Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI Africa: eThekwini Municipality commits to address Public Protector concerns 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The eThekwini Municipality Executive Committee (EXCO) has affirmed its commitment to address concerns raised by Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, following a special meeting held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, on Monday.

    The engagement formed part of the Public Protector’s ongoing strategic stakeholder outreach, which seeks to forge a robust collaborative framework to resolve outstanding matters and reinforce the existing memorandum of understanding between the municipality and the Public Protector’s Office.

    This as Gcaleka presented a detailed assessment revealing that 29 formal complaints were lodged against the municipality. The complaints highlighted concerns, including allegations of maladministration, undue delays, abuse of power, improper prejudice, and critical service delivery failures.

    “Our Office has identified systemic issues that demand urgent attention. The complaints we have received reflect a profound erosion of public trust, stemming from persistent service delivery breakdowns and administrative shortcomings. This meeting is a critical step towards rectifying these issues through enhanced collaboration and stringent implementation of remedial actions,” Gcaleka said.

    In response to the Public Protector’s assessment, eThekwini Mayor, Cyril Xaba emphasised the council’s commitment to take immediate and decisive action.

    Xaba commended the proactive engagement and pledged the council’s full cooperation to address the issues raised.

    “We will immediately convene a dedicated session to rigorously review the existing memorandum of understanding and will develop comprehensive action plans to address each identified issue. This process will ensure the Public Protector’s investigations are expedited and that tangible, measurable improvements are implemented without delay,” said the mayor.

    City Manager, Musa Mbhele echoed the mayor’s commitment, stressing that the concerns raised by the Public Protector are being taken seriously.

    “We are actively implementing strategic plans to rectify these deficiencies. Crucially, the proposed new municipal organogram will establish a dedicated office to manage and promptly address all concerns raised by Chapter 9 institutions, including the Human Rights Commission and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

    “This will guarantee a streamlined, efficient, and transparent process for handling all complaints and inquiries. The Municipality acknowledges the urgent need to restore public confidence and will ensure that this engagement marks the beginning of a sustained and rigorous effort to deliver accountable, efficient, and effective governance,” Mbhele said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former mayor of Les Irois, Haiti convicted of visa fraud

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON – The former mayor of Les Irois, Haiti was convicted March 28 by a federal jury in Boston of illegally obtaining a permanent resident card, commonly referred to as a green card, by means of a false statement. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation found he concealed the fact that he ordered and carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people.

    Jean Morose Viliena, 52, was convicted of three counts of visa fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2025. Viliena was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023.

    “Viliena knowingly lied to conceal his violent past, deceiving immigration authorities to come to the United States. The brave witnesses who came forward to testify in this case relayed their experiences of extreme violence and oppression committed by Viliena and his associates. Thanks to their testimony, his fraud has been uncovered, and he will now face consequences for his violence and deception,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge New England Michael J. Krol.

    “The political corruption and violence that the people of Haiti endured at the direction of Jean Morose Viliena, is appalling,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The United States is not where you come to hide from your crimes. Today’s conviction is proof that running away from your crimes and lying to federal officials will catch up to you. I applaud the courage of the witnesses who spoke up about the abuse they suffered as a result of Viliena.”

    “Today a jury found that Jean Morose Viliena lied his way into gaining entrance into the United States after committing unspeakable acts of violence in Haiti,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti. “The Justice Department will not stand for human rights violators illegally entering and roaming the streets of our communities. Thank you to the brave victims and witnesses who helped our law enforcement partners and prosecutors begin to hold Viliena accountable for his crimes.”

    “The men and women of CBP work diligently alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of the people in our communities. Emigrating to the United States is a privilege and if you conceal your criminal conduct to deceive your way into this country, you will ultimately be detected, held accountable and brought to justice,” said Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office.

    According to court documents, Viliena was the mayor of Les Irois, Haiti from December 2006 until at least February 2010. As a candidate and as mayor, Viliena was backed by a political machine called Korega, which exerts power throughout the southwestern region of Haiti through armed violence. Viliena personally supervised his mayoral staff and security detail and led an armed group in Les Irois aligned with Korega. Under Viliena’s direct supervision, the Korega militia enforced Viliena’s policies by various means, including by targeting political opponents in Les Irois through armed violence.

    According to the indictment, as mayor, Viliena was involved in several instances of violence. The first occurred July 27, 2007 when a witness spoke at a judicial proceeding in Les Irois on behalf of a neighbor who had been assaulted by Viliena. In reprisal for that testimony, that evening, Viliena led an armed group to that witness’ home, where Viliena and his associates shot and killed the witness’ younger brother, and then smashed his skull with a large rock before a crowd of bystanders.

    The second incident occurred in or around April 2008, when a group of local journalists and activists founded a community radio station. According to court documents, Viliena opposed establishment of the radio station and, on April 8, 2008, mobilized members of his staff and the Korega militia to forcibly shut down the radio station and seize its broadcasting equipment. At that time, Viliena distributed firearms to the Korega militia members, some of whom also carried machetes and picks.

    On the day of the attack on the radio station, Viliena pistol-whipped an individual with his gun and struck him with his fists. When the individual tried to flee, Viliena ordered one of his associates to shoot and kill him. Shots were fired which hit the individual in the leg. The individual spent several months in various hospitals and his leg was later amputated above his knee. Another individual, also a citizen of Haiti, became a target of Viliena because of his association with the radio station. On the day of the attack of the radio station, that individual was present and when he tried to flee, he was hit by a bullet in the face. He required months of intensive medical treatment, including two surgeries to extract shotgun pellets from his face, which left him permanently blind in one eye. According to court documents, pieces of shotgun pellets remain in the individual’s scalp and arms.

    On June 3, 2008, Viliena presented himself at the U.S. Embassy Consular Office in Port au Prince, Haiti where he applied for a visa to enter the United States. The form specifically requires that each applicant state whether they have “ordered, carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people.” Viliena falsely responded that he had not. Viliena thereafter swore before a U.S. Consular Officer that the contents of the application were true and signed the application. According to court documents, the U.S. Department of State approved Viliena’s visa application.

    On July 14, 2008, Viliena entered the United States and was later granted lawful permanent residence status and received a permanent resident card. Viliena used his permanent resident card on numerous occasions to enter the United States.

    The charge of visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

    The investigation was led by ICE HSI New England and CBP New England with the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Boston Field Office and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Fraud Detection and National Security Division. This matter was investigated with the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. Valuable assistance was provided by the Malden Police Department.

    The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center is led by ICE and leverages the expertise of criminal investigators, attorneys, historians, intelligence analysts and federal partners to provide a whole of government approach to prevent the U.S. from becoming a safe haven for individuals who commit war crimes, genocide, torture and other human rights abuses around the globe. Currently, ICE has more than 180 active investigations into suspected human rights violators and is pursuing more than 1,945 leads and removals cases involving suspected human rights violators from 95 different countries. The center has issued more than 79,000 lookouts since 2003, for potential perpetrators of human rights abuses and stopped over 390 human rights violators and war crimes suspects from entering the U.S.

    Individuals can report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE Tip Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE or (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form. Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: FiatGate Introduces ‘Exchange as a Service’ (EaaS), Lowering Barriers for Crypto Entrepreneurs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STOCKHOLM, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FiatGate (product of Blockchain Reaction), a leading provider of white-label crypto wallet and exchange solutions, announced their ‘Exchange as a Service’ (EaaS) solution. This new pricing and service model simplifies and reduces the cost of launching a fully branded crypto exchange, making it more accessible than ever for entrepreneurs worldwide.

    Clients can now deploy a professional, fully customized crypto exchange without purchasing a full platform license upfront. This shift has cut initial setup costs by nearly 50%, significantly lowering the barrier to enter the crypto exchange market.

    A key advantage of the FiatGate platform is its non-custodial structure, which means entrepreneurs do not need a financial services license (VASP, EMI, MSB or similar) to operate. The built-in, fully licensed on/off-ramp providers ensure seamless fiat-to-crypto transactions, supporting major payment networks such as SWIFT, SEPA, FPS, ACH, Fedwire, VISA, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

    “With EaaS, we’ve eliminated major financial and technical hurdles, enabling more businesses to enter the crypto space effortlessly,” said Mikael Magnusson, CEO of Blockchain Reaction. “Now, launching a compliant, fully functional crypto exchange is faster, easier, and more cost-effective than ever before.”

    To experience FiatGate’s capabilities firsthand, users can instantly log in at FiatGate without the hassle of complicated registrations. Simply enter an email address, receive a secure access link, and start exploring.

    For media inquiries, partnership opportunities, or further information about FiatGate’s EaaS model, please contact:
    Anastasia Andrea
    press@blockchainreaction.io

    About FiatGate
    FiatGate is a premier provider of white-label crypto wallet and exchange solutions, offering secure, scalable, and fully customizable platforms. Designed for entrepreneurs aspiring to enter the crypto market, FiatGate seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology with regulatory compliance, enabling smooth and secure fiat-to-crypto transactions.

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91746b97-3b81-4f34-9b26-6f71cd1c7f65

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Four Real Estate Investors Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Loan Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    Four real estate investors were sentenced in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar loans on commercial and multifamily properties.

    Aron Puretz, 53, of New Jersey, and his son, Chaim “Eli” Puretz, 29, of New Jersey, were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Aron Puretz was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay $22,235,457 in restitution, and Eli Puretz was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $20,315,457 in restitution.

    Moshe “Mark” Silber, 34, of New York, and Fredrick Schulman, 72, of New York, were also sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their respective roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Silber was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and Schulman was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, to be followed by nine months of home confinement.  The restitution amounts for Silber and Schulman will be determined at a later hearing.

    According to court documents, Aron and Eli Puretz were owners of a commercial property, Troy Technology Park, in Troy, Michigan. In September 2020, Aron and Eli Puretz purchased Troy Technology Park for approximately $42 million, before selling or flipping the property to a co-conspirator for approximately $70 million. Aron and Eli Puretz and their co-conspirators provided the lender with falsified documents that included the inflated purchase price. Based on the fraudulent documents, the lender funded a loan for $45 million. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Aron and Eli Puretz and co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the sale. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two simultaneous closings, one for the true sales price and another for the fraudulent sales price presented to the lender. 

    Separately, Silber and Schulman were managing members of Rhodium Capital Advisors, an entity that was involved in the acquisition and management of Williamsburg of Cincinnati, a large apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. In March 2019, Williamsburg of Cincinnati was acquired for $70 million. However, Silber, Schulman, and other co-conspirators utilized a stolen identity to present a lender and Fannie Mae with a fraudulent purchase-and-sale contract for over $95 million and other fraudulent documents. On March 8, 2019, two closings were performed, one for the true $70 million sales price and another for the fraudulent over $95 million sales price presented to the lenders. Based on the co-conspirators’ false statements, the lender and Fannie Mae funded a loan in excess of $74 million for the purchase of Williamsburg of Cincinnati.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the FHFA-OIG; Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group; and Acting Inspector General Stephen M. Begg of the HUD-OIG made the announcement.

    Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Real Estate Investors Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Loan Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Four real estate investors were sentenced in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar loans on commercial and multifamily properties.

    Aron Puretz, 53, of New Jersey, and his son, Chaim “Eli” Puretz, 29, of New Jersey, were sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Aron Puretz was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay $22,235,457 in restitution, and Eli Puretz was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $20,315,457 in restitution.

    Moshe “Mark” Silber, 34, of New York, and Fredrick Schulman, 72, of New York, were also sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their respective roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Silber was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and Schulman was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, to be followed by nine months of home confinement.  The restitution amounts for Silber and Schulman will be determined at a later hearing.

    According to court documents, Aron and Eli Puretz were owners of a commercial property, Troy Technology Park, in Troy, Michigan. In September 2020, Aron and Eli Puretz purchased Troy Technology Park for approximately $42 million, before selling or flipping the property to a co-conspirator for approximately $70 million. Aron and Eli Puretz and their co-conspirators provided the lender with falsified documents that included the inflated purchase price. Based on the fraudulent documents, the lender funded a loan for $45 million. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Aron and Eli Puretz and co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the sale. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two simultaneous closings, one for the true sales price and another for the fraudulent sales price presented to the lender. 

    Separately, Silber and Schulman were managing members of Rhodium Capital Advisors, an entity that was involved in the acquisition and management of Williamsburg of Cincinnati, a large apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. In March 2019, Williamsburg of Cincinnati was acquired for $70 million. However, Silber, Schulman, and other co-conspirators utilized a stolen identity to present a lender and Fannie Mae with a fraudulent purchase-and-sale contract for over $95 million and other fraudulent documents. On March 8, 2019, two closings were performed, one for the true $70 million sales price and another for the fraudulent over $95 million sales price presented to the lenders. Based on the co-conspirators’ false statements, the lender and Fannie Mae funded a loan in excess of $74 million for the purchase of Williamsburg of Cincinnati.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the FHFA-OIG; Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group; and Acting Inspector General Stephen M. Begg of the HUD-OIG made the announcement.

    Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Alderney Representatives seek assurances on Alderney’s future. Tuesday 01 April 2025

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Press Release

    Date: 1st April 2025

    Alderney Representatives seek assurances on Alderney’s future.

    After extensive discussions with Alderney Policy and Finance Committee (P&F) the Alderney Representatives have submitted amendments to the States of Deliberation meeting of 9th April to seek assurances on Alderney’s future. This follows calls from the Policy & Resources Committee for a Bailiwick Commission and development of a solution to Alderney’s ongoing runway issues in the recently released Policy Letter.

    The propositions outline a way forward for the Island and will shape relations between Guernsey and Alderney for years to come. However, there are areas that require clarification.

    Chairman of P&F, Bill Abel said:

    “As the Policy Letter highlights, any further delay to the runway rehabilitation means there is an increased risk of airport closures. This could not only limit the essential services the island needs to survive, but also the long-term sustainability of Alderney’s, and thus the Bailiwick’s economy.

    We are therefore seeking a solution to this as soon as possible and the opportunity for Alderney to be a contributing stakeholder and not simply a consulted party.

    The Bailiwick Commission is a positive way forward and P&F fully support the establishment of that Commission. Further to this, it has been requested via an amendment that it not only reviews the constitutional and working relationships, but also the economic one as well.”

    Ends

    States of Alderney media enquiries: publications.alderney@gov.gg

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ferguson Man Sentenced to 93 Months in Prison for Drug Sales

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man from Ferguson, Missouri who sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to undercover St. Louis County police officers to 93 months in prison.

    Theodise Reece, 37, has been in custody since his arrest on Aug. 30, 2023, bringing the total he will serve for the crime to about nine years.

    After receiving several tips in June of 2023 that Reece was selling illegal drugs, the St. Louis County Police Department set up a series of undercover purchases of drugs, Reece’s plea agreement says. Reece sold $100 worth of fentanyl on June 14, 2023, then $150 worth of methamphetamine six days later, Reece admitted in his guilty plea.

    After making four more undercover purchases and witnessing Reece make another sale, investigators sought a search warrant for Reece’s home. They arrested him during an undercover buy on Aug. 30, 2023, and found a semiautomatic pistol in his car loaded with one chambered round and 18 more in an extended magazine. Inside a satchel slung across his chest, police found nearly 40 grams of fentanyl and 225 grams of meth as well as ecstasy, cocaine base and marijuana. Reece admitted that he sold drugs for a living. Investigators found an AR-style rifle in Reece’s home.

    Reece pleaded guilty in November to three felonies: distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    The St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Drug Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH Statement on Lawsuit Against Federal HHS

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Rhode Island was among a group of states that filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island today against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the premature termination of grants that support critical public health services.

    “Investments in public health make our communities healthier and safer, and they save lives,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “These grants support critical work to prevent deadly infectious diseases, ensure people are vaccinated, prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness, modernize many of our core laboratory functions, Medical Examiner’s Office, and public health data systems, amongst other work. These are public health services that Rhode Islanders paid for and deserve. I want to thank the legal team and program staff at RIDOH and the Attorney General’s Office for all the work that went into today’s filing.”

    Today’s filing was co-led by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and attorneys general from other states. In coordination with the Office of Governor Dan McKee and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) provided detailed affidavits for the filing, outlining the impact of these terminations. With this lawsuit, Attorney General Neronha and the coalition are seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the terminations of these grants.

    Last week RIDOH, received notice of the termination of four grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that represented roughly $31 million in public health funding. These grants originally came to RIDOH during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as they were renewed over time, their scopes were expanded by CDC to prepare Rhode Island for future pandemics and strengthen the public health system in Rhode Island. For example, these grants support:

    –Surveillance, outbreak response, engagement in care, and other infectious disease prevention and control activities. This decreases rates of infectious diseases in Rhode Island, including respiratory pathogens, foodborne illnesses, HIV, hepatitis C, congenital syphilis, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and tuberculosis. It also helps prevent disease clusters and outbreaks. –Occupational health, biosafety risk activities, biosafety training, and other functions. This funding also supports some core laboratory functions and administration as well as the replacement of obsolete laboratory equipment and systems (for example, a modernized Laboratory Information Management System). –The public health infrastructure that surrounds vaccination in Rhode Island. This includes vaccination clinics, partnerships with community organizations to promote vaccination and increase vaccine confidence, proper vaccine storage, and upgrading our immunization registry. This work and these systems help Rhode Island maintain some of the highest vaccination rates in the country across all vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., measles and other childhood vaccines, and seasonal vaccinations).

    RIDOH will continue to coordinate with the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General, the Governor’s Office, and EOHHS as this suit moves forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Boston Warns Quit Claim Deed Fraud is on the Rise

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Landowners and Real Estate Agents Urged to Take Action to Protect Themselves

    The Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning property owners and real estate agents about a steady increase in reports of quit claim deed fraud it has received—scams that have resulted in devastating consequences for unsuspecting owners who had no idea their land was sold, or was in the process of being sold, right out from under them.

    Known as quit claim deed fraud or home title theft, the schemes involve fraudsters who forge documents to record a phony transfer of property ownership. Criminals can then sell either the vacant land or home, take out a mortgage on it, or even rent it out to make a profit, forcing the real owners to head to court to reclaim their property.

    Deed fraud often involves identity theft where criminals will use personal information gleaned from the internet or elsewhere to assume your identity or claim to represent you to steal your property.

    “Folks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home. They’re suffering deeply personal losses that have inflicted a significant financial and emotional toll, including shock, anger, and even embarrassment,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. “We are urging the public to heed this warning and to take proactive steps to avoid losing your property. Anyone who is a victim of this type of fraud should report it to us.”

    Law enforcement and the FBI have been alerted to the fraud at all points in the process and have received reports involving a variety of fraudulent scenarios, including:  

    • Scammers who comb through public records to find vacant parcels of land and properties that don’t have a mortgage or other lien and then impersonate the landowner, asking a real estate agent to list the property. Homeowners whose properties have been listed for sale don’t know it until they’re alerted, sometimes after the sales have gone through.
    • Family members, often the elderly, targeted by their own relatives and close associates who convince them to transfer the property into their name for their own financial gain.
    • Fraudsters known as “title pirates” who use fraudulent or forged deeds and other documents to convey title to a property. Often these scams go undetected until after the money has been wired to the scammer in the fraudulent sale and the sale has been recorded.

    The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which provides the public with a means of reporting internet-facilitated crimes, does not have specific statistics solely for quit claim deed fraud, but it does fall into the real estate crime category. Nationwide, from 2019 through 2023, 58,141 victims reported $1.3 billion in losses relating to real estate fraud. Here in the Boston Division—which includes all of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—during the same period, 2,301 victims reported losing more than $61.5 million.

    • 262 victims in Maine lost $6,253,008.
    • 1,576 victims in Massachusetts lost $46,269,818.
    • 239 victims in New Hampshire lost $4,144,467.
    • 224 victims in Rhode Island lost $4,852,220.

    The reported losses are most likely much higher due to that fact that many don’t know where to report it, are embarrassed, or haven’t yet realized they have been scammed.

    FBI Boston is working with property owners, realtors, county registers, title companies, and insurance companies to thwart the fraud schemes but it’s no easy task. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way business was and continues to be conducted. More and more people have grown accustomed to conducting real estate transactions through email and over the phone. The remote nature of these sales is a benefit to bad actors.

    Tips for Landowners:

    • Continually monitor online property records and set up title alerts with the county clerk’s office (if possible).
    • Set up online search alerts for your property.
    • Drive by the property or have a management company periodically check it.
    • Ask your neighbors to notify you if they see anything suspicious.
    • Beware of anyone using encrypted applications to conduct real estate transactions.
    • Take action if you stop receiving your water or property tax bills, or if utility bills on vacant properties suddenly increase.

    The FBI can work with our partners to try to stop wire transfers and recover the funds within the first 72 hours. We urge folks to report fraud and suspected fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: TerraForm Power Press Release Concerning Resolution of Claims Against TerraForm Power and TerraForm Global

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On January 20, 2025, a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Case Number: 8:18-cv-02523-PX) by Carlos Domenech against TerraForm Power Parent, LLC, formerly TerraForm Power, Inc. (“TERP”), and TerraForm Global Holdco LLC, formerly TerraForm Global, Inc. (“Global”), was resolved. Mr. Domenech was the CEO and President of TERP and Global and an Executive Vice President of SunEdison, the former sponsor and controlling shareholder of TERP and Global, until he was terminated by the TERP and Global Boards of Directors and SunEdison without cause on November 20, 2015. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., together with its institutional partners, acquired TERP and Global after Mr. Domenech’s termination. Mr. Domenech claimed in this lawsuit that he was unlawfully terminated for reporting to the Board of Directors of SunEdison his claims that SunEdison executives had made false statements about SunEdison’s liquidity to the investing public. Mr. Domenech alleged, among other things, false reporting by SunEdison executives of financial results and forecasts, and other misconduct. SunEdison filed for bankruptcy on April 21, 2016.

    After nine years of litigation, the liability issues underlying Mr. Domenech’s allegations were the subject of a two-week bench trial conducted before the Honorable United States District Judge Paula Xinis in July and August 2024, who decided liability in favor of Mr. Domenech. The matter was resolved for $34,500,000.

    Contact for Investors/Media:

    Alex Jackson
    enquiries@brookfieldrenewable.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Launches First LSD Earn Zone, Introducing Flexible Onchain Yield

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has launched the industry’s first LSD Earn Zone, offering users a new way to earn onchain yields while keeping their crypto assets liquid. This feature introduces Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) into a simplified wallet experience, allowing users to grow their holdings without traditional staking lockups or restrictions.

    LSDs represent a new category of staking assets that combine yield generation with asset flexibility. When users stake tokens such as ETH or SOL on supported DeFi platforms, they receive equivalent derivative tokens in return. These tokens, known as Liquid Staking Derivatives, continue to accrue staking rewards but remain tradable and usable across DeFi protocols. This means users can earn passive income while still being able to trade, swap, provide liquidity or participate in other DeFi activities with the derivative tokens — maximizing both earning potential and asset utility. By eliminating the need to lock assets for fixed periods, LSDs make staking more accessible and efficient.

    At launch, Bitget Wallet’s LSD Earn Zone supports four carefully selected products across Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, offering annual yields ranging from approximately 4% to 8%. These include sUSDe, a USD-pegged stablecoin issued by Ethena; USDY, a real-world asset-backed token linked to U.S. Treasury yields via Ondo Finance; sUSDS, a multi-chain yield aggregator that dynamically allocates capital to top-performing protocols; and JitoSOL, a derivative token from Solana’s largest LSD protocol, enhanced through MEV strategies. All options are accessible via the “Hold to Earn” section of Bitget Wallet’s Earn tab, with real-time yield tracking and instant activation.

    Security and transparency are central to Bitget Wallet’s design. As a fully non-custodial wallet, it ensures that users retain complete control of their funds at all times. Unlike centralized platforms that carry counterparty risk, Bitget Wallet connects users directly to audited, battle-tested DeFi protocols. LSD products integrated into the Earn Zone undergo strict security reviews, and users benefit from real-time earnings visibility and seamless redemption. Bitget Wallet is further supported by a $300 million Protection Fund, offering additional reassurance in the event of unforeseen security risks.

    Bitget Wallet’s launch of LSD Earn Zone signals Web3 wallet’s evolution into the enhanced yield phase of onchain finance. With upcoming support for networks including Tron, Base, Sonic, and Sui, Bitget Wallet will continue expanding earning opportunities while improving onchain capital efficiency. Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, highlighted “As part of our broader Payfi strategy, we’re building tools that enable assets to earn yield continuously while remaining usable for other utilities. This is how money should work — flexible, efficient, and always active. Bitget Wallet offers a unified experience that combines earning, trading, and payments in one place, building an everyday finance hub for the next generation of users.

    For more details, please visit Bitget Wallet blog.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: XTelegramInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTikTokDiscordFacebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40a2062c-d8f8-4b48-a040-4b2863006843

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Under Musk’s Plan for Social Security, 67,000 Americans Will Die Waiting for Disability Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, April 1 – Ahead of the Senate Finance Committee’s vote to advance Trump’s nominee to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, today released new findings exposing the stark reality of Elon Musk’s plans to cut the SSA by up to 50 percent. These disastrous cuts are taking place at a time when Social Security’s staff is already at a 50-year low. 
    Under Musk’s policies, the number of people who will die waiting for benefits could more than double from nearly 30,000 in 2023 to up to 67,000. Average wait times for Social Security disability benefits will nearly double from an average of 236 days in February of 2025 to 412 days. 
    “President Trump and Elon Musk have suggested that ‘millions and millions’ of dead people receive Social Security checks. That is an outrageous lie designed to undermine Americans’ faith in Social Security,” said Sanders. “Here’s the truth: 30,000 people die a year waiting for an understaffed Social Security to approve disability benefits. The Trump-Musk plan to cut Social Security’s staff by up to 50 percent will make this tragic reality even worse, and Frank Bisignano is there to see it through. We cannot let that happen.” 
    In 2023, 5,252 full time employees were responsible for making disability determinations at SSA, a workforce which has steadily decreased from previous years. Even before DOGE started making cuts to SSA, the number of people who died waiting for a benefit decision grew from 10,000 to 30,000 from 2017 to 2023. Meanwhile, Americans have had to wait longer than ever to get their benefits. During that same time, the average wait time for a decision grew exponentially – from 111 days to 217 days. In February 2025, Americans had to wait an average of 236 days for a determination. 
    Instead of making the federal government work for the American people, the Trump administration and Elon Musk want to make SSA less efficient by cutting as much as 50 percent of its staff. Using SSA data and regarding initial decisions disability benefits for 2025, Musk’s reported plans to lay off Social Security employees will result in:
    Nearly 67,000 people dying and
    A 412 day wait.
    Sanders concluded: “Instead of slashing Social Security’s staff, closing down Social Security field offices, we should be making it easier, not harder, for seniors and people with disabilities to receive the Social Security benefits that they have earned and deserve.” 
    Read the full report here. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: XploraDEX $XPL Presale Heats Up as Investors Rush to Grab the Future of AI Trading on XRP Ledger

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XRPL Ecosystem in a market desperate for real innovation, XploraDEX is turning heads and whale wallets. As the first AI-powered decentralized exchange (DEX) on the XRP Ledger, XploraDEX is building more than a trading platform, it’s launching a smarter way to engage with crypto markets.

    With its native token, $XPL Now in Presale, investor interest has skyrocketed as traders, builders, and even XRP whales position themselves for what many are calling XRPL’s most exciting DeFi opportunity of 2025.

    PARTICIPATE IN $XPL PRESALE

    Why the Hype? XploraDEX Is Changing the Game

    Most DEXs let you swap tokens. XploraDEX helps you trade smarter. Here’s how it’s shaking up XRPL:

    • AI-Powered Trade Execution: Real-time analysis, automated entries, and smart exits—no more trading on emotion.
    • Predictive Insights: Get market forecasts and risk alerts before the market moves.
    • Auto-Optimized Liquidity: AI routes your trades with minimal slippage and maximum capital efficiency.
    • Built on XRPL: Lightning-fast transactions, micro fees, and eco-friendly infrastructure.

    XploraDEX is where speed meets intelligence,and the market is noticing.

    The $XPL Token: Power, Profit, and Participation

    What makes the $XPL Token more than just another presale launch?

    • Access to premium AI tools and auto-trading bots
    • Fee discounts and platform rebates
    • Staking rewards and real yield from protocol activity
    • Governance rights to help steer the platform’s future
    • Early access to partner IDOs, launches, and ecosystem drops

    $XPL is a true utility token, designed for adoption, not just speculation.

    BUY $XPL ON PRESALE

    Presale Frenzy: Investors Are Rushing In since launch, the $XPL presale has already seen:

    • Unique wallets participating in the presale round.
    • High-volume interest from XRPL influencers and whales
    • Buzz across social platforms.

    $XPL PreSale Information

    Token Name: XploraDEX

    Total Supply: 500,000,000

    Presale Allocation: First Come, First Serve!

    DEX Listing: 25% Higher

    Liquidity Pools: Launching immediately after TGE!

    BUY $XPL TOKEN: https://sale.xploradex.io

    Each presale round is filling fast—and with tiered pricing, early buyers are locking in a better deal before the next price increase hits. “This is the opportunity XRP holders have been waiting for—an intelligent DEX that actually brings utility to the ledger,” said one early supporter.

    Don’t Get Left Behind

    The AI revolution in crypto isn’t coming, it’s already here. And XploraDEX is leading it from the frontlines of XRPL. If you missed being early on Solana, Uniswap, or Curve this is your second shot.

    Secure Your $XPL Presale Allocation Today: https://sale.xploradex.io

    Stay connected and Join the XploraDEX AI Revolution

    Website | $XPL Token Presale | X | Telegram

    Contact:
    Oliver Muller
    oliver@xploradex.io
    contact@xploradex.io

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the XploraDEX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

    Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70c2609e-b4ef-4ae9-8b97-45370ac43de0

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: WithSecure Corporation: SHARE REPURCHASE 1.4.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WithSecure Corporation, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 1 April 2025 at 6.30 PM (EET)
           
           
    WithSecure Corporation: SHARE REPURCHASE 1.4.2025  
           
    In the Helsinki Stock Exchange      
           
    Trade date           1.4.2025    
    Bourse trade         Buy    
    Share                  WITH    
    Amount             15 000 Shares  
    Average price/ share    0,9180 EUR  
    Total cost            13 770,00 EUR  
           
           
    WithSecure Corporation now holds a total of 311 890 shares  
    including the shares repurchased on 1.4.2025    
           
    The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation   
    No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
    and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.  
           
           
    On behalf of Withsecure Corporation    
           
    Nordea Bank Oyj      
           
    Janne Sarvikivi           Sami Huttunen    
           
           
    Contact information:      
    Laura Viita      
    Vice President Controlling, Investor relations and Sustainability
    WithSecure Corporation      
    Tel. +358 50 4871044      
    Investor-relations@withsecure.com      

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Laundering Millions in Criminal Proceeds Linked to Romance Scams and Business Email Compromise Schemes

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Olumide Olorunfunmi, 39, a Nigerian national, appeared in federal court in Charlotte today and pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for laundering millions in criminal proceeds linked to romance scams and business email compromise schemes, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.  According to documents filed with the court and today’s plea hearing, the scheme caused more than 125 victims to transfer over $4.5 million of proceeds stemming from illegal activities.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    Two of Olorunfunmi’s co-conspirators, both Nigerian nationals, have also pleaded guilty to federal charges and are awaiting sentencing. Specifically, Samson Amos, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Emmanuel Unuigbe, 42, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

    As Olorunfunmi admitted in court today, from 2020 through 2023, Olorunfunmi conspired with Amos, Unuigbe, and others to launder the criminal proceeds of various illegal activities, including romance scams that typically targeted elderly victims, and business email compromise schemes (BECs). Court records show that the victims of the schemes were directed to transfer funds into domestic and international bank accounts controlled by Olorunfunmi and his co-conspirators. Upon receiving the fraud proceeds, Olorunfunmi and his co-conspirators transferred the funds to other bank accounts, in the U.S. and overseas.

    Olorunfunmi, Amos and Unuigbe profited by keeping a portion of the criminal proceeds obtained through the schemes. They also profited by agreeing to “pay” for the domestic deposits received by others by transferring Nigerian Naira from accounts the co-conspirators controlled in Nigeria to other accounts in Nigeria, based upon a “black market” exchange rate for United States Dollars to Naira.

    The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for the investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.

    Business Email Compromise Schemes

    BEC schemes, also referred to as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” are sophisticated scams that often target individuals, employees, or businesses involved in financial transactions or that regularly perform wire transfer payments. Fraudsters are usually part of larger criminal networks

    operating in the United States and abroad. There are many variations of BEC schemes. Generally, the schemes involve perpetrators gaining unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts or creating email accounts that closely resemble those of individuals or employees associated with the targeted businesses or involved in business transactions with the victim businesses. The scammers then use the compromised or fake email accounts to send false wiring instructions to the targeted businesses or individuals, to dupe the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme. Generally, the money is quickly transferred to other accounts in the United States or overseas. More information on BEC schemes can be found here.

    Romance Scams

    In romance scams, fraudsters use a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The fraudsters then use the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. The fraudsters want to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear themselves to the victim, and gain trust. Fraudsters may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money. The fraudsters who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable, and are present on most dating and social media sites. They also claim to be in the building or construction industry and/or are engaged in projects outside the U.S. That makes it easier to avoid meeting in person and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fees. More information on romance scams can be found here.

    If you have been the victim of an online scam or know someone who has been victimized, it is important to report it to law enforcement. Please visit ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), to file a complaint. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Copley Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    AKRON, Ohio – Brandon E. Crawford, 24, of Copley, Ohio, was sentenced March 11, 2025, by U.S. District Judge David Ruiz to 13 years in prison after he admitted to committing child sexual abuse related offenses (CSAM), also known as child pornography. He pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and register as a sex offender, per the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

    According to court documents, Crawford admitted to receiving and distributing CSAM files from about November 2022 to January 2024. During a search warrant execution, federal investigators seized a cellphone that contained sexually explicit content of children. During the investigation, they found that Crawford used social media applications on his cellphone to trade CSAM with others, including at least one image that involved a minor under the age of 12.

    The investigation was conducted by the FBI-Akron Field Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter E. Daly for the Northern District of Ohio.

    To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Announcement of the total number of voting rights as at 31 March 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Regulated information, Leuven, 1 April 2025 (17.40 hrs CEST)

    Announcement of the total number of voting rights as at 31 March 2025

    In application of Article 15 of the Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of major shareholdings in issuers whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market, KBC Ancora publishes on its website and via a press release on a monthly basis the total capital, the movements in the total number of voting shares and the total number of voting rights, in so far as these particulars have changed during the preceding month.

    Situation as at 31 March 2025
    Total capital :         EUR 3,158,128,455.28
    Total number of voting shares :            77,011,844
    Number of shares with double voting rights :        39,777,114
    Total number of voting rights (= denominator) :        116,788,958

    The total number of voting rights (the ‘denominator’) serves as the basis for the disclosure of major shareholdings by shareholders.

    On the basis of this information, shareholders of KBC Ancora can verify whether they are above or below one of the thresholds of 3% (threshold set by the Articles of Association), 5%, 10%, and so on (in multiples of five) of the total voting rights, and whether there is therefore an obligation to notify the company that they have exceeded this threshold.

    ———————————

    KBC Ancora is a listed company which holds 18.6% of the shares in KBC Group and which together with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders ensures the shareholder stability and further development of the KBC group. As core shareholders of KBC Group, they have to this end signed a shareholder agreement.

    Financial calendar:
    29 August 2025                         Annual press release for the financial year 2024/2025
    23 September 2025                  Annual report 2024/2025 available
    31 October 2025                       General Meeting of Shareholders

    This press release is available in Dutch, French and English on the website www.kbcancora.be.

    KBC Ancora Investor Relations & Press contact: Jan Bergmans
    tel.: +32 (0)16 27 96 72 – e-mail: jan.bergmans@kbcancora.be or mailbox@kbcancora.be

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: COFACE SA: Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares in the capital as at March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COFACE SA: Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares in the capital as at March 31, 2025

    Paris, April 1st, 2025 – 17.45

    Total Number of
    Shares Capital
    Theoretical Number of Voting Rights1 Number of Real
    Voting Rights2
    150,179,792 150,179,792 149,506,903

    (1)   including own shares
    (2)   excluding own shares

      Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.

    About Coface

    COFACE SA is a société anonyme (joint-stock corporation), with a Board of Directors (Conseil d’Administration) incorporated under the laws of France, and is governed by the provisions of the French Commercial Code. The Company is registered with the Nanterre Trade and Companies Register (Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés) under the number 432 413 599. The Company’s registered office is at 1 Place Costes et Bellonte, 92270 Bois Colombes, France.

    At the date of 31 December 2024, the Company’s share capital amounts to €300,359,584, divided into 150,179,792 shares, all of the same class, and all of which are fully paid up and subscribed.

    All regulated information is available on the company’s website (http://www.coface.com/Investors).

    Coface SA. is listed on Euronext Paris – Compartment A
    ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Waton Financial Limited Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waton Financial Limited (“WTF” or the “Company”), a British Virgin Islands-incorporated holding company that provides of securities brokerage and financial technology services primarily through its Hong Kong subsidiaries, Waton Securities International Limited and Waton Technology International Limited, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of an aggregate of 4,375,000 ordinary shares, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), at a public offering price of $4.00 per share (the “Offering”).

    In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters of the Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 656,250 Ordinary Shares at the initial public offering price (the “Over-allotment”), less underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds to WTF from the Offering (assuming that the Over-allotment is not exercised), before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by WTF, is expected to be approximately $17,500,000.

    The Ordinary Shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “WTF” on April 1, 2025. The Offering is expected to close on April 2, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The Offering is conducted on a firm commitment basis. CATHAY SECURITIES, INC. is acting as representative of the underwriters for the offering, with Dominari Securities LLC acting as co-underwriter (collectively, the “Underwriters”). Carey Olsen Singapore LLP, Han Kun Law Offices LLP and Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC are acting as British Virgin Islands legal counsel, Hong Kong legal advisers and U.S. securities counsel, respectively, to the Company. Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. is acting as U.S. securities counsel to the Underwriters for the Offering.

    The Offering is being conducted pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-283424) previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 31, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the SEC for more information about the Company and the Offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, electronic copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from CATHAY SECURITIES, INC. at 40 Wall Street, Suite 3600, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at +1 (855) 939-3888

    This press release has been prepared for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and no sale of these securities may be made in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” as defined under the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “should”, “seek”, “estimate”, “will”, “aim” and “anticipate”, or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    About Waton Financial Limited (“Waton”)

    Waton Financial Limited is a British Virgin Islands-incorporated holding company with operations primarily conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Waton Securities International Limited and Waton Technology International Limited. Waton provides a suite of financial services, including securities brokerage, asset management, and software licensing and other support services, catering to a diverse clientele of retail and institutional investors. Waton leverages technology and a client-centric approach with the aim to deliver innovative and reliable financial solutions.

    For further information, please contact:

    Waton Financial Limited 
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@waton.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Greenbacker delivers 2024 results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Key Takeaways

    • Amid challenging market conditions, including inflationary pressures and macro uncertainty, Greenbacker announces decrease in NAV.
    • Charles Wheeler retires as CEO; Dan de Boer assumes position of interim CEO; Robert Brennan appointed Chairman of the Board.
    • Company institutes additional cost saving measures, including 10% reduction in workforce; operating expenses expected to reduce by $12 million, or 20%, by 2026.
    • Board of Directors authorizes review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.
    • Total operating revenue in 2024 increased by 16% year-over-year, to $210 million.
    • Operating fleet grew by 8%, with 22 new solar energy assets in operation representing 117 MW of additional power production capacity.
    • Annual power production increase of 23% driven by new solar assets combined with Company’s milestone wind repowers.
    • Greenbacker’s fleet of clean energy assets generated 2.7 billion kilowatt-hours of power, enough to power 250,000 US homes.

    NEW YORK, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC (“Greenbacker,” “GREC,” or the “Company”), an energy transition-focused investment manager and independent power producer, has announced financial results for 2024, including year-over-year increases in annual revenue, operating capacity, and clean energy generation.¹

    Market conditions, inflationary pressures, and re-underwriting process determined adjusted NAV

    With the renewable energy sector at a critical juncture, during 2024 Greenbacker initiated a detailed, multi-quarter re-underwriting process prior to releasing its December 31, 2024 net asset value (“NAV”), in which the Company evaluated the expected future performance of the assets in its portfolio relative to their historical performance, while also taking into account the impact of current market conditions. As a result, GREC adjusted its aggregate NAV as of December 31, 2024 to $5.03 per share, a 35.5% decrease relative to the September 30, 2024 NAV of $7.81 per share.

    Several factors contributed to the Company’s NAV revision. Inflationary pressures, supply chain imbalances, and increasing insurance costs due to heightened climate risk contributed to a significant increase in operating costs. New clean energy generation projections from independent engineers based on recent industry data have provided additional insight, replacing earlier projections that had been obtained during a period with limited historical data available and diverged relative to actual production. Additionally, there continues to be uncertainty around potential changes to the Inflation Reduction Act and the threat of additional tariffs, both of which are impacting the near-term outlook for renewables.

    These headwinds contributed to a challenging market environment and downward pressure in renewable energy asset pricing across the sector, which Greenbacker saw reflected through both market sale processes and a comprehensive asset-by asset-review.

    At the project level, the Company continues to maintain financial stability, resulting in strong financial coverage ratios. Additionally, at the firm level, Greenbacker continues to maintain sufficient overall liquidity and receive ongoing support from its leading project financing partners.

    Organizational restructuring executed to increase operational efficiencies

    Greenbacker is announcing an organizational restructuring designed to streamline operations, reduce costs, and better position the Company to capitalize on future market opportunities and deliver value to shareholders.

    As part of these changes, Charles Wheeler is retiring from his role as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairman of the Greenbacker Board of Directors (“Board”), effective April 1, 2025. Chief Investment Officer and Head of Infrastructure Dan de Boer has been named interim CEO, effective April 1, 2025, and Director Robert Brennan has been appointed Chairman of the Board. The Greenbacker Board is considering both external and internal candidates for the role of a permanent CEO, which is expected to be confirmed no later than the end of Q2 2025. Wheeler will continue to serve as a member of the Board until the earlier of December 31, 2025 and the date on which a permanent replacement CEO has been appointed.

    Wheeler, who is also one of Greenbacker’s Co-Founders, spoke about his retirement and Greenbacker’s future:

    “14 years ago, with a group of like-minded individuals, I created Greenbacker with the goal of providing an investment vehicle that would enable ordinary American investors to participate in the renewable energy revolution. We’ve built Greenbacker into a business that is contributing to the transition to clean energy with hundreds of projects representing more than 3.6 gigawatts² of clean power generation capacity across the country.

    Given current market conditions, changes are needed to best position Greenbacker to benefit from future market opportunities. I believe that Dan and Greenbacker’s other leaders are the right team to guide us through this period while promoting our mission to empower a sustainable world.”

    De Boer has been with Greenbacker since 2023 and brings nearly two decades of experience in private equity and renewable energy investing, with prior leadership roles and positions at Allianz Capital Partners, Onyx Renewable Partners within Blackstone Energy Partners, and D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments.

    In addition to restructuring the leadership team, the Company has progressed several cost savings initiatives, including a reduction of approximately 10% of its workforce, effective March 31, 2025. Greenbacker anticipates that the reduction in force and other operational efficiency efforts that began in mid-2024 will reduce overhead expenses by $12 million, or 20%, by 2026.

    “We want to recognize the impact that this decision has on the careers and lives of the individuals at Greenbacker,” said interim CEO, Dan de Boer. “We value our people and employed care and thoughtfulness as we attempted to balance our business requirements with any adverse impact to our team. While difficult, we believe that taking these measures will better position the firm to achieve long-term growth.”

    Additionally, the Company has identified opportunities to recycle capital within the portfolio by pursuing targeted non-core asset sales.

    Annual total operating revenue topped $210 million, as Company continued to move assets into operation, contributing to year-over-year production increase of 23%

    During 2024, Greenbacker increased total operating revenue³ by $29 million, or 16% year-over-year, to over $210 million.

    Revenue from the sale of clean energy within Greenbacker’s independent power producer (“IPP”) business segment totaled $185.2 million in 2024, of which $155.0 million, or approximately 84%, came from the Company’s long-term power purchase agreements (“PPAs”).

    For 2024, the net loss attributable to Greenbacker was $(242.3) million and Adjusted EBTIDA⁴ was $59.8 million, representing year-over-year changes of (205)% and 88%, respectively. The net loss was primarily the result of goodwill impairment charges, driven by a deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, as well as by depreciation, amortization, and other impairment charges in the period.

    GREC increased its operating fleet size by 8% in 2024, which included placing 22 new solar energy assets into operation, accounting for 117 MW of additional power production.⁵ Additionally, the three wind assets strategically taken offline during portions of 2023 for repowering (i.e., retrofitting with new, more efficient equipment) had all returned to full operation producing power by early 2024.

    In total, GREC’s new operating solar assets and repowered wind portfolio drove an annual power production increase of 23% year-over-year,⁶ as the Company’s fleet of clean energy assets generated 2.7 billion kilowatt-hours of power, enough to power over 250,000 US homes.⁷

    GREC Operating Fleet 2024 2023 YoY Increase
    (total)
    YoY Increase
    (%)
    Clean power produced by solar assets (MWh) 1,504,580 1,256,183 248,397 20%
    PPA revenue generated by solar assets ($M) 87.8 $ 74.1 $ 13.6 18%
    Clean power produced by wind assets (MWh) 1,236,431 978,236 258,195 26%
    PPA revenue generated by wind assets ($M) 65.8 $ 53.9 $ 11.9 22%
    Total clean power generated by wind and solar assets (MWh) 2,741,011 2,234,419 506,592 23%
    Total PPA operating revenue generated by wind and solar assets ($M) 153.5 $ 128.0 $ 25.5 20%

    Some figures may not add to stated totals due to rounding. Total clean power generated does not include power generated from biomass facility during 2023 and a portion of 2024, nor does it include assets in which the Company holds a preferred equity position.

    Greenbacker secures nearly $1 billion financing for largest solar farm in New York State; completes $437 million financing for milestone wind repowers; and completes targeted non-core asset sale

    Throughout 2024, Greenbacker made substantial progress on one of its core objectives: securing the capital necessary for the construction of its remaining pre-operating assets—and converting those projects into revenue-generating operating assets selling electricity. The Company also continued to receive robust support from its project finance partners, enabling it to reach significant milestones over the year.

    In particular, Greenbacker secured nearly $1 billion in financing for the acquisition, construction and operation of its 674 MW Cider solar farm, the largest solar energy project in the state of New York to date. Cider also represents both Greenbacker’s largest clean energy asset to date and the largest project financing in Company history (for which it was awarded Proximo Infrastructure’s 2024 Solar Deal of the Year).

    The construction financing represented $869 million from six of the world’s top financial institutions, including ongoing Greenbacker partners MUFG, KeyBanc Capital Markets and Wells Fargo, as well as first-time partnerships with ING Capital LLC, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., New York Branch and Societe Generale. The Company also closed on an $81 million development loan with Voya Investment Management, its first partnership with the global investment manager.

    Greenbacker additionally completed $437 million in financing for its wind repower portfolio. GREC was able to create additional value from existing assets by updating the turbine blades, hubs, and nacelles at three wind projects in its Midwestern fleet. To finance the repowering, the Company collaborated with lending partner Bayerische Landesbank to secure $81.5 million in construction bridge loan facilities, as well as long-term debt and tax equity financing from Huntington National Bank, via sales leasebacks totaling $355.7 million.

    Also in 2024, Greenbacker completed the sale of its 54 MW Panther Creek pre-operating wind asset to an affiliated sustainable infrastructure-focused platform. The asset sale illustrated GREC’s ability to develop large clean energy assets through late-stage development, a key component of its go-forward strategy, while its affiliate platform viewed the project as an opportunity to add a fully developed, high cash-yielding asset, in line with its investment mandate.

    Long-term contracted cash flows with investment-grade counterparties

    As of December 31, 2024, the Greenbacker operating fleet represented approximately 1.6 gigawatts of total clean power generation and storage capacity, spanning over 30 states, territories, districts and provinces. Due to its size and geographic footprint, GREC’s operating fleet was listed among Solarplaza’s 2025 Top 50 Operating Solar Portfolios in North America.

    At the end of 2024, over 93% of Greenbacker’s entire portfolio of operating and pre-operating clean energy projects were currently, or will be when completed, selling power to investment-grade counterparties, including utilities, municipalities, and corporations, under long-term power purchase agreements (“PPAs”). The portfolio had approximately 17.4 years of contracted cash flows associated with these PPAs.

    Review of strategic alternatives

    In addition to the other measures to reduce costs, operate more efficiently, and promote a path to better outcomes for its investors, the Greenbacker Board has authorized the Company to conduct a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives.

    In regard to this review, the Board will consider a full range of operational and financial alternatives. A strategic review may result in Greenbacker securing additional capital to continue executing on its business plan: acquiring, owning, and operating a fleet of sustainable infrastructure assets that the Company efficiently manages to create both value and potential liquidity options for its shareholders.

    “During 2024, Greenbacker closed on the Cider deal, completed our milestone wind repowers, and brought 117 MW of additional capacity online, showcasing how we can utilize additional capital while continuing to deliver on our core focus,” de Boer said. “We believe current valuations in the renewables sector do not align with the supportive fundamentals driving the energy transition, leading to a compelling inflection point for renewable infrastructure investment. In short: we believe this is one of the better times to be investing in the energy transition.”

    Company’s investments produce power, abate carbon emissions, conserve water, and support green jobs

    As of December 31, 2024, Greenbacker’s clean energy assets had cumulatively produced more than 11 million MWh of clean power since January 2016, abating over 7 million metric tons of carbon⁸ and saving nearly 8 billion gallons of water.⁹ Greenbacker’s fleet of operating and pre-operating projects currently support, or are expected to support, thousands of green jobs.¹⁰

    Additional information regarding the Company’s impact can also be found in Greenbacker’s latest impact report.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those that relate to our search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer, our strategy and initiatives and our expectations for growth, within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ from the predicted results, performance or achievements include, among others, difficulties or delays we encounter in identifying a permanent Chief Executive Officer; our ability to execute on, and achieve the expected benefits from, our operational and strategic initiatives; our inability to realize the expected reduction in overhead expenses as a result of our reduction in force; volatility of the global financial markets and uncertain economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, inflationary pressures, recessionary concerns or global supply chain issues; public response to and changes in the local, state and federal regulatory framework affecting renewable energy projects; risks associated with changes in the fair value of our investments and the methods we use to estimate the fair value of our assets; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in our most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the SEC. Although Greenbacker believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. Greenbacker undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein to conform to actual results or changes in its expectations.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    In addition to evaluating the Company’s performance on a U.S. GAAP basis, the Company utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures to analyze the operating performance of our segments as well as our consolidated business. Each of these measures should not be considered in isolation from or as superior to or as a substitute for other financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, such as net income (loss) or operating income (loss). The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to supplement its U.S. GAAP results in order to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting its operations.

    Adjusted EBITDA
    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses as a performance measure, as well as for internal planning purposes. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to management and investors in providing a measure of core financial performance adjusted to allow for comparisons of results of operations across reporting periods on a consistent basis, as it includes adjustments relating to items that are not indicative on the ongoing operating performance of the business.

    Adjusted EBITDA is a performance measure used by management that is not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from or as superior to or as a substitute for net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Additionally, our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

    Funds From Operations (FFO)
    FFO is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses as a performance measure to analyze net earnings from operations without the effects of certain non-recurring items that are not indicative of the ongoing operating performance of the business. FFO is calculated using Adjusted EBITDA less the impact of interest expense (excluding the non-cash component) and distributions to tax equity investors under the financing facilities associated with our IPP segment. 

    The Company believes that the analysis and presentation of FFO will enhance our investor’s understanding of the ongoing performance of our operating business. The Company considers FFO, in addition to other GAAP and non-GAAP measures, in assessing operating performance and as a proxy for growth in distribution coverage over the long term.

    FFO should not be considered in isolation from or as a superior to or as a substitute for net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    General Disclosure
    This information has been prepared solely for informational purposes and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security, or to participate in any trading or investment strategy. The information presented herein may involve Greenbacker’s views, estimates, assumptions, facts, and information from other sources that are believed to be accurate and reliable and are, as of the date this information is presented, subject to change without notice.

     
    GREENBACKER RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands, except per share data)
        December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
             
    Assets        
    Current assets:        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 120,057     $ 96,872  
    Restricted cash, current     38,403       85,235  
    Accounts receivable, net     27,103       23,310  
    Derivative assets, current     17,632       24,062  
    Other current assets     28,586       62,429  
    Total current assets     231,781       291,908  
    Noncurrent assets:        
    Restricted cash     3,128       5,568  
    Property, plant and equipment, net     2,232,486       2,133,877  
    Intangible assets, net     362,352       453,214  
    Goodwill           221,314  
    Investments, at fair value     74,136       94,878  
    Derivative assets     98,495       118,106  
    Other noncurrent assets     242,667       140,740  
    Total noncurrent assets     3,013,264       3,167,697  
    Total assets   $ 3,245,045     $ 3,459,605  
    Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Equity        
    Current liabilities:        
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 69,464     $ 79,288  
    Shareholder distributions payable           7,606  
    Contingent consideration, current     15,293       16,546  
    Current portion of long-term debt     88,901       82,855  
    Current portion of failed sale-leaseback financing and deferred ITC gain     45,868       69,436  
    Other current liabilities     8,767       7,997  
    Total current liabilities     228,293       263,728  
    Noncurrent liabilities:        
    Long-term debt, net of current portion     1,001,654       935,397  
    Failed sale-leaseback financing and deferred ITC gain, net of current portion     201,601       169,829  
    Contingent consideration, net of current portion     300       42,307  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net     35,316       58,696  
    Operating lease liabilities     196,911       108,406  
    Out-of-market contracts, net     180,640       194,785  
    Other noncurrent liabilities     59,261       53,492  
    Total noncurrent liabilities     1,675,683       1,562,912  
    Total liabilities   $ 1,903,976     $ 1,826,640  
    Redeemable noncontrolling interests   $ 1,851     $ 2,179  
    Redeemable common shares, par value, $0.001 per share, nil and 873 outstanding as of 2024 and 2023, respectively           1  
    Redeemable common shares, additional paid-in capital           7,245  
    Equity:        
    Preferred shares, par value, $0.001 per share, 50,000 authorized; none issued and outstanding            
    Common shares, par value, $0.001 per share, 350,000 authorized, 199,326 and 197,749 outstanding as of 2024 and 2023, respectively     199       198  
    Additional paid-in capital     1,773,758       1,770,060  
    Accumulated deficit     (584,733 )     (306,525 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income     34,937       45,932  
    Noncontrolling interests     115,057       113,875  
    Total equity     1,339,218       1,623,540  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity   $ 3,245,045     $ 3,459,605  
             
             
    GREENBACKER RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (in thousands, except per share data)
        Year ended December 31,
          2024       2023  
    Revenue        
    Energy revenue   $ 185,225     $ 159,301  
    Investment Management revenue     18,757       13,490  
    Other revenue     6,085       8,434  
    Contract amortization, net     (14,301 )     (8,060 )
    Total net revenue   $ 195,766     $ 173,165  
             
    Operating expenses        
    Direct operating costs     124,681       105,586  
    General and administrative     52,552       60,617  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (39,348 )     (603 )
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion     81,953       125,743  
    Gain on deconsolidation, net     (5,622 )      
    Impairment of goodwill     221,314        
    Impairment of long-lived assets, net and project termination costs     88,410       59,294  
    Total operating expenses     523,940       350,637  
             
    Operating loss     (328,174 )     (177,472 )
             
    Interest expense, net     (7,612 )     (20,328 )
    Change in fair value of investments, net     (14,701 )     932  
    Income from sale-leaseback transfer of tax benefits     22,764        
    Other income (expense), net     2,436       (267 )
             
    Loss before income taxes     (325,287 )     (197,135 )
    Benefit (expense) from income taxes     19,378       21,548  
    Net loss   $ (305,909 )   $ (175,587 )
    Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests     (63,609 )     (96,116 )
    Net loss attributable to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC   $ (242,300 )   $ (79,471 )
             
    Earnings per share        
    Basic   $ (1.22 )   $ (0.40 )
    Diluted   $ (1.22 )   $ (0.40 )
             
    Weighted average shares outstanding        
    Basic     199,313       199,293  
    Diluted     199,313       199,293  
             
             
    GREENBACKER RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (in thousands)
        Year ended December 31,
          2024       2023  
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities        
    Net loss   $ (305,909 )   $ (175,587 )
    Adjustments to reconcile Net loss to Net cash provided by operating activities:        
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion     96,254       133,803  
    Gain on deconsolidation, net     (5,622 )      
    Impairment of goodwill     221,314        
    Impairment of long-lived assets, net     74,782       59,294  
    Loss on sale of Illinois Winds LLC     12,656        
    Share-based compensation expense     378       11,248  
    Changes in fair value of contingent consideration     (39,348 )     (603 )
    Amortization of financing costs and debt discounts     6,261       6,711  
    Amortization of interest rate swap contracts     (1,055 )     6,750  
    Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net     (44,748 )     (17,763 )
    Gain on interest rate swaps, net     (1,356 )     (2,428 )
    Change in fair value of investments     14,701       (932 )
    Deferred income taxes     (19,378 )     (21,548 )
    Interest expense on failed sale-leaseback financing and deferred ITC gain     7,549        
    Income from sale-leaseback transfer of tax benefits     (22,764 )      
    Other     3,565       5,743  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
    Accounts receivable     (4,864 )     (2,959 )
    Current and noncurrent derivative assets     52,602       56,696  
    Other current and noncurrent assets     9,416       (10,661 )
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     14,164       14,891  
    Operating lease liabilities     (1,543 )     (1,290 )
    Other current and noncurrent liabilities     420       1,036  
    Net cash provided by operating activities     67,475       62,401  
             
    Cash Flows from Investing Activities        
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (287,822 )     (360,650 )
    Net deposits returned (paid) for property, plant and equipment     8,155       8,138  
    Proceeds from sale of Illinois Winds LLC     36,563        
    Purchases of investments     (734 )     (5,298 )
    Return of capital on investments     6,775       3,906  
    Loans made to other parties     (19,742 )      
    Receipts from notes receivable     46,204       30,725  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (210,601 )     (323,179 )
             
    Cash Flows from Financing Activities        
    Shareholder distributions     (37,196 )     (87,597 )
    Return of collateral paid for swap contract           1,735  
    Repurchases of common shares     (6,428 )     (82,719 )
    Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards     (1,880 )      
    Deferred shareholder servicing fees     (3,150 )     (3,486 )
    Contributions from noncontrolling interests     110,216       144,895  
    Distributions to noncontrolling interests     (17,850 )     (17,498 )
    Proceeds from borrowings     404,580       425,532  
    Payments on borrowings     (320,174 )     (351,764 )
    Proceeds from failed sale-leaseback     111,453       240,969  
    Payments on failed sale-leaseback     (87,089 )      
    Payments for loan origination costs     (34,698 )     (11,447 )
    Other capital activity     (745 )     (865 )
    Net cash provided by financing activities     117,039       257,755  
    Net decrease in Cash, cash equivalents and Restricted cash     (26,087 )     (3,023 )
    Cash, cash equivalents and Restricted cash at beginning of period*     187,675       190,698  
    Cash, cash equivalents and Restricted cash at end of period   $ 161,588     $ 187,675  
             
    *Cash, cash equivalents and Restricted cash as of May 18, 2022 includes all consolidated subsidiaries of the Company upon the change in status.


    Non-GAAP Reconciliations

    Adjusted EBITDA

    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses as a performance measure as well as for internal planning purposes. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to management and investors in providing a measure of core financial performance adjusted to allow for comparisons of results of operations across reporting periods on a consistent basis as it includes adjustments relating to items that are not indicative of the ongoing operating performance of the business.

    The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before: (i) interest expense; (ii) income taxes; (iii) depreciation expense; (iv) amortization expense (including contract amortization); (v) accretion; (vi) impairment of long-lived assets; (vii) amounts attributable to our redeemable and non-redeemable noncontrolling interests; (viii) unrealized gains and losses on financial instruments; (ix) gains and losses for asset dispositions; (x) other income (loss); and (xi) foreign currency gain (loss). Additionally, the Company further adjusts for the following items described below:

    • Share-based compensation is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA as it is different from other forms of compensation as it is a non-cash expense and is highly variable. For example, a cash salary generally has a fixed and unvarying cash cost. In contrast, the expense associated with an equity-based award is generally unrelated to the amount of cash ultimately received by the employee, and the cost to the Company is based on a share-based compensation valuation methodology and underlying assumptions that may vary over time;
    • The change in fair value of contingent consideration, which is related to the Acquisition, is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, if any such change occurs during the period. The non-cash, mark-to-market adjustments are based on the expected achievement of revenue targets that are difficult to forecast and can be variable, making comparisons across historical and future quarters difficult to evaluate;
    • Beginning 2024, start-up costs associated with new investment strategies is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. The Company evaluates new investment strategies on a regular basis and excludes start-up cost from Adjusted EBITDA until such time as a new strategy is determined to form part of the Company’s core investment management business.
    • Beginning 2024, placement fees, including internal sales commissions, related to fundraising efforts based on the capital raised, are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. By excluding these fundraising-related fees from Adjusted EBITDA, we focus on core operational performance, separate from capital raising efforts, which might vary significantly from period to period.
    • Other costs that are not consistently occurring, not reflective of expected future operating expense and provide no insight into the fundamentals of current or past operations of our business are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. This includes costs such as professional services and legal fees, and other non-recurring costs unrelated to the ongoing operations of the Company.

    Adjusted EBITDA is a performance measure used by management that is not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from or as superior to or as a substitute for net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Additionally, our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

    FFO

    FFO is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses as a performance measure to analyze net earnings from operations without the effects of certain non-recurring items that are not indicative of the ongoing operating performance of the business.

    FFO is calculated using Adjusted EBITDA less the impact of interest expense (excluding the non-cash component) and distributions to Tax Equity Investors under the financing facilities associated with our IPP segment. The Company excludes these distributions as these are not recorded within Adjusted EBITDA and is therefore not a component of our earnings from operations.

    The Company believes that the analysis and presentation of FFO will enhance our investors’ understanding of the ongoing performance of our operating business. The Company considers FFO, in addition to other GAAP and non-GAAP measures, in assessing operating performance and as a proxy for growth in distribution coverage over the long-term.

    Adjusted EBITDA and FFO should not be considered in isolation from or as a superior to or as a substitute for net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    The following table reconciles Net loss attributable to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC to Adjusted EBITDA and FFO:

        Three months ended December 31,   Year ended December 31,
    (in thousands)     2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net loss attributable to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC   $ (176,623 )   $ (15,822 )   $ (242,300 )   $ (79,471 )
    Add back or deduct the following:                
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests     (14,635 )     (30,307 )     (63,609 )     (96,116 )
    Benefit (expense) from income taxes     (16,799 )     (7,393 )     (19,378 )     (21,548 )
    Interest expense, net     (27,546 )     28,240       7,612       20,328  
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion(1)     25,310       15,589       97,056       134,647  
    EBITDA   $ (210,293 )   $ (9,693 )   $ (220,619 )   $ (42,160 )
    Share-based compensation expense     (12,602 )     1,255       378       11,248  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (35,584 )     3,500       (39,348 )     (603 )
    Change in fair value of investments, net     15,357       (2,200 )     14,701       (932 )
    Income from sale-leaseback transfer of tax benefits     (22,764 )           (22,764 )      
    Other income (expense), net     (1,808 )     512       (2,436 )     267  
    Gain on deconsolidation, net     100             (5,622 )      
    Loss on asset disposition     12,932             12,932        
    Impairment of goodwill     221,314             221,314        
    Impairment of long-lived assets, net and project termination costs     55,700       8,632       88,410       59,294  
    Non-recurring professional services and legal fees     1,560       468       8,654       3,388  
    Non-recurring salaries and personnel related expenses(2)     2,491             4,150       1,250  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 26,403     $ 2,474     $ 59,750     $ 31,752  
    Cash portion of interest expense     (7,828 )     (7,869 )     (30,217 )     (27,473 )
    Distributions to tax equity investors     (4,327 )     (2,449 )     (18,848 )     (15,748 )
    FFO   $ 14,248     $ (7,844 )   $ 10,685     $ (11,469 )
                     
    (1) Includes contract amortization, net in the amount of $4.9 million, $5.8 million, $14.3 million, and $8.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which are included in Contract amortization, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations; also includes certain other amortization costs included in Direct operating costs and General and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
                     
    (2) Non-recurring salaries and personnel related expenses for 2024 include start-up costs which primarily include salaries and personnel related expenses of incremental employees hired in advance to launch new investment strategy initiatives. Given the nature and scale of the related costs and activities, management does not view these as normal, recurring operating expenses, but rather as non-recurring investments to initially develop our new funds. Therefore, we believe it is useful and necessary for investors to understand our core operating performance in current and future periods by excluding the impact of these start-up costs as incurred. Non-recurring salaries and personnel related expenses for 2024 also include placement fees, including internal sales commission.

    Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2024 has not been adjusted for the charges of $16.6 million incurred as part of a settlement agreement with a third-party vendor due to the termination of the existing purchase contract in order to acquire the solar panels needed for our development and construction pipeline from a different vendor with significantly better economic proposition due to reduced expected cash outlays.

    The following table reconciles total Segment Adjusted EBITDA to Net loss attributable to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC: 

        Three months ended December 31,   Year ended December 31,
    (in thousands)     2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA:                
    IPP Adjusted EBITDA   $ 26,532     $ 6,721     $ 81,197     $ 62,180  
    IM Adjusted EBITDA     3,033       1,601       2,051       (2,674 )
    Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 29,565     $ 8,322     $ 83,248     $ 59,506  
                     
    Reconciliation:                
    Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 29,565     $ 8,322     $ 83,248     $ 59,506  
    Unallocated corporate expenses     (3,162 )     (5,848 )     (23,498 )     (27,754 )
    Total Adjusted EBITDA     26,403       2,474       59,750       31,752  
                     
    Less:                
    Share-based compensation expense     (12,602 )     1,255       378       11,248  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (35,584 )     3,500       (39,348 )     (603 )
    Gain on deconsolidation, net     100             (5,622 )      
    Loss on asset disposition     12,932             12,932        
    Impairment of goodwill     221,314             221,314        
    Impairment of long-lived assets, net and project termination costs     55,700       8,632       88,410       59,294  
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion(1)     25,310       15,589       97,056       134,647  
    Non-recurring professional services and legal fees     1,560       468       8,654       3,388  
    Non-recurring salaries and personnel related expenses(2)     2,491             4,150       1,250  
    Operating loss   $ (244,818 )   $ (26,970 )   $ (328,174 )   $ (177,472 )
                     
    Interest expense, net     27,546       (28,240 )     (7,612 )     (20,328 )
    Change in fair value of investments, net     (15,357 )     2,200       (14,701 )     932  
    Income from sale-leaseback transfer of tax benefits     22,764             22,764        
    Other income (expense), net     1,808       (512 )     2,436       (267 )
    Loss before income taxes   $ (208,057 )   $ (53,522 )   $ (325,287 )   $ (197,135 )
                     
    Benefit from income taxes     16,799       7,393       19,378       21,548  
    Net loss   $ (191,258 )   $ (46,129 )   $ (305,909 )   $ (175,587 )
                     
    Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests     (14,635 )     (30,307 )     (63,609 )     (96,116 )
    Net loss attributable to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC   $ (176,623 )   $ (15,822 )   $ (242,300 )   $ (79,471 )
                     
    (1) Includes contract amortization, net in the amount of $4.9 million, $5.8 million, $14.3 million, and $8.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which are included in Contract amortization, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations; also includes certain other amortization costs included in Direct operating costs and General and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
                     
    (2) Non-recurring salaries and personnel related expenses for 2024 include start-up costs which primarily include salaries and personnel related expenses of incremental employees hired in advance to launch new investment strategy initiatives. Given the nature and scale of the related costs and activities, management does not view these as normal, recurring operating expenses, but rather as non-recurring investments to initially develop our new funds. Therefore, we believe it is useful and necessary for investors to understand our core operating performance in current and future periods by excluding the impact of these start-up costs as incurred. Non-recurring salaries and personnel related expenses for 2024 also include placement fees, including internal sales commission.


    About Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company

    Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC is a publicly reporting, non-traded limited liability sustainable infrastructure company that both acquires and manages income-producing renewable energy and other energy-related businesses, including solar and wind farms, and provides investment management services to other renewable energy investment vehicles. We seek to acquire and operate high-quality projects that sell clean power under long-term contracts to high-creditworthy counterparties such as utilities, municipalities, and corporations. We are long-term owner-operators, who strive to be good stewards of the land and responsible members of the communities in which we operate. Greenbacker conducts its investment management business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Greenbacker Capital Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. We believe our focus on power production and asset management creates value that we can then pass on to our shareholders—while facilitating the transition toward a clean energy future. For more information, please visit https://greenbackercapital.com.

    About Greenbacker Capital Management
    Greenbacker Capital Management LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser that provides advisory and oversight services related to project development, acquisition, and operations in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability industries. For more information, please visit www.greenbackercapital.com.

    Greenbacker media contact
    Chris Larson
    Media Communications
    646.569.9532
    c.larson@greenbackercapital.com

    ____________________________________________
    ¹ The financial and portfolio metrics set forth herein are unaudited and subject to change. Data as of December 31, 2024. Total assets and megawatts statistics include those projects where we have contracted for the acquisition of the project pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (“MIPA”).
    ² Includes pre-operating and operating assets across combined GREC and GREC II portfolios. Data as of December 31, 2024.
    ³ Total operating revenue excludes non-cash contract amortization, net.
    ⁴ Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company uses as a performance measure, as well as for internal planning purposes. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to management and investors in providing a measure of core financial performance adjusted to allow for comparisons of results of operations across reporting periods on a consistent basis, as it includes adjustments relating to items that are not indicative on the ongoing operating performance of the business. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional discussion. Adjusted EBITDA is unaudited. See the Company’s 10-K filed with the SEC for additional financial information and important related disclosures.
    ⁵ Data as of December 31, 2024. Total assets and megawatts statistics include those projects where we have contracted for the acquisition of the project pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (“MIPA”). The financial and portfolio metrics set forth herein are unaudited and subject to change
    ⁶ Does not include power generated from biomass facility during 2023 and a portion of 2024, and also does not include assets in which the Company holds a preferred equity position
    ⁷ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    ⁸ Data is as of December 31, 2024. When compared with a similar amount of power generation from fossil fuels. Carbon abatement is calculated using the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator which uses the Avoided Emissions and generation Tool (AVERT) US national weighted average CO2 marginal emission rate to convert reductions of kilowatt-hours into avoided units of carbon dioxide emissions.

    ⁹ Data is as of December 31, 2024. Water saved by Greenbacker’s clean energy projects is compared to the amount of water needed to produce the same amount of power by burning coal. Gallons of water saved are calculated based on Operational water consumption and withdrawal factors for electricity generating technologies: a review of existing literature – IOPscience, J Macknick et al 2012 Environ. Res. Lett. 7 045802.
    ¹⁰ Data is as of December 31, 2024. Green jobs calculated using The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) State Clean Energy Employment Projection Support, nrel.gov.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Fannie Mae Announces the Results of its Thirty-fourth Reperforming Loan Sale Transaction

    Source: Fannie Mae

    WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today announced the results of its thirty-fourth reperforming loan sale transaction. The transaction, announced on March 4, 2025, included the sale of 3,130 loans totaling $558,713,266 in unpaid principal balance (UPB), offered in one pool. The winning bidder was Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. The transaction is expected to close by April 23, 2025. The pool was marketed with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as advisor.

    • The pool awarded in this most recent transaction includes 3,130 loans with an aggregate UPB of $558,713,266; average loan size of $178,503; weighted average note rate of 3.82%; and weighted average broker’s price opinion (BPO) loan-to-value ratio of 46%.

    The cover bid, which is the second highest bid for the pool, was 84.66% of UPB (31.25% of BPO).

    Reperforming loans are loans that have been or are currently delinquent but have reperformed for a period of time. The terms of Fannie Mae’s reperforming loan sale require the buyer to offer loss mitigation options to any borrower who may re-default within five years following the closing of the reperforming loan sale. All purchasers are required to honor any approved or in-process loss mitigation efforts at the time of sale, including loan modifications. In addition, purchasers must offer delinquent borrowers a waterfall of loss mitigation options, including loan modifications, which may include principal forgiveness, prior to initiating foreclosure on any loan.

    Interested bidders can register for ongoing announcements, training, and other information here. Fannie Mae will also post information about specific pools available for purchase on that page.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cheshire builder sentenced after taking payments from customer for work he did not complete

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Cheshire builder sentenced after taking payments from customer for work he did not complete

    The director took pre-payments from his victim despite knowing his company was on the brink of insolvency

    • Gary Roberts accepted payments from a customer for a home extension in Cheshire which he should have known he was not going to be able to fulfil 

    • Roberts persuaded his victim to pay £17,000 but left a large section of the rear of her house knocked down, with rubble in the garden 

    • His company, GR Developments 1 Ltd, was in financial difficulties at the time, which Roberts knew as he sought professional advice on placing the company into liquidation just weeks later 

    • Roberts also transferred more than £11,000 of company money to his own personal bank account 

    A Cheshire builder who left a woman with a gaping hole where her kitchen once stood has been handed a suspended jail sentence. 

    Gary Roberts told the victim to pay more than £17,000 for new windows and a rear extension in 2021 which he never completed. 

    The 60-year-old also paid himself more than £11,000 in funds from his GR Developments 1 Ltd company at the time it was entering liquidation. 

    Roberts, of Old Spot Way, Winsford, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday 31 March. 

    He was also ordered to complete 20 days of community rehabilitation activity, pay £1,000 in costs, and a £154 surcharge. 

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Gary Roberts left his victim in a state of utter desperation after wrecking her home. He never should have even signed a contract with her, as he knew his company was in financial trouble.

    The back of the victim’s house was completely exposed to the elements, having been knocked down from the kitchen. Roberts and his company also left a huge mess in her garden, with debris and rubble everywhere.

    Protecting the public from rogue traders such as Roberts is something the Insolvency Service takes extremely seriously. Fraudulent behaviour which causes clear financial harm to innocent people will be thoroughly investigated by the agency.

    Roberts signed a contract with his customer at the start of May 2021, promising to complete an extension to the rear of her property. 

    Within one week, the victim had paid Roberts £10,000 as a deposit. A further payment of £7,000 was made at the end of June in that year. 

    However Roberts never finished the project. The victim completed her extension in April 2022 after employing other tradesmen and lost out on the £17,000 she had handed over to Roberts. 

    In May 2021, just weeks after signing the contract with his victim, Roberts received advice from professionals about placing GR Developments into liquidation. 

    He also paid himself £11,513 in company money during May and July 2021 when he knew that GR Developments was insolvent. 

    GR Developments was eventually dissolved in January 2023. 

    Roberts was subsequently banned as a company director for 10 years for his misconduct at GR Developments, with the disqualification in place until February 2034. He was also ordered to pay his victim more than £10,000 in compensation.

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cheshire builder sentenced after taking payments from customer for work he could not complete

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Cheshire builder sentenced after taking payments from customer for work he could not complete

    The director took pre-payments from his victim despite knowing his company was on the brink of insolvency

    • Gary Roberts accepted payments from a customer for a home extension in Cheshire which he should have known he was not going to be able to fulfil 

    • Roberts persuaded his victim to pay £17,000 but left a large section of the rear of her house knocked down, with rubble in the garden 

    • His company, GR Developments 1 Ltd, was in financial difficulties at the time, which Roberts knew as he sought professional advice on placing the company into liquidation just weeks later 

    • Roberts also transferred more than £11,000 of company money to his own personal bank account 

    A Cheshire builder who left a woman with a gaping hole where her kitchen once stood has been handed a suspended jail sentence. 

    Gary Roberts told the victim to pay more than £17,000 for new windows and a rear extension in 2021 which he never completed. 

    The 60-year-old also paid himself more than £11,000 in funds from his GR Developments 1 Ltd company at the time it was entering liquidation. 

    Roberts, of Old Spot Way, Winsford, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday 31 March. 

    He was also ordered to complete 20 days of community rehabilitation activity, pay £1,000 in costs, and a £154 surcharge. 

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Gary Roberts left his victim in a state of utter desperation after wrecking her home. He never should have even signed a contract with her, as he knew his company was in financial trouble.

    The back of the victim’s house was completely exposed to the elements, having been knocked down from the kitchen. Roberts and his company also left a huge mess in her garden, with debris and rubble everywhere.

    Protecting the public from rogue traders such as Roberts is something the Insolvency Service takes extremely seriously. Fraudulent behaviour which causes clear financial harm to innocent people will be thoroughly investigated by the agency.

    Roberts signed a contract with his customer at the start of May 2021, promising to complete an extension to the rear of her property. 

    Within one week, the victim had paid Roberts £10,000 as a deposit. A further payment of £7,000 was made at the end of June in that year. 

    However Roberts never finished the project. The victim completed her extension in April 2022 after employing other tradesmen and lost out on the £17,000 she had handed over to Roberts. 

    In May 2021, just weeks after signing the contract with his victim, Roberts received advice from professionals about placing GR Developments into liquidation. 

    He also paid himself £11,513 in company money during May and July 2021 when he knew that GR Developments was insolvent. 

    GR Developments was eventually dissolved in January 2023. 

    Roberts was subsequently banned as a company director for 10 years for his misconduct at GR Developments, with the disqualification in place until February 2034. He was also ordered to pay his victim more than £10,000 in compensation.

    Further information 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Macon Probationer Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MACON, Ga. – A resident of Macon pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge this week for illegally possessing a firearm when he was taken into custody for violating his probation.

    Terico Jaques Balkcom, 46, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell on March 31. Balkcom faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

    “It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Our office is collaborating with our law enforcement partners to hold repeat convicted felons accountable when they are found violating federal law.”

    “Ensuring public safety is our top priority, the GBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who violate the law, especially those with a history of criminal behavior,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Balkcom was stopped by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) for having an obscured tag on May 20, 2024. Balkcom was known to have an active warrant for violating state probation for a felony conviction out of Bibb County, Georgia, Superior Court. The GSP trooper could smell the odor of alcohol and performed a field sobriety test. Balkcom presented a false ID, claiming to be “Benjamin Brown.” When the officer asked for his date of birth, Balkcom answered that it was a different date from what was on the fake identification. A GBI agent familiar with Balkcom arrived and confirmed it was Balkcom. Balkcom was taken into custody based on the active probation warrant. Agents found a 9mm pistol inside a Crown Royal bag that also contained Balkcom’s prescription medication. Balkcom was recorded on a jail phone call discussing the gun and also three ounces of marijuana that officers found inside the vehicle. Balkcom has several prior convictions and probation violations in Bibb County Superior Court. He was on probation for a 2018 conviction in Bibb County for crossing state or county guard lines with weapons, intoxicants, or drugs without consent. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with assistance from Georgia State Patrol.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Statement Ahead of Trump’s Next Round of Tariffs, a Tax Hike on American Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—As President Trump reportedly prepares to enact blanket tariffs that will impact trade globally and plunge the economy into chaos, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement: 
    “It is obvious that Trump ‘couldn’t care less’ about the American people feeling the pain of his reckless tariffs. President Trump needs to get real: this half-baked trade war will only raise prices for consumers. Trump’s so-called ‘liberation day’ will throw the global economy into turmoil and leave Americans holding the bag,” said Senator Peter Welch. “I can support tariffs that demand accountability from bad actors like China, but it must be done in a multilateral, smart way. We should not impose sweeping tariffs on our allies and longtime partners in trade. America’s close economic ties with our trading partners are based on trust. These on-again, off-again tariffs are extremely destructive and totally unnecessary. President Trump is sticking it to our farmers, our businesses, and everyday working people.” 
    More than 18,600 Vermonters work in industries targeted by retaliatory tariffs, and thousands more will see higher costs for food, fuel, and energy. A new poll from AP-NORC found that a majority of voters—60% disapprove—of the president’s handling of trade negotiations, and 58% disapprove of his handling of the economy. 
    Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. In March, Senator Welch hosted a roundtable in Newport with Vermont and Canadian business leaders to discuss President Trump’s Trade War. He has also held events in St. Albans and virtually to hear directly from impacted Vermonters.  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Solomon Partners Hires Jon Pritti as a Partner in the Healthcare Group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Solomon Partners, a leading financial advisory firm and independent affiliate of Natixis, today announced the appointment of Jon Pritti as a new Partner in its Healthcare Group, where he will lead the firm’s expansion into the fast-growing Healthcare Technology sub-sector.

    “Jon’s experience and industry expertise will be invaluable to our growing Healthcare team and expand Solomon’s coverage in the Healthcare Technology space,” said Solomon Partners’ CEO Marc Cooper.

    Mr. Pritti joins Solomon with over two decades of investment banking experience, most recently serving as a Senior Managing Director in the Private Equity Advisory group at Guggenheim Securities. Prior to that role, he served as Managing Director in the Healthcare Investment Banking practice and Head of Healthcare Technology at Houlihan Lokey. Mr. Pritti earned a BBA from Emory University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

    “We are incredibly fortunate to welcome a banker with Jon’s background and extensive network. Jon will be a critical addition to the team as we continue to expand our capabilities to deliver exceptional service to our clients,” said Jon Hammack, a Partner and Head of Solomon’s Healthcare Group.

    “I have been impressed by Solomon’s collaborative, client-centric approach,” Mr. Pritti said. “This is an exciting era for Healthcare Technology, and I look forward to working with my new partners to help Solomon expand its services in this part of the healthcare ecosystem.”

    About Solomon Partners

    Founded in 1989, Solomon Partners is a leading financial advisory firm with a legacy as one of the oldest independent investment banks. Our difference is unmatched industry knowledge in the sectors we cover, creating superior value with unrivaled wisdom for our clients. We advise clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, recapitalizations, capital markets solutions and activism defense across a range of verticals. These include Business Services, Consumer Retail, Distribution, Financial Institutions, FinTech, Financial Sponsors, Healthcare, Grocery, Pharmacy & Restaurants, Healthcare, Industrials, Infrastructure, Power & Renewables, Media and Technology. Solomon Partners is an independently operated affiliate of Natixis, part of Groupe BPCE. For further information, visit solomonpartners.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97f1532a-940b-4b92-ac42-dc71d170c0a4

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: UPDATE – Liquidia Corporation to Present at the 24th Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MORRISVILLE, N.C., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liquidia Corporation (NASDAQ: LQDA), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for patients with rare cardiopulmonary disease, today announced that the company will provide an overview of the company’s business at a fireside chat at the 24th Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, beginning at 8:45 a.m. ET.

    Access to a webcast of the presentation will be available on the “Investors” page of Liquidia’s website at https://liquidia.com/investors/events-and-presentations.

    An archived, recorded version of the presentation will be available on Liquidia’s website for at least 30 days following the event. 

    About Liquidia Corporation
    Liquidia Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for patients with rare cardiopulmonary disease. The company’s current focus spans the development and commercialization of products in pulmonary hypertension and other applications of its proprietary PRINT® Technology. PRINT enabled the creation of Liquidia’s lead candidate, YUTREPIA™ (treprostinil) inhalation powder, an investigational drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). The company is also developing L606, an investigational sustained-release formulation of treprostinil administered twice-daily with a next-generation nebulizer, and currently markets generic Treprostinil Injection for the treatment of PAH. To learn more about Liquidia, please visit www.liquidia.com.

    Contact Information

    Investors:
    Jason Adair
    Chief Business Officer
    919.328.4350
    jason.adair@liquidia.com

    Media:
    Patrick Wallace
    Director, Corporate Communications
    919.328.4383
    patrick.wallace@liquidia.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Woodward County Residents Resolve Allegations of Submitting a False Claim for COVID Funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – BREANNA PARADA and MONICA MONTES of Woodward, Oklahoma, have agreed to resolutions to resolve civil claims stemming from allegations that Parada submitted a false claim for COVID funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    In a Consent Judgment entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (United States v. Parada, Case No. CIV-25-00136-JD), Parada admitted that she submitted an application for COVID funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority in which she falsely represented she was renting a home when she in fact owned it. In support of her application, she submitted a fraudulent lease agreement signed by her and Montes, fraudulent eviction notices related to the same home, and delinquent utility payment notices for the same home. Based on the submission of the false claim, Parada received $5,564.84, and Montes received $200.00, in Emergency Rental Assistance funds to which they were not entitled.  To resolve the claims, Parada agreed to the entry of a Consent Judgment against her in the amount of $19,025.00, and Montes settled the claims against her by paying the United States $1,000.00. By entering into a Settlement Agreement, Montes did not admit liability, and the United States did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims.

    The Consent Judgment and Settlement Agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.

    Investigative assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General, and Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tren de Aragua Members Arrested on Federal Charges of International Drug Distribution

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    HOUSTON – Two Venezuelan nationals and alleged members of the recently designated foreign terrorist organization known as the Tren de Aragua (TdA) have been arrested on charges filed in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Jesus Miguel Barreto Lezama, 29, who was residing in Houston, has now appeared in federal court in Houston.

    Also in custody is Briley Jesus Ballera Farias aka Derek, 32, who was arrested March 30 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he made his initial appearance.

    A federal grand jury returned the indictment Jan. 29.  

    According to the allegations in the indictment, both men participated in a conspiracy, along with others, to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Venezuela and Colombia. Barreto Lezama is also charged with importing nearly five kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Colombia between June 26, 2024, and July 3, 2024.

    If convicted, they face a up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

    The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Colombian National Police. FBI-Houston’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force made the Houston arrest with the assistance of the Houston Police Department, DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Marshals Service.  

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney David C. Smith from the Department of Justice’s Joint Task Force Vulcan. 

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    This case is also part of JTFV, which was created in 2019 to destroy MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA. It is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including SDTX; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Districts of New Jersey, Utah, Massachusetts, Nevada, Alaska; Northern District of Ohio; Eastern District of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Virginia; Southern District of California; and the District of Columbia; as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; DEA; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; and Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners and spearheaded JTFV’s investigations.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: YPF SA reports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YPF SA announced that it has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including audited financial statements.

    The document is available on the YPF website at http://www.ypf.com in the Investor Relations section and can also be downloaded from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

    In accordance with the applicable rules, YPF is filing the interactive Data with this report.

    About YPF

    YPF is the largest energy company of Argentina, producing approximately 36% of the total oil and 29% of the total natural gas in the country (1)and supplying 56% (2)of the fuel markets through a network of more than 1600 service stations and other assets. YPF is one of the largest shale operators outside the United States and, as an integrated energy company, generates a large offering consisting of fuels, natural gas, electricity, petrochemicals, lubricants and products for agriculture, among others.

    Media Relations
    Prensa@ypf.com

    Investor Relations
    inversoresypf@ypf.com

    (1) Source: IAPG, as of 2024.
    (2) Source: Secretary of Energy, as of 2024.

    Note: According with Section 203.01 (New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual) a copy of the 20F is available in our web site. Additionally, shareholders, holders of American Depositary Shares and bondholders of YPF S.A. may request a hard copy of our audited financial statements ended December 31.2024, free of charge upon request.

            

    The MIL Network