pacific voices remain at the centre, “telling their own stories in all their diversities”.

    Teagan Laszlo was a student journalist from the Queensland University of Technology who travelled to Fiji with the support of the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan Mobility Programme. This article is published in a partnership of QUT with Asia Pacific Report, Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN) and The University of the South Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK approves use of export finance to secure critical minerals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 4

    UK Export Finance can now provide financial support for overseas projects that source critical minerals for use in major UK industries.

    Lithium, an example of a critical mineral

    • Chancellor announces availability of export credit financing to help British industries access a stable, long-term supply of critical minerals. 

    • There is high global demand for critical minerals which are increasingly vital to long-term industrial growth, emerging technology and the net zero transition. 

    The Chancellor has announced that UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency, will offer financial support for overseas projects that supply critical minerals fuelling UK industrial growth and the net zero transition.  

    By securing contracts which increase and diversify UK access to critical minerals, this will help the UK to build economic resilience and lower the risk of supply-chain disruption in major industries like automotive, defence and aerospace. 

    ‘Critical minerals’ are raw materials like lithium, graphite and cobalt which are essential to the UK’s largest exporting sectors. They are used in range of emerging and sustainable technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines. 

    Financing will be offered in the form of credit guarantees to overseas companies, helping them access debt financing for projects which supply UK exporters with critical mineral products – including both raw and processed materials.  

    It is expected that UKEF will work with other ECAs and public financial institutions to finance eligible projects and support investment into new supply routes.   

    This would make it easier for UK manufacturers to secure contracts with critical mineral suppliers in countries with vast mineral deposits, including Australia, which holds large deposits of lithium.  

    Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said: 

    There is intense global competition for critical minerals like lithium, tin and cobalt which are essential for industrial growth, British industries and our journey towards net zero. 

    As the energy transition pushes demand to new highs, this financing offer will help UK companies to get a seat at the table, build international partnerships and secure their critical mineral needs.  

    Helping exporters to access these vital resources will support UK industrial growth and our leadership in emerging technology.

    Kirsty Benham, Chief Executive Officer, Critical Minerals Association (UK), said:  

    We welcome the new export finance offering for critical minerals, which supports UK manufacturers and supply chain security. The offer demonstrates the importance of critical minerals to UK Government, and showcases the UK’s strengths as a serious buyer of these strategically important materials.  

    We look forward to working closely with UKEF and supporting the development of this offer into secure, resilient, responsible critical mineral supply chains for the UK and MSP partners.

    Sean Sargent, Chief Executive Officer, Green Lithium, added: 

    Green Lithium’s refinery in Teesside will be a future importer of critical raw materials and, following processing, a UK exporter of battery chemicals. This new export finance offering from UKEF is precisely the sort of initiative that will help UK businesses strengthen relationships with international partners and contribute to the development of stronger international supply chains, while also supporting critical minerals industrial development in the UK.  

    It is a welcome development from the UK Government, and a facility that will be of interest to several of our international supply chain partners.

    The UK government is a founding member of the US-initiated Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), which aims to help member economies secure a stable access to critical minerals. 

    Today’s announcement follows the recent launch of an MSP finance network, in which UKEF is working with other export credit agencies and financial bodies to help de-risk and increase financing for critical minerals projects.  

    UKEF has also used its existing products to support UK capability in critical minerals production. It recently announced a guarantee supporting machinery exports to one of Central Asia’s largest copper-production facilities.

    Contact

    Media enquiries:

    Email newsdesk@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

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    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New light trail to illuminate Derby this Christmas

    Source: City of Derby

    A magical light trail will illuminate the streets of Derby city centre for the festive season. Derby City Council and the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have teamed up to create the new attraction.

    The Festive Derby Light Trail will see several stunning light installations lead from The Spot all the way to Cathedral Square, taking in the Market Place, where the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink and Nordic Bar will be situated.

    Starting with the beautifully wrapped rings at The Spot, with festive foliage and twinkling lights, the trail will wind its way through the heart of the city. Grab a bite to eat and let the kids enjoy the festive rides before heading down to St Peter’s Cross to see the jolly Rudolph arch, complete with his red nose, and then onto a tunnel of light which will run through Cornmarket.

    As you enter the Market Place, the colourfully lit Christmas presents will sit with the Christmas tree as a backdrop and you’ll also find the highlight of the trail – the UK’s largest light-up Santa installation, powered by Tomato Energy. It’ll be the perfect spot for a festive family shot!

    A curtain of light will illuminate Irongate up to Cathedral Square, where a giant gold star will sit below the Cathedral.

    After all that walking why not enjoy a festive drink in the cosy tipis of our Nordic Bar and then, when you have had time to rest, take a whizz around the ice rink with family and friends. Afterwards you can enjoy food from a variety of food stalls on the Market Place, including loaded fries, grilled sausages, donuts and crepes.

    You will be able to find a map of the trail at festivederby.co.uk soon, or download the LoyalFree app to follow the trail – and check in at each location to enter our free prize draw. You can also pick up an activity sheet from the ice rink or Nordic bar for little ones to fill in along the way. You could win a Nintendo Switch, with other prizes including tickets for next year’s Darley Park Weekender, or tickets to enjoy the ice rink or panto in 2025!

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said:

    We’re already getting excited about this Christmas in Derby. The new light trail promises to be a magical addition to our packed festive programme. It’ll light the way through the city centre to the Cathedral, providing plenty of fantastic photo opportunities along the way!

    Brad Worley, Manager for Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter Derby BIDs, added:

    The BIDs are thrilled to bring this amazing light installation trail to the city.

    There are some truly impressive installations and we hope people will take some memorable photos and share with friends and family, as well as entering the fantastic prize draw. We want people to explore the city and experience what our wonderful businesses have to offer this festive period.

    Dominika Walker, Regional Community Engagement Lead for Tomato Energy, said:

    At Tomato Energy, we’re lighting up the holiday season in more ways than one! We’re absolutely delighted to support this year’s Festive Derby and proud to sponsor the UK’s largest illuminated Santa.

    We hope it will not only bring joy to the community but also spark conversations about efficient energy use during the festive season. It’s our way of spreading holiday cheer while showcasing how cutting-edge technology and sustainability can go hand in hand.

    The Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink and Nordic Bar will open on Saturday 30 November, as Festive Derby is officially launched with our Christmas Lights Switch-On event, with our media partner Smooth Radio.

    Tickets for the ice rink are on sale now and, of course, the festive season wouldn’t be complete without Derby’s annual panto spectacular at Derby Arena. Morgan Brind and the multi award-winning Little Wolf Entertainment are back with Cinderella from Fri 6 – Tue 31 Dec.

    Derby has a great selection of festive events this year and more information can be found at festivederby.co.uk or pick up a guide from November.

    Tickets can be purchased on the Derby LIVE website, at the Sales and Information Centre Sales & Information Centre, Guildhall Theatre, Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AE or call 01332 255800.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
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