Category: Taxation

  • MIL-OSI: Zeo Energy Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zeo Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: ZEO) (“Zeo”, “Zeo Energy”, or the “Company”), a leading Florida-based provider of residential solar and energy efficiency solutions, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    Recent Financial and Operational Highlights

    • Reported $73.2 million of revenue in 2024 despite pricing challenges from a prolonged, higher interest rate environment
    • Reported $2.0 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2024, driven by the Company’s flexible operating model and disciplined cost management
    • Completed the integration of Lumio’s assets, which were acquired in November 2024 as part of Zeo’s market expansion plan
    • Secured $4.0 million in December to develop a year-round sales force and expand market presence, accelerating the Company’s growth trajectory heading into the second half of 2025
    • Achieved 6th straight year of positive adjusted EBITDA

    Management Commentary
    “While 2024 was a challenging year for the solar business as a whole, we are entering 2025 with a sense of renewed optimism around the opportunities ahead,” said Zeo Energy Corp. CEO Tim Bridgewater. “In a consolidating market, we remain positioned to acquire compelling renewable energy assets at attractive valuations to fuel our growth and gain market share over the intermediate term. Our November transaction with Lumio is an example of our ability to identify targets that offer Zeo accretive value with improved geographic and strategic positioning.

    “Financially, thanks to our continued focus on efficiency as well as the flexibility in our operating model, we drove our sixth straight year of positive adjusted EBITDA. At the same time, our topline performance largely stabilized quarter-over-quarter, which was encouraging to see as we move through our traditionally slower seasons with limited sales in Q4 and Q1. As of today, our expanded recruitment initiatives remain on target as we begin our peak summer sales season in the second quarter of 2025. Put together, we believe we have the right strategy to operate sustainably today and to thrive over the long term.”

    Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Results compare the full year ended December 31, 2024 to the full year ended December 31, 2023.

    • Total revenue was $73.2 million in 2024, a 33.2% decrease from $109.7 million in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to higher interest rates creating a challenging environment for residential solar sales throughout 2024.
    • Gross profit decreased to $34.4 million (47.0% of total revenue) in 2024 from $49.8 million (45.4% of total revenue) in 2023. The decrease in gross profit was driven in part by the decrease in sales compared to the prior period. The improvement in gross profit as a percentage of revenue was the result of improved operational efficiencies in labor, a reduction in materials costs, and an increase in sales volume from our internal sales teams.
    • Net loss was $9.9 million in 2024 compared to net income of $4.8 million in the comparable 2023 period. The decrease was primarily due to stock compensation, increased headcount, and costs incurred as a result of becoming a public company.
    • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measurement of operating performance reconciled below, remained positive, but decreased to $2.0 million (2.7% of total revenue) in 2024 from $7.0 million (6.4% of total revenue) in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to higher interest rates creating a challenging environment for residential solar sales in 2024.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Results compare the 2024 fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 to the 2024 fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.

    • Total revenue was $18.6 million in Q4 2024, an 18.9% decrease from $23.0 million in the comparable 2023 period. The decrease was primarily due to higher interest rates creating a challenging environment for residential solar direct sales throughout 2024.
    • Gross profit decreased to $11.2 million (60.1% of total revenue) in Q4 2024 from $12.7 million (55.1% of total revenue) in the comparable 2023 period. The decrease was driven in part by the decrease in sales compared to the prior period. The improvement in gross profit as a percentage of revenue was the result of improved operational efficiencies in labor and a reduction in materials costs.
    • Net loss for Q4 2024 was $1.1 million compared to $1.6 million in the comparable 2023 period. The improvement was primarily related to a $0.7 million tax benefit.
    • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measurement of operating performance reconciled below, increased to $3.1 million (16.8% of total revenue) in Q4 2024 from approximately $(0.9) million (4.1% of total revenue) in the comparable 2023 period. The change was primarily related to a $3.0 million change in depreciation and amortization.

    For more information, please visit the Zeo Energy Corp. investor relations website at investors.zeoenergy.com.

    About Zeo Energy Corp.

    Zeo Energy Corp. is a Florida-based regional provider of residential solar, distributed energy, and energy efficiency solutions. Zeo focuses on high-growth markets with limited competitive saturation. With its differentiated sales approach and vertically integrated offerings, Zeo, through its Sunergy Solar business unit, serves customers who desire to reduce high energy bills and contribute to a more sustainable future. For more information on Zeo Energy Corp., please visit www.zeoenergy.com.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA
    Zeo Energy defines Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income (loss) before interest and other expenses, net, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation. Zeo utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as an internal performance measure in the management of the Company’s operations because the Company believes the exclusion of these non-cash and non-recurring charges allows for a more relevant comparison of Zeo’s results of operations to other companies in the industry. Adjusted EBITDA should not be viewed as a substitute for net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define Adjusted EBITDA differently.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented:

               
      Year Ended December 31,     Quarter Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023
    Net income (loss)   $ (9,872,358 )     $ 4,845,069       $ (1,135,513 )     $ (1,596,773 )
    Adjustment:                              
    Other income, net     (233,151 )       183,401         (44,822 )       190,383  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     (69,000 )               759,000         0  
    Interest expense     333,539         110,857         39,282         47,937  
    Income tax benefit     (988,802 )               (753,450 )       0  
    Stock compensation     7,951,248                 849,430         0  
    Depreciation and amortization     4,836,538         1,841,874         3,423,464         410,392  
                                   
    Adjusted EBITDA     1,958,014         6,981,201         3,137,391         (948,061 )
     

    Adjusted EBITDA Margin

    Zeo Energy defines Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, expressed as a percentage, as the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to revenue, net. Adjusted EBITDA margin measures net income (loss) before interest and other expenses, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation and is expressed as a percentage of revenue. In the table above, Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure, net income (loss). Zeo utilizes Adjusted EBITDA margin as an internal performance measure in the management of the Company’s operations because the Company believes the exclusion of these non-cash and non-recurring charges allows for a more relevant comparison of the Company’s results of operations to other companies in Zeo’s industry.

    The following table sets forth Zeo’s calculations of Adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods presented:

               
      Year Ended December 31,     Quarter Ended December 31,  
      2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Total Revenue $ 73,244,083       $ 109,691,001       $ 18,647,750       $ 22,985,981    
    Adjusted EBITDA   1,958,014         6,981,201         3,137,391         (948,061 )  
    Adjusted EBITDA margin   2.7   %     6.4   %     16.8   %     (4.1 ) %
                                   

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and similar references to future periods may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the future financial performance of the Company; the ability to effectively consolidate the assets of Lumio and produce the expected results; changes in the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, the ability to raise additional funds, and plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: (i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company or others; (ii) the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; (iii) the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on Nasdaq; (iv) limited liquidity and trading of the Company’s securities; (v) geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including tariffs or trade restrictions; (vi) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vii) operational risk; (viii) litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on the Company’s resources; (ix) the Company’s ability to effectively consolidate the assets of Lumio and produce the expected results; and (x) other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in its subsequent periodic reports and other filings with the SEC.

    In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company, its respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this news release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this news release. Subsequent events and developments may cause that view to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company as of any date subsequent to the date of this news release.

    Zeo Energy Corp. Contacts

    For Investors:
    Tom Colton and Greg Bradbury
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    For Media:
    Zach Kadletz
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    -Financial Tables to Follow-

     
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
     
        As of December 31,   As of December 31,
          2024       2023  
    Assets            
    Current assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 5,634,115     $ 8,022,306  
    Accounts receivable, including $191,662 and $396,488 from related parties, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,165,336 and $862,580, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively     10,186,543       2,905,205  
    Inventories     872,470       350,353  
    Contract assets     64,202       4,915,064  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     2,131,345       40,403  
    Total current assets     18,888,675       16,233,331  
    Other assets     314,426       62,140  
    Property, equipment and other fixed assets, net     2,475,963       2,289,723  
    Right of use operating lease assets     1,268,139       1,135,668  
    Right of use financing lease assets     447,012       583,484  
    Intangibles, net     7,571,156       771,028  
    Related party note receivable     3,000,000        
    Goodwill     27,010,745       27,010,745  
    Total assets   $ 60,976,116     $ 48,086,119  
                 
    Liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders� (deficit) equity            
    Current liabilities            
    Accounts payable   $ 2,780,885     $ 4,699,855  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including $3,359,101 and $2,415,966 with related parties at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively     8,540,188       4,646,365  
    Current portion of long-term debt     291,036       294,398  
    Current portion of obligations under operating leases     583,429       539,599  
    Convertible promissory note     2,440,000        
    Contract liabilities, including $2,000 and $1,160,848 with related parties as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively     203,607       5,223,518  
    Total current liabilities     14,969,609       15,522,151  
    Obligations under operating leases, non-current     799,385       636,414  
    Obligations under financing leases, non-current     348,807       479,271  
    Warrant liabilities     1,449,000        
    Long-term debt     496,623       825,764  
    Total liabilities     18,063,424       17,463,600  
                 
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)            
                 
    Redeemable noncontrolling interests            
    Convertible preferred units     16,130,871        
    Class B Units     115,693,900        
                 
    Stockholders’ (deficit) equity            
    Class V common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 authorized shares; 35,230,000 and 33,730,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively     3,523       3,373  
    Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 300,000,000 authorized shares; 13,252,964 and no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively     1,326        
    Additional paid in capital     14,523,963       31,152,491  
    Accumulated deficit     (103,440,891 )     (533,345 )
    Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity     (88,912,079 )     30,622,519  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ (deficit) equity   $ 60,976,116     $ 48,086,119  
                 
     
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
     
      Year Ended December 31,   3 Months Ended December 31,
      2024   2023    2024   2023
    Revenue, net $ 51,088,065     $ 94,226,149     $ 14,630,831     $ 7,521,129  
    Related party revenue, net   22,156,018       15,464,852       4,016,919       15,464,852  
    Total revenue   73,244,083       109,691,001       18,647,750       22,985,981  
    Operating costs and expenses:                      
    Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)   38,021,519       59,436,674       7,216,364       10,190,953  
    Depreciation and amortization   4,836,538       1,841,874       3,423,464       410,392  
    Sales and marketing   19,587,073       30,324,059       3,408,698       10,510,080  
    General and administrative   21,628,725       12,949,067       5,734,727       3,233,009  
    Total operating expenses   84,073,855       104,551,674       19,783,253       24,344,434  
    (Loss) income from operations   (10,829,772 )     5,139,327       (1,135,503 )     (1,358,453 )
    Other (expenses) income, net:                      
    Other income, net   233,151       (183,401 )     44,822       (190,383 )
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   69,000             (759,000 )      
    Interest expense   (333,539 )     (110,857 )     (39,282 )     (47,937 )
    Total other income (expense), net   (31,388 )     (294,258 )     (753,460 )     (238,320 )
    Net (loss) income before taxes   (10,861,160 )     4,845,069       (1,888,963 )     (1,596,773 )
    Income tax benefit   988,802             753,450        
    Net (loss) income   (9,872,358 )     4,845,069       (1,135,513 )     (1,596,773 )
    Net (loss) attributable to Sunergy Renewables LLC prior to the Business Combination   (523,681 )     4,845,069             (1,596,773 )
    Net (loss) income subsequent to the Business Combination   (9,348,677 )           (1,135,513 )      
    Net (loss) income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests   (6,679,788 )           (700,167 )      
    Net (loss) income attributable to Class A common stock $ (2,668,889 )   $     $ (435,346 )   $  
                           
    Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common unit $ (0.48 )   $     $ (0.04 )   $  
    Weighted average units outstanding, basic and diluted   5,546,925             11,057,312        
                           
     
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
     
      Year Ended December 31,
      2024   2023
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities          
    Net (loss) income $ (9,872,358 )   $ 4,845,069  
    Adjustment to reconcile net (loss) income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities          
    Depreciation and amortization   4,836,538       1,841,874  
    Gain on disposal of asset   (91,684 )      
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   (69,000 )      
    Provision for credit losses   2,815,633       1,531,223  
    Noncash operating lease expense   705,293       550,425  
    Stock based compensation expense   7,951,248        
    Deferred tax asset   (997,702 )      
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
    Accounts receivable   (8,785,973 )     (3,475,661 )
    Accounts receivable due from related parties   204,826       (396,488 )
    Inventories   (131,898 )     (63,207 )
    Contract assets   4,850,862       (4,795,309 )
    Prepaids and other current assets   (1,757,354 )     61,852  
    Other assets   (13,795 )      
    Due from related party         (104,056 )
    Accounts payable   (2,512,834 )     4,501,798  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   (1,140,780 )     1,536,287  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities due to related parties   943,135       2,415,996  
    Contract liabilities   (3,861,063 )     2,913,623  
    Contract liabilities due to related parties   (1,158,848 )     1,160,848  
    Operating lease payments   (630,963 )     (547,140 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (8,716,717 )     11,977,134  
               
    Cash flows from Investing Activities          
    Purchases of property, equipment and other assets   (369,137 )     (1,034,666 )
    Investment in related party   (3,000,000 )      
    Lumio asset purchase   (4,000,000 )      
    Net cash used in investing activities   (7,369,137 )     (1,034,666 )
               
    Cash flows from Financing Activities          
    Proceeds from the issuance of debt         311,029  
    Principal payment of finance lease liabilities   (118,416 )     (84,678 )
    Proceeds from private placement   2,716,000        
    Proceeds from the issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of transaction costs   9,221,649        
    Repayments of debt   (332,503 )     (241,423 )
    Proceeds from convertible promissory note, net of debt issuance costs   2,440,000        
    Dividends paid to Convertible preferred units   (139,067 )      
    Distributions to members   (90,000 )     (5,173,396 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   13,697,663       (5,188,468 )
               
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (2,388,191 )     5,754,000  
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   8,022,306       2,268,306  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 5,634,115     $ 8,022,306  
               
    Supplemental Cash Flow Information          
    Cash paid for interest $ 124,488     $ 103,421  
    Accrual of distribution to owners $     $ 325,000  
    Cash paid for income taxes $     $  
    Noncash finance lease expense $ 136,472     $ 98,881  
               
    Non-cash transactions          
    Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ 837,764     $  
    Deferred equity issuance costs $ 2,769,039     $  
    Issuance of Class A common stock to vendors $ 891,035     $  
    Issuance of Class A common stock to backstop investors $ 1,569,463     $  
    Preferred dividends $ 9,275,795     $  
               

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Ormat Technologies Announces $62 Million Hybrid Tax Equity Partnership for Two Energy Storage Facilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) (the “Company” or “Ormat”), a leading geothermal and renewable energy company, today announced the signing of a $62 million Hybrid Tax Equity partnership with Morgan Stanley Renewables, Inc. The partnership’s transaction covers the Lower Rio 60MW/120MWh storage facility and the Arrowleaf 35MW/140MWh storage and 42MW solar projects, which are expected to achieve COD by the end of 2025.

    “This Hybrid Tax Equity partnership is the first of its kind for our Energy Storage portfolio and highlights the innovative efforts we are taking to optimize the projects’ economics and the Company’s profitability to ensure that we have the funding we need to support our long-term growth, while simultaneously helping advance our explicit goal of monetizing $160 million of tax benefits this year,” said Doron Blachar, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat Technologies. “By continuing to effectively monetize the benefits of ITCs for our growing Energy Storage project portfolio through 2026, we are strengthening our ability to further invest in our development pipeline and ensure that we remain well-positioned to support the growing demand for energy storage projects.”

    Ormat was represented in the transaction by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP and Morgan Stanley Renewables Inc. was represented in the transaction by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

    ABOUT ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES

    With six decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company, and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (“REG”), with robust plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market and to establish a leading position in the U.S. energy storage market. The Company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter – a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. The Company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed for utilities and developers worldwide, totaling approximately 3,400MW of gross capacity. Ormat leveraged its core capabilities in the geothermal and REG industries and its global presence to expand the Company’s activity into energy storage services, solar Photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage plus Solar PV. Ormat’s current total generating portfolio is 1,538MW with a 1,248MW geothermal and solar generation portfolio that is spread globally in the U.S., Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, and Guadeloupe, and a 290MW energy storage portfolio that is located in the U.S.

    ORMAT’S SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

    Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as our projections of annual revenues, expenses and debt service coverage with respect to our debt securities, future capital expenditures, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, development or operation of generation assets, market and industry developments and the growth of our business and operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, or “contemplate” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words or expressions. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat’s plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management’s current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Although we believe that our plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we may not achieve these plans or objectives. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties and other risks described under “Risk Factors” as described in Ormat’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2025, and in Ormat’s subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that are filed from time to time with the SEC.

    These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and, except as legally required, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Ormat Technologies Contact:
    Smadar Lavi
    VP Head of IR and ESG Planning & Reporting
    775-356-9029 (ext. 65726)
    slavi@ormat.com
    Investor Relations Agency Contact:
    Joseph Caminiti or Josh Carroll
    Alpha IR Group
    312-445-2870
    ORA@alpha-ir.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Regula Rolls Out Personal Data Masking Across All Solutions for Easier Privacy Compliance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — To help organizations stay ahead of tightening data privacy regulations, Regula, a global developer of identity verification solutions, has extended its personal data masking functionality to Regula Forensic Studio (RFS), software that powers forensic devices. This new update helps document experts protect personal data with a single click, meeting growing privacy demands without disrupting workflows.

    Already available in Regula Document Reader SDK, the personal data hiding feature is now also a part of the RFS toolset used by border control officers, forensic professionals, and law enforcement agencies. This means the entire Regula ecosystem—from real-time ID verification to in-depth forensic analysis—now supports robust privacy controls natively.

    Just one click on “Depersonalize” in the RFS menuand all the personal data in an ID is blurred

    This enhancement comes at a time when compliance is not just a checkbox, but a business-critical imperative. According to Regula’s global survey, 28% of companies cite regulatory compliance as the primary reason for implementing identity verification solutions. Among large enterprises, that figure rises to 35%.

    The new capability allows document experts to easily blur or hide personally identifiable information (PII), such as names, photos, and ID numbers, directly within forensic workflows. This ensures that sensitive data is handled responsibly while meeting strict global requirements like GDPR, CCPA, and others.

    “Regula’s forensic tools are trusted by professionals who handle the most sensitive identity documents, so privacy and compliance can’t be an afterthought,” said Ihar Kliashchou, Chief Technology Officer at Regula. “With one-click data masking now built into our ID verification tools, experts can instantly anonymize personal information during analysis, enabling secure, compliant workflows for audits, training, or database creation, without sacrificing speed or accuracy.”

    What else is new in Regula Forensic Studio?

    In addition to the personal data masking feature, the latest RFS release includes 40+ updates focused on speed, customization, and forensic precision:

    • New analysis tools: Yellow dot analysis for tracing document origins and detecting unauthorized duplicates.
    • Smarter imaging: Per-light-source gamma correction and full-spectrum HDR imaging (not just UV), improving clarity across all materials.
    • Streamlined collaboration: Video screen capture and camera recording capabilities support team training and case reviews.
    • Faster insights: Hyperspectral imaging is now 20% faster without compromising detail.
    • Improved digital zoom: Expanded up to 16x for detailed inspections.
    • Visual reporting: Ability to generate composite images under varied lighting, ideal for expert reports or courtroom presentations.
    • Integrated workflows: Automated document searches in the Information Reference System (IRS) after MRZ reading to reduce manual steps.
    • Flexible video modes: Three options for different examination tasks—real-time viewing without frame skipping, high-resolution capture, and an expanded A4 field-of-view mode.
    • Wider OS compatibility: Now supports Rocky and Debian Linux distributions, expanding deployment options.

    For more information about Regula Forensic Studio and its latest features, please visit Regula’s official website.

    About Regula

    Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® Market Guide for Identity Verification.

    Learn more at www.regulaforensics.com.

    Contact:
    Kristina – ks@regulaforensics.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c278b54-ce49-42b8-8633-d089d8c00ee4

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Axi launches ‘Tunnel of Triumph’ campaign with Manchester City star, John Stones

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi has unveiled their second activation with Man City star and Brand Ambassador, John Stones. Their latest campaign, Tunnel of Triumph, builds on the success of last year’s Axi spread-betting campaign, once again featuring John Stones. This year, the City star relives some of his biggest moments on the pitch and reveals what those experiences have meant to him and the team.

    Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at Axi, expressed her enthusiasm for their new campaign, stating, “We’re thrilled to be launching the Tunnel of Triumph campaign featuring our Brand Ambassador, John Stones. John is a remarkable player who brings relentless edge, ambition, and never settles for less on the pitch – qualities that perfectly mirror our own. When it comes to what we deliver for our clients, we continually aim to excel, whether it’s through our super competitive trading conditions, our excellent customer service, or our offerings. Focusing exclusively on the UK audience, our latest campaign promotes our Spread Betting account, highlighting how our clients can trade the markets tax-free*.”

    Axi’s Tunnel of Triumph campaign complements the broker’s ‘Four Years’ campaign, launched in March 2025, which featured City star players Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones. The campaign celebrated four remarkable years of collaboration, shared achievements, and reaching new heights together.

    Further to the broker’s long-term partnership with Manchester City and having John Stones as their Brand Ambassador, Axi is also the Official LATAM Online Trading Partner of LaLiga club, Girona FC, and the Official Online Trading Partner of Brazilian club, Esporte Clube Bahia.

    https://youtu.be/ThJDNXKddac

    CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

    *Applies to UK spread betting. Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK. Axi does not provide tax advice.

    About Axi 

    Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading brand, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more. 

    For more information or additional comments from Axi, please contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com. 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08aae059-82a9-4097-921e-3fb8c451ea98

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: IBFD Appoints Three New Members to Board of Trustees

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished experts to its Board of Trustees (BOT), strengthening its position as the “Home of International Taxation”.

    Effective 17 May 2025, Juliane Kokott, Alexia Scott and Paolo Valerio Barbantini have joined the IBFD BOT, bringing a wealth of expertise in international taxation, law and policy. Their diverse backgrounds and esteemed careers will enhance IBFD’s mission of providing independent, high-quality research, analysis and data in the field of international taxation.

    Juliane Kokott

    Juliane Kokott is Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union since 2003. With a distinguished career in European and international law, she is a respected authority in tax regulation and compliance. Ms Kokott has published numerous scholarly articles and books on tax law and has been a keynote speaker at many international conferences. Her deep legal expertise and insights into the evolving landscape of tax law will provide valuable guidance to IBFD’s initiatives.

    Alexia Scott

    Alexia Scott is the Global Head of Tax at L’Oréal, the French cosmetics group, since 2013. She is a senior international tax executive with over 30 years of leadership in tax strategy, planning and compliance across globally recognized groups in different sectors (beauty, transport, automotive and civil work).

    Ms Scott is a specialist in cross-border taxation and policy, dedicated to advancing sustainable fiscal strategies and promoting transparency. She has worked with various governments and international organizations to develop ESG-focused tax initiatives. IBFD will greatly benefit from her leadership in international corporate taxation.

    Paolo Valerio Barbantini

    Paolo Valerio Barbantini is Head of Tax of Fincantieri Group, a leading Italian multinational in shipbuilding, as from March 2024. Between 2018 and February 2024, he served the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle entrate) as Deputy Director General. From 2015 until January 2018, Mr Barbantini worked at the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration as coordinator of BEPS and developing countries, then as responsible for their engagement and launch of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS. Mr Barbantini’s extensive experience in tax administration and tax policy development, as well as in international cooperation, will be invaluable to IBFD’s ongoing efforts in fostering innovative solutions for fiscal challenges.

    We are honoured to welcome these prominent members of our community to our Board of Trustees,” said IBFD CEO Jan Maarten Slagter. “Their expertise and leadership will be instrumental as IBFD continues to provide valuable and trusted insights and help to shape the future of international taxation.”

    IBFD’s Board of Trustees oversees the overall management of the  organization. It consists of highly experienced tax professionals, (former) government officials and professionals with relevant non-tax backgrounds from all corners of the world.

    For more information about IBFD and its initiatives, visit the IBFD website.

    About IBFD

    IBFD is a leading independent foundation specializing in international tax research, education and knowledge dissemination. With a global network of experts and institutions, IBFD provides unparalleled resources in cross-border taxation, policy and compliance.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Child Payment is making a ’massive difference’

    Source: Scottish Government

    Michelle, a mother of three from Edinburgh has shared the impact Scottish Child Payment is having in her daughter’s life.

    “One of my daughters has autism and ADHD, and Scottish Child Payment allows me to do activities that calm her down and make her happy and that makes a massive difference.”

    Figures released today, reveal that Michelle’s daughter is just one of 326,255 children who are actively benefiting from Scottish Child Payment.

    Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland and provides financial support for families, helping with the costs of caring for a child. It is a weekly payment, currently worth £27.15, for every eligible child that a parent or carer looks after who’s under 16 years of age. 

    Michelle said:

    “Scottish Child Payment is something that helps you and helps your children when you’re in a difficult financial situation. I think there’s sometimes a stigma around applying for it, especially as a single mother, but I highly recommend that those who have yet to apply for it do so.”

    Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:  

    “Eradicating child poverty is the Scottish Government’s top priority and a national mission.   

    “Today’s figure show that the Scottish Government is supporting 233,040 individual clients and 326,255 children throughout Scotland, with over 7.5 million paid out in Scottish Child Payment.

    “These payments are actively improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Scotland – helping their families to access essentials and experiences they might otherwise miss out on because they live on a low income.

    “In the coming year it is forecast we’ll invest a further £471 million, ensuring that this support continues to reach even more families and children who need it.”

    We would urge those who are thinking of applying for financial support, to check their eligibility and start their application today.”

    Background

    Social Security Scotland – Scottish Child Payment statistics to 31 March 2025

    Scottish Child Payment is one of the five family payments parents and carers may be eligible for along with Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.     

    All of the following need to apply:     

    • the person lives in Scotland  
    • the person or their partner are getting certain benefits or payments  
    • the person or their partner are the main person looking after a child who’s under 16 years old  

    A parent or carer can apply whether they are in work or not, if they or their partner are getting one or more of the following benefits:    

    • Universal Credit   
    • Child Tax Credit   
    • Working Tax Credit   
    • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).   

    Social Security Scotland also accept claims if the person alone is named on one of these benefits:   

    • Pension Credit   
    • Income Support   
    • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)   

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Annexus and North American Expand Partnership With the Launch of Secure Horizon Indexed Universal Life Insurance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Annexus, a leading retirement product design company, has announced its continued collaboration with North American Company for Life and Health Insurance®, one of the largest issuers of life insurance and annuity products in the United States. The two companies launched Secure HorizonSM Indexed Universal Life Insurance (Secure Horizon IUL), a breakthrough life insurance product designed to provide death benefit protection alongside a suite of supplemental retirement benefits and strong accumulation potential.

    “The launch of Secure Horizon IUL represents the next evolution of our partnership with Annexus and our shared commitment to innovation,” said Jerry Blair, president of Sammons Life Insurance Group. “Together with Annexus, we are reimagining the untapped possibilities in life insurance product design.”

    Secure Horizon IUL features strong death benefit protection and accumulation potential through index options including the S&P PRISM®Index, the best-performing live smart beta index in the IUL industry since 2018,1 and the Research Affiliates®Global Multi-Asset Index, which provides diversified exposure to global stocks, bonds and commodities while using a proprietary risk management process to manage volatility. Both indices are available in 1-, 2- and 3-year strategy terms with participation rates as high as 410%. In addition, Secure Horizon IUL will feature an S&P 500®Index Trigger strategy and a Dual Trigger Strategy that provides the opportunity to credit interest in up, flat and even some down markets.

    “We are excited to launch Secure Horizon IUL, a new product that includes some truly innovative benefits designed to help protect against major risks in retirement,” said Ron Shurts, co-founder and CEO of Annexus. “This is the first time an IUL will offer a Longevity Benefit Base that can be used to provide guaranteed lifetime income, a benefit if social security is reduced, and an enhanced death benefit that could be greater than the policy’s death benefit.”

    The SecureStage Supplemental Benefits EndorsementSM (SecureStage) is automatically included on all Secure Horizon IUL policies. SecureStage is powered by an industry-first Longevity Benefit Base that grows by 150% of the net credited interest.2 The Longevity Benefit Base can be used for any of the following three benefits:

    • LifePay Income Benefit: provides a stream of guaranteed lifetime income clients cannot outlive
    • PlanGap®Benefit: the first solution within an IUL designed to help offset a potential future reduction in social security benefits3
    • Enhanced Death Benefit: a legacy benefit that may be greater than the death benefit offered under the policy payable over five years

    Secure Horizon IUL also offers living benefits through the Accelerated Death Benefit Endorsement, which enables policyowners to use a portion of the death benefit if diagnosed with a qualifying critical, chronic or terminal illness.4, 5 Together these supplemental benefits can help address six of the major risks clients face in retirement.

    Advisors, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), and insurance professionals seeking access to this product should contact their Annexus-affiliated Independent Distribution Company. If you are a consumer interested in learning about Secure Horizon IUL, ask your financial professional for more information.

    About Annexus

    For nearly two decades, Annexus has developed market-leading fixed indexed annuities, registered indexed-linked annuities, and indexed universal life insurance products that help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings. The company has built strategic relationships with the industry’s top insurance carriers and some of the world’s largest investment banks. For more information, visit Annexus.

    About North American Company for Life and Health Insurance
    North American Company for Life and Health Insurance® is a member of Sammons® Financial Group, Inc. They offer a comprehensive portfolio of term and indexed universal life insurance products, as well as a wide variety of traditional fixed and fixed index annuities. Learn more about North American.

    1 Based on all 5% volatility control smart beta live performance indices in the Indexed Universal Life market as of 4/15/25. Index performance from 12/31/2017 – 12/31/2024.

    2 Net credited interest is any index credit and interest credit minus Index Credit and interest credit attributed to interest bonus on fixed interest participating loans.

    3 The PlanGap® Benefit is known as the Income Gap Benefit in the contract. The PlanGap® Benefit is not a replacement for Social Security benefits but provides a benefit designed to mitigate a reduction. For purposes of this Endorsement, reduction means a reduction in Social Security benefits due to a change implemented by the Social Security Administration or other federal law or regulation. It does not include reductions in your Social Security benefits based upon your actions (including any elections under Social Security or changes to your Social Security elections) or change in circumstances. PlanGap® is a registered trademark of PlanGap, LLC and is used pursuant to a license. The Benefit can be elected if the Income Gap Benefit Index is reduced by more than 3%. Limited to the insured’s policy age being between age 62 and 85 and waiting period of 10 years for issue ages 0-59, and 5 years for issue ages 60+.

    North American Company for Life and Health Insurance® is not affiliated with PlanGap® or the Social Security Administration. North American’s product(s) are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Social Security Administration, and they make no representation regarding the advisability of purchasing of the product(s).

    4 Payment of accelerated death benefits paid under the endorsement is intended for favorable tax treatment under Section 101(g) of the Internal Revenue Code.

    5 Accelerated death benefits subject to eligibility requirements. An administrative fee may be required at the time of election. The death benefit will be reduced by the amount of the death benefit accelerated. Since benefits are paid prior to death, a discount will be applied to the death benefit accelerated. As a result, the actual amount received will be less than the amount of the death benefit accelerated.

    The “S&P 500®” and “S&P PRISM” (“the Indices”) are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and have been licensed for use by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance® (“the Company”). S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The Company’s Product is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Company’s Product or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Company’s Product particularly or the ability of the Indices to track general market performance. Past performance of an index is not an indication or guarantee of future results. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to the Company with respect to the Indices is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its licensors. The Indices are determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to the Company or the Company’s Product. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation to take the needs of the Company or the owners of the Company’s Product into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Indices. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Company’s Product. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Indices will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment adviser, commodity trading advisory, commodity pool operator, broker dealer, fiduciary, “promoter” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), “expert” as enumerated within 15 U.S.C. § 77k(a) or tax advisor. Inclusion of a security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset, nor is it considered to be investment advice or commodity trading advice.

    S&P DOW JONES INDICES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDICES OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE COMPANY, OWNERS OF THE COMPANY’S PRODUCT, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDICES OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. S&P DOW JONES INDICES HAS NOT REVIEWED, PREPARED AND/OR CERTIFIED ANY PORTION OF, NOR DOES S&P DOW JONES INDICES HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER, THE COMPANY’S PRODUCT REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS OR OTHER OFFERING MATERIALS. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND THE COMPANY, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOWJONES INDICES.

    The Research Affiliates® Global Multi-Asset Index (the “Index”) is a service mark of RAFI Indices, LLC or its affiliates (collectively, “RAFI”) and has been licensed for certain use by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance® (“the Company”). The intellectual and other property rights to the Index are owned by or licensed to RAFI. Use and distribution of the Index or any included data and RAFI’s service marks requires RAFI’s written permission. This IUL (the “Product”) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by RAFI or any of its third-party service providers or suppliers including data licensors and index calculators (“RAFI and its suppliers”).

    The Index is an excess return index and does not allocate to any interest-bearing cash rate allocations. Because of this, an excess return version of an index will have lower performance than a total return version of the same index would, especially in high interest rate environments.

    Past performance of an index is not an indicator of or a guarantee of future results. Hypothetical and simulated examples have inherent limitations and are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. There are often differences between simulated results and the actual results. There are numerous factors related to the markets in general or the implementation of any specific investment strategy, which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of simulated results and all of which can adversely affect actual results. RAFI and its suppliers make no representations or warranties regarding the advisability of investing in the Product or the ability of the Index to provide any particular market performance. RAFI is not acting as an investment adviser to you and has no fiduciary duties to you in connection with the Index or the Product. RAFI and its suppliers are not responsible for and have not participated in the (i) development, marketing, issuance or management of the Product, (ii) the determination of the timing of, prices, at or quantities of the Product to be issued, or (iii) calculation of the equation by which the Product is redeemable.

    RAFI and its suppliers have no obligation or liability to the owners of the Product and any decision to purchase or invest in the Product is at your own risk. RAFI and its suppliers obtain information from sources they consider reliable but do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or completeness of the Index or any data included therein, all of which are provided on an “as is” basis.

    RAFI and its suppliers make no warranty as to the results that may be obtained by the Company, the Company’s customers and counterparties, owners of the Product or anyone else from the use of the Index or included data as licensed or for any other use. RAFI and its suppliers disclaim all warranties and representations, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use, with respect to the Index or any included data. In no event will RAFI or its suppliers be liable for any damages, including direct, indirect, special, punitive and consequential damages (including lost profits), even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

    The term financial professional is not intended to imply engagement in an advisory business in which compensation is not related to sales. Financial professionals that are insurance licensed will be paid a commission on the sale of an insurance product.

    Secure Horizon IUL is issued on form P100/ICC22P100 (policy), E100/ICC22E100, E101/ICC22E101, E103/ICC22E103, E104/ICC22E104, E105/ICC22E105, E109/ICC22E109, E110/ICC22E110, E111/ICC22E111, E115/ICC24E115, E117, R100/ICC23R100, R101/ICC23R101, R102/ICC23R102, R103/ICC23R103, R106/ICC22R106, (riders/endorsements) or appropriate state variation by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance®, West Des Moines, IA. Products, features, endorsements, riders or issue ages may not be available in all states. Limitations or restrictions may apply.

    Sammons Financial® is the marketing name for Sammons® Financial Group, Inc.’s member companies, including North American Company for Life and Health Insurance®. Annuities and life insurance are issued by, and product guarantees are solely the responsibility of, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Golar LNG Limited Interim results for the period ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Highlights and subsequent events

    • Golar LNG Limited (“Golar” or “the Company”) reports Q1 2025 net income attributable to Golar of $8 million, Adjusted EBITDA1 of $41 million and Total Golar Cash1 of $678 million.
    • Concluded the 20-year charter of FLNG Hilli for Southern Energy S.A. (“SESA”) in Argentina.
    • Signed definitive agreements for a 20-year charter for the MKII FLNG to SESA. Combined with the FLNG Hilli charter, the project will be for 5.95 mtpa of nameplate capacity – one of the world’s largest FLNG development projects.
    • FLNG Gimi in final stages of commissioning on the GTA field, Commercial Operations Date (“COD”) expected within Q2.
    • MKII FLNG conversion vessel Fuji LNG arrived at the shipyard for conversion works, conversion project on schedule for Q4 2027 delivery.
    • FLNG Hilli maintained market-leading operational track record and delivered its 132nd LNG cargo since contract start-up.
    • Sold minority shareholding in Avenir LNG Limited.
    • Completed exit from LNG shipping segment with sale of Golar Arctic.
    • Declared dividend of $0.25 per share for the quarter.
    • Progressed FLNG growth opportunities with commercial leads, shipyard availability and long lead equipment timing.

    FLNG Hilli: Maintained leading operational track record with 132 cargoes offloaded to date and over 9 million tons of LNG produced since operations commenced.

    Final Investment Decision (“FID”) for the 20-year redeployment of FLNG Hilli to Southern Energy in Argentina concluded (further details provided in the SESA charter agreements section). A dedicated team has progressed detailed work on Hilli’s re-deployment scope, vessel upgrade and transit to her new location.

    Following the conclusion of FLNG Hilli’s re-deployment contract, we will initiate discussions for debt optimization that reflects the strong earnings visibility for the FLNG unit.

    FLNG Gimi: In January 2025, the bp operated FPSO provided feedgas from the GTA field allowing for full commissioning to commence, triggering the final upward adjustment to the commissioning rate under the commercial reset agreed in August 2024. First LNG was achieved in February and in April 2025, FLNG Gimi completed the offload of its first full LNG cargo. This introduced Mauritania and Senegal as LNG exporters to the international gas market and triggered the final pre-COD milestone bonus payment to Golar under the terms of the commercial reset. COD, which remains on schedule for Q2 2025, triggers the start of the 20-year Lease and Operate Agreement that unlocks the equivalent of around $3 billion of Adjusted EBITDA backlog1 (Golar’s share) and recognition of contractual payments comprised of capital and operating elements in both the balance sheet and income statement.

    As of May 2025, Golar has invoiced $195.9 million of pre-COD fees under the commercial reset arrangements, with this amount currently recognized on the balance sheet.

    On March 20, 2025, a $1.2 billion debt facility to refinance FLNG Gimi was signed with a consortium of leading Chinese leasing companies. The contemplated sale and leaseback facility features a tenor of 12 years and a 17-year amortization profile. Upon closing and repayment of the existing debt facility, Gimi MS Corporation is expected to generate net proceeds of approximately $530 million. This amount includes the release of existing interest rate swaps. Golar stands to benefit from 70% of these proceeds, equivalent to approximately $371 million. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and third party stakeholder approvals. Golar has also progressed a rating process to further evaluate debt optimization alternatives for the vessel during the quarter.

    MKII FLNG 3.5 MTPA conversion: Conversion work on the $2.2 billion MKII FLNG is proceeding to schedule. The conversion vessel Fuji LNG entered CIMC’s Yantai yard in February 2025 and in April the vessel was successfully separated into forward and aft sections. A mid-ship section housing the liquefaction unit will be inserted between and attached to the refurbished forward and aft sections later in the conversion process. Fabrication of the topsides for the mid-ship section is also underway. As of March 31, 2025, Golar has spent $0.7 billion on the MKII FLNG conversion, all of which is equity funded. The MKII FLNG is expected to be delivered in Q4 2027.

    With a definitive agreement that contemplates a 2H 2025 FID now secured, Golar will consider alternatives for asset level MKII FLNG financing.

    Southern Energy charter agreements: On May 2, 2025, Golar announced a FID for the 20-year charter of FLNG Hilli. The vessel will be chartered to SESA offshore Argentina. Golar and SESA also signed definitive agreements for a 20-year charter of the MKII FLNG. The MKII FLNG charter remains subject to FID and the same regulatory approvals as those granted to the FLNG Hilli project, expected within 2025.

    Key commercial terms for the respective 20-year charter agreements include:

    • FLNG Hilli (nameplate capacity of 2.45mtpa): Expected contract start-up in 2027, expected  Adjusted EBITDA1 to Golar of $285 million per year, plus a commodity linked tariff component of 25% of Free on Board (“FOB”) prices in excess of $8/MMBtu; and,
    • MKII FLNG (nameplate capacity of 3.5mtpa): Expected contract start-up in 2028, expected  Adjusted EBITDA1 to Golar of $400 million per year, plus a commodity linked tariff component of 25% of FOB prices in excess of $8/MMBtu.

    The two FLNG agreements are expected to add $13.7 billion in Adjusted EBITDA backlog1 to Golar over 20 years, before inflationary adjustments (30% of U.S. CPI from year 6) to the charter hire, and before the commodity linked tariff upside. Where achieved FOB prices exceed the $8/MMBtu reference price, Golar will receive 25% of the excess amount (this reference price is subject to the same 30% US CPI adjustment from year 6). The commodity linked element in the FLNG charter provides an upside of $70 million per year to Golar for every $ 1/MMBtu the achieved FOB price is higher than the USD 8/MMBtu reference price. The upside calculation is based on monthly achieved FOB prices.

    While the commodity linked tariff component is upside oriented, the Company has also agreed to a mechanism where the charter hire can be partially reduced for FOB prices below $7.5/MMBtu, down to a floor of $6/MMBtu. Under this mechanism, the maximum accumulated discount over the life of both contracts has a cap of $210 million, and any outstanding discounted charter hire amounts will be recovered through additional upside sharing if FOB prices return to levels above $7.5/MMBtu. Golar is not exposed to further downside in the commodity linked FLNG charter mechanism. The upside calculation is based on monthly achieved FOB prices, whilst the downside adjustment is based on annual average achieved FOB prices. The downside mechanism is based on annual average achieved FOB prices.

    SESA, a company formed to export Argentinian LNG, is owned by a consortium of leading Argentinian gas producers including Pan American Energy (30%), YPF (25%), Pampa Energia (20%), Harbour Energy (15%) and Golar (10%). The four gas producers have committed to supply their pro-rata share of natural gas to the FLNGs under Gas Sales Agreements at a fixed price per MMBtu. Golar’s 10% shareholding in SESA provides additional commodity exposure. The 10% equity stake equates to approximately $28 million in annual additional commodity exposure to Golar for every $1/MMBtu change in achieved FOB prices versus SESA’s cash break even.

    With the combination of the fixed charter hire with 30% of U.S. CPI inflation from year 6, operating expenses pass through, 25% commodity exposure in the FLNG tariff for FOB prices above $8/MMBtu and Golar’s 10% shareholding in SESA, Golar believes it has secured a highly attractive risk-reward in the SESA charters. For every $1 FOB price above $8/MMBtu, Golar’s total commodity upside is approximately $100 million, versus approximately $28 million in downside for every $1/MMBtu that realized FOB prices are below SESA’s cash break even.

    Located offshore in close proximity of each other in Rio Negro’s Gulf of San Matias, the FLNG’s will monetize gas from the Vaca Muerta formation, the world’s second largest shale gas resource, located onshore in Argentina’s Neuquen province. FLNG Hilli will initially utilize spare volumes from the existing pipeline network. SESA intends to facilitate the construction of a dedicated pipeline from Vaca Muerta to the Gulf of San Matias to supply gas to the FLNGs and the project expects to benefit from significant operational efficiencies and synergies from two FLNGs in the same area.

    The charters are also subject to strong legal and regulatory protections including:

    • both charter agreements are subject to English Law with dispute resolution pursuant to ICC arbitration in Paris, France;
    • hire and other payments under both contracts are fully paid in U.S. dollars;
    • SESA has obtained Argentina’s first ever 30-year non-interruptible LNG export license for FLNG Hilli, providing security of exports, necessary for the significant upstream and midstream investments, as well as securing offtake contracts; and
    • MKII FLNG is expected to obtain a similar term export license within 2025.

    FLNG Hilli has been approved for adherence to the Large Investments Incentive Scheme (“RIGI”), as a Long-Term Strategic Export project. The RIGI was implemented by the current administration of President Milei to incentivize large investments in Argentina. Under the RIGI, there are incentives and protections granted to the project company (SESA), with Golar benefiting as an international asset provider and investor, mostly notably:

    • guaranteed legal certainty and regulatory stability for the duration of the project, covering taxes, customs, duties, and foreign exchange controls;
    • any new national, provincial, or municipal taxes or restrictions would not apply to RIGI projects beyond those existing when the project was approved; and
    • freedom to repatriate profits, dividends, and capital including exemption from potential Central Bank restrictions on access to foreign exchange for repatriation purposes.

    If Argentina breaches the RIGI framework (e.g. by purporting to change the regime unilaterally), the beneficiary of the RIGI status can:

    • bring legal action against the National or Provincial Government (as applicable) under ICC arbitration, or elect to challenge the revocation through administrative channels; and
    • challenge the constitutionality of enacted law which breaches the RIGI protections.

    Business development: Detailed discussions for FLNG opportunities continue. With limited yard capacity for FLNG delivery before the 2030s, and with the current Golar fleet committed, we see firming demand for the remaining available 2020s deliveries. Progress is being made on FLNG projects ranging from MKI, MKII and MKIII FLNG developments. We target FLNG opportunities with competitive wellhead gas to secure attractive base tariff and commodity upside participation. We are also in commercial negotiations with potential charterers seeking equity participation in the FLNG to align project stakeholders.

    On the back of the recent commitments for the existing fleet and with ongoing detailed commercial discussions, we are working with shipyards and topside equipment providers to firm-up prices and schedules for potential ordering of additional unit(s) within 2025. Any growth initiatives are planned to be funded with recycled liquidity from debt optimization of the existing FLNG fleet on the back of their long term charters.

    Corporate/Other: Operating revenues and costs under corporate and other items are comprised of two FSRU operate and maintain agreements in respect of the LNG Croatia and Italis LNG together with the  Golar Arctic up to her point of sale in March 2025, for $24 million, and the Fuji LNG, up to the point she entered CIMC’s yard in February 2025 for FLNG conversion.

    In February 2025, Golar also closed the sale of its non-core 23.4% interest in Avenir LNG Limited, for $39 million.

    Shares and dividends: As of March 31, 2025, 104.7 million shares are issued and outstanding. Golar’s Board of Directors approved a total Q1 2025 dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on or around June 10, 2025. The record date will be June 3, 2025.

    Financial Summary

    (in thousands of $) Q1 2025 Q1 2024 % Change Q4 2024 % Change
    Net income 12,939 66,495 (81)% 15,037 (14)%
    Net income attributable to Golar LNG Ltd 8,197 55,220 (85)% 4,494 82%
    Total operating revenues 62,502 64,959 (4)% 65,917 (5)%
    Adjusted EBITDA 1 40,936 63,587 (36)% 59,168 (31)%
    Golar’s share of Contractual Debt 1 1,494,615 1,209,407 24% 1,515,357 (1)%

    Financial Review 

    Business Performance:

      2025 2024
    (in thousands of $) Jan-Mar Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
    Net income        12,939        15,037        66,495
    Income taxes              179            (504)              138
    Net income before income taxes        13,118        14,533        66,633
    Depreciation and amortization        12,638        13,642        12,476
    Impairment of long-term assets                —        22,933                —
    Unrealized loss/(gain) on oil and gas derivative instruments        25,001        14,269        (2,148)
    Other non-operating loss                —          7,000                —
    Interest income        (8,699)        (9,866)      (10,026)
    Loss/(gain) on derivative instruments, net          6,795        (8,711)        (6,202)
    Other financial items, net          2,292          1,153          2,640
    Net (income)/loss from equity method investments      (10,209)          4,215              214
    Adjusted EBITDA 1        40,936        59,168        63,587
      2025 2024
      Jan-Mar Oct-Dec
    (in thousands of $) FLNG Corporate and other Total FLNG Corporate and other Total
    Total operating revenues        55,688          6,814        62,502        56,396          9,521        65,917
    Vessel operating expenses      (18,785)        (9,685)      (28,470)      (19,788)        (8,121)      (27,909)
    Voyage, charterhire & commission expenses                —                —                —                —           (446)           (446)
    Administrative expenses           (588)        (8,999)        (9,587)           (264)        (7,241)        (7,505)
    Project development expenses        (2,351)           (968)        (3,319)        (3,624)        (1,236)        (4,860)
    Realized gain on oil and gas derivative instruments (2)        21,213                —        21,213        33,502                —        33,502
    Other operating income                —        (1,403)        (1,403)             469                —             469
    Adjusted EBITDA 1        55,177      (14,241)        40,936        66,691        (7,523)        59,168

    (2) The line item “Realized and unrealized (loss)/gain on oil and gas derivative instruments” in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations relates to income from the Hilli Liquefaction Tolling Agreement (“LTA”) and the natural gas derivative which is split into: “Realized gain on oil and gas derivative instruments” and “Unrealized (loss)/gain on oil and gas derivative instruments”.

      2024
      Jan-Mar
    (in thousands of $) FLNG Corporate and other Total
    Total operating revenues               56,368                  8,591               64,959
    Vessel operating expenses              (18,784)                (7,078)              (25,862)
    Voyage, charterhire & commission expenses                       —                (1,770)                (1,770)
    Administrative expenses                   (471)                (6,604)                (7,075)
    Project development expenses/(income)                (1,085)                     273                   (812)
    Realized gain on oil and gas derivative instruments               34,147                       —               34,147
    Adjusted EBITDA 1               70,175                (6,588)               63,587

    Golar reports today Q1 2025 net income of $13 million, before non-controlling interests, inclusive of $32 million of non-cash items1, comprised of:

    • TTF and Brent oil unrealized mark-to-market (“MTM”) losses of $25 million; and
    • A $7 million MTM loss on interest rate swaps.

    The Brent oil linked component of FLNG Hilli’s fees generates additional annual cash of approximately $3.1 million for every dollar increase in Brent Crude prices between $60 per barrel and the contractual ceiling. Billing of this component is based on a three-month look-back at average Brent Crude prices. During Q1 2025, we recognized a total of $21 million of realized gains on FLNG Hilli’s oil and gas derivative instruments, comprised of a: 

    • $12 million realized gain on the Brent oil linked derivative instrument; and
    • $9 million realized gain in respect of fees for the TTF linked production.

    We also recognized $25 million of non-cash losses in relation to FLNG Hilli’s oil and gas derivative assets, with corresponding changes in the fair value in its constituent parts recognized on our unaudited consolidated statement of operations as follows:

    • $13 million loss on the Brent oil linked derivative asset; and
    • $12 million loss on the TTF linked natural gas derivative asset. 

    Balance Sheet and Liquidity:

    As of March 31, 2025, Total Golar Cash1 was $678 million, comprised of $522 million of cash and cash equivalents and $156 million of restricted cash. 

    Golar’s share of Contractual Debt1 as of  March 31, 2025 is $1,495 million. Deducting Total Golar Cash1 of $678 million from Golar’s share of Contractual Debt1 leaves a net debt position of $817 million. 

    Assets under development amounts to $2.5 billion, comprised of $1.8 billion in respect of FLNG Gimi and $0.7 billion in respect of the MKII FLNG. The carrying value of LNG carrier Fuji LNG, previously included under Vessels and equipment, net in Q4 2024 was transferred to Assets under development in Q1 2025.

    Non-GAAP measures

    In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP), this earnings release and the associated investor presentation contains references to the non-GAAP financial measures which are included in the table below. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enable comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in operating our business and measuring our performance.

    This report also contains certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures for which we are unable to provide a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside of our control, such as oil and gas prices and exchange rates, as such items may be significant. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future events which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied to Golar’s unaudited consolidated financial statements.

    These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures and financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP measures are not uniformly defined by all companies and may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures used by other companies. The reconciliations as at March 31, 2025 and for the three months ended March 31, 2025, from these results should be carefully evaluated.

    Non-GAAP measure Closest equivalent US GAAP measure Adjustments to reconcile to primary financial statements prepared under US GAAP Rationale for adjustments
    Performance measures
    Adjusted EBITDA Net income/(loss)  +/- Income taxes
    + Depreciation and amortization
    + Impairment of long-lived assets
    +/- Unrealized (gain)/loss on oil and gas derivative instruments
    +/- Other non-operating (income)/losses
    +/- Net financial (income)/expense
    +/- Net (income)/losses from equity method investments
    +/- Net loss/(income) from discontinued operations
    Increases the comparability of total business performance from period to period and against the performance of other companies by excluding the results of our equity investments, removing the impact of unrealized movements on embedded derivatives, depreciation, impairment charge, financing costs, tax items and discontinued operations.
    Distributable Adjusted EBITDA Net income/(loss)  +/- Income taxes
    + Depreciation and amortization
    + Impairment of long-lived assets
    +/- Unrealized (gain)/loss on oil and gas derivative instruments
    +/- Other non-operating (income)/losses
    +/- Net financial (income)/expense
    +/- Net (income)/losses from equity method investments
    +/- Net loss/(income) from discontinued operations
    – Amortization of deferred commissioning period revenue
    – Amortization of Day 1 gains
    – Accrued overproduction revenue
    + Overproduction revenue received
    – Accrued underutilization adjustment
    Increases the comparability of our operational FLNG Hilli from period to period and against the performance of other companies by removing the non-distributable income of FLNG Hilli, project development costs, the operating costs of the Gandria (prior to her disposal) and FLNG Gimi.
    Liquidity measures
    Contractual debt 1 Total debt (current and non-current), net of deferred finance charges  +/-Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) consolidation adjustments
    +/-Deferred finance charges
    During the year, we consolidate a lessor VIE for our Hilli sale and leaseback facility. This means that on consolidation, our contractual debt is eliminated and replaced with the lessor VIE debt.

    Contractual debt represents our debt obligations under our various financing arrangements before consolidating the lessor VIE.

    The measure enables investors and users of our financial statements to assess our liquidity, identify the split of our debt (current and non-current) based on our underlying contractual obligations and aid comparability with our competitors.

    Adjusted net debt Adjusted net debt based on
    GAAP measures:
    -Total debt (current and
    non-current), net of
    deferred finance
    charges
    – Cash and cash
    equivalents
    – Restricted cash and
    short-term deposits
    (current and non-current)
    – Other current assets (Receivable from TTF linked commodity swap derivatives)
    Total debt (current and non-current), net of:
    +Deferred finance charges
    +Cash and cash equivalents
    +Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current)
    +/-VIE consolidation adjustments
    +Receivable from TTF linked commodity swap derivatives
    The measure enables investors and users of our financial statements to assess our liquidity based on our underlying contractual obligations and aids comparability with our competitors.
    Total Golar Cash Golar cash based on GAAP measures:

    + Cash and cash equivalents

    + Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current)

    -VIE restricted cash and short-term deposits We consolidate a lessor VIE for our sale and leaseback facility. This means that on consolidation, we include restricted cash held by the lessor VIE.

    Total Golar Cash represents our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current) before consolidating the lessor VIE.

    Management believe that this measure enables investors and users of our financial statements to assess our liquidity and aids comparability with our competitors.

    (1) Please refer to reconciliation below for Golar’s share of contractual debt

    Adjusted EBITDA backlog (also referred to as “earnings backlog”): This is a non-GAAP financial measure and represents the share of contracted fee income for executed contracts or definitive agreements less forecasted operating expenses for these contracts/agreements. Adjusted EBITDA backlog should not be considered as an alternative to net income / (loss) or any other measure of our financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    Non-cash items: Non-cash items comprised of impairment of long-lived assets, release of prior year contract underutilization liability, MTM movements on our TTF and Brent oil linked derivatives, listed equity securities and interest rate swaps (“IRS”) which relate to the unrealized component of the gains/(losses) on oil and gas derivative instruments, unrealized MTM (losses)/gains on investment in listed equity securities and gains on derivative instruments, net, in our unaudited consolidated statement of operations.

    Abbreviations used:

    FLNG: Floating Liquefaction Natural Gas vessel
    FSRU: Floating Storage and Regasification Unit
    MKII FLNG: Mark II FLNG
    FPSO: Floating Production, Storage and Offloading unit

    MMBtu: Million British Thermal Units
    mtpa: Million Tons Per Annum

    Reconciliations – Liquidity Measures

    Total Golar Cash

    (in thousands of $) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Cash and cash equivalents             521,434           566,384           547,868
    Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current)           172,879           150,198             92,159
    Less: VIE restricted cash and short-term deposits            (16,745)            (17,472)            (17,933)
    Total Golar Cash           677,568           699,110           622,094

    Contractual Debt and Adjusted Net Debt

    (in thousands of $) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 March 31, 2024
    Total debt (current and non-current) net of deferred finance charges        1,418,816        1,452,255        1,195,063
    VIE consolidation adjustments           251,728           241,666           213,042
    Deferred finance charges             20,946             22,686             22,337
    Total Contractual Debt        1,691,490        1,716,607        1,430,442
    Less: Keppel’s and B&V’s share of the FLNG Hilli contractual debt                     —                     —            (32,035)
    Less: Keppel’s share of the Gimi debt         (196,875)         (201,250)         (189,000)
    Golar’s share of Contractual Debt        1,494,615        1,515,357        1,209,407

    Please see Appendix A for a capital repayment profile for Golar’s Contractual Debt.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which reflects management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about its operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities and events that will, should, could or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Words such as “if,” “subject to,” “believe,” “assuming,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “propose,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Unless legally required, Golar undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to:

    • our ability and that of our counterparty to meet our respective obligations under the 20-year lease and operate agreement (the “LOA”) with BP Mauritania Investments Limited, a subsidiary of BP p.l.c. (“bp”), entered into in connection with the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Project (the “GTA Project”), including the commissioning and start-up of various project infrastructure. Delays to FLNG commissioning works and the start of operations for our FLNG Gimi (“FLNG Gimi”) could result in incremental costs to both parties to the LOA;
    • our ability to meet our obligations under our commercial agreements, including the liquefaction tolling agreement (the “LTA”) entered into in connection with the FLNG Hilli Episeyo (“FLNG Hilli”);
    • our ability to meet our obligations to SESA in connection with the recently signed agreement to deploy FLNG Hilli in Argentina, and SESA’s ability to meet its obligations to us;
    • our ability to meet our obligations to SESA in connection with the recently signed definitive agreement to deploy our FLNG in conversion, MKII FLNG in Argentina, including reaching a final investment decision, and SESA’s ability to meet its obligations to us;
    • our ability to obtain additional financing or refinance existing debt on acceptable terms or at all including the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the FLNG Gimi sale leaseback transaction;
    • global economic trends, competition, and geopolitical risks, including U.S. government actions, trade tensions or conflicts such as between the U.S. and China, related sanctions, a potential Russia-Ukraine peace settlement and its potential impact on liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) supply and demand;
    • a material decline or prolonged weakness in tolling rates for FLNGs;
    • failure of shipyards to comply with schedules, performance specifications or agreed prices;
    • failure of our contract counterparties to comply with their agreements with us or other key project stakeholders;
    • an increase in tax liabilities in the jurisdictions where we are currently operating, have previously operated, or expect to operate;
    • continuing volatility in the global financial markets, including commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates and global trade policy, particularly the recent imposition of tariffs by the U.S. government;
    • changes in general domestic and international political conditions, particularly where we operate, or where we seek to operate;
    • changes in our ability to retrofit vessels as FLNGs, including the availability of vessels to purchase and in the time it takes to build new vessels or convert existing vessels;
    • continuing uncertainty resulting from potential future claims from our counterparties of purported force majeure under contractual arrangements, including our future projects and other contracts to which we are a party;
    • our ability to close potential future transactions in relation to equity interests in our vessels or to monetize our remaining equity method investments on a timely basis or at all;
    • increases in operating costs as a result of inflation or trade policy, including salaries and wages, insurance, crew provisions, repairs and maintenance, spares and redeployment related modification costs;
    • claims made or losses incurred in connection with our continuing obligations with regard to New Fortress Energy Inc. (“NFE”), Energos Infrastructure Holdings Finance LLC (“Energos”), Cool Company Ltd (“CoolCo”), and Snam S.p.A. (“Snam”);
    • the ability of NFE, Energos, CoolCo, and Snam to meet their respective obligations to us, including indemnification obligations;
    • changes to rules and regulations applicable to FLNGs or other parts of the natural gas and LNG supply chain;
    • rules on climate-related disclosures promulgated by the European Union, including but not limited to disclosure of certain climate-related risks and financial impacts, as well as greenhouse gas emissions;
    • actions taken by regulatory authorities that may prohibit the access of FLNGs to various ports and locations; and
    • other factors listed from time to time in registration statements, reports or other materials that we have filed with or furnished to the Commission, including our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2025 (the “2024 Annual Report”).

    As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

    Responsibility Statement

    We confirm that, to the best of our knowledge, the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States give a true and fair view of Golar’s unaudited consolidated assets, liabilities, financial position and results of operations. To the best of our knowledge, the report for the three months ended March 31, 2025, includes a fair review of important events that have occurred during the period and their impact on the unaudited consolidated financial statements, the principal risks and uncertainties and major related party transactions.

    May 27, 2025
    The Board of Directors
    Golar LNG Limited
    Hamilton, Bermuda
    Investor Questions: +44 207 063 7900
    Karl Fredrik Staubo – CEO
    Eduardo Maranhão – CFO

    Stuart Buchanan – Head of Investor Relations

    Tor Olav Trøim (Chairman of the Board)
    Benoît de la Fouchardiere (Director)
    Carl Steen (Director)
    Dan Rabun (Director)
    Lori Wheeler Naess (Director)
    Mi Hong Yoon (Director)
    Niels Stolt-Nielsen (Director)

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: The drought is back – we need a new way to help farmers survive tough times

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Botterill, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Australia in 2025 is living up to Dorothy McKellar’s poetic vision of a country stricken by “drought and flooding rains”.

    The clean up is underway from the deadly floods in the Hunter and mid-north coast regions of New South Wales. At the same time, large swathes of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are severely drought affected due to some of the lowest rainfall on record.

    Do we have the right support arrangements in place to help farmers and communities survive the current dry period?

    Or is there a better way to help primary producers through the tough times, which are predicted to become more frequent and severe under climate change?

    Managing risk

    Drought is not a natural disaster – at least not according to Australia’s National Drought Policy. In 1989, drought was removed from what are now known as the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

    The decision was made for several reasons, including the high level of expenditure on drought relief in Queensland. The federal finance minister at the time, Peter Walsh, suggested the Queensland government was using the arrangements as a “sort of National Party slush fund to be distributed to National Party toadies and apparatchiks”.

    The more considered reason was that our scientific understanding of the drivers of Australia’s climate, such as El Niño, suggested drought was a normal part of our environment. Since then, climate modelling points to droughts becoming an even more familiar sight in Australia as a result of global warming.

    So the focus of drought relief shifted from disaster response to risk management.

    Building resilience

    The National Drought Policy announced in 1992 stated drought should be managed like any other business risk.

    Since then, the language of resilience has been added to the mix and the government lists three objectives for drought policy:

    • to build the drought resilience of farming businesses by enabling preparedness, risk management and financial self-reliance
    • to ensure an appropriate safety net is always available to those experiencing hardship
    • to encourage stakeholders to work together to address the challenges of drought.

    Since 1992, various governments have introduced, and tweaked, different programs aimed at supporting drought-affected farmers.

    The most successful program is the Farm Management Deposits Scheme. This has accumulated a whisker under A$6 billion in farmer savings, which are available to be drawn down during drought to support farm businesses.

    Others have come and gone – for example, the much-criticised Exceptional Circumstances Program.

    More help needed

    In 2025, the federal government is using the Future Drought Fund to invest $100 million per year to promote resilience. It also offers support through the Farm Household Allowance and concessional loans for farms and related small businesses.

    Apart from the Farm Management Deposit Scheme and the Farm Household Allowance, these programs do not offer immediate financial assistance to the increasing number of farmers across southern Australia being impacted by drought. If the drought worsens, it is likely there will be increasing calls for greater support.

    This provides the government with a dilemma: it is already investing significantly in the risk and resilience approach to drought, but politically, it is hard to resist cries for help from farmers who are a highly valued group in our community.

    A better way?

    There is a solution available to government to improve support. It can be done through the provision of “revenue contingent loans” for drought-affected farmers. Financial support would be available to farmers when they need it, consistent with the risk management principles underpinning the national drought policy.

    Our detailed modelling, extending now over 25 years, shows compellingly that revenue-based loans would mean taxpayers spending less on drought arrangements. But the assistance compared with other forms of public sector help would be greater.

    Capacity to repay would be the defining feature of the scheme. A revenue contingent loan is only paid down in periods when the farm is experiencing healthy cash flow. If a farm’s annual financial situation is difficult, no repayments are required.

    These loans would also remove foreclosure risk associated with an inability to repay when times are tough. Loan defaults simply can’t happen, a feature which also takes away the psychological trauma associated with the fear of losing the property due to unforeseen financial difficulties.

    Good policy

    These benefits would address governments’ main motivation with drought policy, which is risk management. That is because repayment concerns and default prospects would be eliminated. With farming, in which there is great uncertainty, these are very significant pluses for policy.

    Revenue contingent loans are a proper risk management financial instrument that requires low or no subsidies from government. They would complement the Farm Management Deposit Scheme and be an effective replacement for the concessional loans currently on offer.

    A win-win for farmer and taxpayer, alike.

    Linda Botterill has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (now Agrifutures).

    Bruce Chapman has received funding from the Australian Research Council in various years, and was a consultant to the Federal Government’s Department of Education University Accord Enquiry in 2023/24.

    ref. The drought is back – we need a new way to help farmers survive tough times – https://theconversation.com/the-drought-is-back-we-need-a-new-way-to-help-farmers-survive-tough-times-256576

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Miller Speaks on House Floor in Support of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

    Washington, D.C. – This morning, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. Congresswoman Miller voted in favor of the legislation, and spoke in support of the bill’s passage on the House floor. Her speech can be viewed here and is transcribed below:

    “Thank you for yielding. I rise today in strong support of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

    Ways and Means Republicans have worked tirelessly for two years, traveling across America and hearing from real people about the impact that the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts had on them.

    Working families got more money back in their pay checks from a simplified tax code, Main Street America was able to utilize the small business deduction to weather the storm of high inflation during the Biden years, and larger businesses were able to invest more of their money domestically because of a globally competitive corporate rate.

    This One, Big, Beautiful Bill builds on all of that successful tax policy – and then some. 

    This bill gives the average working family a $1,300 tax cut. It delivers on President Trump’s promises of no tax on tips and no tax on overtime pay. It makes permanent the 199A small business deduction to keep our economy humming.

    It also provides relief to gig workers by ending the Democrats’ ridiculous $600 1099-K reporting threshold and reverting back to the time-tested standard of $20,000 and 200 transactions. 

    I have worked tirelessly to fix this problem since Democrats created it – and I am glad to see it included in this bill.

    This legislation will undoubtedly make the life of the Average American better, and I am proud to support it on the House floor and help get it to President Trump’s desk. I urge my colleagues to do the same.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOEA Develops World-Leading B5G NTN Base Station System, Partners with MediaTek and Chunghwa Telecom to Enable Seamless Satellite Communication Upgrades for Network Equipment

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    At COMPUTEX 2025, the MOEA unveiled its Tech Hub to showcase 30 innovative technologies, highlighting the world-leading B5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) base station system and bringing together leading network communication companies and major R&D institutes including ITRI, MIRDC, TTRI, and ARTC. In partnership with MediaTek and Chunghwa Telecom, the MOEA successfully completed multi-orbit satellite communication trials. This breakthrough enables direct satellite connectivity via software upgrades, eliminating the need for hardware replacement-a game-changer for remote and offshore connectivity. The solution received global attention at this year’s MWC Barcelona.

    According to the MOEA, Taiwan plays a critical role in the global ICT and AI ecosystem. To stay ahead in next-generation communications and AI-driven manufacturing, the ministry has launched 50 AI pilot production lines, which are already being applied in sectors such as energy storage and smart manufacturing. One notable example is the POXA Energy Management System, which uses AI for intelligent scheduling to optimize green energy storage. The system is slated to spin off into a startup by 2025 to expand its reach.

    The Tech Hub showcases innovations across five key areas: AI services, immersive technologies, AI for manufacturing, sustainable green energy, and next-generation communication. Highlighted solutions include an AI-powered medical logistics robot at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital; a smart knee brace with electrostimulation to accelerate rehabilitation for the elderly; photo-realistic AI 3D modeling technology that creates high-fidelity models using only a smartphone; and a transparent display open architecture system designed for smart libraries and hybrid digital-physical environments.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Actually, Gen Z stand to be the biggest winners from the new $3 million super tax

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Coates, Program Director, Housing and Economic Security, Grattan Institute

    As debate rages about the federal government’s plan to lift the tax on earnings on superannuation balances over A$3 million, it’s worth revisiting why we offer super tax breaks in the first place, and why they need to be reformed.

    Tax breaks on super contributions mean less tax is paid on super savings than other forms of income. These tax breaks cost the federal budget nearly $50 billion in lost revenue each year.

    These tax breaks boost the retirement savings of super fund members. They also ensure workers don’t pay punitively high long-term tax rates on their super, since the impact of even low tax rates on savings compounds over time.

    But they disproportionately flow to older and wealthier Australians.

    Two thirds of the value of super tax breaks benefit the top 20% of income earners, who are already saving enough for their retirement.

    Few retirees draw down on their retirement savings as intended, and many are net savers – their super balance continues to grow for decades after they retire.

    By 2060, Treasury expects one-third of all withdrawals from super will be via bequests – up from one-fifth today.

    Superannuation in Australia was intended to help fund retirements. Instead, it has become a taxpayer-subsidised inheritance scheme.

    The tax breaks aren’t just inequitable; they are economically unsound. Generous tax breaks for super savers mean other taxes (such as income and company taxes) must be higher to make up the forgone revenue. That means the burden falls disproportionately on younger taxpayers.

    The government should go further

    The government’s plan to increase the tax rate on superannuation earnings for balances exceeding $3 million from 15% to 30% is one modest step towards fixing these problems. The tax would only apply to the amount over $3 million, not the entire balance.

    This reform will affect only the top 0.5% of super account holders – about 80,000 people – and save more than $2 billion a year in its first full year.

    Claims that not indexing the $3 million threshold will result in the tax affecting most younger Australians, or that it will somehow disproportionately affect younger generations, are simply nonsense.

    Rather than being the biggest losers from the lack of indexation, younger Australians are the biggest beneficiaries. It means more older, wealthier Australians will shoulder some of the burden of budget repair and an ageing population. Otherwise, younger generations would bear this burden alone.

    The facts speak for themselves: a mere 0.5% of Australians have more than $3 million in their super, and 85% of those are aged over 60.

    Even in the unlikely scenario where the threshold remains fixed until 2055 – or for ten consecutive parliamentary terms – it would still only affect the top 10% of retiring Australians. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rightly pointed out that it is unlikely the threshold will never be lifted.

    Far from abandoning the proposed $3 million threshold, the government should go further and drop the threshold to $2 million, and only then index it to inflation, saving the budget a further $1 billion a year.

    There is no rationale for offering such generous earnings tax breaks on super balances between $2 million and $3 million.

    At the very least, if the $3 million threshold is maintained, it should not be indexed until inflation naturally reduces its real value to $2 million, which is estimated to occur around 2040.

    Sure, it’s complicated

    Levying a higher tax rate on the earnings of large super balances is complicated by the fact existing super earnings taxes are levied at the fund level, not on individual member accounts.

    And it’s true that levying a 15% surcharge on the implied earnings of the account over the year (the change in account balance, net of contributions and withdrawals) will impose a tax on unrealised capital gains, or paper profits.

    Taxing capital gains as they build up removes incentives to “lock in” investments to hold onto untaxed capital gains, as the Henry Tax Review recognised. But it can create cash flow problems for some self-managed super fund members who hold assets such as business premises or a farm in their fund.

    Yet there are seldom easy answers when it comes to tax changes.

    Most people with such substantial super balances are retirees who already maintain enough liquid assets to meet the minimum drawdown requirements.

    Indeed, self-managed super funds are legally obligated to have investment strategies that ensure liquidity and the ability to meet liabilities.

    In any case, the tax does not have to be paid from super. Australians with large super balances typically earn as much income from investments outside super. And the wealthiest 10% of retirees today rely more on income from outside super than income from super.

    Good policy is always the art of the compromise

    Australia faces the twin challenges of big budget deficits and stagnant productivity. Tax reform will be needed to respond to both.

    Good public policy, like politics, always requires some level of compromise.

    Super tax breaks should exist only where they support a policy aim. And on balance, trimming unneeded super tax breaks for the wealthiest 0.5% of Australians would make our super system fairer and our budget stronger.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Actually, Gen Z stand to be the biggest winners from the new $3 million super tax – https://theconversation.com/actually-gen-z-stand-to-be-the-biggest-winners-from-the-new-3-million-super-tax-257450

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Capgemini, Mistral AI and SAP combine forces to offer secure, scalable gen AI-powered solutions for regulated industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Antara Nandy
    Tel.:+ 91 9674515119
    E-mail: antara.nandy@capgemini.com

    Capgemini, Mistral AI and SAP combine forces to offer secure,
    scalable gen AI-powered solutions for regulated industries

    Paris, May 26 2025 – Capgemini today announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with Mistral AI, a leader in innovative AI model development, and SAP, to help drive growth for regulated organizations by transforming operations and improving business outcomes, through a broad range of AI models. This unique collaboration provides a trusted and secure environment to deploy custom AI solutions within SAP for those industries with strict data requirements such as financial services, public sector, aerospace & defense, and energy & utilities. Leveraging Mistral AI’s revolutionary generative AI (gen AI) models and the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), Capgemini aims to develop multiple easily accessible business AI use cases, with a lower carbon footprint.

    Enterprises are increasingly turning to business AI to optimize processes and decision-making, while integrating generative AI to drive greater business value. This combination enables organizations to increase resilience by simulating scenarios, preparing response plans for crises, and quickly adapting to market changes. These technologies also help organizations gain a significant competitive edge, differentiating themselves through more personalized customer experiences, adapting their supply chain to high personalization, and enriching products with high value digital services. By leveraging AI, organizations can achieve both top and bottom-line improvements across numerous functional areas. Moreover, organizations in regulated industries or those handling sensitive data often find it challenging to access these benefits. They require advanced generative AI models that operate within a secure environment such as the self-hosted SAP Business Technology Platform.

    As part of this new collaboration, Capgemini will offer an extensive library of 50+ pre-built custom business AI use cases, including those validated by SAP, leveraging Mistral AI models. These are categorized by a specific industry and process-driven approach. The solutions are grounded in responsible and ethical AI by design, with built-in governance and alignment with regulations, enabling innovation while also ensuring data security. Example use cases include:

    • Aerospace and Defense: Augmented field workers that can efficiently resolve non-conformities in operations.
    • Energy and Utilities: Drone based inspection that enables predictive maintenance and generates actionable insights
    • Across industries: Intelligent indirect purchasing that helps to easily and quickly select the most convenient products from multiple suppliers.

    This collaboration offers dual benefits – it accelerates the deployment of custom generative AI solutions within SAP for all organizations and enables those organizations requiring secure environments for regulatory or privacy purposes to leverage generative AI solutions.

    “This new collaboration between Capgemini, Mistral AI and SAP unlocks new high-value business use cases for organizations seeking to augment their operations with generative AI capabilities,” said Marjorie Janiewicz, Mistral AI Executive Board member and Global Head of Revenue. “By combining our frontier, multilingual and highly customizable AI models with Capgemini’s expertise in delivering real world industry-specific generative AI solutions, and the assurance of SAP’s robust technology platform, we are making the effective integration of AI more accessible for all organizations, including those in highly regulated industries.”

    “Enterprises are increasingly turning to generative AI to enhance their resilience, streamline operations and accelerate time to value. As a trusted business and technology transformation partner to our clients, Capgemini is committed to helping them evolve their critical business processes through the secure and tailored application of AI,” said Fernando Alvarez, Chief Strategy and Development Officer and Group Executive Board member at Capgemini. “Together with Mistral AI and SAP, we can empower organizations to access a broad range of innovative and customized AI models, to drive significant business value and foster sustainable growth.”

    “The collaboration is a powerful example of how we are enabling enterprises to leverage the power of generative AI to address their most critical business challenges,” said Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, Customer Services & Delivery. “With SAP Business Technology Platform as a secure and scalable foundation, we’re enabling organizations, especially those in regulated industries, to adopt AI with confidence, trust, and speed in a way that delivers real business value.”

    Capgemini has worked closely with SAP on further expanding its dedicated Global SAP Center of Excellence to help organizations address their critical business challenges using gen AI. For example, the partners have worked with Brose, a leading automotive supplier, to deliver an AI-powered assistant for suppliers – SupplierGPT. This centralized digital platform helped enhance collaboration across Brose’s global supplier network, leading to increased efficiency in supplier onboarding and more consistent process execution.

    Michael Seifert, Business Product Owner Brose Supplier Portal, Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. KG said, “Together with Capgemini, we were able to implement SupplierGPT, from idea to reality within a few weeks. This solution enables the seamless integration of new innovations and supports rapid go-to-market, thanks to the AI services in SAP BTP. This co-innovation model combines the expertise of Capgemini, Brose and SAP to allow joint pilots to be designed, implemented, and tested quickly.”

    Award-winning AI solutions
    Capgemini recently won the 2025 SAP Pinnacle Award for Business AI Innovation in the Customer AI use case category, further demonstrating its leadership in delivering compelling AI-powered solutions with SAP. This award is part of SAP’s global partner recognition program, which highlights its partners worldwide who demonstrate exceptional performance and innovation.

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

    SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.   

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Protect our trees, protect our City

    Source: South Australia Police

    A free Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) information session is being held at the City of Wanneroo’s Civic Centre on Saturday 14 June.

    Join us to discover more about the PSHB, the threat it poses to our urban canopy and how you can help stop the spread of this invasive pest.

    First detected in Perth in 2021, the tiny wood-boring beetle has been detected in trees across Perth, with a quarantine notice quickly put in place to support the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) response.

    The City is working closely with DPIRD to prevent the spread of the PSHB and encourages the community to use the MyPestGuide app to report suspected sightings.

    The City of Wanneroo currently sits in Zone B of the Quarantine Area. This means residents:

    • cannot move untreated or unseasoned wood outside the Quarantine Area, unless chipped to pieces that are 2.5 cm or less in diameter,
    • cannot move plant materials, including living plants, that are greater than 2cm in diameter outside the Quarantine Area,
    • must ensure any machinery used to handle green waste is cleaned before it can be moved outside the Quarantine Area, can move wood or plant materials, including living plants, into Zone A.

    Bookings are essential, register here.

    To learn more about the PSHB and how you can help prevent its spread, visit our PSHB webpage.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ATO announces additional support for new small business owners

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced it is providing additional support for new small business owners to ensure they understand and comply with their tax, super and registry obligations from the start.

    The ATO’s campaign, coined ‘ready for business’, highlights that opening and running a small business is ‘serious business’. Approximately 50% of businesses fail in the first 3 yearsExternal Link, often because they don’t get their ATO obligations right when starting their small business journey.

    In the coming months, Australian business number (ABN) holders will receive a series of emails from the ATO which include tips on ABN obligations, business structures, registering for goods and services tax (GST) and understanding employer responsibilities.

    The ATO knows while most small businesses try to do the right thing and comply with their ATO obligations there are some making genuine mistakes and others deliberately not complying.

    Don’t get caught out by GST

    GST registration and payment is an ongoing area of concern for the ATO. The ATO estimates that the community is missing out on almost $8 billion in GST each year that hasn’t been collected due to non-compliance. Small businesses failing to comply with GST obligations contribute significantly to this gap.

    Not every small business needs to be registered for GST, but when their GST turnover is $75,000 or more or when they provide taxi, limousine or ride-sourcing services they must register and collect GST and then pay this to the ATO.

    Small businesses who don’t understand their GST obligations can often be caught out when it comes time to pay.

    ATO Deputy Commissioner Will Day encouraged small businesses to set aside GST, as well as pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and super if they have employer obligations.

    ‘Don’t be tempted to dip into GST, PAYG withholding or super to manage your cash flow – set up separate bank accounts for these funds so you’re always prepared when it’s time to pay’, Mr Day said.

    In early 2025, the ATO wrote to ride-sourcing operators and taxi drivers announcing it was focussed on those operating outside the system. This action resulted in over 3,000 new GST registrations.

    ‘Ride-sourcing operators and taxi drivers who deliberately operate outside the system will face consequences’, Mr Day said.

    Side hustles in the spotlight

    Over 700,000 taxpayers are supplementing their income with ‘side hustles’ including ‘gig’ or sharing economy activities. If your hobby has turned into a profit-making business, you are responsible for certain tax, super and registry obligations.

    ‘Generally, a business involves continuous and repeated activities aimed at making a profit. Visit ato.gov.au/areyouinbusiness to learn more about whether your activities qualify as a business and understand your obligations,’ Mr Day said.

    Plan ahead with PAYG instalments

    The ATO is also encouraging new small businesses to plan ahead to avoid a large tax bill when they lodge their first tax return.

    To prevent this, new small business owners can voluntarily enter and prepay their estimated tax liability through PAYG instalments as soon as they start their business.

    Quotes attributable to Deputy Commissioner Will Day:

    ‘Our goal is to provide small businesses with guidance, tools and tips so new business owners can focus on growing their business with confidence’.

    ‘Small businesses are vital participants in the tax and super system. As stewards for small businesses, our role in making it easy for small business owners to get their tax and super right is more important than ever.’

    ‘We know that successful small business owners understand their tax, super and registry obligations and we are committed to helping them do so. We also know that small businesses who engage a registered tax professional are more likely to stay on top of their tax and super obligations’.

    ‘Through transparent communication, including the support we have available for small businesses, small business owners are better equipped to keep up with their obligations and stay on top of their tax payments. After all, small business is serious business.’

    ‘The ATO’s role is to collect the correct amount of tax so the government can deliver services for the Australian community’.

    Notes to journalists

    • Deputy Commissioner Will Day’s speech to the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) National Congress 2024 launched ‘Getting it right’, an ongoing quarterly campaign which aims to support small businesses by sharing the ATO’s areas of focus. Deputy Commissioner Will Day’s speech announced the quarter 2 focus areas and the quarter 3 focus areas were announced in the ATO shifts non-compliant small businesses to monthly GST media release.
    • Ensuring new small business owners get their ATO obligations right is the next ‘cab off the rank’ for the ATO’s ongoing ‘Getting it right’ campaign. The ATO will continue to announce new focus areas quarterly.
    • Deputy Commissioner Will Day is available for interviews on request.
    • A high-resolution headshot of Deputy Commissioner Will DayThis 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 New Zealand: Implementation – final-year Fees Free

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    On this page:

    Claiming Fees Free entitlement
    From 2026, after completing their first eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme, learners will log in to myIR to confirm their eligibility (ie, if they meet the criteria), and claim their final-year Fees Free entitlement.
    Learners have 12 months to claim their entitlement once they have completed their qualification or programme. Learners that complete their first qualification in 2025, before the claim process is available, will have until the end of 2026 to claim their entitlement.
    Learners need to organise payment of their fees as required by their tertiary education organisation (TEO). TEOs will not receive Fees Free payments from the tertiary education commission (TEC) or Inland Revenue (IR) on behalf of eligible learners under the final-year Fees Free policy.
    Roles of agencies
    The Ministry of Education leads the policy work for final-year Fees Free. The TEC and IR lead the implementation work. 
    TEC is responsible for collecting learner enrolment and qualification completion data from TEOs. TEC will determine qualification/programme eligibility, calculate entitlement for learners, and provide data to IR to support identity matching and the assessment of learner eligibility. TEC will continue to hold the relationship with TEOs with regards to Fees Free.
    IR is responsible for assessing learner eligibility and paying entitlement to eligible learners. IR will provide support to learners through their customer service channels.
    Data collection
    To support the final-year Fees Free policy, TEOs will need to submit learner fee and provider-based qualification completion data. To reduce ongoing administrative burden for TEOs, we plan to collect this data using the Single Data Return (SDR) and Industry Training Register (ITR) collection processes on DXP Ngā Kete, instead of the separate monthly reporting templates used for the first-year Fees Free scheme. However, this will require system changes to the SDR/ITR and to student/trainee management systems, to ensure we collect the data required.
    With the Data System Refresh (DSR) programme already underway, we are integrating the data collection requirements for final-year Fees Free into the existing DSR specifications. 
    Provider-based data changes will be integrated into the data specifications for SDR in May 2025. Fees Free data submissions will be required for the first time in the August 2025 SDR.

    Work-based data changes are expected to be integrated into the work-based data specifications in December 2024. Fees Free data submissions will be required for the first time from July 2025.

    Identity matching
    We’re asking TEOs to collect and report learner IRD numbers to TEC to enable effective and efficient data matching across agencies and to support the payment of Fees Free entitlement payments by IR. A learner’s IRD number will be used alongside their NSN and date of birth to confirm their identity and help confirm their eligibility.
    We are undertaking a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the collection of IRD numbers by TEOs, and the Ministry of Education has provided a summary of the initial PIA to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
    We will provide TEOs with advice on collection, retention and deletion of IRD numbers.
    Implementation FAQs
    If an employer pays for a learner’s fees, can the employer claim the entitlement when the learner completes their qualification?
    IR will only be making payments directly to learners – either offsetting their loan balance by the relevant amount for learners with loans or paying the learner’s entitlement into a nominated bank account.
    The final-year Fees Free policy is about rewarding learners for completing their tertiary study or training. Paying Fees Free entitlement to employers does not align with this. It would also add significant administrative complexity and cost which does not align with the Government’s overall focus on improving the effectiveness, efficiency and responsiveness of public services.
    Employers and learners will need to agree on how they will manage situations where the employer pays the fees. Employers may wish to adapt employment practices and contracts as necessary.
    Are there tax implications for learners receiving the entitlement?
    Fees Free entitlement paid to the learner will not be considered income for tax purposes.
    There are tax implications if an employer has paid a learner’s fees and claimed them as an expense, and the learner agrees to repay the employer the Fees Free entitlement. Once the employer receives the payment from the learner, the amount will be taxable to the employer.  
    Will statutory declarations still be used to confirm eligibility?
    No. Learners will need to declare that they meet eligibility criteria when they apply for their Fees Free entitlement via myIR. They will be asked to provide relevant information and confirm that the information is true and correct as part of this process.
    While creating the proposed implementation design, we considered the barriers that statutory declarations create for some learners and opted for an application process that could be completed digitally to reduce administrative complexity for learners and agencies.
    Will TEOs be able to check a learner’s eligibility?
    No, TEOs will not be able to check a learner’s eligibility.
    Learners will be able to work through the eligibility criteria and determine if they think they meet them. In 2025, we aim to provide a tool for learners to self-assess their eligibility against the full criteria.
    However, learners won’t be able to confirm their eligibility using their NSN until after they have completed their qualification or programme, and the TEC will not be providing a list of the eligible learners by NSN to TEOs. This is because we won’t know whether the learner is eligible or not until they complete their qualification or programme, and they may need to submit additional information to IR to confirm eligibility.
    We will provide TEOs with as much information as possible on entitlement settings and programme eligibility so they can help learners understand their entitlement.
    What happens if the learner hasn’t paid their fees to the TEO?
    TEOs will be responsible for ensuring that learners pay their fees and for recovering any debt the learner has. Fees Free entitlement will not be paid to the TEO where the learner has not paid their fees.
    There is no intention to include a reporting field for TEOs to record whether fees have been paid in full, or to provide this information to IR.
    How soon after completion will learners receive their entitlement?
    We will be ready to start making payments in early 2026, including payments for eligible learners who completed their qualification in 2025. A learner can apply for their entitlement at any time, but the frequency of payments is yet to be confirmed, as they rely on the frequency of data collection.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Entitlement – final-year Fees Free

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    On this page:

    Final-year Fees Free entitlement is for the final year of the first provider-based qualification or work-based programme a learner completes from 1 January 2025, if that programme meets the qualification and programme eligibility criteria.
    Learners starting study or training for the first time on or after 1 January 2025 can receive Fees Free for the final year of the first eligible qualification they complete.
    Learners may still be able to claim Fees Free for a qualification or programme that is not the first qualification or programme they have completed on or after 1 January 2025. Refer to the prior study and training criteria.
    Learners can’t choose which qualification or programme they use final-year Fees Free for.
    Entitlement is to be used for one provider-based qualification or work-based programme.
    Fees will not be covered for study or training undertaken prior to 1 January 2025.
    Provider-based study and work-based learning each have their own definition of the “final year”, and what fees final-year Fees Free entitlement covers.
    Final year of provider-based study
    The “final year” of provider-based study covers up to 1 EFTS, or up to $12,000 including GST (whichever the learner reaches first).
    Learners can study either part time or full time.
    Final-year Fees Free covers tuition fees, compulsory course costs and student services fees for provider-based learners. No other fees, such as administration fees from StudyLink, will be covered.
    The “final year” of study may also be the first year of study for provider-based qualifications that are only 1 equivalent full-time student (EFTS).
    Final year of work-based study
    The “final year” of work-based learning covers up to 24 months, or up to $12,000 including GST (whichever the learner reaches first).
    Learners can study either part time or full time.
    Final-year Fees Free covers all fees for training and assessment charged to eligible work-based learners and their employers, including fees paid to tertiary education organisations funded from the Delivery at Levels 3–7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training (DQ3-7) Fund, or directly to training and assessment providers.
    Entitlement cannot be carried over
    Entitlement must be used for the final year of one provider-based qualification or work-based programme. Entitlement cannot be carried over to another qualification or programme if the learner does not reach 1 EFTS, 24 months, or $12,000 including GST for their first qualification or programme.
    Limit on calculating total fees
    There is a 5-year limit on how we will calculate the total fees for the final year of study or training. Fees will not be covered for study or training undertaken more than 5 years before qualification or programme completion. For example, a learner who starts their final year, takes a break from study and then returns to complete their study more than 5 years later will only be covered for their final year of study within the 5-year period.
    Training Incentive Allowance
    Learners who use the Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) to cover some or all of their course fees during their final calendar year of their qualification will not be able to access Fees Free for the same course fees.
    A learner may still use TIA to cover other costs, such as childcare or transport, during their final year and still receive Fees Free for their tuition, compulsory course costs, and student services fees. TIA used for fees in earlier years doesn’t impact eligibility for Fees Free in the learner’s final year.
    Learners who opt to use TIA for course fees in their final year of an eligible qualification that they complete will not be eligible to receive Fees Free for the final year of a second eligible qualification.
    The Ministry of Social Development will work with those applying for the TIA to help them make an informed decision on their use of the TIA and Fees Free.
    Training Incentive Allowance – Work and Income
    Mana in Mahi
    Learners who trained at Level 3 or above and had their fees covered by an employer through the Mana in Mahi – Strength in Work programme will not be able to access Fees Free for final-year fees.
    Receiving entitlement
    From 2026, after completing their first provider-based qualification or work-based programme, learners will log in to myIR on Inland Revenue’s website to confirm their eligibility and claim their final-year Fees Free entitlement. The first payments for completed qualifications and programmes will be made in early 2026.
    Learners have 12 months to claim their entitlement once they have completed their qualification or programme. Learners that complete their first qualification in 2025, before the claim process is available, will have until the end of 2026.
    If eligible, the entitlement will either be paid against the learner’s student loan balance if they have one or, if not, will be paid to the learner’s nominated bank account. The first payments for completed qualifications will be made in early 2026.
    Only learners can claim their Fees Free entitlement. Employers that have paid learners’ fees may consider if it is appropriate to update employment agreements and/or arrangements with their employees.
    Changing TEOs part way through study or training
    Fees Free entitlement will only be for the final year of the first completed eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme.
    Generally, when cross-crediting from different qualifications or programmes, learners will not be able to claim Fees Free for the study undertaken towards another qualification or programme that they did not complete.
    Where a learner changes their TEO but continues in the same qualification or programme, Fees Free will cover the final year of that qualification or programme across both TEOs.
    Exit qualifications
    For acceptance of a provider-based qualification at a lower level of the NZQCF, or an “exit qualification”, learners will be able to claim Fees Free for the final 1 EFTS or $12,000 of the qualification they were enrolled in prior to being awarded the exit qualification. In these circumstances, and where the learner’s qualification expires during their final year, TEC will need to collect additional data from provider-based TEOs to accurately calculate the learner’s entitlement.
    Overseas exchange programmes
    Learners undertaking the final year of their qualification on a formal overseas exchange arranged through their domestic provider are entitled to Fees Free.  
    Learners’ entitlement will be calculated on their last 1 EFTS or $12,000 of study or training (whichever occurs first) that they undertook at their domestic provider. For example, if a student goes on exchange for the last year of their study, their eligibility will be calculated based on their second to last year of study.
    Learners who go overseas and study abroad in their final year (ie, they are not on a formal exchange programme) are not eligible for final-year Fees Free.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK, Maldives sign tax pact

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Hong Kong today signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with the Maldives, on the margins of the 8th High-level meeting of the Asia Initiative hosted by the Maldives.

    Commissioner of Inland Revenue Benjamin Chan signed the CDTA on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with representative of the Maldives Government, Commissioner General of Taxation of the Inland Revenue Authority Hassan Zareer.

    The CDTA sets out the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, which will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities.

    Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the Maldives is a participant in the Belt & Road Initiative, and this CDTA, which is the 52nd that Hong Kong has concluded, signifies the ongoing achievements of the Hong Kong SAR Government in expanding the city’s CDTA network, in particular with tax jurisdictions participating in the Belt-Road initiative.

    “I have every confidence that this CDTA will further promote economic and trade connections between Hong Kong and the Maldives.”

    In accordance with the Hong Kong-Maldives CDTA, Hong Kong companies can enjoy double taxation relief in that any tax paid in the Maldives, whether directly or by deduction, will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income under the tax laws of Hong Kong.

    The agreement also provides tax relief arrangements.

    It will come into force after completion of ratification procedures by both jurisdictions. In Hong Kong, the Chief Executive-in-Council will make an order under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, which will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with New Zealand

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 26, 2025

    Washington, DCMay 26, 2025: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation [1] with New Zealand on May 19, 2025.

    Tight monetary policy has helped bring inflation back to target, but at the expense of growth. Real GDP contracted by 0.5 percent y/y in 2024, as investment fell by 4.1 percent y/y, household consumption stagnated. The slowdown has been particularly pronounced in interest-rate-sensitive sectors including retail trade, construction, and manufacturing. The financial sector remains resilient despite rising non-performing loans. A recovery in external demand and improved terms of trade have helped narrow the current account deficit to 6.2 percent of GDP, though it remains above long-term trends. Despite a challenging economic backdrop, the government delivered modest fiscal consolidation in FY2023/24, with the primary deficit narrowing to 2.4 percent of GDP. Tight monetary policy helped bring inflation within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ)’s 1–3 percent target band in 2024Q3, after 13 consecutive quarters, with headline inflation reaching 2.5 percent y/y in 2025Q1. The RBNZ has thus eased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) several times since August 2024, bringing it closer to the neutral rate.

    The return of inflation to target is enabling monetary policy easing and a return to growth. Inflation is forecast to remain within the target band, allowing monetary policy to gradually move to a neutral stance. Real GDP is projected to expand by 1.4 percent y/y in 2025, with monetary policy easing providing a boost to consumption and investment. Growth is expected to accelerate to 2.7 percent y/y in 2026, as the lagged impact of lower interest rates is fully realized. Fiscal policy is expected to continue to balance needed medium-term consolidation with growth considerations. The government’s broad-based structural reform agenda is aimed at boosting medium-term productivity growth, including via reforms to attract foreign investment, enhance competition, reduce regulatory burdens, accelerate housing supply growth, and progress toward closing of the infrastructure gap.

    Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. Downside risks stem from a softer-than-expected recovery due to elevated global uncertainty and a weak labor market or the occurrence of a natural disaster. Upside risks include a stronger rebound in growth due to faster-than-expected monetary policy transmission. As a small open economy, New Zealand is vulnerable to trade disruptions, geoeconomic fragmentation, or a global economic slowdown.


    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed that the economy is showing signs of a nascent recovery and that inflation has returned to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s target, after a prolonged period of significant price pressures. Noting the country’s exposure to trade and investment shocks, Directors underscored the importance of maintaining prudent policies to safeguard macroeconomic stability and implementing ambitious structural reforms to address medium‑ and long‑term economic challenges.

    Directors commended the role of monetary policy in helping bring inflation back to target. They agreed that the current monetary policy easing is appropriate and should continue until reaching a neutral level, while remaining data‑dependent and responsive to economic conditions. Directors welcomed the expanded macroprudential toolbox and concurred that macroprudential tools should continue to be used to address financial risks that may emerge as policy rates are reduced.

    Directors agreed that fiscal policy should focus on growth‑friendly, medium‑term consolidation, while supporting the most vulnerable. They called for comprehensive revenue reforms that enhance efficiency and incentivize long‑term investment. Directors also encouraged the authorities to pursue expenditure reforms, including to the pension system, that are grounded in a cost‑benefit analysis.

    Directors agreed that financial stability risks are contained and recommended that household and financial balance sheets continue to be monitored closely. They welcomed progress in key reforms, notably the Depositor Compensation Scheme and the Deposit Takers Act. Directors noted the authorities’ efforts to increase banking competition and emphasized that prudential settings should remain adequately calibrated to guard against financial stability risks. Given housing shortages, they called for improving affordability and expanding housing supply and welcomed the reform efforts around resource management in these areas.

    Directors commended ongoing structural reforms to overcome slow productivity growth and boost long‑term growth. They welcomed the authorities’ plans to boost competition and innovation, reduce barriers to overseas financing, and deepen capital markets. Investing in infrastructure and enhancing resilience to natural disasters will also be needed.

    It is expected that the next Article IV Consultation with New Zealand will be held on the standard 12‑month cycle.




    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm .

    Table 1. New Zealand: Main Economic Indicators, 2021-30

    (Annual percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    Est.

    Projections

    NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

    Real GDP (production)

    5.7

    2.9

    1.8

    -0.5

    1.4

    2.7

    2.7

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    Domestic demand

    10.0

    4.5

    -0.8

    -0.8

    1.8

    2.6

    2.4

    2.1

    2.1

    2.0

    Private consumption

    7.9

    4.1

    1.0

    0.2

    1.0

    3.1

    3.0

    2.4

    2.4

    2.3

    Public consumption

    7.9

    5.2

    0.8

    0.0

    0.5

    0.5

    0.5

    0.7

    0.8

    0.8

    Investment

    17.2

    4.1

    -5.4

    -4.1

    2.4

    3.2

    2.7

    2.3

    2.1

    2.1

    Public

    6.2

    3.6

    10.2

    0.5

    0.3

    2.3

    2.5

    2.8

    2.8

    2.8

    Private

    12.6

    4.3

    -3.2

    -6.5

    1.9

    3.5

    2.7

    2.1

    1.7

    1.8

    Private business

    14.5

    7.3

    -2.2

    -5.0

    2.6

    3.5

    2.8

    2.1

    1.6

    1.6

    Dwelling

    8.6

    -2.3

    -5.6

    -10.1

    0.0

    3.6

    2.3

    2.4

    2.1

    2.4

    Inventories (contribution to growth, percent)

    1.4

    0.0

    -1.4

    0.2

    0.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Net exports (contribution to growth, percent)

    -4.8

    -1.6

    2.6

    0.3

    0.3

    -0.1

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Real gross domestic income

    5.0

    2.3

    1.1

    0.3

    2.9

    3.1

    2.8

    2.4

    2.3

    2.3

    Investment (percent of GDP)

    25.0

    26.3

    24.2

    23.1

    23.4

    23.4

    23.3

    23.2

    23.1

    23.1

    Public

    5.7

    5.9

    6.5

    6.4

    6.3

    6.2

    6.2

    6.2

    6.2

    6.2

    Private

    19.4

    20.4

    17.8

    16.7

    17.1

    17.2

    17.1

    17.0

    16.9

    16.8

    Savings (gross, percent of GDP)

    19.0

    17.1

    17.3

    16.9

    18.3

    18.8

    19.0

    19.2

    19.4

    19.6

    Public

    -3.5

    -4.2

    -3.5

    -4.4

    -5.1

    -3.9

    -2.5

    -1.4

    -0.4

    0.0

    Private

    22.5

    21.3

    20.9

    21.3

    23.4

    22.7

    21.5

    20.6

    19.9

    19.6

    Potential output

    1.5

    1.9

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    Output gap (percent of potential)

    1.8

    2.7

    2.4

    -0.3

    -1.1

    -0.6

    -0.1

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    LABOR MARKET

    Employment

    2.2

    1.7

    3.3

    -0.1

    0.7

    1.5

    2.0

    1.7

    1.3

    1.5

    Unemployment (percent of labor force, ann. average)

    3.8

    3.3

    3.7

    4.7

    5.3

    5.2

    4.7

    4.3

    4.5

    4.4

    Wages (nominal percent change)

    3.8

    6.5

    7.0

    4.6

    4.3

    3.9

    3.3

    3.3

    3.0

    3.0

    PRICES

    Terms of trade index (goods and services, % change)

    -1.0

    -3.1

    -3.4

    2.9

    1.9

    1.3

    0.5

    0.4

    0.2

    0.1

    Consumer prices (avg, % change)

    3.9

    7.2

    5.7

    2.9

    2.4

    2.3

    2.2

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    GDP deflator (avg, % change)

    3.0

    5.8

    5.1

    3.6

    3.2

    2.8

    2.2

    2.2

    2.2

    2.1

    MACRO-FINANCIAL

    Official cash rate (policy rate, percent, avg)

    0.3

    2.2

    5.2

    4.7

    3.6

    3.3

    3.3

    3.3

    3.3

    3.3

    Credit to the private sector (percent change)

    6.1

    4.3

    0.1

    1.6

    3.2

    5.6

    4.5

    4.0

    3.9

    4.0

    Interest payments (percent of disposable income)

    5.3

    6.3

    8.5

    8.1

    7.3

    7.2

    7.0

    6.9

    6.9

    6.9

    Household savings (percent of disposable income)

    3.6

    3.3

    2.7

    2.5

    2.4

    2.3

    2.9

    3.6

    4.4

    5.1

    Household debt (percent of disposable income)

    174

    173

    168

    166

    160

    160

    159

    158

    157

    157

    GENERAL GOVERNMENT (percent of GDP) 1/

    Revenue

    37.6

    38.8

    37.0

    38.7

    37.6

    37.5

    37.5

    37.7

    37.9

    38.0

    Expenditure

    40.0

    43.3

    40.9

    41.9

    43.1

    42.3

    40.5

    39.7

    38.8

    38.0

    Net lending/borrowing

    -2.5

    -4.4

    -3.9

    -3.2

    -5.5

    -4.8

    -3.1

    -2.0

    -0.9

    0.0

    Operating balance

    -0.3

    -2.2

    -1.7

    -0.7

    -3.0

    -2.5

    -0.8

    0.1

    1.1

    1.9

    Cyclically adjusted primary balance 2/

    -2.8

    -4.2

    -3.7

    -3.4

    -3.6

    -2.9

    -1.4

    -0.2

    1.1

    2.0

    Gross debt

    46.0

    48.6

    45.8

    48.4

    53.2

    56.4

    59.0

    58.8

    57.5

    55.1

    Net debt

    10.6

    17.0

    19.0

    19.8

    23.5

    26.4

    28.0

    28.6

    28.0

    26.4

    Net worth

    94.6

    102.0

    96.3

    94.4

    87.1

    81.3

    77.3

    74.8

    73.5

    73.0

    BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

    Current account (percent of GDP)

    -6.0

    -9.2

    -6.9

    -6.2

    -5.1

    -4.6

    -4.3

    -3.9

    -3.7

    -3.5

    Export volume

    -2.3

    -0.5

    11.0

    4.1

    3.9

    3.9

    4.1

    4.0

    4.2

    4.2

    Import volume

    14.5

    4.7

    -0.4

    2.4

    2.0

    3.5

    3.2

    3.3

    3.4

    3.4

    Net international investment position (percent of GDP)

    -47.9

    -52.5

    -51.3

    -49.4

    -52.1

    -54.0

    -55.8

    -57.3

    -58.6

    -59.6

    Gross official reserves (bn US$)

    16.4

    13.7

    14.8

    23.2

    MEMORANDUM ITEMS

    Nominal GDP (bn NZ$)

    353

    385

    413

    427

    448

    472

    496

    518

    540

    564

    Percent change

    9.0

    9.2

    7.1

    3.4

    4.9

    5.5

    4.9

    4.4

    4.4

    4.3

    Nominal GDP per capita (US$)

    48,845

    47,819

    48,360

    48,448

    47,158

    49,022

    50,472

    51,643

    53,044

    54,378

    Real gross national disposable income per capita (NZ$)

    54,586

    55,293

    54,662

    53,632

    54,724

    55,635

    56,458

    57,044

    57,611

    58,081

    Percent change

    3.7

    1.3

    -1.1

    -1.9

    2.0

    1.7

    1.5

    1.0

    1.0

    0.8

    Population (million)

    5.1

    5.1

    5.2

    5.3

    5.4

    5.5

    5.5

    5.6

    5.7

    5.8

    US$/NZ$ (average level)

    0.708

    0.636

    0.614

    0.605

    Nominal effective exchange rate

    109.9

    106.5

    105.0

    104.9

    Real effective exchange rate

    107.6

    105.5

    105.7

    106.1

    Sources: Authorities’ data and IMF staff estimates and projections.

    1/ Fiscal year.

    2/ In percent of potential GDP.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pemba Sherpa

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/23/pr25159-imf-executive-board-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation-with-new-zealand

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Water Taxi CI secures sea link subsidy between Jersey & Alderney for 2025 Friday 23 May 2025

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Press Release

    Date: May 23rd 2025

    Water Taxi CI secures sea link subsidy between Jersey & Alderney for 2025

    Water Taxi CI Operating under Go-Sail.je will operate a subsidised passenger sea link service between Jersey and Alderney for the summer season following the outcome of a tender process which commenced at the start of 2025.

    The Economic Development Committee has confirmed that the company will operate four rotations per week on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (one rotation per day) from the 26th May to 29th September inclusive.

    “We are delighted that the tender process for the Jersey – Alderney route has proved to be competitive and that we were able to identify a provider to operate this largely unexploited route. We envisage that the service will complement our island’s offering,support our hospitality sectorand strengthen our transport links, and we look forward to assessing the value of this new route to our island, both socially and economically.”said Stuart Clark, Chair of The Economic Development Committee.

    The service will be monitored during the season to assess demand for the route with a view to continuing the service in 2026.

    Funding has been committed by the States to reduce the price per ticket in the opening weeks of service, fares will be £78 one way for May and June for all customers. A fare of £93 one-way for adults and £82 one-way per child up to 15 years of age inclusive will be applicable for July, August and September.

    Max Boleat, Founder of Water Taxi CI is quoted as saying:

    “We are delighted to have been selected to operate this new inter-island link. We have been operating the route on a private charter basis for a number of years and have a well-established customer base that will be excited to continue using the service, along with a wealth of interest from tourists for weekend breaks. Our new vessel “Atlantic Isle” accommodates 12 passengers in comfortable forward-facing seating and has been specifically chosen to support this new inter-island link. We look forward to sharing our new vessel with everyone & undertaking berthing trials in Alderney this week and getting the service underway. We would also like to take the opportunity to invite any local Alderney businesses that will benefit from the new passenger link to engage with our management team to explore opportunities for driving tourism towards Alderney from Jersey.”

    Bill Sadler, Jersey Harbour Master said:

    “We welcome the introduction of this new direct route between Jersey and Alderney, which represents a positive step forward in strengthening inter-island connectivity. Supporting safe and efficient maritime links is a core part of our role, and we look forward to working with Max and his team to ensure a smooth and successful launch of the service. This new connection will not only benefit residents and visitors, but also contribute to the broader economic and social ties between our islands.”

    Bookings can be made via www.watertaxici.co.uk

    Ends

    Media contact: Publications.Alderney@gov.gg

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Electrical Company General Manager Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Keolis Commuter Services

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – The former general manager of a Massachusetts-based electrical company was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a false invoicing scheme that defrauded Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) of over $4 million.

    John Rafferty, 72, of Hale’s Location, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Rafferty was also ordered to pay $4,016,087 in restitution and a $893,227.93 forfeiture money judgment. In June 2023, Rafferty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Rafferty was charged in April 2023 and his alleged co-conspirator, John P. Pigsley, was charged in a separate case.

    Keolis has operated the MBTA commuter rail system since 2014 under an annual contract of $291–$349 million. Rafferty was the general manager of LJ Electric, Inc., an electrical supply vendor to which Keolis paid over $17 million between 2014 through 2021.

    Between July 2014 and November 2021, Rafferty and Pigsley defrauded Keolis of over $4 million through a false LJ Electric invoicing scheme. Specifically, Rafferty spent more than $3 million on items for Pigsley and others – including: at least nine trucks; construction equipment including at least seven Bobcat machines; at least $1 million in home building supplies and services; and a $54,000 camper. Rafferty then recovered the cost of these items by submitting false and fraudulent LJ Electric invoices to Keolis, which also included a percentage profit that Rafferty kept for himself.

    In April 2025, Pigsley was sentenced to 70 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $8,580,311 in restitution to Keolis and $2,689,206 to the Internal Revenue Service, forfeiture of three real properties and a $7,687,083.70 money judgment.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Northeastern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit and Raquelle Kaye of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the cases.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Sentenced for $30 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud

    Source: US State of California

    Three individuals were sentenced yesterday for their participation in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL), out of tens of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Macovian Doston, 31, of Vienna, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

    Shatara Hubbard, 36, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to 6 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

    Torella Wynn, 33, of Cordele, Georgia, was sentenced to one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

    According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from March 2020 through November 2022, Doston, Hubbard, Wynn and their co-conspirators caused more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in at least $30 million in stolen benefits.

    To execute the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators created fictitious employers and fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information (PII) from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website. The conspirators obtained PII for use in the scheme from a variety of sources, including by paying an employee of an Atlanta-area health care and hospital network to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s databases, and by purchasing PII from other sources over the internet. Using victims’ PII, Doston, Hubbard, Wynn and their co-conspirators caused the stolen UI funds to be disbursed via prepaid debit cards mailed to various locations.

    “The defendants orchestrated a $30 million fraud by using stolen identities to obtain thousands of unemployment insurance payouts under false pretenses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively combat complex frauds that waste public funds. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their diligence and dedication to seeking justice for the United States.” 

    “Macovian Doston, Shatara Hubbard, and Torella Wynn engaged in a scheme to defraud the GaDOL by creating several fictitious employer accounts. After creating the fictitious accounts, the defendants submitted thousands of fraudulent UI claims to GaDOL to obtain UI benefits in the names of identity theft victims and other unwitting individuals who were not entitled to such benefits. The identity theft victims and unwitting participants were purported employees of several fictitious companies, which were created to execute this fraud scheme. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit this benefit program,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    “These sentences underline our dedication to holding people accountable who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators and the legal teams at the Department of Justice will diligently pursue anyone who attempts to commit fraud and exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”   

    “DHS OIG will continue to investigate the misuse of COVID pandemic funds and together with our law enforcement partners, hold fraudsters accountable.” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, PH.d.

    The court previously sentenced four other co-conspirators that were charged in the Nov. 8, 2022 indictment. In Oct. 2024, Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, Georgia was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In Sept. 2024, Kenya Whitehead, 37, of Cordele, Georgia was sentenced to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In Oct. 2024, A’Darrion Alexander, 29, of Warner Robins, Georgia was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2024, Membrish Brown, 29, of Vienna, Georgia was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. 

    DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Sentenced for $30 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Three individuals were sentenced yesterday for their participation in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL), out of tens of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Macovian Doston, 31, of Vienna, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

    Shatara Hubbard, 36, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to 6 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

    Torella Wynn, 33, of Cordele, Georgia, was sentenced to one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

    According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from March 2020 through November 2022, Doston, Hubbard, Wynn and their co-conspirators caused more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in at least $30 million in stolen benefits.

    To execute the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators created fictitious employers and fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information (PII) from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website. The conspirators obtained PII for use in the scheme from a variety of sources, including by paying an employee of an Atlanta-area health care and hospital network to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s databases, and by purchasing PII from other sources over the internet. Using victims’ PII, Doston, Hubbard, Wynn and their co-conspirators caused the stolen UI funds to be disbursed via prepaid debit cards mailed to various locations.

    “The defendants orchestrated a $30 million fraud by using stolen identities to obtain thousands of unemployment insurance payouts under false pretenses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively combat complex frauds that waste public funds. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their diligence and dedication to seeking justice for the United States.” 

    “Macovian Doston, Shatara Hubbard, and Torella Wynn engaged in a scheme to defraud the GaDOL by creating several fictitious employer accounts. After creating the fictitious accounts, the defendants submitted thousands of fraudulent UI claims to GaDOL to obtain UI benefits in the names of identity theft victims and other unwitting individuals who were not entitled to such benefits. The identity theft victims and unwitting participants were purported employees of several fictitious companies, which were created to execute this fraud scheme. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit this benefit program,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    “These sentences underline our dedication to holding people accountable who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators and the legal teams at the Department of Justice will diligently pursue anyone who attempts to commit fraud and exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”   

    “DHS OIG will continue to investigate the misuse of COVID pandemic funds and together with our law enforcement partners, hold fraudsters accountable.” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, PH.d.

    The court previously sentenced four other co-conspirators that were charged in the Nov. 8, 2022 indictment. In Oct. 2024, Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, Georgia was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In Sept. 2024, Kenya Whitehead, 37, of Cordele, Georgia was sentenced to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In Oct. 2024, A’Darrion Alexander, 29, of Warner Robins, Georgia was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2024, Membrish Brown, 29, of Vienna, Georgia was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. 

    DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan, Sánchez Introduce Bill to Improve Affordability of Student Transportation Costs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) introduced the Accessible Campus Commuting and Expanded Student Savings (ACCESS) Act to improve accessibility and affordability of higher education.

    The cost of transportation is a significant barrier for many students, yet is often overlooked as students weigh the affordability of college and apprenticeship programs. 

    The ACCESS Act would help reduce barriers to access, make higher education more affordable and alleviate student pressure by helping American families use their savings to cover more of their children’s education expenses. 

    “Student parking and transportation costs add up fast for commuting students — and the problem is only getting worse,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “High commuting costs hurt student retention and success at a time when institutions already see declining enrollments post-COVID, yet many scholarship and financial aid awards still don’t cover transportation expenses. The ACCESS Act empowers students to use their 529 savings plan to cover transportation and parking expenses, ensuring that they have the tools they need to succeed regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status.”

    “Commuting to class shouldn’t be what keeps someone from getting their degree. But for a lot of students, the cost of parking or public transit adds up quickly. This is a smart, straightforward way to make things a little bit easier,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “I appreciate Congresswoman McClellan for her work to make college more affordable for more students.”

    The ACCESS Act has been endorsed by Commonwealth Savers (formerly Virginia 529), the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN), the Virginia College Advising Network (VCAN), the Virginia Community College System, the College Savings Foundation, and the Council for Independent Colleges of Virginia (CICV).

    Specifically, H.R.3574, the Accessible Campus Commuting and Expanded Student Savings Act would:

    • Amend Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow 529 savings plans to include student parking and transportation costs at colleges, universities, and apprenticeship programs as eligible educational expenses covered by the 529 Program.

    Read the full bill text here. Read the one-pager here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawaii Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Tax Fraud

    Source: US State of California

    A Hawaii woman pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding her mortgage lender and conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting the IRS’ efforts to recoup it.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Hannah Heart, of Honolulu, conspired with others to file a false 2014 individual income tax return in her name. As part of the conspiracy, Heart’s co-conspirators created a fake tax form purportedly issued by a mortgage lender to Heart, which she attached to her return. The form falsely reported that Heart had received income from a financial institution of more than $2.4 million, from which over $1.2 million in taxes had been withheld. As a result, Heart filed a tax return that falsely claimed she was entitled to a $464,904 refund, which the IRS paid.

    When the IRS began trying to collect the fraudulent refund from Heart, she took several steps to thwart the IRS. For example, Heart deposited the refund check into a trust bank account and immediately transferred most of the balance to a separate bank account, both of which she controlled. She also sent numerous false, fraudulent, and frivolous letters to the IRS in response to IRS communications.

    In addition, Heart helped another co-conspirator defraud the IRS using the same scheme. Heart and her co-conspirator deposited a second fraudulently obtained $1 million refund check from the IRS, payable to the co-conspirator.

    In total, Heart caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,618,985.54.

    Heart also defrauded her mortgage lender, conspiring with others to do so. Heart took out a mortgage for her home in 2006 and stopped making payments in 2010 toward her mortgage. The mortgage lender initiated foreclosure proceedings in 2022 against Heart. In response, a co-conspirator sent the lender a fictitious document purporting to be a check for the full amount due for Heart’s mortgage. The lender initially accepted the check but later rejected it as fraudulent. Afterwards, Heart sent mail to the lender demanding that it accept the fraudulent check as full payment of her remaining balance.

    In total, Heart intended to defraud the mortgage lender of $2,066,522.22.

    Heart will be sentenced at a later date. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the charge of mail fraud and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and FBI are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Sarah Kiewlicz and Megan Jones of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hawaii Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Tax Fraud

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    A Hawaii woman pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding her mortgage lender and conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting the IRS’ efforts to recoup it.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Hannah Heart, of Honolulu, conspired with others to file a false 2014 individual income tax return in her name. As part of the conspiracy, Heart’s co-conspirators created a fake tax form purportedly issued by a mortgage lender to Heart, which she attached to her return. The form falsely reported that Heart had received income from a financial institution of more than $2.4 million, from which over $1.2 million in taxes had been withheld. As a result, Heart filed a tax return that falsely claimed she was entitled to a $464,904 refund, which the IRS paid.

    When the IRS began trying to collect the fraudulent refund from Heart, she took several steps to thwart the IRS. For example, Heart deposited the refund check into a trust bank account and immediately transferred most of the balance to a separate bank account, both of which she controlled. She also sent numerous false, fraudulent, and frivolous letters to the IRS in response to IRS communications.

    In addition, Heart helped another co-conspirator defraud the IRS using the same scheme. Heart and her co-conspirator deposited a second fraudulently obtained $1 million refund check from the IRS, payable to the co-conspirator.

    In total, Heart caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,618,985.54.

    Heart also defrauded her mortgage lender, conspiring with others to do so. Heart took out a mortgage for her home in 2006 and stopped making payments in 2010 toward her mortgage. The mortgage lender initiated foreclosure proceedings in 2022 against Heart. In response, a co-conspirator sent the lender a fictitious document purporting to be a check for the full amount due for Heart’s mortgage. The lender initially accepted the check but later rejected it as fraudulent. Afterwards, Heart sent mail to the lender demanding that it accept the fraudulent check as full payment of her remaining balance.

    In total, Heart intended to defraud the mortgage lender of $2,066,522.22.

    Heart will be sentenced at a later date. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the charge of mail fraud and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the charge of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and FBI are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Sarah Kiewlicz and Megan Jones of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Harvard fights to keep enrolling international students – 4 essential reads about their broader impact

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bryan Keogh, Managing Editor

    Graduates of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government celebrate during commencement exercises in Cambridge, Mass. AP Photo/Steven Senne, File

    A federal judge in Boston on May 23, 2025, temporarily blocked a Trump administration order that would have revoked Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students.

    The directive from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and resulting lawsuit from Harvard have escalated the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution.

    It’s also the latest step in a White House campaign to ramp up vetting and screening of foreign nationals, including students.

    Homeland Security officials accused Harvard of creating a hostile campus climate by accommodating “anti-American” and “pro-terrorist agitators.” The accusation stems from the university’s alleged support for certain political groups and their activities on campus.

    In early April, the Trump administration terminated the immigration statuses of thousands of international students listed in a government database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The database includes country of citizenship, which U.S. school they attend and what they study.

    Barring Harvard from enrolling international students could have significant implications for the campus’s climate and the local economy. International students account for 27% of the university’s enrollment.

    Here are four stories from The Conversation’s archive about the Trump administration’s battle with Harvard and the economic impact of international students.

    1. A target on Harvard

    This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has targeted the university.

    The White House has threatened to end the university’s tax-exempt status, and some media outlets have reported that the Internal Revenue Service is taking steps in that direction.

    But it is illegal to revoke an entity’s tax-emempt status “on a whim,” according to Philip Hackney, a University of Pittsburgh law professor, and Brian Mittendorf, an accounting professor at Ohio State University.

    “Before the IRS can do that, tax law requires that it first audit that charity,” they wrote. “And it’s illegal for U.S. presidents or other officials to force the IRS to conduct an audit or stop one that’s already begun.”

    Several U.S. senators, all Democrats, have urged the IRS inspector general to see whether the IRS has begun auditing Harvard or any nonprofits in response to the administration’s requests or whether Trump has violated any laws with his pressure campaign.

    Hackney and Mittendorf wrote that the Trump administration’s moves are part of a larger push to exert control over Harvard, including its efforts to increase its diversity and its response to claims of discrimination on campus.




    Read more:
    Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way


    .“

    University of Michigan students on campus on April 3, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Mich.
    Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

    2. International students help keep ‘America First’

    The U.S. has long been the global leader in attracting international students. But competition for these students is increasing as other countries vie to attract the scholars.

    In a recent story for The Conversation, David L. Di Maria, vice provost for global engagement at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, wrote that stepped-up screening and vetting of students could make the U.S. a less attractive study destination.

    Di Maria wrote that such efforts could hamper the Trump administration’s ability to achieve its “America First” priorities related to the economy, science and technology, and national security.

    Trump administration officials have emphasized the importance of recruiting top global talent. And Trump has said that international students who graduate from U.S. colleges should be awarded a green card with their degree.

    Research shows that international students launch successful startups at a rate that is eight to nine times higher than their U.S.-born peers. Roughly 25% of billion-dollar companies in the U.S. were founded by former international students, Di Maria noted.




    Read more:
    Deporting international students risks making the US a less attractive destination, putting its economic engine at risk


    3. A boost to local economies

    Indeed, international students have a tremendous economic impact on local communities.

    If these global scholars stay home or go elsewhere, that’s bad economic news for cities and towns across the United States, wrote Barnet Sherman, a professor of multinational finance and trade at Boston University.

    With the money they spend on tuition, food, housing and other other items, international students pump money into the local economy, but there are additional benefits.

    On average, a new job is created for every three international students enrolled in a U.S. college or university. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 378,175 jobs were created, Sherman wrote.

    In Greater Boston, where Harvard is located, there are about 63,000 international students who contribute to the economy. The gains are huge – about US$3 billion.




    Read more:
    International students infuse tens of millions of dollars into local economies across the US. What happens if they stay home?


    4. Rising number of international students

    The rising number of foreign students studying in the U.S. has long led to concerns about U.S. students being displaced by international peers.

    The unease is often fueled by the assumption that financial interests are driving the trend, Cynthia Miller-Idriss of American University and Bernhard Streitwieser of George Washington University wrote in a 2015 story for The Conversation.

    A common claim, they wrote, is the flawed assumption that “cash-strapped public universities” aggressively recruit more affluent students from abroad who can afford to pay rising tuition costs. The pair wrote that, historically, shifting demographics on college campuses result from social and economic changes.

    In today’s context, Miller-Idriss and Streitwieser maintain that the argument that colleges prioritize international students fails to account for the global role of U.S. universities, which help support national security, foster international development projects and accelerate the pace of globalization.




    Read more:
    Foreign students not a threat, but an advantage


    This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

    ref. Harvard fights to keep enrolling international students – 4 essential reads about their broader impact – https://theconversation.com/harvard-fights-to-keep-enrolling-international-students-4-essential-reads-about-their-broader-impact-257506

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of George Floyd Anniversary, Pressley Reintroduces Suite of Bills to Transform Criminal Legal System, Improve Police Accountability

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    People’s Justice Guarantee | Ending Qualified Immunity Act | Andrew Kearse Act

    WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) reintroduced the People’s Justice Guarantee (PJG), the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, and the Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act – a suite of bills that collectively will help build a fair, equitable, and just legal system in America, and improve police accountability.

    “It’s been nearly five years since George Floyd was murdered, and our families and communities continue to be plagued and destabilized by the overlapping crises of mass incarceration, police brutality, and overcriminalization,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “As we approach this somber anniversary and weather an unprecedented assault on Black and brown communities from the Trump Administration, I’m proud to reintroduce bold legislation and continue our push toward accountability, healing, and our collective liberation.”

    The People’s Justice Guarantee is a comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system. The resolution, developed in close partnership with activists, advocates, and those most impacted by criminal and racial injustice, calls for an ongoing and participatory “people’s process” that centers the dignity and expertise of those impacted by the carceral state. The PJG is rooted in five guiding principles – shared power, freedom, equality, safety, and human dignity – and specifically calls for (1) decarceration and the dramatic reduction of jail and prison populations; (2) eliminating wealth-based discrimination and corporate profiteering; (3) transforming the experience of confinement; and (4) investing in historically impacted communities.

    The Ending Qualified Immunity Act, which Rep. Pressley is introducing alongside Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), would eliminate the unjust and court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity and restore the ability for people to obtain relief when state and local officials, including police officers, violate their legal and constitutionally secured rights. The lawmakers’ bill would permit civil lawsuits against public officials, in their personal capacity, to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing.

    “On the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, we must never forget that true justice requires that victims of police brutality and their families get their day in court,” said Senator Markey. “But all too often, qualified immunity impedes victims from holding government officials accountable. Qualified immunity is a flawed and judge-made doctrine that shields law enforcement officers from being sued for wrongdoing. For decades, courts have been gutting the landmark civil rights law, the Civil Rights Act of 1871, which allows victims of abuse at the hands of state and local officials to vindicate their rights in court. We must hold accountable the public officials who abuse their positions of trust in our communities.”

    The Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act, which the Congresswoman is introducing alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) would hold law enforcement officers criminally liable for failing to obtain medical assistance to people in custody experiencing medical distress. The bill is named after Andrew Kearse, a 36-year-old Black man who on May 11, 2017 died of a heart attack in the back of a police cruiser after begging a police officer for help. Instead of providing Mr. Kearse with medical assistance, the officer dismissed his pleas and waited precious minutes until after Mr. Kearse became nonresponsive to call for medical assistance. Despite failing to seek potentially life-saving care for Mr. Kearse, the officer involved was not charged with a crime.

    “If an officer denies life-saving medical care for people in their custody, they should be held accountable,” said Senator Warren. “This bill is a step towards justice for Andrew Kearse and all who died a preventable death while in custody.”

    Full text of the People’s Justice Guarantee resolution is available here.

    A copy of the Ending Qualified Immunity Act can be found here.

    A copy of the Andrew Kearse Act can be found here and a summary is available here.

    Congresswoman Pressley has introduced over a dozen pieces of precise legislation informed by the People’s Justice Guarantee to fundamentally redefine what justice looks like in America, including the Ending Qualified Immunity Act and Andrew Kearse Accountability for the Denial of Medical Care Act.

    Congresswoman Pressley also led calls in Congress for President Biden to use his clemency authority to address mass incarceration and has applauded the President for granting clemency to thousands of people and commended him for commuting the death sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row.

    • In June 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)unveiled the Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy (Housing FIRST) Actbold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley reintroduced her Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated. It was originally introduced in March 2020 and reintroduced in February 2021 as part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Package—a suite of 12 bills aimed at addressing the Black maternal health crisis.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus, requested the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to research post-traumatic prison disorder and share findings related to prevention and treatment for people returning from behind the wall.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) re-introduced their Ending Qualified Immunity Act, legislation that would eliminate the unjust and court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity and restore the ability for people to obtain relief when state and local officials, including police officers, violate their legal and constitutionally secured rights. Rep. Pressley originally introduced the bill in June 2020 with Rep. Justin Amash (L-MI) and reintroduced it with Sen. Markey in March 2021.
    • On April 6, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Hank Johnson led 25 of their colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to address racial disparities in traffic enforcement.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley, in partnership with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), re-introduced the Ending PUSHOUT Act, their legislation to end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools. It was originally introduced in December 2019 and reintroduced in March 2021.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) and 27 Members of Congress, alongside more than 300 advocacy organizations and community leaders, reintroduced the New Way Forward Act, a landmark piece of legislation that addresses some of the most harmful provisions of immigration law that drive racist enforcement practices, expanded incarceration in immigration detention centers, and unjust deportations. It was originally introduced in December 2019 by Reps. Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Karen Bass (CA-37) and was reintroduced in January 2021.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues re-introduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act to stop federal entities’ use of facial recognition tools and prohibit federal support for state and local law enforcement entities that use biometric technology. They reintroduced the bill in June 2021.
    • In December 2022, the House passed Congresswoman Pressley’s amendment to strengthen maternal health care for people who are incarcerated.
    • In December 2021, Rep. Pressley unveiled the Fair and Independent Experts in Clemency (FIX Clemency) Act, historic legislation to transform our nation’s clemency system and address the mass incarceration crisis.
    • In March 2021, Rep. Pressley sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to consider H. Res. 266, the People’s Justice Guarantee, as a framework for embedding justice in our criminal legal system and building integrity in the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
    • In February 2021, October 2020, Congresswoman Pressley reintroduced the Mental Health Justice Act with Reps. Katie Porter (CA-45), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), to support the creation of mental health first responder units that would be deployed in lieu of law enforcement when 911 is called due to a mental health crisis. The lawmakers originally introduced the legislation in October 2020.
    • In January 2021, she reintroduced the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021 with Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level, and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. The lawmakers originally introduced the bill in July 2019.
    • In August 2020, she introduced the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and others, requires federal, state, and local prisons and jails to collect and publicly report COVID-19 data. The legislation was reintroduced in 2021.
    • In July 2020, she introduced the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act with Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), to prohibit federal funds to support the increased presence of police in K-12 schools and supports school districts that invests in counselors.
    • In June 2020, she introduced the Dismantle Mass Incarceration for Public Health Act with Reps. Tlaib (MI-13) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) to require decarceration to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and jails.
    • In June 2020, she introduced the Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ed Markey (D-MA), to hold police officers criminally liable for denying care to those in medical distress.
    • In May 2020, she introduced a resolution with Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Karen Bass (CA-37) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) to condemn any and all acts of police brutality, racial profiling, and militarization and over-policing of Black and brown communities.  
    • In July 2019, she introduced the No Biometric Barriers Housing Act with Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) that would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology. 
    • In June 2019, in conjunction with Gun Violence Awareness Month and the 5th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, she introduced a resolution to honor survivors of homicide victims by establishing National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to Discuss Budget Reconciliation, Iran Negotiations, GENIUS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    NEW YORK CITY—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business live in-studio to discuss the budget reconciliation package, President Donald Trump’s negotiations with Iran, and the GENIUS Act.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the budget reconciliation package: “[Senator] Ron [Johnson] has been focused very much on reducing our debt, reducing our deficit on an annual basis. And I agree with him in principle of what we need to do. But I also would say this: there are many things that don’t get calculated here. If you think about the massive deregulatory thrust that is underway right now, that’s not being captured, the CBO completely missed it. Back in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, they were looking for a $1 trillion revenue decrease. We had actually a massive revenue increase from a tax revenue standpoint. So, I think there’s a lot more to be done. Look, it’s coming to the Senate. I don’t think it’s going to look exactly like it came to us from the House. In fact, there are a lot of people working at pace right now to look for deeper cuts. I’m optimistic. When you add together the deregulatory thrust, the tariff reconciliation that’s going on around the world, and the actual growth components of this bill that are real, they will actually incentivize capital investment. The dynamic aspects of this, again, get missed in the calculations […] At a broad and principle level, the Senate is going to continue to look at means to actually reduce the deficit. Everything that we can accelerate in terms of reductions, we’re going to do that as well. And I think our viewpoint is we have to be responsible. We have to get on the right track here. We’re not going to solve it all in one swoop.”
    Hagerty on urgency to pass the budget reconciliation package: “I actually called up the CEOs of the companies that I had invested in. I served on their boards for years. And I asked them, what are they doing in terms of capital investment, capital planning for 2026? They said, they’re waiting. Everybody’s on hold right now. We need to deliver certainty. And my goal is, without putting a specific date on this, and I called Leader [John] Thune on this as well. I said, look, we’ve got to move this as quickly as we possibly can. I’d love to see it by the 4th of July. Certainly, we need to get it done this summer, because if we don’t, I think capital plans are going to be delayed. We’re not going to see the capital investment we want to see happen so that 2026 is the best year ever. We got to move quickly on that.”
    Hagerty on Trump’s negotiations with Iran: “I think President Trump is absolutely right. Look, I was in his administration. We put maximum pressure on Iran. We had a miss close to a deal in the previous administration. And [Former President] Joe Biden backed off, completely allowed the funds to flow again, and terrorism flowed around the Middle East. We need to maintain maximum pressure. President Trump is doing this, enrichment to the point that they could obtain nuclear grade weapons is absolutely off the table, in my view. This is going to be a tough set of negotiations. The Iranian regime, that theocracy there, has never been easy to deal with. I think the people of Iran seriously need to see change. And these negotiations, I hope, will be very fruitful.”
    Hagerty on Trump’s Middle East trip: “I think he demonstrated that America is back. We’re looking for economic ties. Economic security actually equates to national security these days. That’s a thing of the past to separate the two, and more economic prosperity is going to link our economies together. It’s going to make our security interest aligned. I thought it was a wonderful trip.”
    Hagerty on the GENIUS Act: “This is going to take us into the 21st century. We have a payment system today that was designed in the 1970s and the 1980s. It takes five to ten days to clear a payment here. With the technology available on the chain to actually do this on an almost instantaneous basis, what this will also do is provide regulatory clarity to an industry that’s been seeping offshore. Americans need to lead here. The innovation that we are capable of delivery here is enormous. And also, the benefits of this will be to extend dollar dominance, our reserve currency around the world, because it’ll be used much more in the new digital environment. Additionally, it will stimulate demand for U.S. treasuries because these digital dollars have to be backed up by cash or U.S. treasuries […] A key reason that we’ve brought stablecoin policy to the fore first [is] because this is something that my colleagues do understand. This is simply taking our payment system into the 21st century. It’s stable. It’s dollar denominated. It’s simply that these dollars have to be backed completely by cash or by U.S. treasuries. That’s safe and secure in putting these, sort of, guardrails in place. I think all my colleagues get this, but as you animated, we’re going to move into market structure. This is a complex market. This is a new market that’s evolving rapidly, that’s going to take a great deal more education. It’s going to take a great deal more time. But I’m optimistic as we embrace this piece of legislation, and I’m delighted that we’ve gotten strong, bipartisan support here, that we’re moving in the right direction. And I think that America has got to be, and will continue to be, the leader in this innovative field.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Offers A Message of Hope On MeidasTouch Network

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
    Senator Reverend Warnock appeared on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel to talk about Washington Republican’s plan to gut Medicaid and to call out President Trump’s unabashed corruption
    Senator Warnock also delivered a message of hope and encouraged Americans to raise their voices in opposition to the Washington Republican Billionaire Tax Giveaway Bill, calling this “a moral moment” for our country
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Don’t give in to those who are trying to weaponize despair. Don’t give in to those who are trying to rob you of hope, and thus the willingness to stand up and fight… It’s about the power in the people. We are strong, and it’s our moment to stand up”
    Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) appeared on the MeidasTouch network with host Ben Meiselas to discuss the massive cuts to Medicaid in Washington Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill.”
    Senator Warnock encouraged Americans to remain hopeful during these difficult times and encouraged people to use their voices to speak out against cuts to Medicaid, calling this a “moral moment” for our country.
    Senator Warnock called out Republicans for their attempts to “weaponize despair,” emphasizing that, “They’re trying to convince us that in this flooding of the zone, they’ve already won the fight, and I can tell you that as an heir to the Civil Rights Movement, as pastor of the very church where Martin Luther King Jr. served, as someone who had the humble privilege of serving as John Lewis’s pastor, I’m not about to buy that lie any more than I buy any of the other lies that they sell.”
    He also encouraged Americans to remain hopeful and continue raising their voices to oppose the unpopular Billionaire Tax Giveaway Bill: “We are not without hope, and my party may be out of power, but we are not without power. And every single day, I intend to use my power, use my voice, to raise these issues.”
    “It’s not about the people in power. It’s about the power in the people. We are strong, and it’s our moment to stand up,” added Senator Warnock.
    Senator Warnock, a member of the Senate Finance Committee which oversees the federal tax code, has come out in strong opposition to the U.S. House-passed GOP tax bill. The Senator supports a tax code that lifts up ordinary people, which is why he is a leading advocate for expanding the Child Tax Credit and making child care more affordable through targeted expanded tax credits.

    MIL OSI USA News