Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. Announces Proposed Offering of Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”) today announced that it has commenced a $75,000,000 common stock offering (the “Offering”). The Offering is being made pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act). The Company expects to grant the underwriters of the Offering, a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $11,250,000 of common stock, at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts. The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when either the Offering may be completed, if at all, or as to the actual size or terms of the Offering.

    Eos expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering, together with the net proceeds from the offering of the notes referred to below, if it is consummated, (i) to repurchase its outstanding 5%/6% Convertible Senior PIK Toggle Note due 2026 in privately negotiated transactions; (ii) to prepay a portion of the amount due under its credit agreement, dated June 21, 2024, by and between Eos and CCM Denali Debt Holdings, LP (the “Credit Agreement”); and (iii) for general corporate purposes. Upon a prepayment of $50 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement, the PIK interest rate under the Credit Agreement will decrease from 15% to 7% and the financial covenants thereunder will be waived until 2027. CCM Denali Equity Holdings, LP has agreed that upon the consummation of the offering it will not transfer any securities issued to it under the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 21, 2024, between the Company and CCM Denali Equity Holdings, LP prior to June 21, 2026.

    In a separate press release, Eos also announced today its intention to offer, in a separate, private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers, subject to market and other conditions, $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”), plus up to an additional $26,250,000 aggregate principal amount of notes that the initial purchasers of the note offering have the option to purchase from Eos. The completion of the offering of common stock is not contingent on the completion of the offering of the notes, and the completion of the offering of notes is not contingent on the completion of the offering of common stock. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any notes or shares of common stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the notes.

    Jefferies and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the Offering.

    The Company is conducting the Offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, including a base prospectus, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Offering is being made only by means of a separate prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained by contacting Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (877) 821-7388 or by email at prospectus_department@jefferies.com; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com and postsalemanualrequests@broadridge.com. Before you invest in the Offering, you should read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the Offering and accompanying prospectus, the registration statement and the other documents that the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as incorporated by reference therein, for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. Investors may obtain these documents for free by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the anticipated terms of the notes being offered, the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering and the intended use of the proceeds. Forward-looking statements represent Eos’s current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the trading price and volatility of Eos’s common stock and risks relating to Eos’s business, including those described in periodic reports that Eos files from time to time with the SEC. Eos may not consummate the proposed offering described in this press release and, if the proposed offering are consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the offering or the notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and Eos does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. Announces Proposed Convertible Senior Notes Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”) today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”) in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Eos also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the notes are first issued, up to an additional $26,250,000 aggregate principal amount of notes.

    The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Eos, will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears and will mature on June 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Noteholders will have the right to convert their notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. Eos will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at Eos’s election.

    The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), for cash at Eos’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after June 20, 2028 and on or before the 41st scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Eos’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time and certain other conditions are satisfied. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

    If certain corporate events that constitute a “fundamental change” occur, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require Eos to repurchase their notes for cash. The repurchase price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date.

    The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes will be determined at the pricing of the offering.

    Eos expects to use the net proceeds from the offering of notes, together with the net proceeds from the underwritten public offering of common stock referred to below, if it is consummated, (i) to repurchase its outstanding 5%/6% Convertible Senior PIK Toggle Note due 2026 in privately negotiated transactions; (ii) to prepay a portion of the amount due under its credit agreement, dated June 21, 2024, by and between Eos and CCM Denali Debt Holdings, LP (the “Credit Agreement”); and (iii) for general corporate purposes. Upon a prepayment of $50 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement, the PIK interest rate under the Credit Agreement will decrease from 15% to 7% and the financial covenants thereunder will be waived until 2027. CCM Denali Equity Holdings, LP has agreed that upon the consummation of the offering it will not transfer any securities issued to it under the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 21, 2024, between the Company and CCM Denali Equity Holdings, LP prior to June 21, 2026.

    In a separate press release, Eos also announced today its intention to offer, in a separate, underwritten public offering, subject to market and other conditions, $75,000,000 of its common stock, plus up to an additional $11,250,000 of its common stock that the underwriters of the common stock offering have the option to purchase from Eos. The completion of the offering of the notes is not contingent on the completion of the offering of common stock, and the completion of the offering of common stock is not contingent on the completion of the offering of the notes. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any common stock in the public offering.

    The offer and sale of the notes and any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws, and the notes and any such shares cannot be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the notes or any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes or any such shares, in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the anticipated terms of the notes being offered, the completion, timing and size of the proposed offerings and the intended use of the proceeds. Forward-looking statements represent Eos’s current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the trading price and volatility of Eos’s common stock, the satisfaction of the closing conditions related to the offerings and risks relating to Eos’s business, including those described in periodic reports that Eos files from time to time with the SEC. Eos may not consummate the proposed offerings described in this press release and, if the proposed offerings are consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the offering or the notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and Eos does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Xtract One Announces Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xtract One Technologies Inc. (TSX: XTRA) (OTCQX: XTRAF) (FRA: 0PL) (“Xtract One” or the “Company”), a leading technology-driven threat detection and security solution that prioritizes the patron access experience by leveraging AI, today announced that it will release fiscal 2025 third quarter results after the close of trading on June 5, 2025. Peter Evans, Xtract One CEO and Director, and Karen Hersh, CFO and Corporate Secretary, will host a webcast and conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time the following day, June 6, 2025, to review the three months ended April 30, 2025.

    The webcast and presentation will be accessible on the Company’s website, via this link, and the telephone number for the conference call is 844-481-3016 (412-317-1881 for international callers). Management will provide an overview of the interim financial results along with management’s outlook for the business, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    About Xtract One Technologies
    Xtract One Technologies is a leading technology-driven threat detection and security solution leveraging AI to provide seamless and secure patron access control experiences. The Company makes unobtrusive weapons and threat detection systems that are designed to assist facility operators in prioritizing- and delivering improved “Walk-right-In” experiences while enhancing safety. Xtract One’s innovative portfolio of AI-powered Gateway solutions excels at allowing facilities to discreetly screen and identify weapons and other threats at points of entry and exit without disrupting the flow of traffic. With solutions built to serve the unique market needs for schools, hospitals, arenas, stadiums, manufacturing, distribution, and other customers, Xtract One is recognized as a market leader delivering the highest security in combination with the best individual experience. For more information, visit www.xtractone.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

    About Threat Detection and Security Solutions
    Xtract One solutions, when properly configured, deployed, and utilized, are designed to help enhance safety and reduce threats. Given the wide range of potential threats in today’s world, no threat detection system is 100% effective. Xtract One solutions should be utilized as one element in a multilayered approach to physical security.

    For further information, please contact:
    Xtract One Inquiries: info@xtractone.com, http://www.xtractone.com
    Media Contact: Kristen Aikey, JMG Public Relations, 212-206-1645, kristen@jmgpr.com
    Investor Relations: Chris Witty, Darrow Associates, 646-438-9385, cwitty@darrowir.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix to Showcase AI-Driven LM4 Out-of-Band Management Console Servers at Cisco Live San Diego

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader of compute and connectivity for IoT solutions enabling Edge AI Intelligence, today announced that it will do live demos and daily giveaways of its LM4 AI-driven Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) platform at booth 3219 at Cisco Live held June 9–12, 2025, in San Diego.

    Lantronix, a Cisco Devnet Partner, has the most complete portfolio of out-of-band management console servers designed to reduce unscheduled network downtime for both traditional out-of-band access and automated management and recovery.

    Delivering “Out-of-Band Everywhere,” Lantronix’s LM4 is the industry’s first console server specifically designed, sized and priced for Intermediate Distribution Frames (IDFs) and compact environments such as ATMs, kiosks and network aggregation points. Engineered for healthcare, finance, utilities, telecommunications, government, retail and manufacturing, Lantronix’s LM4 delivers advanced automation, enterprise-grade compliance and cybersecurity capabilities, leveraging technology proven in military and financial networks.

    Serial console servers represented a nearly $400 million worldwide market, according to the Dell’Oro Group. AI data centers, co-location and GPU-as-a-Service represent the fastest-growing deployments for Lantronix, which reflects Dell’Oro’s forecast of data center capex to surpass $1 trillion by 2029.

    “At Cisco Live, we’re excited to showcase our innovative out-of-band solutions that empower our customers to utilize data-driven decision-making to make their networks more secure and reliable while automating routine tasks, enabling network admins to focus on other responsibilities,” said Todd Rychecky, general manager of Out-of-Band at Lantronix. “At Lantronix, we are devoted to producing groundbreaking solutions that help our customers be more efficient, secure and bottom-line focused.”

    Lantronix Speaking Session:

    • Session Title: “OOB Everywhere! How Advanced Console Servers Enhance Network Automation, Cybersecurity & Resilience”
    • Speaker: Eric Weiss, Product Line Director 
    • Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
    • Time: 2:30–2:40 p.m. PDT
    • Session Type: World of Solutions Session
    • Technology: Automation & Orchestration, Enterprise Architecture, Network Management
    • Track: Networking

    AI-Driven Out-of-Band Management Everywhere

    An advanced out-of-band management platform, the small yet powerful LM4 provides access, continuous monitoring and automated remediation of issues as well as control of network infrastructure devices. Operational whether the network is up or down, the expert system uses rules-based AI to recover and mitigate network infrastructure automatically, including reliable and secure access to remote gear during an outage. With up to four ports of serial console connections for directly managing gear plus support for up to 48 virtual ports, the LM4’s compact size and affordable price enables network managers to utilize out-of-band everywhere, including many locations previously considered too small and numerous for advanced out-of-band management.

    Running the powerful LMOS software, the LM4 brings the power of NOC-based software to the network’s edge to create a separate management plane in the rack with network infrastructure. With continuous monitoring and automated runbook responses, the LM4 can detect and solve issues before traditional NOC-based tools even know there is an issue. LMOS features a granular authorization model that integrates with existing access controls as well as automated change management functions, including the ability to store multiple config and OS files with local backups to enable automated rollback of failed config changes.

    Standardize on Lantronix LM-Series Solutions for Enterprise-Grade OOB Management

    The LM4 runs the same LMOS software as the LM83X and LM80 console servers, expanding the LM-Series console access options anywhere from 2–104 ports. The LM-Series is centrally managed by the Lantronix Control Center, which is available to run on-premises as a VM or hosted in the cloud. Lantronix’s LM-Series products allow customers to standardize their out-of-band management and deploy enterprise-grade functionality and AI-driven automation at all points in the network. The result is a more resilient network that’s easier to manage with fewer issues, reduced support truck rolls and stronger security and compliance.

    Lantronix is the go-to source for out-of-band innovations, providing a suite of reliable, secure and easy-to-deploy solutions, all supported by its exceptional service team. Easy to use, with resilient out-of-band access, onboard processing / storage and LMOS software, Lantronix’s LM-Series serial console servers are deployed in enterprises worldwide ranging from ultra-secure military and financial networks to downtime-intolerant networks in healthcare and energy.

    At Cisco Live, Lantronix will also feature:

    • LM83X, delivering AI-driven out-of-band management of 8–104 devices over serial console connections in a scalable and robust console server with dual power inputs. 
    • LM80, providing a fixed 8-port serial AI-driven out-of-band management solution that can automate a majority of routine IT maintenance and recovery tasks quickly and error-free.
    • Lantronix Control Center, a single pane of glass for managing all LM-Series devices for secure remote access as well as for automating management of each of the connected network infrastructure devices. It is a single source for Authorization-Authentication-Accounting (AAA) controls, creating monitoring and action rules without scripting, centrally archiving both monitored device operating system and configuration files and compliance reporting.
    • Additional Lantronix out-of-band management solutions, including its SLC8000 modular device console manager, EMG8500 edge management gateway, G520, IoT cellular gateways, X300 IoT Gateway solution and Percepxion™ IoT edge solutions management platform.

    About Lantronix
    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth markets, including Smart Cities, Enterprise and Transportation. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that enable AI Edge Intelligence. Lantronix’s advanced solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing.

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    ©2025 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to Lantronix products or leadership team. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of that report, as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. In addition, actual results may differ as a result of additional risks and uncertainties about which we are currently unaware or which we do not currently view as material to our business. For these reasons, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements we make speak only as of the date on which they are made. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions or expectations, except as required by applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. If we do update or correct any forward-looking statements, investors should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections.

    Lantronix Media Contact:        
    Gail Kathryn Miller
    Corporate Marketing &
    Communications Manager
    media@lantronix.com

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:        
    investors@lantronix.com

    The MIL Network

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify ETFs announces May income distributions for its income ETFs.

    ETF Name Ticker Amount per Share Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date
    Amplify Bitcoin Max Income Covered Call ETF BAGY $1.46125 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify Bitcoin 2% Monthly Option Income ETF BITY $1.16540 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify Samsung SOFR ETF SOFR $0.36001 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify CWP Growth & Income ETF QDVO $0.24218 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 12% Premium Income ETF TLTP $0.22480 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify COWS Covered Call ETF HCOW $0.20505 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF IDVO $0.16875 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF DIVO $0.16548 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify High Income ETF YYY $0.12000 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25
    Amplify Natural Resources Dividend Income ETF NDIV $0.11379 5/29/25 5/29/25 5/30/25


    About Amplify ETFs

    Amplify ETFs, sponsored by Amplify Investments, has over $10 billion in assets across its suite of ETFs (as of 4/30/2025). Amplify ETFs delivers expanded investment opportunities for investors seeking growth, income, and risk-managed strategies across a range of actively managed and index-based ETFs. To learn more, visit AmplifyETFs.com.

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

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

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

    Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

    Amplify ETFs are distributed by Foreside Services, LLC.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: FactSet Schedules Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NORWALK, Conn., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FactSet (NYSE: FDS | NASDAQ: FDS), a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider, today announced it will release its financial and operating results for the third quarter fiscal 2025, ending May 31, 2025, on Monday, June 23, 2025. FactSet will also host a conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, June 23, 2025.

    The following information is provided for investors who would like to participate in the conference call:

    Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Conference Call Details

    Please register for the conference call using the above link in advance of the call start time. The conference call platform will register your name and organization and provide dial-in numbers and a unique access pin. The call will include a live Q&A session.

    The earnings presentation slides will be available on FactSet’s investor relations website at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 23, 2025, 30 minutes before the earnings call begins.

    A replay will be available on the Company’s investor relations website after 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 23, 2025, through June 23, 2026. The earnings call transcript will be available via FactSet CallStreet.

    About FactSet

    FactSet (NYSE:FDS | NASDAQ:FDS) supercharges financial intelligence, offering enterprise data and information solutions that power our clients to maximize their potential. Our cutting-edge digital platform seamlessly integrates proprietary financial data, client datasets, third-party sources, and flexible technology to deliver tailored solutions across the buy-side, sell-side, wealth management, private equity, and corporate sectors. With over 47 years of expertise, a presence in 20 countries, and extensive multi-asset class coverage, we leverage advanced data connectivity alongside AI and next-generation tools to streamline workflows, drive productivity, and enable smarter, faster decision-making. Serving more than 8,600 global clients and nearly 220,000 individual users, FactSet is a member of the S&P 500 dedicated to innovation and long-term client success. Learn more at www.factset.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    FactSet
    Investor Relations:
    Kevin Toomey
    +1.212.209.5259
    Kevin.toomey@factset.com

    Media Relations:
    Kelly Prinner
    +1.203.808.8630
    Kelly.prinner@factset.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Solaris Announces Official Presale Launch: A New Era in DeFi Begins

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S) has officially launched its highly anticipated presale, marking the beginning of a new chapter in decentralized finance. With groundbreaking technology, mobile mining accessibility, and a robust DeFi engine, Bitcoin Solaris is setting the stage for what could be one of the most transformative opportunities of 2025.

    Presale Now Live: A Limited-Time Opportunity

    The BTC-S presale is now open for 90 days, offering early participants a chance to secure tokens before the official launch on July 31, 2025. With the current price set at $5, the next tier moving to $6, and a confirmed launch price of $20, this phase presents a limited-time opportunity for early adopters to get in ahead of a major public debut. Early buyers also benefit from an 11% bonus during this period.

    Over 11,000 users have already joined the movement, contributing more than $1.2 million—demonstrating the strong and growing momentum behind the project.

    Enter Bitcoin Solaris: The Next Big Wealth Generator

    Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S) isn’t just a coin. It’s a complete ecosystem built to fix the flaws of older blockchains. It combines Bitcoin’s legendary security with Solana-grade performance, delivering:

    • 10,000 transactions per second
    • 2-second finality
    • 99.95% less energy use than Bitcoin

    What truly makes BTC-S a DeFi revolution leader is its Helios Engine—a powerful infrastructure enabling decentralized exchanges, cross-chain swaps, lending protocols, and yield farming. Helios integrates with both the Bitcoin and Solana ecosystems, allowing users to tap into liquidity across multiple chains without needing to convert assets.

    The smart contracts powering Helios and the broader BTC-S platform have been fully audited for security, and the core team has passed KYC verification, adding another layer of trust to the project.

    Presale Phase: The $500 That Could Change Lives

    Here’s what makes now the golden window:

    • Current Price: $5
    • Next Phase: $6
    • Launch Price: $20
    • Bonus: 11%

    The presale is live for only 90 days, with the official launch locked in for July 31, 2025. Over 8,900 unique users have already joined, and more than $1.2 million has been raised. It’s one of the shortest and most explosive presales on the market—and this limited window is exactly where early fortunes are made.

    Missed Ethereum Early? Don’t Miss BTC-S

    Tech That Works for Everyone

    Mining BTC-S isn’t just for techies or whales. The Solaris Nova App lets users mine directly from their smartphones, laptops, or traditional rigs. With features like:

    • One-click mining
    • Built-in wallet
    • Adaptive smart algorithm
    • Cross-platform support

    Even a beginner can earn BTC-S within minutes. Some community members have already been invited into the beta version of the app, and while it’s not live for everyone yet, there may still be room for new testers.

    Growing Buzz and Influencer Spotlight

    Bitcoin Solaris isn’t flying under the radar anymore. Influencers and analysts are taking notice. In fact, Crypto Volt released a detailed video review diving into the reasons why Bitcoin Solaris may be one of the most exciting DeFi launches this cycle.

    Want to stay ahead of the hype? Join the official Bitcoin Solaris Telegram to get updates, community access, and presale announcements.

    Double Rewards Referral Program

    There’s also a unique referral program running during the presale. Here’s how it works:

    • Earn 5% BTC-S commission when someone buys through your referral link
    • Your invitee gets a 5% bonus on their purchase
    • You both win, and the ecosystem grows

    This structure not only drives adoption, but rewards those who help build the community from the ground up.sters may still be invited as development progresses.

    Stay Connected and Informed

    Bitcoin Solaris is gaining attention from analysts and influencers alike. Join the official channels for updates, presale news, and community insights:

    Media Contact

    Xander Levine
    info@bitcoinsolaris.com
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: [Available Upon Request]

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

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

    PhotoS accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/762d0876-c6f8-4dbd-be85-8e080fe9206e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/780dc1cb-0154-4a9d-a770-c7555d9bc032

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1afed152-5a1a-4bee-bdd8-bd53aa2337fe

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07703d02-c12a-465d-92ed-75a4f1021156

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Oyster Consulting LLC Advises Cutter & Company in Acquisition by Prospera Financial Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RICHMOND, Va., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oyster Consulting is proud to announce its role in advising Cutter & Company in its recent acquisition by Dallas-based Prospera Financial Services. The transaction marks a strategic move that brings together two respected independent broker-dealers and underscores the ongoing trend of consolidation across the wealth management industry.

    Cutter & Company, based in St. Louis, Missouri with approximately $2 billion in total client assets, 40 advisors and 12 employees, has built a strong reputation for delivering client-focused financial services for nearly four decades. In partnering with Prospera, the firm will benefit from enhanced resources, expanded technology infrastructure, and continued support for its financial professionals—strengthening the long-term value provided to clients.

    Oyster Consulting provided strategic guidance throughout the transaction, leveraging its deep industry expertise in broker-dealer operations and compliance.

    “We’re pleased to have supported Cutter & Company during this important transaction,” said Buddy Doyle, CEO and Founder of Oyster Consulting. “This acquisition represents a strong alignment of culture, vision, and service, and we’re proud to have helped facilitate a successful outcome.”

    “This acquisition reflects the broader consolidation trend we’re seeing across the industry, as firms seek partners that can enhance scale, technology, and advisor support,” said David Williams, Managing Director at Oyster Consulting. “It was a privilege to help guide Cutter & Company through a transaction that positions them for continued growth and long-term success.”

    This collaboration highlights Oyster’s continued commitment to providing practical, expert advice to broker-dealers, investment advisors, and financial institutions during critical periods of growth, restructuring, or strategic transformation.

    About Oyster Consulting
    Oyster Consulting provides financial services firms with consulting, outsourcing, and software solutions across compliance, operations, strategy, and technology. Oyster’s experienced industry professionals help clients navigate today’s complex regulatory environment and implement strategies to support growth and operational resiliency.

    Contact

    David Williams

    Managing Director,
    Head of Business Development

    david.williams@oysterllc.com

    804.965.5400

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: North American Financial 15 Split Corp. Announces TSX Acceptance of Normal Course Issuer Bid

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — North American Financial 15 Split Corp. (the “Company”) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) has accepted its notice of intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the “NCIB”) to purchase its Preferred Shares and Class A Shares through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems. The NCIB will commence on June 2, 2025 and terminate on June 1, 2026.

    Pursuant to the NCIB, the Company proposes to purchase, from time to time, if it is considered advisable, up to 5,738,811 Preferred Shares and 5,865,279 Class A Shares of the Company, representing 10% of the public float of 57,388,118 Preferred Shares and 58,652,794 Class A Shares. As of May 21, 2025, there were 57,388,618 Preferred Shares and 58,724,984 Class A Shares issued and outstanding. The Company will not purchase, in any given 30-day period, in the aggregate, more than 1,147,772 Preferred Shares or more than 1,174,499 Class A Shares, being 2% of the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares and Class A Shares as of May 21, 2025. Under the previous normal course issuer bid that commenced on May 29, 2025 and terminated on May 28, 2025 no Preferred Shares or Class A Shares were purchased.

    The Board of Directors of the Company, on the advice of Quadravest Capital Management Inc., the Company’s investment manager, believes that such purchases are in the best interests of the Company and are a desirable use of its funds. All purchases will be made through the facilities and in accordance with the rules and policies of the TSX. All Preferred Shares or Class A Shares purchased by the Company pursuant to the NCIB will be cancelled.

    The Company invests in a high quality portfolio consisting of 15 financial services companies made up of Canadian and U.S. issuers as follows: Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada, Manulife Financial Corporation, Sun Life Financial, Great-West Lifeco, CI Financial Corp, Bank of America, Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group, JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co.

    Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expect”, “intend”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations: 1-877-478-2372 Local: 416-304-4443 www.financial15.com info@quadravest.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: BOS Reports Record $15 Million in Revenues for the First Quarter of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RISHON LE ZION, Israel, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BOS Better Online Solutions Ltd. (“BOS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BOSC) reported its financial results for the first quarter of the year 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

    • Revenues increased by 33.1% to $15.0 million from $11.3 million in the first quarter of the year 2024;
    • Gross profit margin improved to 23.9% compared to 22.7% in the first quarter of the year 2024;
    • EBITDA increased by 86.2% to $1.9 million compared to $1.0 million in the first quarter of the year 2024;
    • Operating expenses increased by only 7.7% compared to the 33.1% increase in revenues, demonstrating operating leverage;
    • Net income increased by 82.3% to $1.35 million or $0.23 per basic share compared to $741,000 or $0.13 per basic share in the first quarter of the year 2024;
    • Backlog was $22 million as of March 31, 2025 compared to $27 million as of December 31, 2024.

    Eyal Cohen, Chief Executive Officer at BOS, stated: “I am pleased to report record revenues and record net income in the first quarter, demonstrating the success of our strategic focus on the defense sector and diligent operating efficiency. We continue to capitalize on the growing opportunities in this rapidly changing sector by increasing contracting activity with existing customers and securing new customers.”

    “Based on our first quarter performance and contracted backlog, we are optimistic about surpassing our full-year outlook for 2025, which are revenues of $44 million and net income of $2.5 million,” Cohen concluded.

    “Our record results in the first quarter reflect BOS’s long-term investments in developing a diverse product offering and establishing a robust operational and financial framework, all of which are specifically designed to meet the evolving and distinct demands of the defense industry,” said Avidan Zelicovsky, BOS President.

    BOS will host a video conference meeting on May 29, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. EDT. A question-and-answer session will follow management’s presentation. To access the video conference meeting, please click on the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83920447982?pwd=nxng3dstyBqK9argz8YQSsH9Cx4VkE.1

    For those unable to participate in the video conference, a recording of the meeting will be available the next day on the BOS website: www.boscom.com

    About BOS

    BOS integrates cutting-edge technologies to streamline and enhance supply chain operations for global customers in the aerospace, defense, industrial and retail sectors. The Company integrates three specialized divisions:

    – Intelligent Robotics Division: Automates industrial and logistics inventory processes through advanced robotics technologies, improving efficiency and precision.

    – RFID Division: Optimizes inventory management with state-of-the-art solutions for marking and tracking, ensuring real-time visibility and control.

    – Supply Chain Division: Integrates franchised components directly into customer products, meeting their evolving needs for developing innovative solutions.

    For more information on BOS Better Online Solutions Ltd., visit www.boscom.com.

    For additional information, contact:

    Matt Kreps, Managing Director
    Darrow Associates
    +1-214-597-8200
    mkreps@darrowir.com

    Eyal Cohen, CEO
    +972-542525925
    eyalc@boscom.com

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
    BOS reports financial results in accordance with US GAAP and herein provides some non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures are intended to supplement the Company’s presentation of its financial results that are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses the non-GAAP measures presented to evaluate and manage the Company’s operations internally. The Company is also providing this information to assist investors in performing additional financial analysis that is consistent with financial models developed by research analysts who follow the Company. The reconciliation set forth below is provided in accordance with Regulation G and reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

    Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of BOS. These risk factors and uncertainties include, amongst others, the dependency of sales being generated from one or few major customers, the uncertainty of BOS being able to maintain current gross profit margins, inability to keep up or ahead of technology and to succeed in a highly competitive industry, inability to maintain marketing and distribution arrangements and to expand our overseas markets, uncertainty with respect to the prospects of legal claims against BOS, the effect of exchange rate fluctuations, general worldwide economic conditions, the effect of the war against the Hamas and other parties in the region, the continued availability of financing for working capital purposes and to refinance outstanding indebtedness; and additional risks and uncertainties detailed in BOS’ periodic reports and registration statements filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. BOS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    U.S. dollars in thousands
     
        Three months ended
    March 31,
          Year ended
    December 31, 
          2025       2024         2024  
          (Unaudited)         (Unaudited)           (Audited)  
               
    Revenues   $ 15,026     $ 11,287       $ 39,949  
    Cost of revenues     11,437       8,727         30,655  
    Gross profit     3,589       2,560         9,294  
    Operating costs and expenses:              
    Research and development     41       44         175  
    Sales and marketing     1,263       1,162         4,394  
    General and administrative     542       508         2,113  
    Impairment of intangible assets and Goodwill                   1,173  
    Total operating costs and expenses     1,846       1,714         7,855  
                   
    Operating income     1,743       846         1,439  
    Financial expenses, net     (272 )     (105 )       (139 )
    Income before taxes on income     1,471       741         1,300  
    Income taxes benefits (expenses)     (120 )             1,000  
    Net income   $ 1,351     $ 741       $ 2,300  
                   
    Basic net income per share   $ 0.23     $ 0.13       $ 0.40  
    Diluted net income per share   $ 0.22     $ 0.13       $ 0.39  
    Weighted average number of shares used in computing basic net income per share     5,900       5,748         5,756  
    Weighted average number of shares used in computing diluted net income per share     6,273       5,828         5,887  
                   
    Number of outstanding shares as of March 31, 2025 and 2024 and December 31, 2024     5,924       5,748         5,793  
     
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (U.S. dollars in thousands)
     
        March 31, 2025 
      December 31, 2024  
        (Unaudited)   (Audited)
     
    ASSETS              
                   
    CURRENT ASSETS:              
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,844     $ 3,368  
    Restricted bank deposits     66       185  
    Trade receivables, net     15,839       11,787  
    Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses     1,235       1,150  
    Inventories     7,505       7,870  
               
    Total current assets     28,489       24,360  
               
    LONG-TERM ASSETS     167       177  
               
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET     3,362       3,417  
               
    OPERATING LEASE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS, NET     727       779  
               
    DEFERRED TAX ASSETS     981       1,000  
               
    OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET     407       422  
               
    GOODWILL     4,188       4,188  
               
    Total assets   $ 38,321     $ 34,343  
     
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (U.S. dollars in thousands)
     
        March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
        (Unaudited)   (Audited)
             
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
             
    CURRENT LIABILITIES:        
    Current maturities of long-term loans   $ 342     $ 439  
    Operating lease liabilities, current     161       176  
    Trade payables     7, 769       6,362  
    Employees and payroll accruals     1,128       1,087  
    Deferred revenues     2,543       2,003  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities     1,091       598  
             
    Total current liabilities     13,034       10,665  
             
    LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:        
    Long-term loans, net of current maturities     921       980  
    Operating lease liabilities, non-current     530       576  
    Long-term deferred revenues     273       293  
    Accrued severance pay, net     514       498  
             
    Total long-term liabilities     2,238       2,347  
             
             
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     23,049       21,331  
             
             
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 38, 321     $ 34,343  
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
    (U.S. dollars in thousands)
     
        Three months ended
    March 31,
      Year ended
    December 31,
          2025       2024       2024  
                 
    Operating income   $ 1,743     $ 846     $ 1,439  
    Add:            
    Impairment of Goodwill and other intangible assets               1,173  
    Amortization of intangible assets     15       47       190  
    Stock-based compensation     9       21       74  
    Depreciation     101       89       370  
    EBITDA   $ 1,868     $ 1,003     $ 3,246  
     
    SEGMENT INFORMATION
    (U.S. dollars in thousands)

     

     

    RFID

     

    Supply
    Chain Solutions

     

    Intelligent
    Robotics

     

    Intercompany

     

    Consolidated

     

     

     

     

         

    Three months ended March 31, 2025

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Revenues

     

    $

    3,259

     

    $

      11,390

     

     

    496

     

    (119

    )

     

    $

     15,026

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Gross profit  

     

     

    707

     

     

    2,756

     

     

    126

     

     –

     

     

     

    3,589

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Allocated operating expenses

     

     

     529

     

     

    1,048

     

     

    68

     

     –

     

     

     

    1,645

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Unallocated operating expenses*

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    201

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Income from operations

     

    $

         178

     

    $

        1,708

     

    $

            58

     

     

     

     

    1,743

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Financial expenses and tax on income

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (392

    )

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Net income

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    $

             1,351

     

     

     

    RFID

     

    Supply
    Chain Solutions

     

    Intelligent
    Robotics

     

    Intercompany

     

    Consolidated

     

     

         

    Three months ended March 31, 2024

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Revenues

     

    $

    3,683

     

    $

        7,356

     

    250

     

     

    (2

    )

     

    $

          11,287

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Gross profit 

     

     

    992

     

     

    1,484

     

    84

     

     

                 –

     

     

    2,560

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Allocated operating expenses

     

     

     565

     

     

    909

     

            62

     

     

                 –

     

     

    1,536

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Unallocated operating expenses*

     

       

     

     

     

     

       

    178

     

    Income  from operations

     

    $

         427

     

    $

           575

    $

            22

     

     

     

       

    846

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Financial expenses and tax on income  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (105

    )

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Net income

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    $

               741

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    SEGMENT INFORMATION
    (U.S. dollars in thousands)
     
         

    RFID

     

    Supply Chain Solutions

     

    Intelligent
    Robotics

     

    Intercompany

     

    Consolidated

             

    Year ended December 31, 2024

     
                             
                             

    Revenues

       

    $

     12,877

     

    $

     25,829

       

    1,410

     

    (167

    )

     

    $

      39,949

     
                             

    Gross profit

         

     3,533

       

      5,430

       

                                 331

         

    9,294

     
                             
                             

    Allocated operating expenses

         

      2,273

       

     3,338

       

     274

         

      5,885

     
                             

    Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

         

     984

       

    189

       

         

    1,173

     
                             

    Unallocated operating expenses*

         

       

       

           

     797

     
                             

    Income from operations

       

    $

      276

     

    $

     1,903

     

    $

      57

           

    1,439

     
                             

    Financial expenses and tax benefit

                         

    861

     
                             

    Net income

                       

    $

     2,300

     

    *Unallocated operating expenses include costs not specific to a particular segment but general to the entire group, such as expenses incurred for insurance of directors and officers, public company fees, legal fees, and other similar corporate costs.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Financial 15 Split Corp. Announces TSX Acceptance of Normal Course Issuer Bid

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Financial 15 Split Corp. (the “Company”) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) has accepted its notice of intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the “NCIB”) to purchase its Preferred Shares and Class A Shares through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems. The NCIB will commence on June 2, 2025 and terminate on June 1, 2026.

    Pursuant to the NCIB, the Company proposes to purchase, from time to time, if it is considered advisable, up to 6,054,449 Preferred Shares and 6,196,492 Class A Shares of the Company, representing 10% of the public float of 60,544,490 Preferred Shares and 61,964,925 Class A Shares. As of May 21, 2025, there were 60,567,417 Preferred Shares and 61,968,317 Class A Shares issued and outstanding. The Company will not purchase, in any given 30-day period, in the aggregate, more than 1,211,348 Preferred Shares or more than 1,239,366 Class A Shares, being 2% of the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares and Class A Shares as of May 21, 2025. Under the previous normal course issuer bid that commenced on May 29, 2024 and terminated on May 28, 2025 no Preferred Shares were purchased and 8,300 Class A Share purchases were made.

    The Board of Directors of the Company, on the advice of Quadravest Capital Management Inc., the Company’s investment manager, believes that such purchases are in the best interests of the Company and are a desirable use of its funds. All purchases will be made through the facilities and in accordance with the rules and policies of the TSX. All Preferred Shares or Class A Shares purchased by the Company pursuant to the NCIB will be cancelled.

    The Company invests in a high quality portfolio consisting of 15 financial services companies made up of Canadian and U.S. issuers as follows: Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada, Manulife Financial Corporation, Sun Life Financial, Great-West Lifeco, CI Financial Corp, Bank of America, Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group, JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co.

    Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expect”, “intend”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Alarum Technologies Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Q1 2025 highlighted the growing traction of the company’s data collection solutions with leading AI and eCommerce players worldwide

    Company strategically accelerated investments in scalable infrastructure and next-gen technologies to meet the rising demand for AI-ready data and to future-proof its position among top-tier global companies

    First quarter 2025 revenue reached $7.1 million, in line with guidance, net profit was at $0.4 million and adjusted EBITDA exceeded guidance, reaching $1.3 million Cash and debt investments balance at quarter-end amounted to $24 million

    TEL AVIV, Israel, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alarum Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq, TASE: ALAR) (“Alarum” or the “Company”), a global provider of web data collection solutions, today announced financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025.

    “2025 began with strong momentum, as demand for scalable, high-quality data continues to accelerate, driven by the rapid growth of AI technologies and eCommerce platforms,” said Shachar Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Alarum.

    “During the quarter, several of the world’s leading AI and eCommerce companies significantly expanded their usage of our platform, relying on our advanced proxy infrastructure, innovative data collector, and Website Unblocker, to power data collection, model training, and real-time access to public web data.”

    “In line with our long-term vision, we made a deliberate decision to increase investments in our infrastructure and products, aiming to meet the growing global demand for large-scale data solutions. While this impacted our gross margin, it reinforces our position as a foundational player in the AI data ecosystem,” Mr. Daniel added.

    “With discipline and vision, we are building the backbone of data access for the AI era. Our technology and collaborations with customers uniquely position us to deliver long-term value for our stakeholders as the market continues to evolve,” Mr. Daniel concluded.

    Market Trends, Recent Developments and Business Highlights

    • Expanded strategic partnerships with major AI and eCommerce players during the first quarter: Notable new collaborations include a top Asian marketplace, a global electronics brand, and a European AI firm, for large-scale data labeling and model fine-tuning with fresh public data.
    • Redefining industry trends and market dynamics: A new market is emerging around high-quality, scalable data infrastructure. As AI models require constant training and fine-tuning, Alarum is positioned to play a key role in shaping this space and powering the global AI transformation.
    • Advancing and investing in long-term strategy, supported by strong financials: Alarum continues to pursue its strategic decision to reinvest earnings into innovative products, scaling operations, expanding infrastructure, and strengthening its IP network. This positions the Company to meet rising demand from AI-driven customers and capture long-term value, while maintaining operational efficiency during this pivotal growth phase.
    • Powering data collection with Alarum’s enhanced offerings portfolio: Tech giants and startups rely on Alarum’s data collector, Website Unblocker, and proxy network to overcome data access barriers.
    • Entering 2025 with a strong momentum: NetNut Net Retention Rate (“NRR”)1 reached 1.13 as of March 31, 2025, in yet another consecutive quarter of achieving an NRR well above 1. With its data collection offering, the Company is well-positioned amid a shifting landscape, and early results from its strategic investments and pipeline visibility support the positive outlook for the second quarter of 2025.

    ______________________

    1 See definition under “Other Metrics”.

    Summary of Financial Results2
    (in millions of U.S. dollars, rounded, except per share amounts and margins)
        For the
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
      For the
    Year Ended
    December 31,
        2025   2024   2024
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Audited)
                 
    Total Revenue   7.1   8.4   31.8
    of which, Web Data Collection Revenue was   7.0   8.1   30.9
    Gross profit   4.8   6.6   23.9
    Gross margin (in percentage)   67.5%   78.5%   75.1%
    Non-IFRS gross margin (in percentage)   69.4%   80.4%   77.0%
    Total operating expenses   4.5   4.0   17.2
    Financial income (expense), net   0.2   (0.9)   0.3
    Tax expense   0.1   0.3   1.2
    Net profit   0.4   1.4   5.8
    Adjusted EBITDA   1.3   3.2   9.4
    Basic earnings per American Depository Share (“ADS”)
    (in U.S. dollars)
      $0.06   $0.23   $0.87
    Non-IFRS basic earnings per ADS (in U.S. dollars)   $0.16   $0.45   $1.26
    Cash, cash equivalents and debt investments
    (including accrued interest)3
      24.0   15.1   25.0
    Shareholders’ equity2   27.6   17.1   26.4
                 

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Analysis

    • Revenue in Q1 2025 totalled $7.1 million (Q1 2024: $8.4 million). The 15% year-over-year change reflects market dynamics that affected the demand from certain customers since mid-2024.  
    • Cost of revenue in Q1 2025 was $2.3 million (Q1 2024: $1.8 million). The increase is mainly due to the investment in the Company’s IP network, specifically in infrastructure and servers, aligning with its strategic decision to boost its expansion capabilities.
    • As a result, Gross profit in Q1 2025 amounted to $4.8 million (Q1 2024: $6.6 million).
    • Operating expenses in Q1 2025 totalled $4.5 million (Q1 2024: $4.0 million). The difference was driven mainly by the increase in research and development salaries and share based payments costs.
    • Financial income, net, in Q1 2025 was $0.2 million (Q1 2024: financial expense, net, of $0.9 million). This shift was mainly due to the fair value decrease of derivative financial instruments (warrants issued in 2019-2020), resulting from the share price changes during the measured periods.  
    • Net profit in Q1 2025 reached $0.4 (Q1 2024: $1.4 million).
    • As of March 31, 2025, shareholders’ equity increased to $27.6 million, up from $26.4 million as of December 31, 2024. The increase was driven by the quarterly net profit.
    • Outstanding ordinary share count as of March 31, 2025, was approximately 69.3 million shares, or 6.9 million in ADSs.

    ______________________

    1 See definition under “Other Metrics”.
    2 The table below contains certain non-IFRS financial measures. See “Use of Non-IFRS Financial Results” for additional information regarding these measures and reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures.
    3 As of the last day of the period.

    Financial Outlook

    “First quarter revenues were in line with guidance, whilst Adjusted EBITDA exceeded expectations, surpassing our outlook,” said Mr. Shai Avnit, Chief Financial Officer of Alarum.

    “Alarum has entered the second quarter of 2025 with solid momentum and demand. Accordingly, second quarter 2025 revenues are estimated at $7.9 million ±3%, and Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter 2025 is expected to range from $0.5 million to $0.8 million. We remain attentive to market dynamics as the AI market reshapes and are actively optimizing our network infrastructure and product delivery, with a clear roadmap to drive efficiency, maintain high margins, and deliver long-term value to our stakeholders,” Mr. Avnit concluded.

    We are unable to present a reconciliation of our estimated Adjusted EBITDA to net profit as we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty, and without unreasonable effort, the impact and timing of certain expenses on our net profit. The financial impact of these expenses is uncertain and is dependent on various factors, including timing, and could be material to our consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income (loss).

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call

    Mr. Shachar Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Alarum, and Mr. Shai Avnit, Chief Financial Officer of Alarum, will host a conference call today, May 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET, 5:30 a.m. Pacific time, 3:30 p.m. Israel, to discuss the first quarter of 2025 results and the second quarter 2025 outlook, followed by a Q&A session.

    To attend, log in here or dial one of the following numbers, at least five minutes before the call starts: 1-877-407-0789 or 1-201-689-8562. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free number, please try the international dial-in number. An Israeli toll-free number is: 1 809 406 247. Participants will be required to state their name and company upon dialling in. 

    Replay: The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here, after 11:30 a.m. ET on May 29, 2025.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, Alarum is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses that the demand for scalable, high-quality data continues to accelerate, driven by the rapid growth of AI technologies and eCommerce platforms; the Company’s focus and strategic; that its technology and collaborations with customers uniquely position it to deliver long-term value for its stakeholders as the market continues to evolve; emergence of a new market around high-quality, scalable data infrastructure; that early results from its strategic investments; pipeline visibility support the positive outlook for the second quarter of 2025; and its estimates regarding second quarter 2025 revenues and Adjusted EBITDA. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Alarum’s current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Alarum could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Alarum’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 20, 2025, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, Alarum undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. Alarum is not responsible for the contents of third-party websites.

     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
     (in thousands of U.S. dollars)

        March 31,   December 31,
        2025   2024     2024
        (Unaudited)   (Audited)
    Assets            
    Current assets:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   13,952     15,060     15,081  
    Trade receivables, net   3,789     2,945     3,231  
    Other receivables   698     1,449     503  
        18,439     19,454     18,815  
                 
    Non-current assets:            
    Long-term deposits   119     104     121  
    Other non-current assets   85     119     85  
    Property and equipment, net   134     110     130  
    Right-of-use assets   429     709     498  
    Deferred tax assets   497     244     422  
    Debt investments at fair value through other comprehensive income   9,331         9,256  
    Debt investments at fair value through profit or loss   564         555  
    Intangible assets, net   677     1,225     811  
    Goodwill   4,118     4,118     4,118  
    Total non-current assets   15,954     6,629     15,996  
    Total assets   34,393     26,083     34,811  
                 
    Liabilities and equity            
    Current liabilities:            
    Trade payables   373     416     251  
    Other payables   2,815     3,056     4,484  
    Current maturities of long-term loan   965     353     938  
    Contract liabilities   2,072     2,728     1,987  
    Derivative financial instruments   1     952     148  
    Short-term lease liabilities   362     365     359  
    Total current liabilities   6,588     7,870     8,167  
                 
    Non-current liabilities:            
    Long-term lease liabilities   186     462     261  
    Long-term loans, net of current maturities       691     32  
    Total non-current liabilities   186     1,153     293  
    Total liabilities   6,774     9,023     8,460  
                 
    Equity:            
    Ordinary shares            
    Share premium   112,059     104,097     111,892  
    Other equity reserves   11,705     13,856     11,012  
    Accumulated deficit   (96,145 )   (100,893 )   (96,553 )
    Total equity   27,619     17,060     26,351  
    Total liabilities and equity   34,393     26,083     34,811  
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
    (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

      For the
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
      For the
    Year Ended
    December 31,
      2025   2024   2024
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Audited)
               
    Revenue 7,133   8,376   31,824
    Cost of revenue 2,318   1,803   7,915
    Gross profit 4,815   6,573   23,909
           
    Operating expenses:      
    Research and development 1,370   1,022   4,495
    Sales and marketing 1,827   1,725   7,033
    General and administrative 1,285   1,240   5,661
    Total operating expenses 4,482   3,987   17,189
           
    Operating profit 333   2,586   6,720
           
    Financial income (expense), net 212   (848)   281
    Profit from operations before income tax 545   1,738   7,001
    Tax expense (137)   (298)   (1,221)
    Net profit for the period 408   1,440   5,780
    Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period
    Change in fair value of debt investments
    72     (80)
    Total comprehensive income for the period 480   1,440   5,700
           
    Basic profit per share $0.01   $0.02   $0.09
    Diluted profit per share $0.01   $0.02   $0.08
    Basic profit per ADS $0.06   $0.23   $0.87
               

    Use of Non-IFRS Financial Results

    In addition to disclosing financial results calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, this press release contains non-IFRS financial measures of EBITDA (EBITDA loss), Adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted EBITDA loss), non-IFRS net profit (loss), non-IFRS gross profit, non-IFRS gross margin and non-IFRS basic earnings (loss) per share or ADS for the periods presented. The Company defines EBITDA (EBITDA loss) as net profit (loss) before depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangible assets (if any), financial income (expense) and income tax; defines Adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted EBITDA loss) as EBITDA (EBITDA loss) as further adjusted to remove the impact of (i) impairment of goodwill (if any); and (ii) share-based compensation; defines non-IFRS net profit (loss) as net profit (loss) before depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangible assets (if any), impairment of goodwill (if any), financial income (expense) effects primarily related to derivative financial instruments as well as long-term loans, deferred tax effects and share-based compensation; defines non-IFRS gross profit as gross profit adjusted to remove the impact of depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangible assets and share-based compensation recorded under cost of revenues; defines non-IFRS gross margin as the percentage of the non-IFRS gross profit out of revenues; and defines non-IFRS basic earnings (loss) per share or ADS as non-IFRS net profit (loss) divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares or ADSs. The Company’s management believes the non-IFRS financial information provided in this press release is useful to investors’ understanding and assessment of the Company’s ongoing operations. Management also uses both IFRS and non-IFRS information in evaluating and operating its business internally, and as such deemed it important to provide this information to investors. The non-IFRS financial measures disclosed by the Company should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with IFRS, and the financial results calculated in accordance with IFRS and reconciliations to those financial statements should be carefully evaluated. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of these non-IFRS measures to their most directly comparable IFRS financial measures provided in the financial statement tables herein.

    Other Metrics

    Net retention rate (NRR) is a key indicator of customer base health and revenue expansion. It is based on NRR point in time, which measures the revenue growth of current customers over the past four quarters, compared to the revenue generated from these customers during the same period a year earlier.
    NRR is calculated as an average of the NRR points in time for the end of the current period and the three preceding quarters.
    NRR > 1 (or 100%): Indicates revenue growth driven by existing customers, where upsells and cross-sells outweigh churn.
    NRR < 1 (or 100%): Shows revenue loss due to churn exceeding gains from upsells or cross-sells.

    Non-IFRS Financial Measures
    (in millions of U.S. dollars, rounded)

    The following tables present the reconciled effect of the above on the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA; non-IFRS net profit; and non-IFRS gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, and the year ended December 31, 2024:

        For the
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
      For the
    Year Ended
    December 31,
        2025
      2024   2024
    Net profit   0.4   1.4   5.8
    Adjustments:            
    Depreciation and amortization   0.2   0.2   0.6
    Financial expense (income), net   (0.2)   0.9   (0.4)
    Tax expense   0.1   0.3   1.4
    EBITDA   0.5   2.8   7.4
    Adjustments:            
    Share-based compensation   0.8   0.4   2.0
    Adjusted EBITDA for the period   1.3   3.2   9.4
        For the
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
      For the
    Year Ended
    December 31,
        2025   2024   2024
    Net profit   0.4   1.4   5.8
    Adjustments:            
    Depreciation and amortization   0.2   0.2   0.6
    Financial expense (income), net effects   (0.2)   0.9   0.1
    Deferred tax effects   (0.1)   (0.1)   (0.1)
    Share-based compensation   0.8   0.4   2.0
    Non-IFRS net profit for the period   1.1   2.8   8.4
        For the
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
      For the
    Year Ended
    December 31,

        2025   2024   2024
    Gross profit   4.8   6.6   23.9
    Adjustments:            
    Depreciation and amortization   0.1   0.1   0.6
    Share-based compensation   *   *   *
    Non-IFRS gross profit for the period   4.9   6.7   24.5

    * Less than $0.1 million

    About Alarum Technologies Ltd.

    Alarum Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq, TASE: ALAR) is a global provider of web data collection solutions, empowering organizations to gain a competitive edge by streamlining the collection, extraction, and analysis of large-scale structured data from public online sources. Our data collection solutions by NetNut, are based on our world’s fastest and most advanced and secured hybrid proxy network, which comprises both exit points based on our proprietary reflection technology and hundreds of servers located at our ISP partners around the world. Pushing the boundaries of innovation in data collection, we are building a robust platform, complemented by the Website Unblocker, Data Collector, Data Sets and AI data collector. As the impact of the AI revolution unfolds, Alarum, with its robust market-leading data collection offerings is preparing itself to play a meaningful role as the world reshapes in a new form.

    For more information about Alarum and its web data collection solutions, please visit www.alarum.io.

    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Follow us on X

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    Investor Relations Contact:

    investors@alarum.io

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In 2025, more than 2,100 budget places will be available at NSU at all levels of training

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Today, TASS hosted a press conference dedicated to the specifics of the upcoming admissions campaign to universities in the Siberian Federal District. The event was attended by representatives of leading universities in Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk and Gorno-Altaisk. NSU was represented by Alexander Trusevich, Head of the Department for Work with Applicants.

    — Last year, more than 8,000 applicants showed interest in entering the university, in terms of the number of applications, this is, of course, several times more. We hope that this year the number will be even greater. As a rule, 2/3 of the total number of those enrolled are those who were enrolled in budget places, and the rest are paid admission. The interest and popularity of NSU is increasing among applicants based on the results of prestigious Olympiads — this is the All-Russian School Olympiad, these are the list Olympiads. Last year, the number of enrolled applicants with such results increased by almost 20%, — noted Alexander.

    In 2025, 2108 budget and 1363 fee-paying places will be available at NSU at all levels of training. In general, the number of places remains at the level of previous years.

    — This year, NSU will have a new category of places for the first time — places financed by industrial partners. Education in these places will be completely free for applicants, with the possibility of receiving a scholarship at the expense of industrial partners, — added Alexander.

    Among the main innovations that await applicants this year:

    — the most noticeable change compared to last year is the abolition of the requirement to provide the original educational document as a prerequisite for enrollment; instead of the original educational document, applicants must submit an application for consent to enrollment;

    — for the first time this year, applicants for master’s and postgraduate programs will be able to use the super service “Online University Admission” and submit documents using the “Gosuslugi” portal; this will expand the geography of applicants;

    — starting with this admissions campaign, universities must designate the maximum number of fee-paying places, which cannot be increased during the admissions campaign;

    — amendments were recently made to the Federal Law on Education, which will allow children of participants in military operations on the territory of the Russian Federation to enroll in places under a separate quota;

    — starting this year, a new type of individual achievements has been introduced for applicants to target quota places — targeted individual achievements; the maximum score that an applicant can receive is 5 points.

    This year, the university will introduce a number of new educational programs that train interdisciplinary specialists and cover promising areas. Among them are the specialty “Medical Cybernetics” and the master’s program “Industrial Pharmacy”. New educational programs are being implemented jointly with the MSU Engineering School, and large companies “Pharmstandard” and “Generium” are industrial partners. New educational programs will be developed on the basis of the infrastructure of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies, which is part of the modern NSU campus, built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    Also starting this year, NSU is opening admission to the bachelor’s degree program “Applied Artificial Intelligence”. This program won the federal grant competition for training top specialists in the field of artificial intelligence. The pilot recruitment will consist of 150 students. The program will be implemented with the active participation of industrial partners – Rostelecom and Innotech (T1). Grant support will allow students to study for free and receive scholarships from industrial partners.

    On Faculty of Physics a new Master’s program “Applied Mathematics and Physics” will be implemented. Within its framework, training will be conducted in three profiles – “Space and Special Instrumentation”, “Medical Physics” and “Information Processes and Systems”.

    If we talk about the most popular areas, then the biggest competition is for those with a small number of budget places, for example: linguistics; business informatics; jurisprudence. The competition for them reaches 50 people per place.

    According to the results of the 2024 admissions campaign, the following can be distinguished among the most popular areas of natural science and engineering:

    — Applied Mathematics and Physics — 33.6 people per place (14 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Computer science and engineering — 27.3 people per place (185 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Physics. Physical informatics — 14.6 people per place (28 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Mechatronics and robotics — 13.8 people per place (70 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Chemistry — 9.9 people per place (65 people enrolled on a budget basis).

    — The interest in NSU from applicants coming from other regions is growing. Thus, last year, out of 2,000 people admitted to bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs, almost 50% were not from the Novosibirsk Region. Moreover, applicants come not only from neighboring regions, but also from the central part of Russia: from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Kaliningrad, Samara and other cities, — Alexander emphasized.

    The university is increasing the number of foreign students, primarily interested in medical, natural science and engineering research areas. Many applicants are from the CIS – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Among the far abroad countries, the top countries include China, Turkey, Iran and Iraq. This year, a joint educational program for a bachelor’s degree in physics will open with Chongqing University, 60 Chinese students will be accepted.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • Indian stock market ends in green over positive global cues

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian stock market closed in green on Thursday amid positive global cues. Sensex closed 320.70 points or 0.39 per cent up at 81,633.02 while Nifty ended up 81.15 points or 0.33 per cent at 24,833.60.

    Buying was seen in midcap and smallcap along with largecap. Nifty Midcap 100 index was up 315.85 points or 0.55 per cent at 57,457.25 and Nifty Smallcap 100 index was up 105.40 points or 0.59 per cent at 17,889.

    On a sectoral basis, metal, IT, financial services, realty, media and energy indices were in the green, while, PSU Bank, FMCG and PSE sectors were in the red.

    “Global sentiment improved after a US court struck down Donald Trump’s reciprocal tax policy. However, the domestic market remained mostly rangebound during the day due to rising oil prices and higher US 10-year bond yields,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.

    Some recovery was seen toward the end of the session, driven by F&O expiry led covering.

    “Export-focused sectors like IT and Pharma performed well, supported by hopes of easing trade tensions. Lack of positive domestic triggers and a drop in industrial output to an eight-month low could lead to short-term market consolidation,” he mentioned.

    Nifty witnessed a volatile session on the day of monthly expiry. The momentum continues to remain weak, with the RSI still pointing downward.

    “The next crucial support is at 24,670. If the index falls below this level, a sharp correction may occur, potentially dragging the index down to 24,400/ 24,300. On the other hand, if Nifty holds above 24,670, it could witness a smart recovery towards 25,000 or 25,150 in the short term,” said Rupak De from LKP Securities.

    Gold prices traded weak in the first half of the session after the FOMC meeting minutes indicated that the U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to ease interest rates in the near term, maintaining a data-dependent stance. In the domestic market, MCX gold holds support near Rs 94,000, with resistance around Rs 96,500, said experts.

    –IANS

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wagamama to come to Preston’s Animate

    Source: City of Preston

    29 May 2025

    Preston City Council has announced Asian inspired Japanese restaurant, Wagamama is to open at its newly launched £45million Animate leisure scheme, which has been delivered by Maple Grove Developments. 

    Positioned between Taco Bell and Mad Giant Food Hall, Wagamama has taken a 4,125 sq ft unit on a 15-year lease. The fit out is due to commence imminently and will be open to customers early this summer.

    Open seven days a week, the new restaurant will create 55 new jobs and marks Wagamama’s 167th restaurant in the UK and Ireland and its 59th in the North. The deal means that just one final unit (10,270 sq ft) offering social space on the upper level is now available.

    Animate was officially opened in February by Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, with many of the tenants including Ask Italian, Argento Lounge, Taco Bell Hollywood Bowl and ARC Cinemas now trading.

    Sita Wood, head of brand activation (restaurants) at Wagamama said: 

    “We’re incredibly excited to be opening our doors in preston, to meet local demand. our team are hard at work training for our opening, and we can’t wait to welcome our locals to enjoy their fresh favourites on our benches.”

    Cllr Wise at Preston City Council said: 

    “Animate has proven to be an in-demand venue for leisure operators and Wagamama deciding to open a restaurant here is a significant vote of confidence in the destination. It will prove to be a popular restaurant, stimulating additional footfall in the Harris Quarter, catalysing further investment, and boosting our local economy, central to our Community Wealth Building model.”

    Speaking about the arrival of Wagamama John Brady, at Bradys, joint agents for the scheme with Smith Young, commented:

    “Securing Wagamama is a strong endorsement of Preston’s growing appeal as a vibrant retail and leisure destination. The brand brings with it a loyal following and a reputation for quality, which will not only further enhance the visitor experience but also support the wider regeneration of the area by driving increased footfall.”

    The flagship scheme is one of six major projects in Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme, including £20.9m of funding by the government to support several regeneration projects.

    About Maple Grove Developments

    Maple Grove Developments is part of the Eric Wright Group. Founded in 1923, the Eric Wright Group is a leading property and construction company that develops, builds and maintains the UK’s infrastructure.

    Wholly owned by the Eric Wright Charitable Trust, the Group is committed to delivering employment and regeneration opportunities in the communities in which it operates in. All company profits are either invested back into the Eric Wright Group or awarded to charities and projects, predominately throughout the North West, which support young persons’ wellbeing, elderly services, education and training, health or carers’ support. 

    The Eric Wright Charitable Trust owns and operates Water Park Lakeland Adventure Centre in Cumbria and is an employer partner and sponsor of the Eric Wright Learning Foundation at Preston’s College, which supports young people aged 14+ studying Level 1 – 3 vocational courses and Apprenticeships.

    Based at Bamber Bridge, near Preston, the Eric Wright Group comprises seven specialist divisions that regularly collaborate to deliver joined-up approaches with outstanding results and maintain strong relationships with private and public sector clients and partners. The Group’s seven divisions are Maple Grove Developments, Construction, Civil Engineering, Water, Health & Care, Facilities Management (FM) and Applethwaite Homes. 

    About Animate

    The construction and development phase will help to generate up to 200 full time equivalent construction jobs for the local workforce, and provide opportunities for apprenticeship, work placements, training and upskilling through Eric Wright Group’s corporate and social responsibility programme.   

    A dedicated Animate Community Benefit Framework has been agreed between Preston City Council and Maple Grove Developments, which will deliver 15 community benefits, in line with Preston’s Community Wealth Building programme, to assist the delivery of the project and to provide the maximum impact for Preston’s residents and businesses.  

    The Community Benefit Framework seeks to use local labour, provide training, employment, volunteering opportunities and placements within local colleges, to promote environmental sustainability, and to ensure that all workers are treated equally and fairly. 

    Animate will also provide more than 140 long term jobs when it opens to the public following the two year construction phase.  

    About Towns Fund – Town Deals

    • On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. 
    • A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between Government, the Lead Council and the Town Deal Board. It will set out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.  
    • Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding last year for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places “build back better” in the wake of Covid-19. See the 101 places being supported to develop Town Deals.
    • Preston’s City Investment Plan is a 15 year vision for Preston setting out Preston’s long-term objectives and strategy to transform the city, targeting resources and aligning public and private sector investments to respond to needs and capitalise on opportunities for positive change. For details visit Invest – Preston’s City Investment Plan.
    • Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone. 
    • Lancashire County Council’s £800,000 Economic Recovery grant is from its £12.8m  Economic Recovery & Growth programme to fund projects across the 12 Lancashire districts to tackle some of the economic impacts of Covid-19 and support recovery and growth. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Resilience Maturity Assessment (ReMA) tool

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Whether you are a micro enterprise, a small business, or a global corporation, ReMA tool equips you with the insights needed to measure, improve, and disclose your resilience.

    Start your assessment and build a stronger, more resilient future.

    In an age of increasing uncertainty, organizations across all sectors face new and unforeseen challenges that are becoming business as usual. These challenges can stem from climate change, cyber-crime, fraud, AI advancements, or other sources of disruption that could be transformational or reputational.

    Resilience is vital for any enterprise to survive and thrive in a complex and volatile environment. This ability to adapt and grow amid challenges is not only beneficial for the enterprises themselves, but also extends to impact all their stakeholders and surrounding communities.

    The four levels represent stages of resilience maturity, serving as convenient boundaries to categorize progress.

    However, it’s important to recognize that resilience maturity is fundamentally subjective. You may find your organization performing well in some areas while needing improvement in others. The maturity level you aim for may also vary depending on your organization’s size, complexity, and priorities. Although Levels 1 to 4 are distinct categories, it’s more accurate to view resilience as a continuous spectrum.

    The model allows you to benchmark your own maturity against certain criteria. This generates a benchmark band which you should strive to achieve.

    The ReMA tool uses six operational pillars that are recurrent in resilience practices to assess enterprise maturity.

    “Business, professional associations and private sector financial institutions, including financial regulators and accounting bodies, as well as philanthropic foundations, to integrate disaster risk management, including business continuity, into business models and practices through disaster-risk-informed investments, especially in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (p. 23).” 

    – Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Invest Hong Kong promotes Hong Kong’s business advantages in Beijing and Tianjin (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Invest Hong Kong promotes Hong Kong’s business advantages in Beijing and Tianjin
         During her visit, Ms Lee met with numerous companies to understand their overseas strategies, while promoting Hong Kong business opportunities. She highlighted Hong Kong’s unique role as a “super connector” between the Mainland and global markets under the “one country, two systems” framework. She will also follow up with Beijing-based companies that recently joined the Business Delegation led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to the Middle East.
        
         In Beijing and Tianjin, InvestHK held thematic discussions with organisations such as the China Alcoholic Drinks Association to showcase the immense opportunities for liquor businesses following Hong Kong’s reduction in liquor duty. InvestHK also co-organised a series of promotional activities with industry associations, including policy exchange sessions and seminars on global expansion for F&B enterprises.
     
         InvestHK yesterday (May 28) hosted a thematic roundtable event in Beijing with F&B industry representatives to exchange views on overseas expansion and Hong Kong’s investment policies. Ms Lee explained that Hong Kong serves as a vital bridge between the Mainland and international markets, offering unparalleled business advantages for Mainland enterprises to expand overseas.
     
         “As a world-renowned culinary capital, Hong Kong is an ideal testing ground for F&B brands aiming to internationalise,” said Ms Lee. “The city’s diverse consumer base enables brands to validate product acceptance across cultures. With a robust influx of international visitors, brands can also benefit from strong word-of-mouth marketing. Hong Kong’s mature F&B ecosystem provides an ideal platform for innovation, while local talent with international prospective and global experience offers a solid foundation for international expansion,” she said.
     
         The Head of Tourism and Hospitality at InvestHK, Ms Sindy Wong, gave a detailed overview of Hong Kong’s F&B market advantages and how the city can support Mainland enterprises in scaling their overseas presence. The Associate Director of the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing (Beijing Office) , Ms Eunice Chan, delivered  welcome remarks at the event.
     
         InvestHK today (May 29) visited Tianjin to engage with major local wine companies to promote Hong Kong’s latest policies on the alcohol industry. A seminar entitled Leveraging Hong Kong’s Advantages to Support Tianjin F&B Enterprises Going Global was held, co-organised by Hong Kong Bauhinia College and the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, and supported by the Tianjin Liaison Unit of the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, and the Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce.
     
         In her welcome remarks, Ms Lee said, “Tianjin and Hong Kong have long enjoyed close economic and trade ties. Hong Kong is Tianjin’s largest source of foreign investment and a vital platform for local enterprises to go global. With its unique advantages of having the staunch support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, Hong Kong’s thriving culinary economy presents opportunities for Mainland brands to grow their brand influence. Tianjin enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s open and internationalised environment to accelerate their global expansion. “She highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a vital international gateway, capable of helping Tianjin culinary brands set sail for overseas markets and expand their global presence.
     
         Ms Wong shared an in-depth analysis of Hong Kong’s market environment, along with practical case studies, and the HKSAR Government’s latest policies to attract businesses, encouraging them to utilise the Hong Kong platform for outbound investment.
     
         The Chairman of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, Ms Han Xiuyun, delivered welcome remarks, pledging to deepen economic, trade, and investment co-operation, particularly in the catering sector, between Tianjin and Hong Kong, enabling enterprises from both places to capitalise on their respective strengths for mutual development.
     
         During the professional services sharing session, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Beijing Yingke (Hangzhou) Law Firm and Director of Yingke Global Catering Enterprise (outbound investment) Service Center, Mr Chen Shaojun, and the Chief Immigration Officer of the Beijing Office, Mr Xarier Wong, delivered keynote speeches on Hong Kong’s professional services and talent schemes to attendees. Vice President of Xiabu Xiabu Group, Ms Zhang Yanmei, shared experiences on the company’s business set-up and growth in Hong Kong, encouraging catering businesses to stronglyconsider Hong Kong’s platform for brand internationalisation.
     
         The seminar also featured a Q&A session for enterprises interested in setting up in Hong Kong. Hong Kong representatives addressed their queries in detail. The event attracted more than 80 representatives from Tianjin businesses, institutions, and media.
     
         For photos of the seminar, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326484438Issued at HKT 18:42

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Silicon Cyprus

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Ioannis Kasinopoulos and his friend Yiannis Zambas set up Electryone AI in 2023 with a “strong belief and no outside financing.” The belief was in their software, which uses artificial intelligence to make batteries that store renewable energy more efficient and profitable. They also believed in the importance of the transition to a clean, green economy. Without external funding, however, belief could only get them so far.

    The two young Cypriots, who had previously been at Meta, McKinsey and Palantir, worked hard to find pre-seed financing and some angel investors from their bases in London and Spain, including Genesis Ventures, a Greek venture capital firm backed by the European Investment Fund. Then they got an unexpected surprise—venture capital financing from their home island, where support for startups has been limited. 33East Venture Capital, a Nicosia-based venture capital fund supported by the Cyprus Equity Fund, started making investments from its €26 million fund this year, and it backed Electryone AI with €400 000 in January.

    “We were very happy to have people from Cyprus being part of this,” says Kasinopoulos, who was born in Nicosia. “We had tried to raise money in Cyprus, but we didn’t really get anywhere. There are companies in the energy space, but they didn’t understand software or venture capital. They wouldn’t take that much risk.”

    For technology and innovation startups in Cyprus, 33East’s new fund could be a gamechanger, reversing a brain drain that has seen talented Cypriots leave, largely for London. Though the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ranks Cyprus seventh in the European Union for early stage entrepreneurial activity, venture capital investment in Cyprus is scarce, according to a report by the University of Cyprus’s Centre for Entrepreneurship.

    “There has been no formal path for startups to follow, so either companies died or left Cyprus to seek financing,” says Yiannis Eftychiou, one of two 33East cofounders. “There has been a drain of quality talent from Cyprus. But we see a lot of opportunity in Cyprus.”

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Economic governance – 28-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The term ‘economic governance’ refers to the system of institutions and procedures established to achieve the EU’s economic objectives, namely to promote economic and social progress for the EU and its citizens. The previous system of economic and fiscal coordination was shown to be inadequate in the face of the financial, fiscal and economic crises that began in 2008. Improvements to the EU’s economic governance include stronger coordination and surveillance of both fiscal and macroeconomic policies and the establishment of a framework for the management of financial crises.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Is Sudan’s war the reason for South Sudan’s economic crisis? What’s really going on with oil revenue

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jan Pospisil, Associate Professor at the Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University

    The civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has had an impact on its neighbours. One of the most keenly affected countries is South Sudan, which became an independent state in 2011 and went on to endure its own civil war. This ended in 2018 with a tenuous peace agreement.

    The impact of the Sudanese war on South Sudan, however, isn’t a straightforward spillover catastrophe. The picture is more nuanced, and this is most clearly seen in South Sudan’s oil economy. Jan Pospisil, who has studied the dynamics in Sudan and South Sudan, explains.

    What is the current status of oil exports from South Sudan through Sudan?

    Landlocked South Sudan is reliant on its neighbour to the north to transport oil from its fields to the international market. Crude oil is transported via pipeline to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

    However, recent drone strikes on Port Sudan carried out by the Rapid Support Forces targeted power plants that supply electricity to pumping stations along Sudan’s critical oil pipelines.

    Soon after, the Sudanese army formally notified South Sudan that it would have to halt exports. Following hectic negotiations, the South Sudanese government released a statement that the stoppage could be prevented.

    This back and forth has reopened the pressing question of the impact of Sudan’s war on South Sudan’s economy and, in particular, the role of crude oil.

    Assessments of the impact of Sudan’s war on South Sudan suggest the worst: oil revenues would account for 80% of South Sudan’s budget and 90% of its fiscal revenue.

    This informs the International Monetary Fund’s warnings of looming economic collapse in case of a breakdown of oil exports. The predominant view is that a shutdown of the oil pipeline through Sudan would lead to a collapse of dollar inflows to South Sudan, triggering a severe economic crisis.

    However, South Sudan’s 2024-25 budget suggests a high reliance on non-oil revenue.

    In fact, government oil revenues for 2024-25 are based on a volume of only around 16,000 barrels per day. This is the share of total production of about 130,000 barrels per day controlled by South Sudan. Attempts to increase production to pre-war levels of up to 400,000 barrels failed. The substantial drop in production is explained by a decline in the quality of South Sudan’s oil wells, especially in Paloch in the north-east’s Upper Nile State, and Unity State in the north-central region.

    South Sudan additionally lacks the operational capacity to extract the oil it has in the ground.

    The 2024-25 budget projects a hefty fiscal deficit. The revenues projected will cover only about half of total planned state spending. Oil and non-oil revenues – which mainly include tax income from international NGOs and businesses – each account for about half of the revenue that’s expected to come in.

    Oil income has to account for debt (capital and interest) repayments on loans, as well as pipeline transport fees paid to Sudan. This means that even the optimistically assessed net contributions of oil revenue would only pay for 16% of planned government spending. South Sudan remains with a hefty deficit.

    What are the challenges South Sudan is facing in growing oil revenues?

    First, Petronas, a Malaysian multinational oil and gas company, withdrew from South Sudan in August 2024 after three decades.

    It left behind substantial challenges, including an arbitration process worth more US$1 billion. This followed the government preventing Petronas from selling its shares to the British-Nigerian group Savannah Energy.

    As a short-term solution, South Sudan de facto nationalised Petronas’ shares. It did this by transferring the shares to the state’s oil and gas company, Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet). This was perhaps in the hope of increasing revenue in the short term.

    However, NilePet hasn’t been able to replace Petronas’ production logistics. This has resulted in huge challenges in restoring production to levels before the 2024 pipeline disruptions.

    A second factor is the sale of oil forward. The then finance minister said in 2022 that most of the oil production had been sold in advance until 2027. He later retracted the statement, saying instead that some oil advances were merely “spread up to 2027”. While this walk-back attempted to soften the political fallout, it reinforced wider uncertainty about how much control NilePet actually retains over the revenues formally under its authority.

    Given the limited relevance of oil revenues for the official South Sudanese budget, why the major concern about disruptions?

    There are three reasons.

    First, NilePet plays a structural role in South Sudan’s informal and often dubious hard currency circulation, which international observers would call large-scale corruption. NilePet’s accounts rarely appear in any official financial accounts and are often channelled off-budget. NilePet functions as a black box within the public finance system where real money flows can only rarely be traced. Recent intentions by the president to structurally reform the company might implicitly confirm this.

    Second, there are indirect oil revenues that are important to the country’s security apparatus. This includes protection rents which come from protecting South Sudanese oil fields. This revenue never hits the budget. It pays the National Security Service either directly as salaries, or is reinvested in the considerable conglomerate of companies owned by the security service to multiply profits. Losing this revenue could destabilise the country because the funds are used to pay the salaries of the best-trained and best-equipped security service in the country.

    Third, South Sudan’s ability to attract new loans depends on the repayment of existing ones. These repayments largely depend on oil production. As the 2024-24 budget shows, South Sudan desperately needs new loans to keep even core state functions operational. Yet, funding from multilateral agencies has dwindled to small-scale loans from the African Development Bank. The International Monetary Fund has currently ended all its funding programmes.

    This is not a result of the war in Sudan. It is due to persistent concerns over insufficient financial governance in South Sudan and the state’s performance. Negotiations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for new loans appear to have stalled, not least because of a default in repayments to Qatar.

    These factors show that the flow of oil to Port Sudan is significant to the availability of hard currency in South Sudan’s economy. But this is in more indirect ways than the outdated claim of an 80% budgetary dependency would suggest.

    The war in Sudan has a significant yet multifaceted impact on South Sudan’s economic health. But Juba’s biggest challenges are internal.

    South Sudan’s economy over the last six years has been mainly dependent on international loans coming in – a flow which has now dried up, resulting in a severe economic crisis unprecedented in the young country’s history.

    – Is Sudan’s war the reason for South Sudan’s economic crisis? What’s really going on with oil revenue
    – https://theconversation.com/is-sudans-war-the-reason-for-south-sudans-economic-crisis-whats-really-going-on-with-oil-revenue-257375

    MIL OSI Africa

  • RBI to continue liquidity operations in line with policy stance

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said it will continue to undertake liquidity management operations in line with its monetary policy stance, to ensure adequate liquidity in the banking system that supports the productive needs of the economy.

    In its annual report for 2024-25, the central bank emphasised the importance of maintaining financial stability while supporting growth, particularly in the backdrop of easing inflation and moderate economic expansion.

    With inflation easing below the target in February and March 2025, largely due to a sharp fall in food prices, the RBI said there is increased confidence in achieving a durable alignment with its medium-term inflation target of 4 per cent over a 12-month horizon.

    Reflecting this, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in April voted unanimously to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.0 per cent, and also shifted its policy stance from neutral to accommodative.

    “Inflation converged towards the target during 2024-25, supported by easing input costs, proactive supply-side measures by the government, and the continued transmission of earlier monetary policy actions,” the RBI noted.

    Headline inflation averaged 4.6 per cent in 2024-25, down from 5.4 per cent in the previous year. This was driven by a broad-based moderation in core inflation to 3.5 per cent and fuel deflation at 2.5 per cent, the report said.

    Liquidity conditions remained in surplus throughout the year. The RBI reported that the average daily net absorption under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) rose to Rs 1,605 crore in 2024-25, compared to Rs 485 crore in the previous year.

    To manage both short-term and structural liquidity, the central bank undertook a series of market operations. These included open market purchases, USD/INR buy-sell swaps, and longer-tenor variable rate repos (VRR). Additionally, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) was reduced by 50 basis points, in two tranches of 25 bps each, to inject durable liquidity into the system.

    The RBI said it would continue to use a mix of instruments to manage both frictional and durable liquidity, while ensuring orderly movement of money market interest rates. It added that the current inflation outlook, combined with moderate growth, provides space for the monetary policy to remain supportive of growth, while staying alert to global uncertainties.

    IANS

  • Indian delegation in Indonesia calls for global unity against terrorism, highlights India’s zero-tolerance stance

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha engaged with Indonesian scholars, researchers, and think tank representatives on Thursday, reaffirming India’s uncompromising stand against terrorism and calling for stronger regional cooperation to maintain peace and stability.

    The delegation is in Indonesia as part of a broader diplomatic outreach following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

    During the interactions, the delegation presented India’s “zero tolerance” policy on terrorism and urged the academic and policy community in Indonesia to support global efforts in identifying, isolating, and acting against terrorism and its enablers.

    Addressing the gathering, Jha praised the Indonesian government and President Prabowo Subianto for their swift condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and their expression of solidarity with the Indian people. He stressed that India will not tolerate any form of “nuclear blackmail” and warned that those sheltering terrorists cannot hide behind the so-called nuclear umbrella.

    “Any future terrorist incidents on Indian soil will be met with resolute and decisive military action,” he said. “India, along with other countries like Indonesia, has a zero tolerance for terrorism, and to implement this, India will not make any distinction hereafter between terrorists and countries that promote them.”

    Jha said the delegation held productive meetings with the Vice Chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, the Chairperson of the India-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Secretary General of ASEAN, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. He noted that Indonesian officials offered unequivocal support for India’s anti-terror stance.

    “We have been holding interactions and seeking support from Indonesia in locating terrorism, its backers, and financiers, sponsors at all crucial international forums and intergovernmental organisations. In the fight against terrorism, there is no neutral voice, every country needs to be together to fight terrorism,” Jha said.

    “Every stakeholder, including think tanks and academia, has to play its role to counter extremist narrative and combat terrorism in all its forms. Today, we seek support from the think tank community and academia community in Indonesia who influence and enable policymakers to draft strategies for the future,” he added.

    Speaking to IANS, Jha described the response from Indonesian counterparts as “very positive,” noting the country’s multicultural fabric and shared values with India.

    “Indonesia is a multicultural society with a Muslim majority, yet there is great respect here for India’s stance,” said Jha

    Other members of the delegation echoed Jha’s sentiments.

    BJP MP Brij Lal said, “The engagement in Indonesia has been encouraging. We met ASEAN ambassadors, local leaders, and think tanks — all reaffirmed their belief that India is a peace-loving nation. As the world’s fourth-largest economy, India is focused on becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

    Congress MP Salman Khurshid acknowledged concerns about regional narratives influenced by Pakistan but was heartened by Indonesia’s clear understanding. Before coming here, we were informed that we should observe how active Pakistan has been in this region and what narratives have been shared. But I am very pleased to see that Indonesia’s outlook is very positive. Their experiences and situations closely resemble those of our country. We received a very positive response from here. The people of Indonesia are also concerned about terrorism and have faced it themselves. They fully understand our concerns and challenges,” he said.

    BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi described the visit as “very successful,” saying, “Everyone we interacted with — politicians, academics, and citizens — stood firmly against terrorism. There is a shared desire for peace and a strong recognition of India’s peaceful nature and resilience.”

    She added that similar sentiments were expressed in previous stops, including Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. “All countries we visited have opposed terrorism and stood with India in these testing times.”

    The all-party delegation also includes BJP MPs Hemang Joshi and Pradan Baruah, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) MP John Barittas, and former Indian Ambassador to France, Mohan Kumar.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Bengal’s development crucial to building a Viksit Bharat: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underscored the pivotal role of West Bengal in India’s vision of becoming a developed nation, saying that the dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ cannot be realised without the progress of the state.

    Addressing a large public gathering in Alipurduar, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts.

    Highlighting Bengal’s strategic and cultural importance, PM Modi said, “The land of Alipurduar is connected not just by borders but by cultures. On one side lies Bhutan, and on the other, Assam. One side carries the heritage of Jalpaiguri, while the other reflects the pride of Cooch Behar. It is an honour to be among you in this prosperous region.”

    He emphasised that the Centre is accelerating innovation and development across West Bengal through a series of infrastructure projects. “As India advances towards becoming a Viksit Rashtra, Bengal’s partnership is both necessary and valuable. With this in mind, the central government is driving forward innovation, infrastructure, and development in the state,” he said.

    Inaugurating the CGD projects, PM Modi said, “The development of Bengal forms the foundation of India’s future, and today’s launch strengthens that foundation. The City Gas Distribution project will provide safe, reliable, and affordable gas pipelines to over 2.5 lakh homes, reducing dependence on LPG cylinders.”

    Describing the CGD initiative as a milestone in energy accessibility, he added, “This is not just a pipeline project—it exemplifies the government’s commitment to delivering schemes to the doorstep of the people. India has made unprecedented progress in the energy sector in recent years and is now moving towards a gas-based economy.”

    The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s achievements in expanding access to clean energy. “In 2014, there were fewer than 14 crore LPG connections across the country. Today, that number has crossed 31 crore. The dream of reaching every household with gas is being realised. We’ve also expanded the LPG distribution network, increasing the number of centres from under 14,000 in 2014 to over 25,000 today, making gas accessible even in remote villages,” he said.

    PM Modi also acknowledged Bengal’s historic contribution to India’s intellectual and scientific progress. “West Bengal has long been a centre of knowledge and science in Indian culture. A developed India cannot be imagined without the development of Bengal. Keeping this in focus, the central government has invested thousands of crores in the state over the last decade.”

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft Days were held at the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    As part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (MIEP), thematic “Rosneft Days” were held for the university students.

    Over the course of two days, representatives of the Central Office and scientific institutes of Rosneft told students about the Company’s projects. The lecture topics covered issues of climate change, the use of renewable energy sources, sustainable development, carbon management and the implementation of climate projects that are relevant to the global energy agenda. The students were also told about the Company’s unique experience in conducting scientific expeditionary work in the Arctic and the evolution of fuels and petrochemical synthesis.

    For visitors of the Company’s theme days, master classes and a business game were organized, and educational films about the activities of Rosneft were shown. In addition, a selection of candidates for admission to the master’s program of the basic department with subsequent internship at Rosneft was also held. 50 applicants from MIEP took part in the selection.

    In May, one of Rosneft’s key partners, the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Cooperation with the institute has been developing for over 20 years, is comprehensive and includes: work with talented youth, retraining and advanced training of the Company’s employees, implementation of the Company’s educational cooperation with foreign universities, development of the institute’s educational infrastructure, support for students and teachers, as well as research work.

    Rosneft was the first fuel and energy company to create a basic department of “Global Energy Policy and Energy Security” at MIEP, which has been operating since 2007. The department trains masters in the program “Energy Strategies of International Oil and Gas Companies”. The curriculum of the program includes practice-oriented courses in special disciplines and a two-year internship for students in the Company’s specialized divisions. The annual admission to the master’s program is 10 people.

    During the operation of the basic department, more than 160 master’s degree students completed a long-term internship at Rosneft. The best graduates of the master’s degree are employed by the Company following the internship.

    The Rosneft Corporate Training Center, created at MIEP, implements more than 20 unique programs for advanced training in regional studies, international law, economics, finance and other areas for the Company’s specific needs. More than 4 thousand employees of the Company have completed training at the Center.

    For high-potential and promising employees of the Company, who are in the personnel reserve, training is provided under the corporate Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a specialization in “International Business in the Oil and Gas Industry”. More than 200 managers and personnel reserves of Rosneft have graduated from the program.

    Rosneft, together with MIEP, is developing cooperation with foreign partner universities.

    Reference:

    Rosneft cooperates with 203 educational partner organizations, including 75 Russian universities. Work with educational institutions is carried out within the framework of the corporate system of continuous education “School – College/University – Enterprise”, which has been in operation since 2005 and ensures a constant influx of young specialists with a high level of training to the Company.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft May 29, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government appoints new Managing Director of Urban Renewal Authority

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government appoints new Managing Director of Urban Renewal Authority 
         The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, “Mr Choi is a veteran architect and has worked in the fields of architecture and property development for a long time. He has a deep understanding of the local land and housing planning, the property market, conservation of historic buildings, green buildings and innovative construction techniques, among others, and is committed to creating quality and vibrant urban living in Hong Kong. I am confident that Mr Choi will lead the URA management in furthering the important task of urban renewal, as well as effectively handling the challenges of building decay while maintaining the financial sustainability of the URA. I look forward to close collaboration with him.”
     
         “I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mr Wai Chi-sing, who is retiring upon completion of his term of office, for his invaluable contributions to the work of the URA over the years. Since taking up the position of Managing Director in 2016, with his exceptional leadership and extensive experience, Mr Wai has led the URA in taking forward various urban renewal initiatives with an innovative mindset. Apart from introducing new planning concepts and measures to enhance the speed and quality of redevelopment through a number of redevelopment projects and district studies, he also adopted a forward-looking mindset to promote building rehabilitation and made significant contributions to advancing sustainable urban renewal,” Ms Linn added.
     
         The Government appointed a consultancy firm last year to conduct an open recruitment exercise for the Managing Director post of the URA. The shortlisted candidates were considered by a selection panel chaired by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the recommendation on the appointment was made to the Chief Executive. Panel members included the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Chairman of the URA, Mr Chow Chung-kong; and Non-Executive Director of the URA Board Mr William Chan Fu-keung.
     
         The URA Managing Director is the URA’s administrative head, responsible for leading project teams to implement the decisions and instructions of the URA Board. The Managing Director is also the Deputy Chairman of its Board.
     
         A brief biography of Mr Choi is as follows:
     
         Mr Choi is an architect by profession. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Chinachem Group from 2018 to August 2024 before his retirement. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of the Nan Fung Development Limited and a Director at Foster + Partners. He previously served as President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design. 
     
         Mr Choi holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of British Columbia in Canada and professional degrees in architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hong Kong and a Master of Arts in Comparative and Public History degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. 
    Issued at HKT 14:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI: Hyperscale Data Subsidiary Ault Capital Group Plans to Launch XRP Lending Platform for U.S. Public Companies in Q3 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (“Hyperscale Data” or the “Company”), today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc. (“ACG”) is planning to launch an enterprise-focused XRP lending platform (the “Platform”) in the third quarter of 2025. The Platform, which will initially be a beta version, is expected to be ACG’s first decentralized finance (“DeFi”) application.

    The Platform will be exclusively available to public companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American and all three tiers of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Eligible applicants will be able to apply to borrow up to a fixed amount of XRP (each, a “Loan”) on terms and conditions negotiated between the applicant and ACG. Once finalized, the Loan details will be posted on-chain. The Loans are expected to be secured by assets of the applicant and/or convertible into registered shares of common stock of the applicant.

    As the Loans are currently anticipated to be repaid in XRP, ACG expects to utilize XRP futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to hedge market exposure, bringing a different approach to risk management and financial sophistication to cryptocurrency-based lending. The Platform will leverage the XRP Ledger to facilitate fast, low cost, and secure lending, backed by ACG’s recently announced initiative to acquire up to $10 million of XRP.

    ACG is seeking to deliver a secure, compliant and institutional-grade solution for blockchain-based lending. The Platform is part of ACG’s broader initiative to tokenize real-world assets, provide alternative financing solutions to listed companies, and facilitate cross-border settlements using blockchain technology. Additional crypto-financial instruments are expected to be announced in the coming months.

    “We are seeking to build infrastructure that merges traditional finance with blockchain technology,” said Milton “Todd” Ault, III, Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. “With the host of enterprise features offered by XRP and the XRP Ledger, institutional borrowers and lenders now have access to integrated hedging and risk management tools as part of their operations.   We look forward to exploring the desire of other publicly traded companies to participate in DeFi transactions that can provide greater transparency, efficiency and security.”

    Hyperscale Data notes that acquisitions of XRP and the development and/or viability of the Platform are subject to various risks and uncertainties, one or more which could result in the planned acquisitions of XRP and the development of the Platform being curtailed, delayed or terminated, including, but not limited to: the volatility in XRP market price; the inability to, or cost prohibitive nature of, adequately hedging market exposure to XRP; the inability of the Company to have sufficient capital to purchase the intended amount of XRP; and regulatory challenges, consents or approvals, if necessary. The Company will continue to monitor market conditions and may increase or decrease its holdings of XRP as it deems appropriate.

    For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data’s public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

    About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

    Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Inc., Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging artificial intelligence (“AI”) ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data’s other wholly owned subsidiary, ACG, is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

    Hyperscale Data expects to divest itself of ACG on or about December 31, 2025 (the “Divestiture”). Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would solely be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, though it may at that time continue to mine Bitcoin. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

    On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”) to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the “ACG Shares”). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be stockholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website at hyperscaledata.com.

    Hyperscale Data Investor Contact:
    IR@hyperscaledata.com or 1-888-753-2235

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Zeo Energy Corp. to Acquire Heliogen, Inc., Expected to Create a Clean Energy Platform for Residential, Commercial, and Utility Markets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Acquisition Seeks to Combine Zeo’s Solar Energy Platform with Heliogen’s Advanced Clean Storage Solutions

    Transaction Represents Culmination of Heliogen’s Comprehensive Strategic Alternatives Review Process

    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. and PASADENA, Calif., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zeo Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: ZEO) (“Zeo Energy,” or “Zeo”), a leading Florida-based provider of residential solar and energy efficiency solutions, and Heliogen, Inc. (OTCQX: HLGN) (“Heliogen”), a provider of on-demand clean energy technology solutions, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger and reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Zeo will acquire all of Heliogen’s outstanding equity securities in an all-stock transaction. The transaction is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    Following the closing of the transaction, Zeo plans to leverage Heliogen’s solutions, brand, intellectual property, capital, and technical talent to establish a division focused on long-duration energy generation and storage for commercial and industrial-scale facilities, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing data centers. The transaction is expected to create a robust clean energy platform spanning residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets, supported by internal financing capabilities and domain expertise.

    Management Commentary

    “Heliogen brings a set of practical solutions to customers, particularly data centers, looking for longer duration energy storage with substantially lower costs than alternatives on the market,” said Tim Bridgewater, CEO of Zeo Energy. “Through this acquisition, we believe that Zeo will be able to accelerate our vision of serving energy consumers across the spectrum – from residential rooftops to larger-scale industrial solar and storage applications to build an energy platform at scale.”

    “We believe this combination offers a compelling opportunity for Heliogen stockholders through the opportunity to participate in the substantial growth potential of the combined company,” added Christiana Obiaya, CEO of Heliogen. “We believe that Zeo’s proven track record and network of customers can enhance the value creation opportunities for Heliogen’s solutions and technical capabilities, while enhancing liquidity for stockholders. We’re proud to be joining forces to scale practical, dispatchable clean energy solutions. This transaction is the result of the Heliogen Board’s comprehensive review of strategic alternatives. Our Board is unanimous in its belief that this transaction is the optimal path forward and in the best interest of our stockholders.”

    Strategic Rationale

    • Expanded Market Reach: The transaction unites Zeo’s existing residential solar and storage footprint with Heliogen’s long-duration energy storage expertise. Heliogen’s commercial and utility-scale thermal storage solutions address mission-critical power quality and energy capacity issues faced by AI and cloud computing data centers, while concurrently aiding grid stability.
    • Operational Synergies: The transaction is expected to streamline costs and reduce corporate overhead, while retaining core technical and commercial talent.
    • Strengthened Balance Sheet: At close, Zeo anticipates benefiting from Heliogen’s incremental liquidity, supporting investments for future growth in the solar and energy storage space.
    • Enhanced Financing Capabilities: Zeo’s affiliated financing arm, which has provided over $44 million in clean energy tax equity financing to date, has the ability to be used for future Heliogen utility-scale and long-duration energy storage projects.
    • Accelerated Growth Opportunities: The transaction seeks to position Zeo to capitalize on increasing demand for resilient, cost-effective, low-carbon energy infrastructure, supported by favorable long-term tailwinds and potential tax equity investments.

    Transaction Details and Closing Timeline

    Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon the closing of the transaction, Heliogen’s securityholders will receive shares of Zeo’s Class A common stock valued at approximately $10 million in the aggregate, based on a Zeo Class A common stock price of $1.5859 per share, and subject to an adjustment mechanism based on Heliogen’s net cash at the closing.

    The proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by Heliogen’s stockholders, as well as Heliogen having a specified minimum amount of net cash at the closing. Certain Heliogen stockholders holding approximately 23% of Heliogen’s outstanding shares of common stock have entered into voting agreements, pursuant to which they have agreed, among other things, to vote all of such shares in favor of the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction will not require the approval of Zeo’s stockholders under Nasdaq rules.

    Advisors

    Piper Sandler & Co. is acting as financial advisor and Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP is acting as legal counsel to Zeo.

    Pickering Energy Partners is acting as financial advisor and Cooley LLP is acting as legal counsel to Heliogen.

    About Zeo Energy Corp.

    Zeo Energy Corp. is a Florida-based regional provider of residential solar, distributed energy, and energy efficiency solutions. Zeo Energy focuses on high-growth markets with limited competitive saturation. With its differentiated sales approach and vertically integrated offerings, Zeo serves customers who desire to reduce high energy bills and contribute to a more sustainable future. For more information on Zeo Energy Corp., please visit www.zeoenergy.com.

    About Heliogen, Inc.

    Heliogen (OTCQX: HLGN) is a renewable energy technology company that provides solutions for delivering cost-effective, low-carbon energy production around the clock. By combining commercially proven solar technologies with thermal systems expertise, Heliogen supports customers in achieving a practical transition to cleaner energy. For more information about Heliogen, please visit www.heliogen.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act“), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Zeo and/or Heliogen. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, such as statements regarding the structure, timing, and completion of the proposed transaction between Zeo and Heliogen and the vision, goals, and trajectory of Zeo following the proposed transaction. The words “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and similar references to future periods may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Zeo’s or Heliogen’s views as of any subsequent date, and neither Zeo nor Heliogen undertakes any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, Zeo’s Heliogen’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of Zeo or Heliogen to terminate the Merger Agreement; the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close when expected or at all because the conditions to closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all, including the failure to timely obtain stockholder approval for the proposed transaction from Heliogen’s stockholders, if at all; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction are not realized when expected or at all; the possibility that the vision, goals, and trajectory of Zeo following the proposed transaction are not timely achieved or realized, if at all; the possibility that the integration of the two companies may be more difficult, time-consuming, or costly than expected; the possibility that the proposed transaction may be more expensive or take longer to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Zeo, Heliogen or others related to the proposed transaction; Zeo’s or Heliogen’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; Zeo’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on Nasdaq; limited liquidity and trading of Zeo’s or Heliogen’s securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Zeo or Heliogen may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; operational risk; litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on Zeo’s or Heliogen’s resources; and other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in Zeo’s and Heliogen’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in subsequent periodic reports and other filings with the SEC. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Zeo or Heliogen, or their respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that Zeo or Heliogen will achieve their objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the proposed transaction, Zeo and Heliogen intend to file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), which will include a proxy statement of Heliogen that will also constitute a prospectus of Zeo with respect to the shares of class A common stock of Zeo to be issued in the proposed transaction (the “proxy statement/prospectus”). After the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Heliogen. This press release is not a substitute for any registration statement or proxy statement/prospectus, or other documents Zeo and/or Heliogen may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed acquisition. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, STOCKHOLDERS AND INVESTORS OF HELIOGEN AND ZEO ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY HELIOGEN AND/OR ZEO WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Zeo and Heliogen with the SEC, when filed, will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Heliogen online at investors.heliogen.com, and will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Zeo online at investors.zeoenergy.com.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    This press release is not a solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. However, under SEC rules, Heliogen, Zeo and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the interests of Heliogen’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Heliogen’s stock is set forth in Heliogen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025 (the “2024 Heliogen 10-K”). Information regarding the interests of Zeo’s directors and executive officers is set forth in Zeo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on May 28, 2025 (the “2024 Zeo 10-K”). To the extent that either Zeo’s or Heliogen’s directors and executive officers and their respective affiliates have acquired or disposed of security holdings since the “as of” date indicated in the 2024 Zeo 10-K or 2024 Heliogen 10-K, such transactions have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 or amendments to beneficial ownership reports on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC.

    Additional information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed acquisition when it is filed with the SEC. These documents (when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, from Heliogen’s website at https://investors.heliogen.com/ and from Zeo’s website at https://investors.zeoenergy.com/.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or the solicitation of any proxy, vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    Zeo Energy Corp. Contacts

    For Investors:
    Tom Colton and Greg Bradbury
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    For Media:
    Zach Kadletz
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    Heliogen Contacts

    Investors Contact:
    Phelps Morris
    Chief Financial Officer
    Phelps.Morris@heliogen.com

    Heliogen Media Contact:
    Cory Ziskind
    ICR, Inc.
    HeliogenPR@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is Sudan’s war the reason for South Sudan’s economic crisis? What’s really going on with oil revenue

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jan Pospisil, Associate Professor at the Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University

    The civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has had an impact on its neighbours. One of the most keenly affected countries is South Sudan, which became an independent state in 2011 and went on to endure its own civil war. This ended in 2018 with a tenuous peace agreement.

    The impact of the Sudanese war on South Sudan, however, isn’t a straightforward spillover catastrophe. The picture is more nuanced, and this is most clearly seen in South Sudan’s oil economy. Jan Pospisil, who has studied the dynamics in Sudan and South Sudan, explains.

    What is the current status of oil exports from South Sudan through Sudan?

    Landlocked South Sudan is reliant on its neighbour to the north to transport oil from its fields to the international market. Crude oil is transported via pipeline to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

    However, recent drone strikes on Port Sudan carried out by the Rapid Support Forces targeted power plants that supply electricity to pumping stations along Sudan’s critical oil pipelines.

    Soon after, the Sudanese army formally notified South Sudan that it would have to halt exports. Following hectic negotiations, the South Sudanese government released a statement that the stoppage could be prevented.

    This back and forth has reopened the pressing question of the impact of Sudan’s war on South Sudan’s economy and, in particular, the role of crude oil.

    Assessments of the impact of Sudan’s war on South Sudan suggest the worst: oil revenues would account for 80% of South Sudan’s budget and 90% of its fiscal revenue.

    This informs the International Monetary Fund’s warnings of looming economic collapse in case of a breakdown of oil exports. The predominant view is that a shutdown of the oil pipeline through Sudan would lead to a collapse of dollar inflows to South Sudan, triggering a severe economic crisis.

    However, South Sudan’s 2024-25 budget suggests a high reliance on non-oil revenue.

    In fact, government oil revenues for 2024-25 are based on a volume of only around 16,000 barrels per day. This is the share of total production of about 130,000 barrels per day controlled by South Sudan. Attempts to increase production to pre-war levels of up to 400,000 barrels failed. The substantial drop in production is explained by a decline in the quality of South Sudan’s oil wells, especially in Paloch in the north-east’s Upper Nile State, and Unity State in the north-central region.

    South Sudan additionally lacks the operational capacity to extract the oil it has in the ground.

    The 2024-25 budget projects a hefty fiscal deficit. The revenues projected will cover only about half of total planned state spending. Oil and non-oil revenues – which mainly include tax income from international NGOs and businesses – each account for about half of the revenue that’s expected to come in.

    Oil income has to account for debt (capital and interest) repayments on loans, as well as pipeline transport fees paid to Sudan. This means that even the optimistically assessed net contributions of oil revenue would only pay for 16% of planned government spending. South Sudan remains with a hefty deficit.

    What are the challenges South Sudan is facing in growing oil revenues?

    First, Petronas, a Malaysian multinational oil and gas company, withdrew from South Sudan in August 2024 after three decades.

    It left behind substantial challenges, including an arbitration process worth more US$1 billion. This followed the government preventing Petronas from selling its shares to the British-Nigerian group Savannah Energy.

    As a short-term solution, South Sudan de facto nationalised Petronas’ shares. It did this by transferring the shares to the state’s oil and gas company, Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet). This was perhaps in the hope of increasing revenue in the short term.

    However, NilePet hasn’t been able to replace Petronas’ production logistics. This has resulted in huge challenges in restoring production to levels before the 2024 pipeline disruptions.

    A second factor is the sale of oil forward. The then finance minister said in 2022 that most of the oil production had been sold in advance until 2027. He later retracted the statement, saying instead that some oil advances were merely “spread up to 2027”. While this walk-back attempted to soften the political fallout, it reinforced wider uncertainty about how much control NilePet actually retains over the revenues formally under its authority.

    Given the limited relevance of oil revenues for the official South Sudanese budget, why the major concern about disruptions?

    There are three reasons.

    First, NilePet plays a structural role in South Sudan’s informal and often dubious hard currency circulation, which international observers would call large-scale corruption. NilePet’s accounts rarely appear in any official financial accounts and are often channelled off-budget. NilePet functions as a black box within the public finance system where real money flows can only rarely be traced. Recent intentions by the president to structurally reform the company might implicitly confirm this.

    Second, there are indirect oil revenues that are important to the country’s security apparatus. This includes protection rents which come from protecting South Sudanese oil fields. This revenue never hits the budget. It pays the National Security Service either directly as salaries, or is reinvested in the considerable conglomerate of companies owned by the security service to multiply profits. Losing this revenue could destabilise the country because the funds are used to pay the salaries of the best-trained and best-equipped security service in the country.

    Third, South Sudan’s ability to attract new loans depends on the repayment of existing ones. These repayments largely depend on oil production. As the 2024-24 budget shows, South Sudan desperately needs new loans to keep even core state functions operational. Yet, funding from multilateral agencies has dwindled to small-scale loans from the African Development Bank. The International Monetary Fund has currently ended all its funding programmes.

    This is not a result of the war in Sudan. It is due to persistent concerns over insufficient financial governance in South Sudan and the state’s performance. Negotiations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for new loans appear to have stalled, not least because of a default in repayments to Qatar.

    These factors show that the flow of oil to Port Sudan is significant to the availability of hard currency in South Sudan’s economy. But this is in more indirect ways than the outdated claim of an 80% budgetary dependency would suggest.

    The war in Sudan has a significant yet multifaceted impact on South Sudan’s economic health. But Juba’s biggest challenges are internal.

    South Sudan’s economy over the last six years has been mainly dependent on international loans coming in – a flow which has now dried up, resulting in a severe economic crisis unprecedented in the young country’s history.

    Jan Pospisil receives funding from the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep), funded by UK International Development from the UK government. However, the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. Any use of this work should acknowledge the authors and the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform.

    ref. Is Sudan’s war the reason for South Sudan’s economic crisis? What’s really going on with oil revenue – https://theconversation.com/is-sudans-war-the-reason-for-south-sudans-economic-crisis-whats-really-going-on-with-oil-revenue-257375

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    Two statements from world leaders this week bear closer examination. On May 27, the US president Donald Trump took to his Truth Social social media channel to proclaim that if it wasn’t for him, “lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia”. The following day the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, announced that his country would assist Ukraine in developing long-range missiles to deploy against targets inside Russia. Both statements are quite extraordinary.

    Even by Trump’s own standards, the public declaration by a sitting US president that he is protecting the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is unprecedented. Putin is under indictment for war crimes and has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for more than three years after having illegally annexed Crimea over a decade ago. There can now be no doubt left that the US has become an unreliable ally for Ukraine and its European partners.

    This is the context in which Merz’s announcement of increasing defence cooperation with Ukraine becomes significant. While Trump continues to chase an impossible deal with Putin – even after threatening to abandon his mediation efforts less than ten days ago – Germany has doubled down on Ukraine’s defence.

    Not only that, but as the EU’s largest and Nato’s second-largest economy, Germany is now also aiming to turn its Bundeswehr (the German army, navy and air force) into the “strongest conventional army in Europe”. Its most senior military officer and chief of defence, Carsten Breuer, has published plans for a rapid and wide-ranging expansion of defence capabilities.


    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.


    Germany is finally beginning to pull its weight in European defence and security policy. This is absolutely critical to the credibility of the EU in the face of the threat from Russia. Berlin has the financial muscle and the technological and industrial potential to make Europe more of a peer to the US when it comes to defence spending and burden sharing. This will be important to salvage what remains of Nato in light of a highly probable American down-scaling – if not complete abandonment – of its past security commitments to the alliance.

    After decades of failing to develop either a grand strategy to deal with Russia or the hard power capabilities that need to underpin it, achieving either will take some time. But it is important to acknowledge that some critical first steps have been taken by the new German government.

    Facing a growing threat

    For Germany, and much of the rest of Europe, the investment in more defence capabilities does not simply require producing more ammunition or procuring more advanced defence systems. These are important – but what is also needed is a significant investment in developing manpower. This means either finding more volunteers or reintroducing conscription, which is now no longer a taboo in Germany.

    Sending a whole new brigade to Lithuania, in its first international deployment since the second world war, is an important signal to Nato allies about Germany’s commitment to the alliance. It is also a clear signal to Russia that Germany finally is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to containing the threat from Russia. It’s a threat which has grown significantly since the beginning of the Kremlin’s full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    The three years of Russia’s war against its neighbour have also highlighted the threat that Russia poses beyond Ukraine’s borders. The war against Ukraine has exposed European vulnerabilities and its dependence on the US. And it has taught military planners important lessons about what a future confrontation with Russia might look like. This is why Germany’s military planners have identified air defence systems, precision strike capabilities, drones, and electronic and cyber warfare assets as procurement priorities.

    Beyond Germany, the signs have have been that Europe more broadly is beginning to learn to stand on its own feet when it comes to its security. For the continent, the challenge is threefold. It needs to beef up its defence spending in light of the ongoing war against Ukraine and Russian threats to expand it further. Europe also needs to come to terms with the dismantling of the transatlantic alliance by Trump. And, finally, there is a populist surge that threatens the very foundations of European democracy and risks undermining efforts to stand up to both Trump and Putin. This has been given extra fuel by the alignment of Trump’s “America-first” Maga movement with Putin’s Russia.

    Major challenges ahead

    These are enduring challenges with no quick fixes. The first test of this apparent new-found European mettle will be the war in Ukraine. Giving Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia is not a new development. Such a move was first taken by the then US president, Joe Biden, in November 2024 when he authorised Ukraine to launch limited strikes into Russia using US-made long-range missiles, followed by similar authorisations from London and Paris at the time, but not Berlin.

    Now, as then, how effective this will be depends not only on how many actual missiles Ukraine has but also on whether US intelligence sharing will continue. This is crucial for targeting. What’s more, effectiveness will also be difficult to measure. In a best-case scenario, Ukraine will now be able to stave off Russia’s reportedly impending summer offensive.

    The Kremlin has already indicated its displeasure and ratcheted up its nuclear sabre rattling.

    Trump, meanwhile, remains all talk when it comes to putting any pressure on Russia. By contrast, the Europeans, for once, are much more action orientated, which is another indication of the increasing rift across the Atlantic.

    This does not mean an end to transatlantic relations and pragmatic cooperation, as demonstrated by the meeting between the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, which happened almost simultaneously with Trump’s and Merz’s statements.

    What it does mean, however, is that Europe’s security now entirely depends on whether key players on the continent can muster the will to mobilise the resources required to defend the continent against an aggressive foe to the east. Berlin and other European capitals seem to have recognised at long last that this needs to happen. Now they need to demonstrate that they can follow through with swift and decisive action.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    ref. Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security – https://theconversation.com/germany-steps-up-to-replace-unreliable-us-as-guarantor-of-european-security-257735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • India’s real GDP growth projected at 6.5% in FY 2025-26: RBI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected India’s real GDP growth at 6.5 per cent for the financial year 2025-26, with the outlook described as “evenly balanced” amid global uncertainties.

    In its annual report for 2024-25, released on Thursday, the central bank said India is poised to remain the fastest-growing major economy, riding on strong macroeconomic fundamentals, a resilient financial sector, and a continued policy push towards sustainable and inclusive growth.

    This outlook comes despite global headwinds, including financial market volatility, geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, supply chain disruptions, and climate-induced uncertainties — all of which pose downside risks to growth and upside risks to inflation.

    “Amid multiple global headwinds, Indian financial markets exhibited resilience and orderly movements. The central government maintained its fiscal consolidation efforts, supported by buoyant tax revenues and prudent expenditure management. On the external front, the merchandise trade deficit was offset by robust services exports and steady remittance inflows, keeping the current account deficit at a sustainable level,” the RBI noted.

    “The outlook for the Indian economy remains promising,” the RBI said, citing factors such as a revival in consumption demand, the government’s ongoing focus on capital expenditure alongside fiscal consolidation, healthier balance sheets of corporates and banks, and resilience in the services sector.

    The central bank said the agriculture sector could perform well in FY26, buoyed by the forecast of an above-normal southwest monsoon and productivity-oriented policy interventions announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.

    The manufacturing sector is also expected to gain traction, driven by rising domestic demand, higher capacity utilisation and supportive government policies, including the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the National Manufacturing Mission, which are aimed at reinforcing the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

    “Improving business and consumer sentiment, as reflected in RBI’s forward-looking surveys, underlines optimism in both manufacturing and services sectors,” the report said.

    IANS