Category: Germany

  • MIL-OSI Security: A Chaplain No Matter Where

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    For 250 years, our Navy has served the United States of America, but one community also proudly celebrates 250 years of service: our proud and sacred Chaplains.

    On November 28, 1775, Benjamin Balch was appointed to serve religious services on the frigates Alliance and Boston as the first Naval Chaplain. Balch was given the nickname “The Fighting Parson” as he started the Navy Chaplain Corps’ strong and mighty history.

    On a ship, a Chaplain is known for their services and open-door policies, but they are also seen as a pillar of support for the entire crew. They not only serve those in their religious community but also anyone willing to speak to them. In addition to the ship’s religious services outside their span, if the crew needs it, our Chaplain will provide.

    Lieutenant Reginald Anderson-Exul is a proud Chaplain with over twenty years of experience in official ministry, dedicating six of those years to the Navy. Today, he works with the crew of the USS Pearl Harbor.

    “My job on the USS Pearl Harbor is to provide spiritual needs of the crew,” said Lieutenant Reginal Anderson-Exul, the USS Pearl Harbor’s Chaplain. “There is a lot of resiliency-type of training that is tied in with that, and to make sure the overall morale of the crew is as high as can possibly be”. On board Anderson-Exul, he has worked hard to offer many different religious services, working to add services on Saturday for his Jewish community on board.

    The USS Pearl Harbor is Anderson-Exul’s first deployment in his military career. USS Pearl Harbor is currently partaking in Pacific Partnership 2025, a humanitarian aid and disaster management mission. Pacific Partnership is not only an effort to help others, but also to strengthen the bond of allied nations. In its 21st iteration, Pacific Partnership has brought eight nations together: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. All the countries work alongside the crew of the USS Pearl Harbor and the staff of PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2025 to safely get to every port of the deployment. One of these volunteers is Lieutenant Commander Dave Godkin, who has served for the last twelve years as a Canadian Navy Chaplain.

    “I was introduced to a series of different American Chaplains and then was asked if I was interested in participating, and I was,” spoke Godkin when asked about how he joined PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2025. He takes pride in his work as a Chaplain, working around the clock to help everyone and anyone he can. He has been on three ships, with Pacific Partnership being his third deployment. Godkin spoke highly of his work on the USS Pearl Harbor. “I’m there to support them, and I’m also there to support the chain of command. Helping people be in a position where they can be spiritually fit and operationally fit,” stated Godkin in an interview, “I really do; I really like helping people in general. I enjoy especially one-on-one, taking time to listen to a person,”.

    Anderson-Exul and Godkin are excited to work together on the mission of Pacific Partnership, bringing communities closer and sharing the good word to those who need it. Anderson-Exul spoke on how it was to work together, “We both provide for people, care for people, and have a passion for religion, and it’s different, but it’s very much the same.” Godkin shares his sentiment, sharing that he is happy to get to know how everyone works. “You get used to a certain box of doing things, but then when you partner with nations that have their sphere of work, it’s a great way of pushing your boundaries to learn new things,”. Both Chaplains say that everything is coming together really well and are excited to continue working together on this mission. Even saying that it is a “Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve other countries in humanitarian efforts and to contribute to the mission.”

    In 1775, the first Chaplain was appointed to serve his mission. Now, 250 years later, no matter where a Chaplain comes from or what a Chaplain practices, they always have their sailors’ interests at heart. Doing whatever needs to be done to help their crew, whether it is conducting a religious ceremony or extending a hand, a Chaplain will always be there for you.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: ING posts 2Q2025 net result of €1,675 million, with strong growth in lending volumes and fee income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ING posts 2Q2025 net result of €1,675 million, with strong growth in lending volumes and fee income

     
    2Q2025 profit before tax of €2,369 million with a CET1 ratio of 13.3%
    Well on track to reach our targets, one year into our ‘Growing the difference’ strategy
    Continued strong increase in mobile primary customers of over 300,000 to 14.9 million
    Resilient total income, supported by higher customer balances, with particularly strong growth of our mortgage portfolio
    Further growth in fee income in both Retail and Wholesale Banking, up 12% year-on-year
    ING will pay an interim cash dividend of €0.35 per ordinary share
     

    CEO statement
    “During the second quarter of 2025, we have continued to successfully execute our strategy, which we set out one year ago, by accelerating growth, increasing impact and delivering value,” said Steven van Rijswijk, CEO of ING. “The quarter started with heightened market volatility, as well as macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, which still continue to this day. In that context, we are pleased that our customer base has shown significant growth and that our volumes have increased as we further diversified our income streams, with fees now making up almost 20% of our total income. We are well on track to reach our financial targets for 2027.

    “We have seen continued commercial momentum, with significant core lending growth, continued strong deposit gathering and a double-digit increase in fee income. Commercial NII declined year-on-year due to margin pressure and currency fluctuations, leaving total income stable.

    “In Retail Banking, we have gained over 300,000 mobile primary customers during the quarter, and 1.1 million, or 8% growth, year-on-year, with Germany, Spain, Italy, and Romania leading this growth. Net core lending growth has reached a quarterly record of €11.3 billion, including €7.2 billion in mortgages, mainly in the Netherlands, Australia and Germany, and €3.2 billion in Business Banking, driven by higher loan demand from our SME clients. We have attracted €8.9 billion in net customer deposits, partly from seasonal holiday allowances, and achieved a 12% increase year-on-year in retail fee income, primarily from higher investment activity.

    “In Wholesale Banking, net core lending growth was €4.1 billion, driven by strong momentum in Working Capital Solutions and in short-term trade-related financing. Demand for long-term corporate loans has remained subdued due to economic uncertainty, which impacted total income. Fee income has risen 12% year-on-year, driven by Lending, Global Capital Markets and Payments & Cash Management.

    “Costs have developed as expected, increasing moderately year-on-year. Prudent expense management remains a priority and the impact of inflation and investments was partly offset by efficiency measures. As part of this, we are making ongoing improvements to our KYC processes and we have announced the restructuring of our Wholesale Banking workforce, while continuing to invest in our commercial and product capabilities in both Retail and Wholesale Banking.

    “Risk costs were below our through-the-cycle average, reflecting the quality of our loan portfolio. Our CET1 ratio was 13.3%, including the impact of the share buyback programme, which was announced in May 2025 and is well underway. Our 4-quarter rolling average return on equity came out at 12.7%.

    “We continue to find ways to support our customers on their journeys to net zero. We have increased our sustainable volume mobilised to €67.8 billion for the first half of 2025, a 19% increase compared to the first half of 2024. In the Netherlands, we have introduced a new mortgage pricing model tied to energy labels that offers lower interest rates when eligible customers improve the energy label for their homes.

    “We are pleased with our results during a volatile first half of 2025. Although macroeconomic conditions remain challenging we are confident that our strategy sets us on course to become the best European bank and deliver on our targets. I want to thank our customers and clients for their continued trust in us and our employees for their continued dedication.”

     
    Further information
    All publications related to ING’s 2Q 2025 results can be found at the quarterly results page on ING.com.
    For more on investor information, go to www.ing.com/investors.

    A short ING ON AIR video with CEO Steven van Rijswijk discussing our 2Q 2025 results is available on Youtube.
    For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via the @ING_news feed on X. Photos of ING operations, buildings and our executives are available for download at Flickr.

     
    Investor conference call and webcast
    Steven van Rijswijk, Tanate Phutrakul and Ljiljana Čortan will discuss the results in an Investor conference call on 31 July 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CET. Members of the investment community can join the conference call at +31 20 708 5074 (NL), or +44 330 551 0202 (UK) (registration required via invitation) and via live audio webcast at www.ing.com.
     
    Investor enquiries
    E: investor.relations@ing.com

    Press enquiries
    T: +31 20 576 5000
    E: media.relations@ing.com

     
     

    ING PROFILE 
    ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries. 

    ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N). 

    ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of June 2025, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’ with an ESG risk rating of 18.0 (low risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

    IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION
    Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’). 

    ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding. 

    Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non-compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion and other ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting and also including managing the conflicting laws and requirements of governments, regulators and authorities with respect to these topics (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com. 

    This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information. 

    Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security. 

    This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control. 

    Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. 

    This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Planisware: solid H1 2025 financial results despite softer revenue growth amid elongated sales cycles

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Solid H1 2025 financial results despite
    softer revenue growth amid elongated sales cycles

    • Revenue up +11.0% in constant currencies, led by +16% growth of recurring revenue
    • Adjusted EBITDA margin1up by +230bps to 35.8% of revenue reflecting continued operational discipline
    • Strong cash conversion* at 95.9% of adjusted EBITDA*
    • Macroeconomic headwinds and extended decision cycles impacting revenue growth are expected to continue into H2
    • Updated 2025 objectives:
      • Revenue growth in constant currencies now expected at c. 10% (vs. mid-to-high teens)
      • Adjusted EBITDA margin* raised to c. 36% (vs. c. 35%)
      • Cash Conversion Rate* of c. 80% (confirmed)

    Paris, France, July 31, 2025 – Planisware, a leading provider of B2B AI powered SaaS platforms serving the rapidly growing Project Economy, announces today its H1 2025 results. Revenue amounted to € 95.8 million, up by +10.6% in current currencies. In constant currencies, revenue growth reached +11.0% (€+9.1 million), mainly led by the continued success of the Group’s SaaS Model** up by +17.4% in constant currencies (€+11.7 million). In a context of a still challenging economic and geopolitical environment now having tangible impact on delayed customer decision making, recurring revenue amounted to €88.6 million (92% of total revenue) and was up by +16.0% in constant currencies, while non-recurring activities faced high comparison basis.

    Adjusted EBITDA* reached € 34.3 million (up +18.1% vs. H1 2024), representing 35.8% of revenue, higher than the objective of c. 35% adjusted EBITDA margin* for 2025. The year-on-year margin improvement of c. +230 basis points is the result of the translation of revenue growth and a positive mix effect, combined with further operational efficiencies resulting from the Group’s strict financial discipline.

    Current operating profit reached € 27.1 million in H1 2025, up by +15.8% compared to H1 2024 and Profit for the period amounted to € 21.7 million, up by +35.5% compared to H1 2024 that was impacted by IPO costs.

    Cash generation was strong in H1 2025, with adjusted FCF* reaching € 32.9 million, representing a Cash Conversion Rate* of 95.9%, above the objective of c. 80% for 2025 but in line with the usual seasonality in H1 due to SaaS solutions cash collection at the beginning of the year. Net cash position* (excluding lease liabilities) was € 182.0 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to € 176.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and € 156.4 million as of June 30, 2024.

    Loïc Sautour, CEO of Planisware, commented: “In recent months, as uncertainties around global macroeconomic conditions intensified across our key markets, we have observed increased cautiousness from our customers. This has led to longer decision-making cycles weighing on our commercial momentum and revenue growth, primarily in our non-recurring activities and with new logos.

    At the same time, our recurring business lines have continued to deliver solid performance, particularly with existing clients, a testament to the strong demand for our solutions and their sustained business impact.

    Our commercial pipeline continues to expand, supported by a high volume of strategic engagements with both existing customers and new prospects, underscoring the strength and relevance of our competitive value proposition. This provides encouraging mid-term visibility for renewed momentum once market conditions stabilize.

    Despite the softer revenue growth trajectory, Planisware achieved a significant improvement in profitability in H1 2025. Our ongoing focus on operational efficiency and disciplined resource allocation enabled us to enhance margins and maintain best-in-class cash conversion rate, further strengthening the Group’s foundation for the future.

    In light of these dynamics and a more moderate growth outlook for the remainder of 2025, we have prudently revised our 2025 revenue objectives to c. 10%. We now target an adjusted EBITDA margin of 36%, up from 35% previously. This adjustment reflects our commitment to navigating the current environment with discipline while safeguarding profitability and preserving our ability to invest in long-term growth.

    As always, Planisware remains focused on supporting our customers’ strategic priorities and on reinforcing our leadership in project and portfolio management solutions, even in the face of heightened economic headwinds.

    H1 2025 revenue by revenue stream

    In € million H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    YoY
    Variation
    in cc*
    Recurring revenue 88.6 76.6 +15.5% +16.0%
    SaaS & Hosting 45.6 38.8 +17.6% +18.1%
    Annual licenses 0.1 N/A N/A
    Evolutive support 27.2 22.9 +18.4% +18.9%
    Subscription support 5.9 5.6 +5.3% +6.1%
    Maintenance 9.7 9.3 +4.8% +5.2%
    Non-recurring revenue 7.2 10.0 -27.7% -27.5%
    Perpetual licenses 2.0 4.1 -52.3% -52.2%
    Implementation & others non-recurring 5.3 5.9 -10.6% -10.4%
    Total revenue 95.8 86.6 +10.6% +11.0%

    * Revenue evolution in constant currencies, i.e. at H1 2024 average exchange rates.

    Reaching € 95.8 million in H1 2025, revenue was up by +10.6% in current currencies and +11.0% in constant currencies. The exchange rates effect was mainly related to the depreciation of the US dollar versus the euro, partially compensated by the appreciation of the Japanese yen and the British pound. In order to reflect the underlying performance of the Company independently from exchange rate fluctuations, the following analysis refers to revenue evolution in constant currencies, applying H1 2024 average exchange rates to H1 2025 revenue figures, unless expressly stated otherwise.

    Recurring revenue

    Representing 92% of H1 2025 total revenue, up by c.+400 basis points versus 88% in H1 2024, recurring revenue reached € 88.6 million, up by +16.0%.

    Revenue growth was led by +17.4% growth of Planisware’s SaaS model (i.e. SaaS & Hosting, Annual licenses, and Evolutive & Subscription support), of which SaaS & Hosting revenue was up by +18.1% thanks to contracts secured with new customers as well as continued expansion within the installed base. Revenue of support activities (Evolutive & Subscription support), intrinsically related to Planisware’s SaaS offering, grew by +16.4%.

    Maintenance revenue was up by +5.2% in the context of the Group’s shift from its prior Perpetual license model to a SaaS model and reflecting the strong demand for licenses in the start of 2024 from customers with specific on-premises needs, in particular in the defense industry.

    Non-recurring revenue

    Non-recurring revenue was down by -27.5% in H1 2025, mostly due to the decline by -52.2% in Perpetual licenses against a particularly strong H1 2024 comparison base and despite several extensions and upgrades sold to customers with specific on-premises needs.

    Implementation declined by -10.4% as a results of Planisware’s continues focus on shorter implementations and faster delivery to customers, combined with the lack of new logo signatures since H2 2024.

    H1 2025 revenue by region

    In € million H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    YoY
    Variation
    in cc*
    Europe 45.5 41.9 +8.6% +8.6%
    North America 41.6 37.6 +10.8% +12.0%
    APAC & ROW 8.6 7.1 +20.7% +20.4%
    Total revenue 95.8 86.6 +10.6% +11.0%

    * Revenue evolution in constant currencies, i.e. at H1 2024 average exchange rates.

    In H1 2025, all key geographies contributed to Planisware’s revenue growth:

    • Representing 43% of H1 2025 Group revenue, North America was the main contributor to H1 2025 Group revenue growth with +12.0% (€+4.5 million) and a steady performance in both Q1 and Q2 2025.
    • Revenue in Europe grew by +8.6% and represented 48% of H1 2025 Group revenue, with contrasted performances across countries. In particular, France recovered from its 2024 low points. This was compensated by softer performance in Germany (notably related to a strong H1 2024 performance in particular in Perpetual licenses) and in the UK.
    • Planisware’s growth in APAC & Rest of the World of +20.4% resulted from a strong commercial momentum in Singapore and the Middle East. Overall, this region represented 9% of H1 2025 Group revenue.

    H1 2025 revenue by pillar

    In € million H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    YoY
    Variation
    in cc*
    Product Development & Innovation 50.5 48.3 +4.5% +5.1%
    Project Controls & Engineering 22.1 16.0 +38.2% +38.8%
    IT Governance & Digital Transformation** 16.3 15.6 +4.8% +5.1%
    Project Business Automation 6.8 6.6 +2.7% +2.7%
    Others 0.1 0.2 -37.1% -36.9%
    Total revenue 95.8 86.6 +10.6% +11.0%

    * Revenue evolution in constant currencies, i.e. at H1 2024 average exchange rates.
    ** Formally named Agility & IT Project Portfolios (A&IT).

    By Pilar, revenue growth in H1 2025 was quite concentrated in Project Controls & Engineering and, to a lesser extent Product Development & Innovation:

    • Product Development & Innovation (“PD&I”) drives R&D and product development teams with a focus on companies in the life sciences, manufacturing and engineering, automotive design and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. In H1 2025, it remained Planisware’s principal pillar with 53% of total revenue and grew by +6.9%, resulting from both new customer wins and the expansion of offerings to existing customers.
    • Project Controls & Engineering (“PC&E”) supports production teams in industries with sophisticated products, plants and infrastructure, such as aerospace and defense, energy and utilities, manufacturing and engineering and life sciences. While still a recent pillar for Planisware, it represented 23% of H1 2025 total revenue and was the main contributor to revenue growth. Supported by the successful roll-out of offerings in North America, PC&E grew by +38.8%.
    • IT Governance & Digital Transformation (“IT&DT)** helps IT teams across all sectors develop comprehensive solutions to automate IT portfolio management, accelerate digital transformation and simplify IT architecture. IT&DT represented 17% of H1 2025 Group revenue and grew by +25.1% on the back of a strong growth delivered in H1 2024 (+27.3%).
    • Project Business Automation (“PBA”) supports companies in all industries that seek to increase their revenue-based projects and enhance their operating results through automated processes. Due to a more recent entry of Planisware in the market relating to this pillar, PBA represented only 7% of H1 2025 total revenue and slightly contributed to Group revenue growth with +2.7%.

    H1 2025 key financial figures

    In € million H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    YoY
    Total revenue 95.8 86.6 +10.6%
    Cost of sales -25.7 -24.9 +3.2%
    Gross profit 70.1 61.7 +13.5%
    Gross margin 73.2% 71.3% +190 bps
    Operating expenses -43.0 -68.4 -37.2%
    Current operating profit 27.1 23.4 +15.8%
    Other operating income & expenses -5.8  
    Operating profit 27.1 17.7 +53.6%
    Profit for the period 21.7 16.0 +35.5%
           
    Adjusted EBITDA* 34.3 29.0 +18.1%
    Adjusted EBITDA margin* 35.8% 33.5% +230 bps
           
    Adjusted FCF* 32.9 36.9 -11.0%
    Cash Conversion Rate* 95.9% 127.2%  
    Net cash position* 182.0 156.4 +16.4%

    * Non-IFRS measure. Non-IFRS measures included in this document are defined in the disclaimer at the end of this document.

    Gross profit and margin

    Reaching € 25.7 million in H1 2025, cost of sales was broadly stable year-on-year. As a percentage of revenue, cost of sales decreased by -190 basis points to 26.8% thanks to a continued strict monitoring of costs and further operational efficiency gains.

    This enabled Planisware to deliver a € 70.1 million gross profit in H1 2025 (+13.5% year-on-year), representing a 73.2% gross margin, a significant improvement of c. +190 basis points compared to 71.3% in H1 2024.

    Operating profit and profit for the period

    R&D expenses, consisting primarily of staff expenses directly associated with R&D teams, as well as amortization of capitalized development costs and the benefits from the French research tax credit, represented 11.7% of revenue and reached € 11.2 million. Planisware intends to maintain a high level of R&D spending, as it believes that its ability to provide innovative products and software solutions, expand its offerings portfolio and promote its offerings in the project management market will have a considerable effect on its revenues and operating results in the future.

    Reaching € 17.4 million in H1 2025 (18.2% of revenue), Sales & marketing expenses increased by €+1.9 million, or +12.5%, compared to € 15.5 million in H1 2024, or +30 basis points, led in particular by the increase in employee-related costs in the salesforce and marketing team. Sales & marketing expenses are expected to continue to increase in the future as Planisware plans on expanding its domestic and international selling and marketing activities in order to strengthen its leading market position.

    Representing 15.0% of revenue in H1 2025, General & administrative expenses reached € 14.3 million (€+2.4 million, or +19.6% compared to € 12.0 million in H1 2024). Two third of this increase was related to employee costs engaged to support the growth of the business, the strengthening of global support functions, and the international expansion of the Group. The remaining third was related to foreign exchange effects on operating assets and liabilities and share base compensation expenses accounted on a significantly higher share price in H1 2025 than in H1 2024 (partially pre-IPO). Planisware expects that, as the Company continues to scale up in the future, General & administrative expenses will slightly decrease as a percentage of revenue.

    As a result, current operating profit reached € 27.1 million in H1 2025, up by +15.8% compared to H1 2024.

    There was no Other operating income & expenses in H1 2025 while it amounted to a net expense of € 5.8 million related to IPO costs in H1 2024. As a results of the above, operating profit reached the same level as current operating profit at € 27.1 million in H1 2025 and showed a +53.6% (or €+9.5 million), compared to € 17.7 million in H1 2024.

    Representing a loss of € 0.8 million in H1 2025, financial results deteriorated compared to a € 1.9 million income recorded in H1 2024. This was primarily driven by foreign exchange losses arising from the revaluation at closing rates of cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currencies for € 2.5 million.

    Income tax expense amounted to € 4.7 million in H1 2025, +30.3% compared to € 3.6 million in H1 2024, slightly less than profit for the period increase.

    As a result of these evolutions, profit for the period reached € 21.7 million in H1 2025, up by +35.5% (€+5.7 million) compared to H1 2024.

    Adjusted EBITDA

    Adjusted EBITDA* reached € 34.3 million, a strong increase compared to H1 2024 (€+5.3 million, or +18.1%). It represented 35.8% of H1 2025 revenue, c. +230 basis points compared to 33.5% in H1 2024. The increase in adjusted EBITDA reflects the translation of revenue growth into profit as the business is fueled by the addition of new customers, a positive mix effect and further operational efficiencies on employee-related costs.

    Cash generation and net cash position

    Change in working capital was €+8.3 million thanks to subscription contracts billed in advance of the services rendered. Capital expenditures totaled € 2.4 million, representing 2.5% of revenue, compared to € 2.1 million in H1 2024 (2.4% of revenue) and in line with the usual c. 3% level targeted over the year. Finally, tax paid in H1 2025 amounted to € 7.5 million compared to € 4.1 million in H1 2024 due to the significant increase of 2024 taxable profit.

    In H1 2025, adjusted Free Cash Flow* reached € 32.9 million, representing a Cash Conversion Rate* of 95.9%. H1 2025 adjusted Free Cash Flow was down by 11.0% year-on-year due to a lower conversion rate related to delays in the collection of some invoices and earlier payment for social security contributions in France than in H1 2024. Nevertheless, it does not question the yearly objective of 80% level that the Group considers being the normative Cash Conversion Rate for the coming years.

    As of June 30, 2025, except for lease liabilities related to offices and datacenter facilities which amounted to € 17.9 million (€ 17.0 million as of December 31, 2024 and € 14.0 million as of June 30, 2024) and small amounts of bank overdrafts, Planisware did not have any financial debt. As a result, the Group’s net cash position* amounted to€ 182.0 million as of June 30, 2025 compared to € 176.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and € 156.4 million as of June 30, 2024.

    Headcount evolution

    Total number of employees by region 30.06.24 31.12.24 30.06.25
    Europe 395 403 429
    North America 167 174 183
    APAC & ROW 152 171 188
    Total 714 748 800

    Total headcount grew by +7.0% (+52 employees) over the first half of the year and by +12.0% (+86 employees) over 12 months.

    Hiring efforts mostly targeted the fastest growing region, APAC & ROW, with headcount net growth by +9.9% (+17 employees) in H1 2025 and by +23.7% (+36 employees) over 12 months.

    By function, besides support teams, the hirings mostly concerned Sales & Marketing with headcount net growth by +10.5% (+14 employees) in H1 2025 and by +18.5% (+23 employees) over 12 months, as part of Planisware’s growth strategy.

    Updated 2025 objectives

    Taking into account further elongation of sales cycles materializing since the start of the year leading to delays in the start of new contracts, Planisware updates its 2025 objectives:

    • c. 10% revenue growth in constant currencies (Mid-to-high teens priorly)
    • c. 36% adjusted EBITDA margin** (c. 35% priorly)
    • Cash Conversion Rate** of c. 80% (confirmed)

    Appendices

    Q2 2025 revenue by revenue stream

    In € million Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation
    YoY
    Variation
    in cc*
    Recurring revenue 44.7 39.5 +13.2% +15.9%
    SaaS & Hosting 22.9 19.9 +15.1% +17.7%
    Annual licenses 0.09 N/A N/A
    Evolutive support 14.0 12.1 +15.5% +18.0%
    Subscription support 2.9 2.8 +3.9% +8.2%
    Maintenance 4.8 4.7 +3.3% +5.2%
    Non-recurring revenue 3.6 6.2 -42.5% -41.6%
    Perpetual licenses 1.1 3.0 -62.8% -62.2%
    Implementation & others non-recurring 2.5 3.2 -23.8% -22.6%
    Total revenue 48.3 45.7 +5.6% +8.1%

    * Revenue evolution in constant currencies, i.e. at Q2 2024 YTD average exchange rates.

    Non-IFRS measures reconciliations

    In € million H1 2025 H1 2024
    Current operating profit after share of profit of equity-accounted investee 27.1 23.4
    Depreciation and amortization of intangible, tangible and right-of-use assets 4.2 3.5
    Share-based payments 3.0 2.1
    Adjusted EBITDA** 34.3 29.0
    In € million H1 2025 H1 2024
    Net cash from operating activities 36.2 35.2
    Capital expenditures -2.4 -2.1
    Other finance income/costs -1.0 -1.8
    IPO costs paid 0.0 5.6
    Adjusted Free Cash Flow** 32.9 36.9

    Investors & Analysts conference call

    Planisware’s management team will host an international conference call on July 31, 2025 at 8:00am CET to details H1 2025 performance and key achievements, by means of a presentation followed by a Q&A session. The webcast and its subsequent replay will be available on planisware.com.

    Upcoming event

    • October 21, 2025:         Q3 2025 revenue publication

    Contact

    About Planisware

    Planisware is a leading business-to-business (“B2B”) provider of AI powered Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) platforms serving the rapidly growing Project Economy. Planisware’s mission is to provide solutions that help organizations transform how they strategize, plan and deliver their projects, project portfolios, programs and products.

    With circa 800 employees across 18 offices, Planisware operates at significant scale serving around 600 organizational clients in a wide range of verticals and functions across more than 30 countries worldwide. Planisware’s clients include large international companies, medium-sized businesses and public sector entities.

    Planisware is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Compartment A, ISIN code FR001400PFU4, ticker symbol “PLNW”).

    For more information, visit: https://planisware.com/ and connect with Planisware on LinkedIn.

    Disclaimer

    Forward-looking statements

    This document contains statements regarding the prospects and growth strategies of Planisware. These statements are sometimes identified by the use of the future or conditional tense, or by the use of forward-looking terms such as “considers”, “envisages”, “believes”, “aims”, “expects”, “intends”, “should”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “thinks”, “wishes” and “might”, or, if applicable, the negative form of such terms and similar expressions or similar terminology. Such information is not historical in nature and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future performance. Such information is based on data, assumptions, and estimates that Planisware considers reasonable. Such information is subject to change or modification based on uncertainties in the economic, financial, competitive or regulatory environments.

    This information includes statements relating to Planisware’s intentions, estimates and targets with respect to its markets, strategies, growth, results of operations, financial situation and liquidity. Planisware’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Absent any applicable legal or regulatory requirements, Planisware expressly disclaims any obligation to release any updates to any forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances, on which any forward-looking statement contained in this document is based. Planisware operates in a competitive and rapidly evolving environment; it is therefore unable to anticipate all risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the occurrence of a risk or combination of risks could have significantly different results from those set out in any forward-looking statements, it being noted that such forward-looking statements do not constitute a guarantee of actual results.

    Rounded figures

    Certain numerical figures and data presented in this document (including financial data presented in millions or thousands and certain percentages) have been subject to rounding adjustments and, as a result, the corresponding totals in this document may vary slightly from the actual arithmetic totals of such information.

    Variation in constant currencies

    Variation in constant currencies represent figures based on constant exchange rates using as a base those used in the prior year. As a result, such figures may vary slightly from actual results based on current exchange rates.

    Non-IFRS measures

    This document includes certain unaudited measures and ratios of the Group’s financial or non-financial performance (the “non-IFRS measures”), such as “Adjusted EBITDA”, “Adjusted EBITDA margin”, “Adjusted Free Cash Flow”, “cash conversion rate”, and “Net cash position”. Non-IFRS financial information may exclude certain items contained in the nearest IFRS financial measure or include certain non-IFRS components. Readers should not consider items which are not recognized measurements under IFRS as alternatives to the applicable measurements under IFRS. These measures have limitations as analytical tools and readers should not treat them as substitutes for IFRS measures. In particular, readers should not consider such measurements of the Group’s financial performance or liquidity as an alternative to profit for the period, operating income or other performance measures derived in accordance with IFRS or as an alternative to cash flow from (used in) operating activities as a measurement of the Group’s liquidity. Other companies with activities similar to or different from those of the Group could calculate non-IFRS measures differently from the calculations adopted by the Group.

    Non-IFRS measures included in this document are defined as follows:

    • Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Current operating profit including share of profit of equity-accounted investees, plus amortization and depreciation as well as impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment, plus either non-recurring items or non-operating items.
    • Adjusted EBITDA margin is the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to total revenue.
    • Adjusted FCF (Free Cash Flow) is calculated as cash flows from operating activities, plus IPO costs paid, if any, less other financial income and expenses classified as operating activities in the cash-flow statement, and less net cash relating to capital expenditures.
    • Cash Conversion Rate is defined as Adjusted FCF divided by Adjusted EBITDA.
    • Net cash position is defined as Cash minus indebtedness excluding lease liabilities.

    1 Non-IFRS measure. Non-IFRS measures included in this document are defined in the disclaimer at the end of this document.
    ** Planisware’s SaaS Model is composed of SaaS & Hosting, Annual Licenses, Evolutive support, and Subscription support reporting lines.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Credit Agricole Sa: Results for the second quarter and first half 2025 – The Group is accelerating its development

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THE GROUP IS ACCELERATING ITS DEVELOPMENT  
               
      CRÉDIT AGRICOLE S.A. CRÉDIT AGRICOLE GROUP    
    €m Q2 2025 Change Q2/Q2 Q2 2025 Change Q2/Q2  
    Revenues 7,006 +3.1% 9,808 +3.2%  
    Expenses -3,700 +2.2% -5,872 +3.2%  
    Gross Operating Income 3,306 +4.1% 3,936 +3.1%  
    Cost of risk -441 +4.2% -840 -3.7%  
    Net income group share 2,390 +30.7% 2,638 +30.1%  
    C/I ratio 52.8% -0.5 pp 59.9% +0.0 pp  
    STRONG ACTIVITY IN ALL BUSINESS LINES

    • Confirmation of the upturn of loan production in France, international credit activity still strong and consumer finance at a higher level
    • Record net inflows in life insurance, high net inflows in asset management (driven by the medium/long-term and JVs); in insurance, revenues at a higher level driven by all activities
    • CIB: record half year and strong quarter

    CONTINUOUS FLOW OF STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

    • Gradual achievement of synergies in the ongoing integrations: progress of around 60% for RBC IS Europe and 25% for Degroof Petercam in Belgium
    • Transactions concluded this quarter: launch of partnership with Victory Capital in the United States, increased stake in Banco BPM in Italy, acquisition of Merca Leasing in Germany and Petit-fils and Comwatt in France and acquisition of Santander’s 30.5% stake in CACEIS1
    • New projects initiated: Acquisitions of Banque Thaler in Switzerland, Comwatt and Milleis in France, partnership with the Crelan Group in Belgium and development of Indosuez Wealth Management in Monaco

    HALF-YEARLY AND QUARTERLY RESULTS AT THEIR HIGHEST

    • High profitability (Return on Tangible Equity of 16.6%), driven by high and growing revenues, a low cost/income ratio (53.9% in the first half) and a stable cost of risk (34 basis points on outstandings)
    • Results especially benefiting from the capital gain related to the deconsolidation of Amundi US

    HIGH SOLVENCY RATIOS

    • Crédit Agricole S.A.’s phased-in CET1 at 11.9% and CA Group phased-in CET1 at 17.6%

    CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FOR TRANSITIONS, WITH AN AWARD FROM EUROMONEY

    • Continued withdrawal from fossil energies and reallocation to low-carbon energy sources
    • Support for the transition of households and corporates
    • Crédit Agricole named World’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025

    PRESENTATION OF THE MEDIUM-TERM PLAN ON 18 NOVEMBER 2025

     

    Dominique Lefebvre,
    Chairman of SAS Rue La Boétie and Chairman of the Crédit Agricole S.A. Board of Directors

    “The high-level results we are publishing this quarter serve our usefulness to the economy and European sovereignty.” ‍

     
     

    Olivier Gavalda,
    Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole S.A.

    “With this high level of results, we are confident in Crédit Agricole S.A.’s ability to achieve a net profit in 2025 higher than 2024, excluding the corporate tax surcharge. These results constitute a solid foundation for Crédit Agricole S.A.’s medium-term strategic plan, which will be unveiled on November 18, 2025.”

     

    This press release comments on the results of Crédit Agricole S.A. and those of Crédit Agricole Group, which comprises the Crédit Agricole S.A. entities and the Crédit Agricole Regional Banks, which own 63.5% of Crédit Agricole S.A.

    All financial data are now presented stated for Crédit Agricole Group, Crédit Agricole S.A. and the business lines results, both for the income statement and for the profitability ratios.

    Crédit Agricole Group

    Group activity

    The Group’s commercial activity during the quarter continued at a steady pace across all business lines, with a good level of customer capture. In the second quarter of 2025, the Group recorded +493,000 new customers in retail banking. More specifically, over the year, the Group gained 391,000 new customers for Retail Banking in France and 102,000 new International Retail Banking customers (Italy and Poland). At 30 June 2025, in retail banking, on-balance sheet deposits totalled €838 billion, up +0.6% year-on-year in France and Italy (+0.7% for Regional Banks and LCL and +0.3% in Italy). Outstanding loans totalled €885 billion, up +1.4% year-on-year in France and Italy (+1.4% for Regional Banks and LCL and +1.6% in Italy). Housing loan production continued its upturn in France compared to the low point observed at the start of 2024, with an increase of +28% for Regional Banks and +24% for LCL compared to the second quarter of 2024. For CA Italia, loan production was down -8.1% compared to the high second quarter of 2024. The property and casualty insurance equipment rate (2) rose to 44.2% for the Regional Banks (+0.7 percentage points compared to the second quarter of 2024), 28.4% for LCL (+0.6 percentage point) and 20.6% for CA Italia (+0.9 percentage point).

    In Asset Management, quarterly inflows were very high at +€20 billion, fuelled by medium/long-term assets (+€11 billion) and JVs (+€10 billion). In insurance, savings/retirement gross inflows rose to a record €9.9 billion over the quarter (+22% year-on-year), with the unit-linked rate in production staying at a high 32%. Net inflows were at a record level at +€4.2 billion, spread evenly between euro-denominated funds and unit-linked contracts. The strong performance in property and casualty insurance was driven by price changes and portfolio growth (16.9 million contracts at end-June 2025, +3% year-on-year). Assets under management stood at €2,905 billion, up +5.2% year on year for the three business segments: in asset management at €2,267 billion (+5.2% year on year) despite a negative scope effect linked to the deconsolidation of Amundi US and the integration of Victory, in life insurance at €359 billion (+6.4% year on year) and in wealth management (Indosuez Wealth Management and LCL Private Banking) at €279 billion (+3.7% year on year).

    Business in the SFS division showed strong activity. At CAPFM, consumer finance outstandings increased to €121.0 billion, up +4.5% compared with end-June 2024, with car loans representing 53% (3) of total outstandings, and new loan production up by +2.4% compared with the second quarter of 2024 (+12.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025), driven by traditional consumer finance, but with the automotive market remaining complex in Europe and China. Regarding Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F), lease financing outstandings are up +5.0% compared to June 2024 to €20.8 billion; however, production is down -19.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024, mainly in France. Factoring activity remains very strong, with a production of +26.6% year on year.

    Momentum is strong in Large Customers, which again posted record revenues for the half-year in Corporate and Investment Banking and a high-level quarter. Capital markets and investment banking showed a high level of revenues driven by capital markets, especially from trading and primary credit activities, which partially offset the drop in revenues from structured equity activities. Financing activities are fuelled by structured financing with strong momentum in the renewable energy sector, and by CLF activities, driven by the acquisition financing sector. Lastly, Asset Servicing recorded a high level of assets under custody of €5,526 billion and assets under administration of €3,468 billion (+11% and +1.2%, respectively, compared with the end of June 2024), with good sales momentum and positive market effects over the quarter.

    Continued support for the energy transition

    The Group is continuing the mass roll-out of financing and investment to promote the transition. Thus, the exposure of Crédit Agricole Group (4) has increased 2.4 fold between 2020 and 2024 with €26.3 billion at 31 December 2024. Investments in low-carbon energy (5) increased 2.8 fold between end-2020 and June 2025, and represented €6.1 billion at 30 June 2025.

    At the same time, as a universal bank, Crédit Agricole is supporting the transition of all its customers. Thus, outstandings related to the environmental transition (6) amounted to €111 billion at 31 March 2025, including €83 billion for energy-efficient property and €6 billion for “clean” transport and mobility.

    In addition, the Group is continuing to move away from carbon energy financing; the Group’s phased withdrawal from financing fossil fuel extraction resulted in a -40% decrease in exposure in the period 2020 to 2024, equating to €5.6 billion at 31 December 2024. 

    In the field of sustainable finance, Crédit Agricole was named World’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. 

    Group results

    In the second quarter of 2025, Crédit Agricole Group’s net income Group share came to €2,638 million, up +30.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024, and up +14.8% excluding capital gains related to the deconsolidation of Amundi US.

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues amounted to €9,808 million, up +3.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Operating expenses were up +3.2% in the second quarter of 2025, totalling -€5,872 million. Overall, Credit Agricole Group saw its cost/income ratio reach 59.9% in the second quarter of 2025, stable compared to the second quarter of 2024. As a result, the gross operating income stood at €3,936 million, up +3.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    The cost of credit risk stood at -€840 million, a decrease of -3.7% compared to the second quarter of 2024. It includes a reversal of +€24 million on performing loans (stage 1 and 2) linked to reversals for model updates which offset the updating of macroeconomic scenarios and the migration to default of some loans. The cost of proven risk shows an addition to provisions of -€845 million (stage 3). There was also an addition of -€18 million for other risks. The provisioning levels were determined by taking into account several weighted economic scenarios and by applying some flat-rate adjustments on sensitive portfolios. The weighted economic scenarios for the second quarter were updated, with a central scenario (French GDP at +0.8% in 2025, +1.4% in 2026) an unfavourable scenario (French GDP at +0.0% in 2025 and +0.6% in 2026) and an adverse scenario (French GDP at -1.9% in 2025 and -1.4% in 2026). The cost of risk/outstandings (7)reached 27 basis points over a four rolling quarter period and 28 basis points on an annualised quarterly basis (8).

    Pre-tax income stood at €3,604 million, a year-on-year increase of +19.6% compared to second quarter 2024. This includes the contribution from equity-accounted entities of €56 million (down -24.0%) and net income on other assets, which came to +€452 million this quarter, due to a capital gain of €453 million on the deconsolidation of Amundi US. The tax charge was -€615 million, down +€147 million, or -19.3% over the period.

    Net income before non-controlling interests was up +32.8% to reach €2,990 million. Non-controlling interests increased by +57%, a share of the capital gain on the deconsolidation of Amundi US being reversed to non-controlling interests.

    Net income Group share in first half 2025 amounted to €4,803 million, compared with €4,412 million in first half 2024, an increase of +8.9%.

    Revenues totalled €19,856 million, up +4.3% in first half 2025 compared with first half 2024.

    Operating expenses amounted to -€11,864 million up +5.2% compared to the first half of 2024, especially due to support for business development, IT expenditure and the integration of scope effects. The cost/income ratio for the first half of 2025 was 59.8%, up +0.5 percentage points compared to the first half of 2024.

    Gross operating income totalled €7,992 million, up +3.0% compared to the first half of 2024.

    Cost of risk for the half-year rose moderately to -€1,575 million (of which -€23 million in cost of risk on performing loans (stage 1 and 2), -€1,522 million in cost of proven risk, and +€29 million in other risks, i.e. an increase of +3.4% compared to first half 2024.

    As at 30 June 2025, risk indicators confirm the high quality of Crédit Agricole Group’s assets and risk coverage level. The prudent management of these loan loss reserves has enabled the Crédit Agricole Group to have an overall coverage ratio for doubtful loans (83.3% at the end of June 2025).

    Net income on other assets stood at €456 million in first half 2025, vs. -€14 million in first half 2024. Pre-tax income before discontinued operations and non-controlling interests rose by +10.1% to €7,004 million. The tax charge stood at -€1,66 million, a +9.1% increase. This change is related to the exceptional corporate income tax for -€250 million (corresponding to an estimation of -€330 million in 2025, assuming the 2025 fiscal result being equal to 2024 fiscal result).

    Underlying net income before non-controlling interests was therefore up by +10.4%. Non-controlling interests stood at -€545 million in the first half of 2024, up +26.1%, a share of the capital gain on the deconsolidation of Amundi US being reversed to non-controlling interests.

    Credit Agricole Group, Income statement Q2 and H1 2025

    En m€ Q2-25 Q2-24 ∆ Q2/Q2   H1-25 H1-24 ∆ H1/H1
    Revenues 9,808 9,507 +3.2%   19,856 19,031 +4.3%
    Operating expenses (5,872) (5,687) +3.2%   (11,864) (11,276) +5.2%
    Gross operating income 3,936 3,819 +3.1%   7,992 7,755 +3.0%
    Cost of risk (840) (872) (3.7%)   (1,575) (1,523) +3.4%
    Equity-accounted entities 56 74 (24.0%)   131 142 (7.9%)
    Net income on other assets 452 (7) n.m.   456 (14) n.m.
    Change in value of goodwill n.m.   n.m.
    Income before tax 3,604 3,014 +19.6%   7,004 6,361 +10.1%
    Tax (615) (762) (19.3%)   (1,656) (1,517) +9.1%
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale ope. 0 n.m.   0 n.m.
    Net income 2,990 2,252 +32.8%   5,348 4,843 +10.4%
    Non controlling interests (352) (224) +57.0%   (545) (432) +26.1%
    Net income Group Share 2,638 2,028 +30.1%   4,803 4,412 +8.9%
    Cost/Income ratio (%) 59.9% 59.8% +0.0 pp   59.8% 59.2% +0.5 pp

    Regional banks

    Gross customer capture stands at +285,000 new customers. The percentage of customers using their current accounts as their main account is increasing and the share of customers using digital tools remains at a high level. Credit market share (total credits) stood at 22.6% (at the end of March 2025, source: Banque de France), stable compared to March 2024. Loan production is up +18.8% compared to the second quarter of 2024, linked to the confirmed upturn in housing loans, up +28.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024 and +10% compared to the first quarter of 2025, and also driven by specialised markets up +13.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The average lending production rate for home loans stood at 3.02% (9), -16 basis points lower than in the first quarter of 2025. By contrast, the global loan stock rate improved compared to the second quarter of 2024 (+7 basis points). Outstanding loans totalled €652 billion at the end of June 2025, up by +1.2% year-on-year across all markets and up slightly by +0.5% over the quarter. Customer assets were up +2.8% year-on-year to reach €923.3 billion at the end of June 2025. This growth was driven both by on-balance sheet deposits, which reached €606.1 billion (+0.8% year-on-year), and off-balance sheet deposits, which reached €317.2 billion (+7.1% year-on-year) benefiting from strong inflows in life insurance. Over the quarter, demand deposits drove customer assets with an increase of +2.0% compared to the first quarter of 2025, while term deposits decreased by -0.4%. The market share of on-balance sheet deposits is up compared to last year and stands at 20.2% (Source Banque de France, data at the end of March 2025, i.e. +0.1 percentage points compared to March 2024). The equipment rate for property and casualty insurance (10) was 44.2% at the end of June 2025 and is continuing to rise (up +0.7 percentage points compared to the end of June 2024). In terms of payment instruments, the number of cards rose by +1.5% year-on-year, as did the percentage of premium cards in the stock, which increased by 2.2 percentage points year-on-year to account for 17.8% of total cards.

    In the second quarter of 2025, the Regional Banks’ consolidated revenues including the SAS Rue La Boétie dividend stood at €5,528 million, up +4.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024, including the reversal of Home Purchase Saving Plans provisions in the second quarter of 2025 for €16.3 million and in the second quarter of 2024 for +€22 million (11). Excluding this item, revenues were up +4.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024, fuelled by the increase in fee and commission income (+1.9%), driven by insurance, account management and payment instruments, and by portfolio revenues (+9.2%) benefiting from the increase in dividends traditionally paid in the second quarter of each year. In addition, the intermediation margin was slightly down over one year (-2.5%) but remained stable compared to the first quarter of 2025. Operating expenses were up +5.1%, especially relating to IT expenditure. Gross operating income was up year-on-year (+3.4%). The cost of risk was down -13.3% compared with the second quarter of 2024 to -€397 million. The cost of risk/outstandings (over four rolling quarters) was stable compared to the first quarter of 2025, at a controlled level of 21 basis points. Thus, the net pre-tax income was up +7.3% and stood at €2,482 million. The consolidated net income of the Regional Banks stood at €2,375 million, up +5.0% compared with the second quarter of 2024. Lastly, the Regional Banks’ contribution to net income Group share was €182 million in the second quarter of 2025, down -12.7% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    In the first half 2025, revenues including the dividend from SAS Rue La Boétie were up (+3.1%) compared to the first half of 2024. Operating expenses rose by +3.4%, and gross operating income consequently grew by +2.6% over the first half. Finally, with a cost of risk up slightly by +1.4%, the Regional banks’ net income Group share, including the SAS Rue La Boétie dividend, amounted to €2,721 million, up +0.7% compared to the first half of 2024. Finally, the Regional Banks’ contribution to the results of Crédit Agricole Group in first half 2025 amounted to €523 million (-19.6%) with revenues of €6,716 million (+2.2%) and a cost of risk of -€717 million (+3.7%).

    Crédit Agricole S.A.

    Results

    Crédit Agricole S.A.’s Board of Directors, chaired by Dominique Lefebvre, met on 30 July 2025 to examine the financial statements for the second quarter of 2025.

    In the second quarter of 2025, Crédit Agricole S.A.’s net income Group share amounted to €2,390 million, an increase of +30.7% from the second quarter of 2024. The results of the second quarter of 2025 are based on high revenues, a cost/income ratio maintained at a low level and a controlled cost of risk. They were also favourably impacted by the change in corporate income tax, and the capital gain related to the deconsolidation of Amundi US.

    Revenues are at a high level and increasing. Revenues totalled €7,006 million, up +3.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The growth in the Asset Gathering division (+1.3%) is related to strong activity in Insurance, the impact of volatility and risk aversion of customers for Amundi, the deconsolidation of Amundi US (-€89 million) and the integration of Degroof Petercam (+€96 million). Revenues for Large Customers are stable and stood at a high level both for Crédit Agricole CIB and CACEIS. Specialised Financial Services division revenues (-1.0%) were impacted by a positive price effect in the Personal Finance and Mobility business line and by a cyclical drop in margins on factoring. Revenues for Retail Banking in France (-0.3%) were impacted by an unfavourable base effect on the interest margin, offset by good momentum in fee and commission income. Finally, international retail banking revenues (-1.9%) were mainly impacted by the reduction in the intermediation margin in Italy, partially offset by good momentum in fee and commission income over all the entities of the scope. Corporate Centre revenues were up +€214 million, positively impacted by Banco BPM (+€109 million, mainly related to the increase in dividends received).

    Operating expenses totalled -€3,700 million in the second quarter of 2025, an increase of +2.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The -€80 million increase in expenses between the second quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025 was mainly due to -€25 million in scope effect and integration costs, (especially including -€51 million related to the deconsolidation of Amundi US, +€89 million related to the integration of Degroof Petercam and -€20 million related to the reduction in ISB integration costs into CACEIS) and +€58 million due to a positive base effect related to the contribution on the DGS (deposit guarantee fund in Italy).

    The cost/income ratio thus stood at 52.8% in the second quarter of 2025, an improvement of -0.5 percentage point compared to second quarter 2024. Gross operating income in the second quarter of 2025 stood at €3,306 million, an increase of +4.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    As at 30 June 2025, risk indicators confirm the high quality of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s assets and risk coverage level. The Non Performing Loans ratio showed little change from the previous quarter and remained low at 2.3%. The coverage ratio (12) was high at 72.2%, down -2.8 percentage points over the quarter. Loan loss reserves amounted to €9.4 billion for Crédit Agricole S.A., relatively unchanged from the end of March 2025. Of these loan loss reserves, 35.3% were for provisioning for performing loans.

    The cost of risk was a net charge of -€441 million, up +4.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024, and came mainly from a provision for non-performing loans (level 3) of -€524 million (compared to a provision of -€491 million in the second quarter of 2024). Net provisioning on performing loans (stages 1 and 2) is a reversal of +€91 million, compared to a reversal of +€31 million in the second quarter of 2024, and includes reversals for model effects and the migration to default of some loans, which offset the prudential additions to provisions for updating macroeconomic scenarios. Also noteworthy is an addition to provisions of -€8 million for other items (legal provisions) versus a reversal of +€37 million in the second quarter of 2024. By business line, 53% of the net addition for the quarter came from Specialised Financial Services (50% at end-June 2024), 21% from LCL (22% at end-June 2024), 14% from International Retail Banking (17% at end-June 2024), 4% from Large Customers (9% at end-June 2024) and 5% from the Corporate Centre (1% at end-June 2024). The provisioning levels were determined by taking into account several weighted economic scenarios and by applying some flat-rate adjustments on sensitive portfolios. The weighted economic scenarios for the second quarter were updated, with a central scenario (French GDP at +0.8% in 2025, +1.4% in 2026) an unfavourable scenario (French GDP at +0.0% in 2025 and +0.6% in 2026) and an adverse scenario (French GDP at -1.9% in 2025 and -1.4% in 2026). In the second quarter of 2025, the cost of risk/outstandings remained stable at 34 basis points over a rolling four quarter period (13) and 32 basis points on an annualised quarterly basis (14).

    The contribution of equity-accounted entities stood at €30 million in second quarter 2025, down -€17 million compared to second quarter 2024, or -35.1%. This drop is related to the impairment of goodwill of a stake in CAL&F and non-recurring items especially the drop in remarketing revenues at CAPFM, offset by the impact of the first consolidation of Victory Capital (+€20 million). The net income on other assets was €455 million in the second quarter of 2025 and includes the capital gain related to the deconsolidation of Amundi US of €453 million. Pre-tax income, discontinued operations and non-controlling interests therefore increased by +19% to €3,350 million.

    The tax charge was -€541 million, versus -€704 million for the second quarter 2024. This quarter’s tax includes positive elements, especially the non-taxation of the capital gain linked to the deconsolidation of Amundi US. The tax charge for the quarter remains estimated and will be reassessed by the end of the year.

    Net income before non-controlling interests was up +33.1% to €2,809 million. Non-controlling interests stood at -€420 million in the second quarter of 2025, up +48.7%, a share of the capital gain on the deconsolidation of Amundi US being reversed to non-controlling interests.

    Stated net income Group share in the first half of 2024 amounted to €4,213 million, compared with €3,731 million in the first half of 2024, an increase of +12.9%.

    Revenues increased +4.9% compared to the first half of 2024, driven by the performance of the Asset Gathering, Large Customers, and Specialised Financial Services business lines and the Corporate Centre. Operating expenses were up +5.5% compared to the first half of 2024, especially in connection with supporting the development of business lines and the integration of scope effects. The cost/income ratio for the first half of the year was 53.9%, an improvement of 0.3 percentage points compared to first half 2024. Gross operating income totalled €6,571 million, up +4.1% compared to first half 2024. The cost of risk increased by +3.8% over the period, to -€-855 million, versus -€824 million for first half 2024.

    The contribution of equity-accounted entities stood at €77 million in first half 2025, down -€13 million compared to first half 2024, or -14.1%. Net income from other assets was €456 million in the first half of 2025. Pre-tax income, discontinued operations and non-controlling interests therefore increased by +11.9% to €6,250 million. The tax charge was -€1,368 million, versus -€1,315 million for first half 2024. This includes the exceptional corporate income tax of -€152 million, corresponding to an estimation of -€200 million in 2025 (assuming 2025 fiscal result being equal to 2024 fiscal result). Net income before non-controlling interests was up +14.3% to €4,882 million. Non-controlling interests stood at -€669 million in first half 2025, up +23.5% compared to first half 2024.

    Earnings per share stood at €0.74 per share in the second quarter 2025, versus €0.58 in the second quarter 2024.

    RoTE (15), which is calculated on the basis of an annualised net income Group share (16) and IFRIC charges, additional corporate tax charge and the capital gain on deconsolidation of Amundi US linearised over the year, net of annualised Additional Tier 1 coupons (return on equity Group share excluding intangibles) and net of foreign exchange impact on reimbursed AT1, and restated for certain volatile items recognised in equity (including unrealised gains and/or losses), reached 16.7% in the first half of 2024, up +1.3 percentage points compared to the first half of 2024.

    Crédit Agricole S.A. – Income statement, Q2 and H1-25

    En m€ Q2-25 Q2-24 ∆ Q2/Q2   H1-25 H1-24 ∆ H1/H1
    Revenues 7,006 6,796 +3.1%   14,263 13,602 +4.9%
    Operating expenses (3,700) (3,621) +2.2%   (7,691) (7,289) +5.5%
    Gross operating income 3,306 3,175 +4.1%   6,571 6,312 +4.1%
    Cost of risk (441) (424) +4.2%   (855) (824) +3.8%
    Equity-accounted entities 30 47 (35.2%)   77 90 (14.1%)
    Net income on other assets 455 15 x 29.4   456 9 x 50.7
    Change in value of goodwill n.m.   n.m.
    Income before tax 3,350 2,814 +19.0%   6,250 5,587 +11.9%
    Tax (541) (704) (23.2%)   (1,368) (1,315) +4.0%
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale ope. 0 n.m.   0 n.m.
    Net income 2,809 2,110 +33.1%   4,882 4,273 +14.3%
    Non-controlling interests (420) (282) +48.7%   (669) (542) +23.5%
    Net income Group Share 2,390 1,828 +30.7%   4,213 3,731 +12.9%
    Earnings per share (€) 0.74 0.58 +29.1%   1.30 1.08 +20.3%
    Cost/Income ratio (%) 52.8% 53.3% -0.5 pp   53.9% 53.6% +0.3 pp

    Analysis of the activity and the results of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s divisions and business lines

    Activity of the Asset Gathering division

    At end-June 2025, the assets under management of the Asset Gathering (AG) division stood at €2,905 billion, up +€27 billion over the quarter (i.e. +1%), mainly due to positive net inflows in asset management, and insurance, and a positive market and foreign exchange effect over the period. Over the year, assets under management rose by +5.2%.

    Insurance activity (Crédit Agricole Assurances) was very strong, with total revenues at a high level of €12.7 billion, up +17.9% compared to second quarter 2024.

    In Savings/Retirement, second quarter 2025 revenues reached €9.9 billion, up +22.3% compared to second quarter 2024, in a buoyant environment, especially in France. Unit-linked rate in gross inflows(17) is stable year-on-year at 32.0%. The net inflows reached a record +€4.2 billion (+€2.7 billion compared to the second quarter of 2024), comprised of +€2.4 billion net inflows from euro funds and +€1.8 billion from unit-linked contracts.

    Assets under management (savings, retirement and funeral insurance) continued to grow and came to €359.4 billion (up +€21.5 billion year-on-year, or +6.4%). The growth in outstandings was driven by the very high level of quarterly net inflows and favourable market effects. Unit-linked contracts accounted for 30.2% of outstandings, up +0.6 percentage points compared to the end of June 2024.

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income stood at €1.4 billion in the second quarter of 2025, up +9.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Growth stemmed from a price effect, with the increase in the average premium benefiting from revised rates induced by climate change and inflation in repair costs as well as changes in the product mix, and a volume effect, with a portfolio of over €16.9 million (18) policies at the end of June 2025 (or +2.8% over the year). Lastly, the combined ratio at the end of June 2025 stood at 94.7% (19), stable year-on-year and an improvement of +1.4 percentage points compared to the last quarter.

    In death & disability/creditor insurance/group insurance, premium income for the second quarter of 2025 stood at €1.4 billion, down slightly by -0.6% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Individual death & disability showed growth of +7.1% related to the increase in the average amount of guarantees. Creditor insurance showed a drop in activity of -4.3% over the period, especially related to international consumer finance. Group insurance was slightly up at +2.2%.

    In Asset Management (Amundi), assets under management by Amundi increased by +0.9% and +5.2% respectively over the quarter and the year, reaching a new record of €2,267 billion at the end of June 2025. They take into account the first integration of Victory Capital over the quarter with a scope effect of -€9.7 billion (effect of the deconsolidation of Amundi US for -€70 billion and the integration of Victory for +€60 billion). US business assets amount to €94 billion at end-June 2025, including €36 billion of assets distributed by Amundi to non-US customers (fully integrated) and €58 billion of assets distributed by Victory to US customers (26% share). In addition to the scope effect, assets benefited from a high level of inflows over the quarter (+€20.5 billion) a positive market effect of +€57 billion, and a strong negative exchange rate impact of -€48 billion related to the drop in the US dollar and Indian rupee. Net inflows are balanced between medium/long term assets (+€11 billion) and JVs (+€10 billion). The Institutionals segment also recorded net inflows of +€8.7 billion over the quarter, driven by strong seasonal activity in employee savings (+€4 billion in MLT assets). The JV segment showed net inflows of €10.3 billion over the period, with an upturn of inflows in India and a confirmed recovery in China. Finally, the retail segment showed net inflows of €1.4 billion over the quarter.

    In Wealth management, total assets under management (CA Indosuez Wealth Management and LCL Private Banking) amounted to €279 billion at the end of June 2025, and were up +3.7% compared to June 2024 and stable compared to March 2025.

    For Indosuez Wealth Management assets under management at the end of June stood at €214 billion (20), up +0.4% compared to the end of March 2025, with slightly negative net inflows of -€0.1 billion. Production is supported by structured products and mandates, partially offsetting the outflow especially linked to liquidity events of large customers. The market and foreign exchange impact of the quarter is positive at €1 billion. Compared to end-June 2024, assets are up by +€9 billion, or +4.5%. Also noteworthy is the announcement of the Banque Thaler acquisition project in Switzerland on 4 April 2025 and that of the plan to acquire the Wealth Management customers of BNP Paribas Group in Monaco on 23 June 2025.

    Results of the Asset Gathering division

    In the second quarter of 2025, Asset Gathering generated €1,970 million of revenues, up +1.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Expenses increased +6.2% to -€864 million and gross operating income came to €1,106 million, -2.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The cost/income ratio for the second quarter of 2025 stood at 43.8%, up +2.0 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. Equity-accounted entities showed a contribution of €58 million, up +77.4%, especially in relation to the first integration of the contribution of Victory Capital of 26% over this quarter in the Asset Management division for €20 million. The net income on other assets is impacted by the recognition of a capital gain of €453 million also related to the partnership with Victory Capital. Consequently, pre-tax income was up by +40.1% and stood at €1,610 million in the second quarter of 2025. The net income Group share showed an increase of +49.3% to €1,100 million.

    In the first semester of 2025, the Asset Gathering division generated revenues of €4,028 million, up +7.9% compared to first half 2024. Expenses increased by +14.8%. As a result, the cost/income ratio stood at 44.7%, up +2.7 percentage points compared to the first half of 2024. Gross operating income stood at €2,229 million, a increase of +2.9% compared to first half 2024. Equity-accounted entities showed a contribution of €86 million, up +39.4%, especially in relation to the first integration of the contribution of Victory Capital of 26% over the second quarter of 2025 in the Asset Management division. The net income on other assets is impacted by the recognition of a capital gain of €453 million also related to the partnership with Victory Capital in second quarter 2025. Taxes stood at €601 million, a +19.8% increase. Net income Group share of the Asset Gathering division includes the additional corporate tax charge in France and amounted to €1,780 million, up +22.5% compared to the first half of 2024. The increase affected all the business lines of the division, (+66.1% for Asset Management, +0.8% for Insurance and +92.3% for Wealth Management).

    In the second quarter of 2025, the Asset Gathering division contributed by 41% to the net income Group share of the Crédit Agricole S.A. core businesses and 28% to revenues (excluding the Corporate Centre division).

    As at 30 June 2025, equity allocated to the division amounted to €13.2 billion, including €10.6 billion for Insurance, €1.9 billion for Asset Management, and €0.7 billion for Wealth Management. The division’s risk weighted assets amounted to €51.4 billion, including €24.0 billion for Insurance, €19.7 billion for Asset Management and €7.7 billion for Wealth Management.

    Insurance results

    In the second quarter of 2025, insurance revenues amounted to €790 million, up +2.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024. They are supported by Savings/Retirement in relation to the growth in activity and a positive financial result over the period, Property & Casualty which benefits from a good level of activity and financial results, and by the performance of Death & Disability, which offsets a tightening of technical margins in creditor. Revenues for the quarter included €587 million from savings/retirement and funeral insurance (21), €89 million from personal protection (22) and €114 million from property and casualty insurance (23).

    The Contractual Service Margin (CSM) totalled €26.8 billion at the end of June 2025, an increase of +6.3% compared to the end of December 2024. It benefited from a contribution of new business greater than the CSM allocation and a positive market effect. The annualised CSM allocation factor was 8.0% at end-June 2025.

    Non-attributable expenses for the quarter stood at -€87 million, down -0.9% over the second quarter of 2024. As a result, gross operating income reached €703 million, up +2.5% compared to the same period in 2024. The net pre-tax income was up +2.2% and stood at €703 million. The tax charge totalled €143 million, down -19.9% during the period. Net income Group share stood at €557 million, up +12.6% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    Revenues from insurance in the first half of 2025 came to €1,517 million, up +1.5% compared to the first half of 2024. Gross operating income stood at €1,335 million, up +1.4% compared to the first half of 2024. Non-attributable expenses came to €182 million, i.e. an increase of +2.0%. The cost/income ratio is thus 12.0%, below the target ceiling set by the Medium-Term Plan of 15%. The net income Group share includes the additional corporate tax charge in France and reached €997 million, up +0.8% compared to first half 2024.

    Insurance contributed 23% to the net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s business lines (excluding the Corporate Centre division) at end-June 2025 and 10% to their revenues (excluding the Corporate Centre division).

    Asset Management results

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues amounted to €771 million, showing a fall of -10.8% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The deconsolidation of Amundi US (previously fully consolidated) and the integration of Victory Capital (at 26% on the equity-accounted entities line) took effect this quarter. As a result, restated for this scope effect,(24), revenues were stable (-0.6%) compared with the second half of 2024. Net management fee and commission income was up +1.0% (25) compared with second quarter 2024. Amundi Technology’s revenues recorded a significant increase and rose +50% over the second quarter of 2024, thanks to the integration of Aixigo (the European leader in Wealth Tech, the acquisition of which was finalised in November 2024) which amplified the continued strong organic growth. Performance fee income fell -29%25 from the second quarter of 2024 due to market volatility and financial revenues fell in connection with the drop in rates. Operating expenses amounted to -€429 million, a decline of -8.8% from the second quarter of 2024. Excluding the scope effect related to the Victory Capital partnership24, they were up +2.2% over the period. The cost/income ratio was up at 55.7% (+1.2 percentage points compared to second quarter 2024). Gross operating income stood at €341 million, down -13.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The contribution of the equity-accounted entities, carrying the contribution of Amundi’s Asian joint ventures as well as the new contribution of Victory Capital starting this quarter, was €58 million (+€20 million of which for Victory Capital, whose contribution is recognised with an offset of one quarter, so excluding the synergies already realised in the second quarter of 2025; the contribution of the joint ventures rose sharply to +16.6%, particularly in India), an increase of +77.4% over the second quarter of 2024. Net income on other assets was impacted by the recognition of a non-monetary capital gain of €453 million, also related to the partnership with Victory Capital, over the second quarter of 2025. Consequently, pre-tax income came to €850 million, double the second quarter of 2024. Non-controlling interests were impacted by the partnership with Victory Capital and amounted to €249 million over the quarter. Net income Group share amounted to €506 million, up sharply (x2.3) compared to the second quarter of 2024, taking account of the impact of the partnership with Victory Capital.

    Over the first half of 2025, revenues remained stable at €1,663 million (-0.3%). Excluding the scope effect related to the partnership with Victory Capital in the second quarter of 2025, it would represent an increase of +5.3% over the period. Operating expenses posted a slight increase of +0.7%. Excluding the scope effect related to the partnership with Victory Capital, they would increase +5.3% over the period. The cost/income ratio was 55.7%, an increase of +0.5 percentage points compared to first half 2024. This resulted in a -1.5% decline in gross operating income from the first half of 2024. The income of the equity-accounted entities rose +39.4%, primarily reflecting the first integration of the Victory Capital contribution over second quarter 2025. Net income on other assets was impacted by the recognition of a non-monetary capital gain of €453 million also related to the partnership with Victory Capital over the second quarter of 2025. In total, net income Group share for the half includes the additional corporate tax charge in France and stood at €689 million, an increase of +66.1%.

    Asset management contributed 16% to the underlying net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s core businesses (excluding the Corporate Centre division) at end June 2025 and by 12% to their underlying revenues.

    At 30 June 2025, equity allocated to the Asset Management business line amounted to €1.9 billion, while risk weighted assets totalled €19.7 billion.

    Wealth Management results (26)

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues from wealth management amounted to €409 million, up +33.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024, benefiting from the impact of the integration of Degroof Petercam in June 2024. Excluding this effect, (27) revenues were sustained by the positive momentum of transactional income and the good resilience of the net interest margin, despite falling rates. Expenses for the quarter amounted to -€348 million, up +36.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024, impacted by a Degroof Petercam scope effect27 and -€22.5 million in integration costs in the second quarter of 2025 (28). Excluding these impacts, expenses rose slightly at +1.7% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The cost/income ratio for the second quarter of 2025 stood at 85%, up +1.9 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. Excluding integration costs, it amounted to 79.5%. Gross operating income reached €61 million, an increase of (+18.3%) compared to the second quarter of 2024. Cost of risk remained moderate at -€5 million. Net income Group share amounted to €36 million, up +52.7% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    In the first half of 2025, wealth management revenues rose by +48.6% over the first half of 2024, notably benefiting from the integration of Degroof Petercam(29) in June 2024 to reach €848 million. Expenses rose by +47.5% due to the impact of the integration of Degroof Petercam29 in June 2024 and integration costs. Gross operating income was therefore up +54.0% at €156 million. Net income on other assets was nil in the first half of 2025 compared with -€20 million in the first half of 2024, corresponding to Degroof Petercam acquisition costs. Net income Group share was €94 million over the first half, up +92.3% from first half 2024. The additional net income Group share target of +€150 million to +€200 million in 2028 following the integration of Degroof Petercam is confirmed and the rate of progression in synergies realised was approximately 25%.

    Wealth Management contributed 2% to the net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s business lines (excluding the Corporate Centre division) at end-June 2025 and 6% of their revenues (excluding the Corporate Centre division).

    At 30 June 2025, equity allocated to Wealth Management was €0.7 billion and risk weighted assets totalled €7.7 billion.

    Activity of the Large Customers division

    The large customers division posted good activity in the second quarter of 2025, thanks to good performance from Corporate and Investment banking (CIB) and strong activity in asset servicing.

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues from Corporate and Investment Banking were stable at €1,705 million, which is -0.1% compared to second quarter 2024 (+5% excluding FVA/DVA volatile elements and foreign exchange impact). Capital Markets and Investment Banking activity was down -2.7% from second quarter 2024 (+3% excluding non-recurring items and foreign exchange impact), but remained at a high level at €860 million, supported in part by a new progression in revenues from Capital Market activities (+2.8% over second quarter 2024, +10% excluding FVA/DVA volatile items and foreign exchange impact) particularly on the trading and primary credit activities that partially offset the decline in structured equity revenues. Revenues from financing activities rose to €845 million, an increase of +2.8% compared to the second quarter of 2024 (+7% excluding non-recurring items and foreign exchange impact). This mainly reflects the performance of structured financing, where revenues rose +6.8% compared to the second quarter of 2024, primarily explained by the dynamism of the renewable energy sector (increase in production on wind and solar projects). Commercial Banking was up +0.7% versus second quarter 2024, driven by the activities of Corporate & Leveraged Finance, boosted by the acquisition financing sector.

    Financing activities consolidated its leading position in syndicated loans (#1 in France (30) and #2 in EMEA30). Crédit Agricole CIB reaffirmed its strong position in bond issues (#2 All bonds in EUR Worldwide30) and was ranked #1 in Green, Social & Sustainable bonds in EUR (31). Average regulatory VaR stood at €11.1 million in the second quarter of 2025, up from €10.5 million in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting changes in positions and financial markets. It remained at a level that reflected prudent risk management.

    For Asset Servicing, business growth was supported by strong commercial activity and favourable market effects.

    Assets under custody rose by +1.1% at the end of June 2025 compared to the end of March 2025 and increased by +11.3% compared to the end of June 2024, to reach €5,526 billion. Assets under administration fell by
    -3.0% over the quarter because of a planned customer withdrawal, and were up +1.2% year-on-year, totalling €3,468 billion at end-June 2025.

    On 4 July 2025, Crédit Agricole S.A. announced the finalisation of the buyback of the 30.5% interest held by Santander in CACEIS.

    Results of the Large Customers division

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues of the Large Customers division once again reached a record level at €2,224 million (stable from second quarter 2024), buoyed by an excellent performance in the Corporate and Investment Banking and Asset Servicing business lines.

    Operating expenses increased by +4.4% due to IT investments and business line development. As a result, the division’s gross operating income was down -5.1% from the second quarter of 2024, standing at €967 million. The division recorded a limited addition for provision of the cost of risk of -€20 million integrating the update of economic scenarios and benefiting from favourable model effects, to be compared with an addition of -€39 million in the second quarter of 2024. Pre-tax income amounted to €958 million, down -3.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The tax charge amounted to -€149 million in second quarter 2025. Finally, net income Group share totalled €752 million in the second quarter of 2025, an increase of +8.3% over the second quarter of 2024.

    In first half 2025, the revenues of the Large Customers business line amounted to a historic high of €4,632 million (+3.2% compared to first half 2024). Operating expenses rose +4.6% compared to first half 2024 to €2,617 million, largely related to staff costs and IT investments. Gross operating income for first half of 2025 therefore totalled €2,015 million, up +1.4% from first half 2024. The cost of risk ended the first half of 2025 with a net provision to provisions of -€5 million, which was stable compared with the first half of 2024. The business line’s contribution to underlying net income Group share was at €1,475 million, up +4.1% compared to first half 2024.

    The business line contributed 34% to the net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s core businesses (excluding the Corporate Centre division) at end-June 2025 and 32% to revenues excluding the Corporate Centre.

    At 30 June 2025, the equity allocated to the division was €12.8 billion and its risk weighted assets were €134.7 billion.

    Corporate and Investment Banking results

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues from Corporate and Investment Banking posted a strong performance at €1,705 million (stable in relation to second quarter 2024, +5% excluding FVA/DVA volatile items and foreign exchange impact).

    Operating expenses rose by +6.7% to -€895 million, mainly due to IT investments and the development of business line activities. Gross operating income declined -6.6% compared to second quarter 2024 and recorded a high level of +€810 million. Cost/income ratio was 52.5%, an improvement of +3.3 percentage points for the period. Cost of risk recorded a limited net provision of -€19 million integrating the update of economic scenarios and benefiting from positive model effects. Pre-tax income in second quarter 2025 stands at €793 million, down -5.7% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Lastly, stated net income Group share was up +6.7% to €659 million in the second quarter of 2025.

    In first half 2025, stated revenues rose by +3.7% compared to first half 2024, to €3,591 million, the highest historical half-year level ever. Operating expenses rose +7.1%, mainly due to variable compensation and IT investments to support the development of the business lines. As a result, gross operating income was €1,704 million and stable compared to first half 2024. The cost of risk recorded a net reversal of +€4 million in the first half of 2025, compared to a reversal of +€7 million in the first half of 2024. The income tax charge stood at -€376 million, down -9.3%. Lastly, stated net income Group share for first half 2025 stood at €1,307 million, an increase of +3.0% over the period.

    Risk weighted assets at end-June 2025 were down -€6.6 billion compared to end-March 2025, to €123.6 billion, mainly explained by model effects.

    Asset servicing results

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues for Asset Servicing remained stable compared to second quarter 2024 at €519 million, as the solid performance of the net interest margin was offset by a drop in fee and commission income (notably on foreign exchange). Operating expenses were down by -1.1% to -€361 million, due to the decrease in ISB integration costs compared to the second quarter of 2024 (32). Apart from this effect, expenses were up slightly pending the acceleration of synergies. As a result, gross operating income was up by +3.8% to €158 million in the second quarter of 2025. The cost/income ratio for the second quarter of 2025 stood at 69.6%, down -1.0 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. Consequently, pre-tax income was up by +8.8% and stood at €165 million in the second quarter of 2025. Net income Group share rose +21.1% compared to second quarter 2024.

    Stated revenues for first half 2025 were up +1.5% compared with first half 2024, buoyed by the strong commercial momentum and a favourable trend in the interest margin over the period. Expenses declined -1.3% and included -€13.7 million in integration costs related to the acquisition of ISB’s activities (versus -€44.3 million in integration costs in the first half of 2024). Gross operating income rose +8.8% increase compared to first half 2024.
    The cost/income ratio stood at 70.1%, down 2.0 points compared to the second half of 2024. The additional net income target (33)of +€100 million in 2026 following the integration of ISB is confirmed and the rate of progression in synergies realised is approximately 60%.

    Finally, the contribution of the business line to net income Group share in the first half of 2025 was €168 million, representing a +13.9% increase compared to the first half of 2024.

    Specialised financial services activity

    Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility’s (CAPFM) commercial production totalled €12.4 billion in second quarter 2025, an increase of +2.4% from second quarter 2024, and an increase of +12.4% compared to first quarter 2025. This increase was carried by traditional consumer finance, while the automobile activity remained stable in a still complex market in Europe and China. The share of automotive financing (34) in quarterly new business production stood at 49.6%. The average customer rate for production was down slightly by -9 basis points from the first quarter of 2025. CAPFM assets under management stood at €121.0 billion at end-June 2025, up +4.5% from end-June 2024, over all scopes (Automotive +6.6% (35), LCL and Regional Banks +4.2%, Other Entities +2.5%), benefiting from the expansion of the management portfolio with the Regional Banks and the promising development of car rental with Leasys and Drivalia. Lastly, consolidated outstandings totalled €68.0 billion at end-June 2025, down -0.9% from end-June 2024.

    The commercial production of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) was down -19.4% from second quarter 2024 in leasing, primarily in France in an unfavourable market context (36). In International, production was up, particularly in Poland. Leasing outstandings rose +5.0% year-on-year, both in France (+4.1%) and internationally (+8.6%), to reach €20.8 billion at end-June 2025 (of which €16.4 billion in France and €4.5 billion internationally). Commercial production in factoring was up +26.6% versus second quarter 2024, carried by France, which rose +83.8%, which benefited from the signing of a significant contract; international fell by -27.0%, mainly in Germany. Factoring outstandings at end-June 2025 were up +3.7% compared to end-June 2024, and factored revenues were up by +5.0% compared to the same period in 2024.

    Specialised financial services’ results

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues of the Specialised Financial Services division were €881 million, down -1.0% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Expenses stood at -€438 million, down -1.0% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The cost/income ratio stood at 49.8%, stable compared to the same period in 2024. Gross operating income thus stood at €442 million, down -1.0% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Cost of risk amounted to -€235 million, up +11.7% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Income for the equity-accounted entities amounted to -€13 million, a significant decline from second quarter 2024 which was €29 million, mainly linked to the drop in remarketing revenues for CAPFM as well as a depreciation of goodwill for CAL&F. Pre-tax income for the division amounted to €194 million, down -26.7% compared to the same period in 2024. Net income Group share amounted to €114 million, down -38.9% compared to the same period in 2024.

    In the first half of 2025, revenues for the Specialised Financial Services division were €1,749 million, which was up +0.8% from first half 2024. Operating expenses were up +1.7% from first half 2024 at -€912 million. Gross operating income amounted to €837 million, stable (-0.2%) in relation to first half 2024. The cost/income ratio stood at 52.1%, up +0.5 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. The cost of risk increased by +12.8% compared to the first quarter of 2024 to -€484 million. The contribution of the equity-accounted entities dropped -62.2% from the same period in 2024, mainly linked to the decline in remarketing revenues CAPFM and a depreciation of goodwill for CAL&F (in the second quarter of 2025). Net income Group share includes the corporate tax additional charge in France and amounted to €263 million, down -20.3% compared to the same period in 2024.

    The business line contributed 6% to the net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s core businesses (excluding the Corporate Centre division) at end-June 2025 and 12% to revenues excluding the Corporate Centre.

    At 30 June 2025, the equity allocated to the division was €7.7 billion and its risk weighted assets were €80.7 billion.

    Personal Finance and Mobility results

    In the second quarter of 2025, CAPFM revenues totalled €697 million, up +0.3% from the second quarter of 2024, with a positive price effect benefiting from the improvement in the production margin rate, which rose +35 basis points compared to second quarter 2024 (and which was down -7 basis points from first quarter 2025), partially absorbed by the increase in subordinated debt (37). Expenses totalled -€339 million, a drop of -1.1% and the jaws effect was positive over the quarter at +1.3 percentage points. Gross operating income thus stood at €358 million, an increase of +1.5% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The cost/income ratio stood at 48.7%, up -0.6 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. The cost of risk stood at -€228 million, up +19.6% from the second quarter of 2024. The cost of risk/outstandings thus stood at 135 basis points(38), a slight deterioration of +5 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2025, especially in international activities. The Non Performing Loans ratio was 4.6% at end-June 2025, slightly up by +0.1 percentage points compared to end-March 2025, while the coverage ratio reached 73.2%, down -0.2 percentage points compared to end-March 2025. The contribution from the equity-accounted entities fell by -71.4% compared to the same period in 2024, related mainly to the drop in remarketing revenues. Pre-tax income amounted to €140 million, down -27.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Net income Group share amounted to €81 million, down -38.4% compared to the previous year.

    In the first half of 2025, CAPFM revenues reached €1,380 million, i.e. +1.1% over the first half of 2024, benefiting from volume and positive price effects partially offset by the increase in subordinated debt37. The expenses came to -€709 million, up +1.7% compared to the first half of 2024, related primarily to employee expenses and IT expenses. Gross operating income stood at €671 million, up +0.6%. The cost/income ratio stood at 51.4%, up +0.3 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. The cost of risk rose by +16.3% over the first half of 2024 to -€453 million, notably related to a slight degradation on the international subsidiaries. The contribution from equity-accounted entities fell by -25.9% compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to the decline in remarketing revenues. Therefore, net income Group share, which includes the additional corporate tax charge in France, amounted to €188 million, down -18.7% from the first half of 2024.

    Leasing & Factoring results

    In the second quarter of 2025, CAL&F revenues totalled €183 million, down -5.4% from second quarter 2024 due to the decline in factoring margins (related to the rate decrease). Revenues were up in leasing. Operating expenses stood at -€99 million, down -0.8% over the quarter, and the cost/income ratio stood at 54.0%, an improvement of +2.6 percentage points compared to the second quarter of 2024. Gross operating income stood at €84 million, down -10.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The cost of risk includes a provision reversal on performing loans of +€20 million and thus amounted to -€7 million over the quarter, a drop of -63.9% from the same period in 2024. Cost of risk/outstandings stood at 21 basis points38, down -4 basis points compared to second quarter 2024. Income of the equity-accounted entities totalled -€22 million in second quarter 2025, a sharp decline from second quarter 2024 at -€2 million, due to a depreciation of goodwill. Pre-tax income amounted to €54 million, down -25.4% compared to the same period in 2024. Net income Group share includes the corporate tax additional charge in France and amounted to €33 million, down -40.2% compared to the previous year.

    In the first half of 2025, revenues were stable (-0.6%) from first half 2024 at €369 million with an increase on leasing absorbed by a decrease in factoring margins because of the decrease in rates. Operating expenses increased by +1.9% to -€203 million. Gross operating income was down -3.5% from the first half of 2024 to total €166 million. The cost/income ratio stood at 55.0%, up +1.3 percentage points compared to first half 2024. The cost of risk declined from the first half of 2024 (-21.8%) because of a provision reversal of +€20 million on performing loans in the second quarter of 2025. The contribution of the equity-accounted entities amounted to -€24 million in the first half of 2025, down sharply from the first half of 2024 at -€4 million due to a depreciation of goodwill in first half 2025. Finally, net income Group share includes the additional corporate tax charge in France and amounted to €75 million, down -24.1% from the first half of 2024.

    Crédit Agricole S.A. Retail Banking activity

    In Retail Banking at Crédit Agricole S.A. this quarter, loan production in France continued its upturn compared to the second quarter of 2024. It was down in Italy in a very competitive housing market. The number of customers with insurance is progressing.

    Retail banking activity in France

    In the second quarter of 2025, activity was steady, with an upturn in loan activity, especially real estate loans, compared with the second quarter of 2024, and an increase in inflows. Customer acquisition remained dynamic, with 68,000 new customers this quarter.

    The equipment rate for car, multi-risk home, health, legal, all mobile phones or personal accident insurance rose by +0.6 percentage points to stand at 28.4% at end-June 2025.

    Loan production totalled €6.8 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of +14%. Second quarter 2025 recorded an increase in the production of real estate loans (+24% over second quarter 2024). The average production rate for home loans came to 3.07%, down -11 basis points from the first quarter of 2025 and -77 basis points year on year. The home loan stock rate improved by +3 basis points over the quarter and by +18 basis points year on year. The strong momentum continued in the corporate market (+10% year on year) and the small business market (+15% year on year) and remains up in the consumer finance segment (+2%).

    Outstanding loans stood at €171.5 billion at end-June 2025, representing a quarter-on-quarter increase (+0.5%) and year-on-year (+2.0%, including +1.8% for home loans, +1.7% for loans to small businesses, and +3.4% for corporate loans). Customer assets totalled €256.0 billion at end-June 2025, up +1.7% year on year, driven by off-balance sheet funds and with a slight increase of on-balance sheet deposits. Over the quarter, customer assets remained stable at -0.2% in relation to end-March 2025, with an increase of demand deposits for +2.6% while term deposits dropped -8.5% over the quarter in an environment that remains uncertain. Off-balance sheet deposits benefited from a positive year-on-year market effect and on the quarter and positive net inflows in life insurance.

    Retail banking activity in Italy

    In the second quarter of 2025, CA Italia posted gross customer capture of 54,000.

    Loans outstanding at CA Italia at the end of June 2025 stood at €62.0 billion (39), up +1.6% compared with end-June 2024, in an Italian market up slightly (40), driven by the retail market, which posted an increase in outstandings of +2.8%. The loan stock rate declined by -96 basis points against the second quarter of 2024 and by -24 basis points from the first quarter of 2025. Loan production for the quarter was down -8.1% compared with a high second quarter 2024, in a very competitive home market in the second quarter of 2025. Loan production for the half rose by +1.3% compared with the first half of 2024.

    Customer assets at end-June 2025 totalled €120.5 billion, up +3.2% compared with end-June 2024; on-balance sheet deposits were relatively unchanged (+0.3%) from end-June 2024. Finally, off-balance sheet deposits increased by +6.9% over the same period and benefited from net flows and a positive market effect.

    CA Italia’s equipment rate in car, multi-risk home, health, legal, all mobile phones or personal accident insurance was 20.6%, up +0.9 percentage points over the second quarter of 2024.

    International Retail Banking activity excluding Italy

    For International Retail Banking excluding Italy, loan outstandings were €7.4 billion, up +5.2% at current exchange rates at end-June 2025 compared with end-June 2024 (+6.6% at constant exchange rates). Customer assets rose by +€11.7 billion and were up +6.4% over the same period at current exchange rates (+9.7% at constant exchange rates).

    In Poland in particular, loan outstandings increased by +5.2% compared to end-June 2024 (+3.6% at constant exchange rates) driven by the retail segment and on-balance sheet deposits of +8.2% (+6.6% at constant exchange rates). Loan production in Poland rose this quarter compared to the second quarter of 2024 (+7.9% at current exchange rates and +6.5% at constant exchange rates). In addition, gross customer capture in Poland reached 48,000 new customers this quarter.

    In Egypt, commercial activity was strong in all markets. Loans outstanding rose +6.8% between end-June 2025 and end-June 2024 (+20.9% at constant exchange rates). Over the same period, on-balance sheet deposits increased by +9.0%% and were up +23.3% at constant exchange rates.

    Liquidity is still very strong with a net surplus of deposits over loans in Poland and Egypt amounting to +€2.0 billion at 30 June 2025, and reached €3.5 billion including Ukraine.

    French retail banking results

    In the second quarter of 2025, LCL revenues amounted to €976 million, stable from the second quarter of 2024. The increase in fee and commission income (+3.1% over second quarter 2024) was driven by the strong momentum in insurance (life and non-life). NIM was down -3.4%, under the impact of an unfavourable base effect, but improved compared to the first quarter of 2025 (+7.8%), thanks to the progressive repricing of loans and the decrease in the cost of customer-related funds (which benefited from a positive change in the deposit mix) and of refinancing, offset by a lower contribution from macro-hedging.

    Expenses were up slightly by +1.0% and stood at -€597 million linked to ongoing investments. The cost/income ratio stood at 61.1%, an increase by 0.8 percentage points compared to second quarter 2024. Gross operating income fell by -2.4% to €380 million.

    The cost of risk was stable (-0.3% compared with second quarter 2024) and amounted to -€95 million (including an addition to provisions of -€104 million on proven risk and a reversal of +€10 million on healthy loans, incorporating the impact of the scenario update offset by the model update. The cost of risk/outstandings was stable at 20 basis points, with its level still high in the professional market. The coverage ratio still remains at a high level and was 60.9% at the end of June 2025. The Non Performing Loans ratio was 2.1% at the end of June 2025.

    Finally, pre-tax income stood at €286 million, down -3.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024, and net income Group share was down -5.7% from the second quarter of 2024.

    In the first half of 2025, LCL revenues were stable, up +0.3% compared to first half 2024 and totalled €1,939 million. The net interest margin was down (-2.6%), benefiting from gradual loan repricing and lower funding and refinancing costs, although the impact of macro-hedging remained positive, though less favourable, and there was an unfavourable base effect in the second quarter. Fee and commission income rose +3.4% compared to first half 2024, particularly on insurance. Expenses rose by +2.4% over the period and the cost/income ratio remained under control (+1.3 percentage points compared with first half 2024) at 63.0%. Gross operating income fell by -3.1% and the cost of risk improved by -12.9%. Lastly, the business line’s contribution to net income Group share includes the additional corporate tax charge in France and amounted to €337 million (-14.4% compared to the first half of 2024).

    In the end, the business line contributed 8% to the net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s core businesses (excluding the Corporate Centre division) in the second quarter of 2025 and 13% to revenues excluding the Corporate Centre division.

    At 30 June 2025, the equity allocated to the business line stood at €5.3 billion and risk weighted assets amounted to €55.7 billion.

    International Retail Banking results (41)

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues for International Retail Banking totalled €1,007 million, down compared with the second quarter of 2024 (-1.9% at current exchange rates, -1.3% at constant exchange rates). Operating expenses amounted to -€520 million, down -6.3% (-6.0% at constant exchange rates), and benefited from the end of the contribution to the DGS in 2025, which was recorded for -€58 million in the second quarter of 2024. Gross operating income consequently totalled €487 million, up +3.2% (+4.3% at constant exchange rates) for the period. Cost of risk amounted to -€61 million, down -15.5% compared to second quarter 2024 (-19.8% at constant exchange rates). All in all, net income Group share for CA Italia, CA Egypt, CA Poland and CA Ukraine amounted to €238 million in the second quarter of 2025, up +4.3% (and +6.4% at constant exchange rates).

    In first half 2025, International Retail Banking revenues fell by -2.5% to €2,033 million (-0.7% at constant exchange rates). Operating expenses totalled -€1,035 million, down -2.4% (-4% at constant exchange rates) from the first half of 2024, and benefited from the end of the contribution to the DGS in 2025, which had been recorded for -€58 million in the second quarter of 2024. Gross operating income totalled €998 million, down -2.6% (+2.9% at constant exchange rates). The cost of risk fell by -17.3% (-14.2% at constant exchange rates) to -€128 million compared to first half 2024. Ultimately, net income Group share of International Retail Banking was €483 million, stable in comparison with €485 million in the first half of 2024.

    At 30 June 2025, the capital allocated to International Retail Banking was €4.3 billion and risk weighted assets totalled €44.9 billion.

    Results in Italy

    In the second quarter of 2025, Crédit Agricole Italia’s revenues amounted to €767 million, down -2.2% from second quarter 2024, due to the decline in the net interest margin (-4.4% compared with the second quarter of 2024 related to the decrease in rates). The net interest margin was up +2% compared to first quarter 2025. Fee and commission income on managed assets rose significantly by +11.6% compared to second quarter 2024. Operating expenses were -€398 million, down -9.5% from second quarter 2024, due to the end of the contribution to the DGS in 2025, whereas an amount of -€58 million had been recognised in this respect in the second quarter of 2024. Excluding the DGS, expenses rose by +4.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024 because of employee and IT expenses to support the growth of the business lines.

    The cost of risk was -€45 million in the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of -26.4% from second quarter 2024, and continues to fall with an improvement in the quality of the assets and the coverage ratio. In effect, the cost of risk/outstandings (42) is 36 basis points, an improvement of 3 basis points versus the first quarter of 2025; the Non Performing Loans ratio is 2.7% and is improved from the first quarter of 2025, just like the coverage ratio which is 81.0% (+3.1 percentage points over the first quarter of 2025). This translates into a net income Group share of €172 million for CA Italia, up +12.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    In first half 2025, revenues for Crédit Agricole Italia fell by -0.9% to €1,545 million. Operating expenses amounted to -€781 million, down -4.8% from the first half of 2024, and an increase of +2.4% excluding the DGS for -€58 million in the second quarter of 2024. This took gross operating income to €763 million, up +3.4% compared to first half 2024. The cost of risk amounted to -€102 million, down -17.2% compared to the first half of 2024. As a result, net income Group share of CA Italia totalled €350 million, an increase of +5.2% compared to first half 2024.

    Results for Crédit Agricole Group in Italy (43)

    In the first half of 2025, the net income Group share of entities in Italy amounted to €652 million, down -1.1% compared to the first half of 2024. The breakdown by business line is as follows: Retail Banking 54%; Specialised Financial Services 14%; Asset Gathering and Insurance 19%; and Large Customers 13%. Lastly, Italy’s contribution to net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A. in first half 2025 was 15%.

    International Retail Banking results – excluding Italy

    In the second quarter of 2025, revenues for International Retail Banking excluding Italy totalled €240 million, down -1.1% (+1.7% at constant exchange rates) compared to the second quarter of 2024. Revenues in Poland were up +9.5% in the second quarter of 2024 (+8.3% at constant exchange rates), boosted by net interest margin and fee and commission income. Revenues in Egypt were down -9.2% (-4.8% at constant exchange rates) with a residual base effect related to the exceptional foreign exchange activity of the second quarter of 2024. The increase in fee and commission income does not offset the slight decline in net interest margin. Operating expenses for International Retail Banking excluding Italy amounted to -€123 million, up +6.0% compared to the second quarter of 2024 (+7.5% at constant exchange rates) due to the effect of employee expenses and taxes in Poland as well as employee expenses and IT expenses in Egypt. At constant exchange rates, the jaws effect was positive by +2.6 percentage points in Poland. Gross operating income amounted to €117 million, down -7.5% (-3.6% at constant exchange rates) compared to the second quarter of 2024. The cost of risk is low at -€16 million, compared with -€11 million in the second quarter of 2024. Furthermore, at end-June 2025, the coverage ratio for loan outstandings remained high in Poland and Egypt, at 124% and 135%, respectively. In Ukraine, the local coverage ratio remains prudent (558%). All in all, the contribution of International Retail Banking excluding Italy to net income Group share was €66 million, down -11.9% compared with the second quarter of 2024 (-6.5% at constant exchange rates).

    In the first half of 2025, revenues for International Retail Banking excluding Italy totalled €488 million, down -7.1% (-1.1% at constant exchange rates) compared to the first half of 2024. Operating expenses amounted to -€254 million, up +5.9% compared to the first half of 2024 (+8.4% at constant exchange rates). The cost/income ratio stood at 52.0% at the end of June 2025, decreasing by 6.4 percentage points compared to the first half of 2024. Gross operating income amounted to €235 million, down -17.9% (-9.7% at constant exchange rates) compared to the first half of 2024. Cost of risk amounted to -€26 million, down -17.8% (-19.7% at constant exchange rates) compared to the first half of 2024. All in all, International Retail Banking excluding Italy contributed €133 million to net income Group share.

    At 30 June 2025, the entire Retail Banking business line contributed 19% to the net income Group share of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s core businesses (excluding the Corporate Centre division) and 28% to revenues excluding the Corporate Centre.

    At 30 June 2025, the division’s equity amounted to €9.6 billion. Its risk weighted assets totalled €100.6 billion.

    Corporate Centre results

    The net income Group share of the Corporate Centre was -€22 million in second quarter 2025, up +€217 million compared to second quarter 2024. The contribution of the Corporate Centre division can be analysed by distinguishing between the “structural” contribution (-€60 million) and other items (+€39 million).
    The contribution of the “structural” component (-€60 million) was up by +€184 million compared with the second quarter of 2024 and can be broken down into three types of activity:

    • The activities and functions of the Corporate Centre of the Crédit Agricole S.A. Parent Company. This contribution was -€287 million in the second quarter of 2025, up +€45 million.
    • The businesses that are not part of the business lines, such as CACIF (Private equity), CA Immobilier, CATE and BforBank (equity-accounted), and other investments. Their contribution, at +€217 million in the second quarter of 2025, was up +€140 million compared to the second quarter of 2024, including the positive impact of the Banco BPM dividend linked to an increased stake of 19.8% combined with a rise in the value of the securities (+€143 million).
    • Group support functions. Their contribution amounted to +€9 million this quarter (unchanged compared with the second quarter of 2024).

    The contribution from “other items” amounted to +€39 million, up +€32 million compared to the second quarter of 2024, mainly due to ESTER/BOR volatility factors.

    The underlying net income Group share of the Corporate Centre division in first half 2025 was -€124 million, up +€221 million compared to first half 2024. The structural component contributed -€114 million, while the division’s other items contributed -€10 million over the half-year.
    The “structural” component contribution was up +€237 million compared to first half 2024 and can be broken down into three types of activity:

    • The activities and functions of the Corporate Centre of the Crédit Agricole S.A. Parent Company. This contribution amounted to -€601 million for first half 2025, up +€26 million compared to first half 2024;
    • Business lines not attached to the core businesses, such as Crédit Agricole CIF (private equity) and CA Immobilier, BforBank and other investments: their contribution, which stood at +€469 million in first half 2025, an increase compared to the first half of 2024 (+€207 million).
    • The Group’s support functions: their contribution for the first half of 2025 was +€18 million, up +€4 million compared to the first half of 2024.

    The contribution of “other items” was down -€15 million compared to first half 2024.

    At 30 June 2025, risk weighted assets stood at €38.3 billion.

    Financial strength

    Crédit Agricole Group has the best level of solvency among European Global Systemically Important Banks.

    Capital ratios for Crédit Agricole Group are well above regulatory requirements. At 30 June 2025, the phased Common Equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1) for Crédit Agricole Group stood at 17.6%, or a substantial buffer of 7.7 percentage points above regulatory requirements. Over the quarter, the CET1 ratio remained stable, reflecting the increase in retained earnings of +31 basis points (bp), -29 bp of organic growth in the business lines, +5 bp of methodological impact and -13 bp of M&A transactions, OCI and other items.

    Crédit Agricole S.A., in its capacity as the corporate centre of the Crédit Agricole Group, fully benefits from the internal legal solidarity mechanism as well as the flexibility of capital circulation within the Crédit Agricole Group. Its phased-in CET1 ratio as at 30 June 2025 stood at 11.9%, 3.2 percentage points above the regulatory requirement, -20 bp compared to the March 2025. The change over the quarter was due to the retained earnings of +28 bp, business lines’ organic growth of -23 bp, +4 bp from methodology impacts and -33 bp from M&A transactions, OCI and other44. The proforma CET1 ratio Including M&A transactions completed after 30 June 2025 would be 11.6%.

    The breakdown of the change in Crédit Agricole S.A.’s risk weighted assets by business line is the combined result of:  +€3.4 billion for the Retail Banking divisions linked to changes in the business lines, -€0.3 billion for Asset Gathering, taking into account the increase in insurance dividends, +€1.7 billion for Specialised Financial Services, -€7.0 billion for Large Customers, linked to favourable methodology and FX impact and moderate business line growth, and  +€3.2 billion for the Corporate Centre division, notably linked to the impact of the increase in the Banco BPM stake to 19.8%.

    For the Crédit Agricole Group, the Regional Banks’ risk weighted assets increased by +€6.9 billion. The evolution of the other businesses follows the same trend as for Crédit Agricole S.A.

    Crédit Agricole Group’s financial structure

        Crédit Agricole Group   Crédit Agricole S.A.
        30/06/25 31/03/25 Exigences 30/06/25   30/06/25 31/03/25 Exigences 30/06/25
    Phased-in CET1 ratio45   17.6% 17.6% 9.88%   11.9% 12.1% 8.71%
    Tier1 ratio45   18.9% 19.0% 11.72%   14.0% 14.3% 10.52%
    Total capital ratio45   21.4% 21.8% 14.17%   17.8% 18.4% 12.94%
    Risk-weighted assets (€bn)   649 641     406 405  
    Leverage ratio   5.6% 5.6% 3.5%   3.9% 4.0% 3.0%
    Leverage exposure (€bn)   2,191 2,173     1,445 1,434  
    TLAC ratio (% RWA)45,46   27.6% 28.5% 22.4%        
    TLAC ratio (% LRE)46   8.2% 8.4% 6.75%        
    Subordinated MREL ratio (% RWA)45   27.6% 28.5% 21.6%        
    Subordinated MREL ratio (% LRE)   8.2% 8.4% 6.25%        
    Total MREL ratio (% RWA)45   32.7% 34.0% 26.2%        
    Total MREL ratio (% LRE)   9.7% 10.0% 6.25%        
    Distance to the distribution restriction trigger (€bn)47   46 46     13 14  

    For Crédit Agricole S.A., the distance to the trigger for distribution restrictions is the distance to the MDA trigger48, i.e. 318 basis points, or €13 billion of CET1 capital at 30 June 2025. Crédit Agricole S.A. is not subject to either the L-MDA (distance to leverage ratio buffer requirement) or the M-MDA (distance to MREL requirements).

    For Crédit Agricole Group, the distance to the trigger for distribution restrictions is the distance to the L-MDA trigger at 30 June 2025. Crédit Agricole Group posted a buffer of 209 basis points above the L-MDA trigger, i.e. €46 billion in Tier 1 capital.

    At 30 June 2025, Crédit Agricole Group’s TLAC and MREL ratios are well above requirements49. Crédit Agricole Group posted a buffer of 530 basis points above the M-MDA trigger, i.e. €34 billion in CET1 capital. At this date, the distance to the M-MDA trigger corresponds to the distance between the TLAC ratio and the corresponding requirement. The Crédit Agricole Group’s 2025 target is to maintain a TLAC ratio greater than or equal to 26% of RWA excluding eligible senior preferred debt.

    Liquidity and Funding

    Liquidity is measured at Crédit Agricole Group level.

    As of 31 December 2024, changes have been made to the presentation of the Group’s liquidity position (liquidity reserves and balance sheet, breakdown of long-term debt). These changes are described in the 2024 Universal Registration Document.

    Diversified and granular customer deposits remain stable compared to March 2025 (€1,147 billion at end-June 2025).

    The Group’s liquidity reserves, at market value and after haircuts50, amounted to €471 billion at 30 June 2025, down -€16 billion compared to 31 March 2025.

    Liquidity reserves covered more than twice the short-term debt net of treasury assets.

    This change in liquidity reserves is notably explained by:

    • The decrease in the securities portfolio (HQLA and non-HQLA) for -€7 billion;
    • The decrease in collateral already pledged to Central Banks and unencumbered for -€13 billion, linked to the decline in self-securitisations for -€7 billion and the decrease in receivables eligible for central bank for -€6 billion;
    • The increase in central bank deposits for +€4 billion.

    Crédit Agricole Group also continued its efforts to maintain immediately available reserves (after recourse to ECB financing). Central bank eligible non-HQLA assets after haircuts amounted to €131 billion.

    Standing at €1,696 billion at 30 June 2025, the Group’s liquidity balance sheet shows a surplus of stable funding resources over stable application of funds of €179 billion, down -€18 billion compared with end-March 2025. This surplus remains well above the Medium-Term Plan target of €110bn-€130bn.

    Long term debt was €316 billion at 30 June 2025, slightly up compared with end-March 2025. This included:

    • Senior secured debt of €93 billion, up +€4 billion;
    • Senior preferred debt of €162 billion;
    • Senior non-preferred debt of €38 billion, down -€2 billion due to the MREL/TLAC eligible debt;
    • And Tier 2 securities of €23 billion, down -€1 billion.

    Credit institutions are subject to a threshold for the LCR ratio, set at 100% on 1 January 2018.

    At 30 June 2025, the average LCR ratios (calculated on a rolling 12-month basis) were 137% for Crédit Agricole Group (representing a surplus of €87 billion) and 142% for Crédit Agricole S.A. (representing a surplus of €84 billion). They were higher than the Medium-Term Plan target (around 110%).

    In addition, the NSFR of Crédit Agricole Group and Crédit Agricole S.A. exceeded 100%, in accordance with the regulatory requirement applicable since 28 June 2021 and above the Medium-Term Plan target (>100%).

    The Group continues to follow a prudent policy as regards medium-to-long-term refinancing, with a very diversified access to markets in terms of investor base and products.

    At 30 June 2025, the Group’s main issuers raised the equivalent of €21.3 billion51in medium-to-long-term debt on the market, 84% of which was issued by Crédit Agricole S.A.

    In particular, the following amounts are noted for the Group excluding Crédit Agricole S.A.:

    • Crédit Agricole Assurances issued €750 million in RT1 perpetual NC10.75 year;
    • Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility issued:
      • €1 billion in EMTN issuances through Crédit Agricole Auto Bank (CAAB);
      • €420 million in securitisations through Agos;
    • Crédit Agricole Italia issued one senior secured debt issuance for a total of €1 billion;
    • Crédit Agricole next bank (Switzerland) issued two tranches in senior secured format for a total of 200 million Swiss francs, of which 100 million Swiss francs in Green Bond format.

    At 30 June 2025, Crédit Agricole S.A. raised the equivalent of €16.5 billion through the market 51,52.

    The bank raised the equivalent of €16.5 billion, of which €7.3 billion in senior non-preferred debt and €2.8 billion in Tier 2 debt, as well as €1.7 billion in senior preferred debt and €4.7 billion in senior secured debt at end-June. The financing comprised a variety of formats and currencies, including:

    • €2.75 billion 52,53 ;
    • 5.4 billion US dollars (€5.1 billion equivalent);
    • 1.6 billion pounds sterling (€1.9 billion equivalent);
    • 179.3 billion Japanese yen (€1.1 billion equivalent);
    • 0.4 billion Singapore dollars (€0.3 billion equivalent);
    • 0.6 billion Australian dollars (€0.4 billion equivalent);
    • 0.3 billion Swiss francs (€0.3 billion equivalent).

    At end-June, Crédit Agricole S.A. had issued 77%52,53 of its funding plan in currencies other than the euro.

    In addition, on 13 February 2025, Crédit Agricole S.A. issued a PerpNC10 AT1 bond for €1.5 billion at an initial rate of 5.875% and announced on 30 April 2025 the regulatory call exercise for the AT1 £ with £103m outstanding (XS1055037920) – ineligible, grandfathered until 28/06/2025 – redeemed on 30/06/2025.

    The 2025 MLT market funding programme was set at €20 billion, with a balanced distribution between senior preferred or senior secured debt and senior non-preferred or Tier 2 debt.

    The programme was 82% completed at 30 June 2025, with:

    • €4.7 billion in senior secured debt;
    • €1.7 billion equivalent in senior preferred debt;
    • €7.3 billion equivalent in senior non-preferred debt;
    • €2.8 billion equivalent in Tier 2 debt.

    Economic and financial environment

    Review of the first half of 2025

    An even more conflict-ridden and unpredictable environment, causing a slowdown

    The first half of the year took place in an even more conflict-ridden and unpredictable environment, marked by open wars and powerful geopolitical and trade tensions. The war in Ukraine remained a major unresolved issue: President Trump’s initiatives aimed at ending the conflict proved fruitless, while signalling a strategic shift in US policy, notably away from protecting European territory. President Trump’s statements on NATO (demanding that military spending be increased to 5% of GDP) forced Europe to accelerate the overhaul of its defence strategy, as evidenced by the announcement of a white paper detailing defence support measures worth €800 billion. With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continuing without any lasting political solution in sight, international tensions peaked in June with Israel’s attack on Iran, quickly joined by its US ally. After twelve days of clashes, a ceasefire was announced on 24 June.

    Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency has obviously resulted in a protectionist offensive of unexpected violence. This offensive culminated in “Liberation Day” on 2 April, when “reciprocal” tariffs were imposed on all of the United States’ trading partners. While China was particularly targeted, the European Union was also severely affected; even the countries participating in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA, United States, Canada, Mexico) were not spared, as they were subject to sector-specific tariffs applicable everywhere (steel, aluminium, automobiles, semiconductors). However, these announcements were followed by a presidential U-turn on 9 April, with reciprocal tariffs being lowered to 10% and a 90-day truce agreed upon to allow for the negotiation of bilateral trade agreements. At the end of this pause (9 July), the US president decided to extend it (to 1 August), offering hope to major trading partners (the European Union, Japan and South Korea) that agreements could be reached to reduce tariffs, while leaving economic players in uncertainty about international trade conditions. Only the United Kingdom, China and Vietnam have signed an agreement.

    The unpredictability of US trade policy, characterised by dramatic announcements followed by partial reversals, has created ongoing uncertainty. In the first half of the year, this was reflected in mixed economic and financial performances across countries, suggesting a more pronounced global slowdown. The IMF has therefore revised its global growth forecast for 2025 downwards to 2.8% (a decrease of -0.5 percentage points (pp) compared to its January forecast and the growth observed in 2024).

    The US economy has shown early signs of slowing down, hit by weaker consumer spending and, above all, a sharp rise in imports as companies seek to build up stocks ahead of the entry into force of new tariffs. GDP contracted by 0.5% in the first quarter (annualised quarter-on-quarter change). After moderating but remaining above the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) 2% target, inflation (year-on-year) stood at 2.7% in June (after 2.4% in May). Core inflation (excluding volatile components, food and energy) reached 2.9%; the increase in tariffs (although not yet finalised) already seems to be visible in the cost of certain goods (furniture, textiles and clothing, household appliances). Despite this turbulence, the job market has stayed relatively strong (unemployment rate at 4.2% in May, still within the narrow range it has been in since May 2024), providing some stability for an otherwise fragile economy.

    In China, despite a very difficult external environment and punitive US tariffs, growth (5.4% and 5.2% in the first and second quarters) stabilised above the official target of 5% for 2025. While consumption is sluggish, a weakness reflected in the absence of inflation (which has not exceeded 1% year-on-year since February 2024), exports have continued to accelerate, making a surprising contribution to growth. At 2.1 percentage points in the first quarter of 2025, the contribution from net external demand reached an historic high (excluding Covid), reflecting China’s undisputed dominance in global manufacturing, although temporary positive effects (anticipation of US tariffs at the beginning of the year) should not be overlooked.

    In an unfavourable environment, the eurozone held up well, with growth initially estimated at 0.3% (quarter-on-quarter) and then revised upwards (0.6%, or 1.5% year-on-year). Growth in the eurozone was mainly driven by investment, followed by net external demand and finally household consumption (with respective contributions to growth of 0.4 pp, 0.3 pp and 0.1 pp), while inventories subtracted 0.1 pp from growth and final public expenditure was “neutral”. This overall performance continued to mask varying national fortunes: among the largest member countries, Spain continued to post very strong growth (0.6%) and Germany saw an upturn (0.4%), while Italy and France posted fairly sustained (0.3%) and weak (0.1%) growth rates, respectively. Continued disinflation (to 1.9% year-on-year in May after 2.2% in April and 2.6% in May 2024) and anchored expectations made it possible for the ECB to continue its monetary easing, reassured by the convergence of inflation towards its 2% target.

    In France, in particular, after benefiting from the boost provided by the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games in the third quarter of 2024 (+0.4% quarter-on-quarter), activity declined slightly in the last quarter of last year (-0.1%) due to after-effects. It picked up again in the first quarter of 2025, but growth remained weak (+0.1%). Domestic demand, which contributed negatively to growth, is largely responsible for this sluggishness. Household consumption declined (-0.2%), undermined by a record savings rate (18% of household disposable income, compared with 15.4% in the eurozone) for 45 years (excluding the Covid period), while public consumption slowed (+0.2% after +0.4%). Investment continued to stagnate, reflecting the fact that companies in France are more indebted than in the rest of the eurozone (making them more vulnerable to past interest rate hikes) and the budgetary efforts of public administrations to reduce the public deficit. As a result, domestic demand weighed on growth in the first quarter (-0.1 pp). However, it was mainly foreign trade that undermined growth (-0.8 pp) due to the collapse of exports, particularly in the aerospace sector. Unlike its European peers, France did not benefit from the sharp rise in global trade in the first quarter (+1.7%) in anticipation of US tariffs.

    In terms of monetary policy, the first half of 2025 was marked by a notable divergence between the status quo of the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the continued easing by the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB cut interest rates four times by 25 basis points (bp) each, bringing the cumulative reduction in the deposit rate (2% since 11 June) to 200 bp since the start of easing (June 2024). However, after cutting its policy rate by 100 bp in 2024 (to 4.50%), the Fed kept rates unchanged due to overly modest progress on inflation, even though growth did not appear to be definitively at risk. Inflationary risks linked to tariffs led it to adopt a very cautious stance, which was widely criticised by President Trump.
    The financial markets, while remaining subject to bouts of nervousness prompted by geopolitical events, generally kept pace with Donald Trump’s stated ambitions, their feasibility and his U-turns. Thus, the theme of the American exception at the beginning of the year (growth exceeding potential, resilience despite interest rates set to rise, the privileged status of the dollar, unlimited capacity to borrow and shift risks to the rest of the world) has been supplanted by disenchantment with US assets following “Liberation Day”. Following the president’s backtracking and announcement of a 90-day pause, serious doubts were raised about his ability to truly deliver on his domestic and international commitments. Periods marked by exaggerated negativity have therefore alternated with periods dominated by equally exaggerated positivity.

    Bond markets therefore experienced mixed movements. During the first half of the year, in the United States, the decline in yields (54) on short maturities was ultimately quite sharp (nearly 60 bp for the two-year swap rate to nearly 3.50%) and exceeded that of the ten-year swap rate (down 38 bp to 3.69%), giving the curve a steeper slope. Despite Moody’s rating downgrade, the yield on 10-year sovereign bonds (US Treasuries) fell in line with the swap rate for the same maturity, which it now exceeds by more than 50 bp (at 4.23%). In the eurozone, the steepening effect was less pronounced and unfolded differently: there was a less marked decline in the two-year swap rate (from 22 bp to 1.90%) and an increase in the ten-year swap rate (from 23 bp to 2.57%). Under the influence of the Merz government’s expansionary budget programme, the German 10-year yield (Bund) rose (24 bp to 2.61%) and exceeded the swap rate for the same maturity by a few basis points. Ten-year swap spreads on benchmark European sovereign bonds narrowed in the first half of the year, with Italy posting the strongest performance (spread down 27 bp to 90 bp). This improvement reflects a more favourable perception of Italy’s public finances and a degree of political stability, in contrast to the turbulence of previous years. Italian growth also showed unexpected resilience in the face of trade tensions. Penalised since the dissolution of parliament in June 2024 by a damaging lack of a parliamentary majority and severely deteriorated public finances, the French spread nevertheless narrowed during the half-year, falling from a high level (85 bp) to 71 bp. It now exceeds the Spanish spread (at 67 bp).

    On the equity markets, European indexes outperformed their US counterparts, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up 10% since the start of the year (and a spectacular rise of nearly 25% for the banking sector), while the S&P 500, which was much more volatile over the period, rose by nearly 7%, buoyed by high-tech stocks. The US dollar lost some of its lustre amid economic and international policy uncertainty, with the euro appreciating by 14% against the dollar and 6% in nominal effective terms. Finally, the price of gold rose by 26% in the first half of the year, reaching a record high of US$3,426 per ounce in April, confirming its status as a preferred safe haven during this period of intense uncertainty.

    2025–2026 Outlook

    An anxiety-inducing context, some unprecedented resistance

    The economic and financial scenario, which has already had to contend with the volatility and unpredictability of US economic policy, is unfolding against an even more uncertain international backdrop, in which the risk of disruptive events (blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, incidents affecting infrastructure in the Gulf etc.) cannot be entirely ruled out.

    Our economic scenario for the United States has always been based on a two-step sequence in line with the pace of the economic policy planned by Donald Trump: a positive impact on inflation but a negative impact on growth from tariffs (which fall within the president’s prerogatives), followed by a positive but delayed effect from aggressive budgetary policy (which requires congressional approval). Although our forecasts for 2025 have been revised slightly downwards, our US scenario remains on track, in line with the timetable for economic policy measures: while avoiding recession, growth is expected to slow sharply in 2025, coupled with a pick-up in inflation, before regaining momentum in 2026.

    Even with the recent de-escalation, tariff rates remain significantly higher than they were before Donald Trump’s second election. The negative impact of the new trade policy is the main driver of the decline in the growth forecast for 2025 (1.5% after 2.8% in 2024), while more favourable aspects (the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, tax cuts and deregulation) should contribute to the expected upturn in 2026 (2.2%). The possibility of a recession in 2025 has been ruled out due to solid fundamentals, including lower sensitivity to interest rates, very healthy household finances and a labour market that remains relatively robust, even if there are signs of deterioration. Despite the expected slowdown in growth, our inflation forecasts have been revised upwards. Tariffs are expected to cause year-on-year inflation to rise by around 80 basis points (bp) at peak impact. Although this effect is temporary, inflation (annual average) is expected to reach 2.9% in 2025 and 2.7% in 2026. It is therefore expected to continue to exceed 2%, with underlying inflation stabilising at around 2.5% at the end of 2026.

    In a conflict-ridden and unpredictable external environment, Europe is expected to find salvation in domestic demand, allowing it to better withstand the global slowdown. Two alternative scenarios, between which the balance is delicate, are likely to unfold: a scenario of resilience in the eurozone economy based on an increase in private spending but also, and perhaps above all, in public spending on defence and infrastructure; a scenario of stagnating activity under the effect of a series of negative shocks: competitiveness shocks linked to higher tariffs, appreciation of the euro and the negative impact of uncertainty on private confidence.

    We favour the scenario of resilience against a backdrop of a buoyant labour market, a healthy economic and financial situation for the private sector and a favourable credit cycle. The effective implementation of additional public spending, particularly the “German bazooka”(55), certainly needs to be confirmed. However, this spending could provide the eurozone with growth driven by stronger domestic demand at a time when global growth is slowing. It would offer a type of exceptionalism, especially compared to the past decade, which would put eurozone growth above its medium-term potential. Average annual growth in the eurozone is expected to accelerate slightly in 2025 to 0.9% and strengthen to 1.3% in 2026. Average inflation is expected to continue to moderate, reaching 2.1% and 1.8% in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

    In Germany, the sluggish economy should return to robust growth. Although more exposed than its partners to protectionist policies, the economy should be boosted by the public investment plan. This plan and the removal of barriers to financing infrastructure and defence investment that had previously seemed insurmountable give hope for a significant, albeit not immediate, recovery. While the effects are likely to be minimal in 2025 due to implementation delays, a significant flow of funds is expected in 2026, with positive spillover effects for Germany’s European neighbours and the eurozone as a whole. German growth could recover significantly, rising from -0.2% in 2024 to 0.1% in 2025 and, above all, 1.2% in 2026. In France, growth is expected to remain sluggish in the second quarter of 2025, before accelerating slightly in the second half of the year. The real upturn would not come until 2026, driven by a recovery in investment and the initial favourable impact of German government measures. The risks remain mainly on the downside for activity in the short term. Our scenario assumes growth rates of 0.6% and 1.2% in 2025 and 2026, respectively (after 1.1% in 2024). In Italy, incomplete catching-up and a recent decline in purchasing power, despite strong employment, are likely to limit the potential for a recovery in household consumption. Positive surprises on the investment front are likely to continue, thanks to improved financing conditions and subsidies for the energy and digital transitions. While the recent weakness in industrial orders may weigh on productive investment, construction is holding up well. However, doubts remain about growth potential, with post-pandemic sector allocation favouring less productive sectors. Growth is expected to reach 0.6% in 2025 and 0.7% in 2026 (after 0.7% in 2024).

    The central scenario for the eurozone (developed and quantified in June) assumes that the tariff dispute with the United States will remain unchanged as of 4 June, i.e. a general increase in tariffs to 10% (except for exempted products), 25% on cars and 50% on steel. The risks associated with this central scenario are bearish. The stagnation scenario could materialise if the trade dispute with the United States were to escalate, if competitive pressures were to intensify, if private confidence were to deteriorate significantly and, finally, if fiscal stimulus were to be implemented more gradually than anticipated.

    Such an uncertain environment, characterised by global slowdown and shrinking export opportunities, would certainly have led in the past (and not so long ago) to underperformance by emerging economies, which are further hampered by risk aversion in the markets, higher interest rates and pressure on their currencies. However, despite tariffs (the effects of which will obviously vary greatly from one economy to another), our scenario remains broadly optimistic for the major emerging countries. These countries could show unprecedented resilience thanks to support measures that are likely to partially cushion the impact of an unfavourable environment: relatively strong labour markets, fairly solid domestic demand, monetary easing (with a few exceptions), and a limited slowdown in China (after holding up well in the first half of the year, growth is expected to approach 4.5% in 2025 due to the anticipated slowdown in the second half linked to the trade war). Finally, emerging market currencies have held up well and the risk of defensive rate hikes, which would weigh heavily on growth, is lower than might have been feared. However, these relatively positive prospects are accompanied by higher-than-usual risks due to the unpredictability of US policy.

    In terms of monetary policy, the end of the easing cycles is drawing nearer. In the US, the scenario (a sharp slowdown in 2025, an upturn in 2026 and inflation continuing to significantly exceed the target) and the uncertainties surrounding it should encourage the Fed to remain patient, despite Donald Trump’s calls for a more accommodative policy. The Fed is likely to proceed with a slight easing followed by a long pause. Our scenario still assumes two cuts in 2025, but pushes them back by one quarter (to September and December, from June and September previously). After these two cuts, the Fed is likely to keep rates unchanged with a maximum upper limit of 4% throughout 2026.

    As for the ECB, although it refuses to rule out any future rate cuts, it may well have reached the end of its easing cycle due to an expected recovery in growth and inflation on target. Of course, a deterioration in the economic environment would justify further easing: the ECB stands ready to cut rates if necessary. Our scenario assumes that the deposit rate will remain at 2% in 2026.

    On the interest rate front, in the United States, persistent inflationary risks and a budgetary trajectory deemed unsustainable, a compromised AAA rating, the volatility of economic decisions and heightened investor concerns are exerting upward pressure. Our scenario assumes a 10-year US Treasury yield of around 4.70% at the end of 2025 and 4.95% at the end of 2026. In the eurozone, resilient growth that is expected to accelerate, inflation on target and the ECB believed to have almost completed its easing cycle point to a slight rise in interest rates and a stabilisation or even tightening of sovereign spreads. The German 10-year yield (Bund) could thus approach 2.90% at the end of 2025 and 2.95% at the end of 2026. For the same maturity, the spread offered by France relative to the Bund would fluctuate around 60/65 bp, while Italy’s would narrow to 90 bp by the end of 2026.

    Finally, the US dollar continues to lose ground. The inconsistency and unpredictability of Donald Trump’s economic policies, the deteriorating US budget outlook and speculation about official plans to devalue the dollar, combined with resistance from other economies, are all factors putting pressure on the dollar, although this does not necessarily spell the end of its status as a key reserve currency in the short term. The euro/dollar exchange rate is expected to settle at 1.17 in the fourth quarter of 2025, before depreciating in 2026 (1.10).

    Appendix 1 – Crédit Agricole Group: income statement by business line

    Credit Agricole Group – Results par by business line, Q2-25 and Q2-24

      Q2-25
    €m RB LCL IRB AG SFS LC CC Total
                     
    Revenues 3,364 976 1,031 1,967 881 2,224 (635) 9,808
    Operating expenses (2,690) (597) (540) (864) (438) (1,257) 514 (5,872)
    Gross operating income 674 380 491 1,104 442 967 (121) 3,936
    Cost of risk (397) (95) (61) (7) (235) (20) (26) (840)
    Equity-accounted entities 1 58 (13) 10 56
    Net income on other assets 1 1 0 449 1 0 0 452
    Income before tax 278 286 430 1,604 194 958 (147) 3,604
    Tax (96) (69) (130) (249) (58) (149) 136 (615)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale ope. 0 0 0
    Net income 182 218 300 1,356 136 810 (11) 2,990
    Non-controlling interests (0) (0) (40) (247) (22) (43) 1 (352)
    Net income Group Share 182 217 260 1,108 114 767 (10) 2,638
      Q2-24
    €m RB LCL IRB AG SFS LC CC Total
                     
    Revenues 3,255 979 1,051 1,946 889 2,223 (837) 9,507
    Operating expenses (2,560) (591) (573) (813) (443) (1,204) 497 (5,687)
    Gross operating income 694 389 477 1,133 447 1,019 (340) 3,819
    Cost of risk (444) (95) (75) (2) (211) (39) (6) (872)
    Equity-accounted entities 2 33 29 10 74
    Net income on other assets 1 2 0 (12) (1) 2 (0) (7)
    Income before tax 253 296 402 1,152 265 993 (347) 3,014
    Tax (44) (65) (117) (282) (54) (248) 48 (762)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale ope.
    Net income 209 231 285 870 210 745 (299) 2,252
    Non-controlling interests (1) (0) (38) (124) (23) (36) (2) (224)
    Net income Group Share 208 231 247 746 187 710 (300) 2,028

    Credit Agricole Group – Results par by business line, H1-25 and H1-24

      H1-25
    €m RB LCL IRB AG SFS LC CC Total
                     
    Revenues 6,716 1,939 2,079 4,016 1,749 4,632 (1,275) 19,856
    Operating expenses (5,220) (1,222) (1,075) (1,799) (912) (2,617) 982 (11,864)
    Gross operating income 1,496 717 1,003 2,217 837 2,015 (293) 7,992
    Cost of risk (717) (186) (128) (17) (484) 5 (48) (1,575)
    Equity-accounted entities 7 86 23 16 131
    Net income on other assets 3 2 0 449 1 0 0 456
    Income before tax 790 533 875 2,734 376 2,036 (341) 7,004
    Tax (267) (181) (267) (599) (71) (453) 182 (1,656)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale ope. 0 0
    Net income 523 352 608 2,135 305 1,583 (159) 5,348
    Non-controlling interests (0) (0) (82) (348) (43) (78) 7 (545)
    Net income Group Share 523 352 526 1,787 263 1,504 (151) 4,803
      H1-24
    €m RB LCL IRB AG SFS LC CC Total
                     
    Revenues 6,568 1,933 2,131 3,739 1,736 4,489 (1,565) 19,031
    Operating expenses (5,044) (1,193) (1,098) (1,567) (897) (2,501) 1,024 (11,276)
    Gross operating income 1,524 740 1,033 2,172 839 1,988 (541) 7,755
    Cost of risk (691) (214) (159) (5) (429) (5) (20) (1,523)
    Equity-accounted entities 7 61 59 14 142
    Net income on other assets 3 4 (0) (20) (1) 2 (2) (14)
    Income before tax 842 530 875 2,208 468 1,999 (563) 6,361
    Tax (191) (119) (260) (501) (97) (482) 133 (1,517)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale ope.
    Net income 651 412 615 1,707 372 1,517 (430) 4,843
    Non-controlling interests (1) (0) (89) (236) (42) (69) 6 (432)
    Net income Group Share 650 412 525 1,471 330 1,448 (424) 4,412

    Appendix 2 – Crédit Agricole S.A.: ‍ Income statement by business line

    Crédit Agricole S.A. – Results par by business line, Q2-25 and Q2-24

      Q2-25
    €m AG LC SFS FRB (LCL) IRB CC Total
                   
    Revenues 1,970 2,224 881 976 1,007 (51) 7,006
    Operating expenses (864) (1,257) (438) (597) (520) (25) (3,700)
    Gross operating income 1,106 967 442 380 487 (76) 3,306
    Cost of risk (7) (20) (235) (95) (61) (24) (441)
    Equity-accounted entities 58 10 (13) (24) 30
    Net income on other assets 453 0 1 1 0 0 455
    Income before tax 1,610 958 194 286 426 (125) 3,350
    Tax (249) (149) (58) (69) (129) 113 (541)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale operations 0 0
    Net income 1,361 810 136 218 297 (12) 2,809
    Non-controlling interests (261) (58) (22) (10) (59) (10) (420)
    Net income Group Share 1,100 752 114 208 238 (22) 2,390
      Q2-24  
    €m AG LC SFS FRB (LCL) IRB CC Total  
                   
    Revenues 1,944 2,223 889 979 1,027 (267) 6,796
    Operating expenses (813) (1,204) (443) (591) (555) (15) (3,621)
    Gross operating income 1,131 1,019 447 389 472 (283) 3,175
    Cost of risk (2) (39) (211) (95) (72) (5) (424)
    Equity-accounted entities 33 10 29 (25) 47
    Net income on other assets (12) 2 (1) 2 0 24 15
    Income before tax 1,150 993 265 296 400 (289) 2,814
    Tax (283) (248) (54) (65) (117) 63 (704)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale operations
    Net income 867 745 210 231 283 (226) 2,110
    Non-controlling interests (131) (51) (23) (10) (55) (12) (282)
    Net income Group Share 736 694 187 220 228 (238) 1,828

    Crédit Agricole S.A. – Results par by business line, H1-25 and H1-24

      H1-25
    €m AG LC SFS FRB (LCL) IRB CC Total
                   
    Revenues 4,028 4,632 1,749 1,939 2,033 (118) 14,263
    Operating expenses (1,799) (2,617) (912) (1,222) (1,035) (106) (7,691)
    Gross operating income 2,229 2,015 837 717 998 (224) 6,571
    Cost of risk (17) 5 (484) (186) (128) (45) (855)
    Equity-accounted entities 86 16 23 (47) 77
    Net income on other assets 453 0 1 2 0 0 456
    Income before tax 2,749 2,037 376 533 870 (316) 6,250
    Tax (601) (454) (71) (181) (266) 205 (1,368)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale operations 0 0
    Net income 2,148 1,583 305 352 604 (111) 4,882
    Non-controlling interests (368) (108) (43) (16) (121) (13) (669)
    Net income Group Share 1,780 1,475 263 337 483 (124) 4,213
      H1-24  
    €m AG LC SFS FRB (LCL) IRB CC Total  
                   
    Revenues 3,733 4,489 1,736 1,933 2,085 (374) 13,602
    Operating expenses (1,567) (2,501) (897) (1,193) (1,060) (71) (7,289)
    Gross operating income 2,166 1,988 839 740 1,024 (445) 6,312
    Cost of risk (5) (5) (429) (214) (154) (16) (824)
    Equity-accounted entities 61 14 59 (46) 90
    Net income on other assets (20) 2 (1) 4 (0) 24 9
    Income before tax 2,203 1,999 468 530 870 (483) 5,587
    Tax (502) (482) (97) (119) (259) 144 (1,315)
    Net income from discontinued or held-for-sale operations
    Net income 1,701 1,517 372 412 610 (339) 4,273
    Non-controlling interests (248) (101) (42) (18) (126) (7) (542)
    Net income Group Share 1,453 1,416 330 393 485 (345) 3,731

    Appendix 3 – Data per share

    Credit Agricole S.A. – Earnings p/share, net book value p/share and ROTE
                   
    €m   Q2-25 Q2-24   H1-25 H1-24  
    Net income Group share   2,390 1,828   4,213 3,731  
    – Interests on AT1, including issuance costs, before tax   (141) (83)   (270) (221)  
    – Foreign exchange impact on reimbursed AT1   4   4 (247)  
    NIGS attributable to ordinary shares [A] 2,252 1,745   3,947 3,263  
    Average number shares in issue, excluding treasury shares (m) [B] 3,025 3,025   3,025 3,008  
    Net earnings per share [A]/[B] 0.74 € 0.58 €   1.30 € 1.08 €  
                   
    €m         30/06/25 30/06/24  
    Shareholder’s equity Group share         75,528 70,396  
    – AT1 issuances         (8,612) (7,164)  
    – Unrealised gains and losses on OCI – Group share         872 1,305  
    Net book value (NBV), not revaluated, attributable to ordin. sh. [D]       67,787 64,537  
    – Goodwill & intangibles** – Group share         (18,969) (17,775)  
    Tangible NBV (TNBV), not revaluated attrib. to ordinary sh. [E]       48,818 46,763  
    Total shares in issue, excluding treasury shares (period end, m) [F]       3,025 3,025  
    NBV per share, after deduction of dividend to pay (€) [D]/[F]       22.4 € 21.3 €  
    TNBV per share, after deduction of dividend to pay (€) [G]=[E]/[F]       16.1 € 15.5 €  
    ** y compris les écarts d’acquisition dans les participations ne donnant pas le contrôle             
    €m         H1-25 H1-24  
    Net income Group share       4,213 3,731  
    Added value Amundi US         304 0  
    Additionnal corporate tax         -129 0  
    IFRIC         -173 -110  
    NIGS annualised (1) [N]       8,382 7,572  
    Interests on AT1, including issuance costs, before tax, foreign exchange impact, annualised [O]       -536 -689  
    Result adjusted [P] = [N]+[O]       7,846 6,884    
    Tangible NBV (TNBV), not revaluated attrib. to ord. shares – average*** (2) [J]       47,211 44,710    
    ROTE adjusted (%) = [P] / [J]       16.6% 15.4%  
    *** including assumption of dividend for the current exercise         0,0%    
                 

    (1)ROTE calculated on the basis of an annualised underlying net income Group share and linearised IFRIC costs over the year
    (2)Average of the NTBV not revalued attributable to ordinary shares. calculated between 31/12/2024 and 30/06/2025 (line [E]), restated with an assumption of dividend for current exercises

    Alternative Performance Indicators56

    NBV Net Book Value (not revalued)
    The Net Book Value not revalued corresponds to the shareholders’ equity Group share from which the amount of the AT1 issues, the unrealised gains and/or losses on OCI Group share and the pay-out assumption on annual results have been deducted.

    NBV per share Net Book Value per share – NTBV Net Tangible Book Value per share
    One of the methods for calculating the value of a share. This represents the Net Book Value divided by the number of shares in issue at end of period, excluding treasury shares.

    Net Tangible Book Value per share represents the Net Book Value after deduction of intangible assets and goodwill, divided by the number of shares in issue at end of period, excluding treasury shares.

    EPS Earnings per Share
    This is the net income Group share, from which the AT1 coupon has been deducted, divided by the average number of shares in issue excluding treasury shares. It indicates the portion of profit attributable to each share (not the portion of earnings paid out to each shareholder, which is the dividend). It may decrease, assuming the net income Group share remains unchanged, if the number of shares increases.

    Cost/income ratio
    The cost/income ratio is calculated by dividing operating expenses by revenues, indicating the proportion of revenues needed to cover operating expenses.

    Cost of risk/outstandings
    Calculated by dividing the cost of credit risk (over four quarters on a rolling basis) by outstandings (over an average of the past four quarters, beginning of the period). It can also be calculated by dividing the annualised cost of credit risk for the quarter by outstandings at the beginning of the quarter. Similarly, the cost of risk for the period can be annualised and divided by the average outstandings at the beginning of the period.

    Since the first quarter of 2019, the outstandings taken into account are the customer outstandings, before allocations to provisions.

    The calculation method for the indicator is specified each time the indicator is used.

    Doubtful loan
    A doubtful loan is a loan in default. The debtor is considered to be in default when at least one of the following two conditions has been met:

    • a payment generally more than 90 days past due, unless specific circumstances point to the fact that the delay is due to reasons independent of the debtor’s financial situation.
    • the entity believes that the debtor is unlikely to settle its credit obligations unless it avails itself of certain measures such as enforcement of collateral security right.

    Impaired loan
    Loan which has been provisioned due to a risk of non-repayment.

    Impaired (or non-performing) loan coverage ratio 
    This ratio divides the outstanding provisions by the impaired gross customer loans.

    Impaired (or non-performing) loan ratio 
    This ratio divides the impaired gross customer loans on an individual basis, before provisions, by the total gross customer loans.

    Net income Group share
    Net income/(loss) for the financial year (after corporate income tax). Equal to net income Group share, less the share attributable to non-controlling interests in fully consolidated subsidiaries.

    Net income Group share attributable to ordinary shares
    The net income Group share attributable to ordinary shares represents the net income Group share from which the AT1 coupon has been deducted, including issuance costs before tax.

    RoTE Return on Tangible Equity
    The RoTE (Return on Tangible Equity) measures the return on tangible capital by dividing the Net income Group share annualised by the Group’s NBV net of intangibles and goodwill. The annualised Net income Group share corresponds to the annualisation of the Net income Group share (Q1x4; H1x2; 9Mx4/3) excluding impairments of intangible assets and restating each period of the IFRIC impacts in order to linearise them over the year.

    Disclaimer

    The financial information on Crédit Agricole S.A. and Crédit Agricole Group for second quarter and first half 2025 comprises this presentation and the attached appendices and press release which are available on the website: https://www.credit-agricole.com/finance/publications-financieres.

    This presentation may include prospective information on the Group, supplied as information on trends. This data does not represent forecasts within the meaning of EU Delegated Act 2019/980 of 14 March 2019 (Chapter 1, article 1, d).

    This information was developed from scenarios based on a number of economic assumptions for a given competitive and regulatory environment. Therefore, these assumptions are by nature subject to random factors that could cause actual results to differ from projections. Likewise, the financial statements are based on estimates, particularly in calculating market value and asset impairment.

    Readers must take all these risk factors and uncertainties into consideration before making their own judgement.

    Applicable standards and comparability

    The figures presented for the six-month period ending 30 June 2025 have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted in the European Union and applicable at that date, and with the applicable regulations in force. This financial information does not constitute a set of financial statements for an interim period as defined by IAS 34 “Interim Financial Reporting” and has not been audited.

    Note: The scopes of consolidation of the Crédit Agricole S.A. and Crédit Agricole groups have not changed materially since the Crédit Agricole S.A. 2024 Universal Registration Document and its A.01 update (including all regulatory information about the Crédit Agricole Group) were filed with the AMF (the French Financial Markets Authority).

    The sum of values contained in the tables and analyses may differ slightly from the total reported due to rounding.

    Financial Agenda

    30 October 2025                Publication of the 2025 third quarter and first nine months results
    18 November 2025        Presentation of the Medium-Term Plan
    4 February 2026                Publication of the 2025 fourth quarter and full year results
    30 April 2026                Publication of the 2026 first quarter results
    20 May 2026                2026 General Meeting
    31 July 2026                Publication of the 2026 second quarter and the first half-year results
    30 October 2026                Publication of the 2026 third quarter and first nine months results

    Contacts

    CREDIT AGRICOLE PRESS CONTACTS

    CRÉDIT AGRICOLE S.A. INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS

    Institutional investors   investor.relations@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Individual shareholders + 33 800 000 777 (freephone number – France only) relation@actionnaires.credit-agricole.com
         
    Cécile Mouton + 33 1 57 72 86 79 cecile.mouton@credit-agricole-sa.fr
     

    Equity investor relations:

       
    Jean-Yann Asseraf
    Fethi Azzoug
    + 33 1 57 72 23 81
    + 33 1 57 72 03 75
    jean-yann.asseraf@credit-agricole-sa.fr fethi.azzoug@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Oriane Cante + 33 1 43 23 03 07 oriane.cante@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Nicolas Ianna + 33 1 43 23 55 51 nicolas.ianna@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Leila Mamou + 33 1 57 72 07 93 leila.mamou@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Anna Pigoulevski + 33 1 43 23 40 59 anna.pigoulevski@credit-agricole-sa.fr
         
         
    Debt investor and rating agency relations:  
    Gwenaëlle Lereste + 33 1 57 72 57 84 gwenaelle.lereste@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Florence Quintin de Kercadio + 33 1 43 23 25 32 florence.quintindekercadio@credit-agricole-sa.fr
    Yury Romanov + 33 1 43 23 86 84 yury.romanov@credit-agricole-sa.fr
         
         
         

    See all our press releases at: www.credit-agricole.com – www.creditagricole.info

             

    1 Closing at 4thof July
    (2)Car, home, health, legal, all mobile phones or personal accident insurance.
    (3)CA Auto Bank, automotive JVs and automotive activities of other entities        
    (4)Low-carbon energy exposures made up of renewable energy produced by the clients of all Crédit Agricole Group entities, including nuclear energy exposures for Crédit Agricole CIB.
    (5)CAA outstandings (listed investments managed directly, listed investments managed under mandate and unlisted investments managed directly) and Amundi Transition Energétique.
    (6)Crédit Agricole Group outstandings, directly or via the EIB, dedicated to the environmental transition according to the Group’s internal sustainable assets framework, as of 31/03/2025. Change of method on property compared with the outstandings reported at 30/09/2024: with the same method, the outstandings at 31/03/2025 would be €85.9 billion.
    (7)The cost of risk/outstandings (in basis points) on a four-quarter rolling basis is calculated on the cost of risk of the past four quarters divided by the average outstandings at the start of each of the four quarters
    (8)The cost of risk/outstandings (in basis points) on an annualised basis is calculated on the cost of risk of the quarter multiplied by four and divided by the outstandings at the start of the quarter
    (9)Average rate of loans to monthly production for April to May 2025
    (10)Equipment rate – Home-Car-Health policies, Legal, All Mobile/Portable or personal accident insurance
    (11)Reversal of the provision for Home Purchase Saving Plans: +€16.3m in Q2-25 vs. +€22m in Q2-24 in revenues (+€12.1m in Q2-25 vs. +€17m in Q2-24 in net income Group share)

    (12)Provisioning rate calculated with outstandings in Stage 3 as denominator, and the sum of the provisions recorded in Stages 1, 2 and 3 as numerator.
    (13)The cost of risk/outstandings (in basis points) on a four-quarter rolling basis is calculated on the cost of risk of the past four quarters divided by the average outstandings at the start of each of the four quarters
    (14)The cost of risk/outstandings (in basis points) on an annualised basis is calculated on the cost of risk of the quarter multiplied by four and divided by the outstandings at the start of the quarter
    (15)See Appendixes for details on the calculation of the RoTE (return on tangible equity)
    (16)The annualised net income Group share corresponds to the annualisation of the net income Group share (Q1x4; H1x2; 9Mx4/3) by restating each period for IFRIC impacts, the effects of the additional corporate tax charge and the capital gain related to the deconsolidation of Amundi US to linearise them over the year.
    (17)In local standards
    (18)Scope: property and casualty in France and abroad
    (19)Combined property & casualty ratio in France (Pacifica) including discounting and excluding undiscounting, net of reinsurance: (claims + operating expenses + fee and commission income)/gross premiums earned. Undiscounted ratio: 97.4% (+0.1 pp over the year)
    (20)Excluding assets under custody for institutional clients
    (21)Amount of allocation of Contractual Service Margin (CSM), loss component and Risk Adjustment (RA), and operating variances net of reinsurance, in particular
    (22)Amount of allocation of CSM, loss component and RA, and operating variances net of reinsurance, in particular.
    (23)Net of reinsurance cost, including financial results
    (24)Pro forma scope effect of deconsolidated Amundi US in Q2 2024: €89m in revenues and €51m in expenses.
    (25)Excluding scope effect
    (26)Indosuez Wealth Management scope
    (27)Degroof Petercam scope effect April/May 2025: Revenues of €96m and expenses of -€71m
    (28)Q2-25 Integration costs: -€22.5m vs -€5.4m in Q2-24
    (29)Degroof Petercam scope effect over H1-25: reminder of figures for Degroof Petercam scope effect of Q1-25 revenues of €164m and expenses of -€115m
    (30)Refinitiv LSEG
    (31)Bloomberg in EUR
    (32)ISB integration costs: -€5m in Q2-25 (vs -€24.4m in Q2-24)
    (33)Net income becomes net income Group share following the purchase of minority shares in Santander by Crédit Agricole S.A.
    (34)CA Auto Bank, automotive JVs and auto activities of other entities
    (35)CA Auto Bank and automotive JVs
    (36)Lease financing of corporate and professional equipment investments in France: -7.5% in Q1-25 (source: ASF)
    (37)Increase in RWA of around +€7G primarily connected to the consolidation of the leasing activities in Q4-24
    (38)Cost of risk for the last four quarters as a proportion of the average outstandings at the beginning of the period for the last four quarters.
    (39)Net of POCI outstandings
    (40)Source: Abi Monthly Outlook, July 2025: +0.9% June/June for all loans
    (41)At 30 June 2025 this scope includes the entities CA Italia, CA Polska, CA Egypt and CA Ukraine.

    (42) Over a rolling four quarter period.
    (43)At 30 June 2025, this scope corresponds to the aggregation of all Group entities present in Italy: CA Italia, CAPFM (Agos, Leasys, CA Auto Bank), CAA (CA Vita, CACI, CA Assicurazioni), Amundi, Crédit Agricole CIB, CAIWM, CACEIS, CALEF.
    (44)Banco BPM stake -21 bps; Stake in Victory Capital: – 8 bps or –1 bp including capital gain from the deconsolidation of Amundi US; Additional threshold excess for other financial participations: -7 bps.

    (48)
    (49)

    (54)This refers to the change between the value at 30 June 2025 and the value at 1 (or 2) January 2025; the latter is the value of the variable concerned at 30 June 2025.
    (55)In March, Parliament approved the creation of a €500 billion infrastructure investment fund over 12 years. The first phase of the reform of the debt brake was also approved, allowing regions to run a structural deficit of up to 0.35% of GDP. Finally, defence spending above 1% of GDP will be exempt from the deficit calculation. The adoption of these measures has broken down barriers to financing infrastructure and defence investment that had previously seemed insurmountable.
    (56)APMs are financial indicators not presented in the financial statements or defined in accounting standards but used in the context of financial communications, such as net income Group share or RoTE. They are used to facilitate the understanding of the company’s actual performance. Each APM indicator is matched in its definition to accounting data.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: WENDEL: 2025 Half-Year Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    2025 Half-Year Results:

    Continued strategic deployment with the

    Asset Management Platform ramp up:

    Wendel Group now manages €45 billion+,
    of which €39 billion of Private Assets under Management
    for third parties

    NAV per share at €167.7 as of June 30, 2025

    Implementation of a semi-annual interim dividend starting in November 2025, with an interim dividend of €1.50

    Taking into account the dividend payment of €4.7, the fully diluted net asset value1per share as of June 30, 2025 is down 2.4% compared to the end of March 2025, and stable at constant exchange rates.

    The strengthening of euro vs US dollar, generated a -€4.7 per share FX effect in Q2. At constant exchange rate, NAV main components evolved as follows:

    • Principal Investments:
      • Listed assets (38% of Gross Asset Value excluding cash): +5.0% vs Q1 2025 thanks to Bureau Veritas, IHS and Tarkett share prices increase
      • Unlisted assets (38% of GAV excl. cash): total value down 4.8% vs Q1 2025, reflecting mainly multiples and aggregates evolution
    • Asset Management activities (22% of GAV excl. cash): total valuation up +9.0% vs Q1 2025, induced by multiples and aggregates evolution

    Principal investments: H1 2025 performance supported by listed companies

    • Positive contribution from the Group’s listed companies, driven by higher share prices over the period
    • Total sales of Group companies up 3.9% organically
    • New CEOs at Crisis Prevention Institute and Scalian

    Asset management: strong momentum in fundraising and revenue growth

    • Wendel Asset Management platform AuM reach close to €39 billion, focused on midmarket. Altogether IK Partners and Monroe Capital have raised c.€4.3 billion of new funds on various strategies over H1 2025, without any sponsor money from Wendel in H1. IK Partners reached its hard caps on its Midcap and Small Cap funds in the first half of 2025, and Monroe Capital raised $4 billion.
    • Management fees totalled €152 million and Fee Related Earnings totalled €59 million, growing more than threefold vs last year, thanks to organic growth and strong scope effects

    Dynamic implementation of new strategic directions

    • Principal Investments: successful Forward Sale of 6.7% of Bureau Veritas’ share capital, at a price of €27.25 per share on March 12, 2025
      • Wendel entered into a call spread transaction to benefit from up to c.15% of the stock price appreciation over the next three years on the equivalent number of shares underlying the Forward Sale Transaction
      • Total net proceeds for Wendel of €750 million
      • Wendel has retained 26.5% of the share capital and 41.2% of the voting rights of Bureau Veritas
    • Asset Management: With Monroe Capital acquisition, Wendel’s third party asset management platform reached €39 billion in AUM2
      • On March 31, 2025, Wendel has invested $1.133 billion to acquire 72% of Monroe Capital’s shares together with rights to c.20% of the carried interest generated on past and future funds

    A more attractive dividend policy for shareholders: introduction of semi-annual interim dividend payments starting in 2025

    • Ordinary dividend of €4.70 per share for 2024, up 17.5% compared to 2023, paid in May 2025, representing a distribution to shareholders of €200 million
    • €1.50 interim dividend to be paid in November 2025
      • In order to reflect the recurring cash flow generated by its dual business model, Wendel has decided to pay an interim dividend of €1.50 in November 2025 for the 2025 financial year corresponding to about one third of the total dividend paid for the previous financial year
      • The balance of the 2025 dividend, will be paid in May 2026, in line with Wendel dividend policy
      • This new interim dividend policy will be recurring

    Strong financial structure and committed to remaining Investment Grade

    • Average debt maturity of 3.1 years with an average cost of 2.4%
    • LTV ratio at 18.5%4 on a pro forma basis
    • On March 31, 2025, S&P revised Wendel outlook to ‘Stable’ from ‘Negative’ on debt reduction and reaffirmed its ‘BBB’ rating

    Consolidated net sales for H1 2025 €4,177.6 million, up +7.2% overall and up +3.9% organically year-to-date

    • Net income from operations, group share down 17.9% at €86.0 million
    • H1 2025 net income (Group share) at €4.3 million impacted by a negative scope effect due to the disposal of Constantia Flexibles (€419m capital gain, group share) in the first half of 2024, while the capital gain related to the forward sale of 6.7% of Bureau Veritas share capital in March 2025 is not accounted in the P&L
    Laurent Mignon, Wendel Group CEO, commented:

    “ With the successful closing of Monroe Capital’s acquisition, Wendel materializes its strategy to grow third-party asset management alongside our principal investment activity.

    With Monroe Capital and IK Partners representing €39 billion of assets under management and €4.3 billion raised in H1 2025, we are building a strong and significant Asset management player generating recurring and predictable income, enhancing significantly Wendel’s value creation profile. IK Partners has closed its Midcap and Small Cap strategies at their hardcaps, finalizing its 2024/2025 fundraising at €6 billion, in line with the ambition announced when it was acquired by Wendel in October 2023. We are actively building a diversified pipeline of high-quality acquisition opportunities to expand our third-party asset management business.

    We actively support the development of our permanent capital portfolio companies in navigating a persistently complex macroeconomic environment.

    Our teams remain fully mobilized to generate value through the current portfolio and further develop our asset management platform while maintaining a solid financial profile. Our strategic transformation has also gone hand in hand with a reinforced cash return to shareholders, reflected in the €4.7 dividend per share paid in May, growing 17.5% vs 2024. Given the stronger recurring and predictable cash flow generation of Wendel, we have decided to implement a semi-annual interim dividend payment policy starting in 2025. ”

    Wendel’s net asset value as of June 30, 2025: €167.7 per share on a fully diluted basis

    Wendel’s Net Asset Value (NAV) as of June 30, 2025, was prepared by Wendel to the best of its knowledge and on the basis of market data available at this date and in compliance with its methodology.

    Fully diluted Net Asset Value was €167.7 per share as of June 30, 2025 (see details in the table below), as compared to €176.7 on March 31, 2025, representing a decrease of -5.1% over the quarter and stable restated from the dividend paid in May 2025 and at constant exchange rate. Compared to the last 20-day average share price as of June 30, the discount to the fully diluted NAV per share was -48.4% as of June 30, 2025,.

    FX had a negative impact of -4.7€ per share over the second quarter due to the dollar evolution vs. euro.

    Bureau Veritas is slightly up over the quarter (+1.2% on a 20-day average). IHS Towers (+29.5%) and Tarkett (+3%) 20-day average share prices also contributed positively to the NAV. Total value creation per share of listed assets was therefore positive (+€3.5) at constant exchange rate on a fully diluted basis over the second quarter 2025.

    Unlisted asset contribution to NAV was negative over the second quarter with a total change per share of – €5.0 at a constant exchange rate reflecting selected assets operational performance and multiples evolution.

    Asset management activities contribution to NAV was positive, +€3.8 at a constant exchange rate, due to IK Partners and Monroe Capital blended multiples’ evolution and good FRE generation. A total of €49M of sponsor money is included in the NAV as of end of June, both for IK Partners and Monroe Capital.

    Cash operating costs, Net Financing Results and Other items impacted NAV by -€1.9 at constant exchange rate, as Wendel benefits from a positive carry and maintains a good cost control.

    Over the first half of the year, total Net Asset Value evolution per share amounted to -€13.2, restated from the €4.7 of dividend returned to shareholders in May 2025, i.e. -€6.2 at a constant exchange rate.

    Fully diluted NAV per share of €167.7 as of June 30, 2025

    (in millions of euros)     06/30/2025 03/31/2025
    Listed investments Number of shares Share price (1) 3,088 2,965
    Bureau Veritas 89.9m(2)/120.3m €29.2/€28.5 2,630 2,565
    IHS 63.0m/63.0m $5.7/$4.4 307 254
    Tarkett   €16.9/€16.4 151 146
    Investment in unlisted assets (3) 3,071 3,346
    Asset Management Activities (4) 1,824 1,778
    Asset Managers (IK Partners & Monroe Capital) 1,775 1,749
    Sponsor Money 49 29
    Other assets and liabilities of Wendel & holding companies (5) 150 161
    Net cash position & financial assets (6) 1,770 2,058
    Gross asset value     9,903 10,308
    Wendel bond debt & accrued interests     -2,373 -2,378
    IK Partners transaction deferred payment and Monroe Capital earnout -235 -244
    Net Asset Value     7,295 7,686
    Of which net debt     -838 -564
    Number of shares     44,461,997 44,461,997
    Net Asset Value per share 164.1 €172.9
    Wendel’s 20 days share price average   €86.6 €92.0
    Premium (discount) on NAV -47.2% -46.8%
    Number of shares – fully diluted 42,457,994 42,456,176
    Fully diluted Net Asset Value, per share 167.7 €176.7
    Premium (discount) on fully diluted NAV -48.4% -47.9%

    (1)  Last 20 trading days average as of June 30, 2025, and March 31, 2025.
    (2)  Number of shares adjusted from the Forward Sale Transaction of 30,357,140 shares of Bureau Veritas. The value of the call spread transaction to benefit from up to c.15% of the stock price appreciation on the equivalent number of shares is taken into account in Other assets & liabilities of Wendel & holding companies.
    (3)  Investments in unlisted companies (Stahl, Crisis Prevention Institute, ACAMS, Scalian, Globeducate, Wendel Growth). Aggregates retained for the calculation exclude the impact of IFRS16.
    (4)  Investments in IK Partners and Monroe Capital (excl. Cash to be distributed to shareholders). Valued as a platform based on Net Income / Distributable earnings multiples.
    (5)  Of which 2,004,003 treasury shares as of June 30, 2025, and 2,005,821 as of March 31, 2025.
    (6)  Cash position and short-term financial assets of Wendel & holdings.
    Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the euro have been converted at exchange rates prevailing on the date of the NAV calculation.
    If co-investment and managements LTIP conditions are realized, subsequent dilutive effects on Wendel’s economic ownership are accounted for in NAV calculations. See page 285 of the 2024 Registration Document.

    Wendel’s Principal Investments’ portfolio rotation

    On March 12, 2025, Wendel realized a successful placement of Bureau Veritas shares as part of a prepaid 3-year forward sale representing approximately 6.7% of Bureau Veritas share capital and increased its financial flexibility by reducing the pro forma loan-to-value ratio to approximately 17%. The transaction immediately generated net cash proceeds of approximately €750M to Wendel.

    Wendel invested €41.5M in Scalian in H1 2025 to support its external growth and to strengthen its balance sheet.

    Wendel’s Asset Management platform evolution

    Acquisition of a controlling stake in Monroe Capital LLC closed, a transformational transaction in line with the strategic roadmap

    Wendel completed on March 31, 2025 the definitive partnership agreement including the acquisition, together with AXA IM Prime, of 75% of Monroe Capital LLC (“Monroe Capital” or “the Company”), and a sponsoring program of $800 million to accelerate Monroe Capital’s growth, together with an investment of up to $200 million in GP commitment.

    With IK Partners and Monroe Capital, Wendel’s third party asset management platform reached €39 billion in AUM5, and should generate, on a full-year basis, c.€ 455 million revenues6, c.€160 million pre-tax FRE (c.€100 million in pre-tax FRE (Wendel share) in 2025. Wendel’s ambition is to reach €150 million (Wendel share) in pre-tax FRE in 2027.

    Third-Party Asset Management Platform: 22% of Gross Asset Value excluding cash

    Over the first half of 2025, the Wendel Asset Management platform (IK Partners and Monroe Capital), focused on the midmarket private markets, registered particularly strong levels of activity, generating a total of €152.0 million in Management fees and others, up 355 % vs. H1 2024, thanks to good organic growth and strong scope effects: Only IK Partners was consolidated over 2 months in H1 2024, to be compared in H1 2025 with a 6 months consolidation for IK and 3 months consolidation for Monroe Capital in H1 2025.

    As a consequence, the consolidated Fee Related Earnings of the platform amounted to €59.9 million in H1 2025, up 318% vs last year, and Profit Before Tax was €60.2 million, up 303% vs. last year.

    The Wendel Asset Management Platform has known a Strong Momentum in terms of fund raising with €4.3 billion raised over the semester, without any sponsor money committed by Wendel.

    IK Partners has closed its Midcap and its Small Cap strategy at the hard cap. This completes IK fund raising cycle (2024/2025) at €6 billion, in line with the announced target at acquisition in October 2023. Monroe Capital has also maintained its strong dynamic with $4 billion of asset raised in 6 months with a good diversification in terms of strategies and geographies.

    As of June 30, 2025 Wendel’s third-party asset management platform7 represented total assets under management of €39.1 billion (of which €10.1 billion of Dry Powder8), and FPAuM9 of €29.0 billion, FX adjusted, up +187% year-to-date. Over the period, €5.0 billion of new Fee Paying AuM were generated and about €3 billion of exits and payoffs have been realized.

    Sponsor money invested by Wendel

    Wendel committed in 2024 €434 million in IK Partners funds (of which €300 million in IK X). As of June 30, 2025, a value of €49 million of sponsor money have been called in IK Partners and Monroe Capital funds.

    Principal Investment companies’ sales

    Figures post IFRS 16 unless otherwise specified.

    Listed Assets: 38% of Gross Asset Value excluding cash

    Bureau Veritas: Robust organic revenue growth and strong margin increase in H1 2025 as the LEAP | 28 strategy execution accelerates; Confirmed 2025 outlook

    (full consolidation)

    Revenue in the first half of 2025 amounted to €3,192.5 million, a 5.7% increase compared to H1 2024. The organic increase was 6.7% compared to H1 2024 (including 6.2% in the second quarter of 2025) and a broad organic growth across most businesses and geographies.

    First half adjusted operating profit increased by 8.8% to €491.5 million. This represents an adjusted operating margin of 15.4%, up 44bps year-on-year and up 55bps at constant currency.

    As of June 30, 2025, adjusted net financial debt was €1,254.7 million and the adjusted net financial debt/EBITDA ratio was maintained at a low level of 1.11x (vs. 1.06x as of December 31, 2024).

    2025 share buyback program

    Bureau Veritas executed the €200 million share buyback program announced on April 24, 2025, thus

    acquiring c.1.5% of the outstanding share capital (6.7 million shares) through the market during the

    months of May and June 2025. The purchase was completed at an average price of €29.77 per share.

    2025 outlook confirmed

    Based on a robust first half performance, a solid backlog, and strong underlying market fundamentals, and in line with the LEAP | 28 financial ambitions, Bureau Veritas still expects to deliver for the full year 2025:

    • Mid-to-high single-digit organic revenue growth,
    • Improvement in adjusted operating margin at constant exchange rates,
    • Strong cash flow, with a cash conversion10 above 90%.

    For further details: group.bureauveritas.com

    IHS Towers – IHS Towers will report its H1 2025 results in August 2025

    Tarkett reported its H1 on July 29, 2025

    For more information: https://www.tarkett-group.com/en/investors/

    Unlisted Assets: 38% of Gross Asset Value excluding cash

    (in millions) Sales EBITDA Net debt
      H1 2024 H1 2025 H1 2024 including IFRS 16 H1 2025 including IFRS 16 Δ end of June including IFRS 16
    Stahl €464.7 €462.9 €106.7 €90.8 -14.9% €357.8
    CPI $66.9 $69.5 $28.4 $29.9 +5.3% $370.8
    ACAMS $48.7 $53.4 $8.9 $13.7 +53.9% $161.2
    Scalian €271.8 €257.6 €30.3 €28.9 -4.6% €354.8
    Globeducate(1) €202.6 €224.7 na €77.7 na €739.6

    (1)   Globeducate acquisition was completed on October 16th, 2024. Globeducate fiscal year ends in August, and figures shown are last six months at the end of May 2025. Indian operations are deconsolidated and accounted for by the equity method.

    Stahl – Total sales slightly down -0.4% in H1 2025 in a context of challenging market conditions in the automotive and luxury goods end-markets. Strong EBITDA margin of 19.6%.

    (Full consolidation) 

    Stahl, the world leader in specialty coatings for flexible materials, posted total sales of €462.9 million in the first half of 2025, representing a total decrease of -0.4% versus H1 2024.

    Organically, sales were down -5.9%, in a context of lower demand across end-markets due to very high levels of uncertainty around changing tariffs and destocking in the supply chains served by Stahl, while FX contributed -2.0%. Acquisitions contributed positively (+7.6%) to total sales variation, thanks to the acquisition of Weilburger Graphics GmbH completed in September 2024.

    Half Year 2025 EBITDA11 amounted to €90.8 million (-14.9% vs. H1 2024), translating into a strong EBITDA margin of 19.6%, thanks to a disciplined margin and fixed costs management, as well as a good diversification across geographies and segments.

    Net debt as of June 30th, 2025, was €357.8 million12, versus €383.8 million at the end of 2024 and leverage stood at 1.9x13.

    Crisis Prevention Institute reports +4.0% in revenue and +5.3% EBITDA growth. Andee Harris will become the new CEO of CPI on August 20, 2025.

    (full consolidation)

    Crisis Prevention Institute recorded first half 2025 revenue of $69.5 million, up +4% compared to H1 2024. Of this increase, +3.2% was organic growth, -0.2% came from FX movements and +1.1% from scope effect related to the Verge acquisition in Norway in January 2025. Despite ongoing federal oversight and funding uncertainty for some of CPI’s US customers that may have led to deferred spending on expanded training, CPI’s installed base of certified instructors continued to renew and maintain their certification and train their colleagues. Growth in the first half therefore increased revenues from renewals and learning materials in North America, as well as double digit growth in markets outside North America.

    H1 2025 EBITDA was $29.9 million14, reflecting a margin of 43.0%. EBITDA was up +5.3% vs. H1 2024 while margins are slightly up due to tight cost policy and in spite of lower-than-expected top line growth.

    As of June 30, 2025, net debt totaled $370.8 million15, or 4.7x EBITDA as defined in CPI’s credit agreement. In early July, CPI raised $60 million through an incremental term loan to fund c. $33 million dividend payment to Wendel by year end and a partial repurchase of management’s shares. Both the dividend and the share repurchases are expected to occur in September.

    On August 20, 2025, Andee Harris will become CEO of CPI and a member of the company’s board of directors.

    Andee Harris will take over from Tony Jace, CPI’s current CEO, who is retiring after leading CPI’s significant expansion over the past 16 years. Tony will remain on CPI’s Board of Directors through the end of 2025.

    Andee Harris was the CEO of Challenger, a global leader in training, technology and consulting. Harris will bring more than two decades of experience in growing and scaling service and technology businesses. She has previously led multiple companies, both as CEO and Senior Vice President, through periods of rapid revenue growth, digital transformation, critical fundraising and successful acquisition.

    ACAMS – Total sales up +9.6% in H1, reflecting double-digit growth in the core Americas and APAC segments, generating very strong EBITDA growth.
    (full consolidation)  

    ACAMS, the global leader in training and certifications for anti-money laundering and financial-crime prevention professionals, generated total revenue of $53.4 million, up +9.6% compared to the first half of 2024. First-half results were driven by double-digit growth in Americas and APAC segments, with both bank and non-bank customers, as well as improved conference sponsorship & exhibition sales. 

    H1 growth reflects momentum from recent strategic and organizational changes including the senior leadership additions in 2024, a shift in focus to selling solutions for large enterprise customers, market expansion with the introduction of the Certified Anti-Fraud Specialist certification (CAFS), and investments in the technology platform.

    EBITDA16 for the first half was c.$13.7 million, up 53.9% vs. H1 2024 and reflecting a 25.7% margin, up 740 bps year-over-year. The strong increase in first half profitability largely reflects the aforementioned revenue growth as well as strong cost control by the Company’s management.

    As of June 30, 2025, net debt totaled $161.2 million17, down from $165.0 million at the end of 2024, which represents 4.8x EBITDA as defined in ACAMS’ credit agreement, with ample room relative to the 9.5x covenant level.

    ACAMS anticipates continued mid-to-high single digit growth in revenues for 2025. To support its long-term development, which is expected to produce accelerated levels of growth and profitability over the next several years, additional investments and hirings will be made in H2 2025, leading to more normalized c.25% margin for the full year.

    Scalian – Total sales down 5.2% in first-half 2025, reflecting persistently tough market conditions for engineering services and digital services companies. Equity contributions by Wendel since the beginning of the year totalling €41.5 million to support Scalian’s acquisition-led growth and strengthen its balance sheet.

    Changes in governance with the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.

    Scalian, a leader in digital transformation and operational performance consulting, reported total sales of €257.6 million as of June 30, 2025, down 5.2% year on year. The downturn in sales continues to take hold in several sectors and geographies, particularly in France and in automotive in Germany. Sales were down 11.1% on a like-for-like basis (including a negative currency impact), and benefited from a positive scope effect of 5.9% driven by acquisitions that were accretive in terms of growth and margins.

    Other European countries and North America reported further robust growth, buoyed by the acquisition of Mannarino, which made a significant contribution to half-year earnings thanks to strong business momentum.

    Scalian generated €28.9 million in EBITDA18 over first-half 2025. The EBITDA margin stood at 11.2% of sales, in line with the level recorded for full-year 2024, reflecting a tight rein on costs. As of June 30, 2025, net debt19 stood at €354.8 million (leverage of 6.7x20 EBITDA).

    Over the past 24 months, Scalian has undertaken bold transformation initiatives, which are being accelerated in 2025 in response to the worsening market environment:

    • Creation of a team focusing on key strategic clients and sectors with high growth potential
    • Expansion of the bestshoring platform
    • Launch of the “One Motion” plan, a transformation designed to improve the efficiency of the Scalian business model in three areas (sales and staffing, automation for productivity, and finance and operations)
    • Dynamic management of utilization rates
    • Accelerated integration of acquisitions and generation of related synergies
    • Targeted indirect cost reduction actions
    • More disciplined management of working capital

    These initiatives, aimed at strengthening Scalian’s business model and attractiveness, have already had a positive impact, and have led to significant commercial successes in recent months, including major agreements in the aerospace and defense sectors.

    Since the beginning of the year, Wendel has injected an additional €41.5 million in equity to support Scalian’s acquisition-led growth and strengthen its balance sheet.

    Wendel is also announcing today a major change in Scalian’s governance, with the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer effective October 1 at the latest, the date on which Yvan Chabanne will step down following a decade of intensive development. The aim is to launch Scalian into the next cycle of growth and transformation with a new Chief Executive Officer, who has already been identified, also a highly experienced executive from the engineering industry, whose name will be announced shortly.

    David Darmon, Chairman of Scalian’s Supervisory Board:

    On behalf of the Wendel Group, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Yvan Chabanne for his remarkable achievements and unfailing commitment at the helm of Scalian, the brand he founded. Under his leadership, the Group has undergone an exceptional transformation: it has expanded strongly on an international level, become a leader in engineering, digital transformation and operational performance consulting, strengthened its positions with major customers and multiplied its sales almost ten-fold – half of which through a dozen acquisitions. Today, consolidated sales stand at around €530 million.

    We are delighted to welcome on board a new Chief Executive Officer whose international background, in-depth knowledge of our businesses and unifying leadership skills will be key assets in supporting the Group’s development going forward. We look forward to working alongside the future Chief Executive Officer on an ambitious value creation plan, which will unleash the full potential of this magnificent company, driven by the expertise, dedication and talent of its teams.” 

    Globeducate – Total sales up +10.9%21over 6-month period ending May 31, 2025. Annualized EBITDA margin c.25%22in line with expectations.

    (Accounted for by the equity method. Globeducate acquisition was completed on October 16th, 2024. Indian operations are deconsolidated and accounted for by the equity method due to the absence of audited figures. 6-month revenue and EBITDA from December 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025).

    Globeducate, one of the world’s leading bilingual K-12 education groups, posted total sales of €224.7 million1 for the 6-month period ending May 31, 2025, representing a total increase of +10.9% over last year. Of this increase, +3.3% came from accretive M&A transactions.

    EBITDA2 for the same period stood at €77.7 million. EBITDA is always particularly high at this time of year driven by the seasonality of the business (revenues are recognized over the academic year while costs are spread out across the entire fiscal year) and will smooth out over the next quarter. EBITDA was in line with expectations and ensures an annualized EBITDA margin at c.25%. This solid financial performance was fueled by a combination of organic and external growth as well as strict cost control.

    Since the beginning of Globeducate’s fiscal year (September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025), the Group has completed 3 acquisitions: Olympion School and the International School of Paphos in Cyprus, and l’Ecole des Petits in the UK.

    Net debt as of May 31, 2025, was €739.6 million23 and leverage stood at 6.3x4.

    Consolidated Accounts

    The Supervisory Board met on July 30, 2025, under the chairmanship of Nicolas ver Hulst, to review Wendel’s condensed consolidated financial statements, as approved by the Executive Board on July 25, 2025. The interim financial statements were subject to a limited review by the Statutory Auditors prior to publication.

    Wendel Group’s consolidated net sales totaled €4,177.6 million, up +7.2% overall and up +3.9% organically. FX contribution is -2.1% and scope effect is +5.4%.

    The net income from operations of Group companies, Group share amounted to €86.0 million, down -17.9%.

    Financial expenses, operating expenses and taxes recorded by Wendel represented €46.0 million, up €13.2 million from the €32.9 million reported in H1 2024, mainly due to lower returns from cash. Operating expenses were down 15.6% due to good cost control.

    H1 2025 net income Group share €4.3 million vs. €388.2 million in the first half of 2024, reflecting a €418.6 million capital gain group share from the disposal of Constantia Flexibles in H1 2024. In H1 2025, The impact (group share) of impairment on investments was limited over the period, as the reversal of the impairment on Tarkett Participation was offset by the impairment recognized on Scalian, as a result of the slowdown in its markets. The gain on the forward sale of Bureau Veritas in 2025 and the positive change in the fair value of IHS are not recognized in the income statement but in shareholder equity.

    Estimated impact of new tariffs on Wendel’s businesses 

    Wendel Group’s companies are mainly business services, and are therefore only slightly directly impacted by conflicts over tariffs. For industrial companies (Stahl and Tarkett), these two companies have production units generally located in the countries in which they generate their revenues. According to the information available, the direct impact for these two companies is limited. The lack of visibility on the evolution of tariffs, as well as their real impact on global economic growth and USD exchange rates, constitute the main risk on the value creation potential of our assets. In the second quarter of 2025, the main indirect impact of trade tariffs was on the euro-dollar exchange rate, which impacted the valuation of some of our assets, mainly US companies or listed in the US. The impacts of trade tariffs specific to each company are described in the relevant sections of this press release.

    Agenda

    Thursday, October 23, 2025

    Q3 2025 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of September 30, 2025 (post-market release)

    Friday, December 12, 2025,

    2025 Investor Day.

    Wednesday, February 25, 2026

    Full-Year 2025 Results – Publication of NAV as of December 31, 2025, and Full-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)

    Wednesday, April 22, 2026

    Q1 2026 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of March 31, 2026 (post-market release)

    Thursday, May 21, 2026

    Annual General Meeting

    Wednesday, July 29, 2026

    H1 2026 results – Publication of NAV as of June 30, 2026, and condensed Half-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)

    About Wendel

    Wendel is one of Europe’s leading listed investment firms. Regarding its principal investment strategy, the Group invests in companies which are leaders in their field, such as ACAMS, Bureau Veritas, Crisis Prevention Institute, Globeducate, IHS Towers, Scalian, Stahl and Tarkett. In 2023, Wendel initiated a strategic shift into third-party asset management of private assets, alongside its historical principal investment activities. In May 2024, Wendel completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in IK Partners, a major step in the deployment of its strategic expansion in third-party private asset management and also completed in March 2025 the acquisition of 72% of Monroe Capital. As of June 30, 2025, Wendel manages 39 billion euros on behalf of third-party investors, and c.6.2 billion euros invested in its principal investments activity.

    Wendel is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris.

    Standard & Poor’s ratings: Long-term: BBB, stable outlook – Short-term: A-2 

    Wendel is the Founding Sponsor of Centre Pompidou-Metz. In recognition of its long-term patronage of the arts, Wendel received the distinction of “Grand Mécène de la Culture” in 2012.For more information: wendelgroup.com

    Follow us on LinkedIn @Wendel 

    Appendix 1: H1 2025 Consolidated sales and results

    H1 2025 consolidated net sales

    (in millions of euros) H1 2024 H1 2025 Δ Organic Δ
    Bureau Veritas 3,021.7 3,192.5 +5.7% +6.7%
    Stahl 464.7 462.9 -0.4% -5.9%
    Scalian (1) 271.8 257.6 -5.2% -11.1%
    CPI 61.9 63.7 +3.0% +3.2%
    ACAMS 44.5 48.8 +9.6% +9.8%
    IK Partners (2) 33.4 91.2 n.a. n.a.
    Monroe Capital (3) n.a. 60.8 n.a. n.a.
    Consolidated sales 3,897.9 4,177.6 +7.2% +3.9%

    (1) Scalian, which had a different reporting date to Wendel (refer to 2023 consolidated financial statements – Note 2 – 1.” Changes in scope of consolidation in 2023″), realigns its closing date with Wendel group. Consequently, sale’s contribution corresponds to 6 months’ sales between January 1st 2025 and June 30 2025. The contribution published last year (€278.2M) corresponded to 6 months’ sales between October 1st 2024 and March 31st 2025.

    (2) Acquisition d’IK Partners in May 2024. Contribution of sales for 2 months in 2024 versus 6 months in 2025.

    (3) Contribution of 3 months’ sales from April 1st, 2025 to June 30, 2025. Including PRE.

    H1 2025 net sales of equity-accounted companies

    (in millions of euros) H1 2024 H1 2025 Δ Organic Δ
    Tarkett (4) 1,558.7 1,573.5 +0.9% -0.2%
    Globeducate (5) n.a. 224.7 n.a. n.a.

    (4) Selling price adjustments in the CIS countries are historically intended to offset currency movements and are therefore excluded from the “organic growth” indicator.

    (5) Contribution of 6 months of sales from December 1st, 2024 to May 31st, 2025 excluding India.

    H1 2025 consolidated results

    (in millions of euros) H1 2024 H1 2025
    Contribution from asset management 11.6 49.0
    Consolidated subsidiaries 364.6 353.8
    Financing, operating expenses and taxes -32.9 -46.0
    Net income from operations(1) 343.4 356.8
    Net income from operations, Group share 104.8 86.0
    Non-recurring income/loss 643.4 15.7
    Impact of goodwill allocation -50.4 -65.1
    Impairment -90.6 -39.4
    Total net income (2) 845.8 268.0
    Net income, Group share 388.2 4.3

    (1)        Net income before goodwill allocation entries and non-recurring items.

    (2)        IHS is accounted for as financial assets through OCI

    H1 2025 net income from operations

    (in millions of euros) H1 2024 H1 2025 Change
    IK Partners 11.6 30.3 +161.8%
    Monroe Capital n.a. 18.7 n.a.
    Total contribution from asset management 11.6 49.0 n.a.
    Total contribution from AM Group share 5.9 29.3 +153.2%
    Bureau Veritas 302.5 307.9 +1.8%
    Stahl 52.6 36.0 -31.6%
    Scalian 0.3 -6.5 n.a.
    CPI 4.8 6.0 +23.7%
    ACAMS -3.0 -1.3 n.a.
    Tarkett (equity accounted) 7.4 3.7 -50.4%
    Globeducate (equity accounted) n.a. 8.0 n.a;
    Total contribution from Group companies 364.6 353.8 -3.0%
    of which Group share 131.6 102.5 -22.1%
    Operating expenses net of management fees -38.2 -32.2 -15.6%
    Taxes -1.7 -2.1 +21.3%
    Financial expenses 19.0 -1.0 -105.3%
    Non-cash operating expenses -11.9 -10.5 -11.2%
    Net income from operations 343.4 356.8 +3.9%
    of which Group share 104.8 86.0 -17.9%

    Appendix 2: Conversion from accounting presentation to economic presentation

    Please refer to table 5.1 of the consolidated statements.

    Appendix 3: Glossary

    • AUM (Assets under Management): Corresponding – for a given fund – to total investors’ commitment (during the fund’s investment period) or total invested amount (post investment period)
    • FRE (Fee-Related Earnings): Earnings generated by recurring fee revenues (mainly management fees). It excludes earnings generated by more volatile performance-related revenues.
    • GP (General Partner): Entity in charge of the overall management, administration and investment of the funds. The GP is paid by management fees charged on assets under management (AuM)

    1 Fully diluted of share buybacks and treasury shares. Net Asset Value non fully diluted stands at €164.1.
    2 As of end of June 2025, AuM of IK Partners and Monroe Capital

    3 This amount includes usual closing adjustments

    4 Including sponsor money commitment in IK (-€434m partly called as of 06.30.2025) & expected commitments in Monroe Capital (-$200m partly called as of 06.30.2025), IK Partners transaction deferred payment (-€131m), Monroe Capital 100% acquisition (including estimated earnout and puts on residual capital, i.e -$527M), and pro forma of Bureau Veritas dividend payment in July (€80.9 million).

    5 As of end of June 2025

    6 Based on USD/EUR exchange rate of 1.08

    7 IK Partners and Monroe Capital

    8 Commitments not yet invested

    9 Fee Paying AuM

    10 (Net cash generated from operating activities – lease payments + corporate tax)/adjusted operating profit

    11 EBITDA including IFRS 16 impacts, EBITDA excluding IFRS 16 stands at €87.6m.

    12 Including IFRS 16 impacts. Net debt excluding the impact of IFRS 16 was €341.8m.

    13 Leverage as per credit documentation definition.

    14 Recurring EBITDA post IFRS 16. Recurring EBITDA pre IFRS 16 was $29.3m

    15 Post IFRS 16 impact. Net debt pre IFRS 16 impact was $367.9m.

    16 EBITDA including IFRS 16. EBITDA excluding IFRS16 stands at $13.1m

    17 Including IFRS 16 impacts. Net debt excluding the impact of IFRS 16 was $159.5 million.

    18 EBITDA including IFRS 16 impact. Excluding IFRS 16, EBITDA stands at €24.2 million.

    19 Net debt including IFRS 16 impact. Excluding IFRS 16, net debt stands at €324.0 million.

    20 As per credit documentation (pre IFRS 16).

    21 6-month revenue from December 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025. Indian operations are deconsolidated and accounted for by the equity method due to the absence of audited figures. These figures are compared with the same period last year and are estimated and non-audited.

    22 EBITDA including IFRS 16 impacts and excluding Indian activities.

    23 Including IFRS 16 impacts; excluding IFRS 16, net debt stood at €572.1 million.

    4 Leverage as per credit documentation definition.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Starmer’s move on Palestinian statehood is clever politics

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Brian Brivati, Visiting Professor of Contemporary History and Human Rights, Kingston University

    Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will recognise Palestinian statehood by September 2025 unless Israel meets certain conditions, marking a significant shift in UK policy.

    For decades, successive UK governments withheld recognition, insisting it could only come as part of a negotiated settlement between Israel and Palestine. This position, rooted in the Oslo accords of the 1990s and aligned with US policy, effectively gave Israel a veto over Palestinian statehood. As long as Israel refused to engage seriously in peace talks, the UK refrained from acting.

    Starmer has now broken with this precedent, potentially aligning the UK with 147 other countries. But the Israeli government must take what the UK calls “substantive steps” toward peace. These include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowing full humanitarian access, explicitly rejecting any plans to annex West Bank territory, and returning to a credible peace process aimed at establishing a two-state solution.




    Read more:
    UK to recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agrees to ceasefire – here’s what that would mean


    If Israel meets these conditions, the UK would presumably withhold recognition until the “peace process” has been completed. Starmer made clear that Britain will assess Israeli compliance in September and reserves the right to proceed with recognition regardless of Israel’s response. The message was unambiguous: no one side will have a veto.

    This is more than just clever internal politics and party management. Anything that puts any pressure on Israel to move towards peace should be welcomed. But will it amount to much more than that?

    Starmer has faced criticism over the last few years for resisting recognising Palestine as a state. While Labour’s frontbench held the line for much of the past year, rank-and-file discontent has grown – and with it, the political risks.

    At the heart of Labour’s internal tensions lie two irreconcilable blocs. On one side are MPs and activists – both inside the party and expelled from it – who are vocally pro-Palestinian and have been outraged by the government’s failure to act. On the other side are members of the Labour right who continue to back Israel, oppose unilateral recognition of statehood and focus on the terrible crimes of Hamas but not the IDF campaign in Gaza.

    Between them sits a soft-centre majority, for whom foreign policy is not a defining issue. They are not ideologically committed to either side but have become increasingly uneasy with the escalating violence and the UK’s diplomatic inertia.

    As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, public outrage in the UK has grown. Mass protests have put mounting pressure on the government to act. Within parliament, over 200 MPs, including many from Labour, signed a letter demanding immediate recognition of Palestine. Senior cabinet ministers reportedly pushed hard for the shift on electoral grounds, as well as principle.

    International dynamics have also played a crucial role. France’s announcement that it would recognise Palestine by September, becoming the first major western power to do so, created additional pressure. Spain, Ireland, Norway and several other European states have already taken the step. Britain chose to align itself with this emerging consensus.

    These pressures combined created a sense of urgency and political opportunity. Starmer’s government appears to be using the threat of recognition as leverage –pressuring Israel to return to negotiations and halt annexation plans.

    The calculation seems to be that Israel will either meet the UK’s conditions or face diplomatic consequences, including recognition of Palestine without its consent. There is also the possibility that Israel will simply ignore the UK and press on with its campaign for “Greater Israel”.

    Challenges ahead

    That is why, while this is a meaningful departure from the past, it is not without problems. Chief among them is the principle of conditionality itself. By making recognition contingent on Israeli behaviour, the UK risks reinforcing the very logic it claims to be rejecting – that Palestinian rights can be granted or withheld based on the actions of the occupying power.

    Recognition of statehood should not be used as a diplomatic carrot or stick. It is a matter of justice, not reward. Palestinians are entitled to self-determination under international law.

    There is also concern that the September deadline could become another missed opportunity. If Israel makes vague or symbolic gestures – such as issuing carefully worded statements or temporarily suspending one settlement expansion – will the UK delay recognition further, claiming that “progress” is being made?

    Palestinians have seen such tactics before. Recognition has been delayed for decades in the name of preserving leverage. But leverage for what?

    The Israeli government, dominated by ultra-nationalists and pro-annexation hardliners, is unlikely to satisfy the UK’s conditions in good faith. The risk is that the deadline becomes a mirage – always imminent, never reached.

    Recognition also comes as part of a proposed new peace plan. This will be supported by the UK, France and Germany, and it allows the government to say it is being consist with its policy that recognition is part of a peace plan.

    If, by some miracle, pressure works and Israel meets all the conditions, then the UK can claim that recognition has played a role in bringing Israel back to the negotiating table.

    But if recognition is then withheld, there will not be two equal actors at that table. The State of Palestine will not have been recognised by key international players, and a new round of western-run peace processes will begin. These do not have a good track record.

    If Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire and let aid into Gaza, then Starmer will be forced to go through with recognition.

    For now, he has defused the internal division in his party. It is clever politics, good party management – it remains to be seen if it is also statesmanship.


    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.

    Brian Brivati is affiliated with Britain Palestine Project, a Scottish Charity that campaigns for equal rights, justice and security for Israelis and Palestiniains

    ref. Starmer’s move on Palestinian statehood is clever politics – https://theconversation.com/starmers-move-on-palestinian-statehood-is-clever-politics-262239

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: Regional Resilience Fund provides €230 million to finance agreement signed by EIB with A&G and Urbania Alpha to promote affordable housing, urban development and sustainable tourism

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The two financing agreements have been signed thanks to the backing of the Regional Resilience Fund financed by NextGenerationEU and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise with EIB support.
    • The EIB will allocate €130 million to A&G and €100 million to Urbania Alpha (which holds the AEXX Capital brand) for investments throughout Spain.
    • These agreements mark a further step forward in rolling out the Regional Resilience Fund – specifically the instrument designed to promote urban development and sustainable tourism – with €640 million already signed to support investments under this instrument.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed agreements with A&G and Urbania Alpha (which holds the AEXX Capital brand) to channel a total of €230 million to new urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.

    The agreements were made possible by a contribution from the Regional Resilience Fund, part of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, and financed by NextGenerationEU. More specifically, this was facilitated by the new instrument launched by the EIB to channel financing via financial intermediaries. Thanks to this instrument, agreements totalling €640 million have already been signed to back investments in urban development and sustainable tourism.

    As with the first agreements signed by the EIB under this instrument, A&G Banco and Urbania Alpha/AEXX Capital will assess investment opportunities across the country to promote projects in areas such as affordable housing, education, healthcare, social and cultural infrastructure, sustainable mobility, waste and water management, energy efficiency and sustainable tourism.

    A&G has been allocated €130 million by the EIB, which it will channel through A&G Real Estate Sustainable Developments, SICC SA. Urbania Alpha/AEXX Capital has been allocated €100 million to be channelled through AEXX Impact Investments I, SICC SA. Both are regulated vehicles set up specifically for this purpose. A&G will invest in equity, while Urbania Alpha/AEXX Capital will finance projects through equity and loans, or a combination of both. The maximum allocation per project is €22 million while maximum recovery periods are 15 years for equity investments and 20 years for debt. The investment period runs until December 2030.

    “With these two new financing agreements, the EIB continues to accelerate the deployment of the Regional Resilience Fund while boosting investment in urban development, affordable housing, and sustainable tourism in Spain. Public-private partnerships—such as those signed today with A&G and Urbania Alpha/AEXX Capital—help unlock the capital needed to make housing more accessible, foster an environmentally responsible tourism model, and adapt our cities to the evolving needs of citizens.” said EIB Director General – Head of Lending and Advisory Operations within the European Union Jean-Christophe Laloux

    “The signing of these agreements consolidates the implementation of the Regional Resilience Fund’s intermediated instrument, extending its scope to new specialised financial intermediaries. This is an important step in continuing to channel European funding towards projects with a real impact in key areas such as affordable housing, urban regeneration and sustainable tourism,’ said Inés Carpio, Director General of International Financing at the Treasury, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise

    Alejandro Nuñez, Managing Partner of Alternative Investments at A&G added, “We appreciate the trust placed in us by an investor of such exceptional prestige as the EIB to mobilize a significant portion of the Regional Resilience Fund. We believe that A&G is in a privileged position to manage public-private capital that effectively contributes to urban regeneration and sustainable tourism projects in Spain. Over the last few years, A&G has managed to create a highly regarded real estate investment platform in Spain. The mandate granted by the EIB gives us the opportunity to channel key resources into promoting affordable rental housing, while also supporting sustainable initiatives and local job creation.”

    Background information

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Agreement, as pledged in its Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for residents.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    Regional Resilience Fund

    The Regional Resilience Fund (RRF) was created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the autonomous communities, with the aim of boosting investments and developing projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and SMEs.

    The fund is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, which takes input from the autonomous communities and cities for investment decision-making and looks to the EIB Group as a strategic management partner.

    The initial phase of the RRF includes the activation of up to €3.4 billion in financing via:

    • a direct financing mechanism, to co-finance EIB-supported operations in sectors like renewable energy, clean transport and sustainable infrastructure;
    • an intermediated mechanism managed by financial intermediaries selected by the EIB, to support projects in urban development and sustainable tourism;
    • two instruments intermediated by the European Investment Fund that will facilitate SME financing for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

    About A&G and A&G Global Investors

    A&G was founded in 1987 and is a leading independent financial services group with offices in Spain and Luxembourg. At the end of June 2025, the group’s total assets under management (AuMs) exceeded €15.5 billion. The group’s capabilities in alternative investments are focused on real estate, energy transition (with strategies dedicated to investing in infrastructure assets and growing technology companies) and private equity investments, grouped under the A&G Global Investors brand.

    www.aygglobalinvestors.com

    Urbania Alpha/AEXX Capital

    Urbania Alpha/AEXX Capital is a European alternative asset management platform. The firm provides debt, equity, and hybrid capital solutions to address a broad range of financing needs for real asset owners. To execute this strategy, AEXX has developed deep geographic and asset-class expertise across European markets through its offices in Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, and Portugal.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation from US National Endowment for Democracy

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-07-24
    President Lai meets Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam  
    On the morning of July 24, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Republic of Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdirahman Dahir Adam. In remarks, President Lai thanked the Somaliland government for its longstanding, staunch support for Taiwan-Somaliland relations. The president mentioned that this year marks the fifth anniversary of Taiwan and Somaliland’s mutual establishment of representative offices and that our exchanges in various areas have yielded significant results. He expressed hope for continuing to deepen our partnership, advancing our bilateral friendship and fruitful cooperation. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome all of our guests to Taiwan. This is the first visit to Taiwan for Minister Adam, Minister Khadir Hussein Abdi, and Admiral Ahmed Hurre Hariye. I thank you for your high regard and support for Taiwan. I also very much appreciate that Lead Advisor Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, who served as representative of Somaliland to Taiwan during the past five years, continues deepening Taiwan-Somaliland ties in his new role. Somaliland is renowned as a beacon of democracy in the Horn of Africa. I want to once again congratulate Somaliland on successfully holding presidential and political party elections last November, which garnered praise from the international community. At that time, I appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu (吳志中) to serve as special envoy and lead a delegation to attend the inauguration of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, demonstrating that Taiwan would work closely with Somaliland’s new government to write a new chapter in our friendship. Recently, authoritarian regimes have continued to apply new forms of coercion as they intensify suppression of Taiwan’s and Somaliland’s international participation. In response, our two sides must continue to deepen our partnership and demonstrate the resilience of democratic alliances, as well as our staunch commitment to defending our values.  This year marks the fifth anniversary of Taiwan and Somaliland’s mutual establishment of representative offices. Through our joint efforts, we have continued to expand exchanges in various areas, yielding significant results. This afternoon, we will also sign an agreement on coast guard cooperation, launching bilateral cooperation in maritime affairs. Regarding President Abdullahi’s focus on maritime security, the blue economy, and other policy objectives, we can strengthen our bilateral partnership moving forward. In addition, we also hope to work together with like-minded countries such as the United States, and through trilateral or multilateral cooperation platforms, realize the strategic goal of a non-red Somaliland coastline. I want to thank the Somaliland government once more for its longstanding, staunch support for Taiwan-Somaliland relations. I look forward to working with all of you to continue to advance our bilateral friendship and fruitful cooperation. In closing, I once again welcome Minister Adam and the delegation. I have every confidence that, in addition to advancing bilateral cooperation, this trip will allow you to experience Taiwan’s natural beauty and diverse culture. Minister Adam then delivered remarks, thanking the government and people of Taiwan for the warm hospitality they have received since their arrival. He stated that Taiwan is a peaceful nation and that it shares with Somaliland the value of democracy. He stated that we also share the goal of obtaining recognition, so he is glad that the Taiwan-Somaliland relationship is growing by the day. Minister Adam pointed out that there is much pressure that we are both facing in our relationship, but he reassured President Lai that no amount of pressure can change Somaliland’s strong ties with Taiwan. He also thanked the Taiwan government for the help it has proffered to Somaliland, adding that our relationship will only get better. Minister Adam said that Taiwan and Somaliland can cooperate in many areas and that there is more opportunity in Somaliland than any other country, adding that Somaliland is open for investment from Taiwan. Noting that our countries can also collaborate in other areas such as education and maritime security, the minister said that he is glad they will be signing a cooperative agreement in maritime security with Taiwan. He then said he is looking forward to a better relationship in the future. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Somaliland Representative to Taiwan Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal.  

    Details
    2025-07-22
    President Lai meets cross-party Irish Oireachtas delegation
    On the morning of July 22, President Lai Ching-te met with a cross-party delegation from the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan and Ireland are both guardians of the values of freedom and democracy. He indicated that Taiwan will continue to take action and show the world that it is a trustworthy democratic partner that can contribute to the international community, saying that we look forward to building an even closer partnership with Ireland as we work together for the well-being of our peoples and for global democracy, peace, and prosperity. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Deputy Speaker John McGuinness is a dear friend of Taiwan who also chairs the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association. Thanks to his efforts over the years, support for Taiwan has grown stronger in the Oireachtas. I thank him and all of our guests for traveling such a long way to demonstrate support for Taiwan and open more doors for exchanges and cooperation. Europe is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment. Ireland is a European stronghold for technology and innovative industries. Just like Taiwan, Ireland is an export-oriented economy. Our industrial structures are highly complementary. We hope that Taiwan’s electronics manufacturing and machinery industries can explore deeper cooperation with Ireland’s ICT software and biopharmaceutical fields, creating win-win outcomes. In May, the Irish government launched its National Semiconductor Strategy, outlining a vision to become a global semiconductor hub. Taiwan is home to the world’s most critical semiconductor ecosystem, and our own industrial development closely parallels that of Ireland. Moreover, we aspire to build non-red technological supply chains with democratic partners. I believe that going forward, Taiwan and Ireland can bolster collaboration so as to upgrade the competitiveness of our respective semiconductor industries. Together, we can help build a values-based economic system for democracies. I was delighted to receive congratulations from Deputy Speaker McGuinness on my election. Taiwan and Ireland are both guardians of the values of freedom and democracy. This visit from our guests further attests to our common beliefs. As authoritarianism continues to expand, Taiwan will continue to take action and show the world that it is a trustworthy democratic partner that can contribute to the international community. We look forward to building an even closer partnership with Ireland as we work together for the well-being of our peoples and for global democracy, peace, and prosperity. Deputy Speaker McGuinness then delivered remarks, stating that he has been to Taiwan on many occasions and that it is a great honor to join President Lai and his staff at the Presidential Office. He said that Ireland has continued to build its strong relationship with Taiwan based on our democratic values and the interests that we have in trade throughout the world, strengthening this relationship based on culture, education, and more. Noting that he served with many other diplomats from Taiwan, he said all had the same goal, which was to further the interests of the Ireland-Taiwan friendship and to ensure that it grows and prospers. The deputy speaker then extended to President Lai the delegation’s best wishes for his term in office, stating that they commit to the same values as the previous friendship groups that have been visiting Taiwan. He went on to say that some members of the group are newly elected, representing the next generation of the association, and that they are committed to working together with Taiwan to stand strong in the defense of democracy. Deputy Speaker McGuinness also noted that the father of Deputy Ken O’Flynn, one of the delegation members, played an important role as a former chairman of the association, remarking that it is good to see such continuity taking place. Deputy Speaker McGuiness said that he believes the world is facing huge challenges and uncertainty in terms of our markets and trade with one another. He said we have to watch for what the United States will do next and be conscious of what China is doing, emphasizing that the European Union stands strong in the center of this, while Ireland plays a huge role in the context of democracy, trade, and the betterment of all things for the citizens that they represent. The deputy speaker then stated that while we focus on the development of AI that is extremely important for all of us, we can work together to ensure that we control AI rather than AI controlling us. He also remarked that we cannot lose sight of our traditional trading means, saying that we have to keep all of our trade together, expand on that trade, and then take on the new technologies that come before us. Deputy Speaker McGuinness concluded his remarks by thanking President Lai for receiving the delegation, stating that they commit to their continuation of support for Taiwan and for democracy. Also in attendance were Deputies Malcolm Byrne and Barry Ward, and Senator Teresa Costello.

    Details
    2025-07-22
    President Lai meets official delegation from European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield
    On the morning of July 22, President Lai Ching-te met with an official delegation from the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS). In remarks, President Lai thanked the committee for choosing to visit Taiwan for its first trip to Asia, demonstrating the close ties between Taiwan and Europe. President Lai emphasized that Taiwan, standing at the very frontline of the democratic world, is determined to protect democracy, peace, and prosperity worldwide. He expressed hope that we can share our experiences with Europe to foster even more resilient societies. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Firstly, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome to your delegation, which marks another official visit from the European Parliament. The Special Committee on the EUDS aims to strengthen societal resilience and counter disinformation and hybrid threats. Having been constituted at the beginning of this year, the committee has chosen to visit Taiwan for its first trip to Asia, demonstrating the close ties between Taiwan and Europe and the unlimited possibilities for deepening cooperation on issues of concern. I am also delighted to see many old friends of Taiwan gathered here today. I deeply appreciate your longstanding support for Taiwan. Taiwan and the European Union enjoy close trade and economic relations and share the values of freedom and democracy. However, in recent years, we have both been subjected to information manipulation and infiltration by foreign forces that seek to interfere in democratic elections, foment division in our societies, and shake people’s faith in democracy. Taiwan not only faces an onslaught of disinformation, but also is the target of gray-zone aggression. That is why, after taking office, I established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee at the Presidential Office, with myself as convener. The committee is a platform that integrates domestic affairs, national defense, foreign affairs, cybersecurity, and civil resources. It aims to strengthen the capability of Taiwan’s society to defend itself against new forms of threat, pinpoint external and internal vulnerabilities, and bolster overall resilience and security. The efforts that democracies make are not for opposing anyone else; they are for safeguarding the way of life that we cherish – just as Europe has endeavored to promote diversity and human rights. The Taiwanese people firmly believe that when our society is united and people trust one another, we will be able to withstand any form of authoritarian aggression. Taiwan stands at the very frontline of the democratic world. We are determined to protect democracy, peace, and prosperity worldwide. We also hope to share our experiences with Europe and deepen cooperation in such fields as cybersecurity, media literacy, and societal resilience. Thank you once again for visiting Taiwan. Your presence further strengthens the foundations of Taiwan-Europe relations. Let us continue to work together to uphold freedom and democracy and foster even more resilient societies. EUDS Special Committee Chair Nathalie Loiseau then delivered remarks, saying that the delegation has members from different countries, including France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Belgium, and different political parties, but that they have in common their desire for stronger relations between the EU and Taiwan. Committee Chair Loiseau stated that the EU and Taiwan, having many things in common, should work more together. She noted that we have strong trade relations, strong investments on both sides, and strong cultural relations, while we are also facing very similar challenges and threats. She said that we are democracies living in a world where autocracies want to weaken and divide democracies. She added that we also face external information manipulation, cyberattacks, sabotage, attempts to capture elites, and every single gray-zone activity that aims to divide and weaken us. Committee Chair Loiseau pointed out another commonality, that we have never threatened our neighbors. She said that we want to live in peace and we care about our people; we want to defend ourselves, not to attack others. We are not being threatened because of what we do, she emphasized, but because of what we are; and thus there is no reason for not working more together to face these threats and attacks. Committee Chair Loiseau said that Taiwan has valuable experience and good practices in the area of societal resilience, and that they are interested in learning more about Taiwan’s whole-of-society approach. They in Europe are facing interference, she said, mainly from Russia, and they know that Russia inspires others. She added that they in the EU also have experience regulating social media in a way which combines freedom of expression and responsibility. In closing, the chair said that they are happy to have the opportunity to exchange views with President Lai and that the European Parliament will continue to strongly support relations between the EU and Taiwan. The delegation also included Members of the European Parliament Engin Eroglu, Tomáš Zdechovský, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Kathleen Van Brempt, and Markéta Gregorová.

    Details
    2025-07-17
    President Lai meets President of Guatemalan Congress Nery Abilio Ramos y Ramos  
    On the morning of July 17, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Nery Abilio Ramos y Ramos, the president of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. In remarks, President Lai thanked Congress President Ramos and the Guatemalan Congress for their support for Taiwan, and noted that official diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala go back more than 90 years. As important partners in the global democratic community, the president said, the two nations will continue moving forward together in joint defense of the values of democracy and freedom, and will cooperate to promote regional and global prosperity and development. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:  I recall that when Congress President Ramos visited Taiwan in July last year, he put forward many ideas about how our countries could promote bilateral cooperation and exchanges. Now, a year later, he is leading another cross-party delegation from the Guatemalan Congress on a visit, demonstrating support for Taiwan and continuing to help deepen our diplomatic ties. In addition to extending a sincere welcome to the distinguished delegation members who have traveled so far to be here, I would also like to express our concern and condolences for everyone in Guatemala affected by the earthquake that struck earlier this month. We hope that the recovery effort is going smoothly. Official diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala go back more than 90 years. In such fields as healthcare, agriculture, education, and women’s empowerment, we have continually strengthened our cooperation to benefit our peoples. Just last month, Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo and the First Lady led a delegation on a state visit to Taiwan. President Arévalo and I signed a letter of intent for semiconductor cooperation, and also witnessed the signing of cooperation documents to establish a political consultation mechanism and continue to promote bilateral investment. This has laid an even sounder foundation for bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and will help enhance both countries’ international competitiveness. Taiwan is currently running a semiconductor vocational training program, helping Guatemala cultivate semiconductor talent and develop its tech industry, and demonstrating our determination to share experience with democratic partners. At the same time, we continue to assist Taiwanese businesses in their efforts to develop overseas markets with Guatemala as an important base, spurring industrial development in both countries and increasing economic and trade benefits. I want to thank Congress President Ramos and the Guatemalan Congress for their continued support for Taiwan’s international participation. Representing the Guatemalan Congress, Congress President Ramos has signed resolutions in support of Taiwan, and has also issued statements addressing China’s misinterpretation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. Taiwan and Guatemala, as important partners in the global democratic community, will continue moving forward together in joint defense of the values of democracy and freedom, and will cooperate to promote regional and global prosperity and development. Congress President Ramos then delivered remarks, first noting that the members of the delegation are not only from different parties, but also represent different classes, cultures, professions, and departments, which shows that the diplomatic ties between Guatemala and the Republic of China (Taiwan) are based on firm friendships at all levels and in all fields. Noting that this was his second time to visit Taiwan and meet with President Lai, Congress President Ramos thanked the government of Taiwan for its warm hospitality. With the international situation growing more complex by the day, he said, Guatemala highly values its longstanding friendship and cooperative ties with Taiwan, and hopes that both sides can continue to deepen their cooperation in such areas as the economy, technology, education, agriculture, and culture, and work together to spur sustainable development in each of our countries. Congress President Ramos said that the way the Taiwan government looks after the well-being of its people is an excellent model for how other countries should promote national development and social well-being. Accordingly, he said, the Guatemalan Congress has stood for justice and, for a second time, adopted a resolution backing Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly. Regarding President Arévalo’s state visit to Taiwan the previous month, Congress President Ramos commented that this high-level interaction has undoubtedly strengthened the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Guatemala and led to more opportunities for cooperation. Congress President Ramos emphasized that democracy, freedom, and human rights are universal values that bind Taiwan and Guatemala together, and that he is confident the two countries’ diplomatic ties will continue to grow deeper. In closing, on behalf of the Republic of Guatemala, Congress President Ramos presented President Lai with a Chinese translation of the resolution that the Guatemalan Congress proposed to the UN in support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, demonstrating the staunch bonds of friendship between the two countries. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Guatemala Ambassador Luis Raúl Estévez López.  

    Details
    2025-07-08
    President Lai meets delegation led by Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste of Republic of Haiti
    On the morning of July 8, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste of the Republic of Haiti and his wife. In remarks, President Lai noted that our two countries will soon mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and that our exchanges have been fruitful in important areas such as public security, educational cooperation, and infrastructure. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to work together with Haiti to promote the development of medical and health care, food security, and construction that benefits people’s livelihoods. The president thanked Haiti for supporting Taiwan’s international participation and expressed hope that both countries will continue to support each other, deepen cooperation, and face various challenges together. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet and exchange ideas with Minister Jean-Baptiste, his wife, and our distinguished guests. Minister Jean-Baptiste is the highest-ranking official from Haiti to visit Taiwan since former President Jovenel Moïse visited in 2018, demonstrating the importance that the Haitian government attaches to our bilateral diplomatic ties. On behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend a sincere welcome. Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries. Our bilateral exchanges have been fruitful in important areas such as public security, educational cooperation, and infrastructure. Over the past few years, Haiti has faced challenges in such areas as food supply and healthcare. Taiwan will continue to work together with Haiti through various cooperative programs to promote the development of medical and health care, food security, and construction that benefits people’s livelihoods. I want to thank the government of Haiti and Minister Jean-Baptiste for speaking out in support of Taiwan on the international stage for many years. Minister Jean-Baptiste’s personal letter to the World Health Organization Secretariat in May this year and Minister of Public Health and Population Bertrand Sinal’s public statement during the World Health Assembly both affirmed Taiwan’s efforts and contributions to global public health and supported Taiwan’s international participation, for which we are very grateful. I hope that Taiwan and Haiti will continue to support each other and deepen cooperation. I believe that Minister Jean-Baptiste’s visit will open up more opportunities for cooperation for both countries, helping Taiwan and Haiti face various challenges together. In closing, I once again offer a sincere welcome to the delegation led by Minister Jean-Baptiste, and ask him to convey greetings from Taiwan to Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and the members of the Transitional Presidential Council. Minister Jean-Baptiste then delivered remarks, saying that he is extremely honored to visit Taiwan and reaffirm the solid and friendly cooperative relationship based on mutual respect between the Republic of Haiti and the Republic of China (Taiwan), which will soon mark its 70th anniversary. He also brought greetings to President Lai from Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council and Prime Minister Fils-Aimé. Minister Jean-Baptiste emphasized that over the past few decades, despite the great geographical distance and developmental and cultural differences between our two countries, we have nevertheless established a firm friendship and demonstrated to the world the progress resulting from the mutual assistance and cooperation between our peoples. Minister Jean-Baptiste pointed out that our two countries cooperate closely in agriculture, health, education, and community development and have achieved concrete results. Taiwan’s voice, he said, is thus essential for the people of Haiti. He noted that Taiwan also plays an important role in peace and innovation and actively participates in global cooperative efforts. Pointing out that the world is currently facing significant challenges and that Haiti is experiencing its most difficult period in history, Minister Jean-Baptiste said that at this time, Taiwan and Haiti need to unite, help each other, and jointly think about how to move forward and deepen bilateral relations to benefit the peoples of both countries. Minister Jean-Baptiste said that he is pleased that throughout our solid and friendly diplomatic relationship, both countries have demonstrated mutual trust, mutual respect, and the values we jointly defend. He then stated his belief that Haiti and Taiwan will together create a cooperation model and future that are sincere, friendly, and sustainable. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Francilien Victorin of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Taiwan.

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI: JD.com Announces Decision to Make a Voluntary Public Takeover Offer and Strategic Investment Partnership with CECONOMY

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JD.com, Inc. (“JD.com” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: JD and HKEX: 9618 (HKD counter) and 89618 (RMB counter)), a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider, today announced that it decided to make a voluntary public takeover offer, through a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary JINGDONG Holding Germany GmbH (the “Bidder”), to all shareholders of CECONOMY AG (“CECONOMY”) (XETRA: CEC), the parent company of leading European consumer electronics retailers MediaMarkt and Saturn, to acquire all issued and outstanding bearer shares in CECONOMY (the “CECONOMY Shares”) for a cash consideration of EUR 4.60 per share (the “Takeover Offer”).

    The Bidder and CECONOMY have also signed an investment agreement regarding the Takeover Offer and their intended cooperation after completion of the Takeover Offer. Furthermore, regarding their future cooperation, the Bidder and CECONOMY’s largest shareholder group comprising Convergenta Invest GmbH and related shareholders (together, “Convergenta”) entered into a shareholders’ agreement, effectiveness of which is subject to the completion of the Takeover Offer. As a result, post the completion of the Takeover Offer, Convergenta will hold 25.35% of the CECONOMY Shares, reducing its current shareholding in CECONOMY from 29.16% by an irrevocable undertaking to accept the Takeover Offer with respect to 3.81% of the CECONOMY Shares. The Bidder has also entered into agreements with several shareholders of CECONOMY, under which those shareholders have irrevocably undertaken to accept the Takeover Offer with respect to 31.7% of the CECONOMY Shares in total (including 3.81% from Convergenta), securing a total shareholding of 57.1% in combination with the retained stake of JD.com’s future partner Convergenta ahead of the launch of the Takeover Offer.

    CECONOMY is a European retail leader in the field of consumer electronics. Its main brands MediaMarkt and Saturn operate omni-channel retail businesses, combining strong e-commerce presence with more than 1,000 retail stores in 11 countries. Under the strategic investment agreement, the Company and CECONOMY aim to drive CECONOMY’s growth as a stand-alone business and accelerate CECONOMY’s transformation into Europe’s leading omni-channel consumer electronics platform. JD.com, renowned for its superior customer experience and industry-leading e-commerce logistics service standards, will contribute its advanced technology, leading omni-channel retail expertise, and logistics and warehouse capabilities to the partnership. This will strengthen CECONOMY’s capabilities and further develop its core business and capitalize on its market position. As part of the strategic roadmap, CECONOMY will remain a stand-alone business in Europe with a local independent technology stack, and no changes are planned to the workforce, employee agreements and sites. CECONOMY’s Supervisory Board and Management Board fully support the public Takeover Offer.

    “This partnership with CECONOMY will build Europe’s leading next-generation consumer electronics platform,” said JD.com CEO Sandy Xu. “CECONOMY’s market-leading position, strong customer relationships and growth are impressive, and we are firmly committed to investing in its people and distinct culture to build on this success. We will work with the team to strengthen the capabilities, while applying our advanced technology capabilities to accelerate CECONOMY’s ongoing transformation. Our goal is to further grow CECONOMY’s platform across Europe and create long-term value for customers, employees, investors and local communities. We have full confidence in the management team of CECONOMY and look forward to working together to initiate the next phase of growth.”

    CECONOMY CEO Dr. Kai-Ulrich Deissner said, “With JD.com’s outstanding retail, logistics, and technology capabilities, we can further accelerate our successful growth trajectory and go beyond our current strategic goals. Thanks to the tremendous dedication and commitment of our entire team, CECONOMY operates from a position of strength. Given the constantly evolving customer expectations and market dynamics, standing still is not an option. In the coming years, we don’t just want to keep pace with the transformation in European retail – we want to continue leading it. JD.com is the right partner for this. We share a passion for our customers and a firm belief that our employees, trusted partnerships with international brand manufacturers, and the combination of digital and brick-and-mortar business are the keys to success. We partner with JD.com to strengthen European retail, based on complementary strengths and shared values.”

    “We fully support the strategic investment agreement and takeover offer and are confident that it represents the best opportunity to further drive the successful transformation of CECONOMY,” said Jürgen Kellerhals of anchor shareholder Convergenta. “The management team of CECONOMY has a clear strategic vision, and JD.com brings the resources and expertise required to accelerate the company’s (CECONOMY’s) next phase of growth. The technological expertise of JD.com is world-leading, as demonstrated by its success in other markets. As the long-term anchor investor, we believe this is the right step at the right time for the business, our employees, and our customers.”

    The Takeover Offer will be subject to customary conditions, including, among others, merger control, foreign direct investment and foreign subsidies clearances. The Takeover Offer will not be subject to a minimum acceptance rate. The transaction will be financed through a combination of acquisition loan and the Company’s cash on balance sheet. The closing of the Takeover Offer is expected to take place in the first half of 2026.

    The Offer Document (in German and a non-binding English translation) which will set forth the detailed terms and conditions of the Takeover Offer, as well as further information relating thereto, will be published by the Bidder following approval by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) on the internet at the website www.green-offer.com.

    This announcement and the information within it are not intended to, and do not, constitute or form part of any offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the CECONOMY Shares. Investors and holders of CECONOMY Shares are strongly advised to read the Offer Document and all other documents relating to the Takeover Offer as soon as they have been made public, as they will contain important information.

    About JD.com, Inc.

    JD.com is a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider. The Company’s cutting-edge retail infrastructure seeks to enable consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it. The Company has opened its technology and infrastructure to partners, brands and other sectors, as part of its Retail as a Service offering to help drive productivity and innovation across a range of industries.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. JD.com may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in announcements made on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about JD.com’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: JD.com’s growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to attract and retain new customers and to increase revenues generated from repeat customers; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; trends and competition in China’s e-commerce market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; the expected growth of the Chinese e-commerce market; laws, regulations and governmental policies relating to the industries in which JD.com or its business partners operate; potential changes in laws, regulations and governmental policies or changes in the interpretation and implementation of laws, regulations and governmental policies that could adversely affect the industries in which JD.com or its business partners operate, including, among others, initiatives to enhance supervision of companies listed on an overseas exchange and tighten scrutiny over data privacy and data security; risks associated with JD.com’s acquisitions, investments and alliances, including fluctuation in the market value of JD.com’s investment portfolio; natural disasters and geopolitical events; change in tax rates and financial risks; intensity of competition; and general market and economic conditions in China and globally. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JD.com’s filings with the SEC and the announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided herein is as of the date of this announcement, and JD.com undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. 

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations
    Sean Zhang
    +86 (10) 8912-6804
    IR@JD.com

    Media Relations
    +86 (10) 8911-6155
    Press@JD.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Army’s Project Flytrap Advances Defense Secretary’s Drone Dominance Agenda

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    U.S. and British soldiers conducted the fourth iteration of the Project Flytrap exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany and the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, near Elk, Poland, to better prepare to counter the threats posed by unmanned aerial systems on the battlefield.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amra Lee, PhD candidate in Protection of Civilians, Australian National University

    Israel partially lifted its aid blockade of Gaza this week in response to intensifying international pressure over the man-made famine in the devastated coastal strip.

    The United Arab Emirates and Jordan airdropped 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian supplies on Sunday. Israel has further announced daily pauses in its military strikes on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate UN aid deliveries.

    Israel reports it has permitted 70 trucks per day into the strip since May 19. This is well below the 500–600 trucks required per day, according to the United Nations.

    The UN emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has characterised the next few days as “make or break” for humanitarian agencies trying to reach more than two million Gazans facing “famine-like conditions”.

    A third of Gazans have gone without food for several days and 90,000 women and children now require urgent care for acute malnutrition. Local health authorities have reported 147 deaths from starvation so far, 80% of whom are children.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed – without any evidence – “there is no starvation in Gaza”. This claim has been rejected by world leaders, including Netanyahu ally US President Donald Trump.

    Famine expert Alex de Waal has called the famine in Gaza without precedent:

    […] there’s no case of such minutely engineered, closely monitored, precisely designed mass starvation of a population as is happening in Gaza today.

    While the UN has welcomed the partial lifting of the blockade, the current aid being allowed into Gaza will not be enough to avert a wider catastrophe, due to the severity and depth of hunger in Gaza and the health needs of the people.

    According to the UN World Food Programme, which has enough food stockpiled to feed all of Gaza for three months, only one thing will work:

    An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone.

    Airdrops a ‘distraction and a smokescreen’

    Air-dropping food supplies is considered a last resort due to the undignified and unsafe manner in which the aid is delivered.

    The UN has already reported civilians being injured when packages have fallen on tents.

    The Global Protection Cluster, a network of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies, shared a story from a mother in Al Karama, east of Gaza City, whose home was hit by an airdropped pallet, causing the roof to collapse:

    Immediately following the impact, a group of people armed with knives rushed towards the house, while the mother locked herself and her children in the remaining room to protect her family. They did not receive any assistance and are fearful for their safety.

    Air-dropped pallets of food are also inefficient compared with what can be delivered by road.

    One truck can carry up to 20 tonnes of supplies. Trucks can also reach Gaza quickly if they are allowed to cross at the scale required. Aid agencies have repeatedly said they have the necessary aid and personnel sitting just one hour away at the border.

    Given how ineffective the air drops have been – and will continue to be – the head of the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine has called them a “distraction” and a “smokescreen”.

    Malnourished women and children need specialised care

    De Waal has also made clear how starvation differs from other war crimes – it takes weeks of denying aid for starvation to take hold.

    For the 90,000 acutely malnourished women and children who require specialised and supplementary feeding, in addition to medical care, the type of food being air-dropped into Gaza will not help them. Malnourished children require nutritional screening and access to fortified pastes and baby food.

    Gaza’s decimated health system is also not able to treat severely malnourished women and children, who are at risk of “refeeding syndrome” when they are provided with nutrients again. This can trigger a fatal metabolic response.

    Gaza will take generations to heal from the long-term impacts of mass starvation. Malnourished children suffer lifelong cognitive and physical effects that can then be passed on to future generations.

    What needs to happen now

    The UN has characterised the limited reopening of aid deliveries to Gaza as a potential “lifeline”, if it’s upheld and expanded.

    According to Ciaran Donnelly from the International Rescue Committee, what’s needed is “tragically simple”: Israel must fully open the Gaza borders to allow aid and humanitarian personnel to flood in.

    Israel must also guarantee safe conditions for the dignified distribution of aid that reaches everyone, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The level of hunger and insecurity mean these groups are at high risk of exclusion.

    The people of Gaza have the world’s attention – for now. They have endured increasingly dehumanising conditions – including the risk of being shot trying to access aid – under the cover of war for more than 21 months.

    Two leading Israeli human rights organisations have just publicly called Israel’s war on Gaza “a genocide”. This builds on mounting evidence compiled by the UN and other experts that supports the same conclusion, triggering the duty under international law for all states to act to prevent genocide.

    These obligations require more than words – states must exercise their full diplomatic leverage to pressure Israel to let aid in at the scale required to avert famine. States must also pressure Israel to extend its military pauses into the only durable solution – a permanent ceasefire.

    Amra Lee 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. Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation – https://theconversation.com/air-dropping-food-into-gaza-is-a-smokescreen-this-is-what-must-be-done-to-prevent-mass-starvation-262053

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Himax Subsidiary Liqxtal Proprietary Vision-Care Pro-Eye Monitor Named Finalist for Top Ten Age-Friendly Technology Product

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAINAN, Taiwan, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liqxtal Technology Inc. (“Liqxtal”), a subsidiary of Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX), and a pioneer in liquid crystal optical innovation, today announced that its flagship vision-care product, the Liqxtal® Pro-Eye Monitor, has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 Top Ten Age-Friendly Technology Product Awards, presented by the Taiwan Healthy Ageing Tech Show Committee. This prestigious recognition honors outstanding innovations that promote health, comfort, and quality of life for Taiwan’s aging population.

    Built on Liqxtal’s patented electrically tunable liquid crystal technology, the Pro-Eye monitor projects digital images to a virtual viewing distance of approximately 16 feet, dramatically farther than the typical 20 – 24 inches of conventional monitors. This design significantly eases ciliary muscle strain and reduces eye fatigue, offering a more natural and effortless viewing experience, especially for seniors experiencing dry eyes or blurred vision due to extended screen use.

    With Taiwan’s senior population rapidly growing, technologies that support visual wellness are increasingly vital to long-term care and healthy aging. Since its debut, the Pro-Eye Monitor has garnered strong interest across healthcare, eldercare, and smart home industries for its potential to redefine visual comfort for older adults. Evaluated by a panel of experts from the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs and academic institutions, its selection as a top ten finalist underscores Liqxtal’s leadership in age-friendly innovation.

    Liqxtal Pro-Eye Monitor will be showcased at the 2025 Taiwan Healthy Ageing Tech Show, held August 8 – 10 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. Purposefully engineered to address age-related visual challenges, the Pro-Eye represents Liqxtal’s commitment to improving elderly eye health through advanced optical technology. During the event, Liqxtal will also exhibit other smart optical solutions, including the Liqxtal® Dim, which integrates Liqxtal’s proprietary pixelated liquid crystal light valve with Himax’s WiseEye™ ultralow power AI sensing technology, empowering an intelligent system that automatically adjusts light transmittance based on ambient conditions, enhancing both comfort and safety for seniors in varying lighting environments.

    “Liqxtal has been dedicated to advancing liquid crystal optical technologies to deliver eye-care solutions that provide both comfort and functionality,” said Dr. Hung Shan Chen, President of Liqxtal. “Being named a finalist for the top 10 Age-Friendly Technology Awards is a significant milestone that reinforces our commitment to extending this transformative technology to a broader range of aging-related applications, bringing us closer to our vision of a smarter, healthier lifestyle.”

    Liqxtal warmly invites media, healthcare professionals, and industry partners to visit Booth A805 at the Taiwan Healthy Ageing Tech Show during August 8 –10, to experience the Pro-Eye Monitor firsthand and explore how next-generation liquid crystal optics are shaping the future of visual wellness in senior care.

    About Liqxtal Technology Inc.

    Liqxtal Technology Inc. is a Taiwan based company that has been focused on exploring opportunities with liquid crystal (“LC”) beyond just displays since the company’s inception. With a distinguished track record in liquid crystal optics, Liqxtal has developed liquid crystal based optical components such as LC lens for ophthalmic application, LC diffuser for 3D sensing and LC retarder for light sensing. Additionally, Liqxtal designed and released LQ001, a high voltage & tunable frequency LC driver with a 1mm x 2mm footprint, which is particularly ideal for portable products. As a subsidiary of Himax Technologies, Liqxtal also integrates novel display solutions such as tunable backlight with local dimming capability powered by FPGA for niche applications. Lastly, Liqxtal is dedicated to novel vision eyewear technology and strives to innovate and advance useful optical solutions to the world.

    About Himax Technologies, Inc.

    Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. The Company’s display driver ICs and timing controllers have been adopted at scale across multiple industries worldwide including TVs, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, ePaper devices, industrial displays, among others. As the global market share leader in automotive display technology, the Company offers innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including traditional driver ICs, advanced in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI), local dimming timing controllers (Local Dimming Tcon), Large Touch and Display Driver Integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a pioneer in tinyML visual-AI and optical technology related fields. The Company’s industry-leading WiseEye™ Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology which incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as diffractive wafer level optics, LCoS microdisplays and 3D sensing solutions, are critical for facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. Additionally, Himax designs and provides touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors for diverse display application coverage. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany, and the US. Himax has 2,609 patents granted and 370 patents pending approval worldwide as of June 30, 2025.

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

    Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; changes in export license regulated by Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC, as may be amended.

    Liqxtal Contact:

    Henry Hung, Deputy Director of Market & Sales Division
    Liqxtal Technology Inc.
    Tel: +886-6-505-0880
    Email: info@liqxtal.com

    Himax Contacts:

    Karen Tiao, Head of IR/PR
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Mark Schwalenberg, Director
    Investor Relations – US Representative
    MZ North America
    Tel: +1-312-261-6430
    Email: HIMX@mzgroup.us
    www.mzgroup.us

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30cd9f50-e221-43d4-a3cb-836122c81cf7

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ECB Consumer Expectations Survey results – June 2024

    Source: European Central Bank

    29 July 2025

    Compared with May 2025:

    • median consumer perceptions of inflation over the previous 12 months remained unchanged, as did median expectations for inflation three and five years ahead, while median inflation expectations for one year ahead decreased;
    • expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months remained unchanged, while expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months decreased;
    • expectations for economic growth over the next 12 months became less negative, while the expected unemployment rate in 12 months’ time decreased;
    • expectations for growth in the price of homes over the next 12 months decreased slightly, as did expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead.

    Inflation

    In June, the median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months remained unchanged at 3.1% for the fifth consecutive month, its lowest level since September 2021. Meanwhile, median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 2.6%, meaning that the increases observed in March and April were fully reversed in May and June. Expectations for three years ahead were unchanged at 2.4%, while expectations for inflation five years ahead held steady at 2.1% for the seventh consecutive month. Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months was unchanged in June. Broadly, the evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations followed similar trends across income groups. However, over the previous year and a half lower income quintiles reported slightly higher inflation perceptions and short-horizon expectations than higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (aged 35-54 and 55-70), although the gap was narrower than in previous years.

    Inflation results

    Income and consumption

    Consumers’ expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months remained unchanged at 1.0% in June. However, this apparent stability conceals a decline in expectations among higher income individuals, offset by an increase in expectations among lower income groups. Perceived nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months held steady at 5.0% in June. In contrast, expected nominal spending growth over the next 12 months decreased further to 3.2% in June, from 3.5% in May and 3.7% in April. This decline reflects the heightened economic uncertainty of recent months as well as lower expected inflation.

    Income and consumption results

    Economic growth and labour market

    Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months became less negative, rising to -1.0% in June from -1.1% in May and -1.9% in April. Expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead edged down to 10.3% in June, from 10.4% in May. Consumers continued to expect that the future unemployment rate would be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (9.8%), suggesting a broadly stable labour market outlook.

    Economic growth and labour market results

    Housing and credit access

    Consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 3.1% over the next 12 months, a slight decline from 3.2% in May. Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead fell to 4.3%, down from 4.4% in May. As in previous months, lower income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (4.9%), while higher income households expected the lowest rates (3.9%). The net percentage of households reporting tighter (relative to those reporting easier) access to credit over the previous 12 months increased slightly, while the net percentage of those expecting tighter credit conditions over the next 12 months declined marginally.

    Housing and credit access results

    The microdata underlying the aggregate results are available on the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) web page in the Data and methodological information section.

    The release of the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) results for July is scheduled for 1 September 2025.

    For media queries, please contact: Alessandro Speciale, tel.: +49 172 1670791.

    Notes

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA granted €500 million loan for Energy Transition

    Source: Government of South Africa

    South Africa has been granted a €500 million loan for the implementation of the country’s Just Energy Transition (JET) plan by the German Cooperation via KFW Development Bank (KFW).

    This loan is part of South Africa’s third Development Policy Operation and participants included the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund.  

    “It supports structural reforms to enhance the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of the country’s infrastructure services, with a specific focus on the energy sector and climate mitigation.

    “KFW’s financing forms part of government’s broader efforts to implement structural reforms that strengthen public institutions, crowd in private investment, and improve service delivery across priority sectors of the economy,” National Treasury said on Monday.

    This loan agreement builds on the two policy loans concluded in 2022 and 2023, and forms part of Germany’s pledge at COP26 to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). 

    Germany’s three policy loans, implemented by KFW, total €1.3 billion and form part of a larger package of JETP projects supported by the German Government via loans, technical assistance and grants.

    “The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, [has] highlighted the significance of South Africa’s partnership with Germany and KFW that remains critical to South Africa’s development agenda and marks a significant step towards strengthening South Africa’s short- and medium-term energy security measures, promoting decarbonisation and enhancing the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition for disadvantaged communities, thereby enabling inclusive economic growth and fostering job creation. 

    “The Minister also emphasised the need for further policy and institutional reforms in the energy sector to create an enabling environment for the investment required for a just energy transition,” National Treasury said.

    KFW’s Country Director for South Africa, Cornelia Tittmann, said the loan seeks to support the government of South Africa’s continued commitment to reforms in the energy sector, which give effect to South Africa’s climate commitments and enable the private sector to participate, opening new avenues to strengthen economic cooperation between Germany and South Africa. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of 2025, more than 10,000 China-Europe/China-Central Asia freight trains have passed through Xinjiang’s two main railway checkpoints

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    URUMQI, July 29 (Xinhua) — More than 10,000 freight trains on China-Europe/China-Central Asia international freight train routes have passed through the Alashankou and Horgos railway checkpoints in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as of July 28 since the beginning of 2025, the Urumqi branch of China Railways Corporation (CRC) said.

    According to the data, since the beginning of this year, the number of China-Europe freight trains passing through the two above-mentioned railway border crossings has amounted to more than 50 percent of the country’s total, which reliably ensures the stability and continuity of international supply chains.

    In order to further improve the efficiency of passing through the checkpoint, the railway departments of the XUAR actively coordinated with the Kazakh side the work to optimize the process of translation and verification of documents, reducing the time for checking documents for each train by 15 minutes.

    According to the data, during the reporting period, cargo turnover through the Alashankou checkpoint amounted to 9.778 million tons, an increase of 3.7 percent year-on-year, and the same figure through the Khorgos checkpoint amounted to 7.96 million tons, an increase of 20.3 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

    At present, 124 China-Europe/China-Central Asia international railway freight transportation routes pass through Alashankou checkpoint, covering 21 countries including Germany and Poland. And 89 corresponding freight transportation routes pass through Khorgos checkpoint, covering 18 countries.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: xSuite Group Receives Great Place to Work Certification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release xSuite

    Recognition confirms the software company’s commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture

    Ahrensburg/Germany, July 29, 2025 – xSuite Group, a global software provider specializing in automated business processes, has officially been recognized as a “Great Place to Work®.” The certification is awarded by the international research and consulting institute of the same name and is based on a validated process that assesses a company’s workplace culture.

    To earn the certification, xSuite underwent a thorough review process that included anonymous feedback from employees and an evaluation of its HR practices and programs. The company, which provides innovative SaaS and software solutions—especially in the area of invoice processing within SAP—places strong emphasis on both customer-centric development and the personal and professional growth of its global team.

    “We’re incredibly proud of this recognition—especially because it reflects the positive feedback of our employees both in Germany and abroad,” said Haiko van Lengen, CEO of xSuite Group. “It’s a testament to the strong team spirit that defines our company culture every single day.”

    The survey results speak for themselves:

    • 83% of employees rate xSuite as a “great place to work”
    • 96% feel they have the resources and tools needed to succeed
    • 92% of new hires report feeling welcomed
    • 94% agree that their managers trust them to do a good job without micromanagement

    “Expertise and experience form the foundation of our success,” van Lengen continued. “We strive to grow continuously as a team and to adopt the latest technologies so we can deliver innovative solutions to our customers. We’re particularly proud of our work in artificial intelligence and our ongoing efforts to remain at the forefront of SAP-related innovation.”

    Evelyn Funke, Global Vice President of Human Resources, added: “At xSuite, every single employee plays a vital role in our success—whether through writing code or delivering customer solutions. We take responsibility for our clients’ business processes and the quality of our products. While the company is on a strong growth trajectory, we remain committed to maintaining a family-like atmosphere that encourages creativity and open collaboration. Our informal culture fosters a sense of belonging, allowing everyone to be themselves while contributing meaningfully to the larger mission.”

    About Great Place to Work®

    Great Place to Work® is a global authority on workplace culture, helping organizations develop strong employer brands and gain a competitive edge. Certification is based on a representative and anonymous employee survey and a cultural audit of the organization. The institute surveys over 20 million employees each year across 18,000 companies in 170 countries. The German branch, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Cologne, employs around 100 staff members. It was launched at the initiative of the European Commission as part of the Lisbon Strategy to provide a credible tool for promoting and recognizing effective workplace cultures. www.greatplacetowork.com/.

    About xSuite Group

    xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including
    e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients.

    This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving – all delivered from a single source, including both software components and services. xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios.

    We take pride in the high-quality solutions we offer, as evidenced by the regular certifications we receive for our SAP solutions and deployment environments.” With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.

    Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite has around 300 staff across nine locations worldwide – in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.

    Press Contact Headquarters:
    Barbara Wirtz
    xSuite Group GmbH
    Marketing & PR
    Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36
    barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com
    www.xsuite.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: kapitalmagazin.de: BaFin warns consumers about website and identity fraud

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The financial supervisory authority BaFin warns against alleged fixed-term deposit offers from the website kapitalmagazin.de. BaFin expressly points out that Ucapital Asset Management LLP – regulated by the British Financial Conduct Authority – contrary to the information in the imprint does not operate the website and does not have a branch in Germany. This is a case of identity theft.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BundeskriminalamtBKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Amra Lee, PhD candidate in Protection of Civilians, Australian National University

    Israel partially lifted its aid blockade of Gaza this week in response to intensifying international pressure over the man-made famine in the devastated coastal strip.

    The United Arab Emirates and Jordan airdropped 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian supplies on Sunday. Israel has further announced daily pauses in its military strikes on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate UN aid deliveries.

    Israel reports it has permitted 70 trucks per day into the strip since May 19. This is well below the 500–600 trucks required per day, according to the United Nations.

    The UN emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has characterised the next few days as “make or break” for humanitarian agencies trying to reach more than two million Gazans facing “famine-like conditions”.

    A third of Gazans have gone without food for several days and 90,000 women and children now require urgent care for acute malnutrition. Local health authorities have reported 147 deaths from starvation so far, 80% of whom are children.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed – without any evidence – “there is no starvation in Gaza”. This claim has been rejected by world leaders, including Netanyahu ally US President Donald Trump.

    Famine expert Alex de Waal has called the famine in Gaza without precedent:

    […] there’s no case of such minutely engineered, closely monitored, precisely designed mass starvation of a population as is happening in Gaza today.

    While the UN has welcomed the partial lifting of the blockade, the current aid being allowed into Gaza will not be enough to avert a wider catastrophe, due to the severity and depth of hunger in Gaza and the health needs of the people.

    According to the UN World Food Programme, which has enough food stockpiled to feed all of Gaza for three months, only one thing will work:

    An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone.

    Airdrops a ‘distraction and a smokescreen’

    Air-dropping food supplies is considered a last resort due to the undignified and unsafe manner in which the aid is delivered.

    The UN has already reported civilians being injured when packages have fallen on tents.

    The Global Protection Cluster, a network of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies, shared a story from a mother in Al Karama, east of Gaza City, whose home was hit by an airdropped pallet, causing the roof to collapse:

    Immediately following the impact, a group of people armed with knives rushed towards the house, while the mother locked herself and her children in the remaining room to protect her family. They did not receive any assistance and are fearful for their safety.

    Air-dropped pallets of food are also inefficient compared with what can be delivered by road.

    One truck can carry up to 20 tonnes of supplies. Trucks can also reach Gaza quickly if they are allowed to cross at the scale required. Aid agencies have repeatedly said they have the necessary aid and personnel sitting just one hour away at the border.

    Given how ineffective the air drops have been – and will continue to be – the head of the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine has called them a “distraction” and a “smokescreen”.

    Malnourished women and children need specialised care

    De Waal has also made clear how starvation differs from other war crimes – it takes weeks of denying aid for starvation to take hold.

    For the 90,000 acutely malnourished women and children who require specialised and supplementary feeding, in addition to medical care, the type of food being air-dropped into Gaza will not help them. Malnourished children require nutritional screening and access to fortified pastes and baby food.

    Gaza’s decimated health system is also not able to treat severely malnourished women and children, who are at risk of “refeeding syndrome” when they are provided with nutrients again. This can trigger a fatal metabolic response.

    Gaza will take generations to heal from the long-term impacts of mass starvation. Malnourished children suffer lifelong cognitive and physical effects that can then be passed on to future generations.

    What needs to happen now

    The UN has characterised the limited reopening of aid deliveries to Gaza as a potential “lifeline”, if it’s upheld and expanded.

    According to Ciaran Donnelly from the International Rescue Committee, what’s needed is “tragically simple”: Israel must fully open the Gaza borders to allow aid and humanitarian personnel to flood in.

    Israel must also guarantee safe conditions for the dignified distribution of aid that reaches everyone, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The level of hunger and insecurity mean these groups are at high risk of exclusion.

    The people of Gaza have the world’s attention – for now. They have endured increasingly dehumanising conditions – including the risk of being shot trying to access aid – under the cover of war for more than 21 months.

    Two leading Israeli human rights organisations have just publicly called Israel’s war on Gaza “a genocide”. This builds on mounting evidence compiled by the UN and other experts that supports the same conclusion, triggering the duty under international law for all states to act to prevent genocide.

    These obligations require more than words – states must exercise their full diplomatic leverage to pressure Israel to let aid in at the scale required to avert famine. States must also pressure Israel to extend its military pauses into the only durable solution – a permanent ceasefire.

    Amra Lee 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. Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation – https://theconversation.com/air-dropping-food-into-gaza-is-a-smokescreen-this-is-what-must-be-done-to-prevent-mass-starvation-262053

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji ‘failing’ the Gaza genocide and humanity test, says rights group

    Asia Pacific Report

    The NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji has sharply criticised the Fiji government’s stance over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, saying it “starkly contrasts” with the United Nations and international community’s condemnation as a violation of international law and an impediment to peace.

    In a statement today, the NGO Coalition said that the way the government was responding to the genocide and war crimes in Gaza would set a precedent for how it would deal with crises and conflict in future.

    It would be a marker for human rights responses both at home and the rest of the world.

    “We are now seeing whether our country will be a force that works to uphold human rights and international law, or one that tramples on them whenever convenient,” the statement said.

    “Fiji’s position on the genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinians starkly contrasts with the values of justice, freedom, and international law that the Fijian people hold dear.

    “The genocide and colonial occupation have been widely recognised by the international community, including the United Nations, as a violation of international law and an impediment to peace and the self-determination of the Palestinian people.”

    Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognise the state of Palestine — the first of G7 countries to do so — at the UN general Assembly in September.

    142 countries recognise Palestine
    At least 142 countries out of the 193 members of the UN currently recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, including European Union members Norway, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia.

    However, several powerful Western countries have refused to do so, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

    At the UN this week, Saudi Arabia and France opened a three-day conference with the goal of recognising Palestinian statehood as part of a peaceful settlement to end the war in Gaza.

    Last year, Fiji’s coalition government submitted a written statement in support of the Israeli genocidal occupation of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, noted the NGO coalition.

    Last month, Fiji’s coalition government again voted against a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

    Also recently, the Fiji government approved the allocation of $1.12 million to establish an embassy “in the genocidal terror state of Israel as Fijians grapple with urgent issues, including poverty, violence against women and girls, deteriorating water and health infrastructure, drug use, high rates of HIV, poor educational outcomes, climate change, and unfair wages for workers”.

    Met with ‘indifference’
    The NGO coalition said that it had made repeated requests to the Fiji government to “do the bare minimum and enforce the basic tenets of international law on Israel”.

    “We have been calling upon the Fiji government to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and human rights that our nation cherishes,” the statement said.

    “We campaigned, we lobbied, we engaged, and we explained. We showed the evidence, pointed to the law, and asked our leaders to do the right thing.

    “We’ve been met with nothing but indifference.”

    Instead, said the NGO statement, Fiji leaders had met with Israeli government representatives and declared support for a country “committing the most heinous crimes” recognised in international law.

    “Fijian leaders and the Fiji government should not be supporting Israel or setting up an embassy in Israel while Israel continues to bomb refugee tents, kill journalists and medics, and block the delivery of humanitarian aid to a population under relentless siege.

    “No politician in Fiji can claim ignorance of what is happening.”

    62,000 Palestinians killed
    More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war on Gaza, most of them women and children.

    “Many more have been maimed, traumatised, and displaced. Starvation is being used by Israel as weapon to kill babies and children.

    “Hospitals, churches, mosques,, refugee camps, schools, universities, residential neighbourhoods, water and food facilities have been destroyed.

    “History will judge how we respond as Fijians to this moment.

    “Our rich cultural heritage and shared values teach us the importance of always standing up for what is right, even when it is not popular or convenient.”

    Members of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights are Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (chair), Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, femLINKpacific, Social Empowerment and Education Programme, and Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality Fiji.

    Also, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is an observer.

    The NGO coalition said it stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people out of a shared belief in humanity, justice, and the inalienable human rights of every individual.

    “Silence is not an option,” it added.

    Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network said it supported this NGO coalition statement.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Electronics Earns Marker of Global Trust With EU RED Certification

    Source: Samsung

    ▲ Taeyong Son, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics and Frank L. Blaimberger, Vice President of TÜV SÜD, were present at the EU RED certification ceremony.
     
    Samsung Electronics today announced that its latest TVs, monitors and commercial display products have been technically evaluated for compliance with the European Union’s Radio Equipment Directive (RED), including updated cybersecurity requirements that take effect on August 1, 2025.
     
    “With the growing emphasis on security in the industry, we are strengthening security features to stay ahead of this evolving trend,” said Taeyong Son, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “In addition to this achievement, we are committed to introducing innovations with advanced security and technology globally, thereby reinforcing customer trust in our solutions.”
     
    The EU’s RED, introduced in 2016, establishes essential requirements for the safety, electromagnetic compatibility and efficient spectrum use of radio-equipped products. In 2022, the EU announced expanded cybersecurity rules under the RED to improve protection against network threats, safeguard personal data and reduce the risk of fraud. These new provisions will become mandatory starting August 2025.
     
    The TÜV SÜD assessment covers Samsung’s entire 2024–2025 visual display lineup for the European market, including TVs, monitors, digital signage and Color E-Paper. Samsung is actively extending this compliance process to all applicable product lines as part of its global regulatory readiness strategy.
     
    In fact, this focus on compliance reflects a broader, ongoing commitment to product security across Samsung’s ecosystem. In 2024, the company’s proprietary cryptographic module,
     

    Samsung CryptoCore, earned FIPS 140-3 certification from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).1 As of 2025, Samsung CryptoCore has been integrated into Tizen OS,2 the operating system powering Samsung Smart TVs, to enhance protection across key product lines including TVs, monitors and digital signage.
    In addition, Samsung Smart TVs are equipped with its Samsung Knox security platform, which has earned Common Criteria (CC) certification every year since 2015 — further underscoring Samsung’s leadership in consumer device security.

     
    For more information, visit www.samsung.com.
     
     
    1 Recognized in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
    2 Tizen OS 9.0.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • Musk ordered shutdown of Starlink satellite service as Ukraine retook territory from Russia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    During a pivotal push by Ukraine to retake territory from Russia in late September 2022, Elon Musk gave an order that disrupted the counteroffensive and dented Kyiv’s trust in Starlink, the satellite internet service the billionaire provided early in the war to help Ukraine’s military maintain battlefield connectivity.

    According to three people familiar with the command, Musk told a senior engineer at the California offices of SpaceX, the Musk venture that controls Starlink, to cut coverage in areas including Kherson, a strategic region north of the Black Sea that Ukraine was trying to reclaim.

    “We have to do this,” Michael Nicolls, the Starlink engineer, told colleagues upon receiving the order, one of these people said. Staffers complied, the three people told Reuters, deactivating at least a hundred Starlink terminals, their hexagon-shaped cells going dark on an internal map of the company’s coverage. The move also affected other areas seized by Russia, including some of Donetsk province further east.

    Upon Musk’s order, Ukrainian troops suddenly faced a communications blackout, according to a Ukrainian military official, an advisor to the armed forces, and two others who experienced Starlink failure near the front lines. Soldiers panicked, drones surveilling Russian forces went dark, and long-range artillery units, reliant on Starlink to aim their fire, struggled to hit targets.

    As a result, the Ukrainian military official and the military advisor said, troops failed to surround a Russian position in the town of Beryslav, east of Kherson, the administrative center of the region of the same name. “The encirclement stalled entirely,” said the military official in an interview. “It failed.”

    Ultimately, Ukraine’s counteroffensive succeeded in reclaiming Beryslav, the city of Kherson and some additional territory Russia had occupied. But Musk’s order, which hasn’t previously been reported, is the first known instance of the billionaire actively shutting off Starlink coverage over a battlefield during the conflict. The decision shocked some Starlink employees and effectively reshaped the front line of the fighting, enabling Musk to take “the outcome of a war into his own hands,” another one of the three people said.

    The account of the command counters Musk’s narrative of how he has handled Starlink service in Ukraine amid the war. As recently as March, in a post on X, his social media site, Musk wrote: “We would never do such a thing.”

    Musk and Nicolls didn’t respond to requests from Reuters for comment.

    A SpaceX spokesperson said by email that the news agency’s reporting is “inaccurate” and referred reporters to an X post earlier this year in which the company said: “Starlink is fully committed to providing service to Ukraine.” The spokesperson didn’t specify any inaccuracies in this report or answer a lengthy list of questions regarding the incident, Starlink’s role in the Ukraine war, or other details regarding its business.

    The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the country’s Ministry of Defence didn’t respond to requests for comment. Starlink still provides service to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian military relies on it for some connectivity. Zelenskiy as recently as this year has publicly expressed gratitude to Musk for Starlink.

    It isn’t clear what prompted Musk’s command, when exactly he gave it, or precisely how long the outage lasted. The three people familiar with the order said they believed it stemmed from concerns Musk expressed later that Ukrainian advances could provoke nuclear retaliation from Russia. One of the people said the shutoff transpired on September 30, 2022. The two others said it was around then, but didn’t recall the exact date. Some senior U.S. officials shared Musk’s concerns that Russia would make good on threats to escalate, one former White House staffer told Reuters.

    Musk’s order was an early glimpse of the power the magnate now wields in geopolitics and global security because of Starlink, a fast-growing satellite internet service that barely existed early this decade and now provides connectivity even in remote areas of the world. Even before his brief role as financial backer and advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, the success of Starlink – and the unrivaled connectivity it offers across the planet – had given Musk increasing influence with political leaders, governments and militaries worldwide.

    Musk’s sway in military affairs in Washington and beyond – through Starlink’s dominance in satellite communications and SpaceX’s clout in space launches – has reached a dimension previously limited to sovereign governments, alarming some regulators and lawmakers. “Elon Musk’s current global dominance exemplifies the dangers of concentrated power in unregulated domains,” Martha Lane Fox, a member of Britain’s upper house of parliament, said during a debate earlier this year. The parliamentarian is a businesswoman and former board member at Twitter, the social media site that Musk acquired in 2022 and rebranded as X.

    “Its control,” Lane Fox said of Starlink, “rests solely with Musk, allowing his whims to dictate access to vital infrastructure.”

    Musk’s political influence, and his massive business with the U.S. federal government, are now being put to the test. Since leaving his role advising Trump, Musk has publicly feuded with the president, announced plans to create a new political party, and criticized a signature spending bill that he said will expand the budget deficit and destroy jobs. Trump, for his part, has threatened to end government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies, including lucrative new defense projects.

    Whatever the reason for Musk’s decision, the shutoff over Kherson and other regions surprised some involved with the Ukraine war – from troops on the ground to U.S. military and foreign policy officials, who after Russia’s full-scale invasion that February had worked to secure Starlink service for Ukrainian forces. Panicked calls by Ukrainian officials during the outage to seek information from Pentagon counterparts, five people familiar with the incident said, were met with few explanations for what could have caused it.

    The U.S. Department of Defense declined to comment. Reuters couldn’t determine whether White House or Pentagon officials after the shutdown had any exchanges with Musk over the outage.

    The Kherson episode is distinct from an earlier report of an incident that purportedly occurred that same September, involving Crimea just to the south, and raised concerns about Musk’s ability to influence the conflict in Ukraine.

    In his 2023 biography of Musk, author Walter Isaacson reported that the tycoon had ordered Starlink to disable coverage in Crimea, which Russia had annexed from Ukraine after a 2014 invasion that the international community condemned as illegal. Musk, Isaacson wrote, believed a planned Ukrainian attack on Russian vessels in the Crimean port of Sevastopol could prompt nuclear retaliation.

    After the book was published, Musk denied a shutdown, saying that there had never been coverage in Crimea to begin with. He said he had, rather, rejected a Ukrainian request to provide service ahead of Kyiv’s planned attack. Isaacson later conceded his account was flawed. A spokesperson at Isaacson’s publisher declined to comment or make him available for an interview.

    SpaceX also said in 2023 that it had taken unspecified steps to prevent Ukraine from using Starlink for certain activities, including drone attacks. “Our intent was never to have them use it for offensive purposes,” Gwynne Shotwell, the company’s president, said at a conference in Washington in February of that year. “There are things that we can do, and have done” to prevent it, she added, without providing further detail.

    Reuters couldn’t determine if the shutdown affecting Kherson was among the steps she was referring to. Shotwell didn’t respond to requests for comment for this article.

    Following the start of the Kherson shutdown, word of an outage emerged in some media reports. At the time, it wasn’t clear to those who lost connectivity whether a technical problem, sabotage or some other factor was responsible. Early in the war, Russia had orchestrated a large cyberattack that disrupted service of another satellite operator, Western officials have said, creating suspicions around any outage and leaving a void quickly filled by Starlink. Russia has denied it conducts offensive cyberattacks.

    As of April 2025, according to Ukrainian government social media posts, Kyiv has received more than 50,000 Starlink terminals. Easily transported and deployed, the pizza-box-sized devices communicate with thousands of SpaceX satellites now circling the globe. An initial batch of terminals was provided to Ukraine by SpaceX itself. Further terminals have arrived from donors including Poland, the United States and Germany.

    This account of the outage, and the growing dependence on Musk by governments and militaries worldwide, is based on interviews with more than three dozen people with knowledge of SpaceX’s operations and the company’s technology. These people included current and former employees, U.S. and European military officials, and senior politicians and diplomats.

    The reporting puts a spotlight on Musk’s control of services now critical to countries including the U.S., which has about $22 billion in contracts with SpaceX. Underscoring the point himself during his recent dispute with Trump, Musk threatened to decommission a SpaceX spacecraft the U.S. now relies upon to transport astronauts and critical cargo.

    His threat, later retracted, unnerved attorneys at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, who felt forced to explore whether Musk’s warning could be considered a notice of contract termination, according to two people familiar with the matter. NASA didn’t respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

    “There needs to be some contractual assurances” that Musk won’t cut off services to the U.S. government, said Lori Garver, a former deputy administrator of the agency. “We will need to consider how comfortable the U.S. will be at putting SpaceX in the critical path on national security.”

    As countries increasingly rely on tech companies for everything from cyber defense to data storage, the question of dependence on one or a few dominant service providers will apply to other nations, too. “Governments have to think through what that means,” said Marcus Willett, former deputy head of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters intelligence agency and now a senior adviser to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank.

    “WE NEED ASSURANCES”

    SpaceX is the first company to establish an extensive network of communication satellites in low-Earth orbit, a region of space that is closer to the planet than areas where such satellites historically reside. The proximity of satellites that now make up the company’s constellation allows Starlink to offer space-based wireless connectivity that is faster than any previously available.

    Starlink on Thursday suffered a rare global outage of several hours, the company said, because of an internal software problem. A Ukrainian military commander in a social media post said “Starlink is down across the entire front,” updating the post two and a half hours later to say connectivity had returned.

    With more than 7,900 satellites now in orbit, SpaceX has become the world’s largest satellite operator. Its devices, which relay signals among each other to create a network that communicates with the ground, account for about two-thirds of all active satellites in space, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian.

    Starlink began rolling out service in 2020 and now has more than six million customers in over 140 countries, territories and markets, according to a June Starlink social media post. Novaspace, a consulting firm near Paris, estimates that Starlink in 2025 will generate about $9.8 billion in revenue for SpaceX, or about 60% of the company’s income. SpaceX is privately held and doesn’t disclose financial information, but Musk recently said he expects the rocket company to post revenues of about $15.5 billion this year.

    Rivals are scrambling to get in on the market.

    OneWeb, a European service owned by Eutelsat, a French company, is the furthest along, boasting about 650 satellites in low-Earth orbit. Amazon this year launched its first satellites for Project Kuiper, a $10 billion effort to compete. China is developing multiple networks, including a state-backed venture known as SpaceSail.

    Still, Starlink has made much of its first-mover advantage. Its terminals, priced as low as a few hundred dollars for standard models, are known for being affordable and easy to use. “There is no existing system right now to replace Starlink,” said Grace Khanuja, an analyst at Novaspace, the consultancy near Paris.

    Compared to the geostationary satellites historically used for communications, the sheer number of SpaceX satellites helps make Starlink less vulnerable to jamming and attacks. Its far reach makes it valuable in remote and hostile terrain – from battlefields to airspace to high seas. In Ukraine, it has facilitated activities including communications, intelligence and drone piloting.

    Some Western militaries not engaged in conflict are also using the service. Britain’s armed forces, for instance, three years ago began using Starlink for “welfare purposes,” including personal communications for troops, the Ministry of Defence said in response to a freedom of information request. The ministry said it has fewer than 1,000 Starlink terminals and doesn’t employ them for sensitive military communications. Spain’s navy is also using Starlink, but only for recreation and leisure of troops, a spokesperson said.

    “That will change,” said Chris Moore, a retired air vice-marshal in the British military, speaking about high-speed space-based connectivity. Moore also worked as a OneWeb executive and is now a defense industry consultant. Satellites in low-Earth orbit, he said, offer too many advantages for militaries to ignore, especially for modern developments such as drone warfare, a signature element of the Ukraine conflict.

    Some leaders are leery.

    In Taiwan, ever wary of conflict with China, officials have expressed concern about Musk’s extensive business interests on the mainland, including a major factory for Tesla, the electric vehicle company he controls. Eager for communications backups in the event of war, Taiwan is developing its own low-Earth orbit satellite network. Taiwanese officials have said the government could partner with Amazon’s Kuiper, too.

    Spokespersons for the Taiwanese government said it welcomes international satellite providers but that Starlink hasn’t applied for a license in Taiwan. They didn’t respond to questions about Taipei’s relationship with Musk.

    In Italy, the government is evaluating whether to employ Starlink for secure communications among the government, defense and other officials. But some officials, including President Sergio Mattarella, remain unconvinced by SpaceX’s assurances that its service would be secure and free from meddling by Musk. “More than Musk’s word, we need assurances that we can’t be shut down, and especially that he can’t access the data,” said a person familiar with the views of the president, who is an influential figure with the armed forces.

    Poland, a major donor to Ukraine, told Reuters it employs Starlink as well as other military and commercial satellite systems. A mix of providers, Polish officials have said, offers the most security, even if at high cost.

    “In peacetime, you want the best product at the best price,” Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in response to a question from Reuters at a press conference in April. “In wartime, you want redundancy. You want security. You want duplicated systems, so that if one fails, you can still use the other.”

    “THERE WAS NOT A CONNECTION”

    Even before the conflict began, documents reviewed by Reuters show, SpaceX had already been in discussions with the U.S. government about providing Starlink in Ukraine. Rollout began after Russian troops crossed the border on February 24, 2022.

    Two days later, Mykhailo Fedorov, a deputy prime minister in Ukraine, requested Musk’s help. “We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations,” he wrote on Twitter.

    Musk responded in 10 hours. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” he tweeted. “More terminals en route.”

    Poland was also instrumental in the early days of the war, shipping thousands of terminals to Ukraine shortly after the invasion. Warsaw this year said it has purchased about 25,000 Starlink terminals for the effort – roughly half the total now in Ukraine – and that it is paying the subscription costs to keep them connected. So far, it has spentabout $89 million on Starlink for Ukraine.

    The equipment has made a critical difference for Ukraine.

    Day-to-day bureaucracy has also benefited. Early in the conflict, Ukraine stored state data in the cloud and relied on Starlink to access it, helping keep some government operations running. “We wouldn’t be anywhere without Starlink,” said Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain until 2023. “The whole state was preserved.”

    On the battlefield, Ukraine quickly deployed Starlink to enable front-line troops to communicate with commanders. The service also allowed drone operators to transmit surveillance video streams and locate and attack Russian targets. Reuters couldn’t establish just when such attacks may have become a concern for Musk or SpaceX.

    By September 2022, a major Ukrainian counteroffensive was underway. Kyiv’s forces were pushing back into territories, including Kherson, that Russia had captured. The drive threatened Russian supply lines, prompting Moscow to threaten the West, including oblique references to Starlink.

    That month, in a statement to the United Nations, Russia noted the use of “elements of civilian, including commercial, infrastructure in outer space for military purposes.” It warned that “quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation.”

    It isn’t clear whether Russia has tried to attack any Starlink facilities. Musk has said, however, that Moscow has repeatedly sought to block its connectivity. “SpaceX is spending significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts,” Musk wrote on X last year. “This is a tough problem.”

    The Kremlin declined to comment on whether it has sought to interfere with Starlink. The Ministry of Defence didn’t respond to a request for comment. Starlink isn’t licensed for either civilian or military use in Russia.

    As Ukraine’s counterattack intensified, Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 21, 2022, ordered a partial mobilization of reservists, Russia’s first since World War II. He also threatened to use nuclear weapons if Russia’s own “territorial integrity” were at risk.

    Around this time, Musk engaged in weeks of backchannel conversations with senior officials in the administration of President Joe Biden, according to three former U.S. government officials and one of the people familiar with Musk’s order to stop service. During those conversations, the former White House staffer told Reuters, U.S. intelligence and security officials expressed concern that Putin could follow through on his threats. Musk, this person added, worried too, and asked U.S. officials if they knew where and how Ukraine used Starlink on the battlefield.

    Soon after, he ordered the shutdown.

    Reuters couldn’t ascertain the full geographic extent of the outage, but the three people familiar with the stoppage said that it covered regions that had recently been taken by Russia. Starlink coverage prior to the order, they said, had been active up to what had been Ukraine’s border with Russia before the full-scale invasion.

    Taras Tymochko, a Ukrainian military signals specialist stationed in the Kherson region at the time, said an outage disrupted communications for troops, including colleagues on the front, for several hours. “If you were using Starlink to provide surveillance of the front line, you pretty much would be blind,” said Tymochko, who is now a consultant to Come Back Alive, a non-governmental organization that procures military equipment for Ukraine’s armed forces.

    Maryna Tsirkun, a drone expert at Aerorozvidka, an aerial reconnaissance organization that works closely with the Ukrainian military, was also in southern Ukraine at the time. Starlink signals failed as Ukrainian troops began to push toward terrain seized by Russia, she told Reuters. “When we started to proceed there was not a connection,” she said. The outage she and colleagues experienced lasted several days.

    On October 3, Musk angered Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials by tweeting a suggestion that locals in regions annexed by Russia vote on whether they should remain a part of Ukraine. A day later, Musk tweeted his concern about the conflict spiraling. “I still very much support Ukraine,” he tweeted, “but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world.”

    Three days later, following one media report about a Starlink outage, Musk tweeted that “what’s happening on the battlefield, that’s classified.” He added that SpaceX by the end of 2022 was on track to spend $100 million on Ukraine. Although the Polish and U.S. governments by then had begun donations of their own, the billionaire complained about the cost of the equipment and services SpaceX was providing.

    SpaceX “cannot fund the existing system indefinitely,” Musk wrote in a mid-October post. The next day, in another tweet, he reversed course. “To hell with it,” he wrote, “we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.”

    After the outage, Kyiv worked to charm Musk.

    In November 2022, Fedorov, the government minister, publicly expressed trust in the service. Months later – just after Shotwell, the SpaceX president, said the company had taken steps to prevent Ukraine from using Starlink for drone attacks – Fedorov in an interview with a Ukrainian news site recognized Starlink’s ability to “geofence” coverage, selectively limiting signals in some areas.

    By February 2023, however, Starlink was fully functional in Ukraine, he said. “All the Starlink terminals in Ukraine work properly,” Fedorov told Ukrainska Pravda, the news site. Fedorov, who recently assumed the title of first deputy prime minister, didn’t respond to a request for comment about Ukraine’s use of Starlink in the war.

    In mid-2023, the U.S. Department of Defense signed an agreement with SpaceX to pay for Starlink coverage in Ukraine. Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed, but Quilty Space, a Florida-based research firm, said the Pentagon has an ongoing $537 million agreement with SpaceX to provide satellite communications to Ukraine. It’s not clear whether SpaceX is still footing the bill for any equipment or connectivity.

    As the war has evolved, so has Ukraine’s use of Musk’s technology.

    Ukrainian drone specialists and Prystaiko, the former ambassador to Britain, said some attack devices, including maritime and bomber drones, now have Starlink antennas fitted to them. The antennas, in the case of sea drones, help operators guide the devices and view video feeds to classify targets, said Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at Royal United Services Institute, a London-based defense think tank.

    It’s uncertain whether such use contravenes SpaceX’s desire that Starlink not be employed for offense.

    Ukraine continues to explore alternatives that could complement or back up Starlink if the service became unavailable, a senior government official told Reuters. Ukraine’s government has expressed interest in European satellite projects, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told Reuters. That includes GOVSATCOM, an EU project to pool satellite resources from member states and industry to provide services to governments, he said.

    Privately, though, some Ukrainian officials say the existing alternatives to Starlink have limitations. “It takes time, it takes money,” the senior government official told Reuters. With Starlink, he added, “we have a working system.”

    Musk himself has boasted of Starlink’s importance to Kyiv. “My Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army,” he wrote on X in March. “Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off.”

    (Reuters)

     

  • MIL-OSI China: In pics: men’s doubles quarterfinal of badminton at Rhine-Ruhr Universiade

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

    Liao Pinyi (2nd R)/Zhang Lejian (1st R) shake hands with Mael Cattoen (2nd L)/Lucas Renoir after the men’s doubles quarterfinal match of the badminton between Liao Pinyi/Zhang Lejian of China and Mael Cattoen/Lucas Renoir of France at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Muelheim, Germany, July 25, 2025. [Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua]

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    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China claims gold in mixed recurve team final of archery at Rhine-Ruhr Universiade

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

    Gold medalists Liu Yanxiu (2nd L, up) and Wang Yan (2nd R, up) of China, silver medalists Sonoda Waka (1st L, up)/ Funahashi Yuya (L, down) of Japan, and Nam Suhyeon (1st R, up)/Seo Mingi (R, down) of South Korea attend the awarding ceremony of the mixed recurve team gold medal match of archery between China and Japan at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Essen, Germany, July 25, 2025. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   >  

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Highlights of men’s all-around final of artistic gymnastics at Universiade

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

    He Xiang of China competes on the parallel bars during the men’s all-around final of artistic gymnastics at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Essen, Germany, July 25, 2025. [Xinhua/Hu Xingyu]

    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   >  

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  • India advances Siddha’s global reach with WHO standards, cementing role as Ayush knowledge hub

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India has taken a significant step toward globalizing its traditional medical systems, with the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush and the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), concluding a two-day WHO External Expert Group Meeting on July 24–25. The meeting focused on finalizing the Draft WHO Technical Reports on Training and Practice in Siddha, aiming to establish globally harmonized standards for this ancient Indian medical system.

    In his keynote address, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, emphasized India’s commitment to promoting evidence-based practices in traditional medicine. He underscored the importance of robust training standards to enhance Siddha’s global credibility. Joint Secretary Monalisa Dash highlighted Siddha’s scientific relevance and cultural heritage, describing it as a living tradition with growing international resonance. She stressed the need for structured, evidence-based training to elevate Siddha’s global recognition.

    Dr. Kim Sungchol, Head of WHO’s Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCI) Unit, praised India’s leadership in traditional medicine and outlined WHO’s vision to integrate Siddha into national healthcare systems while preserving its traditional roots. He acknowledged the Ministry of Ayush’s technical and financial support in developing evidence-based documents.

    The hybrid-mode meeting brought together 16 international experts from 11 countries across all six WHO regions, including Sri Lanka, Japan, Malaysia, the USA, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the UAE, Singapore, Canada, and Australia. Their region-specific inputs enriched the draft documents, ensuring their global applicability while preserving Siddha’s indigenous identity. Facilitated by WHO’s TCI Unit and supported by the Government of India, the deliberations marked a milestone in aligning Siddha with international frameworks.

  • MIL-OSI Security: PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2025 RETURNS TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    LAE, Papua New Guinea – Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific., July, 26.

    Returning to Papua New Guinea following last year’s visit to Port Moresby and Wewak, the mission team will work to strengthen relationships, and bolster host nation capacity in order to provide humanitarian services, and support efforts to prepare and respond to potential natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region. Engagements for this year’s mission are scheduled to take place across Lae and Port Moresby.

    At the invitation of Papua New Guinea, Pacific Partnership’s mission is based on the shared goal of enhancing partnerships with allied nations and building mutual understanding. People-to-people relationships, forged over decades of joint exercises, exchanges, and collaborative response to real-world crises, illustrate the value we place in our allies and partners, and our enduring commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as Papua New Guinea outreach events. This year’s mission, featuring nearly 1500 personnel from the United States and participating nations including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea (ROK), Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

    “I am excited for what Pacific Partnership 2025 is bringing to Papua New Guinea and grateful for the help of the eight partner nations who are here with us in this effort,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Stefanik, Mission Commander. “The focus is on collective capacity building that strengthens our collaboration with our allies and partners, beginning here in Papua New Guinea — providing opportunities to develop operations, activities and investments as we prepare in calm for times of crisis.”

    While in Papua New Guinea, Pacific Partnership 2025 will provide tailored medical subject-matter exchanges and community education, conduct repairs at a local schoolhouse, and knowledge exchanges with exercises covering disaster response and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, accompanied by band members from the supporting nations, will perform in a variety of community engagements.

    “We plan to create lasting bonds of friendship and trust between mission partners and host nations by coming together to prepare in calm, in order to be able to respond quickly in crisis.” said Col. Matt Churchward, Deputy Mission Commander.

    Pacific Partnership 2025 underscores the essential role public health plays in strengthening regional cooperation, improving medical readiness, and building trust among partner nations.

    Date Taken: 07.26.2025
    Date Posted: 07.26.2025 00:59
    Story ID: 543920
    Location: PG

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  • MIL-OSI Banking: GR Yaris DAT with Nurburgring Specifications to Compete in Super Taikyu at Autopolis

    Source: Toyota

    Headline: GR Yaris DAT with Nurburgring Specifications to Compete in Super Taikyu at Autopolis

    Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) will enter the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2025 Empowered by BRIDGESTONE Round 5 Super Taikyu Race at Autopolis, to be held from July 26 to 27. Toyota will be racing with the #32 TGRR GR Yaris DAT (#32 GR Yaris) with the same specifications from the 24 Hours Nurburgring held in Germany in June, and the #28 TGRR GR86 Future FR Concept (#28 GR86) running on low-carbon gasoline (E20) manufactured by ENEOS Corporation (ENEOS).

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI China: China beats USA to win women’s basketball title at Rhine-ruhr Universiade

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

    China defeated the United States 81-69 in the women’s basketball final on Friday at the FISU World University Games.

    China delivered a well-rounded performance, with four players scoring in double digits. Small forward Chen Yujie shot eight of 15 from the field to score 19 points while power forward Tang Ziting buried four 3-pointers out of six attempts to add 16 points.

    “We told the players to play as they like and not to have any burden mentally,” said Chinese coach Zhao Xuetong.

    “We had already achieved what we expected before the Games, so I just told the players to enjoy the final and that they had nothing to lose,” added Zhao.

    For the United States, power forward Deyona Gaston had a game-high 21 points and point guard Sidney Love notched 15 points.

    “China was very good. In the first half we had the upper hand, and I thought we got them out of their defense pretty well,” said U.S. coach Krista Lea Gerlich. “In the second half, they increased their pressure on the zone, and they were mixing it up, and it was really confusing to our kids.”

    China also claimed another gold medal in archery, as Liu Yanxiu and Wang Yan defeated Japan’s Waka Sonoda and Yuya Funahashi 6-2 in the recurve mixed team final.

    Three gold medals were decided in the track and field. Finland captured its first gold in the meet from the women’s 100m hurdles as Saara Keskitalo finished first in 12.88 seconds, followed by Hungary’s Anna Toth (12.88), who was just a tiny 0.005s behind. Poland’s Alicja Sielska (12.95) came third.

    Belgium also secured its first gold in the Games as Elien Vekemans overcame a height of 4.60 meters in women’s pole vault. Norway’s Kitty Augusta Friele Faye was 10 centimeters lower than the winner and Canada’s Rachel Grenke recorded a personal best of 4.35m in third.

    Simon Wieland of Switzerland tossed his season best of 79.33 meters to win the men’s javeline throw, followed by Germany’s Nick Thumm (78.47) and Finland’s Topias Yki Eerik Laine (75.96).

    Team USA continues to lead the medal table after Day 9 of competition with 28 gold, 22 silver, and 26 bronze medals. China remains second with 23 gold, 21 silver, and 13 bronze and Japan is third with 22 gold, 13 silver, and 20 bronze.

    MIL OSI China News