Category: Energy

  • MIL-Evening Report: Back to the fuel guzzlers? Coalition plans to end EV tax breaks would hobble the clean transport transition

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Mortimore, Lecturer, Griffith Business School, Griffith University

    wedmoment.stock/Shutterstock

    If elected, the Coalition has pledged to end Labor’s substantial tax break for new zero- or low-emissions vehicles.

    This, combined with an earlier promise to roll back new fuel efficiency standards, would successfully slow the transition to hybrid and battery electric vehicles (EVs).

    The Albanese government pitched these tax breaks as a way to make EVs cheaper to buy and more competitive with internal combustion engine cars. Since the tax break came in, EV popularity has surged. Almost 100,000 people have taken out a novated lease on an EV between mid-2022, when the scheme began, and February 2025.

    The Coalition has been consistently critical of the tax breaks on cost grounds. The scheme has been far more popular than government forecasts envisaged, leading to concerns about a cost blowout. Rather than the A$55 million forecast for 2024-25, the scheme has cost ten times that – $560 million. EV buyers are much more likely to be wealthy, meaning the tax break has been snapped up by people who need it less. The policy is, however, encouraging car suppliers to import more affordable EVs.

    These concerns don’t mean Labor’s policy is bad. Far from it – this tax break is currently the only policy working to drive down transport emissions, now the second-largest source of emissions in Australia. The Coalition has given no indication it would replace the EV tax break with other ways to cut transport emissions.

    Electric vehicles still cost more than their internal combustion engine counterparts.
    meowKa/Shutterstock

    What is this tax break – and did it work?

    In mid-2022, the Albanese government introduced a tax break to encourage uptake of electric vehicles. The measure initially covered hydrogen fuel-cell, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, but plug-in hybrids are no longer eligible as of April 1.

    The tax break works by giving EV buyers who are current employees a fringe benefits tax exemption for low- or zero-emissions vehicles both held and used for private use. The fringe benefits tax is a flat tax of 47% levied on the car benefit provided by the employer. For the exemption to apply, the retail price of the car has to be under the threshold for the luxury car tax of $91,387.

    People in high incomes brackets often like to negotiate with their employer to have a car included as part of their salary package so they can reduce their taxable income. The fringe benefits tax is levied on these types of benefits.

    The scheme works by exempting purchasers of new EVs from fringe benefits tax. A battery electric Hyundai Kona retailed for around $60,000 last year – 32% more in price than its internal combustion engine equivalent. The fringe benefits tax of around $11,700 annually ends up being larger because of the EV’s high sale price. Without this exemption, the tax acts as a major disincentive for the uptake of EVs.
    By and large, electric vehicles cost significantly more than their traditional counterparts. This price gap is dropping as new manufacturers enter the market, but it’s still there. While EVs have lower fuel costs, the higher upfront cost has put off many prospective buyers. This is the issue Labor’s tax exemption was intended to fix.

    Has the scheme worked? Overall, yes. In 2022, EVs accounted for just 3.3% of all new cars sold in Australia. By 2023, almost two-thirds of battery electric, vehicles were sold to private buyers, a 145% increase. And in 2024, the figure had almost tripled to 9.6%. Without this tax incentive, Australia’s uptake of EVs would most likely be much lower.

    If a future Coalition government ended the tax break, Australia would return to the pre-2022 era, where fringe benefits tax acted as a significant disincentive for EVs.

    The tax break isn’t perfect – but it’s better than nothing

    Australia’s main power grid now runs on an average of 40% clean energy. As a result, emissions have been tracking downward in these sectors. But transport emissions are still rising. Transport is now Australia’s second-largest source of emissions – almost 100 million tonnes (Mt) out of our total emissions of 434 Mt. By 2030, transport is projected to be the largest source of domestic emissions.

    Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations agreed at least 20% of light vehicles on their roads would be low- or zero-emissions by 2030. But Australia is lagging well behind the pack on the shift to cleaner transport.

    At present, just 1% of Australia’s car fleet is electric. Even EVs make up close to 10% of new sales, changing the makeup of the entire fleet (16.8 million) will take years.

    By contrast, almost 90% of new cars sold in Norway are electric, according to a 2024 report from the International Energy Agency. In China it’s just under 60%, Sweden it’s 60%, Netherlands 30%, the UK 25% and the United States 10%.

    These countries have used a combination of tax incentives and fuel efficiency regulations to drive rapid uptake. While Labor has moved to introduce both of these, progress hasn’t been as fast.

    Back to the fuel guzzlers?

    Australians rely heavily on cars. But the long lack of fuel efficiency standards mean many models sold here emit much more than in other OECD countries – 150 grams per kilometre versus 107 across 29 European Union nations as of 2023. Put another way, a new car in Australia uses 40% more fuel than its equivalent in the EU. Many drivers prefer big cars, such as the top-selling Ford Ranger.

    If the Coalition ends the tax break and pulls the teeth of new emissions standards, it would bring recent modest progress to a halt.

    The Coalition has rightly pointed out the inequity of the tax break as it stands. My research has shown this could be fixed. Throwing the scheme out without proposing another way to cut transport emissions is disheartening.

    Anna Mortimore receives funding from Reliable Affordable Clean Energy Cooperative Research Centre for 2030 (RACE for 2030).

    ref. Back to the fuel guzzlers? Coalition plans to end EV tax breaks would hobble the clean transport transition – https://theconversation.com/back-to-the-fuel-guzzlers-coalition-plans-to-end-ev-tax-breaks-would-hobble-the-clean-transport-transition-255211

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Auchincloss and Senator Warren Call on SEC to Explain Legal Loophole for Trump’s Meme Coins

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jake Auchincloss (Massachusetts, 4)

    March 21, 2025

    Washington, DC – Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.-04), Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demanding answers about a new SEC Division of Corporate Finance Staff Statement that could shield President Donald Trump’s recently launched meme coins from regulatory scrutiny. The lawmakers’ letter comes as the SEC’s Crypto Task Force hosts its first roundtable in a series purportedly designed to determine the extent of the SEC’s authority to police crypto markets for fraud and scams. 

    “[T]he U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Corporate Finance (Division) released a Staff Statement asserting that ‘persons who participate in the offer and sale of meme coins’ are not subject to federal securities laws. The Staff Statement comes just weeks after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump launched their own meme coins, $TRUMP and $MELANIA, and conveniently presents a legal interpretation that could shield the President’s and First Lady’s coins from regulatory scrutiny,” wrote the lawmakers. 

    In the letter the lawmakers raise concerns about the timing and implications of this policy shift, which asserts that individuals who participate in the offer and sale of meme coins are not subject to federal securities laws. The statement, released by the agency just weeks after Donald and Melania Trump debuted their own meme coins, comes amid a broader pattern of SEC actions that benefit cryptocurrency firms at the expense of retail investors.  

    “The Staff Statement is, notably, just one of many recent SEC actions aiming to arbitrarily deregulate the cryptocurrency industry. In just the past two months, for example, the SEC has dropped ten major lawsuits and investigations against cryptocurrency platforms such as Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken,” wrote the lawmakers. 

    The SEC Staff Statement declaring that the SEC will not enforce the law against crypto coins like President Trump’s  comes ahead of the first SEC-hosted roundtable on cryptocurrency of the Trump Administration.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Dassault Systèmes: Solid start to the year with strong subscription growth, EPS at the high end of guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, FranceApril 24, 2025

    Dassault Systèmes: Solid start to the year with strong subscription growth, EPS at the high end of guidance

    Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) today reports its IFRS unaudited estimated financial results for the first quarter 2025 ended March 31, 2025. The Group’s Board of Directors approved these estimated results on April 23, 2025. This press release also includes financial information on a non-IFRS basis and reconciliations with IFRS figures in the Appendix.

    Summary Highlights1  

    (unaudited, non-IFRS unless otherwise noted,
    all growth rates in constant currencies)

    • 1Q25: Software revenue increased by 5% driven by recurring revenue up 7%;
    • 1Q25: Strong subscription growth of 14%, bringing New business up 7%;
    • 1Q25: 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue growth of 17%;
    • 1Q25: Diluted EPS up 5% (6% as reported) to €0.32;
    • 1Q25: Cash flow from operations grew 21%, as reported, to €813 million (IFRS);
    • FY25: Full year objectives unchanged, total revenue growth of 6-8% and diluted EPS of €1.36-€1.39.

    Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Executive Officer Commentary

    Pascal Daloz, Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Executive Officer, commented:

    “In February this year we announced Gen 7, the new generation of representation of our customers’ virtual universes – we call it 3D UNIV+RSES. This seventh generation of MODSIM data, powered by AI and spatial computing, makes the 3DEXPERIENCE the next-generation platform for knowledge and know-how, establishing it as a global IP management platform. Early customer feedback confirms that platform-based AI leveraging virtual twins creates competitive advantage. 

    We’ve had a solid start to the year. In the first quarter, the Manufacturing Industries sector performed well led by Aerospace & Defense and High Tech, along with Transportation & Mobility in China, Japan and US. At the same time, we’re accelerating in Sovereign Infrastructure, where energy, security, and AI capabilities – through high-performance data centers – are becoming strategic imperatives for nations and territories.

    We are committed to being the trusted partner for our customers – helping them stay ahead, while strengthening our leadership position for the long term and raising barriers to entry.”

    Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Financial Officer Commentary

    (revenue, operating margin and diluted EPS (‘EPS’) growth rates in constant currencies,
    data on a non-IFRS basis)

    Rouven Bergmann, Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Financial Officer, commented:

    “In the first quarter, our revenue is driven by strong subscription growth of 14%. As a result, recurring revenue now represents 86% of software revenue, highlighting the resilience of our business model. Regarding operational efficiency, we reached the upper end of our EPS guidance and saw strong growth in operating cash flow, increasing by 21% as reported.

    Entering 2025, our approach was to provide a risk-adjusted financial outlook. Since then, the introduction of new tariffs has created a more volatile market environment, which could lead to longer decision-making cycles. That said, our pipeline remains solid, and our current visibility aligns with the midpoint of our full year guidance.

    Therefore, we keep our 2025 outlook of 6-8% total revenue growth and 7-10% EPS growth unchanged. In addition, we are slightly adjusting our operating margin target, expecting a year-over-year expansion of 50-70 basis points, versus 70-100 basis points prior, to gain additional flexibility and invest in Gen 7 to support our long-term growth.”

    Financial Summary

    In millions of Euros,
    except per share data and percentages
      IFRS   Non-IFRS
      Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Change Change in constant currencies   Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Change Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue   1,573.0 1,499.7 5% 4%   1,573.0 1,499.7 5% 4%
    Software Revenue   1,432.7 1,352.8 6% 5%   1,432.7 1,352.8 6% 5%
    Operating Margin   19.4% 21.6% (2.3)pts     30.9% 31.1% (0.2)pt  
    Diluted EPS   0.20 0.21 (9)%     0.32 0.30 6% 5%

    First Quarter 2025 Versus 2024 Financial Comparisons

    (unaudited, IFRS and non-IFRS unless otherwise noted,
    all revenue growth rates in constant currencies)

    • Total Revenue: Total revenue in the first quarter grew by 4% to €1.57 billion, and software revenue increased by 5% to €1.43 billion. Subscription & support revenue rose by 7%; recurring revenue represented 86% of software revenue, up 2 basis points versus last year. Licenses and other software revenue declined by 10% to €198 million. Services revenue was down 6% to €140 million, during the quarter.
    • Software Revenue by Geography: Revenue in the Americas increased by 7% to represent 43% of software revenue. This growth acceleration is driven by Aerospace & Defense, Transport & Mobility and High-Tech. Despite tariff uncertainty, Europe increased by 1%, led by good growth in Aerospace & Defense. Europe represented 36% of software revenue. In Asia, revenue increased by 5%, driven by India, Southeast Asia and Korea. Asia represented 22% of software revenue.
    • Software Revenue by Product Line:
      • Industrial Innovation software revenue increased by 8% to €793 million. This strong broad-based performance was led by CATIA, ENOVIA, DELMIA and NETVIBES. Industrial Innovation software represented 55% of software revenue.
    • Life Sciences software revenue was stable at €293 million, accounting for 20% of software revenue. MEDIDATA was impacted by continued CRO2 headwinds, while benefiting from the steady dynamic with Large Pharma and Mid-Market.
    • Mainstream Innovation software revenue increased by 2% to €347 million. SOLIDWORKS had a slow start to the year, but saw solid bookings and good momentum in 3DEXPERIENCE adoption. CENTRIC PLM was impacted by timing of renewals, after an exceptional year of growth in 2024. Mainstream Innovation represented 24% of software revenue, during the period.
    • Software Revenue by Industry: Aerospace & Defense, High Tech and Industrial Equipment were among the best performers during the quarter.
    • Key Strategic Drivers: 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue increased by 17%, driven by Aerospace & Defense, High Tech and Transportation & Mobility, along with opportunities in the sovereign infrastructure domain. 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue represented 39% of 3DEXPERIENCE eligible software revenue. Cloud software revenue grew by 7% and represented 25% of software revenue during the period. 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud software revenue increased by 41%.
    • Operating Income and Margin: IFRS operating income declined by 6% to €304 million, as reported. Non-IFRS operating income increased by 3% in constant currencies to €486 million (up 4% as reported). The IFRS operating margin stood at 19.4% compared to 21.6% in the first quarter of 2024. The non-IFRS operating margin totaled 30.9% versus 31.1% during the same period last year.
    • Earnings per Share: IFRS diluted EPS was €0.20, down 9% as reported. Non-IFRS diluted EPS grew to €0.32, up 6% as reported, or 5% in constant currencies.
    • Cash Flow from Operations (IFRS): Cash flow from operations totaled €813 million, an increase of 21% relative to the same period last year with strong cash collection. Cash flow from operations was principally used for the acquisition of ContentServ for €191 million (net of €11 million of cash acquired), repurchase of Treasury Shares for €80 million, repayment of debt for €59 million and €56 million for investments in CAPEX.
    • Balance Sheet (IFRS): Dassault Systèmes had a net cash position of €1.79 billion as of March 31, 2025, an increase of €0.33 billion, compared to €1.46 billion for the year ending December 31, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents totaled €4.24 billion at the end of March 2025.

    Financial Objectives for 2025

    Dassault Systèmes’ second quarter and 2025 financial objectives presented below are given on a non-IFRS basis and reflect the principal 2025 currency exchange rate assumptions for the US dollar and Japanese yen as well as the potential impact from additional non-Euro currencies:

               
          Q2 2025 FY 2025  
      Total Revenue (billion) €1.520 – €1.580 €6.567 – €6.667  
      Growth 2 – 6% 6 – 7%  
      Growth ex FX 3 – 7% 6 – 8%  
               
      Software revenue growth * 3 – 7% 6 – 8%  
        Of which licenses and other software revenue growth * (6) – 1% 2 – 6%  
        Of which recurring revenue growth * 5 – 8% 7 – 8%  
     

    Services revenue growth *

    3 – 7%

    4 – 6%  
               
      Operating Margin 29.8% – 29.9% 32.3% – 32.6%  
               
      EPS Diluted €0.30 – €0.31 €1.36 – €1.39  
      Growth (1) – 3% 7 – 9%  
      Growth ex FX 1 – 5% 7 – 10%  
               
      US dollar $1.10 per Euro $1.09 per Euro  
      Japanese yen (before hedging) JPY 155.0 per Euro JPY 156.4 per Euro  
      * Growth in Constant Currencies      

    These objectives are prepared and communicated only on a non-IFRS basis and are subject to the cautionary statement set forth below.

    The 2025 non-IFRS financial objectives set forth above do not take into account the following accounting elements below and are estimated based upon the 2025 principal currency exchange rates above: no significant contract liabilities write-downs; share-based compensation expenses, including related social charges, estimated at approximately €213 million (these estimates do not include any new stock option or share grants issued after March 31, 2025); amortization of acquired intangibles and of tangibles reevaluation, estimated at approximately €353 million, largely impacted by the acquisition of MEDIDATA and lease incentives of acquired companies at approximately €1 million.

    The above objectives also do not include any impact from other operating income and expenses, a net principally comprised of acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; from one-time items included in financial revenue; from one-time tax effects; and from the income tax effects of these non-IFRS adjustments. Finally, these estimates do not include any new acquisitions or restructuring completed after March 31, 2025.

    Corporate Announcements

    Today’s Webcast and Conference Call Information

    Today, Thursday, April 24, 2025, Dassault Systèmes will host, from Paris, a webcasted presentation at 9:00 AM London Time / 10:00 AM Paris time, and will then host a conference call at 8:30 AM New York time / 1:30 PM London time / 2:30 PM Paris time. The webcasted presentation and conference calls will be available online by accessing investor.3ds.com.

    Additional investor information is available at investor.3ds.com or by calling Dassault Systèmes’ Investor Relations at +33.1.61.62.69.24.

    Investor Relations Events

    • Capital Markets Day: June 6, 2025
    • Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release: July 24, 2025
    • Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Release: October 23, 2025
    • Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Release: February 11, 2026

    Forward-looking Information

    Statements herein that are not historical facts but express expectations or objectives for the future, including but not limited to statements regarding the Group’s non-IFRS financial performance objectives are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on Dassault Systèmes management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or performances may differ materially from those in such statements due to a range of factors.

    The Group’s actual results or performance may be materially negatively affected by numerous risks and uncertainties, as described in the “Risk Factors” section 1.9 of the 2024 Universal Registration Document (‘Document d’enregistrement universel’) filed with the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) on March 18, 2025, available on the Group’s website www.3ds.com.

    In particular, please refer to the risk factor “Uncertain Global Environment” in section 1.9.1.1 of the 2024 Universal Registration Document set out below for ease of reference:

    “In light of the uncertainties regarding economic, business, social, health and geopolitical conditions at the global level, Dassault Systèmes’ revenue, net earnings and cash flows may grow more slowly, whether on an annual or quarterly basis, mainly due to the following factors:

    • the deployment of Dassault Systèmes’ solutions may represent a large portion of a customer’s investments in software technology. Decisions to make such an investment are impacted by the economic environment in which the customers operate. Uncertain global geopolitical, economic and health conditions and the lack of visibility or the lack of financial resources may cause some customers, e.g. within the automotive, aerospace, energy or natural resources industries, to reduce, postpone or cancel their investments, or to reduce or not renew ongoing paid maintenance for their installed base, which impact larger customers’ revenue with their respective sub-contractors;
    • the political, economic and monetary situation in certain geographic regions where Dassault Systèmes operates could become more volatile and negatively affect Dassault Systèmes’ business, and in particular its revenue, for example, due to stricter export compliance rules or the introduction of new customs barriers or controls on the exchange of goods and services;
    • continued pressure or volatility on raw materials and energy prices could also slow down Dassault Systèmes’ diversification efforts in new industries;
    • uncertainties regarding the extent and duration of costs inflation could adversely affect the financial position of Dassault Systèmes; and
    • the sales cycle of the Dassault Systèmes’ products – already relatively long due to the strategic nature of such investments for customers – could further lengthen.

    The occurrence of crises – health and political crises in particular – could have consequences both for the health and safety of Dassault Systèmes’ employees and for the Company. It could also adversely impact the financial situation or financing and supply capabilities of Dassault Systèmes’ existing and potential customers, commercial and technology partners, some of whom may be forced to temporarily close sites or to cease operations. A deteriorating economic environment could generate increased price pressure and affect the collection of receivables, which would negatively affect Dassault Systèmes’ revenue, financial performance and market position.

    Dassault Systèmes makes every effort to take into consideration this uncertain outlook. Dassault Systèmes’ business results, however, may not develop as anticipated. Furthermore, due to factors affecting sales of Dassault Systèmes’ products and services, there may be a substantial time lag between an improvement in global economic and business conditions and an upswing in the Company’s business results.

    In preparing such forward-looking statements, the Group has in particular assumed an average US dollar to euro exchange rate of US$1.10 per €1.00 as well as an average Japanese yen to euro exchange rate of JPY155.0 to €1.00, before hedging for the second quarter 2025. The Group has assumed an average US dollar to euro exchange rate of US$1.09 per €1.00 as well as an average Japanese yen to euro exchange rate of JPY156.4 to €1.00, before hedging for the full year 2025. However, currency values fluctuate, and the Group’s results may be significantly affected by changes in exchange rates.   

    Non-IFRS Financial Information

    Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-IFRS financial information presented in this press release is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for IFRS measurements. The supplemental non-IFRS financial information should be read only in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. Furthermore, the Group’s supplemental non-IFRS financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled “non-IFRS” measures used by other companies. Specific limitations for individual non-IFRS measures are set forth in the Company’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on March 18, 2025.

    In the tables accompanying this press release the Group sets forth its supplemental non-IFRS figures for revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income and diluted earnings per share, which exclude the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ deferred revenue, share-based compensation expense and related social charges, the amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangibles reevaluation, certain other operating income and expense, net, including impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles, the effect of adjusting lease incentives of acquired companies, certain one-time items included in financial revenue and other, net, and the income tax effect of the non-IFRS adjustments and certain one-time tax effects. The tables also set forth the most comparable IFRS financial measure and reconciliations of this information with non-IFRS information.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com

    ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    Dassault Systèmes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens.
    With Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 370 000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact.
    For more information, visit www.3ds.com

    Dassault Systèmes Investor Relations Team                        FTI Consulting

    Beatrix Martinez: +33 1 61 62 40 73                                Arnaud de Cheffontaines: +33 1 47 03 69 48

                                                                    Jamie Ricketts : +44 20 3727 1600

    investors@3ds.com

    Dassault Systèmes Press Contacts

    Corporate / France        Arnaud MALHERBE        

    arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com        

    +33 (0)1 61 62 87 73

    © Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Use of any Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries trademarks is subject to their express written approval.

    APPENDIX TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.    

    Glossary of Definitions

    Non-IFRS Financial Information

    Acquisitions and Foreign Exchange Impact

    Condensed consolidated statements of income

    Condensed consolidated balance sheet

    Condensed consolidated cash flow statement

    IFRS – non-IFRS reconciliation

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES – Glossary of Definitions

    Information in Constant Currencies

    Dassault Systèmes has followed a long-standing policy of measuring its revenue performance and setting its revenue objectives exclusive of currency in order to measure in a transparent manner the underlying level of improvement in its total revenue and software revenue by activity, industry, geography and product lines. The Group believes it is helpful to evaluate its growth exclusive of currency impacts, particularly to help understand revenue trends in its business. Therefore, the Group provides percentage increases or decreases in its revenue and expenses (in both IFRS as well as non-IFRS) to eliminate the effect of changes in currency values, particularly the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, relative to the euro. When trend information is expressed “in constant currencies”, the results of the “prior” period have first been recalculated using the average exchange rates of the comparable period in the current year, and then compared with the results of the comparable period in the current year.

    While constant currency calculations are not considered to be an IFRS measure, the Group believes these measures are critical to understanding its global revenue results and to compare with many of its competitors who report their financial results in U.S. dollars. Therefore, Dassault Systèmes includes this calculation for comparing IFRS revenue figures as well non-IFRS revenue figures for comparable periods. All information at constant currencies is expressed as a rounded percentage and therefore may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.

    Information on Growth excluding acquisitions (“organic growth”)

    In addition to financial indicators on the entire Group’s scope, Dassault Systèmes provides growth excluding acquisitions effect, also named organic growth. In order to do so, the data relating to the scope is restated excluding acquisitions, from the date of the transaction, over a period of 12 months.

    Information on Industrial Sectors

    The Group provides broad end-to-end software solutions and services: its platform-based virtual twin experiences combine modeling, simulation, data science and collaborative innovation to support companies in the three sectors it serves, namely Manufacturing Industries, Life Sciences & Healthcare, and Infrastructure & Cities.

    These three sectors comprise twelve industries:

    • Manufacturing Industries: Transportation & Mobility; Aerospace & Defense; Marine & Offshore; Industrial Equipment; High-Tech; Home & Lifestyle; Consumer Packaged Goods – Retail. In Manufacturing Industries, Dassault Systèmes helps customers virtualize their operations, improve data sharing and collaboration across their organization, reduce costs and time-to-market, and become more sustainable;
    • Life Sciences & Healthcare: Life Sciences & Healthcare. In this sector, the Group aims to address the entire cycle of the patient journey to lead the way toward precision medicine. To reach the broader healthcare ecosystem from research to commercial, the Group’s solutions connect all elements from molecule development to prevention to care, and combine new therapeutics, medical practices, and Medtech;
    • Infrastructure & Cities: Infrastructure, Energy & Materials; Architecture, Engineering & Construction; Business Services; Cities & Public Services. In Infrastructure & Cities, the Group supports the virtualization of the sector in making its industries more efficient and sustainable, and creating desirable living environments.

    Information on Product Lines

    The Group’s product lines financial reporting include the following financial information:

    • Industrial Innovation software revenue, which includes CATIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, DELMIA, GEOVIA, NETVIBES, and 3DEXCITE brands;
    • Life Sciences software revenue, which includes MEDIDATA and BIOVIA brands;
    • Mainstream Innovation software revenue which includes SOLIDWORKS, as well as its CENTRIC PLM and 3DVIA brands.

    Starting from 2022, OUTSCALE became a brand of the Group, extending the portfolio of software applications. As the first sovereign and sustainable operator on the cloud, OUTSCALE enables governments and corporations from all sectors to achieve digital autonomy through a Cloud experience and with a world-class cyber governance.

    GEOs

    Eleven GEOs are responsible for driving the development of the Company’s business and implementing its customer‑centric engagement model. Teams leverage strong networks of local customers, users, partners, and influencers.

    These GEOs are structured into three groups:

    • the “Americas” group, made of two GEOs;
    • the “Europe” group, comprising Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and made of four GEOs;
    • the “Asia” group, comprising Asia and Oceania and made of five GEOs.

    3DEXPERIENCE Software Contribution

    To measure the relative share of 3DEXPERIENCE software in its revenues, Dassault Systèmes calculates the percentage contribution by comparing total 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue to software revenue for all product lines except SOLIDWORKS, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM and other acquisitions (defined as “3DEXPERIENCE Eligible software revenue”).

    Cloud revenue

    Cloud revenue is generated from contracts that provide access to cloud-based solutions (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), cloud solution development and cloud managed services. These offerings are delivered by Dassault Systèmes through its own cloud infrastructure or by third-party cloud providers. They are available through different deployment methods: Dedicated cloud, Sovereign cloud and International cloud. Cloud solutions are generally offered through subscription-based models or perpetual licenses with support and hosting services.

    New business

    New business is the combination of subscription revenue and licenses & other software revenue.

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    NON-IFRS FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data, percentages, headcount and exchange rates)

    Non-IFRS key figures exclude the effects of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ contract liabilities (deferred revenue), share-based compensation expense, including related social charges, amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation, lease incentives of acquired companies, other operating income and expense, net, including the acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets, certain one-time items included in financial loss, net, certain one-time tax effects and the income tax effects of these non-IFRS adjustments.

    Comparable IFRS financial information and a reconciliation of the IFRS and non-IFRS measures are set forth in the separate tables within this Attachment.

    In millions of Euros, except per share data, percentages, headcount and exchange rates Non-IFRS reported
    Three months ended
    March 31,

    2025

    March 31,

    2024

    Change Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue € 1,573.0 € 1,499.7 5% 4%
             
    Revenue breakdown by activity        
    Software revenue 1,432.7 1,352.8 6% 5%
    Of which licenses and other software revenue 198.1 218.5 (9)% (10)%
    Of which subscription and support revenue 1,234.6 1,134.3 9% 7%
    Services revenue 140.2 146.8 (4)% (6)%
             
    Software revenue breakdown by product line        
    Industrial Innovation 793.1 731.4 8% 8%
    Life Sciences 292.6 284.7 3% 0%
    Mainstream Innovation 347.1 336.7 3% 2%
             
    Software Revenue breakdown by geography        
    Americas 611.1 553.6 10% 7%
    Europe 513.2 503.2 2% 1%
    Asia 308.4 296.0 4% 5%
             
    Operating income € 486.1 € 466.5 4%  
    Operating margin 30.9% 31.1%    
             
    Net income attributable to shareholders € 420.1 € 397.2 6%  
    Diluted earnings per share € 0.32 € 0.30 6% 5%
             
    Closing headcount 26,225 25,780 2%  
             
    Average Rate USD per Euro 1.05 1.09 (3)%  
    Average Rate JPY per Euro 160.45 161.15 (0)%  

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    ACQUISITIONS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPACT

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros)

    In millions of Euros Non-IFRS reported o/w growth at constant rate and scope o/w change of scope impact at current year rate o/w FX impact on previous year figures
    March 31,

    2025

    March 31,

    2024

    Change
    Revenue QTD 1,573.0 1,499.7 73.3 52.6 0.9 19.8

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages)

    In millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages IFRS reported
    Three months ended
    March 31, March 31,
    2025 2024
    Licenses and other software revenue 198.1 218.5
    Subscription and Support revenue 1,234.6 1,134.3
    Software revenue 1,432.7 1,352.8
    Services revenue 140.2 146.8
    Total Revenue € 1,573.0 € 1,499.7
    Cost of software revenue (1) (129.2) (111.9)
    Cost of services revenue (131.1) (131.8)
    Research and development expenses (348.6) (311.4)
    Marketing and sales expenses (446.5) (420.3)
    General and administrative expenses (120.4) (105.1)
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation (88.3) (93.3)
    Other operating income and expense, net (4.4) (1.8)
    Total Operating Expenses (1,268.5) (1,175.6)
    Operating Income € 304.5 € 324.1
    Financial income (loss), net 30.3 30.2
    Income before income taxes € 334.8 € 354.2
    Income tax expense (75.5) (68.3)
    Net Income € 259.4 € 286.0
    Non-controlling interest 1.2 (0.3)
    Net Income attributable to equity holders of the parent € 260.5 € 285.7
    Basic earnings per share 0.20 0.22
    Diluted earnings per share € 0.20 € 0.21
    Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in millions) 1,312.3 1,313.6
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in millions) 1,332.2 1,331.1

            (1) Excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation.

    IFRS reported

     

    Three months ended March 31, 2025
    Change (2) Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue 5% 4%
    Revenue by activity    
    Software revenue 6% 5%
    Services revenue (4)% (6)%
    Software Revenue by product line    
    Industrial Innovation 8% 8%
    Life Sciences 3% 0%
    Mainstream Innovation 3% 2%
    Software Revenue by geography    
    Americas 10% 7%
    Europe 2% 1%
    Asia 4% 5%

                    (2) Variation compared to the same period in the prior year.

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros)

    In millions of Euros IFRS reported
    March 31, December 31,
    2025 2024
    ASSETS    
    Cash and cash equivalents 4,242.9 3,952.6
    Trade accounts receivable, net 1,709.5 2,120.9
    Contract assets 34.3 30.1
    Other current assets 464.8 464.0
    Total current assets 6,451.5 6,567.6
    Property and equipment, net 928.7 945.8
    Goodwill and Intangible assets, net 7,597.6 7,687.1
    Other non-current assets 358.9 345.5
    Total non-current assets 8,885.2 8,978.3
    Total Assets € 15,336.7 € 15,545.9
    LIABILITIES    
    Trade accounts payable 199.5 259.9
    Contract liabilities 1,716.0 1,663.4
    Borrowings, current 411.4 450.8
    Other current liabilities 1,109.7 1,147.4
    Total current liabilities 3,436.6 3,521.5
    Borrowings, non-current 2,043.3 2,042.8
    Other non-current liabilities 887.9 900.9
    Total non-current liabilities 2,931.3 2,943.7
    Non-controlling interests 14.3 14.1
    Parent shareholders’ equity 8,954.5 9,066.6
    Total Liabilities € 15,336.7 € 15,545.9

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros)

    In millions of Euros IFRS reported
    Three months ended
    March 31, March 31, Change
    2025 2024
    Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent 260.5 285.7 (25.2)
    Non-controlling interest (1.2) 0.3 (1.4)
    Net income 259.4 286.0 (26.6)
    Depreciation of property and equipment 50.5 47.6 2.8
    Amortization of intangible assets 89.6 95.2 (5.6)
    Adjustments for other non-cash items 16.1 37.7 (21.6)
    Changes in working capital 397.4 204.4 193.0
    Net Cash From Operating Activities € 813.0 € 670.9 € 142.1
           
    Additions to property, equipment and intangibles assets (55.9) (57.2) 1.2
    Payment for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (193.8) (4.5) (189.2)
    Other (37.8) 22.3 (60.1)
    Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities € (287.5) € (39.4) € (248.1)
           
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options 22.2 21.3 0.8
    Repurchase and sale of treasury stock (80.1) (131.1) 51.0
    Acquisition of non-controlling interests (0.2) (2.6) 2.5
    Repayment of borrowings (58.9) (0.1) (58.8)
    Repayment of lease liabilities (22.6) (24.0) 1.4
    Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities € (139.6) € (136.5) € (3.0)
           
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (95.7) 32.7 (128.4)
           
    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents € 290.3 € 527.7 € (237.4)
           
           
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period € 3,952.6 € 3,568.3  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period € 4,242.9 € 4,095.9  

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES
    SUPPLEMENTAL NON-IFRS FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    IFRS – NON-IFRS RECONCILIATION
    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages)

    Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-IFRS information presented in this press release is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered as a substitute for IFRS measurements. Also, the Group’s supplemental non-IFRS financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled “non-IFRS” measures used by other companies. Further specific limitations for individual non-IFRS measures, and the reasons for presenting non-IFRS financial information, are set forth in the Group’s Document d’Enregistrement Universel for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the AMF on March 18, 2025. To compensate for these limitations, the supplemental non-IFRS financial information should be read not in isolation, but only in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.

    In millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages Three months ended March 31, Change
    2025 Adjustment(1) 2025 2024 Adjustment(1) 2024 IFRS Non-IFRS(2)
    IFRS Non-IFRS IFRS Non-IFRS
    Total Revenue € 1,573.0 € 1,573.0 € 1,499.7 € 1,499.7 5% 5%
    Revenue breakdown by activity                
    Software revenue 1,432.7 1,432.7 1,352.8 1,352.8 6% 6%
    Licenses and other software revenue 198.1 198.1 218.5 218.5 (9)% (9)%
    Subscription and Support revenue 1,234.6 1,234.6 1,134.3 1,134.3 9% 9%
    Recurring portion of Software revenue 86%   86% 84%   84%    
    Services revenue 140.2 140.2 146.8 146.8 (4)% (4)%
    Software Revenue breakdown by product line                
    Industrial Innovation 793.1 793.1 731.4 731.4 8% 8%
    Life Sciences 292.6 292.6 284.7 284.7 3% 3%
    Mainstream Innovation 347.1 347.1 336.7 336.7 3% 3%
    Software Revenue breakdown by geography                
    Americas 611.1 611.1 553.6 553.6 10% 10%
    Europe 513.2 513.2 503.2 503.2 2% 2%
    Asia 308.4 308.4 296.0 296.0 4% 4%
    Total Operating Expenses € (1,268.5) € 181.6 € (1,086.9) € (1,175.6) € 142.4 € (1,033.2) 8% 5%
    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges (88.5) 88.5 (46.7) 46.7    
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation (88.3) 88.3 (93.3) 93.3    
    Lease incentives of acquired companies (0.4) 0.4 (0.7) 0.7    
    Other operating income and expense, net (4.4) 4.4 (1.8) 1.8    
    Operating Income € 304.5 € 181.6 € 486.1 € 324.1 € 142.4 € 466.5 (6)% 4%
    Operating Margin 19.4%   30.9% 21.6%   31.1%    
    Financial income (loss), net 30.3 0.6 30.9 30.2 1.0 31.2 1% (1)%
    Income tax expense (75.5) (21.6) (97.1) (68.3) (31.6) (99.9) 11% (3)%
    Non-controlling interest 1.2 (0.9) 0.2 (0.3) (0.3) (0.5) N/A (141)%
    Net Income attributable to shareholders € 260.5 € 159.6 € 420.1 € 285.7 € 111.5 € 397.2 (9)% 6%
    Diluted Earnings Per Share (3) € 0.20 € 0.12 € 0.32 € 0.21 € 0.08 € 0.30 (9)% 6%

    (1) In the reconciliation schedule above, (i) all adjustments to IFRS revenue data reflect the exclusion of the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ contract liabilities (deferred revenue); (ii) adjustments to IFRS operating expense data reflect the exclusion of the amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation, share-based compensation expense, including related social charges, lease incentives of acquired companies, as detailed below, and other operating income and expense, net including acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; (iii) adjustments to IFRS financial loss, net reflect the exclusion of certain one-time items included in financial loss, net, and; (iv) all adjustments to IFRS income data reflect the combined effect of these adjustments, plus with respect to net income and diluted earnings per share, certain one-time tax effects and the income tax effect of the non-IFRS adjustments.

    In millions of Euros, except percentages Three months ended March 31, Change
    2025

    IFRS

    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges Lease incentives of acquired companies 2025

    Non-IFRS

    2024

    IFRS

    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges Lease incentives of acquired companies 2024

    Non-IFRS

    IFRS Non-

    IFRS

    Cost of revenue (260.3) 4.9 0.1 (255.2) (243.8) 2.9 0.2 (240.6) 7% 6%
    Research and development expenses (348.6) 32.5 0.1 (316.0) (311.4) 17.9 0.3 (293.2) 12% 8%
    Marketing and sales expenses (446.5) 24.5 0.1 (421.9) (420.3) 13.7 0.1 (406.5) 6% 4%
    General and administrative expenses (120.4) 26.6 0.0 (93.8) (105.1) 12.3 0.0 (92.7) 15% 1%
    Total   € 88.5 € 0.4     € 46.7 € 0.7      

    (2) The non-IFRS percentage increase (decrease) compares non-IFRS measures for the two different periods. In the event there is non-IFRS adjustment to the relevant measure for only one of the periods under comparison, the non-IFRS increase (decrease) compares the non-IFRS measure to the relevant IFRS measure.
    (3) Based on a weighted average 1,332.2 million diluted shares for Q1 2025 and 1,331.1 million diluted shares for Q1 2024, and, for IFRS only, a diluted net income attributable to the sharehorlders of € 260.5 million for Q1 2025 (€ 285.7 million for Q1 2024). The Diluted net income attributable to equity holders of the Group corresponds to the Net Income attributable to equity holders of the Group adjusted by the impact of the share-based compensation plans to be settled either in cash or in shares at the option of the Group.


    1 IFRS figures for 1Q25: total revenue at €1.57 billion, operating margin of 19.4% and diluted EPS at €0.20.

    2 Contract Research Organizations

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: This may be as good as it gets: NZ and Australia face a complicated puzzle when it comes to supermarket prices

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Meade, Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research, Griffith University

    Daria Nipot/Shutterstock

    With ongoing cost of living pressures, the Australian and New Zealand supermarket sectors are attracting renewed political attention on both sides of the Tasman.

    Allegations of price gouging have become a political issue in the Australian federal election. At the same time, the New Zealand government has announced that “all options” are on the table to address a lack of competition in the sector – including possible breakup of the existing players.

    But it is not clear breaking up the supermarkets or other government interventions will improve the sector for shoppers and suppliers.

    In 2022, I co-authored a government-commissioned analysis looking at whether New Zealand’s two main supermarket groups should be forced to sell some of their stores to create a third competing chain.

    We found it was possible under some scenarios that breakup could benefit consumers. But key uncertainties and implementation risks meant consumers could lose overall.

    A lot hinges on whether breakup causes supermarkets’ input costs to rise or product variety to fall. Even in more positive scenarios at least some consumers could be left worse off.

    Watchdog concerns

    Competition authorities – the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and New Zealand’s Commerce Commission – have conducted supermarket sector studies. They each expressed concern at significant barriers to entry and expansion in the sector and supermarkets’ resulting high levels of profitability.

    This year, the ACCC concluded margins earned by Australia’s main supermarkets are among the highest of supermarket businesses in comparable countries. Similarly, in 2022 the Commerce Commission found New Zealand’s supermarkets were earning excess profits of around NZ$430m a year.

    While high profits might mean that market power is being abused, it could also mean managers are doing a good job. Or have had a great run of luck. Alternative explanations for high profits would need to be ruled out before putting fingers on regulatory triggers.

    New Zealand’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis says everything is on the table when it comes to addressing the concentration of the supermarket sector.
    Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

    Barriers to entry

    The starting point is to acknowledge that high profits and prices go hand in hand with barriers to entry and challenges in achieving economies of scale.

    In other words, some sectors are less competitive than others simply because a lack of demand or high costs make it unprofitable for additional competitors to either enter or remain in the market.

    Countries like Australia and New Zealand, with low population densities and large service areas, face high costs of nationwide supply. They also face significant shipping distances from other countries. This limits the ability of overseas entrants using their existing buying and supply infrastructures.

    That said, some barriers to entry might be artificial or caused by existing firms stifling new competitors.

    Existing supermarkets in both countries have gained controlling stakes in the land needed to set up new supermarkets – something regulatory settings can prevent.

    Another challenge for new chains is the process of getting planning and land use consents – something policymakers can address.

    This points to key elements of a test for whether supermarkets are charging too much. One is a recognition that there can be natural reasons for limited competition, and unless technologies or consumer preferences change that will remain the case.

    Another is a focus on the things that can be changed – whether at the firm or policy level – in a way that benefits consumers and suppliers. Finally, policymakers need to consider whether the benefits of implementing them outweigh the costs.

    Testing the market

    Building on work developed by Nobel economist Oliver Williamson, a “three-limb test” was used in the 2017 government-commissioned assessment of fuel pricing in New Zealand that I co-authored. The same could be used to assess the supermarket sector.

    That three-limb test asks

    • are there features of the existing industry structure and conduct giving cause for concern
    • can those causes for concern be remedied
    • would the benefits of remedying those concerns outweigh the costs of doing so?

    If the answer to all three limbs is yes, that suggests suppliers are charging too much (or delivering too little) since there are practical ways to improve on the status quo.

    A virtue of such a test is that is can be applied in any sector where there are high firm concentration, barriers to entry and high profit margins.

    Importantly, the test looks beyond just what firms are (or are not) doing and asks whether policy and regulatory settings are ripe for improvements too.

    The test is also pragmatic – it shouldn’t trigger changes unless they are clearly expected to do more good than harm. This is important if interventions are risky, costly or irreversible, especially in sectors that are important to all of us.

    Politicians on both sides of the Tasman are floating the possibility of supermarket breakup, among other possible interventions. The three-limb test helps to identify whether any proposed interventions are a good idea and whether supermarket prices are higher than they need to be.

    Richard Meade co-authored a 2022 study funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment examining the costs and benefits of breaking up New Zealand’s major supermarkets. The views expressed in this article are his own, and do not purport to represent those of any other party or organisation.

    ref. This may be as good as it gets: NZ and Australia face a complicated puzzle when it comes to supermarket prices – https://theconversation.com/this-may-be-as-good-as-it-gets-nz-and-australia-face-a-complicated-puzzle-when-it-comes-to-supermarket-prices-254987

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Nexif Ratch Energy Signs Amended Power Purchase Agreements for Its Ben Tre Wind Power Project, Accelerating Path to Financial Close

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEN TRE, Vietnam, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nexif Ratch Energy has reached a key milestone in the development of its 80MW Ben Tre Wind Power Plant project, having successfully signed Amendment and Supplement Agreements to the original Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on 18 April 2025.

    With the expiration of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) regime in October 2021, the Vietnamese government actively worked to establish a new pricing mechanism that reflects lower renewable energy investment costs while continuing to attract long-term private investment.

    In this context, Nexif Ratch Energy has worked diligently and collaboratively with all relevant authorities to agree on a revised tariff, positioning the project as one of the first transitional wind energy projects in Vietnam to sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The successful negotiations with EVN mark a breakthrough, reflecting strong cooperation among key stakeholders, including EVN and its subsidiary, Electricity Power Trading Company (EPTC).

    This achievement comes at a pivotal moment in Vietnam’s renewable energy landscape, as the country continues to strengthen its regulatory framework and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources. The government has taken significant steps toward this goal through the enactment of new laws, decrees, and guidelines related to the power sector, and through the revision of Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8), which proposes ambitious new renewable energy targets — an additional 16.1GW of onshore and nearshore wind, and 27.9GW of utility-scale solar capacity by 2030. These efforts are intended to drive growth in the renewable energy sector while keeping Vietnam competitive in attracting investment in green infrastructure.

    Mr. Surender Singh, Chairman of the board of directors of Nexif Ratch Energy, commented, “We commend the Vietnamese government for its proactive efforts in driving the country’s energy transition. Structural changes in the energy sector require a strong and coordinated approach between government, regulators, and, importantly, investors. As we have seen with the Nexif Energy Ben Tre Wind Power Plant project, success relies on strong, ongoing partnerships to overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities for the country’s sustainable future.”

    Mr. Cyril Dissescou, CEO of Nexif Ratch Energy, added “I’m proud of our team for their persistence and focus in achieving this milestone. I also want to thank EPTC for their close collaboration. This success reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to Vietnam’s clean energy future.”

    With the amended PPAs now signed and key procedural steps completed, the project is advancing towards financial close, with construction scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025. This progress underscores Nexif Ratch Energy’s commitment to delivering sustainable and reliable energy to Vietnam’s national grid, supporting the country’s energy transition, and contributing to the development of a greener future.

    About Nexif Ratch Energy

    Nexif Ratch Energy is a leading renewable energy company focused on the development, acquisition, construction, and operation of clean-energy projects across the Asia Pacific region. Headquartered in Singapore with regional offices in Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand, the company’s portfolio includes 378 MW of operating, under-construction, and shovel-ready hydro, solar, and wind energy assets. Additionally, Nexif Ratch Energy has a development pipeline totaling 3.2 GW across wind, solar, and energy storage projects.

    Nexif Ratch Energy is jointly owned by Nexif Energy (Singapore) with a 51% stake and RATCH Group (Thailand) with a 49% stake.

    For Media Inquiries:

    Chariya Poopisit
    Nexif Ratch Energy
    communications@nexifratch.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe6c5e6a-9551-4686-b931-7e9d74be2cd4

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: FLUENCE ENERGY SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits Against Fluence Energy, Inc. – FLNC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW ORLEANS, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 12, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Fluence Energy, Inc. (NasdaqGS: FLNC), if they purchased the Company’s shares between October 28, 2021 and February 10, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    Get Help

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

    About the Lawsuit

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

    On February 10, 2025, the Company announced its financial results for 1Q 2025, disclosing a net loss of $57 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to a loss of $25.6 million, or $0.14 per share, for the same period in the prior year, revenues down 49% year-over-year to $186.8 million, and decreased revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025, to a range of $3.1 billion to $3.7 billion, from its prior outlook of $3.6 billion to $4.4 billion, due to “customer-driven delays in signing certain contracts that, coupled with competitive pressures, result in the need to lower our fiscal year 2025 outlook.”

    On this news, the price of Fluence’s shares fell $6.07 per share, or 46.44%, to close at $7.00 per share on February 11, 2025.

    The first-filed case is Abramov v. Fluence Energy, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-00444. A subsequent case, Kramer v. Fluence Energy, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-00634, 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

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Transcript of April 2025 Fiscal Monitor Press Briefing

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    April 23, 2025

    Speakers:

    Vitor Gaspar, Director, Fiscal Affairs Department
    Era Dabla‑Norris, Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs Department
    Davide Furceri, Division Chief, Fiscal Affairs Department

    Moderator: Tatiana Mossot, Moderator, Senior Communications Officer

    The Moderator: Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening for our viewers around the world. I am Tatiana Mossot with the IMF Communications Department, and I will be your host for today’s press briefing on the Spring Meetings 2025 Fiscal Monitor named “Fiscal Policy Under Uncertainty.” I am pleased to introduce the Director of the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, Vitor Gaspar. He is joined by Era Dabla‑Norris, Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, and Davide Furceri, Division Chief of the Fiscal Affairs Department. Good morning, Vitor, Era, and Davide.

    Before taking your questions, let me start our briefing by turning to Vitor for his opening remarks. Vitor, the floor is yours.

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: Good morning. Many thanks for your kind introduction. Thank you all for your interest in the Fiscal Monitor, covering fiscal policies around the world. Since the last Fiscal Monitor in October 2024, global economic prospects have significantly deteriorated and risks to the economic outlook are elevated and tilted to the downside. Uncertainty is very high, and confidence has been weakening. Financial markets have partially corrected, and financing conditions have tightened.

    Global public debt is very high and rising. According to the WEO reference projection in 2025, it will rise above 95 percent of GDP. It is higher and growing faster than pre‑pandemic. It will be approaching 100 percent of GDP by the end of the decade, surpassing the pandemic peak, but global numbers hide a wide diversity across countries. In the figure, every bubble represents a country. The larger the bubble, the larger the country’s GDP. The figure shows debt levels on the vertical axis and debt growth on the horizontal axis compared to pre‑pandemic. The higher the bubble in the figure, the more debt has increased compared to 2019.

    119 countries are above the horizontal axis. For these countries, public debt is higher than pre‑pandemic. The further to the right in the figure, the faster debt grows compared to pre‑pandemic trends. Bubbles as you can see are all over the chart. That illustrates a wide diversity across countries. Therefore, fiscal policies must vary in line with country‑specific factors and circumstances, but in the face of turbulent and threatening times ahead, resilience is needed everywhere. Countries should redouble efforts to keep their own fiscal house in order.

    Let us zoom in on the top, the right top quadrant. Countries in the quadrant have public debt higher and rising faster. This group includes 59 countries. That is about one third of the 175 countries in the chart. But their economies represent 80 percent of world GDP. Their economic weight makes them the main drivers of global trends. You can see many large bubbles in this quadrant. No surprise. Most large economies, including the largest, are there.

    Now, let us focus on the remaining two thirds of countries in the world. There are 116 countries in the group that represent about 20 percent of world GDP. In the chart that you are looking at, the blue line represents all countries except for the 59 that I have mentioned before. The two lines in the chart representing the world and representing the remaining 116 countries evolve similarly up to the year of the pandemic. After 2020, as you can see, the trends diverge. The two lines actually cross in 2023. For these 116 countries, aggregate public debt is now well below pandemic levels, but going forward, it is very flat, indicating a stabilization of public debt at high levels. But the distinctive feature of the current conjuncture is uncertainty. One must go beyond referenced projections.

    In the words of the Managing Director, trade policy uncertainty is off the charts. Upside risk to public debt projections dominates the outlook. The October 2024 Fiscal Monitor introduced a novel tool to quantify the distribution of debt risks around the referenced projection. We call it public debt at risk. According to this tool, global public debt three years ahead would come at 117 percent of GDP in a severe adverse scenario.

    Recent developments with sharpening, increasing, and persistent uncertainty, tightening financing conditions push public debt at risk even higher. In a fast-changing and perilous world, Ministers of Finance must act urgently and decisively. They face stark tradeoffs and painful choices. Policymakers should invest their political capital in building confidence and trust. That starts with keeping their own houses in order. That is especially important in a situation that tested the resilience of individual economies, not to mention the entire system. Putting the house in order involves three policy priorities.

    First, fiscal policy should be part of overall stability‑oriented macroeconomic policies. Second, fiscal policy should in most countries aim at reducing public debt and rebuilding buffers to create space to respond to spending pressures and other economic shocks through a credible medium‑term framework. Third, fiscal policy should, together with other threshold policies, aim at improving potential growth, thereby easing policy tradeoffs. In these times of high uncertainty, fiscal policy must be an anchor for confidence and stability that can contribute to a competitive economy, delivering growth and prosperity for all.

    Ministers of Finance must build trust, tax fairly, spend wisely and take the long view. My colleagues and I are ready to answer any questions that you may have.

    The Moderator: Thank you, Vitor. We will now open the floor to your questions, but before we do that, a couple of ground rules, please. If you want to ask a question, please raise your hand first, wait until I call you and a colleague will give you the microphone. When you ask your questions, please identify yourself and the network you are working for. And for colleagues online, please ask your questions on Webex, and we will come to you.

    QUESTION: According to the report, tariffs and trade tensions have increased uncertainty and risks to economic growth. How can affected countries manage the negative impact on public confidence and growth, especially considering the high level of public debt and financial challenges they are already facing?

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: Thank you very much for your question. That allows me to summarize again the top‑level message from the Fiscal Monitor. Global public debt, as you said, is high, rising, and we always emphasize it is also risky. It rose above $100 trillion in 2024, and that was a headline six months ago. In the IMF referenced projections, that will continue rising, approaching 100 percent of GDP by the end of the decade.

    But what we emphasize most at this point in time is the unusually elevated degree of uncertainty. To repeat the quote from the Managing Director, “Trade policy uncertainty is literally off the charts.” There is, therefore, a sense of urgency in policymaking. According to our public‑debt‑at‑risk tool, our estimates for three years ahead point to debt at risk at 117 percent of GDP for the world, which is a level that has not been seen in many decades.

    But even that extreme adverse scenario may be under‑estimating tail risks because trade and geoeconomic uncertainty has escalated, financing conditions tightened, financial market volatility is visible from headlines, and spending pressures have intensified further. So, in those conditions, the point about countries keeping their own houses in order is crucial, and that is instrumental to deliver resilience and sustained growth from a long‑term perspective.

    The Moderator: Thank you, Vitor. As you may have seen, there are two chapters, the second one is on emerging markets. And I think Era and Davide; we have some questions for you too.

    QUESTION: Given the current global economic slow‑down, what are the specific challenges and impacts faced by emerging and developing countries and what policy measures can be implemented to mitigate these effects?

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Let me start with what we see as some of the key sources of uncertainty that emerging market and developing economies are facing. Vitor had laid out some of the broader issues but let me highlight three. So, in addition to the fact that we see growth prospects being marked down across the board, and we see that emerging markets and developing economies could be impacted through trade, financial and commodity channels, let me highlight three specific risks. The first is escalating uncertainty about tariffs and associated policies. In the Fiscal Monitor, we find that geoeconomic uncertainty, in particular, an escalation of geoeconomic uncertainty actually can push up debt over the medium term by about 4.5 percentage points. For emerging market economies in particular, it could be as high as 6 percent of GDP.

    Why is this the case? Because essentially, with higher geoeconomic uncertainty, that can dampen growth prospects, it lowers revenues because consumption production tends to fall. It also leads to higher spending, so as a result, fiscal positions deteriorate and debt increases. That is one important source of risks.

    A second source of risks is more volatile financial conditions. In the U.S., for instance, or other systemically important economies can spillover into emerging market and developing economies. And it can do so by raising sovereign borrowing costs. So, our analysis in the Fiscal Monitor shows that at 100 basis point increase in U.S. nominal Treasury yields translates into 100 basis point increase in emerging market economies’ borrowing costs. And this lasts for several months.

    A third source of risk is that we have seen that debt levels are high in many emerging markets and developing economies, so interest expenses are commensurately very high, and they are eating up a larger share of the budget. So, our analysis shows that 1 percentage point of GDP increase in interest expenses results in crowding out of other essential items within the budget, such as social spending and infrastructure investment. So, as Vitor pointed out, in this environment, it is very, very important for countries to put their own fiscal house in order.

    What does that mean? Country specifics will vary, but what it really means is that countries need to think about putting in place a gradual fiscal adjustment within a credible medium‑term fiscal framework. For EMDEs, where tax revenues are low, they can mobilize additional revenues by expanding the tax base. They can eliminate energy subsidies and other types of subsidies that can be distortionary. They can find ways to reprioritize spending. And most importantly, they can think about the policies that are needed to boost growth because that really can help ease these fiscal tradeoffs.

    QUESTION: My question is about energy subsidies and perhaps pension reforms, which are not related to emerging markets but pretty much the same problem. It is when the margin exists in many countries when you want to have some fiscal space. But in those many countries you have already social tensions that are quite high, so what are the possibilities for countries to make those reforms that are highly unpopular most of the time if they want to have this margin created?

    Ms. Dabla‑Norris: Let me talk about energy subsidies and my colleague Davide can speak a little bit about pension reforms. As you correctly pointed out, countries need to reduce debt. They need to create fiscal space. And energy subsidies and pension reforms can be important reforms that countries can undertake to generate fiscal savings. So, when we look at energy subsidy reforms in particular, energy, they account for about 1.5 percent of GDP on average in emerging markets and developing economies. And reforming them can have tremendous benefits for the economy. So let me enumerate some of them.

    First, it increases energy efficiency in the economy. Secondly, it generates fiscal savings that can then be used to increase other types of social spending and needed priority infrastructure investments. And finally, many of these subsidies tend to be highly regressive, so they do not necessarily benefit the poorest segment or the most vulnerable segments of society.

    In our Fiscal Monitor Chapter 2, what we did is we developed a novel real‑time measure of public sentiment. This is the sentiment of households, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to gauge how governments can leverage strategies in order to make these kinds of reforms acceptable. There are a number of things that we found that are specific to energy subsidy reforms that I would like to talk about.

    The first is that we found that reforms that are—or changes that take place gradually have greater success of being implemented. To give you an example, Colombia very recently had an energy subsidy reform. They implemented it over a two‑year period, that was preannounced, so that people had time to adjust.

    A second strategy that we found successful—to be successful in shaping the acceptability of these reforms is that there was timely implementation of accompanying measures. And countries that put in place accompanying measures to really protect and support the most vulnerable, countries that put in place measures up‑front and invested in social programs and social infrastructure that was very visible to the public had a greater chance of succeeding.

    We also found that policies that were well‑communicated, that built consensus, that explained the tradeoffs to people had a much higher success of being accepted by the general public. For example, Morocco made it very clear that there was going to be a comprehensive communication strategy at the very beginning, at the very outset, and the message that was conveyed was that subsidies were a poor instrument for providing social support. A host of these strategies can be used by countries to implement these politically challenging reforms.

    Mr. Davide Furceri: The chapter also deals with pension reforms. We know that in many countries, spending on pensions is quite high. Just to give you a couple of numbers, in the case of advanced economies, it is 8 percent of GDP; in emerging market, about four. This spending is projected to increase due to increasing life expectancy and retirement. Reforming the pension system is important to generate fiscal savings but also to sustain labor‑force participation, as well as employment.

    Some of the key messages that we find in the chapter on reforms touch upon some of the issues that Era mentioned, gradual and timly of the reform. But for pension, what we find is that strategic communication and stakeholder engagement has been especially important. Indeed, there are cases of countries that have succeeded in implementing significant reform, for example, presenting an increasing retirement age as part of the reform that was trying to sustain adequate benefit levels. Or in some cases they were creating bipartisan commissions where they were engaging with stakeholders to hear their concerns and think about implementing the reform in the best way.

    An important issue when we think about pension reform is strengthening financial literacy and making sure that various stakeholders will talk about the potential benefits and cost of various pension schemes. Thank you.

    The Moderator: Very last one before we move to the U.S. and the other countries and regional and then we will move to other topics.

    QUESTION: I still want to focus on Chapter 2 because we are talking about developing economies and public sentiment. Era, when you were talking, you talked about subsidies being discretionary, not making the budgets, you know, complete and all of that, but we also know for many developing countries and even frontier economies, they are under pressure to cut back energy subsidies to ease debt burdens, yet these same subsidies often help keep the lights on for millions of families, low‑income families and businesses. You talked about growth earlier on. So, without these low‑income businesses, how would you also get growth? How does the IMF suggest governments manage this delicate balance and enable these countries to rationalize subsidies while safeguarding energy subsidies and cushioning the most vulnerable without leaving them behind because we are torn between having to think that subsidies are really 100 percent bad, so I really wanted to comment on that.

    Then on Nigeria, energy subsidy reforms that were seen have sparked protests and public frustrations, reflecting a top balance between fiscal responsibility and social equity. How do you think that Nigeria can navigate this difficult path and what specific measures can the IMF suggest ensuring that these reforms are fair, inclusive and accepted by the public. Thank you.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Let me talk in more detail about subsidies. Thank you for your question. These are challenging reforms to undertake. Why? Because they impact people’s, small firms’ pocketbooks immediately. An increase in energy prices as the government is moving towards cost recovery, pricing impacts pocketbooks immediately. This is a very tangible impact. Whereas the benefits that I spoke of, which are energy efficiency, the ability to reallocate fiscal savings take time to materialize. They are much more diffuse. Everyone benefits from those, but the pocket impact is felt immediately. This is why it is important as we note in our chapter, this is why it is important to have—for governments to think about a comprehensive strategy on how to implement these reforms. When you look at public sentiment across different sort of steps of these reforms, what we find that is really important is that countries that put in place compensatory mechanisms — whether this is cash transfers or more targeted transfers — really for those people who need it most have an easier time in carrying out these types of reforms. So in environments where the public does not trust the government, where there is weak accountability, doing these things up‑front in a very visible way, increasing support for social programs makes it very tangible to the public that the government is going to be doing this, and it is going to be accountable, if you will, for the fiscal savings that will be generated.

    QUESTION: Good morning. As risks for the fiscal outlook have intensified and debt levels may rise even further, as stated in the Fiscal Monitor, how worried are you about any sort of global debt crisis or regional crises that can appear, considering slower growth and new spending pressures on countries?

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: As you heard yesterday, recession and crisis more than an individual nature are not in our reference projections, although, of course, part of the role of the Fiscal Monitor is precisely to systemically look at risks and vulnerabilities, and our public‑debt‑at‑risk tool is one of the instruments to do exactly that.

    Now, one point which I believe is very important is that precisely because risks and uncertainty are so elevated right now, there is a sense of urgency in policy action. Why? Because there is still time to adopt policies that improve resilience, and there is still time to think through what are the most relevant vulnerability scenarios that apply to individual countries, to regions, or even to broader systems. And it is very important to do that result systemically so that one is ready if and when a crisis comes. Our experience during the pandemic showed that countries that had easy access to financial markets and ample fiscal space did substantially better than others at managing the shocks associated with the pandemic.

    The Moderator: Thank you. We will get back to this part of the room.

    QUESTION: My question is that you just mentioned the public debt remains very elevated and also this would cause fiscal space to continue to narrow down in many countries, including some major economies. So, what consequence will this bring to the world global economy if this kind of situation continues to develop?

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: So I think that the answer that I gave to the question just now applies, given these elevated risks and uncertainties, it is crucial that countries focus on keeping their own house in order since situations around the world are so diverse, as Era emphasized, that will imply different policies in different countries. But the crucial thing is that in a situation that is as fast changing as the one we are facing now and where risks and uncertainties are so elevated, there is an urgency in acting to improve fiscal space, build buffers, and, therefore, be in a position to ensure resilience and sustain growth.

    The Moderator: Thank you. We will get back to this part of the room. The gentleman with the red shirt, please.

    QUESTION: Thank you very much. Allow me to back‑pedal to the EMDEs. The Fiscal Monitor speaks about the need to widen the tax base. A number of frontier market economies have been rolling out significant economic present stacks and minimum top‑up tax in line with the Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. But now this puts them in the cross‑hairs with the Trump administration, and many are now wondering whether they should be rolling back. So which pathway does the Fund see sustainable, considering many are looking at preferential access to the American market?

    Mr. Davide Furceri: Regarding the tax, I think it is important to make three important points. The first is that in the current situation where many emerging market and developing countries are characterized by three factors, one, foreign aid is declining; second, we have seen that increasing financial volatility can increase interest rates in these countries. This is in a situation where interest rates over revenue for many countries is about 10 percent of GDP. Third, [volatile] financial conditions also implies that less flows will go to these countries. The point that we make in the Fiscal Monitor is that revenue and revenue mobilization can be a stable source for financing significant spending for social benefit or public investment. How we should strengthen revenue mobilization, typically there are three sorts of arrows that you can go. One is expanding the tax base. Second, eliminate tax exemptions. Third, which is also important, and that the IMF does a lot of work in terms of capacity development is strengthening tax administrations. When we think about the tax strategy, we have to consider all of these three elements, and for many emerging markets and developing countries, there are significant potential tax gains that can be achieved.

    The Moderator: Yes, please.

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: Just one word of addition. Davide correctly pointed out these three very important elements, broadening the tax base, dealing with tax expenditures and strengthening revenue administration. Yesterday I participated in a high‑level panel precisely on the mobilization of resources, and these three elements were repeated by the Ministers of Pakistan, Paraguay and Rwanda, and they found this frame relevant in their own experience of trying to improve the capacity of their countries to mobilize revenues.

    The Moderator: We have two questions online. I think this one will be for you, Era, about Spain. Yesterday they revised upwards the growth of Spain and have already highlighted the good performance of the Spanish economy. What should this country do with these good growth results regarding its fiscal policies in the short and medium term? And we will have another one for South Africa online.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Thank you for the question. Given Spain’s relatively strong fiscal position as well as economic position, there is scope now to front‑load some of the adjustment that they were thinking about because public debt levels in Spain still remain very high, although they have come down from the pandemic peaks. They still remain very high. This would be really important to put debt firmly down on a downward trajectory.

    Accumulative adjustment of about 3 percent of GDP over the next three years, say 2025 to 2029, similar to the one that was envisaged in terms of magnitude by the authorities but more frontloaded, would help achieve the goal. Now, as Vitor has pointed out, we are encouraging countries to bring debt down for a number of reasons. This is important because you want to reduce debt risks. This is important because countries should either expand or replenish the buffers that were diminished in the wake of the pandemic and also because of ongoing uncertainties. Finally, because countries will need—countries like Spain will need to spend on other areas, population aging, climate, defense and such.

    The Moderator: Just before we go to South Africa, any other European question? One time, two time, no European question in the room. OK.

    QUESTION: Thank you. The question on South Africa but also on the broader region: On South Africa, the IMF is quite significantly more pessimistic on the fiscal trajectory than our own government, which sees debt stabilizing, whereas the IMF sees it rising close to 90 percent of GDP at the end of the decade. Why are you so much more pessimistic of the authorities’ promised consolidation? But also on the region, sub‑Saharan Africa more broadly, how do you see the impact of what is happening globally on the region’s ability to borrow and particularly to borrow in international markets, and given a lot of the countries in the region are in debt distress or close to debt distress, what impact will that have on the economies of the sub‑Saharan Africa? Thank you.

    The Moderator: Thank you very much.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Thank you very much. Briefly on South Africa, the general government deficit in South Africa was about 6 percent of GDP in 2024. We project the fiscal deficit in 2025, although this is subject to considerable—all projections are subject to considerable uncertainties at this juncture to be around 6.6 percent of GDP. This is mainly driven by higher spending. Some of the differences stem from the fact that our projections are based on much more conservative assumptions regarding the buoyancy of the tax system, as well as the extent of primary spending compression that can be undertaken. So that really accounts for differences in projections between the two countries and also the path of debt going forward. Let me turn it over to Davide.

    Mr. Davide Furceri: Yes, more broadly and on financing costs for sub‑Saharan African regions, let me point out two factors. The first is that, of course, we have seen interest rates rising. So, this increasing interest rate in many countries, including South Africa, is basically driven by two factors. You have sort of an interest rate in main advanced economies that has been on a rising trend. On the positive side, in many countries, especially those with better fiscal positions, you actually have seen spreads, so the difference between the domestic interest rate and the foreign interest rate declines. However, and this is something that we point out in the Fiscal Monitor, that increased risk, increase of risk of uncertainty, financial market volatility, can turn things around. In other words, we see that increasing financial market volatility globally can lead to an increase in spreads.

    The second point is that one part we have seen for many low‑income countries since the pandemic is they are relying much more on domestic issuance of debt rather than on the foreign market. This is on one hand sort of offset some of the challenges like to the global environment but also increase some sort of domestic vulnerability, because sometimes the interest rates rise. There are things that are important to think about this strategy. But definitely, as we mentioned, interest rate is a source of rising in terms of revenue is a source of concern. Let me make the point again that we made, I think strengthening fiscal buffers, revenue mobilization are important elements to reduce — to have this trend to decline.

    The Moderator: Thank you. I believe we received some questions for Latin America and, yes, there are some reporters in the room. Yes, please, the lady in the third row here.

    QUESTION: Thank you. You already talked about emerging markets, but focusing on Latin America, I want to know which one—you already have talked about it too, but which one is the biggest fiscal risk and what should economies in Latin America should be thinking about doing in terms of growing and accepting new investment, for example, to confront the situation abroad? Thank you.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Thank you for your question. Many of the risks that other emerging market economies face, countries in Latin America obviously also face, we have already talked at length about that. But I am going to talk about a few things that are specific to many of the countries in Latin America. So, there is two challenges that limit fiscal flexibility in Latin America. The first is that there are spending rigidities. What I mean by that is there is a lot of amounts of spending that is mandatory, on pensions, on wages, on transfers. This leaves very little room for fiscal flexibility.

    At the same time, like many other emerging markets and developing economies, spending pressures are on the rise. There are growing demands for social services, for infrastructure, for adopting to climate change, and all of these are putting pressures on the budget. Now, when you look at what has happened since the pandemic, countries have made ambitious plans to consolidate their budget. There have been ambitious announcements of fiscal consolidation plans, but at the same time expenditure increases have outpaced revenue gains. So, for many countries in the region, we see debt levels continuing to rise. And the challenge here is that we are in a world with greater uncertainty than we were even six months ago. So, it is really important for countries in the region to implement at a minimum the announced fiscal consolidation plan and to do this within credible medium‑term frameworks. Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean region have fiscal rules. So to implement these rules, to spend efficiently, to think about the types of fiscal reforms that are needed, whether it is revenue mobilization in countries where revenue‑to‑GDP ratios are low, whether it is spending prioritization or reprioritization, to create the room that is needed for priority investments and social spending and infrastructure and such.

    The Moderator: Thank you. One last question.

    QUESTION: I am from Thailand. I want to ask about the overall trend of the public debt, especially for the ASEAN 5. It would be great if you could mention specifically on Thailand.

    The Moderator: I think we had the Nigeria question to answer too, and we will close there. Thank you.

    Mr. Davide Furceri: Let me start with Nigeria. So, Nigeria managed to do a very difficult reform that was important to deliver fiscal savings. The authorities also scaled up transfers, technical transfers. What we think there is, what is important to act on two pillars. One is to generate additional fiscal savings. We mentioned revenue mobilization. To really scale up spending on social protection, spending on investment, in a way as was mentioned, many countries, they need to spend, and there I want to go back to Vitor’s first remarks. We encourage countries to spend very wisely. Strengthening prioritization in terms of spending, strengthening the efficiency of spending is important. Final important message we would like to give for Nigeria but also for other countries is that fiscal institutions are very important. Having a medium‑term fiscal framework, Public Financial Management are key important because on the one hand they try to help the fiscal anchor, so they set apart for the fiscal adjustment, but also reduce the fiscal uncertainty per se. So as Vitor mentioned, we want the fiscal to be a source of stability and not a source of uncertainty, and that is where fiscal institutions have an important role to play.

    The Moderator: Thank you. Very quickly, Era.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: On ASEAN, there is a huge variation in fiscal positions across the region. On average, the ASEAN region debt‑to‑GDP ratios are lower than they are in other emerging market and developing economies. That said, in Thailand, relative to the other countries in ASEAN, debt levels are slightly more elevated, over 60 percent of GDP. Our advice has been that fiscal policy should be prudent and parsimonious, given all the reasons we have discussed over the course of this morning. So, measures that are needed to smooth adjustment in light of higher tariffs should be thought of in a wise way, temporary, targeted measures in the context of tariff uncertainty, and ongoing consolidation plans implemented to bring debt down in a sustainable manner.

    The Moderator: Thank you very much

    IMF Communications Department
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    PRESS OFFICER: Tatiana Mossot

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    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/04/24/tr-042325-fm-press-briefing

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Transcript of April 2025 Fiscal Monitor Press Briefing

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    April 23, 2025

    Speakers:

    Vitor Gaspar, Director, Fiscal Affairs Department
    Era Dabla‑Norris, Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs Department
    Davide Furceri, Division Chief, Fiscal Affairs Department

    Moderator: Tatiana Mossot, Moderator, Senior Communications Officer

    The Moderator: Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening for our viewers around the world. I am Tatiana Mossot with the IMF Communications Department, and I will be your host for today’s press briefing on the Spring Meetings 2025 Fiscal Monitor named “Fiscal Policy Under Uncertainty.” I am pleased to introduce the Director of the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, Vitor Gaspar. He is joined by Era Dabla‑Norris, Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, and Davide Furceri, Division Chief of the Fiscal Affairs Department. Good morning, Vitor, Era, and Davide.

    Before taking your questions, let me start our briefing by turning to Vitor for his opening remarks. Vitor, the floor is yours.

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: Good morning. Many thanks for your kind introduction. Thank you all for your interest in the Fiscal Monitor, covering fiscal policies around the world. Since the last Fiscal Monitor in October 2024, global economic prospects have significantly deteriorated and risks to the economic outlook are elevated and tilted to the downside. Uncertainty is very high, and confidence has been weakening. Financial markets have partially corrected, and financing conditions have tightened.

    Global public debt is very high and rising. According to the WEO reference projection in 2025, it will rise above 95 percent of GDP. It is higher and growing faster than pre‑pandemic. It will be approaching 100 percent of GDP by the end of the decade, surpassing the pandemic peak, but global numbers hide a wide diversity across countries. In the figure, every bubble represents a country. The larger the bubble, the larger the country’s GDP. The figure shows debt levels on the vertical axis and debt growth on the horizontal axis compared to pre‑pandemic. The higher the bubble in the figure, the more debt has increased compared to 2019.

    119 countries are above the horizontal axis. For these countries, public debt is higher than pre‑pandemic. The further to the right in the figure, the faster debt grows compared to pre‑pandemic trends. Bubbles as you can see are all over the chart. That illustrates a wide diversity across countries. Therefore, fiscal policies must vary in line with country‑specific factors and circumstances, but in the face of turbulent and threatening times ahead, resilience is needed everywhere. Countries should redouble efforts to keep their own fiscal house in order.

    Let us zoom in on the top, the right top quadrant. Countries in the quadrant have public debt higher and rising faster. This group includes 59 countries. That is about one third of the 175 countries in the chart. But their economies represent 80 percent of world GDP. Their economic weight makes them the main drivers of global trends. You can see many large bubbles in this quadrant. No surprise. Most large economies, including the largest, are there.

    Now, let us focus on the remaining two thirds of countries in the world. There are 116 countries in the group that represent about 20 percent of world GDP. In the chart that you are looking at, the blue line represents all countries except for the 59 that I have mentioned before. The two lines in the chart representing the world and representing the remaining 116 countries evolve similarly up to the year of the pandemic. After 2020, as you can see, the trends diverge. The two lines actually cross in 2023. For these 116 countries, aggregate public debt is now well below pandemic levels, but going forward, it is very flat, indicating a stabilization of public debt at high levels. But the distinctive feature of the current conjuncture is uncertainty. One must go beyond referenced projections.

    In the words of the Managing Director, trade policy uncertainty is off the charts. Upside risk to public debt projections dominates the outlook. The October 2024 Fiscal Monitor introduced a novel tool to quantify the distribution of debt risks around the referenced projection. We call it public debt at risk. According to this tool, global public debt three years ahead would come at 117 percent of GDP in a severe adverse scenario.

    Recent developments with sharpening, increasing, and persistent uncertainty, tightening financing conditions push public debt at risk even higher. In a fast-changing and perilous world, Ministers of Finance must act urgently and decisively. They face stark tradeoffs and painful choices. Policymakers should invest their political capital in building confidence and trust. That starts with keeping their own houses in order. That is especially important in a situation that tested the resilience of individual economies, not to mention the entire system. Putting the house in order involves three policy priorities.

    First, fiscal policy should be part of overall stability‑oriented macroeconomic policies. Second, fiscal policy should in most countries aim at reducing public debt and rebuilding buffers to create space to respond to spending pressures and other economic shocks through a credible medium‑term framework. Third, fiscal policy should, together with other threshold policies, aim at improving potential growth, thereby easing policy tradeoffs. In these times of high uncertainty, fiscal policy must be an anchor for confidence and stability that can contribute to a competitive economy, delivering growth and prosperity for all.

    Ministers of Finance must build trust, tax fairly, spend wisely and take the long view. My colleagues and I are ready to answer any questions that you may have.

    The Moderator: Thank you, Vitor. We will now open the floor to your questions, but before we do that, a couple of ground rules, please. If you want to ask a question, please raise your hand first, wait until I call you and a colleague will give you the microphone. When you ask your questions, please identify yourself and the network you are working for. And for colleagues online, please ask your questions on Webex, and we will come to you.

    QUESTION: According to the report, tariffs and trade tensions have increased uncertainty and risks to economic growth. How can affected countries manage the negative impact on public confidence and growth, especially considering the high level of public debt and financial challenges they are already facing?

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: Thank you very much for your question. That allows me to summarize again the top‑level message from the Fiscal Monitor. Global public debt, as you said, is high, rising, and we always emphasize it is also risky. It rose above $100 trillion in 2024, and that was a headline six months ago. In the IMF referenced projections, that will continue rising, approaching 100 percent of GDP by the end of the decade.

    But what we emphasize most at this point in time is the unusually elevated degree of uncertainty. To repeat the quote from the Managing Director, “Trade policy uncertainty is literally off the charts.” There is, therefore, a sense of urgency in policymaking. According to our public‑debt‑at‑risk tool, our estimates for three years ahead point to debt at risk at 117 percent of GDP for the world, which is a level that has not been seen in many decades.

    But even that extreme adverse scenario may be under‑estimating tail risks because trade and geoeconomic uncertainty has escalated, financing conditions tightened, financial market volatility is visible from headlines, and spending pressures have intensified further. So, in those conditions, the point about countries keeping their own houses in order is crucial, and that is instrumental to deliver resilience and sustained growth from a long‑term perspective.

    The Moderator: Thank you, Vitor. As you may have seen, there are two chapters, the second one is on emerging markets. And I think Era and Davide; we have some questions for you too.

    QUESTION: Given the current global economic slow‑down, what are the specific challenges and impacts faced by emerging and developing countries and what policy measures can be implemented to mitigate these effects?

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Let me start with what we see as some of the key sources of uncertainty that emerging market and developing economies are facing. Vitor had laid out some of the broader issues but let me highlight three. So, in addition to the fact that we see growth prospects being marked down across the board, and we see that emerging markets and developing economies could be impacted through trade, financial and commodity channels, let me highlight three specific risks. The first is escalating uncertainty about tariffs and associated policies. In the Fiscal Monitor, we find that geoeconomic uncertainty, in particular, an escalation of geoeconomic uncertainty actually can push up debt over the medium term by about 4.5 percentage points. For emerging market economies in particular, it could be as high as 6 percent of GDP.

    Why is this the case? Because essentially, with higher geoeconomic uncertainty, that can dampen growth prospects, it lowers revenues because consumption production tends to fall. It also leads to higher spending, so as a result, fiscal positions deteriorate and debt increases. That is one important source of risks.

    A second source of risks is more volatile financial conditions. In the U.S., for instance, or other systemically important economies can spillover into emerging market and developing economies. And it can do so by raising sovereign borrowing costs. So, our analysis in the Fiscal Monitor shows that at 100 basis point increase in U.S. nominal Treasury yields translates into 100 basis point increase in emerging market economies’ borrowing costs. And this lasts for several months.

    A third source of risk is that we have seen that debt levels are high in many emerging markets and developing economies, so interest expenses are commensurately very high, and they are eating up a larger share of the budget. So, our analysis shows that 1 percentage point of GDP increase in interest expenses results in crowding out of other essential items within the budget, such as social spending and infrastructure investment. So, as Vitor pointed out, in this environment, it is very, very important for countries to put their own fiscal house in order.

    What does that mean? Country specifics will vary, but what it really means is that countries need to think about putting in place a gradual fiscal adjustment within a credible medium‑term fiscal framework. For EMDEs, where tax revenues are low, they can mobilize additional revenues by expanding the tax base. They can eliminate energy subsidies and other types of subsidies that can be distortionary. They can find ways to reprioritize spending. And most importantly, they can think about the policies that are needed to boost growth because that really can help ease these fiscal tradeoffs.

    QUESTION: My question is about energy subsidies and perhaps pension reforms, which are not related to emerging markets but pretty much the same problem. It is when the margin exists in many countries when you want to have some fiscal space. But in those many countries you have already social tensions that are quite high, so what are the possibilities for countries to make those reforms that are highly unpopular most of the time if they want to have this margin created?

    Ms. Dabla‑Norris: Let me talk about energy subsidies and my colleague Davide can speak a little bit about pension reforms. As you correctly pointed out, countries need to reduce debt. They need to create fiscal space. And energy subsidies and pension reforms can be important reforms that countries can undertake to generate fiscal savings. So, when we look at energy subsidy reforms in particular, energy, they account for about 1.5 percent of GDP on average in emerging markets and developing economies. And reforming them can have tremendous benefits for the economy. So let me enumerate some of them.

    First, it increases energy efficiency in the economy. Secondly, it generates fiscal savings that can then be used to increase other types of social spending and needed priority infrastructure investments. And finally, many of these subsidies tend to be highly regressive, so they do not necessarily benefit the poorest segment or the most vulnerable segments of society.

    In our Fiscal Monitor Chapter 2, what we did is we developed a novel real‑time measure of public sentiment. This is the sentiment of households, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to gauge how governments can leverage strategies in order to make these kinds of reforms acceptable. There are a number of things that we found that are specific to energy subsidy reforms that I would like to talk about.

    The first is that we found that reforms that are—or changes that take place gradually have greater success of being implemented. To give you an example, Colombia very recently had an energy subsidy reform. They implemented it over a two‑year period, that was preannounced, so that people had time to adjust.

    A second strategy that we found successful—to be successful in shaping the acceptability of these reforms is that there was timely implementation of accompanying measures. And countries that put in place accompanying measures to really protect and support the most vulnerable, countries that put in place measures up‑front and invested in social programs and social infrastructure that was very visible to the public had a greater chance of succeeding.

    We also found that policies that were well‑communicated, that built consensus, that explained the tradeoffs to people had a much higher success of being accepted by the general public. For example, Morocco made it very clear that there was going to be a comprehensive communication strategy at the very beginning, at the very outset, and the message that was conveyed was that subsidies were a poor instrument for providing social support. A host of these strategies can be used by countries to implement these politically challenging reforms.

    Mr. Davide Furceri: The chapter also deals with pension reforms. We know that in many countries, spending on pensions is quite high. Just to give you a couple of numbers, in the case of advanced economies, it is 8 percent of GDP; in emerging market, about four. This spending is projected to increase due to increasing life expectancy and retirement. Reforming the pension system is important to generate fiscal savings but also to sustain labor‑force participation, as well as employment.

    Some of the key messages that we find in the chapter on reforms touch upon some of the issues that Era mentioned, gradual and timly of the reform. But for pension, what we find is that strategic communication and stakeholder engagement has been especially important. Indeed, there are cases of countries that have succeeded in implementing significant reform, for example, presenting an increasing retirement age as part of the reform that was trying to sustain adequate benefit levels. Or in some cases they were creating bipartisan commissions where they were engaging with stakeholders to hear their concerns and think about implementing the reform in the best way.

    An important issue when we think about pension reform is strengthening financial literacy and making sure that various stakeholders will talk about the potential benefits and cost of various pension schemes. Thank you.

    The Moderator: Very last one before we move to the U.S. and the other countries and regional and then we will move to other topics.

    QUESTION: I still want to focus on Chapter 2 because we are talking about developing economies and public sentiment. Era, when you were talking, you talked about subsidies being discretionary, not making the budgets, you know, complete and all of that, but we also know for many developing countries and even frontier economies, they are under pressure to cut back energy subsidies to ease debt burdens, yet these same subsidies often help keep the lights on for millions of families, low‑income families and businesses. You talked about growth earlier on. So, without these low‑income businesses, how would you also get growth? How does the IMF suggest governments manage this delicate balance and enable these countries to rationalize subsidies while safeguarding energy subsidies and cushioning the most vulnerable without leaving them behind because we are torn between having to think that subsidies are really 100 percent bad, so I really wanted to comment on that.

    Then on Nigeria, energy subsidy reforms that were seen have sparked protests and public frustrations, reflecting a top balance between fiscal responsibility and social equity. How do you think that Nigeria can navigate this difficult path and what specific measures can the IMF suggest ensuring that these reforms are fair, inclusive and accepted by the public. Thank you.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Let me talk in more detail about subsidies. Thank you for your question. These are challenging reforms to undertake. Why? Because they impact people’s, small firms’ pocketbooks immediately. An increase in energy prices as the government is moving towards cost recovery, pricing impacts pocketbooks immediately. This is a very tangible impact. Whereas the benefits that I spoke of, which are energy efficiency, the ability to reallocate fiscal savings take time to materialize. They are much more diffuse. Everyone benefits from those, but the pocket impact is felt immediately. This is why it is important as we note in our chapter, this is why it is important to have—for governments to think about a comprehensive strategy on how to implement these reforms. When you look at public sentiment across different sort of steps of these reforms, what we find that is really important is that countries that put in place compensatory mechanisms — whether this is cash transfers or more targeted transfers — really for those people who need it most have an easier time in carrying out these types of reforms. So in environments where the public does not trust the government, where there is weak accountability, doing these things up‑front in a very visible way, increasing support for social programs makes it very tangible to the public that the government is going to be doing this, and it is going to be accountable, if you will, for the fiscal savings that will be generated.

    QUESTION: Good morning. As risks for the fiscal outlook have intensified and debt levels may rise even further, as stated in the Fiscal Monitor, how worried are you about any sort of global debt crisis or regional crises that can appear, considering slower growth and new spending pressures on countries?

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: As you heard yesterday, recession and crisis more than an individual nature are not in our reference projections, although, of course, part of the role of the Fiscal Monitor is precisely to systemically look at risks and vulnerabilities, and our public‑debt‑at‑risk tool is one of the instruments to do exactly that.

    Now, one point which I believe is very important is that precisely because risks and uncertainty are so elevated right now, there is a sense of urgency in policy action. Why? Because there is still time to adopt policies that improve resilience, and there is still time to think through what are the most relevant vulnerability scenarios that apply to individual countries, to regions, or even to broader systems. And it is very important to do that result systemically so that one is ready if and when a crisis comes. Our experience during the pandemic showed that countries that had easy access to financial markets and ample fiscal space did substantially better than others at managing the shocks associated with the pandemic.

    The Moderator: Thank you. We will get back to this part of the room.

    QUESTION: My question is that you just mentioned the public debt remains very elevated and also this would cause fiscal space to continue to narrow down in many countries, including some major economies. So, what consequence will this bring to the world global economy if this kind of situation continues to develop?

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: So I think that the answer that I gave to the question just now applies, given these elevated risks and uncertainties, it is crucial that countries focus on keeping their own house in order since situations around the world are so diverse, as Era emphasized, that will imply different policies in different countries. But the crucial thing is that in a situation that is as fast changing as the one we are facing now and where risks and uncertainties are so elevated, there is an urgency in acting to improve fiscal space, build buffers, and, therefore, be in a position to ensure resilience and sustain growth.

    The Moderator: Thank you. We will get back to this part of the room. The gentleman with the red shirt, please.

    QUESTION: Thank you very much. Allow me to back‑pedal to the EMDEs. The Fiscal Monitor speaks about the need to widen the tax base. A number of frontier market economies have been rolling out significant economic present stacks and minimum top‑up tax in line with the Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. But now this puts them in the cross‑hairs with the Trump administration, and many are now wondering whether they should be rolling back. So which pathway does the Fund see sustainable, considering many are looking at preferential access to the American market?

    Mr. Davide Furceri: Regarding the tax, I think it is important to make three important points. The first is that in the current situation where many emerging market and developing countries are characterized by three factors, one, foreign aid is declining; second, we have seen that increasing financial volatility can increase interest rates in these countries. This is in a situation where interest rates over revenue for many countries is about 10 percent of GDP. Third, [volatile] financial conditions also implies that less flows will go to these countries. The point that we make in the Fiscal Monitor is that revenue and revenue mobilization can be a stable source for financing significant spending for social benefit or public investment. How we should strengthen revenue mobilization, typically there are three sorts of arrows that you can go. One is expanding the tax base. Second, eliminate tax exemptions. Third, which is also important, and that the IMF does a lot of work in terms of capacity development is strengthening tax administrations. When we think about the tax strategy, we have to consider all of these three elements, and for many emerging markets and developing countries, there are significant potential tax gains that can be achieved.

    The Moderator: Yes, please.

    Mr. Vitor Gaspar: Just one word of addition. Davide correctly pointed out these three very important elements, broadening the tax base, dealing with tax expenditures and strengthening revenue administration. Yesterday I participated in a high‑level panel precisely on the mobilization of resources, and these three elements were repeated by the Ministers of Pakistan, Paraguay and Rwanda, and they found this frame relevant in their own experience of trying to improve the capacity of their countries to mobilize revenues.

    The Moderator: We have two questions online. I think this one will be for you, Era, about Spain. Yesterday they revised upwards the growth of Spain and have already highlighted the good performance of the Spanish economy. What should this country do with these good growth results regarding its fiscal policies in the short and medium term? And we will have another one for South Africa online.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Thank you for the question. Given Spain’s relatively strong fiscal position as well as economic position, there is scope now to front‑load some of the adjustment that they were thinking about because public debt levels in Spain still remain very high, although they have come down from the pandemic peaks. They still remain very high. This would be really important to put debt firmly down on a downward trajectory.

    Accumulative adjustment of about 3 percent of GDP over the next three years, say 2025 to 2029, similar to the one that was envisaged in terms of magnitude by the authorities but more frontloaded, would help achieve the goal. Now, as Vitor has pointed out, we are encouraging countries to bring debt down for a number of reasons. This is important because you want to reduce debt risks. This is important because countries should either expand or replenish the buffers that were diminished in the wake of the pandemic and also because of ongoing uncertainties. Finally, because countries will need—countries like Spain will need to spend on other areas, population aging, climate, defense and such.

    The Moderator: Just before we go to South Africa, any other European question? One time, two time, no European question in the room. OK.

    QUESTION: Thank you. The question on South Africa but also on the broader region: On South Africa, the IMF is quite significantly more pessimistic on the fiscal trajectory than our own government, which sees debt stabilizing, whereas the IMF sees it rising close to 90 percent of GDP at the end of the decade. Why are you so much more pessimistic of the authorities’ promised consolidation? But also on the region, sub‑Saharan Africa more broadly, how do you see the impact of what is happening globally on the region’s ability to borrow and particularly to borrow in international markets, and given a lot of the countries in the region are in debt distress or close to debt distress, what impact will that have on the economies of the sub‑Saharan Africa? Thank you.

    The Moderator: Thank you very much.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Thank you very much. Briefly on South Africa, the general government deficit in South Africa was about 6 percent of GDP in 2024. We project the fiscal deficit in 2025, although this is subject to considerable—all projections are subject to considerable uncertainties at this juncture to be around 6.6 percent of GDP. This is mainly driven by higher spending. Some of the differences stem from the fact that our projections are based on much more conservative assumptions regarding the buoyancy of the tax system, as well as the extent of primary spending compression that can be undertaken. So that really accounts for differences in projections between the two countries and also the path of debt going forward. Let me turn it over to Davide.

    Mr. Davide Furceri: Yes, more broadly and on financing costs for sub‑Saharan African regions, let me point out two factors. The first is that, of course, we have seen interest rates rising. So, this increasing interest rate in many countries, including South Africa, is basically driven by two factors. You have sort of an interest rate in main advanced economies that has been on a rising trend. On the positive side, in many countries, especially those with better fiscal positions, you actually have seen spreads, so the difference between the domestic interest rate and the foreign interest rate declines. However, and this is something that we point out in the Fiscal Monitor, that increased risk, increase of risk of uncertainty, financial market volatility, can turn things around. In other words, we see that increasing financial market volatility globally can lead to an increase in spreads.

    The second point is that one part we have seen for many low‑income countries since the pandemic is they are relying much more on domestic issuance of debt rather than on the foreign market. This is on one hand sort of offset some of the challenges like to the global environment but also increase some sort of domestic vulnerability, because sometimes the interest rates rise. There are things that are important to think about this strategy. But definitely, as we mentioned, interest rate is a source of rising in terms of revenue is a source of concern. Let me make the point again that we made, I think strengthening fiscal buffers, revenue mobilization are important elements to reduce — to have this trend to decline.

    The Moderator: Thank you. I believe we received some questions for Latin America and, yes, there are some reporters in the room. Yes, please, the lady in the third row here.

    QUESTION: Thank you. You already talked about emerging markets, but focusing on Latin America, I want to know which one—you already have talked about it too, but which one is the biggest fiscal risk and what should economies in Latin America should be thinking about doing in terms of growing and accepting new investment, for example, to confront the situation abroad? Thank you.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: Thank you for your question. Many of the risks that other emerging market economies face, countries in Latin America obviously also face, we have already talked at length about that. But I am going to talk about a few things that are specific to many of the countries in Latin America. So, there is two challenges that limit fiscal flexibility in Latin America. The first is that there are spending rigidities. What I mean by that is there is a lot of amounts of spending that is mandatory, on pensions, on wages, on transfers. This leaves very little room for fiscal flexibility.

    At the same time, like many other emerging markets and developing economies, spending pressures are on the rise. There are growing demands for social services, for infrastructure, for adopting to climate change, and all of these are putting pressures on the budget. Now, when you look at what has happened since the pandemic, countries have made ambitious plans to consolidate their budget. There have been ambitious announcements of fiscal consolidation plans, but at the same time expenditure increases have outpaced revenue gains. So, for many countries in the region, we see debt levels continuing to rise. And the challenge here is that we are in a world with greater uncertainty than we were even six months ago. So, it is really important for countries in the region to implement at a minimum the announced fiscal consolidation plan and to do this within credible medium‑term frameworks. Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean region have fiscal rules. So to implement these rules, to spend efficiently, to think about the types of fiscal reforms that are needed, whether it is revenue mobilization in countries where revenue‑to‑GDP ratios are low, whether it is spending prioritization or reprioritization, to create the room that is needed for priority investments and social spending and infrastructure and such.

    The Moderator: Thank you. One last question.

    QUESTION: I am from Thailand. I want to ask about the overall trend of the public debt, especially for the ASEAN 5. It would be great if you could mention specifically on Thailand.

    The Moderator: I think we had the Nigeria question to answer too, and we will close there. Thank you.

    Mr. Davide Furceri: Let me start with Nigeria. So, Nigeria managed to do a very difficult reform that was important to deliver fiscal savings. The authorities also scaled up transfers, technical transfers. What we think there is, what is important to act on two pillars. One is to generate additional fiscal savings. We mentioned revenue mobilization. To really scale up spending on social protection, spending on investment, in a way as was mentioned, many countries, they need to spend, and there I want to go back to Vitor’s first remarks. We encourage countries to spend very wisely. Strengthening prioritization in terms of spending, strengthening the efficiency of spending is important. Final important message we would like to give for Nigeria but also for other countries is that fiscal institutions are very important. Having a medium‑term fiscal framework, Public Financial Management are key important because on the one hand they try to help the fiscal anchor, so they set apart for the fiscal adjustment, but also reduce the fiscal uncertainty per se. So as Vitor mentioned, we want the fiscal to be a source of stability and not a source of uncertainty, and that is where fiscal institutions have an important role to play.

    The Moderator: Thank you. Very quickly, Era.

    Ms. Era Dabla‑Norris: On ASEAN, there is a huge variation in fiscal positions across the region. On average, the ASEAN region debt‑to‑GDP ratios are lower than they are in other emerging market and developing economies. That said, in Thailand, relative to the other countries in ASEAN, debt levels are slightly more elevated, over 60 percent of GDP. Our advice has been that fiscal policy should be prudent and parsimonious, given all the reasons we have discussed over the course of this morning. So, measures that are needed to smooth adjustment in light of higher tariffs should be thought of in a wise way, temporary, targeted measures in the context of tariff uncertainty, and ongoing consolidation plans implemented to bring debt down in a sustainable manner.

    The Moderator: Thank you very much

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    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Background.  Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the modern world, driving innovation across industries, enhancing productivity, and reshaping the way we live and work.  To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, we must provide our Nation’s youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology.  By fostering AI competency, we will equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society.  Early learning and exposure to AI concepts not only demystifies this powerful technology but also sparks curiosity and creativity, preparing students to become active and responsible participants in the workforce of the future and nurturing the next generation of American AI innovators to propel our Nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.To achieve this vision, we must also invest in our educators and equip them with the tools and knowledge to not only train students about AI, but also to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational outcomes.  Professional development programs focused on AI education will empower educators to confidently guide students through this complex and evolving field.  Educators, industry leaders, and employers who rely on an AI-skilled workforce should partner to create educational programs that equip students with essential AI skills and competencies across all learning pathways.  While AI education in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) is critical, our Nation must also make resources available for lifelong learners to develop new skills for a changing workforce.  By establishing a strong framework that integrates early student exposure with comprehensive teacher training and other resources for workforce development, we can ensure that every American has the opportunity to learn about AI from the earliest stages of their educational journey through postsecondary education, fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking that will solidify our Nation’s leadership in the AI-driven future.
    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans by promoting the appropriate integration of AI into education, providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators.
    Sec. 3.  Definition.  For the purposes of this order, “artificial intelligence” or “AI” has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3).
    Sec. 4.  Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force.  (a)  There is hereby established the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education (Task Force).(b)  The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall be the Chair of the Task Force.(c)  The Task Force membership shall consist of the following members:(i)     the Secretary of Agriculture;(ii)    the Secretary of Labor;(iii)   the Secretary of Energy;(iv)    the Secretary of Education;(v)     the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF);(vi)    the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;(vii)   the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto; (viii)  the Assistant to the President for Policy; and(ix)    the heads of other such executive departments and agencies (agencies) and offices that the Chair may designate or invite to participate.(d)  The Task Force shall be responsible for implementing the policy stated in section 2 of this order and coordinating Federal efforts related to AI education, including the actions outlined in this order.
    Sec. 5.  Establishing the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge.  (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall establish plans for a Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge (Challenge), and the agencies represented on the Task Force shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, implement the plans by holding the Challenge no later than 12 months from the submission of the plan.  The Challenge shall encourage and highlight student and educator achievements in AI, promote wide geographic adoption of technological advancement, and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions.(b)  The Challenge shall feature multiple age categories, distinct geographic regions for competition, and a variety of topical themes of competition to reflect the breadth of AI applications, encouraging interdisciplinary exploration. (c)  The Task Force and, as appropriate, agencies represented on the Task Force shall collaborate with relevant agencies and private sector entities to provide technical expertise, resources, and promotional support for implementing the Challenge, including through existing funding vehicles.  
    Sec. 6.  Improving Education Through Artificial Intelligence.  (a)  To provide resources for K-12 AI education, agencies represented on the Task Force shall seek to establish public-private partnerships with leading AI industry organizations, academic institutions, nonprofit entities, and other organizations with expertise in AI and computer science education to collaboratively develop online resources focused on teaching K-12 students foundational AI literacy and critical thinking skills.  The Task Force shall promptly announce such public-private partnerships on a rolling basis as they are formed.(i)   The Task Force shall seek to utilize industry commitments and identify any Federal funding mechanisms, including discretionary grants, that can be used to provide resources for K-12 AI education.  To the extent practicable and as consistent with applicable law, agencies shall prioritize funding for such purposes when it would further the aims of the program for which funding is available.(ii)  The Task Force shall work to ensure the resources funded as described in subsection (i) of this section are ready for use in K-12 instruction within 180 days following the Task Force’s formal announcement of the first slate of public-private partnerships.(b)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall identify existing Federal AI resources on which agencies may rely, such as the NSF- and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National AI Research Institutes, to support partnerships with State and local educational agencies to improve AI education.(c)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding the use of formula and discretionary grant funds to improve education outcomes using AI, including but not limited to AI-based high-quality instructional resources; high-impact tutoring; and college and career pathway exploration, advising, and navigation.(d)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall identify and implement ways to utilize existing research programs to assist State and local efforts to use AI for improved student achievement, attainment, and mobility.
    Sec. 7.  Enhancing Training for Educators on Artificial Intelligence.  (a)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall take steps to prioritize the use of AI in discretionary grant programs for teacher training authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-10), as amended, and Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329), as amended, including for:(i)    reducing time-intensive administrative tasks;(ii)   improving teacher training and evaluation; (iii)  providing professional development for all educators, so they can integrate the fundamentals of AI into all subject areas; and(iv)   providing professional development in foundational computer science and AI, preparing educators to effectively teach AI in stand-alone computer science and other relevant courses.(b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Director of the NSF shall take steps to prioritize research on the use of AI in education.  The Director of the NSF shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher training opportunities that help educators effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities in classrooms. (c)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take steps to prioritize research, extension, and education on the use of AI in formal and non-formal education through 4-H and the Cooperative Extension System.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher and educator training opportunities that help effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities into classrooms and curriculum.
    Sec. 8.  Promoting Registered Apprenticeships.  (a)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall seek to increase participation in AI-related Registered Apprenticeships, including by:(i)   Prioritizing the development and growth of Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations.  The Secretary of Labor shall establish specific goals for growing Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations across industries; and(ii)  Using apprenticeship intermediary contracts and allocating existing discretionary funds, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to engage industry organizations and employers and facilitate the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs in AI-related occupations.  In doing so, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of industry-developed program standards to be registered on a nationwide basis, enabling individual employers to adopt the standards without requiring individual registry.(b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall encourage States and grantees to use funding provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law 113-128), as amended, to develop AI skills and support work-based learning opportunities within occupations utilizing AI by:(i)    issuing guidance to State and local workforce development boards encouraging the use of WIOA youth formula funds to help youth develop AI skills;(ii)   clarifying that States can use Governor set-asides to integrate AI learning opportunities into youth programs across the State; and(iii)  consistent with applicable law, establishing AI skills training and work-based learning as a grant priority in all Employment and Training Administration youth-focused discretionary grant programs.(c)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, and in collaboration with the Director of the NSF, shall engage with relevant State and local workforce development boards, industry organizations, education and training providers, and employers to identify and promote high-quality AI skills education coursework and certifications across the country.  Through such engagement, the Secretary of Labor shall:(i)    identify applicable funding opportunities to expand access to high-quality AI coursework and certifications;(ii)   set performance targets for youth participation through any grants awarded for this purpose; and(iii)  utilize industry and philanthropic partnerships to the extent practicable.(d)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the NSF, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of opportunities for high school students to take AI courses and certification programs by giving priority consideration in awarding grants as appropriate and consistent with applicable law to providers that commit to use funds to develop or expand AI courses and certification programs.  The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall encourage recipients to build partnerships with States and local school districts to encourage those entities to consider offering high school students dual enrollment opportunities to take courses to earn postsecondary credentials and industry-recognized AI credentials concurrent with high school education.(e)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, all agencies that provide educational grants shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider AI as a priority area within existing Federal fellowship and scholarship for service programs.
    Sec. 9.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                            DONALD J. TRUMP
    THE WHITE HOUSE,    April 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister launches major boost for UK clean energy industry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prime Minister launches major boost for UK clean energy industry

    Prime Minister brings forward £300 million for Great British Energy to invest in offshore wind supply chains ahead of the Future of Energy Security summit.

    • Prime Minister brings forward an initial £300 million investment ahead of Spending Review through Great British Energy to win global offshore wind investment for the UK
    • Fund will boost domestic jobs, mobilise additional private investment, and secure manufacturing facilities for critical clean energy supply chains like floating offshore platforms
    • Prime Minister and Energy Secretary to announce pro-investment plans at major international summit bringing together governments and industry from around the world to drive collective energy security

    Communities across the country will benefit from new investment in domestic clean energy supply chains – driving economic growth and supporting thousands of jobs through the Plan for Change.

    Workers and businesses in the UK’s industrial heartlands will benefit from an initial £300 million of funding through Great British Energy to invest in supply chains for domestic offshore wind. It is expected that the investment will directly and indirectly mobilise billions in additional private investment – helping de-risk clean energy projects and supporting thousands of jobs and revitalising the UK’s industrial heartlands.

    The public investment complements the £43 billion of private investment pledged for clean energy projects since July.

    Britain’s engineers, technicians, and welders are being backed by this fast-tracked funding, brought forward by the Prime Minister ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which will allow Great British Energy, the country’s publicly-owned clean energy company, to invest in new supply chains for offshore wind manufacturing components such as floating offshore platforms and cables. This builds on the government’s landmark investment in domestic supply chains through initiatives such as the Clean Industry Bonus and the National Wealth Fund.

    As part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which will turbocharge growth in the UK’s key sectors including clean energy, the new investment in domestic offshore wind is part of the Prime Minister’s drive to ensure that the clean energy future is ‘built in Britain’. The funding will ensure that the nation builds resilient domestic supply chains for components which are essential to delivering clean power by 2030.

    It comes after the Prime Minister said that a new era of global insecurity means that the government must go further and faster in reshaping the economy through the Plan for Change, and that this requires a new muscular industrial policy that supports British industry to forge ahead.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Delivering the Plan for Change means winning the race for the clean energy jobs of the future, which will drive growth and help us reach clean power by 2030.

    That is why I am bringing forward much-needed investment in our domestic offshore wind supply chains, strengthening our security and creating good jobs for our welders, electricians, and engineers.

    Let my message to the world go out: come and build the clean energy future in Britain.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    It is only by taking back control of our energy that we can protect families and businesses from the rollercoaster of global markets we don’t control.

    That is why this government is doubling down on our clean energy superpower mission – driving economic growth, good jobs and investment across our country.

    The Prime Minister, ministers and business leaders will gather in London today for the 2-day summit on the Future of Energy Security – hosted by the UK government and International Energy Agency – as countries take action to protect themselves from future energy shocks in these unstable times. Leaders from around the world, including the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, will come together to address the global challenges and opportunities of speeding up the clean energy transition.

    The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the Minister for Investment Baroness Poppy Gustafsson, National Wealth Fund CEO John Flint and Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier will today write to global clean energy developers and investors inviting them to invest here in Britain. It follows the government announcing a series of pro-growth measures including major reforms to speed up grid connections and overhaul planning rules.

    Dan McGrail, interim CEO of Great British Energy, said:

    Great British Energy will help the UK win the global race for clean energy jobs and growth by investing in homegrown supply chains and ensuring key infrastructure parts are made here in Britain.

    We will work closely with businesses across the clean energy sector to get funding out as fast as possible and get projects off the ground.

    Deputy CEO of RenewableUK, Jane Cooper, said,

    There’s a huge opportunity for the UK to secure thousands of new jobs and supply chain investment in the sector, which will make our home-grown energy supply even more secure.

    The Prime Minister’s funding will be critical to ensuring the UK grasps the industrial opportunities in the offshore wind supply chain, at a time of intense global competition for clean energy investment. By nurturing existing UK companies, and ensuring we’re a competitive location for international investors, there’s an opportunity to triple our manufacturing capacity over the next decade, adding £25 billion to the UK economy and creating an additional 10,000 jobs in the supply chain.

    This new government funding is a clear signal of intent to secure those priorities and is vital to unlocking further co-investment from industry.

    The funding for supply chains will be made available as part of the £8.3 billion for Great British Energy over this parliament, with individual companies able to apply for grants if they can show that they will produce long-term investments in UK supply chains.

    Great British Energy, the country’s publicly-owned clean energy company, will produce a return on investment for the British people, and ensure British billpayers reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy. This first phase of grant funding is needed to capture investment now and reap benefits of jobs and growth.

    Notes to editors

    More details on the £43 billion announced since July can be found here: Clean energy projects prioritised for grid connections .

    Great British Energy’s supply chain fund is expected to be open for applications by the end of the year, with an initial £300 million available for offshore wind schemes over this Parliament. Further details on criteria and eligibility will be published in due course.

    The investment comes in the context of the 2024 Industrial Growth Plan, in which the Offshore Wind Industry Council proposed to match fund £300 million of grant investment in the UK’s supply chains with private sector investment.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Build it in Britain: invitation to clean energy developers and investors

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Build it in Britain: invitation to clean energy developers and investors

    Open letter to clean energy developers and investors inviting them to support the clean energy mission by ‘building it in Britain’.

    Documents

    Details

    The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the Minister for Investment Baroness Poppy Gustafsson, National Wealth Fund CEO John Flint and Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier have written to clean energy developers and investors inviting them to invest here in Britain.

    This follows the government announcing an initial £300 million of funding through Great British Energy to invest in domestic offshore wind supply chains, as well as a series of pro-growth measures including major reforms to speed up grid connections and overhaul planning rules.

    The clarity, consistency and urgency of the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission provides certainty and stability for global investors to ensure the UK takes advantage of the enormous opportunities created by the clean energy transition.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National roadshow kicks off to get businesses exporting and grow the economy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    National roadshow kicks off to get businesses exporting and grow the economy

    SMEs from across the UK will benefit from new government support to match them up with international buyers and markets.

    • Export Roadshows, created to get more small businesses exporting and grow the economy, kick off today in the North East 
    • Taking place across all nations and regions of the UK, events will bring together small firms, industry experts, trade bodies and government  
    • Part of the modern Industrial Strategy, the roadshow aims to channel government support to growth-driving sectors, as part of the Plan for Change 

    SMEs from across the UK will benefit from new government support to match them up with international buyers and markets, to turbocharge UK exports and grow the economy as part of the Plan for Change. 

    The ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ roadshows, kicking off today [24 April] in Blyth and taking place across all nations and regions of the UK, have been designed to directly connect international buyers with SME exporters ready to seize the opportunity to grow their businesses. Through these events, the Government is working to maximise international opportunities for UK businesses by highlighting tangible opportunities that exist in new markets.   

    Each event will be aligned to one of the eight key growth driving sectors outlined in Britain’s modern Industrial Strategy, channelling government support to sectors with the highest potential to create jobs, boost productivity and grow the economy. All of which will help deliver the Plan for Change to put more money in more working people’s pockets.   

    Highlighted sectors include clean energy, advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, digital and technology, and financial services.  

    Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports, said: 

    Maximising the UK’s export potential is crucial to achieving our Plan for Change, by creating good jobs with high wages, raising productivity, and boosting the economy. 

    Through these roadshows, the government is focussing on supporting key growth sectors, making it quicker and easier for smaller businesses to connect with markets, grasp export opportunities and expand. 

    The focus of the first roadshow, taking place today, is exporting in the clean energy sector.  

    There will be 100 attendees at the event – made up of small businesses, trade bodies, and government representatives, as well as 30 Commercial Officers from UK embassies and consulates from around the world, and 97 buyers, all of whom will join the event virtually through pre-planned meetings. 

    The 97 buyers span 19 markets worldwide, from Argentina to Austria, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico, India, and the UAE.  

    All roadshow events will provide opportunities for delegates to meet with domestic and international Commercial Officers, who will be on hand to offer expert support and advice on specific products, markets, and export opportunities.  

    There will also be a designated advice zone for SMEs to learn about wider export support services offered by the Department for Business and Trade, as well as those provided by other public sectors partners like regional Growth Hubs, and trusted private sector providers like the Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Business, UKEF and MAKE UK.  

    A range of workshops and seminars on topical issues such as ‘conducting market research’ and ‘routes to market’ will take place throughout the day, led by the UK Export Academy. Several of these will feature DBT Export Champions who will speak of their own experiences in target markets.   

    Alex Marshall, Group Business Development Director at Clarke Energy, said:  

    From the Americas, Africa, Asia to Australasia, clean technologies are now established as one of the most important pillars of the global economy.  

    So as an Export Champion and a UK business developing innovative clean technology solutions across the world, this Made in the UK, Sold to the World roadshow event is an excellent place to discuss the latest international trends and export opportunities for UK businesses in the clean energy sector. 

    We know that when SMEs trade around the world, the whole economy benefits, which is why this government is so committed to supporting smaller businesses grow and export.   

    Just last month, the Department of Business and Trade relaunched the Board of Trade, to help businesses, and in particular the UK’s 5.5 million SMEs, boost their exports.  

    And later this year, we will be launching a small business strategy to raise growth and productivity across the UK’s SME population and boost the number of scale-ups.   

    UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network, and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Legislation to Ban Drilling Off of Southern California

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    April 22, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) reintroduced the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act, which would prohibit offshore drilling along the Southern California coast, as a part of a larger initiative to ban offshore drilling in sensitive areas and protect our vibrant coastal communities.

    Rep. Levin’s bill, The Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act, would prevent new leasing for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas along the Southern California coast, from San Diego to the northern border of San Luis Obispo County.

    Rep. Levin introduced this bill along with:

    • Rep. Huffman’s (D-CA) West Coast Ocean Protection Act
    • Rep. Pallone’s (D-NJ) Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act
    • Rep. Castor’s (D-FL) Florida Coast Protection Act
    • Rep. Carbajal’s (D-CA) California Clean Coast Act
    • Rep. Panetta’s (D-CA) Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025
    • Rep. Magaziner’s (D-RI) New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025
    • Rep. Ross’ (D-NC) Defend our Coast Act

    These bills would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any oil and gas lease leases or any other authorizations along the entire coast of California and in other coastal areas across the country. Together, these bills will protect valuable ecosystems and the economic viability of communities concerned about oil spills.

    “I’m joining my colleagues to permanently protect our beautiful coasts and put a stop to offshore drilling in sensitive areas,” said Rep. Mike Levin. “These bills take a vitally important step in protecting our communities from the consequences of offshore drilling, especially as the Trump Administration attempts to unleash drilling on our coastline in San Diego and Orange County. The Administration wants to risk disastrous environmental impacts on our beaches, threatening our coastal economy and way of life to line the pockets of oil executives. I’m proud to join my colleagues in the California Delegation and across the country in taking a stand against offshore drilling nationwide.”

    Rep. Levin has advocated extensively for a ban on offshore drilling. In November 2024, Rep. Levin sent a letter to the Biden Administration that resulted in the withdrawal of future oil and natural gas leasing in sensitive coastal areas across the country, including in Southern California. In January 2025, the Trump Administration once again opened these areas to drilling and has taken measures to expand offshore drilling and roll back environmental regulations
                              

    “The Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act will protect our environment, economy, climate, and way of life from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development. The 2021 Amplify Energy Oil Spill off Orange County showed the damage that offshore drilling can inflict on coastal ecosystems and marine wildlife and triggered beach and fishery closures that disrupted southern California’s tourism-based economy. The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support these and other bills to permanently prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters,” said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager, Surfrider Foundation.

    “Southern California’s coastal communities depend on thriving oceans and wildlife, and they know all too well the devastating costs of offshore spills, busted pipelines, and oil-covered beaches,” said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. “Oceana commends Congressman Levin for reintroducing this important legislation that would permanently protect the Golden State’s beloved southern coast from the dangers of oil and gas drilling and spilling. This bill is part of a state and national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling.” 

    “The Surf Industry Members Association is proud to support the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act. Our coastline is not just a vital economic engine—it’s the heart of our culture and way of life for millions across the region. Prohibiting new offshore oil and gas leasing in Southern California is a critical step to protect our waves, our marine ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them. We urge Congress to pass it to ensure a clean, thriving ocean for generations to come,” said Vipe Desai, Executive Director, Surf Industry Members Association

    “This administration is determined to sell off our oceans to pad Big Oil pockets. Permanently protecting the waters off southern California puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and ecosystems have a chance to thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).  “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to set us back on track to tackle climate change and protect our ocean from an industry that only cares about its bottom line.”

    This legislation is endorsed by organizations including: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice, Oceana, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Surf Industry Members Association, Food & Water Watch, Peace Boat US, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Hispanic Access Foundation

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Precision Drilling Announces 2025 First Quarter Unaudited Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This news release contains “forward-looking information and statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. For a full disclosure of the forward-looking information and statements and the risks to which they are subject, see the “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements” later in this news release. This news release contains references to certain Financial Measures and Ratios, including Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on investments and other assets, finance charges, foreign exchange, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization), Funds Provided by (Used in) Operations, Net Capital Spending, Working Capital and Total Long-term Financial Liabilities. These terms do not have standardized meanings prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. See “Financial Measures and Ratios” later in this news release.

    Precision Drilling Corporation (“Precision” or the “Company”) (TSX:PD; NYSE:PDS) announces 2025 first quarter results, confirms shareholder return targets, and lowers 2025 capital budget.

    Financial Highlights

    • Revenue in the first quarter was $496 million compared to $528 million realized in the same period last year as strong drilling activity in Canada was offset by lower U.S. drilling activity.
    • Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $137 million and included $3 million of restructuring costs and $3 million of share-based compensation expense. In 2024, first quarter Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $143 million and included share-based compensation expense of $23 million.
    • First quarter net earnings attributable to shareholders was $35 million or $2.52 per share and comparable to $37 million or $2.53 per share in 2024. Precision has consistently delivered positive net earnings since mid-2022.
    • Cash provided by operations during the quarter was $63 million, allowing the Company to repurchase $31 million of common shares and repay $17 million of debt.
    • Capital expenditures were $60 million and the Company has lowered its 2025 capital budget to $200 million versus the $225 million previously announced.
    • Precision remains committed to repaying at least $100 million of debt in 2025 and allocating 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments, to share buybacks.

    Operational Highlights

    • Canada’s activity averaged 74 drilling rigs in the first quarter and surpassed the 73 active rigs in the same period last year.
    • Canadian revenue per utilization day was $35,601 and comparable to the $35,596 in the first quarter of 2024.
    • U.S. activity averaged 30 drilling rigs compared to 38 in the same period last year.
    • U.S. revenue per utilization day was US$33,157, which included US$1,263 per utilization day for idle but contracted rig revenue, versus US$32,867 in the first quarter of last year.
    • Internationally, we had eight rigs active in the first quarter, consistent with the first quarter of 2024, and realized revenue of US$36 million compared to US$38 million in 2024.
    • Service rig operating hours decreased 10% compared to the same quarter last year due to customer project deferrals and impacts of an earlier spring break up in Canada, plus lower U.S. activity.
            (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

    “I am pleased with Precision’s first quarter financial and operational results, and particularly with the efforts of the Precision team as we manage our way through a period of unusual volatility and market uncertainty. In the first quarter, our net earnings attributable to shareholders was $35 million, marking 11 consecutive quarters of positive earnings, and we are well on our way to meeting our capital allocation targets. During the quarter, we generated $63 million of cash provided by operations, allowing us to repay $17 million of debt and purchase $31 million of shares. Over the last four quarters, Precision has reduced its outstanding shares by nearly one million shares, representing 7% of our outstanding balance.

    “During the first quarter our Canadian drilling activity remained slightly higher than last year, averaging 74 active rigs compared to 73 in 2024 and we expect this trend to continue through the first half of this year. In the U.S., we have modestly increased our activity levels from the fourth quarter, currently operating 34 rigs, primarily by capitalizing on the emerging opportunities in natural gas plays. With initial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports beginning shortly in Canada and significant LNG export capacity expansion underway in the U.S., we believe our market positioning for these increasing LNG opportunities is constructive.

    “Second-half industry activity in North America will depend largely on customer realized cash flows and their capital allocation priorities. We believe industry capital discipline will remain a stabilizing market feature muting our customers’ short-term response to volatile commodity prices. However, global events and conflicts, including unexpected OPEC+ production increases, trade and tariff uncertainty, and geopolitical conflicts have the potential to impact global economic growth and access to commodity supplies, creating a range of commodity price scenarios which are difficult to predict.

    “Tightly controlling all aspects of our business, adjusting spending and specifically managing Precision’s cash inflows and outflows at a pace that matches the cyclicality of our industry is a cornerstone of Precision’s business model. We are reducing our 2025 capital spending by $25 million to $200 million to mitigate increased market uncertainty and a potential reduction in customer demand. This includes trimming our expected upgrade spending by approximately $8 million and maintenance capital by $17 million. We remain poised to further adjust capital spending in response to actual customer demand. 

    “We have also reduced our fixed costs by approximately $10 million annually by streamlining our internal structure and focusing more directly on customer needs and aligning with current activity levels. These changes included flattening our operations leadership structure, exiting our North Dakota well-servicing business and reducing the related staffing levels.

    “Our International drilling operations and Completion and Production business both contributed meaningful free cash flow for the quarter, and this is expected to continue for the rest of the year.

    “With a predominantly variable cost business and low debt levels, a highly experienced team committed to serving our customers, and a high-performance rig fleet, Precision is better positioned than any time in the past decade to navigate uncertainty while simultaneously creating shareholder value,” concluded Mr. Neveu.

    SELECT FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

    Financial Highlights

      For the three months ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)   2025       2024     % Change  
    Revenue   496,331       527,788       (6.0 )
    Adjusted EBITDA(1)   137,497       143,149       (3.9 )
    Net earnings   34,947       36,516       (4.3 )
    Net earnings attributable to shareholders   34,511       36,516       (5.5 )
    Cash provided by operations   63,419       65,543       (3.2 )
    Funds provided by operations(1)   109,842       117,765       (6.7 )
                     
    Cash used in investing activities   57,202       75,237       (24.0 )
    Capital spending by spend category(1)                
    Expansion and upgrade   19,546       14,370       36.0  
    Maintenance and infrastructure   40,419       41,157       (1.8 )
    Proceeds on sale   (3,765 )     (5,186 )     (27.4 )
    Net capital spending(1)   56,200       50,341       11.6  
                     
    Net earnings attributable to shareholders per share :                
    Basic   2.52       2.53       (0.4 )
    Diluted   2.20       2.53       (13.0 )
    Weighted average shares outstanding:                
    Basic   13,683       14,407       (5.0 )
    Diluted   14,287       14,410       (0.9 )

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    Operating Highlights

      For the three months ended March 31,  
      2025     2024     % Change  
    Contract drilling rig fleet   215       214       0.5  
    Drilling rig utilization days:                
    Canada   6,680       6,617       1.0  
    U.S.   2,691       3,453       (22.1 )
    International   720       728       (1.1 )
    Revenue per utilization day:                
    Canada (Cdn$)   35,601       35,596       0.0  
    U.S. (US$)   33,157       32,867       0.9  
    International (US$)   49,419       52,808       (6.4 )
    Operating costs per utilization day:                
    Canada (Cdn$)   20,822       19,959       4.3  
    U.S. (US$)   23,568       21,719       8.5  
                     
    Service rig fleet   153       183       (16.4 )
    Service rig operating hours   66,986       74,505       (10.1 )


    Drilling Activity

      Average for the quarter ended 2024   Average for the quarter ended 2025  
      Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31     Mar. 31  
    Average Precision active rig count(1):                            
    Canada   73       49       72       65       74  
    U.S.   38       36       35       34       30  
    International   8       8       8       8       8  
    Total   119       93       115       107       112  

    (1) Average number of drilling rigs working or moving.


    Financial Position

    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except ratios) March 31, 2025     December 31, 2024  
    Working capital(1)   (45,033 )     162,592  
    Cash   28,245       73,771  
    Long-term debt   567,824       812,469  
    Total long-term financial liabilities(1)   632,369       888,173  
    Total assets   2,915,984       2,956,315  
    Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity ratio(1)   0.25       0.33  

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    Summary for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

    • Revenue was $496 million compared to $528 million in the first quarter of 2024 as strong drilling activity in Canada was offset by lower U.S. drilling activity.
    • Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $137 million from $143 million, primarily due to lower drilling activity in the U.S. and restructuring costs of $3 million that were partially offset by lower share-based compensation expense. Please refer to “Other Items” later in this news release for additional information on share-based compensation.
    • Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was relatively stable at 28% compared to 27% in 2024.
    • Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $35 million or $2.52 per share and comparable with $37 million or $2.53 per share for the same period last year. On a diluted basis, net earnings attributable to shareholders was $2.20 versus $2.53 in 2024.
    • Cash provided by operations was $63 million, allowing the Company to repurchase 408,973 shares for $31 million, reduce debt by $17 million by repaying the outstanding balance on the Senior Credit Facility, and end the quarter with $28 million of cash and almost $550 million of available liquidity.
    • In Canada, revenue per utilization day was $35,601, consistent with the first quarter of 2024. Canadian operating costs per utilization day increased 4% to $20,822, mainly due to wage increases and Super Single rig reactivations. First quarter revenue and operating costs per utilization day were consistent with the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • In the U.S. revenue per utilization day, excluding idle but contracted rig revenue of US$1,263, was US$31,894 compared with US$32,867 in the first quarter of last year. First quarter revenue per utilization day, excluding idle but contracted rig revenue, increased by 4% from the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • U.S. operating costs per utilization day increased 9% to US$23,568 compared to the same quarter last year due to higher mobilization costs, additional rig reactivations, and fixed costs being spread over fewer activity days. These same factors caused operating costs per utilization per day in the first quarter to rise 9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Internationally, we realized revenue of US$36 million from eight active drilling rigs, which is similar to the US$38 million generated in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Completion and Production Services revenue was $79 million, a decrease of $8 million from 2024, as service rig operating hours decreased 10% due to a number of customer project deferrals and an earlier spring break up in Canada, plus less activity in the U.S. Adjusted EBITDA was $18 million, representing 22% of revenue compared to 21% in the first quarter of 2024.
    • General and administrative expenses were $30 million compared with $45 million in the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense.
    • Capital expenditures increased slightly to $60 million versus $56 million in 2024 and by spend category included $40 million for the maintenance of existing assets, infrastructure, and intangible assets and $20 million for expansion and upgrades. Precision has lowered its 2025 capital budget to $200 million.

    STRATEGY

    Precision’s vision is to be globally recognized as the High Performance, High Value provider of land drilling services. We work toward this vision by defining and measuring our results against strategic priorities that we establish at the beginning of every year.

    Precision’s 2025 strategic priorities and the progress made during the first quarter are as follows:

    1. Maximize free cash flow through disciplined capital deployment and strict cost management.
      • Generated cash from operations of $63 million, allowing the Company to reduce debt and buy back shares.
      • Proactively reduced fixed cost structure to address market uncertainty and expect to realize approximately $10 million in annual savings.
      • Reduced our 2025 capital budget to $200 million versus the $225 million previously announced.
    2. Enhance shareholder returns through debt reduction and share repurchases. Plan to reduce debt by at least $100 million and allocate 35% to 45% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases.
      • Returned $31 million of capital to shareholders by repurchasing 408,973 shares during the quarter.
      • Reduced debt by $17 million and ended the quarter with almost $550 million of available liquidity.
      • Remain committed to reducing debt by at least $100 million in 2025 and allocating 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments, directly to shareholders.
    3. Grow revenue in existing service lines through contracted upgrades, optimized pricing and utilization, and opportunistic consolidating tuck-in acquisitions.
      • Increased Canadian rig utilization, averaging 74 active rigs for the first quarter versus 73 in 2024.
      • Maintained strong pricing in Canada with revenue per utilization per day of $35,601, aligning with an average day rate of $35,596 in the first quarter of 2024.
      • Invested $20 million in expansion and upgrade capital to enhance our drilling rigs.
      • Current market conditions and commodity price volatility make acquisitions less likely in the near term.

    OUTLOOK

    Near-term expectations for global energy demand growth have been tempered by several geopolitical events including OPEC+ easing of curtailments, trade policy uncertainty, and international conflicts. However, we believe the long-term fundamentals for energy demand are positive, driven by economic growth, increasing demand from emerging economies, and new energy sources of power demand. 

    In Canada, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which became operational in May of 2024, combined with the imminent startup of LNG Canada will provide significant tidewater access for Canadian crude oil and natural gas, supporting Canadian drilling activity. In the U.S., the next wave of LNG export terminals is expected to add approximately 13 bcf/d of export capacity over the next five years, supporting U.S. natural gas drilling activity beyond domestic demand growth and further supporting natural gas drilling.

    Our Canadian drilling activity peaked at 82 rigs in the first quarter with our Super Triple and Super Single rigs near full utilization. We expect the traditional spring breakup period this year to have a historically small impact on our activity, as strong demand for our growing fleet of pad-capable rigs should allow 45 to 48 rigs to continue operating during this period versus 43 last year. Despite trade and tariff uncertainty and oil prices falling to approximately US$60 per barrel, we have not experienced any meaningful change in customer demand or their longer-term plans. Overall, we expect our Canadian drilling activity to be up for the first half of the year compared to the first six months of 2024.

    In the U.S., we have modestly increased our activity levels from the fourth quarter, currently operating 34 rigs, primarily by capitalizing on the emerging opportunities in natural gas plays. With significant LNG export capacity expansion underway in the U.S., we believe our market positioning for these increasing LNG opportunities is constructive.

    North American industry activity in the second half of this year will depend largely on customer realized cash flows and their capital allocation priorities. We believe industry capital discipline will remain a stabilizing market feature muting our customers’ short-term response to volatile commodity prices. However, global events and conflicts, including unexpected OPEC+ production increases, trade and tariff uncertainty, and geopolitical conflicts have the potential to impact global economic growth and access to commodity supplies, creating a range of commodity price scenarios which are difficult to predict.

    Internationally, we have eight rigs on term contracts, five in Kuwait and three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028, providing predictable cash flow for the next few years. In May and for the remainder of the year, we expect seven active rigs compared to eight for the first four months of the year but with no material impact on our 2025 cash flow. We continue to look for opportunities to leverage our international expertise.

    As the premier well service provider in Canada, the outlook for this business remains strong, driven by increased takeaway capacity from Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and LNG Canada, and increased regulatory spending requirements for abandonment work. With continued labour constraints, we expect firm pricing into the foreseeable future.

    Contracts

    The following chart outlines the average number of drilling rigs under term contract by quarter as at April 23, 2025. For those quarters ending after March 31, 2025, this chart represents the minimum number of term contracts from which we will earn revenue. We expect the actual number of contracted rigs to vary in future periods as we sign additional term contracts.

    As at April 23, 2025 Average for the quarter ended 2024     Average     Average for the quarter ended 2025     Average  
      Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31     2024     Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31     2025  
    Average rigs under term contract:                                                          
    Canada   24       22       23       23       23       20       19       18       14       18  
    U.S.   20       17       17       16       18       16       15       11       8       13  
    International   8       8       8       8       8       8       7       7       7       7  
    Total   52       47       48       47       49       44       41       36       29       38  

    SEGMENTED FINANCIAL RESULTS

    Precision’s operations are reported in two segments: Contract Drilling Services, which includes our drilling rig, oilfield supply and manufacturing divisions; and Completion and Production Services, which includes our service rig, rental and camp and catering divisions.

    SEGMENT REVIEW OF CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES

      For the three months ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where noted)   2025       2024     % Change  
    Revenue   419,457       443,367       (5.4 )
    Expenses:                
    Operating   272,412       276,692       (1.5 )
    General and administrative   11,029       13,002       (15.2 )
    Adjusted EBITDA(1)   136,016       153,673       (11.5 )
    Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue(1)   32.4 %     34.7 %      

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    Canadian onshore drilling statistics:(1) 2025     2024  
      Precision     Industry(2)     Precision     Industry(2)  
    Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:                      
    March 31   74       214       73       208  

    (1) Canadian operations only.
    (2) Baker Hughes rig counts.

    United States onshore drilling statistics:(1) 2025     2024  
      Precision     Industry(2)     Precision     Industry(2)  
    Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:                      
    March 31   30       572       38       602  

    (1) United States lower 48 operations only.
    (2) Baker Hughes rig counts.

    SEGMENT REVIEW OF COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES

      For the three months ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where noted)   2025       2024     % Change  
    Revenue   79,330       87,087       (8.9 )
    Expenses:                
    Operating   59,112       65,480       (9.7 )
    General and administrative   2,672       3,002       (11.0 )
    Adjusted EBITDA(1)   17,546       18,605       (5.7 )
    Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue(1)   22.1 %     21.4 %      
    Well servicing statistics:                
    Number of service rigs (end of period)   153       183       (16.4 )
    Service rig operating hours   66,986       74,505       (10.1 )

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    OTHER ITEMS

    Share-based Incentive Compensation Plans

    We have several cash and equity-settled share-based incentive plans for non-management directors, officers, and other eligible employees. Our accounting policies for each share-based incentive plan can be found in our 2024 Annual Report.

    A summary of expense amounts under these plans during the reporting periods are as follows:

      For the three months ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) 2025     2024  
    Cash settled share-based incentive plans   403       21,759  
    Equity settled share-based incentive plans   2,427       875  
    Total share-based incentive compensation plan expense   2,830       22,634  
               
    Allocated:          
    Operating   1,128       5,252  
    General and Administrative   1,702       17,382  
        2,830       22,634  

    FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    We reference certain additional Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) measures that are not defined terms under IFRS Accounting Standards to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
    Adjusted EBITDA We believe Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on investments and other assets, finance charges, foreign exchange, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization), as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings and our reportable operating segment disclosures, is a useful measure because it gives an indication of the results from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.

    The most directly comparable financial measure is net earnings.

      For the three months ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2025       2024  
    Adjusted EBITDA by segment:          
    Contract Drilling Services   136,016       153,673  
    Completion and Production Services   17,546       18,605  
    Corporate and Other   (16,065 )     (29,129 )
    Adjusted EBITDA   137,497       143,149  
    Depreciation and amortization   75,036       78,213  
    Gain on asset disposals   (2,872 )     (3,237 )
    Foreign exchange   367       394  
    Finance charges   15,760       18,369  
    Gain on investments and other assets   (49 )     (228 )
    Income taxes   14,308       13,122  
    Net earnings   34,947       36,516  
    Non-controlling interests   436        
    Net earnings attributable to shareholders   34,511       36,516  
    Funds Provided by (Used in) Operations We believe funds provided by (used in) operations, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, is a useful measure because it provides an indication of the funds our principal business activities generate prior to consideration of working capital changes, which is primarily made up of highly liquid balances.

    The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) operations.

    Net Capital Spending We believe net capital spending is a useful measure as it provides an indication of our primary investment activities.

    The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) investing activities.

    Net capital spending is calculated as follows:

      For the three months ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2025       2024  
    Capital spending by spend category          
    Expansion and upgrade   19,546       14,370  
    Maintenance, infrastructure and intangibles   40,419       41,157  
        59,965       55,527  
    Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment   (3,765 )     (5,186 )
    Net capital spending   56,200       50,341  
    Purchase of investments and other assets   11        
    Receipt of finance lease payments   (208 )     (191 )
    Changes in non-cash working capital balances   1,199       25,087  
    Cash used in investing activities   57,202       75,237  
    Working Capital We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

    Working capital is calculated as follows:

      March 31,     December 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2025       2024  
    Current assets   481,111       501,284  
    Current liabilities   (526,144 )     (338,692 )
    Working capital   (45,033 )     162,592  
    Total Long-term Financial Liabilities We define total long-term financial liabilities as total non-current liabilities less deferred tax liabilities, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

    Total long-term financial liabilities is calculated as follows:

      March 31,     December 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2025       2024  
    Total non-current liabilities   688,940       935,624  
    Deferred tax liabilities   (56,571 )     (47,451 )
    Total long-term financial liabilities   632,369       888,173  
    Non-GAAP Ratios
    We reference certain additional Non-GAAP ratios that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
    Adjusted EBITDA % of Revenue We believe Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of consolidated revenue, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings, provides an indication of our profitability from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.
    Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity We believe that long-term debt (as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to long-term debt plus equity (total equity as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) provides an indication of our debt leverage. For the period ended March 31, 2025 long-term debt includes long-term debt plus current portion of long-term debt as reported in our Consolidated Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
    Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA We believe that the Net Debt (long-term debt plus current portion of long-term debt less cash, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to Adjusted EBITDA ratio provides an indication of the number of years it would take for us to repay our debt obligations. For the period ended March 31, 2025 long-term debt includes long-term debt plus current portion of long-term debt as reported in our Consolidated Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
    Supplementary Financial Measures
    We reference certain supplementary financial measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
    Capital Spending by Spend Category We provide additional disclosure to better depict the nature of our capital spending. Our capital spending is categorized as expansion and upgrade, maintenance and infrastructure, or intangibles.

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

    Certain statements contained in this release, including statements that contain words such as “could”, “should”, “can”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “may”, “continue”, “project”, “potential” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, “forward-looking information and statements”).

    In particular, forward-looking information and statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

    • our strategic priorities for 2025;
    • our capital expenditures, free cash flow allocation and debt reduction plans for 2025 and beyond;
    • anticipated activity levels, demand for our drilling rigs, day rates and daily operating margins in 2025;
    • the average number of term contracts in place for 2025;
    • customer adoption of Alpha™ technologies and EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions;
    • potential commercial opportunities and rig contract renewals; and
    • our future debt reduction plans.

    These forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by Precision in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These include, among other things:

    • our ability to react to customer spending plans as a result of changes in oil and natural gas prices;
    • the status of current negotiations with our customers and vendors;
    • customer focus on safety performance;
    • existing term contracts are neither renewed nor terminated prematurely;
    • our ability to deliver rigs to customers on a timely basis;
    • the impact of an increase/decrease in capital spending; and
    • the general stability of the economic and political environments in the jurisdictions where we operate.

    Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information and statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

    • volatility in the price and demand for oil and natural gas;
    • fluctuations in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development activities;
    • fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services;
    • our customers’ inability to obtain adequate credit or financing to support their drilling and production activity;
    • changes in drilling and well servicing technology, which could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive advantage;
    • shortages, delays and interruptions in the delivery of equipment supplies and other key inputs;
    • liquidity of the capital markets to fund customer drilling programs;
    • availability of cash flow, debt and equity sources to fund our capital and operating requirements, as needed;
    • the impact of weather and seasonal conditions on operations and facilities;
    • the impact of tariffs and trade disputes;
    • competitive operating risks inherent in contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services;
    • ability to improve our rig technology to improve drilling efficiency;
    • general economic, market or business conditions;
    • the availability of qualified personnel and management;
    • a decline in our safety performance which could result in lower demand for our services;
    • changes in laws or regulations, including changes in environmental laws and regulations such as increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing or restrictions on the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, which could have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas;
    • terrorism, social, civil and political unrest in the foreign jurisdictions where we operate;
    • fluctuations in foreign exchange, interest rates and tax rates; and
    • other unforeseen conditions which could impact the use of services supplied by Precision and Precision’s ability to respond to such conditions.

    Readers are cautioned that the forgoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect our business, operations or financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to Precision’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which may be accessed on Precision’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca or under Precision’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and Precision undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)

    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) March 31, 2025     December 31, 2024  
    ASSETS          
    Current assets:          
    Cash $ 28,245     $ 73,771  
    Accounts receivable   397,684       378,712  
    Inventory   49,176       43,300  
    Assets held for sale   6,006       5,501  
    Total current assets   481,111       501,284  
    Non-current assets:          
    Deferred tax assets   2,437       6,559  
    Property, plant and equipment   2,342,482       2,356,173  
    Intangibles   13,537       12,997  
    Right-of-use assets   63,223       66,032  
    Finance lease receivables   4,670       4,806  
    Investments and other assets   8,524       8,464  
    Total non-current assets   2,434,873       2,455,031  
    Total assets $ 2,915,984     $ 2,956,315  
               
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
    Current liabilities:          
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 271,696     $ 314,355  
    Income taxes payable   4,526       3,778  
    Current portion of lease obligations   19,703       20,559  
    Current portion of long-term debt   230,219        
    Total current liabilities   526,144       338,692  
               
    Non-current liabilities:          
    Share-based compensation   5,391       13,666  
    Provisions and other   7,478       7,472  
    Lease obligations   51,676       54,566  
    Long-term debt   567,824       812,469  
    Deferred tax liabilities   56,571       47,451  
    Total non-current liabilities   688,940       935,624  
    Equity:          
    Shareholders’ capital   2,287,422       2,301,729  
    Contributed surplus   77,011       77,557  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   197,827       199,020  
    Deficit   (866,323 )     (900,834 )
    Total equity attributable to shareholders   1,695,937       1,677,472  
    Non-controlling interest   4,963       4,527  
    Total equity   1,700,900       1,681,999  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 2,915,984     $ 2,956,315  

    CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET EARNINGS (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) 2025     2024  
               
               
    Revenue $ 496,331     $ 527,788  
    Expenses:          
    Operating   329,068       339,506  
    General and administrative   29,766       45,133  
    Earnings before income taxes, gain on
    investments and other assets, finance
    charges, foreign exchange, gain on asset
    disposals, and depreciation and amortization
      137,497       143,149  
    Depreciation and amortization   75,036       78,213  
    Gain on asset disposals   (2,872 )     (3,237 )
    Foreign exchange   367       394  
    Finance charges   15,760       18,369  
    Gain on investments and other assets   (49 )     (228 )
    Earnings before income taxes   49,255       49,638  
    Income taxes:          
    Current   1,106       1,017  
    Deferred   13,202       12,105  
        14,308       13,122  
    Net earnings $ 34,947     $ 36,516  
    Attributable to:          
    Shareholders of Precision Drilling Corporation $ 34,511     $ 36,516  
    Non-controlling interests $ 436     $  
    Net earnings per share attributable to shareholders
    of Precision Drilling Corporation:
             
    Basic $ 2.52     $ 2.53  
    Diluted $ 2.20     $ 2.53  

    CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) 2025     2024  
    Net earnings $ 34,947     $ 36,516  
    Unrealized gain (loss) on translation of assets
    and liabilities of operations denominated in
    foreign currency
      (658 )     32,253  
    Foreign exchange loss on net investment hedge
    with U.S. denominated debt
      (535 )     (20,159 )
    Comprehensive income $ 33,754     $ 48,610  
    Attributable to:          
    Shareholders of Precision Drilling Corporation $ 33,318     $ 48,610  
    Non-controlling interests $ 436     $  

    CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

      Three Months Ended March 31,  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) 2025     2024  
    Cash provided by (used in):          
    Operations:          
    Net earnings $ 34,947     $ 36,516  
    Adjustments for:          
    Long-term compensation plans   3,016       7,451  
    Depreciation and amortization   75,036       78,213  
    Gain on asset disposals   (2,872 )     (3,237 )
    Foreign exchange   (783 )     728  
    Finance charges   15,760       18,369  
    Income taxes   14,308       13,122  
    Gain on investments and other assets   (49 )     (228 )
    Income taxes paid   (321 )     (234 )
    Interest paid   (29,637 )     (33,430 )
    Interest received   437       495  
    Funds provided by operations   109,842       117,765  
    Changes in non-cash working capital balances   (46,423 )     (52,222 )
    Cash provided by operations   63,419       65,543  
               
    Investments:          
    Purchase of property, plant and equipment   (59,965 )     (55,527 )
    Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment   3,765       5,186  
    Purchase of investments and other assets   (11 )      
    Receipt of finance lease payments   208       191  
    Changes in non-cash working capital balances   (1,199 )     (25,087 )
    Cash used in investing activities   (57,202 )     (75,237 )
               
    Financing:          
    Repayment of long-term debt   (17,110 )     (716 )
    Repurchase of share capital   (30,766 )     (10,081 )
    Lease payments   (3,587 )     (3,200 )
    Cash used in financing activities   (51,463 )     (13,997 )
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (280 )     457  
    Increase (decrease) in cash   (45,526 )     (23,234 )
    Cash, beginning of period   73,771       54,182  
    Cash, end of period $ 28,245     $ 30,948  

    CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

      Attributable to shareholders of the Corporation              
    (Stated in thousands of
    Canadian dollars)
    Shareholders’
    Capital
        Contributed
    Surplus
        Accumulated
    Other
    Comprehensive
    Income
        Deficit     Total     Non-
    controlling
    interest
        Total
    Equity
     
    Balance at January 1, 2025 $ 2,301,729     $ 77,557     $ 199,020     $ (900,834 )   $ 1,677,472     $ 4,527     $ 1,681,999  
    Net earnings for the period                     34,511       34,511       436       34,947  
    Other comprehensive income
    for the period
                  (1,193 )           (1,193 )           (1,193 )
    Settlement of Executive
    Performance and Restricted
    Share Units
      11,651       (2,790 )                 8,861             8,861  
    Share repurchases   (26,141 )                       (26,141 )           (26,141 )
    Redemption of non-management
    directors share units
      183       (183 )                              
    Share-based compensation
    expense
            2,427                   2,427             2,427  
    Balance at March 31, 2025 $ 2,287,422     $ 77,011     $ 197,827     $ (866,323 )   $ 1,695,937     $ 4,963     $ 1,700,900  
      Attributable to shareholders of the Corporation              
    (Stated in thousands of
    Canadian dollars)
    Shareholders’
    Capital
        Contributed
    Surplus
        Accumulated
    Other
    Comprehensive
    Income
        Deficit     Total     Non-
    controlling interest
        Total
    Equity
     
    Balance at January 1, 2024 $ 2,365,129     $ 75,086     $ 147,476     $ (1,012,029 )   $ 1,575,662     $     $ 1,575,662  
    Net earnings for the period                     36,516       36,516             36,516  
    Other comprehensive income
    for the period
                  12,094             12,094             12,094  
    Settlement of Executive
    Performance and Restricted
    Share Units
      21,846       (1,479 )                 20,367             20,367  
    Share repurchases   (10,081 )                       (10,081 )           (10,081 )
    Share-based compensation
    expense
            875                   875             875  
    Balance at March 31, 2024 $ 2,376,894     $ 74,482     $ 159,570     $ (975,513 )   $ 1,635,433     $     $ 1,635,433  

    2025 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

    Precision Drilling Corporation has scheduled a conference call and webcast to begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. MT (1:00 p.m. ET) on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

    To participate in the conference call please register at the URL link below. Once registered, you will receive a dial-in number and a unique PIN, which will allow you to ask questions.

    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIfac587dca2994a30be564b41d99b43ac

    The call will also be webcast and can be accessed through the link below. A replay of the webcast call will be available on Precision’s website for 12 months.

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gifawh57

    About Precision

    Precision is a leading provider of safe and environmentally responsible High Performance, High Value services to the energy industry, offering customers access to an extensive fleet of Super Series drilling rigs. Precision has commercialized an industry-leading digital technology portfolio known as Alpha™ that utilizes advanced automation software and analytics to generate efficient, predictable, and repeatable results for energy customers. Our drilling services are enhanced by our EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions, which bolsters our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Additionally, Precision offers well service rigs, camps and rental equipment all backed by a comprehensive mix of technical support services and skilled, experienced personnel.

    Precision is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PD” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PDS”.

    Additional Information

    For further information, please contact:

    Lavonne Zdunich, CPA, CA
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    403.716.4500

    800, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W.
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1
    Website: www.precisiondrilling.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Bills to Permanently Protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from Offshore Drilling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    April 23, 2025

    Wyden co-sponsors additional Merkley-led bill to protect the Arctic Ocean

    Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring two bills that would permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from the environmental and economic costs of fossil fuel drilling off our coastal shores. Merkley also led a bill to prohibit drilling in the Arctic, which Wyden also co-sponsored.  

    “The U.S. simply does not need to drill in the coastal waters of the Pacific. We have more than enough clean energy resources without putting Oregon’s outdoor recreation and seafood industries at risk,” Wyden said. “These bills are all about looking out for small businesses that depend on tourism and the fishing industry, rather than capitulating to the ‘oiligarchs’ whose only goal is to fatten their wallets, no matter the environmental and economic toil it could bring to our shores.”    

    “Offshore drilling guarantees future oil spills with devastating consequences: from oiled beaches to catastrophic damage to tourism, commercial sport fishing, and ocean ecosystems,” Merkley said. “Trump’s Dirty Energy First strategy would see his administration expand offshore drilling—all to enrich billionaire corporate polluters—but Senator Wyden and I are leading the charge to protect the Oregon Coast and beyond from dangerous offshore oil and gas drilling.”

    The West Coast Protection Act would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. 

    The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act would permanently prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

    The Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, led by Merkley, would permanently ban new or renewed leases for oil, gas, or mineral extraction in the Arctic Ocean Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf, protecting one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems. 

    This legislation comes following the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.

    “The Pacific west coast economy provides over $80 Billion in GDP via industries like tourism, outdoor recreation, fishing, retail, and real estate, supporting more than 825,000 jobs. And BAPPC’s 8,100 business members rely on a clean ocean to drive their revenues and provide for their customers, employees and families. We strongly support the West Coast Protection Act and other legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling and protect our businesses by prioritizing a healthy coastal ecosystem,” said Grant Bixby, Founding Member, The Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast.

    In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the West Coast Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). 

    The COAST Anti-Drilling Act, led by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), is co-sponsored by Wyden and Merkley, along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Angus King (I-Maine), Markey, Sanders, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Whitehouse.

    Merkley’s Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act was co-sponsored by Markey, Blumenthal, Sanders, and Warren, in addition to Wyden. 

    Full text of the West Coast Protection Act is here. 

    Full text of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act is here. 

    Full text of the Stop Arctic Drilling Act is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How AI can support sustainable energy

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How AI can support sustainable energy

    The global energy landscape is constantly evolving with one thing remaining constant: the demand for energy, regardless of the type, continues to increase. There are 8.2 billion people in the world today who all need access to affordable, sustainable, and secure energy. Global energy demand is projected to grow between 11% and 18% by 2050,1 and meeting this growing demand will require innovation from every part of the energy sector value chain.  

    As we witnessed in many leadership dialogues at CERAWeek 2025, AI adoption is taking place at an accelerated speed in the energy sector. The role of AI in meeting rising energy demand is multifaceted and transformative. AI can optimize operations, reduce  energy consumption, enhance grid capacity and reliability, and support renewable energy integration. It can also address energy security and sustainability efforts, such as carbon capture and storage, and methane management and mitigation. AI’s potential in the energy sector is robust. Critically, all these innovations are underpinned by the industry’s collective goal to mitigate environmental impact and continue to move towards a more sustainable future, while meeting the growing demand for energy.   

    Microsoft is committed to helping to drive progress in the energy industry through technological innovation—working to empower the energy workforce, optimize operational efficiency and safety, advance net zero commitments, and grow sustainable, AI-powered businesses.  

    Microsoft for energy and resources

    CERAWeek 2025 takeaways 

    In March 2025, we attended CERAWeek 2025, one of the most influential energy gatherings of the year, which provides a platform for over 8,000 attendees to connect, share and discuss insights, and explore where the industry is headed.  

    This year, a few key takeaways from the event were: 

    • AI is changing the game across industries, and energy is no exception.
      Jason Zander, Executive Vice President for Strategic Missions and Technologies at Microsoft, spoke in the session “Will AI Revolutionize the Energy Sector?” and discussed the ways in which AI is transforming the energy sector with innovative solutions that boost energy efficiency, optimize production, and integrate renewable resources. One of the recent breakthroughs that Jason highlighted is Microsoft’s Majorana 1, the world’s first Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) powered by a Topological Core, designed to scale to a million qubits on a single chip. This advancement has practical applications to help solve some of the most difficult global challenges. It brings the potential to revolutionize the energy industry with possibilities such as developing self-healing materials, enhancing safety, creating catalysts to break down plastics, and significantly advancing sustainability through more recyclable and reusable materials. 
    • Powerful collaboration with industry-leading, strategic partners is key to growth and innovation.
      Several of our partners; Accenture, Cognite, Honeywell, Kongsberg Digital, Schneider Electric, and SLB showcased their industry-leading, real-world solutions in the Microsoft booth. These innovative AI-powered solutions illustrate the immense opportunity to transform the energy industry and empower the energy workforce with modern technology.

      One standout demo was Schneider Electric’s new One Digital Grid Platform, an AI-powered system that helps improve the reliability and efficiency of power grids. Using Microsoft Azure, this platform allows different software solutions to work together, helping utilities modernize their grids and provide cleaner, more affordable energy at a lower overall cost. Schneider Electric is leveraging Microsoft solutions to improve grid reliability, and is collaborating with Itron to do so. Solutions like these, built with strategic partners, address the need for a modern, digital grid to provide energy to all who need it.   

    Transform and optimize resilient energy systems with AI 

    AI’s potential in the energy industry is transformative, with the capability to optimize operations, strengthen security, and advance decarbonization. To provide the energy that the world will require, the energy industry needs intelligent solutions that address these needs with faster insights and increased productivity.  

    The impact of AI solutions is directly correlated to the amount of data companies have at their disposal. For energy companies that may have a fractured data estate spanning diverse environments and proprietary data formats, establishing a unified data foundation is a difficult task. This is why Microsoft is committed to equipping industry leaders with powerful, enterprise platforms like the Microsoft Cloud to accelerate this transformation. And with Microsoft Fabric, data, AI, security, and applications are integrated to enable real-time data processing and AI-powered insights so that companies can make informed decisions more quickly. Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Energy is also an important piece of this energy data journey, and critical to carbon storage and planning. Most powerfully, it can create a repository for all of an organization’s data in a single location. Furthermore, by adopting our adaptive cloud approach and unifying siloed teams, distributed sites, and sprawling systems into a single operation, organizations can increase security, improve data modeling, and leverage cloud-native and AI technologies across hybrid, multicloud, edge, and Internet of Things (IoT) environments. 

    From there, custom reports and insights can be generated with Microsoft 365 Copilot. These cutting-edge solutions are designed to help energy companies harness the full potential of their data with AI—enabling seamless integration, real-time insights, and predictive analytics to help drive efficiency and innovation across the sector.  

    One vast opportunity for the energy sector when it comes to using AI is its power to help decarbonize the energy value chain. It’s clear that decarbonization is a critical step towards achieving a sustainable and net-zero future—involving reducing carbon emissions across all stages of energy production, distribution, and consumption. By integrating renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency through adopting innovative technologies like AI, the energy sector has the potential to significantly lower its carbon footprint more quickly than was possible without the efficiency gains from AI. The recent International Energy Agency report, “Energy and AI” shares several potential examples of cost and energy savings in power plant operations and end-use sectors, such as manufacturing and transportation. For example, AI in transportation can enhance vehicle operation and management, potentially cutting energy consumption—and therefore emissions—up to 20%.2 

    AI’s potential in enhancing security is immense, offering both vast implications and opportunities. Using AI to enhance security is already making a difference for companies, with a recent study of Copilot users showing that using Microsoft Security Copilot reduced mean time to resolution by 30%.3 Harnessing the power of AI to bolster security in the energy industry, we recently introduced six new Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These agents represent the power of AI to respond to an increasingly high volume of security threats that energy organizations face today. They are designed to autonomously manage high-volume security tasks, helping to provide robust protection for critical energy infrastructure. By leveraging advanced threat intelligence and machine learning, these agents can swiftly detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents, helping to mitigate risks associated with cyberattacks.  

    Demonstrating the power of collaboration in AI innovation, new partner-developed agents will also be available in Security Copilot. These solutions offer industry-specific solutions, such as the ability to understand sector-specific compliance needs. This approach enhances operational efficiency and will help to strengthen the overall security posture for energy companies that adopt agents, allowing IT and operations teams to focus on their core operations while maintaining a resilient defense against ever-evolving threats.  

    Our customers like Chevron are also already seeing the impact of AI in their operations, integrating real-time data from IoT devices, optimizing equipment and bandwidth costs, and accelerating decision-making with AI at the edge. 

    Collaborating with Chevron on facilities of the future with Azure IoT Operations  

    With its Facilities and Operations of the Future initiative, Chevron is reimagining the monitoring of its physical operations to support remote and autonomous operations through enhanced capabilities and real-time access to data. This includes ongoing efforts to use technology to unlock access to connected data across a vast network of IoT devices—ultimately for greater speed to decisions. Chevron worked closely with Microsoft to deploy Azure IoT Operations, enabled by Azure Arc. This edge-to-cloud data plane facilitates data capture from various devices like Wi-Fi cameras, thermal cameras, sensors, robots, and drones at the edge before sending it to the cloud.  Chevron chose Azure for its flexible infrastructure to control data and scale globally, unifying sites and systems into one AI-assisted control pane. Using AI at the edge, where sensors are located at the equipment, helps optimize equipment and bandwidth costs and accelerates speed to insights.  

    Learn more about energy and resources solutions with Microsoft  

    As we look to the future, AI is becoming an increasingly important force in the energy industry—enabling companies to achieve greater safety and efficiency, help secure their operations, and increase sustainability. Key to this growth and innovation is powerful collaboration with our strategic partners and secure, resilient solutions that meet the industry’s robust needs. Microsoft remains dedicated to supporting this journey, providing the tools and technologies needed to thrive in an ever-evolving energy landscape. 

    Microsoft for energy and resources

    Drive innovation to achieve net zero


    1Global Energy Perspective 2024, McKinsey, September 2024. 

    2Energy and AI, AI for energy optimization and innovation.  

    3Agentic AI and Microsoft Security Copilot: Revolutionizing cybersecurity, March 2025.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: TRUMP EFFECT: A Running List of New U.S. Investment in President Trump’s Second Term

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Since President Donald J. Trump took office, his unwavering commitment to revitalizing American industry has spurred trillions of dollars of investments in U.S. manufacturing, production, and innovation — and the list only continues to grow.
    Here is a non-comprehensive running list of new U.S.-based investments in President Trump’s second term:
    Project Stargate, led by Japan-based Softbank and U.S.-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a $500 billion private investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.
    Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.
    NVIDIA, a global chipmaking giant, announced it will invest $500 billion in U.S.-based AI infrastructure over the next four years amid its pledge to manufacture AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. for the first time.
    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.
    Johnson & Johnson announced a $55 billion investment over the next four years in manufacturing, research and development, and technology.
    Roche, a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced a $50 billion investment in U.S.-based manufacturing and research and development, which is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs and more than 12,000 jobs including construction.
    Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
    United Arab Emirates-based ADQ and U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners announced a $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and energy infrastructure.
    Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, announced a $23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing facilities across the U.S., which will create 4,000 new jobs.
    Hyundai announced a $21 billion U.S.-based investment — including $5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs.
    Hyundai also secured an equity investment and agreement from Posco Holdings, South Korea’s top steel maker.

    United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.
    France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.
    Merck announced it will invest $8 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility.
    Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.
    Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network, including re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois, manufacturing plant.
    Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in biotechnology, announced a $3 billion agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at its North Carolina manufacturing facility.
    NorthMark Strategies, a multi-strategy investment firm, announced a $2.8 billion investment to build a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
    ArcelorMittal, a steel manufacturer, announced a $1.2 billion investment to build an advanced manufacturing facility in Alabama.
    Chobani, a Greek yogurt giant, announced a $1.2 billion investment to build its third U.S. dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs.
    GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.
    Corning, Inc., a solar component producer, announced a $900 million investment to build a manufacturing plant in Michigan.
    Schneider Electric announced it will invest $700 million over the next four years in U.S. energy infrastructure.
    GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
    Abbott Laboratories announced a $500 million investment in its Illinois and Texas facilities.
    AIP Management, a European infrastructure investor, announced a $500 million investment to solar developer Silicon Ranch.
    London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.
    Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.
    Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
    Clasen Quality Chocolate announced a $230 million investment to build a new production facility in Virginia, which will create 250 new jobs.
    Fiserv, Inc., a financial technology provider, announced a $175 million investment to open a new strategic fintech hub in Kansas, which is expected to create 2,000 new high-paying jobs.
    Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.
    TS Conductor announced a $134 million investment to build an advanced conductor manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which will create nearly 500 new jobs.
    Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
    Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
    Charms, LLC, a subsidiary of candymaker Tootsie Roll Industries, announced a $97.7 million investment to expand its production plant and distribution center in Tennessee.
    Toyota Motor Corporation announced an $88 million investment to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory, securing employment for the 2,000 workers at the factory.
    AeroVironment, a defense contractor, announced a $42.3 million investment to build a new manufacturing facility in Utah.
    Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
    India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.
    Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
    Cyclic Materials, a Canadian advanced recycling company for rare earth elements, announced a $20 million investment in its first U.S.-based commercial facility, located in Mesa, Arizona.
    Guardian Bikes announced a $19 million investment to build the first U.S.-based large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in Indiana.
    Amsterdam-based AMG Critical Minerals announced a $15 million investment to build a chrome manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.
    NOVONIX Limited, an Australia-based battery technology company, announced a $4.6 million investment to build a synthetic graphite manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
    LGM Pharma announced a $6 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas.
    ViDARR Inc., a defense optical equipment manufacturer, announced a $2.69 million investment to open a new facility in Virginia.
    That doesn’t even include the U.S. investments pledged by foreign countries:
    United Arab Emirates announced a $1.4 trillion investment in the U.S. over the next decade.
    Saudi Arabia announced it intends to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
    Japan announced a $1 trillion investment in the U.S.
    Taiwan announced a pledge to boost its U.S.-based investment.
    Last updated on April 23, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Turning forestry waste into industrial fuel

    Countries around the world are looking for alternative fuel sources for industries like transportation, heavy manufacturing and power generation. As the largest energy producer in Canada, Alberta has the resources, business-friendly environment and expertise needed to become a world leader in developing hydrogen – a clean energy carrier that produces no emissions.

    Alberta’s government is investing $3 million through Emissions Reduction Alberta to help Calgary-based Hydrogen Naturally turn forestry waste like woodchips, sawdust, plants and other organic material into hydrogen. This new technology will capture the carbon that would normally be released into the air during this process and store it underground.

    “Hydrogen offers major potential for Alberta to leverage our vast natural resources, skilled workforce and existing energy infrastructure. Alberta is the largest hydrogen producer in Canada, and we’re just getting started. Investing in this promising, emissions-free, economically friendly fuel source is diversifying Alberta’s economy, creating jobs and positioning Alberta as a world leader.”

    Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction

    “We have the energy and the innovation to help power the world in the most environmentally responsible way. That’s why we are investing in technology and innovation to help create jobs, fuel our economy and keep attracting investments into our province.”  

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    Hydrogen Naturally will use provincial funding for a feasibility study that will provide the regulatory, engineering and environmental information needed to build its first hydrogen production unit in Alberta.

    “This funding accelerates the scale-up of breakthrough technologies, paving the way for a low-carbon future in Alberta. Companies like Hydrogen Naturally showcase how innovation and strategic investment can deliver tangible emissions reductions while fueling economic growth.” 

    Justin Riemer, chief executive officer, Emissions Reduction Alberta

    “The Government of Alberta, through Emissions Reduction Alberta, will play a pivotal role in advancing our negative-emission hydrogen facility, which uses innovative gasification technology to utilize forest harvest residuals and firekill. Together, Hydrogen Naturally and Alberta can leverage our extensive carbon capture and sequestration capabilities to become global leaders in low-emission energy and sustainable forest management.”

    Brett Jackson, president, Hydrogen Naturally

    Alberta is becoming the destination of choice for investors and innovators in the hydrogen sector, with a growing number of promising opportunities presented by hydrogen production and technologies across the province.

    Quick facts

    • Hydrogen Naturally was incorporated in Alberta in 2022 and is headquartered in Calgary.
    • The company has plans for hydrogen production hubs across Canada and the United States.
    • The worldwide hydrogen market is estimated to be worth more than $2.5 trillion per year by 2050.
    • Alberta’s pipeline infrastructure, carbon capture technology, expertise in energy exports, and proximity to key markets give the province an advantage in hydrogen production and use.
    • Compared to other emissions-free alternatives, hydrogen is ideal for moving heavy freight in Alberta’s cold climate and shows promise for its ability to store and transport renewable energy.
    • To date, Alberta’s government has invested $43 million into 13 hydrogen technologies through Emissions Reduction Alberta, with a collective total value of more than $250 million.
    • This funding is through the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program.

    Related information

    • Emissions Reduction Alberta
    • Hydrogen Naturally
    • Hydrogen Roadmap
    • Natural Gas Vision and Strategy

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI: Dragonfly Energy Announces First Quarter 2025 Preliminary Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (“Dragonfly Energy” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DFLI), an industry leader in energy storage and battery technology, today announced preliminary first quarter 2025 Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA.

    The Company anticipates first quarter 2025 Net Sales of $13.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $(3.6) million, above the guidance provided in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    “First quarter results represent our second consecutive quarter of year over year growth as we continue to execute on a number of important growth initiatives while focusing on driving profitability.” said Dr. Denis Phares, Chief Executive Officer.

    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and should be considered only as supplemental to, and not as superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its nearest GAAP measure in this release.

    The first quarter 2025 Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA are preliminary and are subject to finalization in connection with the preparation of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025. 

    First Quarter 2025 Webcast Information

    The Dragonfly Energy management team will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2025 financial and operational results on Thursday, May 15th at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The call can be accessed live via webcast by clicking here, or through the Events and Presentations page within the Investor Relations section of Dragonfly Energy’s website at https://investors.dragonflyenergy.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. The call can also be accessed live via telephone by dialing (646) 564-2877, toll-free in North America (800) 549-8228, or for international callers +1 (289) 819-1520, and referencing conference ID: 76172. Please log in to the webcast or dial in to the call at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the event.

    An archive of the webcast will be available for a period of time shortly after the call on the Events and Presentations page on the Investor Relations section of Dragonfly Energy’s website, along with the earnings press release.

    About Dragonfly Energy

    Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) is a comprehensive lithium battery technology company, specializing in cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and full system integration. Through its renowned Battle Born Batteries® brand, Dragonfly Energy has established itself as a frontrunner in the lithium battery industry, with hundreds of thousands of reliable battery packs deployed in the field through top-tier OEMs and a diverse retail customer base. At the forefront of domestic lithium battery cell production, Dragonfly Energy’s patented dry electrode manufacturing process can deliver chemistry-agnostic power solutions for a broad spectrum of applications, including energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. The Company’s overarching mission is the future deployment of its proprietary, nonflammable, all-solid-state battery cells.

    To learn more about Dragonfly Energy and its commitment to clean energy advancements, visit investors.dragonflyenergy.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and statements regarding the Company’s intent, belief or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s guidance for first quarter 2025 preliminary Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA, results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions.

    These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the closing of the offerings, the use of proceeds from the offerings, the ability to successfully achieve the thresholds for the additional funding from the offerings, the impact of the offering and the conversion and sale of the shares of common stock underlying the preferred stock on the Company’s stock price, improved recovery in the Company’s core markets, including the RV market; the Company’s ability to successfully increase market penetration into target markets; the Company’s ability to penetrate the heavy-duty trucking and other new markets; the growth of the addressable markets that the Company intends to target; the Company’s ability to retain members of its senior management team and other key personnel; the Company’s ability to maintain relationships with key suppliers including suppliers in China; the Company’s ability to maintain relationships with key customers; the Company’s ability to access capital as and when needed under its $150 million ChEF Equity Facility; the Company’s ability to protect its patents and other intellectual property; the Company’s ability to successfully utilize its patented dry electrode battery manufacturing process and optimize solid state cells as well as to produce commercially viable solid state cells in a timely manner or at all, and to scale to mass production; the Company’s ability to timely achieve the anticipated benefits of its licensing arrangement with Stryten Energy LLC; the Company’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of its customer arrangements with THOR Industries and THOR Industries’ affiliated brands (including Keystone RV Company); the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and public warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market; the Russian/Ukrainian conflict; the Company’s ability to generate revenue from future product sales and its ability to achieve and maintain profitability; and the Company’s ability to compete with other manufacturers in the industry and its ability to engage target customers and successfully convert these customers into meaningful orders in the future. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC and in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC available at www.sec.gov.

    If any of these risks materialize or any of the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company presently does not know or that it currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    Financial Tables

    Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp.
    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited)
    (U.S. Dollars in Thousands)
        Three Months Ended
            March 31,     March 31,
             2025   2024 
    EBITDA Calculation        
    Net (Loss) Income Before Taxes   $ (6,797 )   $ (10,367 )
      Interest Expense     4,701       4,760  
      Taxes                             –                                  –  
      Depreciation and Amortization     859       332  
    EBITDA   $ (1,237 )   $ (5,275 )
                 
    Adjustments to EBITDA        
      Stock Based Compensation     220       266  
      Preferred Stock Financing expenses     631                                  –  
      Litigation Fees and Loss on Settlement     543                                  –  
      Reverse Stock Split     15                                  –  
      Change in fair market value of warrant liability     (3,818 )     (236 )
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ (3,646 )   $ (5,245 )
                     

    Investor Relations:
    Eric Prouty
    Szymon Serowiecki
    AdvisIRy Partners
    DragonflyIR@advisiry.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Northrim BanCorp Earns $13.3 Million, or $2.38 Per Diluted Share, in First Quarter 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Northrim BanCorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:NRIM) (“Northrim” or the “Company”) today reported net income of $13.3 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $10.9 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $8.2 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, in the first quarter a year ago. The increase in first quarter 2025 profitability as compared to the first quarter a year ago was primarily the result of an increase in purchased receivable income, higher net interest income, increased mortgage banking income, and a benefit for the provision for credit losses, which were only partially offset by higher other operating expenses. Purchased receivable income increased primarily due to the Company’s acquisition of Sallyport Commercial Finance, LLC (“Sallyport or SCF”), which was completed on October 31, 2024. Sallyport and its direct and indirect subsidiaries provide services and products related to purchased receivable factoring and asset-based lending in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

    Dividends per share in the first quarter of 2025 increased to $0.64 per share as compared to $0.62 per share in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $0.61 per share in the first quarter of 2024.

    “Our record first quarter earnings are the result of Northrim’s focus on profitable, market share driven growth,” said Mike Huston, Northrim’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our strong financial performance is due to our history of investing in our people and banking infrastructure to consistently deliver ‘Superior Customer First Service’. We remain confident that our dedication to serving our customers and communities will support future growth.”

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights:

    • Net interest income in the first quarter of 2025 increased 1% to $31.3 million compared to $30.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased 18% compared to $26.4 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis (“NIMTE”)* was 4.61% for the first quarter of 2025, up 14-basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024 and up 39-basis points from the first quarter a year ago.
    • Return on average assets (“ROAA”) was 1.76% and return on average equity (“ROAE”) was 19.70% for the first quarter of 2025. ROAA was 1.19% and ROAE was 13.84% for the first quarter of 2024.
    • Portfolio loans were $2.12 billion at March 31, 2025, down slightly from the preceding quarter and up 17% from a year ago. Portfolio loans in the first quarter of 2025 decreased from the preceding quarter primarily due to the reclassification of $100 million of consumer mortgages previously held as residential real estate loans to loans held for sale. The consumer mortgages are expected to be sold in the second quarter of 2025 to reduce the concentration of residential real estate loans and provide additional liquidity for future commercial and construction loan growth.
    • Total deposits were $2.78 billion at March 31, 2025, up 4% from the preceding quarter, and up 14% from $2.43 billion a year ago. Non-interest bearing demand deposits increased 5% from the preceding quarter and increased 4% year-over-year to $742.6 million at March 31, 2025 and represent 27% of total deposits.
    • The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.01% at March 31, 2025, down from 2.15% at December 31, 2024 and 2.13% at March 31, 2024.
    • Mortgage loan originations were $121.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, down from $185.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and up from $101.7 million in the first quarter a year ago. Mortgage loans funded for sale were $108.5 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $162.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $84.3 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    Financial Highlights Three Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Total assets $ 3,140,960   $ 3,041,869   $ 2,963,392   $ 2,821,668   $ 2,759,560  
    Total portfolio loans $ 2,124,330   $ 2,129,263   $ 2,007,565   $ 1,875,907   $ 1,811,135  
    Total deposits $ 2,777,977   $ 2,680,189   $ 2,625,567   $ 2,463,806   $ 2,434,083  
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 279,756   $ 267,116   $ 260,050   $ 247,200   $ 239,327  
    Net income $ 13,324   $ 10,927   $ 8,825   $ 9,020   $ 8,199  
    Diluted earnings per share $ 2.38   $ 1.95   $ 1.57   $ 1.62   $ 1.48  
    Return on average assets   1.76 %   1.43 %   1.22 %   1.31 %   1.19 %
    Return on average shareholders’ equity   19.70 %   16.32 %   13.69 %   14.84 %   13.84 %
    NIM   4.55 %   4.41 %   4.29 %   4.24 %   4.16 %
    NIMTE*   4.61 %   4.47 %   4.35 %   4.30 %   4.22 %
    Efficiency ratio   64.47 %   66.96 %   66.11 %   68.78 %   68.93 %
    Total shareholders’ equity/total assets   8.91 %   8.78 %   8.78 %   8.76 %   8.67 %
    Tangible common equity/tangible assets*   7.41 %   7.23 %   8.28 %   8.24 %   8.14 %
    Book value per share $ 50.67   $ 48.41   $ 47.27   $ 44.93   $ 43.52  
    Tangible book value per share* $ 41.47   $ 39.17   $ 44.36   $ 42.03   $ 40.61  
    Dividends per share $ 0.64   $ 0.62   $ 0.62   $ 0.61   $ 0.61  
    Common stock outstanding   5,520,892     5,518,210     5,501,943     5,501,562     5,499,578  
                                   

    * References to NIMTE, tangible book value per share, and tangible common equity to tangible common assets, (both of which exclude intangible assets) represent non-GAAP financial measures. Management has presented these non-GAAP measurements in this earnings release, because it believes these measures are useful to investors. See the end of this release for reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures.

    Alaska Economic Update
    (Note: sources for information included in this section are included on page 13.)

    The Alaska Department of Labor (“DOL”) has reported Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February of 2025 was 4.7% compared to the U.S. rate of 4.1%. The total number of payroll jobs in Alaska, not including uniformed military, increased 1.6% or 5,200 jobs between February of 2024 and February of 2025.

    According to the DOL, the Oil and Gas sector had the largest growth rate in new jobs of 7.5% through February 2025 compared to the prior year, up 600 direct jobs. The Construction sector added 1,000 positions for a year-over-year growth rate of 6.1% in February of 2025. The larger Health Care sector grew by 1,400 jobs for an annual growth rate of 3.4%. Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities added 1,100 jobs for a 5% growth rate. Leisure and Hospitality increased 500 jobs year-over-year through February of 2025, up 1.6%.

    The Government sector grew by 600 jobs for 0.7% growth, adding 100 Federal jobs, and 500 State positions in Alaska over the same period. Declining sectors between February 2024 and February 2025 were Manufacturing (primarily seafood processing) shrinking 500 positions (-4.4%), Financial Activities, down 100 jobs (-0.9%), and Retail lost 100 jobs (-0.3%).

    Alaska’s seasonally adjusted personal income was $56.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 according to the Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis (“BEA”). This was an annualized improvement in the fourth quarter of 4.7% for Alaska, compared to the national average of 4.6%. Alaska enjoyed an annual personal income improvement of 6% in 2024 compared to the U.S. increase of 5.4%, ranking Alaska 6th best in the nation. The $650 million increase in personal income in the fourth quarter in Alaska came from a $446 million increase in net earnings from wages, $154 million growth in government transfer receipts, and a $49 million increase in investment income.

    Alaska’s Gross State Product (“GSP”) in 2024, reached $70 billion for the first time according to the BEA. Alaska’s inflation adjusted “real” GSP increased 1.5% in 2024 and 4% annualized in the fourth quarter of 2024, placing Alaska third best of all 50 states for the quarter. The average U.S. GDP growth rate was 2.8% for the year and 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Alaska’s real GSP improvement in the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily caused by growth in the Mining, Oil & Gas; Transportation & Warehousing; and to a lesser extent the Health Care sector. Construction played a larger role in the annual state GSP performance.

    Based on data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Alaska exported $5.2 billion in goods to foreign countries in 2023. China is the largest importer of Alaska’s products at $1.2 billion, followed by Japan at $710 million and Korea at $702 million in 2023. Fish and related maritime products accounted for the largest volume at $2.1 billion, followed by minerals and ores $1.5 billion, and primary metals at $780 million in 2023. Chief Credit Officer and Bank Economist Mark Edwards stated, “President Trump’s significant changes to international tariffs has created uncertainty in trade markets. At this time, it is unknown how each country will respond. Alaska’s natural resources are highly valued commodities throughout the world. If issues arise with one country, such as China, it is most likely that Alaska’s products will be redirected to other markets like Japan and South Korea or sold domestically in the United States. Canada is the largest long-term investor in Alaska’s mining industry. This involves significant fixed capital investments made over decades that are unlikely to shift dramatically in the short-run.”

    According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, for the U.S. increased 2.8% between February of 2024 and February of 2025. In Alaska, the rate of increase was 2.9% for the same time period. Food and beverage; housing rents and mortgage rates; transportation; and medical care costs are the largest causes for inflation. Declining motor fuel prices, new and used car prices, and household furnishing costs have helped moderate inflationary pressures in Alaska.

    The monthly average price of Alaska North Slope (“ANS”) crude oil was $76.39 in January, $74.03 in February and $73.39 in March of 2025. The Alaska Department of Revenue (“DOR”) calculated ANS crude oil production was 461 thousand barrels per day (“bpd”) in Alaska’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Through nine months of the fiscal year 2025, production has averaged slightly above the State of Alaska forecast of 467 thousand bpd. In the Spring 2025 Revenue Forecast published March 12, 2025, the DOR expects production to continue to grow to 663 thousand bpd by fiscal year 2034. This is primarily a result of new production coming on-line in and around the NPR-A region west of Prudhoe Bay. A partnership between Santos and Repsol is constructing the new Pikka oil field and ConocoPhillips is developing the new Willow oil field. There are also a number of smaller new oil fields in Alaska’s North Slope that are contributing to the State of Alaska’s production growth estimates.

    The Alaska Permanent Fund is seeded annually by the oil wealth the State continues to save each year and has grown significantly over 40 years of successful investment. As of February 28, 2025 the funds value was $81.35 billion. According to the DOR it is scheduled to contribute $3.7 billion to the Alaska General Fund in fiscal year 2025 for general government spending and to pay the annual dividend to Alaskan residents.

    According to the Alaska Multiple Listing Services, the average sales price of a single family home in Anchorage rose 6.2% in 2024 to $510,109, following a 5.2% increase in 2023. This was the seventh consecutive year of price increases.

    The average sales price for single family homes in the Matanuska Susitna Borough rose 3.8% in 2024 to $412,859, after increasing 4% in 2023. This continues a trend of average price increases for more than a decade in the region. These two markets represent where the vast majority of the residential lending activity for Northrim Bank (the”Bank”) occurs.

    The Alaska Multiple Listing Services reported a 3.4% increase in the number of units sold in Anchorage when comparing 2024 to 2023. There was virtually no change in the number of homes sold in the Matanuska Susitna Borough, with only four fewer homes sold in 2024 than in 2023 or -0.2%.

    Northrim Bank sponsors the Alaskanomics blog to provide news, analysis, and commentary on Alaska’s economy. Join the conversation at Alaskanomics.com, or for more information on the Alaska economy, visit: www.northrim.com and click on the “Business Banking” link and then click “Learn.” Information from our website is not incorporated into, and does not form, a part of this earnings release.

    Review of Income Statement

    Consolidated Income Statement

    In the first quarter of 2025, Northrim generated a ROAA of 1.76% and a ROAE of 19.70%, compared to 1.43% and 16.32%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 1.19% and 13.84%, respectively, in the first quarter a year ago.

    Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin

    Net interest income increased 1% to $31.3 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $30.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased 18% compared to $26.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. Interest expense on deposits decreased to $9.9 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $10.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased compared to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    NIMTE* was 4.61% in the first quarter of 2025 up from 4.47% in the preceding quarter and 4.22% in the first quarter a year ago. NIMTE* increased 39 basis points in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to a favorable change in the mix of earning-assets towards higher loan balances as a percentage of total earning-assets, slightly higher yields on those assets, and a decrease in costs on interest-bearing liabilities. The weighted average interest rate for new loans booked in the first quarter of 2025 was 7.30% compared to 7.23% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 7.84% in the first quarter a year ago. The yield on the investment portfolio in the first quarter of 2025 increased to 2.97% from 2.84% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2.82% in the first quarter of 2024. “We are starting to see some benefit from lower deposit costs that benefit our net interest margin and outweigh the impact of the recent Fed rate cuts on our loan portfolio, which we could continue to see for the next couple of quarters,” said Jed Ballard, Chief Financial Officer. Northrim’s NIMTE* continues to remain above the peer average of 3.23% posted by the S&P U.S. Small Cap Bank Index with total market capitalization between $250 million and $1 billion as of December 31, 2024.

    Provision for Credit Losses

    Northrim recorded a benefit to the provision for credit losses of $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, which was comprised of a benefit to the provision for credit losses on loans of $1.1 million, a $322,000 benefit to the provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, and a provision for credit losses on purchased receivables of $46,000. This compares to a provision for credit losses of $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and provision for credit losses of $149,000 in the first quarter a year ago.

    The benefit to the provision for unfunded commitments in the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to a decrease in estimated loss rates due to changes in mix that was only partially offset by management’s assessment of economic conditions and estimated funding rates. The decrease to the provision for credit losses on loans in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter a year ago was primarily a result of the reclassification of $100 million in mortgage loans to loans held for sale, which provided a benefit to the provision of $2.2 million in the Home Mortgage Lending segment for the first quarter of 2025. This benefit was only partially offset by a $1.5 million provision for credit losses in the Home Mortgage Lending segment due to changes in the Company’s loss rate regression models for home mortgage loans. Additionally, the Company recorded $1.7 million net benefit for credit losses in the Community Banking segment related to changes in the Company’s loss rate regression models for commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans. These decreases in the provision were only partially offset by increases in estimated loss rates for management’s assessment of economic conditions, an increase for higher loan balances in other loan segments, and specific provisions for credit losses in the Specialty Finance segment. These items reduced the overall benefit by $1.3 million. The provision for credit losses related to the Specialty Finance segment of $666,000 in the first quarter of 2025 consisted of a $621,000 provision for credit losses on loans and a $46,000 provision for credit losses on purchased receivables and represents management’s estimate of collateral shortfalls for four loans.

    Nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees, increased during the quarter to $8.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $7.5 million at December 31, 2024, and $5.3 million at March 31, 2024.

    The allowance for credit losses on loans was 262% of nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees, at the end of the first quarter of 2025, compared to 292% three months earlier and 333% a year ago.

    Other Operating Income

    In addition to home mortgage lending, Northrim has interests in other businesses that complement its core community banking activities, including purchased receivables financing and wealth management. Other operating income contributed $14.2 million, or 31% of total first quarter 2025 revenues, as compared to $13.0 million, or 30% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $7.8 million, or 23% of revenues in the first quarter of 2024. The increase in other operating income in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the preceding quarter and the first quarter of 2024 was primarily the result of increased purchased receivable income due to the Company’s acquisition of Sallyport on October 31, 2024. The fair market value of marketable equity securities decreased $50,000 in the first quarter of 2025 compared to a decrease of $364,000 in the prior quarter and an increase of $314,000 in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the increase in other operating income in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 was partially offset by a decrease in mortgage banking income due to a lower volume of mortgage activity. See further discussion regarding mortgage activity contained under “Home Mortgage Lending” below.

    Other Operating Expenses

    Operating expenses were $29.3 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $29.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $23.6 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in other operating expenses in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a decrease in salaries and other personnel expense, including $623,000 in lower mortgage commissions expense due to lower mortgage volume and a decrease in profit share expense. Professional fees decreased in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 primarily due to one-time deal costs associated with the acquisition of Sallyport of $1.1 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024. These decreases were only partially offset by $600,000 in compensation expense for Sallyport acquisition payments and an increase in other operating expense for a decrease in fair value of loans held for sale of $1.2 million as a result of reclassifying the consumer mortgages discussed above. The increase in other operating expenses in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter a year ago was primarily due to an increase in salaries and other personnel expense, the increase in compensation expense for Sallyport acquisition payments, the increase in other operating expense for the decrease in fair value of loans held for sale, as well as an increase in other real estate owned, or OREO, expense due to a gain on sale recorded in the first quarter of 2024 for proceeds received related to a government guarantee on an OREO property in prior years. Total other operating expense increased $2.7 million in the Specialty Finance segment in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024 from the addition of Sallyport on October 31, 2024.

    Income Tax Provision

    In the first quarter of 2025, Northrim recorded $4.3 million in state and federal income tax expense for an effective tax rate of 24.2%, compared to $2.4 million, or 17.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $2.3 million, or 21.9% in the first quarter a year ago. The increase in the tax rate in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the fourth and first quarters of 2024 is primarily the result of a decrease in tax credits and tax exempt interest income as a percentage of pre-tax income in 2025 as compared to 2024.

    Community Banking

    Northrim is committed to meeting the needs of the diverse communities in which it operates. As a testament to that support, the Bank has branches in four regions of Alaska identified by the Federal Reserve as ‘distressed or underserved non-metropolitan middle-income geographies’.

    Net interest income in the Community Banking segment totaled $28.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $27.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $24.2 million in the first quarter of 2024. Net interest income increased slightly in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 mostly due to lower interest expense on deposits and borrowings and higher interest income on loans. These increases were only partially offset by lower interest income on investments.

    Other operating expenses in the Community Banking segment totaled $18.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, down $535,000 or 3% from $19.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and up $1.4 million or 8% from $17.2 million in the first quarter a year ago. The decrease in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the prior quarter was mostly due to decreases in salaries and other personnel expense, marketing expense, and professional and outside services expense. The increase in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the first quarter a year ago was primarily due to an increase in OREO expense due to a gain on sale recorded in the first quarter of 2024 for proceeds received related to a government guarantee on an OREO property sold in prior years, as well as increases in data processing expense, insurance expense, salaries and other personnel expense, and marketing expense.

    The following table provides highlights of the Community Banking segment of Northrim:

      Three Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Net interest income $ 28,151   $ 27,643   $ 25,928   $ 24,318   $ 24,215  
    (Benefit) provision for credit losses   (1,768 )   771     1,492     (184 )   197  
    Other operating income   2,703     2,535     3,507     2,450     2,468  
    Other operating expense   18,581     19,116     18,723     18,068     17,178  
    Income before provision for income taxes   14,041     10,291     9,220     8,884     9,308  
    Provision for income taxes   3,253     1,474     2,133     1,786     1,966  
    Net income $ 10,788   $ 8,817   $ 7,087   $ 7,098   $ 7,342  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted   5,608,102     5,597,889     5,583,055     5,558,580     5,554,930  
    Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Banking $ 1.93   $ 1.58   $ 1.26   $ 1.27   $ 1.32  
                                   

    Home Mortgage Lending

    During the first quarter of 2025, mortgage loans funded for sale were $108.5 million, compared to $162.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $84.3 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    During the first quarter of 2025, the Bank purchased loans of $13.1 million from its subsidiary, Residential Mortgage. of which approximately half were jumbos, one-quarter were mortgages for second homes, and one-quarter were adjustable rate mortgages, with a weighted average interest rate of 6.39%, as compared to $23.4 million and 6.30% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $17.4 million and 6.65% in the first quarter of 2024. Net interest income contributed $3.0 million to total Home Mortgage Lending revenue in the first quarter of 2025, down from $3.3 million in the prior quarter, and up from $2.2 million in the first quarter a year ago.

    The income statement impact from the reclassification of the consumer mortgages was a decrease in provision for credit losses of $2.2 million and a $1.2 million decrease in the fair value of mortgages.

    The Arizona, Colorado, and Pacific Northwest mortgage expansion markets were responsible for 20% of Residential Mortgage’s $122 million total production in the first quarter of 2025, 19% of $186 million total production in the fourth quarter of 2024, and 19% of $102 million total production in the first quarter of 2024.

    The net change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights decreased mortgage banking income by $855,000 during the first quarter of 2025 compared to an increase of $873,000 for the fourth quarter of 2024 and a decrease of $25,000 for the first quarter of 2024. Mortgage servicing revenue decreased to $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 from $2.8 million in the prior quarter and increased from $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2024 due to an increase in production of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) mortgages, which contribute to servicing revenues at origination. In the first quarter of 2025, the Company’s servicing portfolio increased $24.0 million compared to a $294.1 million increase in the fourth quarter of 2024, which included the purchase of the AHFC servicing portfolio of $235.6 million, and an increase of $15.5 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    As of March 31, 2025, Northrim serviced 6,391 loans in its $1.48 billion home-mortgage-servicing portfolio, a 2% increase compared to the $1.46 billion serviced as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, and a 40% increase from the $1.06 billion serviced a year ago.

    The following table provides highlights of the Home Mortgage Lending segment of Northrim:

      Three Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Mortgage commitments $ 68,258   $ 32,299   $ 77,591   $ 88,006   $ 56,208  
               
    Mortgage loans funded for sale $ 108,499   $ 162,530   $ 209,960   $ 152,339   $ 84,324  
    Mortgage loans funded for investment   13,061     23,380     38,087     29,175     17,403  
    Total mortgage loans funded $ 121,560   $ 185,910   $ 248,047   $ 181,514   $ 101,727  
    Mortgage loan refinances to total fundings   11 %   11 %   6 %   6 %   4 %
    Mortgage loans serviced for others $ 1,484,714   $ 1,460,720   $ 1,166,585   $ 1,101,800   $ 1,060,007  
               
    Net realized gains on mortgage loans sold $ 2,740   $ 3,747   $ 5,079   $ 3,188   $ 1,980  
    Change in fair value of mortgage loan commitments, net   660     (665 )   60     391     386  
    Total production revenue   3,400     3,082     5,139     3,579     2,366  
    Mortgage servicing revenue   2,696     2,847     2,583     2,164     1,561  
    Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights:          
    Due to changes in model inputs of assumptions1   (322 )   1,372     (566 )   239     289  
    Other2   (533 )   (499 )   (402 )   (320 )   (314 )
    Total mortgage servicing revenue, net   1,841     3,720     1,615     2,083     1,536  
    Other mortgage banking revenue   170     238     293     222     129  
    Total mortgage banking income $ 5,411   $ 7,040   $ 7,047   $ 5,884   $ 4,031  
               
    Net interest income $ 3,046   $ 3,280   $ 2,941   $ 2,775   $ 2,232  
    Provision (benefit) for credit losses   (307 )   305     571     64     (48 )
    Mortgage banking income   5,411     7,040     7,047     5,884     4,031  
    Other operating expense   7,650     7,198     7,643     6,697     6,086  
    Income (loss) before provision for income taxes   1,114     2,817     1,774     1,898     225  
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes   310     842     497     532     63  
    Net income (loss) $ 804   $ 1,975   $ 1,277   $ 1,366   $ 162  
               
    Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted   5,608,102     5,597,889     5,583,055     5,558,580     5,554,930  
    Diluted earnings per share attributable to Home Mortgage Lending $ 0.14   $ 0.35   $ 0.23   $ 0.25   $ 0.03  

    1Principally reflects changes in discount rates and prepayment speed assumptions, which are primarily affected by changes in interest rates.
    2Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows over time.

    Specialty Finance

    The Company’s Specialty Finance segment includes Northrim Funding Services and Sallyport Commercial Finance. Northrim Funding Services is a division of the Bank and has offered factoring solutions to small businesses since 2004. Sallyport is a leading provider of factoring, asset-based lending and alternative working capital solutions to small and medium sized enterprises in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom that the Company acquired on October 31, 2024 in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $53.9 million. The composition of revenues for the Specialty Finance segment are primarily purchased receivable income, but also includes interest income and other fee income.

    The acquisition of Sallyport included $1.1 million in one-time deal related costs which are reflected in other operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 in the tables below. Total pre-tax income for Sallyport for the first quarter of 2025 was $1.3 million compared to $945,000 for the two months of operations in the fourth quarter of 2024, excluding transaction costs.

    Average purchased receivables and loan balances at Sallyport were $59.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, and yielded 35.8%. This included the recognition of $899,000 in fee income collected during the quarter related to two nonperforming receivables that was previously deferred and the collection of a $350,000 line termination fee. The yield excluding these items for the first quarter of 2025 was 27.4%.

    The following table provides highlights of the Specialty Finance segment of Northrim:

      Three Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Purchased receivable income $ 6,150   $ 3,526   $ 1,033   $ 1,243   $ 1,345  
    Other operating income   (64 )   (68 )            
    Interest income   596     407     158     170     212  
    Total revenue   6,682     3,865     1,191     1,413     1,557  
    Provision for credit losses   666     125              
    Compensation expense – SCF acquisition payments   600                  
    Other operating expense   2,500     3,063     362     429     374  
    Interest expense   496     489     185     210     212  
    Total expense   4,262     3,677     547     639     586  
    Income before provision for income taxes   2,420     188     644     774     971  
    Provision for income taxes   688     53     183     218     276  
    Net income Specialty Finance segment $ 1,732   $ 135   $ 461   $ 556   $ 695  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted   5,608,102     5,597,889     5,583,055     5,558,580     5,554,930  
    Diluted earnings per share attributable to Specialty Finance $ 0.31   $ 0.02   $ 0.08   $ 0.10   $ 0.13  
                                   

    Balance Sheet Review

    Northrim’s total assets were $3.14 billion at March 31, 2025, up 3% from the preceding quarter and up 14% from a year ago. Northrim’s loan-to-deposit ratio was 76% at March 31, 2025, down from 79% at December 31, 2024, and up from 74% at March 31, 2024.

    At March 31, 2025, our liquid assets, investments, and loans maturing within one year were $1.11 billion and our funds available for borrowing under our existing lines of credit were $571.7 million. Given these sources of liquidity and our expectations for customer demands for cash and for our operating cash needs, we believe our sources of liquidity to be sufficient for the foreseeable future.

    Average interest-earning assets were $2.78 billion in the first quarter of 2025, down slightly from $2.79 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 and up 9% from $2.56 billion in the first quarter a year ago. The average yield on interest-earning assets was 6.10% in the first quarter of 2025, up slightly from 6.02% in the preceding quarter and up from 5.69% in the first quarter a year ago.

    Average investment securities decreased to $523.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $565.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $670.9 million in the first quarter a year ago. The average net tax equivalent yield on the securities portfolio was 2.97% for the first quarter of 2025, up from 2.84% in the preceding quarter and up from 2.82% in the year ago quarter. The average estimated duration of the investment portfolio at March 31, 2025, was approximately 2.4 years compared to approximately 2.7 years at March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, $70.0 million of available for sale securities with a weighted average yield of 2.25% are scheduled to mature in the next six months, $80.7 million with a weighted average yield of 1.16% are scheduled to mature in six months to one year, and $168.6 million with a weighted average yield of 1.67% are scheduled to mature in the following year, representing a total of $319.4 million or 11% of earning assets that are scheduled to mature in the next 24 months.

    Total unrealized losses, net of tax, on available for sale securities decreased by $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 resulting in total unrealized loss, net of tax, of $5.5 million compared to $8.3 million at December 31, 2024, and $17.2 million a year ago. The average maturity of the available for sale securities with the majority of the unrealized loss is 1.3 years. Total unrealized losses on held to maturity securities were $1.1 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2024, and $3.4 million a year ago.

    Average interest bearing deposits in other banks decreased to $38.0 million in the first quarter of 2025 from $72.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and decreased from $61.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, as cash was used to fund the loan growth and provide liquidity.

    Loans held for sale increased to $159.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $60.0 million at December 31, 2024, and $43.8 million a year ago, largely due to the reclassification of $100 million consumer mortgage loans from portfolio loans in the first quarter of 2025. Management expects to sell these loans with servicing retained which will result in an increase to mortgage servicing rights when the sale closes in the second quarter of 2025.

    Portfolio loans were $2.12 billion at March 31, 2025, consistent with the preceding quarter and up 17% from a year ago. Portfolio loans, excluding consumer mortgage loans, were $1.94 billion at March 31, 2025, up $77.4 million or 4% from the preceding quarter and up 22% from a year ago. This increase in the first quarter of 2025 was diversified throughout the loan portfolio including nonowner-occupied commercial real estate and multi-family loans increasing by $70.8 million, commercial loans increasing by $55.4 million, and commercial real estate owner-occupied loans increasing $10.4 million from the preceding quarter. These increases were partially offset by a $57.9 million decrease in construction loans. Average portfolio loans in the first quarter of 2025 were $2.17 billion, which was up 5% from the preceding quarter and up 21% from a year ago. Yields on average portfolio loans in the first quarter of 2025 decreased to 6.89% from 6.93% in the fourth quarter and increased from 6.75% in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in the yield on portfolio loans in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 is primarily due to a change in the mix of loans as construction loans decreased and commercial real estate loans increased as a percentage of the overall portfolio. The yield on new portfolio loans, excluding consumer mortgage loans, was 7.43% in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to 7.40% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 8.39% in the first quarter of 2024.

    Northrim’s loans and credit lines are subject to approval procedures and amount limitations. These limitations apply to the borrower’s total outstanding indebtedness and commitments to us, including the indebtedness of any guarantor. Generally, Northrim is permitted to make loans to one borrower of up to 15% of the unimpaired capital and surplus of the Bank. The legal lending limit was $37.6 million at March 31, 2025. At March 31, 2025, Northrim had 23 relationships totaling $520.2 million in portfolio loans whose total direct and indirect commitments were greater than 50% of the legal lending limit.

    Alaskans continue to account for substantially all of Northrim’s deposit base. Total deposits were $2.78 billion at March 31, 2025, up 4% from $2.68 billion at December 31, 2024, and up 14% from $2.43 billion a year ago. “The increase in deposits in the first quarter of 2025 was not consistent with our customers’ normal business cycles as we normally see decreases in balances during the first quarter, however deposits from new relationships in the quarter were more than able to offset our normal seasonal deposit movement,” said Ballard. At March 31, 2025, 74% of total deposits were held in business accounts and 26% of deposit balances were held in consumer accounts. Northrim had approximately 34,000 deposit customers with an average balance of $61,000 as of March 31, 2025. Northrim had 27 customers with balances over $10 million as of March 31, 2025, which accounted for $694.7 million, or 26%, of total deposits. Demand deposits increased by 5% from the prior quarter and increased 4% from the prior year to $742.6 million at March 31, 2025. Demand deposits remained consistent at 27% of total deposits at both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 and were down from 29% of total deposits at March 31, 2024. Average interest-bearing deposits were up 2% to $2.00 billion with an average cost of 2.01% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.95 billion and an average cost of 2.15% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and up 16% compared to $1.73 billion and an average cost of 2.13% in the first quarter of 2024. Uninsured deposits totaled $1.04 billion or 37% of total deposits as of March 31, 2025 compared to $1.08 billion or 40% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024.

    Shareholders’ equity was $279.8 million, or $50.67 book value per share, at March 31, 2025, compared to $267.1 million, or $48.41 book value per share, at December 31, 2024 and $239.3 million, or $43.52 book value per share, a year ago. Tangible book value per share* was $41.47 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.17 at December 31, 2024, and $40.61 per share a year ago. The increase in shareholders’ equity in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 was largely the result of earnings of $13.3 million and an increase in the fair value of the available for sale securities portfolio, which increased $5.5 million, net of tax, which were only partially offset by dividends paid of $3.6 million. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock in the first quarter of 2025 and currently has no plans to continue to repurchase shares. Tangible common equity to tangible assets* was 7.41% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 7.23% as of December 31, 2024 and 8.14% as of March 31, 2024. Northrim continues to maintain capital levels in excess of the requirements to be categorized as “well-capitalized” with Tier 1 Capital to Risk Adjusted Assets of 9.76% at March 31, 2025, compared to 9.76% at December 31, 2024, and 11.55% at March 31, 2024.

    Asset Quality

    Northrim believes it has a consistent lending approach throughout economic cycles, which emphasizes appropriate loan-to-value ratios, adequate debt coverage ratios, and competent management.

    Nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) net of government guarantees were $12.3 million at March 31, 2025, up from $11.6 million at December 31, 2024 and $5.4 million a year ago. Of the NPAs at March 31, 2025, $4.5 million are attributable to the Community Banking segment and $7.6 million are attributable to the Specialty Finance segment.

    Net adversely classified loans were $20.4 million at March 31, 2025, as compared to $9.6 million at December 31, 2024, and $7.2 million a year ago. Adversely classified loans are loans that Northrim has classified as substandard, doubtful, and loss, net of government guarantees. The increase in adversely classified loans, net of government guarantees, at March 31, 2025 as compared to the prior quarter and prior year is mostly attributable to two commercial relationships totaling $9.4 million. Net loan recoveries were $34,000 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to net loan recoveries of $51,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024, and net loan recoveries of $42,000 in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, Northrim had three new loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty totaling $813,000, for a total of 14 totaling $3.8 million, net of government guarantees in the first quarter of 2025.

    Northrim had $140.7 million, or 7% of portfolio loans, in the Healthcare sector, $122.5 million, or 6% of portfolio loans, in the Tourism sector, $110.9 million, or 5% of portfolio loans, in the Accommodations sector, $91.2 million, or 4% of portfolio loans, in the Retail sector, $85.7 million, or 4% of portfolio loans, in the Aviation (non-tourism) sector, $75.5 million, or 4% of portfolio loans, in the Fishing sector, and $60.2 million, or 3% in the Restaurants and Breweries sector as of March 31, 2025.

    Northrim estimates that $106.3 million, or approximately 5% of portfolio loans, had direct exposure to the oil and gas industry in Alaska, as of March 31, 2025, and $1.5 million of these loans are adversely classified. As of March 31, 2025, Northrim has an additional $32.6 million in unfunded commitments to companies with direct exposure to the oil and gas industry in Alaska, and no unfunded commitments on adversely classified loans. Northrim defines direct exposure to the oil and gas sector as loans to borrowers that provide oilfield services and other companies that have been identified as significantly reliant upon activity in Alaska related to the oil and gas industry, such as lodging, equipment rental, transportation and other logistics services specific to this industry.

    About Northrim BanCorp

    Northrim BanCorp, Inc. is the parent company of Northrim Bank, an Alaska-based community bank with 20 branches throughout the state and differentiates itself with its detailed knowledge of Alaska’s economy and its “Customer First Service” philosophy. The Bank has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sallyport Commercial Finance, LLC, a specialty finance company and Residential Mortgage Holding Company, LLC, a regional home mortgage company. Pacific Wealth Advisors, LLC is an affiliated company.

    www.northrim.com

    Forward-Looking Statement
    This release may contain “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined for purposes of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are, in effect, management’s attempt to predict future events, and thus are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date hereof. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding our financial position, business strategy, management’s plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to Northrim and its management are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that management’s expectations as reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure readers that those expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements, are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations as indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include: descriptions of Northrim’s and Sallyport’s financial condition, results of operations, asset based lending volumes, asset and credit quality trends and profitability and statements about the expected financial benefits and other effects of the acquisition of Sallyport by Northrim Bank; expected cost savings, synergies and other financial benefits from the acquisition of Sallyport by Northrim Bank might not be realized within the expected time frames and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters might be greater than expected; the ability of Northrim and Sallyport to execute their respective business plans; potential further increases in interest rates; the value of securities held in our investment portfolio; the impact of the results of government initiatives, including tariffs, on the regulatory landscape, natural resource extraction industries, and capital markets; the impact of declines in the value of commercial and residential real estate markets, high unemployment rates, inflationary pressures and slowdowns in economic growth; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; potential further increases in inflation, supply-chain constraints, and potential geopolitical instability, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; financial stress on borrowers (consumers and businesses) as a result of higher rates or an uncertain economic environment; the general condition of, and changes in, the Alaska economy; our ability to maintain or expand our market share or net interest margin; the sufficiency of our allowance for credit losses and the accuracy of the assumptions or estimates used in preparing our financial statements, including those related to current expected credit losses accounting guidance; our ability to maintain asset quality; our ability to implement our marketing and growth strategies; our ability to identify and address cyber-security risks, including security breaches, “denial of service attacks,” “hacking,” and identity theft; disease outbreaks; and our ability to execute our business plan. Further, actual results may be affected by competition on price and other factors with other financial institutions; customer acceptance of new products and services; the regulatory environment in which we operate; and general trends in the local, regional and national banking industry and economy. In addition, there are risks inherent in the banking industry relating to collectability of loans and changes in interest rates. Many of these risks, as well as other risks that may have a material adverse impact on our operations and business, are identified in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and from time to time are disclosed in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, you should be aware that these factors are not an exhaustive list, and you should not assume these are the only factors that may cause our actual results to differ from our expectations. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Northrim does not undertake any obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or conditions after the date of this release.

    References:

    https://www.bea.gov/

    http://almis.labor.state.ak.us/

    http://www.tax.alaska.gov/programs/oil/prevailing/ans.aspx

    http://www.tax.state.ak.us/

    www.mba.org

    https://www.alaskarealestate.com/MLSMember/RealEstateStatistics.aspx

    https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HJR011C

    https://www.uschamber.com/assets/static/maps/international-trade/AK_Chamber_2024.pdf

    https://tax.alaska.gov/programs/programs/reports/RSB.aspx?Year=2025&Type=Spring

    https://www.capitaliq.spglobal.com/web/client?auth=inherit&overridecdc=1&#markets/indexFinancials

    Income Statement      
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended
    (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, March 31,
        2025     2024     2024  
    Interest Income:      
    Interest and fees on loans $ 37,470   $ 37,059   $ 30,450  
    Interest on portfolio investments   3,675     3,844     4,520  
    Interest on deposits in banks   416     883     838  
    Total interest income   41,561     41,786     35,808  
    Interest Expense:      
    Interest expense on deposits   9,935     10,568     9,180  
    Interest expense on borrowings   329     377     181  
    Total interest expense   10,264     10,945     9,361  
    Net interest income   31,297     30,841     26,447  
           
    (Benefit) provision for credit losses   (1,409 )   1,201     149  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   32,706     29,640     26,298  
           
    Other Operating Income:      
    Purchased receivable income   6,150     3,526     1,345  
    Mortgage banking income   5,411     7,040     4,031  
    Bankcard fees   1,074     1,148     917  
    Service charges on deposit accounts   677     622     549  
    Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable equity securities   (50 )   (364 )   314  
    Other income   938     949     688  
    Total other operating income   14,200     13,033     7,844  
           
    Other Operating Expense:      
    Salaries and other personnel expense   17,223     18,254     15,417  
    Data processing expense   3,104     3,108     2,659  
    Occupancy expense   1,889     1,893     1,962  
    Professional and outside services   1,115     1,967     755  
    Insurance expense   1,017     894     779  
    Marketing expense   672     965     513  
    Compensation expense – SCF acquisition payments   600          
    OREO expense, net rental income and gains on sale   3     2     (391 )
    Other operating expense   3,708     2,294     1,944  
    Total other operating expense   29,331     29,377     23,638  
           
    Income before provision for income taxes   17,575     13,296     10,504  
    Provision for income taxes   4,251     2,369     2,305  
    Net income $ 13,324   $ 10,927   $ 8,199  
           
    Basic EPS $ 2.41   $ 1.99   $ 1.49  
    Diluted EPS $ 2.38   $ 1.95   $ 1.48  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, basic   5,519,998     5,509,078     5,499,578  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted   5,608,102     5,597,889     5,554,930  
                       
    Balance Sheet      
    (Dollars in thousands)      
    (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, March 31,
        2025     2024     2024  
           
    Assets:      
    Cash and due from banks $ 29,671   $ 42,101   $ 30,159  
    Interest bearing deposits in other banks   35,852     20,635     50,205  
    Investment securities available for sale, at fair value   463,096     478,617     592,479  
    Investment securities held to maturity   36,750     36,750     36,750  
    Marketable equity securities, at fair value   8,669     8,719     13,467  
    Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock   5,342     5,331     3,236  
    Loans held for sale   159,603     59,957     43,818  
           
    Portfolio loans   2,124,330     2,129,263     1,811,135  
    Allowance for credit losses, loans   (20,922 )   (22,020 )   (17,533 )
    Net portfolio loans   2,103,408     2,107,243     1,793,602  
    Purchased receivables, net   95,489     74,078     37,698  
    Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value   26,814     26,439     20,055  
    Other real estate owned, net            
    Premises and equipment, net   37,070     37,757     40,836  
    Lease right of use asset   7,632     7,455     8,867  
    Goodwill and intangible assets   50,824     50,968     15,967  
    Other assets   80,740     85,819     72,421  
    Total assets $ 3,140,960   $ 3,041,869   $ 2,759,560  
           
    Liabilities:      
    Demand deposits $ 742,560   $ 706,225   $ 714,244  
    Interest-bearing demand   1,187,465     1,108,404     889,581  
    Savings deposits   256,650     250,900     246,902  
    Money market deposits   193,842     196,290     209,785  
    Time deposits   397,460     418,370     373,571  
    Total deposits   2,777,977     2,680,189     2,434,083  
    Other borrowings   13,136     23,045     13,569  
    Junior subordinated debentures   10,310     10,310     10,310  
    Lease liability   7,682     7,487     8,884  
    Other liabilities   52,099     53,722     53,387  
    Total liabilities   2,861,204     2,774,753     2,520,233  
           
    Shareholders’ Equity:      
    Total shareholders’ equity   279,756     267,116     239,327  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 3,140,960   $ 3,041,869   $ 2,759,560  
           

    Additional Financial Information
    (Dollars in thousands)
    (Unaudited)

    Composition of Portfolio Loans                        
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
      Balance % of total   Balance % of total   Balance % of total   Balance % of total   Balance % of total
    Commercial loans $ 573,593   27 %   $ 518,148   24 %   $ 492,414   24 %   $ 495,781   26 %   $ 475,220   26 %
    Commercial real estate:                            
    Owner occupied properties   430,442   20 %     420,060   20 %     412,827   20 %     383,832   20 %     372,507   20 %
    Nonowner occupied and multifamily properties   690,277   32 %     619,431   29 %     584,302   31 %     551,130   30 %     529,904   30 %
    Residential real estate:                            
    1-4 family properties secured by first liens   188,219   9 %     270,535   13 %     248,514   12 %     222,026   12 %     218,552   12 %
    1-4 family properties secured by junior liens & revolving secured by first liens   53,836   3 %     48,857   2 %     45,262   2 %     41,258   2 %     35,460   2 %
    1-4 family construction   34,017   2 %     39,789   2 %     39,794   2 %     29,510   2 %     27,751   2 %
    Construction loans   156,211   7 %     214,068   10 %     185,362   9 %     154,009   8 %     153,537   8 %
    Consumer loans   7,424   %     7,562   %     7,836   %     6,679   %     6,444   %
    Subtotal   2,134,019         2,138,450         2,016,311         1,884,225         1,819,375    
    Unearned loan fees, net   (9,689 )       (9,187 )       (8,746 )       (8,318 )       (8,240 )  
    Total portfolio loans $ 2,124,330       $ 2,129,263       $ 2,007,565       $ 1,875,907       $ 1,811,135    
                                 
    Composition of Deposits                        
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
      Balance % of total   Balance % of total   Balance % of total   Balance % of total   Balance % of total
    Demand deposits $ 742,560   27 %   $ 706,225   27 %   $ 763,595   29 %   $ 704,471   29 %   $ 714,244   29 %
    Interest-bearing demand   1,187,465   43 %     1,108,404   41 %     979,238   37 %     906,010   36 %     889,581   37 %
    Savings deposits   256,650   9 %     250,900   9 %     245,043   9 %     238,156   10 %     246,902   10 %
    Money market deposits   193,842   7 %     196,290   7 %     204,821   8 %     195,159   8 %     209,785   9 %
    Time deposits   397,460   14 %     418,370   16 %     435,870   17 %     420,010   17 %     373,571   15 %
    Total deposits $ 2,777,977       $ 2,680,189       $ 2,628,567       $ 2,463,806       $ 2,434,083    
                                                     

    Additional Financial Information
    (Dollars in thousands)
    (Unaudited)

    Asset Quality March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
        2025       2024       2024  
    Nonaccrual loans – Community Banking $ 4,274     $ 4,337     $ 4,472  
    Nonaccrual loans – Home Mortgage Lending   221       233       263  
    Nonaccrual loans – Specialty Finance   3,573       2,946       525  
    Nonaccrual loans – Total   8,068       7,516       5,260  
    Loans 90 days past due and accruing – Community Banking         17        
    Loans 90 days past due and accruing – Total         17        
    Total nonperforming loans – Community Banking   4,274       4,354       4,472  
    Total nonperforming loans – Home Mortgage Lending   221       233       263  
    Total nonperforming loans – Specialty Finance   3,573       2,946       525  
    Total nonperforming loans – Total   8,068       7,533       5,260  
    Nonperforming loans guaranteed by gov’t – Community Banking   80              
    Nonperforming loans guaranteed by gov’t – Total   80              
    Net nonperforming loans – Community Banking   4,194       4,354       4,472  
    Net nonperforming loans – Home Mortgage Lending   221       233       263  
    Net nonperforming loans – Specialty Finance   3,573       2,946       525  
    Net nonperforming loans – Total   7,988       7,533       5,260  
                 
    Repossessed assets – Community Banking   297       297        
    Repossessed assets – Total   297       297        
                 
    Nonperforming purchased receivables – Specialty Finance   4,007       3,768       183  
                 
    Net nonperforming assets – Community Banking   4,491       4,651       4,472  
    Net nonperforming assets – Home Mortgage Lending   221       233       263  
    Net nonperforming assets – Specialty Finance   7,580       6,714       708  
    Net nonperforming assets – Total $ 12,292     $ 11,598     $ 5,443  
                 
    Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Community Banking $ 16,592     $ 6,332     $ 6,374  
    Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Home Mortgage Lending   252       358       307  
    Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Specialty Finance   3,573       2,946       525  
    Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Total $ 20,417     $ 9,636     $ 7,206  
                 
    Special mention loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Community Banking $ 14,496     $ 19,769     $ 9,976  
    Special mention loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Home Mortgage Lending   637              
    Special mention loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Total $ 15,133     $ 19,769     $ 9,976  
                           
    Asset Quality, Continued March 31, December 31, March 31,
        2025     2024     2024  
    Nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees / portfolio loans   0.38 %   0.35 %   0.29 %
    Nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees / portfolio loans, net of government guarantees   0.40 %   0.38 %   0.31 %
    Nonperforming assets, net of government guarantees / total assets   0.39 %   0.38 %   0.20 %
    Nonperforming assets, net of government guarantees / total assets net of government guarantees   0.41 %   0.40 %   0.20 %
                 
    Loans 30-89 days past due and accruing, net of government guarantees / portfolio loans   0.04 %   0.11 %   0.03 %
    Loans 30-89 days past due and accruing, net of government guarantees / portfolio loans, net of government guarantees   0.04 %   0.11 %   0.04 %
                 
    Allowance for credit losses for loans / portfolio loans   0.98 %   1.03 %   0.97 %
    Allowance for credit losses for loans / portfolio loans, net of gov’t guarantees   1.06 %   1.10 %   1.03 %
    Allowance for credit losses for loans / nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees   262 %   292 %   333 %
                 
    Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter – Community Banking $ 50   $ 44   $ 25  
    Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter – Specialty Finance       105      
    Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter – Total   50     149     25  
                 
    Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Community Banking   (84 )   (200 )   (67 )
    Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Home Mortgage Lending            
    Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Specialty Finance            
    Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Total $ (84 ) $ (200 ) $ (67 )
                 
    Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs for the quarter – Community Banking $ (34 ) $ (156 ) $ (42 )
    Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs for the quarter – Specialty Finance       (105 )    
    Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs for the quarter – Total $ (34 ) $ (51 ) $ (42 )
                 
    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter / average loans, for the quarter   %   %   %
                 
    Allowance for credit losses for purchased receivables / purchased receivables   3.72 %   4.69 %   %
                 
    Net purchased receivable charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter $   $   $  
                 

    Additional Financial Information
    (Dollars in thousands)
    (Unaudited)

    Average Balances, Yields, and Rates                
      Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
        Average     Average     Average
      Average Tax Equivalent   Average Tax Equivalent   Average Tax Equivalent
      Balance Yield/Rate   Balance Yield/Rate   Balance Yield/Rate
    Assets                
    Interest bearing deposits in other banks $ 37,969   4.44 %   $ 72,212   4.72 %   $ 61,561   5.38 %
    Portfolio investments   523,753   2.97 %     565,785   2.84 %     670,937   2.82 %
    Loans held for sale   46,223   5.86 %     83,304   5.97 %     32,635   6.13 %
    Portfolio loans   2,173,425   6.89 %     2,066,216   6.93 %     1,793,425   6.75 %
    Total interest-earning assets   2,781,370   6.10 %     2,787,517   6.02 %     2,558,558   5.69 %
    Nonearning assets   293,415         251,364         201,137    
    Total assets $ 3,074,785       $ 3,038,881       $ 2,759,695    
                     
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                
    Interest-bearing deposits $ 2,002,594   2.01 %   $ 1,954,495   2.15 %   $ 1,731,923   2.13 %
    Borrowings   37,081   3.55 %     29,251   3.95 %     23,944   2.95 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,039,675   2.04 %     1,983,746   2.18 %     1,755,867   2.14 %
                     
    Noninterest-bearing demand deposits   697,534         738,911         705,134    
    Other liabilities   63,348         49,815         60,407    
    Shareholders’ equity   274,228         266,409         238,287    
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 3,074,785       $ 3,038,881       $ 2,759,695    
    Net spread   4.06 %     3.84 %     3.55 %
    NIM   4.55 %     4.41 %     4.16 %
    NIMTE*   4.61 %     4.47 %     4.22 %
    Cost of funds   1.52 %     1.59 %     1.53 %
    Average portfolio loans to average interest-earning assets   78.14 %       74.12 %       70.10 %  
    Average portfolio loans to average total deposits   80.49 %       76.71 %       73.59 %  
    Average non-interest deposits to average total deposits   25.83 %       27.43 %       28.93 %  
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities   136.36 %       140.52 %       145.71 %  
                                 

    Additional Financial Information
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)

    Capital Data (At quarter end)          
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
    Book value per share $ 50.67     $ 48.41     $ 43.52  
    Tangible book value per share* $ 41.47     $ 39.17     $ 40.61  
    Total shareholders’ equity/total assets   8.91 %     8.78 %     8.67 %
    Tangible Common Equity/Tangible Assets*   7.41 %     7.23 %     8.14 %
    Tier 1 Capital / Risk Adjusted Assets   9.76 %     9.76 %     11.55 %
    Total Capital / Risk Adjusted Assets   10.62 %     10.94 %     12.47 %
    Tier 1 Capital / Average Assets   8.02 %     7.68 %     9.01 %
    Shares outstanding   5,520,892       5,518,210       5,499,578  
    Total unrealized loss on AFS debt securities, net of income taxes $ (5,452 )   $ (8,295 )   $ (17,205 )
    Total unrealized gain on derivatives and hedging activities, net of income taxes $ 1,097     $ 1,272     $ 1,172  
                           
    Profitability Ratios                            
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
    For the quarter:                            
    NIM 4.55 %   4.41 %   4.29 %   4.24 %   4.16 %
    NIMTE* 4.61 %   4.47 %   4.35 %   4.30 %   4.22 %
    Efficiency ratio 64.47 %   66.96 %   66.11 %   68.78 %   68.93 %
    Return on average assets 1.76 %   1.43 %   1.22 %   1.31 %   1.19 %
    Return on average equity 19.70 %   16.32 %   13.69 %   14.84 %   13.84 %

    *Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)

    Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not audited. Although we believe these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by stakeholders in the evaluation of the Company, they have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP.

    Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis

    Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis (“NIMTE”) is a non-GAAP performance measurement in which interest income on non-taxable investments and loans is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state statutory rate of 28.43% in both 2025 and 2024. The most comparable GAAP measure is net interest margin and the following table sets forth the reconciliation of NIMTE to net interest margin for the periods indicated.

      Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
    Net interest income $ 31,297     $ 30,841     $ 28,842     $ 27,053     $ 26,447  
    Divided by average interest-bearing assets   2,781,370       2,787,517       2,674,291       2,568,266       2,558,558  
    Net interest margin (“NIM”)2   4.55 %     4.41 %     4.29 %     4.24 %     4.16 %
                       
    Net interest income $ 31,297     $ 30,841     $ 28,842     $ 27,053     $ 26,447  
    Plus: reduction in tax expense related to tax-exempt interest income   379       379       385       378       379  
      $ 31,676     $ 31,220     $ 29,227     $ 27,431     $ 26,826  
    Divided by average interest-bearing assets   2,781,370       2,787,517       2,674,291       2,568,266       2,558,558  
    NIMTE2   4.61 %     4.47 %     4.35 %     4.30 %     4.22 %
                                           

    2Calculated using actual days in the quarter divided by 365 for the quarters ended in 2025 and 366 for the quarters ended in 2024, respectively.

    *Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)

    Tangible Book Value Per Share

    Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP measure defined as shareholders’ equity, less intangible assets, divided by shares outstanding. The most comparable GAAP measure is book value per share and the following table sets forth the reconciliation of tangible book value per share and book value per share for the periods indicated.

      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
                       
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 279,756     $ 267,116     $ 260,050     $ 247,200     $ 239,327  
    Divided by shares outstanding   5,521       5,518       5,502       5,502       5,500  
    Book value per share $ 50.68     $ 48.41     $ 47.26     $ 44.93     $ 43.52  
                                           
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
                       
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 279,756     $ 267,116     $ 260,050     $ 247,200     $ 239,327  
    Less: goodwill and intangible assets   50,824       50,968       15,967       15,967       15,967  
      $ 228,932     $ 216,148     $ 244,083     $ 231,233     $ 223,360  
    Divided by shares outstanding   5,521       5,518       5,502       5,502       5,500  
    Tangible book value per share $ 41.47     $ 39.17     $ 44.36     $ 42.03     $ 40.61  
                                           

    Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets

    Tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP ratio that represents total equity less goodwill and intangible assets divided by total assets less goodwill and intangible assets. The most comparable GAAP measure of shareholders’ equity to total assets is calculated by dividing total shareholders’ equity by total assets and the following table sets forth the reconciliation of tangible common equity to tangible assets and shareholders’ equity to total assets for the periods indicated.

    Northrim BanCorp, Inc. March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
                       
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 279,756     $ 267,116     $ 260,050     $ 247,200     $ 239,327  
    Total assets   3,140,960       3,041,869       2,963,392       2,821,668       2,759,560  
    Total shareholders’ equity to total assets   8.91 %     8.78 %     8.78 %     8.76 %     8.67 %
    Northrim BanCorp, Inc. March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 279,756     $ 267,116     $ 260,050     $ 247,200     $ 239,327  
    Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net   50,824       50,968       15,967       15,967       15,967  
    Tangible common shareholders’ equity $ 228,932     $ 216,148     $ 244,083     $ 231,233     $ 223,360  
                       
    Total assets $ 3,140,960     $ 3,041,869     $ 2,963,392     $ 2,821,668     $ 2,759,560  
    Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net   50,824       50,968       15,967       15,967       15,967  
    Tangible assets $ 3,090,136     $ 2,990,901     $ 2,947,425     $ 2,805,701     $ 2,743,593  
    Tangible common equity ratio   7.41 %     7.23 %     8.28 %     8.24 %     8.14 %
                                           
    Contact:     Mike Huston, President, CEO, and COO
    (907) 261-8750
    Jed Ballard, Chief Financial Officer
    (907) 261-3539
         

    Note Transmitted on GlobeNewswire on April 23, 2025, at 12:15 pm Alaska Standard Time.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: JP Morgan top M&A financial adviser in power sector during Q1 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    JP Morgan top M&A financial adviser in power sector during Q1 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    JP Morgan was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the power sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 by both value and volume, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that JP Morgan achieved the leading position by advising on four deals of worth $19.5 billion.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “JP Morgan registered an year-on-year (YoY) growth in the total volume and value during Q1 2025 but the growth is more prominent in terms of value, primarily driven by its involvement in $16.4 billion deal for the acquisition of Calpine by Constellation Energy. It went ahead from occupying the 14th position by value in Q1 2024 to the top position by this metric in Q1 2025. Interestingly, it occupied the 14th position by deal volume in Q1 2024 as well.”

    Goldman Sachs occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $19.4 billion worth of deals, followed by Morgan Stanley with $19.2 billion, Barclays with $16.4 billion and Lazard with $16.4 billion.

    Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs occupied the second position in terms of volume with four deals, followed by Moelis & Company with four deals, Ernst & Young with four deals and Morgan Stanley with three deals.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section VII – Committee of the Regions – A10-0046/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    2. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

    with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section VII – Committee of the Regions

    (2024/2026(DEC))

    The European Parliament,

     having regard to its decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section VII – Committee of the Regions,

     having regard to Rule 102 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

     having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A10-0046/2025),

    A. whereas in the context of the discharge procedure, the discharge authority wishes to stress the particular importance of further strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the Union institutions by improving transparency and accountability, and implementing the concept of performance-based budgeting and good governance of human resources;

    B. whereas the Committee of the Regions (the ‘Committee’) is a political assembly of 329 members elected in the regions, cities, villages and municipalities of the 27 Member States of the Union, operating as a consultative body for the Union institutions, with the mission of contributing to the Union policy shaping and decision making process from the point of view of the local and regional authorities, and at the same time contributing to make the Union more effective and closer to the citizens;

    C. whereas the consultation of the Committee by the Commission or the Council is mandatory in certain cases, while the Committee may also adopt opinions on its own initiative and enjoys a wide area for referral, as set out in the Treaties, allowing it to be consulted by Parliament;

    D. whereas the Committee’s activities are defined on the basis of its overall political strategy as set out in its resolution of 2 July 2020 on its priorities for 2020-2025[7], and whereas the Committee adopted three political priorities for the 2020-2025 mandate, accompanied by three communication campaigns: Bringing Europe closer to people, Building resilient regional and local communities, and Promoting cohesion as a fundamental value of the EU;

    E. whereas the local and regional administrations account for one third of public spending, half of public investment and one fourth of tax revenues and, in many Member States, hold competencies in key areas such as education, economic development and cohesion, environment, social protection, health and services of general interest, hence the coordination of local, regional, national and European levels increases the legitimacy of the legislation, improves ownership and pursues more effectively the benefit of citizens;

    F. whereas the Committee pursues its political goal to strengthen its involvement in the entire Union political and legislative cycle while making more tangible the connection with Union citizens using the Committee’s members as powerful multipliers in their communities and in their national associations of local and regional authorities;

    G. whereas the Committee identified eleven key priority areas to make its action more strategic and impactful in 2023: (1) Follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, Active Subsidiarity and Better Regulation; (2) Ukraine and Enlargement; (3) Energy and climate crisis; (4) Environment; (5) Cohesion Policy – Ramping up Cohesion policy implementation and shaping its future for the post-2027 period; (6) Multi-annual Financial Framework; (7) Economic governance for a fair and sustainable Europe; (8) European Year of Skills 2023; (9) Partnership for Regional Innovation and the promotion of territorial missions; (10) Civil protection; (11) Food security;

    H. whereas Regulation (EU) 2021/1060[8], governing Union cohesion policy and funding between 2021 and 2027, that entered into force in July 2021, encompasses references to the partnership and multilevel governance principle, supported by the Committee and Parliament and entailing the involvement of regions and their local and regional authorities; strongly supports the strengthening of Union investments linked to regional and local resilience in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF);

    I. whereas the over 400 national and regional programmes in place for the delivery of Union cohesion policy in the 2021-2027 programming period will make available around EUR 380 billion, under different funds, to tackle the economic, social and environmental challenges that Union regions, cities, villages and municipalities are facing;

    J. whereas, on 19 February 2021, Regulation (EU) 2021/241[9], establishing the Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, entered into force, providing the legal basis for distributing funds and loans of up to EUR 672,5 billion (in 2018 prices) to the Member States between 2021 and 2026 and also aiming to support economic, social and territorial cohesion and to address disparities between the regions of the Union;

    K. whereas, as a Union institution within the meaning of the Financial Regulation, the Committee is required to adopt its own annual accounts, prepared in accordance with the accounting rules adopted by the Commission’s accounting officer (European Union Accounting Rules) and based on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, which are ultimately consolidated into those of the Union;

    1. Notes that the budget of the Committee falls under MFF Heading 7 ‘European public administration’ (‘Heading 7’), which amounted to a total of EUR 12,3 billion, i.e., 6,4 % of Union budget spending, in 2023; notes that, in 2023, the budget of the Committee represented 0,95 % of MFF Heading 7 appropriations;

    2. Notes that the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’), in its annual report (the ‘Court’s report’) for the financial year 2023, examined a sample of 70 transactions under Heading 7, of which 21 (30 %) contained errors; further notes that for five of those errors, which were quantified by the Court, the Court estimated a level of error below the materiality threshold;

    3. Notes from the Court’s report its observation that administrative expenditure comprises expenditure on human resources including pensions, which in 2023 accounted for about 70 % of the total administrative expenditure, and expenditure on buildings, equipment, energy, communications and information technology; welcomes the Court’s renewed opinion that, overall, administrative spending is low risk;

    4. Notes with regret from the Court’s report its opinion regarding a transaction made by the Committee in 2023, whereby the 10-year duration of a building maintenance contract was not sufficiently justified;

    Budgetary and financial management

    5. Notes from the Committee’s annual activity report for 2023  that the final adopted budget of the Committee was EUR 116 675 392 in 2023, including the Amending Budget 4/2023 (salary and energy related), representing an increase of EUR 6 698 534 (i.e., +6,10 %) compared to 2022; notes with satisfaction that the rate of the Committee’s budget implementation of current year commitment appropriations increased from 99,20 % in 2022 to 99,9 % in 2023, and the current year payment appropriations execution rate increased from 88 % in 2022 to 91,20 % in 2023; welcomes further an increase in the execution rate of C8 appropriations from 81,60 % in 2022 to 85 % in 2023; considers that these high execution rates are on the one hand a sign of good budgetary and financial management by the Committee, on the account of strengthened budget execution monitoring, timely budget forecasting and reallocation of resources to address unforeseen events, but on the other hand could also be a sign that the Committee needs additional resources; calls on the Commission and the budgetary authority to take this into account in the framework of the budgetary procedure;

    6. Notes that in the course of 2023, the Committee implemented 31 transfers for a total of EUR 2,84 million, of which 25 internal transfers for a total of EUR 0,98 million and six external transfers for a total of EUR 1,86 million, of which approximately EUR 0,8 million transferred to budget lines covering contracts impacted by high inflation/indexation; notes that impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continued to create budgetary pressure for the Committee in 2023; notes in this context that the Committee was most affected by the high inflation rate, directly or indirectly, in areas such as travel costs (missions), energy, rents and lease of buildings, maintenance contracts, construction projects and paper and offset plates;

    7. Notes an increase by approximately 20 % of payments made for the members of the Committee, from EUR 6 573 307 in 2022 to EUR 7 955 968 in 2023, with payments made for travel expenses (8 119 payments), travel allowances (4 449 payments), meeting allowances for in-person participation (7 845 payments) and remote participation (152 payments);

    8. Notes that the mission’s budget (current year appropriations) remained stable, with EUR 420 833 in 2023 (compared to EUR 419 657 in 2022) and execution rate of approximately 80 % in 2023 (similar to 2022); notes that, despite an increase in the average cost of accommodation and travel costs, the Committee’s missions budget remained stable due to a reduction of 13 % in the number of missions carried out in 2023 compared to 2022; welcomes that the allowance for the Committee’s Presidency (President and First Vice-President) for travel and meeting expenses, financed from the general budget for members’ expenses, decreased from EUR 71 810 to EUR 62 268, representing a 13 % reduction between 2022 and 2023; encourages the Committee to further rationalize and reduce expenditure in this area, ensuring optimal allocation of resources in line with the principles of sound financial management;

    9. Observes with concern an increase in the current year appropriations for interpreting services of approximately 19 %, from EUR 3,494 million in 2022 to EUR 4,167 million in 2022; asks the Committee to explain the reasons for that increase, given the fact that at the same time the Committee has reported savings in connection with the use of remote interpretation in 2023;

    10. Notes that until 23 July 2023, the flat-rate remote meeting allowance paid by the Committee to its members, their alternates, as well as to rapporteurs’ experts and speakers invited to attend remote or hybrid meetings was EUR 200; notes further that on that date, new rules on the matter entered into force setting the flat-rate remote meeting allowance at 50 % of the regular meeting allowance, with the latter being EUR 359 and the former EUR 179,50; notes in this context a significant decrease in the total amount paid for remote meeting allowances from EUR 1 742 000 in 2021 and EUR 489 600 in 2022 to EUR 32 632 in 2023, while the overall expenditure linked to budget line 1004 (‘Travel and subsistence allowances, attendance at meetings and associated expenditure’) has increased considerably from approximately EUR 6,6 million in 2022 to approximately EUR 8 million in 2023, mainly due to a strong return to in-person meetings in 2023 and the increase in the travel related prices in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic;

    11. Expresses concern over the significant increase in travel and meeting allowances paid to Committee members, rising from EUR 6,6 million in 2022 to EUR 8 million in 2023; calls on the Committee to adopt a clear cost-efficiency strategy for travel expenditures, including greater use of remote participation and hybrid meetings to reduce unnecessary costs and emissions while maintaining political engagement;

    12. Regrets that the average time for payment increased from 17,87 days in 2022 to 21,88 days in 2023; understands nevertheless that that increase is the result of the fact that in 2023 the Committee processed and paid a record number of invoices, i.e., 5 723 compared to 4 260 in 2022; notes in this context that the share of commercial invoices received electronically by the Committee has increased from 68 % in 2022 to 76 % in 2023 and continued to increase in 2024;

    Internal management, performance and internal control

    13. Acknowledges that the Committee plays a fundamental role in contributing to the Union’s policy development and decision-making processes by representing the interests of local and regional authorities within the Union; notes that for 2023, as part of its annual operational plan, the reporting of the performance of the Committee was based on 25 objectives, the achievement of which was assessed through 80 quantitative indicators, whereas the targets of the majority of those indicators (approximately 75 %) was achieved with a level of 90 % or more;

    14. Recalls that the Committee contributes to the Union policy and decision making process from the perspective of the regional and local authorities within the Union and provides a framework to enhance cooperation between the local, regional, national and European levels and to bring Europe closer to its citizens; regrets that budget limitations have impaired the Committee’s ability to fully deliver on its objective of bringing citizens closer to the Union, limiting the Committee’s added value;

    15. Considering the important role of the Committee in increasing the democratic legitimacy of Union legislation by providing an active coordination of regional and local authorities, supports the Committee in its effort to provide more territorial impact assessments (TIA), also in line with the Conference on the Future of Europe final report and recommendations;

    16. Commends the Committee for its political achievements in its key priority areas in 2023; notes that the Committee pursues its mission through opinions, which refer to legislative proposals made by the Commission (referrals), own-initiative opinions, which call on the Union institutions to take action, and through resolutions, which highlight the Committee’s positions on specific topics; notes that, in 2023, the Committee adopted 53 opinions and 6 resolutions, a decrease from 55 opinions and 8 resolutions adopted in 2022 despite the increase in appropriations and staff; encourages the Committee to continue to work on the performance improvement as well as effectiveness improvement; welcomes the Committee’s efforts to introduce reformative and innovative solutions, streamline the administration and avoid overlapping roles with other bodies;

    17. Appreciates that in 2023 the Committee continued implementing measures to modernise its administration and enhance cost-effectiveness in the context of the ‘Going for IMPact’ programme; notes in this context the progress made with regard to digitalisation and workflow optimisation, the modernisation of the Committee’s planning and reporting instruments, the creation of a central meeting service, and the enhancement of cooperation with other institutions or bodies (e.g., the European Economic and Social Committee (‘EESC’), Commission, Parliament, Office for Infrastructure and Logistics), among others; commends the Committee for having implemented almost 90 % of the simplification projects launched in 2021, in the areas of administrative processes, written procedures and (internal) legal documents;

    18. Notes with satisfaction from the Committee’s replies to the questionnaire submitted by the Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control for the 2023 budgetary discharge (the ‘Questionnaire’) that, thanks to the ‘Going for IMPact’ programme, the Committee has managed in 2023 to align its objectives to the available resources which were under pressure as a result of the inflationary effects of the war in Ukraine; commends in particular the progress made by the Committee in implementing ‘Project Convergence’ (a SharePoint-based tool for planning, reporting, risk assessment, and business continuity) and the new business continuity policy;

    19. Acknowledges the impact of the Committee’s work, in particular its opinions, some which were reflected in resolutions, positions, proposals, reports, reviews, conclusions or trilogues of the Commission, Parliament or the Council in 2023; invites the Committee to continue on the path of providing useful and relevant input, such as data from the ground and analysis, to Union institutions and other beneficiaries of Union policies; welcomes the Committee’s strengthened involvement along the whole political and legislative cycle of the Union through cooperation agreements and action plans with the Commission, Parliament and the European Investment Bank; considers that members of the Committee and of the EESC should be invited to relevant parliamentary meetings on matters within their remit; notes that, in 2023, Committee members also met the Council and Permanent Representations and participated in the events organised by the Council’s Presidency, in order to ensure that the Committee’s positions are reflected in the Union’s legislation; congratulates the Committee for strengthening its involvement in legislative trilogues, notably by being granted access, for the first time, to trilogue documents in 2023;

    20. Calls on the Committee to ensure stronger involvement of regional and local governments in Union decision-making by creating structured consultation mechanisms with regional and local authorities, including parliaments, municipalities, and local civil society organizations before issuing opinions; urges the Committee to advocate for a mandatory consultation process on legislative matters that significantly impact regional development and cohesion policy;

    21. Notes with regard to its new internal control framework, that the Committee implemented a new methodology on ex post controls as of 2023, aiming to simplify and align the approach to the practice of the other Union institutions, with the ex post controls now being centralised instead of the prior decentralised practice; notes that, in 2023, ex post controls focused on the basic salary and the time worked, with 55 files having been verified, and that the statistical estimate of the error affecting the reference population was 0 %; notes further that in 2023 the Committee renewed its compliance and effectiveness exercise to assess the extent of the Committee’s compliance with certain internal control standards and the effectiveness of their implementation; commends the Committee for reporting an improvement in this matter compared to the results of the 2022 exercise; encourages the Committee to continue its efforts to further step up the level of compliance and the degree of effectiveness of the internal control measures in place; notes with satisfaction, as regards the new sensitive posts policy, that in 2023 the Committee ran a screening exercise to identify the level of risk of each post and, thus, the sensitivity level thereof, as well as the necessary measures to mitigate those risks;

    22. Notes that the Committee launched in 2023 two new audits: one on the compliance of various functions (e.g., risk management, planning, control system) with the relevant data protection legislation and another one on the performance of the IT organisation in Joint Services (the Committee and the EESC’s new joint Directorate for Innovation and IT); notes that for each of those audits: 11 recommendations were issued and seven recommendations were considered very important; notes further that following the audit on management of the vacant posts launched in 2022, 10 recommendations were issued, three of which were very important; calls on the Committee to implement all pending recommendations as soon as possible and keep the discharge authority informed of progress in this matter;

    Human resources, equality and staff well-being

    23. Notes that, at the end of 2023, the Committee had a total of 559 members of staff (seconded national experts, interim, intra muros and trainees not included), compared to 533 in 2022; notes that 74 contract agents, compared to 56 contract agents in 2022 and 96 temporary agents, compared to 89 temporary agents in 2022, were employed by the Committee at the end of 2023, out of which 21 contract agents had an open-ended contract, 53 contract agents had a time-limited contract, 53 temporary agents were on permanent posts with time-limited contract, 50 temporary agents had an open-ended contract and 3 temporary agents held a temporary position (in two cases with an indefinite contract and, in the case of the Secretary-General, for a fixed duration of five years); notes, in addition, that the Committee employed 5 interim agents and 12 external members of staff working on-site, excluding external service providers in the fields of logistics and IT; hopes that the increase in staff has its reasonable justification; notes that in 2023 the occupation rate of the posts in the establishment plan was 98 % (an increase from 96 % in 2022) and the turnover rate was 6,6 % (a decrease from 10,80 % in 2022), respectively;

    24. Observes an increased reliance of the Committee on contract agents and temporary agents (representing up to 26 % of the Committee’s staff); notes from the Questionnaire that said reliance is due in particular to the absence of EPSO reserve lists for generalist administrator profiles since 2018; is worried that the Committee’s long-term stability and business continuity are threatened by the absence of attractiveness of the time-limited contracts offered; underlines the importance of permanent staff in maintaining skills, continuity and productive working environment; notes that the Committee organised an internal competition for generalists across five grades (AST/SC1, AST1, AST3, AD5, and AD7) in 2024; supports the Committee in its endeavours to respond to those challenges; asks the Committee to report to the discharge authority on such competitions organised in 2024;

    25. Notes that, at the end of 2023, the Committee employed 56,9 % women and 43,1 % men; regrets that the Committee has not yet achieved gender parity in leadership positions, but acknowledges the significant progress made under the Committee’s five-year diversity and inclusion strategy and action plan for 2022-2026, including a marked increase in the proportion of women in senior management positions from 37,5 % in 2022 to 44,4 % in 2023; recommends measures to enhance inclusivity in vacancy notices and to encourage greater female participation in senior and middle management roles, including through gender balance targets, balanced representation on selection boards, targeted training opportunities for female staff aspiring to managerial positions, and the promotion of more flexible working arrangements; encourages the Committee to continue its efforts for achieving gender balance and requires, in this context, Member States to nominate both a male and a female candidate for appointments for Committee membership to improve representation at all levels;

    26. Notes that, as a result of a pilot project on a hybrid working regime and a staff satisfaction survey launched in 2022, the Committee adopted on 1 January 2024 a decision which provides for a hybrid working regime and a personalised weekly working schedule for each staff, as well as the possibility to work from home for up to 60 % of staff’s working time (except for staff categories incompatible with telework) and work from outside the city of employment for up to 15 days per year; recognises that these measures aim to enhance work-life balance while maintaining operational efficiency and staff satisfaction;

    27. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee’s hybrid working regime has had a positive impact with regard to short-term sick leave, whereas: – the number of staff without sick leave increased from 71 (or 12 % of all staff) in 2018 to 211 (or 36 % of all staff) in 2023; – the number of staff on sick leave for less than seven days decreased from 257 (or 46 % of all staff) in 2018 to 201 (or 35 % of all staff) in 2023 and; – the number of staff on sick leave for a duration between 7,5 and 21 days decreased from 140 (or 25 % of all staff) in 2018 to 92 (or 16 % of all staff) in 2023; invites the Committee to monitor the impact of the new working regime and keep this topic in upcoming staff satisfaction surveys; notes with satisfaction that 90,25 % (82 % in the case of managers) of those that responded to the staff survey of December 2022 indicated their satisfaction with the flexible arrangements;

    28. Notes with concern that 18 cases of burnout were reported in the Committee in 2023, representing an increase from 16 cases in 2022; underlines the significant social and professional impact of burnout on staff well-being and performance; notes further that the Committee managed to reintegrate 16 members of staff in 2023 after long-term absence as a result of burnout, thanks to a personalised follow-up of long-term sickness leave; welcomes the preventive actions taken by the Committee to reduce psychosocial risks and burnout; appreciates in this regard the proactive approach of the medical service and the awareness-raising conferences, trainings and courses organised by the Committee; stresses, however, the need for further strengthening of efforts to address the root causes of burnout and to foster a healthier work environment;

    29. Notes that in 2023 the Committee continued to raise awareness of the measures put in place to prevent and combat harassment in the workplace, in accordance with its Decision of 26 April 2021 on protecting dignity at work, managing conflict and combatting harassment, notably through dedicated guidance, internal communication and the organisation of several information sessions for staff and managers; welcomes in particular the organisation of five training sessions on ‘Preventing psychological and sexual harassment’ and ‘Respect and Dignity for a high-performing team’ in 2023 and recommends continuity of this initiative; further notes with satisfaction that no new, ongoing, or closed cases concerning sexual harassment were reported during the year;

    30. Commends the Committee for its actions taken in 2023 in connection with the integration of persons with disabilities, such as making accessible the Committee’s buildings to persons with reduced mobility and ensuring that all job vacancies are accessible to candidates with disabilities;

    31. Notes that, in 2023, the Committee was employing staff representing all Union nationalities (and one staff member of Ukrainian nationality), with some of them being overrepresented (e.g., Belgium); welcomes the additional efforts of the Committee aiming at balancing the geographical distribution among staff by targeting a wider audience through the publication on its website and social media of calls for expression of interest for contract and temporary staff; regrets the persistent lack of geographical balance within the Committee’s staff, with certain nationalities remaining overrepresented in comparison to others; encourages the Committee to intensify its efforts to achieve a more balanced geographical distribution, particularly at the management level; asks the Committee to keep the discharge authority informed of the outcome of this type of action;

    32. Welcomes the participation of the Committee’s Traineeships Office, for the second consecutive time, in the session titled ‘Opportunities for young Roma’ in April 2023; commends the initiative to present the Committee’s traineeships scheme to young and motivated Roma and non-Roma participants, reflecting a strong commitment to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunities; encourages the continuation and expansion of such initiatives to further engage underrepresented communities and foster a more inclusive European workforce;

    33. Welcomes the progress made with regard to gender balance in management, with an increase of the percentage of women both in middle management positions (from 29,7 % in 2022 to 32,5 % in 2023) and in senior management positions (from 37,5 % in 2022 to 44,4 % in 2023);

    Ethical framework and transparency

    34. Welcomes the work done by the Committees in 2023 to consolidate ethical rules and practices into a single ethical legal framework (Decision n⁰ 157/2023) covering disciplinary procedure, dignity at work, conflict management, combatting harassment, outside activities and whistleblowing among others; notes that that work culminated with a decision (n⁰ 157/2023) which was the outcome of comprehensive consultations with different stakeholders, as well as a follow-up to an internal survey on staff ethics awareness and the implementation of an internal audit recommendation on that topic; commends the Committee for continuing to offer training courses on ethics, integrity and respect and dignity at work to different groups of staff ranging from newcomers, managers and staff overall in 2023;

    35. Notes that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) processed two cases in 2023: one case on alleged outside gainful activities of a Committee member and another case on allegations of recidivism on unauthorised external activities by a staff member; notes that in the former case no OLAF investigation was opened on the grounds of lack of proportionality between the resources needed to conduct an investigation and the expected results, while the Committee considered that there were no conflicts of interest on the grounds that Committee members do not receive any remuneration from the Union, nor are they required to declare their professional activities, for which they may be paid for local or regional mandates that those members may have; notes with regard to the latter case that OLAF opened an investigation which was concluded with two recommendations, which the Committee implemented by opening a disciplinary procedure against the staff member concerned and by recovering gains in connection with that person’s unauthorised outside activities; recalls that the case closed in 2022 on allegations of financial wrongdoings, harassment and mismanagement in a Committee-EESC joint service, gave rise to a conflict-management exercise involving the persons concerned and to a five-point action plan; notes with satisfaction from the Committee’s follow-up report to Parliament’s discharge decision covering the Committee’s budget implementation year 2022 that that action plan was fully implemented by the end of 2023;

    36. Recalls that the Committee adopted Regulation n⁰ 6/2023 of 4 July 2023 laying down transparency measures that focus on office-holding members and rapporteurs; commends in this context the Committee for having formally joined the EU Transparency Register on 1 January 2024;

    37. Urges the Committee to enhance the detection and prevention of conflicts of interest by introducing a mandatory cooling-off period for outgoing members before they can engage in lobbying or advisory roles involving Union institutions; calls for the proactive publication of all recusal decisions taken by Committee members due to conflicts of interest;

    38. Welcomes the Committee’s renewed efforts in the area of detection and prevention of conflicts of interest in 2023; notes that thanks to its Decision n⁰157/2023, the Committee defined the concept of conflicts of interest and has put in place a mechanism to detect and prevent it whereby staff are required to declare whether they might have a conflict of interest (potential or possible), by filling in a form at various key moments of their career or professional activities; notes with satisfaction from the Questionnaire that the annual information regarding the occupation activities of former senior officials is published in a transparent way on the Committee’s website; notes that the Committee did not detect any situations of conflicts of interest which would have required follow-up by the administration in 2023;

    39. Notes that no cases of whistleblowing were reported to the Committee in 2023, except for information received from OLAF about a whistleblowing case against a staff member of the Committee, which was eventually dismissed by OLAF; notes that the Committee did not adopt any new measures concerning whistleblowing in 2023 and continued to rely on the measures in place since 2015 and to promote them through ethics training and awareness raising; supports regular mandatory ethic trainings both for staff as well as for management level;

    40. Notes that the Committee has had in place a range of anti-fraud measures and actions applicable to its members and its staff which are implemented by different services; observes that no anti-fraud strategy was in place in 2023 despite Parliament’s requests in previous discharge resolutions; notes with satisfaction, following Parliament’s recommendation, and as indicated in the Questionnaire, the Committee’s commitment to further strengthen the existing anti-fraud measures by adopting an anti-fraud strategy in 2025; encourages the Committee to facilitate regular and compulsory anti-fraud trainings as part of the strategy; asks the Committee to keep the discharge authority informed on this matter;

    Digitalisation, cybersecurity and data protection

    41. Notes that the combined IT budget of the Committee and the EESC was EUR 12,7 million in 2023, compared to EUR 11,712 million in 2022, i.e., an increase of 8,40 %, whereas EUR 350 000 of that budget was paid for cybersecurity in 2023;

    42. Welcomes the Committee’s new ‘Digital Strategy 2024-2026’ adopted at the end of 2023; commends in this context the Committee for its digitalisation progress made in 2023 in different areas such as the administrative processes (including staff selection), procurement and interpretation, among others; calls on the Committee to accelerate digital transformation efforts by ensuring the full implementation of electronic workflows, e-signatures, and digital case management tools by 2026, reducing paper-based processes in line with sustainability commitments, shifting towards a more paperless administration;

     

    43. Notes with satisfaction that 90 % of the projects for simplification through digitalisation under the ‘Going for impact’ initiative were fully implemented by the end of 2023; notes in addition that further efficiencies were tapped due to an IT project to define the best tool for the electronic management of form-based workflows with, as a result, many of the Committee’s processes having begun to be simplified and digitalised through Microsoft 365 tools; notes with satisfaction that the Committee uses procurement modules such as e-Tendering, e-Notices, e-Submission, MyWorkplace, as well as the qualified electronic signature, for the signature of contracts, introduced in 2023; welcomes the adoption by the Committee of internal guidelines on use of artificial intelligence laying the ground for possible future solutions and encourages introduction of regular mandatory trainings on safe use of artificial intelligence;

    44. Notes further that the European Data Protection Supervisor (‘EDPS’) did not conduct any investigation or enquiry into the processing of personal data by the Committee in 2023; notes that in 2023 the EDPS launched a general questionnaire on the designation and position of the data protection officer (DPO), which was answered by the Committee’s DPO;

    45. Notes that the Committee did not encounter any cyber-attacks in 2023, other than certain denial of service attacks against the Committee’s externally hosted website; notes from the Questionnaire of the Committee’s tools and strategies for real-time threat monitoring and identifying vulnerabilities in the Committee’s systems; commends the Committee for adhering to standards in matters related to cybersecurity-related risk assessments, as well as for having put in place a system based on incident response plans, recovery measures and lessons learned; notes with satisfaction that the Committee and the EESC adopted the NIST Cybersecurity Framework with focus, in 2023, on the principles: ‘protect’ and ‘detect’; encourages the Committee to raise the cybersecurity awareness of their members and staff, to carry out regular risk assessments of its IT infrastructure and to ensure regular audits and tests of its cyber defences;

    Buildings

    46. Notes that the Committee’s budget (current year appropriations) in 2023 was EUR 18,594 million (compared to EUR 18,930 million in 2022) with a payment execution rate of 93,70 % (compared to 82,60 % in 2022); notes with satisfaction that, as result of exchanging the B68 and TRE74 buildings for the VMA building in 2022, savings were achieved due to lower costs of renting the entire VMA in 2023;

    47. Notes that renovation works of the VMA (third to ninth floor) continued in 2023; notes further a low payment execution rate with regard to the C8 appropriations (carried over from 2022 to 2023), i.e., 18,90 %, used for the fitting-out of the VMA premises; understands the Committee’s explanation for that low rate whereas the contractor was not able to finish parts of the renovation works in the VMA buildings; reiterates its call to the Committee to provide the discharge authority with an update on the return on investment in relation to the smart technologies installed in the VMA;

    48. Welcomes the commitment of the Committee and the EESC to apply systematically the ‘design for all’ principle to their infrastructure, ensuring accessibility of their building by design; notes that the Committees took a range of different measures to ensure accessibility of their buildings to people with various kinds of disabilities (wheelchair users, blind and visually impaired people, deaf persons, elderly people with muscular or vascular problems);

    Environment and sustainability

    49. Notes that the Committee continued to implement a variety of green practices in 2023, such as the use of innovative energy-efficient building installations, the purchase of 100 % green electricity, the replacement of paperless workflows with digital signatures, the application of environmental criteria in all tender procedures (with customised green criteria for calls for tender above EUR 60 000), a focus on waste reduction and increase in the recycling rate, the implementation of measures for a more sustainable travel by staff, including financial contributions by the Committee to its staff’s public transport costs, the use of full remote interpretation for statutory meetings, and other energy saving measures; notes with satisfaction from the Questionnaire a reduction of carbon emissions linked to the Committee’s administration’s activities by 18 % compared to 2019;

    50. Notes with satisfaction from the questionnaire that, thanks to its energy saving measures, the Committee’s energy consumption was reduced by an estimated 3,4 % in 2023 compared to 2022, corresponding to a financial gain of EUR 64 240; congratulates the Committees for having exceeded the EMAS objectives for 2021-2025 in all areas (electricity, gas, water, waste, waste sorting, paper for office use, CO2 emissions);

    Interinstitutional cooperation

    51. Welcomes the budgetary and administrative savings achieved through interinstitutional cooperation, and in particular the close cooperation established at administrative level with the EESC, with which the Committee shares premises and joint services in the areas of translation, infrastructure, logistics and IT, with 470 members of staff and approximately EUR 60 million (excluding salary related expenditures) pooled together by both institutions in 2023; notes with satisfaction that the Committee further extended its cooperation with the EESC by exploiting additional synergies through joint medical services and joint central data protection register and processing operations based on the Joint Controllership Arrangement signed by the Committee and the EESC in 2023; reiterates its call on the Committee to pursue and expand that cooperation in other areas with a view to avoiding duplication and further rationalising the operating costs of services available in the premises shared by the Committee and the EESC; invites the Committee and the EESC to explore the possibility of setting up a single administration for their joint services, keeping separate directorates or units for the services dealing with matters related to their specific and independent mandates; encourages the Committee and the EESC to continue their efforts to develop further cooperation and synergies;

    52. Welcomes the Committee’s search for synergies by purchasing services from other institutions through service-level agreements and by participating in interinstitutional coordination bodies and interinstitutional procurement procedures; welcomes the efficiency gains, with regard to the communication for the 2024 European elections, reported by the Committee in the Questionnaire; notes that those gains were possible because the Committee signed with Parliament a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2024 and a new Cooperation Agreement (CP) in May 2024; notes further that the CP also covered cooperation at political and administrative level between the two institutions;

    53. Calls on the Committee to deepen its cooperation with Parliament and the Commission by establishing a structured annual dialogue between Committee representatives and Union legislators on key legislative files affecting regional development, climate policy, and social cohesion; urges the Committee to explore joint initiatives with Parliament’s Committees on Regional Development (REGI) and on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) to promote sustainable regional investments;

    54. Notes that the Committee cooperates with the Commission (for an annual fee) for the handling of HR matters and the use of various IT platforms for financial management and HR; notes further that the Committee holds its plenary sessions in the premises of Parliament and the Commission to compensate for the lack of capacity in its own conference rooms and buys interpreting services from those two institutions; 

    55. Welcomes the reviewing in 2023 of the Cooperation Agreement of the Committee with Parliament in view of its final signature in 2024; supports the cooperation of the Committee with several parliamentary committees, intergroups and directorates-general of Parliament and convene to considers vital that members of the Committee and EESC be regularly and systematically invited to relevant parliamentary exchanges, including committee meetings, on issues they are dealing with;

    Communication

    56. Notes that the Committee’s communication activities focus on relationship with press, organisation of events and digital content and social media with a total budget (current year appropriations) of approximately EUR 2,8 million in 2023; regrets a very low payment execution rate in those areas (ranging from 24,70 % to 48,20 %); notes nevertheless a high execution rate with regard to C8 appropriations (carried over from 2022 to 2023) of between 98 % and 100 %; calls on the Committee to take measures for improving its budgetary planning with regard to communication related budgetary items;

    57. Notes with satisfaction the Committee’s achievements in promoting Union policies and programs at local and regional level, improving the outreach of its consultative works and enhancing its visibility and impact; notes that the Committee’s communication strategy seeks to strengthen its institutional and political profile as the voice of the Union’s regions, cities, villages, and municipalities, while showcasing the essential contributions of its members in connecting Union policies with citizens and fostering engagement at the local and regional level; notes in this context the Committee’s communication actions in 2023 in areas such as: – cohesion (e.g., the ‘Promoting cohesion as a fundamental value of the Union’s campaign in the framework of the EURegionsWeek with more than 8 000 participants); – climate change (e.g., the ‘Building resilient and innovative local communities’ campaign); – democracy (e.g., the ‘A new chapter for EU democracy’ campaign with 1 400 registrations for participation at the 14th EuropCom conference); – rural development (the ‘2023 LEADER European Congress’ conference) in 2023; commends the Committee for the increase in the number of persons registered in the Network of Regional and Local EU Councillors (from 2 307 in 2022 to 3 000 in 2023) and the number of participants in the Young Elected Politicians programme (from 775 in 2022 to 836 in 2023);

    58. Welcomes the Committee’s efforts to increase outreach to regional governments and local communities, including the expansion of the Network of Regional and Local EU Councillors and the Young Elected Politicians program; calls on the Committee to allocate additional resources to support regional capacity-building programs that empower local governments to better implement Union policies;

    59. Notes the Committee’s success with regard to media outreach as shown by the overall metrics for 2023, such as: 13 210 media mentions, 129 % increase on web visitors and 11 % increase on followers; notes that in terms of digital engagement, the Committee fell short of achieving its target for 2023; notes that, at the end of 2023, the Committee had 200 000 followers on its social media channels, i.e., 15 % more than in 2022 of which 57 603 followers (+5 %) on X (ex-Twitter), 61 170 (+5 %) on Facebook, 68 613 (+31 %) on LinkedIn and 15 392 (+47 %) on Instagram;

    60. Notes with satisfaction from the Questionnaire the Committee’s initiatives to raise awareness about the specific measures of the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Acts, as well as cybersecurity and online safety; acknowledges the Committee’s role in advancing the Union’s path to a digital future; commends in this context the Committee for organising in 2023 the Digital Masterclass series, for both staff and external audiences.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the 2023 and 2024 Commission Reports on Kosovo – A10-0075/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

    on the 2023 and 2024 Commission Reports on Kosovo

    (2025/2019(INI))

    The European Parliament,

     having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo, of the other part[1], which entered into force on 1 April 2016,

     having regard to Kosovo’s application for membership of the European Union of 15 December 2022,

     having regard to Kosovo’s application for membership of the Council of Europe of 12 May 2022,

     having regard to the framework agreement between the European Union and Kosovo on the general principles for the participation of Kosovo in Union programmes[2], in force since 1 August 2017,

     having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1529 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 September 2021 establishing the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA III)[3],

     having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1449 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans[4],

     having regard to the Presidency conclusions of the Thessaloniki European Council meeting of 19 and 20 June 2003,

     having regard to the declarations of the EU-Western Balkans Summits of 17 May 2018 in Sofia, of 6 May 2020 in Zagreb, of 6 October 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju, of 6 December 2022 in Tirana, of 13 December 2023 in Brussels, and of 18 December 2024 in Brussels,

     having regard to the Berlin Process launched on 28 August 2014,

     having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2020 entitled ‘Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2020)0057),

     having regard to the Commission communication of 6 October2020 entitled ‘An Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2020)0641),

     having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘Kosovo 2023 Report’ (SWD(2023)0692),

     having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘New growth plan for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2023)0691),

     having regard to the Commission communication of 20 March 2024 on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews (COM(2024)0146),

     having regard to the Commission communication of 30 October 2024 entitled ‘2024 Communication on EU enlargement policy’ (COM(2024)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘Kosovo 2024 Report’ (SWD(2024)0692),

     having regard to the general summary and the country assessments by the Commission, dated 31 May 2023 and 13 June 2024, on Kosovo’s economic reform programme,

     having regard to the joint conclusions of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Türkiye, adopted by the Council on 16 May 2023 and to the joint conclusions of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans Partners, Türkiye, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, adopted by the Council on 14 May 2024,

     having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion of 22 July 2010 on the accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo, and to UN General Assembly Resolution 64/298 of 9 September 2010, which acknowledged the content of the ICJ opinion and welcomed the EU’s readiness to facilitate dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo,

     having regard to the first agreement on principles governing the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo of 19 April 2013, to the agreements of 25 August 2015, and to the ongoing EU-facilitated dialogue for the normalisation of relations,

     having regard to the Brussels Agreement of 27 February 2023 and the Ohrid Agreement of 18 March 2023 and to the implementation annex thereto,

     having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1095 of 5 June 2023 amending Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo)[5], which extended the mission’s mandate until 14 June 2025,

     having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 April 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo)[6],

     having regard to the final report of the European Union Election Observation Mission on the 2021 municipal elections in Kosovo,

     having regard to the preliminary report of the European Union Election Observation Mission on the 2025 parliamentary elections in Kosovo,

     having regard to the fourth meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council between the European Union and Kosovo held in Brussels on 7 December 2021,

     having regard to its previous resolutions on Kosovo,

     having regard to the joint recommendations adopted at the 12th meeting of the EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, held on 9 December 2024,

     having regard to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International,

     having regard to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders,

     having regard to the Democracy Report 2024 of March 2024 by the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute,

     having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

     having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0075/2025),

    A. whereas enlargement policy is one of the most effective EU foreign policy instruments and one of the most successful policies to incentivise and encourage fundamental reforms, and is a strategic geopolitical investment in long-term peace, stability and security throughout the continent;

    B. whereas democracy, human rights and the rule of law are the fundamental values on which the EU is founded;

    C. whereas the EU enlargement process is a strategic tool for strengthening stability, democracy and economic development in Europe, and each enlargement country is judged on its own merits and whereas it is the implementation of the necessary reforms and compliance with the set of criteria and common European values that determines the timetable and progress of accession; whereas Kosovo’s path towards EU membership also depends on the normalisation of relations with Serbia;

    D. whereas the EU is the largest provider of financial support to Kosovo;

    E. whereas Kosovo has been subjected to foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, particularly from Russia, especially through Serbian nationalist outlets, and China, through soft power, aiming to destabilise its democratic institutions, jeopardise societal cohesion, and incite ethnic violence; whereas the Banjska/Banjskë attack in September 2023 was followed by a massive spread of disinformation that further exacerbated tensions; whereas Kosovo authorities adopted the Law on the Independent Media Commission (IMC) in July 2024; whereas, in May 2024, the Council of Europe published a legal opinion on the draft law on the IMC expressing concerns related to certain aspects of the at-that-time draft law, and providing recommendations on how to address these concerns; whereas the final text of the Law on the IMC did not reflect most of the recommendations made;

    F. whereas the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, also known as EULEX, is the largest civilian mission ever launched under the common security and defence policy of the European Union;

    G. whereas in 2018 and 2023, petitions were signed by over 500 people who historically self-identify as Bulgarian;

    Commitment to EU accession

    1. Commends Kosovo’s commitment to EU accession, which reflects a clear strategic geopolitical choice, and the continued strong support of its citizens for Kosovo’s European path; reiterates that Kosovo has been consistent in its efforts to integrate into the European Union;

    2. Reiterates its firm belief that Kosovo’s future lies in the EU and that all efforts to bring Kosovo out of the ‘grey zone’ are in the interest of the people of both Kosovo and the EU, especially in the context of the current geopolitical dynamics in the region, rapid major shifts in world politics and growing competition with authoritarian regimes;

    3. Supports Kosovo’s application for EU membership, which reflects the overwhelming cross-party consensus on EU integration and a clear geopolitical strategic choice; reiterates its call on the Member States in the Council to mandate the Commission to present its questionnaire and to submit its opinion on the merits of the country’s application; calls on the five non-recognising Member States that have not yet recognised Kosovo’s independence to do so without delay and thus allow Kosovo to progress on its EU path on an equal footing with the other candidate countries;  recalls the advisory opinion of the ICJ dated 22 July 2010, which states that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence does not violate general international law;

    4. Recalls that membership of the European Union is based on a merit-based process, conditional on the rigorous implementation of reforms aligned with the highest European standards, in particular compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and the rule of law, and ensures the effective application of laws in practice; encourages Kosovo to continue its efforts in this regard, by further strengthening its commitment to the values ​​and standards of the Union; stresses that enlargement also implies thorough preparation of potential new members, while respecting the economic stability of the internal market, social and environmental standards and the proper functioning of the European institutions;

    5. Welcomes the visa liberalisation, adopted in April 2023 and in place since 1 January 2024, as a tangible result of Kosovo’s ever-closer relations with the EU and as evidence of Kosovo’s efforts on the path of European integration; welcomes Kosovo’s decision to unilaterally abolish visa requirements for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina; welcomes the decision of Spain to recognise ordinary passports issued by Kosovo as valid travel documents as of January 2024;

    6. Notes the tangible progress in the areas of justice, freedom and security, the fight against organised crime and a functioning market economy; regrets the limited progress and calls for an acceleration of reforms in the area of rule of law; welcomes Kosovo’s ambition to advance the implementation of reforms, which remains the country’s priority; regrets the lack of a decision-making quorum in the Kosovo National Assembly, caused by the boycott of the Assembly work by political parties ahead of parliamentary elections;

    7. Regrets the politicisation of institutions such as the Central Election Commission and the IMC;

    8. Commends Kosovo’s ongoing alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, in particular its firm condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and its implementation of the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus, aligning with the Union’s foreign policy, and its support through humanitarian aid and military assistance packages to Ukraine, which confirm that Kosovo is a reliable and valuable partner committed to EU integration and confirms its clear geopolitical orientation, firmly anchored in the European and transatlantic alliance;

    9. Calls for the immediate lifting of the EU measures against Kosovo, which are no longer justified as Kosovo has fulfilled the EU requirements and as the measures also stand in gross contradiction to Kosovo’s demonstrated commitment to European values and alignment with EU policies, limiting the impact of the EU’s partnership with Kosovo and hindering the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in good faith;

    10. Reiterates its full support for Kosovo’s application for membership of the Council of Europe and for the country’s strategic orientation plan to join the NATO Partnership for Peace programme and its bids to join other international organisations; calls on the relevant organisations and the Member States to proactively support Kosovo’s respective bids; calls on the Commission and the EU Office in Kosovo to step up their efforts in enhancing visibility and promoting the role, efforts and benefits of the closer partnership between the EU and Kosovo;

    11. Welcomes the fact that Kosovo reduced administrative burden by simplifying procedures through the implementation of the related program for 2022-2027; notes that the strategic framework for public administration is in place, but not efficiently implemented; regrets the fact that delays in public administration reform have left EU funding management weak and that accountability in the public sector is insufficient; calls on Kosovo to improve public administration and the merit-based civil service system by amending and adopting the Law on public officials and the Law on the independent oversight board of civil service;

    12. Regrets that the Kosovo Constitutional Court ruling on the Law on salaries, which unifies the current system of remuneration for public officials, is not yet functional; calls on the Kosovo Government to revise its legislation on public financial management to meet international standards and to incorporate the public investment methodology into the revised legislation;

    Democracy and the rule of law

    13. Welcomes the important and positive progress on addressing many of the EU Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) long-standing recommendations and on presenting a consensual law on general elections; notes that this provides an adequate basis for the conduct of democratic elections, in line with international and regional standards; notes that in response to an invitation by the president of Kosovo, the European Union deployed an EU EOM, including an observer delegation of Members of the European Parliament, to observe the parliamentary elections in Kosovo on 9 February 2025; welcomes the conclusions of the EU EOM confirming the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections on 9 February 2025 with the participation of all communities in Kosovo; regrets the harsh rhetoric of the political parties during the campaign; takes note of the technical problems encountered during the counting process and encourages the Kosovo authorities to increase their efforts to improve the organisation of the next elections; notes the lack of genuine political pluralism within the Kosovo Serb community at the parliamentary elections, despite multiple Kosovo Serb electoral lists; is concerned by reports of continuous pressure on voters from the Serbian community exercised by Belgrade; condemns the repeated interference in the electoral campaign by US Special Envoy Richard Grenell;

    14. Notes with concern that the Law on Local Elections and the Law on General Elections are still not implemented and harmonised with the Law on Gender Equality, which mandates 50 % equal representation of women and men; regrets that women continue to be underrepresented;

    15. Welcomes the adoption of the law on the Special Prosecution Office and the progress in adjudicating corruption cases; commends the active work of the Special Prosecution Office for solving seven war crime cases; calls for further clarification of the division of jurisdiction between the Special Prosecution Office and the Basic Prosecution in handling investigations and prosecutions; calls on Kosovo to continue strengthening the Special Prosecution Office by enhancing its capacity to investigate and prosecute high-profile organised crime cases; calls on the police and Special Prosecution Office to work closely together to develop strategies for conducting investigations more effectively, with a clear division of responsibility;

    16. Takes note of the progress in Kosovo’s ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index, as it has moved upward 10 places since last year, considering it to be a positive development while acknowledging that this is attributable both to decreases in other countries’ scores and, more significantly, to the adoption of qualitative legislation, but that it still remains largely unsatisfactory; emphasises that gaining people’s trust requires not only legislative reforms but also visible results in investigating, prosecuting and convicting cases of corruption at all levels; regrets that Kosovo has lacked an anti-corruption strategy since 2019 and urges for more efforts to finalise it as a matter of priority; reiterates that strong political commitment is necessary to establish a solid track record in fighting high-level corruption; reiterates that strong political commitment is necessary to establish a solid track record in fighting high-level corruption;

    17. Expresses serious concern about systemic vulnerabilities in Kosovo’s judiciary, particularly regarding the independence of the justice system and respect for separation of powers; reiterates its concern about delays to trials and continued criticism by government officials of judicial decisions in individual cases; notes with concern that despite EU advice, the government failed to consult the Venice Commission on judicial reforms, negatively affecting their quality and alignment with European standards; calls on Kosovo to ensure that legislation governing the integrity and accountability of the judiciary is consistent with European standards and Venice Commission recommendations; calls on the Government of Kosovo to allocate adequate budget for the judicial system; welcomes the establishment of the Commercial Court, progress in the recruitment of new judges and prosecutors in a merit-based and transparent process, and an overall increase of transparency;

    18. Welcomes the participation of Kosovo Serbs in the parliamentary elections and encourages their elected representatives to play an active role within the Kosovo legislative framework, in support of Kosovo’s European future; regrets, however, the boycott of parties representing Kosovo Serbs during the local elections in April 2023 and the withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from Kosovo institutions; expresses concern over Serbia’s interference in the parliamentary elections through Srpska Lista (SL);

    19. Welcomes the implementation of the 2016 judgement of the Constitutional Court on the Visoki Dečani/Deçani Monastery land ownership by registering the monastery as the owner, in March 2024;

    20. Welcomes the steady increase in organised crime sentences and the fact that the legal framework on the fight against organised crime is aligned with the EU acquis; emphasises the need for prosecution services and police to strengthen their joint action against criminal groups and networks; expresses concern about the security challenges in the north of Kosovo, particularly following the Banjska/Banjskë attack in September 2023, which demanded significant police resources; emphasises the need to deepen cooperation in the field of combating drug trafficking; calls for further alignment regarding the fight against terrorism;

    21. Welcomes the adoption of the strategy and action plan on control of small arms light weapons and explosives, as well as the high level of compliance with the rules of the UN Firearms Protocol;

    22. Remains concerned over the slow implementation of the rule of law strategy and action plan;

    23. Reaffirms its commitment to maintaining and strengthening its cooperation with the Kosovo Assembly and its members in support of democratic processes related to Kosovo’s European path by using Parliament’s existing democracy support tools and initiatives; believes that this partnership can be revitalised and further reinforced following the democratic elections held on 9 February 2025; encourages the active involvement and collaboration of all elected members of the newly formed Kosovo Assembly;

    24. Condemns the serious security incidents in the north of Kosovo in late November 2024, the gravest act occurring near the village of Vragë in Zubin Potok, where explosive devices damaged critical infrastructure by targeting the main channel of the Ibër Lepenc system; expresses its support for Kosovo’s institutions in conducting a full investigation of these criminal actions so that the perpetrators will be brought to justice;

    25. Commends the work of EULEX, which has been assisting Kosovo authorities in establishing sustainable and independent rule of law institutions;

    Fundamental freedoms and human rights

    26. Notes that Kosovo has the necessary institutional set-up for the promotion and protection of human rights; welcomes the adoption of the strategy for the protection and promotion of the rights of communities; emphasises, however, that human rights protection remains weak owing to the lack of legislative implementation, political will and limited human and financial resources and calls for strengthened enforcement and accountability mechanisms;

    27. Acknowledges that Kosovo’s constitution is very progressive in terms of protection of minority rights; notes with regret that the petition signed by nearly 500 people who have historically self-identified as Bulgarian, which was registered at the Assembly of Kosovo in January 2023, has still not been considered and recommends that those rights be enshrined in law and ensured in practice; calls on Kosovo to ensure that all minorities recognised under the Law on protection of minority rights and members of their communities, are fully incorporated into the country’s constitution; calls on the Kosovo authorities to step up efforts to protect the rights of all minorities, including national communities, in particular vulnerable national communities, and to provide them equal opportunities and adequate representation in political and cultural life, public media, the administration and the judiciary, as well as prevent their assimilation and promote their integration into Kosovo’s society and strengthen activities to eliminate social and economic challenges of these national minorities;

    28. Welcomes the increase in funding to shelters for victims of domestic violence and trafficking; notes that domestic violence remains the most common form of gender-based violence; expresses concerns that the system continues to fail in ensuring the effective prevention of domestic violence;

    29. Regrets that the adoption of the draft Civil Code of Kosovo remains pending; highlights that the draft Civil Code addresses several important issues related to gender equality as a fundamental EU value, including enabling an equal share of joint marital property among women and men spouses; stresses the importance of ensuring rights for all people in Kosovo in the Civil Code to safeguard respect for constitutional rights and opportunities for the LGBTIQ community; expresses concern that women remain under-represented in senior political positions, specifically related to security and the dialogue, and emphasises the urgent need for their involvement in peacemaking and reconciliation processes, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security; calls for more efforts to be made to improve the place of women in society;

    30. Notes that the prison system broadly follows UN Standard Minimum Rules and calls for the better protection of the rights of prisoners, particularly female, minority and mentally ill prisoners; remains concerned that discriminatory language against women and LGBTIQ people persists, and calls on the authorities to create and implement a national gender strategy for research fields, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; commends the participation of women in high-quality business and management training programmes, as well as in ICT related domains, facilitated by the instrument for pre-accession assistance funds; regrets that women from minority groups, particularly the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, face numerous forms of discrimination, particularly in education, employment and access to healthcare; expresses concerns that the central administration does not adequately represent minority communities, and the number of women in senior positions is low;

    31. Regrets that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has not yet been adopted; expresses concerns that there is insufficient alignment between Kosovo’s legislation and the EU acquis on the rights of people with disabilities, who face discrimination and barriers to accessing social services;

    32. Welcomes Kosovo’s consistent improvement in its position in the 2024 Liberal Democracy Index and Electoral Democracy Index, as prepared by the Varieties of Democracy Institute, which measures the rule of law, checks and balances, civil liberties, and free and fair elections;

    33. Takes note of Kosovo’s pluralistic media environment while awaiting the decision of the Constitutional Court on the main media law and underlines the role of the IMC, whose independence in decision-making needs to be strictly ensured and full functioning restored; regrets, however, the decline in Kosovo’s media freedom, as evidenced by its drop from the 56th to the 75th place in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index; reaffirms that media pluralism and transparency are prerequisites for EU accession; calls for greater transparency on media ownership and financing with a view to enhancing media independence and pluralism; emphasises the need for robust measures to protect journalists from harassment and intimidation, and to ensure the independence of media regulatory bodies; notes the concerns raised by civil society about the allegedly politically motivated election of the Chair of the IMC; urges the Kosovo authorities to further revise the Law on the IMC in order to include the recommendations made by the Council of Europe, thus aligning the national law with EU standards and practices; recommends increased support for independent media outlets and fact-checking organisations in Kosovo, recognising their crucial role in countering disinformation and providing accurate information to the public; encourages the EU to provide technical and financial assistance to these entities; encourages the Kosovo authorities to request tailor-made Technical Assistance and Information Exchange expert missions bodies; calls for the adoption of the law on Radio Television of Kosovo and the law on the protection of journalists’ sources;

    34. Expresses concern over the recent cyberattack targeting Kosovo’s digital infrastructure; urges the Kosovo Government to reinforce its capacities to combat foreign interference and disinformation, particularly those originating from Serbian nationalist outlets and Russia, aimed at destabilising the region and undermining the European integration of the Western Balkans, by developing comprehensive strategies that include public awareness campaigns also combating disinformation undermining women’s participation in public life, strengthening cybersecurity and related infrastructure, fostering collaboration with international partners, most notably the European Union, to protect its digital economy, public services and national security, and addressing disinformation campaigns and hybrid threats that aim to destabilise the country and undermine its European perspective; encourages the integration of media literacy programs into Kosovo’s educational curriculum to equip citizens with the skills necessary to identify and counteract disinformation;

    35. Commends the fact that Kosovo provided shelter and asylum to journalists from Ukraine and Afghanistan;

    36. Expresses serious concern about the significant increase in attacks against journalists and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP cases), including by government officials; calls on the authorities to advance their work on anti-SLAPP legislation in line with the new EU Directive 2024/1069[7]; calls on Kosovo to work actively to secure the ability of journalists to carry out their work and to ensure full freedom for the media to operate independently; underlines the need to stop all forms of violence;

    37. Welcomes Kosovo’s vibrant and constructive civil society, which plays a very crucial and positive role in the reform process; encourages the Kosovo Government to enhance its cooperation with civil society, in particular with women’s rights organisations, on decision-making and to make more use of the Government Council for Cooperation with Civil Society for building collaborative relationships and genuinely implicating civil society in a transparent legislative process from an early stage onwards; stresses the importance of increasing accountability and transparency in relation to public funding for civil society organisations; underlines that civil society is vital in fostering democracy and pluralism and promoting good governance and social progress;

    38. Regrets the lack of a clear plan for engaging Kosovo Serbs in the north and that initiatives to involve the Serb community in Kosovo’s political, social and economic structures remain very limited; reiterates its call to improve the internal dialogue and genuinely and directly engage with the independent civil society organisations of Kosovo Serbs, in particular in the north, with the aim of building trust, facilitating the daily life of Kosovo Serbs and successfully integrating them;

    Reconciliation and good neighbourly relations

    39. Commends Kosovo’s engagement in a number of regional cooperation initiatives and encourages it to enhance its reconciliation efforts and seek solutions to past disputes; commends Kosovo on its constructive approach and active engagement in regional cooperation and trade facilitation that led to the unblocking of the Central European Free Trade Agreement;

    40. Calls on Serbia to open all wartime archives and grant access to the former Yugoslav Secret Service (UDBA) and Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS) files, ensuring their return to respective governments upon request; emphasises the need to open these archives region-wide to investigate communist-era crimes and strengthen democracy, accountability and institutions in the Western Balkans;

    41. Reiterates its full support for the EU-facilitated dialogue and welcomes the appointment of Peter Sørensen as the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue;

    42. Reiterates the importance of constructive engagement on the part of the authorities of both Kosovo and Serbia in order to achieve a comprehensive legally binding normalisation agreement, based on mutual recognition and in accordance with international law; calls on both Kosovo and Serbia to implement the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities, and the lifting of Serbia’s opposition of Kosovo’s membership in regional and international organisations, and to avoid unilateral actions that could undermine the dialogue process;

    43. Expects Kosovo and Serbia to fully cooperate and take all the necessary measures to apprehend and swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2023 terrorist attack in Banjska; deplores the fact that Serbia still has not prosecuted the culprits, most notably Milan Radoičić, the Vice-President of Srpska Lista; reiterates that the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Zubin Potok must also be held accountable and must face justice without delay;

    44. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and on the Commission to take a more proactive role in leading the dialogue process; calls for an enhanced role for the European Parliament in facilitating the dialogue through regular joint parliamentary assembly meetings;

    45. Condemns all actions that endanger stability and jeopardise the reconciliation process, including the tensions in the north of Kosovo and provocations by Serbian state-sponsored groups and illegal armed formations, and urges the European Union to take a stronger stance against external interference in Kosovo’s internal affairs; emphasises that both sides must fully implement all agreements reached and avoid unilateral actions that could escalate tensions; calls on the Kosovo police to ensure that they fully abide by all rule of law and human rights requirements, and to guarantee that a multi-ethnic and inclusive police force, fully in line with legal requirements, is deployed in the north of Kosovo; recalls the shared responsibility of all political representatives and all communities in Kosovo for upholding peace, security and the rule of law;

    46. Welcomes the establishment of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons in December 2024 and calls for swift progress in implementing the May 2023 Political Declaration on Missing Persons; calls on both Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from politicising this humanitarian issue and to step up their efforts in implementing the declaration as part of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and to establish cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia;

    47. Welcomes the recent agreements in the framework of the Berlin Process;

    48. Welcomes Kosovo’s decision to remove restrictions on the entry of Serbian finished products at the Merdare border crossing;

    49. Welcomes the presence of the Kosovo Force and its role in building and maintaining a safe and secure environment and in developing a stable and peaceful Kosovo on the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration; recalls the importance of the mission for the ongoing development of the Kosovo Security Force through the provision of advice, training and capacity building;

    Socio-economic reforms

    50. Welcomes Kosovo’s active engagement in the implementation of the new growth plan for the Western Balkans, which aims to deepen EU-related reforms and reduce the socio-economic gap between EU Member States and the Western Balkan countries; welcomes the adoption of Kosovo’s Reform Agenda and recalls that Kosovo (as well as Serbia) needs to show improved commitment to the EU-facilitated Dialogue in order to access the resources;

    51. Welcomes the progress achieved by Kosovo in developing a functioning market economy and encourages Kosovo to implement the necessary structural reforms to address fiscal challenges, while ensuring adequate labour protection, fair wages, and improved working conditions in line with EU legislation;

    52. Reiterates its calls on the Commission to develop a regional strategy to address the persistent youth unemployment and brain drain by tackling the skills mismatch between the education system and the labour market, improving the quality of teaching, and ensuring adequate funding for active labour market measures and vocational training schemes, along with adequate childcare and pre-school education facilities;

    53. Welcomes the fact that Kosovo’s cybercrime legislation is broadly aligned with the EU acquis; notes Kosovo’s limited progress in the digital transformation of public services; emphasises the need for it to align with EU digital legislation as well as with the needs of its people, specifically with the European Electronic Communications Code, the EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2)[8], the EU toolbox for 5G security, and the Digital Services Act[9] and the Digital Markets Act[10]; notes that Kosovo’s economy remains highly dependent on imports and stresses the need for economic diversification to enhance competitiveness and sustainability, particularly in the context of deeper integration into EU markets;

    54. Regrets that the draft law on textbooks, presented in 2022, is still pending final adoption in the Kosovo Assembly; calls on Kosovo to finalise the implementation of the new curricular framework for basic education, complete the revision of current textbooks, provide sustainable training to teachers, and systematically apply quality assurance mechanisms at all education levels;

    55. Urges Kosovo to ensure better access to quality healthcare services; notes that healthcare expenditure remains the second lowest in the region, and calls for a comprehensive healthcare reform to address the needs of all citizens, especially in rural and underserved areas;

    56. Notes with concern that access to social services, particularly for vulnerable groups, worsened with the government’s closure of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, which was done without transparent consultation with civil society and other stakeholders and contributed to significant confusion; calls for better, evidence-based budgeting to improve social services, particularly for survivors of gender-based violence in accordance with the new legal framework;

    57. Calls on Kosovo to provide equal and non-discriminatory state education in minority languages;

    58. Reiterates the need to reach out to young people from the Serb majority municipalities and to integrate them in the socio-economic structures of the country;

    Energy, environment, sustainable development and connectivity

    59. Notes that Kosovo has made some progress on the security of energy supply but remains heavily reliant on outdated, highly polluting power plants, posing serious health and environmental risks; notes that Kosovo needs to ensure the time-efficient implementation of its energy programme for 2022-2025 to meet its ambitious targets and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels; calls for the EU to step up and prioritise its efforts to help Kosovo overcome its air pollution problems; notes that Kosovo’s new energy strategy does not promote the construction of hydropower plants due to their harmful environmental impact, in particular because of the water scarcity in the country;

    60. Highlights the need for comprehensive infrastructure development in Kosovo to facilitate the reduction of emissions from public transport and the expansion of electrified transport; stresses that improving accessibility and ensuring compatibility with the EU transport network must remain a priority;

    61. Welcomes the agreement at the Tirana Summit on reduced roaming costs; calls, in this respect, on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate reaching the agreed targets to achieve a substantial reduction of data roaming charges and further reductions leading to prices close to domestic prices between the Western Balkans and the EU by 2027; welcomes the entrance into force of the first phase of implementation of the roadmap for roaming between the Western Balkans and the EU;

    62. Urges Kosovo to enhance compliance with emission ceilings, improve the integration of environmental considerations into sectoral policies and adopt necessary measures for pollution, soil and water contamination control and waste management, in line with EU and international standards and commitments; urges Kosovo to improve comprehensive environmental impact assessments and to integrate sustainability measures into infrastructure planning; calls on Kosovo to increase the protected areas in the country and to improve instruments and measures for their protection with a view to safeguarding biodiversity, including key habitats of the critically endangered Balkan lynx; encourages Kosovo to intensify and speed up collaborative efforts with its neighbouring countries to designate transboundary protected areas and establish coherent transboundary management plans;

    °

    ° °

    63. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the President, Government and National Assembly of Kosovo.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CISA, DHS S&T, INL, LSU Help Energy Industry Partners Strengthen Incident Response and OT Cybersecurity

    News In Brief – Source: US Computer Emergency Readiness Team

    WASHINGTON – The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) hosted Louisiana State University (LSU) and several energy industry and critical infrastructure partners to train against simulated, high-impact cyberattacks on operational technology (OT) and traditional information technology (IT) at CISA’s Control Environment Laboratory Resource (CELR) in Idaho Falls, Idaho, last week. LSU is the first university in the U.S. invited to participate in the CELR exercise, as part of CISA and INL’s efforts to strengthen cyber talent development and research partnerships.

    Cybersecurity threats exploit the increased complexity and connectivity of critical infrastructure systems. The potential incapacitation or destruction of assets, systems and networks, whether physical or virtual, could have a debilitating effect on national security, economic security and on public health and safety. As the nation’s cyber defense agency, CISA is committed to growing operational and strategic partnerships to increase collaboration across the OT and industrial control systems (ICS) community.

    On April 15-17, energy industry partners and the CISA-INL-LSU team used the CELR chemical processing platform, located at and operated by INL on behalf of CISA. CELR platforms are benchtop models of critical infrastructure with integrated industrial processes to represent how real-world components and facilities might be compromised through cyber-physical attacks. The participants were positioned in a live environment with IT and OT traffic and attacked by a technical team posing as a sophisticated adversary. The training participants’ mission was to detect and respond to kinetic cyberattacks through ICS elements, including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), OT and IT systems and other key components widely used in industrial facilities.

    “Collaborating with LSU and industry partners is extremely beneficial in strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity knowledge and ability to respond to threats. This training is another step in our shared vision to expand the opportunity for critical infrastructure entities to strengthen their cybersecurity using CELR,” said Matt Hartman, CISA Deputy Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity. “Malicious cyber actors and nation-state adversaries are a persistent, highly capable threat to critical infrastructure operations, functionality and safety. CELR is a valuable resource for critical infrastructure owners and operators seeking to improve the security of their ICS/OT networks.”

    “INL’s Controls Laboratory hosts five CISA-sponsored ICS testbeds, offering immersive environments for partners to experience realistic cyberattack scenarios against critical infrastructure,” said Tim Huddleston, INL’s Cybersecurity Program Manager. “We were proud to host industry partners and academia in this exercise, helping them improve their skills in cyber hunting and incident response, which reduces the risk from malicious cyber actors.”

    INL leverages scientific expertise and unique controls environments to support the departments of Energy, Defense and Homeland Security in national security challenges, including critical infrastructure protection. Last week’s training is part of an ongoing collaborative effort by CISA, DHS S&T, INL and LSU to equip energy industry cyber defenders to protect ICS environments and develop deeply technical cyber talent for critical infrastructure. Under CISA and S&T oversight, INL is currently developing the first university-based CELR platform. DHS S&T and CISA plan to deliver an Oil and Natural Gas CELR platform to LSU by fall of this year.

    Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, LSU will operate and maintain the Oil and Natural Gas platform and host similar trainings for energy sector partners, state cyber defenders, and LSU faculty, staff and students. This agreement will provide government and industry security professionals in the Louisiana gulf region an extremely valuable, local opportunity to hone their OT/ICS cybersecurity skills.

    “This partnership is a wonderful example of DHS S&T’s role in enabling effective, efficient, and secure operations by applying scientific, engineering, analytic, and innovative approaches to deliver timely solutions. The CELR platforms help ensure critical infrastructure is better positioned to detect, mitigate, or prevent cyber-attacks in the real world. By positioning a platform in close proximity to critical infrastructure owners and operators, as well as making it accessible to the next generation of oil refinery workforce through the university, DHS S&T and CISA are ensuring our nation’s oil supply remains secure and available to consumers,” said Jonathan McEntee,Acting Executive Director for S&T Office of Mission and Capability Support.

    “As a leading energy and chemical manufacturing state, Louisiana’s cybersecurity posture around its critical infrastructure has national implications,” said Greg Trahan, director of economic development at LSU and special advisor to LSU President William F. Tate IV on cyber initiatives. “The invitation by CISA and INL to participate in this exercise underscores what we know: LSU has emerged as one of the most important and consequential cybersecurity schools in the country. The opportunity to be joined by our close industry partners means we can bring these skills and agency relationships home to support and protect Louisiana—that is the LSU Scholarship First Agenda and flagship mission in action.”

    Another outcome from this collaborative effort, LSU and Battelle Energy Alliance, the company that manages INL, recently signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their partnership in areas of mutual interest, including cybersecurity and advanced nuclear technology. Over the past year, INL has hosted six LSU cybersecurity interns and successfully hired two LSU graduates. This collaboration exemplifies INL’s commitment to expanding partnerships with other industry and academic entities, fostering an environment to develop cyber resilience skills.

    For more information on ICS security, visit the CISA Industrial Control Systems webpage.

    Control Environment Laboratory Exercise (CELR) Exersice

    Government, industry and academia partners gather to view Control Environment Laboratory Resource (CELR) exercise

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CoE Group Shares Fuel Cell Aviation Research, Networks at DOE Energy Summit

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    College of Engineering (CoE) graduate student Megan Cunningham ’24 (CLAS, ENG) recently helped represent UConn at an energy summit, immersing herself in hundreds of innovative technologies in fields such as nuclear energy, biology, electronics, thermodynamics, and more.

    “The summit was more like the engineering nerd’s version of Disney World,” she says. “It was incredibly exciting to see how future new energy technologies are being invented by the brightest engineers in the U.S.”

    Cunningham is among five CoE researchers and several UConn alumni who attended the 2025 U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E Innovation Summit in March. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) holds the annual event to bring together top energy scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and industry leaders who are interested in catalyzing the future of energy innovation.

    The summit exposed participants to more than 400 innovative projects, technologies, and prototypes. The UConn team showcased their own capabilities in developing high power, lightweight, multi-fueled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), which are especially appealing for mobility, including the aviation industry. When used in “stacks,” these SOFCs can generate electricity directly from natural gas, propane, or jet fuels through an electrochemical process, rather than combustion.

    On April 14, Professor Xiao-Dong Zhou spoke with UConn President and Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Radenka Maric about his group’s fuel cell research.

    UConn’s high-efficiency chemical-to-electricity conversion technology has the potential to eliminate the range limitations of current battery-powered aviation and unlock a new era of long-range, high-performance electric propulsion.

    When directly fueled by natural gas, these fuel cells outperform industry benchmarks in power density, efficiency, thermal cycling durability, mechanical strength, and safety, surpassing both current hydrogen-fueled low-temperature fuel cells and state-of-the-art SOFCs.

    Xiao-Dong Zhou, the Nicholas E. Madonna Chair in Sustainability, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Professor of Sustainable Energy, and director of UConn’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) is principal investigator of the project. He secured funding for the work through a total $5M cooperative agreement from ARPA-E under its Range Extenders for Electric Aviation with Low Carbon and High Efficiency (REEACH) program in 2023.

    “Since the project began, we have filed over 10 invention disclosures and patent applications. These innovations lay the foundation for advancing UConn’s metal-supported SOFC technology toward lightweight, high-performance systems suited for electric propulsion,” says Zhou, who’s also professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering.

    Zhou and Cunningham attended the ARPA-E Summit with group members David L. Daggett, a C2E2 professor of practice and retired Boeing technical fellow; Nengneng Xu, assistant research professor for C2E2; and Yudong Wang, assistant research professor of mechanical engineering.

    “Beyond learning about the latest academic advances, what stood out most was how closely these innovations are aligned with real-world commercial applications,” explains Xu. “It was incredibly inspiring to see how research can contribute directly to solving urgent energy challenges—and how it can help researchers realize their own value through meaningful, real-world impacts.”

    Although the UConn team is specifically studying how SOFC stacks could power an airplane, their process is envisioned to first be used in applications outside of aviation for ground-based power generation.

    UConn team members spoke with scientists from the University of California, Berkeley about a collaboration with their high-performing, lightweight DC-DC converters. They engaged with aerospace and defense companies RTX and Boeing personnel regarding the use of biomimicry-inspired, additively-manufactured, high-temperature compact heat exchangers. A marine-based sustainability company showed interest in using UConn’s SOFC-powered small-scale airplanes for data collection over the ocean. And Rolls-Royce engineers, who develop airplane and motor vehicle engines, were interested in collaborating on similar small-scale hybrid fuel cell-gas turbine engine systems.

    “The summit allowed for discussions with groups from across the United States that would have otherwise been very difficult to facilitate,” Zhou says.

    Xu personally engaged with industry leaders from Nissan and Johnson Matthey. “These conversations sparked exciting discussions about future collaborations and significantly boosted our confidence in the commercial potential of our technology,” he says.

    “Conversations sparked exciting discussions about future collaborations and significantly boosted our confidence in the commercial potential of our technology.” — Nengneng Xu, assistant research professor for C2E2

    Additionally, Cunningham spoke with UConn alumni, past collaborators, and current partners to gain insight about the direction of energy innovation from the perspective of those currently working in the industry.

    “It was an incredible opportunity both to learn about the overall energy industry as well as make connections with researchers and professionals from across the country,” Cunningham says. “Networking with industries is absolutely critical, as it allows us to make connections with groups we otherwise would not be exposed to.”

    Summit participants also attended panel discussions hosted by Department of Energy and ARPA-E leaders, industry experts, and university researchers. Discussions centered on the increasing need for electricity and using innovative nuclear fission and fusion, electrochemistry, AI datacenters, and natural resources to generate electricity.

    “Technology that wasn’t feasible in the recent past is now within our reach,” Cunningham says. “These areas will be key to allow the U.S. to take the lead in producing the next generation of energy systems in the near future.”

    Read More: https://today.uconn.edu/2023/12/research-team-develops-hybrid-propulsion-commercial-electric-aircraft/

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Those behind the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam will soon get a befitting reply, Govt will take all necessary steps: Raksha Mantri

    Source: Government of India

    Those behind the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam will soon get a befitting reply, Govt will take all necessary steps: Raksha Mantri

    “Every Indian is united, we can never be intimidated by such terror activities”

    Govt equipping Armed Forces to tackle challenges emanating from a fluid international order, says Shri Rajnath Singh

    “Aim is to establish IAF as a dominant power & achieve defence sovereignty”

    Posted On: 23 APR 2025 5:21PM by PIB Delhi

                Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has assured the people that those responsible for the cowardly terrorist attack on innocent citizens in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir will soon get a befitting reply to their nefarious acts on Indian soil. Delivering a memorial lecture on the Marshal of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Arjan Singh in New Delhi on April 23, 2025, Raksha Mantri reiterated India’s firm resolve of zero tolerance against terrorism and stated that the Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will take every necessary and appropriate step.

                “India is an old civilisation and such a big country can never be intimidated by any such terror activities. Every Indian is united against this cowardly act. Not just those who perpetrated the attack, but even those who conspired from behind the scenes to commit such nefarious acts on the Indian soil will soon get an appropriate response,” said Shri Rajnath Singh

                In the context of cross-border-supported terrorist incidents, Raksha Mantri said “History is witness to the withering away of nations not due to the action of the adversary, but due to the result of their own misdeeds. I hope people across the border look at lessons of history more closely”.

                Shri Rajnath Singh expressed deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the terror attack at Pahalgam. “Our country has lost many innocent citizens in a cowardly attack by terrorists targeting religion. This extremely inhuman act has left us in deep pain. In this hour of grief, I pray for peace to the departed souls,” he said.

                Later, Raksha Mantri paid rich tributes to the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, terming his leadership, vision and dedication as incredible. “He was a visionary military leader who, even today, inspires the youth. If today IAF is one of the world’s strongest air forces, it is because of the vision and ethos of military leaders like Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh,” he said.

                Shri Rajnath Singh described the journey of IAF as an aspiring, inspirational, and transformational epic, which is not just about touching the sky, but also turning the dreams of national security into reality. He stated that, despite challenges, IAF has grown stronger post-independence, and is today contributing significantly to national security as a strong pillar.

                Raksha Mantri emphasised that the Government’s focus is on transforming the Armed Forces on the back of a self-reliant defence ecosystem. He reiterated the commitment towards establishing IAF as a dominant power in the region, stating that the journey towards Aatmanirbharta is a shared responsibility. Commitment, collaboration and unified vision is the need of the hour, he said. He added that India’s national security will further strengthen if IAF is well-equipped and highly technology-oriented.

                Shri Rajnath Singh stressed that national security cannot be ensured through import dependency, and the Government is working relentlessly towards achieving defence sovereignty. He stated that emphasis is being laid on manufacturing defence equipment within the country and the efforts of Ministry of Defence are yielding positive results. He termed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Light Utility Helicopter Prachand, Akash & BrahMos Air Defence weapons as shining examples of the capability of Indian designers, engineers and scientists.

                “Today, not only has there been unparalleled growth in defence manufacturing in the public sector, the private sector is also participating with great enthusiasm. As the field of defence production is becoming technology-oriented, the role of start-ups and MSMEs is also increasing rapidly. These are proving to be the backbone of defence innovation. In the times to come, the role of the private sector, start-ups and MSMEs in high-tech warfare is going to increase even more,” said Raksha Mantri.

                Terming aero-engine development as a priority area of the Government in view of the needs of IAF, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the effort is to make the engine in India on the model of co-development and co-production with full intellectual property rights. He added that special attention is being paid to the development of fifth generation fighter aircraft and LCA Mark-2. He further highlighted that self-reliance has been achieved to a large extent on many air defence systems, including Astra Mark-2, Pralay, SMART, anti-field weapon, NG Anti-radiation missile, and Very Short Range Air Defence System, and these are at various stages of production and development.

                Raksha Mantri emphasised that due to the shift of power dynamics to Asia in the 21st century, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the most important region strategically, and the Government is leaving no stone unturned to address the complex challenges emanating from a fluid international order and technological revolution. He pointed out that the revolutionary breakthrough in the field of technology, including the growing use of Artificial Intelligence, Hypersonic Directed Energy weapons, Quantum Computing, drones, cyber & space tech, have brought unpredictability and lethality in modern-day warfare, making it unconventional & even more uncertain. He voiced Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s commitment to tackle these challenges and uncertainties.

    Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the senior civil & military officials and serving and retired IAF personnel were among those present on the occasion.

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    VK/Savvy

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh convenes a joint meeting of Department of Biotechnology, AIIMS New Delhi, BIRAC, ICMR and Industry partners to review the indigenously developed HPV test kits for Cervical Cancer screening in India Calls Scientific Review of Indigenously Developed HPV Test Kits for Cervical Cancer Screening,

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh convenes a joint meeting of Department of Biotechnology, AIIMS New Delhi, BIRAC, ICMR and Industry partners to review the indigenously developed HPV test kits for Cervical Cancer screening in India Calls Scientific Review of Indigenously Developed HPV Test Kits for Cervical Cancer Screening,

    Describes it as a Milestone in Preventive Healthcare:

    With 1 in every 5 women globally suffering from cervical cancer is from India. With 25% of global cervical cancer deaths occurring in India— often due to late diagnosis— Dr. Jitendra Singh stresses the critical need for preventive screening strategies

    Lauds involvement of the private sector is integral to these success stories, highlighting a “whole-of-science and whole-of-government approach.”

    Ultimate objective is to enable affordable, accessible, and ideally mass screening for cervical cancer highlights Dr. Jitendra Singh

    Dr. Jitendra Singh calls it national responsibility to safeguard our youth and offer them timely prevention of metabolic disorders

    Posted On: 23 APR 2025 5:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today convened a joint meeting of Department of Biotechnology, AIIMS New Delhi, BIRAC, ICMR and Industry partners here to review the indigenously developed HPV test kits for Cervical Cancer screening in India and described it as another milestone in preventive healthcare achieved by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the ultimate goal is to position India as a global leader in preventive healthcare. He said it is now the right time to acknowledge a series of significant milestones accomplished by the team at DBT and BIRAC, including the development of the first-ever DNA vaccine, which brought India international recognition and restored esteem to Indian science in the field of healthcare.

    “The DNA vaccine has projected India as a country capable of leading in preventive healthcare—a stark contrast to the outdated perception that India neither prioritized preventive, nor even curative healthcare,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    He also referred to Nafithromycin, India’s first indigenous antibiotic, which has received encouraging feedback. Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the involvement of the private sector is integral to these success stories, highlighting a “whole-of-science and whole-of-government approach.”

    Another breakthrough cited was the successful gene therapy trial in hemophilia, which earned a spot in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Notably, both the British Medical Journal and NEJM, among the world’s oldest medical journals, have acknowledged India’s pioneering healthcare research.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined four pillars of focus namely 1. Preventive Healthcare – As the future of healthcare lies in prevention, this will be the government’s primary focus moving forward.2. Youth-Centric Preventive Measures – Recognizing the prevalence of cervical cancer among adolescents and young women, emphasis will be on early-age interventions.3. Women’s Health –Strengthening government initiatives across ministries, including Health and Women & Child Development. 4. Private Sector Involvement – Building an ecosystem where government and private players collaborate domestically and globally.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh coined the term “PPP plus PPP”, referring to Public-Private Partnerships both within and beyond national borders, a model successfully adopted by several European nations, particularly in life sciences and healthcare.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh drew attention to India ranking fourth globally in cervical cancer-related morbidity, underscoring the urgent need for action. He cautioned, however, that HPV is not the sole cause of cervical cancer, but studies have shown a 90% correlation, supporting the case for targeted prevention.

    The Minister said that the ultimate objective is to enable affordable, accessible, and ideally mass screening for cervical cancer. He cited his own example from 1996 of providing free insulin treatment for Type 1 diabetes through charitable collaboration with Novo Nordisk, illustrating how private companies can contribute meaningfully.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also remarked that discussions around vaccines have surged post-COVID, but emphasized the need for holistic prevention, including social, cultural, and hygienic habits—the traditional pillars of public health education.

    The GCI-BIRAC-DBT program titled “Validating Indigenous Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening in India” successfully validated rapid, point-of-care, RT-PCR-based HPV diagnostic test kits. These kits were tested at premier R&D laboratories across the country.

    According to WHO data, 1 in every 5 women globally suffering from cervical cancer is from India. With 25% of global cervical cancer deaths occurring in India—often due to late diagnosis—Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the critical need for preventive screening strategies.

    The Minister pointed out that current screening methods, including VIA/VILI, Pap smears, and HPV DNA testing, are costly, resource-intensive, and moderately sensitive. The new indigenous kits are expected to significantly reduce the cost and improve accessibility for widespread use.

    Tying the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India is now addressing multiple challenges simultaneously. With over 70% of India’s population below the age of 40, Dr. Singh raised concerns about rising non-communicable diseases, including early-onset Type 2 diabetes, once considered a disease of the middle-aged.

    “It becomes a national responsibility to safeguard our youth and offer them timely prevention if we truly aim to harness their energy for building the India of 2047,” Dr. Jitendra Singh asserted.

    The Minister concluded by urging continued cross-sector collaboration to ensure that the benefits of science reach the common public, making healthcare not just accessible, but affordable and proactive.

    The review meeting was attended by several key dignitaries and domain experts. Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC; and Padma Shri Dr. Neerja Bhatla, a renowned expert in gynecologic oncology, were present and contributed valuable insights to the review proceedings.

    Prior to the commencement of the scientific review, a two-minute silence was observed to pay solemn tribute to the lives lost in yesterday’s terror attack in Pahalgam. The gathering expressed deep condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International Conference “Shaping the Energy Future: Challenges and Opportunities” (SEFCO-2025) inaugurated at CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 23 APR 2025 6:21PM by PIB Delhi

    CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun is organising an International Conference “Shaping the Energy Future: Challenges and Opportunities” (SEFCO-2025) from April 23 to 25, 2025. SEFCO conference is annually organized by students and young scientists at CSIR-IIP, Dehradun which is a platform to facilitate discussions on innovative solutions, explore collaborative opportunities in energy & chemical sector.

    1stedition of “SEFCO” Conference was organized in 2017. The present 7thedition is an international conference with a theme of “Catalysing a Sustainable Future with Affordable Energy and Chemicals.”

     

    The inauguration ceremony of SEFCO held on 23 April 2025 was graced by Chief Guest Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee and Guest of Honour Sh Alok Sharma, Director (R&D), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Dr. Manoj Srivastava, Secretary, SEFCO 2025 in his opening remarks gave an overview of genesis and relevance of SEFCO and its journey since inception. Dr. Harender Singh Bisht, Director, CSIR-IIP and Chief Patron of the conference, after paying homage to his holiness Pope Francis, welcomed distinguished guests and delegates and highlighted work done at CSIR-IIP and shared his vision on the way forward.

     

     

    Sh Alok Sharma in his guest of honour address highlighted the approaches and measures adopted by Indian refineries towards achieving GoI’snet-zero goal by 2070.

    In his keynote address, Chief guest Prof. K K Pant emphasized various pathways of producing green and sustainable energy and chemicals. He also mentioned that new challenges emerge when the technologies are scale-up from lab to commercial level. He inspired young researchers to think out of box to overcome these challenges.

    This 3-day conference will feature talks from various national and international experts, young scientists and research students from universities, research institutes and industries. Notable International speakers include Prof. Paul A. Webley from Monash University, Australia; Dr. Richard Blom from SINTEF, Norway; Prof. Samira Siahrostami, Simon Fraser University, Canada; Prof. Keiichi Tomishige, Tohoku University, Japan, and Prof. Eric van Steen, SARChI Reaction Engineering, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

    More than 300 delegates from various national and international organizations are attending the conference. An exhibition showcasing CSIR-IIP’s technological achievements is part of this conference. SEFCO-2025 is supported by ONGC, EIL, BPCL, CRISTOL,IOCL, GAIL, AIRBUS, NRL, CPCL & R L Solutions.

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    NKR/PSM

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD sets up reading locations for Hong Kong Reading for All Day (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         This year’s April 23 marks the second Hong Kong Reading for All Day. The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (April 23) collaborated with stakeholders to set up reading locations for “Read Together for Half an Hour” activities to promote reading among the public.
     
         The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan, attended the “Read Together for Half an Hour” activity at the Hong Kong Central Library to share her reading experience with the participating students, remarking that reading while broadening one’s horizons is also life-enriching. She encouraged students to keep reading.
     
         The HKPL also invited renowned online content creator SaiDorSi to explore the relationship between reading and creativity with the participating students.
     
         “Read Together for Half an Hour” is one of the highlight activities of the Hong Kong Reading Week 2025 (HKRW). The LCSD provided a variety of books at different reading locations today, including the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Oil Street Art Space, the Hong Kong Railway Museum, Choi Hung Road Sports Centre, Tsuen Wan Sports Centre, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park and individual public libraries, for public participation in reading together.
     
         In addition, “Read Together for Half an Hour” activities were held today at 2025 Hong Kong Reading+ at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin, as well as at individual community libraries and community centres. The HKPL, in collaboration with the Hans Andersen Club, also carried out the “Read together for Half an Hour” event and carnival at Lok Fu Place, featuring storytelling sessions, game booths and handicraft workshops. A reading area with selected books was set up to promote reading.
     
         The HKRW is being held from April 19 to 27. Under the theme “Zoom/LIBRARY”, the HKRW offers about 450 online and on-site events to encourage members of the public to develop the reading habit. Activities include fun days, sharing sessions, videos and audio clips in which celebrities share their reading experiences and more. QR codes for selected e-books are available at different government venues for easy public access.
      
         All HKRW activities are free of charge, with seat reservations required for individual events. For details, please visit the website: www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkrw.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to address Gram Sabhas Nationwide on 24th April, National Panchayati Raj Day from Madhubani, Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to address Gram Sabhas Nationwide on 24th April, National Panchayati Raj Day from Madhubani, Bihar

    Prime Minister to also confer Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025, Dedicate Infra Projects worth ₹ 13,500 Crores on the occasion

    Posted On: 23 APR 2025 3:53PM by PIB Delhi

    The nation will commemorate National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) on 24th April 2025, marking thirty-two years of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which gave constitutional status to Panchayats as institutions of rural local self-government. The main function will be organized in the august presence of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, at Lohna Uttar Gram Panchayat, Jhanjharpur Block in  Madhubani District of Bihar. The Prime Minister will address Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Gram Sabhas across the country and also confer Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025 on this occasion. This year, National Panchayati Raj Day is being observed as a major national programme through a “Whole-of-Government” approach, involving participation of six Union Ministries: the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Railways, and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation and  lay foundation stone for several key infrastructure and welfare projects linked to these Ministries on this occasion. These include LPG bottling plants, electrification projects, housing schemes, railway infrastructure, and road development, amounting to approximately Rs.13,500 crores. Financial assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin and Urban) and DAY–NRLM will also be disbursed during the program. With these initiatives, Grameen Bharat, particularly rural regions of Bihar, stand to benefit immensely through enhanced connectivity, services, and economic opportunity.

    The event will be attended by several dignitaries including Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar; Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Union Minister of Panchayati Raj; Shri Samrat Choudhary and Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar; Shri Kedar Prasad Gupta, Panchayati Raj Minister, Bihar; Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Chief Secretary, Bihar; and Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with other senior officers from the participating Ministries and representatives from across Panchayats. The observance of NPRD 2025 from the Gram Panchayat level emphasizes the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Viksit Panchayats form the solid foundation of Viksit Bharat.

    About the Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025

    These awards include the Climate Action Special Panchayat Award (CASPA), Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Special Award (ANPSA), and Panchayat Kshamta Nirman Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar (PKNSSP). The awards aim to recognize Gram Panchayats and institutions that have demonstrated exemplary performance in areas such as climate resilience, fiscal self-reliance, and capacity building. Awardees have been selected from States including Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Assam. It is noteworthy that three of the six awardee Gram Panchayats – Motipur (Bihar), Dawwa S (Maharashtra), and Hatbadra (Odisha) – are led by women Sarpanches, reflecting inclusive leadership at the grassroots.

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    Aditi Agrawal

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