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Category: France

  • MIL-OSI: Real Money Online Casinos: 7Bit Ranked The Top Choice For Real Money Online Casino Players

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW ORLEANS, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The online gambling industry is booming, with numerous platforms competing to be recognized as the best real money online casinos. For players seeking a real online casino that delivers excitement, security, and fast payouts, the choices can feel overwhelming.

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    With a game library exceeding 7,000 titles, 7Bit caters to every taste, from classic slots to live dealer games. Its mobile-optimized design ensures seamless access across devices, while 24/7 customer support guarantees assistance whenever needed. These qualities position 7Bit as the best online real money casino for 2025.

    Feature Details
    Welcome Bonus 325% match up to 5.25 BTC + 250 free spins
    Game Count Over 7,000 titles from 50+ providers
    Payment Methods Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller
    Withdrawal Speed Crypto: Instant; Fiat: 1–3 days
    Customer Support 24/7 via live chat and email
    License Curacao eGaming Authority


    Standout Features of 7Bit Casino

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    To provide a balanced perspective, here’s a detailed look at 7Bit’s strengths and weaknesses:

    Pros Cons
    Generous 325% welcome bonus up to 5.25 BTC + 250 free spins Some bonuses have high 40-45x wagering requirements
    Over 7,000 games from top providers Certain bonuses are limited to slots, not table games
    Instant crypto withdrawals Curacao license may not appeal to players seeking stricter regulation
    No KYC for crypto users, enhancing privacy  
    24/7 multilingual customer support  
    Mobile-optimized platform  

    These factors make 7Bit a compelling choice among online real money casinos, though players should consider the cons based on their preferences.

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    How We Selected the Best Real Money Online Casino

    Our selection process for the best real money online casinos was rigorous, ensuring only the most reliable platforms were recommended. We evaluated 7Bit based on:

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    • Bonuses and Promotions: The 325% welcome bonus and ongoing offers like cashback and tournaments provide excellent value.
    • Game Variety: Over 7,000 games, including slots, table games, and live dealers, cater to all preferences.
    • Game Providers: Partnerships with NetEnt, Microgaming, and Evolution Gaming guarantee quality and fairness.
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    • Customer Support: 24/7 availability via live chat and email ensures player satisfaction.

    7Bit outperformed competitors, earning its title as the best online casino real money for 2025.

    License and Security

    7Bit operates under a Curacao eGaming License, ensuring compliance with industry standards for fair play and player protection. While Curacao’s regulations are less stringent than UKGC or MGA, they provide a solid framework for a real online casino. The platform employs advanced SSL encryption to safeguard data and transactions, and provably fair crypto games allow players to verify outcomes independently.

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    Bank Transfer Traditional 1–3 days 3–5 days Secure for large sums
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    Playing Smart at Online Casinos

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    Legal Disclaimer
    This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or gambling advice. Verify local gambling laws before playing. Gamble responsibly, only wagering what you can afford to lose. Seek help from the National Council on Problem Gambling if needed.

    Casino and Gambling Disclaimer

    Online gambling carries risks and isn’t for everyone. Confirm you’re of legal gambling age in your jurisdiction. Gambling laws vary, and compliance is your responsibility. We don’t promote gambling; participation is at your risk. 7Bit Casino is a third-party platform, and we’re not liable for losses or disputes.

    Affiliate Disclosure
    Some links may be affiliate links, earning a commission at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on objective evaluations, and partnerships do not influence content.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/030bbbc7-ff1d-4d56-b85e-90fe1f2a8b5b

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientific Regiment: MIEi Graduate Arkady Pashenin Witnesses Signing of the Act of Surrender of Germany

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Exactly 80 years ago, the Great Patriotic War ended. This fact was confirmed by the Act of Unconditional Surrender of the German Armed Forces. And today, on Victory Day, we will tell the story of how an engineering diploma from the Moscow Engineering and Economics Institute (now the State University of Management) allowed its graduate Arkady Pashenin to witness the signing of this historic document.

    Arkady Pashenin was born on March 19, 1918, entered the construction department of the Moscow Institute of Power Engineering in 1935, and defended his diploma five days after the start of the war – on June 27, 1941. According to him, Soviet youth was mentally prepared for war. In companies, they did not discuss ways to evade, but what was better to take to the front in addition to the recommended list. And the state took care of the physical condition of the youth – in addition to standard military training, the Moscow Institute of Power Engineering had a strong ski section of the Rot Front sports society, of which Arkady Pashenin was a member. Team “Ski Patrol Races” were especially popular with students.

    On July 8, the day after receiving diploma #025980, graduate Pasheshin reported to the recruiting station, where the duty officer, having familiarized himself with the documents, sent him to the military commissar. The latter looked at the diploma and sent the conscript to the Military Academy of Logistics and Supply, where he completed a three-month training course. In September 1942, Arkady Pashenin served at the headquarters of the 276th Ski Regiment when he was summoned to Moscow, to the People’s Commissariat of Defense, where he was thoroughly discussed with him about the diploma and sent to Stalingrad, to the headquarters of the 5th Shock Army, which was being formed at that time. He served there until the army was disbanded after the war.

    The most dramatic turn of fate connected with the MIE diploma happened to our hero at the end of the war, near Warsaw. One winter day at the turn of 1944/45, he was summoned by the head of the personnel department of the army headquarters and again asked about the specialty of an engineer-economist. It turned out that a member of the Military Council of the army, Lieutenant General Fyodor Bokov, was looking for three personal assistants of different specialties. Officers from the operational and political departments were selected immediately, but there was no suitable candidate for an economist who could “distinguish a bakery from a sawmill.” After a ten-minute conversation with Bokov, Pashenin was accepted into the team.

    As a result of the Berlin Offensive Operation, the German troops were finally defeated. It remained to formalize the situation legally. Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov chose the headquarters of the 5th Shock Army as the place for signing the Act of Unconditional Surrender, so on May 8, 1945, Fyodor Bokov and his assistants, including Arkady Pashenin, were among those meeting the Allied delegation at the Tempelhof airfield. The diplomatic service was late with instructions on the protocol of the meeting, so the staff officers decided to run for the flags of the nations themselves half an hour before the arrival of the first plane. They were unable to find the French flag right away, fortunately the plane of the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, General Jean de Latre de Tassigny, was late, and he was met later, separately from the British and Americans. Major of the Quartermaster Service Pashenin had the honor of holding the flag of the USSR, which he remembered for the rest of his life:

    “So we, three Russian officers, stood in the center of Europe with the flags of nations. The famous generals and marshals of the allied armies walked past us. Eisenhower, Montgomery, Tedder and others saluted the flags, including the flag of the USSR, which by the will of fate I, a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Economics and Law in 1941, was entrusted to hold.”

    Let’s forgive Arkady Mikhailovich for the historical inaccuracy. As is well known, the Instrument of Surrender on the part of Great Britain was signed not by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, but by the Supreme Commander of the Royal Air Force Arthur Tedder. The Americans were represented not by the future President Dwight Eisenhower, but by the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force Carl Spaatz. But just imagine how exciting this moment was for what was essentially a very young officer, and sometimes even the young are deceived by memory.

    The headquarters of the 5th Shock Army was located in the building of the Military Engineering School in Karlshorst, one of the eastern suburbs of Berlin, where everyone headed from the airfield. The hall of the officers’ mess was prepared for the ceremony, the furniture was brought from the Reich Chancellery building. As a staff officer, Arkady Pashenin had free access to all the rooms of the headquarters and did not miss the opportunity to be present at the signing of the Act of Surrender. The extra chairs were taken out of the hall, so everyone except the signatories watched the ceremony standing. Pashenin took a place by the wall near a small table, at which the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces of Nazi Germany Wilhelm Keitel then sat.

    The ceremony began at exactly midnight Moscow time. Hence the disagreement about the date of Victory Day celebrations in Russia and the West. When it came to Keitel, he was about to sign the Act at his desk, but Georgy Zhukov demanded that he come over and sign the Act on a side table. Jawohl (German for “Yes sir”), the blushing Field Marshal complied. This was the German word the Nazis used more often than any other at the ceremony.

    The procedure ended at 00:43 Moscow time, after which the banquet began. Suddenly the question arose: what to feed the German delegation – not red caviar? Even the diplomats could not resolve it. Then they turned to Zhukov for advice, and he said: “Let’s not be petty – feed them everything that has been prepared for the banquet. And be sure to serve it on plates with the monograms of the Imperial Chancellery. And give them unlimited drinks. Let them wash down their defeat… But I think it will not do them any good!”

    And so it happened: Wilhelm Keitel was executed by decision of the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg on October 16, 1946. Another representative of the German government who signed the Act of Surrender, General Admiral Hans von Friedeburg, poisoned himself with cyanide the day before his arrest.

    And MIEI graduate Arkady Mikhailovich Pashenin served in the Soviet Army until 1978 and retired with the rank of colonel of the quartermaster service. He was awarded five orders and five medals, including, of course, “For the capture of Berlin” and “For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.”

    #Scientific regiment

    Arkady Pashenin Arkady Pashenin Wilhelm Keitel signs the Act of Surrender From left to right: Arthur Tedder, Georgy Zhukov and Carl Spaatz at the banquet after the signing of the Act of Surrender

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/08/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Preliminary Results for the twelve months ended 31 January 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

      ICG Enterprise Trust plc
    Preliminary Results for the twelve months ended 31 January 2025
    8 May 2025
     
         
         
      Highlights

    • Actively-managed Portfolio focused on global mid-market private companies generating resilient growth
    • NAV per Share reaches 2,073p; NAV per Share Total Return* of 10.5% during the year and five-year annualised return of 14.5%
    • Portfolio Return* on a Sterling basis of 10.6%; portfolio companies reporting ~15% LTM earnings growth1
    • 40 Full Exits executed at a weighted-average Uplift to Carrying Value of 19.0%
    • Shareholder-focused capital allocation policy: £59m (5% of opening NAV) returned to shareholders in FY252 (FY24: £35m), of which £36m through buybacks (FY24: £13m) and £23m through dividends of 36p per share (FY24: £22m, 33p per share)
    • Wide range of potential outcomes to market transaction activity; secondaries market could present compelling opportunities
    • Sector positioning, strong origination network and robust balance sheet position us well in current environment
    • Post period-end, announced an additional £107m proceeds from a secondary sale and the realisation of Minimax (largest portfolio company, 3.1% of Portfolio at 31 January 2025)

    1 EBITDA, based on Enlarged Perimeter covering 67% of the Portfolio
    2 Based on dividends declared or proposed for Q1 FY25 – Q4 FY25 inclusive, and buybacks up to and including 31 January 2025

    *This is an Alternative Performance Measure. Please refer to the Glossary for the definition.

     
         
      Jane Tufnell   Oliver Gardey    
      Chair of ICG Enterprise Trust   Portfolio Manager for ICG Enterprise Trust    
        Today’s results demonstrate that our investment strategy can deliver long-term value. Our portfolio companies grew earnings by 15% in the year1, and ICGT generated NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5%, ending the year with NAV per Share of 2,073p.

    During the year, the Board and Manager have been careful in allocating our shareholders’ capital. New investments continued, deploying £181m and making commitments of £83m. Alongside this, we returned £59m of cash to shareholders (5% of our opening NAV) through buybacks and dividends.

    As we enter another period of uncertainty, I am confident our long-term approach can generate value for our shareholders, and I thank you for your continued support.

        Our portfolio companies are delivering solid operational performance (15% earnings growth LTM1). Our resilient Portfolio and robust balance sheet position us well for the current market environment.

    Our active approach to portfolio management is a differentiator for ICGT. As well as making a number of new commitments and investments during the year, we executed a secondary sale post period-end at a 5.5% discount that generated net cash proceeds of £62m for ICGT.

    The investment trust structure enables shareholders to invest efficiently in privately-owned companies. With our track record and network, ICGT is an attractive proposition for those seeking exposure to mature, profitable, cash-generative businesses.

       

    PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

            Annualised
    Performance to 31 January 2025 3 months 6 months 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
    Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis 2.9% 6.2% 10.2% 8.9% 15.8% 15.3%
    NAV per Share Total Return 4.3% 7.4% 10.5% 8.9% 14.5% 13.8%
    Share Price Total Return 9.7% 1.5% 12.5% 6.6% 9.6% 11.8%
    FTSE All-Share Index Total Return 6.9% 4.3% 17.1% 7.9% 6.6% 6.5%
    Financial year ended: Jan 2021 Jan 2022 Jan 2023 Jan 2024 Jan 2025
    Fund performance Portfolio return (local currency) 24.9% 24.4% 10.5% 5.9% 10.2%
    Portfolio return (sterling) 26.4% 27.6% 17.0% 3.2% 10.6%
    NAV £952m £1,158m £1,301m £1,283m £1,332m
    NAV per Share Total Return (%) 22.5% 24.4% 14.5% 2.1% 10.5%
                 
    Investment activity New Investments £139m £304m £287m £137m £181m
    As % opening Portfolio 17% 32% 24% 10% 13%
    Realisation Proceeds £137m £334m £252m £171m £151m
    As % opening Portfolio 17% 35% 21% 12% 11%
                 
    Shareholder experience Closing share price 966p 1,200p 1,150p 1,226p 1,342p
    Total dividends per share 24p 27p 30p 33p 36p
    Share Price Total Return 2.8% 27.1% (2.3)% 9.6% 12.5%
    Total shareholder distributions £17m £21m £22m £35m £59m
    As % Realisation Proceeds 12% 6% 9% 20% 39%
               
    – o/w distributions dividends (%) 94% 86% 91% 63% 38%
    – o/w distributions buybacks (%) 6% 14% 9% 37% 62%
    Portfolio activity overview for FY25 Primary Direct Secondary Total ICG-managed
    Local Currency return 8.2% 16.3% 6.4% 10.2% 8.4%
    Sterling return 8.2% 17.0% 7.3% 10.6% 8.8%
    New Investments £115m £58m £8m £181m £21m
    Total Proceeds £101m £13m £37m £151m £60m
    New Fund Commitments £64m – £20m £83m £20m
    Closing Portfolio value £789m £507m £228m £1,523m £433m
    % Total Portfolio 52% 33% 15% 100% 28%

    COMPANY TIMETABLE
    A presentation for investors and analysts will be held at 11:00 BST today. A link to the presentation can be found on the Results & Reports page of the Company website. A recording of the presentation will be made available on the Company website after the event.

        FY25 Final Dividend
    Ex-dividend date   3 July 2025
    Record date   4 July 2025
    Dividend payment date   18 July 2025
    Annual General Meeting
    The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 24 June 2025. The Board will be communicating the format of the meeting separately in the Notice of Meeting. This will include details of how shareholders may register their interest in attending the Annual General Meeting.
    Shareholder Seminar
    We will be holding a Shareholder Seminar for institutional shareholders and research analysts at 3:30pm BST on Wednesday 18 June 2025, with registration starting at 3:15pm BST.

    Shareholders should contact icg-enterprise@icgam.com should they wish to attend.

    Please note that for regulatory reasons this event is only open to institutional investors and research analysts.

    ENQUIRIES

    Institutional investors and analysts:  
    Martin Li, Shareholder Relations, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1816
    Nathan Brown, Deutsche Numis +44 (0) 20 7260 1426
    David Harris, Cadarn Capital +44 (0) 20 7019 9042
       
    Media:  
    Clare Glynn, Corporate Communications, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1395

    ABOUT ICG ENTERPRISE TRUST

    ICG Enterprise Trust is a leading listed private equity investor focused on creating long-term growth by delivering consistently strong returns through selectively investing in profitable, cash-generative private companies, primarily in Europe and the US, while offering the added benefit to shareholders of daily liquidity.

    We invest in companies directly as well as through funds managed by ICG plc and other leading private equity managers who focus on creating long-term value and building sustainable growth through active management and strategic change.

    NOTES

    Included in this document are Alternative Performance Measures (“APMs”). APMs have been used if considered by the Board and the Manager to be the most relevant basis for shareholders in assessing the overall performance of the Company, and for comparing the performance of the Company to its peers and its previously reported results. The Glossary includes further details of APMs and reconciliations to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) measures, where appropriate.

    In the Manager’s Review and Supplementary Information, all performance figures are stated on a Total Return basis (i.e. including the effect of re-invested dividends). ICG Alternative Investment Limited, a regulated subsidiary of Intermediate Capital Group plc, acts as the Manager of the Company.

    DISCLAIMER

    The information contained herein and on the pages that follow does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire or subscribe for, any securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation is unlawful or would impose any unfulfilled registration, qualification, publication or approval requirements on ICG Enterprise Trust PLC (the “Company”) or its affiliates or agents. Equity securities in the Company have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa (each an “Excluded Jurisdiction”). The equity securities in the Company referred to herein and on the pages that follow may not be offered or sold within an Excluded Jurisdiction, or to any U.S. person (“U.S. Person”) as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or to any national, resident or citizen of an Excluded Jurisdiction.

    The information on the pages that follow may contain forward looking statements. Any statement other than a statement of historical fact is a forward looking statement. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward looking statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward looking statement, which speaks only as of the date of its issuance.

    CHAIR’S STATEMENT

    Dear fellow shareholders,

    For the 12 months to 31 January 2025 ICG Enterprise Trust delivered a NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5% and a Share Price Total Return of 12.5%. Over the last five years, the annualised returns have been 14.5% and 9.6% respectively.

    The Board has declared dividends for the year of 36p (+9% compared to FY24) and reduced ICGT’s share count by 4.3% during the year by returning £36m to shareholders through share buybacks at a weighted average discount of 36.6%.

    INVESTMENT STRATEGY

    The Company’s Portfolio grew 10.2% on a Local Currency Basis during the year (last five years annualised: 15.8%).

    We invest in resilient private companies and are geographically balanced between North America and Europe. During the year we evolved our target portfolio mix towards having more Direct and Secondary Investments, which will help to optimise Portfolio concentration and liquidity.

    COST BASE

    ICGT’s ongoing charges for FY25 were 1.38% (FY24: 1.37%). As a Board, we are committed to providing value for our shareholders and transparent disclosure around our cost. The change in fees and cost savings instigated by the Board in FY24 continued to enhance the net return of our investment strategy delivering £2.0m savings in FY25. We publish a Statement of Expenses that sets out the impact of ICGT’s expenses on the financial returns to shareholders (available at www.icg-enterprise.co.uk/soe) and which has been updated for our FY25 expenses.

    CAPITAL ALLOCATION

    The Board has continued its proactive approach to capital allocation. We balance the potential long-term compounding returns of investments into new portfolio companies with cash returns to shareholders at par via dividends and the value accretion of buying back shares at a discount to NAV. ICGT was the first in our sector to introduce a long-term share buyback programme in FY23, and in FY25 we supplemented this with an opportunistic buyback that has been renewed for FY26.

    Over the last five years, ICGT’s dividend per share has grown at an annualised rate of 9.4% (including the proposed 10.5p final dividend being declared for FY25). The ICGT ordinary dividend per share has now increased for the twelfth consecutive year.

    Since October 2022 our share buybacks have returned £51m to shareholders and acquired shares at a weighted-average discount of 37.5%, increasing NAV per Share by 54p (2.7%). We believe the share buybacks have also increased the liquidity and reduced the volatility of our shares.

    BALANCE SHEET

    We continue to implement our objective of being fully invested through cycles alongside maintaining a robust balance sheet. This allows us to manage our resources in line with our capital allocation policy.

    Having increased our credit facility during the year from €240m to €300m, at 31 January 2025 ICG Enterprise Trust had total available liquidity of £125m and net gearing of 10%. We have announced two transactions post period-end that in aggregate generated Total Proceeds to ICGT of over £100m.

    SALES AND MARKETING

    In aggregate across the Board and Manager we own in excess of 270,000 shares, and are aligned to the success of an investment in ICG Enterprise Trust shares.

    ICGT’s discount remains at levels that the Board feels do not reflect the fundamental value of the shares. The discount is currently 41%. We continue to be challenged by the share price trading at such a discount to NAV and the Board is active in its pursuit of ways to improve the Company’s rating.

    I had a year of strong shareholder engagement, welcomed several new holders to our register and received valuable feedback that has been shared with the Board and Manager. In conjunction with our Manager, our Corporate Broker and our distribution partner we will continue the programme to help the market understand ICGT’s shareholder proposition and its role within investment portfolios.

    OUTLOOK

    Our focus on investing in private equity-owned companies that have resilient growth characteristics gives shareholders access to investments that they cannot reach through public market strategies. ICGT plays a valuable role in our shareholders’ portfolios.

    I believe there is substantial value in our Portfolio and in the new investments the Manager is making on our shareholders’ behalf. Our Portfolio is performing well, and I thank all shareholders for your continued support.

    Jane Tufnell
    Chair
    7 May 2025

    MANAGER’S REVIEW

    Alternative Performance Measures

    The Board and the Manager monitor the financial performance of the Company on the basis of Alternative Performance Measures (‘APM’), which are non-UK-adopted IAS (‘IAS’) measures. The APM predominantly form the basis of the financial measures discussed in this review, which the Board believes assists shareholders in assessing their investment and the delivery of the investment strategy.

    The Company holds certain investments in subsidiary entities. The substantive difference between APM and IAS is the treatment of the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries. The APM basis ‘looks through’ these subsidiaries to the underlying assets and liabilities they hold, and it reports the investments as the Portfolio APM, gross of the liability in respect of the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. Under IAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are reported separately. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries, which include the liability in respect of the Co-investment Incentive Scheme, are presented on the face of the IAS balance sheet as a single carrying value. The same is true for the IAS and APM basis of the cash flow statement.

    The following table sets out IAS metrics and the APM equivalents:

    IFRS (£m) 31 January 2025 31 January 2024 APM (£m) 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Investments 1,470 1,296 Portfolio 1,523 1,349
    NAV 1,332 1,283 Realisation Proceeds 151 171
    Cash flows from the sale of portfolio investments 20 41 Total Proceeds 151 239
    Cash flows related to the purchase of portfolio investments 34 25 Total New Investment 181 137

    The Glossary includes definitions for all APM and, where appropriate, a reconciliation between APM and IAS.

    Why private equity

    Every day the lives of those living and working in the US and Western Europe are touched by companies owned by private equity: retailers, payments processors, home security, pet food, health services – the list is long. What typically unites these businesses is that they are profitable and cash generative. These businesses are actively managed by their shareholders, with management teams heavily incentivised to generate returns. Increasingly companies with these characteristics are choosing to grow under private equity ownership and to stay private for longer. Within that, ICGT focuses on a subset of those companies that we expect will generate resilient growth. As more businesses are owned by private equity, we believe it is a structurally attractive allocation within an investment portfolio, with a track record of attractive returns, and significant opportunity to continue that trajectory.

    A share in ICGT gives you access to a unique portfolio of private companies.

    Our investment strategy

    Within developed markets, we focus on investing in buyouts of profitable, cash-generative businesses that exhibit resilient growth characteristics, which we believe will generate strong long-term compounding returns across economic cycles.

    We take an active approach to Portfolio construction, with a flexible mandate that enables us to deploy capital in Primary, Secondary and Direct Investments. Geographically, we focus on the developed markets of North America and Europe which have deep and mature private equity markets.

      Medium-term target Five-year average 31 January 2025
    1. Target Portfolio composition 1      
    Investment category      
    Primary ~40-50% 57% 52%
    Direct ~30-35% 28% 33%
    Secondary ~25-30% 15% 15%
    Geography2      
    North America ~50% 40% 46%
    Europe (inc. UK) ~50% 52% 48%
    Other — 8% 6%
           
    2. Balance sheet      
    Net cash/(Net Debt)3 ~0% (1)% (10)%
    1. Five-year average is the linear average of FY exposures for FY21-FY25.
    2. As a percentage of Portfolio.
    3. (Net cash)/debt as a percentage of NAV. Post period-end, we announced Total Proceeds of over £100m from a secondary sale and the realisation of Minimax, see page 14

    ICG Enterprise Trust benefits from access to ICG-managed funds and Direct Investments, which represented 28% of the Portfolio value at period end and generated a 8.4% return on a Local Currency Basis.

    Performance overview

    At 31 January 2025, our Portfolio was valued at £1,523m, and the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis for the financial year was 10.2% (FY24: 5.9%).

    Due to the geographic diversification of our Portfolio, the reported value is impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates. During the period, FX movements affected the Portfolio positively by £5.4m, driven by US dollar appreciation. In sterling terms, Portfolio growth during the period was 10.6%.

    The net result for shareholders was that ICG Enterprise Trust generated a NAV per Share Total Return of 10.5% during FY25, ending the period with a NAV per Share of 2,073p.

    Movement in the Portfolio
    £m
    Twelve months to 31 January 2025 Twelve months to 31 January 2024
    Opening Portfolio1 1,349 1,406
    Total New Investments 181 137
    Total Proceeds (151) (239)
    Portfolio net cashflow 30 (102)
    Valuation movement2 138 83
    Currency movement 6 (39)
    Closing Portfolio 1,523 1,349
    1. Refer to the Glossary. 

    2. 97% of the Portfolio is valued using 31 December 2024 (or later) valuations (FY24: 94%). 

       
    NAV per Share Total Return Twelve months to 31 January 2025 Twelve months to 31 January 2024
    % Portfolio growth (local currency) 10.2% 5.9%
    % currency movement 0.4% (2.7%)
    % Portfolio growth (Sterling) 10.6% 3.2%
    Impact of gearing 0.7% (0.3)%
    Finance costs and other expenses (0.6)% (0.2)%
    Management fee (1.3)% (1.2)%
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual (0.7)% (0.1)%
    Impact of share buybacks 1.8% 0.7%
    NAV per Share Total Return 10.5% 2.1%

    For Q4 the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis was 2.9% and the NAV per Share Total Return was 4.3%

    Executing our investment strategy

    Commitments
    in the financial year
    Total New Investments
    in the financial year
    Growth
    in the financial year
    Total Proceeds
    in the financial year
    Making commitments to funds, which expect to be drawn over 3 to 5 years Cash deployments into portfolio companies, either through funds or directly Driving growth and value creation of our portfolio companies Cash realisations of investments in Portfolio companies, plus Fund Disposals
    £83m
    (FY24: £153m)
    £181m
    (FY24: £137m)
    £138m
    (FY24: £83m)
    £151m
    (FY24: £239m)

    Commitments

    Our evergreen structure and flexible investment mandate enable us to commit through the cycle, maintaining vintage diversification for our Portfolio and sowing the seeds for future growth.

    During the year we made 7 new Fund Commitments totalling £83.4m, including £19.8m to funds managed by ICG plc, as detailed below:

    Fund Manager Commitment during the period
        Local currency £m
    ICG Strategic Equity V ICG $25.0 m £19.8 m
    Leeds VIII Leeds Equity $20.0 m £15.7 m
    Investindustrial VIII Investindustrial €15.0 m £12.9 m
    Oak Hill VI Oak Hill $15.0 m £11.9 m
    Thoma Bravo XVI Thoma Bravo $15.0 m £11.7 m
    Valeas I Valeas $10.0 m £7.5 m
    American Securities IX American Securities $5.0 m £4.0 m

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust had outstanding Undrawn Commitments of £553.2m

    Movement in outstanding Commitments Year to 31 January 2025
    £m
    Undrawn Commitments as at 1 February 2024 552.0
    New Fund Commitments 83.4
    New Commitments relating to Direct Investments 65.3
    Total New Investments (181.4)
    Currency and other movements 33.9
    Undrawn commitments as at 31 January 2025 553.2

    Total Undrawn Commitments at 31 January 2025 comprised £419.1m of Undrawn Commitments to funds within their Investment Period, and a further £134.1m was to funds outside their Investment Period.

      31 January 2025
    £m
    31 January 2024
    £m
    Undrawn Commitments – funds in Investment Period 419.1 434.2
    Undrawn Commitments – funds outside Investment Period 134.1 117.7
    Total Undrawn Commitments 553.2 552.0
    Total available liquidity (including debt facility) (124.6) (195.9)
    Overcommitment net of total available liquidity 428.6 356.1
    Overcommitment % of net asset value 31.1% 27.7%

    Commitments are made in the funds’ underlying currencies. The currency split of the Undrawn Commitments at 31 January 2025 was as follows:

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Undrawn Commitments £m % £m %
    US Dollar 310.3 56.1% 290 52.5%
    Euro 213.1 38.5% 236 42.7%
    Sterling 29.8 5.4% 26 4.8%
    Total 553.2 100.0% 552.0 100.0%

    Investments

    Total new investments of £181.4m during the period, of which 12% (£21.1m) were alongside ICG. New investment by category detailed in the table below:

    Investment Category

    Cost (£m)

    % of New Investments
    Primary 115.5 63.6%
    Direct 58.4 32.2%
    Secondary 7.6 4.2%
    Total 181.4 100.0%

    The five largest new investments in the period were as follows:

    Investment Description Manager Country Cost £m1
    Datasite Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms ICG United States 18.4
    Visma Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Hg Norway 14.5
    Audiotonix Manufacturer of audio mixing consoles PAI United Kingdom 14.0
    Multiversity Provider of online higher education courses. ICG/CVC Italy 9.4
    Avid Bioservices Provider of biologics development and manufacturing services GHO United States 7.3
    Top 5 largest underlying new investments 63.6

    1 Represents ICG Enterprise Trust’s indirect investment (share of fund cost) plus any Direct Investments in the period.

    Occasionally ICGT simultaneously has both a realisation from and an investment into the same company in the same period. This typically occurs when an underlying fund sells a company that is purchased by another fund within ICGT’s portfolio. During FY25 shareholders will note that Datasite and Visma appear both in the top 5 realisations and top 5 new investments, which is a result of this situation.

    GROWTH

    The Portfolio grew by £138.0m (+10.2%) on a Local Currency Basis in the 12 months to 31 January 2025.

    Growth across the Portfolio was split as follows:

    • By investment type: growth was spread across Primary (8.2%), Secondary (6.4%) and Direct (16.3%)
    • By geography: North America and Europe experienced growth of 12.1% and 8.4% respectively

    The growth in the Portfolio is underpinned by the performance of our portfolio companies, which delivered robust financial performance during the period:

      Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    Portfolio coverage 41% 67%
    Last Twelve Months (‘LTM’) revenue growth 9.0% 11.2%
    LTM EBITDA growth 15.5% 15.3%
    Net Debt / EBITDA 4.0x 4.4x
    Enterprise Value / EBITDA 15.4x 15.2x
    Note: values are weighted averages for the respective portfolio segment; see Glossary for definition and calculation methodology

    QUOTED COMPANY EXPOSURE

    We do not actively invest in publicly quoted companies but gain listed investment exposure when IPOs are used as a route to exit an investment. In these cases, exit timing typically lies with the manager with whom we have invested.

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust’s exposure to quoted companies was valued at £73.1m, equivalent to 4.8% of the Portfolio value (31 January 2024: 4.8%). Across the Portfolio, quoted positions resulted in a £4.3m increase in Portfolio NAV during the period. The share price of our largest listed exposure, Chewy, increased by 119% in local currency (USD) during the period. This positively impacted the Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis by approximately 0.8%.

    At 31 January 2025 Chewy was the only quoted investment that individually accounted for 0.5% or more of the Portfolio value:

    Company Ticker 31 January 2025
    % of Portfolio value
    Chewy CHWY-US 2.0%
    Other companies   2.8%
    Total   4.8%

    REALISATIONS

    During FY25, the ICG Enterprise Trust Portfolio generated Total Proceeds of £150.8m.

    Realisation activity during the period included 40 Full Exits generating proceeds of £73.7m. These were completed at a weighted average Uplift to Carrying Value of 19% and represent a weighted average Multiple to Cost of 2.9x for those investments.

    Realisation Manager Description Country Proceeds £m
    VettaFi ICG Provider of master limited partnerships (“MLP”) indices United States 10.2
    Visma ICG Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Norway 8.2
    Datasite ICG Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms United States 7.8
    Compass Community Graphite Provider of fostering services and children residential care United Kingdom 7.4
    IRIS ICG Provider of software and services for the accountancy and payroll sectors United Kingdom 7.0
    Total of 5 largest underlying realisations   40.7

    Balance sheet and liquidity

    Net assets at 31 January 2025 were £1,332m, equal to 2,073p
    per share.

    The Company had net debt of £128m and at 31 January 2025, the Portfolio represented 114% of net assets (31 January 2024: 105%).

      £m % of net assets
    Portfolio 1,523.1 114.3%
    Cash 3.9 0.3%
    Drawn debt (131.9) (9.9)%
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual (53.9) (4.0)%
    Other net current liabilities (8.8) (0.7)%
    Net assets 1,332.4 100.0%

    Our objective is to be fully invested through the cycle, while ensuring that we have sufficient financial resources to be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities as they arise.

    During the year, our balance sheet flexibility was enhanced through an increase in the credit facility size from €240m to €300m. This change was effective from 20 December 2024.

    At 31 January 2025, ICG Enterprise Trust had a cash balance
    of £3.9m (31 January 2024: £11.2m) and total available liquidity of £124.6m (31 January 2024: £195.9m).

      £m
    Cash at 31 January 2024 11.2
    Total Proceeds 150.8
    New investments (181.4)
    Debt drawn down 111.9
    Shareholder returns (58.2)
    Management fees (16.0)
    FX and other expenses (13.5)
    Cash at 31 January 2025 3.9
    Available undrawn debt facilities 120.7
    Total available liquidity 124.6

    Dividend and share buyback

    ICG Enterprise Trust has a progressive dividend policy alongside two share buyback programmes to return capital to shareholders.

    DIVIDENDS

    The Board has declared a dividend of 10.5p per share in respect of the fourth quarter, taking total dividends for the year to 36p (FY24: 33p). It is the twelfth consecutive year of ordinary dividend per share increases.

    SHARE BUYBACKS

    The following purchases have been made under the Company’s share buyback programmes:

      Long-term Opportunistic Total
      FY253 Since inception1 FY253 Since inception2 FY253 Since
    inception
    Number of shares purchased 1,420,500 2,752,688 1,492,175 1,492,175 2,912,675 4,244,863
    % of opening shares since buyback started         4.3% 6.2%
    Capital returned to shareholders £17.3m £32.6m £18.3m £18.3m £35.6m £50.8m
    Number of days shares have been acquired 87 183 11 11 98 194
    Weighted average discount to last reported NAV 37.0% 38.3% 36.2% 36.2% 36.6% 37.5%
    NAV per Share accretion (p)         36.5 54.1
    NAV per Share accretion (% of NAV)         1.8% 2.7%

    1.Since October 2022 (which was when the long-term share buyback programme was launched) up to and including 31 January 2025.

    2. Since May 2024 (which was when the opportunistic buyback programme was launched) up to and including 31 January 2025.

    3. Based on company-issued announcements / date of purchase, rather than date of settlement.

    Note: aggregate consideration excludes commission, PTM and SDRT.

    The Board believes the long-term buyback programme demonstrates the Manager’s discipline around capital allocation; underlines the Board’s confidence in the long-term prospects of the Company, its cash flows and NAV; will enhance the NAV per Share; and, over time, may positively influence the volatility of the Company’s discount and its trading liquidity.

    During the period, the Board announced an opportunistic share buyback programme for FY25 of up to £25m. This is intended to enable us to take advantage of current trading levels, when the ability to purchase shares in meaningful size at a significant discount presents itself. It was renewed for FY26 for an additional year up to £25m.

    Foreign exchange rates

    The details of relevant foreign exchange rates applied in this report are provided in the table below:

      Average rate for FY25 Average rate for FY24 31 January 2025 year end 31 January 2024 year end
    GBP:EUR 1.18 1.15 1.20 1.17
    GBP:USD 1.28 1.25 1.24 1.27
    EUR:USD 1.08 1.08 1.04 1.08

    Activity since the period end

    Notable activity between 1 February 2025 and 31 March 2025 has included:

    • Four new Fund Commitments for a combined value of £64m
    • New investments of £39m
    • Realisation Proceeds of £26m

    From 1 February 2025 up to and including 30 April 2025, 718,000 shares (£8.9m) were bought back at a weighted-average discount to NAV of 37.9%.

    In addition, during the month of April 2025, we announced that proceeds of £107m were received as a result of two transactions:

    • Secondary sale (£62m net proceeds), executed at a discount of 5.5% to 30 September 2024 valuation and realising a 1.6x return on invested cost (15% IRR)
    • Realisation of Minimax (€53m (£45m) proceeds), ICGT’s largest portfolio company at 31 January 2025 (3.1% of Portfolio value). ICG Enterprise Trust is reinvesting €10m in the next stage of Minimax’s growth alongside Management and other investors including certain ICG funds.

    ICG Private Equity Funds Investment Team

    7 May 2025

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

    This section presents supplementary information regarding the Portfolio (see Manager’s Review and the Glossary for further details and definitions).

    Portfolio composition

    Portfolio by calendar year of investment % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2025
    % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2024
    2025 0.5% —%
    2024 10.1% —%
    2023 7.6% 6.9%
    2022 18.5% 18.7%
    2021 25.7% 27.9%
    2020 8.6% 11.4%
    2019 10.3% 12.4%
    2018 7.3% 10.5%
    2017 2.2% 4.2%
    2016 and older 9.2% 8.0%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    Portfolio by sector % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2025
    % of value of underlying investments
    31 January 2024
    TMT 29.9% 25.3%
    Consumer goods and services 18.1% 17.5%
    Healthcare 11.5% 11.3%
    Business services 12.4% 13.1%
    Industrials 7.8% 7.9%
    Education 5.0% 7.4%
    Financials 7.6% 5.7%
    Leisure 4.0% 7.3%
    Other 3.7% 4.5%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    Portfolio by fund currency1 31 January 2025
    £m
    31 January 2025
    %
    31 January 2024
    £m
    31 January 2024
    %
    US Dollar 796 52.3% 674 49.9%
    Euro 584 38.4% 555 41.2%
    Sterling 140 9.2% 120 8.9%
    Total 1,523   1,349 100.0%
    1 Currency exposure by reference to the reporting currency of each fund .

    Portfolio Dashboard

    The tables below provide disclosure on the composition and dispersion of financial and operational performance for the Top 30 and the Enlarged Perimeter. At 31 January 2025, the Top 30 Companies represented 40.2% of the Portfolio by value and the Enlarged Perimeter represented 66.9% of total Portfolio value. This information is prepared on a value-weighted basis, based on contribution to Portfolio value at 31 January 2025. Datasets for Top 30 companies and ‘Enlarged perimeter’ are not distinct and will have some overlap.

      % of value at 31 January 2025
    Sector exposure Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    TMT 17.3% 30.2%
    Business services 16.9% 13.9%
    Consumer goods and services 14.0% 17.3%
    Industrials 27.3% 8.7%
    Healthcare 8.4% 10.0%
    Education 6.9% 6.5%
    Leisure 6.8% 5.1%
    Financials 2.4% 5.1%
    Other —% 3.2%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
      % of value at 31 January 2025
    Geographic exposure1 Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    North America 43.6% 45.0%
    Europe 50.3% 50.5%
    Other 6.1% 4.5%
    Total 100.0% 100.0%
    1 Geographic exposure is calculated by reference to the location of the headquarters of the underlying Portfolio companies
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    LTM revenue growth Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <-10% 3.2% 4.0%
    `-10-0% 9.0% 10.2%
    0-10% 59.4% 47.0%
    10-20% 15.2% 20.6%
    20-30% 3.6% 5.6%
    >30% 9.6% 10.0%
    n.a.1 —% 2.7%
    Weighted average 9.0% 11.2%
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    LTM EBITDA growth Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <-10% 5.8% 7.2%
    `-10-0% 9.7% 10.3%
    0-10% 31.4% 27.5%
    10-20% 21.9% 23.0%
    20-30% 7.2% 8.9%
    >30% 24.0% 19.9%
    n.a1 —% 3.2%
    Weighted average 15.5% 15.3%
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    EV/EBITDA multiple Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    0-10x 8.5% 10.4%
    10-12x 17.2% 16.4%
    12-13x 8.1% 7.8%
    13-15x 18.6% 18.0%
    15-17x 25.9% 21.7%
    17-20x 6.5% 7.7%
    >20x 15.2% 15.4%
    n.a.1 —% 2.6%
    Weighted average 15.4x 15.2x
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.
        % of value at 31 January 2025
    Net Debt / EBITDA Top 30 Enlarged Perimeter
    <2x 27.2% 17.3%
    2-4x 17.3% 19.9%
    4-5x 14.1% 15.7%
    5-6x 6.7% 13.2%
    6-7x 26.0% 17.8%
    >7x 8.7% 11.2%
    n.a.1 —% 5.1%
    Weighted average 4.0x 4.4x
    Note: for consistency, any excluded investments are excluded for all dispersion analysis.

    Top 30 companies
    The table below presents the 30 companies in which ICG Enterprise Trust had the largest investments by value at 31 January 2025. The valuations are gross of underlying managers fees and carried interest.

      Company Manager Year of investment Country Value as a % of Portfolio
    1 Minimax        
      Supplier of fire protection systems and services ICG 2018 Germany 3.1%
    2 Froneri        
      Manufacturer and distributor of ice cream products PAI 2013 / 2019 United Kingdom 2.5%
    3 Chewy        
      Online retailer of premium pet food and products BC Partners 2022 United States 2.0%
    4 Datasite        
      Provider of software focused on virtual data rooms ICG 2024 United States 1.9%
    5 Leaf Home Solutions        
      Provider of home maintenance services Gridiron 2016 United States 1.6%
    6 Visma        
      Provider of business management software and outsourcing services Hg/ICG 2024 Norway 1.6%
    7 Circana        
      Provider of mission-critical data and predictive analytics to consumer goods manufacturers New Mountain 2022 United States 1.6%
    8 European Camping Group        
      Operator of premium campsites and holiday parks PAI 2021 / 2023 France 1.5%
    9 Davies Group        
      Provider of speciality business process outsourcing services BC Partners 2021 United Kingdom 1.5%
    10 Ambassador Theatre Group        
      Operator of theatres and ticketing platforms ICG 2021 United Kingdom 1.4%
    11 Precisely        
      Provider of enterprise software Clearlake/ICG 2021 / 2022 United States 1.3%
    12 Newton        
      Provider of management consulting services ICG 2021 / 2022 United Kingdom 1.3%
    13 David Lloyd Leisure        
      Operator of premium health clubs TDR 2013 / 2020 United Kingdom 1.3%
    14 Curium Pharma        
      Supplier of nuclear medicine diagnostic pharmaceuticals ICG 2020 United Kingdom 1.3%
    15 PSB Academy        
      Provider of private tertiary education ICG 2018 Singapore 1.3%
    16 Crucial Learning        
      Provider of corporate training courses focused on communication skills and leadership development Leeds Equity 2019 United States 1.3%
    17 Class Valuation        
      Provider of residential mortgage appraisal management services Gridiron 2021 United States 1.3%
    18 Domus        
      Operator of retirement homes ICG 2017 / 2021 France 1.2%
    19 Yudo        
      Designer and manufacturer of hot runner systems ICG 2017 / 2018 South Korea 1.2%
    20 ECA Group        
      Provider of autonomous systems for the aerospace and maritime sectors ICG 2022 France 1.1%
    21 Brooks Automation        
      Provider of semiconductor manufacturing solutions THL 2021 / 2022 United States 1.0%
    22 Planet Payment        
      Provider of integrated payments services focused on hospitality and luxury retail Advent/Eurazeo/ICG 2021 Ireland 1.0%
    23 Ivanti        
      Provider of IT management solutions Charlesbank/ICG 2021 United States 1.0%
    24 Vistage        
      Provider of CEO leadership and coaching for small and mid-size businesses in the US Gridiron 2022 United States 1.0%
    25 Audiotonix        
      Manufacturer of audio mixing consoles PAI 2024 United Kingdom 0.9%
    26 DigiCert        
      Provider of enterprise security solutions ICG 2021 United States 0.9%
    27 Ping Identity        
      Provider of intelligent access management solutions Thoma Bravo 2022 / 2023 United States 0.9%
    28 KronosNet        
      Provider of tech-enabled customer engagement and business solutions ICG 2022 Spain 0.8%
    29 Archer Technologies        
      Provider of governance, risk and compliance software Cinven 2023 United States 0.7%
    30 Silvus Technologies        
      Developer of mobile communications datalinks used in law enforcement, unmanned systems and other commercial/industrial applications TJC 2019 United States 0.7%
      Total of the 30 largest underlying investments       40.2%

    The 30 largest fund investments
    The table below presents the 30 largest fund investments by value at 31 January 2025. The valuations are net of underlying managers’ fees and carried interest.

      Fund Year of commitment Value £m Outstanding commitment £m
    1 PAI Strategic Partnerships **      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2019 34.6 0.2
    2 ICG Strategic Equities Fund IV      
      GP-led secondary transactions 2021 32.9 7.1
    3 ICG Strategic Equities Fund III      
      GP-led secondary transactions 2018 31.0 11.2
    4 ICG Europe VII      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buyouts 2018 30.7 6.1
    5 CVC European Equity Partners VII      
      Large buyouts 2017 25.7 2.9
    6 PAI Europe VII      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2017 24.6 2.4
    7 ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp      
      Secondary portfolio 2021 23.8 13.6
    8 ICG Europe VIII      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buy-outs 2021 23.6 14.3
    9 Gridiron Capital Fund III      
      Mid-market buyouts 2016 23.4 1.3
    10 Resolute IV      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 23.0 0.9
    11 Gridiron Capital Fund IV      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 21.5 0.5
    12 ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor **      
      Secondary fund restructurings 2018 20.5 17.8
    13 Oak Hill V      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 19.9 0.6
    14 Seventh Cinven      
      Large buyouts 2019 19.8 1.8
    15 Graphite Capital Partners VIII *      
      Mid-market buyouts 2013 19.3 4.1
    16 Graphite Capital Partners IX      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 18.4 2.3
    17 ICG Ludgate Hill III      
      Secondary portfolio 2022 18.0 5.7
    18 Resolute V      
      Mid-market buyouts 2021 17.1 1.4
    19 Advent Global Private Equity IX      
      Large buyouts 2019 16.4 0.5
    20 ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp      
      Secondary portfolio 2022 16.0 5.4
    21 New Mountain Partners VI      
      Mid-market buy-outs 2020 14.9 0.5
    22 Investindustrial VII      
      Mid-market buyouts 2019 14.0 4.9
    23 ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund      
      Mezzanine and equity in mid-market buyouts 2019 13.5 5.5
    24 CVC Capital Partners VIII      
      Large buyouts 2020 13.4 0.5
    25 Bowmark Capital Partners VI      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 13.1 3.4
    26 Tailwind Capital Partners III      
      Mid-market buyouts 2018 13.1 2.2
    27 BC European Capital X      
      Large buyouts 2016 13.1 1.4
    28 Thomas H Lee Equity Fund IX      
      Mid-market and large buyouts 2021 12.9 4.0
    29 Permira VII      
      Large buyouts 2019 12.6 1.6
    30 ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP      
      LP-led secondary transactions 2022 12.2 41.1
      Total of the largest 30 fund investments   593.0 165.3
      Percentage of total investment Portfolio   39.1%  

    *All or part of interest acquired through a secondary sale.

    **Includes the associated Top Up funds.

    HOW WE MANAGE RISK

    Identifying and evaluating the strategic, financial and operational impact of our key risks

    The execution of the Company’s investment strategy is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, and the Board and Manager have identified several principal risks to the Company’s business. As part of this process, the Board has put in place an ongoing process to identify, assess and monitor the principal and emerging risks facing the Company, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

    RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

    The Board is responsible for risk management and determining the Company’s overall risk appetite. The Audit Committee assesses and monitors the risk management framework and specifically reviews the controls and assurance programmes in place.

    PRINCIPAL RISKS

    The Company’s principal risks are individual risks, or a combination of risks, that could threaten the Company’s business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

    Details of the Company’s principal risks, potential impact, controls and mitigating factors are set out on pages 23 to 27.

    OTHER RISKS

    Other risks, including reputational risk, are potential outcomes of the principal risks materialising. These risks are actively managed and mitigated as part of the wider risk management framework of the Company and the Manager.

    EMERGING RISKS

    Emerging risks are considered by the Board and are regularly assessed to identify any potential impact on the Company and to determine whether any actions are required. Emerging risks often include those related to regulatory/legislative change and macro-economic and political change.

    The Company depends upon the experience, skill and reputation of the employees of the Manager. The Manager’s ability to retain the service of these individuals, who are not obligated to remain employed by the Manager, and recruit successfully, is a significant factor in the success of the Company.

    PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

    The Company considers its principal risks (as well as several underlying risks comprising each principal risk) in four categories:

    1. Investment risks: the risk to performance resulting from ineffective or inappropriate investment selection, execution or monitoring.
    2. External risks: the risk of failing to deliver the Company’s investment objective and strategic goals due to external factors beyond the Company’s control.
    3. Operational risks: the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people or systems and external events, including regulatory risk.
    4. Financial risks: the risk of adverse impact on the Company due to having insufficient resources to meet its obligations or counterparty failure and the impact any material movement in foreign exchange rates may have on underlying valuations.

    RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS

    A comprehensive risk assessment process is undertaken regularly to re-evaluate the impact and probability of each risk materialising and the strategic, financial and operational impact of the risk. Where the residual risk is determined to be outside appetite, appropriate action is taken. Further information on risk factors is set out within the financial statements.

    Risk appetite and tolerance

    The Board acknowledges and recognises that in the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to risk and it is willing to accept a certain level of risk in managing the business to achieve its targeted returns. The Board’s risk appetite framework provides a basis for the ongoing monitoring of risks and enables dialogue with respect to the Company’s current and evolving risk profile, allowing strategic and financial decisions to be made on an informed basis.

    The Board considers several factors to determine its acceptance for each principal risk and categorises acceptance for each risk as low, moderate and high. Where a risk is approaching or is outside the tolerance set, the Board will consider the appropriateness of actions being taken to manage the risk. In particular, the Board has a lower tolerance for financing risk with the aim to ensure that even under a stress scenario, the Company is likely to meet its funding requirements and financial obligations. Similarly, the Board has a low risk tolerance concerning operational risks including legal, tax and regulatory compliance and business process and continuity risk.

    How we manage and mitigate our key risks

    RISK IMPACT MITIGATION CHANGE IN THE YEAR
    INVESTMENT RISKS      
    INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

    The Manager selects the fund investments and Direct Investments for the Company’s Portfolio, executing the investment strategy approved by the Board. The underlying managers of those funds in turn select individual investee companies. The origination, investment selection and management capabilities of both the Manager and the third-party managers are key to the performance of the Company.

    Poor origination, investment selection and monitoring by the Manager and/or third-party managers which may have a negative impact on Portfolio performance. The Manager has a strong track record of investing in private equity through multiple economic cycles. The Manager has a highly selective investment approach and disciplined process, which is overseen by ICG Enterprise Trust’s Investment Committee within the Manager, which comprises a balance of skills and perspectives.

    Further, the Company’s Portfolio is diversified, reducing the likelihood of a single investment decision impacting Portfolio performance.

    Stable

    The Board is responsible for ensuring that the investment policy is met. The day-to-day management of the Company’s assets is delegated to the Manager under investment guidelines determined by the Board. The Board regularly reviews these guidelines to ensure they remain appropriate and monitors compliance with the guidelines through regular reports from the Manager, including performance reporting. The Board also reviews the investment strategy at least annually.

    Following this assessment and other considerations, the Board concluded that investment performance risk has remained stable.

    VALUATION

    In valuing its investments in private equity funds and unquoted companies and publishing its NAV, the Company relies to a significant extent on the accuracy of financial and other information provided by the underlying managers to the Manager. There is the potential for inconsistency in the valuation methods adopted by the managers of these funds and companies and for valuations to be misstated.

    Incorrect valuations being provided would lead to an incorrect overall NAV. The Manager carries out a formal valuation process quarterly including a review of third-party valuations.

    This process includes a comparison of unaudited valuations to latest audited reports, as well as a review of any potential adjustments that are required to ensure the valuations of the underlying investments are in accordance with the fair market value principles required under UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (‘IAS’).

    Stable

    The Board regularly reviews and discusses the valuation process in detail with the Manager, including the sources of valuation information and methodologies used.

    Following this assessment and other considerations, the Board concluded that there was no material change in valuation risk.

    EXTERNAL RISKS      
    POLITICAL AND MACRO-ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
    Political and macro-economic uncertainty and other global events, such as pandemics, that are outside the Company’s control could adversely impact the environment in which the Company and its investment portfolio companies operate.
    Changes in the political or macro-economic environment could significantly affect the performance of existing investments (and valuations) and prospects for realisations. In addition, they could impact the number of credible investment opportunities the Company can originate. The Manager uses a range of complementary approaches to inform strategic planning and risk mitigation, including active investment management, profitability and balance sheet scenario planning and stress testing to ensure resilience across a range of outcomes.
    The process is supported by a dedicated in-house economist and professional advisers where appropriate.
    Increasing
    The Board monitors and reviews the potential impact on the Company from political and economic developments on an ongoing basis, including input and discussions with the Manager.
    Incorporating these views and other considerations, the Board concluded that this risk had increased.
    CLIMATE CHANGE
    The underlying managers of the fund investments and Direct Investments in the Company’s Portfolio fail to ensure that their portfolio companies respond to the emerging threats from climate change.
    Climate-related transition risks, driven in particular by abrupt shifts in the political and technological landscape, impact the value of the Company’s Portfolio. The Manager has a well-defined, firm-wide Responsible Investing Policy and sustainable investing framework in place.
    A tailored sustainable investing framework applies across all stages of the Company’s investment process.
    Stable

    The Board monitors and reviews the potential impact to the Company from failures by underlying managers to mitigate the impact of climate change on portfolio company valuation.

    THE LISTED PRIVATE
    EQUITY SECTOR
    The listed private equity sector could fall out of favour with investors leading to a reduction in demand for the Company’s shares.
    A change in sentiment to the sector has the potential to damage the Company’s reputation and impact the performance of the Company’s share price and widen the discount the shares trade at relative to NAV per Share, causing shareholder dissatisfaction. Private equity continues to outperform public markets over the long term and has proved to be an attractive asset class through various cycles. The Manager is active in marketing the Company’s shares to a wide variety of investors to ensure the market is informed about the Company’s performance and investment proposition.
    In setting the capital allocation policy, including the allocations to dividends and share buybacks, the Board monitors the discount to NAV and considers appropriate solutions to address any ongoing or substantial discount to NAV.
    Increasing
    The persistence of the discount to NAV, together with other sector uncertainties, indicates an increase in risk.
    The Board receives regular updates from the Company’s broker and is kept informed of all material discussions with investors and analysts.
    FOREIGN EXCHANGE
    The Company has continued to expand its geographic diversity by making investments in different countries. Accordingly, most investments are denominated in US dollars and euros.
    The Company does not hedge its foreign exchange exposure. Therefore, movements in exchange rates between these currencies may have a material effect on the underlying sterling valuations of the investments and performance of the Company. The Board regularly reviews the Company’s exposure to currency risk and reconsiders possible hedging strategies on at least an annual basis.
    Furthermore, the Company’s multicurrency bank facility permits the borrowings to be drawn in euros and US dollars, if required.
    Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to currency risk and possible hedging strategies and concluded that there was no material change in foreign exchange risk during the year and that it remains appropriate for the Company not to hedge its foreign exchange exposure.
    OPERATIONAL RISKS      
    REGULATORY, LEGAL
    AND TAX COMPLIANCE
    Failure by the Manager to comply with relevant regulation and legislation could have an adverse impact on the Company. Additionally, adherence to changes in the legal, regulatory and tax framework applicable to the Manager could become onerous, lessening competitive or market opportunities.
    The failure of the Manager and the Company to comply with the rules of professional conduct and relevant laws and regulations could expose the Company to regulatory sanction and penalties as well as significant damage to its reputation. The Board is responsible for ensuring the Company’s compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and tax requirements. Monitoring of this compliance has been delegated to the Manager, of which the in-house Legal, Compliance and Risk functions provide regular updates to the Board covering relevant changes to regulation and legislation.
    The Board and the Manager continually monitor regulatory, legislative and tax developments to ensure early engagement in any areas of potential change.
    Stable
    The Company remains responsive to a wide range of developing regulatory areas; and will continue to enhance its processes and controls in order to remain compliant with current and expected legislation.
    KEY PROFESSIONALS
    Loss of key professionals at the Manager could impair the Company’s ability to deliver its investment strategy and meet its external obligations if replacements are not found in a timely manner.
    If the Manager’s team is not able to deliver its objectives, investment opportunities could be missed or misevaluated, while existing investment performance may suffer. The Manager regularly updates the Board on team developments and succession planning. The Manager places significant focus on:
    Developing key individuals to ensure that there is a pipeline of potential succession candidates internally. External appointments are considered if that best satisfies the business needs.
    A team-based approach to investment decision-making, i.e. no one investment professional has sole responsibility for an investment or fund manager relationship.
    Sharing insights and knowledge widely across the investment team, including discussing all potential new investments and the overall performance of the Portfolio.
    Designing and implementing a compensation policy that helps to minimise turnover of key people.
    Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to people risk and concluded that the Manager continues to operate sustainable succession, competitive remuneration and retention plans.
    The Board believes that the risk in respect of people remains stable.
    THE MANAGER AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS (INCLUDING BUSINESS PROCESSES, BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND CYBER)
    The Company is dependent on third parties for the provision of services and systems, especially those of the Manager, the Administrator and the Depositary.
    Failure by a third-party provider to deliver services in accordance with its contractual obligations could disrupt or compromise the functioning of the Company. A material loss of service could result in, among other things, an inability to perform business critical functions, financial loss, legal liability, regulatory censure and reputational damage.
    The failure of the Manager and Administrator to deliver an appropriate cyber security platform for critical technology systems could result in unauthorised access by malicious third parties, breaching the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Company data, negatively impacting the Company’s reputation.
    The performance of the Manager, the Administrator, the Depositary and other third-party providers is subject to regular review and reported to the Board.
    The Manager, the Administrator and the Depositary produce internal control reports to provide assurance regarding the effective operation of internal controls. These reports are provided to the Audit Committee for review. The Committee would seek further representations from service providers if not satisfied with the effectiveness of their control environment.
    The Audit Committee formally assesses the internal controls of the Manager, the Administrator and Depositary on an annual basis to ensure adequate controls are in place.
    The assessment in respect of the current year is discussed in the Report of the Audit Committee.
    The Management Agreement and agreements with other third-party service providers are subject to notice periods that are designed to provide the Board with adequate time to put in place alternative arrangements.
    Stable
    The Board carries out a formal annual assessment (supported by the Manager’s internal audit function) of the Manager’s internal controls and risk management systems.
    The Board also received regular reporting from the Manager and other third parties.
    Following this review and other considerations, the Board concluded that there was no material change in the Manager and other third-party suppliers risk.
    FINANCIAL RISKS      
    FINANCING
    The Company has outstanding commitments to private equity funds in excess of total liquidity that may be drawn down at any time. The ability to fund this difference is dependent on receiving cash proceeds from investments (the timing of which are unpredictable) and the availability of financing facilities.
    If the Company encountered difficulties in meeting its outstanding commitments, there would be significant reputational damage as well as risk of damages being claimed from managers and other counterparties. The Manager monitors the Company’s liquidity, overcommitment ratio and covenants on a frequent basis, and undertakes cash flow monitoring, and provides regular updates on these activities to the Board. Stable
    The Board reviewed the Company’s exposure to financing risk, noting the Net Debt position, the increase in available facility and the short-term realisation forecast and concluded that this risk was stable.

    Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 January 2025

    INCOME STATEMENT

    Year to 31 January 2025 Year to 31 January 2024
      Notes Revenue
    return
    £’000
    Capital return
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Revenue
    return
    £’000
    Capital return
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Investment returns              
    Income, gains and losses on investments 2,10 1,060 134,156 135,216 2,365 39,369 41,734
    Deposit interest 2 48 — 48 405 — 405
    Other income 2 5 — 5 104 — 104
    Foreign exchange gains and losses   — (729) (729) — 1,193 1,193
        1,113 133,427 134,540 2,874 40,562 43,436
    Expenses              
    Investment management charges 3 (1,618) (14,558) (16,175) (1,615) (14,533) (16,148)
    Other expenses including finance costs 4 (2,439) (8,417) (10,855) (2,520) (7,402) (9,922)
        (4,057) (22,974) (27,031) (4,135) (21,935) (26,070)
                   
    Profit/(loss) before tax   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Taxation 6     — — — —
    Profit/(loss) for the period   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Attributable to:              
    Equity shareholders   (2,943) 110,453 107,510 (1,261) 18,627 17,366
    Basic and diluted earnings per share 7     163.95p     25.63p
                   

    The columns headed ‘Total’ represent the income statement for the relevant financial years and the columns headed ‘Revenue return’ and ‘Capital return’ are supplementary information in line with guidance published by the AIC. There is no Other Comprehensive Income.

    All profits are from continuing operations.

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    BALANCE SHEET

     

    Notes

    31 January
    2025
    £’000

    31 January
    2024
    £’000

    Non-current assets      
    Investments held at fair value 9,10,17 1,469,549 1,296,382
           
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 11 3,927 9,722
    Prepayments and receivables 12 2,018 2,258
        5,945 11,980
    Current liabilities      
    Borrowings   (131,931) (20,000)
    Payables 13 (11,171) (5,139)
           
    Net current assets / (liabilities)   (137,157) (13,159)
    Total assets less current liabilities   1,332,392 1,283,223
           
    Capital and reserves      
    Share capital 14 7,292 7,292
    Capital redemption reserve   2,112 2,112
    Share premium   12,936 12,936
    Capital reserve   1,315,727 1,279,751
    Revenue reserve   (5,675) (2,733)
    Total equity   1,332,392 1,283,223
           
    Net Asset Value per Share (basic and diluted) 15 2072.9p 1909.4p

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    The financial statements on pages 30 to 59 were approved by the Board of Directors on 7 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

    Jane Tufnell        Alastair Bruce
    Director                Director

    CASH FLOW STATEMENT

      Notes Year to 31 January 2025
    £’000
    Year to 31st January 2024
    £’000
    Operating activities      
    Sale of portfolio investments   19,966 40,611
    Purchase of portfolio investments   (34,144) (25,162)
    Cash flow to subsidiaries’ investments   (152,174) (116,084)
    Cash flow from subsidiaries’ investments   125,769 195,300
    Interest income received from portfolio investments   494 1,695
    Dividend income received from portfolio investments   547 779
    Other income received   53 509
    Investment management charges paid   (16,021) (15,647)
    Other expenses paid   (1,881) (2,596)
    Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities   (57,391) 79,405
           
    Financing activities      
    Bank facility fee paid   (2,011) (3,970)
    Interest paid   (545) (5,571)
    Credit Facility utilised   139,762 128,109
    Credit Facility repaid   (27,831) (174,954)
    Purchase of shares into treasury   (35,851) (13,068)
    Equity dividends paid 8 (22,308) (21,694)
    Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities   51,215 (91,148)
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (6,176) (11,743)
           
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 11 9,722 20,694
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (6,176) (11,743)
    Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates   381 771
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 11 3,927 9,722
    1. Includes settlement of unbilled management fees relating to the prior year (see note 13).

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

     

    Share capital
    £’000

    Capital
    redemption
    reserve
    £’000

    Share premium
    £’000

    Realised
    capital
    reserve1
    £’000
    Unrealised
    capital
    reserve
    £’000
    Revenue
    reserve1
    £’000
    Total
    shareholders’
    equity
    £’000
           
    Opening balance at 1 February 2024 7,292 2,112 12,936 473,015 790,602 (2,733) 1,283,223
    Profit for the period and total comprehensive income — — — (6,033) 116,485 (2,942) 107,510
    Capital distribution by subsidiary2 — — — — — — —
    Dividends paid — — — (22,308) — — (22,308)
    Purchase of shares into treasury — — — (36,033) — — (36,033)
    Closing balance at 31 January 2025 7,292 2,112 12,936 408,641 907,087 (5,675) 1,332,392
                   
     

    Share capital
    £’000

    Capital redemption
    reserve
    £’000

    Share premium
    £’000

    Realised
    capital
    reserve1
    £’000
    Unrealised
    capital
    reserve
    £’000
    Revenue
    reserve1
    £’000
    Total
    shareholders’
    equity
    £’000
           
    Opening balance at 1 February 2023 7,292 2,112 12,936 468,054 811,698 (1,473) 1,300,619
    Profit for the period and total comprehensive income — — — 31,032 (12,405) (1,261) 17,366
    Capital distribution by subsidiary2 — — — 8,691 (8,691) — —
    Dividends paid — — — (21,694) — — (21,694)
    Purchase of shares into treasury — — — (13,068) — — (13,068)
    Closing balance at 31 January 24 7,292 2,112 12,936 473,015 790,602 (2,734) 1,283,223
    1. Distributable reserves.
    2. During the prior reporting period ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership made a distribution of realised profits totalling £8.6m to the Company.

    The notes on pages 34 to 59 form an integral part of the financial statements.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

    General information

    These financial statements relate to ICG Enterprise Trust Plc (‘the Company’). ICG Enterprise Trust Plc is registered in England and Wales and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Company is domiciled in the United Kingdom and its registered office is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW. The Company’s objective is to provide long-term growth by investing in private companies managed by leading private equity managers.

    (a) Basis of preparation

    The financial information for the year ended 31 January 2025 has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (‘UK-IAS’) and the Statement of Recommended Practice (‘SORP’) for investment trusts issued by the Association of Investment Companies in July 2022.

    UK-IAS comprises standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) and the IFRS Interpretations Committee.

    These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and on the historical cost basis of accounting, modified for the revaluation of certain assets at fair value. The directors have concluded that the preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis continues to be appropriate.

    Going concern

    In assessing the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis of accounting, the Board has assessed the financial position and prospects of the Company. The Company’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its future development, performance, position and cash flows, are set out in the Chair’s statement on page 5, and the Manager’s review on page 7.

    As part of this review, the Board assessed the potential impact of principal risks on the Company’s business activities, the Company’s cash position, the availability of the Company’s credit facility and compliance with its covenants, and the Company’s cash flow projections.

    Based on this assessment, the Board expects that the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due until, at least, 31 May 2026, a period of more than 12 months from the signing of the financial statements. Therefore it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis of preparation of the Company’s financial statements.

    Climate change

    In preparing the financial statements, the directors have considered the impact of climate change, particularly in the context of the climate change risks identified in the Principal risks and uncertainties section of this Report, and the impact of climate change risk on the valuation of investments.

    These considerations did not have a material impact on the financial reporting judgements and estimates in the current year, nor were they expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s going concern or viability.

    Accounting policies

    The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. These policies have been applied consistently throughout the current and prior year. In order to reflect the activities of an investment trust company, supplementary information which analyses the income statement between items of revenue and capital nature has been presented alongside the income statement. In analysing total income between capital and revenue returns, the directors have followed the guidance contained in the SORP as follows:

    Capital gains and losses on investments sold and on investments held arising on the revaluation or disposal of investments classified as held at fair value through profit or loss should be shown in the capital column of the income statement.

    Returns on any share or debt security for a fixed amount (whether in respect of dividends, interest or otherwise) should be shown in the revenue column of the income statement.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    The Board should determine whether the indirect costs of generating capital gains should also be shown in the capital column of the income statement. If the Board decides that this should be so, the management fee should be allocated between revenue and capital in accordance with the Board’s expected long-term split of returns, and other expenses should be charged to capital only to the extent that a clear connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of investments can be demonstrated.

    The accounting policy regarding the allocation of expenses is set out in note 1(i).

    In accordance with IFRS 10 (amended), the Company is deemed to be an investment entity on the basis that:

    (a) it obtains funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing investors with investment management services;

    (b) it commits to its investors that its business purpose is to invest funds for both returns from capital appreciation and investment income; and

    (c) it measures and evaluates the performance of substantially all of its investments on a fair value basis.

    As a result, the Company’s controlled structured entities (‘subsidiaries’) are deemed to be investments and are classified as held at fair value through profit and loss.

    (b) Financial assets

    The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss; and at amortised cost. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. The classification of financial assets is determined at initial recognition.

    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

    The Company classifies its quoted and unquoted investments as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. These assets are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value and further details of the accounting policy are disclosed in note 1(c).

    Financial assets at amortised cost

    Financial assets at amortised cost are non-derivative financial assets which pass the contractual cash flow test and are held to receive contractual cash flows. These are classified as current assets and measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. The Company’s financial assets at amortised cost comprise cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables in the balance sheet.

    (c) Investments

    Investments comprise fund investments and portfolio company investments held by the Company directly, together with the fair value of the Company’s interest in controlled structured entities (see note 9) which themselves invest in fund investments and portfolio company investments.

    All investments are classified upon initial recognition as held at fair value through profit or loss (described in these financial statements as investments held at fair value) and are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value. All investments are fair valued in line with IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’, using industry standard valuation guidelines such as the International Private Equity and Venture Capital (‘IPEV’) valuation guidelines. Changes in the value of all investments held at fair value, which include returns on those investments such as dividends and interest, are recognised in the income statement and are allocated to the revenue column or the capital column in accordance with the SORP (see note 1(a)). More detail on certain categories of investment is set out below. Given that the subsidiaries and associates are held at fair value and are exposed to materially similar risks as the Company, we do not expect the risks to materially differ from those disclosed in note 17.

    Unquoted Investments

    Fund investments and Co-investments (collectively ‘unquoted investments’) are fair valued using the net asset value of those unquoted investments as determined by the third-party investment manager of those funds. The third-party investment manager performs periodic valuations of the underlying investments in their funds, typically using earnings multiple or discounted cash flow methodologies to determine enterprise value in line with IPEV Guidelines. In the absence of contrary information, these net asset valuations received from the third-party investment managers are deemed to be

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    appropriate by the Manager, for the purposes of the Manager’s determination of the fair values of the unquoted investments. A robust assessment is performed by the Manager’s experienced Investment Committee to determine the capability and track record of the investment manager. All investment managers are scrutinised by the Investment Committee and an approval process is recorded before any new investment manager is approved and an investment made. This level of scrutiny provides reasonable comfort that the investment manager’s valuation will be consistent with the requirement to use fair value.

    Adjustments may be made to the net asset values provided or an alternative valuation method may be adopted if deemed to be more appropriate. The most common reason for adjustments to the value provided by an underlying manager is to take account of events occurring between the date of the manager’s valuation and the reporting date, for example, subsequent cash flows or notification of an agreed sale.

    Subsidiary undertakings

    The investments in the controlled structured entities (‘subsidiaries’) are recognised at fair value through profit and loss.

    The valuation of the subsidiaries takes into account an accrual for the estimated value of interests in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. Under these arrangements, ICG (the ‘Manager’) and certain of its executives and, in respect of certain historic investments, the executives and connected parties of Graphite Capital Management LLP (the ‘Former Manager’) (together ‘the Co-investors’), are required to co-invest alongside the Company, for which they are entitled to a share of investment profits if certain performance hurdles are met. At 31 January 2024, the accrual was estimated as the theoretical value of the interests if the Portfolio had been sold at the carrying value at that date.

    Associates

    The Company holds an interest (including indirectly through its subsidiaries) of more than 20% in a small number of investments that may normally be classified as subsidiaries or associates. These investments are not considered subsidiaries or associates as the Company does not exert control or significant influence over the activities of these companies/structured entities as they are managed by other third parties.

    (d) Prepayments and receivables

    Receivables include unamortised fees which were incurred directly in relation to the agreement of a financing facility. These fees will be amortised over the life of the facility on a straight-line basis.

    (e) Payables

    Other payables are non-interest bearing and are stated at their amortised cost, which is not materially different from fair value.

    (f) Cash and cash equivalents

    Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

    (g) Dividend distributions

    Dividend distributions to shareholders are recognised in the period in which they are paid.

    (h) Income

    When it is probable that economic benefits will flow to the Company and the amount can be measured reliably, interest is recognised on a time apportionment basis.

    Dividends receivable on quoted equity shares are brought into account on the ex-dividend date. Dividends receivable on equity shares where no ex-dividend date is applicable are brought into account when the Company’s right to receive payment is established.

    UK dividend income is recorded at the amount receivable. Overseas dividend income is shown net of withholding tax. Income distributions from funds are recognised when the right to distributions is established.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    (i) Expenses

    All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses are allocated to the revenue column in the income statement, consistent with the SORP, with the following exceptions:

    • Expenses which are incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments (transaction costs) are allocated to the capital column
    • The Board expects the majority of long-term returns from the Portfolio to be generated from capital gains. Expenses are allocated 90% to the capital column and 10% to the revenue column, reflecting the Company’s current and future return profile. Other expenses are allocated to the capital column where a clear connection with the maintenance or enhancement of the value of investments can be demonstrated.
    • All expenses allocated to the capital column are treated as realised capital losses (see note 1(l)).

    (j) Taxation

    Investment trusts which have approval as such under Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 are not liable for taxation on capital gains.
    Tax recognised in the income statement represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax charged or credited in the year. The tax effect of different items of expenditure is allocated between capital and revenue on the same basis as the particular item to which it relates.

    Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on the difference between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method.

    Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are not recognised in respect of tax losses carried forward to future periods.

    Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the assets are realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

    (k) Foreign currency translation

    The functional and presentation currency of the Company is sterling, reflecting the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

    Transactions in currencies other than sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.

    Gains and losses arising on the translation of investments held at fair value are included within gains and losses on investments held at fair value in the income statement. Gains and losses arising on the translation of other financial assets and liabilities are included within foreign exchange gains and losses in the income statement.

    (l) Revenue and capital reserves

    The revenue return component of total income is taken to the revenue reserve within the statement of changes in equity. The capital return component of total income is taken to the capital reserve within the statement of changes in equity.

    Gains and losses on the realisation of investments including realised exchange gains and losses and expenses of a capital nature are taken to the realised capital reserve (see note 1(i)). Changes in the valuations of investments which are held at the year end and unrealised exchange differences are accounted for in the unrealised capital reserve.

    Net gains on the realisation of investments in the controlled structured entities (see note 9) are transferred to the Company by way of profit distributions.

    The revenue reserve is distributable by way of dividends to shareholders. The realised capital reserve is distributable by way of dividends and share buybacks. The capital redemption reserve is not distributable and represents the nominal value of shares bought back for cancellation.

    (m) Treasury shares

    Shares that have been repurchased into treasury remain included in the share capital balance, unless they are cancelled.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    (n) Critical estimates and assumptions

    Estimates and judgements used in preparing the financial information are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable. The resulting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results.

    In preparing the financial statements, the directors have considered the impact of climate change on the key estimates within the financial statements.

    The only estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next financial year relate to the valuation of unquoted investments. Unquoted investments are primarily the Company’s investments in unlisted funds, managed by third-party investment fund managers and ICG. As such there is significant estimation in the valuation of the unlisted fund at a point in time. Note 1(c) sets out the accounting policy for unquoted investments. The carrying amount of unquoted investments at the year end is disclosed within note 10.

    (o) Segmental reporting

    Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the segments has been identified as the Board. It is considered that the Company’s operations comprise a single operating segment.

    2 INVESTMENT RETURNS

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
      £’000 £’000  
    Income from investments      
    Overseas interest and dividends 1,060 2,365  
      1,060 2,365  
    Deposit interest on cash 48 405  
    Other 5 104  
      53 509  
    Total income 1,113 2,874  
    Analysis of income from investments      
    Unquoted 1,060 2,365  
      1,060 2,365  

    3 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CHARGES

    Management fees paid to ICG for managing ICG Enterprise Trust amounted to 1.25% (2024: 1.25%) of the average net assets in the year. The reduction in the fee is due to the application of the cap.

    From 1 February 2023 the management fee is subject to a cap of 1.25% of net asset value.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    3 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CHARGES CONTINUED

    The amounts charged during the year are set out below:

      Year ended 31 January 2025 Year ended 31 January 2024
      Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investment management charge 1,617 14,558 16,175 1,615 14,533 16,148

    The Company and its subsidiaries also incur management fees in respect of its investment in funds managed by members of ICG on an arms-length basis.

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    ICG Europe VIII 434 467
    ICG Strategic Equity V 353 131
    ICG Strategic Equity IV 340 593
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 325 55
    ICG Europe VII 238 257
    ICG Strategic Equity III 238 183
    ICG Europe Mid-Market II 95 87
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor II 89 91
    ICG Europe Mid-Market 87 120
    ICG North American Private Debt II 68 74
    ICG Strategic Secondaries II 36 74
    ICG Europe VI 23 41
    ICG Asia Pacific III 15 30
    ICG Recovery Fund 2008B 3 31
    ICG Europe V 2 1
      2,346 2,235

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    4 OTHER EXPENSES

    The Company did not employ any staff in the year to 31 January 2025 (2024: none).

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Directors’ fees (see note 5)   340   316
    Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts 170   239  
    Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:        
    – Audit of the accounts of the subsidiaries 108   139  
    – Audit-related assurance services 71   53  
    Total auditors’ remuneration   349   431
    Administrative expenses   811   1,021
        1,500   1,768
    Bank facility costs allocated to revenue   277   258
    Interest costs allocated to revenue   661   493
    Expenses allocated to revenue   2,438   2,519
    Bank facility costs allocated to capital   8,417   7,403
    Total other expenses   10,855   9,922
             

    1. The auditors of the Company have additionally provided £16k (2024: £14k) of non-audit related services permitted under the Financial Reporting Council’s (‘FRC’) Revised Ethical Standards. The service related to agreed upon procedures over the Company’s carried interest scheme. These expenses have been charged to the Manager of the Company.

    Included within Total other expenses above are £9.4m (2024: £8.2m) of costs related to financing and £(0.2)m (credit) (2024: £0.1m) of other expenses which are non-recurring and are excluded from the Ongoing Charges as detailed in the glossary on page 58.

    Professional fees of £0.2m (2024: £0.2m) incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments are included within gains/(losses) on investments held at fair value.

    5 DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION AND INTERESTS

    No income was received or receivable by the directors from any other subsidiary of the Company.

    6 TAXATION

    In both the current and prior years the tax charge was lower than the standard rate of corporation tax of 19%, principally due to the Company’s status as an investment trust, which means that capital gains are not subject to corporation tax. The effect of this and other items affecting the tax charge are shown in note 6(b) below.

    The UK’s main rate of corporation tax increased from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. A blended rate of 24% was applied for the year ended 31 January 2024, calculated by the number of days within the accounting period spanning the rate change. A corporation tax rate of 25% was applied for the year ended 31 January 2025.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
      £’000 £’000  
    a) Analysis of charge in the year      
    Tax credit on items allocated to revenue — —  
    Tax charge on items relating to prior years — —  
    Corporation tax — —  
    b) Factors affecting tax charge for the year      
    Profit on ordinary activities before tax 107,510 17,367  
    Profit before tax multiplied by rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25% (2024: 24%) 26,790 4,168  
    Effect of:      
    – net investment returns not subject to corporation tax (33,357) (9,735)  
    – dividends not subject to corporation tax (52) (187)  
    – expenses not deductible for tax purposes 1,353 —  
    – current year management expenses not utilised/(utilised) 489 5,754  
    – other deductions 4,777 —  
    Total tax charge — —  

    The Company has £70.0m excess management expenses carried forward (2024: £53.5m). No deferred tax assets or liabilities (2024: nil) have been recognised in respect of the carried forward management expenses due to the uncertainty that future taxable profit will be generated that these losses can be offset against. For all investments the tax base is equal to the carrying amount. There was no deferred tax expense relating to the origination and reversal of timing differences in the year (2024: nil).

    7 EARNINGS PER SHARE

      Year ended Year ended  
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024  
    Revenue return per ordinary share (4.49p) (1.86p)  
    Capital return per ordinary share 168.38p 27.49p  
    Earnings per ordinary share (basic and diluted) 163.95p 25.63p  

    Revenue return per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the revenue return attributable to equity shareholders of £(2.9)m (2024: £(1.3)m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    Capital return per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the capital return attributable to equity shareholders of £102.4m (2024: £18.6m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to equity shareholders of £99.5m (2024: £17.4m) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

    The weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (excluding those held in treasury) during the year was 65,569,285 (2024: 67,761,359). There were no potentially dilutive shares, such as options or warrants, in either year.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    8 DIVIDENDS

      Year ended Year ended
      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Third quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2024: 8p per share (2023: 6.0p) 5,345 4,781
    Final dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2024: 9p per share (2023: 9.0p) 5,894 6,105
    First quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2025: 8.5p per share (2024: 8.0p) 5,557 5,415
    Second quarterly dividend in respect of year ended 31 January 2025: 8.5p per share (2024: 8.0p) 5,512 5,393
    Total 22,308 21,694

    The Company paid a third quarterly dividend of 8.5p per share in February 2025. The Board has proposed a final dividend of 10.5p per share (estimated cost £6.7m) in respect of the year ended 31 January 2025 which, if approved by shareholders, will be paid on 18 July 2025 to shareholders on the Register of Members at the close of business on 04 July 2025.

    9 SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS AND UNCONSOLIDATED STRUCTURED ENTITIES
    Subsidiary undertakings (controlled structured entities)

    Subsidiaries of the Company as at 31 January 2025 comprise the following controlled structured entities, which are registered in England and Wales. Subsidiaries of the Company’s direct subsidiaries are reported as indirect subsidiaries.

    Direct subsidiaries   Ownership interest 2025 Ownership interest 2024
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership   97.5% 97.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership   97.5% 97.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership   99.0% 99.0%
    Indirect subsidiaries   Ownership interest 2025 Ownership interest 2024
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP   99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Morse Partnership LP   99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP   99.5% 99.5%

    In accordance with IFRS 10 (amended), the subsidiaries are not consolidated and are instead included in unquoted investments at fair value.

    The value of the subsidiaries is shown net of an accrual for the interests of the Co-investors (ICG and certain of its executives and in respect of certain historical investments, the executives and connected parties of Graphite Capital, the Former Manager) in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme. As at 31 January 2025 a total of £53.9m (2024: £54.4m) was accrued in respect of these interests. During the year the Co-investors invested £1.0m (2024: £0.7m) into ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership. Payments received by the Co-investors amounted to £10.8m or 7.1% of £150.8m of Total Proceeds received in the year (2024: £5.4m or 2.3% of £238.6m proceeds received).

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Unconsolidated structured entities

    The Company’s principal activity is investing in private equity funds and directly into private companies. Such investments may be made and held via a subsidiary. The majority of these investments are unconsolidated structured entities as defined in IFRS 12.
    The Company holds interests in closed-ended limited partnerships which invest in underlying companies for the purposes of capital appreciation. The Company and the other limited partners make commitments to finance the investment programme of the relevant manager, who will typically draw down the amount committed by the limited partners over a period of four to six years (see note 16).

    The table below disaggregates the Company’s interests in unconsolidated structured entities. The table presents for each category the related balances and the maximum exposure to loss.

      Unquoted investments
    £’000
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme accrual
    £’000
    Maximum loss exposure
    £’000
    As at 31 January 2025 1,523,459 (53,910) 1,469,549
    As at 31 January 2024 1,350,821 (54,439) 1,296,382

    Further details of the Company’s investment Portfolio are included in the Portfolio dashboard on page 16.

    10 INVESTMENTS

    The tables below analyse the movement in the carrying value of the Company’s investment assets in the year. In accordance with accounting standards, subsidiary undertakings of the Company are reported at fair value rather than on a ‘look-through’ basis.

    An investee fund is considered to generate realised gains or losses if it is more than 85% drawn and has returned at least the amount invested by the Company. All gains and losses arising from the underlying investments of such funds are presented as realised. All gains and losses in respect of fund investments that have not satisfied the above criteria are presented as unrealised.

    Direct Investments are considered to generate realised gains or losses when they are sold.

    Investments are held by both the Company and through its subsidiaries.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Quoted Unquoted Subsidiary undertakings Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cost at 1 February 2024 — 179,528 300,114 479,642
    Unrealised appreciation at 1 February 2024 — 80,768 735,972 816,740
    Valuation at 1 February 2024 — 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Movements in the year:        
    Purchases — 34,144 151,292 185,436
    Sales        
    – capital proceeds   (20,214) (125,769) (145,983)
    – realised gains/(losses) based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date   1,530   1,530
    Movement in unrealised appreciation   29,473 102,711 132,184
    Valuation at 31 January 2025 — 305,229 1,164,320 1,469,549
    Cost at 31 January 2025 — 193,458 325,637 519,095
    Unrealised appreciation/ (depreciation) at 31 January 2025 — 111,771 838,683 950,454
    Valuation at 31 January 2025 — 305,229 1,164,320 1,469,549
     
      Quoted Unquoted Subsidiary undertakings Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cost at 1 February 2023 — 195,104 378,426 573,530
    Unrealised appreciation at 1 February 2023 — 74,074 701,471 775,545
    Valuation at 1 February 2023 — 269,178 1,079,897 1,349,075
    Movements in the year:        
    Purchases — 25,181 116,988 142,169
    Sales        
    – capital proceeds   (40,757) (195,300) (236,057)
    – realised gains/(losses) based on carrying value at previous balance sheet date   (1,044)   (1,044)
    Movement in unrealised appreciation   7,739 34,500 42,239
    Valuation at 31 January 2023 — 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Cost at 31 January 2024 — 179,528 300,114 479,642
    Unrealised appreciation/ (depreciation) at 31 January 2024 — 80,768 735,972 816,740
    Valuation at 31 January 2024 — 260,296 1,036,086 1,296,382

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Realised gains/loss based on cost 1,530 (1,044)
    Amounts recognised as unrealised in previous years — —
    Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date 1,530 (1,044)
    Increase in unrealised appreciation 132,184 42,239
    Gains on investments 133,714 41,195

    ‘Realised gains based on cost’ represents the total increase in value, compared to cost, of those funds which meet the criteria set out in page 42. These gains are adjusted for amounts previously reported as unrealised (and included within the fair value at the previous balance sheet date) to determine the ‘Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date’.

    Gains on investments includes the ‘Realised gains based on carrying values at previous balance sheet date’ together with the net fair value movement on the balance of the investee funds.

    Related undertakings

    At 31 January 2025, the Company held direct and indirect interests in six limited partnership subsidiaries. These interests, net of the incentive accrual as described in note 9, were:

    Investment 31 January 2025
    %
    31 January 2024
    %
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership 99.9% 99.9%
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership 66.5% 66.5%
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment Limited Partnership 66.0% 66.0%
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP 99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Morse Partnership LP 99.5% 99.5%
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP 99.5% 99.5%

    The registered address and principal place of business of the subsidiary partnerships is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW.

    In addition the Company held an interest (including indirectly through its subsidiaries) of more than 20% in the following entities. These investments are not considered subsidiaries or associates as the Company does not exert control or have significant influence over the activities of these companies/partnerships.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    As at 31 January 2025        
    Investment Instrument % interest1    
    Graphite Capital Partners VII Top Up Plus Limited partnership interests 20.0%    
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII Top Up Limited partnership interests 41.1%    
    ICG Velocity3 Limited partnership interests 32.5%    
             
    As at 31 January 2024        
    Investment Instrument % interest1    
    Graphite Capital Partners VII Top Up Plus2 Limited partnership interests 20.0%    
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII Top Up2 Limited partnership interests 41.1%    
    ICG Velocity3 Limited partnership interests 32.5%    
    1. The percentage shown for limited partnership interests represents the proportion of total commitments to the relevant fund. The percentage shown for shares represents the proportion of total shares in issue.
    2. Address of principal place of business is 7 Air Street, Soho, London W1B 5AD.
    3. Address of principal place of business is Procession House, 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW.

    11 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Cash at bank and in hand 3,927 9,722

    12 PREPAYMENTS AND RECEIVABLES

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Prepayments and accrued income 2,018 2,258

    As at 31 January 2025, prepayments and accrued income included £2.0m (2024: £2.3m) of unamortised costs in relation to the bank facility. Of this amount £0.8m (2024: £0.5m) is expected to be amortised in less than one year.

    13 PAYABLES – CURRENT

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      £’000 £’000
    Accruals, including facility interest 11,171 5,139
    Bank facility drawn 131,931 20,000
    Payables 143,102 25,139

    Bank facility details are shown in the liquidity section of note 17 on page 52.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    14 SHARE CAPITAL

      Authorised Issued and fully paid
        Nominal   Nominal
    Equity share capital Number £’000 Number £’000
    Balance at 31 January 2025 120,000,000 12,000 72,913,000 7,292
    Balance at 31 January 2024 120,000,000 12,000 72,913,000 7,292

    All ordinary shares have a nominal value of 10.0p. At 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024, 72,913,000 shares had been allocated, called up and fully paid. During the year 2,932,675 shares were bought back in the market and held in treasury (2024: 1,130,708 shares). At 31 January 2025, the Company held 8,640,808 shares in treasury (2024: 5,708,133) and had 64,272,192 (2024: 67,204,867) shares outstanding, all of which have equal voting rights.

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
    Shares held in treasury 8,640,808 5,708,133
    Shares not held in treasury 64,272,192 67,204,867
    Total 72,913,000 72,913,000

    15 NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

    The net asset value per share is calculated on equity attributable to equity holders of £1,332.4m (2024: £1,283.2m) and on 67,272,192 (2024: 67,204,867) ordinary shares in issue at the year end. There were no potentially dilutive shares, such as options or warrants, at either year end. Calculated on both the basic and diluted basis the net asset value per share was 2,072.9p (2024: 1,909.4p).

    16 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    The Company and its subsidiaries had uncalled commitments in relation to the following Portfolio investments:

      31 January
    2025
    £’000
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 41,146 34,811
    ICG Strategic Equity V2 36,868 19,704
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund II1 19,245 21,316
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor2 17,775 17,365
    ICG Strategic Secondaries Fund II2 16,938 16,547
    ICG Europe VIII1 14,339 25,901
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp1 13,591 13,860
    ICG Strategic Equity Fund III2 11,201 10,942
    ICG MXV Co-Investment 8,361 —
    ICG Strategic Equity IV2 7,055 10,385
    ICG Europe VII1 6,082 6,541
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) IIIA Porsche SCSp2 5,691 4,652
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund1 5,524 5,476
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp2 5,392 5,267
    ICG Asia Pacific Fund III2 2,523 2,634
    ICG Europe VI1 4,013 4,311
    ICG North American Private Debt Fund II2 2,097 1,682
    ICG Colombe Co-investment1 1,811 2,378
    ICG Dallas Co-Investment2 1,240 1,280
    Commitments of less than £1,000,000 at 31 January 2025 5,746 5,991
    Total ICG 226,638 211,043
    Graphite Capital Partners IX 2,281 4,525
    Graphite Capital Partners VIII1 4,124 2,194
    Graphite Capital Partners VII1,2 456 456
    Total Graphite funds 6,861 7,175

    1.Includes interest acquired through a secondary fund purchase.

    2.Includes the associated Top Up funds.

      31 January
    2025
    £’000
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    Leeds VIII-A 16,135 —
    Bowmark VII 15,000 15,000
    New Mountain VII 14,299 15,763
    PAI Europe VIII 12,356 20,900
    Thoma Bravo XVI-A 12,101 —
    Investindustrial VIII 12,009 —
    Cinven VIII 11,748 12,789
    CVC IX A 10,546 12,789
    Bain VI 9,939 11,319
    CDR XII 8,908 11,822
    The Resolute Fund VI 8,577 11,822
    Hellman Friedman XI (Parallel) 8,067 7,881
    Advent International X-A 8,039 10,849
    Bregal Unternehmerkapital IV-A 7,762 8,526
    Green Equity Investors Side IX 7,618 15,611
    Permira VIII 7,618 9,356
    Genstar Capital Partners XI (EU) 7,455 7,850
    Apax XI EUR 6,860 8,383
    Gridiron V 6,578 9,008
    Oak Hill VI (Offshore) 5,034 —
    Investindustrial VII 4,895 4,219
    Audax Private Equity VII-B 4,546 5,830
    Integrum I 4,052 5,715
    American Securities IX 4,034 —
    Thomas H Lee Equity Fund IX 3,998 6,762
    PAI Mid-Market Fund 3,764 4,963
    BC XI 3,710 4,900
    Bowmark VI 3,357 1,357
    Hg Genesis X 3,326 3,469
    Ivanti 2,979 2,910
    Valeas Capital Partners I A 2,973 —
    CVC VII 2,944 —
    PAI VII 2,430 2,872
    GHO Capital III 2,257 2,617
    Bain XIII 2,247 2,739
    Audiotonix 2,243 —
    Bain Tech Opportunities II 2,239 2,276
    Tailwind III 2,203 1,517
    Ambassador Theatre Group 2,056 2,049
    Thomas H Lee Equity Fund VIII 1,940 2,011
    Thoma Bravo XV 1,901 2,648
    Hg Saturn III 1,840 2,714
    Seventh Cinven Fund 1,812 2,929
    GI Partners VI-A 1,789 2,168
    Charlesbank X 1,685 3,543
    Apax X 1,677 1,442
    Hellman Friedman X 1,631 2,194
    Bregal Unternehmerkapital III 1,575 2,113
    Carlyle Europe Partners V 1,553 2,243
    Resolute V 1,363 855
    FSN VI 1,303 2,946
    Gridiron III 1,289 4,080
    AEA VII 1,243 464
    Resolute 02 Continuation (SEC 1) 1,145 9,893
    CVC European Equity Partners VIII 512 3,402
    New Mountain VI 498 2,276
    European Camping Group 2 399 1,474
    Leeds VII 317 3,581
    Commitments of less than £2,000,000 at 31 January 2025 62,785 36,908
    Total third party 319,687 333,747
    Total commitments 553,186 551,965

    The Company and its subsidiaries had no other unfunded commitments to investment funds. Commitments made by the Company and its subsidiaries are irrevocable.

    As at 31 January 2025, the Company (excluding its subsidiaries) had uncalled commitments in relation to the above Portfolio of £114.3m (2024: £98.1m). The Company did not have any contingent liabilities at 31 January 2025 (2024: None).

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    The Company’s subsidiaries, which are not consolidated, had the balance of uncalled commitments in relation to the above Portfolio of £438.9m (2024: £453.9m). The Company is responsible for financing its pro-rata share of those uncalled commitments (see note 9).

    17 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

    The Company is an investment company as defined by Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006 and conducts its affairs so as to qualify as an investment trust under the provisions of Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (‘Section 1158’). The Company’s objective is to provide long-term growth by investing in private companies managed by leading private equity managers.

    Investments in funds have anticipated lives of approximately 10 years. Direct Investments are made with an anticipated holding period of between three and five years.

    Financial risk management

    The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (comprising currency risk, interest rate risk and price risk), investment risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company’s overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. The Board has overall responsibility for managing the risks and the framework for monitoring and coordinating these risks. The Audit Committee regularly reviews, identifies and evaluates the risks taken by the Company to allow them to be appropriately managed. All of the Company’s management functions are delegated to the Manager which has its own internal control and risk monitoring arrangements. The Committee makes a regular assessment of these arrangements, with reference to the Company’s risk matrix. The Company’s financial risk management objectives and processes used to manage these risks have not changed from the previous period and the policies are set out below:

    Market risk
    (i) Currency risk

    The Company’s investments are principally in continental Europe, the US and the UK, and are primarily denominated in euro, US dollars and sterling. There are also smaller amounts in other European currencies. The Company’s investments in controlled structured entities are reported in Sterling. The Company is exposed to currency risk in that movements in the value of sterling against these foreign currencies will affect the net asset value and the cash required to fund undrawn commitments. The Board regularly reviews the level of foreign currency denominated assets and outstanding commitments in the context of current market conditions and may decide to buy or sell currency or put in place currency hedging arrangements. No hedging arrangements were in place during the financial year.

    The composition of the net assets of the Company by reporting currency at the year end is set out below:

      Sterling Euro USD Other Total
    31 January 2025 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments 1,201,166 81,755 186,623 5 1,469,549
    Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets (139,168) 1,385 618 8 (137,157)
      1,061,998 83,140 187,241 13 1,332,392
               
      Sterling Euro USD Other Total
    31 January 2024 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments 1,068,115 81,164 146,881 222 1,296,382
    Cash and cash equivalents and other net current assets (21,553) 4,504 3,878 12 (13,159)
      1,046,562 85,668 150,759 234 1,283,223

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    On a look-through basis to the currency of the portfolio company, the effect of a 25% increase or decrease in the sterling value of the euro would be a fall of £71.3m and a rise of £65.1m in the value of shareholders’equity and on profit after tax at 31 January 2025 respectively (2024: a fall of £74m and a rise of £56.1m based on 25% increase or decrease).The effect of a 25% increase or decrease in the sterling value of the US dollar would be a fall of £158m and a rise of £152.1m in the value of shareholders’ equity and on profit after tax at 31 January 2025 respectively (2024: a fall of £141.9m and a rise of £124.4m based on 25% movement). The percentages applied are based on market volatility in exchange rates observed in prior periods.

    (ii) Interest rate risk

    The Company’s assets primarily comprise non-interest bearing investments in funds and non-interest bearing investments in portfolio companies. The fair values of these investments are not significantly directly affected by changes in interest rates. The Company’s net debt balance is exposed to interest rate risk; the financial impact of this risk is currently immaterial.

    The Company is indirectly exposed to interest rate risk through the impact of interest rates on the performance of investments in funds and portfolio companies as a result of interest rate changes impacting the underlying manager valuation. This performance impact as a result of interest rate risk is recognised through the valuation of those investments, which will be affected by the impact of any change in interest rates on the financial performance of the underlying portfolio companies and also on any valuation of those investments for sale. The Company is not able to quantify how a change in interest rates would impact valuations.

    (iii) Price risk

    The risk that the value of a financial instrument will change as a result of changes to market prices is one that is fundamental to the Company’s objective, which is to provide long-term capital growth through investment in unquoted companies. The investment Portfolio is continually monitored to ensure an appropriate balance of risk and reward in order to achieve the Company’s objective.

    The Company is exposed to the risk of change in value of its private equity investments. For all investments the market variable is deemed to be the price itself. The table below shows the impact of a 30% increase or decrease in the valuation of the investment Portfolio. The percentages applied are reasonable based on the Manager’s view of the potential for volatility in the Portfolio valuations under stressed conditions.

      31 January 2025 31 January 2024
      Increase in variable Decrease in variable Increase in variable Decrease in variable
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    30% (2024: 30%) movement in the price of investments        
    Impact on profit after tax 423,339 (370,568) 374,044 (320,217)

    A reasonably possible percentage change in relation to the earnings estimates or Enterprise Value/EBITDA multiples used by the underlying managers to value the private equity fund investments and co-investments may result in a significant change in the fair value of unquoted investments.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Investment and credit risk

    (i) Investment risk

    Investment risk is the risk that the financial performance of the companies in which the Company invests either improves or deteriorates, thereby affecting the value of that investment. Investments in unquoted companies whether indirectly or directly are, by their nature, subject to potential investment losses. The investment Portfolio is highly diversified in order to mitigate this risk.

    (ii) Credit risk

    The Company’s exposure to credit risk arises principally from its investment in cash deposits. The Company aims to invest the majority of its liquid portfolio in assets which have low credit risk. The Company’s policy is to limit exposure to any one investment to 15% of gross assets. This is regularly monitored by the Manager as a part of its cash management process.

    Cash is held on deposit with Royal Bank of Scotland (‘RBS’) and totalled £3.9m (2024: £9.7m). RBS currently has a credit rating of A1 from Moody’s. This represented the maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date. No collateral is held by the Company in respect of these amounts. None of the Company’s cash deposits or money market fund balances were past due or impaired at 31 January 2025 (2024: nil) and as a result of this, no ECL provision has been recorded.

    Liquidity risk

    The Company makes commitments to private equity funds in advance of that capital being invested, typically in illiquid, unquoted companies. These commitments are in excess of the Company’s total liquidity, therefore resulting in an overcommitment. When determining the appropriate level of overcommitment, the Board considers the rate at which commitments might be drawn down, typically over four to six years, versus the rate at which existing investments are sold and cash realised. The Company has an established liquidity management policy, which involves active monitoring and assessment of the Company’s liquidity position and its overcommitment risk. This is regularly reviewed by the Board and incorporated into the Board’s assessment of the viability of the Company. This process incorporates balance sheet and cash flow projections, including scenarios with varying levels of Portfolio gains and losses, fund drawdowns and realisations, availability of the credit facility, exchange rates, and possible remedial action that the Company could undertake if required in the event of significant Portfolio declines.

    At the year end, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totalling £3.9m and had access to committed bank facilities of €300m maturing in May 2028, which is a multi-currency revolving credit facility provided by SMBC and Lloyds. The key terms of the facility are:

    • Upfront cost: 120bps.
    • Non-utilisation fees: 115bps per annum.
    • Margin on drawn amounts: 300bps per annum.

    As at 31 January 2025 the Company’s total financial liabilities amounted to £143.1m (2024: £25.1m) of payables which were due in less than one year, which includes accrued balances payable in respect of the credit facility above.

    Movement in financial liabilities arising from financing activities

    The following tables sets out the movements in total liabilities held at amortised cost arising from financing activities undertaken during the year.

      2025 2024
      £’000 £’000
    At 1 February 2024 22,062 67,700
    Proceeds from borrowings 139,762 128,109
    Repayment of long term borrowings (27,831) (174,954)
    Change in capitalisation of bank facility fees 782 1,206
    At 31 January 2025 134,775 22,061
         

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Capital risk management

    The Company’s capital is represented by its net assets, which are managed to achieve the Company’s investment objective. As at the year end, the Company had net debt of £135.9m (2024: £10.3m).

    The Board can manage the capital structure directly since it has taken the powers, which it is seeking to renew, to issue and buy back shares and it also determines dividend payments. The Company is subject to externally imposed capital requirements with respect to the obligation and ability to pay dividends by Section 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and by the Companies Act 2006, respectively. Total equity at 31 January 2025, the composition of which is shown on the balance sheet, was £1,332.4m (2024: £1,283.2m).

    Fair values estimation
    IFRS 13 requires disclosure of fair value measurements of financial instruments categorised according to the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

    • Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1).
    • Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices) (Level 2).
    • Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs) (Level 3).

    The valuation techniques applied to level 3 assets are described in note 1(c) of the financial statements. No investments were categorised as level 1 or level 2.

    The Company’s policy is to recognise transfers into and transfers out of fair value hierarchy levels at the end of the reporting year when they are deemed to occur.

    The sensitivity of the Company’s investments to a change in value is discussed on page 51.

    The following table presents the assets that are measured at fair value at 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024:

    31 January 2025        
    Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments held at fair value        
    Unquoted investments – indirect — — 150,987 150,987
    Unquoted investments – direct — — 154,242 154,242
    Quoted investments – direct — — — —
    Subsidiary undertakings — — 1,164,320 1,164,320
    Total investments held at fair value — — 1,469,549 1,469,549
    31 January 2024        
    Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
    £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Investments held at fair value        
    Unquoted investments – indirect — — 136,473 136,473
    Unquoted investments – direct — — 123,823 123,823
    Quoted investments – direct — — — —
    Subsidiary undertakings — — 1,036,085 1,036,085
    Total investments held at fair value — — 1,296,381 1,296,381

    All unquoted and quoted investments are valued at fair value in accordance with IFRS 13. The Company has no quoted investments as at 31 January 2025; quoted investments held by subsidiary undertakings are reported within Level 3.

    Investments in Level 3 securities are in respect of private equity fund investments and co-investments. These are held at fair value and are calculated using valuations provided by the underlying manager of the investment, with adjustments made to the statements to take account of cash flow events occurring after the date of the manager’s valuation, such as realisations or liquidity adjustments.

    The following tables present the changes in Level 3 instruments for the year to 31 January 2025 and 31 January 2024.

    31 January 2025 Unquoted investments (indirect) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Unquoted investments (direct) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Subsidiary undertakings
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Opening balances 136,473 123,823 1,036,086 1,296,382
    Additions 18,124 16,020 151,292 185,436
    Disposals (16,076) (4,138) (125,769) (145,983)
    Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss 14,524 16,479 102,711 133,714
    Closing balance 153,045 152,184 1,164,320 1,469,549
    31 January 2024 Unquoted investments (indirect) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Unquoted investments (direct) at fair value through profit or loss
    £’000
    Subsidiary undertakings
    £’000
    Total
    £’000
    Opening balances 158,896 110,282 1,079,897 1,349,075
    Additions 14,933 10,248 116,988 142,169
    Disposals (37,167) (3,590) (195,300) (236,057)
    Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss (188) 6,883 34,500 41,194
    Closing balance 136,474 123,823 1,036,085 1,296,381

    18 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

    Significant transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries are shown below:

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

    Subsidiary Nature of transaction Year ended
    31 January
    2025
    £’000
    Year ended
    31 January
    2024
    £’000
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries — —
      (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries (8,689) (102)
      Income allocated — —
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries (2,956) 11,420
      (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries — —
      Income allocated (169) 151
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-investment LP Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries 33,229 (10,416)
      Income allocated 2,127 6,681
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP Increase in amounts owed to subsidiaries — (45,725)
      Income allocated 4,224 6,819
    ICG Morse Partnership LP Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries — (14,513)
      Decrease in amounts owed to subsidiaries — —
      Income allocated — —
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP (Decrease) in amounts owed by subsidiaries 687 1,820
      Increase in amounts owed by subsidiaries — —
      Income allocated — —

    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership transferred its remaining assets to ICG Enterprise Trust PLC during the year ended 31 January 2025. It will be dissolved during the year ended 31 January 2026 and will cease to be a subsidiary at that time.

    For the purpose of IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, key management personnel comprised the Board of Directors.

    Remuneration in the year (audited) Fees Expenses Total
    Name 2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    2025
    £’000
    2024
    £’000
    Jane Tufnell 74 71   — 74 71
    Alastair Bruce 60 58 — — 60 58
    David Warnock 59 46   — 59 46
    Gerhard Fusenig 48 46 3 2 51 49
    Adiba Ighodaro 48 46 — — 48 46
    Janine Nicholls 48 46 — — 48 46
    Total 337 313 3 2 340 316

    Amounts owed by/to subsidiaries represent the Company’s loan account balances with those entities, to which the Company’s share of drawdowns and distributions in respect of those entities are credited and debited respectively.

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

      Amounts owed by subsidiaries Amounts owed to subsidiaries
    Subsidiary 31 January 2025 £’000 31 January 2024 £’000 31 January 2025 £’000 31 January 2024 £’000
    ICG Enterprise Trust Limited Partnership — — (492) 8,197
    ICG Enterprise Trust (2) Limited Partnership — — 31,372 34,328
    ICG Enterprise Trust Co-Investment LP 273,555 240,326 — —
    ICG Enterprise Holdings LP — — — —
    ICG Morse Partnership LP — — — —
    ICG Lewis Partnership LP 8,569 7,881 — —

    The Company and its subsidiaries’ total shares in funds and co-investments managed by the Company’s Manager are:

      Year ended 31 January 2025 Year ended 31 January 2024
    Fund/Co-investment Remaining
    commitment
    £’000
    Fair value investment
    £’000
    Remaining
    commitment
    £’000
    Fair value investment
    £’000
    ICG MXV Co-Investment 8,361 32,728 217 31,658
    ICG Strategic Equity Fund III 10,727 31,043 10,942 39,374
    ICG Europe VII 6,082 30,721 6,541 35,021
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder B) SCSp 13,591 23,814 13,860 24,366
    ICG Europe VIII 14,339 23,640 25,901 10,746
    ICG Augusta Partners Co-Investor 17,775 20,469 17,365 15,533
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) III A Porsche SCSp 5,691 17,995 4,652 21,104
    ICG Newton Co-Investment 393 17,808 393 17,909
    ICG Progress Co-Investment 421 17,265 577 15,156
    ICG Vanadium Co-Investment 246 16,180 251 14,209
    ICG Ludgate Hill (Feeder) II Boston SCSp 5,392 16,030 5,267 14,721
    ICG Match Co-Investment 132 15,253 129 15,403
    ICG Colombe Co-investment 1,810 13,795 1,678 12,221
    ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund 5,524 13,494 5,476 13,819
    ICG LP Secondaries Fund I LP 41,146 12,175 34,811 21,980
    ICG Cheetah Co-Investment 635 11,123 669 11,570
    CX VIII Co-Investment 167 9,076 171 8,996
    ICG Asia Pacific Fund III 2,523 8,706 2,634 8,436
    ICG Dallas Co-Investment 1,240 8,172 1,280 8,245
    ICG Strategic Equity V 36,868 7,101 19,704 895
    ICG Strategic Equity IV 7,055 32,851 10,385 28,029
    ICG Sunrise Co-Investment 75 5,840 76 5,402
    ICG Crown Co-Investment 96 5,492 122 4,817
    ICG Recovery Fund 2008 B1 846 4,954 862 4,545
    ICG Strategic Secondaries Fund II 16,938 4,853 16,547 10,052
    ICG Holiday Co-Investor I 286 3,748 285 2,655
    ICG North American Private Debt Fund II 2,097 3,061 1,682 5,467
    ICG Europe VI 4,013 2,814 4,311 5,719
    ICG Holiday Co-Investor II 199 2,775 197 1,966
    ICG Europe Mid-Market II 19,245 1,534 21,316 (263)
    ICG Europe V 545 757 555 808
    ICG Cross Border 182 273 178 5,555
    ICG Diocle Co-Investment 145 81 148 98
    ICG Velocity Partners Co-Investor 650 18 635 —
    ICG European Fund 2006 B1 480 15 489 28
    ICG Topvita Co-Investment 687 — 700 —
    ICG Trio Co-Investment 36 — 37 7,988
    Ambassador Theatre Group — — — 14,177
    Total 226,638 415,652 211,043 438,410

    At the balance sheet date the Company has fully funded its share of capital calls due to ICG-managed funds in which it is invested.

    19 Post balance sheet events

    On 2 April 2025, the Company announced the completion of a secondary sale of primary fund interests generating £62m net proceeds and releasing undrawn commitments of £10m. On 30 April 2025 the Company cancelled its Treasury shares (see note 14). 9,358,808 shares were cancelled.

    GLOSSARY

    Term Short form Definition
    Alternative Performance Measures APMs Alternative Performance Measures are a term defined by the European Securities and Markets Authority as “financial measures of historical or future performance, financial position, or cash flows, other than a financial measure defined or specified in the applicable financial reporting framework”.

    APMs are used in this report if considered by the Board and the Manager to be the most relevant basis for shareholders in assessing the overall performance of the Company and for comparing the performance of the Company to its peers, taking into account industry practice.

    Definitions and reconciliations to IFRS measures are provided in the main body of the report or in this Glossary, where appropriate.

    Buyback impact on NAV per Share   Buyback impact on NAV per Share is calculated by comparing the NAV per Share with an adjusted NAV per Share as follows:
      Year ended
    31 January 2025
    Since inception (Oct. 22)  
    Opening number of shares 67,190,867 68,523,055 A
    Number of shares bought back in period 2,912,675 4,244,863  
    Closing number of shares 64,278,192 64,278,192 B
    31 January 2025 NAV £1,332m £1,332m C
    Add back cash invested in buybacks £36m £51m  
    31 January 2025 NAV + cash invested in buybacks £1,368m £1,383m D
    31 January 2025 NAV per Share 2,072.9p 2,072.9p E (C/B)
    Pro forma NAV per share excluding buybacks 2,036.4p 2,018.8p F (D/A)
    Impact of buybacks 36.5p 54.1p G (E-F)
    NAV per Share accretion
    from buybacks
    1.8% 2.7% G/F
    Note: scenario excluding buyback does not include any cash impact of dividends that would have been paid to holders of those shares had the buyback not been undertaken
    Carried Interest   Carried interest is equivalent to a performance fee. This represents a share of the profits that will accrue to the underlying private equity managers, after achievement of an agreed Preferred Return.
    Cash drag   Cash drag is the negative impact on performance arising as a result of the allocation of a portion of the entity’s assets to cash.
    Co-investment   Co-investment is a Direct Investment in a company alongside a private equity fund.
    Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual   Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual represents the estimated value of interests in the Co-investment Incentive Scheme operated by the subsidiary partnerships of the Company.
    Commitment   Commitment represents the amount of capital that each investor agrees to contribute to a fund or a specific investment.
    Compound Annual Growth Rate CAGR The rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning balance to its ending balance, assuming the profits were reinvested at the end of each period of the investment’s life span.
    Deployment   Please see ‘Total new investment’.
    Direct Investment   An investment in a portfolio company held directly, not through a private equity fund. Direct Investments are typically co-investments with a private equity fund.
    Discount   Discount arises when the Company’s shares trade at a price below the Company’s NAV per Share. In this circumstance, the price that an investor pays or receives for a share would be less than the value attributable to it by reference to the underlying assets. The Discount is the difference between the share price and the NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. For example, if the NAV was 100p and the share price was 90p, the Discount would be 10%.
    Drawdowns   Drawdowns are amounts invested by the Company when called by underlying managers in respect of an existing Commitment.
    EBITDA   Stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, which is a widely used profitability measure in the private equity industry.
    Enlarged Perimeter   The aggregate Portfolio value of the Top 30 Companies and as many of the managers from within the Top 30 funds as practicable.
    Enterprise Value EV Enterprise Value is the aggregate value of a company’s entire issued share capital and Net Debt.
    Exclusion List   The Exclusion List defines the business activities which are excluded from investment.
    FTSE All-Share Index Total Return   The change in the level of the FTSE All-Share Index, assuming that dividends are re-invested on the day that they are paid.
    Full Exits   Full Exits are exit events (e.g., trade sale, sale by public offering, or sale to a financial buyer) following which the residual exposure to an underlying company is zero or immaterial; this does not include Fund Disposals. See ‘Fund Disposals’.
    Fund Disposals   Fund Disposals are where the Company receives sales proceeds from the full or partial sale of a fund position within the secondary market.
    General Partner GP The General Partner is the entity managing a private equity fund. This is commonly referred to as the manager.
    Hedging   Hedging is an investment technique designed to offset a potential loss on one investment by purchasing a second investment that is expected to perform in the opposite way.
    Initial Public Offering IPO An Initial Public Offering is an offering by a company of its share capital to the public with a view to seeking an admission of its shares to a recognised stock exchange.
    Internal Rate of Return IRR Internal Rate of Return is a measure of the rate of return received by an investor in a fund. It is calculated from cash drawn from and returned to the investor, together with the residual value of the investment.
    Investment Period   Investment Period is the period in which funds are able to make new investments under the terms of their fund agreements, typically up to five years after the initial Commitment.
    Last Twelve Months LTM Last Twelve Months refers to the timeframe of the immediately preceding 12 months in reference to financial metrics used to evaluate the Company’s performance.
    Limited Partner LP The Limited Partner is an institution or individual who commits capital to a private equity fund established as a Limited Partnership. These funds are generally protected from legal actions and any losses beyond the original investment.
    Limited Partnership   A Limited Partnership includes one or more General Partners, who have responsibility for managing the business of the partnership and have unlimited liability, and one or more Limited Partners, who do not participate in the operation of the partnership and whose liability is ordinarily capped at their capital and loan contribution to the partnership. In typical fund structures, the General Partner receives a priority share ahead of distributions to Limited Partners.
    Net Asset Value per Share NAV per Share Net Asset Value per Share is the value of the Company’s net assets attributable to one Ordinary share. It is calculated by dividing ‘shareholders’ funds’ by the total number of ordinary shares in issue. Shareholders’ funds are calculated by deducting current and long-term liabilities, and any provision for liabilities and charges, from the Company’s total assets.
    Net Debt   Net Debt is calculated as the total short-term and long-term debt in a business, less cash and cash equivalents.
    Ongoing charges   Ongoing Charges are calculated in line with guidance issued by the Association of Investment Companies (‘AIC’) and capture management fees and expenses, excluding finance costs, incurred at the Company level only. The calculation does not include the expenses and management fees incurred by any underlying funds.
        31 January 2025 Total per income statement
    £’000
    Amount excluded from AIC Ongoing Charges
    £’000
    Included Ongoing Charges
    £000
        Management fees 16,175 — 16,175
        General expenses 1,500 165 1,665
        Finance costs 9,354 (9,354) —
        Total 27,029 (9,189) 17,840
        Total Ongoing Charges 17,840
        Average NAV 1,294,186
        Ongoing Charges as % of NAV 1.38%
               
        31 January 2024 Total per income statement
    £’000
    Amount excluded from AIC Ongoing Charges
    £’000
    Included Ongoing Charges
    £000
        Management fees 16,148 — 16,148
        General expenses 1,773 (209) 1,564
        Finance costs 8,152 (8,152) —
        Total 26,073 (8,362) 17,712
        Total Ongoing Charges 17,712
        Average NAV 1,291,759
        Ongoing Charges as % of NAV 1.37%
        Included within General expenses above are £(0.2)m (credit) (2024: £0.2m) of other expenses which are non-recurring and are excluded from the Ongoing Charges.
    Other Net Liabilities   Other Net Liabilities at the aggregated Company level represent net other liabilities per the Company’s balance sheet. Net other liabilities per the balance sheet of the subsidiaries include amounts payable under the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual.
    Overcommitment   Overcommitment refers to where private equity fund investors make Commitments exceeding the amount of liquidity immediately available for investment. When determining the appropriate level of Overcommitment, careful consideration needs to be given to the rate at which Commitments might be drawn down, and the rate at which realisations will generate cash from the existing Portfolio to fund new investment.
    Portfolio   Portfolio represents the aggregate of the investment Portfolios of the Company and of its subsidiary Limited Partnerships. This APM is consistent with the commentary in previous annual and interim reports. The Board and the Manager consider that disclosing our Portfolio assists shareholders in understanding the value and performance of the underlying investments selected by the Manager. It is shown before the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual to avoid being distorted by certain funds and Direct Investments on which ICG Enterprise Trust Plc does not incur these costs (for example, on funds managed by ICG plc). Portfolio is related to the NAV, which is the value attributed to our shareholders, and which also incorporates the Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual as well as the value of cash and debt retained on our balance sheet.

    The value of the Portfolio at 31 January 2025 is £1,523.1m (31 January 2024: £1,349.0m).

        31 January 2025 £m IFRS Balance sheet fair value Net assets of subsidiary limited partnerships Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual Total Company and subsidiary Limited Partnership
        Investments1 1,469.5 (0.3) 53.9 1,523.1
        Cash 3.9 — — 3.9
        Other Net Liabilities (141.0) 0.3 (53.9) (194.6)
        Net assets 1,332.4 — — 1,332.4
                 
        31 January 2024 £m IFRS Balance sheet fair value Balances receivable from subsidiary Limited Partnerships Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual Total Company and subsidiary Limited Partnership
        Investments1 1,296.4 (1.9) 54.4 1,349.0
        Cash 9.7 — — 9.7
        Other Net Liabilities (22.9) 1.9 (54.4) (75.5)
        Net assets 1,283.2 — — 1,283.2
        1Investments as reported on the IFRS balance sheet at fair value comprise the total of assets held by the Company and the net asset value of the Company’s investments in the subsidiary Limited Partnerships.
    Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis   Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis represents the change in the valuation of the Company’s Portfolio before the impact of currency movements and Co-investment Incentive Scheme Accrual. The Portfolio return of 10.2% is calculated as follows:
          £m 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Income, gains and losses on Investments   142.0 125.3
        Foreign exchange gains and losses included in gains and losses on investments   5.4 (38.6)
        Incentive accrual valuation movement   (9.3) (3.7)
        Total gains on Portfolio investments excluding impact of foreign exchange   138.1 83.1
        Opening Portfolio valuation   1,349.0 1,406.4
        Portfolio Return on a Local Currency Basis   10.2% 5.9%
                 
    Term Short form Definition
    Portfolio Company   Portfolio Company refers to an individual company in an investment portfolio.
    Primary   A Primary Investment is a Commitment to a private equity fund.
    Quoted Company   A Quoted Company is any company whose shares are listed or traded on a recognised stock exchange.
    Realisation Proceeds   Realisation Proceeds are amounts received in respect of underlying realisation activity from the Portfolio and exclude any inflows from the sale of fund positions via the secondary market.
    Realisations – Multiple to Cost   Realisations – Multiple to Cost is the average return from Full Exits from the Portfolio in the period on a primary investment basis, weighted by cost.
        £m   31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Realisation Proceeds from Full Exits in the year-to-date   73.7 100.8
        Cost   35.9 28.8
        Average return Multiple to Cost   2.9x 3.5x
    Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value   Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value is the aggregate uplift on Full exits from the Portfolio in the period excluding publicly listed companies that were exited via sell downs of their shares.
        £m   31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Realisation Proceeds from Full Exits in the year-to-date   73.7 100.8
        Prior Carrying Value (at previous quarterly valuation prior to exit)   62.0 89.2
        Realisations – Uplift To Carrying Value   19.0% 29.5%
    Secondary Investments   Secondary Investments occur when existing private equity fund interests and Commitments are purchased from an investor seeking liquidity.
    Share Price Total Return   Share Price Total Return is the change in the Company’s share price, assuming that dividends are re-invested on the day that they are paid.
    Total New Investment   Total New Investment is the total of direct Co-investment and fund investment Drawdowns in respect of the Portfolio. In accordance with IFRS 10, the Company’s subsidiaries are deemed to be investment entities and are included in subsidiary investments within the financial statements.

    Movements in the cash flow statement within the financial statements reconcile to the movement in the Portfolio as follows:

          £m 31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Purchase of Portfolio investments per cash flow statement   34.1 25.2
        Purchase of Portfolio investments within subsidiary investments   152.2 111.6
        Return of cost/expenses   (4.9) 0.0
        Total New Investment   181.4 136.7
    Term Short form Definition        
    Total Proceeds   Total Proceeds are amounts received by the Company in respect of the Portfolio, which may be in the form of capital proceeds or income such as interest or dividends. In accordance with IFRS 10, the Company’s subsidiaries are deemed to be investment entities and are included in subsidiary investments within the financial statements.
        £m     31 January 2025 31 January 2024
        Sale of Portfolio investments per cash flow statement     20.0 40.6
        Sale of Portfolio investments, interest received, and dividends received within subsidiary investments     125.8 195.3
        Interest income per cash flow statement     0.5 1.7
        Dividend income per cash flow statement     0.5 0.8
        Other income per cash flow statement     0.1 —
        Return of invested cost     4.0 0.0
        Total Proceeds     150.8 238.6
        Fund Disposals     — (67.6)
        Realisation Proceeds     150.8 171.0
    Total Return   The change in the Company’s Net Asset Value per Share, assuming that dividends are re-invested at the end of the quarter in which the dividend was paid.
    Undrawn Commitments   Undrawn Commitments are Commitments that have not yet been drawn down (please see ‘Drawdowns’).
    Unquoted Company   An Unquoted Company is any company whose shares are not listed or traded on a recognised stock exchange.
    Valuation Date   The date of the valuation report issued by the underlying manager.

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Aegon publishes agenda for 2025 Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Hague, May 8, 2025 – Aegon has today published the agenda for its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2025. The related meeting materials, including the agenda, are now available on our website.

    At the AGM, the Board of Directors will present the 2024 Annual Accounts and propose a final dividend of EUR 0.19 per common share. This brings the total dividend for 2024 to EUR 0.35 per common share. The agenda further includes several proposals concerning the composition of Aegon Ltd.’s Board of Directors, as announced on March 31, 2025. 

    The AGM will take place in Bermuda, in a hybrid manner. Shareholders can attend in person and virtually. The meeting will provide opportunities to ask questions in person, via live chat or video connection. Those not attending in person or virtually, can vote in advance.

    Aegon’s policy on hybrid shareholder meetings will apply. Full details on how to attend, participate, and vote are available here.

    Contacts


    About Aegon

    Aegon is an international financial services holding company. Aegon’s ambition is to build leading businesses that offer their customers investment, protection, and retirement solutions. Aegon’s portfolio of businesses includes fully owned businesses in the United States and United Kingdom, and a global asset manager. Aegon also creates value by combining its international expertise with strong local partners via insurance joint-ventures in Spain & Portugal, China, and Brazil, and via asset management partnerships in France and China. In addition, Aegon owns a Bermuda-based life insurer and generates value via a strategic shareholding in a market leading Dutch insurance and pensions company.

    Aegon’s purpose of helping people live their best lives runs through all its activities. As a leading global investor and employer, Aegon seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion & diversity. Aegon is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, domiciled in Bermuda, and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange. More information can be found at aegon.com.

    Forward-looking statements
    The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, could, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, any statements that refer to sustainability, environmental and social targets, commitments, goals, efforts and expectations and other events or circumstances that are partially dependent on future events are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:

    • Changes in general economic and/or governmental conditions, particularly in Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom and in relation to Aegon’s shareholding in ASR Nederland N.V. and asset management business, the Netherlands;
    • Civil unrest, (geo-) political tensions, military action or other instability in a countries or geographic regions that affect our operations or that affect global markets;
    • Changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, such as with regard to:         
      • The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in Aegon’s fixed income investment portfolios;
      • The effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements on the financial markets and the resulting decline in the value of equity and debt securities Aegon holds;
      • The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain public sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of government exposure that Aegon holds;
      • The impact from volatility in credit, equity, and interest rates;
    • Changes in the performance of Aegon’s investment portfolio and decline in ratings of Aegon’s counterparties;
    • The effect of tariffs and potential trade wars on trading markets and on economic growth, globally and in the markets where Aegon operates.
    • Lowering of one or more of Aegon’s debt ratings issued by recognized rating organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on Aegon’s ability to raise capital and on its liquidity and financial condition;
    • Lowering of one or more of insurer financial strength ratings of Aegon’s insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the written premium, policy retention, profitability and liquidity of its insurance subsidiaries;
    • The effect of applicable Bermuda solvency requirements, the European Union’s Solvency II requirements, and applicable equivalent solvency requirements and other regulations in other jurisdictions affecting the capital Aegon is required to maintain and our ability to pay dividends;
    • Changes in the European Commissions’ or European regulator’s position on the equivalence of the supervisory regime for insurance and reinsurance undertakings in force in Bermuda;
    • Changes affecting interest rate levels and low or rapidly changing interest rate levels;
    • Changes affecting currency exchange rates, in particular the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP exchange rates;
    • The effects of global inflation, or inflation in the markets where Aegon operates;
    • Changes in the availability of, and costs associated with, liquidity sources such as bank and capital markets funding, as well as conditions in the credit markets in general such as changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness;
    • Increasing levels of competition, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, emerging markets and in relation to Aegon’s shareholding in ASR Nederland N.V. and asset management business, the Netherlands;
    • Catastrophic events, either manmade or by nature, including by way of example acts of God, acts of terrorism, acts of war and pandemics, could result in material losses and significantly interrupt Aegon’s business;
    • The frequency and severity of insured loss events;
    • Changes affecting longevity, mortality, morbidity, persistence and other factors that may impact the profitability of Aegon’s insurance products and management of derivatives;
    • Aegon’s projected results are highly sensitive to complex mathematical models of financial markets, mortality, longevity, and other dynamic systems subject to shocks and unpredictable volatility. Should assumptions to these models later prove incorrect, or should errors in those models escape the controls in place to detect them, future performance will vary from projected results;
    • Reinsurers to whom Aegon has ceded significant underwriting risks may fail to meet their obligations;
    • Changes in customer behavior and public opinion in general related to, among other things, the type of products Aegon sells, including legal, regulatory or commercial necessity to meet changing customer expectations;
    • Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;
    • Third-party information used by us may prove to be inaccurate and change over time as methodologies and data availability and quality continue to evolve impacting our results and disclosures;
    • As Aegon’s operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology, operational risks such as system disruptions or failures, security or data privacy breaches, cyberattacks, human error, failure to safeguard personally identifiable information, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including with respect to third parties with which Aegon does business, may disrupt Aegon’s business, damage its reputation and adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows;
    • Aegon’s failure to swiftly, effectively, and securely adapt and integrate emerging technologies;
    • The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including Aegon’s ability to complete, or obtain regulatory approval for, acquisitions and divestitures, integrate acquisitions, and realize anticipated results from such transactions, and its ability to separate businesses as part of divestitures;
    • Aegon’s failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational efficiencies, as well as other management initiatives related to cost savings, Cash Capital at Holding, gross financial leverage and free cash flow;
    • Changes in the policies of central banks and/or governments;
    • Litigation or regulatory action that could require Aegon to pay significant damages or change the way Aegon does business;
    • Competitive, legal, regulatory, or tax changes that affect profitability, the distribution cost of or demand for Aegon’s products;
    • Consequences of an actual or potential break-up of the European Monetary Union in whole or in part, or further consequences of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and potential consequences if other European Union countries leave the European Union;
    • Changes in laws and regulations, or the interpretation thereof by regulators and courts, including as a result of comprehensive reform or shifts away from multilateral approaches to regulation of global or national operations, particularly regarding those laws and regulations related to ESG matters, those affecting Aegon’s operations’ ability to hire and retain key personnel, taxation of Aegon companies, the products Aegon sells, the attractiveness of certain products to its consumers and Aegon’s intellectual property;
    • Regulatory changes relating to the pensions, investment, insurance industries and enforcing adjustments in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates;
    • Standard setting initiatives of supranational standard setting bodies such as the Financial Stability Board and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors or changes to such standards that may have an impact on regional (such as EU), national (such as Bermuda) or US federal or state level financial regulation or the application thereof to Aegon;
    • Changes in accounting regulations and policies or a change by Aegon in applying such regulations and policies, voluntarily or otherwise, which may affect Aegon’s reported results, shareholders’ equity or regulatory capital adequacy levels;
    • The rapidly changing landscape for ESG responsibilities, leading to potential challenges by private parties and governmental authorities, and/or changes in ESG standards and requirements, including assumptions, methodology and materiality, or a change by Aegon in applying such standards and requirements, voluntarily or otherwise, may affect Aegon’s ability to meet evolving standards and requirements, or Aegon’s ability to meet its sustainability and ESG-related goals, or related public expectations, which may also negatively affect Aegon’s reputation or the reputation of its board of directors or its management;
    • Unexpected delays, difficulties, and expenses in executing against Aegon’s environmental, climate, or other ESG targets, goals and commitments, and changes in laws or regulations affecting us, such as changes in data privacy, environmental, health and safety laws; and
    • Reliance on third-party information in certain of Aegon’s disclosures, which may change over time as methodologies and data availability and quality continue to evolve. These factors, as well as any inaccuracies in third-party information used by Aegon, including in estimates or assumptions, may cause results to differ materially and adversely from statements, estimates, and beliefs made by Aegon or third-parties. Moreover, Aegon’s disclosures based on any standards may change due to revisions in framework requirements, availability of information, changes in its business or applicable governmental policies, or other factors, some of which may be beyond Aegon’s control. Additionally, Aegon’s discussion of various ESG and other sustainability issues in this document or in other locations, including on our corporate website, may be informed by the interests of various stakeholders, as well as various ESG standards, frameworks, and regulations (including for the measurement and assessment of underlying data). As such, our disclosures on such issues, including climate-related disclosures, may include information that is not necessarily “material” under US securities laws for SEC reporting purposes, even if we use words such as “material” or “materiality” in relation to those statements. ESG expectations continue to evolve, often quickly, including for matters outside of our control; our disclosures are inherently dependent on the methodology (including any related assumptions or estimates) and data used, and there can be no guarantee that such disclosures will necessarily reflect or be consistent with the preferred practices or interpretations of particular stakeholders, either currently or in future.

    Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2024 Integrated Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegon’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

    Attachment

    • 20250508_PR_Aegon publishes agenda for 2025 Annual General Meeting

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 8, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 8, 2025.

    Women’s sports are fighting an uphill battle against our social media algorithms
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hans Westerbeek, Professor of International Sport Business, Head of Sport Business Insights Group, Victoria University Women’s sport is more and more getting the attention it deserves. Stadiums are filling, television ratings for many sports are climbing and athletes such as the Matildas’ Mary Fowler, triple Olympic gold

    New taxes on super didn’t get much attention in the election campaign. But they could be tricky to implement
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Melatos, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney Poetra.RH/Shutterstock The re-election of the Albanese government has led to renewed concern about planned changes to the taxation of investment returns in superannuation funds. Labor’s emphatic victory on Saturday night, including what looks like an increased presence in

    New Caledonia’s political talks – no outcome after three days of ‘conclave’
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific Desk After three solid days of talks in retreat mode, New Caledonia’s political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory’s future status. The talks, held with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Prime Minister’s special advisor Eric Thiers, have since

    Forest home of ‘polar dinosaurs’ 120 million years ago in southern Australia recreated in detail for the first time
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vera Korasidis, Lecturer in Environmental Geoscience, The University of Melbourne Artwork © Bob Nicholls 2024 Roughly 140 million to 100 million years ago, the piece of land that is modern day Australia was located much further south on Earth. In fact, what is now Victoria was once

    Ovarian cysts can be painful when they burst. When do you need to see a doctor?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Chruścik, Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock Cysts are small pockets of fluid that form inside the body. Ovarian cysts are common, affecting around one in ten women. But sometimes they can cause pain – especially when they burst. You

    Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – International Trade over time: gifts with strings
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. The ‘see-saw’ chart above shows the accumulated ‘excess benefits’ that Aotearoa New Zealand, and a few other countries, have enjoyed from international trade over the last 40 years. These are benefits arising from ‘unbalanced trade’ which are in addition to the regular benefits – arising from efficient specialisation – of ‘balanced’

    ‘Utu’ as foreign policy: how a Māori worldview can make sense of a shifting world order
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Ross Smith, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury Getty Images There is a growing feeling in New Zealand that the regional geopolitical situation is becoming less stable and more conflicted. China has ramped up its Pacific engagement, most recently with

    While the Liberals haemorrhaged, the Nationals held their own. Is it time to break up the Coalition?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Botterill, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Among the notable features of this year’s election campaign was that Australia’s second-oldest political party was apparently missing in action. At the same time, it managed to avoid the rout inflicted on its coalition partner.

    Why is hospital parking so expensive? Two economics researchers explain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Farrell, Professor of Economics (Health Economist), RMIT University ThirtyPlus/Shutterstock Imagine having to pay A$39 dollars a day to park your car while visiting your sick child in hospital. For families already struggling in a cost-of-living crisis, hospital parking fees are not just another expense. They can

    Vietnam is poised to become a top 20 economy, so why is Australia taking so long to make trade and investment links?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Vo, Senior lecturer in Vietnamese culture and politics, University of Wollongong Aritra Deb/Shutterstock At a time of widespread global trade instability, Australia should be expanding and diversifying its economic partnerships. Supply chains remain fragile, and protectionist rhetoric is once again gaining traction in major Western economies.

    Marvel’s Thunderbolts* shines a light on men’s mental illness – but falls down with this outdated plotline
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily Baulch, Research Associate, Discipline of Media and Communications, University of Sydney Marvel Studios This piece contains spoilers. Marvel’s men are sad. And that’s a good thing. Thor’s depressed in Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark has panic attacks in Iron Man 3. Peter grieves in Spider-Man: No Way

    Australia is set to be a renewables nation. After Labor’s win, there’s no turning back
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney bmphotographer/Shutterstock An emphatic election victory for the incumbent Labor government means Australia’s rapid shift to renewable energy will continue. As Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday: In 2022, the Australian people

    Financial Times: The West’s shameful silence on Gaza – do more to restrain Benjamin Netanyahu
    EDITORIAL: The Financial Times editorial board After 19 months of conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and drawn accusations of war crimes against Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu is once more preparing to escalate Israel’s offensive in Gaza. The latest plan puts Israel on course for full occupation of the Palestinian territory and would

    ‘Under no illusions’ about France, says author of new Rainbow Warrior book
    Pacific Media Watch The author of the book Eyes of Fire, one of the countless publications on the Rainbow Warrior bombing almost 40 years ago but the only one by somebody actually on board the bombed ship, says he was under no illusions that France was behind the attack. Journalist David Robie was speaking last

    Australia doesn’t have a federal Human Rights Act – but the election clears the way for overdue reform
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Maguire, Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle Master1305/Shutterstock The Albanese government has achieved an historic re-election, substantially building its majority in the House of Representatives. Much has already been written about the potential for a more ambitious legislative program on the back

    Samoa down in RSF media freedom world ranking due to ‘authoritarian pressure’
    Talamua Online News Samoa has dropped in its media and information freedom world ranking from 22 in 2024 to 44 in 2025 in the latest World Press Freedom Index compiled annually by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF). For the Pacific region, New Zealand is ranked highest at 16, Australia at 29, Fiji at 40,

    How maximum security prison inmates and officers worked together to create a farm behind bars
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Tietz, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, UNSW Sydney Macquarie Correctional Centre Media Unit At Macquarie Correctional Centre in western New South Wales, a story of collaboration and persistence is unfolding. Inmates and prison officers are farming commercial quantities of fresh food in a purpose-built indoor facility.

    Can what you eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding affect whether your child develops food allergies?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Koplin, Evidence and Translation Lead, National Allergy Centre of Excellence; Chief Investigator, Centre of Food Allergy Research; Associate Professor and Group Leader, Childhood Allergy & Epidemiology Group, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland Maria Evseyeva/Shutterstock Many questions pop up when you’re growing or raising

    How do you put a tariff on movies? Here’s what Trump’s plan could mean for Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark David Ryan, Professor, Film, Screen, Animation, Queensland University of Technology Kirk Wester/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a plan to impose a 100% tariff on movies “produced in foreign lands” could have a massive impact on the global entertainment industry. Film and television production

    Labor says its second term will be about productivity reform. These ideas could help shift the dial
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roy Green, Emeritus Professor of Innovation, University of Technology Sydney Summit Art Creations/Shutterstock In his victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted social policy as a major factor in Labor’s electoral success, particularly Medicare, housing and cost of living relief. He was justified in doing so. But

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese checkpoints see surge in tourist flow over May Day holiday

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) — Cities with border checkpoints in China saw a significant increase in the number of foreign tourists crossing the border during the International Labor Day holiday, largely due to the relaxation of visa policies and improved services at checkpoints, according to the National Immigration Administration.

    From April 30 to May 3, foreign nationals passed through Beijing checkpoints 69,000 times, an increase of 52.1 percent year-on-year. The main purposes for entering the country were tourism, visiting relatives, and business trips.

    On May 2, an international flight from Paris landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. When an elderly couple was confused while completing their paperwork at the passport control hall, immigration officer Cui Zhongqing helped them through border control by explaining the rules in French. Cui Zhongqing speaks several foreign languages.

    At the main checkpoints of the Chinese capital, including the international airports of Beijing Capital and Daxing, highly qualified specialists like Cui Zhuqing provide more than 100 consultations per shift in foreign languages. Special corridors have been set up for the elderly, the sick, the disabled and pregnant women, and temporary entry permits and other procedures are processed through a “single window”.

    “It’s now much easier to get a temporary entry permit. You don’t even have to stand in line again. It’s as fast as riding the metro,” a Russian tourist shared.

    The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou recorded more than 154,000 entries and exits from May 1 to 3, up 23 percent year-on-year. “During peak hours, all 34 checkpoint windows were operating at full capacity to ensure travelers could pass through the inspection safely and efficiently,” said Lin Shunyue, an immigration officer at Baiyun Port.

    With the opening of the third phase of the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Guangzhou or Canton Fair), it was a busy period at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. At the arrivals hall, police officers worked with an AI-based consultation system to assist passengers at the designated corridor for exhibitors.

    “After the second phase, we went to Hong Kong, and now we are back for the third. The visa-free regime makes this process very convenient,” the Polish businessman noted.

    The immigration office at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in southwest China’s Sichuan Province operated around the clock during the five-day holiday, allowing overseas arrivals to clear the immigration process immediately upon arrival.

    Thanks to the visa-free entry policy, the Spanish tourist was able to fully enjoy the local attractions, see pandas and taste Sichuan cuisine. “The unique charm of the city, the developed air network and efficient passport control made the trip to Chengdu unforgettable for me,” she said.

    According to the local border control department of Sichuan Province, as of May 3, 160,000 visa-free entries, more than 23,000 transit passengers taking advantage of the 24- or 240-hour visa-free stay rules, and more than 51,000 transit passengers passing through without border control have been registered through Chengdu checkpoints this year.

    China’s National Immigration Administration reported on May 6 that foreign nationals entered China 1.12 million times during the holiday period, up 43.1 percent from a year earlier.

    According to the above-mentioned department, it is especially noteworthy that over 380 thousand of these visits involved people entering China without a visa, which is 72.7 percent more than in the same period last year.

    China currently provides one-way visa-free entry to citizens of 38 countries. In addition, the visa-free transit period for passport holders of 54 countries was extended to 240 hours in December 2024. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Golden monkeys from China make European debut at French zoo

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

    Three golden monkeys from China made their public debut on Wednesday at the ZooPark of Beauval in central France, marking the species’ first journey outside Asia.

    The three primates – one male and two females – arrived in early April from the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, accompanied by a Chinese caretaker, and have since completed a month-long quarantine period.

    Their arrival is part of a ten-year partnership between the ZooPark of Beauval and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in wildlife protection and conservation.

    At a welcoming ceremony, the zoo’s director, Rodolphe Delord, unveiled the names of the new residents: Jindou (Golden Seed), Jinbao (Golden Treasure), and Jinhua (Golden Flower). These names were chosen through an online naming competition launched earlier this year.

    “Like the pandas, the arrival of these primates strengthens the ties between France and China in the field of animal conservation,” Delord said during the event. “We hope to see the birth of babies soon, which can then be returned to China for reintroduction into their natural environment.”

    The ZooPark of Beauval previously welcomed giant pandas Huanhuan and Yuanzai from China in 2012, launching a Sino-French cooperation program on panda breeding. With the arrival of the golden monkeys, the zoo has become the first outside Asia to host this rare and endangered species.

    The golden monkey is native to the mountainous forests of central and southwest China. Known for its striking golden-orange fur and distinctive upturned nose, the golden monkey is a national treasure in China and is under top-level state protection. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Barca defender Martinez denies spitting allegations

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

    FC Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has denied spitting at Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi during Tuesday night’s Champions League semifinal.

    The incident took place moments after Hakan Calhanoglu scored a penalty in the closing moments of the first half in the game that ended with a 4-3 win for Inter, who booked a place in the final thanks to a 7-6 aggregate win after two thrilling matches.

    Calhanoglu’s penalty put Inter 2-0 up on the night with the flashpoint between Martinez and Acerbi coming as the Italian ran back celebrating.

    “He celebrated in my ear. My reaction was unnecessary but I never spat at him,” Martinez commented on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

    “If I had (spat at him), I would have been sent off, no doubt about that,” added the defender.

    Martinez was substituted in the 76th minute of the match with a slight muscle strain, but reports said that he will be fit to play Sunday’s vital league match at home to Real Madrid, in which Barca can virtually assure this season’s title.

    MIL OSI China News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Why historical truth of WWII should never be distorted

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

    Aircraft fly in formation over Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow, Russia, May 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II (WWII). Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to Russia on Wednesday for a state visit and celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    The commemoration stands as a powerful reminder of the brutality of war, the precious hard-won peace and stability, and the importance of historical truth — especially at a time when the world is grappling with a resurgence in unilateralism, economic coercion and hegemonic mentality.

    What is alarming is that in recent years, there have been repeated attempts to distort or deny the legacy of the WWII victory. These attempts, drawing widespread criticism and concern, have reminded the world of the necessity to safeguard the integrity of the history of WWII.

    WHO IS DISTORTING WWII HISTORY?

    In these years, politicians from certain countries have sought to achieve political gains by manipulating historical truth.

    “We are witnessing increasing efforts to rehabilitate Nazism and racial supremacy, glorify Nazis and their collaborators, and revive practices of racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Xinhua in a recent interview.

    In March, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, while attending a memorial service on Iwo Jima to honor those who died in one of WWII’s pivotal battles, claimed Japan as being indispensable in tackling “Chinese aggression” and complimented the “valor” of Japanese soldiers.

    Hegseth’s remarks sparked sharp criticism, with many viewing them as an attempt to whitewash Japan’s militarism during WWII. His comments were also seen as a betrayal of those who sacrificed their lives in anti-fascist fight.

    Such attempts to distort or deny the history of the World Anti-Fascist War are not new.

    After WWII, as the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union intensified, Washington chose to support Japan as a strategic counterweight in Asia. In doing so, the remnants of Japanese fascism were not fully eradicated.

    Until this day, some right-wing Japanese politicians still refuse to renounce Japan’s militaristic past, and even question or deny the outcomes of the war.

    They continue to pay tribute to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese WWII war criminals, revise high school history textbooks to downplay Japan’s wartime atrocities, and deny the forced recruitment of “comfort women” by the Japanese military during WWII.

    “In recent years, Japan has recklessly tampered with textbooks, and the theory of no guilt for aggression has a relatively large market in Japan,” said Sun Huixiu, an associate professor with the School of History at Beijing Normal University.

    Similar historic revisionism took place in the West. There have been attempts by some Western countries to downplay or even completely deny the role of the Red Army and the Soviet people in the victory over Nazism.

    A survey conducted by IFOP, an international market research group, in May 1945 showed that 57 percent of French people credited the Soviet Union with having made the greatest contribution to Nazi defeat, compared to just 20 percent backing the United States and 12 percent Britain.

    However, by 2018, a YouGov survey showed a dramatic shift in public perception: 56 percent of the French believed the United States played the most important role, 11 percent credited Britain, and only 15 percent recognized Russia’s contribution.

    WHY HISTORICAL TRUTH SO IMPORTANT?

    During the deadliest military conflict in human history 80 years ago, more than 80 countries and regions, involving roughly 2 billion people, were drawn into the war. More than 100 million worldwide were killed or wounded, and global economic losses exceeded 4 trillion U.S. dollars.

    To resist fascist aggression, more than 50 countries, including China and the Soviet Union, formed a united front. As the main theater in the East during the World Anti-Fascist War, China paid a heavy price — over 35 million casualties in its fight against the majority troops of Japanese militarism.

    A woman visits the site used to be a bacterial laboratory at the former site of the Unit 731 in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

    Preserving the truth of history is the most meaningful tribute to the soldiers and civilians who perished during WWII. It is also a foundation for reconciliation between former belligerent nations.

    “How should we respond to the sin of the Holocaust for which we should take responsibility? Summing up the past can be a prerequisite to reconciliation,” said former German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Japan in 2015.

    More importantly, as noted by Xi at the general debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly back in 2015, history is a mirror, and only by drawing lessons from history can the world avoid repeating past calamities.

    After WWII, the Allied powers carried out the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials, which marked the first time in human history that war criminals were prosecuted before an international tribunal, delivering rightful punishment, upholding international justice and sending a powerful warning to fascist forces.

    Based on the WWII victory, key members of the anti-fascist alliance jointly initiated the founding of the United Nations and formulated a series of important international documents including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Charter of the United Nations, which laid the foundation for the modern international order and established the basic norms governing contemporary international relations.

    “These instruments helped to hold fascist crimes accountable, and through a series of institutional frameworks, effectively placed a ‘security lock’ on the postwar world to help preserve peace,” said He Lei, former vice president of the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, in an article.

    Since the end of WWII, the world has witnessed a level of global prosperity unprecedented in human history thanks to the largely peaceful era it has been in. “We need to firmly remember the history of WWII and maintain the world political and economic order,” said Sun.

    “Today, it seems no one disputes that the victory over fascism and militarism was one of humanity’s greatest achievements in the 20th century,” said Kirill Babayev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    This underscores that Russia and China must remain at the forefront of preserving this memory, he noted.

    “In the global agenda, we must uphold a position that demands full respect for historical truth, rejects its distortion, and, above all, safeguards the memory of those who perished during World War II while defending our freedom,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: New Caledonia’s political talks – no outcome after three days of ‘conclave’

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific Desk

    After three solid days of talks in retreat mode, New Caledonia’s political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory’s future status.

    The talks, held with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Prime Minister’s special advisor Eric Thiers, have since Monday moved from Nouméa to a seaside resort in Bourail — on the west coast of the main island, about 200 km from the capital — in what has been labelled a “conclave”, a direct reference to this week’s meeting of Catholic cardinals in Rome to elect a new pope.

    However, the Bourail conclave is yet to produce any kind of white smoke, and no one, as yet, claims “Habemus Pactum” to say that an agreement has been reached.

    Under heavy security, representatives of both pro-France and pro-independence parties are being kept in isolation and are supposed to stay there until a compromise is found to define New Caledonia’s political future, and an agreement that would later serve as the basis for a pact designed to replace the Nouméa Accord that was signed in 1998.

    The talks were supposed to conclude yesterday, but it has been confirmed that the discussions were going to last longer, at least one more day, probably well into the night.

    Valls was initially scheduled to fly back to Paris today, but it has also been confirmed that he will stay longer.

    Almost one year after civil unrest broke out in New Caledonia on 13 May 2024, leaving 14 dead and causing 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4.2 billion) in damage, the talks involve pro-France Les Loyalistes, Le Rassemblement, Calédonie Ensemble and pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), UNI-PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party).

    Wallisian ‘third way’
    Éveil Océanien, a Wallisian-based party, defends a “neither pro, nor against independence” line — what it calls a “third way”.

    The talks, over the past few days, have been described as “tense but respectful”, with some interruptions at times.

    The most sensitive issues among the numerous topics covered by the talks on New Caledonia’s future, are reported to be the question of New Caledonia’s future status and relationship to France.

    Other sensitive topics include New Caledonia’s future citizenship and the transfer of remaining key powers (defence, law and order, currency, foreign affairs, justice) from Paris to Nouméa.

    Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia for the third time since February 2025, said he would stay in New Caledonia “as long as necessary” for an inclusive and comprehensive agreement to be reached.

    Earlier this week, Valls also likened the current situation as “walking on a tightrope above embers.”

    “The choice is between an agreement and chaos,” he told local media.

    Clashing demands
    On both sides of the discussion table, local parties have all stated earlier that bearing in mind their respective demands, they were “not ready to sign at all costs.”

    The FLNKS is demanding full sovereignty while on the pro-France side, that view is rejected after three referendums were held there between 2018 and 2021 said no to independence.

    Valls’s approach was still trying to reconcile those two very antagonistic views, often described as “irreconcilable”.

    “But the thread is not broken. Only more time is required”, local media quoted a close source as saying.

    Last week, an earlier session of talks in Nouméa had to be interrupted due to severe frictions and disagreement from the pro-France side.

    Speaking to public broadcaster NC la 1ère on Sunday, Rassemblement leader Virginie Ruffenach elaborated, saying “there had been profound elements of disagreements on a certain number of words uttered by the minister (Valls)”.

    One of the controversial concepts, strongly opposed by the most radical pro-French parties, was a possible transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, as part of a possible agreement.

    Loyalists opposed to ‘independence-association’
    “In what was advanced, the land of New Caledonia would no longer be a French land”, Ruffenach stressed on Sunday, adding this was “unacceptable” to her camp.

    She also said the two main pro-France parties were opposed to any notion of “independence-association”.

    “Neither Rassemblement, nor Les Loyalistes will sign for New Caledonia’s independence, let this be very clear.”

    The pro-France camp is advocating for increased powers (including on tax matters) for each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, a solution sometimes regarded by critics as a form of partition of the French Pacific territory.

    In a media release on Sunday, FLNKS “reaffirmed its . . . ultimate goal was Kanaky (New Caledonia’s) accession to full sovereignty”.

    Series of fateful anniversaries
    On the general public level, a feeling of high expectations, but also wariness, seems to prevail at the news that discussions were still inconclusive.

    In 1988, the Matignon-Oudinot peace talks between pro-independence leader at the time, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and pro-France leader Jacques Lafleur, were also held, in their final stage, in Paris, behind closed doors, under the close supervision of French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard.

    The present crucial talks also coincide with a series of fateful anniversaries in New Caledonia’s recent history — on 5 May 1988, French special forces ended a hostage situation and intervened on Ouvéa Island in the Gossana grotto, where a group of hard-line pro-independent militants had held a group of French gendarmes.

    The human toll was heavy: 19 Kanak militants and 2 gendarmes were killed.

    On 4 May 1989, one year after the Matignon-Oudinot peace accords were signed, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and his deputy Yeiwene Yeiwene were gunned down by hard-line pro-independence Kanak activist Djubelly Wea.

    Valls attended most of these commemoration ceremonies at the weekend.

    On 5 May 1998, the 27-year-old Nouméa Accord was signed between New Caledonia’s parties and then French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

    De facto Constitution
    The Nouméa pact, which is often regarded as a de facto Constitution, was placing a particular stress on the notions of “re-balancing” economic wealth, a “common destiny” for all ethnic communities “living together” and a gradual transfer of powers from Paris to Nouméa.

    The Accord also prescribed that if three self-determination referendums (initially scheduled between 2014 and 2018) had produced three rejections (in the form of “no”), then all political stakeholders were supposed to “meet and examine the situation thus generated”.

    The current talks aimed at arriving at a new document, which was destined to replace the Nouméa Accord and bring New Caledonia closer to having its own Constitution.

    Valls said he was determined to “finalise New Caledonia’s decolonisation” process.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Tunisia: Year-long arbitrary detention of human rights defenders working with refugees and migrants  

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Tunisian authorities must immediately release human rights defenders, NGO workers, and former local officials who have been held in arbitrary pre-trial detention for one year because of their legitimate support for refugees and migrants, Amnesty International said today. The ongoing crackdown, part of a broader assault on civil society in Tunisia, was fueled by escalating xenophobia and has severely disrupted crucial assistance for refugees and migrants. 

    Since May 2024, Tunisian authorities have raided at least three NGOs providing critical assistance to refugees and migrants, arresting and detaining at least eight NGO workers, as well as two former local officials who cooperated with them. They also opened criminal investigations into at least 40 other individuals in relation to legitimate NGO work to support refugees and migrants.  

    “It is deeply shocking that these human rights defenders have now spent over a year in arbitrary detention, for simply assisting refugees and migrants in precarious situations. They should have never been arrested in the first place,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.  

    The Tunisian authorities must immediately release and drop all charges against those detained solely for their human rights and humanitarian work.

    Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

    “This reckless crackdown on the staff of organizations operating under Tunisian law has had devastating humanitarian consequences for refugees and migrants in the country and represents a deeply harmful setback for human rights in Tunisia. The Tunisian authorities must immediately release and drop all charges against those detained solely for their human rights and humanitarian work.”  

    On 3 and 4 May 2024, Tunisian police arrested Mustapha Djemali and Abderrazak Krimi, respectively director and project manager of the Tunisian Council for Refugees (CTR), a Tunisian NGO working with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Tunisian authorities to pre-register asylum seekers and provide essential assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. Authorities have held them under successive pretrial detention orders for over a year now, while investigating them for “assisting the clandestine entry” of foreign nationals and “providing [them] shelter”, solely based on their work for the CTR. 

    From 7 to 13 May 2024, the police arrested Sherifa Riahi, Yadh Bousselmi and Mohamed Joo, respectively former director, director and administrative and financial director of Terre d’asile Tunisie, the Tunisian branch of French NGO France Terre d’asile.  

    Judicial authorities have held them in pretrial detention since then and are prosecuting them on charges of “sheltering individuals illegally entering or leaving the territory” and “facilitating the irregular entry, exit, movement or stay of a foreigner”, solely for providing critical assistance to refugees and migrants. When closing the investigation, the investigative judge cited a “European-backed civil society plan to promote the social and economic integration of irregular migrants into Tunisia and their permanent settlement” to support the charge.  

    On 11 May 2024, the police also arrested former deputy mayor of Sousse Imen Ouardani under the same charges, as well as the additional charge of using her position as public official “to obtain an unjustified advantage or harm the administration,” solely because of the collaboration between the municipality and Terre d’asile Tunisie.  

    Under international law, pretrial detention should only be used as an exception, to avoid undermining the presumption of innocence, and based on an individualized assessment which shows that the detention is necessary and proportionate because of a substantial risk of flight, interference with the investigation, harm to others or reiteration of the alleged offence. The Tunisian authorities have not demonstrated any of these grounds with regard to these individuals.  

    “Detaining human rights defenders criminalizes essential human rights and humanitarian work. Providing support to refugees and migrants – irrespective of their legal status – is protected under international law and should never be equated with human smuggling or trafficking,” said Sara Hashash. 

    Tunisia is party to the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, which set out precise standards for the definition of human smuggling and trafficking, exempting legitimate human rights and humanitarian work.  

    The May 2024 crackdown took place after xenophobic and racist social media smear campaigns against several organizations including the CTR and Terre d’asile Tunisie, after the CTR published a tender for hotels to shelter asylum seekers and refugees in precarious situations, in response to a request for assistance from UNHCR and local authorities. 

    On 6 May 2024, President Kais Saied accused NGOs working on migration of being “traitors” and “[foreign] agents”, and of seeking the “settlement” of Sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia. A day later, a public prosecutor in Tunis announced the opening of an investigation against NGOs for providing “financial support to illegal migrants”.  

    The crackdown which has involved the detention of NGO staff and freezing of NGOs’ bank accounts has triggered the suspension of vital services since May 2024, disrupting access to asylum procedures, shelter, healthcare, child protection, and legal aid. This has left potentially thousands of refugees and migrants, including unaccompanied children, in precarious and uncertain situations and at greater risk of facing human rights violations and abuse.  

    In April 2025, Tunisia’s Interior Minister, Khaled Ennouri, said that the authorities were prepared to “confront all plans to alter the demographic composition of the Tunisian population”. Such comments have contributed to an ongoing spike in racist violence against Black refugees and migrants, notably in border regions. Social media users have shared videos of themselves “tracking down [Black] Africans” and threatening violence and other abuse against them.  

    Other organizations targeted include anti-racism organization Mnemty – nine of their staff and partners have been under investigation since May 2024 for financial crimes for which the authorities have yet to provide evidence – and the children’s rights NGO Children of the Moon of Medenine. Authorities have also detained the executive director of the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference (ADD), Salwa Ghrissa, since 12 December 2024, pending investigation into the organization’s funding.

    Tunisian authorities must immediately cease the criminalization of human rights and humanitarian work and end the dangerous scapegoating and vilification of civil society.

    Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

    “Tunisian authorities must immediately cease the criminalization of human rights and humanitarian work and end the dangerous scapegoating and vilification of civil society,” said Sara Hashash. 

    Background  

    Racist and xenophobic rhetoric has been repeated by Tunisian officials and members of the parliament over the past two years, starting with racist remarks made by President Kais Saied in February 2023.  

    Since May 2024, Tunisian authorities have also continued to carry out forced evictions and unlawful collective expulsions of refugees and migrants to Libya and Algeria regularly. In early April 2025, authorities announced an “operation of dismantlement” in the eastern region of Sfax, where refugees and migrants had established makeshift camps in the past two years, after having been forcibly evicted and relocated from urban areas by the authorities.  

    The wave of arrests of May 2024 is part of a wider attack on civil society. Ahead of the 2024 October presidential elections, authorities opened investigations into NGOs I Watch and Mourakiboun in relation to their funding and prevented them from observing the elections. 

    Tunisian financial authorities have subsequently opened investigations into at least a dozen organizations over funding and activities protected under the right to freedom of association, while banks have increasingly delayed or obstructed incoming transfers of funds from abroad, demanding excessive documentation regarding the transfers, thereby impeding NGO operations. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST’s speech at Fondation de France Asia second edition of signature’s Night for Philanthropy (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the Fondation de France Asia second edition of signature’s Night for Philanthropy today (May 7):
     
    Deputy Consul General Hubin (Deputy Consul-General of France, Mr Benjamin Hubin), Mrs Axelle Davezac (Chief Executive Officer of the Fondation de France), Dr Andrew Yuen (Ambassador of the Fondation de France Asia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
     
         Good evening. I am most delighted to join you at tonight’s Night for Philanthropy, and my thanks to the Fondation de France Asia (Foundation) for your kind invitation so that I can share the joy and great spirit of this meaningful and exceptional event.
     
         Further to our celebration of the Foundation’s establishment in Hong Kong in July last year, I am sure we are all excited to gather again tonight to rejoice the stronger ties between France and Hong Kong, under the banner of the common good, while enjoying the wonderful arts, culture, food and wine on this beautiful occasion.
     
         Hong Kong itself has a deep tradition of philanthropy. About 10 600 charities in Hong Kong have contributed tremendously towards building and enhancing our social fabric, ranging from our schools, hospitals to elderly homes and welfare facilities. In financial year 2023-2024, approved charitable donations from business donors stood at about HK$4.8 billion; while for individual donors, approved charitable donations amounted to about HK$7.4 billion.
     
         It is our vision to develop Hong Kong into a philanthropic centre for global family offices and philanthropists to deploy charitable capital benefiting Hong Kong, the Mainland and the overseas. This vision is not just aspirational, but is indeed deeply rooted in Hong Kong’s unique strengths: our strategic location and unique proximity to China; robust legal framework and adherence to the rule of law; as well as a vibrant financial ecosystem with a strong banking system, extensive capital markets, and availability of professional services and talents. These altogether help make Hong Kong an ideal platform for philanthropic endeavours. But beyond these tangible assets, I believe Hong Kong’s true potential lies in the people here in the city – your compassion, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to building a better society.
     
         The Foundation, with its dedication to creating tailored projects for donors interested in supporting cross-border philanthropic initiatives, has certainly been a catalyst for positive change in Hong Kong. I am delighted to learn that the Foundation has supported five meaningful projects in the areas of education, heritage and music, four of which will be further explained later this evening. Furthermore, the Foundation has also been a strategic partner in Hong Kong’s philanthropic initiative Impact Link, or iLink in short, which is being championed by the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy.
     
         The iLink is an excellent example of public-private philanthropy partnerships, whereby private foundations as strategic partners are brought together by the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government in pursuit of the common good. It also serves as a platform for nurturing the next generation of philanthropists and fostering meaningful collaborations that drive social change.
     
         With the unfailing support from the Foundation and other strategic partners, capacity-building seminars and workshops under iLink have helped families initiate their first steps towards philanthropy and allowed them to acquire best practices from leading philanthropy organisations. Looking ahead, the iLink’s depository platform will be launched this year, which will provide a dedicated platform for invited family philanthropists to discover scalable initiatives that address critical challenges in Hong Kong and beyond. Strategic partners, family partners and projects nominated, including those nominated by the Foundation, will be displayed on the platform. We would continue to count on the thought leadership of the Foundation in promoting the exceptional qualities of Hong Kong in supporting philanthropic causes.
     
         In closing, may I commend Fondation de France Asia again for your contribution to Hong Kong. I wish the Foundation enormous success in all its endeavours, whether in Hong Kong, Asia or other parts of the world. For everyone here, may I wish you good health and joyful donation. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Non-human primates used in experiments and the phasing out of animal testing – E-001722/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001722/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Niels Fuglsang (S&D)

    Non-human primates were involved in a total of 7 658 uses for animal tests in 2022 (up by 9 % since 2021), with France (4 147 uses) and Germany (2 204 uses) being the largest users.

    We note with concern that France, Germany and – for the first time, in 2022 – Denmark are the only Member States that use baboons in experiments. In 2022, France reported 73 uses of baboons (an 83 % increase since 2021) while Germany and Denmark each reported 5 uses. France is also the only Member State that uses vervet monkeys, with 51 uses in 2022 (up by 1 600 % since 2021).[1]

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Could the Commission explain what measures are being taken to encourage Member States to reduce and replace the use of non-human primates for testing?
    • 2.Could the Commission explain why these species of primate continue to be used and what is being done to encourage France, Germany and Denmark to permanently phase out testing using these species?

    Submitted: 30.4.2025

    • [1] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/envdataportal/content/alures/section2_number-of-uses.html.
    Last updated: 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Possible circumvention of Directive 92/43/EEC and state of scientific research on the harmful effects of offshore wind farms, of which the Commission is aware – E-000582/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has received several complaints regarding the allegedly wrong application of EU environmental law regarding offshore wind farms, including those being developed in France.

    Upon examination and for the moment, the Commission has not identified any problem that would justify further investigation. The Commission also notes that complainants in France have sometimes referred such matters to administrative courts to challenge development permits, including environmental authorisations.

    For the reasons outlined above, the Commission has not requested any information from the French authorities about possible environmental damage to wild flora and fauna caused by offshore wind farms in French marine waters.

    The EU is supporting research to further understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of offshore wind farms, notably through its recent Horizon Europe call for proposals for ‘Minimisation of environmental, and optimisation of socioeconomic impacts in the deployment, operation and decommissioning of offshore wind farms’[1].

    It is expected that the findings of this research will further enhance knowledge on the impacts of offshore wind farms on biodiversity and help minimise those, among other environmental impacts.

    • [1] https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters/minimisation-environmental-and-optimisation-socioeconomic-impacts-deployment-operation-and
    Last updated: 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Fusion Summit explores how AI can accelerate fusion research

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Fusion Summit explores how AI can accelerate fusion research

    The pursuit of nuclear fusion as a limitless, clean energy source has long been one of humanity’s most ambitious scientific goals. Research labs and companies worldwide are working to replicate the fusion process that occurs at the sun’s core, where isotopes of hydrogen combine to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. While scalable fusion energy is still years away, researchers are now exploring how AI can help accelerate fusion research and bring this energy to the grid sooner. 

    In March 2025, Microsoft Research held its inaugural Fusion Summit, a landmark event that brought together distinguished speakers and panelists from within and outside Microsoft Research to explore this question. 

    Ashley Llorens, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Accelerator, opened the Summit by outlining his vision for a self-reinforcing system that uses AI to drive sustainability. Steven Cowley, laboratory director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (opens in new tab), professor at Princeton University, and former head of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, followed with a keynote explaining the intricate science and engineering behind fusion reactors. His message was clear: advancing fusion will require international collaboration and the combined power of AI and high-performance computing to model potential fusion reactor designs. 

    Applying AI to fusion research

    North America’s largest fusion facility, DIII (opens in new tab)-D, operated by General Atomics and owned by the US Department of Energy (DOE), provides a unique platform for developing and testing AI applications for fusion research, thanks to its pioneering data and digital twin platform. 

    Richard Buttery (opens in new tab) from DIII-D and Dave Humphreys (opens in new tab) from General Atomics demonstrated how the US DIII-D National Fusion Program (opens in new tab) is already applying AI to advance reactor design and operations, highlighting promising directions for future development. They provided examples of how to apply AI to active plasma control to avoid disruptive instabilities, using AI-controlled trajectories to avoid tearing modes, and implementing feedback control using machine learning-derived density limits for safer high-density operations. 

    One persistent challenge in reactor design involves building the interior “first wall,” which must withstand extreme heat and particle bombardment. Zulfi Alam, corporate vice president of Microsoft Quantum (opens in new tab), discussed the potential of using quantum computing in fusion, particularly for addressing material challenges like hydrogen diffusion in reactors.

    He noted that silicon nitride shows promise as a barrier to hydrogen and vapor and explained the challenge of binding it to the reaction chamber. He emphasized the potential of quantum computing to improve material prediction and synthesis, enabling more efficient processes. He shared that his team is also investigating advanced silicon nitride materials to protect this critical component from neutron and alpha particle damage—an innovation that could make fusion commercially viable.

    Microsoft Research Blog

    AIOpsLab: Building AI agents for autonomous clouds

    AIOpsLab is an open-source framework designed to evaluate and improve AI agents for cloud operations, offering standardized, scalable benchmarks for real-world testing, enhancing cloud system reliability.

    Opens in a new tab

    Exploring AI’s broader impact on fusion engineering

    Lightning talks from Microsoft Research labs addressed the central question of AI’s potential to accelerate fusion research and engineering. Speakers covered a wide range of applications—from using gaming AI for plasma control and robotics for remote maintenance to physics-informed AI for simulating materials and plasma behavior. Closing the session, Archie Manoharan, Microsoft’s director of nuclear engineering for Cloud Operations and Infrastructure, emphasized the need for a comprehensive energy strategy, one that incorporates renewables, efficiency improvements, storage solutions, and carbon-free sources like fusion.

    The Summit culminated in a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Ade Famoti, featuring Archie Manoharan, Richard Buttery, Steven Cowley, and Chris Bishop, Microsoft Technical Fellow and director of Microsoft Research AI for Science. Their wide-ranging conversation explored the key challenges and opportunities shaping the field of fusion. 

    The panel highlighted several themes: the role of new regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with safety and public trust; the importance of materials discovery in developing durable fusion reactor walls; and the game-changing role AI could play in plasma optimization and surrogate modelling of fusion’s underlying physics.

    They also examined the importance of global research collaboration, citing projects like the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (opens in new tab) (ITER), the world’s largest experimental fusion device under construction in southern France, as testbeds for shared progress. One persistent challenge, however, is data scarcity. This prompted a discussion of using physics-informed neural networks as a potential approach to supplement limited experimental data. 

    Global collaboration and next steps

    Microsoft is collaborating with ITER (opens in new tab) to help advance the technologies and infrastructure needed to achieve fusion ignition—the critical point where a self-sustaining fusion reaction begins, using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure OpenAI Service, Visual Studio, and GitHub (opens in new tab). Microsoft Research is now cooperating with ITER to identify where AI can be exploited to model future experiments to optimize its design and operations. 

    Now Microsoft Research has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) (opens in new tab) to foster collaboration through knowledge exchange, workshops, and joint research projects. This effort aims to address key challenges in fusion, materials, plasma control, digital twins, and experiment optimization. Together, Microsoft Research and PPPL will work to drive innovation and advances in these critical areas.

    Fusion is a scientific challenge unlike any other and could be key to sustainable energy in the future. We’re excited about the role AI can play in helping make that vision a reality. To learn more, visit the Fusion Summit event page, or connect with us by email at FusionResearch@microsoft.com.

    Opens in a new tab

    MIL OSI Economics –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Law Enforcement Seizes 9 DDoS-for-Hire Webpages as Part of Global Crackdown on ‘Booter’ and ‘Stresser’ DDoS Services

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of nine internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services. Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau simultaneously announced the arrests of four administrators of such services, investigations which were assisted by U.S. authorities. Several of the arrested administrators operated websites seized pursuant to previous operations by the Central District of California. 

    Federal law enforcement continues to seize websites that allow paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks flood targeted computers and servers with information to prevent them from being able to access the internet.

    Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and completely disrupt internet connections. 

    The websites targeted in this operation were used for hundreds of thousands of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that purportedly could be used for network testing, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.

    Today’s announcement builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign. In the last four years more than 11 defendants have been charged in Los Angeles and Anchorage for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services. More than 75 domains associated with such services have been seized.

    “Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.”

    “DDoS for hire criminal booter services impact internet services for victims in every corner of the United States, including Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This threat highlights the continued need to pursue cybercrime services like booter providers. We remain committed to bolstering our collaborative partnerships in the U.S. and abroad to address threats to critical internet infrastructure and services.”

    “The enforcement actions launched today, made possible by enduring partnerships between law enforcement and private industry, represents continued pressure on DDoS-for-hire services and the cybercriminals and hacktivists who use them.” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “This success demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS to relentlessly pursue those who target our warfighters and their information systems.”

    In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, DCIS, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, and to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.

    In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet.

    For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.

    The seizures announced today were performed by DCIS’s Cyber-West Resident Agency.

    These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. Principal partners in Operation PowerOFF include EUROPOL; the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska; The Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS); FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices; HSI’s Columbus field office; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA); Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, Japan’s National Police Agency, France’s Police Nationale, and many others.

    Assistance was provided by Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Flashpoint, Google, PayPal, The University of Cambridge, and Unit 221B.

    Assistant United States Attorneys James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are handling this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Aaliyah’s turn as a vampire in the nu-metal film Queen of the Damned is an often-overlooked part of her legacy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Francesca Sobande, Reader in Digital Media Studies, Cardiff University

    Black women’s influence on metal and connected sub-genres is still often overlooked. As part of my research into Black women in pop culture, I’ve looked at the relationship between race, gender, onscreen portrayals of immortality and nu-metal.

    Nu-metal, popularised in the early 2000s, is known for combining the mood of metal with riffs and hues of rap and hip-hop. The genre drew on the creativity of Black artists, singers and musicians across different genres and generations.

    My research on this has involved reflecting on the nu-metal-themed film Queen of the Damned (2002), based on Anne Rice’s enduring Vampire Chronicles books. It starred the singer Aaliyah as the powerful vampire Akasha. It was to be her final acting role before her death aged just 22. Shortly before, she had also signed to appear in the sequel to The Matrix, another nu-metal franchise.


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    Aaliyah doesn’t sing in Queen of the Damned, but her hip-hop stardom is still central to the film, as is suggested by the emphasis on her image in its marketing. Aaliyah being foregrounded in a nu-metal film, paired with the limited dialogue and plot development of her character, reflects how Black women in alt and rock music and accompanying media are sometimes treated as simply there to be seen, not heard.

    With a 17% “tomatometer” score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.8 star ranking on Letterboxed, Queen of the Damned is generally seen as a flop. But despite this, the film remains influential, particularly due to Aaliyah’s poised presence as a hip-hop star in a fictional and vampiric nu-metal world.

    The character of Akasha can be criticised for representing stereotypical ideas of Black women as being dangerously seductive. Still, Aaliyah’s portrayal made an impression.

    Aaliyah in a scene from Queen of the Damned.

    In recent years the film has received renewed attention, sparked by the resurgence of nu-metal and the creation of the AMC TV show Interview with the Vampire (2022-present). Its much anticipated third season is due to include Akasha. This has led to some fans calling for her to be played by hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion. The rapper made a Paris Fashion Week appearance in 2025 in an outfit that harked back to Aaliyah’s performance as Akasha.

    This demonstrates that part of Aaliyah’s ongoing impact is the way she established the character of Akasha as canonically connected to hip-hop.

    More than ‘seen, not heard’

    Understandably eclipsed by her wider work, Queen of the Damned is not focused on in many ways Aaliyah is memorialised. But, for me, her involvement in the film symbolises how Black women’s creativity and coolness is leveraged by music genres and their media marketing.

    Aaliyah in 2000.
    Wiki Commons, CC BY-SA

    When remembering Aaliyah’s cultural influence, her multifaceted role in the new millennium and nu-metal landscape must be meaningfully acknowledged. More than that, how all Black women in music are publicly memorialised must involve more care and recognition of their important work across, between and beyond genres.

    When news spread of the death of Roberta Flack in February, her fans took to social media to mourn her loss. Legend, musician, singer, teacher – those were just some of the many words used in online posts rightly celebrating her life.

    But as layla-roxanne hill and I discuss in our new book, Look, Don’t Touch: Reflections on the Freedom to Feel, memorialising people as “icons” sometimes reduces or reframes who they were to little more than symbols and soundbites. There should be space to name Black women’s impact on music and society, but in ways that affirm the multitudes of their lives.

    This is touched on in the documentary TLC Forever (2023), as is society’s disregard for the grief experienced by Black women such as TLC members Rozonda Thomas and Tionne Watkins. Following the death of their friend and band member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in a bus crash aged 30, they faced pressures to push forward with releasing music while grieving.

    Another documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom (2013), also illuminated the inequalities faced by Black women singers. Their signature sounds propel the success of many genres, but they seldom benefit from this in substantial and sustained ways.

    The trailer for TLC Forever.

    The way the tragic death of Aaliyah was treated is a case in point. The R&B and hip-hop singer died in a plane crash in August 2001. Media headlines mounted, including coverage that referred to “her movie debut last year”, but which did not discuss that role or her broader acting work.

    It may be impossible for any memorial message to fully express and appreciate someone’s essence. However, the ways that Black women are remembered (and forgotten) in society are shaped by the specifics of misogynoir – the interconnected effects of racism, sexism and misogyny.

    Black women are so much more than the binary narratives projected onto them – strong versus soft, young versus old, singer versus actor, survivor versus victim and living versus dead. As the title of one of Aaliyah’s own songs conveys, she was More Than a Woman.

    Francesca Sobande received Impact Acceleration funding from UKRI in 2024, towards a project on “The Cultural Memory and Archived Experiences of Black People in ‘Alternative’ Music Subcultures”, in collaboration with the Museum of Youth Culture.

    – ref. Aaliyah’s turn as a vampire in the nu-metal film Queen of the Damned is an often-overlooked part of her legacy – https://theconversation.com/aaliyahs-turn-as-a-vampire-in-the-nu-metal-film-queen-of-the-damned-is-an-often-overlooked-part-of-her-legacy-251860

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Europe is moving to reposition itself in Donald Trump’s new global order

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

    FabrikaSimf/Shutterstock

    The term that perhaps best describes the international impact of the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term is “disruption”. His tariff policy, his abolition of USAID, his questioning of the transatlantic alliance, and his attempted rapprochement with Russia have neither destroyed the liberal international order nor established anything new in its place.

    But the prospects of liberal internationalism under Trump are vanishingly small. And Trumpism, in the guise of an America-first foreign policy, is likely to outlast Trump’s second term.

    That the US is no longer the standard bearer of the liberal international order has been clear for some time. Trump and his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, appear to see themselves as dominant players in a new multi-polar world order. But it is not clear that a grand bargain between them is possible – or that it would endure.

    Europe is particularly vulnerable to these changes in the international order. Having been able to rely for the past eight decades on an iron-clad American security guarantee, European countries chronically under-invested in their defence capabilities, especially since the end of the cold war.


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    Defence spending as a proportion of GDP may have increased over the past decade but remains lacklustre. And investment into an independent European defence industrial base faces many hurdles.

    These deficiencies predated Trump’s return to the White House. Addressing them will only be possible in a time frame beyond his second term. With no dependable partners left among the world’s great powers, Europe’s predicament – unenviable as it may be for the moment – nonetheless offers an opportunity for the continent to begin to stand on its own feet.

    Early signs of a more independent Europe are promising. In March, the European commission released a white paper on defence which anticipates defence investment of €800 billion (£680 billion) over the next four years.

    The bulk of this will rely on the activation of the so-called “national escape clause”. This allows EU member states to escape penalties if they exceed the normal deficit ceiling of 3% GDP.

    Once activated for the purpose of defence spending, they can now take on additional debt of up to 1.5% of their GDP. By the end of April, 12 EU member states had already requested that the national escape clause be activated, with several more expected to follow.

    Defence is clearly the most urgent problem for Europe. But it isn’t the only aspect to consider when it comes to achieving greater strategic autonomy, something that the European Union has grappled with for more than a decade. In other areas, such as trade and energy, the starting point is a very different one.

    Regarding energy independence, the EU has achieved a remarkable and quick pivot away from Russia. It has just released a final plan to stop all remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027.

    On trade, Donald Trump’s America-first tariff policy has done significant damage to the global system. This has, in turn, created opportunities for the EU, as one of the world’s largest trading blocs, including greater cooperation with China, already one of its largest trading partners.

    Complex relationships

    China and the EU clearly share an interest in preserving a global trade regime from which both have benefited. But their economic interests cannot be separated easily from their geopolitical interests. So far, China has sent very mixed signals to Europe.

    Beijing has, for example, proposed to lift sanctions against some members of the European parliament who have been critical of China in a show of goodwill. But China’s support for Russia continues as well, most recently with Xi’s commitment to visit Moscow for the victory day parade on May 9.

    Standing with Moscow may benefit Beijing in its rivalry with the US by solidifying the no-limits partnership that Xi and Putin announced on the eve of Russia’s full-sale invasion in February 2022. But it does little to win the EU over as a partner in defence of the open international order that Trump is trying his best to shutter.

    On the contrary, in reaffirming China’s commitment to its partnership with Russia, Xi may well have lost whatever chances there were for a European realignment with China.

    The complexities of the EU-China and EU-US relationships – a curious mix of rapidly shifting interests – reflects the EU’s position as the natural centre of gravity of what is left of the west. This is evident in the rapid evolution of the “coalition of the willing” in support of Ukraine, which brings together 30 countries from across the EU and Nato under French and British leadership.

    Beyond Europe, Trump’s tariff policy has given plans for a strategic partnership between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) a new lease of life. The CPTPP is a group of 11 Indo-Pacific countries and the UK, which joined last December. It is one of the world’s largest free trade areas, accounting for approximately 15% of global GDP.

    Even without US and Chinese membership, a partnership between the EU and the CPTPP would wield significant power in the global economic system and could play a future role in shielding its members from an intensifying US-China trade war.

    Limited alternatives

    None of the steps taken by the EU and its partners on the continent and elsewhere require the breakdown in the transatlantic relationship that the Trump administration appears keen to engineer. But speeches by both the US vice president, J.D. Vance, and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, were clear that America’s relationship with Europe is changing.

    Washington, under its current leadership, increasingly leans towards the political forces in Europe that are opposed to the values on which the continent has been orientated since 1945. This leaves Europe few options but to seek more independence from the US.


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    A more independent Europe is unlikely to become a global superpower on par with the US or China. But it will be better able to hold its own in a geopolitical environment that is less based on rules and more on power.

    The EU currently enjoys historically high approval ratings among its citizens – who also support more unity and a more active role for the EU in protecting them from global security risks.

    It’s increasingly clear that EU leaders and their partners have a unique opportunity – and an obligation – to carve out a more secure and independent space in a hostile global environment.

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

    – ref. Europe is moving to reposition itself in Donald Trump’s new global order – https://theconversation.com/europe-is-moving-to-reposition-itself-in-donald-trumps-new-global-order-255344

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Student’s wartime diaries reveal vital rooftop role As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, the wartime diaries of a University of Aberdeen student have revealed insights into how everyday life continued – as well as the rather unusual duties undertaken by undergraduates during the Blitz.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, the wartime diaries of a University of Aberdeen student have revealed insights into how everyday life continued – as well as the rather unusual duties undertaken by undergraduates during the Blitz.
    Mary Newlands, who graduated in 1942 with a degree in English, history, geology and geography, faithfully completed the green covered student’s diary issued to each University entrant for the 1939-40 academic year – a habit she continued throughout her studies.
    She kept these her whole life and they were passed on to her granddaughter Ruth Mellis, who works as a Project Manager at the University, when she died in 2017.
    Mary, who was born on a farm in Speymouth, gained a place at University after demonstrating her academic abilities at Milne’s Institute in Fochabers where she was a clever and studious pupil, and was dux of the school several times gaining prizes in English, history, mathematics, Latin, French and German.
    She applied her meticulous nature to her student diary making small, neat notes alongside the timetabling information, useful telephone numbers and details for the student’s representative council.
    Mary recorded her social engagements, essay deadlines and debating society commitments together with glimpses of how life continued as normal in the early months of the war, including that on February 23, 1940, there was to be a campfire.
    The only indications of the significant societal changes contained in her small notes are at the end where she writes that ‘countries have to make tremendous sacrifices’ and lists addresses for a NAAFI and RAF bases.
    But by the 1940-41 session, as well as the colour of the diary switching to blue, the impact of war becomes more visible in her jottings.
    Mary’s academic year gets underway in 1940 with Dance at Udny Green, a Halloween party and Harvest Thanksgiving and in December ‘a big family party at Aunt Mary’s’.
    But by January 1941 she notes on a visit home ‘military clearing the roads’ and then the following day (Sunday Jan 26) ‘military back again, almost landed in a troop train’.
    Her notes on visits to the flicks and social events become interspersed with increased mentions of the war.
    On Thursday January 30 her classes are disrupted by an air raid warning in the morning and by February she has noted friends and classmates dispatched to various places.
    By the middle of February the frequency of reports on air raids and spending nights in the shelter increase together with references to putting on gas masks and she notes trying to finish essays following air raids. On Monday March 7, 1941, her Geography exam is interrupted by sirens and the need to evacuate.
    Against this backdrop, Mary takes on a role in addition to her studies volunteering as a fire warden for the city and on Sunday May 4 she describes for the first time her rather unique vantage point – on the roof of Marischal College.
    Throughout this period she describes juggling work and University with fire watching and by Wednesday 18 June says she is ‘falling asleep periodically’.
    The records for air strikes on Aberdeen show why the fire watching duties taken on by many University students were so vital.
    Aberdeen suffered the greatest number of air raids in Scotland during the Second World War, with some of the most significant hits close to the University.
    Loch Street, close to Marischal College where Mary stood guard on the roof, was struck in February 1941, destroying McBride’s Bar and 89 Loch Street.
    Then on July 3 high Explosive Bombs were dropped on Marischal Street, Regent Quay, Pontoon Dock No.2 off Albert Quay, Clyde Street & the Lime Company Buildings on Blaikie’s Quay.
    Activity was also clustered close to King’s College with several attacks on the area around Clifton and Hilton Road.
    In 1942 this moves closer again with an air attack that began on Saturday April 25 damaging buildings at the junction of Summerfield Terrace & King Street.
    Mary graduated in the midst of bombing campaigns focused on the city and when Aberdeenfaced its darkest day on April 21, 1943, had begun her teaching training.
    In the space of just 44 minutes, 127 bombs fell, damaging or destroying more than 12,000 homes and killing 98 civilians and 27 soldiers.
    The ‘Aberdeen Blitz’ had a significant impact on the streets surrounding King’s College including Regent Walk and King Street where nine high-explosive bombs fell. At 519 King Street the corner of the block was demolished by bombing. On Bedford Road a row of houses was destroyed killing an entire family.
    But as Mary’s diaries show, life and studies had to continue. In 1943 she successfully completed her teacher training and she returned to Moray to begin her teaching career at Clackmarras public school, teaching across the region at both primary and secondary level over the next four decades.
    She never forgot her time on the roof of Marischal College as granddaughter Ruth explains.
    “Gran was very proud of being a graduate of Aberdeen University and shared the story of her fire marshal duties with many. She made lifelong friends during her studies and spoke of her adventures on the roof of Marischal College and the many ladders involved! She was very matter of fact about this time and that everyone had to do their bit during the war.
    “I had no idea she’d kept such detailed diaries of her time at University and they’re fascinating to read and get a glimpse of what it would have been like. She was such a strong lady who was full of fun and she just got on with things which is very much shown in her diaries, she would love that her memories are being shared.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Bronze-age Britain traded tin with the Mediterranean, shows new study – settling a two-century debate

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benjamin Roberts, Associate Professor in Later European Prehistory, Durham University

    Bronze age tin ingot from Salcombe, England. Benjamin Roberts / Alan Williams

    Tin was the critical mineral of the ancient world. It was essential to alloy with copper to make bronze, which for many centuries was the preferred metal for tools and weapons. Yet sources of tin are very scarce – and were especially so for the rapidly growing bronze age towns, cities and states around the eastern Mediterranean.

    Though major tin deposits are found in western and central Europe and in central Asia, by far the richest and most accessible tin ores are in Cornwall and Devon in southwest Britain. Yet it has been difficult to prove that these British deposits were used as a source for people in the eastern Mediterranean. So for more than two centuries, archaeologists have debated about where bronze age societies obtained their tin.

    In a new study published in the journal Antiquity, our team analysed the chemistry and different forms of particular elements in tin ores and artefacts from across Britain and Europe. These included tin ingots found at prehistoric shipwreck sites at Salcombe and Erme, southwest Britain, as well as in the Mediterranean.


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    This revealed that tin ingots from three ancient shipwrecks discovered off the coast of Israel and one shipwreck found off the Mediterranean coast of France originated in southwest Britain. The shipwrecks found near Israel date to around 1300BC, while the wreck from France has been dated to around 600BC.

    Small farming communities across Cornwall and Devon would have dug, washed, crushed and smelted the abundant tin ore from the alluvial deposits in the region. The heavy sand to gravel-sized tin ore is in a layer buried under soft layers of barren silt, sand and gravel.

    The tin ore is eroded from hard rock mineral veins and deposited by streams and rivers. There was simply no need for any complex and difficult mining of hard rock here. The tin would then have been taken to coastal locations where it could be traded.

    It’s probable that the tin was then moved by traders through France to the Mediterranean coast, where it was loaded onto ships. It would make its way through flourishing trade networks between the islands of Sardinia and Cyprus before reaching markets in the east Mediterranean. The tin’s value would have increased immensely as it progressed along this 2,485 mile (4,000km) journey.

    Tin is the first commodity to have been exported across the entire European continent. It was produced and traded at a potentially vast scale, but is rarely found in archaeological sites due to corrosion. But what we do known is that by 1,300BC, virtually all of Europe and the Mediterranean had widespread and consistent access to bronze.

    We know of more than 100 bronze age copper mines from Ireland to Israel and from Spain to the southern Urals in Russia. Yet these would have been just a small proportion of the copper mines active at the time.

    Given that bronze was typically made from 90% copper and 10% tin, if the copper produced by each of these known mines had to be matched by 10% tin, then tens or even hundreds of tonnes of tin were being traded each year – perhaps across distances of thousands of miles.

    St Michael’s Mount may be the site of the ancient island Ictis.
    Alan Williams

    The volume, consistency and frequency of the estimated scale in the tin trade is far larger than has been previously imagined and requires an entirely new perspective on what bronze age miners and merchants were able to achieve. It is no coincidence that it is around 1,300BC that technologies from the east, such as sophisticated systems for weighing items, as well as bronze swords, reached small farming communities living on the Atlantic coasts.

    A millennium later, around 320BC, Pytheas the Greek, from Massalia (modern Marseilles), journeyed by land and sea to Britain, which was at the edge of the known world at the time. Pytheas wrote the earliest account describing the island and its inhabitants in a book which is now lost, but which has partially survived in snippets quoted by later classical authors.

    Pytheas described how tin in southwest Britain was extracted and traded off a tidal island he called Ictis, before being taken across the sea and down the rivers of France to the mouth of the Rhone in only 30 days. In our research, we provide the first direct evidence for the tin trade Pytheas described. We show that tin from the Rochelongue shipwreck, off the south coast of France and dating to around 600BC, came from southwest Britain.

    While we can establish the movement of tin across the seas, we know very little about the markets on land in which it was traded. We are now working with a team of archaeologists from Cornwall to excavate on the tidal island of St Michael’s Mount, which has long thought to have been the island of Ictis described by Pytheas.

    A pan-continental tin trade continued in all periods after the bronze age and, in the absence of written records, our approach, using different methods of analysis, allows us to determine whether the tin came from Britain.

    Historical records show that during the medieval period, tin from Cornwall and Devon enjoyed a virtual European monopoly, with production continuing until the last tin mine closed in 1998.

    Today, tin is once again a critical and strategic mineral, this time for use in the electronics industry. As such it forms a vital part of the tools and weapons of the 21st century. Cornwall’s tin production is also set to soon restart, reviving a 4,000 year old industry.

    Benjamin Roberts was PI on Project Ancient Tin which was funded by the Leverhulme Trust (Grant RPG-2019-333).

    Alan Williams was the post doc on Project Ancient Tin which was funded by the Leverhulme Trust (Grant RPG-2019-333).

    – ref. Bronze-age Britain traded tin with the Mediterranean, shows new study – settling a two-century debate – https://theconversation.com/bronze-age-britain-traded-tin-with-the-mediterranean-shows-new-study-settling-a-two-century-debate-256005

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Why are India and Pakistan on the brink of war and how dangerous is the situation? An expert explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex

    India has launched military strikes against a number of sites in Pakistan and Pakistan’s side of the disputed region of Kashmir, reportedly killing 26 people and injuring dozens more. India claimed the attacks were on terrorist infrastructure, but Pakistan denied this, and said these were civilians.

    India says another ten people on the Indian side of the Kashmir region have been killed by shelling from Pakistan in the same period.

    The exchange comes two weeks after a terrorist attack in Kashmir killed 26 people. The group Resistance Front (TRF), which India argues is a proxy for the Pakistani-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

    India claimed that Pakistan had indirectly supported the terrorist attack, but Pakistan vehemently denies this.

    The escalating conflict between two of the world’s major military powers has the potential to destablise Asia and beyond. Already, many countries around the world, including the UK, France and Russia, have made public their concerns about what happens next.


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


    How do India and Pakistan’s militaries compare?

    India is ranked as one of the world’s top five military nations by Military Watch magazine and Pakistan is ranked ninth. Both countries have nuclear weapons.

    Overall, India is considered to have the military edge with a bigger and more modern military force, while Pakistan has a smaller and more agile force that has been primarily focused on defensive and covert activities.

    While neither country has used nuclear weapons in a conflict, there are always concerns that this norm may be broken. Both countries are nuclear powers with India holding 180 nuclear warheads, and Pakistan possessing about 170.

    Though India has a “no first use” policy, which it claims means the country would never use nuclear weapons first, there have been signs it is reconsidering this policy since 2019.

    Pakistan has never declared a no first use policy and argues that tactical nuclear weapons are important to countering India’s larger conventional forces.

    Details of Indian air strikes.

    The concern is that even if a small nuclear exchange were to take place between the two countries, it could kill up to 20 million people in a matter of days.

    Why are the countries fighting over Kashmir?

    Kashmir has been a source of tension and conflict even before India and Pakistan gained independence from the British empire in 1947. Originally the Muslim-majority Kashmir was free to accede to either India or Pakistan.

    While the local ruler (maharaja), Hari Singh, originally wanted Kashmir to be independent, he eventually sided with India, leading to a conflict in 1947. This resulted in a UN-mediated ceasefire in 1949 and agreement that Kashmir would be controlled partly by Pakistan and partly by India, splitl along what’s known as the Line of Surveillance (or Line of Control).

    As Kashmir is rich in minerals such as borax, sapphire, graphite, marble, gypsum and lithium, the region is strategically important. It is also culturally and historically important to both Pakistan and India.




    Read more:
    India and Pakistan tension escalates with suspension of historic water treaty


    Due to the region’s significance and disagreement over sovereignty, multiple conflicts have taken place over Kashmir, with wars erupting in 1965 and 1999. Tensions were renewed in 2016, after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in Uri, on the Indian side of Kashmir. India responded by launching “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control, targeting alleged militant bases.

    Then in 2019, a bombing in Pulwama (again part of the Indian-administered Kashmir) that killed more than 40 Indian paramilitary personnel led to Indian airstrikes in Balakot which borders Kashmir. This was the first action inside Pakistan since the Indian-Pakistani conflict in 1971 and again led to retaliatory raids from Pakistan and a brief aerial conflict.

    A map of the Kashmir region.
    CIA, CC BY

    These past conflicts never intensified further in part because India applied a massive diplomatic pressure campaign on the US, the UK and Pakistan, warning against escalation, while Pakistan showed a willingness to back down. Both sides as nuclear powers (India gained nuclear weapons in 1974 and Pakistan in 1998) had an understanding that escalating to full-scale war would be incredibly risky.

    What will happen next?

    The question is whether or not cooler heads will prevail this time. The strikes by India, part of Operation Sinhoor, were met with mass approval across many political lines in India, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party voicing their support for the operation.

    This helps Modi gain more backing, at a time when his popularity has been falling. Modi and the BJP suffered a shocking result in the 2024 election, losing 63 seats out of 543 seats and falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament).

    Under Modi, India has been rapidly becoming more autocratic, another source of concern as such countries are more likely to take risks when it comes to conflict. As power becomes increasingly personalised and dissent is repressed, would-be autocrats may be more likely to take on bold moves to garner more public and elite support.

    Pakistan may also have reason to respond with more force to India’s recent attack than in the past. Pakistan’s powerful military has often stoked fears of a conflict with India to justify its enormous military budget. Regardless of the outcome, it needs a success to sell to its domestic audience.

    Pakistan has been de facto led by its military for decades, which also makes it more likely to engage in conflict. In spite of intervals of civilian rule, the military has always held a lot of power, and in contrast to India (where there is a wider role for a civilian minister of defence), the Pakistani military has more influence over nuclear and security policy.

    Both military regimes and multi-party autocracies may see conflict as a way of gaining legitimacy, particularly if both regimes think their political support is unravelling.


    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Join The Conversation for free today.


    This most recent escalation is also significant because it is the first time in the Kashmir conflict that India has struck at Punjab, considered the heart of Pakistan. Pakistan will face internal pressure to respond, settle the score and restore deterrence.

    Both sides have been resolute in not losing an inch of territory. The question is how quickly diplomatic pressure can work. Neither India nor Pakistan are engaged in security dialogue, and there is no bilateral crisis management mechanisms in place.

    Further complicating matters is that the US’s role as a crisis manager in south Asia has diminished. Under Donald Trump, Washington cannot be counted on. This all makes deescalating this conflict much more difficult.

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

    – ref. Why are India and Pakistan on the brink of war and how dangerous is the situation? An expert explains – https://theconversation.com/why-are-india-and-pakistan-on-the-brink-of-war-and-how-dangerous-is-the-situation-an-expert-explains-256125

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Coface SA: Publication of Group and Standalone SFCR as of 31 December 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COFACE SA: Publication of Group and Standalone SFCR as of 31 December 2024

    Paris, 7 May 2025 – 17.45

    COFACE SA has published today its Solvency and Financial Condition Report (SFCR) for COFACE SA (Group) and Compagnie française d’assurance pour le commerce extérieur (the « Compagnie »), in compliance with the Solvency II requirements1.

    The Board of Directors of COFACE SA and the Compagnie, respectively approved the SFCR for the financial year 2024. This report is produced on an annual basis:

    • for Coface Group, involving COFACE SA and its main subsidiaries in France and outside France;
    • for the Compagnie, on a standalone basis.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • To assess its solvency, COFACE SA uses the partial internal model approved by the ACPR in 2019. The Compagnie’s solvency is still assessed using the interpretation of the standard formula.
    • As of 31 December 2024, eligible own funds to cover the Group’s SCR amounted to €2,630 million, which broke down as follows:
      • 75% of Tier 1 capital;
      • 24% of Tier 2 capital;
      • 1% of Tier 3 capital, representing deferred tax assets.
    • The Group’s SCR coverage ratio of 196%2 at the end of 2024 reflects a solvency ratio above its target range (155% -175%). This level supports the Group’s decision to distribute 80% of its net profit for 2024 by a €1.403 dividend per share.
    • The coverage ratio of the Compagnie SCR (Solo) at the end of 2024 is 237%4.

    The full report is available on the website of the Company at the following address:
    https://www.coface.com/investors/regulated-information/annual-reports

    CONTACTS

    ANALYSTS / INVESTORS
    Thomas JACQUET: +33 1 49 02 12 58 – thomas.jacquet@coface.com
    Rina ANDRIAMIADANTSOA: +33 1 49 02 15 85 – rina.andriamiadantsoa@coface.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS
    Saphia GAOUAOUI: +33 1 49 02 14 91 – saphia.gaouaoui@coface.com
    Adrien BILLET: +33 1 49 02 23 63 – adrien.billet@coface.com

    FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2025
    (subject to change)

    Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting: 14 May 2025
    H1-2025 results: 31 July 2025 (after market close)
    9M-2025 results: 3 November 2025 (after market close)

    FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    This press release, as well as COFACE SA’s integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group’s website: http://www.coface.com/Investors

    For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim Financial Report for H1-2024 and our 2024 Universal Registration Document (see part 3.7 “Key financial performance indicators”).

    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.
     

    COFACE: FOR TRADE
    As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for more than 75 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment.
    Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring.
    Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets.
    In 2024, Coface employed ~5,236 people and registered a turnover of €1.84 billion.

    www.coface.com

    COFACE SA is quoted in Compartment A of Euronext Paris
    Code ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

    DISCLAIMER – Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to chapter 5 “Main risk factors and their management within the Group” of the Coface Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with AMF on 5 April 2024 under the number D.25-0227 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group’s businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance.


    1 The Solvency II Directive (i) formalises and organises information requests, and (ii) clarifies the governance requirements and processes to be followed by insurers. In particular, the regulations provide for the establishment of two narrative reports: one for the Regulator (RSR) and one for the public (SFCR).
    2 Final calculation of the SCR coverage ratio using the partial group internal model. Non audited.
    3 Ex-dividend date is on 20 May 2025 and Payment date is on 22 May 2025. The proposed distribution of €1.40 per share is subject to approval of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting that takes place on 14 May 2025.
    4 Final calculation of the SCR coverage ratio according to Coface’s interpretation of Solvency II standard formula. Non audited.

    Attachment

    • 2025 05 07 PR Coface Publication of SFCR EN

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Shareholders’ Meeting of May 7, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Media relations:
    Victoire Grux
    Tel. : +33 6 04 52 16 55
    victoire.grux@capgemini.com

    Investor relations:
    Vincent Biraud
    Tel. : +33 1 47 54 50 87
    vincent.biraud@capgemini.com

    Shareholders’ Meeting of May 7, 2025

    Paris, May 7, 2025 – The Shareholders’ Meeting of Capgemini SE, held today at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris, adopted all the resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors.

    Shareholders approved the proposed distribution of a dividend of 3.40 euros per share in respect to the 2024 financial year, to be paid from May 22, 2025, with an ex-dividend date of May 20, 2025.

    The Shareholders’ Meeting also approved the renewal of the terms of office of Mr. Patrick Pouyanné and Mr. Kurt Sievers, independent directors, and the appointment of Mr. Jean-Marc Chéry as member of the Board of Directors, for a term of four years.

    Mr. Jean-Marc Chéry, a French national, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor company at the heart of the Intelligent Industry, committed to manufacturing sustainable technologies and offering its customers innovative solutions. He also brings to the Board his expertise in technology, artificial intelligence, and industry knowledge, particularly in the automotive and energy sectors. The Board has indicated that it considers Mr. Jean-Marc Chéry to be an independent director in accordance with the criteria of the AFEP-MEDEF Code to which the Company refers.

    At the end of this Shareholders’ Meeting, the Board of Directors of Capgemini SE has 15 directors1, including two directors representing employees and one director representing employee shareholders. Of its members, 83% are independent directors2, 40% are international directors, and 42% are women2.

    Moreover, the Shareholders’ Meeting approved, by a vast majority, the 2024 compensation components and benefits paid or granted to Paul Hermelin, Chairman of the Board, as well as to Aiman Ezzat, Chief Executive Officer. The report on the compensation of corporate officers and the various 2025 compensation policies for executive corporate officers and directors was also approved.

    Finally, the Shareholders’ Meeting approved the amendment of the Company’s bylaws and all the financial delegations granted to the Board of Directors.

    A detailed breakdown of voting results as well as full webcast of the Shareholders’ Meeting can be found on the Capgemini website: https://investors.capgemini.com/en/event/2025-shareholders-meeting/.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    APPENDIX 1

    Composition of the Capgemini SE Board of Directors and of its committees following the Shareholders’ Meeting of May 7, 2025

    Composition of the Board of Directors:
    Paul Hermelin – Chairman
    Aiman Ezzat – CEO
    Jean-Marc Chéry
    Megan Clarken
    Ulrica Fearn
    Maria Ferraro
    Pierre Goulaieff – Director representing employees
    Siân Herbert-Jones
    Hervé Jeannin – Director representing employees
    Christophe Merveilleux du Vignaux – Director representing employee shareholders
    Belen Moscoso del Prado Lopez-Doriga
    Xavier Musca
    Frédéric Oudéa – Lead Independent Director and Vice-Chairman
    Patrick Pouyanné
    Kurt Sievers

    Composition of the committees of the Board:

    Audit & Risk Committee: Xavier Musca (Chair), Ulrica Fearn, Maria Ferraro, Siân Herbert-Jones. 

    Compensation Committee: Patrick Pouyanné (Chair), Pierre Goulaieff, Christophe Merveilleux du Vignaux, Belen Moscoso del Prado, Kurt Sievers.

    Ethics & Governance Committee: Frédéric Oudéa (Chair), Siân Herbert-Jones, Xavier Musca, Patrick Pouyanné.

    Strategy & CSR Committee: Paul Hermelin (Chair), Jean-Marc Chéry, Megan Clarken, Aiman Ezzat, Hervé Jeannin, Kurt Sievers.


    1 See the composition of the Capgemini SE Board of Directors and its committees in the appendix.
    2 The directors representing employees and employee shareholders are not taken into account in calculating this percentage, in accordance with the provisions of the AFEP-MEDEF Code and the French Commercial Code currently in force.

    Attachment

    • Capgemini_-_2025-05-07_-_2025_Shareholders_Meeting

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale: shares & voting rights as of 30 April 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NUMBER OF SHARES COMPOSING CURRENT SHARE CAPITAL AND TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTING RIGHTS AS OF 30 APRIL 2025

    Regulated Information

    Paris, 7 May 2025

    Information about the total number of voting rights and shares pursuant to Article L.233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the AMF General Regulations.

    Date Number of shares composing current share capital Total number of
    voting rights
    30 April 2025 800,316,777

    Gross: 888,385,614

    Press contacts:

    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com
    Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

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

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

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

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

    Attachment

    • Societe-Generale-shares-voting-rights-as-of-30-04-2025

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Decisions from JLT Mobile Computers ABs (publ) Annual General Meeting Wednesday May 7th , 2025 (Swedish only)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Växjö, Sverige, 7:e maj 2025 * * * JLT Mobile Computers, informerar att årsstämma i JLT Mobile Computers AB (publ) hölls onsdagen den 7e maj 2025 i Växjö där följande huvudsakliga beslut fattades.

    Årsstämman beslutade att fastställa framlagd resultat- och balansräkning för moderbolaget och koncernen. Årsstämman beslutade, i enlighet med styrelsens förslag, att ingen utdelning lämnas till aktieägarna för räkenskapsåret 2024.

    Styrelseledamöterna och verkställande direktören beviljades ansvarsfrihet för 2024 års förvaltning.

    I enlighet med valberedningens förslag beslutades att styrelsen ska bestå av sex ledamöter utan suppleanter. Till styrelseledamöter för tiden intill slutet av nästa årsstämma omvaldes Ola Blomberg, Jan Sjöwall, Jessica Svenmar, Per Ädelroth och Karl Hill samt nyvaldes Tommy Svensson. Stämman beslutade att omvälja Ola Blomberg till styrelseordförande. Beslutades att ha en revisor utan suppleanter. Luminor Revision AB omvaldes som revisor.

    Årsstämman beslutade, i enlighet med valberedningens förslag, att styrelsearvodet ska utgå med totalt 700 000 kronor, varav styrelsens ordförande ska erhålla 200 000 kronor och övriga ledamöter ska erhålla 100 000 kronor vardera. Årsstämman beslutade även att arvode till bolagets revisor ska utgå enligt godkänd räkning.

    Årsstämman beslutade vidare att bolaget ska ha en valberedning bestående av tre ledamöter, varvid en ledamot ska utses av var och en av de tre största aktieägarna i bolaget. Ordförande i valberedningen ska, om inte ledamöterna enas om annat, vara den ledamot som utses av den största aktieägaren.

    Årsstämman beslutade slutligen, i enlighet med styrelsens förslag, om bemyndigande för styrelsen att under tiden intill nästa årsstämma, vid ett eller flera tillfällen, fatta beslut om nyemission av högst 2 871 200 aktier, vilket motsvarar 10 procent av antalet aktier i bolaget per dagen för årsstämman. Styrelsen ska därvid ha rätt att besluta om avvikelse från aktieägarnas företrädesrätt samt bestämmelse om apport, kvittning eller annat villkor.

    Further financial information can be found on JLT’s investor pages

    This information is information that JLT Mobile Computers AB (pub) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 6:00 pm CET Wednesday May 7, 2025.

    About JLT Mobile Computers

    JLT Mobile Computers is a leading developer and supplier of rugged mobile computing devices and solutions for demanding environments. 30 years of development and manufacturing experience have enabled JLT to set the standard in rugged computing, combining outstanding product quality with expert service, support and solutions to ensure trouble-free business operations for customers in warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, mining, ports and agriculture. JLT operates globally from offices in Sweden, France, and the US, complemented by an extensive network of sales partners in local markets. The company was founded in 1994, and the share has been listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market stock exchange since 2002 under the symbol JLT. Eminova Fondkommission AB acts as Certified Adviser. Learn more at jltmobile.com.

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: L’École de Gestion d’Actifs et de Capital Launches Lumicoin IA, Shaped by Marc Leclerc’s Educational Vision

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, France, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a move to transform financial learning through innovation and empathy, L’École de Gestion d’Actifs et de Capital has officially expanded access to its flagship intelligent platform, Lumicoin IA, under the direction of its founder, Marc Leclerc. This launch marks a new chapter in the institution’s mission to make financial understanding more intuitive, inclusive, and human-centered.

    Developed through years of applied research and supported by Interactive Brokers, Lumicoin IA offers a seamless and interactive educational experience. It combines artificial intelligence with pedagogical clarity, allowing users to visualize, evaluate, and build strategies without needing prior financial or technical knowledge.

    At the heart of Lumicoin IA is a simple but powerful concept: every financial strategy becomes a smart, visual asset. These “intelligent learning tokens” can be viewed in real time, scored based on performance metrics, combined into custom portfolios, and automatically rebalanced by the system. The platform’s intuitive dashboard requires no coding and is designed to foster deep learning through interaction and observation.

    Marc Leclerc, a veteran of the financial industry with nearly three decades of experience, created Lumicoin IA to reflect not only his professional insights but also his personal philosophy. After facing the highs and lows of financial life, his vision today centers on restoring meaning and accessibility to finance.
     “We are not just building a platform—we are building a learning environment that respects people’s pace, emotions, and aspirations,” he says. “With Lumicoin IA, we’re turning complexity into clarity and giving people the chance to grow with confidence.”

    Lumicoin IA includes a range of features:

    Strategy simulation and backtesting via visual tokens

    Real-time IQ scoring and adaptability monitoring

    Portfolio creation with automated balancing

    Sentiment analysis from social and economic news

    User-friendly, code-free graphical interface

    Beyond its technological strengths, the platform promotes educational equity by inviting individuals, communities, and institutions to learn side by side. It encourages users to engage with financial learning not as a challenge, but as a progressive journey—one built on simplicity, feedback, and empowerment.

    As part of its open launch, L’École de Gestion d’Actifs et de Capital will continue collecting insights from users to refine Lumicoin IA’s capabilities and foster a global learning community.

    For those seeking a smarter, more humane approach to financial education, Lumicoin IA offers a clear starting point.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK will continue to pay tribute to the victims of war by pressing for a just and lasting peace in response to conflicts around the world: UK Statement at the UN General Assembly

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    The UK will continue to pay tribute to the victims of war by pressing for a just and lasting peace in response to conflicts around the world: UK Statement at the UN General Assembly

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN General Assembly meeting on the Eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

    Today, we remember the enormous contributions and sacrifices made, and honour the lives lost, in pursuit of peace and security 80 years ago. 

    Allied forces, united in their mission to liberate Europe from Nazi oppression, were victorious. 

    But we must never forget the tragic human cost of the Second World War. 

    Over 70 million lives lost around the world. 

    And as the world wars begin to fade from living memory, we must ensure the stories of those who lived through and fought in them are remembered by generations to come.

    This organisation was founded in the wake of that conflict, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, underpinned by a Charter which united the world with the aim of maintaining international peace and security, reaffirming our shared faith in Human Rights, and promoting development. 

    The United Kingdom remains deeply committed to those principles and to the UN Charter.

    In the UN’s 80th year, our shared mission is more important than ever. 

    The world faces the highest number of conflicts globally since the UN’s inception. 

    The human costs are rising.  

    In Europe, security is once again threatened by blatant disrespect for the principles of sovereign equality of States and respect for territorial integrity. 

    These principles matter for all states. 

    President, my grandfather served as a British Army officer in France and in Italy during the Second World War. Decades later, even at the height of the Cold War, he spoke warmly of the Soviet forces he had fought alongside to defeat fascism.

    Russia’s claims that the Ukrainian government is akin to the regime of the German Nazis is false and malicious propaganda that insults the memory of the Soviet forces who fought and died during the Second World War.  

    We were called here today for one solemn purpose: to commemorate the victims of the Second World War. 

    The fact that Russia sees fit to use this meeting to peddle blatant disinformation about is shameful, but it will not distract us.

    As my Prime Minister said, this is a time to celebrate hard-won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom.

    The United Kingdom will continue to pay tribute to the victims of war by pressing for a just and lasting peace in response to conflicts around the world. 

    As we join together today, we encourage all Member States to consider this anniversary a stark reminder that peace cannot be taken for granted. 

    We must all redouble our efforts to bring about the peace and security the people of the world need and which they deserve.

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: NEURONES: 3.9% increase in organic growth in the 1st quarter of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRESS INFORMATION
    Heading: 1st quarter revenues 2025        Nanterre, May 7, 2025 (after trading)

    3.9% increase in organic growth in the 1stquarter of 2025

    (in millions of euros) Q1 2024 Q1 2025 Growth of which organic
    Revenues 204.9 214.1 + 4.5% + 3.9%

    Achievements

    Driven by its cloud, digital and data activities, the Group’s organic growth increased by 3.9% over the first three months of the year.

    Operating profit (*) totaled 8.2% of revenues. The increase in taxation (the fixed social security charge on bonus shares rose from 20% to 30%) represented an expense of one million euros, entirely entered into the books at the start of the year (i.e. 0.5% of 1st quarter revenues).

    Compared to the 2024 Universal Registration Document (www.neurones.net – Investors), the financial position has not changed significantly.

    Outlook

    Taking into account limited visibility, NEURONES’ forecasts for the full financial year 2025 are as follows:

    • revenues between €840 and €850 million,
    • operating profit between 8.5% and 9% of revenues.

    These forecasts may be adjusted when the Group publishes its revenues for the first half of the year.

    (*) not audited and after inclusion of 1.2% of expenses related to bonus shares.

    About NEURONES
    With 7,250 experts, and ranking among the French leaders in management consulting and digital services, NEURONES helps large companies and organizations make their transition to a digital and sustainable economy, implement their digital projects, transform their IT infrastructures and adopt new uses.

    Euronext Paris (compartment B – NRO) – Euronext Tech Leaders – DSS mid-caps – PEA-PME eligible
    www.neurones.net

    Attachment

    • neurones-first-quarter-2025-revenues

    The MIL Network –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Culture wars, political polarization and deepening inequality: the roots of Trumpism

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, Spécialiste de la politique américaine, Sciences Po

    More than 100 days into his return to the White House, the conclusion is stark: Donald Trump is no longer the same president he was during his first term. His familiar nationalist and populist rhetoric is now openly paired with an authoritarian turn – one without precedent in US history. He has adopted a neo-imperial view of the economy, treating the global order as a zero-sum contest of winners and losers. In this worldview, cooperation gives way to domination: what matters is power and the accumulation of wealth.

    Having withstood two impeachment procedures, numerous lawsuits and at least one assassination attempt, Trump now governs with what can appear to be unchecked authority. To his followers, he has become a hero, a martyr – almost a messianic figure. He no longer sees democracy as a framework to be honoured, but as a tool to legitimize his hold on power. His decisive electoral victory now serves as a mandate to cast aside institutional limits.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    Three key features define his style of governance: a radical centralization of executive power grounded in the theory of the “unitary executive”; the politicization of the Department of Justice, used as a weapon against rivals; and the manipulation of federal authority to target cultural, media and educational institutions. His playbook is chaos: unsettle opponents, dominate the media narrative and blur the boundaries of democratic norms. Impulsive and reactionary, Trump often governs in response to Fox News segments or trending posts on Truth Social. Instability has become a strategic tool.

    But Trump is not a historical anomaly. While his 2016 victory may have seemed unlikely, his re-election reflects a deeper, long-term transformation rooted in the post-Cold War era.

    From an external to an internal enemy

    The collapse of the USSR – a structuring external enemy – redirected political confrontation toward the designation of an internal enemy. The culture war has become the dominant ideological battleground, driven by two closely linked forces. On one side, a religious radicalization led by nationalist Christian movements – such as the New Apostolic Reformation – seeks to roll back social progress and promote the vision of an outright theocracy. On the other, growing racial anxiety is fueled by fears of white demographic decline and resistance to civil rights gains.

    The commentator Pat Buchanan saw it coming as early as the 1990s. Speaking at the 1992 Republican National Convention, he warned: “There is a cultural war going on for the soul of America… as critical as the Cold War itself.” Too radical for his time, Buchanan championed a white, Christian, conservative US hostile to cosmopolitan elites. Though marginalized then, his ideas laid the groundwork for what would become Trumpism.

    Newt Gingrich, who served as Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999, played a pivotal role in reshaping both the Republican party and US politics. A Republican group he chaired famously distributed a pamphlet to Republican candidates titled “Language: A Key Mechanism of Control”, advising them to use uplifting language to describe themselves, and inflammatory terms like “corrupt”, “immoral” and “traitor” to describe their opponents. This aggressive rhetoric redefined political rivals as enemies to be defeated – helping pave the way for a right-wing politics in which winning trumps democratic norms.

    At the same time, the rise of a new conservative media ecosystem intensified polarization. The launch of Fox News in 1996, the growth of right-wing talk radio shows like Rush Limbaugh’s and the later explosion of social media gave the US right powerful tools to shape and radicalize public opinion. Today, algorithm-driven information bubbles trap citizens in alternate realities, where misinformation and outrage drown out reasoned debate. This has deepened polarization and fractured society as a whole.

    Channeling anger

    This ideological and media realignment has unfolded alongside a broader crisis: the unraveling of the post-Cold War neoliberal consensus. Promises of shared prosperity have been replaced by deindustrialization, deepening inequality and widespread resentment. Successive traumas – from 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash to the Covid-19 pandemic – and foreign wars without real victories have eroded public trust in the establishment.

    Trump channels this anger. He offers a vision of a restored and idealized America, a rollback of recent social gains, and a reassertion of national identity grounded in religion and race. His populism is not a coherent ideology but an emotional response – born of perceived injustice, humiliation and loss.

    Trump is more than a symptom of America’s democratic crisis: he is its most vivid manifestation. He embodies the legacy of the 1990s – a foundational decade of identity grievance, culture wars and media deregulation. Viewed as a political outsider, he has never been judged as a traditional politician, but rather embraced, by some, as the archetypal “self-made man” – a successful businessman and reality TV celebrity.

    His rhetoric – transgressive, provocative and often cruel – gives voice to what had been repressed. The humiliation of opponents becomes part of the performance. For his supporters, it’s exhilarating. It breaks taboos, flouts political correctness and feeds the fantasy of reclaiming a lost America.

    And he’s no longer alone. With the vocal support of economic and tech elites like Elon Musk – now a central figure in the radicalized right on X – Trumpism has entered a new phase. Together, they’ve outlined a new kind of authoritarian, cultural and digital power, where influence matters more than institutions.

    The US re-elected not just a man, but a style, an era and a worldview built on dominance, disruption and disdain for rules. Still, history is unwritten: intoxicated by hubris and undermined by incompetence, Trumpism may yet crash into the wall of reality – with consequences far beyond America’s borders.

    Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Culture wars, political polarization and deepening inequality: the roots of Trumpism – https://theconversation.com/culture-wars-political-polarization-and-deepening-inequality-the-roots-of-trumpism-255778

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 8, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator McConnell Advocates for Bourbon Industry During Senate Agriculture Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) questioned Chris French, the Acting Associate Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, regarding the White Oak Resilience Act of 2025. Earlier this year, Senators McConnell and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the bill to provide greater federal resources and direct research into safeguarding our nation’s White Oak tree population. The bill requires the USDA and the Forest Service to coordinate research and conservation efforts, ensuring the White Oak a stable supply and a viable future. 

    Senator McConnell said during the hearing that “our iconic bourbon industry is critical to us. 95 percent of the bourbon in the world is made in Kentucky. The $9 billion industry supports agricultural, forestry, manufacturing, distilling, bottling, construction, and transportation jobs… just to name a few. Kentucky bourbon is synonymous with the White Oak tree, which is used to age our state’s signature spirit in wooden barrels. Unfortunately, 75 percent of the nation’s White Oak population is rated as mature, meaning that there will be a shortage of White Oaks within 30 years. Congress must act to ensure the preservation of this invaluable resource.” 

    Senator McConnell asked Mr. French about the Administration’s support of the White Oak Resilience Act. Mr. French said, the USDA Forest Service is “very supportive” of the overall intent of the McConnell/Warner bill, “especially with the loss that we are seeing [of White Oak trees] across the country.” 

    White Oak trees are vital to the environmental ecosystem, as well as several trademark American industries, like bourbon and furniture production. Considered the most important hardwood tree in the eastern United States, White Oak trees provide sustenance and shelter for a host of wildlife species across the country. 

    White Oak trees can take up to 25 years to reach full maturity, but a lack of seedlings has created an impending shortage that threatens the future of this species and the billions of dollars in economic impact they generate nationwide. The bipartisan legislation will help reverse the depletion of this iconic tree and address the threat its extinction poses to the American economy. 

    The White Oak Resilience Act has been included in the Fix Our Forests Act. The Committee is expected to markup the bill later this month. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 8, 2025
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