Category: Technology

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: What is personalized pricing, and how do I avoid it?

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor Questrom School of Business, Boston University

    Recently, Delta Air Lines announced it would expand its use of artificial intelligence to provide individualized prices to customers. This move sparked concern among flyers and politicians. But Delta isn’t the only business interested in using AI this way. Personalized pricing has already spread across a range of industries, from finance to online gaming.

    Customized pricing – where each customer receives a different price for the same product – is a holy grail for businesses because it boosts profits. With customized pricing, free-spending people pay more while the price-sensitive pay less. Just as clothes can be tailored to each person, custom pricing fits each person’s ability and desire to pay.

    I am a professor who teaches business school students how to set prices. My latest book, “The Power of Cash: Why Using Paper Money is Good for You and Society,” highlights problems with custom pricing. Specifically, I’m worried that AI pricing models lack transparency and could unfairly take advantage of financially unsophisticated people.

    The history of custom pricing

    For much of history, customized pricing was the normal way things happened. In the past, business owners sized up each customer and then bargained face-to-face. The price paid depended on the buyer’s and seller’s bargaining skills – and desperation.

    An old joke illustrates this process. Once, a very rich man was riding in his carriage at breakfast time. Hungry, he told his driver to stop at the next restaurant. He went inside, ordered some eggs and asked for the bill. When the owner handed him the check, the rich man was shocked at the price. “Are eggs rare in this neighborhood?” he asked. “No,” the owner said. “Eggs are plentiful, but very rich men are quite rare.”

    Custom pricing through bargaining still exists in some industries. For example, car dealerships often negotiate a different price for each vehicle they sell. Economists refer to this as “first-degree” or “perfect” price discrimination, which is “perfect” from the seller’s perspective because it allows them to charge each customer the maximum amount they’re willing to pay.

    Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia was a pricing pioneer.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Currently, most American shoppers don’t bargain but instead see set prices. Many scholars trace the rise of set prices to John Wanamaker’s Philadelphia department store, which opened in 1876. In his store, each item had a nonnegotiable price tag. These set prices made it simpler for customers to shop and became very popular.

    Why uniform pricing caught on

    Set prices have several advantages for businesses. For one thing, they allow stores to hire low-paid retail workers instead of employees who are experts in negotiation.

    Historically, they also made it easier for stores to decide how much to charge. Before the advent of AI pricing, many companies determined prices using a “cost-plus” rule. Cost-plus means a business adds a fixed percentage or markup to an item’s cost. The markup is the percentage added to a product’s cost that covers a company’s profits and overhead.

    The big-box retailer Costco still uses this rule. It determines prices by adding a roughly 15% maximum markup to each item on the warehouse floor. If something costs Costco $100, they sell it for about $115.

    The problem with cost-plus is that it treats all items the same. For example, Costco sells wine in many stores. People buying expensive Champagne typically are willing to pay a much higher markup than customers purchasing inexpensive boxed wine. Using AI gets around this problem by letting a computer determine the optimal markup item by item.

    What personalized pricing means for shoppers

    AI needs a lot of data to operate effectively. The shift from cash to electronic payments has enabled businesses to collect what’s been called a “gold mine” of information. For example, Mastercard says its data lets companies “determine optimal pricing strategies.”

    So much information is collected when you pay electronically that in 2024 the Federal Trade Commission issued civil subpoenas to Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase and other financial companies demanding to know “how artificial intelligence and other technological tools may allow companies to vary prices using data they collect about individual consumers’ finances and shopping habits.” Experiments at the FTC show that AI programs can even collude among themselves to raise prices without human intervention.

    To prevent customized pricing, some states have laws requiring retailers to display a single price for each product for sale. Even with these laws, it’s simple to do custom pricing by using targeted digital coupons, which vary each shopper’s discount.

    How you can outsmart AI pricing

    There are ways to get around customized pricing. All depend on denying AI programs data on past purchases and knowledge of who you are. First, when shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, use paper money. Yes, good old-fashioned cash is private and leaves no data trail that follows you online.

    Second, once online, clear your cache. Your search history and cookies provide algorithms with extensive amounts of information. Many articles say the protective power of clearing your cache is an urban myth. However, this information was based on how airlines used to price tickets. Recent analysis by the FTC shows the newest AI algorithms are changing prices based on this cached information.

    Third, many computer pricing algorithms look at your location, since location is a good proxy for income. I was once in Botswana and needed to buy a plane ticket. The price on my computer was about $200. Unfortunately, before booking I was called away to dinner. After dinner my computer showed the cost was $1,000 − five times higher. It turned out after dinner I used my university’s VPN, which told the airline I was located in a rich American neighborhood. Before dinner I was located in a poor African town. Shutting off the VPN reduced the price.

    Last, often to get a better price in face-to-face negotiations, you need to walk away. To do this online, put something in your basket and then wait before hitting purchase. I recently bought eyeglasses online. As a cash payer, I didn’t have my credit card handy. It took five minutes to find it, and the delay caused the site to offer a large discount to complete the purchase.

    The computer revolution has created the ability to create custom products cheaply. The cashless society combined with AI is setting us up for customized prices. In a custom-pricing situation, seeing a high price doesn’t mean something is higher quality. Instead, a high price simply means a business views the customer as willing to part with more money.

    Using cash more often can help defeat custom pricing. In my view, however, rapid advances in AI mean we need to start talking now about how prices are determined, before customized pricing takes over completely.

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

    ref. What is personalized pricing, and how do I avoid it? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-personalized-pricing-and-how-do-i-avoid-it-262195

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Arctic Pablo Coin Presale Roars Past $3.16M as Final Countdown Begins: 16k% Gains Projected

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Arctic Pablo Coin ($APC) presale has entered its 34th stage, breaking past $3.16 million raised and delivering early investors a jaw-dropping 4,033% ROI. With only two stages left before the presale ends, urgency is at an all-time high as analysts project potential 16,029% gains if the coin hits its long-term target of $0.10. For those searching for the top crypto presale to join now, the window to act is closing fast.

    A Meme Coin With Teeth, Not Just Talk

    Arctic Pablo Coin started as a meme coin with a story, but it has evolved into a full-blown crypto ecosystem. Unlike countless meme projects that rely solely on hype, $APC blends viral appeal with a deflationary token model, staking rewards, and community-driven governance. The project has burned millions of tokens, building scarcity while keeping long-term holders hungry for more.

    The narrative? Arctic Pablo is an adventurer exploring icy blockchain frontiers, and its followers are along for the treasure hunt. That kind of branding, paired with robust tokenomics, explains why Arctic Pablo has become a top crypto presale to join now as it inches toward the finish line.

    Tokenomics That Bite Into Supply

    The Arctic Pablo Coin presale isn’t just raising funds—it’s reshaping supply and demand dynamics. Weekly token burns eliminate unsold tokens, permanently reducing supply and creating upward pressure on price. Staking rewards offer a 66% APY for early supporters, while liquidity is locked to prevent rug pulls and maintain investor trust.

    At Stage 34’s presale price of $0.00062, early buyers are positioned to see 1,190% gains at launch when APC lists at $0.008, with long-term projections eyeing 16,029%. That kind of growth potential has catapulted APC into conversations as one of the top crypto presales to join now, giving retail investors a rare early-access opportunity.

    Presale Mechanics That Reward Early Action

    Each stage of the presale runs for one week, with automatic price increases when stages unlock. That means every delay in buying costs investors both tokens and potential ROI. With Stage 34 already live and Stage 35 on deck, the presale is only two steps from its conclusion. Early birds are stacking tokens while they’re still cheap because, in crypto, hesitation often equals regret.

    This staged model is what has helped APC raise $3.16 million and counting, even as meme coin markets become increasingly crowded. The numbers speak for themselves: this isn’t just another presale; it’s one structured to reward speed and conviction.

    Community Energy That Can’t Be Ignored

    Arctic Pablo Coin has built one of the most engaged meme coin communities in 2025, spreading its arctic-themed adventure narrative across Twitter, Telegram, Discord, and beyond. Investors are sharing memes, price predictions, and presale milestones in real time, fueling a grassroots movement that’s helping drive momentum.

    This organic hype is why Arctic Pablo has gained a reputation as one of the top crypto presales to join now. Unlike corporate-driven projects, this is a community-powered movement—a critical factor in meme coin success stories.

    The Final Call Before the Snowball Rolls

    With only two stages left and billions of tokens already burned, Arctic Pablo Coin presale is entering its endgame. The presale price of $0.00062 offers a direct path to 1,190% ROI at launch—with much more upside if long-term predictions hold. For those still sitting on the fence, the clock is ticking.

    If history has shown anything, meme coins with this kind of narrative power, deflationary supply, and community backing often become market movers. Arctic Pablo is proving to be no different. For investors seeking the top crypto presale to join now, this is a chance to jump on before the snowball becomes an avalanche.

    For More Information:

    Arctic Pablo Coin: https://www.arcticpablo.com/ 

    Telegram: https://t.me/ArcticPabloOfficial 

    Twitter: https://x.com/arcticpabloHQ 

    About Arctic Pablo Coin

    Arctic Pablo Coin ($APC) is a blockchain-based meme coin designed to combine digital storytelling, decentralized finance, and community governance. Built on deflationary tokenomics, NFT integration, and staking incentives, APC aims to evolve meme culture into a functional crypto ecosystem.

    Contact:
    Team@arcticpablo.com

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

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: 2X acquires Outbound Funnel, expanding comprehensive RevOps and AI-powered go-to-market technology services leadership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MALVERN, Pa., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 2X, the leader in subscription-based go-to-market services, today announced the acquisition of Outbound Funnel, a premier revenue operations consultancy specializing in AI-powered sales engagement and revenue intelligence platforms across the modern GTM technology stack. As the longest-standing partner for leading platforms including Gong, Outreach, SalesLoft, and 6sense, Outbound Funnel brings unparalleled expertise in implementation, optimization, and managed services. This strategic acquisition significantly expands 2X’s revenue operations capabilities and reinforces its position as the definitive subscription-based services partner for comprehensive GTM transformation.

    The acquisition brings together complementary expertise spanning the entire GTM technology ecosystem. Outbound Funnel has established itself as the first and longest-standing implementation partner across multiple sales engagement platforms, with over 800 Outreach implementations, 600+ Gong deployments, and hundreds of SalesLoft implementations. The company’s deep cross-platform expertise enables complex migrations and integrations, including transformative projects like consolidating eight separate instances into a unified system for enterprise clients like Intercom, Siemens, Affirm, Asana, and Expensify.

    Expanding Revenue Operations Excellence

    This acquisition builds on 2X’s strategic investments in revenue operations, including the recent acquisition of Intelligent Demand, which brought best-in-class RevOps capabilities to the 2X portfolio. Together, these acquisitions position 2X as the definitive partner for organizations seeking comprehensive revenue operations advisory and managed services.

    “Revenue operations has become the strategic backbone of modern GTM organizations, and AI-powered sales engagement platforms are transforming how these teams operate,” said Dom Colasante, CEO of 2X. “Outbound Funnel’s position as the first and longest-standing partner across leading sales engagement platforms, combined with their expertise in AI-driven revenue intelligence and complex platform migrations, makes them the ideal addition to our comprehensive GTM services portfolio. Together, we’re delivering the full spectrum of technology implementation and managed services that revenue leaders need.”

    AI-Powered GTM Technology Leadership

    Outbound Funnel operates at the center of the AI-powered sales engagement ecosystem, with deep expertise across platforms leveraging conversation intelligence, predictive analytics, and automated workflows. The company’s comprehensive partner network includes AI-driven platforms like Gong for revenue intelligence, MadKudu’s AI prospecting tools, ChiliPiper’s AI-powered demand conversion, and other next-generation technologies. This acquisition positions 2X as the definitive partner for organizations seeking to implement and optimize AI-powered GTM technology stacks with ongoing managed services support.

    Strengthening GTM Technology Services

    The addition of Outbound Funnel positions 2X as the premier subscription-based partner for GTM technology implementation and ongoing managed services. With Outbound Funnel’s specialized expertise in revenue technology consulting, implementation, integration, project services, training, custom solutions, and managed services, 2X can now offer comprehensive subscription-based solutions that extend GTM technology vendors’ capabilities with ongoing operational support and strategic advisory.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome the exceptional Outbound Funnel team to 2X,” said Colasante. “Their deep technical expertise and proven success in transforming revenue operations through technology value realization perfectly complements our scalable managed services model. This acquisition brings top-tier talent from expert implementation consultants to revenue operations specialists who will help us deliver even greater value to our clients.”

    Validation from Technology Partners

    The acquisition has garnered support from leading GTM technology companies, reflecting the strong partnerships Outbound Funnel has built across the ecosystem.

    “We’re excited about 2X’s investment in the revenue intelligence ecosystem through this acquisition,” said Rob Moyer, Global Head of Partnerships of Gong. “Outbound Funnel has been an exceptional implementation partner, and their expertise combined with 2X’s comprehensive managed services model creates exceptional value for organizations looking to maximize their GTM technology investments.”

    Proven Success with Leading Organizations

    Outbound Funnel’s track record speaks to the quality of their team and approach across the entire GTM technology landscape. Their clients consistently report exceptional results, including 98% adoption rates across sales engagement platforms, 10% increases in win rates through AI-powered conversation intelligence, and significantly accelerated deployment timelines. The company’s expertise spans from complex multi-year migration projects to ongoing optimization of AI-driven revenue operations.

    “Outbound Funnel was instrumental in helping us maximize our AI-powered platform investments,” said a Head of Enablement & Product Marketing at a leading technology company. “Their cross-platform expertise and deep understanding of AI-driven sales engagement tools enabled us to achieve incredible results with 98% adoption across our GTM teams and a 10% increase in win rate.”

    What’s Next

    “We’re incredibly excited to join the 2X family and bring our comprehensive GTM technology expertise to their world-class managed services platform,” said Curtis Ropp, Founder and CEO of Outbound Funnel. “From day one, we’ve been committed to helping organizations maximize the value of their entire sales engagement and revenue intelligence technology stack. As the first implementation partner across multiple leading platforms, we’ve built deep expertise in AI-powered conversation intelligence, sales automation, and complex migrations. Partnering with 2X allows us to scale this impact and deliver even greater value to clients who need both strategic implementation and ongoing operational support across their entire GTM technology ecosystem.”

    Curtis Ropp will join the 2X management team and continue to operate and grow Outbound Funnel, now a 2X company.

    About 2X

    2X is the global leader in subscription-based go-to-market services, helping GTM leaders achieve greater impact while lowering costs through its comprehensive managed services delivery model. Building on its foundation as the leader in B2B marketing as a service (MaaS), 2X now provides end-to-end go-to-market solutions including marketing operations and MarTech management, campaign build and optimization, content and creative production, revenue operations, sales technology implementation, and strategic consulting services. 2X is a services partner of 6sense, Salesforce, Adobe Marketo Engage, HubSpot, Gong, Bombora, Drift, WordPress, Google, Meta, and many other leading revenue platforms.

    With more than 1,000 team members globally, 2X is backed by private-equity firms Recognize Partners and Insight Partners. 2X has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US by Inc. and the Financial Times. For more information, visit 2X.marketing or our LinkedIn.

    About Outbound Funnel

    Outbound Funnel is a premier revenue operations consultancy specializing in AI-powered sales engagement and revenue intelligence technology implementation and optimization. As the first and longest-standing implementation partner across leading platforms including Outreach (800+ implementations), Gong (600+ deployments), and SalesLoft (hundreds of implementations), Outbound Funnel has helped thousands of organizations transform their revenue operations through expert deployment of AI-driven platforms and strategic advisory services. With a team of seasoned RevOps experts, Outbound Funnel empowers GTM teams to maximize their technology investments and drive measurable business outcomes. With a team of seasoned RevOps experts, Outbound Funnel empowers GTM teams to maximize their technology investments and drive measurable business outcomes.

    About Recognize

    Recognize is a distinguished investor and business builder focused on next-generation Digital Services companies. Headquartered in New York, the firm seeks to back visionary founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams who are building innovative businesses that leverage AI, software, and digital platforms to deliver transformative outcomes to enterprises. Recognize provides deep operational expertise, industry relationships, and strategic capital to drive accelerated growth of these specialized businesses. To learn more, visit www.recognize.com.

    About Insight Partners

    Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2024, the firm has over $90B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

    Media Contact
    Audree Hernandez
    JMAC PR for 2X
    2X@jmacpr.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Grayscale® Launches Grayscale® Story Trust

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STAMFORD, Conn., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Grayscale®, the world’s largest digital asset-focused investment platform, today announced the creation and launch of Grayscale® Story Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust provides investors with exposure to $IP, the native token of the Story network.

    Story is a blockchain network that powers programmable intellectual property, making real-world data a licensable, attributable subset of intellectual property for the artificial intelligence (AI) era. Designed to support the growing needs of AI, the creator economy, and digital rights management, Story enables ownership that is secure, scalable, and easily integrated across blockchain applications. Specifically, Story is designed to make intellectual property, including music, media, personal likeness, and real-world data like video and speech, traceable, enforceable, and monetizable on-chain. By transforming intellectual property and real-world data into fully programmable on-chain assets, Story is laying the foundational infrastructure for the global intellectual property economy, which has been reported to be worth as much as $80 trillion.1

    Although traditional intellectual property systems have served important roles, they can be fragmented, intermediary-dependent, and sometimes struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of digital content and AI. Story offers a new perspective designed to meet these emerging challenges. At the core of its architecture is a framework for representing intellectual property as smart contract-enabled non-fungible tokens, embedding licensing logic, attribution rules, and royalty flows, informed by intellectual property law, directly into the assets themselves. This aims to allow creators, companies, and even AI agents to register, remix, and monetize intellectual property compliantly.

    Today, adoption of Story is accelerating, driven by real-world use cases across cultural and technical ecosystems, from major artists and global brands to next-generation AI platforms. With over 1.7 million intellectual property transactions and more than 200,000 monthly users,2 Story is demonstrating growing demand for infrastructure that treats intellectual property as a programmable, on-chain primitive.3 Story also develops original initiatives like Poseidon, which brings real-world data to AI systems, including robots, surgical assistants, and autonomous vehicles. These partnerships and projects reflect the protocol’s broad and transformative potential.

    “Grayscale Story Trust gives investors exposure to a protocol shaping the foundational intellectual property layer for the information and AI era,” said Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, Head of Product & Research at Grayscale. “That includes not just creative content, but real-world data — the force powering one of today’s most advanced intelligent systems.”

    “This launch marks a significant milestone in bringing programmable intellectual property to institutional markets. Story was designed to support the full lifecycle of intellectual property; from music and media to the real-world datasets that power intelligent systems. The launch of Grayscale Story Trust reflects growing recognition that intellectual property, in all forms, has the potential to become one of the most important assets of the AI era. With $IP now available via a Grayscale Trust, investors can gain exposure to the infrastructure layer that enables programmable licensing and attribution across AI and creative applications,” said SY Lee, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of PIP Labs, an initial core contributor to Story.

    The Trust is now open for daily subscription by eligible individual and institutional accredited investors.* The Trust functions like Grayscale’s other single-asset investment trusts and is solely invested in the $IP token underpinning the Story protocol. For additional information regarding the seeding of the Trust and other ways in which an investment in the Trust might differ from an investment in Grayscale’s other single-asset investment trusts, please refer to the Private Placement Memorandum relating to the Trust.

    This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be illegal, nor shall there be any sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.

    *An accredited investor, as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is an individual with income over $200,000 ($300,000 with spouse) in each of the past two years, an individual with net worth over $1 million, excluding primary residence, an individual holding certain financial licenses (e.g., Series 7, 65, or 82), or an entity with over $5 million in assets or all equity owners who are accredited.

    Grayscale may attempt to have shares of new products quoted on a secondary market. However, there is no guarantee that Grayscale will be successful. Although the shares of certain products have been approved for trading on a secondary market, investors in the new products should not assume that the shares will ever obtain such an approval due to a variety of factors, including questions regulators, such as the SEC, FINRA, or other regulatory bodies may have regarding such products. As a result, shareholders of such products should be prepared to bear the risk of investment in the shares indefinitely. To date, certain products have not met their investment objective, and the shares of such products quoted on OTC Markets have not reflected the value of the digital assets held by such products, less such products’ expenses and other liabilities, but have instead traded at a premium over such value, which at times has been substantial. There have also been instances where the shares of certain products have traded at a discount.

    Private placement securities are speculative, illiquid, and entail a high level of risk, including the risk that an investor could lose their entire investment. The Story protocol was relatively recently conceived and its particular underlying technological mechanisms may not function as intended, which could have an adverse impact on the value of IP and an investment in the Shares.

    Extreme volatility of trading prices that many digital assets have experienced in recent periods and may continue to experience, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Trust and the shares could lose all or substantially all of their value.

    [1] According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2025 Global Innovation Index, the estimated value of intangible assets — including intellectual property, data, software, brands, and human capital — held by publicly listed companies worldwide exceeds $80 trillion. Source: WIPO, The Value of Intangible Assets of Corporations (2025).

    [2]Story Blockchain Explorer, as of July 7, 2025

    [3] “On-chain primitive” refers to a foundational building block of blockchain-based systems, like a token or NFT, that is natively programmable and usable within blockchain applications.

    About Grayscale
    Grayscale enables investors to access the digital economy through a family of future-forward investment products. Founded in 2013, Grayscale has a decade-long track record and deep expertise as a digital asset-focused investment platform. Investors, advisors, and allocators turn to Grayscale for single asset, diversified, and thematic exposure. For more information, please follow @Grayscale or visit grayscale.com.

    Media Contact
    press@grayscale.com

    Client Contact
    866-775-0313
    info@grayscale.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ServiceTrade Unveils 4 Keys to Unlocking Peak Valuations for Commercial Service Businesses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DURHAM, N.C., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ServiceTrade, an innovative software platform that optimizes commercial service business operations for growth and profit, today announced four key strategies to significantly boost business valuations and ensure successful M&A outcomes. These insights offer commercial service contractors practical strategies to build, measure, and enhance their business value using ServiceTrade. 

    The fire and life safety and mechanical service markets are experiencing a marked acceleration in consolidation activity. This trend began in 2023 and intensified through the first half of 2025, encompassing significant acquisitions exceeding $1 billion alongside numerous smaller roll-ups and consolidations. Notably, private equity deals in the mechanical and HVAC services market have surged 88%. In parallel, the fire and life safety markets maintain a robust average of 38 transactions per quarter this year. 

    “Whether you’re preparing for a future exit or building a strong, high-performing business, you need a plan to create long-term value,” said Billy Marshall, Founder of ServiceTrade. “Contractors that prioritize recurring revenue, technician productivity, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction consistently achieve higher valuations—and have more options when it’s time to sell.”

    ServiceTrade has outlined four key areas of value creation that maximize growth, scale, and attractiveness to potential acquirers.

    1. Revenue Predictability and Quality

    Recent industry trends show recurring revenue streams command valuation premiums 3-5 times higher than one-off project revenue. Additionally, commercial service providers whose revenue primarily derives from recurring maintenance and inspection work grow at twice the rate of their peers. Prioritizing the most profitable customers and protecting margins through automation further enhances this.

    • Aim for 80% of revenue to come from long-term service contracts and committed recurring revenue. Avoid “one-and-done” project customers. 
    • Focus on the most profitable customers and minimize low-quality projects or break/fix work.

    2. Optimized for Technician Productivity

    Commercial service companies that optimize technician productivity experience significantly higher margins and improved customer satisfaction. By utilizing mobile field technology and smart workforce management, these companies eliminate administrative burdens, empowering technicians to deliver more billable work and more value to the customer, while enjoying higher work satisfaction.

    • Establish technician productivity baselines and implement tracking systems to meet or exceed industry-leading benchmarks. 
    • To attract and retain skilled technicians, eliminate unnecessary administrative tasks in the field, to overcome the ongoing skilled labor shortage.
    • Streamline communications among technicians, office staff, and customers through digital work orders and automated customer updates.

    3. Enhance Operational Efficiency with Better Technology

    Companies that leverage tailored technology to streamline operations create significant competitive advantages by maximizing productivity, employee satisfaction, and customer experiences. Modern technology solutions provide staff with real-time data and tools to manage tasks and customer interactions efficiently, fostering an engaged, high-performing workforce. 

    • Utilize purpose-built technology to optimize technician performance and operational efficiency.
    • Implement comprehensive, integrated solutions to manage workflows, digitally reduce errors, and minimize administrative tasks.
    • Leverage technology to increase employee engagement, satisfaction, and accountability.

    4. Prioritize Your Most Valuable Customers

    Creating a customer-first culture dramatically improves customer retention and satisfaction, ultimately driving sustainable business growth. Companies position themselves as trusted, customer-focused partners by leveraging digital solutions to provide transparent, timely, and comprehensive customer communications. 

    • Make retaining and expanding your most profitable customers a corporate priority.
    • Target a 90% customer retention rate through proactive and personalized customer engagement strategies. 
    • Digitize all customer communications, offering seamless access to service histories, quotes, invoices, approvals, and status updates. 
    • Develop comprehensive customer records, including detailed service histories, contractual agreements, profitability analyses, and revenue contribution insights.

    Rod DiBona, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, added insight for sellers in a recent webinar with ServiceTrade on M&A readiness:

    “In today’s market, buyers are looking for more than just top-line revenue,” said DiBona, “Businesses that retain customers, are committed to their employees, grow accounts, and use technology to scale profitably are more valuable and attractive to strategic and private equity buyers.”

    Commercial service contractors can learn more about building valuation using these resources:

    Webinar: M&A Readiness with Pye-Barker: Building Your Toolkit for a Strong Exit 

    eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Fire & Life Safety Business For a Successful Exit

    eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Commercial HVAC Business for a Successful Exit 

    Learn how ServiceTrade can help you build a more valuable business. Book a Demo with one of our experts. 

    About ServiceTrade
    ServiceTrade, Inc., is a best-in-class field service management platform that enables commercial contractors to build efficient, profitable, and growing businesses. With a decade of innovation and 1300 customers, ServiceTrade is an end-to-end, fully integrated solution that maximizes technician performance, streamlines operations, and delivers digital-first experiences that win and delight customers. Commercial contractors can service smarter and scale faster with ServiceTrade.

    Contact
    media@ktcmarketingandpr.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: U.S. Drone Market Outlook and Competitive Landscape Becoming a Sector Poised for Prosperous Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Recently, drone market insiders, have issued very optimistic reviews on where the U.S. drone market is heading. Industry observers note that this legislative backing de-risks investment in defense and dual-use drone companies, making them more attractive to institutional investors and venture firms alike. The new funding is poised to expand domestic manufacturing capabilities, support R&D in autonomy and AI, and reward companies prepared to operate within the tightened regulatory and sourcing frameworks. On such report from Dronelife.com said: “Compare the U.S. surge in drone investment to the investment contraction and global market realignment that Drone Industry Insights (DRONEII), reported on just a few months ago. The earlier DRONEII report underscores the U.S. government’s legislative actions as especially impactful, setting the pace for global realignment and influencing investment priorities worldwide. The direct result of these policy moves has been an influx of both venture and public market investment into U.S.-aligned drone companies. Companies such as Firestorm Labs and Unusual Machines have openly referenced the “clear demand signals” coming from Washington in their fundraising releases. Meanwhile, market analysis on platforms like Nasdaq and Investing.com track a sector-wide uptick in share prices and capital-infused balance sheets in July 2025 alone.”   Active Companies in the drone industries include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), Arbe Robotics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ARBE).

    The article continued discussing how legislative backing is a growth catalyst saying: “The strengthened investment environment for U.S. drone companies in the summer of 2025 is a direct response to aggressive legislative and executive action. As enhanced procurement mandates and funding priorities solidify, companies with domestic manufacturing capabilities and compliance adherence are best positioned to benefit. This unique interplay of policy and market forces is not only revitalizing the American drone industrial base but is also driving a more resilient, innovation-focused sector poised for further expansion.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Initiates AUVSI Membership Upgrade, Enabling Leadership on Drone Policy and Strengthening US Defense and Government Engagement – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a business technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), Enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, today announces its drone subsidiary ZenaDrone has initiated upgrading its membership to the Advocacy level with the influential Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), enabling it to join both the Defense Advocacy Committee and Air Advocacy Committee. This upgrade enables the company to engage alongside top US drone and defense innovators, such as Skydio, Anduril, Leidos and Shield AI, to elevate its leadership role in shaping critical drone policy and procurement as well as deepening relationships with important stakeholders and decisionmakers.

    “This is a clear investment in speed to market and long-term procurement success,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. “By joining AUVSI’s Defense and Air Advocacy Committees, ZenaDrone gains direct access to the policy, compliance, and acquisition conversations that shape Department of Defense agency procurement. It positions us alongside trusted defense leaders and innovators, accelerating our path to Green and Blue UAS certification by strengthening our ability to meet the security, interoperability, and regulatory expectations of federal buyers and leverage growth opportunities.”

    Through an upgraded Advocacy membership, ZenaDrone will be able to collaborate with AUVSI’s network of industry leaders and regulators to influence federal drone policies and shape the future of the drone industry in the US. This participation provides direct access to federal decision-makers, enabling influence on key policy areas such as BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulation and streamlined procurement, while ensuring the company’s drone platforms remain aligned with the evolving operational needs and priorities of US defense and government agencies.

    This involvement comes at a pivotal time, as recent Executive Orders and policy directives from the White House and Department of Defense accelerate support for NDAA-compliant, secure, and domestically produced drone technologies. These directives now move toward implementation, requiring practical policy frameworks and procurement processes—an area where ZenaDrone aims to contribute meaningfully.

    Founded in 1972, AUVSI is the largest nonprofit advancing uncrewed and autonomous systems through innovation, policy, and collaboration. It connects government, industry, and academia to drive safe, efficient integration of emerging technologies. The Air Advocacy Committee shapes policies to expand drone operations in national airspace, while the Defense Advocacy Committee influences defense acquisition policies and promotes NDAA-compliant drone technology. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), recently announced the winners of the 30th Annual ‘FLIR Vision Awards’ at the APSCON 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

    The FLIR Vision Awards are presented to members of the airborne law enforcement community who have best demonstrated use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether conducting search and rescue efforts, pursuing suspects, or saving lives in other ways. The awards are divided into four categories, including the FANG Award for operations involving a K-9 support team.

    ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO) recently announced the launch of its latest product, the SafeAir Raptor. This latest and innovative safety system is specifically engineered for compatibility with Anzu Robotics’ Raptor and Raptor T (thermal) drone models.

    The SafeAir Raptor offers performance capabilities akin to ParaZero’s acclaimed SafeAir Mavic 3 System, providing autonomous monitoring and real-time failure detection to ensure optimal safety during drone operations. Notably, the SafeAir Raptor complies with ASTM F3322-22 standards, making it eligible for operations over people in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

    Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), a leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered defense and security solutions, recently announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Army to participate in the Army Futures Command’s (AFC) Concept Focused Warfighting Experiment (CFWE) Maneuver (CFWE-M) 2026 event being held at Fort Benning, Georgia in March through April 2026.

    Army Futures Command, established in 2018, helps ensure the Army and its soldiers remain at the forefront of technological innovation and warfighting ability. The CFWE-M is a live and constructive simulation experiment held annually by the U.S. Army and serves as the primary venue for experimentation focusing on the small unit level. CFWE-M supports small unit modernization by providing Cross Function Teams (CFT), Centers of Excellence (CoE) capability developers, Science and Technology (S&T) community, and industry an opportunity to collaborate with the Army.

    Arbe Robotics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ARBE) recently announced that Sensrad, a leading radar Tier-1 supplier based in Sweden, has begun delivering its first radar series powered by Arbe’s chipset to customers. These radars are destined for deployment in a defense sector autonomous off-road vehicle application and in an intelligent road infrastructure project.

    Sensrad recently placed a significant purchase order for Arbe chipsets, a key step toward the commercialization of its radar solutions. These chipsets will be used in multiple programs, including an initiative involving autonomous vehicles for off-road applications for a strategic US customer in the defense sector, the China-based Tianyi Transportation project, and several customer evaluations. Sensrad’s progress reflects its growing commitment to expanding radar adoption across diverse verticals beyond traditional passenger automotive markets.

    To accelerate the deployment Arbe and Sensrad have signed a comprehensive support and maintenance agreement to reinforce Sensrad’s 4D Imaging Radar program built on Arbe’s advanced chipset technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Sensrad will pay Arbe a recurring fee for continued support, maintenance, and professional services.

    About FN Media Group:

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Illumio Insights GA Delivers Industry’s First Solution to Contain Lateral Movement Across Hybrid, Multi-Cloud

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Illumio, the breach containment company, today announced the general availability of Illumio Insights, a powerful new product within the Illumio Platform. As the only platform that delivers a complete approach to reducing lateral movement risk, Illumio now combines AI-powered detection, real-time risk insights, and one-click containment with strategic segmentation for proactive protection. Built on an AI security graph, Illumio Insights transforms how security teams detect, prioritize, and contain threats across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

    During the private preview, early adopters uncovered a range of unexpected risks only made visible with Illumio Insights’ deep observability and behavior-based analytics. Among the most notable findings were widespread east-west traffic from unsanctioned geographies, misconfigured services exposing risky ports, and a surprising prevalence of unsanctioned usage of public LLMs.

    Building on these learnings, Illumio has introduced several additional powerful capabilities as part of the general availability release. New capabilities include:

    • Country Insights gives users a clear view of traffic and threats by geography, helping them quickly spot unusual activity and apply geo-specific policies to reduce risk.
    • Quarantine Dashboard enables one-click isolation of compromised systems, empowering teams to stop threats from spreading without needing advanced technical skills.
    • Resource View makes it even easier to investigate resources and enables teams to act fast to limit exposure.

    “Enterprises often struggle to maintain an accurate inventory of all devices, applications, and data flows across increasingly complex networks — especially with the rise of cloud services and hybrid environments,” said Dr. Chase Cunningham, DrZeroTrust. “Security graphs address this challenge by automatically ingesting data from diverse sources such as asset databases, cloud APIs, and network scans to build a dynamic, real-time map of infrastructure and dependencies. This living model not only enhances visibility but also strengthens security posture by revealing hidden risks and attack paths.”

    With these advancements, Illumio Insights delivers on its promise to help security teams detect, prioritize, and contain threats more effectively. It empowers teams to act on what they see with one-click containment, accelerating Zero Trust Segmentation at cloud scale. As part of Illumio’s breach containment platform, Insights helps organizations stop the spread of attacks before they escalate into full-blown disasters.

    “Illumio Insights makes a strong impression right out of the gate; it helps security teams manage complexity and emerging AI technologies to focus on what matters,” said Chris Konrad, Vice President Global Cyber, World Wide Technology. “Our clients gain actionable insights that build trust and drive better decisions because we are able to identify risks, swiftly.”

    “The biggest gap in cybersecurity today isn’t tools, it’s visibility. And that’s exactly what Illumio Insights delivers,” says Andrew Rubin, CEO and Founder of Illumio. “Illumio Insights changes the game. It gives security teams the visibility they’ve been missing, like what’s talking to what, where the risk is, and how to contain it fast. This isn’t about more alerts, it’s about actionable intelligence that helps organizations stay ahead of real threats.”

    Illumio Insights and Illumio Segmentation are integral components of the Illumio Platform, the first cybersecurity platform focused on breach containment. Illumio Insights helps organizations quickly identify and detect threats, while Illumio Segmentation contains breaches, protects critical assets, and enables instant response. Together, these solutions help identify and mitigate risks, contain attacks, and enhance overall cyber resilience.

    Visit Illumio at booth #5445 at Black Hat USA 2025 in Las Vegas, August 6–7, to see a live demo of Illumio Insights and learn more about Illumio’s breach containment offerings.

    Organizations can also sign up for a free trial or visit Illumio Insights to learn more. For ongoing updates and peer collaboration, cybersecurity professionals are invited to join the Illumiverse, Illumio’s community hub for exclusive insights and frontline threat intelligence.

    About Illumio  

    Illumio is the leader in ransomware and breach containment, redefining how organizations contain cyberattacks and enable operational resilience. Powered by an AI security graph, our breach containment platform identifies and contains threats across hybrid multi-cloud environments – stopping the spread of attacks before they become disasters.

    Recognized as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™ for Microsegmentation, Illumio enables Zero Trust, strengthening cyber resilience for the infrastructure, systems, and organizations that keep the world running.

    Contact: comms-team@illumio.com  

    The enthusiasm around Illumio Insights continues to grow. In addition to the perspectives shared earlier, here are more reactions from industry leaders and partners:

    Delisa Stone, Partner, Cyber Security, Cloud and Resilience at Deloitte Technology and Transformation:

    “Illumio Insights offers unparalleled visibility and granular segmentation capabilities that empower organizations to strengthen their cyber resilience. We recommend Illumio Insights to our clients seeking to enhance their security posture with a scalable, adaptive solution that aligns with evolving regulatory and operational demands.”

    Stuart McCulloch, Cyber Security Product Manager from BT Global Services UK:

    “So happy for Insights! Illumio is an amazing platform, and the data on traffic flows provides critical information to understand your environment. However, you had to know what to look for, which could be time-consuming. Insights is the capability which now cuts to the chase. It directs you to key data, allowing you to make faster decisions on actions you need to take to better protect your environment.”

    Rico Petrillo, Lead Service Fulfillment and Technology at Swisscom CDN & Edge Security:

    “Illumio Insights is a powerful addition that helps us quickly understand a customer’s environment and kickstart meaningful conversations around Zero Trust. It makes it easier to demonstrate value early in a project and supports smoother, more effective segmentation over time. This means better outcomes for our clients—from day one through ongoing operations.”

    Yann Bruneau, Chief Solutions Officer at Squad Cybersolutions:

    “As an Illumio integration partner, we’re excited about the game-changing potential of Illumio Insights and its AI-powered security graph that fundamentally transforms how our clients understand and respond to threats across hybrid environments. What impresses us most is how Insights cuts through the noise of complex cloud environments to identify real risks at scale, making it simple for our customers to prioritize what truly matters and act decisively.”

    Soumak Roy, Vice President – Cybersecurity at SDG Corporation:

    “Illumio Insights brings a new level of clarity to cloud security. By revealing east-west traffic patterns and lateral movement risks at cloud scale—without agents—it equips organizations to proactively secure dynamic, distributed environments and accelerate Zero Trust initiatives with confidence.”

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Epiq Billing Services Transforms Legal Billing Process at Am Law 100 Firm

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Epiq announced today a new partnership with an Am Law 100 firm to provide Epiq Billing Solutions — the premier, reliable, secure solution to stabilize cash flow, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency.

    Epiq delivers end-to-end billing solutions designed specifically for the complex needs of law firms to enhance financial operations and accelerate cash flow. By leveraging deep expertise across major billing platforms, such as 3E/Elite, Aderant, BillBlast, LawPay, InTapp Billstream, Collaborati, eBilllingHub, CounselLink, and Tymetrix, Epiq is able to proactively resolve invoice rejections, streamline workflows, and deliver measurable results.

    “Partnering with Epiq underscores our dedication to legal innovation so that we can elevate efficiency and output while maintaining the high standards our clients expect,” said the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. “Epiq has a proven track record in driving process improvement in the legal billing space. The support provided by Epiq is strengthening our ability to overcome challenges in tracking billable hours while boosting productivity and ensuring compliance with complex billing guidelines.”

    Leveraging Epiq subject matter experts well-versed in common law firm applications and supported technological processes, including AI, law firms are now able to realize faster turnaround times, quicker invoice generation, reduced invoice errors, and improved cash flow. Epiq Billing Solutions is a proprietary billing solution where Epiq clients can expect to expedite:

    • AP/AR tasks
    • Time entry
    • Invoicing 
    • Expense reporting 
    • Pre-billing
    • Rejected invoice management 
    • Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCG) billing process 

    Services are provided by talented billing experts in Epiq Global Resource Centers, which provide 24/7/365 administrative and middle office support to some of the largest global organizations across the legal, financial, and corporate sectors.

    “Our highly skilled billing specialists don’t just respond to errors, they proactively identify patterns and streamline processes across all major legal billing systems,” said Michelle Connolly, Senior Vice President of the Global Business Transformation Solutions business at Epiq. “Firms can now maximize realization rates, invoice faster, and reduce errors and lengthy appeals, ultimately leading to improved efficiency and profitability.”

    Epiq uncovered that the average law firm experiences an 18 percent realization loss due to billing challenges. “This means that nearly one-fifth of billable work is not converted into revenue, negatively impacting a firm’s profitability,” Connolly said. “Even more, 81 percent of firms report having issues with a significant portion of invoices remaining unpaid or delayed, creating real cash flow challenges. These problems – coupled with resource constraints and the need for continuous training – highlight the importance of streamlining billing operations.”

    Epiq routinely works with the top law firms in the world to provide technical expertise and best practices so they can focus on core competencies and more strategic activities. By outsourcing business transformation services, such as billing, marketing and creative servicesadministrative supportoffice services, and records and information governance, law firms are able to increase efficiency, improve cost-effectiveness, centralize processes, add scalability, and standardize outputs. 

    About Epiq  
    Epiq, a technology and services leader, takes on large-scale and complex tasks for corporate legal departments, law firms, and business professionals by integrating people, process, technology, and data. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline legal and compliance, settlement, and business administration workflows to drive efficiency, minimize risk, and improve cost savings. With a presence in 18 countries, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities. Learn how the approximately 6,100 Epiq people worldwide create meaningful change at www.epiqglobal.com.    

    Press Contact  
    Carrie Trent  
    Epiq, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations  
    Carrie.Trent@epiqglobal.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Metaforms raises $9M to give market research agencies their own AI workflows

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The market research boom is creating an unexpected casualty: the agencies themselves. In an industry where clients expect faster turnarounds, competitive pricing, and diverse capabilities, agencies are turning down work – not for lack of interest, but because outdated operational systems keep them from meeting client expectations. Metaforms, a startup born from this bottleneck, is helping research teams scale without burning out. Today, the company announces a $9 million Series A to expand its AI infrastructure platform and accelerate adoption across the $130 billion global research industry.

    The round was led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India), with participation from Nexus Venture Partners and Together Fund. It brings Metaforms’ total funding to just over $10 million and will be used to grow the team, expand into new workflows like report generation and voice-based research, and deepen integrations with tools like Decipher, SPSS, and Confirmit.

    Metaforms cofounders Arjun S and Akshat Tyagi.

    “We’re thrilled to partner with Akshat and Arjun as they reimagine what a market research agency could look like in an AI-first world. Metaforms is scaling rapidly, by enabling some of the largest research agencies globally to automate workflows such as survey programming and data processing through their suite of AI agents.” Shailendra Singh, MD, Peak XV

    When a global brand like a shoe company wants to make critical decisions about how to market it’s new pair of shoes in a geography it has never ventured into before. It engages a market research agency to figure out lifestyle habits and cultural perceptions of a population. For this the agency has to recruit a target population, design a research study, convert the survey questions into an online link, clean the data for fraud, do in-person interviews, combine all the data to finally make a presentation.

    Metaforms builds AI agents designed to work within research agencies’ existing workflows, automating the manual processes that limit capacity and erode margins. Instead of replacing research expertise, the platform acts as a force multiplier: turning questionnaires into survey code, flagging bad data before it breaks a project, coordinating panel vendors, and tracking quotas across complex multi-country studies. 

    Survey programming dashboard in Metaforms.

    For many agencies, this means the difference between turning away work and scaling up confidently.

    Metaforms has been incredibly successful thanks to their uniquely thoughtful approach to modernizing research operations—embedding seamlessly into the workflows, tools, and platforms that researchers and agencies already use. I’m excited to continue supporting the team as they build on that momentum with this Series A— Jonathan Tice, GTM Consultant [Prev: Chief Customer Officer, Forsta]

    Founded in 2022 by Akshat Tyagi and Arjun S, Metaforms was born out of a personal pain point. As early-stage founders, they struggled to access professional market research. The problem wasn’t demand – it was bandwidth. So Akshat and Arjun set out to build software that gave agencies a way to do more with what they already have.

    “Our goal is simple: help great research teams spend less time firefighting and more time doing the work that actually matters,” said Akshat Tyagi, co-founder and CEO of Metaforms. “When you automate the grunt work, you make high-quality research more accessible to more companies.”

    Since launching commercially just six months ago, Metaforms has signed four of the world’s top twenty research agencies, including Strat7, one of the largest market research agencies globally. The platform now processes over 1,000 surveys per month, and serves Fortune 500 companies. Every customer that started with a single AI agent has expanded to adopt additional ones, achieving a 100% expansion rate.

    Bidding management with Metaforms.

    “Metaforms is a breakout example of the India-to-global play in AI,” said Manav Garg, Co-founder and managing partner at Together Fund. “They’re not just automating tasks — they’re rebuilding research infrastructure for the modern era. With their early traction across global agencies, Akshat and Arjun are showing what’s possible when deep customer empathy meets technical ambition.”

    That accessibility is already changing the industry. By compressing turnaround times and reducing operational costs, Metaforms enables agencies to serve clients they would otherwise turn away, from early-stage startups testing their first ideas to global brands launching multi-country trackers.

    “Our partnership has delivered strong ROl, thanks to Metaforms’ exceptional service and prompt support” added Tabita Razaila Head of operations, Strat7

    “They’re solving a major pain point for the entire industry. That focus and ability to deeply understand customer needs and address that using genetic AI is the hallmark of Metaforms team. We are thrilled to back Akshat and Arjun in their journey of building a remarkable company!”, said Jishnu Bhattacharjee and Arjun Gandhi, Nexus Venture Partners.

    Looking ahead, Metaforms plans to triple its team and continue expanding the breadth of its agent capabilities. Voice research, automated report generation, and expanded language support are all on the roadmap. The long-term vision is to process over 100,000 surveys per year and make professional-grade research available to every business that needs it.

    “When research agencies grow, better business decisions get made,” added Akshat Tyagi. “We’re not here to replace the humans in the loop. We’re here to give them leverage.”

    Media images can be found here

    About Metaforms
    Metaforms is the AI platform that helps market research agencies operate smarter and win more business. Our AI Agents augment research teams’ work output across survey programming, data processing, bidding management, and voice research; enabling them to handle exponentially more projects while maintaining quality.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Panorama Named Preferred Partner By Skyward to bring Best In Class AI and MTSS Solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STEVENS POINT, Wis., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward, a school administration software provider committed to helping K-12 leaders spend less time on tasks and more time with students, is proud to announce Panorama Education, a K-12 education technology company that helps students achieve success in school and beyond, a preferred partner bringing AI-driven intervention planning and best in class evidence-based multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) to students across the nation.

    Skyward customers now have direct access to Panorama Solara, a FERPA-compliant AI platform built for K–12, and Panorama Student Success, a proven MTSS platform highly integrated with Skyward’s Qmlativ solution.

    As educators rapidly adopt generative AI at the classroom level to save time and personalize student learning, school districts are seeking effective system-wide AI solutions that uphold rigorous standards for data security, privacy, and compliance. At the same time, emerging mandates require districts to track and report interventions more comprehensively, yet many SIS platforms do not seamlessly integrate with the MTSS tools that make this possible.

    Now, with this new preferred partnership, districts using Skyward can enjoy a holistic integration with Panorama Solara (a FERPA-compliant AI platform built for K-12 districts) or Panorama Student Success (research-backed MTSS platform). “When districts can securely integrate tools that work together, they spend less time managing systems and more time supporting students,” said Dave Ilkka, vice president of new business development at Skyward.

    Skyward districts can now confidently use Panorama’s AI-powered intervention planning, MTSS reporting and analytics, and district-specific AI tools without needing to build costly custom integrations or dealing with unknown compliance or security risks. While Skyward’s Qmlativ platform includes a built-in MTSS solution, integrating with Panorama Student Success will bring districts deeper insights and additional functionality to better support every student and streamline how districts access and use data for AI and MTSS.

    “Through our partnership with Skyward, districts can now leverage high-quality, context-aware AI outputs and research-backed MTSS interventions while upholding the highest standards of student data privacy,” said John Ruff, director of strategic partnerships at Panorama Education. “This eliminates data silos, reduces manual work, and supports seamless state reporting and compliance.”

    Together, Skyward, and Panorama Education are committed to delivering a smarter, more secure path forward for districts—one that empowers educators, supports compliance, and drives better outcomes for every student.

    About Skyward: Since 1980, Skyward’s SIS and ERP solutions have helped more than 2,500 school districts save time, connect with families, and empower success. By blending advanced technology guided by actual users with world-class support delivered with a personal touch, Skyward is the clear choice for K-12 leaders who want to spend less time on tasks and more time with students. To learn more about the next generation of K-12 administration software, visit www.skyward.com.

    About Panorama: Panorama Education is an education technology company founded in 2012 that helps students achieve success in school and beyond, and gives schools and school districts a platform to hear what families, students and teachers need in the classroom. Educators use Panorama’s software platform to understand and support students across academics, attendance, behavior, and life skills development. District leaders use the same platform to track progress toward strategic goals, such as literacy, graduation, and school safety. Panorama is proud that its platform is used to support 15 million students in 25,000 schools and 2,000 districts across the United States. For more information, visit www.panoramaed.com

    Media Contact:
    Alexis Bushman
    Skyward, Inc.
    (715) 972-4397
    alexis.bushman@skyward.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: The company tax regime is a roadblock to business investment. Here’s what needs to change

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Robson, Deputy Chair, Productivity Commission, and Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology

    Erman Gunes/Shutterstock

    Productivity growth is a key driver of improvements in living standards. But in Australia over the last decade, output per hour worked grew by less than a quarter of its 60-year average.

    We urgently need to turn this around.

    That’s why the government has asked the Productivity Commission – where I am deputy chair – to conduct five inquiries and identify priority reforms.

    As a first step to boost productivity growth, we need business to expand and invest in the tools and technology that help us get the most out of our work.

    Unfortunately, some of our most important policy settings are holding us back.

    Business investment has slumped

    Capital expenditure by all non-mining firms is down 3.2 percentage points as a share of the economy since the end of the global financial crisis in 2009.

    And the ever-growing thicket of rules and regulations faced by business is a significant handbrake on growth.

    The Productivity Commission’s first interim report, Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy, focuses on two big policy levers: tax and regulation.

    Lower company tax rates are likely to attract more overseas firms to invest in Australia and help people start and grow businesses. They may strengthen the ability of smaller firms, which contribute the bulk of capital investment, to compete with larger ones.

    Our draft recommendations include:

    • Cutting the company tax rate to 20% from 25% or 30% for businesses with revenue under A$1 billion – the vast majority of companies

    • Introducing a new 5% net cash-flow tax on all firms. This supports companies’ capital expenditure by allowing them to immediately deduct the full value of their investments.

    The company tax rate would remain at 30% for firms earning over $1 billion. This would affect about 500 companies.

    In line with other developed nations

    The reduction in Australia’s headline company tax rate would move Australia from having one of the highest to one of the lowest rates for small and medium-sized firms among developed economies.

    And if the net cashflow tax is effective, it could be expanded over time and fund broader reductions in company income tax.

    Our modelling indicates these two changes would increase investment in the economy by $8 billion and boost Australia’s GDP by $14 billion, with no net cost to the budget over the medium term.

    An abundance of red tape

    The interim report also notes regulation can enhance productivity and protect against harms. But too much, or inappropriate, regulation can disproportionately inhibit economic dynamism and resilience.

    Australia’s regulatory burden has grown. Businesses report spending more and more on regulatory compliance.

    Regulators and policymakers have a broad mandate to further the public interest. But they can face incentives to be overly risk-averse and to downplay the burden that regulations place on businesses. They may pursue narrow goals at the expense of broader economy-wide goals.

    There are many practical examples that illustrate the problem.

    In the Australian Capital Territory, for example, the average time a house builder must wait for a planning decision is nearly six months. In New South Wales, it takes an average of nine years to get approval to build a wind farm.

    This kind of unnecessary and costly over-regulation ultimately benefits nobody.

    More scrutiny needed

    Simply put: Australia’s regulatory culture needs to change. And cultural change starts at the top.

    As a first step, the government needs to make a clear, whole-of-government public commitment to reducing regulatory burdens, and ensure new regulatory proposals face greater cabinet and parliamentary scrutiny.

    Regulators need to look for ways to promote economic growth, while continuing to ensure Australians are protected against avoidable harms.

    Ministers could issue statements of expectations to regulators and regulatory policymakers that clearly indicate how much risk they should tolerate in pursuit of business dynamism.

    To improve the evaluation of cumulative regulatory burdens, the Productivity Commission should be tasked with a regular and systematic stream of reviews. These would focus on sectors or regulatory systems where complex and enduring thickets of regulation have emerged.

    The draft recommendations on tax and regulation set out in the interim report are clear, actionable and ambitious reforms. They will support governments in delivering a meaningful and measurable boost to Australia’s lagging productivity.

    Alex Robson is deputy chair of the Productivity Commission.

    ref. The company tax regime is a roadblock to business investment. Here’s what needs to change – https://theconversation.com/the-company-tax-regime-is-a-roadblock-to-business-investment-heres-what-needs-to-change-261652

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Pacific tsunami: modern early warning systems prevent the catastrophic death tolls of the past

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ian Main, Professor of Seismology and Rock Physics, University of Edinburgh

    The earthquake in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula on July 30 2025 may have been one of the most severe on record, with a magnitude of 8.8. But innovations in science and technology gave governments vital time to warn and evacuate their people from the resulting tsunami.

    Millions of people escaped to higher ground before the tsunami hit.

    The 2004 Boxing Day 9.3 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra, which caused approximately 230,000 deaths, some as far away as Somalia on the other side of the Indian Ocean, shows how important these warnings are.

    Early warning systems were not in place for the Indian Ocean in time for the 2004 disaster. But there is now a system in place, with 27 countries participating in the group effort.

    The 2004 tsunami was particularly tragic because tsunami waves travel at a steady speed in the open ocean, about as fast as a jet plane. This means they can take several hours to reach shore across an ocean, with plenty of time for warning.

    An early warning system for the Pacific Ocean, based in Hawaii, was created in 1948 following a deadly tsunami two years before. On April 1 1946, the magnitude 8.6 Aleutian Islands earthquake in the northern Pacific Ocean generated a tsunami that devastated parts of Hawaii hours later, leading to 146 fatalities.

    The death toll was exacerbated by the leading wave being downwards. This happens in around 50% of tsunamis, and exposes the seashore in a similar way to when the tide goes out, but exposing a larger area than normal. People sometimes investigate out of curiosity, bringing them closer to the danger.

    The accuracy and response times of early tsunami warnings have significantly improved since 1948.

    How tsunamis happen

    To understand the work involved in protecting coastal communities, first you need to understand how tsunamis are generated.

    Tsunamis are caused by displacement of mass on the sea floor after an earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption. This provides an energy source to set off a wave in the deep sea, not just near the surface like in the ocean waves we see whipped up by the wind and storms. Most are small. The Japanese word tsunami translates somewhat innocuously as “harbour wave”.

    Detailed global mapping of the sea floor, pioneered by US geologist Marie Tharpe between 1957 and 1978, helped establish the modern theory of plate tectonics. It also improved the physical models for how the tsunami will travel in the ocean.

    Wave height increases as it approaches the shore, and the topography of the sea floor can result in a complicated pattern of wave interference and concentration of the energy in stream-like patterns. The establishment of sea-floor observatories led to better data for the pressure at the sea floor (related to wave height) and satellite networks now directly monitor wave height globally using radar signals from space.

    One of the factors that has helped scientists predict the range of a tsunami includes the setting up of the worldwide standard station network of seismometers in 1963, which allowed better estimations of earthquake location and magnitude.

    These were superseded by the digital broadband global network of seismometers in 1978, which allowed more detail on the source to be calculated quickly. This includes a better estimate of earthquake size, the source rupture area and orientation in three dimensions.

    It also tells scientists about the slip, which controls the pattern of displacement on the sea floor. This data is used to forecast the time of landing, the amplitude of the wave on the shoreline, and its height in areas where the wave travels further inland.

    The Pacific Ocean warning system now has 46 countries contributing data. It also uses physical and statistical models for estimating tsunami height. The models developed as scientists learnt more about earthquake sources, mapped features on the sea floor and tested model forecasts against outcomes.

    Today’s technology

    The early warning systems we have today are due to a decades-long commitment to global research collaboration and open data. Scientists have also improved their forecast methods. Recently they started using trained AI algorithms which could improve the timeliness and accuracy.

    Pioneered by the US Geological Survey, rapid data sharing is now used routinely to estimate earthquake parameters and make them available to the public soon after the rupture stops. This can be within minutes for an initial estimate then updated over the next few hours as more data comes in.

    However, the forecast wave height is inherently uncertain, variable from place to place, and may turn out to be more or less than expected. Similarly, large earthquakes are rare, making it hard to estimate how likely they are on average, and therefore to design appropriate mitigation measures.

    The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan destroyed or overtopped the eight-metre high protective sea walls that had been put in place based on such hazard estimates. There were over 19,000 fatalities. As a consequence, their height has been increased to 12-15 metres in some areas.

    Early warning systems also rely on rapid communication to the public, including mass alerts communicated by mobile phone, coordination by the relevant authorities across borders, clear advice, and advance evacuation plans and occasional alarm tests or drills. Although tsunami waves slow down to the speed of a car as they approach the shore, it is impossible to outrun one, so it is better to act quickly and calmly.

    The effectiveness of warnings also means accepting a degree of inconvenience in false alarms where the tsunami height is less than that forecast, because this is inevitable with the uncertainties involved. For good reason, authorities issuing alerts will err on the side of caution.

    To give an example, nuclear power plants on Japan’s eastern seaboard were shut down on July 30.

    So far it looks like the Pacific early warning system – combined with effective levels of preparedness and action by service providers and decision makers – has worked well in reducing the number of casualties that might have happened without it.

    There will always be a level of uncertainty we will have to live with. On balance, it is a small price to pay for avoiding a catastrophe.

    Ian Main is professor of Seismology and Rock Physics at the University of Edinburgh. He receives funding from UK Research and Innovation Research Council, a member of the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation Expert panel on external hazards, and acts as an independent reviewer for the Energy Industry-funded SeIsmic hazard and Ground Motion Assessment research program SIGMA3.

    ref. Pacific tsunami: modern early warning systems prevent the catastrophic death tolls of the past – https://theconversation.com/pacific-tsunami-modern-early-warning-systems-prevent-the-catastrophic-death-tolls-of-the-past-262283

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Vasectomy, pain and regret: what online forum Reddit reveals about men’s experiences

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kevin Pimbblet, Professor and Director of the Centre of Excellence for Data Science, AI and Modelling, University of Hull

    Fabian Montano Hernandez/Shutterstock

    Vasectomy has long been regarded as a permanent, safe and effective form of contraception. Its benefits are often summarised as minimally invasive and largely risk-free.

    But that may not be the full story.

    In recent years, vasectomy rates in the UK have declined significantly. It’s a puzzling trend, given that the procedure’s efficacy hasn’t changed. What has arguably shifted is how men talk about it. Not in doctors’ offices, but online.

    As an AI researcher working with large-scale public data, I led a 2025 study using natural language processing (NLP) – a branch of artificial intelligence that analyses patterns in human language – to examine thousands of posts from r/vasectomy and r/postvasectomypain, which are subreddits (topic-specific discussion forums) on Reddit, a social media platform where users share and comment on content in themed communities.

    My goal wasn’t to weigh in on urology (I’m not that kind of doctor), but to explore the emotional tone and self-reported outcomes in digital spaces where users speak candidly and in real time.

    The findings are revealing and raise important questions about informed consent, online health discourse and the growing influence of social data on healthcare communication.

    Fear, regret and pain?

    The most common emotional response to vasectomy, whether being considered or already undergone, is fear. To assess this, we used a tool called NRClex, a crowd-trained emotion classifier. This is an AI model trained on thousands of labelled examples to detect emotional tone in text. It found that “fear” dominated more than 70% of user-generated content.

    This isn’t surprising. Men on Reddit ask questions like “How bad is the pain?” “How long does it last?” and “Will I regret this?” These are not rare concerns: they’re central to the conversation.

    While overall sentiment analysis shows that most users report positive outcomes, a significant minority express deep regret and ongoing pain – sometimes lasting for years after surgery.

    This pain is often described as post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS), a relatively little-known condition defined by new or chronic scrotal pain that continues for more than three months after the procedure.

    PVPS is poorly understood and may have multiple causes, some anatomical, some neurological and some still unclear. Though some health authorities describe it as “rare,” our Reddit data suggests it could be more common, or at least more disruptive, than currently acknowledged.

    We analysed more than 11,000 Reddit posts and found that the word “pain” appeared in over 3,700 of them; roughly one-third. In many cases, the pain described persisted well beyond the expected recovery period. The word “month” appeared in nearly 900 pain-related posts, while “year” appeared in over 600.

    This is noteworthy. Post-surgical pain is typically expected to resolve within days or weeks. Yet our dataset suggests that 6%–8% of Reddit users discussing vasectomy report longer-term discomfort – a rate that aligns with the upper estimates in the urological studies. More recent research, including a large-scale postoperative study, argues that the incidence is likely much lower, perhaps under 1%.

    Of course, we must emphasise that these are self-reported experiences. Not all mentions of “pain” equate to a formal PVPS diagnosis. It’s also important to acknowledge that people who are dissatisfied with a medical procedure are generally more likely to post about it online – a well-recognised bias in social data. Even so, the volume, consistency and emotional intensity of these posts suggest the issue warrants closer attention from clinicians and researchers alike.

    Even more strikingly, around 2% of posts mention both “pain” and “regret”, implying serious, potentially life-altering consequences for a small but significant group of people.

    On r/postvasectomypain – a subreddit specifically dedicated to discussing PVPS – the tone is even more sobering. Unsurprisingly, 74% of posts describe persistent, long-term pain. Additionally, 23% mention pain during sex and 27% report changes in sensitivity.

    Posts on this forum also frequently reference vasectomy reversal surgery far more often than more specialised interventions such as microsurgical denervation: a complex nerve-removal procedure used in severe cases of chronic testicular pain, typically when other treatments have failed.

    From AI to andrology: an ethical crossroads

    Why is a professor of AI and physics analysing pain in urology forums?

    Because in today’s digital world, people increasingly turn to online platforms like Reddit for health advice, peer support and decision-making – often before speaking to a clinician. As an AI researcher, I believe we have a responsibility to examine how these discussions shape public understanding, and what they can teach us about real-world healthcare challenges.

    In this case, it’s possible that the drop in vasectomy uptake is linked, at least in part, to the open and emotional sharing of negative outcomes online. These posts are not scaremongering. They’re detailed, candid and often highly specific. They represent a type of real-world evidence that clinical trials and formal studies don’t always capture.

    So, what should we take from all this?

    Terms like “rare”, often used in consent forms and clinical conversations, can obscure the complexity and variability of patient outcomes. Pain following vasectomy, whether mild, temporary, chronic or debilitating, appears common enough to warrant more transparent and nuanced communication.

    This is not an argument against vasectomy. It remains a safe, effective, and empowering option in reproductive planning. But truly informed consent should reflect both the clinical literature and the experiences of those who undergo the procedure, especially when such experiences are now publicly available in large volumes.

    In a world where online forums double as health diaries, support networks and informal research registries, we must take them seriously. Medical language matters. Terms like “rare”, “uncommon” or “low risk” carry real emotional and moral weight. They shape expectations and influence decisions.

    If even a small percentage of men experience long-term pain after vasectomy, that risk should be communicated clearly, in plain English – ideally with a range of percentages drawn from published studies.


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

    Kevin Pimbblet currently receives funding from STFC, EPSRC, The British Academy, The Royal Astronomical Society, The British Ecological Society, and The Office for Students. None are in direct relation to this work.

    ref. Vasectomy, pain and regret: what online forum Reddit reveals about men’s experiences – https://theconversation.com/vasectomy-pain-and-regret-what-online-forum-reddit-reveals-about-mens-experiences-261633

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping signs decree on awarding some military units and individuals /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping signed an order recognizing the achievements of two military units and five individuals.

    One of the organs of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Unit 63920 was awarded the First Class Merit Award. Ding Yang of the PLA Unit 92853 was awarded the First Class Merit Award in Defense Science and Technology.

    PLA Unit 96712 was awarded the Second Class Merit Award.

    Wang Haidou of the former Army Armored Academy, Gao Yuqi of the Army Medical University, Yang Zichun of the Naval Engineering University and Chen Wei of the Institute of Military Medicine under the Academy of Military Sciences were each awarded third-class merits in defense science and technology. -0-

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping signs decree on awarding some military units and individuals /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping signed an order recognizing the achievements of two military units and five individuals.

    One of the organs of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Unit 63920 was awarded the First Class Merit Award. Ding Yang of the PLA Unit 92853 was awarded the First Class Merit Award in Defense Science and Technology.

    PLA Unit 96712 was awarded the Second Class Merit Award.

    Wang Haidou of the former Army Armored Academy, Gao Yuqi of the Army Medical University, Yang Zichun of the Naval Engineering University and Chen Wei of the Institute of Military Medicine under the Academy of Military Sciences were each awarded third-class merits in defense science and technology. -0-

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Strategic Enterprise KN Group Expands Hong Kong International Business Headquarters, Driving Corporate Globalisation and Economic Innovation (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Strategic Enterprise KN Group Expands Hong Kong International Business Headquarters, Driving Corporate Globalisation and Economic Innovation  
    The General Manager of KN Group Hong Kong and Global Head of Treasury at KN Group, Mr Lucas Kong stated that the collaboration reflects the company’s decade-long cultivation in AI financial technology and marks a significant milestone in bridging traditional finance services with global capital markets through digital pathways. He added that through the tokenisation of financial assets, KN Group aims to enhance service efficiency and transparency while continuing to drive innovation in the financial sector.
     
         The Executive Director of OASES, Mr Bryan Peng said, “KN Group’s business expansion and innovative development reflect the enterprise’s strong confidence in Hong Kong’s business environment. As outlined in the “Report on Hong Kong’s Business Environment: Unique strength under ‘One Country, Two Systems’” released by the Hong Kong Special Adminitrative Region (HKSAR) Government yesterday, the city is an ideal base for enterprises seeking global growth, and continues to demonstrate robust potential in emerging sectors such as fintech, Web3, artificial intelligence, and green finance. Earlier, the Securities and Futures Commission introduced the newly formulated ‘ASPIRe’ roadmap, and in June, the HKSAR Government issued Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong, providing a clear regulatory and development framework for the sector. These initiatives offer a solid foundation for KN Group and AlloyX to advance innovation in the digital asset space.”
     
    OASES is committed to providing one-stop facilitation services for strategic enterprises, facilitating their successful establishment in Hong Kong and fostering deep integration with the local innovation and business ecosystem.
    Issued at HKT 21:10

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Strategic Enterprise KN Group Expands Hong Kong International Business Headquarters, Driving Corporate Globalisation and Economic Innovation (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Strategic Enterprise KN Group Expands Hong Kong International Business Headquarters, Driving Corporate Globalisation and Economic Innovation  
    The General Manager of KN Group Hong Kong and Global Head of Treasury at KN Group, Mr Lucas Kong stated that the collaboration reflects the company’s decade-long cultivation in AI financial technology and marks a significant milestone in bridging traditional finance services with global capital markets through digital pathways. He added that through the tokenisation of financial assets, KN Group aims to enhance service efficiency and transparency while continuing to drive innovation in the financial sector.
     
         The Executive Director of OASES, Mr Bryan Peng said, “KN Group’s business expansion and innovative development reflect the enterprise’s strong confidence in Hong Kong’s business environment. As outlined in the “Report on Hong Kong’s Business Environment: Unique strength under ‘One Country, Two Systems’” released by the Hong Kong Special Adminitrative Region (HKSAR) Government yesterday, the city is an ideal base for enterprises seeking global growth, and continues to demonstrate robust potential in emerging sectors such as fintech, Web3, artificial intelligence, and green finance. Earlier, the Securities and Futures Commission introduced the newly formulated ‘ASPIRe’ roadmap, and in June, the HKSAR Government issued Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong, providing a clear regulatory and development framework for the sector. These initiatives offer a solid foundation for KN Group and AlloyX to advance innovation in the digital asset space.”
     
    OASES is committed to providing one-stop facilitation services for strategic enterprises, facilitating their successful establishment in Hong Kong and fostering deep integration with the local innovation and business ecosystem.
    Issued at HKT 21:10

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Medical school proposals assessed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Task Group on New Medical School convened its fourth meeting today to conduct an overall evaluation of the proposals for the establishment of the third medical school and discuss the next steps for the task group’s work.
     
    The task group is co-chaired by Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau and Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin.
     
    Previously, the task group had in-depth discussions with the three universities that submitted proposals, namely Baptist University, Polytechnic University and the University of Science & Technology. Subsequently, the expert advisors conducted a comprehensive review of the proposals.
     
    Apart from carrying out an overall assessment of the proposals today, the expert advisors also initiated the next phase of follow-up work involving a thorough study of the proposals’ funding arrangements and financial sustainability.
     
    A final recommendation on the establishment of the new medical school is expected to be provided to the Government later this year.
     
    Prof Lo said: “We will consolidate the views of all task group members and submit our recommendation to the Chief Executive as soon as possible.
     
    “The Government will thoroughly consider the task group’s report and announce the results in due course.”
     
    Ms Choi thanked the expert advisors and members of the task group for their efforts and valuable professional input throughout the evaluation process.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI: Two Senior Executives from S&P and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) join the Diginex team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, is delighted to announce the appointments of Andrew Harling as Chief Commercial Officer and Matthew Rusk as Vice President of Strategic Relationships, Americas, effective immediately. These key additions to the senior team reinforce Diginex’s commitment to accelerating growth and advancing innovation in sustainability worldwide.

    Andrew Harling joins Diginex’s executive team with over 20 years of experience in commercial leadership within the credit, technology, and sustainability sectors. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Sustainability Sales at S&P, where he drove significant revenue growth by delivering tailored ESG solutions to global enterprises. Prior to that, Harling was Chief Revenue Officer at Sustainable Fitch, where he spearheaded strategic initiatives to expand market share in sustainable finance. As Chief Commercial Officer, Harling will lead Diginex’s global commercial strategy, focusing on scaling client acquisition and driving adoption of the company’s cutting-edge sustainability platforms & solutions.

    Matthew Rusk brings extensive expertise in strategic relationship development and sustainability to his role as Vice President of Partnerships in the U.S. Rusk has over 15 years of experience progressing corporate sustainability, most recently as Head of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) North America, where he built strong relationships with corporations, financial institutions, service providers, NGOs, and policy makers to advance standardized sustainability reporting. In his new role, Rusk will focus on cultivating strategic alliances with key stakeholders to expand Diginex’s ecosystem and enhance its impact in the US market. Matthew’s experience, connections, and expertise make him an invaluable addition to Diginex’s U.S. leadership.

    “Andrew and Matthew bring exceptional expertise and a shared passion for sustainability that align perfectly with Diginex’s mission to empower organizations with transparent, AI-driven ESG solutions,” said Mark Blick, CEO of Diginex. “Their leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our market position and fostering partnerships that drive meaningful change.”

    About Diginex

    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. 

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 19 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website:

    https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: GL Supports Next-Gen SIP Testing and Emulation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GL Communications Inc., a global leader in telecom testing solutions, addressed the press regarding their SIP protocol emulation and testing solutions. In today’s dynamic telecom environment, ensuring the reliable operation of SIP-based VoIP devices and networks is essential. This powerful platform emulates all key SIP elements and generates real-time SIP and RTP traffic for thorough testing.

    [For illustration, refer to sip-architecture.jpg]

    Vijay Kulkarni, CEO of GL Communications, states “GL’s Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) is a flexible software program that can emulate a wide variety of telecommunications protocols. MAPS™ SIP is a specialized application within this platform that focuses on testing SIP-based communication systems. It emulates key SIP elements such as User Agent Client (UAC), User Agent Server (UAS), Registrar, and Redirect servers.”

    MAPS™ SIP emulates complex SIP call flows and supports high-volume call generation with real-time transmission of voice, video, fax, and messaging traffic. With full support for SIP over UDP, TCP, and TLS, it ensures performance validation, resolves interoperability issues, and confirms compliance with industry standards across VoIP and IP multimedia networks.

    Key Features:

    • Scalable Bulk Call Generation and Load Testing
      MAPS™ SIP supports up to 2,000 concurrent media calls at 250 calls per second (CPS) and 70,000 signaling-only calls at 750 CPS. With the MAPS™ RTP High Density appliance, it scales to 160,000 calls at 800 CPS, making it ideal for testing network performance under heavy load in both lab and field setups.
    • Flexible SIP Emulation for VoIP and Air Traffic Control Networks
      A single instance of MAPS™ SIP can emulate multiple SIP entities and generate diverse SIP messages without extra hardware. It also supports EUROCAE ED-137C standards, allowing accurate emulation of Air Traffic Control communication systems.
    • SIP Testing for Gateway and Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA)
      MAPS™ SIP validates Gateway and ATA devices by testing connectivity, signaling behavior, and voice quality. It handles RTP traffic types including voice, tones, digits, and both pass-through and T.38 fax.
    • Remote Control and Integration
      The platform supports remote operation via a client-server Command Line Interface and APIs in Python or Java. This enables easy automation, integration with external systems, and distributed testing across different environments.
    • Fax over IP Emulation and Analysis
      Automates fax call generation and analysis for both T.30 and T.38 sessions. Users can assess transmission quality, protocol handling, and system performance across SIP networks.
    • Instant Messaging Support for NG9-1-1 over SIP
      MAPS™ SIP integrates Message Session Relay Protocol (MSRP) to support instant messaging in NG9-1-1 networks. It enables testing of IM-only sessions as well as mixed audio and messaging scenarios to ensure emergency communication reliability.
    • Multimedia Call Emulation with Audio, Video, and Text Messaging
      The tool can emulate SIP calls with audio, video, and text messaging in a single session. Each call includes separate RTP streams for comprehensive end-to-end multimedia testing.
    • Ensuring Protocol Compliance Across SIP Interfaces
      MAPS™ SIP supports standard SIP as well as SIP-I, SIP IMS, and SIP MSRP. It helps verify protocol conformance across diverse implementations.
    • End-to-End IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Testing for VoLTE, VoWiFi, and 5G Services
      The MAPS™ SIP IMS Test Suite emulates core IMS nodes and supports SIP, RTP, and Diameter protocols. It’s ideal for testing VoLTE, VoNR, and 5G services, ensuring seamless session management and interoperability.
    • SIP Protocol Conformance Testing with ETSI Support
      With over 400 ETSI-based test cases (IETF RFC 3261, ETSI TS 102-027-2 v4.1.1 (2006-07)), MAPS™ SIP Conformance Suite ensures thorough validation of SIP implementations. It can be configured as a UAC to test UAS devices for registration, call control, proxy, and redirect functions.
    • Automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Testing
      MAPS™ SIP automates IVR testing by sending DTMF tones or voice inputs. This allows for seamless navigation through IVR prompts and validation of response accuracy.

    About GL Communications Inc.,

    GL Communications is a global provider of telecom test and measurement solutions. GL’s solutions verify the quality and reliability of Wireless, Fiber Optic, TDM and Analog networks.

    Warm Regards,

    Vikram Kulkarni, PhD

    Phone: 301-670-4784 x114

    Email: info@gl.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Veterans Legislation Passes Out of Committee, Heads to Senate Floor for Final Vote

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) legislation, the Veterans Homecare Choice Act—which aims to expand care options for veterans by allowing caregiver registries to qualify for the Community Care Network (CCN)—passed out of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The legislation would give veterans greater flexibility in choosing home health services—such as nursing care, health aides, or companion support—from independent professionals. The legislation effectively reverses limitations introduced by the 2018 VA MISSION Act, restoring access to homecare providers operating through caregiver registries and enabling reimbursement through the VA.

    “When our country’s heroes need medical care in their own homes, they should be able to decide what kind of service is best for them,” said Sen. Tuberville. “This bill fixes an obvious error that’s forcing veterans into one-size-fits-all homecare programs instead of giving them the options they deserve. Having care in the home is an important and personal decision. I’m glad to see this legislation pass out of committee and head to the floor for a vote.Veterans deserve the freedom to choose a homecare provider they trustand they are one step closer to being able to make that decision.”

    In addition to the Veterans Homecare Choice Act, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed the Veterans ACCESS Act, which included elements of the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, legislation Sen. Tuberville introduced earlier this year. The Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Actallows veterans to continue accessing community care for services they already receive, prevents disruptions for veterans receiving specialized treatments from community care providers, and provides veterans with the most convenient providers.

    MORE:

    Tuberville, Moran Introduce Legislation to Give Cost-of-Living Increase to Veterans

    Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Help Disabled Veterans

    Tuberville, VA Secretary Doug Collins Discuss Streamlining Processes to Improve Outcomes for Veterans

    Tuberville, Lee Introduce Legislation to Repurpose Woke USAID Funding to Improve Veterans’ Homes

    Tuberville, Boozman Introduce Legislation to Support Defrauded Veterans

    Tuberville Reintroduces Legislation to Expand Treatment Options for Veterans

    Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Ensure Community Care Access for Veterans

    Tuberville, Moran Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care for Veterans

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: China improves people’s well-being through digital, intelligent services

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

    China improves people’s well-being through digital, intelligent services

    Xinhua | July 31, 2025

    Last year, China continued its digitization drive across various public services, including medical care, health, social security, employment and elderly care, further boosting the well-being of the people, according to a newly-released report.

    By the end of 2024, 418 million people were using internet-based medical services in China, and 1.07 billion people had electronic social security cards, Wen Ruisong, an official of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said at an event that saw the release of the report on China’s informatization drive.

    Throughout 2024, Chinese authorities continued to improve the equitability, universality and accessibility of digitized services for the people, Wen noted.

    Through this drive, the country also saw steady progress in the construction of its national cultural big data system, and further streamlined government services with increased efficiency, Wen added. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: APEC Economies Step Up Cooperation on Digital Policy Challenges Incheon, Republic of Korea | 29 July 2025 APEC Digital Economy Steering Group

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    APEC member economies have concluded a two-day meeting of the Digital Economy Steering Group in Incheon, Republic of Korea, with renewed momentum to strengthen cross-border collaboration on digital regulation, online safety and sustainability.

    From artificial intelligence (AI) to online scams and environmental impact, the meeting focused on the critical balance between enabling innovation and safeguarding users, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, youth, as well as small businesses.

    “There is growing recognition that growth in the digital economy must go hand in hand with trust, inclusion and responsibility,” said Ichwan Makmur Nasution, Chair of the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG). “The solutions we’re exploring are not only about technology. They’re about protecting people, building resilience and ensuring no one is left behind.”

    Throughout the meeting, delegates grappled with how to align digital regulations across borders without stifling innovation. Conversations around data privacy, cybersecurity and AI governance reflected the diversity of legal systems and policy approaches in the region, while underscoring a shared urgency to create interoperable, forward-looking digital frameworks.

    One of the central policy dialogues examined how economies can better manage harmful online content, misinformation and abuse. These issues threaten not only individual safety but also social trust and economic participation. The discussion highlighted the disproportionate impact of online harms on women and youth, urging greater investment in digital literacy, user protection and responsible platform governance.

    As part of its forward agenda, the group examined the environmental footprint of AI and digital infrastructure. From growing energy demands to electronic waste, members explored how policy and innovation can work together to reduce the sector’s impact while supporting continued digital growth.

    Ongoing and proposed APEC-funded projects covered a wide range of priorities, from AI policy cooperation and Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) to micro, small and medium enterprises’ access to digital trade.

    “This meeting reinforced the strategic value of DESG as a platform for shared learning and joint action,” said Nasution. “It’s not just about exchanging views. It’s about building alignment where possible and respecting diversity where needed, so that our cooperation continues to deliver real value to people across the APEC region.”

    Held under the APEC 2025 theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,” the DESG meeting was part of the broader Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) hosted by Korea. During this meeting cluster, there will be over 30 events related to digital innovation, including at the upcoming APEC Digital Ministerial Meeting and the Global Digital and AI Forum to be held on 4-5 August.


    For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

    [email protected]

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Mats Persson visits United States to attend launch of Marcus Wandt space mission

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Minister for Education Mats Persson is visiting the United States on 15–20 January to attend the launch of a mission involving Sweden’s latest astronaut, Marcus Wandt. Mr Persson will also visit New York for meetings and study visits with a focus on STEM education and research, technology and AI.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ATO’s tax time support available for the community

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the range of support services available to the community during tax time.

    ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson encouraged the community to reach out for help and assistance in managing their tax affairs if needed.

    ‘The ATO’s priority is assisting taxpayers to get their lodgments right the first time, and we have programs and services available to assist you,’ said Mr Thomson.

    Tax Help and Tax Clinics

    The Tax Help program is a free and confidential service that has been helping eligible individuals with simple tax affairs lodge their tax return for more than 35 years. Appointments are available in person at tax help centres around the country, by phone, or online. Tax Help volunteers can also assist with creating a myGov account, lodging an amendment to your tax return, claiming a refund of franking credits, and informing the ATO if you don’t need to lodge a tax return.

    ‘This year we have increased the income eligibility criteria to support those earning $70,000 or less per year, up from $60,000 last year,’ said Mr Thomson.

    The National Tax Clinic programExternal Link is a government-funded initiative that supports eligible individuals, including small businesses, who are unable to access tax advice and assistance. Tax clinics operate independently through various TAFE and university campuses located in every Australian state and territory, and many clinics offer phone, web conferencing and face-to-face services.

    Support for First Nations people

    The ATO’s Indigenous helpline is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and provides specialised tax and super assistance.

    ‘This can include things like getting a TFN, lodging your tax return, finding your super, or locating your nearest Tax Help centre if you’d prefer face-to-face support,’ said Mr Thomson.

    The Indigenous Helpline is available on 13 10 30, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm (excluding public holidays).

    Support for culturally and linguistically diverse taxpayers

    The ATO has a range of translated information to help people better understand tax and superannuation in their preferred language.

    Taxpayers can find tax time resources in over 20 languages, and a range of other tax and superannuation information including guidance about lodgment, how to lodge and what deductions you may be able to claim.

    Self-help options and lodging through a registered tax agent

    The ATO’s digital self-help tools are the easiest and quickest way to get help this tax time, with a range of online services available for individuals and businesses.

    Specialised help and support is available on the ATO website for taxpayers, including tailored tax and super information for those with a disability.

    The ATO app, myTax and ATO CommunityExternal Link are also helpful in managing your tax affairs online, without needing to call the ATO.

    You can check on the progress of your return by using ATO online services through myGovExternal Link or the ATO app.

    ‘The ATO app has new security features to help protect your account. Setting up a strong digital identity on the app also allows you to protect yourself this tax time to ensure your interactions online are safe and secure, including notifying you of any suspicious activity on your account,’ said Mr Thomson.

    If you’d like assistance in lodging a tax return, you can lodge through a registered tax agent. To check a tax agent is registered, see the Tax Practitioners Board’s Public RegisterExternal Link.

    Be cautious about how you use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for tax and super information. You may get false or inaccurate information from AI tools. Always check the information you get with a trusted source like the ATO website or your registered tax agent.

    Our commitments to you

    The ATO Charter outlines the relationship we seek with the community – a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.

    The Charter provides taxpayers with an understanding of what we expect when they interact with us, including courtesy and respect, meeting their obligations and being responsive to us.

    ‘The Charter explains our commitments to all taxpayers, including fair and reasonable treatment, professional service, support and assistance where required, the security of their data and privacy and being transparent and accountable in our interactions with the community,’ said Mr Thomson.

    Notes to journalists

    Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson is available for interviews on request.

    A high-resolution headshot of ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson (JPEG, 3.5MB) This link will download a file is available for download from our media centre.

    ATO stock footage and images are available for use in news bulletins from our media centre.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Schmitt, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill reauthorizing the construction of a memorial honoring commitment and service of EMS members

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) introduced a bipartisan bill to extend the deadline for the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the nation’s EMS professionals. This extension is necessary to ensure EMS personnel, who have dedicated their career to providing life-saving care, receive long-overdue recognition in the nation’s capital. The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

    “Every day, emergency medical technicians are the first line of support when lives in their communities are in danger, sometimes throwing themselves into dangerous and deadly situations to begin treatment,” said Senator Coons. “These first responders deserve to be commemorated in our nation’s capital, and I’ll continue to work to ensure that the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial is completed. This bipartisan bill would mean that EMS organizations have the time they need to build a memorial worthy of them, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass it into law.”

    “EMTs and paramedics in Missouri, and across the United States, work tirelessly during emergencies, often putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives. Thanks to this legislation, our emergency medical service providers will have a well-deserved national memorial that reminds the public of their commitment to service and honors those who have died in the line-of-duty,” said Senator Schmitt.

    “Every single day, emergency medical services first responders are saving lives throughout the nation,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this effort to create a memorial to recognize the heroic Americans who are first on the scene, providing medical care in our communities.”

    “As a doctor, I have seen the tight coordination of EMS first responders making sure that someone who has a problem outside the hospital survives and gets well once more. They deserve to be honored with a permanent tribute in our nation’s capital,” said Dr. Cassidy.

    “EMS workers put their lives on the line every single day to protect families and save lives,” said Senator Warren. “We owe them our deep respect and thanks for their selfless service.”

    “Wyoming’s EMS professionals commit themselves to delivering critical, life-saving services throughout our rural state, frequently facing personal danger,” said Senator Lummis. “This bipartisan bill extends the deadline for establishing a National EMS Memorial in Washington, D.C., ensuring these courageous individuals receive the long overdue recognition they deserve in our nation’s capital. I look forward to the opportunity to visit this memorial and honor their extraordinary service someday.”

    A companion bill in the House of Representatives is led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.). The bill is endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), the American Ambulance Association (AAA), and the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC).

    “NAEMT commends Senator Schmitt and Senator Coons for introducing legislation to reauthorize the EMS Memorial in Washington, D.C.,” said NAEMT President Chief Chris Wray. “The permanent creation and placement of the National EMS Memorial should remain a top priority for all of us, elected officials and EMS leaders alike. Much like our fire service and law enforcement colleagues, honoring those who died in the line of duty, in service to others and their communities, with a proper memorial is the least we can do to pay appropriate respect to these heroes. I urge you to join me and my fellow EMS professionals in supporting this incredibly important project. Let’s make sure we never forget the ultimate price paramedics, EMTs, and other EMS personnel have paid by honoring their ultimate sacrifice.”

    “The American Ambulance Association sincerely thank Senators Coons and Schmitt for reintroducing legislation to reauthorize the National EMS Memorial in our nation’s capital,” said AAA President Jamie Pafford-Gresham. “Paramedics, EMTs and other EMS professionals provide vital and often lifesaving 9-1-1 emergency and interfacility medical care to our communities and we should properly acknowledge their profession.”

    “The proposed extension of this legislative authority through November 3, 2032, represents both a timely and vital step toward ensuring that the courage, compassion, and sacrifice of our EMS professionals are permanently recognized in our nation’s capital,” said IAEMSC President Scott Cormier. “EMS clinicians—often the first to respond in times of crisis—have long stood as unsung heroes within the public safety community. Their commitment to saving lives in the face of disaster and danger merits a place of national remembrance alongside our fire and law enforcement counterparts.”

    The original bill introduced in 2018, titled the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act, authorized the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in D.C. within seven years of enactment. However, the Foundation’s authority to create a memorial expired before the project could be completed due to delays caused by COVID-19 and other challenges. The new legislation would extend the authorization through 2032.

    The memorial will be fully funded by the foundation rather than taxpayer, and any extra funds will be returned to the federal government after the project wraps up.

    You can read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 31, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 31, 2025.

    5 reasons why wind farms are costing more in Australia – and what to do about it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magnus Söderberg, Professor and Director, Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research, Griffith University Saeed Khan/Getty Building a solar farm in Australia is getting about 8% cheaper each year as panel prices fall and technology improves, according to an official new report. Battery storage costs are

    Sporty spice: how romance fiction is adding a new dynamic to sports fandom
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University Sports fans might love their teams, cheer or curse each game’s result and admire their favourite athletes, but we rarely associate sports with romance. However, that may be slowly changing thanks to the recent spike in the popularity

    Just as NZ began collecting meaningful data on rainbow communities, census changes threaten their visibility
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lori Leigh, Research Fellow in Public Health, University of Otago Getty Images New Zealand’s 2023 census was the first to collect data on gender identity and sexual orientation, showing one in 20 adults identify as LGBTQIA+. But just as reports from this more inclusive census are being

    Big tech says AI could boost Australia’s economy by $115 billion a year. Does the evidence stack up?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Uri Gal, Professor in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Imaginima / Getty Images AI is on the agenda in Canberra. In August, the Productivity Commission will release an interim report on harnessing data and digital technology such as AI “to boost productivity growth, accelerate innovation and

    Progress on Closing the Gap is stagnant or going backwards. Here are 3 things to help fix it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeleine Pugin, Research Fellow, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University The Productivity Commission’s latest data on Closing the Gap progress represents an unsurprisingly grim overview of the socioeconomic inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Closing the Gap is the plan federal and

    More than 2 in 5 young Australians are lonely, our new report shows. This is what could help
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle H. Lim, Associate Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney Oliver Rossi/Getty Images Loneliness is not a word often associated with young people. We tend to think of our youth as a time spent with family, friends and being engaged with school and work

    How migrant business owners turn their identity into an asset, despite some bumps along the way
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shea X. Fan, Associate Professor, Human Resource Management, Deakin University Odua Images/Shutterstock Too often, it’s anti-immigration sentiment dominating headlines in Australia. But a quieter story is going untold. Migrants are not just fitting into Australian society, they’re actively reshaping it through entrepreneurship. Starting a business is difficult

    The Man from Hong Kong at 50: how the first ever Australian–Hong Kong co-production became a cult classic
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Ferris, Senior Lecturer, Media Arts & Production, University of Technology Sydney LMPC via Getty Images A cinematic firecracker of a film exploded onto international screens 50 years ago this week, blending martial arts mayhem, Bond-esque set pieces, casual racism – and a distinctly Australian swagger. From

    Rules for calculating climate risk in financial reporting by NZ businesses need revisiting – new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martien Lubberink, Associate Professor of Accounting and Capital, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Andrew MacDonald/Getty Images The recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on climate action marked a significant step forward in formalising an idea many already accept: climate inaction is not merely

    Climate justice victory at the ICJ – the student journey from USP lectures to The Hague
    By Vahefonua Tupola in Suva The University of the South Pacific (USP) is at the heart of a global legal victory with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivering a historic opinion last week affirming that states have binding legal obligations to protect the environment from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The case, hailed as a

    Climate justice victory at the ICJ – the student journey from USP lectures to The Hague
    By Vahefonua Tupola in Suva The University of the South Pacific (USP) is at the heart of a global legal victory with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivering a historic opinion last week affirming that states have binding legal obligations to protect the environment from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The case, hailed as a

    Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Today at about 11:30am local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s far east. Originating at a depth of roughly 20 kilometres, today’s powerful earthquake – among the ten strongest in recorded

    Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Today at about 11:30am local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s far east. Originating at a depth of roughly 20 kilometres, today’s powerful earthquake – among the ten strongest in recorded

    Tsunami warnings are triggering mass evacuations across the Pacific – even though the waves look small. Here’s why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor and Principal Fellow in Urban Risk and Resilience, The University of Melbourne Last night, one of the ten largest earthquakes ever recorded struck Kamchatka, the sparsely populated Russian peninsula facing the Pacific. The magnitude 8.8 quake had its epicentre in the sea just

    NAPLAN is just one test. Here’s what to do if your child’s results were in the bottom bands
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Larsen, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of New England Rawpixel/ Getty Images The latest round of NAPLAN results are out, along with a string of news reports about “students falling behind” and “failing”, and experts sounding the “alarm” about school progress. In March, all Australian students

    Inflation slows again — but is it enough for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stella Huangfu, Associate Professor, School of Economics, University of Sydney Doublelee/Shutterstock Inflation is moving in the right direction, but new figures released today may not be soft enough to trigger a cut in official interest rates in August. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the June quarter

    With the UK and France moving toward recognising Palestine, will Australia now follow suit?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University One of the smallest and most exclusive clubs in the world belongs to states. The US Department of State puts the number of independent recognised states at 197, while others count 200. The United Nations, meanwhile, has 193

    With the UK and France moving toward recognising Palestine, will Australia follow suit?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University One of the smallest and most exclusive clubs in the world belongs to states. The US Department of State puts the number of independent recognised states at 197, while others count 200. The United Nations, meanwhile, has 193

    An underwater observatory keeping the pulse of the Southern Ocean for nearly 30 years yields fresh results
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Traill, PhD Candidate Southern Ocean biogeochemistry, University of Tasmania Elizabeth Shadwick In a world affected by climate change, the Southern Ocean plays an outsized role. It absorbs up to 40% of the human-caused emissions taken up by the oceans while also being home to some of

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Euronet Worldwide Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results – Highlighted by 13% Operating Income Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Digital growth strategy accelerated with the announced acquisition of leading credit card issuing platform
    • Ren signs agreement with top tier United States bank
    • Money Transfer expands digital remittance through Google partnership
    • Money Transfer enters Japanese market with acquisition of Kyodai Remittance
    • Operating margin expansion of 112 basis points

    LEAWOOD, Kan., July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Euronet (“Euronet” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: EEFT), a global leader in payments processing and cross-border transactions, announced today second quarter 2025 financial results.

    Euronet reports the following consolidated results for the second quarter 2025 compared with the same period of 2024:

    • Revenues of $1,074.3 million, a 9% increase from $986.2 million (6% increase on a constant currency1 basis).
    • Operating income of $158.6 million, an 18% increase from $134.3 million (13% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Adjusted EBITDA2 of $206.2 million, a 16% increase  from $178.2 million (11% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Net income attributable to Euronet of $97.6 million, or $2.27 diluted earnings per share, compared with $83.1 million, or $1.73 diluted earnings per share.
    • Adjusted earnings per share3 of $2.56, a 14% increase from $2.25. 

    See the reconciliation of non-GAAP items in the attached financial schedules.   

    “I’m very pleased with the business’ constant currency operating profit growth of 13% and the margin expansion of 112 basis points—on its own, this is exciting.  But, I’m more excited about our accomplishments to further our digital strategy through the acquisition of a leading credit card issuing platform – CoreCard – and the signing of a Ren agreement with one of the top three banks in the United States. 

    The acquisition of CoreCard fits nicely with our Ren platform. As described in a separate press release, this is not just a credit issuing platform, it’s a platform serving leading brands in the US, processing at scale, tried and tested. This premier product gives us yet more opportunity to go after the $10 billion issuing market where the market growth rates are much stronger outside the United States, which aligns strongly with our global business where more than 75% of our revenues are from outside the United States.  Moreover, another exciting aspect of the issuing business is its margin opportunity, nearing 50 percent.  It’s these kinds of initiatives that have contributed to our 20-year double digit growth rate and will continue to drive future growth – focused on digital payments.  This acquisition is directly in line with our strategy to shift a stronger mix of our business toward the digital economy. 

    Not only did we advance our digital agenda with the credit issuing platform, we just signed an agreement with one of the top three banks in the United States for the deployment of our Ren ATM operating and switching product.  While we have had many successes with Ren outside the US, this is not just the first agreement in the US we’ve signed, but it is with super impressive top-tiered bank – a real testament to the value proposition of Ren”, said Michael J. Brown, Euronet’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

    Segment and Other Results

    The EFT Processing Segment reports the following results for the second quarter 2025 compared with the same period or date in 2024:

    • Revenues of $338.5 million, an 11% increase from $305.4 million (6% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Operating income of $84.6million, a 6% increase from $79.9 million (1% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $110.6 million, a 5% increase from $105.0 million (no change on a constant currency basis).
    • Total of 57,326 installed ATMs as of June 30, 2025, a 5% increase from 54,736. We operated 56,760 active ATMs as of June 30, 2025, a 5% increase from 54,005 as of June 30, 2024.

    Constant currency revenue, operating income, and adjusted EBITDA growth in the second quarter 2025 was driven by market expansion, growth across most existing markets and the addition of access fees and an increase in interchange fees in certain markets. 

    The epay Segment reports the following results for the Q2 2025 compared with the same period or date in 2024:

    • Revenues of $280.1 million, a 7% increase from $260.9 million (5% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Operating income of $31.1 million, a 19% increase from $26.2 million (17% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $32.8 million, a 17% increase from $28.0 million (15% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Transactions of 1,107 million, consistent with prior year.
    • POS terminals of approximately 721,000 as of June 30, 2025, a 3% increase from 703,000.
    • Retailer locations of approximately 354,000 as of June 30, 2025, a 4% increase from 340,000.

    Constant currency revenue growth was driven by continued payments and digital media growth. Operating income and adjusted EBITDA grew faster than revenue, driven by a shift in product mix and effective operating expense management. Transaction growth from payments and digital media was offset by a decrease in low margin mobile transactions in India.

    The Money Transfer Segment reports the following results for the Q2 2025 compared with the same period or date in 2024:

    • Revenues of $457.9 million, a 9% increase from $421.8 million (6% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Operating income of $65.6 million, a 39% increase from $47.3 million (33% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Operating margin expansion of 296 basis points
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $71.6 million, a 33% increase from $54.0 million (28% increase on a constant currency basis).
    • Total transactions of 46.1 million, a 4% increase from 44.3 million.
    • Total digital transactions of 5.8 million, a 29% increase from 4.5 million.
    • Network locations of approximately 631,000 as of June 30, 2025, an 8% increase from approximately 586,000.

    Constant currency revenue growth was primarily driven by growth in cross-border transactions, partially offset by a decrease in intra-US transactions. Direct-to-consumer digital transactions grew by 29%, reflecting continued consumer demand for digital products. Operating income and adjusted EBITDA growth outpaced revenue growth due to gross margin expansion and leverage of scale. Additionally, the Money Transfer segment continued to expand both its market footprint through the acquisition of a 60% interest in Kyodai Remittance as well as its industry leading global payments network to now reach 4.1 billion bank accounts, 3.2 billion wallet accounts and 631,000 payment locations.

    Corporate and Other reports $22.7 million of expense for the second quarter 2025 compared with $19.1 million for the second quarter 2024. The increase in corporate expenses is largely from the increase in long-term share-based compensation.

    Balance Sheet and Financial Position
    Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents on hand was $1,329.3 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $1,393.6 million as of March 31, 2025. Total indebtedness was $2,438.1 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $2,202.5 million as of March 31, 2025. Availability under the Company’s revolving credit facilities was approximately $884.2 million as of June 30, 2025. 

    The change in net cash is the result of cash generated from operations, working capital fluctuations and share repurchases of $2.3 million shares for $247 million during the second quarter.

    Outlook
    Taking into consideration recent trends in the business and the global economy, the Company anticipates its 2025 adjusted EPS will grow 12% to 16% year-over-year, consistent with its 10- and 20-year compounded annualized growth rates. This outlook does not include any changes that may develop in foreign exchange rates, interest rates or other unforeseen factors.

    Non-GAAP Measures
    In addition to the results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company presents non-GAAP financial measures, such as constant currency financial measures, operating income, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings per share. These measures should be used in addition to, and not a substitute for, revenues, operating income, net income and earnings per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors regarding the Company’s performance and overall results of operations. These non-GAAP measures are also an integral part of the Company’s internal reporting and performance assessment for executives and senior management. The non-GAAP measures used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. The attached schedules provide a full reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure.

    The Company does not provide a reconciliation of its forward-looking non-GAAP measures to GAAP due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for GAAP and the related GAAP and non-GAAP reconciliation, including adjustments that would be necessary for foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and other charges reflected in the Company’s reconciliation of historic numbers, the amount of which, based on historical experience, could be significant.  

    (1) Constant currency financial measures are computed as if foreign currency exchange rates did not change from the prior period. This information is provided to illustrate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the Company’s results when compared to the prior period.

    (2) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding, to the extent incurred in the period, interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation and other non-cash purchase accounting adjustments, non-operating or non-recurring items that are considered expenses or income under U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA represents a performance measure and is not intended to represent a liquidity measure.

    (3) Adjusted earnings per share is defined as diluted U.S. GAAP earnings per share excluding, to the extent incurred in the period, the tax-effected impacts of: a) foreign currency exchange gains or losses, b) share-based compensation, c) acquired intangible asset amortization, d) non-cash income tax expense, e) non-cash investment gain f) other non-operating or non-recurring items and g) dilutive shares relate to the Company’s convertible bonds. Adjusted earnings per share represent a performance measure and is not intended to represent a liquidity measure. 

    Conference Call and Slide Presentation
    Euronet Worldwide will host an analyst conference call on July 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. The call may also include discussion of Company developments on the Company’s operations, forward-looking information, and other material information about business and financial matters. The conference call and accompanying slide show presentation will be accessible via webcast by following the link posted on http://ir.euronetworldwide.com.  Participants wanting to access the conference call by telephone should dial (800)715-9871 (USA) or (646)307-1963 (international).

    A webcast replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the event at http://ir.euronet worldwide.com and will remain available for one year.

    About Euronet Worldwide, Inc.
    A global leader in payments processing and cross-border transactions, Euronet moves money in all the ways consumers and businesses depend upon. This includes money transfers, credit/debit processing, ATMs, point-of-sale services, branded payments, currency exchange and more. With products and services in more than 200 countries and territories provided through its own brand and branded business segments, Euronet and its financial technologies and networks make participation in the global economy easier, faster and more secure for everyone. Visit the company’s website at www.euronetworldwide.com.

    Starting in Central Europe in 1994, Euronet now supports an extensive global real-time digital and cash payments network that includes 57,326 installed ATMs, approximately 1.2 million EFT point-of-sale terminals and a growing portfolio of outsourced debit and credit card services which are under management in 69 countries; card software solutions; a prepaid processing network of approximately 721,000 point-of-sale terminals at approximately 354,000 retailer locations in 64 countries; and a global money transfer network of approximately 631,000 locations serving 200 countries and territories with digital connections to 4.1 billion bank accounts, 3.2 billion digital wallet accounts and 4.0 billion Visa debit cards through Visa Direct payments. Euronet serves clients from its corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and 67 worldwide offices. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.euronetworldwide.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements and other forward-looking statements in this document by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “could,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “potential,” “intend,” “plan,” “assume,” “believe,” “forecast,” “look,” “build,” “focus,” “create,” “work,” “continue,” “target,” “poised,” “advance,” “drive,” “aim,” “forecast,” “approach,” “seek,” “schedule,” “position,” “pursue,” “progress,” “budget,” “outlook,” “trend,” “guidance,” “commit,” “on track,” “objective,” “goal,” “strategy,” “opportunity,” “ambitions,” “aspire” and similar expressions, and variations or negative of such terms or other variations thereof. Words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. 

    Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such statements regarding the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement’), dated as of July 30, 2025, by and among CoreCard, Euronet and Genesis Merger Sub Inc. (the “Transaction”), including the expected timing of the closing of the Transaction; future financial and operating results; benefits and synergies of the Transaction; future opportunities for the combined company; the conversion of equity interests contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the issuance of common stock of Euronet contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the expected filing by Euronet with the SEC of the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed Transaction considering the various closing conditions and any other statements about future expectations that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All such forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Euronet and CoreCard, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the Transaction, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the Transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreement; the possibility that CoreCard’s shareholders may not approve the Transaction; the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the Transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the Transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Euronet’s common stock; the risk that the Transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the parties’ business relationships and business generally, including the ability of CoreCard or Euronet to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; the risk of unforeseen or unknown liabilities; customer, shareholder, regulatory and other stakeholder approvals and support; the risk of potential litigation relating to the Transaction that could be instituted against CoreCard or its directors and/or officers; the risk associated with third party contracts containing material consent, anti-assignment, transfer or other provisions that may be related to the Transaction which are not waived or otherwise satisfactorily resolved; the risk of rating agency actions and Euronet’s ability to access short- and long-term debt markets on a timely and affordable basis; the risk of various events that could disrupt operations, including: conditions in world financial markets and general economic conditions; inflation; the war in Ukraine and the related economic sanctions; and military conflicts in the Middle East.

    These risks, as well as other risks related to the proposed Transaction, will be described in the Registration Statement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Transaction. While the list of factors presented here and the list of factors to be presented in the Registration Statement are considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in each company’s filings with the SEC, including each company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as it may be updated from time to time by quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, all of which are available at the SEC’s website http://www.sec.gov. Euronet regularly posts important information to the investor relations section of its website. Any forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by law, neither Euronet nor CoreCard intends to update these forward-looking statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstances.

    Important Information for Investors and Stockholders
    In connection with the proposed transaction, Euronet plans to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), which will include a proxy statement of CoreCard that also constitutes a prospectus of Euronet, and any other documents in connection with the transaction. After the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the holders of common stock of CoreCard. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF CORECARD AND EURONET ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EURONET, CORECARD, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Euronet or CoreCard with the SEC, when filed, will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, investors and stockholders may obtain free copies of documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC by Euronet, including the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus, on Euronet’s website at https://ir.euronetworldwide.com/for-investors, and may obtain free copies of documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC by CoreCard, including the proxy statement/prospectus, on CoreCard’s website at https://investors.CoreCard.com/. The information included on, or accessible through, Euronet’s or CoreCard’s website is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

    No Offer or Solicitation
    This press release is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to appropriate registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Participants in the Solicitation
    Euronet and CoreCard and their respective directors, executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from CoreCard’s shareholders in connection with the proposed Transaction. A description of participants’ direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed Transaction when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding Euronet’s directors and executive officers is contained in the definitive proxy statement, dated April 4, 2025, for its 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, and in Euronet’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Information regarding CoreCard’s directors and executive officers is contained in CoreCard’s definitive proxy statement, dated April 14, 2025, for its 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, and CoreCard’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Additional information regarding ownership of Euronet’s securities by its directors and executive officers, and of ownership of CoreCard’s securities by its directors and executive officers, is included in each such person’s SEC filings on Forms 3 and 4. These documents and the other SEC filings described in this paragraph may be obtained free of charge as described above under the heading “Important Information for Investors and Stockholders.”

     EURONET WORLDWIDE, INC.
     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
     (in millions)
      As of    
      June 30,   As of
      2025   December 31,
      (unaudited)   2024
    ASSETS          
    Current assets:          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,329.3   $ 1,278.8
    ATM cash   937.4     643.8
    Restricted cash   40.3     9.2
    Settlement assets   1,547.1     1,522.7
    Trade accounts receivable, net   328.4     284.9
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   353.8     297.1
    Total current assets   4,536.3     4,036.5
               
    Property and equipment, net   365.0     329.7
    Right of use lease asset, net   152.5     132.1
    Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net   1,160.4     1,048.1
    Other assets, net   340.7     288.1
    Total assets $ 6,554.9   $ 5,834.5
               
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
    Current liabilities:          
    Settlement obligations $ 1,547.1   $ 1,522.7
    Accounts payable and other current liabilities   898.3     842.3
    Current portion of operating lease obligations   55.0     48.3
    Short-term debt obligations   1,434.8     812.7
    Total current liabilities   3,935.2     3,226.0
               
    Debt obligations, net of current portion   1,002.3     1,134.4
    Operating lease obligations, net of current portion   100.8     87.4
    Capital lease obligations, net of current portion   1.0     1.4
    Deferred income taxes   64.4     71.8
    Other long-term liabilities   87.8     84.3
    Total liabilities   5,191.5     4,605.3
    Total equity   1,363.4     1,229.2
    Total liabilities and equity $ 6,554.9   $ 5,834.5
     EURONET WORLDWIDE, INC.
     Consolidated Statements of Operations
     (unaudited – in millions, except share and per share data)
       Three Months Ended
       June 30,
      2025     2024  
    Revenues $ 1,074.3     $ 986.2  
               
    Operating expenses:          
    Direct operating costs, exclusive of depreciation   620.6       580.8  
    Salaries and benefits   173.5       158.0  
    Selling, general and administrative   87.8       79.4  
    Depreciation and amortization   33.8       33.7  
    Total operating expenses   915.7       851.9  
    Operating income   158.6       134.3  
               
    Other income (expense):          
    Interest income   6.2       5.9  
    Interest expense   (28.2 )     (20.1 )
    Foreign currency exchange loss, net   (5.7 )     1.5  
    Other income   0.4       0.8  
    Total other expense, net   (27.3 )     (11.9 )
    Income before income taxes   131.3       122.4  
               
    Income tax expense   (33.6 )     (39.2 )
    Net income   97.7       83.2  
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   (0.1 )     (0.1 )
    Net income attributable to Euronet Worldwide, Inc. $ 97.6     $ 83.1  
    Add: Interest expense from assumed conversion of convertible notes, net of tax   0.1       1.0  
    Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation $ 97.7     $ 84.1  
    Earnings per share attributable to Euronet          
    Worldwide, Inc. stockholders – diluted $ 2.27     $ 1.73  
               
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding   42,954,631       48,700,270  
     EURONET WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Operating Income (Expense) to Operating Income (Expense) and Adjusted EBITDA
     (unaudited – in millions)

    .

      Three months ended June 30, 2025
      EFT
    Processing
    epay Money
    Transfer
    Corporate
    Services
    Consolidated
    Net income                         $ 97.7
    Add: Income tax expense                           33.6
    Add: Total other expense, net                           27.3
    Operating income (expense) $ 84.6   $ 31.1   $ 65.6   $ (22.7 )   $ 158.6
    Add: Depreciation and amortization   26.0     1.7     6.0     0.1       33.8
    Add: Share-based compensation               13.8       13.8
    Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based
    compensation (Adjusted EBITDA)
    $ 110.6   $ 32.8   $ 71.6   $ (8.8 )   $ 206.2

    .

      Three months ended June 30, 2024
      EFT
    Processing
    epay Money
    Transfer
    Corporate
    Services
    Consolidated
    Net income                         $ 83.2
    Add: Income tax expense                           39.2
    Add: Total other expense, net                           11.9
    Operating income (expense) $ 79.9   $ 26.2   $ 47.3   $ (19.1 )   $ 134.3
    Add: Depreciation and amortization   25.1     1.8     6.7     0.1       33.7
    Add: Share-based compensation               10.2       10.2
    Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based
    compensation (Adjusted EBITDA) (1)
    $ 105.0   $ 28.0   $ 54.0   $ (8.8 )   $ 178.2


    (1)
    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that should be considered in addition to, and not a substitute for, net income computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

     EURONET WORLDWIDE, INC.
     Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings per Share
     (unaudited – in millions, except share and per share data)
     
      Three Months Ended
      June 30,
      2025     2024  
    Net income attributable to Euronet Worldwide, Inc. $ 97.6     $ 83.1  
    Foreign currency exchange loss (gain)   5.7       (1.5 )
    Intangible asset amortization (1)   4.7       6.5  
    Share-based compensation (2)   13.8       10.2  
    Income tax effect of above adjustments (3)   (13.7 )     4.3  
    Non-cash investment gain (4)   (0.4 )      
    Non-cash GAAP tax expense (5)   3.0       1.9  
    Adjusted earnings (6) $ 110.7     $ 104.5  
    Adjusted earnings per share – diluted (6) $ 2.56     $ 2.25  
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (GAAP)   42,954,631       48,700,270  
    Effect of adjusted EPS dilution of convertible notes   (176,123 )     (2,781,818 )
    Effect of unrecognized share-based compensation on diluted shares
    outstanding
      406,912       420,305  
    Adjusted diluted weighted average shares outstanding   43,185,420       46,338,757  

    (1) Intangible asset amortization of $4.7 million and $6.5 million are included in depreciation and amortization expense of $33.8 million and $33.7 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024, in the consolidated statements of operations.

    (2) Share-based compensation of $13.8 million and $10.2 million are included in salaries and benefits expense of $173.5 million and $158.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively, in the consolidated statements of operations.

    (3) Adjustment is the aggregate U.S. GAAP income tax effect on the preceding adjustments determined by applying the applicable statutory U.S. federal, state and/or foreign income tax rates. 

    (4) Non-cash investment gain of $0.4 million is included in other income in the consolidated statement of operations.

    (5) Adjustment is the non-cash GAAP tax impact recognized on certain items such as the utilization of certain material net deferred tax assets and amortization of indefinite-lived intangible assets.

    (6) Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP measures that should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income and earnings per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden and the United States strengthen energy research cooperation

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Research and innovation promote progress in the energy sector. Minister for Education Mats Persson today signed an implementation agreement for energy research cooperation with the United States. The agreement was signed in the Reactor Hall at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, where research reactor R1 – Sweden’s first nuclear reactor – contributed to research between 1954 and 1970.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale: Second quarter and first half 2025 results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESULTS AT 30 JUNE 2025

    Press release                                                         
    Paris, 31 July 2025, 6:25 a.m.

    GROUP NET INCOME OF EUR 3.1BN IN H1 25, UP +71% VS. H1 24

    UPGRADE OF 2025 TARGETS

    FIRST ADDITIONAL SHARE BUY-BACK OF EUR 1BN

    NEW INTERIM CASH DIVIDEND OF EUR 0.611 PER SHARE

    • Group revenues at EUR 13.9 billion in H1 25, up +8.6% excluding asset disposals vs. H1 24, exceeding 2025 annual target > +3%
    • Costs down -2.6% in H1 25 vs. H1 24, excluding asset disposals, ahead of our 2025 annual target of a decrease higher than -1%
    • Cost / income ratio at 64.4% in H1 25, below the initial annual target of <66% for 2025
    • Solid asset quality with a low cost of risk at 24bps in H1 25, below the 2025 annual target of 25 to 30 basis points
    • Group net income of EUR 3.1 billion in H1 25, up +71% vs. H1 24, ROTE at 10.3%, above the initial annual target of >8% for 2025
    • As in H1 25, strong performance in Q2 25, C/I ratio at 63.8% (vs. 68.4% in Q2 24), Group net income of EUR 1.5bn (+31% vs. Q2 24) and ROTE at 9.7%
    • Upgrade of the 2025 financial targets driven by better than guided revenues and costs:
      • Cost / income ratio now expected below 65% in 2025
      • ROTE target for 2025 increased to ~9% in 2025
    • First distribution of excess capital in the form of an additional share buy-back of EUR 1 billion (~-25 basis points of the CET1 ratio), to be launched as soon as 4 August 2025
    • CET1 ratio at 13.5% at the end of Q2 25 after additional share buy-back of EUR 1bn, around 330 basis points above the regulatory requirement
    • The Board of Directors approved an amendment to the distribution policy, introducing an interim cash dividend payable in the fourth quarter of each year from 2025 onwards. For the first half of 2025, an interim dividend of EUR 0.611 per share will be paid on 9 October 2025

    Slawomir Krupa, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented:

    “We are once again reporting strong results this quarter with a solid commercial and financial performance in all our businesses. Revenue growth, cost reduction, cost income ratio and profitability improvement: we are ahead of all our annual targets for the first half of the year, and we have revised them upwards for the full year 2025. With a high capital ratio, well above our target, we decided to provide an additional distribution to shareholders in the form of a share buy-back and to introduce an interim dividend for the first half of 2025. I would like to thank all our teams for their commitment to our clients and to our Bank. We remain fully focused on the precise and methodical execution of our 2026 roadmap to continue delivering sustainable and profitable growth for all our stakeholders.”

    1. GROUP CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 Change H1 25 H1 24 Change
    Net banking income 6,791 6,685 +1.6% +7.8%* 13,874 13,330 +4.1% +8.8%*
    Operating expenses (4,331) (4,570) -5.2% -0.1%* (8,935) (9,550) -6.4% -2.6%*
    Gross operating income 2,460 2,115 +16.4% +25.3%* 4,939 3,780 +30.7% +37.8%*
    Net cost of risk (355) (387) -8.2% +0.7%* (699) (787) -11.1% -4.9%*
    Operating income 2,105 1,728 +21.8% +30.6%* 4,240 2,993 +41.7% +48.8%*
    Net profits or losses from other assets 75 (8) n/s n/s 277 (88) n/s n/s
    Income tax (477) (379) +25.8% +37.7%* (967) (653) +48.1% +58.3%*
    Net income 1,702 1,348 +26.3% +34.6%* 3,557 2,265 +57.1% +64.4%*
    o/w non-controlling interests 249 235 +5.8% +11.5%* 496 472 +5.0% +11.3%*
    Group net income 1,453 1,113 +30.6% +39.6%* 3,061 1,793 +70.8% +78.1%*
    ROE 8.6% 6.5%     9.1% 5.1% +0.0% +0.0%*
    ROTE 9.7% 7.4%     10.3% 5.8% +0.0% +0.0%*
    Cost to income 63.8% 68.4%     64.4% 71.6% +0.0% +0.0%*

    Asterisks* in the document refer to data at constant scope and exchange rates

    Societe Generale’s Board of Directors, at a meeting chaired by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi on 30 July 2025, reviewed the Societe Generale Group’s results for the second quarter and first half of 2025.

    Net banking income 

    Net banking income stood at EUR 6.8 billion, up +1.6% vs. Q2 24 and +7.1% excluding asset disposals.

    Revenues of French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance were up +6.5% vs. Q2 24 (+10.7% excluding asset disposals). They stood at EUR 2.3 billion in Q2 25. Net interest income grew strongly in Q2 25 by +14.8% vs. Q2 24, and by +2.4% when restating the disposals and the impact of short-term hedges recognised in Q2 24 (around EUR -150 million). Assets under management in Private Banking (excluding disposals of the Swiss and UK operations) and life insurance outstandings increased by +6% and +5% in Q2 25 vs. Q2 24 respectively. Lastly, BoursoBank continued its strong commercial development with ~424,000 new clients during the quarter, and has reached 8 million clients in July 2025, ahead of its initial 2026 guidance given at the Capital Markets Day in September 2023.

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions maintained a high level of revenues of EUR 2.6 billion in Q2 25, up +0.7% vs. Q2 24 owing to the continued sustained activity in Fixed Income and Currencies and in Financing and Advisory. Global Markets posted a revenue base up +0.8% in Q2 25, compared with a level that was already very high in Q2 24. The Equities business maintained a very high level of revenues, although this fell slightly by -2.9% in Q2 25, compared with an elevated level in Q2 24, mainly due to the positive commercial momentum in derivatives. Fixed Income and Currencies grew by 7.3%, driven by buoyant activity in flow and financing products. Securities Services posted a slight decrease in revenues of -3.1% due to the impact of the fall in interest rates. Global Banking & Advisory benefited from the strong performance of the acquisition finance, fund financing and project finance businesses, as well as from the solid momentum in loan origination and distribution. Lastly, despite robust commercial activity with corporate and institutional clients, Global Transaction & Payment Services recorded a fall in revenues of -4.7% compared with Q2 24, also due to the contraction of interest rates.

    In Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, revenues were down -5.6% vs. Q2 24 mainly due to a scope effect of around EUR -260 million in Q2 25. Excluding the impact of asset disposals, they were up +7.3%. International Retail Banking recorded a -12.1% fall in revenues vs. Q2 24 to
    EUR 0.9 billion, due to a scope effect related to the disposals completed in Africa (mainly Morocco and Madagascar). They rose +2.7% at constant perimeter and exchange rates. Revenues from Mobility and Financial Services were up +0.4% vs. Q2 24 and up +11.7% excluding the disposal of SGEF. Ayvens’ revenues grew by +10.6% vs. Q2 24, with notably improved margins. Consumer Finance posted a revenue increase of +12.6%, notably driven by higher net interest income.

    The Corporate Centre recorded revenues of EUR -160 million in Q2 25.

    In the first half of the year, the Group’s net banking income increased by +4.1% vs. H1 24 and +8.6% excluding asset disposals.

    Operating expenses 

    Operating expenses came to EUR 4,331 million in Q2 25, down -5.2% vs. Q2 24 and -0.6% excluding asset disposals.

    The slight decrease in operating expenses in Q2 25 excluding asset disposals largely results from the accounting of an exceptional charge of approximately EUR 100 million2 related to the launch of a Global Employee Share Ownership Programme in June 2025. Restated from this non-recurring item, operating expenses were down -2.8% vs. Q2 24, confirming the strong cost control at Group level. In Q2 25, transformation charges fell by EUR -93 million vs. Q2 24.

    The cost-to-income ratio stood at 63.8% in Q2 25, down from Q2 24 (68.4%) and below the initial guidance of <66% for 2025.

    In the first half of the year, operating expenses fell significantly by -2.6% vs. H1 24 (excluding asset disposals). The cost-to-income ratio stood at 64.4% (vs. 71.6% in H1 24), also ahead of the initial 2025 guidance of <66%.

    Revenues and costs in H1 25 being ahead of the initial targets in H1 25, the C/I ratio target is now at <65% in 2025.

    Cost of risk

    The cost of risk remained low during the quarter at 25 basis points, or EUR 355 million and is still at the lower end of the target set for 2025 of between 25 and 30 basis points. This comprises a
    EUR 390 million provision for doubtful loans (around 27 basis points) and a reversal of a provision for performing loans for EUR 35 million.

    At end-June, the Group had a stock of provisions for performing loans of EUR 3,011 million, down by -3.8% from 31 March 2025, mainly driven by asset disposals and FX impact.

    The gross non-performing loan ratio amounted to 2.77%3,4 at 30 June 2025, down compared with its level at end-March 2025 (2.82%). The net coverage ratio on the Group’s non-performing loans stood at 81%5 at 30 June 2025 (after netting of guarantees and collateral).

    Net profits from other assets

    The Group recorded a net profit of EUR 75 million in Q2 25, mainly related to the accounting impacts resulting from the sale of Societe Generale Burkina Faso, completed in June 2025.

    Group net income

    Group net income stood at EUR 1,453 million for the quarter, equating to a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 9.7%.

    In the first half of the year, Group net income stood at EUR 3,061 million, equating to a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 10.3%, higher than the target set for 2025 of >8%.

    Considering the performance in the first half of 2025, the Group is now targeting a ROTE of around 9% in 2025.

    Shareholder distribution

    The Board of Directors approved an amendment to the distribution policy, introducing an interim cash dividend payable in the fourth quarter of each year from 2025 onwards. Based on the financial statements for the first half of 2025, the Board of Directors has decided the payment of an interim dividend of EUR 0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date will be on 7 October 2025 and the payment on 9 October 2025.

    In addition, as part of the first application of a possible option of the Group’s new distribution policy announced on 6 February 20256, a distribution of excess capital will be made in the form of an additional EUR 1 billion share buy-back. Authorisations, including the one from the ECB, have been obtained7 to launch this programme, which will start on 4 August 2025.

    1. ESG: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

    The Group announced the composition of its Scientific Advisory Council this quarter. The role of this body is to provide the General Management with ESG insights, taking a science-based approach to the key emerging trends that will influence the economic environment and the Group’s activities in the future. Composed of eight expert members with complementary skills, the Council will provide holistic views in order to identify long-term opportunities and challenges (for more details, see Societe Generale unveils the composition of its Scientific Advisory Council – Societe Generale).

    At the same time, Societe Generale is continuing to develop its actions for the energy transition, as well as innovative financing solutions to support its customers:

    • During the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), Societe Generale recalled its efforts to protect marine ecosystems and its key role in the transition to a more sustainable maritime economy. It acted as the exclusive advisor to Eurazeo for the “Maritime Upgrade” debt fund (Eurazeo and Societe Generale to join forces to support the sustainable transition of the maritime sector – Wholesale Banking).
    • Through its subsidiary REED, Societe Generale has invested in Voltekko Tech, a platform specialising in energy-efficient data centres. A total of nine investments, mainly in the energy sector, have been made since the acquisition of REED.

    Lastly, Societe Generale received the Euromoney award for “The World’s Best Bank for ESG”, together with an excellent rating from Sustainalytics, at 15.4 – an improvement on the rating assigned by the agency in its last review, which positions it among the world’s best banks (top 12%).

    1. THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

    At 30 June 2025, the Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 13.5%, or around 330 basis points above the regulatory requirement. Likewise, the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was also well above regulatory requirements at 148% at end-June 2025 (149% on average for the quarter), while the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) stood at 117% at end-June 2025.

    All liquidity and solvency ratios are well above the regulatory requirements.

      30/06/2025 31/12/2024 Requirements
    CET1(1) 13.5% 13.3% 10.22%
    Tier 1 ratio(1) 15.8% 16.1% 12.14%
    Total Capital(1) 18.4% 18.9% 14.71%
    Leverage ratio(1) 4.4% 4.3% 3.60%
    TLAC (% RWA)(1) 29.9% 29.7% 22.33%
    TLAC (% leverage)(1) 8.3% 8.0% 6.75%
    MREL (% RWA)(1) 33.4% 34.2% 27.44%
    MREL (% leverage)(1) 9.2% 9.2% 6.13%
    End of period LCR 148% 162% >100%
    Period average LCR 149% 150% >100%
    NSFR 117% 117% >100%
    In EURbn 30/06/2025 31/12/2024
    Total consolidated balance sheet 1,551 1,574
    Shareholders’ equity (IFRS), Group share 68 70
    Risk-weighted assets 388 390
    O.w. credit risk 314 327
    Total funded balance sheet 923 952
    Customer loans 456 463
    Customer deposits 594 614

    8

    As of 30 June 2025, the parent company has issued EUR 13.5 billion of medium / long-term debt under its 2025 financing programme, including EUR 4.5 billion of pre-financing raised at end-2024. The subsidiaries had issued EUR 1.8 billion. In total, the Group has issued a total of EUR 15.3 billion in medium / long-term debt since the start of the year.

    As of 30 June 2025, the parent company’s 2025 financing programme is around 80% complete for vanilla issuance.

    The Group is rated by four rating agencies: (i) Fitch Ratings – Issuer default rating “A-”, stable outlook, senior preferred debt rating “A”, short-term rating “F1”; (ii) Moody’s – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A1”, stable outlook, short-term rating “P-1”; (iii) R&I – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A”, stable outlook; and (iv) S&P Global Ratings – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A”, stable outlook, short-term rating “A-1”.

    1. FRENCH RETAIL, PRIVATE BANKING AND INSURANCE
    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 Change H1 25 H1 24 Change
    Net banking income 2,269 2,131 +6.5% 4,568 4,146 +10.2%
    Of which net interest income 1,036 902 +14.8% 2,097 1,729 +21.3%
    Of which fees 1,013 1,027 -1.4% 2,069 2,045 +1.1%
    Operating expenses (1,477) (1,649) -10.4% (3,043) (3,377) -9.9%
    Gross operating income 791 482 +64.3% 1,525 770 +98.2%
    Net cost of risk (146) (173) -15.4% (317) (420) -24.5%
    Operating income 645 309 x 2.1 1,208 350 x 3.5
    Net profits or losses from other assets 20 8 x 2.6 27 8 x 3.3
    Group net income 488 240 x 2.0 909 271 x 3.4
    RONE 11.2% 5.7%   10.4% 3.3%  
    Cost to income 65.1% 77.4%   66.6% 81.4%  

    Commercial activity

    SG Network, Private Banking and Insurance 

    The SG Network’s average outstanding deposits amounted to EUR 227 billion in Q2 25, down -3% compared with Q2 24, and -1% vs. Q1 25.

    The SG Network’s average loan outstandings contracted by -2% on Q2 24 to EUR 194 billion and were stable excluding repayments of state-guaranteed loans (PGE). Mortgage loan production saw a sharp increase of +175% vs. Q2 24.

    The average loan to deposit ratio came to 85.5% in Q2 25, down -1 percentage point relative to Q2 24.

    Private Banking saw its assets under management9 grow by +6% vs. Q2 24 to EUR 132 billion in Q2 25. Net asset inflows totalled EUR 2.3 billion in Q2 25, with asset gathering pace (annualised net new money divided by AuM) standing at +6% in H1 25. Net banking income amounted to EUR 308 million for the quarter and EUR 669 million for the first half of the year.

    Insurance, which covers activities in and outside France, posted a strong commercial performance. Life insurance outstandings increased by +5% vs. Q2 24 to reach EUR 150 billion in Q2 25. The share of unit-linked products remained high at 40%. Gross life insurance savings inflows amounted to EUR 4.8 billion in Q2 25.

    BoursoBank 

    BoursoBank reached 7.9 million clients in Q2 25, the threshold of 8 million clients being reached in July 2025. In Q2 25, the bank recorded a +22% increase in the number of clients vs. Q2 24, bringing growth in the number of clients to +1.4 million year on year. Onboarding remained high during the quarter (~424,000 new clients in Q2 25), while the attrition is very low, at less than 4%.

    BoursoBank once again confirmed its position as the French market leader, as shown by the award received from Euromoney for best digital bank in France10.

    Average outstanding savings, including deposits and financial savings, totalled EUR 69.8 billion, the average outstanding deposits increasing sharply by +16% vs. Q2 24. Average life insurance outstandings increased by +7% vs. Q2 24 (the share of unit-linked products was 48%) and gross inflows being up +12% vs. Q2 24. The brokerage activity recorded a strong increase in the number of market orders of +33% vs. Q2 24.

    Average loan outstandings rose +10% compared with Q2 24 to EUR 16.7 billion in Q2 25.

    Net banking income

    Revenues for the quarter amounted to EUR 2,269 million (including PEL/CEL provision) up +6.5% compared with Q2 24 and +10.7% excluding asset disposals. Net interest income grew by +14.8%
    vs. Q2 24 and +2.4% excluding asset disposals and the impact of short-term hedges in Q2 24. Fees were down -1.4% compared with Q2 24 and up +1.4% excluding asset disposals.

    First-half revenues came to EUR 4,568 million (including PEL/CEL provision), up +10.2% on H1 24 and +13.6% excluding asset disposals. Net interest income grew by +21.3% vs. H1 24. It is up +0.6% excluding asset disposals and the impact of short-term hedges in H1 24. Fee income rose +1.1% vs. H1 24 and +3.7% excluding asset disposals.

    Operating expenses

    Operating expenses came to EUR 1,477 million for the quarter, down -10.4% vs. Q2 24 and -5.7% excluding asset disposals. The cost-to-income ratio stood at 65.1% in Q2 25, an improvement of 12.3 percentage points vs. Q2 24.

    During the first half of the year, operating expenses amounted to EUR 3,043 million, down -9.9% compared with H1 24 and -6.2% excluding asset disposals. The cost-to-income ratio stood at 66.6%, an improvement of 14.8 percentage points vs. H1 24.

    Cost of risk

    The cost of risk amounted to EUR 146 million, or 25 basis points, for the quarter, which was lower than in Q2 24 and Q1 25 (29 basis points in both cases).

    In the first half of the year, the cost of risk totalled EUR 317 million, or 27 basis points.

    Group net income

    Group net income totalled EUR 488 million for the quarter. RONE stood at 11.2% in Q2 25.

    In the first half of the year, Group net income totalled EUR 909 million. RONE stood at 10.4% in H1 25.

    1. GLOBAL BANKING AND INVESTOR SOLUTIONS
    In EUR m Q2 25 Q2 24 Variation H1 25 H1 24 Change
    Net banking income 2,647 2,628 +0.7% +2.4%* 5,542 5,259 +5.4% +5.5%*
    Operating expenses (1,630) (1,647) -1.0% +0.2%* (3,385) (3,404) -0.5% -0.4%*
    Gross operating income 1,017 981 +3.6% +6.1%* 2,157 1,856 +16.2% +16.4%*
    Net cost of risk (81) (21) x 3.8 x 3.8* (136) (1) x 91.4 x 91.4*
    Operating income 936 960 -2.5% -0.1%* 2,021 1,854 +9.0% +9.2%*
    Reported Group net income 750 776 -3.4% -1.1%* 1,606 1,473 +9.0% +9.2%*
    RONE 16.8% 19.0% +0.0% +0.0%* 17.7% 18.2% +0.0% +0.0%*
    Cost to income 61.6% 62.7% +0.0% +0.0%* 61.1% 64.7% +0.0% +0.0%*

    Net banking income

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions reported solid results for the quarter, with revenues of
    EUR 2,647 million, remaining consistently high, slightly up +0.7% compared with Q2 24.

    In the first half of the year, revenues grew by +5.4% vs. H1 24 (EUR 5,542 million vs. EUR 5,259 million).

    Global Markets and Investor Services maintained a high level of revenues of EUR 1,753 million, stable (+0.4%) over the quarter compared with Q2 24. In the first half of the year, they amounted to EUR 3,674 million, up +5.2% vs. H1 24.

    Market Activities were slightly up during the quarter (+0.8%), with revenues of EUR 1,577 million. In the first half of the year, they rose +5.9% in comparison with H1 24 to EUR 3,336 million.

    The Equities business was resilient during the quarter, at -2.9% compared with a high level in Q2 24. Revenues stood at EUR 962 million for the quarter, driven by the positive commercial momentum in derivatives. In the first half of the year, they rose +8.7% in comparison with H1 24 to EUR 2,023 million.

    Fixed Income and Currencies rose sharply during the quarter, with revenues up +7.3% vs. Q2 24 to
    EUR 615 million, driven by a strong performance in flow and financing products. Commercial momentum remained strong during the quarter, despite an uncertain macroeconomic environment. In the first half of the year, revenues were up +1.9% from H1 24 to EUR 1,313 million.

    In Securities Services, revenues fell -3.1% compared with Q2 24 to EUR 176 million, due to the fall in interest rates. Excluding equity participations, revenues are down -2.4%. In the first half of the year, revenues were down -1.0% and -1.3% excluding equity participations. Assets under Custody and Assets under Administration amounted to EUR 5,222 billion and EUR 638 billion, respectively.

    Revenues for the Financing and Advisory business totalled EUR 895 million for the quarter, slightly up +1.3% compared with Q2 24. In the first half of the year, they were up +5.7% in comparison with H1 24 to EUR 1,868 million.

    Global Banking & Advisory posted significant revenues for the quarter, up +3.6% compared with Q2 24, driven in particular by buoyant activity in acquisition finance, fund financing and project finance. In the first half of the year, revenues were up +7.1% versus H1 24.

    Global Transaction & Payment Services delivered good commercial performance during the quarter, particularly with corporate and institutional clients. However, revenues fell by -4.7% during the quarter due to the impact of lower interest rates. In the first half of the year, revenues were up +1.6% vs. H1 24.

    Operating expenses

    Operating expenses came to EUR 1,630 million for the quarter, down -1.0% vs. Q2 24. The cost-to-income ratio was 61.6% in Q2 25.

    During the first half of the year, operating expenses contracted by -0.5% compared with H1 24, while the cost-to-income ratio reached 61.1%, vs. 64.7% in H1 24.

    Cost of risk

    During the quarter, the cost of risk was EUR 81 million, or 19 basis points vs. 5 basis points in Q2 24.

    During the first half of the year, the cost of risk was EUR 136 million, or 16 basis points vs. 0 basis points in H1 24.

    Group net income

    Group net income fell -3.4% vs. Q2 24 to EUR 750 million. In the first half of the year, it rose +9.0% to
    EUR 1,606 million.

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions reported RONE of 16.8% for the quarter and RONE of 17.7% for the first half of the year.

    1. MOBILITY, INTERNATIONAL RETAIL BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 Change H1 25 H1 24 Change
    Net banking income 2,036 2,157 -5.6% +7.2%* 4,036 4,318 -6.5% +4.1%*
    Operating expenses (1,059) (1,261) -16.0% -4.2%* (2,240) (2,611) -14.2% -4.5%*
    Gross operating income 977 896 +8.9% +22.9%* 1,796 1,707 +5.3% +17.4%*
    Net cost of risk (126) (189) -33.1% -18.4%* (250) (370) -32.4% -21.2%*
    Operating income 850 708 +20.1% +32.9%* 1,546 1,336 +15.7% +27.5%*
    Net profits or losses from other assets 0 (0) n/s n/s 0 4 -92.7% -92.7%*
    Non-controlling interests 246 211 +16.5% +23.5%* 458 406 +12.6% +20.6%*
    Group net income 404 321 +25.7% +41.3%* 722 599 +20.5% +33.7%*
    RONE 15.3% 11.4%     13.2% 10.7%    
    Cost to income 52.0% 58.4%     55.5% 60.5%    

    )()

    Commercial activity

    International Retail Banking

    International Retail Banking posted strong commercial momentum in Q2 25, mainly driven by loan outstandings, up +4.3%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 61 billion. Deposit outstandings stabilised* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 75 billion.

    Europe continued to post strong growth in loan outstandings of 7.0%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 46 billion in Q2 25. Deposits were stable* this quarter at EUR 56 billion in Q2 25.

    In Africa, Mediterranean Basin and French Overseas Territories, loan outstandings were down -3.1%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 15 billion. Deposit outstandings increased +1.9%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 19 billion in Q2 25, mainly driven by sight deposits from retail and corporate clients.

    Mobility and Financial Services

    Overall, Mobility and Financial Services recorded a broadly stable commercial performance.

    Ayvens maintained earning assets of around EUR 53 billion at end-June 2025, broadly stable compared to end-June 2024.

    Consumer Finance posted loans outstanding of EUR 23 billion, still down -2.8% vs. Q2 24.

    Net banking income

    In Q2 25, Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services delivered a good performance, with EUR 2,036 million in Q2 25, up 7.2%* vs. Q2 24.

    In the first half of the year, revenues grew by +4.1%* vs. H1 24 to EUR 4,036 million.

    International Retail Banking revenues increased +2.7%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 920 million in Q2 25. They rose +2.3%* in the first half vs. H1 24 to EUR 1,833 million in H1 25.

    In Europe, revenues amounted to EUR 528 million in Q2 25, strongly up +6.1%* vs. Q2 24. The increase was due to the high level of net interest income in both countries (+7.3%* vs. Q2 24).

    Overall, revenues in Africa, Mediterranean Basin and French Overseas Territories were slightly down -1.5%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 392 million in Q2 25, compared with a high Q2 24 level. The net interest income was up +2.8%* vs. Q2 24.

    Mobility and Financial Services posted strong revenue growth in both businesses, at +11.1%* overall vs. Q2 24, to EUR 1,116 million in Q2 25. In the first half of the year, the increase was +5.7%* vs. H1 24 to EUR 2,203 million.

    The significant improvement in Ayvens’ revenues of +10.6% vs. Q2 24 (EUR 868 million in Q2 25) is due, as expected, to the reduced impact of depreciation adjustments and non-recurring items11 (-3% revenues vs. Q2 24, adjusted from those two items). Margins increased to 550 basis points in Q2 25 vs. 539 basis points in Q2 24, excluding non-recurring items. The depreciations were down vs. Q2 24 and the average results on sales of used vehicles per unit on the secondary market continued to normalise very gradually (EUR 1,23412 in Q2 25 vs. EUR 1,4802 in Q2 24). At company level, Ayvens had a cost-to-income ratio of 57.6%13 in Q2 25, in line with the 2025 guidance (57%-59% for the year).

    Revenues from the Consumer Finance business increased by +12.6% vs. Q2 24, to EUR 247 million in Q2 25. This significant growth reflects both an improvement in the margin on new production and the positive impact of an asset revaluation.

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses for the quarter decreased by -4.2%* vs. Q2 24 to EUR 1,059 million in Q2 25 (including EUR 29 million in transformation charges). The cost-to-income ratio improved in Q2 25 to 52.0% vs. 58.4% in Q2 24. In the first half of the year, costs of EUR 2,240 million were down -4.5%* vs. H1 24, while the cost-to-income ratio stood at 55.5% vs. 60.5% in H1 24.

    International Retail Banking recorded a -5.2%* decrease in costs vs. Q2 24 at EUR 482 million, in a still inflationary local environment.

    Mobility and Financial Services costs reached EUR 577 million in Q2 25, down -3.3%* vs. Q2 24. Ayvens benefitted from the initial cost synergies related to the integration of Leaseplan.

    Cost of risk

    Over the quarter, the cost of risk amounted to EUR 126 million or 35 basis points this quarter, which was considerably lower than in Q2 24 (45 basis points).

    In the first half of the year, the cost of risk stood at 33 basis points vs. 44 basis points in H1 24.

    Group net income

    Group net income came to EUR 404 million for the quarter, up +41.3%* vs. Q2 24. RONE improved to 15.3% in Q2 25 vs. 11.4% in Q2 24. RONE was 18.4% in International Retail Banking and 13.1% in Mobility and Financial Services in Q2 25.

    In the first half of the year, Group net income came to EUR 722 million, up +33.7%* vs. H1 24. RONE improved to 13.2% in H1 25 vs. 10.7% in H1 24. RONE was 16.3% in International Retail Banking and 11.1% in Mobility and Financial Services in H1 25.

    1. CORPORATE CENTRE
    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 Change H1 25 H1 24 Change
    Net banking income (160) (231) +30.8% +30.8%* (273) (394) +30.8% +30.8%*
    Operating expenses (164) (13) x 12.3 x 4.3* (267) (158) +68.3% +45.3%*
    Gross operating income (324) (245) -32.5% -20.2%* (539) (552) +2.4% +6.6%*
    Net cost of risk (2) (4) -55.7% -55.7%* 4 5 +16.7% +16.7%*
    Net profits or losses from other assets 57 (15) n/s n/s 250 (99) n/s n/s
    Income tax 83 67 -23.0% -12.2%* 143 157 +8.7% +12.3%*
    Group net income (188) (225) +16.1% +22.5%* (176) (551) +68.0% +69.1%*

    The Corporate Centre includes:

    • the property management of the Group’s head office,
    • the Group’s equity portfolio,
    • the Treasury function for the Group,
    • certain costs related to cross-functional projects, as well as various costs incurred by the Group that are not re-invoiced to the businesses.

    Net banking income

    The Corporate Centre’s net banking income totalled EUR -160 million for the quarter, vs. EUR -231 million in Q2 24.

    In the first half of the year, the Corporate Centre’s net banking income totalled EUR -273 million, vs. EUR -394 million in H1 24.

    Operating expenses

    During the quarter, operating expenses totalled EUR -164 million, vs. EUR -13 million in Q2 24. They include around EUR 100 million in expenses related to the Global Employee Share Ownership Programme launched in June 2025.

    In the first half of the year, operating expenses totalled EUR -267 million, vs. EUR -158 million in H1 24.

    Net profits from other assets

    The Corporate Centre recognised EUR 57 million in net profits from other assets during the quarter, mainly related to the completion of the disposal of Societe Generale Burkina Faso in June 2025.

    Group net income

    The Corporate Centre’s Group net income totalled EUR -188 million for the quarter, vs. EUR -225 million in Q2 24.

    The Corporate Centre’s Group net income totalled EUR -176 million in the first half, vs. EUR -551 million in H1 24.

    8.   2025 FINANCIAL CALENDAR

       2025 and 2026 Financial communication calendar
    7 October 2025 Ex-dividend date
    9 October 2025 Payment of the interim dividend
    30 October 2025 Third quarter and nine months 2025 results
    6 February 2026 Fourth quarter and full year 2025 results
    30 April 2026 First quarter 2026 results
     
    The Alternative Performance Measures, notably the notions of net banking income for the pillars, operating expenses, cost of risk in basis points, ROE, ROTE, RONE, net assets and tangible net assets are presented in the methodology notes, as are the principles for the presentation of prudential ratios.

    This document contains forward-looking statements relating to the targets and strategies of the Societe Generale Group.

    These forward-looking statements are based on a series of assumptions, both general and specific, in particular the application of accounting principles and methods in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted in the European Union, as well as the application of existing prudential regulations.

    These forward-looking statements have also been developed from scenarios based on a number of economic assumptions in the context of a given competitive and regulatory environment. The Group may be unable to:

    – anticipate all the risks, uncertainties or other factors likely to affect its business and to appraise their potential consequences;

    – evaluate the extent to which the occurrence of a risk or a combination of risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in this document and the related presentation.

    Therefore, although Societe Generale believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters not yet known to it or its management or not currently considered material, and there can be no assurance that anticipated events will occur or that the objectives set out will actually be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, overall trends in general economic activity and in Societe Generale’s markets in particular, regulatory and prudential changes, and the success of Societe Generale’s strategic, operating and financial initiatives.

    More detailed information on the potential risks that could affect Societe Generale’s financial results can be found in the section “Risk Factors” in our Universal Registration Document filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (which is available on https://investors.societegenerale.com/en).

    Investors are advised to take into account factors of uncertainty and risk likely to impact the operations of the Group when considering the information contained in such forward-looking statements. Other than as required by applicable law, Societe Generale does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. Unless otherwise specified, the sources for the business rankings and market positions are internal.

    9.   APPENDIX 1: FINANCIAL DATA

    GROUP NET INCOME BY CORE BUSINESS

    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 Variation H1 25 H1 24 Variation
    French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance 488 240 x 2.0 909 271 x 3.4
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions 750 776 -3.4% 1,606 1,473 +9.0%
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services 404 321 +25.7% 722 599 +20.5%
    Core Businesses 1,642 1,322 +24.2% 3,238 2,313 +40.0%
    Corporate Centre (188) (225) +16.1% (176) (551) +68.0%
    Group 1,453 1,113 +30.6% 3,061 1,793 +70.8%

    MAIN EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS

    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 H1 25 H1 24
    Operating expenses – Total one-off items and transformation charges (131) (127) (205) (479)
    Transformation charges (30) (124) (104) (476)
    Of which French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance (10) (45) (33) (127)
    Of which Global Banking & Investor Solutions 9 (29) (3) (183)
    Of which Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services (29) (50) (68) (119)
    Of which Corporate Centre 0 0 0 (47)
    One-off items (101) (3) (101) (3)
    Global Employee Share Ownership Programme (101) (3) (101) (3)
             
    Other one-off items – Total 75 (8) 277 (88)
    Net profits or losses from other assets 75 (8) 277 (88)

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

    In EUR m   30/06/2025 31/12/2024
    Cash, due from central banks   148,782 201,680
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss   566,690 526,048
    Hedging derivatives   7,769 9,233
    Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income   103,297 96,024
    Securities at amortised cost   49,240 32,655
    Due from banks at amortised cost   81,711 84,051
    Customer loans at amortised cost   446,154 454,622
    Revaluation differences on portfolios hedged against interest rate risk   (330) (292)
    Insurance and reinsurance contracts assets   494 615
    Tax assets   4,198 4,687
    Other assets   73,477 70,903
    Non-current assets held for sale   4,018 26,426
    Investments accounted for using the equity method   442 398
    Tangible and intangible fixed assets   60,465 61,409
    Goodwill   5,084 5,086
    Total   1,551,491 1,573,545
    In EUR m   30/06/2025 31/12/2024
    Due to central banks   10,957 11,364
    Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   406,704 396,614
    Hedging derivatives   13,628 15,750
    Debt securities issued   156,922 162,200
    Due to banks   100,588 99,744
    Customer deposits   518,397 531,675
    Revaluation differences on portfolios hedged against interest rate risk   (6,129) (5,277)
    Tax liabilities   2,261 2,237
    Other liabilities   94,155 90,786
    Non-current liabilities held for sale   3,526 17,079
    Insurance and reinsurance contracts liabilities   156,370 150,691
    Provisions   3,916 4,085
    Subordinated debts   12,735 17,009
    Total liabilities   1,474,030 1,493,957
    Shareholder’s equity  
    Shareholders’ equity, Group share  
    Issued common stocks and capital reserves   20,657 21,281
    Other equity instruments   8,762 9,873
    Retained earnings   36,741 33,863
    Net income   3,061 4,200
    Sub-total   69,221 69,217
    Unrealised or deferred capital gains and losses   (928) 1,039
    Sub-total equity, Group share   68,293 70,256
    Non-controlling interests   9,168 9,332
    Total equity   77,461 79,588
    Total   1,551,491 1,573,545
    1. APPENDIX 2: METHODOLOGY

    1 –The financial information presented for the second quarter and first half 2025 was examined by the Board of Directors on July 30th, 2025 and has been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted in the European Union and applicable at that date. The limited review procedures on the condensed interim statement at 30 June 2025 carried by the Statutory Auditors are currently underway.

    2 – Net banking income

    The pillars’ net banking income is defined on page 38 of Societe Generale’s 2025 Universal Registration Document. The terms “Revenues” or “Net Banking Income” are used interchangeably. They provide a normalised measure of each pillar’s net banking income taking into account the normative capital mobilised for its activity.

    3 – Operating expenses

    Operating expenses correspond to the “Operating Expenses” as presented in note 5 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements as at December 31st, 2024. The term “costs” is also used to refer to Operating Expenses. The Cost/Income Ratio is defined on page 38 of Societe Generale’s 2025 Universal Registration Document.

    4 – Cost of risk in basis points, coverage ratio for doubtful outstandings

    The cost of risk is defined on pages 39 and 748 of Societe Generale’s 2025 Universal Registration Document. This indicator makes it possible to assess the level of risk of each of the pillars as a percentage of balance sheet loan commitments, including operating leases.

    In EURm   Q2-25 Q2-24 S1-25 S1-24
    French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance Net Cost Of Risk 146 173 317 420
    Gross loan Outstandings 230,025 236,044 231,781 237,219
    Cost of Risk in bp 25 29 27 35
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions Net Cost Of Risk 81 21 136 1
    Gross loan Outstandings 171,860 164,829 172,321 163,643
    Cost of Risk in bp 19 5 16 0
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services Net Cost Of Risk 126 189 250 370
    Gross loan Outstandings 144,329 166,967 151,727 167,429
    Cost of Risk in bp 35 45 33 44
    Corporate Centre Net Cost Of Risk 2 4 (4) (5)
    Gross loan Outstandings 26,404 24,583 25,998 23,974
    Cost of Risk in bp 3 6 (3) (5)
    Societe Generale Group Net Cost Of Risk 355 387 699 787
    Gross loan Outstandings 572,618 592,422 581,827 592,265
    Cost of Risk in bp 25 26 24 27

    The gross coverage ratio for doubtful outstandings is calculated as the ratio of provisions recognised in respect of the credit risk to gross outstandings identified as in default within the meaning of the regulations, without taking account of any guarantees provided. This coverage ratio measures the maximum residual risk associated with outstandings in default (“doubtful”).

    5 – ROE, ROTE, RONE

    The notions of ROE (Return on Equity) and ROTE (Return on Tangible Equity), as well as their calculation methodology, are specified on pages 39 and 40 of Societe Generale’s 2025 Universal Registration Document. This measure makes it possible to assess Societe Generale’s return on equity and return on tangible equity.
    RONE (Return on Normative Equity) determines the return on average normative equity allocated to the Group’s businesses, according to the principles presented on page 40 of Societe Generale’s 2025 Universal Registration Document. Since Q1 25 results, with restated historical data, normative return to businesses is based on a 13% capital allocation. The Q1 25 allocated capital includes the regulatory impacts related to Basel IV, applicable since 1 January 2025.
    Group net income used for the ratio numerator is the accounting Group net income adjusted for “Interest paid and payable to holders of deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation”. For ROTE, income is also restated for goodwill impairment.
    Details of the corrections made to the accounting equity in order to calculate ROE and ROTE for the period are given in the table below:

    ROTE calculation: calculation methodology

    End of period (in EURm) Q2-25 Q2-24 H1 25 H1 24
    Shareholders’ equity Group share 68,293 66,829 68,293 66,829
    Deeply subordinated and undated subordinated notes (8,386) (9,747) (8,386) (9,747)
    Interest payable to holders of deeply & undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation(1) 23 (19) 23 (19)
    OCI excluding conversion reserves 512 705 512 705
    Distribution provision(2) (2,375) (718) (2,375) (718)
    ROE equity end-of-period 58,067 57,050 58,067 57,050
    Average ROE equity 58,579 56,797 58,743 56,660
    Average Goodwill(3) (4,174) (4,073) (4,182) (4,040)
    Average Intangible Assets (2,787) (2,937) (2,811) (2,947)
    Average ROTE equity 51,618 49,787 51,749 49,673
             
    Group net Income 1,453 1,113 3,061 1,793
    Interest paid and payable to holders of deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation (200) (190) (387) (356)
    Adjusted Group net Income 1,253 923 2,674 1,437
    ROTE 9.7% 7.4% 10.3% 5.8%

    141516
    RONE calculation: Average capital allocated to Core Businesses (in EURm)

    In EURm Q2 25 Q2 24 Change H1 25 H1 24 Change
    French Retail , Private Banking and Insurance 17,412 16,690 +4.3% 17,549 16,605 +5.7%
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions 17,894 16,313 +9.7% 18,109 16,162 +12.0%
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services 10,535 11,247 -6.3% 10,955 11,250 -2.6%
    Core Businesses 45,841 41,180 +11.3% 46,613 40,955 +13.8%
    Corporate Center 12,738 12,544 +1.5% 12,130 12,644 -4.1%
    Group 58,579 56,797 +3.1% 58,743 56,660 +3.7%

    6 – Net assets and tangible net assets

    Net assets and tangible net assets are defined in the methodology, page 41 of the Group’s 2025 Universal Registration Document. The items used to calculate them are presented below:
    1718

    End of period (in EURm) H1 25 Q1 25 2024
    Shareholders’ equity Group share 68,293 70,556 70,256
    Deeply subordinated and undated subordinated notes (8,386) (10,153) (10,526)
    Interest of deeply & undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation(1) 23 (60) (25)
    Book value of own shares in trading portfolio (46) (44) 8
    Net Asset Value 59,884 60,299 59,713
    Goodwill(2) (4,173) (4,175) (4,207)
    Intangible Assets (2,776) (2,798) (2,871)
    Net Tangible Asset Value 52,935 53,326 52,635
           
    Number of shares used to calculate NAPS(3) 776,296 783,671 796,498
    Net Asset Value per Share 77.1 76.9 75.0
    Net Tangible Asset Value per Share 68.2 68.0 66.1

    7 – Calculation of Earnings Per Share (EPS)

    The EPS published by Societe Generale is calculated according to the rules defined by the IAS 33 standard (see pages 40-41 of Societe Generale’s 2025 Universal Registration Document). The corrections made to Group net income in order to calculate EPS correspond to the restatements carried out for the calculation of ROE and ROTE.
    The calculation of Earnings Per Share is described in the following table:

    Average number of shares (thousands) H1 25 Q1 25 2024
    Existing shares 800,317 800,317 801,915
    Deductions      
    Shares allocated to cover stock option plans and free shares awarded to staff 2,175 2,586 4,402
    Other own shares and treasury shares 12,653 7,646 2,344
    Number of shares used to calculate EPS(4) 785,488 790,085 795,169
    Group net Income (in EURm) 3,061 1,608 4,200
    Interest on deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes (in EURm) (387) (188) (720)
    Adjusted Group net income (in EURm) 2,674 1,420 3,481
    EPS (in EUR) 3.40 1.80 4.38

    19
    8 – Solvency and leverage ratios

    Shareholder’s equity, risk-weighted assets and leverage exposure are calculated in accordance with applicable CRR3/CRD6 rules, transposing the final Basel III text, also called Basel IV, including the procedures provided by the regulation for the calculation of phased-in and fully loaded ratios. The solvency ratios and leverage ratio are presented on a pro-forma basis for the current year’s accrued results, net of dividends, unless otherwise stated.
    20

    9- Funded balance sheet, loan to deposit ratio

    The funded balance sheet is based on the Group financial statements. It is obtained in two steps:

    • A first step aiming at reclassifying the items of the financial statements into aggregates allowing for a more economic reading of the balance sheet. Main reclassifications:

    Insurance: grouping of the accounting items related to insurance within a single aggregate in both assets and liabilities.
    Customer loans: include outstanding loans with customers (net of provisions and write-downs, including net lease financing outstanding and transactions at fair value through profit and loss); excludes financial assets reclassified under loans and receivables in accordance with the conditions stipulated by IFRS 9 (these positions have been reclassified in their original lines).
    Wholesale funding: includes interbank liabilities and debt securities issued. Financing transactions have been allocated to medium/long-term resources and short-term resources based on the maturity of outstanding, more or less than one year.
    Reclassification under customer deposits of the share of issues placed by French Retail Banking networks (recorded in medium/long-term financing), and certain transactions carried out with counterparties equivalent to customer deposits (previously included in short term financing).
    Deduction from customer deposits and reintegration into short-term financing of certain transactions equivalent to market resources.

    • A second step aiming at excluding the contribution of insurance subsidiaries, and netting derivatives, repurchase agreements, securities borrowing/lending, accruals and “due to central banks”.

    The Group loan / deposit ratio is determined as the division of the customer loans by customer deposits as presented in the funded balance sheet.

    NB (1) The sum of values contained in the tables and analyses may differ slightly from the total reported due to rounding rules.
    (2) All the information on the results for the period (notably: press release, downloadable data, presentation slides and supplement) is available on Societe Generale’s website www.societegenerale.com in the “Investor” section.

    Societe Generale

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

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

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

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

    In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the document’s legitimacy directly on the web page.

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


    1 Out of a total contemplated distribution accrual of EUR 1.77 per share at end H1 25 based on a pay-out ratio of 50% of the H1 25 Group net income restated from non-cash items (including GESOP) and after deduction of interest on deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, pro forma including H1 25 results and including interim cash dividend; the distribution policy being based on a balanced mix of the payout between cash dividend and share buy-back
    2 A non-cash item with no impact on the CET1 ratio, and therefore no impact on distributable net income
    3 Ratio calculated according to EBA methodology published on 16 July 2019
    4 Ratio excluding loans outstanding of companies currently being disposed of in compliance with IFRS 5
    5 Ratio of S3 provisions, guarantees and collaterals over gross outstanding non-performing loans
    6 6 February 2025 – Q4 2024 Financial Results – Presentation – Page 6
    7 Cf. Description of the share buy-back program of 17 May 2024 relating to the 22nd resolution of the Combined general meeting of shareholders of 22 May 2024, for which the authorisation for the company to purchase its own shares is valid until 22 November 2025
    8 Including Basel IV phasing
    9 Excluding asset diposals (Switzerland and the United Kingdom)
    10 France Best Digital Bank, Awards for Excellence, Euromoney July 2025
    11 Mainly hyperinflation in Turkey
    12 Excluding impacts of depreciation adjustments
    13 As disclosed in Ayvens Q2 25 earnings report, excluding revenues from used vehicle sales and non-recurring items
    14   Interest net of tax
    15    The dividend to be paid is calculated based on a pay-out ratio of 50%, restated from non-cash items and after deduction of interest on deeply subordinated notes and on undated subordinated notes, and including the additional share buy-back of EUR 1bn for Q1 25 and H1 25
    16    Excluding goodwill arising from non-controlling interests
    17    Interest net of tax
    18 Excluding goodwill arising from non-controlling interests
    19 The number of shares considered is the number of ordinary shares outstanding at end of period, excluding treasury shares and buy-backs, but including the trading shares held by the Group (expressed in thousands of shares)
    20 The number of shares considered is the average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding treasury shares and buy-backs, but including the trading shares held by the Group (expressed in thousands of shares)

    Attachment

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