Category: Trade

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Canadian firms urged to re-domicile

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    On day two of his Canada visit, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui urged two Canadadian-based insurance companies to consider re-domiciling their companies to Hong Kong to enjoy the relevant legal and taxation convenience, as well as to lower their compliance costs for satisfying two sets of regulatory requirements.

     

    During yesterday’s duty visit, Mr Hui met Manulife President & Chief Executive Officer Phil Witherington and Chief Financial Officer Colin Simpson, as well as SunLife Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer Tim Deacon and Executive Vice-President & Chief Strategy & Enablement Officer Linda Doughety.

     

    Both companies are Canadian-based and have extended their business to Hong Kong.

     

    Mr Hui introduced them to the newly enacted legislation on re-domiciliation of companies, adding that on the very first day the company re-domiciliation regime came into effect last Friday, an international insurance group immediately announced its plan to re-domicile its company to Hong Kong.

     

    He pointed out that this news was the best testament to the regime’s effectiveness in enhancing companies’ operational efficiency, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre.

     

    Under the new regime, non-Hong Kong-incorporated companies may apply to re-domicile to Hong Kong if they fulfil requirements concerning company background, integrity, member and creditor protection, solvency, etc, while maintaining their legal identity as a body corporate to ensure business continuity.

     

    If the company’s actual similar profits are also taxed in Hong Kong after re-domiciliation, the Government will provide the company with unilateral tax credits to eliminate double taxation.

     

    Mr Hui highlighted that Hong Kong has a strong foundation in investment and trade, making it an ideal location for global enterprises to access insurance, reinsurance and risk management services, as well as to establish captive insurers. He also noted that there are vast opportunities for insurance companies in Hong Kong.

     

    Mr Hui then attended a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Toronto), Invest Hong Kong (Canada) and the National Club.

     

    He gave a presentation themed “Hong Kong as an anchor of stability amid the changing world” to showcase to the attending financial leaders the stellar figures recorded in the financial market, and banking and monetary markets.

     

    Mr Hui talked about the Government’s efforts in aligning with international standards and boosting the development of green and sustainable finance and the virtual asset market. He highlighted that with its competitive advantages and proactive measures, as well as the stability and predictability of its financial market, Hong Kong has been earning the confidence of global investors.

     

    Additionally, Mr Hui met Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) Chief Executive Officer Grant Vingoe and both agreed that in today’s shifting global landscape, collaboration with trusted allies would ensure capital markets remain robust and resilient.

     

    The Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong entered into a memorandum of understanding with the OSC in mid-May to include Ontario of Canada in its list of acceptable inspection regimes for strengthening the regulatory collaboration and exchange of information between the two regulators.

     

    In the evening, Mr Hui had a dinner meeting with Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto Chapter) President Joseph Chaung, and the association’s board members to brief them on the latest developments and future direction of Hong Kong’s financial market.

     

    Mr Hui also paid a courtesy call on Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto Luo Weidong. Both expressed their anticipation that Hong Kong, with the support of the nation and its solid foundation and forward-looking measures in financial areas, will engage in more co-operation with Canada.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI China: China, ASEAN, GCC forge innovative trilateral cooperation amid global risks

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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Amid escalating global challenges, China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have forged a groundbreaking path in cross-regional cooperation.

    In a historic move, they convened a landmark trilateral summit in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia — ASEAN’s current chair — marking a bold step toward collective resilience, economic synergy, and a shared vision for prosperity.

    At the inaugural ASEAN-China-GCC Summit on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on the three parties to set a global benchmark in openness, development cooperation and cross-civilization integration.

    His call comes at a critical juncture, as rising protectionism and escalating geopolitical tensions threaten to fracture the international order.

    Amid global economic headwinds and mounting uncertainties, Li noted that by strengthening connectivity and collaboration, the three sides can forge a vibrant economic circle and a powerful engine for growth, which holds profound significance not only for their respective prosperity but also for advancing peace and development across Asia and the world.

    “As some countries are becoming more protectionist and isolationist, the summit was a good initiative and effort to counter these emerging trends,” said Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

    “The summit proves that economies can complement rather than compete with one another, easing the worries that countries can only develop if they turn inward,” Lee added.

    At the tripartite gathering, Li urged all sides to work together to build a model of global cooperation and development in three aspects — creating a model of cross-region openness, forging a model of cooperation across different development stages, and fostering a model of cross-civilization integration.

    At the summit, the leaders committed to further strengthening Belt and Road cooperation, with a focus on deepening ties in connectivity, trade, industrial and supply chains, agriculture, energy, finance, and the digital economy. They pledged to accelerate trilateral integration, fostering robust, inclusive, and sustainable development for all.

    The summit adopted a joint statement, which was hailed as “detailed, elaborate” and a strong message of trilateral solidarity and cooperation by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

    In the joint statement, the relevant countries acknowledged their joint efforts to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN, GCC and China, and China’s vision to build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future and a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

    Andrew Kam Jia Yi, senior research fellow with the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies at the National University of Malaysia, said the summit highlights how the strengths of each party can complement one another.

    “The GCC’s energy and financial resources, ASEAN’s growing consumer base, and China’s technological and financial capacities together create more resilient supply chains and boost food and energy security for all,” he said.

    Following the summit, Li also delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum 2025.

    He emphasized China’s commitment to energizing trilateral cooperation through its high-quality development, pledging to firmly expand high-level opening up, promote mutual reinforcement between domestic and international circulations and share the opportunities of China’s development with countries of ASEAN and GCC, and enterprises from around the world.

    The trilateral cooperation mechanism not only fosters collaborative agreements across regions, but creates a novel platform of communication and dialogue for the Global South countries to closely coordinate on regional and international affairs and amplify their voices on the global stage.

    The joint statement recognizes the need to strengthen confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and reaffirms the countries’ resolve to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial to their peoples and future generations.

    During talks with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit, the Chinese premier voiced China’s readiness to push for a greater role of the Global South in improving global governance.

    In his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Li said that China looks to strengthen communication and cooperation with Vietnam and jointly protect the common interests of the Global South countries.

    During their meeting a day before the summit, Li told Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, crown prince of Kuwait, that China is committed to strengthening communication and coordination with Kuwait through various multilateral platforms to push for more just and equitable global governance and a more harmonious, stable and prosperous world.

    The trilateral summit “encourages other regions to pursue similar models of collaboration,” Kam said.

    “It is a sign of growing solidarity, where countries of the Global South are working together to shape their own futures, assert their priorities on the global stage, and build a more equitable and stable world order from the ground up,” the scholar added.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: Press Release: GAM Investments Strengthens European Equities Platform with Appointment of Leading Investment Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Zurich: 28 May 2025        

    PRESS RELEASE

    GAM Investments Strengthens European Equities Platform with Appointment of Leading Investment Team

    Tom O’Hara, Jamie Ross and David Barker join GAM Investments to manage flagship GAM Star European Equity and Continental European Equity funds

    GAM Investments is pleased to announce the appointment of a new European Equities team comprising Tom O’Hara, Jamie Ross and David Barker. As of 15 May 2025, the team has assumed investment management responsibilities for the GAM Star European Equity and GAM Star Continental European Equity funds.

    This highly regarded investment team brings with them a style-agnostic, high-conviction investment approach that complements GAM’s longstanding heritage in European equities. The appointment marks a further milestone in GAM’s transformation and ongoing commitment to investment excellence.

    Tom O’Hara, Investment Director, European Equities at GAM, commented: “It’s great to be joining GAM. This is a very exciting time in the company’s turnaround, supported by a long-term focused majority owner and a strong, investment-led culture that traces its roots to Gilbert de Botton. On a personal level, my investing career started thanks to John Bennett – who spent 17 years at GAM managing European Equities and always spoke highly of the firm’s investment ethos. So, it really feels like a natural fit for us to be here.”

    “Our approach will remain consistent with our past. We are managing a concentrated, high-conviction portfolio of around 30 stocks, using our straightforward and repeatable ‘All-in’ framework, added David Barker. This combines expected earnings growth, cash return and valuation change to assess whether a company’s return potential exceeds that of the broader market.”

    A core, consistent and transparent investment process

    While the team brings a fresh perspective, they remain committed to delivering a core, flexible, style-agnostic strategy which builds on the legacies of both GAM and their own history as successful European equity investors. Their process is grounded in fundamental research and offers clear, data-driven insights for clients.

    David Barker highlighted, “We want to be open-source. That means sharing our investment insights, process and return assumptions with clients transparently and consistently across all our communications.”

    A turning point for Europe

    The team also believes the macro backdrop is shifting decisively in Europe’s favour.

    “For decades, cheap valuations alone weren’t enough to catalyse change in Europe. But that’s no longer the case. Geopolitical realignment sparked, in part, by the return of Donald Trump who has done more for EU unity than any post-war president,” said Jamie Ross. “We’re seeing a more assertive Europe: a looser fiscal stance in Germany, more coherent messaging from EU leaders, and growing momentum for innovation, investment, and regulatory simplification.”

    “Europe has a generational opportunity to redefine itself that demands cohesive action across industrial policy, energy security and tech sovereignty. These shifts will create a new generation of winners across the region. We believe this marks a key turning point for the European equity market.”

    Elmar Zumbuehl, Group CEO of GAM Investments, added “We are delighted to welcome Tom, Jamie and David to GAM. Their fresh approach, tight teamwork and use of advanced technology to focus on what really matters fully embraces the transformational changes underway in active investing. Their arrival significantly strengthens our specialist active equity offering and with investor interest returning to Europe, we see this as a powerful step forward for GAM’s specialist active equities platform and our clients.”

    Investors are encouraged to contact their local GAM relationship manager to learn more about the strategies or meet the team through upcoming events, webinars and roadshows.

    Editorial Information:

    Video: Introduction to European Equities at GAM – Tom O’Hara, David Barker and Jamie Ross. https://www.gam.com/en/introducing-gam-investments-european-equities-team

    Team Bios:

    • Tom O’Hara, Investment Director, is responsible for the management of European Equity funds at GAM, alongside Jamie Ross and David Barker. Before joining GAM Investments in May 2025, he spent 7 years managing European equity funds at Janus Henderson Investors. Prior to this, he spent 8 years as a sell side equity research analyst covering the metals and mining sector. He began his career in the treasury of Northern Rock plc. He has 19 years of financial industry experience and received his BA degree (Hons) in economics from Newcastle University. He is passionate about the role of emerging technologies in shaping active investing and was an early investor in Quartr, a Swedish fintech platform, where he continues to serve as a non-executive adviser.
    • David Barker, Investment Manager, is responsible for the management of European Equity funds at GAM. Before joining GAM Investments in May 2025, he was a Research Analyst on the European Equities Team at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he had held since 2021. Prior to this, he was Research Analyst specialising in Aerospace & Defence and Industrials at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he started in 2017. David graduated with a BA degree in History from Somerville College, University of Oxford and has 9 years of financial industry experience.
    • Jamie Ross, Investment Manager, is responsible for the management of European Equity funds at GAM. Before joining GAM Investments in May 2025, he was a Portfolio Manager on the European Equities Team at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he had held since 2016. Prior to this, he was a portfolio manager on the UK Equities Team, where he co-managed a UK equities pooled fund. He started his career with Henderson in 2007. Jamie graduated with a BA degree (Hons) in economics from Durham University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has 18 years of financial industry experience.

    For further information please contact:

    Colin Bennett | GAM Media Relations
    T +44 (0) 20 73 938 544 
    colin.bennett@gam.com

    Visit us: www.gam.com
    Follow us: X and LinkedIn

    About GAM

    GAM Investments is a highly scalable global investment platform with strong global distribution capabilities focusing on three core areas, Specialist Active Investing, Alternative Investing and Wealth Management, that is listed in Switzerland. It delivers distinctive and differentiated investment solutions across its Investment and Wealth Management businesses. Its purpose is to protect and enhance clients’ financial future. It attracts and empowers brightest minds to provide investment leadership, innovation and a positive impact on society and the environment. Total assets under management were CHF 16.3 billion as of 31 December 2024. GAM Investments has global distribution with offices in 14 countries and is geographically diverse with clients in almost every continent. Headquartered in Zurich, GAM Investments was founded in 1983, and its registered office is at Hardstrasse 201 Zurich, 8037 Switzerland. For more information about GAM Investments, please visit www.gam.com.

    Other Important Information

    This release contains or may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “aim”, “project”, “forecast”, “risk”, “likely”, “intend”, “outlook”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “may”, “might”, “will”, “continue”, “plan”, “probability”, “indicative”, “seek”, “target”, “plan” and other similar expressions are intended to or may identify forward-looking statements.

    Any such statements in this release speak only as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions and contingencies subject to change without notice, as are statements about market and industry trends, projections, guidance, and estimates. Any forward-looking statements in this release are not indications, guarantees, assurances or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the person making such statements, its affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and may involve significant elements of subjective judgement and assumptions as to future events which may or may not be correct and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such statements. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and no person accepts or assumes any liability in connection therewith.

    This release is not a financial product or investment advice, a recommendation to acquire, exchange or dispose of securities or accounting, legal or tax advice. It has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, legal, financial or tax situation and needs of individuals. Before making an investment decision, individuals should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own objectives, legal, financial and tax situation and needs and seek legal, tax and other advice as appropriate for their individual needs and jurisdiction.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST urges Toronto companies to re-domicile (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST urges Toronto companies to re-domicile  
    He visited two Canada-based insurance companies that have extended their business to Hong Kong. Mr Hui met separately with the President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Phil Witherington, and the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Colin Simpson, of Manulife; as well as the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr Tim Deacon, and the Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategy and Enablement Officer, Ms Linda Doughety, of SunLife. He introduced them to the newly enacted legislation on re-domiciliation of companies, encouraging them to consider re-domiciling their companies to Hong Kong to enjoy the relevant legal and taxation convenience, as well as to lower their compliance costs for satisfying two sets of regulatory requirements. He also mentioned that on the very first day the company re-domiciliation regime came into effect last Friday, an international insurance group immediately announced its plan to re-domicile its company to Hong Kong. This news was the best testament to the regime’s effectiveness in enhancing companies’ operational efficiency, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre.
     
    Under the new regime, non-Hong Kong-incorporated companies may apply to re-domicile to Hong Kong if they fulfil requirements concerning company background, integrity, member and creditor protection, solvency, etc, while maintaining their legal identity as a body corporate to ensure business continuity. If the company’s actual similar profits are also taxed in Hong Kong after re-domiciliation, the Government will provide the company with unilateral tax credits to eliminate double taxation.
     
    Mr Hui pointed out that Hong Kong has a strong foundation in investment and trade, making it an ideal location for global enterprises to access insurance, reinsurance and risk management services, as well as to establish captive insurers. There are vast opportunities for insurance companies in Hong Kong. 
     
    At noon, Mr Hui attended a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto), Invest Hong Kong (Canada) and the National Club. He gave a presentation themed “Hong Kong as an anchor of stability amid the changing world” to showcase to the attending financial leaders the stellar figures recorded in the financial market, and banking and monetary markets. He also talked about the Government’s efforts in aligning with international standards and boosting the development of green and sustainable finance and the virtual asset market. He said that, with its competitive advantages and proactive measures, as well as the stability and predictability of its financial market, Hong Kong has been earning the confidence of global investors. Mr Hui also had a fireside chat with the President of the National Club, Mr Arnie Guha, and answered questions from the floor. The luncheon was well received. Participants were attracted by the various new developments in Hong Kong’s financial markets introduced by Mr Hui.
     
    In the afternoon, Mr Hui met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), Mr Grant Vingoe, and OSC representatives. The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the OSC in mid-May to include Ontario of Canada in its list of acceptable inspection regimes for strengthening the regulatory collaboration and exchange of information between the two regulators. Both Mr Hui and Mr Vingoe agreed that in today’s shifting global landscape, collaboration with trusted allies would ensure capital markets remain robust and resilient.
     
    In the evening, Mr Hui had a dinner meeting with the President of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) (Toronto Chapter), Mr Joseph Chaung, and board members to brief them on the latest developments and future direction of Hong Kong’s financial market. The HKCBA has members in eight Canadian cities to foster bilateral trade.
     
    Mr Hui also paid a courtesy call to the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong. Both expressed their anticipation that Hong Kong, with the support of the nation and its solid foundation and forward-looking measures in financial areas, will engage in more co-operation with Canada.
     
    On May 28 (Toronto Time), Mr Hui will travel to Ottawa to meet with government financial officials.
    Issued at HKT 12:26

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI China: Full text: Remarks by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit

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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday addressed the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    The following is the full text of his remarks at the summit:

    Remarks by H.E. Li Qiang

    Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

    At the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit

    Kuala Lumpur, May 27, 2025

    Your Honorable Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim,

    Your Highness Crown Prince Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah,

    Colleagues,

    It gives me great pleasure to join you in Kuala Lumpur. First of all, the Chinese side would like to extend sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his vision in proposing the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit. We also wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the Malaysian government for the dedicated efforts and thoughtful arrangements made for the summit.

    China, ASEAN and GCC countries have a long history of friendly interactions, with exchanges and cooperation between us spanning thousands of years from the ancient Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative. Today, against a volatile international landscape and sluggish global growth, the establishment of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit creates a platform for exchanges and a mechanism for cooperation. It is a groundbreaking initiative in regional economic cooperation that has carried forward the legacy of history, and more importantly, answered the call of the times. If we take a look at the world map and draw a line between China, ASEAN and the GCC, we will get a big triangle. As we know, triangle is the most stable structure. By enhancing connectivity and cooperation, we can pool our resources, production capacity and markets to foster a vibrant economic circle and growth pole. This is highly important both to our respective economic prosperity and to peace and development in Asia and the world. We should firmly seize this historic opportunity to enrich the trilateral cooperation, and set a fine example for global cooperation and development in this era.

    First, we should set a fine example of opening up across regions. Together, China, ASEAN and the GCC account for roughly a quarter of the world’s population and economic output. Our markets, if fully connected, will generate even greater space for development and more substantial economies of scale. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 upgrade negotiations have been fully concluded. It is hoped that the negotiations for the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement can also be concluded as early as possible to take trilateral trade to a higher level. We should firmly expand regional opening up, and develop a big market with more efficient mobility of resources, technologies and talents and enhanced trade and investment liberalization and facilitation to fully unlock the huge potential of open development.

    Second, we should set a fine example of cooperation across development stages. Countries of the three sides are at different stages of development, yet we should not let these differences stand in the way of our cooperation, but transform them into complementary strengths that we can harness. China is ready to, on the basis of mutual respect and equality, work with ASEAN and the GCC to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, increase macro policy coordination, and deepen collaboration on industrial specialization. We should make efforts to turn our respective strengths into collective strengths, and help each other tackle development challenges. We should create a new model of international industrial and economic cooperation, and strive for coordinated development where everyone does its level best, efficiency is multiplied, and benefits are shared.

    Third, we should set a fine example of inter-civilization integration. Countries of the three sides have diverse civilizations. At the same time, we all belong to the same Asian family and share the same Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness. We should deepen people-to-people exchanges to further consolidate the foundation for mutual trust. We should effectively manage differences in the spirit of mutual understanding, advance win-win cooperation through the exchange of ideas, and explore a new way for promoting the inclusiveness and common progress of different civilizations. China actively supports Prime Minister Anwar’s initiative on Islam-Confucianism dialogue. We are ready to work with ASEAN and the GCC to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and pool more consensus and strengths for peace and development.

    Today, we have established the trilateral cooperation mechanism and drawn up a promising vision of joint development. What’s more important now is for all sides to take concrete actions and advance substantive cooperation.

    Between our three sides, we should work together to promote cooperation in key areas and achieve more effective common development. China is ready to discuss with ASEAN and the GCC a trilateral action plan on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We should enhance synergy and connectivity in infrastructure, market rules and payment systems, actively consider establishing a regional business council, deepen economic integration, and make development more resilient and efficient. While expanding cooperation in traditional areas such as energy and agriculture, we also need to step up cooperation in emerging areas such as AI, the digital economy, and green and low-carbon development to foster and cultivate new growth drivers. We should also respond to our people’s aspiration for enduring friendship, and deepen people-to-people exchanges. To promote travels and people-to-people bond between the three sides, China has decided to roll out an “ASEAN visa” for Southeast Asian countries offering five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible applicants for business and other purposes, and to extend unilateral visa-free policy to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain on a trial basis, which will effectively give visa-free status to all GCC countries.

    At the global level, we should always stand on the right side of history and add more positive energy to world peace and development. We should pursue equal, mutually beneficial, open, inclusive, practical and efficient cooperation, and, through our example, encourage the international community to uphold multilateralism and free trade and reject unilateralism and protectionism. China will work with ASEAN and GCC countries to step up communication and coordination in multilateral mechanisms including the United Nations, vigorously defend the common interests of developing countries, categorically oppose hegemonism and power politics, and make global governance more just and equitable.

    As President Xi Jinping noted, “For us to break through the mist and embrace a bright future, the biggest strength comes from cooperation, and the most effective way is through solidarity.” China will join ASEAN and the GCC in fostering synergies that multiply rather than simply add our individual strengths, and inject strong impetus into our common development and prosperity. I am confident that through our concerted efforts, trilateral cooperation will continue to produce positive results and deliver more benefits to our people, thereby making greater contributions to peace and development in Asia and the world.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Full Text: Speech by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum

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

    Full Text: Speech by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council) Economic Forum 2025.

    The following is the full text of the speech:

    Speech by H.E. Li Qiang

    Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

    At the Opening Ceremony of The ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum

    Kuala Lumpur, May 27, 2025

    Your Honorable Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim,

    Distinguished Guests,

    Business Leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    It gives me great pleasure to join you in Kuala Lumpur for the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum.

    The ASEAN-China-GCC Summit is successfully held today. We have agreed to strengthen our trilateral partnership and ushered in a new chapter of trilateral cooperation. The leaders of participating countries have had in-depth discussions under the theme of “Synergizing Economic Opportunities Toward Shared Prosperity.” It is widely agreed that profound and complex transformations are taking place in the global political and economic landscape, the common challenges countries face in their development are increasing, and the scarcity of development opportunities makes them all the more precious, increases the urgency of cooperation, and calls for more vision. In this context, our discussions are highly relevant and should involve all related sectors, particularly the business community, so as to pool wisdom and build consensus among more stakeholders. Let me take this opportunity to share with you three observations.

    First, given everything that is going on, opportunities can be created if we join hands to meet the challenges. At present, economic globalization is suffering heavy blows never seen before. The values we pursue all along, such as peace, development and win-win cooperation, are severely challenged. Properly addressing these issues will bring significant opportunities for the countries of our three sides. Amid heightened geopolitical conflict, rivalry and confrontation, we can create long-term strategic opportunities when we deepen mutual trust and strengthen solidarity. The rapid development of Asia in the past decades offers a profound lesson: Only solidarity, mutual trust, peace and stability can bring development and prosperity. All countries are part of a close-knit community with a shared future. In the absence of mutual trust, problems may be amplified and cooperation becomes impossible. Yet with solidarity and mutual trust, we can render each other strategic support and cultivate broader and more sustainable high-standard economic cooperation, thus ensuring long-term, steady development. Amid rising protectionism and unilateralism, we can unleash enormous market opportunities when we continue to open wider and remove barriers. Countries of our three sides have all benefited from economic globalization and gained great development opportunities from integration into the world market. Our markets, when connected, will form one of the world’s largest intra-regional markets and produce a multiplier effect. Building the big market will allow our countries to reap and share more benefits. Amid more decoupling practice, supply-chain disruptions and trade barriers, we can create opportunities for transformation and upgrading when we keep sharing resources and empowering one another. Countries vary in resource endowments and industrial structure. They bring different strengths to and gain from international industrial cooperation. This will maximize the use of resources, and boost industrial performance and sustained development for all who take part.

    Second, the friendly cooperation between China, ASEAN and GCC countries has a long history and a bright future. More than 2,000 years ago, the earliest camel caravan from China reached the Middle East, and the first Chinese fleet landed in Nanyang (Southeast Asia). Ever since then, trade and people-to-people exchanges have connected us throughout over 20 centuries, strengthening and flourishing over time. These rich historical links will ensure even more successes in our future cooperation. Together, we will find greater potential for development. We are about a quarter of the world’s population and the global economy, but only about 5 percent of global trade. A lot remains untapped. As we deepen our cooperation, our trade and investment will grow continuously and uplift our nations as well as our businesses. Together, our economies will work more efficiently. When factors of production move more easily between our countries and our industries are connected more closely, the cost of energy and other resources will go down, logistics will be faster, financial services will be more efficient, and more advanced technologies will give us strong impetus. The competitiveness and resilience of our economies will grow substantially, and our development will be more efficient and secure. Together, we will create more dynamic ecosystems of innovation. We are all outstanding innovators, each excelling in our own ways. Greater cooperation will enable our innovative talents to better learn from and complement one another, and provide first-class R&D support and rich application scenarios for innovation and creation to sow the seeds for more new industries and new forms of business. This will allow us all to stand taller in the global landscape of innovation.

    The future of our trilateral cooperation is boundless like the oceans. It is upon us to take real actions in order to steer and shape it. China stands ready to work with ASEAN and GCC countries to strengthen alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation on regional integration, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. At the same time, we must firmly uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and stand for a stable and orderly global market environment. As the ongoing scientific revolution and industrial transformation unfold, let us join hands to seize the early opportunities, expand high-tech cooperation, safeguard the stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains, and keep breaking new ground in our common development.

    Third, with its high-quality development, China will consistently inject new impetus into the trilateral cooperation. In terms of development momentum, the Chinese economy has been growing steadily since the beginning of this year. With a year-on-year GDP growth of 5.4 percent in the first quarter, China is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. In the first four months of this year, we’ve seen strong development in the industrial sector, resilient export despite external pressure, and sustained expansion of new growth drivers. The figures speak for themselves: The added value of industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 6.4 percent year-on-year; export increased by 7.5 percent compared with the same period last year; the added value of high-tech manufacturing and the investment in high-tech services went up by 9.8 percent and 11.3 percent year-on-year respectively; and production and sales of new energy vehicles both exceeded four million. Smart factories now cover more than 80 percent of the manufacturing sectors. These achievements speak volumes about the great stability of the Chinese economy. As President Xi Jinping said, the Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean. This vast ocean can withstand fierce winds and heavy rains. Each storm weathered only deepens its resilience and makes it more open and inclusive.

    In terms of macro policies, facing risks and challenges from the external environment, we made clear that more proactive and effective macro policies will be implemented and that a more proactive fiscal policy and an appropriately accommodative monetary policy will be adopted. Fiscal expenditures hit a record high and the regulation of monetary and financial aggregates has been significantly strengthened, providing a strong underpinning for the expansion of aggregate demand. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen counter-cyclical adjustments in light of the changing circumstances. Whatever challenges lie ahead in the future, we have the capability and confidence to maintain the steady and long-term development of the Chinese economy.

    In terms of strategic goals, China is a super-sized economy that enjoys the unique strength of major economies, i.e., domestic demand is the main driver and domestic circulation is possible. We are increasingly placing our strategic priority on expanding domestic demand and strengthening domestic circulation with a view to enhancing the internal driving force of the Chinese economy. We have accelerated efforts to implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand and have launched special initiatives to boost consumption. As more policy resources are given to consumption, a huge demand potential will be unleashed. We are also further deepening reform comprehensively and accelerating the high-end, smart and green industrial transformation, which will create new, additional demand. The Chinese economy is of great breadth and depth, which can provide a huge market for quality products from all over the world. We will stay committed to expanding high-standard opening up, take more measures to advance voluntary and unilateral opening up, and enable domestic and international circulations to reinforce each other, so that companies across the world, including those from ASEAN and GCC countries, can fully share in the opportunity of China’s development.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Friends,

    Cooperation is the only right way to overcome common challenges. China stands ready to work together with ASEAN and GCC countries to embrace greater openness and cooperation, promote steady economic growth, and join hands to synergize economic opportunities toward shared prosperity. Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News

  • Foreign Secretary Misri in US to strengthen strategic tech and trade ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with US Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler in Washington on Tuesday to discuss convening the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue at an early date and to explore deeper cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.

    The meeting is seen as a step forward in bolstering high-level collaboration between India and the United States in strategically vital sectors. Discussions focused on reinforcing existing institutional frameworks and accelerating joint initiatives in technology and trade.

    The Indian Embassy in Washington posted on X, stating, “Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler to advance India-US cooperation in critical & emerging technologies. They also discussed early convening of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue to deepen tech & trade collaboration.”

    Misri is currently on a three-day visit to the US, during which he will engage with senior members of the Trump administration. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit follows up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official trip to the US in February 2025.

    That visit marked the launch of the ‘India-US COMPACT’—Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology—a strategic framework introduced by PM Modi and US President Donald Trump to expand collaboration in defense, trade, and technology.

    It was Modi’s first trip to the US since Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025. He was among the first world leaders invited by the new administration, visiting within three weeks of the swearing-in.

    The visit also comes amid President Trump’s recent remarks claiming credit for mediating a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan earlier this month. However, Indian officials have strongly refuted the claim.

    New Delhi maintains that the ceasefire came about due to Pakistan’s appeals following intense Indian military operations during Operation Sindoor, which targeted Pakistani air bases. Officials have underscored that the pressure from India’s offensive left Islamabad with little choice but to seek de-escalation.

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified last week that while the US had reached out to India between May 7 and 10, it was not acting alone, and multiple countries had engaged with New Delhi during the period.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Premier vows to strengthen alignment of ASEAN, GCC strategies for common development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to continuously open up new prospects for common development.

    Li Qiang made the remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum 2025.

    The successful holding of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit opened a new chapter in trilateral cooperation, the Premier said, adding that the summit held in-depth discussions on the theme of “jointly creating opportunities, sharing prosperity”, which were of great significance.

    The head of the Chinese government noted that in the modern world, jointly overcoming challenges is equivalent to creating new opportunities.

    According to Li Qiang, in the face of intensifying geopolitical conflicts and confrontation, a firm commitment to deepening mutual trust and strengthening unity can create long-term strategic opportunities and ensure sustainable and stable development.

    In the face of rising protectionism and unilateralism, a firm commitment to expanding openness and removing barriers can open up broad market opportunities and allow all countries to reap greater benefits from jointly building a large market, the premier stressed.

    In the face of the growing trend towards “decoupling and decoupling” and “erecting walls and barriers,” he continued, a strong commitment to resource sharing and mutual strengthening of capabilities can create opportunities for upgrading and transformation, improving industrial efficiency and enhancing the sustainable development dynamics of all countries.

    Li Qiang noted that the friendly cooperation between China, ASEAN and GCC countries has a long history and deep roots.

    Based on such a solid historical foundation, the trilateral cooperation will definitely bring new achievements and its prospects will become even more promising, Li Qiang said, stressing that the three sides will have more space for development, higher economic efficiency and a more vibrant innovation ecosystem.

    China is willing to work with ASEAN and GCC countries to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen regional integration, firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, maintain the stable and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, and continuously open up new prospects for common development, the premier added.

    Li Qiang stressed that China will continuously inject new impetus into trilateral cooperation through its own high-quality development.

    Speaking about the development trend, he noted that since the beginning of this year, China’s economy has continued to recover and improve continuously, fully demonstrating strong resilience.

    Li Qiang quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping as saying that “the Chinese economy is a vast ocean, not a small pond.” The premier said the ocean can withstand fierce storms and emerge even deeper and more massive, more inclusive and more open after the storm subsides.

    Noting that China has clearly articulated a proactive macroeconomic policy orientation and intends to further strengthen counter-cyclical adjustments, Li Qiang said the Chinese government and people have the ability and confidence to maintain a steady and long-term course for the “big ship” of the Chinese economy despite all possible challenges in the future.

    At the same time, in strategic terms, he specified, China will focus more on expanding domestic demand and strengthening domestic economic circulation, constantly strengthening the internal driving forces of its economy.

    Li Qiang stressed that China also plans to resolutely and steadily expand high-level opening-up and promote mutual strengthening of domestic and international economic circulation, so that enterprises from ASEAN and GCC member countries and the rest of the world can seize the opportunities brought by China’s development.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the forum, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, for his part, emphasized that the adoption of a joint statement following the first ASEAN-China-GCC summit sent a strong signal to the world about the commitment of the three parties to unity and cooperation.

    As the head of the Malaysian government pointed out, China is an important partner for ASEAN and GCC countries, playing an important role in promoting economic development, maintaining peace and stability, and upholding international fairness and justice.

    Anwar Ibrahim said ASEAN firmly adheres to the concept of independence and self-reliance and is committed to deepening partnership with China and the GCC members and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with them in areas such as economy, trade and investment, so as to make greater contributions to the prosperity and stability of the region and the world at large. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Equinor ASA: Execution of debt capital market transactions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    On Tuesday May 27, 2025 Equinor ASA (OSE:EQNR, NYSE:EQNR), guaranteed by Equinor Energy AS, executed the following debt capital market transactions:

    • Issue of USD 550 million 4.25% Notes due June 2, 2028
    • Issue of USD 400 million 4.50% Notes due September 3, 2030
    • Issue of USD 800 million 5.125% Notes due June 3, 2035

    The net proceeds from the issue of the Notes will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment or purchase of existing debt or other purposes described in the prospectus supplement for the issue of Notes. The transaction will increase the financial flexibility of the company.

    The offering is scheduled to close on June 3, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

    Any public offering in the United States is being made solely by means of a prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed by Equinor ASA and Equinor Energy AS, and previously declared effective.

    Further information from:

    Investor relations:
    Bård Glad Pedersen, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations,
    +47 918 01 791

    Press:
    Rikke Høistad Sjøberg, Media Relations,
    +47 901 01 451

    Finance:
    Sverre Serck-Hanssen, Vice President, Capital Markets,
    +47 951 68 342

    This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Equinor ASA nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement. The prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplement may be obtained by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may request these documents by calling (1) Barclays Capital Inc. at 1-888-603-5847, (2) BofA Securities, Inc. at 1-800-294-1322, (3) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. at 1-800-503-4611, (4) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at 1-866-471-2526, or (5) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533.

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

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: FRO – Grant of synthetic options

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Frontline plc (“Frontline” or the “Company”) hereby announces that 362,284 synthetic options have today been granted to management and employees of the Company. The synthetic options will have a five-year term expiring May 27, 2030, and will vest over a three-year vesting period as follows:

    • 1/3 of the synthetic options will vest on May 27, 2026
    • 1/3 of the synthetic options will vest on May 27, 2027
    • 1/3 of the synthetic options will vest on May 27, 2028

    The  exercise price of the synthetic options  is USD 16.8 being the volume-weighted average price of the share the last 30 days prior to grant. The exercise price will further be adjusted for any distribution of dividends made before the relevant synthetic options are exercised. The synthetic options granted to the CEO and the CFO are subject to a cap on maximum annual gain equal to two times the annual base salary at the time of exercise of the synthetic options.

    The synthetic options will be settled in cash based on the difference between the market price of the Company’s shares and the exercise price on the date of exercise.

    The synthetic options have been granted according to the rules of the Company’s synthetic option scheme approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. Please see the attached forms of notification of transactions by primary insiders for the synthetic options.

    May 27, 2025

    The Board of Directors
    Frontline plc
    Limassol, Cyprus

    This notification has been publicly disclosed in accordance with Article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: Girls with painful periods are twice as likely as their peers to have symptoms of anxiety or depression

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Subhadra Evans, Associate Professor, Psychology, Deakin University

    Shutterstock

    Around half of teenage girls experience moderate to severe period pain. The mechanical force of the uterus contracting and inflammatory chemicals such as prostaglandins contribute to this pain.

    Moderate to severe period pain has a significant impact on daily life. Girls with period pain are three to five times more likely than their peers to miss school or university, and two to five times more likely to miss out on social and physical activities.

    Our new research found girls with period pain reported higher levels of psychological distress as young adults, even after accounting for earlier mental health issues and socioeconomic factors.

    What comes first?

    Menstrual pain has been dismissed and under-treated. Women report there is a perception among some health-care providers that stress, anxiety, or depression cause their pain.

    However, participants in our lived experience research have told us that period pain leads to psychological distress. As one woman explained:

    mental health [is] used frequently by health professionals to diminish my symptoms and make me feel as though I have untreated mental health conditions that are the cause of my issues instead of my physical pain.

    Prior research suggests a bi-directional link between pain and mental health. A study of almost 15,00 adolescents with chronic pain found an increased risk of lifetime anxiety and depression. While our prior research on pelvic pain in adults showed psychological distress can worsen functional pain over time.

    Research exploring the relationship between mental health and pain in teens with period pain is limited, with the direction of the relationship still unclear.

    Take the example of Ruby, who represents a composite of clinical cases:

    Ruby was netball captain in Year 6 but painful periods led to her dropping out of the team in Year 8. By Year 10, she was socialising less with her friends. At 17, she felt like her mental health was deteriorating and was locked in a struggle with her own body. Ruby saw her GP and was told to take Nurofen and keep moving because anxiety and depression had caused chronic pain.

    While research has linked mental health and pain perception, we set out to determine the direction of this link: do mental health difficulties lead to period pain? Or does period pain contribute to mental health issues?

    Our new study

    We used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, also known as Growing Up in Australia, which has tracked the lives of 10,000 children and their families since 2004. We used data that tracked 1,600 girls who reported on their periods from age 14, 16 and 18.

    Parents reported symptoms of anxiety and depression when the girls were 14–16 years old. The young women self-reported these symptoms at age 18, and levels of psychological distress at age 20–21.

    This multi-stage study allowed us to look at how menstrual pain and mental health show up together and change over time during an important stage in young women’s lives.

    While conditions such as endometriosis (which causes tissue similar to that which lines the uterus to grow outside the uterus) can be associated with pelvic pain, including period pain, the survey didn’t ask participants about endometriosis or pain-related diagnoses. So this didn’t form part of our study.

    Around half of the participants experienced moderate to severe period pain.

    We found girls who had painful periods were much more likely to also have symptoms of anxiety and depression at ages 14, 16 and 18 compared to those who did not have painful periods.

    At age 14, adolescents who experienced painful periods were around twice as likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression, compared to their peers who said their periods were not painful, or only a little painful.

    These adolescents also reported higher levels of psychological distress as young adults, even after accounting for earlier mental health issues and socioeconomic factors.

    Adolescents who reported period pain throughout their teens were more likely to experience “moderate” psychological distress in early adulthood. In contrast, adolescents who did not have period pain were more likely to experience “mild” psychological distress in early adulthood.

    Importantly, we showed that period pain often comes before mental health issues develop – not the other way around. This suggests period pain could be a risk factor for future mental health problems.

    The findings underscore the importance of identifying adolescents who are experiencing period pain. Many adolescents believe period pain is something they just have to put up with, and don’t seek help.

    What can be done about period pain?

    We recommend treating period pain early with a variety of options.

    First-line period pain management includes:

    • anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, which are available over the counter
    • seeing your GP to discuss hormonal therapies, such as the oral contraceptive pill.

    Additional strategies to manage period pain can include:

    Improved menstrual education is needed to ensure teens can recognise when their menstrual experience is unusual, and know where they can access support.

    Some programs provide menstrual education across schools and community groups. This education should be extended to families and school health and wellbeing support staff to facilitate early recognition and intervention.

    Finally, further research is needed to confirm whether addressing period pain promptly reduces the risk of longer-term mental health symptoms.

    Subhadra Evans receives funding from the Australian Government.

    Antonina Mikocka-Walus receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

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

    ref. Girls with painful periods are twice as likely as their peers to have symptoms of anxiety or depression – https://theconversation.com/girls-with-painful-periods-are-twice-as-likely-as-their-peers-to-have-symptoms-of-anxiety-or-depression-256232

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: FormFactor Named #1 Global Supplier in Test Subsystems and Focused Chip Making Equipment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIVERMORE, Calif., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), a leading semiconductor test and measurement supplier, has been named the #1 global supplier in both the Test Subsystems and Focused Chip Making Equipment categories in TechInsights’ 2025 global semiconductor industry customer satisfaction survey. The company earned five-star ratings in multiple categories, including:

    • Global #1 – Test Subsystems
    • Global #1 – Focused Suppliers of Chip Making Equipment
    • Global Semiconductor Supplier Award – Top 10 Customer Service (Focused Suppliers of Chip Making Equipment)
    • Global Semiconductor Supplier Award – Assembly Test Equipment

    Each year, TechInsights surveys semiconductor manufacturers worldwide to rate suppliers based on three key criteria: supplier performance, customer service, and product performance. This marks twelve consecutive years that FormFactor has been recognized in the Test Subsystems category, which includes probe cards, test sockets, and device interface boards.

    “Customers consistently give FormFactor high rankings for quality and technology leadership,” said G. Dan Hutcheson, Vice Chair, TechInsights. “In multiple categories, FormFactor continues to stand out as a Five Star supplier.”

    “We are honored to be recognized by our customers as both the top Focused Supplier of Chip Making Equipment and the top supplier of Test Subsystems worldwide. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our worldwide team, as we strive to continuously improve our customer collaboration and support, guided by our core FORM value of Focus on the Customer,” said FormFactor CEO Mike Slessor. “As semiconductor test and measurement complexity increases, driven by rapid advances in areas like advanced packaging and AI-driven applications such as High-Bandwidth Memory, our commitment to technology leadership, quality, and execution remains steadfast. These awards reflect our continued investment in helping customers solve their toughest test challenges through world-leading collaboration, innovation, and support.”

    About TechInsights
    TechInsights is the most trusted source of actionable, in-depth intelligence related to semiconductor innovation and surrounding markets. Our content informs decision makers and professionals whose successes depend on accurate knowledge of the semiconductor industry – past, present, or future. Our unmatched reverse engineering analysis, images, and expert commentary are accessed through the TechInsights Platform, the world’s largest research library of semiconductor and market analysis. Our customers include the most successful technology companies, who rely on our analysis to make informed business decisions faster and with greater confidence.

    About FormFactor
    FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full IC life cycle – from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design debug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The Company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.formfactor.com.

    Trade Contact
    Aasutosh Dave
    Chief Commercial Officer
    aasutosh.dave@formfactor.com

    Investor Contact
    Stan Finkelstein
    Investor Relations
    (925) 290-4273
    ir@formfactor.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Philip R. Lane: Interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

    Source: European Central Bank

    Interview with Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, conducted by Christian Siedenbiedel on 20 May 2025

    27 May 2025

    Mr Lane, inflation rates in the euro area have fallen sharply since autumn 2022. Has inflation been beaten?

    As you say, inflation rates were temporarily above 10 per cent in 2022. Over the past two years, we have focused on bringing inflation back down to 2 per cent. This task has now mostly been completed. I am saying “mostly” because some final steps still need to be taken. For example, services inflation is still too high. But we expect it to decline in the coming months, as we think wage inflation is coming down. So the disinflation from the high inflation of 2022 is on track – but unfortunately new challenges are emerging.

    Over what time frame are you expecting the inflation rate to sustainably meet the ECB’s 2 per cent target?

    Recently, the inflation rate in the euro area stood at 2.2 per cent, which isn’t so far from our 2 per cent target. I believe that the inflation rate will remain in a zone close to 2 per cent in the coming months. But part of your question is about whether this will be on a sustained basis. And this is where we have to work out whether new challenges, in particular those to do with trade policy, could cause an inflation issue in either direction.

    Many people have the feeling that they are noticing inflation much more in the supermarket. What do you say to them?

    It is not unfounded. Food inflation remains well above 2 per cent – currently around 3 per cent. For unprocessed food, for example fruit and vegetables, it is even close to 5 per cent. So this perception is correct: “supermarket inflation” is higher than the general inflation rate. But this is offset by other developments, such as energy prices. Goods price inflation is also below the current headline inflation rate.

    How much is the reduction in inflation really down to the ECB – and to what extent is it simply a consequence of the sharp rise and subsequent fall in energy prices?

    This time is different from the 1970s. At that time, many central banks didn’t manage to convince people that inflation would fall again – although the Bundesbank did better than others. People expected inflation to remain high. This time around we made it clear that the ECB would deliver on price stability. Through our monetary policy, we have prevented double-digit inflation from getting entrenched. So we played our part and ensured that this period of high inflation remained temporary. Due to our intervention, fluctuations in energy prices have not led to a permanent surge in inflation.

    What impact do you expect Donald Trump’s tariffs to have on inflation in the euro area?

    This has been the subject of intense debate since the election in November. Several factors play a role: first, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the euro. Many expected that tariffs would weaken the euro. So far, however, the opposite has occurred. Second, the tariffs have an impact on global economic growth; the slowdown has pushed down oil and gas prices, and this was not in the initial discussion but is proving important. And third, with respect to trade between the United States and China, China is likely to export less to the United States and more to Europe. So there are a number of factors that could lead to lower inflation in the euro area. But we also have to keep in mind that we don’t know the outcome of the negotiations between the EU and the United States.

    At this point, is it possible to predict what’s ultimately going to happen?

    The outcome is still quite open at the moment. For the time being, there are some factors that tend to support a drop in euro area inflation. However, the picture could shift if, for example, the negotiations between the EU and the United States fail, with the United States imposing higher tariffs and the EU implementing counter tariffs. Supply chains could also be disrupted – this could drive up inflation.

    Are there differences between short-term and long-term effects?

    I would actually distinguish between three time horizons: short term, medium term and long term. In the coming months, in other words for the remainder of 2025, the inflation rate is expected to be close to target. Over the medium term, the impact of US tariffs on inflation could materialise, including through the exchange rate and energy prices. Looking further ahead to the long term, analysts and financial markets are reasonably confident that inflation will return to the ECB’s target. The main focus of the ECB’s monetary policy is on the medium-term horizon: that is to say, one or two years ahead.

    Is there any reason to be concerned that people’s inflation expectations could rise more quickly again because the experience of very high inflation is still so recent?

    As a directional statement, I agree. Before the pandemic, many were convinced inflation would stay very low. The high inflation episode was a painful reminder that inflation can arise. But such a combination of extraordinary events – the pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine – is very rare. The more concrete question for us is: could a world of shocks relating to structural changes – arising from challenges to globalisation, increased automation, changing demography – push inflation noticeably below or above 2 per cent, and how responsive will inflation expectations be? Part of our job will be to make sure expectations remain anchored, that people have the reassurance that if inflation moves away from 2 per cent we will bring it back.

    What impact do the current labour shortages and low unemployment have on inflation?

    There is certainly a difference compared with the pre-pandemic period. That’s why I don’t think we will return to inflation rates that are as low as they were back then. When unemployment is low, firms and employees are more likely to settle on wage increases – perhaps around 3 per cent on average in the euro area. This is a normalisation and, allowing for rising labour productivity, makes our 2 per cent target more credible. But I do not see any signs of a wage-price spiral at present, and this also applies to Germany.

    In Belgium, wages are, in part, directly bound to inflation. Has that added to inflation there?

    During the period of high inflation, wages rose rapidly in Belgium but, as inflation fell, wage growth slowed down quickly again. In Germany, there was a different pattern: it took longer for wages to go up. But there is no major difference when looking at the average over three to five years.

    Do you think it is possible that the new protectionism will lead to deglobalisation in the longer term, resulting in structurally higher inflation rates?

    It is important to differentiate between temporary and permanent effects. For many firms the business model is connected to globalisation. A phase of deglobalisation could initially dampen economic growth, which would make it more likely that inflation rates would fall. Following that transition, inflation and its volatility could increase as the offsetting effect of favourable imports fades. It could mean that, as a central bank, we have to be more active in our policy responses to return inflation to 2 per cent over the medium term.

    The Federal Reserve fears that US tariffs could lead to transitory, i.e. temporary, inflation. Would it leave inflation in the euro area unaffected if US rates rise?

    The world needs the Federal Reserve to maintain price stability for the United States. If this means high US interest rates, it can lead to a stronger dollar and thereby somewhat higher inflation for Europe in the short term. In the medium term, however, high US interest rates mostly hold back the global economy – which tends to lead to lower inflation in the euro area. There are always some spillover effects.

    What does all this mean for the ECB’s interest rate policy?

    We need to find a middle path. If we keep interest rates too high for too long, the disinflation pressure of US tariffs could cause inflation rates to fall below our target. If we cut too much and too quickly, a strengthening economy and other factors could drive inflation back up. This is why we will pay close attention to the data in our next meetings. If we see signs of further falling inflation, we will respond with further interest rate cuts – but the range of discussion is not that wide: no one is talking about dramatic rate cuts. We are in a zone of normal central banking.

    Are the key ECB interest rates now in the neutral range?

    The neutral interest rate can only be estimated and it is a long-term concept. In the long term, the neutral interest rate could be around where we are now. But the world is not in equilibrium and the appropriate interest rate may be different in the short term. I would differentiate between the three policy rate zones: a clearly restrictive one with rates say in the high twos or above; and a clearly accommodative one – for the sake of discussion, say rates below 1.5 per cent are clearly accommodative. Going there would only be appropriate in the event of more substantial downside risks to inflation, or a more significant slowdown in the economy. I do not see that at the moment. And there is a zone in between, where it is more of a question of cyclical management. We are navigating in that zone at the moment. This is the focus of the discussions at the ECB.

    Can the ECB be indifferent to exchange rate developments when there is a sharp depreciation of the dollar, like at the moment? Unlike the Bundesbank in the past, you aren’t pursuing an official exchange rate policy…

    The exchange rate is of course an important factor in the development of inflation, even if we do not pursue an explicit exchange rate policy. However, most trade in the euro area takes place between countries sharing the euro as a common currency and, therefore, the exchange rate does not play a role. Trade with the United States and other regions of the world is important but it’s not the dominant factor. At the same time, we need to look at the impact of exchange rate shifts in a situation like we have now.

    Do you think that the euro could replace the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency as a consequence of the unreliable economic policies of the United States?

    I think the question whether the euro should overtake the US dollar is not so important. I can imagine that the euro will become more important as a reserve currency in the current situation. In the first decade of the euro, there was an optimism that we would no longer live in a world with a single world currency, the dollar. Now, the United States is facing all kinds of questions about its role in the world economy. The natural second currency is the euro. It is well placed to gain a bigger share of the market. This could be supported by further European integration – to put the euro on a firmer foundation.

    In your estimation, how great is the risk that we will now see more frequent waves of inflation, like those seen recently?

    The specific circumstances of the last wave of inflation will probably not be repeated quickly. Something like that occurs at most every few decades. Nevertheless, I also consider very low inflation rates, like those before the pandemic, to be unlikely in the current circumstances where there are so many upheavals and changes. There could be more external shocks and fluctuations in inflation rates than in the past. That means that we have an important job to do at the ECB. We may need to become even more active than before in adjusting our policy to the incoming shocks.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members agree on 2025 chairpersons for subsidiary bodies of Goods Council

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Committee on Agriculture

    Mr Diego ALFIERI (Brazil)

    Committee on Anti-dumping Practices

    Mr Hirokazu WATANABE (Japan)

    Committee on Customs Valuation

    Ms Judith Yu-ying KUO (Chinese Taipei)

    Committee on Import Licensing

    Mr Tiago SERRAS RODRIGUES (Portugal)

    Committee on Market Access

    Mr Ninad DESHPANDE (India)

    Committee on Rules of Origin

    Ms Carol TSANG (Hong Kong, China)

    Committee on Safeguards

    Mrs Milagros MIRANDA ROJAS (Peru)

    Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

    Mrs Maria COSME (France)

    Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures

    Mr Jungsoo HUR (Korea, Republic of)

    Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

    Ms Beatriz STEVENS (United Kingdom)

    Committee on Trade Facilitation

    Mr Edem KOSSI (Togo)

    Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures

    Ms Maryam Abdulaziz ALDOSERI
    (Kingdom of Bahrain)

    Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products

    Mr George Andrei RUSU (Romania)

    Working Party on State Trading Enterprises

    Mr Sokheng KONG (Cambodia)

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Belarus’s foreign trade turnover of goods and services increased by 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025 — Belstat

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    MINSK, May 27 (Xinhua) — Belarus’ foreign trade turnover of goods and services for the period from January to March 2025 amounted to about 23.47 billion U.S. dollars, up 1.8 percent year-on-year, the Belarusian National Statistical Committee (Belstat) said on Tuesday.

    Exports of goods and services in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to about $11.42 billion, down 1.1 percent year-on-year. Imports of goods and services reached about $12.04 billion, up 4.6 percent year-on-year.

    The balance of foreign trade in goods and services of Belarus in January-March 2025 was negative – minus 625 million dollars. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Urgent clarification on Article 29 negotiations and the renewal of autonomous trade measures for Ukraine – E-001327/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is pursuing consultations with Ukraine to review the reciprocal tariff liberalisation under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement[1] in accordance with Article 29 of that Agreement.

    This review will lead to a well-balanced solution that will allow for reciprocal trade between the EU and Ukraine in agricultural goods, while at the same time protecting EU farmers and addressing interests flagged by some Member States and Members of the European Parliament.

    Furthermore, the Commission is proposing that the negotiated solution would also include a safeguard clause that would be triggered to prevent any adverse impacts of trade flows on the EU market, including one Member State.

    The Commission is working in view of having an outcome in place in time to provide a smooth transition after the expiry of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) Regulation[2]. If this is not achievable, the above-mentioned Association Agreement will provide a bridging solution.

    The Commission does not intend to propose the prolongation of the current ATMs  Regulation.

    • [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2014/295/oj.
    • [2]  OJ L, 2024/1392, 29.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1392/oj.
    Last updated: 27 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Uninformed comments on autism are resonant of dangerous ideas about eugenics

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Cornelia Schneider, Associate Professor of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health and human services secretary in the United States, held a recent news conference and made uninformed comments on autism. His remarks created an uproar, especially among people with autism and other disabilities.

    The news conference was related to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about autism.

    Among other comments, Kennedy Jr. said:

    “Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be
    suffering like this … And these are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”

    Earlier, during a cabinet meeting, he promised to find the cause of autism by September.




    Read more:
    If Trump puts RFK Jr in charge of health, get ready for a distorted reality, where global health suffers


    We are researchers whose combined focus covers the rights of people with disabilities in educational systems and the history of disability in medical discourse. One of us is a sibling (Cornelia) and the other a parent (Martha) to people with intellectual disabilities.

    These comments were deeply worrisome for us due to their resonance of dangerous ideas espoused during the eugenics movement.

    Origins of eugenics

    Eugenics is the belief that society can and should be “improved” through selective breeding. It is based on a pseudo-scientific ranking of humans in a racist and ableist hierachy that judges non-white and disabled people to be the least desirable.

    During the height of the movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, eugenics was promoted by scientists, physicians, politicians and clergy, authoritative voices who encouraged the “fittest” to reproduce while recommending that those people with “undesirable” physical or intellectual traits be removed from society. Part of achieving this goal meant people with disabilities were sterilized or institutionalized.

    Eugenics was applied in its most extreme form in Nazi Germany during the 1930s and ‘40s. Six million Jews, and millions more people, including an estimated 250,000 people with disabilities, were killed.

    A formal condemnation of Nazi actions in the form of the Nuremberg Trials fostered a popular backlash to these Nazi horrors after the Second World War, resulting in a global repudiation of eugenic ideas and a gradual phasing out of practices such as sterilization and institutionalization of people with disabilities.

    ‘Eugenic logic’ seen in many places

    However, Kennedy Jr.’s comments remind us that eugenic ideas are alive and well, including, but not exclusively, amid the radical right and tech-enabled ideas about a return to “strongman” values.

    Eugenics ideas exist in the form of what bioethicist and humanities scholar Rosemarie Garland-Thomson calls “eugenic logic.” This is the ongoing belief that erasing disability and people with disabilities is a desirable and common-sense objective.

    The power of eugenics logic surrounds us. It shapes immigration policy that penalizes disability. It means reproductive technologies and medical practices are used to eliminate certain conditions that cause disabilities.

    For example, recently, the Québec College of Physicians called for legislation to allow the euthanasia of severely disabled infants. This also affirms the views of popular but controversial philosopher Peter Singer, who argues that babies with disabilities lack qualities of personhood and therefore could be killed.

    Linking human value to ‘productivity’

    RFK Jr.’s eugenics ideas resonate strongly today. They square politically with neoliberalism to create a form of ableism that regards the individual citizen as “an able-bodied entrepreneurial entity.”

    Neoliberal ableism links human value to their capacity to work, to what disability studies scholars Dan Goodley and Rebecca Lawthom refer to the ability to “productively contribute … bounded and cut off from others, capable, malleable and compliant.”

    People with autism, and others who cannot serve society in this way, threaten the neoliberal order and capitalism. They are seen as a detriment to society.

    Autism organizations heavily criticized Kennedy Jr. for his portrayal of autistic people as incapable.

    However, some critics unwittingly reinforced his neoliberal and eugenic framing of human value. These critics rightly contradicted Kennedy Jr. by pointing out that many people with autism have capabilities that he denied them. However, focusing on those abilities gave support to the devaluation of people with autism — and others with disabilities — who do not possess them, and who cannot be independent or will never be “productive workers.”

    The social model of disability

    Uninformed comments about autism by people in official health leadership positions threatens to undo decades of work that led to remarkable gains for people with disabilities.

    The 1970s and ‘80s saw the development of what disability activists and scholars discuss as the social model of disability. This shifted the understanding of disability away from the “problem” of individuals’ physical/intellectual conditions. Disability is seen as a mismatch of the interactions between the impairment and the barriers it faces in the (social) environment.

    This important shift in how disability is understood rejected the notion that disability is a personal fault or flaw. For the first time, it paid attention to environmental, financial and attitudinal barriers. It allowed people with disabilities unprecedented access to education and other aspects of society.

    The progress made remains fragile.

    Important to push back

    All who value human diversity and the continued expansion of the rights of people with disabilities must push back against eugenics politics.

    Political parties and broader society must commit to full participation and belonging of all people with disabilities by continuing to remove physical, attitudinal and financial barriers.

    Accessibility legislation at the federal and provincial levels must be implemented and enforced. In Canada, this includes the re-establishment of a federal minister for disabilities, a post that previously existed as minister of diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities) but is lacking under the new Liberal government and its smaller cabinet.

    It means we need to heed the voices of disability advocates who have launched a court challenge against a key provision of Medical Assistance in Dying legislation. A recent version of this legislation accepts disability without a terminal condition as a reason to end life. As advocates recently told the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this implies that a disabled life is not worth living.




    Read more:
    A dangerous path: Why expanding access to medical assistance in dying keeps us up at night


    Lived experiences must inform decisions

    The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (signed by the U.S.; signed and ratified by Canada) lays out the key ideas that Kennedy Jr. appears to reject: “Disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers.”

    The lived experiences of the disability community must always be included in political decision-making.

    It’s our responsibility to uphold and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including those who require more intensive support.

    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. Uninformed comments on autism are resonant of dangerous ideas about eugenics – https://theconversation.com/uninformed-comments-on-autism-are-resonant-of-dangerous-ideas-about-eugenics-256762

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Farewell Remarks by CFTC Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero: The Future of Financial Services Regulation

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery 
    Thank you to Brookings for inviting me to give my farewell remarks as I depart from the Commission and retire from 23 years of federal service.  For the last time, I will give the disclaimer that my views are my own as a Commissioner and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission or my fellow Commissioners.
    I have been reflecting on my public service under four Presidents and today I am feeling nostalgic.  I have had such a good run.  I want to express my gratitude to so many.  First and foremost, I’m grateful to my wife and children.  I am grateful to President Biden and President Obama for believing and trusting in me with three Presidential nominations.  I’m grateful to those Senators in both parties who have actively supported me and unanimously confirmed me twice.  I am grateful to the leaders with which I have had the privilege to serve, including my fellow Commissioners.  I am also grateful to all my staff, the hundreds of people who have worked for me and put their trust in my leadership.
    Never could I have planned or envisioned such a meaningful and fulfilling career.  All I knew was that I was following my passion to make a difference in our financial system.  I have always wanted our financial system to serve everyone, not just powerful interests.  And along the way, I learned from each of the leaders I worked for—my SEC enforcement leaders, SEC Chairs Chris Cox and Mary Schapiro, and at Treasury, Neil Barofsky, the first Special Inspector General for TARP (or SIGTARP) before me.
    Never could I have imagined that my work would get the notice of President Obama who appointed me as the SIGTARP in 2012.  I can share that it was entirely daunting to be a 41-year-old career staffer sitting on the same Senate Banking confirmation panel with Jay Powell.  Of course, that meant that I did not get many questions.
    But don’t worry.  Senate Banking would make up for that this past summer when I got two plus hours of questions in my confirmation hearing for FDIC Chair.
    At SIGTARP, I was forged by fire, as were all of us who worked to strengthen the financial system in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.  Former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair supported me for FDIC Chair this summer drawing on the work that we did during the financial crisis.  Last year, I was at Treasury and ran into former Secretary Paulson who remembered me and said, “Those were the days.  Look at what we did for the economy.”
    SIGTARP is also where I honed my leadership of white-collar law enforcement.  We worked closely with DOJ to bring justice and accountability to just about every major Wall Street financial institution and 465 criminal defendants.  This includes 76 bankers who courts sentenced to prison for crisis-related crimes.
    I continue to feel tremendous affection and gratitude to all those who served at SIGTARP as I learned invaluable lessons about how to lead an organization. SIGTARP is where I found my voice and the courage to speak truth to power.  It was a necessity when testifying before Congress and meeting with Treasury Secretaries, the Federal Reserve Chair, the FDIC Chair, and Attorneys General.
    As SIGTARP was winding down, I was fortunate to be contacted by several Senators and President Biden’s White House about a possible next appointment.  Various financial regulators were discussed.
    I raised the possibility of the CFTC.  First, I had always enjoyed being a market regulator.  Second, I was interested in climate-related financial issues, and the Chairman had sponsored a climate report and was speaking a lot on climate issues.  Third, the CFTC was the only regulator of cryptocurrency trading, and I had been teaching cryptocurrency regulation at two law schools.  As a Commissioner, I was pleased to prioritize all three of these areas, broadening crypto out to technology, as I sponsored the Technology Advisory Committee.
    The accomplishment that I am most proud about in my tenure is that derivatives markets worked well, that they remained resilient, vibrant, and had integrity.  Since my testimony at my CFTC confirmation hearing in 2022, I have always said that ensuring that markets worked well would be my highest priority.  This was so critical because the markets the CFTC regulates tie directly to the economy. That tie is something that I have had the privilege to see firsthand.  What incredible experiences I have had to get out of Washington and go on agriculture tours and energy tours, to meet with people who are feeding and fueling our world. To truly understand the way markets work, you have to engage with those who rely on the markets and who need them the most.
    I’m also proud of the Technology Advisory Committee for its work on future of finance issues.  I’m grateful to the Committee members who we picked because they are well regarded experts in cryptocurrency, stablecoins, blockchain, AI, cyber, and Fintech, and who come from all different viewpoints.  We held public forums, and the Committee issued two landmark reports, the first on Decentralized Finance, and the second on Responsible AI in Financial Markets.
    As I contemplate the future of financial services regulation, my thoughts keep returning to an area that I speak a lot about—promoting market resilience.  Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks.  U.S. markets and global markets have and will continue to experience periods of volatility and stress.
    I arrived at the Commission in early 2022, in a time of geopolitical uncertainty.  The economy was recovering from the pandemic, suffering supply chain disruption, and oil and gas markets were at record-high levels of volatility and prices after the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
    Fortunately, what I found was that the post-crisis reforms through the Dodd Frank Act, other regulations, and regulatory supervision, have built up resilience.  As a result, our markets have withstood significant stress and volatility, including last month.  Our economy has been better for it.
    As the current Administration pursues a deregulatory agenda in the name of growth, care should be taken not to remove the load-bearing resilience built into markets—resilience that has resulted in financial stability and protected our economy. Regulators should not have to sacrifice growth for financial stability.  These are not mutually exclusive goals.  Regulators should promote both.  Growth is important for markets.  Growth requires a regulatory environment where markets are financially stable and resilient during times of volatility, uncertainty, and stress.
    I am concerned about big swings between more regulation and deregulation with each change of party in the White House.  This leads to uncertainty in markets.  It would be better for our markets and financial system if regulators could follow a steady, consistent path.  That would create the foundation for a resilient, stable, and vibrant financial system and economy.
    It’s a really tough challenge—one that requires independent regulators engaging with each other on a bipartisan basis and engaging with many stakeholders who use and need U.S. markets.  I plan to continue to share my voice, and I will always be rooting for the CFTC.  After all, you can take the girl out of public service.  But you can’t take public service out of the girl.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: Buy $XDX Token Built On Ripple Blockchain As Token Sales Ends in About 24 Hours Before Listing On XRP Exchanges

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With only about a day remaining in the XenDex presale, investors are running out of time to secure $XDX tokens at presale pricing. The urgency is further amplified by Ripple’s reported acquisition of Circle (USDC issuer) and the launch of the XRPI Futures ETF by Volatility Shares, two monumental milestones signaling growing institutional interest in XRP.

    Buy $XDX Before Exchange Listing

    As XRP gains bullish momentum, XenDex is positioning itself as the XRP Ledger’s leading DeFi platform, and analysts predict a major price surge once $XDX lists on major exchanges.

    What is XenDex on XRP Blockchain?

    XenDex is the first all-in-one decentralized exchange (DEX) built natively on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The platform combines fast trading, low fees, and powerful DeFi features into one seamless interface optimized for both beginners and advanced users.

    Purchase XDX And Earn Rewards

    Features and Problems XenDex Solves on XRPL

    Despite XRP’s efficiency, the ecosystem has lacked true DeFi capabilities until now. XenDex introduces:

    • AI Copy Trading – Mirror trades from top-performing wallets
    • Lending & Borrowing – Lend and borrow crypto assets without intermediaries
    • Cross-Chain Trading – Swap XRP with tokens from other blockchains like Ethereum, BNB, Solana
    • DAO Governance – Vote on platform decisions using $XDX

    Why Should I Buy $XDX?

    Holding $XDX grants:

    • Governance rights
    • Fee discounts on trades, lending and borrowing
    • Staking and yield farming rewards
    • Access to exclusive airdrops and access to platform features

    Early adopters also stand to benefit from potential price appreciation post-listing.

    Where Can I Trade $XDX?

    After the presale, $XDX will list on: Binance, Gate.io, MEXC, BitMart, MagneticX, FirstLedger

    Is XenDex Legit?

    Purchase $XDX At Its Cheapest Price

    Yes. XenDex is built by experienced crypto-native developers from Cardano and SUI, and the platform is undergoing smart contract audits. Integrations with Xaman, XRP Toolkit, and Gitbook ensure a trusted foundation.

    How Do I Buy $XDX?

    For a full buying guide, visit: https://xdxdocs.gitbook.io/xendex/buy-usdxdx-token-presale

    XenDex Presale Details

    • Soft Cap: Reached
    • Hard Cap: Almost Filled
    • Rate: 1.25 XRP = 10 XDX
    • Minimum Buy: 150 XRP
    • Time Left: Only 1 Day Remaining

    Buy XDX Before Presale Ends: https://xendex.net/presale

    Join XenDex Community Below

    Website: https://xendex.net
    Presale: https://xendex.net/presale
    Telegram: https://t.me/xendexcommunity
    Twitter/X: https://x.com/xendex_xrp
    Docs: https://xdxdocs.gitbook.io

    Contact:
    Frank Richards
    Frank@xendex.net

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1691db6a-7b3a-46bb-a46f-e257d75f9dc6

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Premier Calls for Setting Model of Openness, Development Cooperation with ASEAN, GCC

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called on China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to strive to set a model for global cooperation and development featuring regional openness, cooperation among countries at different stages of development and integration of different civilizations.

    Li Qiang made the announcement at the first ASEAN-China-GCC summit in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

    The premier called on the three parties to create a model of inter-regional openness, noting that the combined population and economic strength of China, ASEAN and GCC countries account for about a quarter of the world’s total.

    According to him, the full connection of the three markets will undoubtedly provide much greater space for development and a more significant effect of scale.

    China and ASEAN have fully completed negotiations on upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) to version 3.0, Li Qiang recalled, adding that the FTA negotiations between various parties and the GCC are expected to be completed soon, thereby raising the level of trilateral trade.

    He called on the three parties to steadily expand regional opening-up and unite adjacent regions into a large common market where resources, technology and talent circulate more efficiently and trade and investment enjoy greater freedom and convenience, so as to give full play to the powerful effect of open development.

    The Chinese leader also called on the three sides to develop a model of cooperation at different stages of development, saying that although the three sides are at different stages of development, their differences do not hinder cooperation, but rather complement each other through their strengths.

    China, he said, is willing to deepen the alignment of development strategies with ASEAN and the GCC on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, strengthen coordination of macroeconomic policies and strengthen cooperation in industrial specialization.

    “We should strive to turn our own strengths into each other’s advantages, while helping each other overcome new challenges arising in the development process, create new paths for international industrial and economic cooperation, and promote coordinated development in which everyone’s capabilities can be fully unleashed and the benefits doubled and shared,” Li Qiang stressed.

    The Premier called on the three sides to create a model of inter-civilizational integration, noting that they are the cradles of vibrant civilizations and share the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness.

    Li Qiang said it is important to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and strengthen the foundation of mutual trust, and called on the three sides to effectively overcome differences through mutual understanding, develop mutually beneficial cooperation through the exchange of ideas, and seek a new path for the inclusive development of various civilizations.

    The Chinese side, he pointed out, actively supports the initiative of Confucian-Islamic inter-civilizational dialogue put forward by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

    China is willing to work with ASEAN and the GCC to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, promote mutual learning among civilizations, build greater consensus, and inject impetus into peace and development, Li added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Regulating AI seems like an impossible task, but ethically and economically, it’s a vital one

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jun Du, Professor of Economics, Centre Director of Centre for Business Prosperity (CBP), Aston University

    AlinStock/Shutterstock

    AI has already transformed industries and the way the world works. And its development has been so rapid that it can be hard to keep up. This means that those responsible for dealing with AI’s impact on issues such as safety, privacy and ethics must be equally speedy.

    But regulating such a fast-moving and complex sector is extremely difficult.

    At a summit in France in February 2025, world leaders struggled to agree on how to govern AI in a way that would be “safe, secure and trustworthy”. But regulation is something that directly affects everyday lives – from the confidentiality of medical records to the security of financial transactions.

    One recent example which highlights the tension between technological advancement and individual privacy is the ongoing dispute between the UK government and Apple. (The government wants the tech giant to provide access to encrypted user data stored in its cloud service, but Apple says this would be a breach of customers’ privacy.)

    It’s a delicate balance for all concerned. For businesses, particularly global ones, the challenge is about navigating a fragmented regulatory landscape while staying competitive. Governments need to ensure public safety while encouraging innovation and technological progress.

    That progress could be a key part of economic growth. Research suggests that AI is igniting an economic revolution – improving the performance of entire sectors.

    In healthcare for example, AI diagnostics have drastically reduced costs and saved lives. In finance, razor-sharp algorithms cut risks and help businesses to rake in profits.

    Logistics firms have benefited from streamlined supply chains, with delivery times and expenses slashed. In manufacturing, AI-driven automation has cranked up efficiency and cut wasteful errors.

    But as AI systems become ever more deeply embedded, the risks associated with their unchecked development increase.

    Data used in recruitment algorithms for instance, can unintentionally discriminate against certain groups, perpetuating social inequality. Automated credit-scoring systems can exclude people unfairly (and remove accountability).

    Issues like these can erode trust and bring ethical risks.

    A well-designed regulatory framework must mitigate these risks while ensuring that AI remains a tool for economic growth. Over-regulation could slow development and discourage investment, but inadequate oversight may lead to misuse or exploitation.

    International intelligence

    This dilemma is being treated differently across the world. The EU for example, has introduced one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks, prioritising transparency and accountability, especially in areas such as healthcare and employment.

    While robust, this approach risks slowing innovation and increasing compliance costs for businesses.

    In contrast, the US has avoided sweeping federal rules, opting instead for self-regulation in specific industries. This has led to rapid AI development, particularly in areas such as autonomous vehicles and financial technology. But it also leaves regulatory gaps and inconsistent oversight.

    AI has huge potential for healthcare.
    frank60/Shutterstock

    China meanwhile uses government-led regulation, prioritising national security and economic growth. This brings major state investment, driving advances in things such as facial recognition and surveillance systems, which are used extensively in train stations, airports and public buildings.

    These varying approaches demonstrate a lack of international agreement about AI. And they also pose significant challenges for businesses operating globally.

    Companies must now comply with multiple, sometimes conflicting AI regulations, leading to increased compliance costs and uncertainty.

    This fragmentation could slow down AI adoption as firms hesitate to invest in applications that could become non-compliant in some countries. A globally coordinated regulatory framework seems increasingly necessary to ensure fairness and promote responsible innovation without excessive constraints.

    Innovation vs regulation

    But again, achieving this kind of framework would not be easy. The impact of regulation on innovation is complex and involves careful trade-offs.

    Transparency, while essential for accountability, could mean sharing new technology, potentially eroding competitive advantages. Strict compliance requirements, crucial in industries such as healthcare and finance, can be counterproductive where rapid development is vital.

    Effective AI regulation should be dynamic, adaptive and globally harmonised, balancing ethical responsibilities with economic ambition. Companies that actively align with ethical AI standards are likely to benefit from improved consumer trust.

    For now, in the absence of global agreement, the UK has chosen a flexible approach, with guidelines set by independent bodies such as the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit. This model aims to attract investment and encourage innovation by offering clarity without overly rigid constraints.

    With a robust research ecosystem, world-class universities and a skilled workforce, the UK has a solid foundation for AI-driven economic growth. Continued investment in research, infrastructure and talent are essential.

    The UK must also stay proactive in shaping international AI standards. For achieving effective AI governance that is safe and trustworthy, will be key to securing its future as an engine of economic and social transformation.

    Jun Du is a member of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Economic Advisory Council, and part of BCC Global Britain Challenge Group; the Vice Chair of the Trade and Investment Panel for the International Chambers of Commerce, and advisor to the Midlands Engine Observatory Program Board and the Business Commission West Midlands Advisory Panel. Jun is a member of the Council of Experts of the UKRI-funded Innovation & Research Caucus, and part of the OECD Innovation Review Advisory Group.

    Cher Li is a member of the Council of Experts of the UKRI-funded Innovation & Research Caucus, and government Expert Peer Review Group (PRG). Her recent research projects have been funded by the ESRC and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

    Xingyi Liu has received funding from the Innovation & Research Caucus for his recent research.

    ref. Regulating AI seems like an impossible task, but ethically and economically, it’s a vital one – https://theconversation.com/regulating-ai-seems-like-an-impossible-task-but-ethically-and-economically-its-a-vital-one-250816

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • India records $81.04 billion FDI inflow in FY 2024–25, services sector leads with 40% growth

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India attracted a record USD 81.04 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the fiscal year 2024–25, up 14% from the previous year, driven by a liberalized policy regime and strong inflows into the services and manufacturing sectors, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said on Tuesday.

    The services sector emerged as the top recipient of FDI equity in FY 2024–25, attracting 19% of total inflows, followed by computer software and hardware (16%) and trading (8%). FDI into the services sector rose by 40.77%, reaching USD 9.35 billion, up from USD 6.64 billion in the previous year.

    India is also becoming a hub for manufacturing FDI, which grew by 18% in FY 2024–25, reaching USD 19.04 billion compared to USD 16.12 billion in FY 2023–24.

    Maharashtra accounted for the highest share (39%) of total FDI equity inflows in FY 2024–25, followed by Karnataka (13%) and Delhi (12%). Among source countries, Singapore led with a 30% share, followed by Mauritius (17%) and the United States (11%).

    Over the last eleven financial years (2014–25), India attracted FDI worth USD 748.78 billion, reflecting a 143% increase over the previous eleven years (2003–14), which saw USD 308.38 billion in inflows. This constitutes nearly 70% of the total USD 1,072.36 billion in FDI received over the past 25 years.

    Additionally, the number of source countries for FDI increased from 89 in FY 2013–14 to 112 in FY 2024–25, underscoring India’s growing global appeal as an investment destination.

    In the regulatory domain, the government has undertaken transformative reforms across multiple sectors to liberalize FDI norms. Between 2014 and 2019, significant reforms included increased FDI caps in the Defence, Insurance, and Pension sectors, as well as liberalized policies for Construction, Civil Aviation, and Single Brand Retail Trading.

    From 2019 to 2024, notable measures included allowing 100% FDI under the automatic route in coal mining, contract manufacturing, and insurance intermediaries. In 2025, the Union Budget proposed increasing the FDI limit from 74% to 100% for companies investing their entire premium within India.

  • MIL-OSI Video: Boosting Europe’s Defence: €150 Billion EU SAFE Defence Plan

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    In times of global tension, exceptional measures are necessary. Less than three months after the European Commission’s proposal, the European Council has approved the ambitious Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) instrument, unlocking up to €150 billion for joint defence procurement across EU Member States, EEA EFTA countries, and Ukraine.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZLBVLTlk-U

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI: FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão producing and on hire

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, May 27, 2025

    SBM Offshore announces that FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão is formally on hire as of May 24, 2025 after achieving first oil and the completion of a 72-hour continuous production test leading to Final Acceptance.

    FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão has a processing capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil and 12 million m3 of gas per day.

    FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão is owned and operated by special purpose companies owned by affiliated companies of SBM Offshore (55%) and its partners (45%). The FPSO will operate under 22.5-year charter and operation services contracts with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras).

    The FPSO is installed at the Mero unitized field located in the Santos Basin, approximately 160 kilometers offshore Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The Mero unitized field is operated by Petrobras (38.6%), in partnership with Shell Brasil (19.3%), TotalEnergies (19.3%), CNPC (9.65%), CNOOC (9.65%) and Pré-sal Petróleo S.A. – PPSA (3.5%), representing the government in the non-contracted area.

    FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão follows the start-up of FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, which is on hire since February 16, 2025 and is the fifth Fast4Ward® FPSO entering operation.

    Corporate Profile

    SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy. 
    More than 7,800 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.
    For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

    Financial Calendar   Date Year
    Half Year 2025 Earnings   August 7 2025
    Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update   November 13 2025
    Full Year 2025 Earnings   February 26 2026
    Annual General Meeting   April 15 2026
    First Quarter 2026 Trading Update   May 7 2026

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Wouter Holties
    Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

    Media Relations

    Giampaolo Arghittu
    Head of External Relations

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

    Disclaimer
    Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the ‘Impacts, Risks and Opportunities’ section of the 2024 Annual Report.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company’s business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

    This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the 2024 Annual Report, available on our website Annual Reports – SBM Offshore.

    Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “SBM Offshore” and “SBM” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

    “SBM Offshore®“, the SBM logomark, “Fast4Ward®”, “emissionZERO®” and “F4W®” are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Philip R. Lane: Interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

    Source: European Central Bank

    Interview with Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, conducted by Christian Siedenbiedel on 20 May 2025

    27 May 2025

    Mr Lane, inflation rates in the euro area have fallen sharply since autumn 2022. Has inflation been beaten?

    As you say, inflation rates were temporarily above 10 per cent in 2022. Over the past two years, we have focused on bringing inflation back down to 2 per cent. This task has now mostly been completed. I am saying “mostly” because some final steps still need to be taken. For example, services inflation is still too high. But we expect it to decline in the coming months, as we think wage inflation is coming down. So the disinflation from the high inflation of 2022 is on track – but unfortunately new challenges are emerging.

    Over what time frame are you expecting the inflation rate to sustainably meet the ECB’s 2 per cent target?

    Recently, the inflation rate in the euro area stood at 2.2 per cent, which isn’t so far from our 2 per cent target. I believe that the inflation rate will remain in a zone close to 2 per cent in the coming months. But part of your question is about whether this will be on a sustained basis. And this is where we have to work out whether new challenges, in particular those to do with trade policy, could cause an inflation issue in either direction.

    Many people have the feeling that they are noticing inflation much more in the supermarket. What do you say to them?

    It is not unfounded. Food inflation remains well above 2 per cent – currently around 3 per cent. For unprocessed food, for example fruit and vegetables, it is even close to 5 per cent. So this perception is correct: “supermarket inflation” is higher than the general inflation rate. But this is offset by other developments, such as energy prices. Goods price inflation is also below the current headline inflation rate.

    How much is the reduction in inflation really down to the ECB – and to what extent is it simply a consequence of the sharp rise and subsequent fall in energy prices?

    This time is different from the 1970s. At that time, many central banks didn’t manage to convince people that inflation would fall again – although the Bundesbank did better than others. People expected inflation to remain high. This time around we made it clear that the ECB would deliver on price stability. Through our monetary policy, we have prevented double-digit inflation from getting entrenched. So we played our part and ensured that this period of high inflation remained temporary. Due to our intervention, fluctuations in energy prices have not led to a permanent surge in inflation.

    What impact do you expect Donald Trump’s tariffs to have on inflation in the euro area?

    This has been the subject of intense debate since the election in November. Several factors play a role: first, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the euro. Many expected that tariffs would weaken the euro. So far, however, the opposite has occurred. Second, the tariffs have an impact on global economic growth; the slowdown has pushed down oil and gas prices, and this was not in the initial discussion but is proving important. And third, with respect to trade between the United States and China, China is likely to export less to the United States and more to Europe. So there are a number of factors that could lead to lower inflation in the euro area. But we also have to keep in mind that we don’t know the outcome of the negotiations between the EU and the United States.

    At this point, is it possible to predict what’s ultimately going to happen?

    The outcome is still quite open at the moment. For the time being, there are some factors that tend to support a drop in euro area inflation. However, the picture could shift if, for example, the negotiations between the EU and the United States fail, with the United States imposing higher tariffs and the EU implementing counter tariffs. Supply chains could also be disrupted – this could drive up inflation.

    Are there differences between short-term and long-term effects?

    I would actually distinguish between three time horizons: short term, medium term and long term. In the coming months, in other words for the remainder of 2025, the inflation rate is expected to be close to target. Over the medium term, the impact of US tariffs on inflation could materialise, including through the exchange rate and energy prices. Looking further ahead to the long term, analysts and financial markets are reasonably confident that inflation will return to the ECB’s target. The main focus of the ECB’s monetary policy is on the medium-term horizon: that is to say, one or two years ahead.

    Is there any reason to be concerned that people’s inflation expectations could rise more quickly again because the experience of very high inflation is still so recent?

    As a directional statement, I agree. Before the pandemic, many were convinced inflation would stay very low. The high inflation episode was a painful reminder that inflation can arise. But such a combination of extraordinary events – the pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine – is very rare. The more concrete question for us is: could a world of shocks relating to structural changes – arising from challenges to globalisation, increased automation, changing demography – push inflation noticeably below or above 2 per cent, and how responsive will inflation expectations be? Part of our job will be to make sure expectations remain anchored, that people have the reassurance that if inflation moves away from 2 per cent we will bring it back.

    What impact do the current labour shortages and low unemployment have on inflation?

    There is certainly a difference compared with the pre-pandemic period. That’s why I don’t think we will return to inflation rates that are as low as they were back then. When unemployment is low, firms and employees are more likely to settle on wage increases – perhaps around 3 per cent on average in the euro area. This is a normalisation and, allowing for rising labour productivity, makes our 2 per cent target more credible. But I do not see any signs of a wage-price spiral at present, and this also applies to Germany.

    In Belgium, wages are, in part, directly bound to inflation. Has that added to inflation there?

    During the period of high inflation, wages rose rapidly in Belgium but, as inflation fell, wage growth slowed down quickly again. In Germany, there was a different pattern: it took longer for wages to go up. But there is no major difference when looking at the average over three to five years.

    Do you think it is possible that the new protectionism will lead to deglobalisation in the longer term, resulting in structurally higher inflation rates?

    It is important to differentiate between temporary and permanent effects. For many firms the business model is connected to globalisation. A phase of deglobalisation could initially dampen economic growth, which would make it more likely that inflation rates would fall. Following that transition, inflation and its volatility could increase as the offsetting effect of favourable imports fades. It could mean that, as a central bank, we have to be more active in our policy responses to return inflation to 2 per cent over the medium term.

    The Federal Reserve fears that US tariffs could lead to transitory, i.e. temporary, inflation. Would it leave inflation in the euro area unaffected if US rates rise?

    The world needs the Federal Reserve to maintain price stability for the United States. If this means high US interest rates, it can lead to a stronger dollar and thereby somewhat higher inflation for Europe in the short term. In the medium term, however, high US interest rates mostly hold back the global economy – which tends to lead to lower inflation in the euro area. There are always some spillover effects.

    What does all this mean for the ECB’s interest rate policy?

    We need to find a middle path. If we keep interest rates too high for too long, the disinflation pressure of US tariffs could cause inflation rates to fall below our target. If we cut too much and too quickly, a strengthening economy and other factors could drive inflation back up. This is why we will pay close attention to the data in our next meetings. If we see signs of further falling inflation, we will respond with further interest rate cuts – but the range of discussion is not that wide: no one is talking about dramatic rate cuts. We are in a zone of normal central banking.

    Are the key ECB interest rates now in the neutral range?

    The neutral interest rate can only be estimated and it is a long-term concept. In the long term, the neutral interest rate could be around where we are now. But the world is not in equilibrium and the appropriate interest rate may be different in the short term. I would differentiate between the three policy rate zones: a clearly restrictive one with rates say in the high twos or above; and a clearly accommodative one – for the sake of discussion, say rates below 1.5 per cent are clearly accommodative. Going there would only be appropriate in the event of more substantial downside risks to inflation, or a more significant slowdown in the economy. I do not see that at the moment. And there is a zone in between, where it is more of a question of cyclical management. We are navigating in that zone at the moment. This is the focus of the discussions at the ECB.

    Can the ECB be indifferent to exchange rate developments when there is a sharp depreciation of the dollar, like at the moment? Unlike the Bundesbank in the past, you aren’t pursuing an official exchange rate policy…

    The exchange rate is of course an important factor in the development of inflation, even if we do not pursue an explicit exchange rate policy. However, most trade in the euro area takes place between countries sharing the euro as a common currency and, therefore, the exchange rate does not play a role. Trade with the United States and other regions of the world is important but it’s not the dominant factor. At the same time, we need to look at the impact of exchange rate shifts in a situation like we have now.

    Do you think that the euro could replace the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency as a consequence of the unreliable economic policies of the United States?

    I think the question whether the euro should overtake the US dollar is not so important. I can imagine that the euro will become more important as a reserve currency in the current situation. In the first decade of the euro, there was an optimism that we would no longer live in a world with a single world currency, the dollar. Now, the United States is facing all kinds of questions about its role in the world economy. The natural second currency is the euro. It is well placed to gain a bigger share of the market. This could be supported by further European integration – to put the euro on a firmer foundation.

    In your estimation, how great is the risk that we will now see more frequent waves of inflation, like those seen recently?

    The specific circumstances of the last wave of inflation will probably not be repeated quickly. Something like that occurs at most every few decades. Nevertheless, I also consider very low inflation rates, like those before the pandemic, to be unlikely in the current circumstances where there are so many upheavals and changes. There could be more external shocks and fluctuations in inflation rates than in the past. That means that we have an important job to do at the ECB. We may need to become even more active than before in adjusting our policy to the incoming shocks.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: SEALSQ Corp, a member of the WISeKey Group, Signs a Share Purchase Agreement to Acquire 100% of IC’ALPS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEALSQ Corp, a member of the WISeKey Group, Signs a Share Purchase Agreement to Acquire 100% of IC’ALPS

    Geneva, Switzerland – May 27, 2025 – Ad-Hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 of SIX Listing Rules – WISeKey International Holding Ltd (NASDAQ: WKEY / SIX: WIHN) (“WISeKey” or “the Company”), a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT technologies, today announced the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) between SEALSQ Corp (“SEALSQ”), , a leading developer and provider of Semiconductors, PKI, and Post-Quantum technology hardware and software solutions, a member of the WISeKey Group of Companies, and the shareholders of IC’ALPS SAS (the “Sellers”)1, an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) design and supply specialist based in Grenoble, France (“IC’ALPS”) for the acquisition of 100% of the share capital and voting rights of IC’ALPS(“the Acquisition”).

    The SPA is the result of a period of exclusive negotiations between SEALSQ CORP and the Sellers, announced by SEALSQ on February 27, 2025. The main terms and conditions of the SPA announced by WISeKey on May 22, 2025 remain applicable. The proposed strategic Acquisition is now solely subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions including among others, approval of the Acquisition by the French Ministry of the Economy in accordance with articles L.151-3 and R.151-1 et seq of the French Financial and Monetary Code (code monétaire et financier).

    The Transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025, subject to satisfying the conditions to closing, including the necessary regulatory approval by the French Ministry of the Economy.

    About IC’ALPS:
    IC’ALPS is your one-stop-shop ASIC partner. Based in France (HQ in Grenoble, two design centers in Grenoble and Toulouse), the company provides customers with a complete offering for Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Systems on Chip (SoC) development from circuit specification, mastering design in-house, up to the management of the entire production supply chain. Its 100+ engineers’ areas of expertise include analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits (sensor/MEMS interfaces, ultra-low power consumption, power management, high-resolution converters, high voltage, signal processing, ARM and RISC-V based multiprocessors architectures, hardware accelerators) on technologies from 0.18 µm down to 1.8 nm, and from multiple foundries (TSMC, Global Foundries, Tower Semiconductor, X-FAB, STMicroelectronics, Intel Foundry, etc.). The company is active worldwide in medical, industrial, automotive, IoT, IA, mil-aero, and digital identity & security sectors. IC’ALPS is ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, EN 9100:2018, Common Criteria certified, IATF16949-ready, member of TSMC Design Center Alliance (DCA), Intel Foundry Accelerator Design Services Alliance and Value Chain Alliance (DSA & VCA), ams Osram Preferred Partner and X-FAB’s partner network.
    More information: www.icalps.com and  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ic-alps

    About SEALSQ:
    SEALSQ is a leading innovator in Post-Quantum Technology hardware and software solutions. Our technology seamlessly integrates Semiconductors, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and Provisioning Services, with a strategic emphasis on developing state-of-the-art Quantum Resistant Cryptography and Semiconductors designed to address the urgent security challenges posed by quantum computing. As quantum computers advance, traditional cryptographic methods like RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are increasingly vulnerable.

    SEALSQ is pioneering the development of Post-Quantum Semiconductors that provide robust, future-proof protection for sensitive data across a wide range of applications, including Multi-Factor Authentication tokens, Smart Energy, Medical and Healthcare Systems, Defense, IT Network Infrastructure, Automotive, and Industrial Automation and Control Systems. By embedding Post-Quantum Cryptography into our semiconductor solutions, SEALSQ ensures that organizations stay protected against quantum threats. Our products are engineered to safeguard critical systems, enhancing resilience and security across diverse industries.

    For more information on our Post-Quantum Semiconductors and security solutions, please visit www.sealsq.com.

    About WISeKey
    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business strategy, financial performance, results of operations, market data, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and “would” or similar words. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the actual adjustments that arise upon conversion of the financial information of IC’ALPS to US GAAP in relation to net sales, operating expenses and income tax income in the income statement for twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and in relation to intangible assets, current liabilities, and pension and debt liabilities in the balance sheet as at December 31, 2024 and 2023, in comparison with the French GAAP ; the entering into of definitive documents, the authorization by French regulatory authorities and the successful closing of the Acquisition; and the risks discussed in WISeKey’s filings with the SEC. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by WISeKey with the SEC.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd
    Company Contact:  Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com
    WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611
    lcati@theequitygroup.com

    1 The Sellers are Doliam SA, Mrs. Lucille Engels and Mr. Jean-Luc Triouleyre.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European monetary policy in times of high uncertainty | Lecture at ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    Check against delivery.

    1 Certain uncertainty
    Ladies and gentlemen, 
    Thank you very much for your invitation and kind welcome. I am delighted to be with you here in Mannheim today.
    With this series of events, the ZEW has been providing a forum for political, economic and academic exchange for more than three decades now. You have set out your expectations very clearly: Pressing economic policy issues and recent developments are the focus. 
    At present, pressing issues and developments are indeed coming thick and fast. Take, for example, the numerous pivots in trade policy by the US Administration. Sometimes the issues are already outdated before you have even had a chance to address them. In any case, one thing is clear: we have a lot to discuss today. 
    Ladies and gentlemen,
    When the ZEW proposed a topic to me just over two months ago, I had no doubt in my mind: there was no chance that the chosen topic would already be outdated. And why not? As Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, once said: “Uncertainty is not just an important feature of the monetary policy landscape; it is the defining characteristic of that landscape.”[1]
    Greenspan said this in 2003. The term “the Great Moderation” had just been coined to describe a period of exceptional macroeconomic stability.[2] Uncertainty seemed to be relatively low at that time. Nevertheless, Greenspan stressed the factor of uncertainty. And he is not alone in this. I would imagine that none of you have ever heard a central banker say that uncertainty is currently negligible. 
    From my own experience, I can confirm that, when making monetary policy decisions, we are always faced with uncertainty. It is, after all, in the nature of the matter: the decisions impact a future that cannot be precisely predicted. Dealing with uncertainty is therefore part of the job description of monetary policymakers. What is constantly changing are the causes and degree of uncertainty. And that brings us to the heart of today’s topic: European monetary policy in times of high uncertainty. 
    In my lecture today, I will address three key questions: How should monetary policy deal with uncertainty in general? What are the main causes of uncertainty at present and in the future? How is monetary policy in the euro area navigating the current period of high uncertainty?
    2 Monetary policy under uncertainty
    Let us start with the subject that we have just touched upon: the impact of monetary policy unfolds only gradually. The decisions of today affect the inflation of tomorrow. The gap between decisions and their impact necessitates a forward-looking approach. Or, to put it another way: when we are out in the monetary policy landscape, we are also looking to our more distant surroundings. 
    This means that a core part of preparing for monetary policy meetings is to assess future developments. And, unlike with the weather, for example, the current situation is not entirely clear, either. A broad set of data and diverse economic models are therefore helpful for us. Like a magnifying glass and a pair of binoculars, they make it easier for us to examine our environment as closely as possible. Following on from this, we can differentiate between two types of uncertainty: data uncertainty and model uncertainty.
    Data uncertainty arises because not all of the information is available to obtain a picture of the “true” state of the economy. There are a number of reasons for this: not all of the data that would be of interest are recorded statistically or can be recorded in their entirety. Some data are only available with a considerable time delay. Some are subject to measurement issues, so the data need to be revised later. 
    To give one example: for economic activity in the euro area, Eurostat provides a preliminary flash estimate around four weeks after the end of a quarter. This is based on a very limited dataset, and especially the figures for the third month of the quarter need to be estimated. The actual flash estimate is released two weeks later. But even this does not yet include any details or nominal data. Another two to three weeks later, it is followed by an initial estimate with a more detailed breakdown by components. However, even then, changes should still be expected, and these can sometimes be considerable. 
    This demonstrates how we have only incomplete knowledge of the present in real time. The description and assessment of the current situation are therefore already subject to uncertainty. 
    In addition to this, there is model uncertainty. In order to be able to examine macroeconomic processes, complex realities must be simplified. This simplification is achieved through models. They are confined to a small number of interrelationships that are as relevant as possible. All others are disregarded. In monetary policy, we use models, for example, to predict the development of inflation or to estimate the effects of our monetary policy measures. However, there is plenty of room for discussion on whether the simplifications in each model are always adequate. 
    But even if we were all in agreement on the model framework, other sources of uncertainty still remain. This concerns, for one thing, the parameters. These reflect the assumed strength and dynamics of the relationships within a given model. The parameters are usually estimated on the basis of past observations. The estimation results therefore also depend on the selected investigation period. Furthermore, parameters can evolve over time, for example as a result of structural change. Particularly if this happens abruptly and the structural breaks are not detected immediately, the model results can then be misleading. 
    For another thing, models often make use of variables that cannot be observed directly, such as potential output or natural interest rates. These must themselves be estimated, which entails considerable uncertainty.[3] This also shows how closely data uncertainty and model uncertainty are intertwined.
    To summarise: models arrive at different results due to uncertainties in their structure, parameters and estimation variables, which may lead us to different conclusions. Assessment by experts then often determines the final forecast picture. 
    In practice, data uncertainty and model uncertainty are especially relevant when unexpected events occur. At these times, monetary policymakers’ need for comprehensive information is, of course, particularly great. This is because the appropriate monetary policy response depends on the nature of the unexpected events in question. However, data uncertainty and model uncertainty make it difficult to definitively ascertain the exact nature and magnitude of a shock that is currently taking place. There is a relatively high risk of being wrong. What can monetary policymakers do against this?
    First of all, we draw on many different sources of information to obtain as complete a picture of the current situation as possible. For example, in 2019 and 2020, we at the Bundesbank began to regularly survey households and firms about their assessments and expectations. Since 2020, we have been measuring the activity of the German economy using a weekly index. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, models have been developed that explicitly take gas price shocks into account. 
    In addition, we are continually working on improving our forecast models even further. Artificial intelligence now offers new possibilities, such as capturing non-linear relationships, analysing large sets of data, and automating and accelerating analytical processes. We are intensively examining all of these possibilities at the Bundesbank. And we have already achieved some promising successes in this regard. I will come back to touch upon one specific prototype later on.
    Given the data uncertainty and model uncertainty, we in monetary policy are well advised to pursue a strategy that is as robust as possible. To stick with the image of Alan Greenspan: in the monetary policy landscape, you should best avoid flip-flops. Sturdy footwear is needed here. A robust strategy produces good results under various assumptions and prevents particularly costly mistakes.
    The more uncertain the setting, the greater the risk of policy errors. That is why, when uncertainty is high, monetary policymakers are also in demand as risk managers. We have to consider various scenarios, assess the likelihood that they will materialise as well as their implications, and also weigh up the costs and benefits of different monetary policy paths that lead to the inflation destination. How do these considerations affect our decisions? The short answer is: it depends.
    A gradual approach might make sense when uncertainty is high.[4] It is human nature: when the room you are entering is dark, you do not simply rush in. You proceed slowly, taking small steps. Applying this analogy to monetary policy, the costs of reversing policy following an error could outweigh the costs of acting too late. “Flip-flopping” could itself add to the uncertainty and destabilise expectations. Moreover, abruptly changing direction can precipitate greater volatility in financial markets and pose risks to financial stability. 
    That said, it will not always be the case that cautious monetary policymaking is a good response to high uncertainty. I am talking about situations in which a “wait-and-see” attitude increases the risk that the outcome will be particularly unfavourable. Going back to the dark room I mentioned just now: if the flames are right behind you, you should not edge your way forwards in small steps. A scenario where inflation expectations risk drifting off might be just such a case. Then, a vigorous response would be appropriate to protect yourself from this worst-case scenario. As you can see, it may be necessary to respond swiftly and comprehensively, precisely because uncertainty is high. 
    Clearly, monetary policymakers acting as risk managers would be well advised to take robust control approaches into account when making decisions in particularly uncertain times.[5]
    3 Drivers of uncertainty
    3.1 Trade policy flip-flopping
    Ladies and gentlemen,
    Right now, these considerations are anything but mere theory. And that is due, not least, to the White House. Since the change of administration in the United States, no little uncertainty has been rippling across the Atlantic. The waves caused by US trade policy have been particularly huge. 
    Since April, the United States has been imposing additional tariffs of at least 10 % on all its trading partners. Tariffs that are higher still apply to imports of steel and aluminium as well as to cars and automotive parts. Tit-for-tat tariff hikes by the United States and China drove tariff rates to more than 100 % at times. In mid-May, the two countries agreed to lower them significantly for a time.[6] Even so, the average effective US tariff rate has climbed by more than 13 percentage points in the year to date, reaching its highest level since the 1930s.[7] In addition, there is a risk of tariffs going higher still as of July if bilateral negotiations fail. 
    The shock waves unleashed by US trade policy are not only having an impact via the actual tariff burden. Their unpredictability and the doubts they have raised about US economic and fiscal policy are also leaving a mark, as reflected by the sometimes severe fluctuations in financial markets. The tariff hikes announced on 2 April, for example, caused implied stock market volatility to spike significantly higher. This points to a high degree of uncertainty among market participants – in the United States especially, but also in the euro area.
    Measured in terms of the number of mentions in newspaper articles, trade policy uncertainty peaked this spring.[8] And that is hardly surprising given how many questions this topic is raising: which tariffs will be put into effect, temporarily suspended or withdrawn – and when? What retaliatory measures will follow in each case? To what degree will goods flows in global trade be diverted? What will be the fallout from this? Will action be taken to curb these diversions? And, if so, by whom? You could keep going like this ad infinitum. 
    Even in times when trade policy moves in straight lines, forecasts of the economic impact of upheavals in the tariff regime would be no more than rough approximations. But we are dealing with an almost unpredictable cycle of events: tariffs are threatened, put into force, partially withdrawn, and then threatened again. 
    One example of this is the US tariff policy imposed on the EU. First, on 12 March, the United States imposed general tariffs of 25 % on steel and aluminium. A little time later, additional blanket tariffs of 25 % were imposed on cars and automotive parts as well. On 2 April 2025, President Trump also announced what he called “reciprocal” tariffs for a host of trading partners depending on the bilateral trade deficit and amounting to at least 10 %, and, in the case of the EU, 20 %. But then, with turmoil raging in financial markets, President Trump, on 9 April, suspended the tariffs for 90 days, initially in order to reach “deals”. The minimum 10 % tariff and the additional 25 % tariff on cars, steel and aluminium were left in place, though. On 23 May, President Trump threatened the EU with 50 % tariffs, starting on 1 June – a threat he withdrew two days later. This means that forecasts are based on a footing that is less stable than usual.
    As far as economic growth is concerned, at least the direction of travel seems to be clear: Germany, like the euro area as a whole, is likely to suffer marked losses as a result of US tariff policy. First, the higher tariffs will make European goods less competitive in the US market. This will probably shrink exports to the United States. Second, sluggish economic activity in the United States and other trading-partner countries will dampen demand for products from Europe. Third, the high degree of uncertainty makes longer-term planning more difficult. Enterprises could therefore postpone investment decisions in the hope of quieter times.[9] 
    The Bundesbank has simulated the impact of US tariff policy effective in mid-April, China’s retaliatory measures, and the immediate exchange rate response. The results suggest that economic output in the euro area could be just under half a percentage point lower over the medium term. 
    The direction in which the trade dispute will move inflation in the euro area, however, remains unclear. On the one hand, weaker growth tends to dampen prices. Potential diversion effects resulting from more goods from China in the European market might also leave inflation somewhat lower. On the other hand, any retaliatory tariffs imposed by the EU would fuel inflation. 
    How the exchange rate will evolve going forward remains to be seen. In theory, the expected response to the US tariffs would be a stronger dollar. If anything, this would tend to drive prices higher in the euro area. But things have played out differently so far. In the wake of the tariff discussions, trust in the US dollar has declined, at least temporarily, causing the currency to depreciate markedly since 2 April. In the euro area, this has dampened inflation.
    Thinking beyond day-to-day terms, it is conceivable that longer-term effects will materialise as well. For example, tariffs can have a particularly negative impact on trade in intermediate goods.[10] This is because they shake the calculations upon which global production networks are based. 
    Enterprises have fine-tuned their supply chains to forge highly cost-efficient production structures. However, the trade barriers are putting a spanner in the works of global value chains. Enterprises will have no option but to recalculate their supply chains and tweak some of their relationships with suppliers. They will build up new partnerships and no doubt pay particular attention to strengthening their resilience. This will not happen overnight, especially with political conditions as unsettled as they are right now.[11] In the process, they may well relinquish some of the efficiency gains they have reaped. Over the medium term, this could generally drive up their costs and, as a result, their prices as well.
    3.2 Structural change is progressing
    The reconfiguration of global value chains is working in tandem with other structural changes: among them, first and foremost, climate change and the transition to a climate-neutral economy. The ageing of society is also playing a role, with more people entering retirement and fewer people still in the workforce. And let us not forget digitalisation, which brings with it great opportunities for increased productivity but also considerable change in many professional fields, as well as the risk of giving individual big players more market power.
    All of these factors could influence the inflation environment. It is often unclear in which direction inflation is heading, and it may change over time. Overall, these structural drivers make it difficult to assess medium-term inflation developments.
    3.3 New geopolitical realities
    Alongside structural change and the almost fully unpredictable developments in the tariff dispute, there is a third factor of uncertainty. Old security policy certainties have given way to new geopolitical realities. This is creating new challenges for Europe: we will thus need to invest significantly more in our own security.
    In order to sufficiently bolster our defence capabilities, considerably greater funds are required. There is a strong case against financing such ad hoc needs in the short term solely by rebalancing budgets. The European Commission, for instance, proposes activating the national escape clause in the EU fiscal rules in order to temporarily allow countries greater scope for borrowing.[12] 
    I think this is a justifiable approach. It would allow countries to gradually adjust to higher defence spending. However, it must be clear that this would only be a transitional period. Increased deficits cannot become a permanent state of affairs. A resilient Europe that is capable of action rests on a stable foundation. This includes sound public finances whereby key items are funded in the core budget and through current revenue.
    Overall, there are signs of a more expansionary fiscal policy stance for the euro area. Whether or not greater debt also leads to greater price pressures in the euro area depends on many factors, such as what the additional money is spent on, how quickly it flows out, and how much money flows in from abroad. These uncertainties make it more difficult to forecast developments. In any case, the ECB Governing Council is keeping a close eye on risk. As stated in the account of our April meeting: A boost in defence and infrastructure spending could also lift inflation over the medium term.
    4 Monetary policy stance in the euro area
    The current high level of uncertainty is a slight dampener on the gratification brought about by positive developments: since the beginning of the year, the euro area inflation rate has fallen from 2.5 % to 2.2 % in April. This has finally brought the target within reach. We are on the right path, even if it remains rocky. The core rate has recently risen again. At 4 %, prices for services, in particular, have seen surprisingly steep growth. 
    The ECB Governing Council will continue to steer the monetary policy stance in such a way that the inflation rate stabilises at 2 % over the medium-term. You may now be asking yourselves: What exactly does that mean for the next meeting in June? Will there be another interest rate cut? Pressing as these questions are, I unfortunately cannot answer them today.
    Since July 2022, we on the ECB Governing Council have been following a data-dependent approach, making decisions on a meeting-by-meeting basis. This approach has proved successful when dealing with the heightened uncertainty of recent years, such as during the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the wake of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We have stayed flexible and have continuously assessed how the incoming data change the medium-term inflation outlook. Here, we supplemented our baseline – which is the most likely outcome – with scenario analyses. This also allowed us to assess the probability of less likely but still conceivable outcomes. 
    Using this approach, I believe that we are well equipped to deal with the current high level of uncertainty, too. As I explained earlier, inflation could be higher or lower than the latest expectations, depending on how the tariff dispute develops as well as other influencing factors like the exchange rate, services prices and fiscal packages. In light of this, it seems to me more advisable than ever to make decisions meeting by meeting on the basis of the latest data. If we had not already been operating so flexibly, we would have had to start doing so now, at the latest. It would be impossible to reliably commit to a specific interest rate path at the current juncture.
    In June, the ECB Governing Council will have a fresh set of data and an up-to-date forecast. These will help us to align the monetary policy stance in a way that will bring us another step closer to our goal. Our destination is clear: we want the inflation rate to reach the target of 2 % soon and to stabilise there on a sustainable basis. Of that, there is no doubt. In doing so, we are thus providing a stable anchor for inflation expectations. 
    Anchored inflation expectations make it easier for monetary policymakers to bring inflation back to target after unexpected events. The successes in the fight against the far too high inflation rates of the past few years were achieved at relatively low economic cost.[13] This was partly attributable to the fact that inflation expectations were better anchored than before. But we cannot rest on our laurels with regard to the future, because the starting position has changed. We no longer have decades of moderate inflation rates behind us. For many people, the experience of such strong price surges was new and dramatic. The memory of this is unlikely to fade quickly.[14]
    Inflation expectations, as well the associated price and wage setting, may now respond more quickly or more strongly to future inflation shocks. We therefore need to be particularly vigilant when it comes to the evolution of inflation expectations. For instance, medium-term inflation expectations amongst euro area households and firms were recently on the rise again. Concerns about rising prices caused by tariff policy are not only on American minds, then. We will keep a close eye on this development.
    Ensuring that inflation expectations are firmly anchored is a permanent task for monetary policymakers. This can be achieved by ensuring that our commitment to stability is highly credible and that our communication is clear.
    To further improve clarity, we have since implemented AI-assisted text analysis methods, too. In this vein, the Bundesbank has developed a novel AI model that can produce detailed and transparent evaluations of monetary policy texts.[15] This allows us to assess, for example, whether certain statements are likely to send the desired signals. After all, we do not want our communication to trigger undesirable market reactions or create additional uncertainty. AI analysis does not replace human expertise. But it can help us to further improve our understanding of monetary policy communication and its impact.
    5 Conclusion
    Ladies and gentlemen, 
    If you are currently wondering whether this speech was generated by AI, or, indeed, if it will ever end, I can assure you that real people were involved in the speech-writing process, and I have now come to my closing remarks. Our AI model is currently used to evaluate texts. Incidentally, this speech was classified as “neutral” in monetary policy terms.
    Alan Greenspan would probably have pushed the model to its limits. His statements were often so cryptic that the media and financial markets took to seeking out other clues: for example, when it came to monetary policy decisions, they looked at the thickness of his briefcase. A slim briefcase was thought to indicate an uneventful meeting without interest rate changes, whilst a bulging briefcase signalled a need for discussion and an adjustment to the policy rate.[16] During his term in office, Mr Greenspan was once asked whether there was any truth to this theory. His answer: “The thickness of my briefcase depended on whether or not I had packed a sandwich.”[17] 
    Unfortunately, not all uncertainties can be so easily erased from the monetary policy landscape. But, as we can see, asking direct questions and talking to each other often contributes to greater clarity. Which makes me all the more excited for our discussion!
    Thank you very much. 
    Footnotes:

    Greenspan, A. (2003), Monetary Policy under Uncertainty, Remarks at a symposium sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 29 August 2003.
    Stock, J. H. and M. W. Watson (2002), Has the Business Cycle Changed and Why?, NBER Working Paper No 9127.
    Nagel, J. (2025), r* in the monetary policy universe: Navigational star or dark matter?, Lecture at the London School of Economics and Political Science, London, 12 February 2025.
    Brainard, W. (1967), Uncertainty and the Effectiveness of Policy, American Economic Review, Vol. 57, No 2, pp. 411‑425.
    Hansen, L. P. and T. J. Sargent (2001), Robust Control and Model Uncertainty, American Economic Review, Vol. 91, No 2.
    See Deutsche Bundesbank (2025), The potential impact of the current trade dispute between the United States and China, Monthly Report, May 2025.
    The Budget Lab at Yale (2025), State of U.S. tariffs: May 12, 2025, Yale University.
    A description of the trade policy uncertainty index can be found in Caldara, D., M. Iacoviello, P. Molligo, A. Prestipino and A. Raffo (2020), The economic effects of trade policy uncertainty, Journal of Monetary Economics, Vol. 109. See also Deutsche Bundesbank (2025), The macroeconomic effects of heightened uncertainty, Monthly Report, May 2025.
    Deutsche Bundesbank (2018), The macroeconomic impact of uncertainty, Monthly Report, October 2018, pp. 49‑64.
    Deutsche Bundesbank (2020), Domestic economic effects of import tariffs with regard to global value chains, Monthly Report, January 2020.
    Bayoumi, T., J. Barkema and D. A. Cerdeiro (2019), The Inflexible Structure of Global Supply Chains, IMF Working Paper, No 19/193.
    See Deutsche Bundesbank (2025), EU fiscal rules: proposed activation of national escape clauses, Monthly Report, May 2025.
    Deutsche Bundesbank (2024), The global disinflation process and its costs, Monthly Report, July 2024.
    D’Acunto, F., U. Malmendier and M. Weber (2022), What Do the Data Tell Us About Inflation Expectations? NBER Working Papers, No 29825, March 2022.
    Deutsche Bundesbank (2025), Monetary policy communication according to artificial intelligence, Monthly Report, March 2025.
    Gavin, W. T. and R. J. Mandal (2000), Inside the briefcase: The art of predicting the Federal Reserve, The Regional Economist, July 2000.
    Alan Greenspan in an interview with “Stern”: “In der Badewanne hatte ich viele gute Ideen”, 30 September 2007. 

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: Soitec Reports Fourth Quarter Revenue and Full-Year Results of Fiscal Year 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOITEC REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER REVENUE AND
    FULL-YEAR RESULTS OF FISCAL YEAR 2025

    • Q4’25 revenue reached €327m, stable at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24
    • FY’25 revenue amounted to €891m, down 9% both on a reported basis and at constant exchange rates and perimeter, in line with revised guidance
    • Soitec accelerated diversification confirmed with POI becoming Soitec’s fourth product to generate annual revenue of around $100m or more
    • Robust FY’25 EBITDA1margin2at 33.5%, current EBIT margin at 15.2%
    • Positive FY’25 Free Cash Flow, at €26m, while maintaining strong R&D and industrial investments
    • Q1’26 revenue, impacted by the anticipated phase-out of Imager-SOI, is expected down around 20% year-on-year at constant exchange rates and perimeter (Imager-SOI Q1’25 revenue: $25m)
    • FY’26 Capex cash-out expected around €150m, down from €230m in FY’25
    • Strong technology megatrends and Soitec’s innovative engineered substrates continue to sustain Soitec addressable market growth from ~5m wafers (200mm equivalent) in 2024 to ~12m in 2030
    • Given the current reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group withdraws any guidance, whether related to all or part of its activities. This includes the projection of a quite limited growth for FY’26, as well as the medium-term ambition to reach a revenue target of $2bn with an EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. Going forward, the Group will only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis

    Bernin (Grenoble), France, May 27th, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext Paris), a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials, today announced its revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and its full-year results of fiscal year 2025 (ended on March 31st, 2025). The financial statements3 were approved by the Board of Directors during its meeting today.

    Pierre Barnabé, Soitec’s CEO, commented: On the back of strong sales in the fourth quarter, we closed fiscal year 2025 in line with our revised guidance, with a high-single digit decline in full-year revenue. In this context, strict cost management enabled us to deliver a robust EBITDA margin, generate positive free cash flow, and continue investing both in innovation and in our industrial capacity – all while maintaining a very healthy balance sheet.

    In a volatile and uncertain economic environment, we are focusing on parameters within our control to strengthen our fundamentals and accelerate our diversification beyond RF-SOI and beyond Mobile Communications. With the growing adoption of our new products by industry leaders – POI becoming an industry standard for innovative smartphones and Photonics-SOI gaining traction among industry leaders to equip the next generation of AI Datacenters – we have been able to partially offset the ongoing RF-SOI inventory correction and mitigate the impact of the weakness in the automotive industry. While RF-SOI remains by far the first contributor to our revenue, three other products – FD-SOI, Power-SOI and POI – are now each generating around or above 100 million US dollars in revenue.

    This environment however provides limited visibility. We have therefore decided to suspend all previously issued guidance and to only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis. We expect Q1’26 to reflect the impact of the Imager-SOI phase out, which we had already anticipated and prepared for. Q1’26 revenue is hence expected to be down around 20% year on year, Imager-SOI contributing 25 million dollars in Q1’25.

    We remain confident in our solid fundamentals and in our ability to accelerate growth as soon as our end markets begin to recover. Our strong technology megatrends – 5G, Energy Efficiency and Artificial Intelligence – and our unique expertise in engineered substrates continue to support the expansion of our Addressable Market from around 5 million wafers (200-mm equivalent) in 2024 to around 12 million in 2030”, added Pierre Barnabé.

    Fourth quarter FY’25 consolidated revenue

      Q4’25 Q4’24 Q4’25/Q4’24
             
             
    (Euros millions)     change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter
             
    Mobile Communications 220 222 -1% -2%
    Automotive & Industrial 45 44 +1% 0%
    Edge & Cloud AI 63 70 -11% +2%
             
    Revenue 327 337 -3% -1%

    Soitec revenue reached 327 million Euros in Q4’25, down 3% on a reported basis compared with revenue of 337 million Euros achieved in Q4’24. This reflects a 1% year-on-year decline at constant exchange rates and perimeter, a negative scope4 effect of 3% related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses, and a positive currency impact of 1%.

    Each one of Soitec’s three divisions recorded an almost stable organic change in revenue in Q4’25 compared to the high base achieved in Q4’24. The slight organic decline in Mobile Communications revenue was partly offset by a small increase in Edge & Cloud AI revenue, while Automotive & Industrial was stable. This is however reflecting different dynamics per product, with further strong traction in POI wafers for smartphone filters and in Photonics-SOI wafers for data centers.

    Mobile Communications

    In the context of a moderately recovering smartphone market and with a progressively improving inventory situation across the supply chain, Mobile Communications revenue reached 220 million Euros in Q4’25, down 2% at constant exchange rates and perimeter year-on-year.

    On RF-SOI wafers, Soitec benefited, as expected, from a usually strong seasonal stock rebuilding at the beginning of the calendar year. Volumes of RF-SOI wafers sold were higher in Q4’25 than in Q4’24, with a slightly negative price / mix effect, thus partly mitigating a significant decrease in 200-mm RF-SOI volumes.

    Sales of POI (Piezoelectric-on-Insulator) wafers dedicated to RF filters continued to grow sequentially from one quarter to another, translating into a sharp year-on-year increase in Q4’25. The adoption of Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters on POI continued to accelerate. Ten customers are in volume production, and thirteen others in qualification phase.

    Sales of FD-SOI wafers, the only solution for fully integrated 5G mmWave system-on-chip, have been slightly growing in Q4’25 compared to Q4’24.

    Automotive & Industrial

    Automotive & Industrial revenue reached 45 million Euros in Q4’25, flat at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24, despite the ongoing difficulties of the automotive market.

    After the particularly low level reached in Q3’25, volumes of Power-SOI wafers were significantly higher in Q4’25 than in Q4’24, although with a slightly negative price effect. Sales benefited from customer restocking at the beginning of their calendar year. Despite very low visibility, OEMs were keen to avoid stockouts in the event of a market rebound, but this most likely came at the expense of volumes in H1’26. As the Automotive market recovers, the outlook for Battery Management Systems remains strong and supports Soitec’s product roadmap towards 300-mm, further strengthening its positioning.

    Conversely, after a very strong performance in Q3’25, FD-SOI wafer sales recorded a slight year-on-year decline in Q4’25 compared to Q4’24. Automotive FD-SOI continues to be mostly driven by adoption for microcontrollers, radar and wireless connectivity, delivering superior performance and greater power efficiency compared to other existing technologies.

    Regarding SmartSiCTM, while Soitec initiated a sixth customer qualification process early Q4’25, the slower-than-expected growth of the electric vehicle market, combined with the longer than initially anticipated customers’ qualification cycles confirm the previously mentioned delay in the initially expected wafer production ramp-up.

    Edge & Cloud AI

    Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 63 million Euros in Q4’25, up 2% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24. On a reported basis revenue went down 11% as a result of the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses.

    Sales of Photonics-SOI wafers recorded another high sequential increase in Q4’25, as Soitec continues to benefit from a strong momentum in Cloud infrastructure investments across the Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence supply chains. On a year-on-year basis, sales were much higher than in Q4’24. As the exponential growth of AI-related computing power capabilities drives the need for more powerful and more energy-efficient data centers, Photonics-SOI has become a standard technology platform for high-speed and high bandwidth optical interconnections in data centers. Photonics-SOI are adopted in pluggable optical transceivers and used for the development of Co-Packaged Optics.

    In Q4’25 sales of FD-SOI wafers were above the level reached in Q3’25 but slightly down year-on-year compared to the high level recorded in Q4’24. This is mainly the consequence of deliveries requests put on hold by a couple of customers. FD-SOI technology is a key enabler for AI-driven consumer and industrial IoT applications due to its unique power efficiency, performance, thermal management and reliability advantages.

    Sales of Imager-SOI wafers for 3D imaging applications tapered off in Q4’25 due to the phase out of this product, as expected.

    FY’25 consolidated revenue

      FY’25 FY’24 FY’25/FY’24
             
    (Euros millions)     change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter
             
    Mobile Communications 546 611 -11% -12%
    Automotive & Industrial 129 163 -21% -22%
    Edge & Cloud AI 216 204 +6% +11%
             
    Revenue 891 978 -9% -9%

    Consolidated revenue reached 891 million Euros in FY’25, down 9% on a reported basis compared to 978 million Euros in FY’24. This reflects a 9% decline at constant exchange rates and perimeter, in line with Soitec’s latest guidance, a negative scope4 effect of 1% and a slightly positive currency impact of 1%.

    Overall, the sharp increase in sales of Photonics-SOI and POI wafers partly offset the drop in revenue recorded both in RF-SOI and in Power-SOI.

    • Mobile Communications revenue reached 546 million Euros in FY’25, down 11% on a reported basis and down 12% at constant exchange rates and perimeter year-on-year. Revenue was impacted by weaker RF-SOI volumes in connection with further inventory adjustment at customer level, especially in H1’25. RF-SOI performance was partly offset by a strong growth in POI wafer sales throughout the fiscal year and by slightly higher FD-SOI wafer sales. Mobile communications represented 61% of total revenue, almost stable vs FY’24.
    • Automotive & Industrial revenue amounted to 129 million Euros in FY’25, down 21% on a reported basis and down 22% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to FY’24. This revenue decline was primarily driven by lower Power-SOI volumes, reflecting weakness in the automotive market. Revenue from SmartSiC™ technology in connection with the initial phase of Soitec’s cooperation agreement with STMicroelectronics have also decreased year-on-year. This was partially offset by higher FD-SOI wafer sales. Automotive & Industrial represented 15% of total revenue against 17% in FY’24.
    • Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 216 million Euros in FY’25, up 6% on a reported basis and up 11% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to FY’24. The organic increase in revenue was driven by higher sales of Photonics-SOI wafers, which benefit from sustained investment in Cloud infrastructure. Sales of FD-SOI went slightly down but remained at a high level, supported by the need for low-power computing devices and edge-AI applications. Imager-SOI sales were almost flat year-on-year despite the phase out of this product from early H2’25 onward. Edge & Cloud AI represented 24% of total revenue against 21% in FY’24.

    EBITDA1margin2maintained at a robust level

    Consolidated income statement (part 1)

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24 % change
           
    Revenue 891 978 -9%
           
           
    Gross profit 286 332 -14%
    As a % of revenue 32.1% 34.0%  
           
    Net research and development expenses (85) (61) +39%
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (65) (63) +4%
           
           
    Current operating income 136 208 -35%
    As a % of revenue 15.2% 21.3%  
           
           
    EBITDA1,5 298 332 -10%
    As a % of revenue 33.5% 34.0%  

    Current operating income went down from 208 million Euros in FY’24 (21.3% of revenue) to 136 million Euros in FY’25 (15.2% of revenue). This reflects the weaker activity recorded in FY’25, but also higher R&D investment and higher depreciation expenses, as Soitec continues to invest to secure its competitiveness.

    • Gross profit reached 286 million Euros, down from 332 million Euros in FY’24. Gross margin declined by 1.9 points to 32.1% of revenue. This was essentially due to the lower sales volumes, of RF-SOI in particular, leading to a lower utilization of some of the industrial capacities, combined with an overall slightly negative price / mix effect. In addition, depreciation costs went up, reflecting the Group’s investment profile. These factors were mitigated by strong discipline in cost management, including lower purchase prices, by some agility in resource allocation between plants, and by higher subsidies.
    • Net R&D expenses increased from 61 million Euros in FY’24 (6.3% of revenue) to 85 million Euros in FY’25 (9.5% of revenue). Gross R&D expenses before capitalization went up 11% to 152°million Euros, as part of Soitec’s innovation strategy aimed at further investing in the next generation of SOI products, in compound semiconductors, as well as in new engineered substrates. In addition, Soitec booked a much lower amount of capitalized development costs in FY’25 (12 million Euros against 31 million Euros in FY’24). This was only partly offset by the recognition of higher R&D subsidies and higher prototype sales.
    • Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses amounted to 65 million Euros in FY’25 (7.3% of revenue), up from 63 million Euros in FY’24. This slight increase is essentially due to non-recurring positive effects on labor costs recorded in FY’24 and higher depreciation expenses, notably related to recent IT investments in cybersecurity. On the other hand, lower share-based compensation and the divestment of Dolphin Design both had positive effects.

    EBITDA1,5 amounted to 298 million Euros in FY’25 compared to 332 million Euros in FY’24. EBITDA1,5 margin2 remained at a robust level, reaching 33.5%, only 50 basis points below the level of 34.0% recorded in FY’24. The combination of a lesser absorption of fixed costs due to lower volumes and higher level of R&D investments was offset by higher non-cash items, notably depreciation and amortization expenses and inventory valuation effects.

    Consolidated income statement (part 2)

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24 % change
           
           
       
    Current operating income 136 208 -35%
           
           
    Other operating income / (expenses) (16) (3)  
           
           
    Operating income 119 205 -42%
           
    Net financial expense (9) (5)  
    Income tax (19) (23)  
           
           
    Net profit from continuing operations 91 178 -49%
           
    Net profit from discontinued operations 1 0  
           
           
    Net profit, Group share 92 178 -48%
           
           
    Basic earnings per share (in €) 2.57 5.00 -49%
           
    Diluted earnings per share (in €) 2.56 4.88 -48%
           
           
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares 35,670,651 35,655,679  
           
    Weighted average number of diluted ordinary shares 35,868,688 37,710,587  

    Other operating expenses amounted to 16 million Euros in FY’25, mainly reflecting a 13 million Euros loss on the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses.

    Consequently, the operating income stood at 119 million Euros, down from 205 million Euros in FY’24.

    The net financial result came as an expense of 9 million Euros in FY’25 compared to an expense of 5 million Euros in FY’24. Net financial expenses were 2 million Euros higher than in FY’24, reflecting new financing arrangements, while a net foreign exchange loss of 2 million Euros was recorded in FY’25 against a gain of 1 million Euros in FY’24.

    The income tax expense amounted to 19 million Euros in FY’25, down from 23 million Euros in FY’24. The effective tax rate, however, increased from 11% in FY’24 to 17% in FY’25, as a result of specific one-off items.

    In line with the decline in operating income, the net profit amounted to 92 million Euros in FY’25 (10.3% of revenue), down from 178 million Euros in FY’24 (18.2% of revenue).

    Positive Free Cash Flow generation

    Consolidated cash-flows

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24
         
    Continuing operations    
         
    EBITDA1,6 298 332
         
    Inventories (38) (19)
    Trade receivables (30) (94)
    Trade payables (15) (45)
    Other receivables and liabilities 4 17
    Change in working capital requirement (79) (142)
    Tax paid (17) (25)
         
         
    Net cash generated by operating activities 202 165
         
    Net cash used in investing activities (176) (208)
         
         
    Free Cash Flow 26 (43)
         
    New loans and debt repayment (including finance leases), drawing on credit lines (36) (15)
    Financial expenses (14) (12)
    Liquidity contract and other items (1) (7)
         
         
    Net cash used in financing activities (50) (33)
         
    Impact of exchange rate fluctuations 4 (3)
         
    Net change in cash (21) (80)

    The Group generated a positive Free Cash Flow of 26 million Euros in FY’25, which represents a 69 million Euros improvement compared to the 43 million Euros negative Free Cash Flow recorded in FY’24. Despite a lower EBITDA1,5, this strong increase essentially comes as a result of a better change in working capital. It also benefited from lower tax paid and from reduced capital expenditure.

    Change in working capital remained under control with a cash outflow at 79 million Euros in FY’25, compared to a cash outflow of 142 million Euros in FY’24. FY’25 cash outflow is essentially reflecting:

    • a 38 million Euros increase in inventories as a couple of customers requested to put some deliveries on hold while some late changes in product mix also resulted in an increase in bulk material inventories,
    • a 30 million Euros increase in trade receivables, explained by a different customer mix,
      • a 15 million Euros decrease in trade payables.

    The net cash used in investing activities amounted to 176 million Euros in FY’25, compared to 209 million Euros in FY’24. It takes into account financial income from cash investment of 19 million Euros (17 million Euros in FY’24). Including new production equipment under leases (31 million Euros in FY’25 vs. 51 million Euros in FY’24), total cash out related to capital expenditure amounted to 230 million Euros as expected. It compares with 276 million Euros spent in FY’24. Capital expenditure was essentially related to industrial investments, including:

    • additional POI manufacturing tools in Bernin to increase capacity,
    • production capacity for new SOI products (RF-SOI and Photonics-SOI) in Singapore and 300-mm SOI refresh capacity in Bernin,
    • the ongoing extension of Singapore 300-mm facility (for the part already started),
    • completion of the 200-mm SmartSiCTM pilot line in Bernin.

    Capital expenditure also included IT investments as well as investments supporting the Group’s innovation strategy and its environmental policy.

    Net cash used in financing activities amounted to 50 million Euros in FY’25 (33 million Euros in FY’24) essentially reflecting a net decrease in borrowings and related interest paid.

    In total, including a 4 million Euros positive impact of exchange rate fluctuations (3 million Euros negative impact in FY’24), the net cash outflow reached 21 million Euros in FY’25 (80 million Euros in FY’24) resulting in a steady strong cash position of 688 million Euros on March 31st, 2025.

    Strong balance sheet maintained

    Soitec maintained a strong balance sheet as of March 31st, 2025.

    Shareholders’ equity stood at 1.6 billion Euros on March 31st, 2025, up 100 million Euros from March 31st, 2024.

    Financial debt on March 31st, 2025, was slightly up, at 782 million Euros against 747 million Euros on March 31st, 2024. Taking into account the 21 million Euros cash outflow recorded in FY’25, the net debt position6 was kept at a moderate level, at 94 million Euros on March 31st, 2025, up from 39 million Euros on March 31st, 2024.

    FY’26 outlook

    Given the current reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group withdraws any guidance, whether related to all or part of its activities. This includes the projection of a quite limited growth for FY’26, as well as the medium-term ambition to reach a revenue target of $2bn with an EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. Going forward, the Group will only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis.

    Q1’26 revenue, impacted by the anticipated phase-out of Imager-SOI, is expected down around 20% year-on-year (Imager-SOI Q1’25 revenue: $25m). FY’26 Capex cash-out is expected around €150m, down from €230m in FY’25.

    Operating model at scale

    Soitec continues to pursue its long-term growth strategy, supported by structural trends in its end markets and the accelerated diversification of its product portfolio.

    In this context, Soitec has defined an operating model at scale, representing the financial profile the Group could achieve when operating at a higher volume level. This model reflects the Group’s internal assessment of the efficiencies and profitability enabled by its current industrial and technological platform.

    Based on its market assessment and competitive positioning, Soitec continues to grow its manufacturing capacity, in line with market growth and customer demand. The Group anticipates investing ~€770m to scale its production capacity to enable a $2bn revenue run-rate, which should yield significant operating leverage and cash generation improvement. Given ongoing reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group will not guide on a specific timing, which will be influenced by external factors beyond its control.

    This operating model and the associated ambitions and financial information are not guidance and should not be interpreted as a financial objective or forecast. Actual results will depend on market dynamics, customer adoption, and execution.

    Key events of Q4 FY’25

    Divestment of Dolphin Design’s main businesses

    Dolphin Design’s mixed-signal IP activities have been acquired on October 31st, 2024, by Jolt Capital, a private equity firm specializing in European deeptech investments. Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities were sold to NanoXplore, a major player in SoC and FPGA semiconductor design, on December 30th, 2024.

    Dolphin Design, acquired by Soitec in 2018, has long been at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge semiconductor design solutions in mixed-signal IP and ASICs. The sale of Dolphin Design’s two main business activities will support Soitec’s focus on strategic development and growth opportunities in its core advanced semiconductor materials business.

    A 13 million Euros loss on the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses was recorded in other operating expenses in FY’25. There will be no further impact on Soitec financial statements from FY’26.

    Soitec contributes to accelerated development of integrated optical connectivity solutions for AI data centers with its silicon photonics SOI technology

    On March 19th, 2025, Soitec welcomed recent industry steps to accelerate development and commercialization of co-packaged optics (CPO) solutions for data centers. The rapidly rising data requirements of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are driving demand for silicon photonics-based CPO architectures. For data centers, CPO adoption enables energy savings of around 30% compared with current optical transceiver-based solutions. The momentum for widespread CPO adoption is building up. Following the earlier introduction of groundbreaking CPO products and demonstrators by Broadcom, Intel, and Marvell, NVIDIA unveiled its first CPO products, Spectrum-X and Quantum-X. Soitec is at the forefront of the transition from electrical to optical interconnects. CPO components are reliant on specialist silicon-on-insulator (Photonics-SOI) substrates, in which Soitec is a leader. The coming shift to CPO-based data center architectures is a major opportunity for Soitec.

    Soitec joins the SEMI Silicon Photonics industry alliance

    Soitec also announced on March 19th, 2025, that it has joined the SEMI Silicon Photonics Industry Alliance (SEMI SiPhIA), a group of more than 100 semiconductor industry partners, with TSMC and ASE serving as the alliance’s advocates. The alliance’s mission is to drive silicon photonics innovation and applications, advance industry standards, and foster knowledge-sharing, resource integration, and technical exchange. Through its membership, Soitec will contribute to strengthening supply chain partnerships and fostering international collaboration on the deployment of key next-generation technologies, including CPO.

    Soitec confirms its excellence in innovation with progress up 2024 INPI patent ranking

    On March 31st, 2025, Soitec once again demonstrated its excellence in innovation through its rise in the 2024 ranking of patent filers published by the INPI (the French National Institute of Industrial Property). This recognition highlights Soitec’s unwavering commitment to innovation and confirms its central role in the development of disruptive technologies, driven by a global strategy and a network of research centers spread across several continents. With 76 patents filed in France in 2024, compared to 62 the previous year, Soitec confirms its 1st place among the most innovative mid-sized companies, for the second consecutive year, and rises to 22nd place nationally, up three places. With approximately 400 patents filed worldwide each year, Soitec has established itself as an essential technology leader.

    # # #

    FY’25 results will be commented during an analyst and investor meeting in Paris on May 28th, 2025, at 2pm CET. The meeting will be held in English.

    The live webcast will be available on: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/soitec/20250528_1/

    The investor presentation is available for download on:
    https://www.soitec.com/home/investors/full-year-results-of-fiscal-year-2024—2025

    # # #

    Annual General Meeting

    At its meeting today, the Board of Directors decided to convene the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on July 22nd, 2025. On this occasion, it decided to renew three of the four directors’ terms of office due to expire (Bpifrance Participations, CEA Investissement and Fonds Stratégique de Participations). Regarding Kai Seikku, the latter did not wish to be re-elected.

    Q1’26 revenue

    Q1’26 revenue is due to be published on July 22nd, 2025, after market close.

    # # #

    Disclaimer

    This document is provided by Soitec (the “Company”) for information purposes only.

    The Company’s business operations and financial position are described in the Company’s 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document (which notably includes the Annual Financial Report) which was filed on June 5th, 2024, with the French stock market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, or AMF) under number D.24-0462, as well as in the Company’s 2024-2025 half-year financial report released on November 20th, 2024. The French versions of the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document and the 2024-2025 half-year financial report, together with English courtesy translations for information purposes of both documents, are available for consultation on the Company’s website (www.soitec.com), in the section Company – Investors – Financial Reports.

    Your attention is drawn to the risk factors described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the Company’s 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document.

    This document contains summary information and should be read in conjunction with the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document and the 2024-2025 half-year financial report.

    This document contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s future prospects, developments and strategy and are based on analyses of earnings forecasts and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties as they relate to future events and are dependent on circumstances that may or may not materialize in the future. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of the Company’s future performance. The occurrence of any of the risks described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document may have an impact on these forward-looking statements.

    The Company’s actual financial position, results and cash flows, as well as the trends in the sector in which the Company operates may differ materially from those contained in this document. Furthermore, even if the Company’s financial position, results, cash-flows and the developments in the sector in which the Company operates were to conform to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, such elements cannot be construed as a reliable indication of the Company’s future results or developments.

    The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or make any correction to any forward-looking statement in order to reflect an event or circumstance that may occur after the date of this document.

    This document does not constitute or form part of an offer or a solicitation to purchase, subscribe for, or sell the Company’s securities in any country whatsoever. This document, or any part thereof, shall not form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract, commitment or investment decision.

    Notably, this document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase, subscribe for or to sell securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company’s shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. Neither the Company nor any other person intends to conduct a public offering of the Company’s securities in the United States.

    # # #

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge & Cloud AI (previously Smart Devices). The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,200 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,200 patents.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on X: @Soitec_Official

    # # #

    # # #

    Financial information and consolidated financial statements in appendix include:

    – Consolidated revenue per quarter

    – FY’25 consolidated income statement

    – Balance sheet at March 31st, 2025

    – FY’25 consolidated cashflows

    Consolidated revenue per quarter

    Quarterly revenue Q1’24 Q2’24 Q3’24 Q4’24 Q1’25 Q2’25 Q3’25 Q4’25   FY’24 FY’25
    (Euros millions)                      
    Mobile Communications 89   169   130   222 48   124   154   220   611 546  
    Automotive & Industrial 37 38 44 44 26 33 25 45   163 129
    Edge & Cloud AI 31 37 65 70 46 61 47 63   204 216
                           
    Revenue 157   245   240   337 121   217   226   327   978   891  
    Change in quarterly revenue Q1’25/Q1’24 Q2’25/Q2’24 Q3’25/Q3’24 Q4’25/Q4’24   FY’25/FY’24
    (vs. previous year) Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1   Reported
    Change
    Organic change1
                           
    Mobile Communications -45% -46% -27% -25% +18% +11% -1% -2%   -11% -12%
    Automotive & Industrial -29% -31% -13% -11% -43% -47% +1% 0%   -21% -22%
    Edge & Cloud AI +49% +47% +62% +66% -28% -30% -11% +2%   +6% +11%
                           
    Revenue -23% -24% -11% -9% -6% -10% -3% -1%   -9% -9%

    1         At constant exchange rates and comparable scope of consolidation:

    • there was no scope effect in Q1’25 and Q2’25 vs. Q1’24 and Q2’24
    • in Q3’25 there is a negative scope effect related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s mixed signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024)
    • in Q4’25, in addition to Dolphin Design’s mixed signal IP activities, the negative scope effect also includes the divestment of Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024).

    Consolidated financial statements for FY’25

    As previously reported, Soitec’s refocus on Electronics operations decided in January 2015 was nearly completed on March 31st, 2016. Consequently, the FY’25 residual income and expenses relating to Solar and Other activities are reported under ‘Net result from discontinued operations’, below the ‘Operating income’ line, meaning that down to the line ‘Net result after tax from continuing operations’, the consolidated income statement fully and exclusively reflects the Electronics activity as well as the Group’s corporate functions expenses. This was already the case in FY’24 financial statements.

    Consolidated income statement

      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended

    March 31st, 2025)

    (ended

    March 31st, 2024)

    Revenue 891 978
    Cost of sales (605) (646)
         
    Gross profit 286 332
    Research and development expenses (85) (61)
    General, sales and administrative expenses (65) (63)
    Current operating income 136 208
    Other operating expenses (16) (3)
    Operating income 119 205
    Financial income 19 21
    Financial expenses (28) (25)
    Net financial expense (9) (5)
    Profit before tax 110 201
    Income tax (19) (23)
    Net profit from continuing operations 91 178
    Net profit from discontinued operations 1 0
    Consolidated net profit 92 178
    Net profit, Group share 92 178
    Basic earnings per share (in €) 2.57 5.00
    Diluted earnings per share (in €) 2.56 4.88
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares 35,670,651 35,655,679
    Weighted average number of diluted ordinary shares 35,868,688 37,710,587

    Balance sheet

    Assets March 31st, 2025 March 31st, 2024
    (Euros millions)    
         
    Non-current assets    
    Intangible assets 130 156
    Property, plant and equipment 1,003 913
    Non-current financial assets 30 19
    Other non-current assets 73 70
    Deferred tax assets 59 62
    Total non-current assets 1,295 1,220
         
    Current assets    
    Inventories 231 209
    Trade receivables 463 448
    Other current assets 124 101
    Current financial assets 7 7
    Cash and cash equivalents 688 708
    Total current assets 1,512 1,472
         
    Total assets 2,807 2,692
    Equity and liabilities March 31st, 2025 March 31st, 2024
    (Euros millions)    
         
    Equity    
    Share capital 71 71
    Share premium 228 228
    Reserves and retained earnings 1,280 1,180
    Other reserves 15 15
    Equity-Group share 1,595 1,495
    Total equity 1,595 1,495
         
    Non-current liabilities    
    Non-current financial debt 375 669
    Provisions and other non-current liabilities 94 79
    Total non-current liabilities 469 748
         
    Current liabilities    
    Current financial debt 406 78
    Trade payables 153 169
    Provisions and other current liabilities 185 202
         
    Total current liabilities 743 449
         
    Total equity and liabilities 2,807 2,692

    Consolidated cash flows

      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended
    March 31st, 2025)
    (ended
    March 31st, 2024)
    Consolidated net profit 92 178
    of which continuing operations 91 178
    Depreciation and amortization expense 140 126
    Provision expense/(reversals), net 6 4
    Provisions expense / (reversals) for retirement benefit obligations, net 0 0
    (Gains)/losses on disposals of assets 15 0
    Income tax 19 23
    Net financial expense 9 5
    Share-based payments 11 14
    Other non-cash items 7 (17)
    Non-cash items related to discontinued operations (1) (1)
    EBITDA1 298 332
    of which continuing operations 298 332
    Inventories (38) (19)
    Trade receivables (30) (94)
    Trade payables (15) (45)
    Other receivables and payables 4 17
    Income tax paid (17) (25)
    Changes in working capital requirement and income tax paid related to discontinued operations (0) (0)
    Change in working capital requirement and income tax paid (96) (167)
    of which continuing operations (96) (167)
    Net cash generated by operating activities 201 165
    of which continuing operations 202 166
      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended
    March 31st, 2025)
    (ended
    March 31st, 2024)
    Net cash generated by operating activities 201 165
    of which continuing operations 202 166
    Purchases of intangible assets (27) (48)
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment (172) (177)
    Interest received 19 17
    Disposals/(acquisitions) of financial assets 4 (1)
    Divestment flows related to discontinued operations 1 0
    Net cash used in investing activities (1) (176) (208)
    of which continuing operations (1) (176) (209)
    Loans and drawdowns on credit lines 45 55
    Repayment of borrowings and lease liabilities (81) (70)
    Interest paid (14) (12)
    Liquidity agreement (8)
    Change in interest in subsidiaries without change of control (1) (0)
    Other financing flows 2
    Financing flows related to discontinued operations (0) (0)
    Net cash used in financing activities (50) (33)
    of which continuing operations (50) (33)
    Effects of exchange rate fluctuations 4 (3)
    Net change in cash (21) (80)
    of which continuing operations (21) (80)
    Cash at beginning of the period 708 788
    Cash at end of the period 688 708

    (1) Net cash used in investing activities is net of leases and interest received. Total cash out related to capital expenditure amounted to 230 million Euros in FY’25 compared to 276 million Euros in FY’24.


    1 The EBITDA represents operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment of non-current assets, non-cash items relating to share-based payments, provisions for impairment of current assets and for contingencies and expenses, and disposals gains and losses. EBITDA is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to EBITDA as reported by other groups. It represents additional information and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income or net cash generated by operating activities.

    2 EBITDA margin = EBITDA from continuing operations / Revenue.

    3 Audit procedures were completed and the audit report is in the process of being issued.

    4 The scope effect is related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s mixed-signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024) and that of Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024)

    5 EBITDA from continuing operations.
    6 Financial debt less cash and cash equivalents

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  • India highlights textile and handicraft capabilities at INDEX Dubai 2025 amid rising UAE demand

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ndia has made a significant impact at INDEX Dubai 2025, the Middle East and North Africa’s leading interior design and furniture exhibition, with 55 companies showcasing their products to tap into the region’s expanding $25 billion interior design market, projected to grow to $35 billion by 2031.

    The three-day exhibition, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 27 to 29, has long served as a vital platform connecting international brands with buyers from across the Middle East. This year’s Indian presence was coordinated by key export promotion councils, including the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil), which brought 10 companies; the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which facilitated 12 participants under The Hotel Show segment; and Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan, representing 11 companies.

    The 250-square-meter India Pavilion was established to spotlight India’s diverse offerings in home textiles and handicrafts—ranging from bed linen, towels, and bathrobes to rugs, kitchen linen, and decorative items. The pavilion was inaugurated by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, who interacted with exhibitors and emphasized India’s growing role in the region’s interior and hospitality supply chains.

    The Hotel Show, running parallel to INDEX, attracted buyers from across the GCC including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan. Indian participants received encouraging feedback and strong interest in products such as duvets, curtains, and pillows, driven by rising demand from the UAE’s expanding residential, hospitality, and healthcare sectors.

    India’s robust participation is supported by the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ,which came into effect in May 2022. The agreement provides Indian textile exporters, especially in the cotton segment, with zero-duty market access to the UAE, enhancing competitiveness.

    Textiles and clothing imports into the UAE stand at around $2.5 billion annually. Notably, the textile share has increased to 40%– up from a previous average of 20–25% with cotton textiles alone accounting for $95–110 million annually over the past three years. Indian companies noted that UAE hotels generally source through wholesalers due to smaller order sizes, creating specific opportunities for Indian SMEs offering bundled solutions in smaller quantities.

    INDEX Dubai 2025 features over 530 exhibitors and expects more than 30,000 trade visitors, including architects, designers, developers, and retailers. The event also hosts the “INDEX Design Talks” conference series, where industry leaders explore trends such as sustainable design, AI integration, client engagement, and redefining luxury. Nearly half of the speakers are making their INDEX debut, reflecting the show’s focus on innovation and fresh perspectives.

    Running alongside The Hotel Show and WORKSPACE, INDEX Dubai continues to strengthen Dubai’s role as a global center for interior design, with the city’s dynamic real estate and hospitality sectors driving demand for high-quality, sustainable interior solutions. For Indian exporters, the exhibition reaffirms the growing potential of the UAE market, particularly under the CEPA framework.

  • MIL-OSI: Terranet invites you to a digital investor meeting on June 3, 2025 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    In connection with the subscription period for Terranet AB’s rights issue of units, which runs from May 27 to June 11, 2025, the company invites shareholders and other interested parties to a digital investor meeting. The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams on June 3, 2025, at 14:00 CEST.

    During the session, Terranet’s CEO Lars Lindell will present the company’s latest progress, including the development of BlincVision, plans for the launch of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and continued collaborations with leading industry partners. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in real-time via the chat function.

    Registration
    Please register by emailing corporatefinance@mangold.se as soon as possible, no later than Monday, June 2, 2025. Questions can be submitted in advance and will be answered during the Q&A session if time allows. It will also be possible to ask questions live during the meeting.

    The purpose of the meeting is to provide shareholders and investors with an update on Terranet’s technological and commercial progress.

    More information about the rights issue is available on Terranet AB’s website.
    The presentation will be held in Swedish.

    Preliminary timetable for the Rights Issue

    May 27, 2025 – June 5, 2025 Trading with unit rights
    May 27, 2025 – June 11, 2025 Subscripition period
    May 27, 2025 – June 30, 2025 Trading in paid subscribed units (BTU)
    June 13, 2025 Preliminary date for publication of the outcome in the Rights Issue

    Advisers
    Mangold Fondkommission AB is the financial advisor to Terranet in connection with the Rights Issue. Eversheds Sutherland Advokatbyrå AB is the legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Rights Issue.

    For more information, please contact:
    Lars Lindell, CEO
    E-mail: lars.lindell@terranet.se

    About Terranet AB (publ) 

    Terranet’s goal is to save lives in urban traffic. The company develops innovative technical solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV). Terranet’s anti-collision system BlincVision laser scans and detects road objects up to ten times faster than any other ADAS technology available today.
    The company is headquartered in Lund, with offices in Gothenburg and Stuttgart. Since 2017, Terranet has been listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (Nasdaq: TERRNT-B).

    Follow our journey at: www.terranet.se

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