Category: GlobeNewswire

  • MIL-OSI: PROACTIS SA – Press release 26.09.2024 ( publication date AFR)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Publication date of the results and the Annual Financial Report fiscal period ended 31 January 2024

    SURESNES, France – (26 September 2024) — PROACTIS (ISIN code : FR0004052561) announces that, the publication of its results and Annual Financial Report for the year ended January 31, 2024, originally scheduled for May 31, 2024, will take place on September 26, 2024.

    PROACTIS SA’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on October 17, 2024, at 1:30 pm.

    PROACTIS SA had obtained authorization from the President of the Nanterre Commercial Court to postpone this meeting until October 31, 2024.

    * * * *

    About Proactis SA (https://www.proactis.com/proactis-sa), a Proactis Company

    Proactis SA connects companies by providing business spend management and collaborative business process automation solutions for both goods and services, through The Business Network. Our solutions integrate with any ERP or procurement system, providing our customers with an easy-to-use solution which drives adoption, compliance and savings.

    Proactis SA has operations in France, Germany, USA and Manila.

    Listed in Compartment C on the Euronext Paris Eurolist.

    ISIN: FR0004052561, Euronext: PROAC, Reuters: HBWO.LN, Bloomberg: HBW.FP

    Contacts
    Tel: +33 (0)1 53 25 55 00
    E-mail: investorContact@proactis.com

    * * * *

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ABC arbitrage Release of the interim financial report as of June 30, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ABC arbitrage announces that as of today its financial report for the first half of 2024 has been publicly released and filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF).

    This document includes the following parts:

    • The half-year activity report
    • The consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2024
    • The statutory auditors’ report
    • Statement by the person responsible for the financial report

    The annual financial report can be consulted on the Group website at: abc-arbitrage.com, in the “Shareholders” page, heading Financial information / Financial reports.

    Contacts : abc-arbitrage.com
    Relations actionnaires : actionnaires@abc-arbitrage.com
    Relations presse: VERBATEE / v.sabineu@verbatee.com
    EURONEXT Paris – Compartiment B
    ISIN : FR0004040608
    Reuters  BITI.PA / Bloomberg ABCA FP

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ThoughtSpot Appoints Ketan Karkhanis as new Chief Executive Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ThoughtSpot, the AI-Powered Analytics Company, today announced that the Company has appointed Ketan Karkhanis as Chief Executive Officer.

    Ketan is joining ThoughtSpot from Salesforce, where he has spent over a decade of his career. He most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Salesforce Sales Cloud business, leading one of the company’s largest cloud businesses that generated more than $7 billion last fiscal year. He returned to Salesforce in March 2022 after his time as the COO of Turvo, a supply-chain collaboration platform that was acquired by Lineage Logistics in 2022. Before that, Ketan was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Salesforce Einstein Analytics, incubating the business from launch to over $300 million and a 30,000 strong user community.

    “During this time of accelerated transformation driven by the advent of generative AI, there is no better person to lead ThoughtSpot than Ketan,” said Ajeet Singh, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of ThoughtSpot. “He is a customer-obsessed, employee-focused business leader with a deep experience in analytics and has built and led world-class SaaS businesses of significant scale. The ThoughtSpot Board believes that Ketan is the right leader to help ThoughtSpot capitalize on its foundational innovation and capture the massive market opportunity that lies ahead in AI-powered analytics.”

    Singh added, “Over the last six months, ThoughtSpot has made significant progress in accelerating its product roadmap, delivering genAI-driven value to customers that are migrating away from legacy visualization platforms, and centering its focus on durable growth at scale, all setting the table for our next CEO.”

    “Ketan has the passion and experience to lead ThoughtSpot in its next chapter,” said Ravi Mhatre, Founder and Managing Director of Lightspeed Venture Partners and the founding investor on ThoughtSpot’s Board of Directors. “This appointment comes at a perfect time for the market as analytics is redefined by genAI, and ensures that ThoughtSpot is best positioned to scale rapidly.”

    “ThoughtSpot has built a fundamentally different approach to analytics since its inception, squarely focused on democratizing data and empowering everyone to make data-driven decisions with its AI and search-driven analytics platform,” said Ketan Karkhanis, CEO of ThoughtSpot. “ThoughtSpot has a significant head start in innovation that is required for truly delivering on the expectations that genAI has created, with a proven solution that is delivering value to some of the largest and most complex enterprises in the world. I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to lead the company that finds itself intersecting with the genAI tailwinds at a perfect time, and is in a strong position to capitalize on this market opportunity by bringing unparalleled value to over a thousand customers across the globe.”

    Ketan has a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from PICT (Pune Institute of Computer Technology, India) and an MBA from Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business.

    About ThoughtSpot
    ThoughtSpot is the AI-Powered Analytics company. Our mission is to create a more fact-driven world with the easiest to use analytics platform. With ThoughtSpot, anyone can leverage natural language search to ask and answer data questions with confidence. ThoughtSpot enables everyone within an organization to limitlessly engage with live data in any major cloud data platform, making it easy to create and interact with granular, hyper-personalized, and actionable insights. Customers can take advantage of both ThoughtSpot’s web and mobile applications to improve decision-making for every employee, wherever and whenever decisions are made. With ThoughtSpot’s low-code developer-friendly platform, ThoughtSpot Embedded, customers can also embed AI-Powered Analytics to their products and services, monetizing their data and engaging users to keep them coming back for more. Organizations like Capital One, Daimler, Comcast, Cigna, Royal Bank of Canada, Nasdaq, and Unilever rely on ThoughtSpot to transform how their employees and customers take advantage of data. Try ThoughtSpot today and see for yourself.

    PR Contact:

    Lindsay Noonan
    Director of Communications, ThoughtSpot
    press@thoughtspot.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/88088950-4082-42c9-b99f-a944c31c28c8

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Laurie Stewart Named One of American Banker’s “Most Powerful Women to Watch”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Banker names Laurie Stewart, President and CEO of Sound Community Bank, as one of The Most Powerful Women to Watch in 2024.

    Now celebrating its 22nd anniversary, American Banker’s The Most Powerful Women in Banking™ program recognizes individuals and teams for demonstrating exceptional leadership skills, strong business performance, and a commitment to driving real outcomes for diversity, equity, and inclusion in financial services. As part of this program, the Most Powerful Women to Watch rankings highlight influential leaders from top banks and financial institutions.  

    “Keep your eyes on these women in the years ahead,” said Chana Schoenberger, Editor-in-Chief of American Banker. ”They exemplify modern leadership, with significant contributions to both their businesses and the industry at large. It hasn’t been an easy year for bank and financial institutions, but progress continues – not by chance, but through the determined efforts of these women.”

    The honorees will be recognized at THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN BANKING Gala, scheduled for October 24, 2024, at The Glasshouse in New York City.

    Stewart recently celebrated 34 years with Sound Community Bank. In this span, Stewart led the organization’s conversion from a $38 million dollar credit union to a $1 billion publicly traded commercial bank. Active in the industry, Stewart was one of 14 bankers selected to serve on the inaugural FDIC Community Bank Advisory Board. She is active in trade associations, having served two terms as Chair of the WBA and as Chair of the ABA’s flagship Governmental Affairs Committee. Stewart ascended to Chairperson of the American Bankers Association Board of Directors, becoming only the third woman to hold this role in nearly 150 years. She served two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors for the Seattle Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and is currently serving on the 12th District Head Office Board. She also served as Chair of the National Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors and is a former Chair of the Woodland Park Zoo. Ms. Stewart is the current Secretary/Treasurer of the Jamestown/S’Klallam CDFI. She is the only non-tribal member of the CDFI Board.

    About Sound Community Bank
    Established in 1953, Sound Community Bank is a full-service bank providing personal and business banking services in communities across the greater Puget Sound region. The Seattle-based company operates banking offices in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Jefferson, and Clallam Counties and on the web at http://www.soundcb.com. Sound Community Bank is a subsidiary of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFBC). On June 30, 2024, Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. reported total assets of $1.1 billion.  

    For Media inquiries, please contact:
    Deena Rataezyk
    Vice President, Director of Marketing & Communications
    deena.rataezyk@soundcb.com
    (206) 204-8169

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Cegedim: Revenue and EBITDA both increased in the first half of 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

         
     

    PRESS RELEASE

    First-half financial information at June 30, 2024
    IFRS – Regulated information – Audited

    Cegedim: Revenue and EBITDA both increased in the first half of 2024

    • Revenue grew 6.0% as reported and 4.6% LFL to €319.0 million
    • EBITDA rose 6.9% to €52.2 million
    • Recurring operating income(1) (REBIT) fell 3.4% to €10.3 million

    Boulogne-Billancourt, France, September 26, 2024, after the market close

    Cegedim generated consolidated H1 2024 revenues of €319.0 million, a 6.0% year-on-year increase as reported, and EBITDA of €52.2 million, a €3.4 million or 6.9% increase. Recurring operating income fell €0.4 million, or 3.4%, to €10.3 million.

      H1 2024 H1 2023 Change
      in €m (in %) (in €m) (in %) (in €m) in %
    Revenues 319.0 100.0% 301.0 100.00% 18.0 6.0%
    EBITDA(1) 52.2 16.4% 48.8 +16.2% 3.4 6.9%
    Depreciation & amortization -41.9   -38.1   -3.8 -9.8%
    Recurring operating income(1) 10.3 3.2% 10.7 3.6% -0.4 -3.4%
    Other non-recurring operating income and expenses(1) -2.6   -1.4   -1.2 -88.8%
    Operating income 7.7 2.4% 9.3 3.1% -1.6 -17.1%
    Financial result -5.0   -5.6   0.6 10.8%
    Total tax -2.9   -12.4   9.5 76.8%
    Share of net profit (loss) of equity method companies 0.1   -0.5   0.6 110.3%
    Consolidated net profit -0.1 0.0% -9.2 -3.1% 9.1 99.0%
    Non-controlling interests -0.7   -0.4   -0.3 -69.3%
    Group share 0.6 0.2% -8.8 -2.9% 9.4 107.2%
    Recurring earnings per share(2) (in euros) 0.0 -0.6    
    Earnings per share (in euros) 0.0 -0.6    

    Consolidated revenues rose €18.0 million, or 6.0%, to €319.0 million in H1 2024 compared with €301.0 million in 2023. The positive scope effect of €3.7 million, or 1.2%, was attributable to the first-time consolidation in Cegedim’s accounts of Visiodent starting March 1, 2024. The positive currency impact was €0.5 million, or 0.2%, chiefly owing to appreciation of the pound sterling against the euro. In like-for-like terms(2), revenues rose 4.6% in the first half, in line with the Group’s announced outlook. The performance was attributable to seasonality and the non-recurrence of Ségur public health investments in 2024.

    EBITDA(1) rose €3.4 million between the first half of 2023 and 2024, or 6.9%. The improvement is the result of good management of personnel costs and external costs, in moderate growth as a percentage of revenues even though the amount of R&D capitalization fell and the Group had an additional quarter of start-up costs for its biggest BPO contract.

    ————-
    (1)    Alternative performance indicator See pages 112-113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.
    (2)   At constant scope and exchange rates.

    Depreciation and amortization expenses rose €3.7 million, chiefly due to a €3.1 million increase in R&D amortization (€22.7 million at June 30, 2024 compared with €19.7 million a year earlier) driven by development efforts in recent years.

    Recurring operating income(1) fell €0.4 million to €10.3 million in H1 2024 compared with €10.7 million in 2023.  It amounted to 3.2% of 2024 revenue compared with 3.6% in 2023. The fine EBITDA performance did not drop through to recurring operating income solely because of higher depreciation and amortization. Excluding the impact of Ségur subsidies and at comparable levels of amortization of capitalized R&D, Recurring operating income would have more than doubled.

    Other non-current operating costs(1) amounted to €2.6 million in H1 2024 compared with €1.4 million in the same period in 2023.  The principal items in 2024 were restructuring costs related to the Group’s decision to refocus software for doctors in the UK on Scotland and fees related to the Visiodent acquisition.

    Taking these elements into account, operating income came to €7.7 million at June 30, 2024, compared with €9.3 million a year earlier.

    Financial result was a loss of €5.0 million compared with a €5.6 million loss in H1 2023. Dividend income over the period more than offset the increase in the cost of financial debt.

    Tax was back to normal levels at €2.6 million in H1 2024 compared with €12.4 million in H1 2023. As a reminder, in 2023 the Group made a non-cash adjustment that caused it to record a deferred tax charge corresponding to the downward revision of its estimated remaining deferred tax assets.

    Analysis of business trends by division

    in millions of euros Total Software & Services Flow Data & Marketing BPO Cloud & Support
    Revenue            
    2023 reported

    2023 reclassified (*)

    301.0

    301.0

    161.5

    150.6

    48.2

    46.8

    54.9

    54.9

    32.8

    32.8

    3.5

    15.8

    2024 319.0 152.1 49.5 59.3 39.9 18.1
    Change 6.0% 1.0% 5.8% 8.0% 21.6% 14.5%
                 
    Recurring operating income            
    2023 reported

    2023 reclassified (*)

    10.7

    10.7

    -2.0

    -2.5

    5.6

    5.2

    6.6

    6.6

    1.4

    1.4

    -0.9

    0.0

    2024 10.3 -1.4 5.9 5.3 1.9 -1.3
    Change -3.4% 42.4% 12.8% -19.8% 36.0% na
                 
    Recurring operating margin (as a % of revenues)

    2023 reported

     

    3.6%

     

    -1.2%

     

    11.7%

     

    11.9%

     

    4.3%

     

    -24.7%

    2023 reclassified (*) 3.6% -1.7% 11.1% 11.9% 4.3% 0.3%
    2024 3.2% -1.0% +11.8% 8.9% 4.8% -7.0%
                 

    (*) As of January 1, 2024, our Cegedim Outsourcing and Audiprint subsidiaries—which were previously housed in the Software & Services division—as well as BSV—formerly of the Flow division—have been moved to the Cloud & Support division in order to capitalize on operating synergies between cloud activities and IT solutions integration.

    • Software & Services: H1 2024 revenues posted a €1.5 million increase, and recurring operating income (REBIT)(1) improved by €1.1 million to a loss of €1.4 million, compared with a €2.5 million loss a year earlier.

    ————-
    (1)    Alternative performance indicator See pages 112-113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.

    Software & Services First half Change

    2024 / 2023

    in millions of euros 2024 2023
    Revenues 152.1 150.6 1.5 1.0%
    Cegedim Santé 38.9 39.8 -1.0 -2.4%
    Insurance, HR, Pharmacies, and other services 86.7 84.5 2.3 2.7%
    International businesses 26.5 26.3 0.2 0.6%
    Recurring operating income(1) -1.4 -2.5 1.1 42.4%
    Cegedim Santé -1.6 -1.4 -0.2 -11.8%
    Insurance, HR, Pharmacies, and other services 3.4 3.3 0.1 3.5%
    International businesses -3.3 -4.4 1.1 25.6%

    As expected, Cegedim Santé felt the impact of increased R&D amortization (nearly €1 million) and a demanding comparison owing to the non-recurrence of Ségur public health investments (€4.4 million in H1 2023 revenues). The consolidation of Visiodent starting March 1, 2024, only partly offset those two items. Recurring operating income was nearly stable over the first half, but EBITDA increased as expected.

    The other businesses in the division posted REBIT(1) of €1.2 million. A solid performance by HR solutions, which managed to keep costs under control during a phase of strong growth, compensated for slower pharmacy equipment sales post-Ségur. The international businesses got a boost from dynamic sales for doctors in Spain and for insurers in the UK. As we shift our operations, narrowing the focus of our UK doctor’s software business to Scotland continued to generate costs in the first half.

    • Flow: Revenues rose 5.8%, driven by Cegedim e-business (process digitalization and electronic data flows), both of whose businesses made positive contributions; by Invoicing & Procurement, which rebounded in France and is benefiting from the upcoming reform in Germany; and by Healthcare Flow Management, which has dynamic new offerings for hospitals to make their drug purchasing secure. Over the same period, Third-party payer systems posted 3.6% growth. As a result, REBIT(1) rose 12.8%, with Third-party payer systems making the biggest contribution, as Cegedim e-business recorded a large R&D amortization charge.
    • Data & Marketing: Trends differed at this division—Marketing is still going strong, with 20% growth, whereas Data revenues fell 2.8%, particularly abroad. REBIT(1) of €6.6 million was down €1.3 million over the first half owing to high fixed costs in Data and increased depreciation and amortization costs at C-Media (+€1 million) due to heavy investments in updating its digital signage equipment.
    • BPO: Revenue jumped more than 21% over the first half, buoyed notably by a full six months of the contract with Allianz, which started on April 1, 2023, and is expected to generate losses in the early years. But the division reined in those losses so well that REBIT(1) rose €0.5 million in the first half of 2024 to reach €1.9 million, also getting a boost from the HR BPO and digitalization businesses.
    • Cloud & Support: H1 2024 REBIT(1) was a loss of €1.3 million, compared with breakeven a year earlier. The drop was due to surcharges related to the launch of a new cloud offering and recruitment of new offshore teams.

    ———

    (1) Alternative performance indicator See pages 112-113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.

    Highlights

    Apart from the items cited below, to the best of the company’s knowledge, there were no events or changes during H1 2024 that would materially alter the Group’s financial situation.

    • Acquisition of Visiodent

    On February 15, 2024, Cegedim Santé acquired Visiodent, a leading French publisher of management software for dental practices and health clinics. Visiodent launched the market’s first 100% SaaS solution, Veasy, at a time when it was significantly expanding its organization. Its users now include the country’s largest nation-wide networks of health clinics, both cooperative and privately owned, as well as several thousand dental surgeons in private practice. Visiodent generated revenue of c.€10 million in 2023 and began contributing to Cegedim Group’s consolidation scope on March 1, 2024.

    Cegedim S.A. has been subject to two tax audits since 2018, which have resulted in reassessments relating to the use of tax-loss carryforwards contested by the tax authorities. Cegedim, in consultation with its lawyers, believes that the reassessments are unfounded in light of the applicable tax law and jurisprudence. The Company has therefore taken, and continues to take, all possible avenues of contestation.

    As these appeals are not suspensive, Cegedim has paid the amounts reassessed over time (a total of 23 million euros already paid, including 10.9 million euros disbursed in February 2024). The remaining risk of future disbursements in respect of this dispute thus amounts to only 5 million euros at June 30, 2024.

    However, these disbursements have never given rise to the recognition of a tax charge in the P&L, since the Company considers that these sums will be recoverable at the end of the proceedings (they are recognized as advances paid on the assets side of the balance sheet). Should the outcome be unfavorable, a charge of 28 million euros (of which 23 million has already been paid) would have to be recorded in the consolidated income statement.

    In addition, the consolidated balance sheet must show the future tax savings still realizable in respect of tax loss carryforwards. This “deferred tax asset” amounted to 6.9 million euros at June 30, 2024.
    Should the outcome be unfavorable, the probability of realizing these future savings would become nil, and an adjustment of 6.9 million euros would have to be recorded in the consolidated income statement (with no cash impact, since these gains have never yet been realized).

    Consequently, the risk associated with this dispute is not (or very little) in terms of cash, but rather in terms of a possible adjustment to the consolidated income. The maximum P&L adjustment risk is known: it amounts to 34.9 million euros and will remain unchanged. Only its breakdown varies at each closing: the amount of disputed tax savings (28 million to date) will continue to increase, and that of remaining future savings (6.9 million to date) will decrease accordingly until exhausted.

    In the last quarter of 2023, the Company referred this dispute to the administrative court, which is likely to continue for several years.

    Significant transactions and events post June 30, 2024

    Apart from the items cited below, to the best of the company’s knowledge, there were no post-closing events or changes after June 30, 2024, that would materially alter the Group’s financial situation.

    • New financing arrangement

    On July 31, 2024, Cegedim announced that it had secured a new financing arrangement consisting of a €230 million syndicated loan. The arrangement is split into €180 million of lines drawn upon closing to refinance the Group’s existing debt (RCF and Euro PP, which were to mature in October 2024 and October 2025 respectively) and an additional, undrawn revolving credit facility (RCF) of €50 million. This new financing arrangement will bolster the Group’s liquidity and extend the maturity of its debt to, respectively, 5 years (€30 million, payments every six months); 6 years (€60 million, repayable upon maturity); and 7 years (€90 million, repayable upon maturity).

    Outlook

    Based on the currently available information, the Group expects 2024 like-for-like(2) revenue growth to be in the range of 5-8% relative to 2023. Recurring operating income should continue to improve, following a similar trajectory as in 2023.  

    Recurring operating income(1) is expected to grow, notably thanks to the initial returns on investments made in Cegedim Santé and refocusing international activities.

    These targets may need to be revised in the event of unexpected developments (pandemic, etc.) and/or a significant worsening of geopolitical and macroeconomic risks. The Group reiterates that it has no activities or exposed assets in Russia or Ukraine.

    —————

    The Audit Committee met on September 25, 2024. The Board of Directors, chaired by Jean-Claude Labrune, met on September 26, 2024, and approved the consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2024, of which the statutory auditors have conducted a limited review. The Interim Financial Report will be available in a few days’ time, in French and in English, on our website.

    2024 financial calendar

    2024 October 24 after the close Q3 2024 revenues

    Financial calendar: https://www.cegedim.fr/finance/agenda/Pages/default.aspx

    Disclaimer
    This press release is available in French and in English. In the event of any difference between the two versions, the original French version takes precedence. This press release may contain inside information. It was sent to Cegedim’s authorized distributor on September 26, 2024, no earlier than 5:45 pm Paris time.
    The figures cited in this press release include guidance on Cegedim’s future financial performance targets. This forward-looking information is based on the opinions and assumptions of the Group’s senior management at the time this press release is issued and naturally entails risks and uncertainty. For more information on the risks facing Cegedim, please refer to Chapter 7, “Risk management”, section 7.2, “Risk factors and insurance”, and Chapter 3, “Overview of the financial year”, section 3.6, “Outlook”, of the 2023 Universal Registration Document filled with the AMF on April 3, 2024, under number D.24-0233.

    About Cegedim:
    Founded in 1969, Cegedim is an innovative technology and services group in the field of digital data flow management for healthcare ecosystems and B2B, and a business software publisher for healthcare and insurance professionals. Cegedim employs more than 6,500 people in more than 10 countries and generated revenue of €616 million in 2023.

    Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).
    To learn more please visit: http://www.cegedim.fr
    And follow Cegedim on X: @CegedimGroup, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

    Aude Balleydier
    Cegedim
    Media Relations
    and Communications Manager

    Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 68 81
    aude.balleydier@cegedim.fr

    Damien Buffet
    Cegedim
    Head of Financial Communication

    Tel.: +33 (0)7 64 63 55 73
    damien.buffet@cegedim.com

    Céline Pardo
    Becoming RP Agency
    Media Relations Consultant

    Tel.:        +33 (0)6 52 08 13 66
    cegedim@becoming-group.com

     

    ———

    (1) Alternative performance indicator See pages 112-113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.
    (2) At constant scope and exchange rates.

    Annexes

    Consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2024

    • Assets au 30 juin 2024
    In thousands of euros 6/30/2024 12/31/2023
    Goodwill 234,955 199,787
    Development costs 29,706 1,562
    Other intangible fixed assets 177,834 192,616
    Intangible non-current assets 207,541 194,178
    Land 594 544
    Buildings 1,556 1,660
    Other property, plant, and equipment 53,006 45,829
    Advances and non-current assets in progress 901 831
    Rights of use 86,092 89,718
    Tangible fixed assets 142,149 138,582
    Equity investments 0 0
    Loans 16,332 15,332
    Other long-term investments 7,120 5,230
    Long-term investments – excluding equity shares in equity method companies 23,452 20,563
    Equity shares in equity method companies 19,086 22,065
    Deferred tax assets 18,209 19,747
    Prepaid expenses: long-term portion 0 0
    Non-current assets 645,390 594,922
    Goods 6,072 5,498
    Advances and deposits received on orders 1,396 3,703
    Accounts receivables: short-term portion 182,907 175,199
    Other receivables: short-term portion 59,070 59,563
    Current tax credits 27,262 16,495
    Cash equivalents 0 0
    Cash 35,414 46,606
    Prepaid expenses: short-term portion 26,138 22,082
    Current assets 338,260 329,146
    Total assets 983,651 924,068
    • Liabilities et shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2024
    In thousands of euros 6/30/2024 12/31/2023
    Share capital 13,432 13,337
    Consolidated retained earnings 276,449 282,521
    Group exchange gains/losses -11,848 -12,275
    Group earnings 630 -7,407
    Shareholders’ equity, Group share 278,663 276,175
    Minority interest 17,550 18,381
    Shareholders’ equity 296,213 294,556
    Non-current financial liabilities 187,714 188,546
    Non-current lease liabilities 76,267 78,761
    Deferred tax liabilities 5,949 5,600
    Post-employment benefit obligations 30,632 31,007
    Non-current provisions 2,147 2,521
    Non-current liabilities 302,710 306,435
    Current financial liabilities 61,570 3,006
    Current lease liabilities 14,661 14,789
    Trade payables and related accounts 57,225 61,734
    Current tax liabilities 192 235
    Tax and social security liabilities 113,884 121,371
    Non-current provisions 1,660 1,730
    Other current liabilities 135,538 120,212
    Current liabilities 384,728 323,077
    Total liabilities 983,651 924,068
    • Income statement at June 30, 2024
    In thousands of euros 6/30/2024 6/30/2023
    Revenues 318,995 301,011
    Purchases used -14,045 -14,739
    External expenses -72,687 -66,371
    Taxes -3,961 -4,291
    Payroll costs -173,240 -163,623
    Impairment of trade receivables and other receivables and on contract assets -872 -2,041
    Allowances to and reversals of provisions -2,440 -1,830
    Other operating expenses -690 108
    Share of profit (loss) from affiliates on the income statement 1,146 603
    EBITDA (1) 52,207 48,827
    Depreciation expenses other than right-of-use assets -33,140 -29,030
    Depreciation expenses of right-of-use assets -8,733 -9,097
    Recurring operating income(1) 10,334 10,700
    Non-recurring operating income and expenses -2,616 -1,385
    Other non-recurring operating income and expenses(1) -2,616 -1,385
    Operating income 7,718 9,315
    Income from cash and cash equivalents 326 180
    Cost of gross financial debt -7,121 -5,633
    Other financial income and expenses 1,813 -136
    Net financial income (expense) -4,983 -5,589
    Income taxes -1,226 -1,841
    Deferred income taxes -1,652 -10,588
    Tax -2,878 -12,429
    Share of profit (loss) from affiliates 53 -515
    Consolidated net profit -90 -9,219
    Group share 630 -8,793
    Income from equity-accounted affiliates -721 -426
    Average number of shares excluding treasury stock 13,695,317 13,658,348
    Recurring earnings per share (in euros) 0.0 -0.6
    Earnings per share (in euros) 0.0 -0.6
    • Cash flow statement as of June 30, 2024
    In thousands of euros 6/30/2024 6/30/2023
    Consolidated net profit -90 -9,219
    Share of profit (loss) from affiliates -1,199 -88
    Depreciation and amortization expenses and provisions 40,531 37,972
    Capital gains or losses on disposals of operating assets -52 -798
    Cash flow after cost of net financial debt and taxes 39,190 27,867
    Cost of net financial debt 4,983 5,589
    Tax expenses 2,878 12,429
    Cash flow from operating activities before tax and interest 47,051 45,885
    Tax paid -11,634 -378
    Impact of change in working capital requirements -13,206 -18,032
    Cash flow generated from operating activities after tax paid and change in

    working capital requirements

    22,211 27,476
    Acquisitions of intangible fixed assets -29,879 -29,550
    Acquisitions of tangible fixed assets -15,935 -11,759
    Acquisitions of long-term investments 0 -36
    Disposals of property, plant, and equipment and of intangible assets 553 2,575
    Disposals of long-term investments 934 805
    Change in deposits received or paid -860 -156
    Impact of changes in consolidation scope -35,454 -2,172
    Dividends received from outside the Group 4,073 30
    Net cash from (used in) investing activities -76,568 -40,264
    Capital increase 985
    Dividends paid to minority shareholders of consolidated cos. 0
    Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent company -1
    Debt issuance 55,000
    Debt repayments -219 -193
    Employee profit sharing 145 129
    Repayment of lease liabilities -8,152 -11,353
    Interest paid on loans -972 -117
    Other financial income received 718 596
    Other financial expenses paid -3,612 -3,492
    Net cash flow used in financing activities 43,892 -14,430
    Change in net cash excluding currency impact -10,465 -27,218
    Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates -728 -456
    Change in net cash -11,194 -27,674
    Opening cash 46,606 55,553
    Closing cash 35,412 27,879
    • Financial covenants

    The Group complied with all its covenants as of June 30, 2024.


    (1) Alternative performance indicator

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Software Recognized as a Visionary in Endpoint Security in 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading cyber security platform provider of AI-powered, cloud delivered solutions, today announced that it has been recognized as a Visionary in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection Platforms. Check Point Harmony Endpoint is shaping the future of workspace security with flexible deployment options and a unified security approach, offering robust endpoint protection tailored to organizations of any scale.

    Businesses today are grappling with more advanced cyber threats aimed particularly at endpoints, highlighted by Check Point Research’s report of a 30% increase in global cyber-attacks in the second quarter of 2024. Simultaneously, they must navigate the complexities of managing numerous security solutions. Check Point Harmony Endpoint mitigates these challenges by providing robust protection, with a 99.8% block rate against new malware, ransomware, and zero-day attacks. It ensures seamless security across diverse devices and networks, simplifying management and reducing operational costs.

    Gary Li, Vice President of Research Institute at Gotion High-Tech emphasized our features, stating that, “Check Point Harmony Endpoint satisfied all of our criteria and efficiently addressed our current cybersecurity risks. Its autonomous detection and response capability also enable our team to easily intercept attacks and prevent them from affecting users and endpoints.”

    “We’re thrilled that Gartner has acknowledged us for the second year in a row, as we consistently secure customer traction and provide our clients with comprehensive security solutions to safeguard them against the latest cyber-attacks,” said Ofir Israel, VP of Threat Prevention at Check Point Software Technologies. “We see endpoints being among the most vulnerable for compromise and persistently push the boundaries of innovation to ensure strong protection for businesses of all sizes.”

    Harmony Endpoint offers a robust and all-encompassing security solution for endpoints, featuring advanced EPP, EDR, and XDR functionalities, that safeguard remote workforces against the intricate threats of today’s digital environment. Harmony Endpoint is part of the Check Point Infinity Platform, a comprehensive platform that provides top-tier security across data centers, networks, cloud services, branch offices, and remote users, all managed through a unified interface.

    To download a complimentary copy of the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection Platforms visit our website and check out the blog.

    Discover how Harmony Endpoint can safeguard your workforce. Visit us for more information: https://www.checkpoint.com/solutions/endpoint-security/

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

    Gartner Disclaimer
    Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 
    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (http://www.checkpoint.com) is a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider protecting over 100,000 organizations worldwide. Check Point leverages the power of AI everywhere to enhance cyber security efficiency and accuracy through its Infinity Platform, with industry-leading catch rates enabling proactive threat anticipation and smarter, faster response times. The comprehensive platform includes cloud-delivered technologies consisting of Check Point Harmony to secure the workspace, Check Point CloudGuard to secure the cloud, Check Point Quantum to secure the network, and Check Point Infinity Platform Services for collaborative security operations and services.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Flow Traders Q3 2024 Pre-close Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Flow Traders Q3 2024 Pre-close Call

    Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Flow Traders Ltd. (Euronext: FLOW) publishes the Q3 2024 pre-close call script to be used with analysts post the market close on 26 September 2024.

    Flow Traders will conduct a pre-close call with the analyst community post the European market close today, prior to the start of the silent period on 1 October 2024. The script to be used can be found on our website.

    https://www.flowtraders.com/investors/results-centre

    Contact Details

    Flow Traders Ltd.

    Investors
    Eric Pan
    Phone:         +31 20 7996799
    Email:        investor.relations@flowtraders.com

    Media
    Laura Peijs
    Phone:         +31 20 7996799
    Email:        press@flowtraders.com

    About Flow Traders

    Flow Traders is a leading global financial technology-enabled liquidity provider in financial products, historically specialized in Exchange Traded Products (ETPs), now expanding into other asset classes. Flow Traders ensures the provision of liquidity to support the uninterrupted functioning of financial markets. This allows investors to continue to buy or sell ETPs or other financial instruments under all market circumstances. We continuously grow our organization, ensuring that our trading desks in Europe, the Americas and Asia can provide liquidity across all major exchanges, globally, 24 hours a day. Founded in 2004, we continue to cultivate the entrepreneurial, innovative and team-oriented culture that has been with us since the beginning. Please visit http://www.flowtraders.com for more information.

    Important Legal Information

    This publication is prepared by Flow Traders Ltd. and is for information purposes only. It is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and you must not rely on the content of this document when making any investment decisions. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice and is not to be regarded as investor marketing or marketing of any security or financial instrument, or as an offer to buy or sell, or as a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, securities or financial instruments.

    The information and materials contained in this publication are provided ‘as is’ and Flow Traders Ltd. or any of its affiliates (“Flow Traders”) do not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and materials and expressly disclaim liability for any errors or omissions. This publication is not intended to be, and shall not constitute in any way a binding or legal agreement, or impose any legal obligation on Flow Traders. All intellectual property rights, including trademarks, are those of their respective owners. All rights reserved. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Flow Traders. No part of it may be redistributed or reproduced without the prior written permission of Flow Traders.

    Flow Traders expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any statements contained in this publication to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statements are based. Unless the source is otherwise stated, the market, economic and industry data in this publication constitute the estimates of our management, using underlying data from independent third parties. We have obtained market data and certain industry forecasts used in this publication from internal surveys, reports and studies, where appropriate, as well as market research, publicly available information and industry publications. The third party sources we have used generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed and that the projections they contain are based on a number of assumptions.

    By accepting this publication you agree to the terms set out above. If you do not agree with the terms set out above please notify legal.amsterdam@nl.flowtraders.com immediately and delete or destroy this publication.

    Market Abuse Regulation

    This press release contains information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: Segro plc Amend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3 – Amendment to 2. (a) (1)

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: AXA Investment Managers S.A.
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
     
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    SEGRO plc
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    13 September 2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    YES
    Tritax EuroBox plc

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 10p ordinary
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 13,576,703 1.00    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL:
          AXA Investment Managers does not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 5,859,925 shares that are included in this total.
    13,576,703 1.00    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    10p ordinary Purchase 4,000 GBP 9.09

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
             

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
    None

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 26 September 2024
    Contact name: Sabrina AID
    Telephone number*: +33 1 44 45 58 79

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Unity Bank Awards $50,000 in Grants to Local Businesses Through FHLB Small Business Recovery Grant Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CLINTON, N.J., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unity Bank is proud to announce that five local businesses have each been awarded $10,000 grants through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLB) Small Business Recovery Grant (SBRG) Program.

    These grants aim to help businesses overcome challenges posed by inflation, supply chain constraints, rising energy costs, and a volatile rate environment. As a committed member of FHLB, Unity Bank continues to champion local businesses, providing vital support as they navigate today’s economic challenges.

    By leveraging their SBRG Program, Unity Bank granted $10,000 each to five businesses:

    Isaac Simon Realty LLC – Child Care Services, Brooklyn, NY

    Sontort Realty Holding LLC – Full Service Restaurant, Flemington, NJ

    Lebanon Hotel – Full Service Restaurant, Lebanon, NJ

    Ionian Sky Inc. – Full Service Restaurant, Edison, NJ

    Statewide Environmental – Environmental Consulting Services, Bridgewater, NJ

    James A. Hughes, President & CEO of Unity Bank, said, “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy, and these grants will provide critical relief to ensure they can continue to serve our communities. By utilizing the FHLB’s Small Business Recovery Grant Program, we’re able to deliver meaningful support where it’s needed most.”

    Unity Bank’s partnership with FHLB highlights its ongoing commitment to empowering small businesses and fostering community growth. The SBRG Program has been instrumental in addressing the financial pressures many small enterprises face due to the current economic climate.

    Learn more about the SBRG program at this website: https://www.fhlbny.com/community/sbrg/program-overview/

    About Unity Bancorp, Inc.

    Unity Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTY) is the parent company of Unity Bank, a financial services organization based in Clinton, New Jersey. Unity Bank operates 21 branches across New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, offering community-focused commercial banking services, including deposit accounts, loans, and digital services. For details, visit unitybank.com or call 800-618-BANK (800-618-2265). Unity Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). To learn about FDIC insurance, visit FDIC.gov.

    Contact:
    Crystal Rose
    Marketing Director
    (908) 713-4310
    Crystal.Rose@unitybank.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: Segro plc Amend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3 – Amendment to 2. (a) (1)

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: AXA Investment Managers S.A.
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
     
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    SEGRO plc
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    04 September 2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    YES
    Tritax EuroBox plc

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 10p ordinary
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 13,572,703 1.00    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL:
          AXA Investment Managers does not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 5,855,925 that are included in this total.
    13,572,703 1.00    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
           

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
             

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
    None

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 26 September 2024
    Contact name: Sabrina AID
    Telephone number*: +33 1 44 45 58 79

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Groupama Group 2024 half-year results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income) of €12.0 billion, up +8.7%

    • Growth in property and casualty insurance (+5.0%)
    • Increase in premium income in health and protection insurance (+10.0%)
    • Strong growth in the savings and pensions business (+20.7%)
    • Insurance revenue (IFRS 17) of €7.9 billion

    Net income of €398 million

    • Economic operating income of €409 million, impacted by events in New Caledonia and by a better understanding of the seasonality effect
    • Fairly moderate weather loss experience
    • Combined non-life ratio of 95.9%

    Strong solvency ratio of 190% without transitional measure 

    • Solvency ratio of 249% with transitional measure on underwriting reserves
    • Group’s IFRS equity of €9.3 billion
    • Contractual services margin of €3.6 billion

    The Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles met on 26 September 2024, under the chairmanship of Laurent Poupart, and approved the Group’s combined financial statements for the first half of 2024. The half-year financial statements underwent a limited review by the statutory auditors.

    Activity (insurance premiums and other income)

    As at 30 June 2024, Groupama’s combined premium income stood at €12.0 billion, a +8.7% increase from 30 June 2023. The increase came from property and casualty insurance (+5.0%), health and personal protection insurance (+10%), and savings and pensions (+20.7%).

    Groupama premium income as at 30 June 2024

    in millions of euros 30/06/2024 Like-for-like change (%)
    Property & casualty insurance 6,470 +5.0%
    Health & personal protection 3,690% +10.0%
    Savings & pensions 1,734 +20.7%
    Financial businesses 120 +16.3%
    GROUP TOTAL 12,014 +8.7%

    In France

    Insurance premium income in France as at 30 June 2024 amounted to €10.3 billion, up +8.8% compared with 30 June 2023.

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €5.3 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +4.6% compared with 30 June 2023. All segments were up, including agricultural (+5.0%), home insurance (+3.9%) and motor insurance (+1.7%).

    The health and personal protection business continued to grow (+9.4%) to €3.5 billion as at 30 June 2024, driven by individual health insurance (+5.5%) and growth in group insurance (+15.9%).

    In savings and pensions, premium income increased significantly (+24.7%) to €1.5 billion as at 30 June 2024 thanks to strong inflows from unit-linked products. Unit-linked products accounted for more than 60% of premium income in individual savings and pensions.

    Abroad

    Over the first half of 2024, business reached €1.6 billion, up +7.6% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with 30 June 2023, mainly from the sustained business growth in Hungary (+14.2%) and Italy (+6.1%).

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €1.1 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +7.2% compared with the previous period. This increase was due to the growth in home insurance in particular (+15.1%), mainly in Hungary and Greece, motor insurance (+5.5%) in Hungary and Italy, and good performance in business and local authorities casualty insurance (+13.5%).

    Health and protection businesses grew significantly (+22.0%) to €195 million, benefiting from the growth of the group health and personal protection segments (+42.3%), particularly in Romania and Bulgaria. 

    Premium income in savings and pensions was stable (-0.3%), with strong growth in unit-linked products (+24.8%) mitigating the decline in euro funds (-33.8%).

    Financial businesses

    The Group’s premium income was €120 million, including €116 million from Groupama Asset Management and €4 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.

    Results

    The Group’s economic operating income amounted to €409 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €612 million as at 30 June 2023.

    It came from property and casualty insurance for €181 million (€378 million as at June 30, 2023) and health and protection insurance for €68 million (€182 million as at June 30, 2023). The non-life combined ratio stood at 95.9% as at 30 June 2024, up +4.2 points compared with 30 June 2023. This increase was largely due to the cost of the events in New Caledonia in May and June 2024 as well as the recognition of a seasonality reserve, making it possible to better capture the effects of seasonal fluctuations. Weather claims remained at a fairly moderate level, comparable with the level at the end of June 2023. The operating costs ratio was virtually stable at 28.7% as at 30 June 2024.

    Economic operating income in savings and pensions was €208 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €57 million as at 30 June 2023. It benefited from the result of the switch of the share reinsured by Groupama Gan Vie to CNP Retraite in the PREFON Retraite reinsurance treaty, effective 1 January 2024.

    Economic operating income amounted to +€20 million from financial businesses and -€68 million from the Group’s holding company business as at 30 December 2024.

    The transition from economic operating income to net income includes non-recurring items, in particular the realisation of capital gains or losses, the change in the fair value of financial assets, and financing expenses. Overall, the Group’s net income amounted to €398 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €447 million as at 30 June 2023.
      

    Balance sheet

    Group’s equity totalled €9.3 billion as at 30 June 2024 compared with €9.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. This change was mainly due to the redemption in May 2024 of perpetual subordinated bonds issued in 2014 for €871 million, partially offset by the positive contribution of the result. Note that the perpetual subordinated debt issued in early July 2024 for €600 million is not included in the 2024 half-year financial statements.

    The Group’s contractual service margin, which represents the deferred future profits of outstanding contracts in savings and pensions and long-term protection, calculated discounted, was stable at €3.6 billion as at 30 June 2024.

    As at 30 June 2024, the Solvency 2 ratio, without transitional measure on underwriting reserves, was 190%. The 7-point decrease in this ratio compared with end-2023 was mainly due to the redemption of subordinated bonds issued in 2014, mitigated by the result over the period. The perpetual subordinated debt issued at the beginning of July 2024 is not included in the ratio as at 30 June 2024. Including the transitional measure on underwriting reserves, authorised by the ACPR, the ratio was 249%.

    The Group’s financial strength is highlighted by Fitch Ratings, which confirmed in March 2024 the IFS Groupama’s rating of ‘A+’ with a ‘Stable’ outlook.

    Group Communications Department

    For the financial statements as at 30/06/2024, the Group’s financial information consists of:

    • this press release, which is available on the website groupama.com,
    • Groupama Group’s half-year financial report, which will be filed with the AMF on 30 September 2024 and posted on the groupama.com website on the same day. The English version will be available on 22 October 2024.

    About Groupama Group

    For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has based its actions on timeless, humanist values to enable as many people as possible to build their lives in confidence. It relies on humane, caring, optimistic and responsible communities. The Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service business activities in ten countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 31,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of €17.0 billion.

    Appendix: Groupama key figures

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income)

    € million 30/06/2023
    pro forma*
    30/06/2024 Change **
    as %
    > France  9,507 10,339 +8.8%
    Property & casualty insurance 5,102 5,335 +4.6%
    Health & personal protection 3,195 3,495 +9.4%
    Savings & pensions 1,210 1,508 +24.7%
    > International & Overseas 1,445 1,555 +7.6%
    Property & casualty insurance 1,059 1,135 +7.2%
    Health & personal protection 160 195 +22.0%
    Savings & pensions 227 226 -0.3%
    Total Insurance 10,952 11,894 +8.6%
    Financial businesses 103 120 +16.3%
    Groupama premium income 11,055 12,014 +8.7%

    * Based on comparable data
    ** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis

    Net income

    € million 30/06/2023 30/06/2024
    Insurance – France
    Insurance – International
    545
    71
    396
    62
    Financial businesses 15 20
    Holding companies -19 -68
    Economic operating income 612 409
    Recurring financial margin -69 31
    Others -96 -43
    Net income 447 398

    Balance sheet

    € million 31/12/2023 30/06/2024
    Group’s IFRS quity 9,862 9,280
    Subordinated debts 3,009 2,140
    – equity instrument  871
    – financing debts 2,138 2,140
    Contractual services margin 3,649 3,638
    Total balance sheet 91,949 88,587

     

    Main ratios

      30/06/2023 30/06/2024
    PAA combined ratio 91.6% 95.9%
      31/12/2023 30/06/2024
    Solvency 2 ratio (with transitional measure*) 267% 249%
    Solvency 2 ratio (without transitional measure*) 197% 190%

    * transitional measure on underwriting reserves

    Insurer Financial Strength rating – Fitch Ratings

      Rating Outlook
    Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and its subsidiaries A+ Stable

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP : Form 8.3 – Smith (DS) plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
     
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    Smith (DS) plc
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    25/09/2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    Yes, International Paper Company

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security:  
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:        
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives: 18,539,768 1.34    
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    18,539,768 1.34    

                    
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
    10p Ordinary CFD Increasing a long position 132,620 GBP 4.5465
    10p Ordinary CFD Increasing a long position 32,064 GBP 4.5471

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 26/09/2024
    Contact name: Alex McMillan
    Telephone number: 646 282 5805

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Reliable, Fast, Simple: NordFX Broker Introduces Automated Withdrawal System in Crypto

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GROS-ISLET, Saint Lucia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Since mid-year, any NordFX broker client can take advantage of the automated withdrawal feature. This innovation, among many others, is aimed at further enhancing the quality of service and comfort for the company’s clients. Currently, 84% of withdrawal requests are processed automatically.

    The service is available 24/7 and is executed almost instantly after a request is submitted, allowing clients to access their funds faster and more easily than ever before. This feature supports most popular withdrawal methods, including bank transfers, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency payment systems.

    What does this mean for clients?

    – Speed: Instant withdrawals without delays.

    – Convenience: Access to funds at any time, without the need for approvals.

    – Transparency: Full information on all transactions is available in the trader’s personal account.

    “We are always looking for ways to improve the trading experience for our clients,” said Vanessa Polson, Marketing Manager at NordFX. “The introduction of automated withdrawals is a direct response to the growing demand for faster and more efficient fund management solutions. With this new feature, traders can now access their funds with ease, whether for reinvestment or personal use, without any delays.”

    The introduction of automated withdrawals is just one step toward NordFX’s main priority: to make trading on financial markets as comfortable and secure as possible for clients.

    About NordFX

    NordFX is a globally recognized multi-asset broker with over a decade of experience in the financial markets. Offering a wide range of trading instruments, including currencies, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, and more, NordFX is committed to providing its clients with the best possible trading conditions, innovative technology, and unparalleled customer service. With clients in over 100 countries, NordFX has built a reputation for trustworthiness and excellence in the trading industry.

    Contact

    Manager of Marketing Department

    Vanessa Polson

    NFX Capital VU Ltd

    marketing@nordfx.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ibex Jamaica Holds Back-To-School Event to Support Children of Employees

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PORTMORE, Jamaica, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer engagement technology solutions, recently hosted its Back-To-School with ibex event at the company’s Portmore location.

    Back-To-School with ibex helps school-aged children of ibex employees prepare for the new school year. Employees from departments across the company in all four Jamaica sites were eligible, including parents with little ones starting school for the first time and those with top performers at the primary and secondary levels. In addition, the Special Country Manager’s Award went to the two top CXC performers along with a new laptop for each.

    “Education is the foundation of success, and we are delighted to help support our employees’ children as they begin their next school year,” said ibex SVP of Operations and Jamaica Country Manager Tamara Ricketts-Brown. “ibex brings together the best talent, training, culture and technology in Jamaica to deliver amazing customer experiences for many of the world’s leading brands. By combining our AI-enabled technology, award-winning rewards and recognition programs, and exciting career development opportunities, we offer an engaging and rewarding employee experience that helps our agents grow and succeed.”

    In Jamaica, ibex has been recognized for its outstanding culture, employee experience, development opportunities and service, including Best Place to Work for Women in Central America and the Caribbean by Great Place to Work, Nearshore Company of the Year by Nearshore Americas, and Central America and Caribbean Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan.

    ibex is hiring 1,300 new agents in Jamaica over the next two months for multiple client programs supporting top brands in exciting industries, such as retail, technology, health and beauty, and transportation logistics. 

    Join the winning team at ibex to realize your dream – apply here: https://www.ibex.co/join-us/jamaica/.

    About ibex

    ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

    ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:
    Dan Burris
    ibex
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb4f7a9a-ab71-4854-87a1-cc53bfe36f61

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Convocation of the General Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of INVL Technology and draft resolutions on agenda issue

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Special closed-ended type private equity investment company INVL Technology, legal entity code 300893533, the registered address Gyneju str. 14 Vilnius, Lithuania (hereinafter – the Company or INVL Technology), informs that on the initiative and decision of the management company INVL Asset Management, UAB (hereinafter – the Management Company), the General Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting (hereinafter – the Meeting) is to be held on 21 October 2024.

    The place of the Meeting: the office of Company, the address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius.

    The Meeting will start at 09:00 a.m. (registration starts at 08:45 a.m.).

    The Meeting’s accounting day 14 October 2024 (the persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of accounting day of the Meeting or authorized persons by them, or the persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting).

    The total number of shares of the Company is 12,175,321 units shares; the number of shares giving the right to vote at the general meeting of shareholders is 11,989,855 units shares.

    Agenda of the Meeting:

    1. Regarding the election of an auditor to carry out the audit of the annual financial statements and setting conditions of payment for audit services.

    Draft resolutions of the Meeting:

    1. Regarding the election of an auditor to carry out the audit of the annual financial statements and setting conditions of payment for audit services.

    Considering that PricewaterhouseCoopers, UAB has audited the Company for 10 years and, in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, can no longer continue to provide audit services, it is decided to:

    1.1. Based on the results of the Company’s surveys of audit firms and the recommendation provided by the audit committee, to appoint BDO Auditas ir Apskaita, UAB, as the Company’s audit firm for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026, and for the assessment of the Company’s management reports.

    1.2. To authorize the person appointed by the Management Company to sign the audit services contract, according to which the payment for the audit of the financial statements for the three financial years and the evaluation of the management reports will be the price agreed by the parties, but not exceeding 52,500 euros (excluding VAT) for the entire three-year period.

    1.3. To stipulate that the Board of the Management Company reserves the right to increase the remuneration of the audit company by no more than 25 percent of the total remuneration approved by this decision if the scope of audit work changes significantly.

    The documents related to the agenda, draft resolutions on every item of the agenda, documents that have to be submitted to the General Shareholders Meeting and other information related to the realization of shareholders’ rights are published on the Company’s website http://www.invltechnology.lt section For investors, and also by prior agreement available at the premises of the Company, located at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius (hereinafter – the Premises of the Company) during working hours. Phone for information +370 5 279 0601.

    The shareholders are entitled:

    1. to propose to supplement the agenda of the Meeting submitting draft resolution on every additional item of agenda or, then there is no need to make a decision – explanation of the shareholder (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes). Proposal to supplement the agenda is submitted in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt. The agenda is supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Meeting. In case the agenda of the Meeting is supplemented, the Company will report on it no later than 10 days before the Meeting in the same way as on convening of the Meeting.
    2. to propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting at any time prior to the date of the Meeting (in writing, sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt or in writing during the Meeting (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes).
    3. to submit questions to the Company related to the issues of the agenda of the Meeting in advance but no later than 3 business days prior to the Meeting in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt. All answers related to the agenda of the Meeting to questions submitted to the Company by the shareholders in advance, are submitted in the Meeting or simultaneously to all shareholders of the Company prior to the Meeting. The Company reserves the right to answer to those shareholders of the Company who can be identified and whose questions are not related to the Company’s confidential information or commercial secrets.

    The shareholder participating at the Meeting and having the right to vote, must submit the documents confirming personal identity. A person who is not a shareholder shall, in addition to this document, submit a document confirming the right to vote at the Meeting. The requirement to provide the documents confirming personal identity does not apply when voting in writing by filling in a general ballot paper.

    Each shareholder may authorize either a natural or a legal person to participate and to vote on the shareholder’s behalf at the Meeting. An authorised person has the same rights as his represented shareholder at the Meeting unless the authorized person’s rights are limited by the power of attorney or by the law. The authorized persons must have the document confirming their personal identity and power of attorney approved in the manner specified by law which must be submitted to the Company no later than before the commencement of registration for the Meeting. The Company does not establish special form of the power of attorney. A power of attorney issued by a natural person must be certified by a notary. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by law. The persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, also have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.

    Shareholder is entitled to issue power of attorney by means of electronic communications for legal or natural persons to participate and to vote on its behalf at the Meeting. No notarisation of such authorization is required. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication means must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through the means of electronic communication by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt not later than on the last business day before the Meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be issued in writing and could be sent to the Company by electronic communication means if the transmitted information is secured and the shareholder’s identity can be identified. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder free of charge.

    Shareholders of the Company are urged to use the right to vote on the issues in the agenda of the Meeting by submitting properly completed general voting bulletins to the Company in advance. The form of general voting bulletin is presented at the Company’s webpage http://www.invltechnology.lt section For Investors. If shareholder requests, the Company shall send the general voting bulletin to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person no later than 10 days prior to the Meeting free of charge. If general voting bulletin is signed by a person authorized by the shareholder, it should be accompanied by a document certifying the right to vote.

    The Company invites its shareholders who decide to participate in the Meeting to choose one of the following alternatives:
    __________

    Alternative No. 1:

    A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete and sign a written voting bulletin and send it to the Company by e-mail (info@invltechnology.lt) and send the original bulletin by registered or ordinary post to the address Gynėjų str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius. Properly completed written voting bulletins may be sent by registered or ordinary post to the address Gynėjų str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius without submitting a copy to the e-mail address specified or delivered in person to the Company on business days at the Company‘s registered address mentioned above. Along with a bulletin, a document confirming the right to vote must also be sent. Those voting bulletins shall be deemed valid which are properly completed and are received before the start of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

    __________

    Alternative No. 2:

    A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete a written voting bulletin, save it on their computer and sign it with a qualified electronic signature. Send the written voting bulletin which is properly completed and signed with a qualified electronic signature to the Company by e-mail at info@invltechnology.lt.

    The Company suggests using the following free qualified electronic signature systems: Dokobit and GoSign.

    __________

    Alternative No. 3:

    If shareholders of the Company do not have the possibility to use voting alternatives No. 1 or No. 2, the Company will provide conditions for the shareholders or persons duly authorised by them to come on 21 October 2024 to the address Gyneju str. 14 in Vilnius, to the Company’s Meeting.

    The person authorized to provide additional information:
    INVL Technology Managing Partner
    Kazimieras Tonkūnas
    E-mail  k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Baltic Horizon Fund requests for partial early redemption and temporary waiver under the bond terms and conditions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Baltic Horizon Fund (the Issuer) applies for temporary waiver of debt service coverage ratio covenant in relation to Baltic Horizon Fund EUR 42 million 5-year floating rate bonds maturing in 2028 (ISIN EE3300003235, the Bonds). The current outstanding nominal amount of the Bonds is EUR 22,000,000 as Baltic Horizon Fund has mandatorily redeemed Bonds in nominal amount of EUR 20,000,000 as foreseen under the terms and conditions of the Bonds (Terms and Conditions).

    In the light of the current situation of Baltic economies, the outlook for next year as well as the associated effects on the fund, Baltic Horizon Fund has decided to request the holders of the Bonds (the Holders) to amend and lower the debt service coverage ratio covenant in the Terms and Conditions for a period of 24 months starting from 30 September 2024 until 30 September 2026. Baltic Horizon Fund confirms to all Holders that its ability to fulfil the monetary obligations provided in the Terms and Conditions has not been affected.

    Baltic Horizon Fund also applies for a consent to stipulate an additional obligation for mandatory early redemption of the Bonds concerning total nominal amount of EUR 3,000,000  by 7 November 2025.

    Northern Horizon Capital AS as the fund manager has been in contact with the Holders and received preliminary consent for the requested amendments which is now to be confirmed in the official Holders’ written consent procedure in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

    Holders who were entered in the registry of bond-holders maintained by Nasdaq CSD SE on the preceding business day before initiation of the written procedure, i.e. at the end of business of Nasdaq CSD SE on 25 September 2024, are entitled to vote in the written procedure. All Holders are sent a notice by Triniti Collateral Agent IX OÜ acting as the agent for Holders (the Agent). 

    The consents the Holders are requested to grant are the following:

    1. to amend the undertaking set out in Clause 13.3.1(b) of the Terms and Conditions in the following wording: the Debt Service Coverage Ratio of the Group (i) is above one point ten (1.10) until 31 December 2023 (inclusive), (ii) is above zero point eighty five (0.85) for the period of 1 January 2024 (inclusive) until 29 September 2024 (inclusive), (iii) is above zero point seventy five (0.75) for the period of 30 September 2024 (inclusive) until 30 June 2025 (inclusive), (iv) is above one point zero (1.00) for the period of 1 July 2025 (inclusive) until 30 September 2026 (inclusive), and (v) thereafter as of 1 October 2026 is above one point twenty (1.20);
    2. to amend the undertaking set out in Clause 12.4.1 and to stipulate an additional obligation for mandatory early redemption of the Bonds under Clause 12.4.1(c) of the Terms and Conditions concerning Bonds with a total nominal value of EUR 3,000,000 by 7 November 2025;
    3. to introduce an amendment fee to the Terms and Conditions payable by the Issuer to the Holders for granting consent to request no 1 as described above in total amount of EUR 95,000 (i.e., total amount payable to all Holders jointly) and payable within 10 business days as of the decision for the amendment of the Terms and Conditions.
    4. to introduce an amendment fee to the Terms and Conditions payable by the Issuer to the Holders for granting consent to request no 2 as described above in total amount of EUR 200,000 (i.e., total amount payable to all Holders jointly) and payable together with the completion of the additional mandatory early redemption (i.e., at or before 7 November 2025).

    Voting can be carried out by sending the filled-in voting form to the Agent by mail, courier or e-mail no later than 23:59 (EET) of 1 October 2024. The notice sent by the Agent along with the voting instructions, the voting form and template Power of Attorney are attached.

    For the quorum to be reached and the resolution taken the Holders representing at least 55% of the nominal amount of the Bonds should vote and Holders representing at least 2/3 of the nominal amount of the Bonds participating in the voting need to be in favour of the decision. Once a requisite majority of consents have been received by the Agent, the relevant decision shall be deemed to be adopted, even if the time period for replies has not yet expired. Information about the decision taken will be sent by notice to the Holders, published on the website of Baltic Horizon Fund and published by way of stock exchange release. If the request is approved by the Holders it will be binding on all Holders whether they participated in the voting or voted against the request or not, in accordance with Clause 16.12 of the Terms and Conditions.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Tarmo Karotam
    Baltic Horizon Fund manager
    E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com
    http://www.baltichorizon.com

    Baltic Horizon Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS. Both the Fund and the Management Company are supervised by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority.

    Distribution: Nasdaq, GlobeNewswire, http://www.baltichorizon.com

    To receive Nasdaq announcements and news from Baltic Horizon Fund about its projects, plans and more, register on http://www.baltichorizon.com. You can also follow Baltic Horizon Fund on http://www.baltichorizon.com and on LinkedIn, FacebookX and YouTube.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Sampo plc’s share buybacks 26 September 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sampo plc, stock exchange release, 27 September 2024 at 8:30 am EEST

    Sampo plc’s share buybacks 26 September 2024

    On 26 September 2024, Sampo plc (business code 0142213-3, LEI 743700UF3RL386WIDA22) has acquired its own A shares (ISIN code FI4000552500) as follows:                

    Sampo plc’s share buybacks Aggregated daily volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average price of the purchased shares* Market (MIC Code)
      4,680 41.97 AQEU        
      41,502 41.99 CEUX
      598 41.95 TQEX
      43,143 41.97 XHEL
    TOTAL 89,923 41.98  

    *rounded to two decimals                

    On 17 June 2024, Sampo announced a share buyback programme of up to a maximum of EUR 400 million in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052. On 16 September 2024, the Board of Directors of Sampo plc resolved to increase the share buyback programme to EUR 475 million. The programme, which started on 18 June 2024, is based on the authorisation granted by Sampo’s Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2024.

    After the disclosed transactions, the company owns in total 7,493,490 Sampo A shares representing 1.36 per cent of the total number of shares in Sampo plc, taking the issuance of shares on 16 September 2024 into account.

    Details of each transaction are included as an appendix of this announcement.

    On behalf of Sampo plc,
    Morgan Stanley

    For further information, please contact:

    Sami Taipalus
    Head of Investor Relations
    tel. +358 10 516 0030

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki
    Nasdaq Stockholm
    Nasdaq Copenhagen
    London Stock Exchange
    The principal media
    FIN-FSA
    DEN-FSA
    http://www.sampo.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Redefining the “Health or Wealth” Dilemma through HealthFi with Dynachain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Sept. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dynachain, a pioneer in the HealthFi space, is redefining the way we approach health and finance in daily lives, merging them into a single platform that motivates and incentivizes users for living healthier lives through exclusive financial rewards. With this innovative platform, Dynachain envisions a global community where personal wellness and financial prosperity are intertwined, allowing individuals to achieve both simultaneously. By emphasizing on improving well-being through actionable incentives, Dynachain is setting a new benchmark for aligning personal health goals with financial growth.

    At the heart of Dynachain’s platform lies its proprietary Proof of Wellness (PoW) economics, powering a range of innovative products within their ecosystem, including Drink2Earn, Sleep2Earn, and Wave2Earn, each designed to promote healthier behaviors while offering users financial incentives, creating a sustainable cycle of wellness and rewards. These products have gained significant traction over the past three years, with more than 20,000 devices sold globally, demonstrating the value these products bring to users by helping them achieve positive health outcomes alongside financial benefits.

    • Drink2Earn: Hydrate healthily and earn rewards with DC LIFE PROMAX, A Hydrogen Water Machine.
    • Sleep2Earn: Enhance your sleep quality with the DC REVIVE Smart Mattress , rewarding you for restful nights.
    • Wave2Earn: Rejuvenate and relax with the Ultra Long Wave Massage Device, DC WAVE, rewarding you for prioritizing wellness.

    Leading a New Era in Health with Dynachain

    Dynachain’s upcoming listing on MEXC slated for 28 September, is set to offer early participants an exclusive opportunity to secure tokens before the broader rollout. With only 2.1% of the total circulating supply available during TGE, token scarcity is expected to drive early demand for mass adoption as we progress towards the emerging HealthFi era. Early participants will gain access to Dynachain tokens, positioning themselves ahead of the curve as HealthFi continues to attract attention from both the health and finance sectors.

    Dynachain’s Power Boost Staking Program, with its staking period active from 29 September, 05:00:00 (UTC) to 4 October, 04:59:59 (UTC), offers a unique opportunity for users to maximize their returns through timely participation, especially since rewards are calculated by the second. To receive 100% of your potential staking rewards, staking must begin precisely at the start of the campaign. This five-day window is critical for participants looking to maximize their earnings, with daily rewards of 20% for early stakers.

    Stake Early to Join the HealthFi Movement

    To participate, users must first buy Dynachain tokens on MEXC and then access the staking platform via app.dynachain.io. The earlier you stake, the higher the rewards. For instance, staking 25 minutes after the campaign begins still allows users to earn 99.65% of the rewards, whereas waiting until 4 October significantly reduces the potential to 4.16%. With the campaign approaching a close, staked tokens will be made fully withdrawable, and accumulated rewards will follow a 600-day vesting schedule starting from 4 March 2025, encouraging long-term engagement amongst users with the Dynachain ecosystem.

    Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking movement where “health or wealth” is no longer a dilemma. Secure your part in the rapidly expanding HealthFi ecosystem by participating early in Dynachain’s Power Boost Staking Program to make sure you get the most from your investment. Be part of the HealthFi future — stake with Dynachain today!

    For media inquiries or further information, please visit the following:

    X: https://twitter.com/Dynachain

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynachain.official

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynachain.io/

    Telegram Community: https://t.me/+wuP60V8ojkBmN2Vl

    Telegram Announcement Channel: https://t.me/dynachaindc

    Media Contact:

    Name: Rayz

    Email: zc.ooi@dynachain.io

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by “Dynachain”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6823c2f5-737d-4b77-8338-eeeeeb304c44

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: The Open Art by Blum, TONX, and TON Society Draws 11,280+ Registered Attendees, Becoming the Largest Event of Token2049 Week

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Open Art, hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society and co-hosted by CoinGecko, All At Once, TonBit, and Google Cloud, attracted over 11,280 registered attendees—the highest number of registered attendees during Token2049 Week in Singapore. Held on September 19 at the National Gallery Singapore, one of the most prestigious venues in the country, the event saw thousands of people gathered to explore the latest innovations shaping the TON ecosystem.

    The event underscored the growing influence of the TON ecosystem with over 60 partners from across Web3 collaborating to showcase its potential through live discussions, keynotes, and networking sessions. Recognized as a driving force for Web3 mass adoption, the TON ecosystem continues to push the boundaries of innovation despite the market’s volatility.

    “We at TONX are deeply committed to fostering a culture of innovation within the TON ecosystem. By bringing together thousands of attendees across APAC and beyond, we’re not only pushing the boundaries of what’s possible but also highlighting the power of our SuperApp ecosystem and the new economy,” said Wego, Co-Founder of TONX.

    Attendees were treated to an immersive experience featuring The Open Art-themed event design and merchandise. Every detail was meticulously crafted to reflect the values the TON ecosystem stands for—freedom of expression, creativity, and innovation.

    “We’re proud to have hosted the largest side event at Token2049, setting another milestone for Blum,” said Vladimir Smerkis, CMO and Co-founder of Blum. “While we operate fully online, there’s a unique value of in-person gatherings. This time, unlike April when Blum launched, TON and Telegram were the clear focus, dominating conversations throughout the whole conference period. Sign of times.”

    The Open Art Main Stage Opening (TONX)

    35+ Web3 Leaders Share Visionary Insights on the Future of the TON Ecosystem
    The event began with the iconic TONX paper airplane ceremony led by Steve Yun, President of TON Foundation; Wego, Co-Founder of TONX; Gleb Kostarev, CEO of Blum; and Ekin Tuna, Co-Founder of TON Society.

    The main stage featured opening remarks from Gleb Kostarev, Co-Founder of Blum, followed by keynotes from Wego, Ekin Tuna, Leonard (Co-Founder of All At Once), Ian W. (Co-Founder of TON Ventures), and Eefy Lin (Web3 Solution Architect at Google Cloud). Paul Li, Co-Founder of TonBit, shared TON’s First CTF Challenge to the participants.

    One of the event’s highlights was a fireside chat between TM Lee, Co-Founder of CoinGecko, and Dr. Awesome Doge, Co-Founder of TONX, where they discussed the evolution and future of blockchain technology.

    Another key panel was the discussion between the Co-Founders of Blum, Catizen, TONX, and TON Society on both the opportunities and challenges within the TON ecosystem and the broader Web3 space. Main stage talks concluded with a special presentation by Sam from Jambo Phone.

    The Open Art Speaker Highlights (TONX)

    Side Stage Panels and Highlights
    The side stage kicked off with “TON Security Unveiled,” a critical discussion on security in the TON ecosystem, featuring Norbert (Global Growth at Nubit) and Luis (Co-Founder of TonBit), moderated by Maeveknows (Co-Founder of Pukecast).

    Following this was a fireside chat between Jakob Palmstierna (President & CBO of GSR) and Suji Yan (Co-Founder of Mask Network) was moderated by Andi (Growth Lead of BlockMedia).

    The program continued with a keynote by Lemon (Co-Founder of UTonic). Following this was the DeFi panel, “Harnessing the Power of DeFi on TON,” which brought together Ping Chen (Core Contributor at BeaverLand), Joshua (Head of Growth & Partnerships at Tradoor), Pang Xue Kai (Founder & CEO of ForU AI), and Keer Lau (CSO of Orbiter Finance). The panel speakers discussed how DeFi is being leveraged within the TON ecosystem.

    11,000+ people registered for The Open Art (TONX)

    The Open Art Interactive and VIP Experiences
    The Open Art offered attendees a variety of interactive experiences. Booths from participating partners showcased their projects and gave exciting surprises to attendees. The Open Art VIP attendees enjoyed exclusive fast-pass access, allowing them to skip the lines and engage directly with the Web3 community. VIP attendees also received limited-edition wearable art and tote bags inspired by the event’s theme of freedom of expression.

    Beyond the booths, the attendees enjoyed The Open Art’s dedicated game area where there were games such as an air hockey table and table football. Light snacks and beverages were also available throughout the event, allowing attendees to recharge in a casual setting.

    The Open Art Sponsors and Partners (TONX)

    The Open Art Event Sponsors and Partners
    The Open Art was made possible by the generous support of its partners. The event was hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society, with CoinGecko, All At Once, TonBit, and Google Cloud as co-hosts.

    The Gold Sponsors for the event included Catizen, Nubit, IoTeX, The Open Forest, CloudMile, ForuAI, OpenTorch, Tradoor, GGI, and UTonic. The Silver Sponsors were GSR, Yuliverse, Televerse, Beaverland, Orbiter Finance, Duckchain, Duckcoop, PrivateAI, TON Polling, Bitget Wallet, and Miss W.

    Key partnerships also included MPost as the Strategic Partner, MVL/TADA as the Trip Partner, and Jambo as the Phone Partner. The VC Partners for The Open Art were SNZ, Summer Ventures, TON Ventures, EVG, DFG, and JSquare.

     
    The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt by Blum and TONX (TONX)

    The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt by Blum and TONX
    The Open Art featured the exciting The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt (TOA ID), hosted by Blum and TONX. Participants get a chance to win up to 10,000 USDT by minting a TOA ID, creating a Blum account, and completing at least one quest from any of the 12 participating projects.

    Participating projects include: Blum, WONTON, All At Once, Yuliverse, QuackQuack, Tradoor, Beaverland, MVL Chain, JamboPhone, ForU AI, Ton AI, and DUCKS.

    The Open Art by Blum, TONX, and TON Society, has cemented its place as a defining event of Token2049 Week, bringing together over 11,000 registered attendees, 60+ partners, and 35+ industry leaders to share visionary insights on the future of the growing TON ecosystem.

    About The Open Art
    ​​The Open Art, hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society during Token2049, is an event where attendees get to immerse in a night where innovation meets freedom of expression. ​Set within the prestigious National Gallery Singapore, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in live discussions and gain exclusive insights into Blum, TONX, and TON Society initiatives.

    Event Page

    About TONX
    TONX is the cornerstone that empowers builders to scale applications with Telegram and TON. As the pioneering partner of TON, TONX offers an open platform that connects developers, investors, and users to shape the new economy. Their acclaimed TON Hacker House in 2024 fueled a wave of innovative Web3 projects. TONX API, a key product of TONX, is the driving force behind the 950 million-user Web3 SuperApp ecosystem.

    Website | X | Telegram | TONX Event X | TONX Event Telegram | TONX blog | Build on TONX API

    About Blum
    Blum is a decentralized exchange on Telegram and beyond, offering access to tokens from centralized and decentralized exchanges, along with simplified derivatives trading—all within one app. Specializing in trading memecoins and new tokens, Blum features a unique memepad for launching new meme-based projects and incorporates gamified mechanics to enhance user engagement. Just like a flower in bloom, Blum represents the potential and beauty in the world of crypto.

    Telegram | X | Instagram | Youtube

    About CoinGecko
    CoinGecko is the world’s largest independent cryptocurrency data aggregator, tracking 14,000+ crypto assets across 1,000+ exchanges globally. It provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of the market and empowers users with actionable insights.

    Website | X

    About ​All At Once
    All At Once is a next-gen Triple-A game on TON, inspired by Clash Royale. With over 600K players in one month and 50K+ daily active users, All At Once delivers an immersive and rewarding experience. As a Top 14 Finalist in the “TON Hackathon: Code Summer” at ABS 2024, it promises endless value beyond traditional card games.

    Website | Join Game | X

    About TonBit
    TonBit is an early builder and security expert in the TON ecosystem. Supported by TONX, it is dedicated to providing security audits for TON ecosystem. TonBit is a sub-brand of BitsLab.

    Website | Get the TON Security Report 2024 | X

    For press inquiries, please contact:
    CC Chen | hello@tonx.tg

    Company website : https://aao.game
    Contact person name: Jessica Chastain
    Position in the company: Founder
    Official email ID: jessica@aao.game

    Company website : blum.io
    Contact person name: Kristina Vorobeva
    Position in the company: Blum Press office
    Official email ID: kristina@sparrowpr.co

    Company website : http://www.bitslab.xyz
    Contact person name: Paul Li
    Position in the company: Co-founder & CSO
    Official email ID: contact@bitslab.xyz

    Company website : http://www.coingecko.com
    Contact person name:  Julia Ng
    Position in the company:  Growth Marketing & PR Lead
    Official email ID: julia.ng@coingecko.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by “TONX”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9d55c90-d4a6-440c-bb8d-a2d0fec2922e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/680c5ad2-896d-41c2-82a7-7f7105dd0c51

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2913ce2a-51df-4f8d-b7ed-fc9e383ccbef

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2507ad7-f073-4041-9548-72f4981f210a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/122f566c-769f-4bce-861e-c22a7c91164d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f188c925-0892-4cb2-ac51-847fd5ff6227

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Dryden Gold Presents at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dryden Gold Corp. [TSXV: DRY, OTCQB: DRYGF] (“Dryden Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by Virtual Investor Conferences on October 2nd, 2024.

    CEO, Trey Wasser will be giving a 20-minute corporate presentation followed by a short Q&A on October 2nd at 10:30am ET.

    The Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference is designed to provide investors a live, interactive platform to ask participating companies questions in real-time. A replay of the live webcast will be available for follow-up. Investors are encouraged to pre-register https://bit.ly/3z584tW.

    Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
    Time: 10:30am – 11am ET
    Presenter: Trey Wasser, CEO and Director

    Dryden Gold Corp. Highlights:

    • Dryden Gold’s fall drill program was designed to follow-up on the high-grade shoots discovered on the Elora and Big Master Gold Systems.
    • In the Phase 5 drill program, the Company drilled nine holes totalling approximately 1,600 meters. Visible gold was present in several holes. Assays are pending.
    • The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys collaborative relationships with First Nations communication and benefits from proximity to an experienced mining workforce.
    • Dryden Gold just upsized its current financing because of increased demand for its shares so their fall drill program is now fully funded.

    ABOUT VIRTUAL INVESTOR CONFERENCES®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP.
    Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (“DRY”) and on the OTCQB marketplace (“DRYGF”). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers and acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold’s property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys collaborative relationships with First Nations communities and benefits from proximity to an experienced mining workforce.

    For more information go to our website http://www.drydengold.com.

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    The information contained herein contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to : the acquisition of the Property, receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, issuance of common shares; future development plans; future acquisitions; exploration programs; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the acquisition of the Property; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company’s expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold’s and the Company’s disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward–looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold’s and the Company’s expectations or projections.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: EXL launches specialized Insurance Large Language Model (LLM) leveraging NVIDIA AI Enterprise

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EXL [NASDAQ: EXLS], a leading data analytics and digital operations and solutions company, announced the launch of the EXL Insurance LLM, an industry-specific LLM. Building on EXL’s recently announced initiative with NVIDIA AI Enterprise, the EXL Insurance LLM is the first industry-specific LLM created to support critical claims and underwriting-related tasks, such as claims reconciliation, data extraction and interpretation, question-answering, anomaly detection and chronology summarization.

    The EXL Insurance LLM was developed to address the highly specialized needs of the insurance industry, which has struggled to leverage off-the-shelf, general LLMs that lack fine-tuning of private insurance data and domain-specific understanding of business process operations. Generic LLMs also fail to address the nuanced challenges faced by insurance companies during claim adjudication, leading to inefficiencies, high indemnity costs, claims leakage, longer settlement timelines, and increased compliance risks. By focusing exclusively on insurance-related tasks, EXL has incorporated its deep knowledge of the insurance industry and highly tailored proprietary data to create the industry’s most accurate LLM.

    This level of specialization has become critical for ensuring accuracy, reducing cost and improving consistency in industry-specific AI applications. According to Gartner, more than 50% of the GenAI models that enterprises use will be specific to either an industry or business function by 2027 — up from approximately 1% in 2023. In internal studies, the EXL Insurance LLM achieved a 30% improvement in accuracy on insurance tasks, surpassing top pre-trained models, such as OpenAI GPT4, Claude and Gemini. It was built by EXL AI Labs using the full-stack NVIDIA AI platform.

    EXL customized the LLM using the NVIDIA NeMo™ end-to-end platform, part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise Software Platform, for training, customization, and deployment, and to handle question-and-answer tasks and summarization. The training process involved special adapters and was done through low-rank adaptation (LoRA) and supervised fine-tuning (SFT). It was tested on single and multi-node setups to optimize performance, utilizing advanced parallel processing methods using the NeMo framework on H100 GPUs. This approach was crucial for handling this extensive dataset.

    EXL used NVIDIA Triton Inference Server™ to maximize GPU power for single and multi-node setups. The system also includes retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with NIVDIA NeMo Retriever microservices to handle long documents for questions and answers. The EXL Insurance LLM utilizes NVIDIA Nemo Guardrails to better manage input and output, creating a smoother user experience.

    “With 25 years of expertise in processing medical records data for bodily injury, workers’ compensation, and general liability claims, EXL has developed curated data sets with domain-specific tagging, labeling, and question and answer pair creation for claims adjudication to fine-tune our models,” said Anand “Andy” Logani, EXL’s executive vice president and chief digital officer. “The EXL Insurance LLM offers 30% greater accuracy and 30% lower costs than generic LLMs while ensuring full regulatory compliance.”

    Specific tasks supported by the EXL Insurance LLM include the following:

    • Structured and Unstructured Data Ingestion: EXL Insurance LLM is able to aggregate and reconcile hundreds of thousands of de-identified medical records, claims histories, hand-written notes, call logs, and other claims and underwriting-related information.
    • Contextual Classification and Triaging: Data and insights extracted using the LLM are automatically categorized and fed into a wide range of core functions, ranging from claims adjudication to provider engagement to payment integrity to customer service functions.
    • Conversations and Insights from Data: Insights, question-answering and summary data drawn from the LLM empower faster, more accurate negotiations with providers, more robust assessment of anomalies and inaccurate payments and more personalized, real-time conversations with customers.

    The EXL Insurance LLM was developed by the EXL AI Labs, a dedicated team of AI and engineering specialists working across EXL’s Analytics and Digital and industry business units to accelerate the development of enterprise AI solutions. The EXL Insurance LLM will continue to evolve, expanding use cases across the insurance value chain, including underwriting, premium audit, subrogation, and finance. The comprehensive domain expertise within the LLM will integrate insights from all value chain components, further enhancing its precision and applicability.

    For more information about the EXL LLM for Insurance, please visit here. To learn more about EXL’s NVIDIA partnership, please visit here.

    About EXL

    EXL (Nasdaq: EXLS) is a leading data analytics and digital operations and solutions company. We partner with clients using a data and AI-led approach to reinvent business models, drive better business outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, analytics, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform operations for the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media and retail, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have more than 55,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit  http://www.exlservice.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management’s experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL’s actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to maintain and grow client demand, our ability to hire and retain sufficiently trained employees, and our ability to accurately estimate and/or manage costs, rising interest rates, rising inflation and recessionary economic trends, are discussed in more detail in EXL’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws.

    © 2024 ExlService Holdings, Inc.  All rights reserved. For more information go to http://www.exlservice.com/legal-disclaimer

    Contacts
    Media
    Keith Little
    +1 703-598-0980
    media.relations@exlservice.com

    Investor Relations
    John Kristoff
    +1 212 209 4613
    IR@exlservice.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Phenom Resources Corp. to Present at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference October 2nd

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Phenom Resources Corp. (TSX-V: PHNM) (OTCQX®: PHNMF) (FSE: 1PY0) (“Phenom” or the “Company”), focused on gold and vanadium in Nevada, today announced that Paul Cowley, President & CEO, will present live at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 2nd, 2024.

    DATE: October 2nd
    TIME: 10:30am EST
    LINK: https://bit.ly/3z584tW
    Available for 1×1 meetings

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.  

    Learn more about the event at http://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com

    Recent Company Highlights

    • Phenom to Drill Crescent Valley Gold Project in October
    • Phenom Reports Strong Gold Results from its Dobbin Gold Project, Nevada
    • Phenom Shares Historic Drill Results from its King Solomon Gold Project, Nevada

    About Phenom Resources Corp.
    Phenom has 100% interest in the Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project, located in Elko County, 6 miles south from the town of Carlin, Nevada and Highway I-80 which hosts the Carlin Vanadium deposit, North America’s largest highest grade primary vanadium resource. The Project lies within the prolific Carlin Gold Trend. Approximately 9 million ounces comprised of multiple gold deposits, including past producing mines, are present near the Phenom property (5-15km). The Company has options on three gold projects in Nevada, the King Solomon and Dobbin Properties which are Carlin Gold-type targets and the Crescent Valley Property, a Bonanza high grade gold vein-type target.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:
    Phenom Resources Corp.
    Paul Cowley
    CEO & President
    (604) 340-7711
    pcowley@phenomresources.com         http://www.phenomresources.com

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Serabi Gold Plc to Present at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference October 1st

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Serabi Gold Plc (AIM: SRB, TSX:SBI, OTCQX:SRBIF), based in London with Brazilian operations, focused on gold mining and development, today announced that Mike Hodgson, Chief Executive Officer, will present live at the Battery and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 1st 2024.

    DATE: October 1st
    TIME: 12:00 PM ET
    LINK: https://bit.ly/3z584tW
    Available for 1×1 meetings: October 1, 2, 3

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

    Learn more about the event at http://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    About Serabi Gold Plc

    Serabi Gold plc is a gold exploration and production company involved in the evaluation and development of gold deposits in Brazil. The company’s primary interests are its 100% owned Palito Mining Complex and the Coringa Gold Project, both located in the Tapajos region of northern Brazil. The Company has been producing gold since continuously since 2013 and planned production of 38,000-40,000 ounces for 2024 is projected to be expanded to an annual rate of over 60,000 ounces over the coming two years. The Tapajos region, which encompasses an area of about 100,000 square kilometres (350 km by 300 km) in southwest Para State, Brazil, is located approximately 1,300 km southwest from the state capital, Belem. Artisanal miners (“garimpeiros”) are understood to have extracted up to 30 million ounces of gold there since the 1970s, mostly from alluvial and surface weathered bedrock deposits representing generally only the top 20 to 30 metres. It is reported to be the world’s third largest alluvial gold field and the Company believes that the region, with significant mineral potential below the artisanal operation, is a major, under-explored mineral province.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:
    Serabi Gold
    Jonathan Paterson
    IR
    +1 475 477 9401
    Jonathan.Paterson@Harbor-Access.com

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Top Electrical Distributor Expands License with Bridgeline’s AI-Powered HawkSearch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WOBURN, Mass., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLIN), a leader in AI-powered marketing technology, today announced that a top 10 U.S. electrical distributor has expanded its license with Bridgeline’s HawkSearch to enhance its Salesforce B2B Commerce experience.

    HawkSearch will support over 740 profit centers, improving the distributor’s product discovery with the Unit of Measure Conversion feature, while providing additional hosting services to address growing traffic demands. With Unit of Measure Conversion, a customer searching for cable sold in feet or meters will receive consistent results no matter which unit is used, streamlining the product search and purchase process. In addition, due to the rapid growth the distributor has experienced, they have invested in additional hosting services to handle the increased traffic demand. With our innovative solutions, the distributor can manage its expanding network of profit centers and increased traffic.

    HawkSearch has developed these Unit of Measure features, along with other B2B-focused solutions, to specifically meet the complex needs of industries like manufacturing and distribution, demonstrating its commitment to driving growth for customers such as Trident Enterprises, Filters Fast, and Grizzly Industrial.

    “Our solutions help businesses overcome challenges like managing dimensional products and scaling infrastructure for growth,” said Ari Kahn, CEO of Bridgeline. “With HawkSearch’s advanced features and scalable hosting, this distributor is positioned for continued operational efficiency and sales growth.”

    About Bridgeline Digital

    Bridgeline helps companies grow revenue by increasing traffic, conversion rates, and average order value through AI-powered solutions. To learn more, visit http://www.bridgeline.com.

    Contact:

    Danielle Colvin

    SVP of Marketing

    Bridgeline Digital

    press@bridgeline.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ConnectM Eliminates $13.7 Million Debt

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ~ Completed Conversions of $6.2 Million Debt-to-Equity in Second Tranche ~

    MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTM) (“ConnectM” or the “Company”), a technology company focused on the electrification economy, today announced the Company has completed its second tranche of a debt-to-equity swap by converting an additional $6.2 million of the Company’s outstanding debt to common equity at $2.00 per share, bringing the current total to $13.7 million. This debt-to-equity swap is part of a series of actions to deleverage the balance sheet.

    With the total conversions the Company has:

    • achieved 90% of $15 million target within 30 days of the Board approved plan;
    • prioritized balance sheet optimization in immediate action following public listing;
    • deleveraged its balance sheet, removing $13.7 million in debt;
    • reduced annual interest expense by more than $2 million, thereby increasing Free Cash Flow to invest in operations to grow revenue and profitability; and
    • improved its credit profile.

    Today’s announcement follows the previously announced approval from the Company’s Board of Directors and follows the previously announced initial tranche of $7.5 million debt-to-equity conversion.

    About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.

    ConnectM is at the forefront of advancing the electrification economy, integrating electrified energy assets with its AI-driven technology solutions platform. Serving residential and light commercial buildings, as well as all-electric original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), ConnectM’s proprietary platform accelerates the transition to solar and all-electric heating, cooling, and transportation. By leveraging technology, data, artificial intelligence, contemporary design, and behavioral economics, ConnectM aims to make electrification more user-friendly, affordable, precise, and socially impactful. The company’s vertically integrated approach includes wholly-owned service networks and a comprehensive technology stack, enabling customers to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy costs, and minimize their carbon footprint. ConnectM is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.connectm.com/

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding our future financial performance and our strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.

    In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this press release are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2024. Such filing identifies and addresses other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ConnectM is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contact:

    MZ North America

    (203) 741-8811

    ConnectM@mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Western Investment Company Announces Upsize in Private Placement to $25 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited (TSXV: WI) (“Western” or the “Corporation“), today announced that, further to Western’s August 30, 2024 news release, the Corporation has decided to increase the maximum offering for its proposed private placement of Units (the “Private Placement“) to $25 million, with an additional $5 million over-allotment at Western’s option, for potential aggregate gross proceeds of up to $30 million. The Private Placement will close at the conclusion of the rights offering that was outlined in Western’s August 30, 2024 news release, which is expected to occur in late November.

    “We have received substantially more interest than we expected and that we are able to allocate,” said Scott Tannas, President and CEO of Western. “As a result, we have decided to upsize the private placement from $10 million to $20 million ($25 million including Tevir’s $5 million commitment), with a potential additional $5 million over-allotment, to bring as many long-term shareholders into this opportunity as possible.”

    The Private Placement
    Western plans to raise up to $25 million through a private placement financing to accredited investors of up to 62,500,000 units (each a “Unit“) at a price of $0.40 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Corporation (“Common Share“) and one warrant to purchase a Common Share (“Warrant“), with each Warrant exercisable to purchase one additional Common Share for a period of five (5) years from the date of closing at an exercise price of $0.47. The Private Placement will also contain an over-allotment option for up to additional 12,500,000 Units issuable at $0.40 per Unit upon the same terms. Western may engage one or more brokers to act as agent for the Private Placement. The Private Placement is subject to approval of the TSXV.

    Use of Proceeds
    Further to Western’s August 30, 2024 news release, the Corporation plans to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to fund working capital and provide funds for acquisitions. A portion of the proceeds may be used to pay the cash portion for the purchase of additional shares in Fortress Insurance Company.

    Other Transactions
    Readers should refer to Western’s August 30, 2024 news release for details regarding additional transactions of Western, including a planned rights offering by Western to its shareholders.

    About The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited
    Western is a unique publicly traded, private equity company founded by a group of successful Western Canadian businesspeople, and dedicated to building and maintaining ownership in successful Western Canadian companies, and helping them to grow. Western’s shares are traded on the Exchange under the symbol WI.

    For more information on Western, please visit its website at http://www.winv.ca.

    To add yourself to our email news alert subscription please visit this link.

    CONTACT INFORMATION – The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited

    Scott Tannas President and Chief Executive Officer (403) 652-0408 or stannas@winv.ca  

    Advisories

    The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transactions and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

    This document contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this document contains statements concerning: the completion of and the use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

    The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Western, including expectations and assumptions concerning the ability of Western to successfully implement its strategic plans and initiatives, the timing of receipt of required regulatory approvals (including TSXV approval) and third party consents and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the Private Placement.

    Readers should also refer to the forward-looking statements and associated assumptions and risk factors contained in Western’s August 30, 2024 news release regarding the Private Placement and the other transactions referred to therein. The transactions referred to in Western’s August 30, 2024 news release (including the planned rights offering) remain subject to TSXV approval.

    Although Western believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements made by Western are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because no assurance can be provided that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks that required TSXV, regulatory and third party approvals and consents are not obtained on terms satisfactory to the parties within the timelines provided for, or at all, and risks that other conditions to the completion of the Private Placement are not satisfied on the required timelines or at all, the ability of management to execute its business strategy, and the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and the United States. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Western’s disclosure documents on the SEDAR+ website at http://www.sedarplus.ca.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Western undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

    This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Warrants and underlying Common Shares and the Common Shares being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the 1933 Act or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: GGI, co-founded by MixMarvel and Yeeha! Games, forges Strategic Partnership with ArkForge to Revolutionize Web3 Gaming

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Galaxy Girl Interactive (GGI), a web3 group co-founded by MixMarvel and Yeeha! Games, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with ArkForge, a groudbreaking move that signifies the fusion of traditional gaming with the cutting-edge world of Web3 games. This exciting collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the gaming industry, where the best of Web2 and Web3 come together to create a truly immersive and engaging experience for players worldwide.

    GGI is a leading Web3 gaming group based in Singapore. Born from MixMarvel and Yeeha Games’ collaboration, it is all about fun and possibility, like exploring a galaxy. Our motto ‘Play Together Create Together’ perfectly matches the idea of forming communities, or ‘Galaxies’, where players share experiences and benefits. As we expand, this community will become a powerful force, shaping the Web3 gaming world and beyond. GGI serves as the definitive gateway to gaming for builders and mass players with cutting-edge infrastructure, platform and top-tier investment, incubation, and publishing services.

    ArkForge, renowned for its expertise in Web 2.0 gaming and full-suite marketing and publishing services, has been a dominant force in the Web2 space since its founding in 2017. With a strong presence in markets across Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Europe, and the U.S., ArkForge has established itself as a leading player in the industry. Moreover, ArkForge’s unwavering commitment to Esports and its vibrant global community of passionate gamers, has demonstrated remarkable engagement and growth over the past years. Beyond Esports, ArkForge’s platform has connected gamers from diverse regions, fostering a community of dreamers known as Raiders. Through captivating exhibitions and community events, ArkForge has rapidly expanded its reach across the globe, solidifying its position as a key player in the gaming industry.

    Meanwhile, GGI has been empowering growth in Web3 gaming, leading the movement in pioneering innovation and excellence within the decentralized web. As the leading Web3 group serving as the definitive gateway to gaming for builders and players, GGI has a proven track record of delivering high-quality titles celebrated by communities worldwide. MetaCene, the highly anticipated MMORPG incubated and published by GGI, has garnered over 100,000 players at its ongoing Gold Rush playtest on Mantle. GGI’s upcoming publishing lineup includes 7 Telegram mini-games, 5 large-scale midcore games, and 10 indie studios, showcasing its expertise in selecting and optimizing diverse, high-potential projects across genres. GGI collaborates closely with seasoned APAC game developers and content creators, providing modular infrastructure and tailored go-to-market support, co-creating IPs that transcend ecosystems and attract mass audiences. By combining forces with ArkForge, GGI aims to create a more inclusive and dynamic gaming ecosystem that spans both Web2 and Web3.

    This partnership holds great promise for GGI. It is positioned to drive innovation and enhance the gaming experience for players by combining the strengths of both Web2 brought by ArkForge and Web3 technologies and insights from GGI. This will be achieved by utilizing ArkForge’s extensive experience in Esports, Influencer Marketing, Exhibitions, and Community Events, along with GGI’s expertise in Content Incubation, Gaming Distribution and Publishing, and Web3 Infrastructure.

    “We believe that this partnership represents a significant step forward in the evolution of gaming,” said Nancy, CEO of Yeeha! Games, the co-founder of GGI. “By harnessing the strengths of both Web2 and Web3, we aim to create a more vibrant and inclusive gaming ecosystem that benefits players, developers, and the industry as a whole.”

    While recognizing the challenges ahead, GGI and ArkForge are resolute in their commitment to progress, understanding that the fusion of traditional gaming and Web3 technology will yield remarkable outcomes for all stakeholders. Together, they eagerly anticipate the ongoing evolution of the gaming industry on Web3 and extend a warm invitation to gaming enthusiasts to join them in this exhilarating new chapter.

    About GGI
    GGI, the leading Web3 group co-founded by MixMarvel and Yeeha! Games, serving as the definitive gateway to gaming for builders and mass players with cutting-edge infrastructure, platform and top-tier investment, incubation, and publishing services.

    Affiliated Brands:
    •️ MixMarvel
    •️ ️Yeeha
    ️•️ Rangers Protocol

    GGI Pillar Services:
    •️ Investment
    •️ Content Incubation
    •️ Game Publishing & Distribution Platform
    •️ Infrastructure

    Contact Details:
    Connie Wu
    Marketing Manager
    connie.w@yeehagames.com

    Fay Ying, Co-Founder
    fay@arkforge.gg

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Yeehagames. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d0cd4af-4e03-459a-9dd7-fb16cf1ce046

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31188fb3-c040-4e79-8b07-504abb2663c3

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: DTE Energy breaks ground on three new solar parks, all funded by company’s MIGreenPower program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Detroit, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), Michigan’s largest producer of and investor in renewable energy, today announced that it has broken ground on three new solar parks in the last four months, in response to growing customer support for clean, renewable energy. The Fish Creek and Mission Road solar parks, located in mid-Michigan, and the Little Trout Solar Park, located in northern Michigan, are all funded by customers who voluntarily enrolled in DTE’s CleanVision MIGreenPower program.

    In addition to the three solar parks referenced above, three other solar parks funded through MIGreenPower are currently under construction. Together, all six developments will add 800 megawatts to DTE’s renewable energy portfolio, enough to power more than 220,000 homes. These solar developments are yet another step toward the company’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions and reaching Michigan’s new renewable energy standard of 60% by 2035.

    “It’s an exciting time for DTE’s clean energy journey as we continue to make industry-leading advancements in our renewable energy portfolio and overall sustainability goals,” said Joe Musallam, vice president, renewable energy development, DTE Energy. “We’ll continue to build on this momentum with additional renewable energy developments in the coming years, so we not only meet Michigan’s aggressive renewable energy standard but also deliver on our commitment to a cleaner future for our customers, our communities and our state.”

    DTE already generates enough clean energy from wind and solar to power more than 750,000 homes and plans to power approximately 5.5 million homes with renewable energy by 2042. MIGreenPower is helping accelerate this clean energy transition, as DTE plans to add more than 2,400 megawatts of new wind and solar energy to support enrolled customers in the coming years. This demand for clean energy comes from nearly 100,000 residential and 1,900 business customers who are using MIGreenPower to reduce their environmental impact and meet key sustainability goals.

    “We recently enrolled in MIGreenPower to help meet our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035,” said Denise Carlson, vice president of DENSO’s North America Production Innovation Center and leader of the Sustainability Promotion Department. “We’re proud that our participation not only makes operations cleaner at our enrolled facilities, but also supports future wind and solar park developments, enhancing clean energy access across Michigan.”

    DTE’s investment in renewable energy is delivering cleaner energy to customers while strengthening Michigan’s economy. Since 2009, the company’s renewable energy developments have created an estimated 20,000 local jobs. Additionally, communities that host DTE’s wind and solar parks receive millions of dollars in added tax revenue over years of operation, funding used for roads, schools, first responders and other vital community services. DTE is proud to play a role in helping Michigan communities thrive as the company works to create a more sustainable future for all.

    About DTE Energy
    DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers across Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes energy businesses focused on custom energy solutions, renewable energy generation, and energy marketing and trading. DTE has continued to accelerate its carbon reduction goals to meet aggressive targets and is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy, emission reductions and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.comempoweringmichigan.comx.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bitwave Expands Account-Level Tracking, Enables Enterprise Compliance Before IRS Deadline

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitwave, the leading enterprise finance platform for digital assets, is excited to announce an important platform update, expanding its powerful segregated inventory tracking capability to all customers as part of the core service offering.

    With this update, every Bitwave customer can now benefit from account-specific cost basis tracking, ensuring compliance with the latest IRS rules without any added cost or system changes.

    With the release of final IRS regulations (T.D. 10000), the long-standing “universal wallet accounting” standard will sunset, significantly shifting how many businesses manage and report digital assets across multiple self-custody wallets and addresses. Starting Jan 1, 2025, the cost basis of digital assets must be individually tracked for each account (like a wallet or exchange).

    Bitwave’s account-level cost basis tracking function has long been an essential part of the platform for businesses managing digital assets. Previously available as part of the Bitwave Advanced Accounting module, this powerful feature is now included in the Bitwave Core offering for all customers.

    “At Bitwave, we’ve always prioritized giving our customers the tools they need to stay ahead of regulatory changes,” said Bitwave CEO and Co-Founder Pat White.

    “Our account-level tracking feature has been a key part of our platform for years, and we’re excited to make this functionality available to all customers to make compliance simple and secure.”

    Key benefits of the product change include:

    • Seamless Compliance: Businesses can now track cost basis by individual wallet, ensuring full compliance with the IRS’s new digital asset reporting regulations.
    • Feature Now Available to All: Wallet-by-wallet tracking, which has always been a part of the Bitwave platform, is now included in the Bitwave Core service, giving all customers access to this critical functionality.
    • Effortless Implementation: Existing Bitwave users can immediately take advantage of this feature, ensuring compliance with no additional costs or system upgrades.

    As regulatory guidance for digital assets evolves, Bitwave remains at the forefront with innovative tools that enable businesses to operate with confidence.

    This latest update demonstrates Bitwave’s commitment to empowering its customers with cutting-edge solutions for digital asset tax tracking, accounting, and regulatory compliance.

    About Bitwave

    Bitwave is the #1 digital asset sub-ledger and on-chain finance platform. Built for enterprises and institutions, Bitwave delivers the reliability, security, and control demanded by today’s leading finance teams.

    Bitwave automates on-chain accounting workflows, streamlines regulatory compliance, and simplifies tax reporting complexity with a comprehensive, audit-ready platform. Trusted by Fortune 100 companies and pioneering crypto-native projects alike, Bitwave enables the digital asset economy with scalable financial operations.

    For more information, visit bitwave.io.

    Contact

    Kaleb Leija
    Director of Marketing
    Bitwave
    kaleb.leija@bitwave.io

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e84a9a4b-4c9e-42c1-80de-6c8d22bbb4ef

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Monarch Private Capital Closes on Tax Equity Financing for Affordable Housing and Historic Rehabilitation of 1904 Farnam in Omaha, Nebraska

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is pleased to announce the closing of tax equity financing for the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of 1904 Farnam, a major redevelopment project located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The $25 million development, spearheaded by Clarity Development, will transform the historic building into 54 studio and one-bedroom units, providing much-needed affordable housing for the community. The financing includes Nebraska Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) as well as State Historic Tax Credits (HTCs), making it a powerful tool for community revitalization.

    The 1904 Farnam project will offer affordable housing options to tenants earning 40%, 50%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). All units will be located in a seven-story, elevator-serviced building with ground-floor commercial space, designed to support the local economy and meet community needs. The development is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

    Originally constructed in 1927 as The Union State Bank building, 1904 Farnam is a significant part of Omaha’s architectural and economic history. The building, which exemplifies early Art Deco design, reflects the spirit of modernity that characterized the 1920s and 1930s. Situated in the heart of Omaha, it has long been a landmark of the city’s growth and development. Of note, the building is located directly across the street from Omaha’s City Hall and the District Courthouse; furthermore, Omaha’s streetcar main route from Downtown to Midtown Omaha will run down Farnam Street.

    “Being part of a development that benefits the community in such a meaningful way is a privilege,” said Rick Chukas, Partner and Managing Director of Historic Tax Credits at Monarch Private Capital. “This project not only preserves a piece of Omaha’s history but also addresses the critical need for affordable housing in the downtown area. We are proud to support developments that have a positive impact on communities.”

    “The 1904 Farnam project is a great example of how LIHTC financing can be used to create affordable housing in areas that need it most,” said Steve LeClere, Partner, LIHTC at Monarch Private Capital. “With the help of Nebraska LIHTCs, we’re able to transform a historic building into modern, affordable housing while preserving the character and history of Omaha.”

    The redevelopment of the Farnam Building continues its legacy as an integral part of the downtown business community, while providing much-needed affordable housing in Omaha. Monarch Private Capital’s involvement underscores its commitment to community impact and sustainable development.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital and its investment initiatives, please visit http://www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b1343b0-2a34-4a27-ad7b-64b884c626ef

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