Category: Economy

MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Cassidy, colleagues introduce legislation to help Americans better plan for retirement

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) reintroduced legislation to enhance Americans’ retirement security by ensuring they have the information they need to make more informed decisions about when to begin claiming Social Security benefits.
“Social Security is the foundation of most older Americans’ retirement plans, but many of them don’t have the information they need to maximize the social security benefits that they’ve earned,” said Senator Coons. “This is a commonsense solution that makes it easier for every American to make an informed decision about when to claim benefits at the best time and get the most out of their retirement income.”
“Americans have earned their benefits. When planning for retirement, let’s make sure they have the best information available and receive what they deserve,” said Senator Cassidy.
One of the key financial decisions facing older Americans is when to claim Social Security retirement benefits. Social Security benefits are available to Americans who are as young as age 62, but those who choose to claim their benefits later receive higher monthly payments, with maximum benefits available to those who claim at age 70 or older. Most people do not claim benefits at the age that would maximize their income in retirement. By doing so, they forgo a significant amount of retirement income. To provide additional clarity for Americans deciding when to claim their benefits, this legislation changes the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) terminology from “early eligibility age,” “full retirement age,” and “delayed retirement credits” to “minimum monthly benefit age,” “standard monthly benefit age,” and “maximum monthly benefit age” to better reflect how the program works.
The legislation would also help Americans better plan for retirement by requiring the SSA to mail Social Security statements about how much a person has paid into Social Security and Medicare every five years to individuals with Social Security accounts between the ages of 25 and 54, every two years for those between the ages of 55 and 59, and annually for those 60 and above.
You can read the bill text on nomenclature here. You can read the bill text on regular statements for beneficiaries here.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Outlines Roadmap for America’s Industrial Comeback

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson delivered closing remarks at the Hill and Valley Forum that detailed how President Trump and Republicans in Congress are laying the groundwork for America’s industrial renewal.

Click here to watch the full speech

Read Speaker Johnson’s remarks below:

I want to talk to you about an important issue that I know is top of mind for all of you and that’s about some long-held assumptions. There’s a long-held assumption out there that government and innovation must be at odds. We don’t believe that. You don’t believe that.

But I think today’s thoughtful and insightful conversations – and most of American history for that matter – actually tell a different story. Many of our most consequential innovations have emerged from a healthy interplay between private ingenuity and public engagement.

Today, America is eager to get back to the days of making and building things again. And rightly so. For the better part of this century, we’ve actually been moving in the opposite direction. From the steel towns of Pennsylvania to the textile mills of the Carolinas, American communities watched as their factories shut down and main streets emptied out. We were told that we could simply innovate here and build elsewhere. The result was a gradual erosion of our industrial strength, which was part of the great strength of America.

In recent years, we’ve seen the consequences of allowing the industrial backbone of our economy to atrophy, whether it’s strategic vulnerabilities in semiconductors, rare earths, and pharmaceuticals, or the regulations that smother businesses and jobs far too often.

Our economy is coming back. We are doing the right things right now. We are making the right decisions to get this going. And that’s after the very damaging effects of Bidenomics the last four years, but we also see warning signs below the surface.

I think we owe it to ourselves to be frank about this because we’re the ones that have to figure this out. Company profits are up, but the productivity of key American industries of course is down. Unemployment is low, but the number of Americans in job market still stagnates still below pre-pandemic levels. And our industrial capacity – the real engine of a resilient economy – has barely begun to recover from decades of neglect.

What we are slowly learning is that our technological and our industrial strength is inextricably linked to our national prosperity and security. People in this room understand that, but others are taking notice.

This situation didn’t happen by accident, it didn’t happen overnight. Decades worth of policymakers made it too easy to offshore entire industries, while providing few incentives to reinvest here in the USA. And it happened because government forgot that its role is not to control the markets, but to cultivate the conditions in which innovation can not only survive, but thrive.

We saw this failure play out in real time under the last administration. I mean this is just objective fact, I don’t want to give you a partisan speech, but we need to look at reality. President Biden put the full weight of government behind clean energy, EVs, and broadband as a way to implement his green new economy. What we got instead was billions in spending with very little to show for it, if anything at all.

The EV charger program has to be one of the worst boondoggles ever. There were fewer than 10 functioning stations built in the first three years. Billions went into these failed programs, while burdensome permitting processes and red tape worked against the very innovation the Administration hoped to spur.

And while Joe Biden paused America’s LNG exports, his Administration enriched adversaries like Russia, who were all too willing to fill this void in the market. Our European allies quite literally had to go get their natural gas and get their energy needs met by Vladimir Putin. It fueled his war machine and caused so much of the chaos we’re still dealing with.

These policies don’t just handicap America and American technology; they fundamentally misunderstood the role of government in our system of free enterprise.

Republicans, and especially President Trump, see things very differently. We believe government’s job is not to pick winners and losers. It’s to set the rules of the road, clear the obstacles, and get out of the way so American capital and ingenuity can get to work.

We have to allow the job creators, and the risk takers, and the entrepreneurs, and the economy to do what they do. government can’t have a boot on the neck of those people and expect them to perform today.

We’ve got an opportunity to reckon with all these failures, to recalibrate appropriately and get America back to being an industrial powerhouse once again. Our survival as a nation, I think, depends upon this. So what role should government actually play? Let me just outline three quick, broad policies that Republicans in Congress are pursuing right now to accomplish all this in concert with the White House, because this is a – we’re trying to operate as a seamless team. You’ll see that we’re working day to day, hand in hand with the administration, and that Republicans who control now both chambers of Congress, because we have unified government, you’ll see the Senate and House Republicans working together in tandem. That’s very deliberate, I think, very, very important.

But three broad policies that we’re pursuing: number one, unleashing abundant American energy. I don’t have to tell the people in this auditorium why that’s so important. Artificial intelligence and data centers are consuming enormous amounts of energy, and this demand is growing exponentially. They come in and show us the charts where the demand goes like this on a chart, and we’re behind the eight ball already, as we know, if we’re to support these innovations and build the jobs and factories of tomorrow, we need reliable, affordable, abundant energy. And that means that unleashing the full potential of American energy and cutting red tape and tapping into every energy source, like commercial nuclear and liquefied natural gas, is just critically important.

Our second priority that we’re trying to pursue here is keeping taxes low and keeping competition in the marketplace. The 2017 Trump tax cuts sparked a real resurgence in American industry. The year after they passed, business investment jumped by roughly 10% real wages grew and companies began to reinvest in US manufacturing again. I mean, quite literally, all boats were rising. We say in these big forums as going around the country to a campaign and say, look, President Trump is a known entity. The first Trump Administration, look at what he did and what he was able to do prior to COVID, we had the greatest economy in the history of the world since we cut taxes and cut regulations. It’s not rocket science. We aspire to get back to that at that time, every boat was rising. I mean literally, every demographic in the country and every region in the country was doing better because these policies were implemented.

Right now, we’re working to make these tax cuts, the tax cuts of the first administration, permanent, not just for families, but also to ensure that American innovators have the confidence to take risks and to reinvest boldly in expanding our industrial base.

The third big priority I wanted to mention today is reducing the size and scope of government. We get two important levers to do that. One is reining in wasteful spending. Number two, it’s cutting back regulations again. Under President Biden, we cross the dangerous threshold of $35 trillion in national debt. This is a dire situation. I know the people in this room understand it. A lot of people back home don’t have a full scope of the threat that this is. When we bring in leaders in the Pentagon or the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the last several years, I served on the House Armed Services Committee, among other assignments. We would ask them, “what is the greatest national threat to our country? What is our top national security concern?” And you would expect them to say, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. They don’t. They say the debt. And it’s true that our interest payments alone are on track to outpace our entire defense fund. It’s not a sustainable situation, and everybody knows that. Our adversaries know it as well.

So we’re working right now on the one big, beautiful bill is the reconciliation process, and we’re going through that. We’re taking an honest look at every corner of the budget, including programs along considered to be “untouchable.” We know that when we work to root out wasteful and abuse, just like any smart business, we make our system and these vital programs more effective and efficient the people who really need and deserve them. And we’ve got all hands on deck to do this at the same time. We need to cut harmful regulations that smother innovation.

All of you run into this, I’m sure at some point or another, may be dealing with it today, but I hope to tell you, in good faith that help is on the way. America’s industrial comeback can’t wait on government bureaucracy. We need to clear the runway for capital to move swiftly into new factories and robotics and advanced automation. Just before COVID, Tesla built its giga factory in Shanghai. They did it in under one year. If you did that same thing here, it would take just as long to pull together the darn permits just to get started building. We can and we must do better. We cannot allow other countries to exceed our performance in that way.

Nowhere is it more necessary for Congress to move with caution than AI. If we over regulate here, which you know, Washington tends to do, we don’t just risk regulating American AI out of existence. We would cede critical grounded China and this fateful race to dominate this new technology, and it’s a race that we cannot afford to lose.

Our priority with AI and technology more broadly, is create an environment that’s competitive and open to new and emerging players, and not just one that benefits the big guys, right?

Let me talk about tariffs briefly, and I know I’m the last speaker today, so I don’t want to give you a long policy speech, but I think some of this is important, and I’m sure it’s timely for you, and it’s probably one of the questions you would ask if we opened it up.

President Trump is taking a serious look at our trade relationships, and it’s something I think that we should applaud. We have been mistreated. We have unfair trade partners around the globe, and this has been going on for quite some time. We’re living in the relic of really, what happened after World War II. Think about it, the historical terms I mean, we emerged as a great superpower, and Europe largely had to be rebuilt. So all these trade agreements were made with America as the new great nation, and the emerging superpower, and they sort of rationalized, “well, Americans can afford it, and we need a break.”

Well, I mean, we’re a long time past World War II. President Trump’s right to point it out. He said, reciprocal trade means it’s got to be fair. He said, every time I talk to him “Mr. President, we’re free traders, free market guys.” He goes “yeah, free and fair trade.” Well, that’s a good point. So tariffs are one tool among many that he’s using to try to do a rebalancing there. He’s trying to rebalance trade and restore a level playing field for American workers and businesses. We’re in uncharted waters on this. This hasn’t been done, so there’s bound to be some market disruption. That’s what we’ve all kind of lived through the last several weeks.

But I trust the President’s instincts here, and I know that American business leaders are tired of tactics from China. They just constantly undercut and outmaneuver American firms. They’ve stolen our IP, everybody here knows it. People are tired of competing with Chinese firms that are propped up by state subsidies and use actual slave labor to produce their products and they steal our intellectual property.

But tariffs are just one part of the equation securing our long-term security and the competitive edge that will depend that we’ll need all that’s going to depend on leaning into innovations like AI and advanced robotics and automation. I really empathize with Americans who feel uneasy about the rapid pace of technology advancement. I get that, but history gives us reason to be optimistic about this. From the automobile to the aircraft to the internet, each new breakthrough has unlocked entirely new industries and professions and forms of prosperity that have worked in our favor. They’ve transformed the way we live. We should always invite and celebrate those advances, because we know the better technology makes our workers more productive, and when our workers are more productive, they earn more, they build more and we see more human flourishing.

At the end of the day, that is our objective. We are trying to bring about human flourishing. That’s the goal of all this. It should be the goal of all of our public policy. Not everybody thinks about it that way, but we’re trying to, we’re trying to change things that they do. We should invite new ideas to reinvigorate our industrial base, not just to decouple from China, although that’s critical, but to give the American people a renewed sense of pride in what we make and what we build and what we export to the world, I have to say I’m incredibly bullish on America, not just because of the talent and ingenuity in this room and across the country, but because of what I’ve seen with my own eyes around the country.

I’ll just leave you with this quick anecdote. Two weeks ago, I was down in south Texas. I visited Saronic. You’ll probably know some of you guys know company. Y’all heard about it earlier on the stage, I think, but its headquarters sit in an unassuming lot right outside downtown Austin. I drove up and I was like, we’re here, but what I saw inside this building was truly extraordinary. What they’re doing is incredible work to bring back American shipbuilding, essentially from the ashes. We’re blessed where I’m from because Saronic is soon expanding manufacturing operation in my home state, Louisiana, and we’re going to welcome them with open arms, because it’s really exciting stuff.

I’m telling this story because that is what American renewal looks like. It’s not just about Silicon Valley or Washington or bringing back the smokestacks of the 50’s. This is about expanding the pool of opportunity for every American in every community, in every corner of this great country. It’s about pioneering innovation. It’s about taking risks and betting big on America. Once again, it can happen anywhere in the country, and we want to bring about the conditions to allow that to happen. And that’s why I’m more confident than ever that our best days still lie ahead of us.

Last thought, because I know you want to go. In July of next year, we’ll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation. This grand experiment in self-governance has lasted two and a half centuries. We have already exceeded the expiration date, the lifespan of a nation like ours, a republic, and we’ve done something totally different that no one had ever done before. America was truly revolutionary. The very concept was and we’re built upon these very firm foundations, these ideas, some of the things I’ve articulated today are made us who we are.

Sometimes in this job, I take the opportunity to go and speak to university and college students, and I’m often alarmed my friends, because I will ask at the beginning, I’ll get on a stage like this, and I’ll say, “would you raise your hand if you agree that you live in the greatest nation in the history of the world?” And sadly, sometimes you get 10-15% of the hands raised in an auditorium like this, I’ll say, “gee, well, you don’t believe in the live in the greatest nation? Would you at least concede you live in a great nation?” Get a few more hands, and then I spend the rest of time explaining to them. I’m a constitutional law attorney. I can put on my case. I need several hours, but I try to convince it, and in 20 minutes or so I say “look, you live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. It’s not even close by any objective measure.” We’re the most successful, most powerful, most free, most benevolent nation that has ever been on the earth.

But there’s a reason that we are, and it’s incumbent upon us as stewards of this great Republic if we are going to keep this grand experiment in self-governance, it is incumbent upon us to understand what those foundations are and to nurture them, to get back to those foundations, because we can’t allow them to be destroyed.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Scholten, Barrett Introduce Bipartisan TRANSPORT Jobs Act to Connect Veterans with Supply Chain Careers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI03) and U.S. Congressman Tom Barrett (MI07) introduced the Transitioning Retiring And New Service Members to Port, Ocean, Rail, and Truck (TRANSPORT) Jobs Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen both veteran employment opportunities and the American supply chain workforce by developing a comprehensive plan to connect veterans with high-demand jobs in the transportation and logistics sector.

“Veterans who have devoted their lives to serving our nation should never face obstacles in finding employment. Our home is the land of the free because of the brave, and it’s our duty to ensure that when their mission ends, a new path begins,” said Scholten. “The least we can do is help streamline the process and identify barriers to a career post-service. That’s why I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan TRANSPORT Jobs Act with Rep. Barrett, which would be an important first step in developing a more conducive job market for veterans in the supply chain industry.”

“No one is better trained or more mission-focused than our veterans, yet too many are left struggling to find meaningful employment after leaving the military,” said Barrett. “It’s time we tear down the roadblocks that stand between those who served and the jobs that need doing in our economy. The TRANSPORT Jobs Act is a critical first step in that process and achieves two goals at once – supporting our veterans and strengthening our nation’s supply chain. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Rep. Scholten and look forward to working together to get it across the finish line.”

Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to work with other federal agencies to develop and release a plan that will identify barriers to hiring veterans in trucking, rail, shipping, and other critical infrastructure roles. It will also require the department to make policy recommendations to eliminate them.

Nearly two-thirds of newly separated service members face challenges transitioning to civilian life with “finding a job” being their top concern. The TRANSPORT Jobs Actaddresses this issue by aligning federal workforce development policy with the needs of both veterans and employers, bolstering economic opportunity, and national resilience.

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Smith Reintroduce Bipartisan Bills to Help Students Navigate College Costs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

Listen to audio from Senator Grassley HERE

WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced three bipartisan bills to help students and families make informed decisions when choosing a college and taking out loans.

From the initial college search, to the acceptance of financial aid, to counseling once in college, the bills would help students avoid sticker shock, find the best school for their budget and avoid taking out ill-advised and oversized loans.

“When it comes to college costs, we ought to focus on fixing the process on the front-end before students get in over their heads. The federal government should be offering commonsense resources to better prepare borrowers. Our bipartisan bills will provide additional counseling, resources and clarity to the student loan process so that students can know before they owe. I’m working to help America’s next generation pursue higher education opportunities without breaking the bank,” Grassley said.

“We need to better equip students and their families with information about the costs of college, from the initial search all the way up to when they receive financial aid offers. My bipartisan bills with Senator Grassley would help fix these problems,” Smith said. “Among other things, we would ensure that financial aid offers can be easily compared between schools, because time and again students and families are faced with inconsistent and incomplete information, making apples-to-apples comparisons impossible. These reforms will help students have more transparency when making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives—how to pay for college and take the next step in their education.”

Legislative Summaries:

The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act would improve the effectiveness of and access to net price calculators. Net price calculators provide students with early, individualized estimates of higher education costs and financial aid figures before they decide where to apply. Rep. Brett Guthrie (Ky.) plans to introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. A summary of the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act is available HERE.

The Understanding the True Cost of College Act would create a universal financial aid offer form and standardize terms used to describe financial aid to allow students to more easily compare financial aid packages between schools. This move aims to prevent troubling findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that over 90% of college financial aid offer letters currently understate the price students would pay. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) are original cosponsors of the bill, and Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. A summary of the Understanding the True Cost of College Act is available HERE.

The Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act would strengthen the Higher Education Act to enhance the current loan counseling requirements for institutions of higher education. The bill would make loan counseling an annual requirement before new loans are disbursed, rather than a one-time requirement for first-time borrowers. The legislation would also allow students to decide exactly how much they would like to borrow, rather than offering the maximum possible loan amount as the default option. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) plans to introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. A summary of the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act is available HERE.

Background:

Grassley has long warned of the fiscal danger posed by blanket cancelation after the fact and is an advocate for increased transparency to empower prospective and current students. Last Congress, Grassley joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in introducing the Student Transparency for Understanding Decisions in Education Net Terms (STUDENT) Act to provide student loan applicants with an estimate of the total amount of interest they would pay prior to accepting a loan.

Click HERE for audio of Grassley discussing this trio of bills, as well as the Education Department’s announcement that it will resume collections for federal borrowers with defaulted loans on May 5.

Support for the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act:

“Education Finance Council supports Senator Grassley’s efforts to improve federal student loan counseling. Students deserve regular and more comprehensive information about paying for postsecondary education, and the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act equips them with the tools they need to make informed decisions,” said Gail daMota, President, Education Finance Council.

“NACAC supports the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2025 as a critical step toward ensuring students receive clear, personalized, and timely information about borrowing. Strengthening loan counseling requirements will help students make informed decisions, minimize unnecessary debt, and navigate a more equitable path to higher education,” said Angel Pérez, CEO, National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Support for the Understanding the True Cost of College Act:

“At uAspire, we advise students every day on finding an affordable path to college—and we see firsthand how confusing and inconsistent financial aid offers can be. Too often, students struggle to understand how much they’ll actually owe or compare costs between schools. Financial aid offers must clearly communicate what students are expected to pay. We’re grateful to Senators Grassley, Smith, Hassan, and Tuberville and Representative Kim for leading the Understanding the True Cost of College Act, which would bring much-needed clarity and transparency to the process,” said Anika Van Eaton, Vice President of Policy, uAspire

“As a longtime advocate for financial aid transparency and consumer protection, I know firsthand how confusing and opaque financial aid offers can be—both from my time counseling low-income students and from over a decade of research at New America. The Understanding the True Cost of College Act is the result of years of evidence, advocacy, and bipartisan collaboration. It’s a commonsense solution that brings higher education in line with other major financial decisions that already require standardized, comparable information—like buying a home, financing a car, or choosing a health plan. This bill ensures that all students can make apples-to-apples comparisons and truly understand how much college will cost. I applaud Senators Grassley, Smith, Hassan, and Tuberville and Representative Kim for championing this long-overdue reform.” Rachel Fishman, Director, Higher Education, New America.

“We applaud Senators Grassley, Smith, Hassan, and Tuberville and Representative Kim for spearheading the Understanding the True Cost of College Act. College is one of the biggest financial decisions facing American families, yet too many higher education institutions continue to provide unclear and misleading cost information. This bipartisan bill would make common-sense reforms and empower students and families by ensuring colleges provide them with clear, transparent, and easily comparable information about expenses and financial aid options,” said Michele Zampini, Senior Director of College Affordability, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS).

“In our work, IECA members witness, firsthand, the difficulty that exists in interpreting financial aid offers from U.S. colleges and universities. This proposed act is a critically important step towards providing students, and their families, with clear, consistent information regarding the accurate cost of higher education pursuits. We, thus, sincerely thank Senator Grassley (and his hardworking staff) for his intent to reintroduce this piece of legislation and strongly urge his fellow senatorial colleagues to cosponsor it, so that Congress can help students across the country make informed decisions about their education that will, in turn, ‘stem the tide’ as it pertains to the issue of staggering student debt,” said Leigh R. Allen II, Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Pacific Crest Services Announces Minority Growth Investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

EAGLE, Idaho, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific Crest Services (“PCS”), a leading platform for independent insurance agents, announced today that it has secured a minority growth investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners (“Long Ridge”), a growth-focused private equity firm with deep experience in the financial technology and services sectors. PCS will continue to operate under the leadership of its existing management team, with no change to day-to-day operations.

PCS has established itself as a premier partner for entrepreneurial agents through its unwavering focus on mission, culture, and agent success. The company serves more than 250 independent agencies across 36 states and maintains relationships with over 250 carriers. The growth capital will fuel continued investment in key areas of the business, including technology, business development, geographic expansion, and capital solutions – all aimed at equipping independent agents with a full suite of tools and resources.

“We’re excited to partner with Long Ridge as we enter this next chapter of growth,” said Shawn Webb, President of PCS. “Their experience scaling high-growth financial services businesses will be invaluable as we continue building a comprehensive platform for entrepreneurial agents to launch, grow, and scale their agencies.”

Shawn Webb and Jason Webb founded PCS in 2008 with a mission to empower independent agents to build and grow successful businesses. Today, PCS provides a unique platform that offers agents access to top carriers, training, back-office support, technology, and compliance resources – enabling agents to better serve their customers and achieve their ambitions.

“PCS offers a strong value proposition to its agents and partners, combining a robust platform with a broad network of carrier relationships,” said Jason Melton, Partner at Long Ridge. “Shawn, Jason, and the PCS team have built a trusted brand within the agent community, and we are excited to support them as they continue to scale and deliver exceptional service to their agents and carrier partners.”

Evolve Capital served as exclusive financial advisor and Wiggin and Dana LLP served as legal counsel to PCS. Choate, Hall, & Stewart LLP served as legal counsel to Long Ridge.

About Pacific Crest Services

Pacific Crest Services (PCS) is a leading insurance alliance dedicated to empowering licensed independent agents. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Eagle, Idaho, PCS provides agents with access to more than 250 national and regional carrier appointments and a full suite of support services, including training, mentorship, and technology tools. Serving a broad base of agents across 36 states, PCS is committed to helping agents start, grow, and scale their businesses with the resources and flexibility they need to succeed. For more information, visit www.pacificcrestservices.com.

About Long Ridge Equity Partners

Founded in 2007, Long Ridge Equity Partners is a private investment firm focused on the financial and business technology sectors. Leveraging deep sector knowledge and an extensive network of industry resources, Long Ridge serves as a value-added partner to high-growth businesses. Since its founding, Long Ridge has sponsored many successful growth companies in the financial and business technology sectors, providing founders and management teams with partnership, strategic resources, and capital to drive profitable expansion. Long Ridge manages over $1.75 billion of committed capital. For more information on Long Ridge Equity Partners, please visit www.long-ridge.com.

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: $53 Million Expansion at Storm King Art Center Complete

Source: US State of New York

overnor Hochul announced the reopening of Storm King Art Center with new buildings and landscapes, including visitor welcome pavilions with consolidated parking and accessible amenities; the construction of a conservation, fabrication, and maintenance building; and a holistic approach to landscape stewardship and environmental sustainability. The $53 million project is supported by a $11.3 million investment from the New York State Council on the Arts, Empire State Development and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

“Storm King Art Center combines world-class art and culture with one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world,” Governor Hochul said. “With this incredible expansion of Storm King Art Center, Hudson Valley will benefit from increased tourism, expanded opportunities for growth and the restorative power of art and culture.”

Storm King Art Center in the Town of New Windsor, Orange County, offers local, national, and international audiences a chance to discover sculpture amid 500 acres of Hudson Valley landscape. In response to growth, Storm King launched a capital project to enhance the visitor experience and protect its art, nature, and people. The completed project includes multiple elements: a ticket and information pavilion, restroom pavilion, and group pavilion — new spaces for visitor hospitality that are united by an outdoor lobby and framed by native plantings; and the state-of-the-art David R. Collens Building for Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance, which supports the museum’s work with artists and the care of its collection. The project also reclaims two former parking lots within the museum grounds, creating five acres of new landscape for art and programming.

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “Critical investments like this demonstrate the Governor and Legislature’s understanding of the importance and impact of our sector and of supporting the diversity of arts and culture across the state. With this support, Storm King will attract thousands of new visitors to experience this breathtaking destination that will serve residents and visitors for generations to come.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “With captivating installations and exhibits set against dramatic views of the Hudson Valley that have inspired artists for generations, Storm King is an only-in-New-York experience. Empire State Development and the Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council are proud to support Storm King’s expansion, which will not only boost intense interest from visitors, residents, and art lovers but also strengthen this cultural destination’s economic impact within the region and across the state.”

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Doreen M. Harris said, “Today we celebrate the power of public-private partnerships to advance energy progress for New Yorkers through creative solutions. The incorporation of sustainable building practices into the new Storm King Art Center visitor experience is an example of how this incredibly important work can blend seamlessly into New York’s existing landscape and support economic development in the Hudson Valley.”

Storm King Executive Director Nora Lawrence said, “I am thrilled to welcome visitors back to Storm King as we unveil the completed capital project and open an exciting exhibition season. This project has resulted in thoughtfully designed spaces that elevate and enhance what Storm King does best–provide people with a singular experience of art in nature. It embodies our mission and commitment to a sustainable future, ensuring that Storm King can thrive and share that experience with generations to come.”

State Senator James Skoufis said, “Storm King Art Center’s capital project is an outstanding, transformative addition for our region, providing for enhanced creative opportunities and proper stewardship of this remarkable place. I am thrilled to witness the Center’s continued expansion of arts education programming and accessibility for all who visit, and I applaud the Governor and Storm King’s leadership for supporting this extraordinary vision.”

Cornwall Town Supervisor Josh Wojehowski said, “Storm King Art Center’s $53 million-dollar visionary project is a good example of what a public private partnership can deliver when local, county and state governments work together on a regionally significant project. The end result will enhance the way visitors, staff, and artists experience the Art Center. The Town of Cornwall and local business community look forward to working with SKAC on creating additional opportunities for Art Center visitors to enhance their trips in our downtown areas and take advantage of all our community has to offer.”

Learn more about Storm King Art Center here.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $162 million for FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov

About New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The project received $600,000 in funding through NYSERDA’s Building Cleaner Communities Competition to implement sustainable building practices, such as air source heat pumps, passive design strategies, energy recovery ventilation, an enhanced building envelope, roof mounted solar, as well as infrastructure 12 electric vehicle charging stations.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: BERKS COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick Off Small Business Week in Hamburg, Highlight Importance of Investing in Our Downtowns and Main Streets

Source: US State of Pennsylvania

May 02, 2025 – Hamburg, PA

ADVISORY – BERKS COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick Off Small Business Week in Hamburg, Highlight Importance of Investing in Our Downtowns and Main Streets

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger will celebrate Small Business Week by touring downtown Hamburg and highlighting the important impact small businesses have on Pennsylvania’s economy. Governor Josh Shapiro has proclaimed May 4 through 10, 2025, as Small Business Week in Pennsylvania.

Secretary Siger will also be announcing a new designation for the Berks County borough, highlighting a recent $100,000 investment through the Main Street Matters Program, and visiting local small businesses.

The tour will include stops at the following: the Art & Craft Gallery of Hamburg, the Balthaser building, the Hamburg Item building, AEC Market, Liv Holistic, the Hamburg Strand Theater, Hazel’s Cafe, and the Hamburg Antique Center.

Governor Shapiro created Main Street Matters to help revitalize downtowns, support small businesses, and strengthen local economies. The Governor, who recently announced investments in 81 community projects across Pennsylvania through the program, has included another $20 million in his 2025-26 budget proposal for this successful initiative.

WHO:
Rick Siger, DCED Secretary
Deena Kershner, Executive Director, Our Town Foundation
Lynn Weller, Assistant Director, Our Town Foundation
Alyssa Mengel Wentz, Owner, AEC Market

WHEN:
Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM

WHERE:
Our Town Foundation Office, 320 State Street, Hamburg, PA 19526

VISUALS:
Following brief remarks, Secretary Siger will join local leaders to visit with owners and employees of the above-mentioned small businesses. The walking tour will occur rain or shine.

MEDIA RSVP:
Press who are interested in attending should RSVP to dcedpress@pa.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: AI agents in Copilot Chat are ready to assist teachers and students with routine tasks
Source: Microsoft

Headline: AI agents in Copilot Chat are ready to assist teachers and students with routine tasks

Discover how Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat agents in education can enhance learning with personalized student support, instructor assistance, and more.

AI is changing the way we work across a multitude of industries, and education is no exception. Agents—specialized AI assistants—take the power of generative AI a step further by allowing customization and the ability to work for you or alongside you. Agents in education can be tailored to support you with expertise in instructional design, unique student preferences, institutional data analysis, and many other tasks.

Transforming education with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

We believe there’s an opportunity to empower everyone with a copilot and transform education experiences with agents. That’s why we offer agents in Copilot Chat, available at no additional cost when referencing data from the web and on a pay-as-you-go basis when using institutional data. Agents are also available with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

You can build an agent using natural language and additional configuration in Copilot Chat or get started with an agent template. With Copilot Chat, agents can be accessed and managed directly in the chat and enterprise data protection helps keep your experience safe and secure.

Try agents in Copilot Chat

Using Copilot Chat agents in education

Whether you’re building a custom agent or taking advantage of agent templates, there are numerous ways that agents in Copilot Chat can make a positive impact on your day-to-day activities. Here are some of the ways eligible students, educators, administrators, and leaders can benefit from agents in Copilot Chat:
- Provide immediate support – Answer commonly asked questions using your data sources and help navigate institutional resources in real-time. Agents can help troubleshoot IT issues, provide guidance from resources on school policies, programs, or processes like enrollment.
- Generate tailored content – Create the materials you need based on your instructions and reference resources whether it’s a study guide, lesson plan, professional development, or school communication. Upload your files like standards, curriculum documents, guidelines, or requirements to tailor your agent for the task.
- Test your knowledge – Build agents to help students succeed in their classes by designing them with specific instructions and materials. Agents can then support students as they study with custom quizzes, feedback, and practice through simulations of relevant real-world scenarios.
- Uncover and dive into insights – Instantly summarize, analyze, and explore insights across multiple files or a folder of knowledge. Understand and ask questions about trends in your data across areas like student performance, finance, operations, or community feedback.
Download the agent overview guide

Using agent templates in Copilot Chat

Microsoft 365 Copilot comes with a set of agent templates that are ready to use and perform a wide range of tasks to help support you. Here are a few existing agents that are ready to customize and use:
- Idea Coach – Enhance brainstorming with fun and engaging agenda and action plans.
- Prompt Coach – Create effective Copilot Chat prompts.
- Writing Coach – Refine your writing to boost effectiveness.
- Career Coach – Receive personalized career advice, goals, and action plans.
Select “Get agents” in the right-side panel of Copilot Chat to find agent templates, including the ones above. You can search for specific agents or simply browse the library within Copilot Chat to find additional agents that work for you. Additionally, your institution may have created tailored agents for you to use.

Creating agents in Copilot Chat

It’s quick and easy to create customized agents in Copilot Chat. Here’s how to start building your own agents:
1. Create an agent. Select “Create an agent” in the right-side pane of Copilot Chat to open the agent builder. You can create and name your new agent or choose a provided template.
2. Define your agent’s instructions. Use the chat to describe what you’d like your agent to do. You should also include the style and tone it should use while completing tasks. For example: “Create an agent to help students in my Intro to Business Comms study and prepare for the midterm.”
3. Configure your agent. If you’d like to make improvements or changes to your agent, you can add documents, data, and files to its knowledge base. You can also edit your agent’s instructions at any time to adjust its responses.
4. Publish the agent. When you’re happy with your agent’s output, you can publish your agent for you and others in your institution to use. As the needs of your institution change, you can continue to adjust your agent or create new ones for different purposes.
Here are some ways you can use your customized agents:
- Answering frequently asked questions.
- Helping new students navigate school resources.
- Giving feedback based on existing rubrics or frameworks.
- Explore insights from data in accessible ways.
- Tailoring lessons to specific content, standards, or student needs.
You can keep agents up to date by selecting “Create an agent” to open the agent builder and expanding the drop-down menu at the top to select “View all agents.” This will allow you to view, edit, and share agents within your institution and ensure they’re still meeting your needs.

Managing agents in Copilot Chat for IT admins

The key to successful agent management for IT administrators is understanding how agent usage is measured and billed. Each agent’s usage is tracked by the number of messages they handle, and the total cost for your institution is calculated based on the sum of these messages.

For IT admins, purchasing messages is straightforward. You can buy them through the Copilot Studio meter in Microsoft Azure, which offers a convenient pay-as-you-go option. Once you’ve got your messages, Microsoft Power Platform admin center is where you’ll set up billing and assign message capacity to Copilot Chat and individual agents.

Download the agent set up guide

It’s important to note that agent message usage can vary. Factors such as an agent’s complexity, how frequently they’re used, and the specific features they employ all play a role in determining their message count. See a quick walkthrough of agent management within Microsoft Power Platform admin center and learn more about agent management.

Agent innovation in education

Agents in Copilot Chat offer ways to enhance and streamline your daily activities. You can build one using natural language or start with an agent template. Managing agents directly within Copilot Chat is designed to be seamless, and enterprise data protection helps keep your experience secure. Discover how agents can provide immediate support by answering common questions and navigating institutional resources, generate tailored content like study guides and lesson plans, and uncover valuable insights from your data.

Try agents in Copilot Chat

We’re excited to continue developing resources to support your use of AI in education. Whether you choose to create custom agents or use templates, Copilot Chat helps to ensure a secure and efficient way to make AI work for you. Explore how using agents in education can support your unique needs and help free up your time to focus on what matters most.
MIL OSI Economics –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Whether GDP swings up or down, there are limits to what it says about the economy and your place in it

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sophie Mitra, Professor of Economics, Fordham University

The price of eggs might mean more to some Americans than what’s going on with GDP. Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released the latest U.S. gross domestic product data on April 30. In the first three months of 2025, it said, GDP contracted by 0.3%. The GDP growth rate captures the pace at which the total value of goods and services grows or shrinks. Together with unemployment and inflation, it usually receives a lot of attention as an indicator of economic performance.

Some economists and analysts said the economy might not be as bad as this rate’s decline might suggest. While this is the first time in three years that GDP has shrunk instead of growing, it is a relatively small decline.

This raises a critical question: Does a relatively small GDP contraction mean the economy is in trouble? I have spent much of my working life studying economic well-being at the level of individuals or families.

What I’ve learned can offer a different lens on the economy than you’d get from just focusing on the most popular indicators, such as the GDP growth rate.

GDP problems

The GDP growth rate has many limitations as an economic indicator. It captures only a very narrow slice of economic activity: goods and services. It pays no attention to what is produced, how it is produced or how people assess their economic lives.

GDP gets a lot of attention, in part, because of the misconception that economics only has to do with market transactions, money and wealth. But economics is also about people and their livelihoods.

Many economists would agree that economics treats wealth or the production of goods and services as means to improve human lives.

Since the 1990s, a number of international commissions and research projects have come up with ways to go beyond GDP. In 2008, the French government asked two Nobel Prize winners, Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen, as well as the late economist Jean-Paul Fitoussi, to put together an international commission of experts to come up with new ways to measure economic performance and progress. In their 2010 report, they argued that there is a need to “shift emphasis from measuring economic production to measuring people’s well-being.”

Considering complementary metrics

One approach is to use a composite index that combines data on a variety of aspects of a country’s well-being into a single statistic. That one number could unfold into a detailed picture of the situation of a country if you zoom into each underlying indicator, by demographic group or region.

The production of such composite indices has flourished. For example, the Human Development Index of the United Nations, started in 1990, covers income per capita, life expectancy at birth and education. This index shows how focusing on GDP alone can mislead the public about a country’s economic performance.

In 2024, the U.S. ranked fifth in the world in terms of GDP per capita, but was in 20th place on the Human Development Index due to relatively lower life expectancy and years of schooling compared to other countries at the top of the list, like Switzerland and Norway.

Monitoring other indicators

Another approach is to rely on a larger number of indicators that are frequently updated. These other data points reflect a variety of perspectives about the economy, including subjective ones that convey personal perceptions and experiences.

For instance, in addition to inflation rates, there is data on stress due to inflation as well as inflation expectations. Both offer insights into people’s perceptions, perspectives and experiences about inflation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual U.S. inflation rate increased from 1% in July 2020 to 8.5% in July 2022. My research partners and I found, using U.S. Census data, that more than 3 in 4 adults in the U.S. were experiencing moderate or high levels of stress due to inflation at that time and continued to do so even after inflation went down in 2023.

More recently, the Trump administration’s sporadic tariff changes have made future prices more uncertain, which exposes people to risks. That, in turn, makes people adjust their expectations and feel worse off.

The share of consumers expecting higher inflation rates has climbed sharply in 2025, while consumer confidence has declined abruptly. About 1 in 3 consumers expect that there will be fewer jobs created in the next six months, which is almost as low as during the Great Recession of 2007-2009.

Consumers also have negative expectations about their own future income and worry about their own economic status.

At this moment, the U.S. economy has not officially entered a recession – which requires a longer period of GDP contraction than just one quarter. Although unemployment and inflation rates remain relatively low, the broad picture of the economy that takes into account people’s expectations and perceptions is troubling. To be clear, I’m not saying that just because of what the GDP data may indicate.

This article includes material from an article originally published on Aug. 7, 2018.

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

– ref. Whether GDP swings up or down, there are limits to what it says about the economy and your place in it – https://theconversation.com/whether-gdp-swings-up-or-down-there-are-limits-to-what-it-says-about-the-economy-and-your-place-in-it-255688

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is a dark parable about coercive control

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Katy Mullin, Professor of Modern Literature and Culture, University of Leeds

Coercive or controlling behaviour in an intimate or family relationship became a criminal offence in the UK in December 2015. The legislation was the result of a long campaign by the charity Women’s Aid to extend understanding of domestic abuse beyond physical violence. But, over 150 years earlier, Emily Brontë placed coercive control at the heart of her celebrated gothic romance, Wuthering Heights.

The novel is often read as a great love story. It has inspired a Kate Bush song and many stage, film and TV adaptations. But Heathcliff is an abused child who becomes an abuser – and teaches his son to copy, continue and refine his abuse.

In the novel, Cathy declares that “My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff!” Coercive control, like Cathy’s love, may not be fully visible, but it nonetheless underpins the emotional logic of Brontë’s plot.

This article is part of Rethinking the Classics. The stories in this series offer insightful new ways to think about and interpret classic books and artworks. This is the canon – with a twist.

Wuthering Heights is a novel of two halves. The first focuses on spirited, passionate Cathy, caught between her tamely domestic husband Edgar Linton and the thrilling wildness of Heathcliff, her soulmate from childhood. To revenge himself on Cathy for marrying Edgar, Heathcliff elopes with Edgar’s infatuated sister Isabella. Isabella initially sees Heathcliff as a brooding romantic hero, but she soon repents, fleeing with their baby son Linton.

Heathcliff’s abuse of Isabella is sometimes physical, but more often psychological. He takes care, as he tells the family servant Nelly Dean, to “keep strictly within the limits of the law” to avoid giving Isabella “the slightest right to claim a separation”.

The law grants him ownership of his wife’s money and property, but subtler refinements of abuse include humiliation, isolation from family and friends, and deprivation of food, privacy and personal care. At Wuthering Heights, Nelly is shocked to see Isabella unwashed, shabbily dressed. She’s “wan and listless; her hair uncurled: some locks hanging lankly down”.

Read more:
Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights dress is inaccurate, but not because it’s white – an expert explains

Isabella has already reported that she is forced to sleep in a chair because Heathcliff keeps “the key of our room in his pocket”. Heathcliff delights in humbling her before Nelly and his own servants, calling her “an abject thing”, “shamefully cringing”, “pitiful, slavish, and mean-minded”.

Isabella escapes Heathcliff clad only in “a girlish dress” and “thin slippers”, and goes into hiding with her brother’s financial help. After her death, Heathcliff recovers their son Linton and uses him to engineer a second coercive marriage to his cousin, Cathy and Edgar’s daughter Catherine.

A sickly, peevish adolescent, Linton Heathcliff is perhaps the most unappealing character in Victorian fiction, lacking altogether the strength and charisma of his father. But his puny physicality casts the coercive nature of his abuse into relief.

Catherine is imprisoned at Wuthering Heights and blackmailed into consenting to marry Linton, who becomes the legal owner of all her property. Incapable of dominating her physically, Linton delights in psychological torment, conspiring in his father’s surveillance and depriving her of beloved possessions:

All her nice books are mine; she offered to give me them, and her pretty birds, and her pony Minny, if I would get the key of our room, and let her out; but I told her she had nothing to give, they were all, all mine. And then she cried, and took a little picture from her neck, and said I should have that; two pictures in a gold case, on one side her mother, and on the other uncle [Catherine’s father], when they were young. That was yesterday – I said they were mine, too.

After Linton’s death, Heathcliff inherits everything, leaving the widowed and orphaned Catherine his penniless dependant. Wuthering Heights is a dark parable about the absolute power that marriage can grant to abusive men.

Real-life inspiration

Brontë’s plot was rooted in a real-life local case of domestic torment. In 1840, a Mrs Collins came to Haworth Parsonage to ask Emily’s father Patrick’s advice about her alcoholic, abusive husband. He was Patrick’s colleague and fellow clergyman, Rev. John Collins, assistant curate of Keighley.

Unusually for the time, Patrick advised her to leave him and take her two children with her. In April 1847, just seven months before Wuthering Heights’ publication, Mrs Collins returned to Haworth to thank him. She told the Brontë family how she had settled in Manchester with her children, supporting them all by running a lodging house.

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Mrs Collins’ experience of abuse did not only shape the chilling psychodrama of Wuthering Heights. There are echoes of Patrick’s advice in Emily’s sister Charlotte’s novel Jane Eyre (1847), and her eponymous heroine’s famous declaration of autonomy: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.”

Mrs Collins’ strength and resilience also inspires the bravery of Helen Huntingdon in Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848). Like Emily’s “eternal rocks,” coercive control lurks beneath the Brontës’ best-loved fictions, warning Victorian readers of the terrifyingly real dangers of psychological abuse long before the law caught up.

Beyond the canon

As part of the Rethinking the Classics series, we’re asking our experts to recommend a book or artwork that tackles similar themes to the canonical work in question, but isn’t (yet) considered a classic itself. Here is the suggestion from Hannah Roche and Katy Mullin:

George Gissing photographed in 1880.
Internet Archive

Like the Brontës’ famous novels, George Gissing’s The Odd Women (1893) shows an acute awareness of the impact of psychological abuse. Against her better judgement, the 21-year-old Monica Madden marries Edmund Widdowson, a man 23 years her senior who attempts to police every aspect of her domestic, social, intellectual and psychological life.

Gissing’s fictional abuser is a classic coercive controller, a perpetrator of a crime that did not yet exist, and his pattern of behaviour is now so familiar and identifiable that it appears both prescient and predictable. Intensely jealous and possessive, Widdowson deploys tactics of surveillance, stalking, regulation and isolation, making decisions about where Monica goes, who she sees, and even what she reads.

Of course, like Heathcliff and Linton, Widdowson does not have access to online communication tools or spyware. But the many red flags in his treatment of Monica are likely to appear strikingly modern to readers today.

Katy Mullin receives funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (“Coercive Control: From Literature into Law”, an AHRC Research Network).

Hannah Roche receives funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (“Coercive Control: From Literature into Law”, an AHRC Research Network).

– ref. Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is a dark parable about coercive control – https://theconversation.com/emily-brontes-wuthering-heights-is-a-dark-parable-about-coercive-control-253866

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Stuck in a creativity slump at work? Here are some surprising ways to get your spark back

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Poornika Ananth, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Organisations, School of Management, University of Bath

GaudiLab/Shutterstock

The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s movie slate, Captain America: Brave New World, arrived earlier this year with the hopes of continuing the legacy of the beloved sub-franchise. But the film struggled to hit the heights of the three earlier instalments. Critics hit out at its messy plot, unremarkable characters, tired visuals – and an overall absence of creativity.

This raises an interesting and broader question about creativity at work. Most advice on this focuses on having one creative idea. But what does it take to stay creative over time? After all, creativity at work isn’t just about having great ideas – it’s about having them consistently.

Yet over time, even the most innovative minds and organisations like the Marvel Cinematic Universe can hit a creative slump that they struggle to recover from.

Long-term creativity is often hindered by two broad factors. The first is the “expertise trap”. Expertise can initially be great for creativity. After all, as a person develops greater knowledge and skills, they can combine different elements of that knowledge to develop unique ideas and solutions to problems.

Over time however, expertise can actually limit flexibility and creativity. When people become exceptionally skilled or knowledgeable in a particular field, they tend to experience “cognitive entrenchment”, a fixation where deeply ingrained knowledge of a topic leads to rigid ways of thinking.

This might work well in familiar situations, but it can also make it harder for people to see things in a new light.

The second factor is the “success trap”. Research suggests that success – and receiving recognition for a creative idea or outcome – can affect creativity in unexpected ways.

Creative success can motivate people to come up with more ideas, increasing the quantity and pace of their output. But on the other hand, it can also encourage creators to focus on the things that worked well in the past. They often try to replicate or tweak them instead of coming up with something genuinely new.

Of course all is not lost. There are inspiring examples of people and organisations who break out of a creative slump. Taylor Swift faced being pigeonholed after her initial country-pop success, but came back even stronger with her shift to synth-pop in 2014.

It’s hard to believe Danish firm LEGO ever struggled – but it built back better.
olrat/Shutterstock

And Danish firm LEGO, which was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2003, regained its supremacy in the toy sector by coming up with new ways of making their core products – LEGO bricks – popular again. This even included taking the creative leap into movies based on their bricks.

Get your creative spark back

Research indicates that if you want to be consistently creative, it is important to break away from the things that helped you achieve creative success in the past.

This can mean moving away from familiar environments as your career advances. Or it could be adding to your knowledge sources so that you are not merely reliant on the depth of your knowledge but also on the breadth. You may also benefit from collaborating with people who already have that additional knowledge so you can combine your brainpower.

Second, if you have had a recent success this can often come with expectations to replicate it and chase more opportunities. While this may have some short-term benefits, in the long run insulating yourself from those expectations – and the rapid increase in opportunities – can give you the time and space to come up with new ideas instead of retreading old ground.

My own research suggests that sustaining creativity over time is not just about generating ideas repeatedly, it is also about managing a portfolio of developing ideas. This is a better approach than merely focusing on one central idea.

It involves putting aside (or stockpiling) ideas that have limited use or value right now and turning your attention to other ideas in the portfolio. Stockpiled ideas can exist and develop in the background, but you can return to them in the future and use them flexibly to learn from, seek inspiration or develop new projects.

For people who work in the knowledge economy, ideas can be their primary currency. But beyond that, creativity can also improve wellbeing and so is a fundamental part of being human. By following these tips to reignite your creative spark, you can reap those benefits of continued creativity over a long period of time.

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

– ref. Stuck in a creativity slump at work? Here are some surprising ways to get your spark back – https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-a-creativity-slump-at-work-here-are-some-surprising-ways-to-get-your-spark-back-253888

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Postgraduate student finance applications are now open for 25/26
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Postgraduate student finance applications are now open for 25/26

SFE and SFW students can now apply for postgraduate Master’s and Doctoral Loans for 2025 to 2026.
Postgraduate student finance applications are now open for 2025 to 2026!

SFE and SFW students can now apply for postgraduate Master’s and Doctoral Loans for 2025 to 2026.

You should encourage new students to apply online at:

SFE: www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance

SFW: https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/

If students have applied for undergraduate student finance before, they can use their existing online account to apply. If they’ve never applied for student finance before, then they’ll need to create a new account.

Continuing students don’t need to re-apply for their funding, it automatically rolls over for the next year of their postgraduate course. They should sign in to their online account to make sure their information is up to date.

SFE students applying for the 2025 to 2026 academic year can apply for:

a loan of up to £12,858 for a postgraduate Master’s course

a loan of up to £30,301 for a postgraduate Doctoral course

Disabled Student’s Allowance

SFW students applying for the 2025 to 2026 academic year can apply for:

a loan of up to £19,255 for a postgraduate Master’s course

a loan of up to £29,130 for a postgraduate Doctoral course

Disabled Student’s Allowance

Students should follow us on social media to get all the latest news and updates about student finance.

There’s more information about postgraduate student finance available at:

Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

SFW website: https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/postgraduate-finance/

Education Maintenance Allowance applications are now open for 2025 to 2026!

Students in Wales can now apply for EMA for 2025 to 2026. The quickest way to apply to apply in online.

Applications for WGLG FE are expected to open later in the year.

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Published 1 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Mizuho Americas Announces Five-Year Renewal Agreement With the LPGA Tour as Title Sponsor of the Mizuho Americas Open, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Women’s Sports

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Mizuho to Raise Purse to $3.25 Million in 2026

Michelle Wie West to Continue as Mizuho Brand Ambassador and Tournament Host

Liberty National Golf Club to Host Event in 2028-2030; Mountain Ridge Country Club Added for 2026-2027

NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mizuho Americas, the New York-headquartered arm of Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE: MFG), announced today that it has renewed its title sponsor agreement for the Mizuho Americas Open through 2030 and will raise the 2026 purse to $3.25 million, one of the largest outside of the Major championships. The tournament will maintain its successful format where the American Junior Golf Association’s future stars compete alongside the best women golfers in the world.

The new five-year agreement will allow the marquee tournament to remain in the New York City Metro area, providing unmatched benefits to the LPGA players, AJGA junior golfers, and the local community. After three years at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ, the Mizuho Americas Open will travel just a few miles west to Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ, for 2026 and 2027, and then back to its long-term home at Liberty National for the remaining years through 2030. Additionally, LPGA Tour Icon and Mizuho Americas Brand Ambassador Michelle Wie West will continue to serve as Tournament Host.

“We first partnered with the LPGA, AJGA, and Liberty National in 2023 to create a one-of-a-kind tournament that stands apart from the others,” said Jerry Rizzieri, President & CEO of Mizuho Securities USA and Head of Americas Corporate and Investment Bank. “We share this tournament – not only with the players – but also with our employees and clients. We remain deeply committed to our investment in women’s sports as we aim to help advance the next generation of talent and level the playing field for women, both on and off the golf course.”

During the five-year partnership, the prize purse will continue to escalate, ensuring that the Mizuho Americas Open remains one of the largest non-Major championship purses on the LPGA Tour. Mizuho raised the bar for player experience and will continue to provide complimentary first-class accommodations and transportation for all LPGA players participating in the event through 2030.

Mizuho’s continued support of the LPGA and its players speaks volumes about the company’s culture and its commitment to empowering women and fueling their aspirations,” said Liz Moore, Interim LPGA Commissioner. “Through our partnership with Mizuho, we’re able to showcase the world’s best golfers on a global stage, right outside one of the world’s most iconic cities, while uniquely providing rising AJGA stars the opportunity to compete alongside them — creating an unparalleled platform to inspire the next generation and furthering our core mission of using the game of golf to transform and enrich the lives of girls and women

In a few short years, the Mizuho Americas Open has cemented itself as a premier LPGA Tour stop. Played on one of the best golf courses in the country, its groundbreaking format offers an opportunity for top-ranked AJGA junior golfers to compete side-by-side with the best LPGA players in the world, creating an unprecedented week of education and access to help ignite the passion of young women to become the next generation of LPGA Tour superstars.

“We’re thrilled to strengthen this tremendous partnership with Mizuho, LPGA Tour and AJGA to host the world’s best professional and junior players through the end of the decade,” said Dan Fireman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Liberty National Golf Club. “This event is truly unique and embodies our ethos and deep commitment to growing the game through the Liberty National Foundation’s Torch Lighters Club, which supports a number of charitable organizations, including the AJGA and others that benefit youth and our broader community.”

Philanthropy will remain at the heart of the Mizuho Americas Open. Mizuho will continue to host its DrivHER Summit, a leadership forum developed in conjunction with Girls Inc., to help young women explore, aspire, and achieve. The comprehensive program features a golf clinic and workshops on self-confidence, career planning, and networking, reflecting the values championed by Girls Inc. of access, inclusivity, and opportunity.

“Thanks in large part to the unwavering support of Mizuho, this tournament has grown into a crown jewel on the LPGA Tour,” said Michelle Wie West. “Mizuho is different than most sponsors in that they’re involved every step of the way, ensuring a premium is placed on the player experience and community impact. As tournament host, I feel inspired by how they’ve supercharged this event through innovative philanthropic and marketing efforts that put women’s golf front and center in the world’s largest media market.”

The Mizuho Americas Open is operated by Excel Sports Management, a leading sports agency representing marquee brands, properties, and premier professional athletes – including many of the players and stars of today’s LPGA Tour.

“We couldn’t be more excited to extend our partnership with Mizuho for another five years. What began as an ambitious vision has quickly become a cornerstone event on the LPGA Tour,” said Kevin Hopkins, Senior Vice President at Excel Sports Management. “As we look ahead, we’re energized by the opportunity to further elevate this championship experience for the players, our partners, and the dedicated golf fans across the New York metropolitan area who have embraced this event from day one”

Information on ticket sales, corporate hospitality and volunteer opportunities are available at www.mizuhoamericasopen.com. Follow @MizuhoLPGA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news on the event.

About Mizuho
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is one of the largest financial institutions in the world as measured by total assets of ~$2 trillion, according to S&P Global 2024. Mizuho’s 65,000 employees worldwide offer comprehensive financial services to clients in 36 countries and 850 offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

Mizuho Americas is a leading Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) that provides a full spectrum of client-driven solutions across strategic advisory, capital markets, corporate banking, and fixed income and equities sales & trading to corporate, government, and institutional clients in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Through its acquisition of Greenhill, Mizuho enhanced its M&A, restructuring, and private capital advisory capabilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Mizuho Americas employs approximately 4,000 professionals. For more information, visit www.mizuhoamericas.com.

About the Mizuho Americas Open
The Mizuho Americas Open is a purpose-driven tournament on the LPGA Tour. As title sponsor, Mizuho Americas created and drove the vision for a distinctive and premium event that celebrates women and advances the next generation, with a charitable focus on providing leadership and life skills to young girls from underserved communities. Played at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club, with LPGA icon Michelle Wie West as celebrity host, the tournament features an elevated purse and a unique junior component where the AJGA’s stars of tomorrow compete alongside the best women golfers in the world. The tournament is also home to the Mizuho Americas DrivHER Summit, an inspirational day of learning and activities for Girls Inc., the official charitable partner of the Mizuho Americas Open. The Summit leverages the game of golf and the LPGA to inspire the members of Girls Inc. to discover the confidence they need to become leaders in their communities.

About the LPGA
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose Members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. The LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course.

Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.

About the LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 32 annual events across 12 countries for over 200 athletes, awarding total prize funds exceeding $129 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.

About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 9,000 members from 50 states and 51 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Liberty National ACE Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.

TaylorMade and adidas are the AJGA’s Global Sponsors, supporting the AJGA for more than 25 years. TaylorMade has served as the Official Ball of the AJGA since 2016. adidas has been the Official Apparel and Footwear of the AJGA since 2017. Rolex, in its fourth decade of AJGA sponsorship, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 1,000 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang.

About Liberty National Golf Club
One of the world’s most iconic golf locales, Liberty National Golf Club is located along the Hudson River in Jersey City, NJ, with striking views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan skyline. Liberty National fittingly opened on July 4, 2006, and is guided by the vision and leadership of former Reebok Founder, Chairman & CEO Paul Fireman and his son Dan Fireman, managing partner of Fireman Capital Partners. Designed by US Open Champion Tom Kite and esteemed golf course mastermind Bob Cupp, Liberty National is kept in tournament ready playing condition. Liberty National hosted The Presidents Cup in 2017 as well as multiple PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoff events, and is currently the home of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open. For more information about Liberty National Golf Club, visit www.libertynationalgc.com.

About Mountain Ridge Country Club
Founded in 1912, Mountain Ridge Country Club has long been considered a historic venue. Originally established in West Orange, NJ, the Club moved to its current site in West Caldwell, located just 20 miles from New York City, in 1929 when it commissioned famed golf course architect Donald Ross to design a championship 18-hole course across 282 rolling acres. Often described as one of the NY City Metropolitan Area’s “hidden gems”, the course has always been viewed as a classic Donald Ross design. The course was considered a difficult test when it opened in 1931, and little has changed in the 90+ years since. The course is known for its distinctly Ross features, especially its challenging greens. Ross designed each nine-hole loop to wind down to the lower part of the property and conclude with a long assent back to the iconic fieldstone clubhouse, designed by renowned architect Clifford C. Wendehack. The venue has hosted many championships including the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship and the 2021 LPGA Cognizant Founder’s Cup. Over its century-long history, Mountain Ridge has been home to many prominent members and continues its commitment to excellence, community, philanthropy, and the game of golf.

Media Contacts

For Mizuho:
Jon Schwartz, Prosek Partners
(347) 794-9633
jschwartz@prosek.com

or

Laura London
Director, Media Relations, Mizuho
(917) 446-5226
laura.london@mizuhogroup.com

For LPGA:
Emily Carman
emily.carman@lpga.com
(714) 742-8301

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater Welcomes Antitrust Division Leadership Team

Source: United States Department of Justice

Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division welcomes a new member of the division’s leadership team. AAG Slater appointed Dina Kallay to serve as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International, Policy and Appellate. Kallay joins the division’s leadership team including Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, four Deputy Assistant Attorneys General and Chief of Staff.

“The DOJ Antitrust Division is truly fortunate to have in place a deep bench of experts so early in the Trump 47 Administration. Each team member brings broad experience to their government service, and I am truly grateful to them for stepping into their roles as we take over several landmark cases,” said Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. “I look forward to working with this talented team as well as the dedicated staff of the Antitrust Division as we work together to enforce the nation’s antitrust laws.”

The leadership team includes:

Roger Alford serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Mr. Alford previously served in the first Trump Administration as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division. He is a tenured Professor of Law on leave from Notre Dame Law School, where he has taught since 2012. During that time, he also consulted on antitrust matters, including as an expert witness in the landmark 2023 real estate $1.8 billion litigation against the National Association of Realtors, and since 2019 consulting for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas v. Google. He served as a law clerk to Judge James Buckley of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Richard Allison of the Iran- United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. He also practiced law with Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C. and was a Senior Legal Advisor to the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Activities in Zurich, Switzerland.

He earned his B.A. with Honors from Baylor University in 1985, his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his J.D. with Honors from New York University, and his LL.M., first in class, from Edinburgh University.

Omeed Assefi serves as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on criminal enforcement. At the beginning of the second Trump Administration, Mr. Assefi served as the division’s Acting Assistant Attorney General. Prior to that position, he litigated criminal prosecutions and led complex investigations against major companies and individuals for antitrust violations as a member of the division’s Washington Criminal Section. Previously, Mr. Assefi served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia. There, he prosecuted violent crime in U.S. District Court as well as Superior Court.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Assefi served in the Trump Administration as a Deputy Associate Attorney General in the Office of the Associate Attorney General. There, he helped supervise the Civil, Antitrust, and Civil Rights Divisions. Mr. Assefi also served as Chief of Staff of the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Assefi began his service in the Trump Administration as an Assistant Special Counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office, where he represented the Office of the President in the Department of Justice Special Counsel’s Investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Mr. Assefi earned a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, a M.P.P. from George Mason University’s Schar School of Public Policy, and a B.A. from Trinity College.

Mark Hamer serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on civil litigation and enforcement. He has over 30 years of litigation experience in both public service and private practice. Before returning to the Division, Mr. Hamer was a partner at a global law firm where he served as Global Chair of its Antitrust & Competition Practice Group, leading a team of over 250 competition lawyers in 43 countries. In private practice, he focused on antitrust litigation and antitrust conduct and merger investigations around the world. Mr. Hamer previously served as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division handling both merger and non-merger litigation. Mr. Hamer received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a B.A. in History with High Distinction from the University of Virginia.

Dina Kallay serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Policy & International Affairs. Before joining the Antitrust Division, she was global Head of Competition Law at Ericsson. From 2006-2013, Dina served as Counsel for Intellectual Property & International Antitrust at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Office of International Affairs. Earlier in her career she practiced law at several law firms, most recently with Howrey LLP in Washington D.C., and worked at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition (DG COMP) in Brussels, Belgium

Dina received her LL.B. magna cum laude and B.A. in economics from Tel Aviv University (1996), and her LL.M. (Int’l Economic Law) (1998) and S.J.D. (2003) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was a student of former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Professor Tom Kauper. She has taught antitrust and intellectual property at the Hebrew, Bar Ilan and Georgetown Universities, and is a frequent writer and speaker on international antitrust and antitrust-intellectual property topics.

William “Bill” Rinner serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on civil enforcement and mergers. Prior to his return to the division, Mr. Rinner was Senior Regulatory Counsel at Apollo Global Management Inc. There, he was responsible for overseeing antitrust and various other regulatory matters. From 2017-2020, Mr. Rinner served at the Antitrust Division first as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, and subsequently as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel. Earlier in his career, he practiced antitrust law at two major national firms. After law school, he clerked for Hon. Richard Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He received a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Chetan Sangvhi serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General focused on Economics. Dr. Sanghvi has deep experience conducting economic research and analyses in the context of antitrust policy. In his tours of duty at the FTC and in private practice, he has evaluated the competitive impacts of hundreds of proposed mergers and other antitrust concerns. He has been recognized by the FTC for his “outstanding intellectual and analytical contributions to a broad range of complex economic issues arising in the FTC’s competition mission” and by professional reference publications. Dr. Sanghvi has taught at New York University, Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, and Trinity College and holds a PhD in economics from Rutgers University and a BA in economics from Northwestern University.

Sara Matar serves as the Chief of Staff. Prior to this role, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C. Sara was previously a senior advisor to Congressman Lee Zeldin on foreign policy and judiciary matters. She also served as a staff member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she worked on oversight and Middle East policy. Sara received her J.D from George Washington University Law School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College. She served as law clerk to the Honorable Judge Lynn Hughes in the Southern District of Texas.

MIL Security OSI –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater Welcomes Antitrust Division Leadership Team

Source: US State of North Dakota

Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division welcomes a new member of the division’s leadership team. AAG Slater appointed Dina Kallay to serve as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International, Policy and Appellate. Kallay joins the division’s leadership team including Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, four Deputy Assistant Attorneys General and Chief of Staff.

“The DOJ Antitrust Division is truly fortunate to have in place a deep bench of experts so early in the Trump 47 Administration. Each team member brings broad experience to their government service, and I am truly grateful to them for stepping into their roles as we take over several landmark cases,” said Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. “I look forward to working with this talented team as well as the dedicated staff of the Antitrust Division as we work together to enforce the nation’s antitrust laws.”

The leadership team includes:

Roger Alford serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Mr. Alford previously served in the first Trump Administration as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division. He is a tenured Professor of Law on leave from Notre Dame Law School, where he has taught since 2012. During that time, he also consulted on antitrust matters, including as an expert witness in the landmark 2023 real estate $1.8 billion litigation against the National Association of Realtors, and since 2019 consulting for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas v. Google. He served as a law clerk to Judge James Buckley of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Richard Allison of the Iran- United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. He also practiced law with Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C. and was a Senior Legal Advisor to the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Activities in Zurich, Switzerland.

He earned his B.A. with Honors from Baylor University in 1985, his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his J.D. with Honors from New York University, and his LL.M., first in class, from Edinburgh University.

Omeed Assefi serves as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on criminal enforcement. At the beginning of the second Trump Administration, Mr. Assefi served as the division’s Acting Assistant Attorney General. Prior to that position, he litigated criminal prosecutions and led complex investigations against major companies and individuals for antitrust violations as a member of the division’s Washington Criminal Section. Previously, Mr. Assefi served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia. There, he prosecuted violent crime in U.S. District Court as well as Superior Court.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Assefi served in the Trump Administration as a Deputy Associate Attorney General in the Office of the Associate Attorney General. There, he helped supervise the Civil, Antitrust, and Civil Rights Divisions. Mr. Assefi also served as Chief of Staff of the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Assefi began his service in the Trump Administration as an Assistant Special Counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office, where he represented the Office of the President in the Department of Justice Special Counsel’s Investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Mr. Assefi earned a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, a M.P.P. from George Mason University’s Schar School of Public Policy, and a B.A. from Trinity College.

Mark Hamer serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on civil litigation and enforcement. He has over 30 years of litigation experience in both public service and private practice. Before returning to the Division, Mr. Hamer was a partner at a global law firm where he served as Global Chair of its Antitrust & Competition Practice Group, leading a team of over 250 competition lawyers in 43 countries. In private practice, he focused on antitrust litigation and antitrust conduct and merger investigations around the world. Mr. Hamer previously served as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division handling both merger and non-merger litigation. Mr. Hamer received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a B.A. in History with High Distinction from the University of Virginia.

Dina Kallay serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Policy & International Affairs. Before joining the Antitrust Division, she was global Head of Competition Law at Ericsson. From 2006-2013, Dina served as Counsel for Intellectual Property & International Antitrust at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Office of International Affairs. Earlier in her career she practiced law at several law firms, most recently with Howrey LLP in Washington D.C., and worked at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition (DG COMP) in Brussels, Belgium

Dina received her LL.B. magna cum laude and B.A. in economics from Tel Aviv University (1996), and her LL.M. (Int’l Economic Law) (1998) and S.J.D. (2003) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was a student of former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Professor Tom Kauper. She has taught antitrust and intellectual property at the Hebrew, Bar Ilan and Georgetown Universities, and is a frequent writer and speaker on international antitrust and antitrust-intellectual property topics.

William “Bill” Rinner serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on civil enforcement and mergers. Prior to his return to the division, Mr. Rinner was Senior Regulatory Counsel at Apollo Global Management Inc. There, he was responsible for overseeing antitrust and various other regulatory matters. From 2017-2020, Mr. Rinner served at the Antitrust Division first as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, and subsequently as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel. Earlier in his career, he practiced antitrust law at two major national firms. After law school, he clerked for Hon. Richard Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He received a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Chetan Sangvhi serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General focused on Economics. Dr. Sanghvi has deep experience conducting economic research and analyses in the context of antitrust policy. In his tours of duty at the FTC and in private practice, he has evaluated the competitive impacts of hundreds of proposed mergers and other antitrust concerns. He has been recognized by the FTC for his “outstanding intellectual and analytical contributions to a broad range of complex economic issues arising in the FTC’s competition mission” and by professional reference publications. Dr. Sanghvi has taught at New York University, Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, and Trinity College and holds a PhD in economics from Rutgers University and a BA in economics from Northwestern University.

Sara Matar serves as the Chief of Staff. Prior to this role, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C. Sara was previously a senior advisor to Congressman Lee Zeldin on foreign policy and judiciary matters. She also served as a staff member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she worked on oversight and Middle East policy. Sara received her J.D from George Washington University Law School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College. She served as law clerk to the Honorable Judge Lynn Hughes in the Southern District of Texas.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Best Loans For Bad Credit in 2025 – By Low Credit Finance
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHAMPLAIN, N.Y., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bad credit doesn’t mean you’re out of options—it just means you need to look in the right places. Many lenders now offer specialized loans tailored for those with less-than-perfect credit scores. These aren’t just high-interest traps; some provide realistic repayment terms, flexible criteria, and fast approvals. The key is knowing which ones are trustworthy and which ones to avoid.

This article breaks down the best loans for bad credit. From secured personal loans to credit union alternatives and online platforms that factor in more than just your credit score, you’ll find practical choices that can actually help rebuild your financial standing. Each option listed here has been evaluated for transparency, approval speed, and fairness—so you can focus on borrowing without added stress.

Getting the funds you need shouldn’t feel impossible. If you’ve been denied in the past, or are worried about predatory terms, this guide will point you toward lenders that still say yes—without punishing you in the long run. Let’s take a closer look at which loans make the most sense for bad credit borrowers in 2025.

Low Credit Finance – Our No. 1 Pick for Bad Credit Loans in 2025 Guaranteed Approval

After reviewing dozens of online lenders that cater to individuals with low credit scores, Low Credit Finance ranks as the top choice for bad credit loans in 2025. It offers a large loan range, minimal application friction, and fast turnaround times—making it a strong fit for people looking for emergency funds, debt consolidation, or unexpected expenses.

Loan Amounts, APR Range, and Repayment Terms

Low Credit Finance enables borrowers to request funds between $100 and $50,000, with APR rates ranging from 5.99% to 35.99%, depending on the lender match, loan type, and personal credit profile. Unlike many bad credit loan services that cap lending at $5,000 or impose narrow terms, Low Credit Finance provides access to a broader network of lenders, which increases the likelihood of finding a loan that fits specific needs.

Repayment terms are not one-size-fits-all. Borrowers have flexibility to choose repayment plans that stretch over months or even years. This avoids the pressure of short balloon-style payments, a common drawback with other low-credit loan providers. The ability to repay on terms that suit your cash flow helps reduce the financial strain that often comes with unsecured loans.

Why It’s the Top Pick

Several reasons place Low Credit Finance above its competitors:
- Inclusive Approval Process: All credit types are accepted. No minimum credit score is required to apply.
- Fast Funding: If approved, borrowers can receive funds within 60 minutes—an edge over traditional banks and slower platforms.
- Transparent APR Details: There are no hidden charges or surprise penalties. APR range is clearly disclosed upfront.
- Flexible Loan Amounts: Few platforms allow bad credit borrowers to access amounts up to $50,000.
- Simple Application: The online form takes only 2 minutes to complete, with no paperwork required.
- Wide Lender Network: Low Credit Finance connects applicants with multiple lenders, increasing match potential.
For people with a poor credit history, this service reduces the typical friction seen in traditional lending. It acts as a bridge between those in urgent need and lenders that evaluate more than just credit scores. The platform is designed to minimize barriers while keeping risk levels in check.

Apply now at Low Credit Finance for fast bad credit loan offers>>

What Is a Bad Credit Score?

A bad credit score generally refers to a credit rating that falls below a lender’s acceptable range for offering loans at favorable terms. In most scoring models, such as FICO and VantageScore, a score below 580 is typically categorized as poor.

Credit scores are built from several factors, including:
- Payment history
- Amount of debt
- Length of credit history
- Types of credit accounts
- Recent credit inquiries
When payments are missed, debts are too high compared to available credit, or accounts go into collections, the score drops significantly. A low score signals higher risk to lenders, making it difficult to obtain loans or resulting in loans with higher interest rates.

Credit score categories typically break down like this:
- Excellent: 800 and above
- Very Good: 740 – 799
- Good: 670 – 739
- Fair: 580 – 669
- Poor: 579 and below
Financial setbacks, medical bills, unemployment, or limited credit history can all contribute to having a poor credit score. Rebuilding credit takes time through consistent, responsible use of financial products and services.

Example Scenario: Who This Is Best For

Consider an individual named Raj, who had a credit score of 580 due to past missed payments. He needed $8,000 to pay for urgent medical expenses and was rejected by his bank and two other online lenders. Through Low Credit Finance, he submitted a short application, was matched with a lender offering an 18-month loan term, and received the funds later that same day. Raj repaid the loan early without penalty, and his credit score improved after consistent repayments.

This platform is best suited for:
- Individuals with credit scores below 650
- Those needing urgent loans for bad credit
- Applicants looking for personal loans with bad credit
- People who want flexible repayment plans
- Borrowers uncomfortable with lengthy paperwork or branch visits
Those seeking easy approval loans for bad credit often face inflated rates or exploitative contracts. Low Credit Finance provides a safer alternative with clear conditions and faster outcomes.

What Are Bad Credit Loans?

Bad credit loans are financial products specifically tailored for individuals with low or damaged credit scores. Traditional banks often deny applications based solely on credit scores. In contrast, bad credit loans are offered by lenders willing to assess the bigger financial picture, not just a number.

These loans come in several forms:
- Personal Loans: Lump-sum loans repaid in installments over a fixed term.
- Secured Loans: Loans backed by collateral such as a car, savings account, or home.
- Payday Alternative Loans: Short-term small loans typically offered by credit unions.
- Peer-to-Peer Loans: Loans funded by individual investors rather than traditional financial institutions.
Bad credit loans often carry higher interest rates to offset the lender’s risk. Some lenders also charge additional fees like origination fees, late payment penalties, or prepayment penalties. Reading the terms carefully before agreeing to a loan offer becomes important to avoid costly mistakes.

These loans serve several purposes:
- Emergency expenses
- Debt consolidation
- Major purchases
- Medical bills
- Business financing
For many people with low scores, a bad credit loan is a necessary step toward financial stability. Responsible use of the funds and timely repayment can help improve the credit score over time.

Eligibility & Application Process To Get A Loan With Bad Credit

One major advantage of Low Credit Finance is the minimal entry barrier. It does not require a high credit score or long financial history. This makes it more accessible to borrowers who have been turned away elsewhere.

Minimum Credit Score

There is no official minimum credit score requirement to apply. The platform accepts applications from users with bad credit, fair credit, or even limited credit history. Approval depends on lender-specific factors like income, existing debts, employment status, and identity verification—not just credit score alone.

This open-criteria approach allows for higher match rates and gives users a real opportunity to secure funds without needing to “fix” their credit first.

Required Documents

There is no need to upload scanned documents or visit a branch office. The entire process is digital. During the application, you may need to provide:
- Full name and contact information
- Proof of income or employment (self-reported)
- Bank account details (to receive funds)
- Valid identification (basic KYC)
Lenders in the network may ask for additional verification, but this typically happens after initial approval and is done electronically.

Approval Time and Disbursement

One of the key highlights of Low Credit Finance is the speed of processing. After submitting the short online form, applicants receive an instant decision. If matched with a lender and approved, funds are often sent the same working day, and in many cases, within 60 minutes.

This makes it one of the fastest personal loan options for bad credit available right now.

Check your eligibility in 2 minutes—no credit score required.

How to Apply Online

The process to request funds is designed to be fast and intuitive:
1. Select Loan Amount
  Choose from predefined loan ranges: $100–$1,000, $1,000–$2,500, up to $50,000.
2. Complete the Form
  Provide your details through the secure online application form. It takes under 2 minutes to fill out.
3. Get Matched & Review Terms
  If you’re matched, the lender will show the loan terms, including the interest rate, repayment schedule, and total repayment amount. You can choose to accept or decline.
4. Receive Funds
  Once accepted, the lender transfers the loan directly to your bank account—typically within the hour.
Pros
- Wide Loan Range: You can request as little as $100 or as much as $50,000, offering flexibility depending on your needs.
- Same Day Funding: If approved, the loan can arrive in your bank account in as little as 60 minutes.
- No Minimum Credit Score: Applications are accepted from borrowers across all credit backgrounds, making it accessible.
- Quick Application: Completing the online form takes under two minutes and requires no physical paperwork.
- Transparent APR Range: Rates are openly disclosed between 5.99% and 35.99%, helping you make informed decisions.
- Flexible Repayment Terms: You are able to repay the loan over a period that matches your budget, avoiding stress from tight deadlines.
- Large Lender Network: Multiple lenders increases the chances of matching with an offer that fits your needs.
- No Prepayment Penalties: Pay off your loan early without extra fees.
- Safe, Encrypted Platform: Personal information remains protected during the application and loan disbursement process.
Cons
- Higher APR for Poor Credit: Applicants with very low credit scores may receive offers on the higher end of the APR spectrum.
- Lender Variation: Loan terms, fees, and conditions vary depending on the specific lender you are matched with.
Why It’s Hard to Get Loans with Bad Credit

A low credit score can close a lot of financial doors. Most traditional lenders, including banks and credit unions, rely heavily on credit reports to assess the risk of lending money. A credit score below 580 is typically considered poor, while scores between 580 and 669 are classified as fair. Anything below 620 often triggers automatic denials from mainstream financial institutions.

Lenders use credit scores to measure trust. Missed payments, defaults, high credit utilization, and past bankruptcies signal risk. As a result, people with these red flags often find themselves blocked from access to standard financial products.

Banks prioritize security. If someone’s financial history suggests they might struggle to repay, the loan application rarely moves forward. This leads borrowers with low scores into the hands of alternative lenders, many of whom impose steep fees and sky-high interest rates to offset the risk. While some lenders are legitimate, others exploit desperation. They use confusing terms, aggressive marketing, and hidden charges to trap borrowers in cycles of debt.

Traditional lending models don’t consider context. A single medical emergency or job loss can trigger missed payments, leading to a cascading effect on one’s score. That doesn’t always reflect current ability to repay—but many lenders don’t account for that nuance. This gap leaves a large segment of borrowers underserved, with few safe and realistic lending options.

What to Look for in a Bad Credit Loan

Not all loans are structured to punish. Some lenders design products specifically for borrowers with low scores. But selecting the right one requires more than checking the first result online. Here are the features that actually matter:

Fair Interest Rates

Many bad credit loans come with inflated APRs, often exceeding 100%. While higher rates are expected when risk is high, anything beyond 36% annual percentage rate is considered predatory by most experts. Responsible lenders cap their interest rates even for low-score applicants. When reviewing loan options, check the APR—not just the monthly installment. A low monthly payment stretched over several years may end up costing far more in the long run.

Look for fixed-rate loans over variable ones. Variable interest can lead to ballooning payments if economic conditions shift. A fixed rate keeps repayment predictable and manageable.

Also, be cautious of extremely short-term loans like payday loans. These may seem helpful at first, but the effective interest rates can reach 400% or more. They often lead to a cycle of repeat borrowing, which can be financially crippling.

No Prepayment Penalties

Some lenders penalize borrowers who pay off loans early. This might seem counterintuitive, but early repayment can reduce the lender’s interest earnings. Penalties come in different forms—flat fees, a percentage of the balance, or a sliding scale based on time left in the loan term.

Avoid lenders that charge for being financially responsible. A borrower should be allowed to clear their debt faster without financial punishment. Transparent lenders make this clear in their terms and often advertise “no prepayment penalty” as a feature.

Repaying a loan early saves money and improves credit scores. It’s an option that should remain open, especially for borrowers working to rebuild financial health.

Soft Credit Checks or Alternative Criteria

Many people avoid applying for loans out of fear that a hard inquiry will further lower their credit score. That fear is valid. A hard credit pull can shave off a few points, especially if the score is already low. That’s why it’s helpful to choose lenders who use a soft inquiry for pre-qualification.

Soft checks don’t affect credit scores and give borrowers an idea of loan terms before committing. This makes shopping for loans less risky. It also gives borrowers the ability to compare multiple options without negative consequences.

Some lenders also consider alternative data. This includes rental history, income stability, utility payments, or even educational background. A growing number of financial providers are recognizing that credit scores alone don’t offer the full picture. Lenders using alternative criteria can offer more inclusive terms that reflect a borrower’s actual financial behavior.

When reviewing lenders, prioritize those who offer prequalification with a soft check. Avoid lenders who won’t disclose whether they use hard or soft inquiries until after the application is submitted.

Fast Disbursement and Clear Terms

Emergencies don’t wait. When a borrower needs funds quickly, loan disbursement speed matters. Some online lenders process applications and release funds within 24 to 48 hours. Others take a week or more. Always check expected timelines before applying—especially for urgent expenses like medical bills, rent, or car repairs.

But speed shouldn’t come at the cost of clarity. Many bad credit loan providers advertise instant approvals and quick cash while burying fees in fine print. Borrowers should always understand:
- The total repayment amount (principal + interest + fees)
- Due dates and installment frequency
- Penalties for late payments
- Any upfront charges, including origination fees
If the loan terms are vague, or hidden behind layers of conditions, that’s a red flag. A credible lender presents all terms in clear, easy-to-read language. Better yet, the loan agreement should be available before entering any binding commitment.

Loan calculators can help here. Some sites allow borrowers to input loan amount, interest rate, and duration to see total costs before applying. These tools make it easier to avoid traps and pick loans with manageable repayment structures.

It’s also worth checking customer service responsiveness. Can someone be reached if there’s a problem? Does the lender offer phone support, chat, or email help? A responsible loan provider offers accessible help—not just automated responses.

How to Find Personal Loans for Bad Credit

Finding a personal loan when credit is poor involves preparation, careful research, and avoiding predatory lenders. Borrowers should focus on options that are transparent and willing to work with their current credit standing.

Steps to find a personal loan with bad credit:

1. Know Your Credit Score

Before applying, checking your current credit score provides a baseline for understanding what lenders will see. Some lenders specialize in specific score ranges. Knowing your score also prevents falling for offers that sound too good to be true.

2. Research Lenders

Look for lenders that publicly state they work with low credit score applicants. Focus on lenders offering personal loans for bad credit without excessive fees or unreasonable conditions. Reviews, Better Business Bureau ratings, and customer testimonials can provide insights into how a lender treats its clients.

3. Prequalify When Possible

Some lenders allow you to prequalify with a soft credit check. This gives a preview of potential loan offers without harming your credit score. Prequalification shows the likely loan amount, APR, and repayment terms based on your profile.

4. Compare APRs and Fees

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) includes both the interest rate and any associated fees. A lower APR means a more affordable loan. Comparing several offers side-by-side ensures you get the best possible deal based on your situation.

5. Understand Terms and Conditions

Loan agreements often contain fine print about penalties, fees, and repayment structures. Understanding these details before accepting any offer prevents future issues.

6. Be Ready to Offer Collateral

If unsecured loans seem difficult to obtain, offering collateral such as a vehicle or savings account can improve approval odds and lower the interest rate.

7. Avoid Payday Lenders

Payday loans often trap borrowers in cycles of debt due to extremely high-interest rates and short repayment windows. Even with bad credit, better alternatives exist that are safer and more manageable.

8. Consider a Co-Signer

Having a trusted co-signer with better credit can open access to larger loan amounts and better rates. However, both parties must understand that the co-signer becomes equally responsible for the debt.

Where to Find Bad Credit Loans

Several types of lenders offer personal loans specifically designed for applicants with bad credit. Choosing the right source depends on the amount needed, speed of funding, and flexibility of repayment terms.

1. Online Lenders

Online lending platforms such as Low Credit Finance connect borrowers directly with a network of lenders. These platforms often have easier applications, faster decisions, and a broader acceptance of low scores compared to banks.

Online lenders usually offer:
- Quick prequalification
- Soft credit checks
- Same-day funding
- Flexible loan amounts up to $50,000
They have become a primary source for personal loans for bad credit due to their accessibility and speed.

2. Credit Unions

Credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives that often provide more lenient lending standards. Many offer personal loans for members with low credit scores, sometimes at much lower APRs than traditional banks or online lenders. Membership might require living in a specific area or working for a certain employer.

3. Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms

Peer-to-peer lenders connect borrowers directly with investors willing to fund loans. These platforms use different scoring systems, sometimes taking employment history, education, and debt-to-income ratio into account. Funding speed varies but can be competitive for borrowers seeking fair rates.

4. Community Banks

Some small community banks have bad credit loan programs designed to serve local residents. Though options may be limited, speaking directly with a loan officer could provide customized offers not found elsewhere.

5. Nonprofit Lenders

Certain nonprofit organizations provide low-interest personal loans to individuals struggling with bad credit. These programs are designed to promote financial inclusion and often come with financial education resources.

FAQs About Bad Credit Loans

Q. Is it possible to get a $3,000 loan with bad credit?

Yes, getting a $3,000 loan with bad credit is possible. Many online lenders, credit unions, and alternative financing platforms offer loans based on factors like income and employment, not just credit scores. Lenders like Low Credit Finance can help you secure $3,000 quickly, even if your credit history isn’t perfect. Approval usually depends on proof of steady income and ability to repay.

Q. What loans can I get with really bad credit?

Even with very bad credit, you have several options. Secured loans backed by collateral, credit union loans, peer-to-peer lending, and personal loans through online platforms are all available. Some lenders focus more on your income and current financial situation rather than just your credit score. Using a co-signer can also help you access better loan offers.

Q. Can I get a loan with a 500 credit score?

A 500 credit score still leaves you eligible for certain loans. Online lenders, credit unions, and bad credit specialists often approve borrowers with scores around 500. You may face higher interest rates, but stable income, low existing debts, or a co-signer can improve your loan terms. Always compare different lenders to find the most reasonable offer.

Q. What credit score is needed for a $5,000 loan?

Many lenders require a minimum score around 580 to approve a $5,000 loan, although requirements can vary. Traditional banks prefer higher scores, but online platforms and credit unions are more flexible. If your score is under 600, showing strong income and a low debt-to-income ratio can improve your chances of securing $5,000 at a fair rate.

Q. Who can give me money right now?

Online lending platforms such as Low Credit Finance can connect you to lenders offering same-day funding. Completing a short application can result in instant decisions, and approved borrowers often receive funds within 60 minutes. If you need money urgently, online lenders are usually faster than banks or credit unions, provided you meet their minimum eligibility.

Conclusion: Is This Loan Right for You?

Low Credit Finance provides an opportunity for borrowers who need fast, flexible funding without facing the traditional barriers placed on those with bad credit. It matches a wide range of applicants to lenders ready to offer loans without demanding perfect financial histories.

This platform suits you if:
- You need access to up to $50,000 quickly
- Your credit score is below 650
- You prefer an application that requires no paperwork
- You want fast approval decisions with same-day funding
- You are comfortable with reviewing lender terms independently before accepting an offer
Low Credit Finance bridges a major gap left by traditional banks and smaller online lenders. The transparent APR range, large borrowing limits, and quick application make it an ideal solution for emergency needs, debt consolidation, or covering large expenses.

Applicants should remember that loan offers can vary depending on individual profiles. Comparing the terms, rates, and repayment conditions carefully ensures the loan remains manageable and affordable.

If you are ready to apply, the process is simple: select your desired loan amount, complete the quick online form, and review the matched offers. Low Credit Finance brings you closer to securing the funds you need without unnecessary delays.

Media Details:

Company: Low Credit Finance

Full Company Address: 102 W Service Rd, Apt: 820, Champlain, NY 12919

Company Website: https://lowcreditfinance.com/

Contact Person: David C. Hans

Official Email ID: David.hans@lowcreditfinance.com

Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Low Credit Finance services and should not be considered financial advice. Low Credit Finance services does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89176a9c-6390-41f6-a2fe-e4b691dd606c

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15d5aa19-5447-4948-a453-7c57085de8c0

The MIL Network –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Installment Loans for Bad Credit Online Guaranteed Instant Approval From Best Direct Lenders 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HOUSTON, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Payday Ventures, a leading online loans provider, is now offering installment loans for bad credit through its top 5 providers of direct lenders. These online installment loans are designed for everyday Americans looking for quick cash and a realistic way to repay over time without needing perfect credit.

Personal Installment Loans for Bad Credit: Top 2025 Recommendations
- Viva Payday Loans – Fast Installment Loans Online with Instant Approval.
- Fund Finance – Monthly Installment Loans for Bad Credit, No Denial.
- Super Personal Finder – Personal Installment Loans for Bad Credit Up to $5,000.
- Credit Clock – Direct Lender Installment Loans and Installment Loans Near Me.
- Loan Raptor – Tribal Installment Loans and No Credit Check Installment Loans.
Unlike payday loans that require full repayment on your next payday, personal installment loans break down your loan into affordable monthly payments. Borrowers can now apply for a range of options including tribal installment loans, no credit check installment loans, and no denial installment loans direct lenders only, all through one simple online process.

Why Choose Installment Loans?

Installment loans online are perfect for covering emergency bills, car repairs, rent, or any urgent need. They offer guaranteed installment loans for bad credit direct lenders only, making it easier to borrow even if you’ve been denied elsewhere. With no credit check installment loans, you get more time to repay, lower stress, and better financial control.

Click Here to Apply for Installment Loans Online >>

Types of Installment Loans Available Online

1. Installment Loans for Bad Credit

These loans are ideal if your credit history isn’t perfect. Lenders focus on your current income rather than past scores, making bad credit installment loans.

2. Personal Installment Loans for Bad Credit

If you need money for rent, car repairs, or medical bills, personal installment loans can help. With predictable monthly payments, they’re perfect for managing unexpected expenses especially for those with low credit.

3. No Credit Check Installment Loans

Designed for speed and simplicity, these no credit check installment loans skip the hard inquiry and connect you directly with lenders that assess eligibility based on income and affordability.

4. Tribal Installment Loans

These are long-term installment loans offered by lenders based on tribal land. Often more flexible, tribal loans are accessible even to borrowers who’ve been denied elsewhere.

FAQs

Can I Get Installment Loans with Bad Credit?

Yes, many lenders now offer installment loans for bad credit with no hard credit checks.

Are There Installment Loans with No Credit Check?

Yes, you can apply for no credit check installment loans through direct lenders in our network.

Contact

Name: Mukesh Bhardwaj
Email: mukesh@paydayventures.com

Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Payday Ventures loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Payday Ventures does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to US residents only.

The MIL Network –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Check Point Software Technologies Receives Common Criteria EAL4+ Certification for Quantum Firewall Software R82

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced that its Quantum Firewall Software R82, the latest version of Check Point’s core network security software delivering advanced threat prevention and scalable policy management — has received Common Criteria EAL4+ certification, further reinforcing its position as a trusted security foundation for critical infrastructure, government, and defense organizations worldwide.

“This certification reflects our continued investment in providing trusted and verifiable security to customers operating in highly regulated sectors,” said Eyal Manor, VP of Product Management at Check Point Software Technologies. “It confirms that Check Point Quantum R82 security platform meets stringent global standards and provides verifiable protection for the world’s most demanding environments.”

Certified by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Target of Evaluation (TOE) for Check Point’s R82 security platform — covering Security Gateway, Security Management, and M Maestro Orchestrator Hyperscale Network configurations — complies with the internationally recognized Common Criteria for IT Security Evaluation (ISO/IEC 15408) at Evaluation Assurance Level 4+, with augmentation components ALC_FLR.1 and AVA_VAN.4. The evaluation was independently conducted by TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH, a BSI-accredited testing facility.

Common Criteria is the most widely adopted framework for security certification of IT products, and EAL4+ is the highest level widely recognized for commercial technologies. The certification is accepted under the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) and the European SOGIS Mutual Recognition Agreement (SOGIS-MRA), supporting deployment in over 30 participating nations.

For more information on the R82 TOE and official certification details, please visit:

Follow Check Point via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
X (Formerly known as Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Aurora Payments Appoints Embedded Commerce Leader John Badovinac

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LAS VEGAS, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Payments, a full-service payment technology provider, today announced the appointment of John Badovinac as Senior Vice President of Embedded Commerce. A proven leader in the payments space, Badovinac will oversee Aurora’s embedded and integrated payments strategy, with a focus on accelerating growth through ISV, SaaS, and ecommerce partner ecosystems

Badovinac brings over 25 years of go-to-market experience across the full spectrum of payments services, including integrated ISV payments, merchant acquiring, value-added resellers, EMV certification, and point-of-sale systems.

“John is a respected leader in the integrated payments space with deep relationships and a unique understanding of how to bring value to software platforms and partners,” said Derek Dean, CRO at Aurora Payments. “His ability to drive strategy while building trusted, long-term partnerships will be instrumental as we expand our embedded commerce capabilities.”

Prior to joining Aurora, Badovinac led the B2B Channel at Fortis, where he was responsible for business strategy, revenue growth, and partner success across the company’s ISV and VAR segments. He also held senior roles at International Bancard, TSYS, and Discover Financial Services, where he played a foundational role in developing integrated payments solutions and establishing go-to-market motions with ISVs and payment facilitators.

Badovinac joins Aurora at a pivotal moment as the company continues to scale its ARISE platform, expand its partner ecosystem, and bring seamless, intelligent payments infrastructure to ISVs, vertical SaaS providers and traditional businesses alike.

“What drew me to Aurora is the team’s bold vision, the strength of the platform, and the opportunity to truly enable software platforms to grow revenue,” said Badovinac. “I’m thrilled to join an organization of proven and decisive leaders that are committed to innovation and to building meaningful relationships with its partners.”

This appointment marks the latest investment in Aurora’s leadership team, following the recent addition of Avin Arumugam as Chief Product Officer and Derek Dean as Chief Revenue Officer.

About Aurora Payments

Aurora Payments is a united network of processing, technology, and payments solutions, supporting over 27,000 merchants and $12 billion in annual processing volume. Founded in 2005, Aurora has carved out leadership in several industries through its innovative products, exceptional service, and deep vertical expertise. The company’s proprietary platforms —ARISE, RISE CRM, Calendarise, and NailSoft—are cloud-based solutions designed to simplify payments and operations for small and midsize businesses. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Aurora Payments is backed by Corsair, a leading private equity firm focused on payments, software, and financial service investments.

Follow Aurora Payments on LinkedIn or X, or learn more at https://risewithaurora.com.

Contacts
Media Contacts:
Dominic Litten
SVP, Marketing and Partnerships
+1 2165132935
Dom.Litten@risewithaurora.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8127d210-49f2-4a49-84a1-0e0257335550

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: 71-Unit Affordable Housing Development Completed in Brooklyn

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of The Rise, a 71-unit affordable and supportive housing development in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. The $50 million project includes 47 supportive apartments, a community hub, and rooftop farm. The seven-story building is located on “Site J” of New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative — the State’s comprehensive community development initiative aiming to address social, economic and health disparities in Central Brooklyn. In the past five years, HCR has financed nearly 8,400 affordable homes in Brooklyn. The Rise continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“Individuals and families in Brownsville deserve access to housing they can afford and the services that provide the support they need to thrive,” Governor Hochul said. “The Rise builds on our commitment to Central Brooklyn and will provide affordable housing opportunities, social services, and the types of amenities that can strengthen the entire community.”

Apartments at The Rise are available for households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Designed to appeal to families of different sizes, the development features studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. As part of the Vital Brooklyn initiative, The Rise will also bring economic and community development benefits to Brownsville. Programming will be available to building residents and the Brownsville neighborhood in the community hub and will include workshops focused on critical thinking, conflict resolution, health, and women’s empowerment. Using the building’s rooftop farm, residents and members of the surrounding community can also participate in programming such as fresh food cultivation and workforce development in farming.

The 47 supportive apartments are reserved for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. On-site supportive services including trauma-informed case management, mental health and substance use services, employment and educational services, life skills, and wellness support groups will be available to eligible tenants.

The project is developed by Xenolith Partners, LLC. Women’s Prison Association and The Osborne Association are providing onsite supportive services for eligible tenants, Community Capacity Development will provide the community programming, and Project Eats will operate the rooftop farm.

The Rise is an all-electric building that offers cost-effective amenities to reduce energy consumption, improve health, and build resilience. Energy-efficiency features include solar panels for on-site energy generation and a Variant Refrigerant Flow heating and cooling system that captures and repurposes heat already in the environment. The hot water system utilizes heat pumps, there are electric dryers and cooktops, energy recovery ventilation for improved indoor air quality, and LED lighting. The project was awarded a Buildings of Excellence Award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The project is supported by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program which generated $21 million in equity, $5 million from its Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, $4.5 million from HCR’s Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, and $4 million from its Federal Housing Trust Fund. Additional support includes $10 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s (OTDA) Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, nearly $1.3 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) New Construction Program, and federal solar energy tax credits that generated $84,000 in equity. The Community Preservation Corporation provided pre-development and other financial support for the project through its Equity Investing platform and has also committed to providing long-term permanent financing. Operating funding for the supportive units is being provided by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, administered by OTDA, and Project-Based Section 8 vouchers provided by HCR.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “This $50 million investment represents an important step in our Vital Brooklyn Initiative. It brings 71 new affordable homes to Brownsville and will provide support for eligible tenants. Importantly, The Rise makes community development a priority through its programming and activities available for residents and the entire neighborhood. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for continuing to invest in this important initiative and the ongoing support of our partners in Brooklyn for ensuring this development came to life.”

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for making landmark investments to expand supportive housing across New York State, recognizing that stable housing is the foundation for healthier lives and stronger communities. The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program’s investment in The Rise will provide formerly incarcerated individuals and their families with safe, affordable, energy-efficient apartments they can call home and onsite access to essential support services to help them remain housed and prosper for years to come.”

New York State Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “The Rise affordable housing development creates a healthy, modern living experience for residents in Central Brooklyn while helping to accelerate the state’s equitable transition to a more sustainable economy. It is important that we continue to invest in projects like this, which not only transform the way New York’s buildings are constructed but also enhance the quality of life for those in the communities they serve.”

Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, “The Rise addresses two critical needs for the Brownsville community – affordable housing and re-entry services. In addition to providing secure housing, I am excited about the availability of job training, legal assistance, referrals to mental health and substance abuse services, and other resources that will help formerly incarcerated people succeed. These services benefit families, strengthen communities and help to reduce recidivism. This project should serve as a blueprint for developers and service providers throughout the state, but especially in New York City where the needs are most dire. I applaud everyone involved and officially extend an enthusiastic welcome to the community of Brownsville where I was born and raised.”

Xenolith Partners Principal Andrea Kretchmer said, “Xenolith Partners is excited to celebrate the ribbon cutting of The Rise, our supportive housing project for justice-involved individuals and their families. We are thrilled to be part of HCR’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative and to deliver a gorgeous, sustainable, 71-unit building that embodies its principles of health, affordable housing, economic empowerment, and resilience. We hope that the State, City, and Brownsville community are as proud of this achievement as we are.”

Women’s Prison Association CEO Meg Egan said, “Community-based infrastructure like The Rise is, ultimately, a public safety solution. We know from research and experience that providing safe and stable housing is essential to reducing recidivism and helping communities thrive. This is not just a building but a home. A place where the women we work with have access to the full spectrum of support services, providing them and their families with the opportunity to have bright and fulfilling futures.”

Osborne Association President & CEO Jon Monsalve said, “Osborne Association is grateful for this partnership with Women’s Prison Association and Xenolith Partners to expand supportive housing options for people returning to New York City from incarceration. With decades of experience in reentry support, Osborne is expanding its residential portfolio in response to the alarming housing shortage and the proven success of programs that meet the unique needs of people reentering the community after incarceration. Thanks to this investment by the Governor and HCR, together we are creating a community asset that will serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity.”

The Community Preservation Corporation Senior Vice President of Equity Investing Tell Metzger said, “Today’s celebration of The Rise reflects the important role that exceptional developers and community-driven entrepreneurs play in shaping a stronger, more robust City for us all. Xenolith has once again demonstrated their commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful projects; The Rise stands as both a model of sustainable development and of housing stability for those who need it most. We are honored to have partnered with Xenolith, HCR, NYSERDA, the City of New York, and all those whose vision and dedication brought this project to life.”

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain state-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Nearly 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Currently, nearly 300 communities have been certified, including the city of New York.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Special Windows 365 offer helps secure organizations against changing conditions

Source: Microsoft

Headline: Special Windows 365 offer helps secure organizations against changing conditions

In these uncertain times, marked by fluctuating economic conditions and supply chain concerns, businesses face numerous challenges. Amidst these complexities, it is even more important to adopt new technologies in the age of AI to stay competitive and secure. According to the 2025 Work Trend Index report, 82% of leaders say this is a pivotal year to rethink key aspects of strategy and operations.

Another critical aspect that organizations must address is the impending end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025. As the deadline approaches, it is essential for companies to plan and strategize effectively to ensure streamlined operations and continued security.

Windows 365 is your solution for a secure and reliable AI and cloud-powered future. In our ongoing commitment to support our commercial customers during these changing times, we’re excited to announce that starting today, Microsoft will be offering a 20% discount on all Windows 365 plans to new customers.*

Cloud security and Windows 365 special offer: Rethinking IT strategies

We want companies to be well-prepared to transition to Windows 11 with the most modern and secure computing experience possible. When moving to Windows 11, companies can check if their current Windows 10 PCs are eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11, purchase a new and more secure Windows 11 PC, or move to the cloud with Windows 365. Learn more about preparing for the end of Windows 10 support.

In the current economic climate, when businesses are looking for reliable and affordable alternatives to refreshing physical devices or extending the life of existing PCs, Windows 365 is a compelling option. It delivers a highly secure Windows 11 experience to your Cloud PC – your Windows in the cloud – that can be accessed from anywhere. Built according to Zero Trust principles, Window 365 continuously verifies the identity and trustworthiness of every user, device and network attempting to access organizational resources so you can be confident your organization’s data is secure and protected against evolving threats. With the power of the cloud, Windows 365 provides the flexibility to access your Windows environment from anywhere, on any device. According to Gartner® analyst Stuart Downes, “Today, 95% of work could be cost-effectively performed using virtual desktops compared to 40% in 2019.”**

Additionally, transitioning to Windows 365 can help reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to sustainability goals. Microsoft commissioned a research study examining the potential for carbon emissions reductions and energy cost savings with Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop. The study found that for high-intensity workloads, using Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 on low-medium intensity physical machines results in lower emissions compared to using powerful laptops. Visit aka.ms/BeGreenWithWindowsCloud to learn more about how Windows 365 can help further your environmental goals.

As the end of support for Windows 10 approaches on Oct. 14, 2025, organizations have an opportunity to rethink their IT strategies. Windows 365 is not only a cost-effective alternative to replacing physical devices, but Extended Security Updates (ESUs) are also available at no cost to Windows 365 customers. This means that Windows 10 PCs connecting to Windows 365 will continue to receive critical security updates beyond the official support deadline while workers enjoy the enhanced productivity and improved user experience of Windows 11 streamed from the Microsoft Cloud.

Customers paving the way with Windows 365

Windows 365 is a great option across various industries and use cases – from information workers who need access to Windows all the time to frontline workers that may only need it during their shift.

Crocs, the popular shoe company, migrated to Windows 365 when looking for a solution that would not only ease their financial burden, but also improve the experience for administrators and employees. “After we fully cut everyone over to Windows 365, there was about $250,000 a year in cost savings alone, not to mention we were able to support our users more efficiently and effectively. It was a paradigm shift for the business,” said Scott Czarnecki, Crocs’ Senior Director of Global IT Infrastructure.

“It was a paradigm shift for the business”

– Scott Czarnecki, Crocs

A global leader in leisure and corporate travel services, dnata Travel Group chose Windows 365 to provide secure access to corporate systems for their mobile workforce. “We performed several feasibility studies and ultimately landed on Windows 365 as the best choice to create a secure environment for Cloud PCs and enable employees to work from any device or location,” stated Sean Kelly, Vice President of Information Technology at dnata.

By transitioning to Windows 365, it’s also possible to reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to sustainability goals. The Microsoft cloud infrastructure reduces the need for local hardware, for potential lower energy consumption and reduced electronic waste. Hamburg Commercial Bank first deployed Windows 365 to support hybrid work and now is making plans to roll out the solution more widely for a variety of reasons, including sustainability improvements, “The plan for the future is to go more and more into Windows 365. It’s of utmost importance for us at Hamburg Commercial Bank to pay greater attention to sustainability in everything we do. We expect that using Windows 365 will help us reduce our hardware needs and electricity consumption,” said Thorsten Lüdtke, Head of IT Infrastructure at Hamburg Commercial Bank.

Embrace the future with Windows 365

The future of end-user computing is AI and cloud, and Windows 365 is one of the leaders in this transformation. By adopting Windows 365, customers are enhancing productivity, reducing IT infrastructure costs, saving money on PC lifecycle management and improving security, while increasing their agility and resiliency. These are critical steps to prepare all organizations for the AI-powered future. Read the Total Economic Impact study conducted by Forrester Consulting to learn more about the transformative impact of cloud solutions like Windows 365 at aka.ms/WCTEI2025info.

Take advantage of the promotional offer* and position your business for future success with Windows 365. The 20% discount on all Windows 365 plans for new customers underscores Microsoft’s unwavering commitment to supporting our customers during these uncertain times. Transition to Windows 365 and unlock the full potential of the cloud, enhanced security, predictable costs and operational efficiency that will propel your organization forward.

* NOTICE: Microsoft reserves the right to discontinue this promotion, and to modify these policies and the promotion’s terms and conditions at any time.

This offer runs from May 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2025 and is for customers not currently subscribing to Windows 365. The discount is good for either the remainder of the Enterprise Agreement contract period or the first year of the customer’s Windows 365 subscription, whichever is shorter. Transactions must be processed through Microsoft’s operations center before 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Oct. 31, 2025. This offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount on Windows 365. This offer is only available once per customer. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient.

** Source: Gartner Conference Presentations: Gartner, Digital Workplace Summit Presentation, Assessing the Use and Future of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and DaaS, Stuart Downes, 12-13 March 2025

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 1 May – UKIMS Registration – The Answer to the Irish Sea Border?
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Briefing Note:

1 May – UKIMS Registration – The Answer to the Irish Sea Border?

It has been suggested that businesses can to a very significant degree avoid the new parcels border that comes into force today, and indeed the wider customs border, such that they are only subject to minimal paperwork, so long as they become UKIMS (UK Internal Market Scheme) Registered. This greatly underplays the difficulty.

There are three problems:

Many Companies are Ineligible for Easements

The first problem is that easements are only available for companies with a turnover of less than £2 million. Put another way, if your company has a turnover of more than £2 million you will have to make full customs declarations. This is a major constraint. While £2 million might sound like a lot of money to an individual, it is not for a company that employs people. Although there are some movements (some food, health, and construction materials) in relation to which the EU has intimated a willingness to waive the £2 million limit, in most contexts it will apply. See: Apply for authorisation for the UK Internal Market Scheme if you bring goods into Northern Ireland – GOV.UK

This is a dark day especially for Northern Ireland manufacturers with a turnover of more than £2 million, who depend on getting their inputs from Great Britain, many in parcels, rather than the Republic which is not a manufacturing economy.

Not all Good Movements Qualify for Easements

The second point to make is that even if you comply with the ceiling imposed on Northern Ireland aspiration by the £2 million threshold, not all goods movements are eligible for this simplified procedure in any event. The Government has divided goods into three Categories.
- Category 1 goods have to be moved subject to full customs declarations. They are ineligible for the simplified procedure.
- Category 2 goods have to be moved subject to full customs declarations unless both the following are met:
- they do not fall under Category 1
- a H8 controlled declaration, or a I1 C&F controlled declaration is submitted
Even in this event full simplification is denied. An 8-digit commodity code is required as well as licensing and documentary controls.

Thus, if the option of UKIMs movements is not taken from you by means of your having a turnover of over £2 million, it could be taken from you if you move Category 1 goods and, even if you can avoid a full customs declaration in moving Category 2 goods, you will have to negotiate additional hurdles and complexity beyond the UKIMs mechanism.

UKIMs Easements Do Not Remove the Border

Finally, even if you benefit from UKIMs easements this does not have the effect of removing the border. You still have to have an export number and provide information that you don’t have to provide when moving goods within an internal market. You also have to apply to become UKIMS registered which is complicated and you have to be subject to ongoing checks. None of these burdens are placed on you if you move goods within an internal market, as in GB, or anywhere else for that matter. These burdens testify to the presence of the border.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan’s Real GDP Reaches Record High $80.5 Billion in 2024

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on May 1, 2025

Province’s GDP Growth Rate Second Highest in Canada

Today, new figures from Statistics Canada show that Saskatchewan remains a national leader in economic growth. Real GDP data shows Saskatchewan is second among Canadian provinces for growth in 2024.

Real GDP rose by 3.4 per cent from 2023 to 2024, well over the national average increase of 1.6 per cent. Saskatchewan’s real GDP value remains at an all-time high of $80.5 billion, beating 2023’s record of $77.9 billion. This is a provincial record.

“Saskatchewan continues to see record growth within our provincial economy and today’s Statistics Canada data shows more people are choosing to live, work and raise families in our province,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “Saskatchewan exports bring food and energy security not only to North America, but around the world. The result of this is more high-paying jobs for Saskatchewan residents, more services and a high quality of life for all who call our province home.”

Many sectors contributed to this growth, including construction, up 13.2 per cent, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, up 7.8 per cent and mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction, up 5.6 per cent.

GDP measures the value of goods and services produced within a prescribed geographic region over a specific period of time.

This announcement continues to highlight the strength of the provincial economy. Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.

The Government of Saskatchewan recently unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. This strategy combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential markets and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada.

For more information visit: investSK.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) Highlights Key Strategic Expansion Initiatives Following Successful Board Meeting and Investor Engagement at Mar-a-Lago
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Nashville, TN, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), highlights key strategic decisions reaffirmed and ratified during its board meeting and investor dinner held April 29, 2025, at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, FL.

The gathering followed the Company’s unprecedented success as the title sponsor of the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway; and brought together senior company management, board members, potential investors, and strategic partners; including Matt Hagan, 4-time World Champion NHRA Funny Car driver and American Rebel Light Beer brand ambassador, and Mark Elenowitz, Managing Director of Digital Offering, a pioneer in Regulation A+ IPOs and offerings.

“The Mar-a-Lago event brought together our leadership, potential investors and key partners for a forward-looking conversation on how to best scale our vision,” said Andy Ross. “With the guidance of capital market and investment banking industry leaders like Mark Elenowitz and the passion of brand ambassadors and true American Rebels like Matt Hagan, we are more confident than ever in our ability to grow American Rebel into a household name among patriotic Americans.”

Reflecting on the Mar-a-Lago event, Ross added, “The setting at Mar-a-Lago was the perfect venue for these types of strategic business discussions. Surrounded by esteemed investors and partners, the atmosphere was both inspiring and conducive to aligning our vision for American Rebel Holdings as America’s next big success story.”

American Rebel Light Beer: Acceleration of National Expansion

American Rebel management reported to the board that American Rebel Light Beer is expanding its distribution footprint at a rapid pace and that management was seeking guidance from the board to further accelerate its nation-wide rollout, seizing on market momentum and opportunity. The board endorsed accelerating the nation-wide rollout as a priority to establish American Rebel Light as the next national premium domestic light lager beer. American Rebel management expects to have several announcements of the addition of new states to its distribution network over the next few weeks.

Strategic Growth and Market Positioning of America’s Fastest Growing Beer

American Rebel Light Beer is rapidly expanding its distribution, and management is seeking to accelerate its nationwide rollout. The board fully supports this expansion as a priority to position the beer as a national premium brand. Additionally, the board reaffirmed the company’s targeted distributor expansion plan for the remainder of 2025 and discussed allocating additional resources to fully capitalize on relationships and opportunities within motor sports.

Motor Sports: A High-Impact Opportunity for American Rebel

Motor sports present a significant opportunity for American Rebel Beverages and American Rebel Light Beer to increase brand visibility and consumer engagement. With a passionate fan base and high-profile events, motor sports provide an ideal platform for marketing and sponsorship initiatives. Leveraging strategic partnerships within the industry, American Rebel Light Beer can establish itself as a preferred beverage among racing enthusiasts, teams, and event attendees.

Portfolio Expansion of America’s Patriotic Brand: Acquisition and Licensing Opportunities

American Rebel’s board encouraged management to continue evaluating potential acquisitions that could enhance the company’s enterprise value and expand the reach of America’s Patriotic Brand. CEO Andy Ross has frequently expressed his vision of broadening the American Rebel product line beyond beverages, envisioning a future where the brand encompasses grills, knives, tools, motor oil, and other complementary products. His goal is to create a household name synonymous with rugged American spirit, where consumers instinctively choose American Rebel-branded products for everyday needs.

As America’s Patriotic Brand, we are actively evaluating several licensing categories and acquisition opportunities that align with our brand, mission, and strategic growth plans. By identifying partnerships that reinforce our core values and extend our product offerings, we aim to build a portfolio of trusted American Rebel products that resonate with our customers. “I want Susie to go up to mom and say ‘Mom, what’s Dad want for Father’s Day’ and she says, ‘Honey, anything with American Rebel on it,’” said Andy Ross.

About American Rebel Light Beer

Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a premium domestic light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers. For more information follow American Rebel Beer on all social media platforms (@americanrebelbeer).

About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

info@americanrebel.com
ir@americanrebel.com

Media Contact:
Matt Sheldon
Matt@PrecisionPR.co

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of our strategic planning, marketing outreach efforts, actual placement timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Attachment
- American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
The MIL Network –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Building a Budget and Saving for the Future

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WILMINGTON, Del., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While most Americans would benefit from consulting with a financial advisor, becoming familiar with basic financial practices is easier than you might think. The centerpiece of any financial plan should be setting aside money for your future. Awareness and planning around spending on essentials each month allows you to better determine your capacity for saving.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

We all know creating a budget and sticking to it is essential, but it’s important to be smart about where you save and invest your money. Many people place their money in a regular savings account at their local bank, which typically offers a very low interest rate. Instead, consider placing your money in an FDIC insured high-yield online savings account where your money will earn much higher returns. And remember, it’s never too late to begin saving. For example, if you’re an AARP member, you can place your money in a high-yield no fee savings and CD accounts with Barclays and no matter how much or how little you want to save, AARP members will always get the highest rate of return the bank offers. It’s a smart approach to securing your future.

Learn more at AARPdigitalbanking.com

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses

Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses
lsaito
Thu, 05/01/2025 – 10:26

Raleigh, NC

Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment, and the State of North Carolina have distributed $55 million to 2,812 small businesses through the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative. These grants are supporting western North Carolina businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene and bolstering regional economic recovery. More than 7,300 businesses applied.

“These grants will go a long way in helping western North Carolina’s beloved small business owners keep their doors open after Helene,” said Governor Josh Stein. “But the volume of unfunded applications makes it crystal clear – more help is desperately needed. I’m ready to work with the legislature to deliver support for small businesses that power our mountain economy.”

“The Dogwood Health Trust is proud of this partnership’s work to support small business owners in western North Carolina,” said Dogwood President and CEO Dr. Susan Mims. “The Dogwood Health Trust created the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative last fall as part of our larger Helene relief efforts. These businesses are vital to the health of our communities, and we must continue to support them.”

The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative, initiated by the Dogwood Health Trust and then expanded by the State of North Carolina and the Duke Endowment, awarded grants of up to $50,000 to small business with an annual revenue of up to $2.5 million. Earlier this week, Governor Stein announced the new $55 million Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, which directs up to $1 million in grants to local governments to rebuild public infrastructure like sewers and sidewalks, which small businesses rely upon to attract business. Governor Stein’s second Hurricane Helene relief budget proposal will include increased support for small businesses in western North Carolina.

May 1, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: FIVE PEOPLE SENTENCED FOR FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT TARGETING ELDERLY RETIRED FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES
Source: Office of United States Attorneys

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Five defendants who were convicted of a conspiracy scheme to defraud the retirement accounts of elderly and retired Florida school district employees have been sentenced after three defendants pleaded guilty and two defendants were found guilty by a federal jury. Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences of the following defendants:
- Lambert Aguebor, 33, of Miramar, Florida, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison after previously being found guilty by a federal jury of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
- Floyd Bostic, 42, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison after previously being found guilty by a federal jury of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, three counts of Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 16 counts of Money Laundering, and Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business.
- Grace Aguebor, 36, of Miramar, Florida, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
- Ronald Vargas, 38, of Osteen, Florida, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
- Sarina Levy, 34, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, has been sentenced to 6 months and 1 day in federal prison, to be followed by 6 months of home detention, after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly,” said Acting United States Attorney Spaven. “With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and aggressively prosecuting those who seek to steal the hard-earned savings of our senior citizens.”

Evidence presented at trial and court records show that Vargas worked as a Retirement Specialist at a Tallahassee-based company that administers a retirement 401(k) savings program whose participants are comprised largely of Florida school district employees or prior employees. Between January 2022, and March 2022, Vargas conspired with siblings Grace Aguebor and Lambert Aguebor to steal the retirement funds from the accounts of elderly retired school district employees—some of whom were deceased. Through his position, Vargas had access to the retired employees’ personally identifiable information (“PII”) and oversaw the processing of withdrawal requests from the 401(k) accounts. Vargas provided Grace and Lambert with PII of elderly 401(k) participants whose retirement accounts appeared to be dormant so the PII could be used to prepare fraudulent withdrawal request forms for these accounts.

The fraudulent withdrawal request forms were then faxed to the company where Vargas worked so he could process them. Grace and Bostic personally faxed some of the fraudulent withdrawal request forms; in other cases, the fraudulent forms were given to other conspirators, including Levy, to fax. Once Vargas processed the forms, the stolen retirement funds were transferred to bank accounts controlled by Grace, Bostic, and other conspirators. In total, the conspirators withdrew and attempted to withdraw retirement funds from 25 different 401(k) accounts, resulting in a net total of $1.1 million actually being stolen.

Evidence presented to the jury showed that Bostic also served as a money launderer who received over half of the stolen funds into his personal bank accounts and those of his Tallahassee-based music promotion businesses. Bostic then transferred some of the stolen funds between his various bank accounts in an effort to conceal or disguise its nature, location, source, or ownership. Evidence also showed that Bostic used some of the stolen funds to purchase a residence and pay for his personal and business expenses. Bostic also withdrew over $400,000 worth of stolen funds in cash at various banks and ATMs in Tallahassee and central Florida. The jury also saw evidence which showed that Bostic communicated and coordinated with Lambert Aguebor about the transfer of the stolen funds and to arrange meetings in central Florida.

In addition to their prison sentences, the defendants were ordered to pay restitution totaling approximately $1,000,000 to the victims. The defendants’ imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

“Motivated by sheer greed, these individuals conspired to take advantage of Florida’s public servants, and their punishments mark an important step in holding these fraudsters accountable,” said FBI Jacksonville Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Carley. “Fraud and corruption pose a fundamental threat to our national security and our way of life, and the FBI and our partners will continue to identify and bring to justice anyone who takes advantage of hardworking Americans, and especially educators who dedicate their lives to supporting our children.”

“As law enforcement professionals, it is our duty to protect our community, especially our most vulnerable members, from those who seek to exploit them for personal gain,” said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. “This case is a clear example of how greed can drive individuals to harm others, and we remain committed to working alongside our federal partners to ensure those who commit such crimes are held accountable.”

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

MIL Security OSI –
May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: READY CAPITAL SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits Against Ready Capital Corporation – RC

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW ORLEANS, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 5, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Ready Capital Corporation (the “Company”) (NYSE: RC), if they purchased the Company’s shares between November 7, 2024 and March 2, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Get Help

Ready Capital investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-rc/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuits

Ready Capital and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On March 3, 2025, the Company reported financial results for its fourth quarter and full year 2024, disclosing a quarterly net loss of $1.80 per share and full year 2024 net loss of $2.52 per share due to “decisive actions to stabilize” its “balance sheet going forward by fully reserving for all of our nonperforming loans in our CRE portfolio,” including taking $284 million in combined Current Expected Credit Loss and valuation allowances in order to mark the Company’s non-performing loans to current values, among other actions.

On this news, the price of Ready Capital’s shares declined more than 26% to close at $5.07 per share on March 3, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The first-filed case is Quinn v. Ready Capital Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-1883. A subsequent case, Goebel v. Ready Capital Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-3373, expanded the class period.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: CSW Industrials Completes Previously Announced Accretive, Synergistic Acquisition of Aspen Manufacturing

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DALLAS, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CSW Industrials, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSWI) (the “Company” or “CSW”) today announced the Company has completed the previously announced acquisition of Aspen Manufacturing for approximately $313.5 million in cash, utilizing cash on hand and borrowings under the existing $500 million revolving credit facility while maintaining sufficient liquidity and a strong balance sheet. The purchase price is approximately 11x Aspen Manufacturing’s 2024 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $28.5 million.

This strategic acquisition expands CSW Industrial’s HVAC/R product offering with the incorporation of Aspen Manufacturing’s market leading evaporator coils and air handlers. By leveraging CSW’s deep experience in the HVAC/R market, strong distribution channels, successful go-to-market strategy, and demonstrated track record of industrial manufacturing, this acquisition is expected to drive market and customer share of wallet gains, while providing an enhanced service offering and maximizing channels to market.

Aspen Manufacturing’s current product suite includes a vast range of high-quality residential and light commercial evaporator coils, blowers, and air handling units for single-family, multi-family, and manufactured homes. Based in Humble, TX, all of Aspen’s products are designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States.

Joseph B. Armes, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of CSW Industrials, commented, “We are pleased to have consummated the Aspen Manufacturing acquisition and to welcome approximately 350 new colleagues to the CSW Industrials family. By adding Aspen Manufacturing, CSW expects to further drive above-market growth through the expansion of our highly profitable and resilient HVAC/R product portfolio thereby enhancing long-term value for all of CSW’s shareholders.”

For additional information about CSW Industrials’ acquisition of Aspen Manufacturing, please visit the previously released transaction documents, including the March 18, 2025 press release and investor presentation, which are both available on the Company’s website at https://cswindustrials.gcs-web.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “could,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “predicts” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, earnings forecasts, effective tax rate, statements relating to our business strategy and statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies and anticipated developments concerning our industry, business, operations, and financial performance and condition.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on our current expectations, projections, estimates, and assumptions. These statements are only predictions, not guarantees. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from what is forecast in such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation, the risk factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

This press release contains estimated results of Aspen Manufacturing for the calendar year 2024 (the “estimated results”). The estimated results are forward-looking statements based on Aspen Manufacturing’s management’s preliminary, unaudited results as of the date hereof, and Aspen Manufacturing’s actual results may be materially different from the estimated results. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the estimated results. Our independent registered public accounting firm has not audited, reviewed or performed any procedures with respect to the estimated results and does not express any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.

All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as may be required by law.

About CSW Industrials
CSW Industrials is a diversified industrial growth company with industry-leading operations in three segments: Contractor Solutions, Specialized Reliability Solutions, and Engineered Building Solutions. The Company provides niche, value-added products with two essential commonalities: performance and reliability. The primary end markets we serve with our well-known brands include: HVAC/R, plumbing, electrical, general industrial, architecturally-specified building products, energy, mining, and rail transportation. For more information, please visit www.cswindustrials.com.

Investor Relations

Alexa Huerta
Vice President, Investor Relations, & Treasurer
214-489-7113
alexa.huerta@cswindustrials.com

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £3.4 million for Scotland’s hydrogen future

Source: Scottish Government

Projects across the country to receive a share of funding.

Eleven projects designed to accelerate Scotland’s hydrogen economy are set to benefit from a share of £3.4 million funding.

The Scottish Government funding will help develop green hydrogen production, improve the hydrogen supply chain, and enhance hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure.

Opening a parliamentary debate on Scotland’s hydrogen future, Acting Net Zero Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin said:

“Hydrogen stands as a critical pillar of Scotland’s route to net zero by 2045, but also, alongside the development of our offshore wind capacity, as one of Scotland’s greatest industrial opportunities since the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea.

“A just transition remains at the heart of our approach, and we are determined that no community, particularly those which have powered our economy for generations, will be left behind as we move away from burning fossil fuels towards a low carbon energy system.

“We are working to build a hydrogen economy in which the benefits of our energy transition are shared, and which harnesses the full potential of our skilled people, our worldclass industries, and our natural resources.”

In September 2024 the Scottish Government invited projects to apply for a match-funding grant award of up to 50%, to the maximum value of £2 million.

Shortlisting saw 18 projects invited to submit a full application to delivery partner Scottish Enterprise, with funding ultimately provided to 11 successful projects.

Background

Hydrogen action plan – gov.scot

Lead Organisation	Project Title	Council Area	Grant Award
European Marine Energy Centre	Sustainable Fuels Orkney	Orkney Islands	£375,000
Green Cat Hydrogen Ltd.	Creca Hydrogen Facility	Dumfries and Galloway	£490,088
Green Cat Hydrogen Ltd.	Strathallan Hydrogen	Perth and Kinross	£320,549
Green Cat Hydrogen Ltd.	Binn Ecopark Hydrogen	Perth and Kinross	£258,478
Protium Green Solutions	Protium Lanark – Hydrogen Island	South Lanarkshire	£450,619
SSE Hydrogen Developments	Peterhead 1&2 Hydrogen	Aberdeenshire	£162,600
Statkraft Hydrogen UK Holding Ltd	Shetland Hydrogen Project 2 Pre-FEED	Shetland Islands	£270,500
Storegga Hydrogen (Cromarty)	Cromarty Hydrogen Phase 2 Longman	Highland	£238,400
Storegga Hydrogen (Cromarty)	Cromarty Hydrogen Phase 2 Muir of Ord	Highland	£290,155
Glacier Energy	Feasibility and Industrial Research	Aberdeen City	£382,000
Hydrasun	Standardised Tube Trailer Industrial Hydrogen Offtaker Panels	Multiple: Aberdeen City; Glasgow City; Highland	£147,122

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 2, 2025

Category: Economy

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