NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tenders invited for licence of fee-paying public car park at Chai Wan Municipal Services Building

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting tenders for a three-year licence of a fee-paying public car park on portions of Basement Two and a portion of Basement One of Chai Wan Municipal Services Building, 338 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.

         The premises should only be used to operate a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars and motor cycles.

         The tender notice was uploaded today (July 24) to the GPA Property Portal: www.gpaproperty.gov.hk/en/index.html. Tender documents are available for collection at the GPA, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the GPA Property Portal.

         Interested tenderers who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6775 by August 6.

         Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box placed on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on August 14. Late tenders will not be accepted.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Housing Authority awards completion contract

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
     
         The Hong Kong Housing Authority’s Building Committee and Tender Committee today (July 24) approved the award of the completion contract for construction of the Public Housing Development at Tung Chung Area 100, the Public Housing Development at Tuen Mun Area 29 West and the underground link of Pak Tin Estate redevelopment Phase 10. These three projects were previously carried out by Aggressive Construction Company Limited. The remaining works will be taken up by China Overseas Building Construction Limited.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Authority announces senior appointments (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

         The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced the following senior appointments today (July 24):

         Dr Terry Lau Chu-leung will be appointed as Hospital Chief Executive (HCE) of Pok Oi Hospital (POH) and Tin Shui Wai Hospital (TSWH) with effect from August 1, succeeding Dr Chong Yee-hung upon his retirement.

         Dr Lau, currently the Deputising HCE of POH and Chief of Service (Accident & Emergency) of POH, TSWH and Tuen Mun Hospital in the New Territories West Cluster (NTWC), is a specialist in emergency medicine by background. Since 2021, he has also served as the Deputy HCE of POH, demonstrating a proven track record in enhancing operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. Under his leadership, the NTWC Accident & Emergency Department has achieved a sustained low medical admission rate over the past seven years with a 25 per cent reduction in admissions while maintaining a zero access block. As the cluster co-ordinator for the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area, Dr Lau has effectively managed cases of transfer of patients through smooth processing and strong collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

         Dr Simon Tang Yiu-hang will be appointed as Cluster Chief Executive of New Territories East Cluster and HCE of Prince of Wales Hospital with effect from August 25.

         Dr Tang, a specialist in emergency medicine by background, is a seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in management positions at both the corporate and cluster levels. As the Director of Cluster Services at the HA Head Office since 2022, he has achieved significant outcomes across diverse areas, such as the establishment of the Global Healthcare Professional Recruitment Centre to attract non-locally trained doctors and nurses to the HA, the implementation of new procurement strategies which effectively reduced costs in purchasing medical equipment and drugs, and the acceleration of new drug enlistments into the HA Drug Formulary and safety net.

         During the COVID-19 epidemic, Dr Tang played a key leading role in combating the disease by chairing daily morning meetings in the HA to ensure optimal allocation of treatment facilities for patients. He also spearheaded the establishment of the HA TeleHealth platform and drug delivery services to enhance healthcare service accessibility during critical periods.

         The Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan, and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, congratulate Dr Lau and Dr Tang on their new appointments and wish them every success in taking up the new roles. Mr Fan and Dr Ko also express their appreciation to Dr Chong for his dedicated service over the years and wish him a happy retirement.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: EIB and Eni sign €500 million finance agreement to convert Livorno refinery into a biorefinery

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • This will be Eni’s third biorefinery in Italy, after those in Venice and Gela.
    • Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the use of advanced technologies, there is the possibility of adapting the plant to also produce SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) in the future.
    • This initiative contributes to the European Union’s decarbonisation goals, with particular reference to the transport sector, and confirms Eni’s energy transition path.
    • The project is part of Enilive’s strategy to reach more than five million tonnes of biorefinery capacity by 2030.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Eni have signed a €500 million 15-year finance contract to support the conversion of Eni’s Livorno refinery in Tuscany into a biorefinery. The agreement was signed today at Eni’s headquarters in San Donato Milanese by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.

    Eni’s project involves the construction of new plants to produce hydrogenated biofuels at the Livorno refinery site, including a biogenic pre-treatment unit and a 500 000-tonne/year Ecofining™ plant.

    Thanks to its proprietary Ecofining™ technology, Eni’s company dedicated to sustainable mobility, Enilive, produces HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) – a biofuel made from renewable raw materials[1] such as used cooking oil and agrifood waste. Pure HVO can now be used in approved engines and is distributed through existing infrastructure.

    EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said: “The EIB financing is key to delivering a project of high environmental, technological and strategic value, helping to promote the decarbonisation of the transport sector. This is a concrete example of how industrial innovation can accelerate the path towards climate neutrality, while generating sustainable value for regions.”

    Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said: “The agreement with the EIB confirms Eni’s concrete and high-quality commitment in the transition towards increasingly decarbonized energy. It also underscores the validity of our approach, which is to invest and leverage all available and effective initiatives and technologies for reducing emissions. This virtuous approach is now leading us to convert a third refinery into a biorefinery in Italy, following the examples of Venice and Gela.”

    HVO biofuels play a key role because they can make an immediate contribution to reducing transport sector emissions generated not only on roads, but also by air traffic, maritime and rail transport (calculated along the entire value chain). The conversion of the Livorno site is in line with Enilive’s strategy to increase the production of biofuels in response to growing demand in Europe and Italy, in order to meet both emission reduction targets under RED III (Renewable Energy Directive) and the obligations to release pure biofuels for use as defined by Italian legislation. Worldwide, it is estimated that the demand for hydrogenated biofuels will increase by 65% over the period 2024-2028[2].

    The Livorno biorefinery will be able to treat different types of biogenic charges, mainly waste and residues of plant origin, to produce HVO diesel, HVO naphtha and bio-LPG.

    Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the adoption of advanced technologies, there is the possibility in the future of modifying the layout of the plant to have the flexibility to also produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is a key element of efforts to decarbonise aviation. This gives flexibility to the investment and brings it up to speed with the environmental priorities of the European Union, broadening the potential impact.

    This operation is part of the energy transition at national and European level, contributing substantially to decarbonisation of the transport sector and the reduction of CO2 emissions. It also supports the achievement of Italy’s targets for the production of pure biofuels, which under current legislation provides for a gradual increase in use from 300 000 tonnes per year in 2023 to one million tonnes by 2030.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality. In the last five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy. All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower.

    Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32.500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers. In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni’s areas of activity and research. In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy – a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.

    [1] In accordance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive

    [2] IEA Renewables 2023 report, main case, analysis and forecast to 2028.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: EIB and Eni sign €500 million finance agreement to convert Livorno refinery into a biorefinery

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • This will be Eni’s third biorefinery in Italy, after those in Venice and Gela.
    • Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the use of advanced technologies, there is the possibility of adapting the plant to also produce SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) in the future.
    • This initiative contributes to the European Union’s decarbonisation goals, with particular reference to the transport sector, and confirms Eni’s energy transition path.
    • The project is part of Enilive’s strategy to reach more than five million tonnes of biorefinery capacity by 2030.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Eni have signed a €500 million 15-year finance contract to support the conversion of Eni’s Livorno refinery in Tuscany into a biorefinery. The agreement was signed today at Eni’s headquarters in San Donato Milanese by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.

    Eni’s project involves the construction of new plants to produce hydrogenated biofuels at the Livorno refinery site, including a biogenic pre-treatment unit and a 500 000-tonne/year Ecofining™ plant.

    Thanks to its proprietary Ecofining™ technology, Eni’s company dedicated to sustainable mobility, Enilive, produces HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) – a biofuel made from renewable raw materials[1] such as used cooking oil and agrifood waste. Pure HVO can now be used in approved engines and is distributed through existing infrastructure.

    EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said: “The EIB financing is key to delivering a project of high environmental, technological and strategic value, helping to promote the decarbonisation of the transport sector. This is a concrete example of how industrial innovation can accelerate the path towards climate neutrality, while generating sustainable value for regions.”

    Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said: “The agreement with the EIB confirms Eni’s concrete and high-quality commitment in the transition towards increasingly decarbonized energy. It also underscores the validity of our approach, which is to invest and leverage all available and effective initiatives and technologies for reducing emissions. This virtuous approach is now leading us to convert a third refinery into a biorefinery in Italy, following the examples of Venice and Gela.”

    HVO biofuels play a key role because they can make an immediate contribution to reducing transport sector emissions generated not only on roads, but also by air traffic, maritime and rail transport (calculated along the entire value chain). The conversion of the Livorno site is in line with Enilive’s strategy to increase the production of biofuels in response to growing demand in Europe and Italy, in order to meet both emission reduction targets under RED III (Renewable Energy Directive) and the obligations to release pure biofuels for use as defined by Italian legislation. Worldwide, it is estimated that the demand for hydrogenated biofuels will increase by 65% over the period 2024-2028[2].

    The Livorno biorefinery will be able to treat different types of biogenic charges, mainly waste and residues of plant origin, to produce HVO diesel, HVO naphtha and bio-LPG.

    Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the adoption of advanced technologies, there is the possibility in the future of modifying the layout of the plant to have the flexibility to also produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is a key element of efforts to decarbonise aviation. This gives flexibility to the investment and brings it up to speed with the environmental priorities of the European Union, broadening the potential impact.

    This operation is part of the energy transition at national and European level, contributing substantially to decarbonisation of the transport sector and the reduction of CO2 emissions. It also supports the achievement of Italy’s targets for the production of pure biofuels, which under current legislation provides for a gradual increase in use from 300 000 tonnes per year in 2023 to one million tonnes by 2030.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality. In the last five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy. All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower.

    Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32.500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers. In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni’s areas of activity and research. In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy – a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.

    [1] In accordance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive

    [2] IEA Renewables 2023 report, main case, analysis and forecast to 2028.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: SALTGATOR Debuts Desktop Soft-Gel Injection Machine on Kickstarter — A Game-Changer for Makers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DICKINSON, Texas, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SALTGATOR Tech Inc., an Dickinson-based startup dedicated to accessible fabrication tools, is proud to announce the launch of its Kickstarter campaign for the SALTGATOR — the world’s first desktop soft-gel injection molding machine. Compact, safe, and remarkably versatile, SALTGATOR puts industrial-grade molding capabilities into the hands of everyday creators.

    Designed for desktops, workshops, or classrooms, the SALTGATOR measures just 13×6×5.5 inches and supports precise heating up to 410°F (210°C). Fully enclosed and insulated, it safely processes up to 4 fl oz of softgel material, enabling users to create custom items like dual-tone fishing lures, silicone grips, cosplay props, keyboard caps, and squishy toys — all within minutes.

    “We believe manufacturing tools belong on every creator’s desk,” said a SALTGATOR spokesperson. “Our goal is to empower the next generation of inventors with professional molding capabilities — without the cost, complexity, or hazards of traditional industrial equipment.”

    Key Benefits:
    – Compact and Powerful – Industrial-level injection molding in a desktop-sized device
    – Multi-Material Support – Compatible with thermoplastic elastomers and 3D-printed molds (PLA, PETG, resin)
    – Eco-Friendly & Reusable – Remelt and reuse materials to reduce waste and cost
    – No Hidden Costs – No subscriptions, no proprietary cartridges — just refill and go
    – Beginner-Friendly Interface – Simple control panel, auto shut-off, and fume-free operation for total peace of mind

    Kickstarter Details
    The SALTGATOR Kickstarter campaign offers early-bird specials starting at $249, a full $150 discount from the projected $399 retail price. Reward tiers include starter mold sets, custom color options, and extended warranties. Shipping is expected 1 months after campaign completion.

    Backers can explore hands-on video demos, real-world use cases, and expert reviews on the campaign page, showcasing how SALTGATOR bridges the gap between creative ideas and real, tangible products. Whether you’re an educator, DIY enthusiast, or small-batch producer, SALTGATOR makes desktop-scale molding more approachable than ever before.

    “As more creators demand agile, on-demand fabrication solutions, SALTGATOR brings those capabilities home,” added the spokesperson. “We’re here to unlock creativity with tools that are powerful, safe, and surprisingly fun to use.”

    About SALTGATOR Tech Inc.
    Founded in 2025 in Dickinson, Texas, SALTGATOR Tech Inc. develops compact, efficient, and user-friendly fabrication tools for innovators of all levels. With a focus on safety, simplicity, and creativity, SALTGATOR’s mission is to make advanced production technologies — like soft-gel injection molding — accessible to makers, educators, and entrepreneurs around the world.

    For media inquiries and sample requests:
    SALTGATOR Tech Inc. Press Office

    https://www.SALTGATOR.com

    https://discord.com/invite/93EydfRVUD

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613155563/saltgator-the-1st-desktop-softgel-injection-molding-machine?ref=7c79id

    Email: hello@saltgator.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by SALTGATOR Tech Inc.. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23c3bfca-ea72-4a57-a061-6966b5ca0bdb

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c83b5167-eaa7-46c1-8881-6640aeb2d939

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5b7577e2-d171-441f-9c06-912ed41dfafb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget’s July Proof-of-Reserves Report Shows 45% Increase in User Holdings for Bitcoin (BTC)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its latest Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) data reveals a sharp increase in user-held Bitcoin, with BTC balances surging over 45% month-on-month in July. This marks the strongest growth across all major assets tracked on the platform.

    According to the PoR public figures published, BTC held by users grew from 6,594 BTC in June to 9,531 BTC in July. USDT holdings also experienced a notable increase of 21%, climbing from approximately 1.61 billion to nearly 1.95 billion. ETH balances rose by 31% month-on-month, from 148,754 ETH to 195,466 ETH, while USDC holdings grew by 14%.

    The substantial surge in user asset holdings follows ongoing efforts across the industry to promote transparent reserve practices. Bitget continues to publish real-time reserve data via Merkle Tree infrastructure and open-source verification tools. As of July 23, the platform maintains a reserve ratio of over 200% across major assets, double the industry benchmark of 100%.

    “This increase in on-platform user assets, especially Bitcoin, shows a bit of the broader trend in user behavior, where traders and institutions increasingly may favor exchanges that allow independent asset verification,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “Our priority will always be to keep maintaining Bitget as one of the largest most secure platforms for crypto trading,” she added.

    The POR growth in July also corresponds with improved market sentiment and heightened institutional interest in digital assets, particularly following the recent price stabilization of Bitcoin above the $110,000 threshold.

    Bitget’s PoR methodology includes monthly snapshots and daily updates of asset balances, matched against liabilities through publicly auditable cryptographic proofs. The platform’s reserve transparency continues to be a key differentiator as global regulators intensify demands for accountability from centralized exchanges.

    For July, all reserve figures exceed the 100% mark across BTC, ETH, USDT, and USDC, and the exchange remains one of the few top-tier platforms to continuously publish real-time snapshots for user review. This consistent transparency is increasingly valued by both retail and institutional users seeking safeguards against mismanagement or opaque balance sheet practices.

    To know more about Proof of Reserves, please visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab79b77e-18ca-440d-b88b-dd1a69aec32e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beam Global Reports 21% ESS Revenue Growth and $2M Order from Major Customer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, today announced a 21% increase in energy storage solutions (ESS) revenue in the first half of 2025 vs. 2024. Additionally, a purchase order was received from one of its largest ESS customers, for approximately $2 million, scheduled to be recognized as revenue by the end of 2025. The surge reflects Beam Global’s growing role as a trusted ESS supplier for mission-critical energy storage applications and the Company views repeat customers purchasing in increasing volumes as a strong validation of the reliability of its products.

    Beam Global’s ESS business is experiencing material growth, driven by repeat orders from existing customers and the addition of three major new clients, including a Fortune 500 automotive company. The Company believes this continued momentum reflects both the strong loyalty of its current customer base and growing global demand for scalable and safe ESS solutions. Beam’s bespoke designs, superior safety and smart battery management system (BMS) continue to differentiate the Company from its peers.

    “Our efforts to diversify our revenue opportunities continue to pay off,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “Our energy storage group provides the expertise and bespoke products that we need to continue to make Beam Global products better and less expensive to produce. Simultaneously, we are growing external sales of this expertise and these products. These activities, along with our growth into Europe and now the Middle East, as well as our expanded product portfolio, are positioning us for diverse revenue and profit generation. The electrification of transportation will continue to be a global growth engine for many years to come but Beam Global is about much more than that with our energy security and storage business and our increasing presence in smart cities infrastructure. Each of these businesses support each other and offer opportunities for cross selling. Our long-term growth strategy is working.”

    Beam AllCell™ energy storage solutions use patented PCC™ technology that enables more power in a smaller, lighter battery. The advanced thermal management capabilities of PCC™ technology also mitigate thermal runaway propagation, delivering superior safety and the ability to operate efficiently in hot and cold environments. The ESS market is projected to grow from $7.8 billion in 2024 to $25.6 billion in 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.9%.

    About Beam Global
    Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Beam Global is headquartered in San Diego, CA with facilities in Broadview, IL and Belgrade and Kraljevo, Serbia. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit, BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and X.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. These statements relate to future events or future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Beam Global’s actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Beam Global expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Media Contact
    Lisa Potok
    +1 858-327-9123
    Press@BeamForAll.com

    Investor Relations
    Luke Higgins
    +1 858-261-7646
    IR@BeamForAll.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nano Labs Appoints Ms. Can Yang as Senior Vice President of Subsidiary Nano bit to Oversee Execution of Digital Currency Strategic Reserves and Strengthen BNB Reserve Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nano Labs Ltd (Nasdaq: NA) (“we,” the “Company” or “Nano Labs”), a leading Web 3.0 infrastructure and product solution provider in China, today announced the appointment of Ms. Can Yang as senior vice president of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nano bit HK Limited (“Nano bit”). Ms. Yang will be responsible for leading the execution of Nano bit’s digital currency strategic reserves initiatives and supporting its steady and sustainable growth within the global crypto financial ecosystem.

    Ms. Yang brings more than 15 years of experience in finance and investment, spanning both fields of Web2 industries and crypto assets sector. Since 2018, she has been a founding partner at Aquarius Capital, overseeing a $600M+ Bitcoin liquidity fund. In this role, she led direct investments and liquidity provisioning for projects across Layer 1 ecosystems—including but not limited to Sui, Sei, Base, and Babylon.

    Prior to entering the crypto industry, Ms. Yang held several senior roles in the traditional financial sector. From 2016 to 2018, she served as investment director at Hanfor Capital Management Ltd., where she participated in the B round of financing of NIO Inc. and successfully exited upon its IPO. From 2012 to 2016, she served as a senior investment manager at a leading aerospace investment firm, where she participated in billion-dollar fundraising initiatives and managed billion-RMB funds. Earlier in her career, from 2008 to 2010, she worked at Deloitte, contributing to high-profile projects for clients including top-tier companies in the infrastructure, conglomerate, and aviation sectors, and participated in annual and internal control audits for several publicly listed companies.

    Dr. Jianping Kong, Chairman and CEO of Nano Labs, commented on the appointment, “We believe Ms. Yang will bring significant expertise to enhance the professionalism and foresight of the Company’s financial management, international compliance, and asset allocation strategies. Her leadership will be instrumental in optimizing our asset-liability structure, improving capital efficiency and strengthening our BNB reserve capabilities. Furthermore, she will help deepen our participation in the global crypto financial market to achieve long-term, stable value creation.”

    Ms. Yang stated: “It is a great honor to join Nano Labs, a company with a strong vision and outstanding execution. I look forward to contributing to our capital operations and advancing our crypto asset strategies.”

    As of now, the Company has accumulated approximately 120,000 BNB.

    About Nano Labs Ltd

    Nano Labs Ltd is a leading Web 3.0 infrastructure and product solution provider in China. Nano Labs is committed to the development of high throughput computing (“HTC”) chips and high performance computing (“HPC”) chips. Nano Labs has built a comprehensive flow processing unit (“FPU”) architecture which offers solution that integrates the features of both HTC and HPC. In addition, Nano Labs has actively positioned itself in the digital assets space, adopting BNB as its primary reserve asset. It has reserved in mainstream digital currencies including BNB and BTC, and established an integrated platform covering multiple business verticals, including HTC solutions and HPC solutions*. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: ir.nano.cn.

    * According to an industry report prepared by Frost & Sullivan.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s plan to appeal the Staff’s determination, which can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

    For investor inquiries, please contact:

    Nano Labs Ltd
    ir@nano.cn

    Ascent Investor Relations LLC
    Tina Xiao
    Phone: +1-646-932-7242
    Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Everything Blockchain Inc. Advances MemeStrategy Spin-Off Process. Initiates Preparation of Form S-1 for Public Memecoin Treasury.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jacksonville, Florida, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT), a public company building a diversified, yield generating crypto treasury, today announced the next stage in its MemeStrategy spin-off, formally initiating the S-1 registration process and preparing for a potential NASDAQ uplisting through a capital raise and strategic acquisition.

    Under the current plan, EBZT will distribute 1 share of MemeStrategy for every 6 shares of EBZT held, contingent on SEC registration. The company previously announced its intent to create MemeStrategy, and is now taking concrete steps to structure it as the first public meme asset treasury vehicle, modeled after MicroStrategy but tailored to the crypto memecoin economy. 

    MemeStrategy will accumulate culturally significant tokens such as PEPE, BONK, and SPX6900, with the goal of providing transparent public market exposure to memecoin dynamics. strategic outreach is being initiated to relevant token communities, including BONK, PEPE, and SPX6900, to explore collaboration opportunities.

    “We believe memecoins are more than speculation they’re a cultural asset class,” said Arthur Rozenberg, CEO of Everything Blockchain Inc. “MemeStrategy is designed to bring structure and transparency to the meme asset class, with the goal of long term public market access through a potential Nasdaq listing.”

    To execute the uplisting strategy, MemeStrategy is currently interviewing:

    • A seasoned M&A advisor with experience in public company mergers

    • Crypto native Venture Capital aligned with long term meme treasury value creation

    This spin off is part of a broader strategic repositioning of EBZT. Under new leadership, the company is working to distance itself from the prior chapter of legacy liabilities and OTC stigma. As part of that effort, EBZT is exploring alternative exchange listings, including the TSX Venture Exchange in Toronto, to expand investor reach and enhance credibility.

    MemeStrategy is expected to be distributed as a dividend to EBZT shareholders following SEC registration and completion of the merger and listing process. Further details will be shared as the filing progresses.

    For updates or to explore collaboration, visit: www.MemeStrategy.lol

    About Everything Blockchain Inc.

    Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT) is a public company focused on identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. The company’s strategy centers on building a diversified portfolio of leading crypto networks, with primary focus on Solana infrastructure, while pioneering innovative approaches to public company operations through blockchain technology. EBZT is positioned to become the first U.S. OTC-listed company to fully tokenize its equity.
    For more information, visit: www.everythingblockchain.io

    Contact Information

    Arthur Rozenberg

    CEO, Everything Blockchain, Inc.arthur.rozenberg@everythingblockchain.io

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to plans related to tokenization, treasury strategy, market opportunities, capital raises, and anticipated benefits of proposed initiatives. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the completion of necessary financing, regulatory approval, technical execution, market acceptance, competitive factors, and general economic conditions.
    Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Everything Blockchain Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CLEAR, an Official TSA PreCheck® Enrollment Provider, Expands Enrollment and Renewal Options by Opening a New Location at Aventura Mall in South Florida

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), an authorized TSA PreCheck® enrollment provider, continues to expand locations outside the airport environment to enroll and renew consumers in the Trusted Traveler program by opening a new location at Aventura Mall in Aventura, Florida. This complements CLEAR’s 62 airport-based enrollment and renewal locations across the U.S., and CLEAR’s additional flagship locations outside of the airport.

    The launch of this new enrollment location represents the ongoing expansion of CLEAR’s national TSA PreCheck enrollment footprint. Throughout 2025, CLEAR expects to continue delivering convenience to consumers by launching additional locations and extended hours of operation for enrollment and renewals.

    “TSA PreCheck through CLEAR provides a fast and efficient travel experience,” said Kyle McLaughlin, Executive Vice President of Travel and Aviation at CLEAR. “We’re excited to bring this trusted traveler program to Aventura Mall, one of South Florida’s premier shopping destinations. By expanding TSA PreCheck enrollment beyond airports, we’re making it easier and more convenient than ever for people to enroll or renew—helping them move through security faster and with less friction.”

    “At Aventura Mall, we’re continually looking for ways to enhance and simplify the guest experience,” said an Aventura Mall spokesperson. “The addition of TSA PreCheck enrollment through CLEAR is a natural extension of our commitment to providing elevated benefits and enhanced access to better serve our guests.”

    Located in the lower level of Aventura Mall, the enrollment local hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET and Sunday from noon ET to 7 p.m. ET. Look for the TSA PreCheck through CLEAR standing banners and pods.

    TSA PreCheck members benefit from the convenience of keeping shoes, belts and light jackets on through the airport security checkpoint, and keeping laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. Members typically get through security screening much faster, with about 99% of members waiting less than 10 minutes at airport checkpoints nationwide.

    New TSA PreCheck applicants can pre-enroll or find an enrollment location by visiting CLEAR’s authorized TSA PreCheck website, https://tsaprecheckbyclear.tsa.dhs.gov/. Most existing TSA PreCheck members can renew directly on the website, regardless of the provider they enrolled with originally.

    A list of CLEAR enrollment locations for TSA PreCheck is included below, and on the CLEAR, TSA PreCheck website: https://tsaprecheckbyclear.tsa.dhs.gov/locations.

    About TSA PreCheck®
    TSA PreCheck is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler program that allows enrolled travelers expedited screening through airport security. TSA PreCheck lanes are located at over 200 airports with nearly 90 airlines participating. Since TSA first launched the TSA PreCheck application program as a DHS Trusted Traveler Program for low-risk travelers in December 2013, active membership in the program has grown to more than 20 million members.

    About CLEAR
    CLEAR’s mission is to strengthen security and create frictionless experiences. With over 31 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR’s identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you – making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we never sell Member data. For more information, visit clearme.com.

    About Aventura Mall
    Voted the Best Mall by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Aventura Mall continues to set the standard as the premier shopping destination in Miami and South Florida—and one of the top shopping centers in the U.S. Anchored by Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, the center is highlighted by a mix of over 300 stores, from luxury fashion brands to shopper favorites, including the largest Apple store in Florida, the first Eataly in Florida, SKIMS, Alo, Zara, Adidas, Aritzia, Prada, BVLGARI, Burberry, Cartier, Givenchy, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent and Valentino. Aventura Mall also features more than 50 eateries and restaurants, including Treats Food Hall; The Aventura Farmers Market, which showcases dozens of farmers and artisans; and the experiential Arts Aventura Mall program, highlighting 25+ museum-quality pieces in a range of mediums, which guests can enjoy via a self-guided ArtWalk audio tour. Visit AventuraMall.com for more information.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any and such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those described in the Company’s filings within the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10- K. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

    CLEAR
    media@clearme.com

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FirstCash Reports Record Second Quarter Operating Results; Strong Performance Across All Segments Drives Over 30% Year-to-Date EPS Growth; Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend 11%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WORTH, Texas, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (“FirstCash” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FCFS), the leading international operator of more than 3,000 retail pawn stores and a leading provider of retail point-of-sale payment solutions, today announced operating results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2025. The Company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share, an increase of 11% over the previous quarterly dividend, which will be paid in August 2025.

    Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer, stated, “FirstCash is pleased to report outstanding earnings results for the second quarter and year-to-date periods. Pawn demand remains extremely robust, with local currency same-store pawn receivables up 13% in both the U.S. and Latin America, driving strong earnings growth for both segments. AFF posted growth in originations for the second quarter and a segment earnings increase of 46% versus last year. Driven by strong cash flows, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly cash dividend by 11%, which further reflects the strength of our business and long-term earnings prospects.”

    Additionally, the Company expects to complete its previously announced acquisition of H&T Group plc (“H&T”) by the end of the third quarter of 2025, subject to receipt of the required approvals by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom (“FCA”) and satisfaction of the other remaining closing conditions. H&T is the largest pawnbroker in the U.K. with 285 locations and would represent FirstCash’s first operations in Europe.

    This release contains adjusted financial measures, which exclude certain non-operating and/or non-cash income and expenses, that are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the descriptions and reconciliations to GAAP of these and other non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.

        Three Months Ended June 30,
        As Reported (GAAP)   Adjusted (Non-GAAP)
    In thousands, except per share amounts   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Revenue   $ 830,622   $ 831,012   $ 830,622   $ 831,012
    Net income   $ 59,805   $ 49,073   $ 79,620   $ 61,898
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 1.34   $ 1.08   $ 1.79   $ 1.37
    EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)   $ 132,753   $ 117,651   $ 145,129   $ 121,882
    Weighted-average diluted shares     44,552     45,289     44,552     45,289
        Six Months Ended June 30,
        As Reported (GAAP)   Adjusted (Non-GAAP)
    In thousands, except per share amounts   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Revenue   $ 1,667,045   $ 1,667,382   $ 1,667,045   $ 1,667,382
    Net income   $ 143,396   $ 110,441   $ 172,399   $ 132,087
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 3.21   $ 2.44   $ 3.86   $ 2.91
    EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)   $ 295,714   $ 250,238   $ 308,009   $ 253,474
    Weighted-average diluted shares     44,670     45,338     44,670     45,338
     

    Consolidated Operating Highlights

    • Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter increased 24% over the prior-year quarter on a GAAP basis while adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 31% compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Year-to-date diluted earnings per share increased 32% over the prior-year period on a GAAP basis and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 33% compared to the prior-year period.
    • Net income for the second quarter increased 22% over the prior-year quarter on a GAAP basis while adjusted net income increased 29% compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Year-to-date net income increased 30% over the prior-year period on a GAAP basis and adjusted net income increased 31% compared to the prior-year period.
    • Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter increased 19% compared to the prior-year quarter. On a year-to-date basis, adjusted EBITDA increased 22% compared to the comparative prior-year period.
    • For the trailing twelve month period ended June 30, 2025 the Company reported:
      • Revenues of $3.4 billion
      • Net income of $292 million on a GAAP basis and adjusted net income of $343 million
      • Adjusted EBITDA of $613 million
      • Operating cash flows of $555 million and adjusted free cash flows (a non-GAAP measure) of $267 million

    Store Base and Platform Growth

    • U.K. Pawn Acquisition Update
      • On July 2, 2025 the shareholders of H&T voted to approve the acquisition.
      • Pending approvals by the FCA and the satisfaction of other closing conditions, the Company expects the transaction to close by the end of the third quarter.
      • The total equity value for the H&T acquisition is approximately £291 million ($396 million USD using GBP/USD exchange rate of 1.36) which the Company intends to fund utilizing its revolving bank credit facility.
      • This combination of FirstCash and H&T will create the largest publicly traded pawn platform in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom with more than 3,300 total locations.
    • Other Pawn Store Additions
      • A total of 13 pawn locations were added in the second quarter and 25 stores added year-to-date.
      • Three U.S. stores were acquired in Illinois, bringing the total to 39 locations in that market. Additionally, one new location in Texas was opened during the second quarter. Year-to-date through June 30, 2025, a total of six new locations were opened or acquired in the U.S.
      • There were nine new store openings in Latin America, all of which are located in Mexico. Year-to-date through June 30, 2025, a total of 19 new locations were opened in Latin America.
      • The Company purchased the underlying real estate of 14 U.S. stores during the quarter, bringing the total number of company owned locations to 421 at quarter end.
      • As of June 30, 2025, the Company had 3,027 locations, comprised of 1,194 U.S. locations and 1,833 locations in Latin America. Additionally, two U.S. stores were acquired in July 2025 in separate transactions.
    • Retail POS Payment Solutions (AFF) Merchant Partnerships
      • At June 30, 2025, there were approximately 15,300 active retail and e-commerce merchant partner locations, representing a 19% increase in the number of active merchant locations compared to a year ago. Excluding furniture locations that closed in the prior year due to merchant partner bankruptcies, the number of active doors increased 29%.

    U.S. Pawn Segment Operating Results

    • Segment pre-tax operating income in the second quarter of 2025 was a record $98 million, an increase of $8 million, or 8%, compared to the prior-year quarter. The resulting segment pre-tax operating margin was 24% for the second quarter of 2025, which equaled the prior-year quarter.
    • Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income increased by $24 million, or 13%, compared to the prior-year period. The pre-tax operating margin was 25% for the year-to-date period, which equaled the prior-year period.
    • Pawn receivables increased 12% in total at June 30, 2025 compared to the prior year, driven by an impressive 13% increase in same-store pawn receivables. On a two-year stacked basis, same-store pawn receivables were up 24%.
    • Pawn loan fees increased 9% for the second quarter both in total and on a same-store basis.
    • Retail merchandise sales increased 9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the prior-year quarter, while same-store retail sales increased 7% compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Retail sales margins increased to 43% for the second quarter compared to 42% in the prior-year quarter. Annualized inventory turnover was 2.8 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2025, which equaled the inventory turnover during the same prior-year period. Inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2025 remained low at 2% of total inventories.

    Latin America Pawn Segment Operating Results

    Note: Certain growth rates below are calculated on a constant or local currency basis, a non-GAAP financial measure defined at the end of this release. The average Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate for the second quarter of 2025 was 19.5 pesos / dollar, an unfavorable change of 13% versus the comparable prior-year period, and for the six month period ended June 30, 2025 was 20.0 pesos / dollar, an unfavorable change of 17% versus the prior-year period.

    • Despite the 13% decrease in the average Mexican peso exchange rate, second quarter segment pre-tax operating income increased 10% on a U.S. dollar basis and totaled a record $41 million compared to last year. On a local currency basis, segment earnings increased 22% over last year, with resulting segment pre-tax operating margins of 20% for both measures, compared to 18% in the prior year.
    • Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $72 million, a 5% increase on a U.S. dollar-basis compared to the prior-year period and an 18% increase on a local currency basis. The year-to-date pre-tax operating margin increased to 19% compared to 17% in the prior-year period.
    • Pawn receivables at June 30, 2025 increased 11% on a U.S. dollar basis while increasing 14% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year. On a same-store basis, pawn receivables increased 10% on a U.S. dollar basis and increased 13% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year.
    • While total and same-store pawn loan fees in the second quarter decreased 1% and 2% on a U.S. dollar-basis, respectively, they both increased 11% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Retail merchandise sales in the second quarter of 2025 increased 1% on a U.S. dollar-basis compared to the prior-year quarter while increasing 14% on a constant currency basis. On a same-store basis, second quarter retail merchandise sales were flat on a U.S. dollar basis while increasing 13% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Retail margins were 36% for the second quarter of 2025, which equaled the prior-year quarter. Annualized inventory turnover was 4.1 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2025 compared to 4.3 times in the prior-year period. Inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2025 remained extremely low at 1%.

    American First Finance (AFF) – Retail POS Payment Solutions Segment Operating Results

    • Second quarter segment pre-tax operating income totaled $38 million, an increase of 46% compared to the prior-year quarter. The growth in earnings was driven primarily by gross margin improvement and operating expense reductions. Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $90 million, a 53% increase over the prior-year period which was $59 million.
    • While gross revenues for the second quarter decreased 14%, primarily due to the American Freight Warehouse (“A-Freight”) and Conn’s Home Plus (“Conn’s”) bankruptcies in late 2024, net revenue increased 2%, driven by growth in revenue from other merchant partners and lower net credit provisioning expenses.
    • Gross transaction volume of lease and loan originations during the second quarter increased 3%, compared to the second quarter of last year. Excluding 2024 originations from A-Freight and Conn’s, second quarter 2025 origination volume increased approximately 34%. For the year-to-date period, overall gross transaction volume decreased 2% over the same prior-year period and was up 29% excluding A-Freight and Conn’s.
    • As a percentage of the total gross transaction volume, the combined lease and loan loss provision expense was 29% for the second quarter of 2025 compared to 31% in the second quarter of 2024. The decrease reflected lower than expected charge-offs on older portfolio vintages which resulted in net reserve releases. The combined allowance as a percentage of combined leased merchandise and finance receivables at June 30, 2025 was 43% compared to 45% a year ago.
    • Operating expenses decreased 31% compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the elimination of certain expenses associated with supporting the A-Freight and Conn’s relationships in the prior-year period along with continued realization of operating synergies, including greater efficiencies in technology and development infrastructure, coupled with other cost reduction initiatives.

    Cash Flow and Liquidity

    • Consolidated operating cash flows for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2025 grew 26% and totaled $555 million compared to $439 million in the same prior-year period, with significant contributions from each of the Company’s three business segments.
    • Adjusted free cash flows increased 21% to $267 million in the twelve month period ended June 30, 2025 compared to $220 million in the same prior-year period.
    • The operating cash flows helped fund significant growth in earning assets, continued investments in the pawn store platform and shareholder returns over the past twelve months with a nominal increase in net debt:
      • Pawn earning assets (pawn receivables and inventories) increased $99 million compared to last year.
      • A total of 15 pawn stores were acquired for a combined purchase price of $44 million.
      • 42 new pawn stores were added with a combined investment of $16 million in fixed assets and working capital.
      • Real estate purchases totaled $93 million as the Company purchased the underlying real estate at 60 of its existing pawn stores, bringing the number of Company-owned properties to 421 locations.
      • Shareholder returns comprised of stock repurchases and cash dividends of $127 million.
    • Net debt at June 30, 2025 was $1.6 billion, of which $1.5 billion is fixed rate debt with favorable interest rates ranging from 4.625% to 6.875% and maturity dates that do not begin until 2028 and continue into 2032. The outstanding balance under the Company’s $700 million revolving line of credit totaled $152 million at June 30, 2025.
    • Based on trailing twelve month results, the Company’s net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 2.6x at June 30, 2025.

    Shareholder Returns

    • The Board of Directors declared a $0.42 per share third quarter cash dividend, which will be paid on August 29, 2025 to stockholders of record as of August 15, 2025. This represents an 11% increase over the previous quarterly dividend.
    • On an annualized basis, the dividend is now $1.68 per share, also representing an 11% increase over the previous annualized dividend of $1.52 per share. Any future dividends are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors.
    • Over the past twelve months, the Company has repurchased 525,000 shares of common stock at a total cost of $60 million and paid out $68 million in cash dividends, representing a payout ratio of approximately 44% of net income over the same period.
    • The Company has $55 million available under the $200 million share repurchase program authorized in July 2023. Future share repurchases are subject to expected liquidity, acquisitions and other investment opportunities, debt covenant restrictions, market conditions and other relevant factors.
    • The Company generated a 14% return on equity and a 7% return on assets for the twelve months ended June 30, 2025. Using adjusted net income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2025, the adjusted return on equity was 17% while the adjusted return on assets was 8%.

    2025 Outlook

    Driven by the strong first half results and continuing customer demand for pawn loans, the outlook for 2025 remains highly positive, with expected year-over-year growth in income driven by the continued growth in earning asset balances coupled with store additions. While the H&T acquisition is now anticipated to close by the end of the third quarter of 2025, the estimates provided below do not yet include revenue and contributions from H&T. Anticipated conditions and trends for the remainder of 2025 include the following:

    Pawn Operations:

    • Pawn operations are expected to remain the primary earnings driver in 2025 as the Company expects segment income from the combined U.S. and Latin America pawn segments to be over 80% of total segment level pre-tax income for the full year.
    • The Company expects further growth in the pawn store base in 2025 through a combination of new store openings and potential small acquisitions.

    U.S. Pawn

    • Based on strong first half results and expected store additions, the outlook for anticipated revenue growth and margins has been increased for all metrics.
    • Same-store pawn loans at June 30, 2025 were up 13% compared to a year ago, with July balances to date up similarly. Given these trends, the outlook for pawn fee growth is now expected to be in a range of 10% to 12% for the full year versus the prior expectation of 9% to 11% for the full year.
    • Retail sales are expected to grow in a high single digit range in 2025 versus prior expectations of mid single digits. Retail sales margins are now targeted at the upper end of the 41% to 42% guidance range.

    Latin America Pawn

    • U.S. dollar-reported first half results for Latin America in 2025 were negatively impacted by the lower exchange rate for the Mexican peso during the first half of this year compared to last year. With the recent favorable movement in the peso and the better than expected growth in the underlying business, the Company is increasing its full year revenue outlook for the Latin America pawn segment.
    • Same-store pawn receivables at June 30, 2025 were up 10% on a U.S. dollar basis and up 13% on a constant currency basis, with July balances to date up similarly. Full year pawn fee growth is now expected to increase in a range of 10% to 12% on a local currency basis and is now projected to be flat to up slightly on a U.S. dollar basis versus prior expectations of flat to down slightly on a U.S. dollar basis.
    • Retail sales in Latin America are also expected to track similarly to pawn fees in 2025 with consistent retail margins.

    Retail POS Payment Solutions (AFF) Operations:

    • The forecast for full year origination volume for 2025 is expected to be relatively consistent with the 2024 volume. Excluding 2024 originations from Conn’s and A-Freight, origination volumes are expected to increase in a range of 20% to 25% over 2024, reflecting continued diversification outside the furniture vertical.
    • The outlook for full year net revenues has improved, with the revised forecast for net revenues now expected to decline only 6% to 8% compared to last year versus the previously forecasted decline of 8% to 12%.
    • The net lease and loan charge-off rates for the second half of 2025 are expected to remain consistent with the charge-off rates in the second half of last year. Quarterly operating expenses for the balance of 2025 are expected to remain generally consistent with the second quarter run rate.

    Tax Rates and Currency:

    • The full year 2025 effective income tax rate under current tax codes in the U.S. and Latin America is expected to range from 24.5% to 25.5%.
    • Each full point change in the exchange rate of the Mexican peso is projected to have an annual earnings impact of approximately $0.10 per share.

    Additional Commentary and Analysis

    Mr. Wessel further commented on FirstCash’s second quarter results and the outlook for the remainder of 2025, “Operating performance across all business segments continues to be incredibly strong, driving year-to-date earnings per share growth of 32% on a GAAP basis and a 33% increase on an adjusted basis. FirstCash also achieved another significant earnings milestone this quarter with adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months exceeding $600 million for the first time in Company history.

    “The U.S. pawn segment has now recorded eight consecutive quarters of double-digit growth in same-store receivables with continuing demand remaining strong thus far in July. At the same time, we remain disciplined in managing loan-to-value ratios as evidenced by the improved U.S. retail margins in the second quarter. The demand for value priced merchandise remains strong as well with same-store retail sales up 7% for the most recent quarter.

    “In Latin America, we have seen tremendous growth in pawn receivables over the last three quarters, including a 13% increase in same-store pawn receivables in the second quarter. This trend continued to accelerate, with same-store pawn loan originations in Mexico up over 20% over the last thirty days. Our outlook for Latin America is further enhanced by the improved exchange rate for the Mexican peso since the last quarter, which has reduced the previously anticipated currency headwinds and improved our full year outlook for the region.

    “Solid performance at AFF further bolstered second quarter and year-to-date operating results for our Retail POS Payment Solutions segment. AFF now has over 15,000 active doors, an increase of 19% over a year ago. Coupled with a 12% increase in same-door originations, AFF fully offset the impact of the loss of two significant merchant partners to bankruptcy last year and realized an overall total increase in originations in the second quarter. Growth continues to be particularly robust in verticals such as elective medical and automotive services. Driven by the solid revenue performance and significant expense savings, profitability for AFF has been especially strong in the first half of the year.

    “Looking ahead, we continue to progress toward the closing of the H&T acquisition. H&T represents a highly complementary strategic fit as the U.K.’s largest pawnbroker, operating with a network of 285 stores, which will expand FirstCash’s geographic footprint into a new and attractive market further providing the Company with enhanced scale, operating efficiencies and long-term growth opportunities. We continue to believe in the financial and strategic rationale for expanding our international operations as part of our long-term growth strategy.

    “Lastly, based on strong earnings results, robust operating cash flows and the strength of its balance sheet, FirstCash continues to make significant investments in new stores, acquisitions and shareholder returns. To that end, we are again pleased to announce an increased quarterly cash dividend to be paid in August which is expected to provide an annualized payout of $1.68 per share further augmenting shareholder returns” concluded Mr. Wessel.

    About FirstCash

    FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores focused on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers. FirstCash’s more than 3,000 pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments and other merchandise, and make small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. FirstCash’s pawn segments in the U.S. and Latin America currently account for approximately 80% of annualized segment earnings, with the remainder provided by its wholly owned subsidiary, AFF, which provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions for consumer goods and services.

    FirstCash is a component company in both the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index® and the Russell 2000 Index®. FirstCash’s common stock (ticker symbol “FCFS”) is traded on the Nasdaq, the creator of the world’s first electronic stock market. For additional information regarding FirstCash and the services it provides, visit FirstCash’s websites located at http://www.firstcash.com and http://www.americanfirstfinance.com.

    Forward-Looking Information

    This release contains forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition, outlook and prospects of FirstCash Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (together, the “Company”), including the Company’s outlook for 2025 and the Company’s previously announced H&T acquisition. Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “projects,” “expects,” “may,” “estimates,” “should,” “plans,” “targets,” “intends,” “could,” “would,” “anticipates,” “potential,” “confident,” “optimistic,” or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, objectives, estimates, guidance, expectations, outlook and future plans. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties.

    While the Company believes the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made in this release. Such factors and risks may include, without limitation, risks related to the extensive regulatory environment in which the Company operates, including uncertainty involving the current regulatory environment under the current presidential administration; risks associated with the legal and regulatory proceedings that the Company is a party to or may become a party to in the future; risks related to the Company’s acquisitions, including the failure of the Company’s acquisitions to deliver the estimated value and benefits expected by the Company and the ability of the Company to continue to identify and consummate acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all; risks related to the H&T acquisition, in particular, the ability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the H&T acquisition from the FCA and to satisfy the other closing conditions in the expected timeframe, if at all, and the ability to achieve the anticipated benefits from the H&T acquisition; potential changes in consumer behavior and shopping patterns which could impact demand for the Company’s pawn loan, retail, lease-to-own (“LTO”) and retail finance products; labor shortages and increased labor costs; a deterioration in the economic conditions in the United States and Latin America, including as a result of inflation, elevated interest rates and trade policy, which potentially could have an impact on discretionary consumer spending and demand for the Company’s products; currency fluctuations, primarily involving the Mexican peso; competition the Company faces from other retailers and providers of retail payment solutions; the ability of the Company to successfully execute on its business strategies; contraction in sales activity at merchant partners of the Company’s retail point-of-sale (“POS”) payment solutions business; impact of store closures, financial difficulties or even bankruptcies at the merchant partners of the Company’s retail POS payment solutions business; the ability of the Company’s retail POS payment solutions business to continue to grow its base of merchant partners, including those outside of the furniture vertical; and other risks discussed and described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risks described in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” thereof, and other reports filed with the SEC. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the ability of the Company to control, nor can the Company predict, in many cases, all of the risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to report any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (unaudited, in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,
        2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Revenue:              
    Retail merchandise sales $ 385,125     $ 363,463     $ 756,181     $ 730,284  
    Pawn loan fees   190,822       181,046       382,693       360,581  
    Leased merchandise income   139,784       194,570       296,702       400,241  
    Interest and fees on finance receivables   76,075       56,799       149,488       114,186  
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales   38,816       35,134       81,981       62,090  
    Total revenue   830,622       831,012       1,667,045       1,667,382  
                   
    Cost of revenue:              
    Cost of retail merchandise sold   230,326       218,147       454,450       441,676  
    Depreciation of leased merchandise   78,272       110,157       167,091       230,441  
    Provision for lease losses   32,543       47,653       60,105       90,663  
    Provision for loan losses   41,761       31,116       78,121       61,534  
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold   34,904       28,542       70,259       51,831  
    Total cost of revenue   417,806       435,615       830,026       876,145  
                   
    Net revenue   412,816       395,397       837,019       791,237  
                   
    Expenses and other income:              
    Operating expenses   222,493       228,369       437,079       449,505  
    Administrative expenses   59,263       46,602       107,786       90,620  
    Depreciation and amortization   25,864       26,547       51,366       52,574  
    Interest expense   26,337       25,187       53,808       50,605  
    Interest income   (527 )     (261 )     (1,756 )     (1,004 )
    (Gain) loss on foreign exchange   (1,271 )     1,437       (1,285 )     1,251  
    Merger and acquisition expenses   2,777       1,364       3,239       1,961  
    Other income, net   (3,199 )     (26 )     (5,514 )     (2,338 )
    Total expenses and other income   331,737       329,219       644,723       643,174  
                   
    Income before income taxes   81,079       66,178       192,296       148,063  
                   
    Provision for income taxes   21,274       17,105       48,900       37,622  
                   
    Net income $ 59,805     $ 49,073     $ 143,396     $ 110,441  
     
    Certain amounts in the consolidated statement of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 have been reclassified in order to conform to the 2025 presentation.
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (unaudited, in thousands)
     
      June 30,   December 31,
        2025       2024       2024  
    ASSETS          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 101,467     $ 113,693     $ 175,095  
    Accounts receivable, net   76,062       72,158       73,325  
    Pawn loans   550,718       491,731       517,867  
    Finance receivables, net   154,518       105,401       147,501  
    Inventories   355,733       315,424       334,580  
    Leased merchandise, net   100,689       142,935       128,437  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   35,667       31,923       26,943  
    Total current assets   1,374,854       1,273,265       1,403,748  
               
    Property and equipment, net   750,862       661,005       717,916  
    Operating lease right of use asset   342,859       324,651       324,646  
    Goodwill   1,826,184       1,794,957       1,787,172  
    Intangible assets, net   204,643       253,910       228,858  
    Other assets   9,805       9,606       9,934  
    Deferred tax assets, net   5,042       5,014       4,712  
    Total assets $ 4,514,249     $ 4,322,408     $ 4,476,986  
               
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 145,035     $ 141,314     $ 171,540  
    Customer deposits and prepayments   80,848       76,452       72,703  
    Lease liability, current   100,845       97,809       95,161  
    Total current liabilities   326,728       315,575       339,404  
               
    Revolving unsecured credit facilities   152,000       150,000       198,000  
    Senior unsecured notes   1,532,865       1,529,870       1,531,346  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net   125,290       129,060       128,574  
    Lease liability, non-current   237,198       219,454       225,498  
    Total liabilities   2,374,081       2,343,959       2,422,822  
               
    Stockholders’ equity:          
    Common stock   575       575       575  
    Additional paid-in capital   1,760,179       1,760,986       1,767,569  
    Retained earnings   1,520,677       1,296,721       1,411,083  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (96,267 )     (84,366 )     (129,596 )
    Common stock held in treasury, at cost   (1,044,996 )     (995,467 )     (995,467 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   2,140,168       1,978,449       2,054,164  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,514,249     $ 4,322,408     $ 4,476,986  
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    The Company organizes its operations into three reportable segments as follows:

    • U.S. pawn
    • Latin America pawn
    • Retail POS payment solutions (AFF)

    Corporate expenses and income, which include administrative expenses, corporate depreciation and amortization, interest expense, interest income, gain on foreign exchange, merger and acquisition expenses, and other income, net, are presented on a consolidated basis and are not allocated to the segments. Intersegment transactions related to AFF’s LTO payment solution product offered in U.S. pawn stores are eliminated from consolidated totals.

    U.S. Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended        
      June 30,    
      2025
    		   2024   Increase
    Revenue:                  
    Retail merchandise sales $ 249,918     $ 230,093       9 %  
    Pawn loan fees   130,948       120,332       9 %  
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales   28,740       26,311       9 %  
    Total revenue   409,606       376,736       9 %  
                       
    Cost of revenue:                  
    Cost of retail merchandise sold   143,149       132,449       8 %  
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold   26,265       21,269       23 %  
    Total cost of revenue   169,414       153,718       10 %  
                       
    Net revenue   240,192       223,018       8 %  
                       
    Segment expenses:                  
    Operating expenses   133,815       125,192       7 %  
    Depreciation and amortization   8,091       7,231       12 %  
    Total segment expenses   141,906       132,423       7 %  
                       
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 98,286     $ 90,595       8 %  
                       
    Operating metrics:                  
    Retail merchandise sales margin 43 %   42 %        
    Net revenue margin 59 %   59 %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 24 %   24 %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    U.S. Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

      Six Months Ended        
      June 30,    
      2025    2024    Increase
    Revenue:                  
    Retail merchandise sales $ 501,143     $ 467,083       7 %  
    Pawn loan fees   268,896       243,306       11 %  
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales   62,232       44,037       41 %  
    Total revenue   832,271       754,426       10 %  
                       
    Cost of revenue:                  
    Cost of retail merchandise sold   288,907       272,363       6 %  
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold   53,489       36,535       46 %  
    Total cost of revenue   342,396       308,898       11 %  
                       
    Net revenue   489,875       445,528       10 %  
                       
    Segment expenses:                  
    Operating expenses   262,766       244,087       8 %  
    Depreciation and amortization   15,691       14,244       10 %  
    Total segment expenses   278,457       258,331       8 %  
                       
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 211,418     $ 187,197       13 %  
                       
    Operating metrics:                  
    Retail merchandise sales margin 42 %   42 %        
    Net revenue margin 59 %   59 %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 25 %   25 %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    U.S. Pawn Earning Assets and Portfolio Metrics (dollars in thousands, except as otherwise noted)

      As of June 30,    
      2025
    		   2024   Increase
    Earning assets:                  
    Pawn loans $ 400,143     $ 356,342       12 %  
    Inventories   252,885       223,428       13 %  
      $ 653,028     $ 579,770       13 %  
                       
    Average outstanding pawn loan amount (in ones) $ 286     $ 260       10 %  
                       
    Composition of pawn collateral:                  
    General merchandise 28 %   30 %        
    Jewelry 72 %   70 %        
      100 %   100 %        
                       
    Composition of inventories:                  
    General merchandise 39 %   43 %        
    Jewelry 61 %   57 %        
      100 %   100 %        
                       
    Percentage of inventory aged greater than one year 2 %   1 %        
                       
    Inventory turns (trailing twelve months cost of merchandise sales divided by average inventories) 2.8 times   2.8 times        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Constant currency results are non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude the effects of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current-year results at prior-year average exchange rates. See the “Constant Currency Results” section below for additional discussion of constant currency operating results.

    Latin America Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

                          Constant Currency Basis
                          Three Months        
                    Ended        
        Three Months Ended           June 30,   Increase /
        June 30,   Increase /     2025     (Decrease)
          2025         2024     (Decrease)   (Non-GAAP)   (Non-GAAP)
    Revenue:                              
    Retail merchandise sales   $ 135,956       $ 134,445       1   %   $ 153,234       14   %
    Pawn loan fees     59,874         60,714       (1 ) %     67,497       11   %
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales     10,076         8,823       14   %     10,076       14   %
    Total revenue     205,906         203,982       1   %     230,807       13   %
                                   
    Cost of revenue:                              
    Cost of retail merchandise sold     87,579         86,276       2   %     98,641       14   %
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold     8,639         7,273       19   %     9,811       35   %
    Total cost of revenue     96,218         93,549       3   %     108,452       16   %
                                   
    Net revenue     109,688         110,433       (1 ) %     122,355       11   %
                                   
    Segment expenses:                              
    Operating expenses     64,414         67,902       (5 ) %     72,340       7   %
    Depreciation and amortization     4,294         5,418       (21 ) %     4,804       (11 ) %
    Total segment expenses     68,708         73,320       (6 ) %     77,144       5   %
                                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income   $ 40,980       $ 37,113       10   %   $ 45,211       22   %
                                   
    Operating metrics:                              
    Retail merchandise sales margin 36  %   36  %         36  %        
    Net revenue margin 53  %   54  %         53  %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 20  %   18  %         20  %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Latin America Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

                          Constant Currency Basis
                          Six Months        
                    Ended        
        Six Months Ended           June 30,   Increase /
        June 30,   Increase /     2025     (Decrease)
          2025         2024     (Decrease)   (Non-GAAP)   (Non-GAAP)
    Revenue:                              
    Retail merchandise sales   $ 256,488       $ 265,294       (3 ) %   $ 296,887       12   %
    Pawn loan fees     113,797         117,275       (3 ) %     131,755       12   %
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales     19,749         18,053       9   %     19,749       9   %
    Total revenue     390,034         400,622       (3 ) %     448,391       12   %
                                   
    Cost of revenue:                              
    Cost of retail merchandise sold     166,318         170,459       (2 ) %     192,333       13   %
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold     16,770         15,296       10   %     19,491       27   %
    Total cost of revenue     183,088         185,755       (1 ) %     211,824       14   %
                                   
    Net revenue     206,946         214,867       (4 ) %     236,567       10   %
                                   
    Segment expenses:                              
    Operating expenses     125,831         135,327       (7 ) %     144,841       7   %
    Depreciation and amortization     8,730         10,523       (17 ) %     10,008       (5 ) %
    Total segment expenses     134,561         145,850       (8 ) %     154,849       6   %
                                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income   $ 72,385       $ 69,017       5   %   $ 81,718       18   %
                                   
    Operating metrics:                              
    Retail merchandise sales margin 35  %   36  %         35  %        
    Net revenue margin 53  %   54  %         53  %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 19  %   17  %         18  %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Latin America Pawn Earning Assets and Portfolio Metrics (dollars in thousands, except as otherwise noted)

                          Constant Currency Basis
                          As of        
                          June 30,    
      As of June 30,       2025   Increase
      2025   2024   Increase   (Non-GAAP)   (Non-GAAP)
    Earning assets:                              
    Pawn loans $ 150,575     $ 135,389       11 %     $ 154,466     14 %  
    Inventories   102,848       91,996       12 %       105,501     15 %  
      $ 253,423     $ 227,385       11 %     $ 259,967     14 %  
                                   
    Average outstanding pawn loan amount (in ones) $ 96     $ 89       8 %     $ 98     10 %  
                                   
    Composition of pawn collateral:                              
    General merchandise 57 %   63 %                    
    Jewelry 43 %   37 %                    
      100 %   100 %                    
                                   
    Composition of inventories:                              
    General merchandise 59 %   69 %                    
    Jewelry 41 %   31 %                    
      100 %   100 %                    
                                   
    Percentage of inventory aged greater than one year 1 %   1 %                    
                                   
    Inventory turns (trailing twelve months cost of merchandise sales divided by average inventories) 4.1 times   4.3 times                    
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Retail POS Payment Solutions Operating Results (dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended        
      June 30,   Increase /
      2025   2024   (Decrease)
    Revenue:              
    Leased merchandise income $ 139,784   $ 194,570     (28 ) %
    Interest and fees on finance receivables   76,075     56,799     34   %
    Total revenue   215,859     251,369     (14 ) %
                   
    Cost of revenue:              
    Depreciation of leased merchandise   78,529     110,567     (29 ) %
    Provision for lease losses   32,667     47,824     (32 ) %
    Provision for loan losses   41,761     31,116     34   %
    Total cost of revenue   152,957     189,507     (19 ) %
                   
    Net revenue   62,902     61,862     2   %
                   
    Segment expenses:              
    Operating expenses   24,264     35,275     (31 ) %
    Depreciation and amortization   699     678     3   %
    Total segment expenses   24,963     35,953     (31 ) %
                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 37,939   $ 25,909     46   %
      Six Months Ended        
      June 30,   Increase /
      2025   2024   (Decrease)
    Revenue:              
    Leased merchandise income $ 296,702   $ 400,241     (26 ) %
    Interest and fees on finance receivables   149,488     114,186     31   %
    Total revenue   446,190     514,427     (13 ) %
                   
    Cost of revenue:              
    Depreciation of leased merchandise   167,672     231,341     (28 ) %
    Provision for lease losses   60,271     91,004     (34 ) %
    Provision for loan losses   78,121     61,534     27   %
    Total cost of revenue   306,064     383,879     (20 ) %
                   
    Net revenue   140,126     130,548     7   %
                   
    Segment expenses:              
    Operating expenses   48,482     70,091     (31 ) %
    Depreciation and amortization   1,404     1,399     —   %
    Total segment expenses   49,886     71,490     (30 ) %
                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 90,240   $ 59,058     53   %
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Retail POS Payment Solutions Gross Transaction Volumes (dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended        
      June 30,   Increase /   June 30,   Increase /
      2025   2024   (Decrease)   2025   2024   (Decrease)
    Leased merchandise $ 110,516   $ 146,778     (25 ) %   $ 204,822   $ 300,899     (32 ) %
    Finance receivables   149,943     105,258     42   %     291,205     207,422     40   %
    Total gross transaction volume $ 260,459   $ 252,036     3   %   $ 496,027   $ 508,321     (2 ) %
     

    Retail POS Payment Solutions Earning Assets (dollars in thousands)

      As of June 30,   Increase /
        2025       2024     (Decrease)
    Leased merchandise, net:              
    Leased merchandise, before allowance for lease losses $ 170,824     $ 246,457       (31 ) %
    Less allowance for lease losses   (69,972 )     (103,301 )     (32 ) %
    Leased merchandise, net $ 100,852     $ 143,156       (30 ) %
                   
    Finance receivables, net:              
    Finance receivables, before allowance for loan losses $ 277,392     $ 205,362       35   %
    Less allowance for loan losses   (122,874 )     (99,961 )     23   %
    Finance receivables, net $ 154,518     $ 105,401       47   %
     

    Portfolio Metrics

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,
        2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Leased merchandise portfolio metrics:                      
    Provision rate (1) 30 %   33 %   29 %   30 %
    Average monthly net charge-off rate (2), (3) 6.2 %   5.4 %   6.2 %   5.4 %
    Delinquency rate (4) 23.2 %   23.0 %   23.2 %   23.0 %
                           
    Finance receivables portfolio metrics:                      
    Provision rate (1) 28 %   30 %   27 %   30 %
    Average monthly net charge-off rate (2) 4.6 %   4.5 %   4.4 %   4.7 %
    Delinquency rate (4) 20.6 %   20.0 %   20.6 %   20.0 %

    (1) Calculated as provision for lease or loan losses as a percentage of the respective gross transaction volume originated.
    (2) Calculated as charge-offs, net of recoveries, as a percentage of the respective average earning asset balance before allowance for lease or loan losses.
    (3) The increase in leased merchandised net charge-off rate for 2025 is the expected result given reduced originations of new leases in 2025.
    (4) Calculated as the percentage of the respective contractual earning asset balance owed that is 1 to 89 days past due (the Company charges off leases and finance receivables when they are 90 days or more contractually past due).

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    PAWN STORE LOCATIONS AND MERCHANT PARTNER LOCATIONS
     

    Pawn Operations

    As of June 30, 2025, the Company operated 3,027 pawn store locations composed of 1,194 stores in 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 1,731 stores in 32 states in Mexico, 72 stores in Guatemala, 18 stores in El Salvador and 12 stores in Colombia.

    The following tables detail pawn store count activity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025:

      Three Months Ended June 30, 2025
      U.S.   Latin America   Total
    Total locations, beginning of period 1,197     1,826     3,023  
    New locations opened 1     9     10  
    Locations acquired 3     —     3  
    Consolidation of existing pawn locations (1) (7 )   (2 )   (9 )
    Total locations, end of period 1,194     1,833     3,027  
               
               
      Six Months Ended June 30, 2025
      U.S.   Latin America   Total
    Total locations, beginning of period 1,200     1,826     3,026  
    New locations opened 2     19     21  
    Locations acquired 4     —     4  
    Consolidation of existing pawn locations (1) (12 )   (12 )   (24 )
    Total locations, end of period 1,194     1,833     3,027  

    (1) Store consolidations were primarily acquired locations which have been combined with overlapping stores and for which the Company expects to maintain a significant portion of the acquired customer base in the consolidated location.

    Retail POS Payment Solutions

    As of June 30, 2025, AFF provided LTO and retail POS payment solutions for consumer goods and services through a network of approximately 15,300 active retail merchant partner locations. This compares to the active door count of approximately 12,800 locations at June 30, 2024.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    The Company uses certain financial calculations such as adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted return on equity, adjusted return on assets and constant currency results as factors in the measurement and evaluation of the Company’s operating performance and period-over-period growth. The Company derives these financial calculations on the basis of methodologies other than generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), primarily by excluding from a comparable GAAP measure certain items the Company does not consider to be representative of its actual operating performance. These financial calculations are “non-GAAP financial measures” as defined under the SEC rules. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in operating its business because management believes they are less susceptible to variances in actual operating performance that can result from the excluded items, other infrequent charges and currency fluctuations. The Company presents these financial measures to investors because management believes they are useful to investors in evaluating the primary factors that drive the Company’s core operating performance and provide greater transparency into the Company’s results of operations. However, items that are excluded and other adjustments and assumptions that are made in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, the Company’s GAAP financial measures. Further, because these non-GAAP financial measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, the non-GAAP financial measures, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies.

    The Company has adjusted the applicable financial calculations to exclude merger and acquisition expenses, amortization of acquired AFF intangible assets, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) litigation settlement and certain other income and expenses. The Company does not consider these items to be related to the organic operations of the Company’s businesses or its continuing operations and are generally not relevant to assessing or estimating the long-term performance of the Company. In addition, excluding these items allows for more accurate comparisons of the financial results to prior periods. Merger and acquisition expenses include incremental costs directly associated with merger and acquisition activities, including professional fees, legal expenses, severance, retention and other employee-related costs, contract breakage costs and costs related to the consolidation of technology systems and corporate facilities, among others.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

    Management believes the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share provides investors with greater transparency and provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s financial performance and prospects for the future by excluding items that management believes are non-operating in nature and are not representative of the Company’s core operating performance. In addition, management believes the adjustments shown below are useful to investors in order to allow them to compare the Company’s financial results for the current periods presented with the prior periods presented.

    The following tables provide a reconciliation between net income and diluted earnings per share calculated in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are shown net of tax (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                      Trailing Twelve
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
        2025       2024     2025       2024     2025     2024  
      In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands
    Net income, as reported $ 59,805     $ 49,073   $ 143,396     $ 110,441   $ 291,770   $ 237,174  
    Adjustments, net of tax:                      
    Merger and acquisition expenses   2,134       1,047     2,488       1,504     2,690     7,380  
    AFF purchase accounting and other adjustments   9,258       9,572     18,516       19,145     37,660     51,497  
    CFPB litigation settlement   9,390       —     9,390       —     9,390     —  
    Other (income) expenses, net   (967 )     2,206     (1,391 )     997     1,482     (343 )
    Adjusted net income $ 79,620     $ 61,898   $ 172,399     $ 132,087   $ 342,992   $ 295,708  
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,
        2025     2024   2025   2024
      Per Share   Per Share   Per Share   Per Share
    Diluted earnings per share, as reported $ 1.34     $ 1.08   $ 3.21     $ 2.44
    Adjustments, net of tax:              
    Merger and acquisition expenses   0.05       0.03     0.06       0.03
    AFF purchase accounting and other adjustments   0.21       0.21     0.41       0.42
    CFPB litigation settlement   0.21       —     0.21       —
    Other (income) expenses, net   (0.02 )     0.05     (0.03 )     0.02
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 1.79     $ 1.37   $ 3.86     $ 2.91
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA

    The Company defines EBITDA as net income before income taxes, depreciation and amortization, interest expense and interest income and adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items, as listed below, that management considers to be non-operating in nature and not representative of its actual operating performance. The Company believes EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are commonly used by investors to assess a company’s financial performance, and adjusted EBITDA is used as a starting point in the calculation of the consolidated total debt ratio as defined in the Company’s senior unsecured notes. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):

                                Trailing Twelve
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Months Ended
        June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
        2025   2024   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Net income   $ 59,805     $ 49,073     $ 143,396     $ 110,441     $ 291,770     $ 237,174  
    Income taxes     21,274       17,105       48,900       37,622       95,239       80,001  
    Depreciation and amortization     25,864       26,547       51,366       52,574       103,733       107,574  
    Interest expense     26,337       25,187       53,808       50,605       108,429       101,880  
    Interest income     (527 )     (261 )     (1,756 )     (1,004 )     (2,687 )     (1,548 )
    EBITDA     132,753       117,651       295,714       250,238       596,484       525,081  
    Adjustments:                                    
    Merger and acquisition expenses     2,777       1,364       3,239       1,961       3,506       9,600  
    AFF purchase accounting and other adjustments (1)     —       —       —       —       —       13,968  
    CFPB litigation settlement     11,000       —       11,000       —       11,000       —  
    Other (income) expenses, net     (1,401 )     2,867       (1,944 )     1,275       1,982       (486 )
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 145,129     $ 121,882     $ 308,009     $ 253,474     $ 612,972     $ 548,163  

    (1) For the twelve months ended June 30, 2024, amount represents other non-recurring costs included in administrative expenses related to a discontinued finance product.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow

    For purposes of its internal liquidity assessments, the Company considers free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow. The Company defines free cash flow as cash flow from operating activities less purchases of furniture, fixtures, equipment and improvements and net fundings/repayments of pawn loan and finance receivables, which are considered to be operating in nature by the Company but are included in cash flow from investing activities. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as free cash flow adjusted for merger and acquisition expenses paid that management considers to be non-operating in nature.

    Free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow are commonly used by investors as additional measures of cash generated by business operations that may be used to repay scheduled debt maturities and debt service or, following payment of such debt obligations and other non-discretionary items, that may be available to invest in future growth through new business development activities or acquisitions, repurchase stock, pay cash dividends or repay debt obligations prior to their maturities. These metrics can also be used to evaluate the Company’s ability to generate cash flow from business operations and the impact that this cash flow has on the Company’s liquidity. However, free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for cash flow from operating activities or other income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table reconciles cash flow from operating activities to free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow (in thousands):

                        Trailing Twelve
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Months Ended
        June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
          2025       2024       2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Cash flow from operating activities   $ 116,854     $ 106,187     $ 243,494     $ 228,719     $ 554,733     $ 439,192  
    Cash flow from certain investing activities:                        
    Pawn loans, net (1)     (50,032 )     (46,036 )     (30,592 )     (20,887 )     (81,704 )     (56,053 )
    Finance receivables, net     (35,411 )     (22,252 )     (55,977 )     (37,563 )     (157,728 )     (95,880 )
    Purchases of furniture, fixtures, equipment and improvements     (12,952 )     (16,237 )     (25,866 )     (42,664 )     (51,447 )     (74,464 )
    Free cash flow     18,459       21,662       131,059       127,605       263,854       212,795  
    Merger and acquisition expenses paid, net of tax benefit     2,134       1,047       2,488       1,504       2,690       7,380  
    Adjusted free cash flow   $ 20,593     $ 22,709     $ 133,547     $ 129,109     $ 266,544     $ 220,175  

    (1) Includes the funding of new loans net of cash repayments and recovery of principal through the sale of inventories acquired from forfeiture of pawn collateral.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Adjusted Return on Equity and Adjusted Return on Assets

    Management believes the presentation of adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on assets provides investors with greater transparency and provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s financial performance by excluding items that management believes are non-operating in nature and not representative of the Company’s core operating performance.

    Annualized adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on assets is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands):

      Trailing Twelve
      Months Ended
      June 30, 2025
    Adjusted net income (1) $ 342,992  
         
    Average stockholders’ equity (average of five most recent quarter-end balances) $ 2,046,067  
    Adjusted return on equity (trailing twelve months adjusted net income divided by average equity) 17 %
         
    Average total assets (average of five most recent quarter-end balances) $ 4,426,553  
    Adjusted return on assets (trailing twelve months adjusted net income divided by average total assets) 8 %

    (1) See detail of adjustments to net income in the “Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share” section above.

    Constant Currency Results

    The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, however, certain performance metrics discussed in this release are presented on a “constant currency” basis, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company’s management uses constant currency results to evaluate operating results of business operations in Latin America, which are transacted in local currencies in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia. The Company also has operations in El Salvador, where the reporting and functional currency is the U.S. dollar.

    The Company believes constant currency results provide valuable supplemental information regarding the underlying performance of its business operations in Latin America, consistent with how the Company’s management evaluates such performance and operating results. Constant currency results reported herein are calculated by translating certain balance sheet and income statement items denominated in local currencies using the exchange rate from the prior-year comparable period, as opposed to the current comparable period, in order to exclude the effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations for purposes of evaluating period-over-period comparisons. See the Latin America pawn segment tables elsewhere in this release for additional reconciliation of certain constant currency amounts to as reported GAAP amounts.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Exchange Rates for the Mexican Peso, Guatemalan Quetzal and Colombian Peso

      June 30,   Favorable /
      2025   2024   (Unfavorable)
    Mexican peso / U.S. dollar exchange rate:              
    End-of-period 18.9   18.4     (3 ) %
    Three months ended 19.5   17.2     (13 ) %
    Six months ended 20.0   17.1     (17 ) %
                   
    Guatemalan quetzal / U.S. dollar exchange rate:              
    End-of-period 7.7   7.8     1   %
    Three months ended 7.7   7.8     1   %
    Six months ended 7.7   7.8     1   %
                   
    Colombian peso / U.S. dollar exchange rate:              
    End-of-period 4,070   4,148     2   %
    Three months ended 4,199   3,927     (7 ) %
    Six months ended 4,195   3,921     (7 ) %

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FirstCash Reports Record Second Quarter Operating Results; Strong Performance Across All Segments Drives Over 30% Year-to-Date EPS Growth; Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend 11%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WORTH, Texas, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (“FirstCash” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FCFS), the leading international operator of more than 3,000 retail pawn stores and a leading provider of retail point-of-sale payment solutions, today announced operating results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2025. The Company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share, an increase of 11% over the previous quarterly dividend, which will be paid in August 2025.

    Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer, stated, “FirstCash is pleased to report outstanding earnings results for the second quarter and year-to-date periods. Pawn demand remains extremely robust, with local currency same-store pawn receivables up 13% in both the U.S. and Latin America, driving strong earnings growth for both segments. AFF posted growth in originations for the second quarter and a segment earnings increase of 46% versus last year. Driven by strong cash flows, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly cash dividend by 11%, which further reflects the strength of our business and long-term earnings prospects.”

    Additionally, the Company expects to complete its previously announced acquisition of H&T Group plc (“H&T”) by the end of the third quarter of 2025, subject to receipt of the required approvals by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom (“FCA”) and satisfaction of the other remaining closing conditions. H&T is the largest pawnbroker in the U.K. with 285 locations and would represent FirstCash’s first operations in Europe.

    This release contains adjusted financial measures, which exclude certain non-operating and/or non-cash income and expenses, that are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the descriptions and reconciliations to GAAP of these and other non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.

        Three Months Ended June 30,
        As Reported (GAAP)   Adjusted (Non-GAAP)
    In thousands, except per share amounts   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Revenue   $ 830,622   $ 831,012   $ 830,622   $ 831,012
    Net income   $ 59,805   $ 49,073   $ 79,620   $ 61,898
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 1.34   $ 1.08   $ 1.79   $ 1.37
    EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)   $ 132,753   $ 117,651   $ 145,129   $ 121,882
    Weighted-average diluted shares     44,552     45,289     44,552     45,289
        Six Months Ended June 30,
        As Reported (GAAP)   Adjusted (Non-GAAP)
    In thousands, except per share amounts   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Revenue   $ 1,667,045   $ 1,667,382   $ 1,667,045   $ 1,667,382
    Net income   $ 143,396   $ 110,441   $ 172,399   $ 132,087
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 3.21   $ 2.44   $ 3.86   $ 2.91
    EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)   $ 295,714   $ 250,238   $ 308,009   $ 253,474
    Weighted-average diluted shares     44,670     45,338     44,670     45,338
     

    Consolidated Operating Highlights

    • Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter increased 24% over the prior-year quarter on a GAAP basis while adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 31% compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Year-to-date diluted earnings per share increased 32% over the prior-year period on a GAAP basis and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 33% compared to the prior-year period.
    • Net income for the second quarter increased 22% over the prior-year quarter on a GAAP basis while adjusted net income increased 29% compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Year-to-date net income increased 30% over the prior-year period on a GAAP basis and adjusted net income increased 31% compared to the prior-year period.
    • Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter increased 19% compared to the prior-year quarter. On a year-to-date basis, adjusted EBITDA increased 22% compared to the comparative prior-year period.
    • For the trailing twelve month period ended June 30, 2025 the Company reported:
      • Revenues of $3.4 billion
      • Net income of $292 million on a GAAP basis and adjusted net income of $343 million
      • Adjusted EBITDA of $613 million
      • Operating cash flows of $555 million and adjusted free cash flows (a non-GAAP measure) of $267 million

    Store Base and Platform Growth

    • U.K. Pawn Acquisition Update
      • On July 2, 2025 the shareholders of H&T voted to approve the acquisition.
      • Pending approvals by the FCA and the satisfaction of other closing conditions, the Company expects the transaction to close by the end of the third quarter.
      • The total equity value for the H&T acquisition is approximately £291 million ($396 million USD using GBP/USD exchange rate of 1.36) which the Company intends to fund utilizing its revolving bank credit facility.
      • This combination of FirstCash and H&T will create the largest publicly traded pawn platform in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom with more than 3,300 total locations.
    • Other Pawn Store Additions
      • A total of 13 pawn locations were added in the second quarter and 25 stores added year-to-date.
      • Three U.S. stores were acquired in Illinois, bringing the total to 39 locations in that market. Additionally, one new location in Texas was opened during the second quarter. Year-to-date through June 30, 2025, a total of six new locations were opened or acquired in the U.S.
      • There were nine new store openings in Latin America, all of which are located in Mexico. Year-to-date through June 30, 2025, a total of 19 new locations were opened in Latin America.
      • The Company purchased the underlying real estate of 14 U.S. stores during the quarter, bringing the total number of company owned locations to 421 at quarter end.
      • As of June 30, 2025, the Company had 3,027 locations, comprised of 1,194 U.S. locations and 1,833 locations in Latin America. Additionally, two U.S. stores were acquired in July 2025 in separate transactions.
    • Retail POS Payment Solutions (AFF) Merchant Partnerships
      • At June 30, 2025, there were approximately 15,300 active retail and e-commerce merchant partner locations, representing a 19% increase in the number of active merchant locations compared to a year ago. Excluding furniture locations that closed in the prior year due to merchant partner bankruptcies, the number of active doors increased 29%.

    U.S. Pawn Segment Operating Results

    • Segment pre-tax operating income in the second quarter of 2025 was a record $98 million, an increase of $8 million, or 8%, compared to the prior-year quarter. The resulting segment pre-tax operating margin was 24% for the second quarter of 2025, which equaled the prior-year quarter.
    • Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income increased by $24 million, or 13%, compared to the prior-year period. The pre-tax operating margin was 25% for the year-to-date period, which equaled the prior-year period.
    • Pawn receivables increased 12% in total at June 30, 2025 compared to the prior year, driven by an impressive 13% increase in same-store pawn receivables. On a two-year stacked basis, same-store pawn receivables were up 24%.
    • Pawn loan fees increased 9% for the second quarter both in total and on a same-store basis.
    • Retail merchandise sales increased 9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the prior-year quarter, while same-store retail sales increased 7% compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Retail sales margins increased to 43% for the second quarter compared to 42% in the prior-year quarter. Annualized inventory turnover was 2.8 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2025, which equaled the inventory turnover during the same prior-year period. Inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2025 remained low at 2% of total inventories.

    Latin America Pawn Segment Operating Results

    Note: Certain growth rates below are calculated on a constant or local currency basis, a non-GAAP financial measure defined at the end of this release. The average Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate for the second quarter of 2025 was 19.5 pesos / dollar, an unfavorable change of 13% versus the comparable prior-year period, and for the six month period ended June 30, 2025 was 20.0 pesos / dollar, an unfavorable change of 17% versus the prior-year period.

    • Despite the 13% decrease in the average Mexican peso exchange rate, second quarter segment pre-tax operating income increased 10% on a U.S. dollar basis and totaled a record $41 million compared to last year. On a local currency basis, segment earnings increased 22% over last year, with resulting segment pre-tax operating margins of 20% for both measures, compared to 18% in the prior year.
    • Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $72 million, a 5% increase on a U.S. dollar-basis compared to the prior-year period and an 18% increase on a local currency basis. The year-to-date pre-tax operating margin increased to 19% compared to 17% in the prior-year period.
    • Pawn receivables at June 30, 2025 increased 11% on a U.S. dollar basis while increasing 14% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year. On a same-store basis, pawn receivables increased 10% on a U.S. dollar basis and increased 13% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year.
    • While total and same-store pawn loan fees in the second quarter decreased 1% and 2% on a U.S. dollar-basis, respectively, they both increased 11% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Retail merchandise sales in the second quarter of 2025 increased 1% on a U.S. dollar-basis compared to the prior-year quarter while increasing 14% on a constant currency basis. On a same-store basis, second quarter retail merchandise sales were flat on a U.S. dollar basis while increasing 13% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior-year quarter.
    • Retail margins were 36% for the second quarter of 2025, which equaled the prior-year quarter. Annualized inventory turnover was 4.1 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2025 compared to 4.3 times in the prior-year period. Inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2025 remained extremely low at 1%.

    American First Finance (AFF) – Retail POS Payment Solutions Segment Operating Results

    • Second quarter segment pre-tax operating income totaled $38 million, an increase of 46% compared to the prior-year quarter. The growth in earnings was driven primarily by gross margin improvement and operating expense reductions. Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $90 million, a 53% increase over the prior-year period which was $59 million.
    • While gross revenues for the second quarter decreased 14%, primarily due to the American Freight Warehouse (“A-Freight”) and Conn’s Home Plus (“Conn’s”) bankruptcies in late 2024, net revenue increased 2%, driven by growth in revenue from other merchant partners and lower net credit provisioning expenses.
    • Gross transaction volume of lease and loan originations during the second quarter increased 3%, compared to the second quarter of last year. Excluding 2024 originations from A-Freight and Conn’s, second quarter 2025 origination volume increased approximately 34%. For the year-to-date period, overall gross transaction volume decreased 2% over the same prior-year period and was up 29% excluding A-Freight and Conn’s.
    • As a percentage of the total gross transaction volume, the combined lease and loan loss provision expense was 29% for the second quarter of 2025 compared to 31% in the second quarter of 2024. The decrease reflected lower than expected charge-offs on older portfolio vintages which resulted in net reserve releases. The combined allowance as a percentage of combined leased merchandise and finance receivables at June 30, 2025 was 43% compared to 45% a year ago.
    • Operating expenses decreased 31% compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the elimination of certain expenses associated with supporting the A-Freight and Conn’s relationships in the prior-year period along with continued realization of operating synergies, including greater efficiencies in technology and development infrastructure, coupled with other cost reduction initiatives.

    Cash Flow and Liquidity

    • Consolidated operating cash flows for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2025 grew 26% and totaled $555 million compared to $439 million in the same prior-year period, with significant contributions from each of the Company’s three business segments.
    • Adjusted free cash flows increased 21% to $267 million in the twelve month period ended June 30, 2025 compared to $220 million in the same prior-year period.
    • The operating cash flows helped fund significant growth in earning assets, continued investments in the pawn store platform and shareholder returns over the past twelve months with a nominal increase in net debt:
      • Pawn earning assets (pawn receivables and inventories) increased $99 million compared to last year.
      • A total of 15 pawn stores were acquired for a combined purchase price of $44 million.
      • 42 new pawn stores were added with a combined investment of $16 million in fixed assets and working capital.
      • Real estate purchases totaled $93 million as the Company purchased the underlying real estate at 60 of its existing pawn stores, bringing the number of Company-owned properties to 421 locations.
      • Shareholder returns comprised of stock repurchases and cash dividends of $127 million.
    • Net debt at June 30, 2025 was $1.6 billion, of which $1.5 billion is fixed rate debt with favorable interest rates ranging from 4.625% to 6.875% and maturity dates that do not begin until 2028 and continue into 2032. The outstanding balance under the Company’s $700 million revolving line of credit totaled $152 million at June 30, 2025.
    • Based on trailing twelve month results, the Company’s net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 2.6x at June 30, 2025.

    Shareholder Returns

    • The Board of Directors declared a $0.42 per share third quarter cash dividend, which will be paid on August 29, 2025 to stockholders of record as of August 15, 2025. This represents an 11% increase over the previous quarterly dividend.
    • On an annualized basis, the dividend is now $1.68 per share, also representing an 11% increase over the previous annualized dividend of $1.52 per share. Any future dividends are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors.
    • Over the past twelve months, the Company has repurchased 525,000 shares of common stock at a total cost of $60 million and paid out $68 million in cash dividends, representing a payout ratio of approximately 44% of net income over the same period.
    • The Company has $55 million available under the $200 million share repurchase program authorized in July 2023. Future share repurchases are subject to expected liquidity, acquisitions and other investment opportunities, debt covenant restrictions, market conditions and other relevant factors.
    • The Company generated a 14% return on equity and a 7% return on assets for the twelve months ended June 30, 2025. Using adjusted net income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2025, the adjusted return on equity was 17% while the adjusted return on assets was 8%.

    2025 Outlook

    Driven by the strong first half results and continuing customer demand for pawn loans, the outlook for 2025 remains highly positive, with expected year-over-year growth in income driven by the continued growth in earning asset balances coupled with store additions. While the H&T acquisition is now anticipated to close by the end of the third quarter of 2025, the estimates provided below do not yet include revenue and contributions from H&T. Anticipated conditions and trends for the remainder of 2025 include the following:

    Pawn Operations:

    • Pawn operations are expected to remain the primary earnings driver in 2025 as the Company expects segment income from the combined U.S. and Latin America pawn segments to be over 80% of total segment level pre-tax income for the full year.
    • The Company expects further growth in the pawn store base in 2025 through a combination of new store openings and potential small acquisitions.

    U.S. Pawn

    • Based on strong first half results and expected store additions, the outlook for anticipated revenue growth and margins has been increased for all metrics.
    • Same-store pawn loans at June 30, 2025 were up 13% compared to a year ago, with July balances to date up similarly. Given these trends, the outlook for pawn fee growth is now expected to be in a range of 10% to 12% for the full year versus the prior expectation of 9% to 11% for the full year.
    • Retail sales are expected to grow in a high single digit range in 2025 versus prior expectations of mid single digits. Retail sales margins are now targeted at the upper end of the 41% to 42% guidance range.

    Latin America Pawn

    • U.S. dollar-reported first half results for Latin America in 2025 were negatively impacted by the lower exchange rate for the Mexican peso during the first half of this year compared to last year. With the recent favorable movement in the peso and the better than expected growth in the underlying business, the Company is increasing its full year revenue outlook for the Latin America pawn segment.
    • Same-store pawn receivables at June 30, 2025 were up 10% on a U.S. dollar basis and up 13% on a constant currency basis, with July balances to date up similarly. Full year pawn fee growth is now expected to increase in a range of 10% to 12% on a local currency basis and is now projected to be flat to up slightly on a U.S. dollar basis versus prior expectations of flat to down slightly on a U.S. dollar basis.
    • Retail sales in Latin America are also expected to track similarly to pawn fees in 2025 with consistent retail margins.

    Retail POS Payment Solutions (AFF) Operations:

    • The forecast for full year origination volume for 2025 is expected to be relatively consistent with the 2024 volume. Excluding 2024 originations from Conn’s and A-Freight, origination volumes are expected to increase in a range of 20% to 25% over 2024, reflecting continued diversification outside the furniture vertical.
    • The outlook for full year net revenues has improved, with the revised forecast for net revenues now expected to decline only 6% to 8% compared to last year versus the previously forecasted decline of 8% to 12%.
    • The net lease and loan charge-off rates for the second half of 2025 are expected to remain consistent with the charge-off rates in the second half of last year. Quarterly operating expenses for the balance of 2025 are expected to remain generally consistent with the second quarter run rate.

    Tax Rates and Currency:

    • The full year 2025 effective income tax rate under current tax codes in the U.S. and Latin America is expected to range from 24.5% to 25.5%.
    • Each full point change in the exchange rate of the Mexican peso is projected to have an annual earnings impact of approximately $0.10 per share.

    Additional Commentary and Analysis

    Mr. Wessel further commented on FirstCash’s second quarter results and the outlook for the remainder of 2025, “Operating performance across all business segments continues to be incredibly strong, driving year-to-date earnings per share growth of 32% on a GAAP basis and a 33% increase on an adjusted basis. FirstCash also achieved another significant earnings milestone this quarter with adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months exceeding $600 million for the first time in Company history.

    “The U.S. pawn segment has now recorded eight consecutive quarters of double-digit growth in same-store receivables with continuing demand remaining strong thus far in July. At the same time, we remain disciplined in managing loan-to-value ratios as evidenced by the improved U.S. retail margins in the second quarter. The demand for value priced merchandise remains strong as well with same-store retail sales up 7% for the most recent quarter.

    “In Latin America, we have seen tremendous growth in pawn receivables over the last three quarters, including a 13% increase in same-store pawn receivables in the second quarter. This trend continued to accelerate, with same-store pawn loan originations in Mexico up over 20% over the last thirty days. Our outlook for Latin America is further enhanced by the improved exchange rate for the Mexican peso since the last quarter, which has reduced the previously anticipated currency headwinds and improved our full year outlook for the region.

    “Solid performance at AFF further bolstered second quarter and year-to-date operating results for our Retail POS Payment Solutions segment. AFF now has over 15,000 active doors, an increase of 19% over a year ago. Coupled with a 12% increase in same-door originations, AFF fully offset the impact of the loss of two significant merchant partners to bankruptcy last year and realized an overall total increase in originations in the second quarter. Growth continues to be particularly robust in verticals such as elective medical and automotive services. Driven by the solid revenue performance and significant expense savings, profitability for AFF has been especially strong in the first half of the year.

    “Looking ahead, we continue to progress toward the closing of the H&T acquisition. H&T represents a highly complementary strategic fit as the U.K.’s largest pawnbroker, operating with a network of 285 stores, which will expand FirstCash’s geographic footprint into a new and attractive market further providing the Company with enhanced scale, operating efficiencies and long-term growth opportunities. We continue to believe in the financial and strategic rationale for expanding our international operations as part of our long-term growth strategy.

    “Lastly, based on strong earnings results, robust operating cash flows and the strength of its balance sheet, FirstCash continues to make significant investments in new stores, acquisitions and shareholder returns. To that end, we are again pleased to announce an increased quarterly cash dividend to be paid in August which is expected to provide an annualized payout of $1.68 per share further augmenting shareholder returns” concluded Mr. Wessel.

    About FirstCash

    FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores focused on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers. FirstCash’s more than 3,000 pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments and other merchandise, and make small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. FirstCash’s pawn segments in the U.S. and Latin America currently account for approximately 80% of annualized segment earnings, with the remainder provided by its wholly owned subsidiary, AFF, which provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions for consumer goods and services.

    FirstCash is a component company in both the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index® and the Russell 2000 Index®. FirstCash’s common stock (ticker symbol “FCFS”) is traded on the Nasdaq, the creator of the world’s first electronic stock market. For additional information regarding FirstCash and the services it provides, visit FirstCash’s websites located at http://www.firstcash.com and http://www.americanfirstfinance.com.

    Forward-Looking Information

    This release contains forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition, outlook and prospects of FirstCash Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (together, the “Company”), including the Company’s outlook for 2025 and the Company’s previously announced H&T acquisition. Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “projects,” “expects,” “may,” “estimates,” “should,” “plans,” “targets,” “intends,” “could,” “would,” “anticipates,” “potential,” “confident,” “optimistic,” or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, objectives, estimates, guidance, expectations, outlook and future plans. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties.

    While the Company believes the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made in this release. Such factors and risks may include, without limitation, risks related to the extensive regulatory environment in which the Company operates, including uncertainty involving the current regulatory environment under the current presidential administration; risks associated with the legal and regulatory proceedings that the Company is a party to or may become a party to in the future; risks related to the Company’s acquisitions, including the failure of the Company’s acquisitions to deliver the estimated value and benefits expected by the Company and the ability of the Company to continue to identify and consummate acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all; risks related to the H&T acquisition, in particular, the ability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the H&T acquisition from the FCA and to satisfy the other closing conditions in the expected timeframe, if at all, and the ability to achieve the anticipated benefits from the H&T acquisition; potential changes in consumer behavior and shopping patterns which could impact demand for the Company’s pawn loan, retail, lease-to-own (“LTO”) and retail finance products; labor shortages and increased labor costs; a deterioration in the economic conditions in the United States and Latin America, including as a result of inflation, elevated interest rates and trade policy, which potentially could have an impact on discretionary consumer spending and demand for the Company’s products; currency fluctuations, primarily involving the Mexican peso; competition the Company faces from other retailers and providers of retail payment solutions; the ability of the Company to successfully execute on its business strategies; contraction in sales activity at merchant partners of the Company’s retail point-of-sale (“POS”) payment solutions business; impact of store closures, financial difficulties or even bankruptcies at the merchant partners of the Company’s retail POS payment solutions business; the ability of the Company’s retail POS payment solutions business to continue to grow its base of merchant partners, including those outside of the furniture vertical; and other risks discussed and described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risks described in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” thereof, and other reports filed with the SEC. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the ability of the Company to control, nor can the Company predict, in many cases, all of the risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to report any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (unaudited, in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,
        2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Revenue:              
    Retail merchandise sales $ 385,125     $ 363,463     $ 756,181     $ 730,284  
    Pawn loan fees   190,822       181,046       382,693       360,581  
    Leased merchandise income   139,784       194,570       296,702       400,241  
    Interest and fees on finance receivables   76,075       56,799       149,488       114,186  
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales   38,816       35,134       81,981       62,090  
    Total revenue   830,622       831,012       1,667,045       1,667,382  
                   
    Cost of revenue:              
    Cost of retail merchandise sold   230,326       218,147       454,450       441,676  
    Depreciation of leased merchandise   78,272       110,157       167,091       230,441  
    Provision for lease losses   32,543       47,653       60,105       90,663  
    Provision for loan losses   41,761       31,116       78,121       61,534  
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold   34,904       28,542       70,259       51,831  
    Total cost of revenue   417,806       435,615       830,026       876,145  
                   
    Net revenue   412,816       395,397       837,019       791,237  
                   
    Expenses and other income:              
    Operating expenses   222,493       228,369       437,079       449,505  
    Administrative expenses   59,263       46,602       107,786       90,620  
    Depreciation and amortization   25,864       26,547       51,366       52,574  
    Interest expense   26,337       25,187       53,808       50,605  
    Interest income   (527 )     (261 )     (1,756 )     (1,004 )
    (Gain) loss on foreign exchange   (1,271 )     1,437       (1,285 )     1,251  
    Merger and acquisition expenses   2,777       1,364       3,239       1,961  
    Other income, net   (3,199 )     (26 )     (5,514 )     (2,338 )
    Total expenses and other income   331,737       329,219       644,723       643,174  
                   
    Income before income taxes   81,079       66,178       192,296       148,063  
                   
    Provision for income taxes   21,274       17,105       48,900       37,622  
                   
    Net income $ 59,805     $ 49,073     $ 143,396     $ 110,441  
     
    Certain amounts in the consolidated statement of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 have been reclassified in order to conform to the 2025 presentation.
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (unaudited, in thousands)
     
      June 30,   December 31,
        2025       2024       2024  
    ASSETS          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 101,467     $ 113,693     $ 175,095  
    Accounts receivable, net   76,062       72,158       73,325  
    Pawn loans   550,718       491,731       517,867  
    Finance receivables, net   154,518       105,401       147,501  
    Inventories   355,733       315,424       334,580  
    Leased merchandise, net   100,689       142,935       128,437  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   35,667       31,923       26,943  
    Total current assets   1,374,854       1,273,265       1,403,748  
               
    Property and equipment, net   750,862       661,005       717,916  
    Operating lease right of use asset   342,859       324,651       324,646  
    Goodwill   1,826,184       1,794,957       1,787,172  
    Intangible assets, net   204,643       253,910       228,858  
    Other assets   9,805       9,606       9,934  
    Deferred tax assets, net   5,042       5,014       4,712  
    Total assets $ 4,514,249     $ 4,322,408     $ 4,476,986  
               
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 145,035     $ 141,314     $ 171,540  
    Customer deposits and prepayments   80,848       76,452       72,703  
    Lease liability, current   100,845       97,809       95,161  
    Total current liabilities   326,728       315,575       339,404  
               
    Revolving unsecured credit facilities   152,000       150,000       198,000  
    Senior unsecured notes   1,532,865       1,529,870       1,531,346  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net   125,290       129,060       128,574  
    Lease liability, non-current   237,198       219,454       225,498  
    Total liabilities   2,374,081       2,343,959       2,422,822  
               
    Stockholders’ equity:          
    Common stock   575       575       575  
    Additional paid-in capital   1,760,179       1,760,986       1,767,569  
    Retained earnings   1,520,677       1,296,721       1,411,083  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (96,267 )     (84,366 )     (129,596 )
    Common stock held in treasury, at cost   (1,044,996 )     (995,467 )     (995,467 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   2,140,168       1,978,449       2,054,164  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,514,249     $ 4,322,408     $ 4,476,986  
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    The Company organizes its operations into three reportable segments as follows:

    • U.S. pawn
    • Latin America pawn
    • Retail POS payment solutions (AFF)

    Corporate expenses and income, which include administrative expenses, corporate depreciation and amortization, interest expense, interest income, gain on foreign exchange, merger and acquisition expenses, and other income, net, are presented on a consolidated basis and are not allocated to the segments. Intersegment transactions related to AFF’s LTO payment solution product offered in U.S. pawn stores are eliminated from consolidated totals.

    U.S. Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended        
      June 30,    
      2025
    		   2024   Increase
    Revenue:                  
    Retail merchandise sales $ 249,918     $ 230,093       9 %  
    Pawn loan fees   130,948       120,332       9 %  
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales   28,740       26,311       9 %  
    Total revenue   409,606       376,736       9 %  
                       
    Cost of revenue:                  
    Cost of retail merchandise sold   143,149       132,449       8 %  
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold   26,265       21,269       23 %  
    Total cost of revenue   169,414       153,718       10 %  
                       
    Net revenue   240,192       223,018       8 %  
                       
    Segment expenses:                  
    Operating expenses   133,815       125,192       7 %  
    Depreciation and amortization   8,091       7,231       12 %  
    Total segment expenses   141,906       132,423       7 %  
                       
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 98,286     $ 90,595       8 %  
                       
    Operating metrics:                  
    Retail merchandise sales margin 43 %   42 %        
    Net revenue margin 59 %   59 %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 24 %   24 %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    U.S. Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

      Six Months Ended        
      June 30,    
      2025    2024    Increase
    Revenue:                  
    Retail merchandise sales $ 501,143     $ 467,083       7 %  
    Pawn loan fees   268,896       243,306       11 %  
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales   62,232       44,037       41 %  
    Total revenue   832,271       754,426       10 %  
                       
    Cost of revenue:                  
    Cost of retail merchandise sold   288,907       272,363       6 %  
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold   53,489       36,535       46 %  
    Total cost of revenue   342,396       308,898       11 %  
                       
    Net revenue   489,875       445,528       10 %  
                       
    Segment expenses:                  
    Operating expenses   262,766       244,087       8 %  
    Depreciation and amortization   15,691       14,244       10 %  
    Total segment expenses   278,457       258,331       8 %  
                       
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 211,418     $ 187,197       13 %  
                       
    Operating metrics:                  
    Retail merchandise sales margin 42 %   42 %        
    Net revenue margin 59 %   59 %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 25 %   25 %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    U.S. Pawn Earning Assets and Portfolio Metrics (dollars in thousands, except as otherwise noted)

      As of June 30,    
      2025
    		   2024   Increase
    Earning assets:                  
    Pawn loans $ 400,143     $ 356,342       12 %  
    Inventories   252,885       223,428       13 %  
      $ 653,028     $ 579,770       13 %  
                       
    Average outstanding pawn loan amount (in ones) $ 286     $ 260       10 %  
                       
    Composition of pawn collateral:                  
    General merchandise 28 %   30 %        
    Jewelry 72 %   70 %        
      100 %   100 %        
                       
    Composition of inventories:                  
    General merchandise 39 %   43 %        
    Jewelry 61 %   57 %        
      100 %   100 %        
                       
    Percentage of inventory aged greater than one year 2 %   1 %        
                       
    Inventory turns (trailing twelve months cost of merchandise sales divided by average inventories) 2.8 times   2.8 times        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Constant currency results are non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude the effects of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current-year results at prior-year average exchange rates. See the “Constant Currency Results” section below for additional discussion of constant currency operating results.

    Latin America Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

                          Constant Currency Basis
                          Three Months        
                    Ended        
        Three Months Ended           June 30,   Increase /
        June 30,   Increase /     2025     (Decrease)
          2025         2024     (Decrease)   (Non-GAAP)   (Non-GAAP)
    Revenue:                              
    Retail merchandise sales   $ 135,956       $ 134,445       1   %   $ 153,234       14   %
    Pawn loan fees     59,874         60,714       (1 ) %     67,497       11   %
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales     10,076         8,823       14   %     10,076       14   %
    Total revenue     205,906         203,982       1   %     230,807       13   %
                                   
    Cost of revenue:                              
    Cost of retail merchandise sold     87,579         86,276       2   %     98,641       14   %
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold     8,639         7,273       19   %     9,811       35   %
    Total cost of revenue     96,218         93,549       3   %     108,452       16   %
                                   
    Net revenue     109,688         110,433       (1 ) %     122,355       11   %
                                   
    Segment expenses:                              
    Operating expenses     64,414         67,902       (5 ) %     72,340       7   %
    Depreciation and amortization     4,294         5,418       (21 ) %     4,804       (11 ) %
    Total segment expenses     68,708         73,320       (6 ) %     77,144       5   %
                                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income   $ 40,980       $ 37,113       10   %   $ 45,211       22   %
                                   
    Operating metrics:                              
    Retail merchandise sales margin 36  %   36  %         36  %        
    Net revenue margin 53  %   54  %         53  %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 20  %   18  %         20  %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Latin America Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

                          Constant Currency Basis
                          Six Months        
                    Ended        
        Six Months Ended           June 30,   Increase /
        June 30,   Increase /     2025     (Decrease)
          2025         2024     (Decrease)   (Non-GAAP)   (Non-GAAP)
    Revenue:                              
    Retail merchandise sales   $ 256,488       $ 265,294       (3 ) %   $ 296,887       12   %
    Pawn loan fees     113,797         117,275       (3 ) %     131,755       12   %
    Wholesale scrap jewelry sales     19,749         18,053       9   %     19,749       9   %
    Total revenue     390,034         400,622       (3 ) %     448,391       12   %
                                   
    Cost of revenue:                              
    Cost of retail merchandise sold     166,318         170,459       (2 ) %     192,333       13   %
    Cost of wholesale scrap jewelry sold     16,770         15,296       10   %     19,491       27   %
    Total cost of revenue     183,088         185,755       (1 ) %     211,824       14   %
                                   
    Net revenue     206,946         214,867       (4 ) %     236,567       10   %
                                   
    Segment expenses:                              
    Operating expenses     125,831         135,327       (7 ) %     144,841       7   %
    Depreciation and amortization     8,730         10,523       (17 ) %     10,008       (5 ) %
    Total segment expenses     134,561         145,850       (8 ) %     154,849       6   %
                                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income   $ 72,385       $ 69,017       5   %   $ 81,718       18   %
                                   
    Operating metrics:                              
    Retail merchandise sales margin 35  %   36  %         35  %        
    Net revenue margin 53  %   54  %         53  %        
    Segment pre-tax operating margin 19  %   17  %         18  %        
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Latin America Pawn Earning Assets and Portfolio Metrics (dollars in thousands, except as otherwise noted)

                          Constant Currency Basis
                          As of        
                          June 30,    
      As of June 30,       2025   Increase
      2025   2024   Increase   (Non-GAAP)   (Non-GAAP)
    Earning assets:                              
    Pawn loans $ 150,575     $ 135,389       11 %     $ 154,466     14 %  
    Inventories   102,848       91,996       12 %       105,501     15 %  
      $ 253,423     $ 227,385       11 %     $ 259,967     14 %  
                                   
    Average outstanding pawn loan amount (in ones) $ 96     $ 89       8 %     $ 98     10 %  
                                   
    Composition of pawn collateral:                              
    General merchandise 57 %   63 %                    
    Jewelry 43 %   37 %                    
      100 %   100 %                    
                                   
    Composition of inventories:                              
    General merchandise 59 %   69 %                    
    Jewelry 41 %   31 %                    
      100 %   100 %                    
                                   
    Percentage of inventory aged greater than one year 1 %   1 %                    
                                   
    Inventory turns (trailing twelve months cost of merchandise sales divided by average inventories) 4.1 times   4.3 times                    
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Retail POS Payment Solutions Operating Results (dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended        
      June 30,   Increase /
      2025   2024   (Decrease)
    Revenue:              
    Leased merchandise income $ 139,784   $ 194,570     (28 ) %
    Interest and fees on finance receivables   76,075     56,799     34   %
    Total revenue   215,859     251,369     (14 ) %
                   
    Cost of revenue:              
    Depreciation of leased merchandise   78,529     110,567     (29 ) %
    Provision for lease losses   32,667     47,824     (32 ) %
    Provision for loan losses   41,761     31,116     34   %
    Total cost of revenue   152,957     189,507     (19 ) %
                   
    Net revenue   62,902     61,862     2   %
                   
    Segment expenses:              
    Operating expenses   24,264     35,275     (31 ) %
    Depreciation and amortization   699     678     3   %
    Total segment expenses   24,963     35,953     (31 ) %
                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 37,939   $ 25,909     46   %
      Six Months Ended        
      June 30,   Increase /
      2025   2024   (Decrease)
    Revenue:              
    Leased merchandise income $ 296,702   $ 400,241     (26 ) %
    Interest and fees on finance receivables   149,488     114,186     31   %
    Total revenue   446,190     514,427     (13 ) %
                   
    Cost of revenue:              
    Depreciation of leased merchandise   167,672     231,341     (28 ) %
    Provision for lease losses   60,271     91,004     (34 ) %
    Provision for loan losses   78,121     61,534     27   %
    Total cost of revenue   306,064     383,879     (20 ) %
                   
    Net revenue   140,126     130,548     7   %
                   
    Segment expenses:              
    Operating expenses   48,482     70,091     (31 ) %
    Depreciation and amortization   1,404     1,399     —   %
    Total segment expenses   49,886     71,490     (30 ) %
                   
    Segment pre-tax operating income $ 90,240   $ 59,058     53   %
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    SEGMENT RESULTS (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Retail POS Payment Solutions Gross Transaction Volumes (dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended        
      June 30,   Increase /   June 30,   Increase /
      2025   2024   (Decrease)   2025   2024   (Decrease)
    Leased merchandise $ 110,516   $ 146,778     (25 ) %   $ 204,822   $ 300,899     (32 ) %
    Finance receivables   149,943     105,258     42   %     291,205     207,422     40   %
    Total gross transaction volume $ 260,459   $ 252,036     3   %   $ 496,027   $ 508,321     (2 ) %
     

    Retail POS Payment Solutions Earning Assets (dollars in thousands)

      As of June 30,   Increase /
        2025       2024     (Decrease)
    Leased merchandise, net:              
    Leased merchandise, before allowance for lease losses $ 170,824     $ 246,457       (31 ) %
    Less allowance for lease losses   (69,972 )     (103,301 )     (32 ) %
    Leased merchandise, net $ 100,852     $ 143,156       (30 ) %
                   
    Finance receivables, net:              
    Finance receivables, before allowance for loan losses $ 277,392     $ 205,362       35   %
    Less allowance for loan losses   (122,874 )     (99,961 )     23   %
    Finance receivables, net $ 154,518     $ 105,401       47   %
     

    Portfolio Metrics

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,
        2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Leased merchandise portfolio metrics:                      
    Provision rate (1) 30 %   33 %   29 %   30 %
    Average monthly net charge-off rate (2), (3) 6.2 %   5.4 %   6.2 %   5.4 %
    Delinquency rate (4) 23.2 %   23.0 %   23.2 %   23.0 %
                           
    Finance receivables portfolio metrics:                      
    Provision rate (1) 28 %   30 %   27 %   30 %
    Average monthly net charge-off rate (2) 4.6 %   4.5 %   4.4 %   4.7 %
    Delinquency rate (4) 20.6 %   20.0 %   20.6 %   20.0 %

    (1) Calculated as provision for lease or loan losses as a percentage of the respective gross transaction volume originated.
    (2) Calculated as charge-offs, net of recoveries, as a percentage of the respective average earning asset balance before allowance for lease or loan losses.
    (3) The increase in leased merchandised net charge-off rate for 2025 is the expected result given reduced originations of new leases in 2025.
    (4) Calculated as the percentage of the respective contractual earning asset balance owed that is 1 to 89 days past due (the Company charges off leases and finance receivables when they are 90 days or more contractually past due).

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    PAWN STORE LOCATIONS AND MERCHANT PARTNER LOCATIONS
     

    Pawn Operations

    As of June 30, 2025, the Company operated 3,027 pawn store locations composed of 1,194 stores in 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 1,731 stores in 32 states in Mexico, 72 stores in Guatemala, 18 stores in El Salvador and 12 stores in Colombia.

    The following tables detail pawn store count activity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025:

      Three Months Ended June 30, 2025
      U.S.   Latin America   Total
    Total locations, beginning of period 1,197     1,826     3,023  
    New locations opened 1     9     10  
    Locations acquired 3     —     3  
    Consolidation of existing pawn locations (1) (7 )   (2 )   (9 )
    Total locations, end of period 1,194     1,833     3,027  
               
               
      Six Months Ended June 30, 2025
      U.S.   Latin America   Total
    Total locations, beginning of period 1,200     1,826     3,026  
    New locations opened 2     19     21  
    Locations acquired 4     —     4  
    Consolidation of existing pawn locations (1) (12 )   (12 )   (24 )
    Total locations, end of period 1,194     1,833     3,027  

    (1) Store consolidations were primarily acquired locations which have been combined with overlapping stores and for which the Company expects to maintain a significant portion of the acquired customer base in the consolidated location.

    Retail POS Payment Solutions

    As of June 30, 2025, AFF provided LTO and retail POS payment solutions for consumer goods and services through a network of approximately 15,300 active retail merchant partner locations. This compares to the active door count of approximately 12,800 locations at June 30, 2024.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    The Company uses certain financial calculations such as adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted return on equity, adjusted return on assets and constant currency results as factors in the measurement and evaluation of the Company’s operating performance and period-over-period growth. The Company derives these financial calculations on the basis of methodologies other than generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), primarily by excluding from a comparable GAAP measure certain items the Company does not consider to be representative of its actual operating performance. These financial calculations are “non-GAAP financial measures” as defined under the SEC rules. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in operating its business because management believes they are less susceptible to variances in actual operating performance that can result from the excluded items, other infrequent charges and currency fluctuations. The Company presents these financial measures to investors because management believes they are useful to investors in evaluating the primary factors that drive the Company’s core operating performance and provide greater transparency into the Company’s results of operations. However, items that are excluded and other adjustments and assumptions that are made in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, the Company’s GAAP financial measures. Further, because these non-GAAP financial measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, the non-GAAP financial measures, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies.

    The Company has adjusted the applicable financial calculations to exclude merger and acquisition expenses, amortization of acquired AFF intangible assets, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) litigation settlement and certain other income and expenses. The Company does not consider these items to be related to the organic operations of the Company’s businesses or its continuing operations and are generally not relevant to assessing or estimating the long-term performance of the Company. In addition, excluding these items allows for more accurate comparisons of the financial results to prior periods. Merger and acquisition expenses include incremental costs directly associated with merger and acquisition activities, including professional fees, legal expenses, severance, retention and other employee-related costs, contract breakage costs and costs related to the consolidation of technology systems and corporate facilities, among others.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

    Management believes the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share provides investors with greater transparency and provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s financial performance and prospects for the future by excluding items that management believes are non-operating in nature and are not representative of the Company’s core operating performance. In addition, management believes the adjustments shown below are useful to investors in order to allow them to compare the Company’s financial results for the current periods presented with the prior periods presented.

    The following tables provide a reconciliation between net income and diluted earnings per share calculated in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are shown net of tax (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                      Trailing Twelve
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
        2025       2024     2025       2024     2025     2024  
      In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands   In Thousands
    Net income, as reported $ 59,805     $ 49,073   $ 143,396     $ 110,441   $ 291,770   $ 237,174  
    Adjustments, net of tax:                      
    Merger and acquisition expenses   2,134       1,047     2,488       1,504     2,690     7,380  
    AFF purchase accounting and other adjustments   9,258       9,572     18,516       19,145     37,660     51,497  
    CFPB litigation settlement   9,390       —     9,390       —     9,390     —  
    Other (income) expenses, net   (967 )     2,206     (1,391 )     997     1,482     (343 )
    Adjusted net income $ 79,620     $ 61,898   $ 172,399     $ 132,087   $ 342,992   $ 295,708  
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 30,   June 30,
        2025     2024   2025   2024
      Per Share   Per Share   Per Share   Per Share
    Diluted earnings per share, as reported $ 1.34     $ 1.08   $ 3.21     $ 2.44
    Adjustments, net of tax:              
    Merger and acquisition expenses   0.05       0.03     0.06       0.03
    AFF purchase accounting and other adjustments   0.21       0.21     0.41       0.42
    CFPB litigation settlement   0.21       —     0.21       —
    Other (income) expenses, net   (0.02 )     0.05     (0.03 )     0.02
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 1.79     $ 1.37   $ 3.86     $ 2.91
    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA

    The Company defines EBITDA as net income before income taxes, depreciation and amortization, interest expense and interest income and adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain items, as listed below, that management considers to be non-operating in nature and not representative of its actual operating performance. The Company believes EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are commonly used by investors to assess a company’s financial performance, and adjusted EBITDA is used as a starting point in the calculation of the consolidated total debt ratio as defined in the Company’s senior unsecured notes. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):

                                Trailing Twelve
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Months Ended
        June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
        2025   2024   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Net income   $ 59,805     $ 49,073     $ 143,396     $ 110,441     $ 291,770     $ 237,174  
    Income taxes     21,274       17,105       48,900       37,622       95,239       80,001  
    Depreciation and amortization     25,864       26,547       51,366       52,574       103,733       107,574  
    Interest expense     26,337       25,187       53,808       50,605       108,429       101,880  
    Interest income     (527 )     (261 )     (1,756 )     (1,004 )     (2,687 )     (1,548 )
    EBITDA     132,753       117,651       295,714       250,238       596,484       525,081  
    Adjustments:                                    
    Merger and acquisition expenses     2,777       1,364       3,239       1,961       3,506       9,600  
    AFF purchase accounting and other adjustments (1)     —       —       —       —       —       13,968  
    CFPB litigation settlement     11,000       —       11,000       —       11,000       —  
    Other (income) expenses, net     (1,401 )     2,867       (1,944 )     1,275       1,982       (486 )
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 145,129     $ 121,882     $ 308,009     $ 253,474     $ 612,972     $ 548,163  

    (1) For the twelve months ended June 30, 2024, amount represents other non-recurring costs included in administrative expenses related to a discontinued finance product.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow

    For purposes of its internal liquidity assessments, the Company considers free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow. The Company defines free cash flow as cash flow from operating activities less purchases of furniture, fixtures, equipment and improvements and net fundings/repayments of pawn loan and finance receivables, which are considered to be operating in nature by the Company but are included in cash flow from investing activities. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as free cash flow adjusted for merger and acquisition expenses paid that management considers to be non-operating in nature.

    Free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow are commonly used by investors as additional measures of cash generated by business operations that may be used to repay scheduled debt maturities and debt service or, following payment of such debt obligations and other non-discretionary items, that may be available to invest in future growth through new business development activities or acquisitions, repurchase stock, pay cash dividends or repay debt obligations prior to their maturities. These metrics can also be used to evaluate the Company’s ability to generate cash flow from business operations and the impact that this cash flow has on the Company’s liquidity. However, free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for cash flow from operating activities or other income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table reconciles cash flow from operating activities to free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow (in thousands):

                        Trailing Twelve
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Months Ended
        June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
          2025       2024       2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Cash flow from operating activities   $ 116,854     $ 106,187     $ 243,494     $ 228,719     $ 554,733     $ 439,192  
    Cash flow from certain investing activities:                        
    Pawn loans, net (1)     (50,032 )     (46,036 )     (30,592 )     (20,887 )     (81,704 )     (56,053 )
    Finance receivables, net     (35,411 )     (22,252 )     (55,977 )     (37,563 )     (157,728 )     (95,880 )
    Purchases of furniture, fixtures, equipment and improvements     (12,952 )     (16,237 )     (25,866 )     (42,664 )     (51,447 )     (74,464 )
    Free cash flow     18,459       21,662       131,059       127,605       263,854       212,795  
    Merger and acquisition expenses paid, net of tax benefit     2,134       1,047       2,488       1,504       2,690       7,380  
    Adjusted free cash flow   $ 20,593     $ 22,709     $ 133,547     $ 129,109     $ 266,544     $ 220,175  

    (1) Includes the funding of new loans net of cash repayments and recovery of principal through the sale of inventories acquired from forfeiture of pawn collateral.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Adjusted Return on Equity and Adjusted Return on Assets

    Management believes the presentation of adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on assets provides investors with greater transparency and provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s financial performance by excluding items that management believes are non-operating in nature and not representative of the Company’s core operating performance.

    Annualized adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on assets is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands):

      Trailing Twelve
      Months Ended
      June 30, 2025
    Adjusted net income (1) $ 342,992  
         
    Average stockholders’ equity (average of five most recent quarter-end balances) $ 2,046,067  
    Adjusted return on equity (trailing twelve months adjusted net income divided by average equity) 17 %
         
    Average total assets (average of five most recent quarter-end balances) $ 4,426,553  
    Adjusted return on assets (trailing twelve months adjusted net income divided by average total assets) 8 %

    (1) See detail of adjustments to net income in the “Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share” section above.

    Constant Currency Results

    The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, however, certain performance metrics discussed in this release are presented on a “constant currency” basis, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company’s management uses constant currency results to evaluate operating results of business operations in Latin America, which are transacted in local currencies in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia. The Company also has operations in El Salvador, where the reporting and functional currency is the U.S. dollar.

    The Company believes constant currency results provide valuable supplemental information regarding the underlying performance of its business operations in Latin America, consistent with how the Company’s management evaluates such performance and operating results. Constant currency results reported herein are calculated by translating certain balance sheet and income statement items denominated in local currencies using the exchange rate from the prior-year comparable period, as opposed to the current comparable period, in order to exclude the effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations for purposes of evaluating period-over-period comparisons. See the Latin America pawn segment tables elsewhere in this release for additional reconciliation of certain constant currency amounts to as reported GAAP amounts.

    FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
    TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
    (UNAUDITED)
     

    Exchange Rates for the Mexican Peso, Guatemalan Quetzal and Colombian Peso

      June 30,   Favorable /
      2025   2024   (Unfavorable)
    Mexican peso / U.S. dollar exchange rate:              
    End-of-period 18.9   18.4     (3 ) %
    Three months ended 19.5   17.2     (13 ) %
    Six months ended 20.0   17.1     (17 ) %
                   
    Guatemalan quetzal / U.S. dollar exchange rate:              
    End-of-period 7.7   7.8     1   %
    Three months ended 7.7   7.8     1   %
    Six months ended 7.7   7.8     1   %
                   
    Colombian peso / U.S. dollar exchange rate:              
    End-of-period 4,070   4,148     2   %
    Three months ended 4,199   3,927     (7 ) %
    Six months ended 4,195   3,921     (7 ) %

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crossing improvement work to begin close to local school

    Source: City of Leicester

    TRAFFIC restrictions will be in place on Leicester’s St Barnabas Road from this weekend, while crossing and footpath improvement works take place.

    Leicester City Council will be repairing and improving paving on part of the road, and creating new footpath build-outs to provide a safer crossing point close to St Barnabas Primary School.

    The works are expected to take around four weeks to complete and will require traffic restrictions to be in place.

    Over the coming weekend – Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July – St Barnabas Road will be closed to all traffic between its junctions with Uppingham Road and French Road, while drainage works are carried out. Well-signposted diversions will be in place. Pedestrian access and vehicle access to properties in the area will be maintained.

    Then, from Monday 28 July, the road will be one-way only, towards Uppingham Road, until late-August. A short well-signposted diversion will be in place.

    The new footpath build-outs will be created on both sides of the road at the point where the school crossing patrol operates. The improvements will reduce the width of the crossing, prevent vehicles from parking and help reduce traffic speed making it safer for people to cross at all times of day.

    The scheme will cost around £100,000 and is part of a rolling programme of pedestrian crossing improvements across the city.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “This is part of an ongoing programme of work in neighbourhoods across the city, where people have raised concerns, input ideas or highlighted possible areas for improvement.

    “By working with local communities in this way, we are able to invest in highways schemes that make a real difference to the daily lives of residents.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU will explain the essence of the political process to young human rights activists

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The educational program of the Center for the Implementation of Social and Humanitarian Projects of the State Institution of Humanities “Youth in the World of Politics: How to Effectively Respond to the Challenges of the Future?” has been launched.

    Let us recall that the Center for the Implementation of Social and Humanitarian Projects opened at the State University of Management in April of this year.

    The program brought together 50 participants of the personnel platform “Commissioner for Results”, launched by the Commissioner for Children’s Rights under the President of the Russian Federation. It is held online and includes 9 thematic days covering various aspects of youth policy and activities in the socio-political sphere.

    As part of the opening of the educational program, the participants were addressed by the director of the charitable foundation “Country for Children” Alexey Petrov, deputy director of the Center for the implementation of projects of the social and humanitarian profile of the State University of Management, curator of the Career Center Polit.Job Snezhana Vikulina, executive secretary of the Federal Children’s Public Council under the Commissioner for Children’s Rights under the President of the Russian Federation Leonid Snegirev. They spoke about the relationship between politics and law, and also outlined the priority tasks of the program.

    In his welcoming speech, Alexey Petrov, director of the Country for Children charity foundation, noted: “This educational program is designed to help young professionals understand what the political process is really about. After all, politics and human rights protection are not really about ties and endless meetings, but about real, specific help to people both directly and through a large number of methods and mechanisms.”

    According to the Deputy Director of the Center for the Implementation of Social and Humanitarian Projects at the State University of Management, curator of the Polit.Job Career Center, Snezhana Vikulina, the Center’s program is being held for a younger audience for the first time – high school students and first-year students. “We are confident that this program will be especially useful for the participants, because all the speakers we have have worked their way up from the very bottom to the position they currently hold. We hope that their example will serve as inspiration for their work,” Snezhana Vikulina emphasized.

    The introductory lecture for young human rights activists was given by the responsible secretary of the Federal Children’s Public Council under the Commissioner for Children’s Rights under the President of the Russian Federation Leonid Snegirev. He immersed the participants in the program’s goal-setting and expected results, and also highlighted the career prospects of young specialists within the framework of the personnel platform.

    During the program, invited speakers will talk about trends in the development of youth policy in Russia, the characteristics of youth leadership, the ideological guidelines of our country, opportunities for young specialists in the socio-political sphere, and much more.

    The event is organized by the Center for the Implementation of Social and Humanitarian Projects of the State University of Management, the Federal Children’s Public Council under the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and the personnel platform “Commissioner for Results”. The program is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the State University of Management, the Digoria Platform, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and the Country for Children charitable foundation.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Cocoa with a conscience: Funding fair and forest‑friendly beans

    Source: European Investment Bank

    The European Union has taken steps to combat deforestation and child labour through the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative and the Alliance for Sustainable Cocoa. Those initiatives call on countries like the Ivory Coast and Ghana, which produce 60% of the world’s cocoa, to improve oversight of the sector, combat deforestation and child labour, and ensure decent incomes for farmers. Exporters will also have to comply with a new European regulation on deforestation, which is expected to go into force in 2026.

    In parallel, the Ivorian government has embarked on an “ambitious initiative” to implement new African standards that trace crops across cocoa-producing regions and improve environmental protection, says Sylvain Caurla, an agroforestry engineer with the European Investment Bank who works on sustainable cocoa and reforestation projects in the Ivory Coast.

    “Cocoa has been a major driver of deforestation in recent decades,” Caurla says. “But cocoa is also a major contributor to Ivorian GDP. There is a world strategy around protecting forests, but also producing cocoa in a different way, a sustainable way – a way that provides a decent livelihood for communities that depend on it.”

    The EIB’s loan to BNI was approved in September 2024, just in time for the main cocoa harvest season, which lasts from October to March. In a few weeks, BNI was able to put together projects – loans for agricultural cooperatives and others – accounting for about 90% of the EIB funds, says Marc-Antoine Coursaget, the loan officer in EIB Global who is handling the investment.

    Around 60% of the financed cooperatives are led by young entrepreneurs or employ a significant number of young people, while 40% are either led by women or have a large number of women in the workforce.

    The EIB and Agence Française de Développement will also provide technical assistance to help BNI strengthen its environmental and social management system and enable cocoa producers meet EU requirements and the demands of international certifications. Those regulations and certifications are designed to curb cacao’s incursion into Ivory Coast’s rainforest, which has shrunk by more than 80% since 1960, with devastating consequences for biodiversity.

    Ivory Coast has embarked on vast programmes of reforestation to counter the loss. The EIB is providing €150 million to support the country’s forest preservation, rehabilitation and expansion strategy.

    “The European Union has two main priorities in Ivory Coast: one is the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative and the second is low-carbon transition,” Coursaget says. “And when you fight deforestation, you also help reduce carbon emissions.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to Listeriosis-caused death in Ireland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on a death caused by Listeriosis in Ireland. 

    Prof Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

    What is listeriosis, how common is it, how does it occur, how is it treated?

    “Listeriosis invariably is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and is a rare infection that can cause meningitis and other complications. It is usually transmitted through the contamination of food products and is unusual in that it can survive at low temperatures including in refrigeration. Pregnant women and over 65s are particularly susceptible to infection.

     What do we know so far about the situation so far and what is yet to be learned?

    “The current situation appears to be an outbreak in the island of Ireland linked to potential contamination of a food source.”

    What might have caused this particular outbreak and how will it be controlled?

    “Most outbreaks of Listeriosis are often linked to persistent strains at food manufacturing sites. The strains are often difficult to detect and can withstand refrigeration and persist in factory sites for several months. Full inspection of the food processing chain and culturing of the bacterium will be required to identify the contaminating source.

    How deadly is listeria and should we expect to see more deaths due to listeriosis?

    “Rarely causes death, mainly in the immunocompromised. Most individuals will have mild flu-like symptoms, nausea and diarrhoea.

    How worried should we be about this and future outbreaks?

    “Outbreaks of Listeriosis are rare in Europe. The pathogen is very rarely transmitted between humans (except mothers to foetuses). So there should not be real alarm.

    What can we do to prevent infection/future outbreaks?

    “Close monitoring and testing at all points of the food supply chain”

    Declared interests

    No reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public consultation on Green Innovation Corridor first phase now open

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The GIC will connect key assets at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus, Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park – the country’s most successful Enterprise Zone.

    It will introduce new commercial and business opportunities for development, incubation space, grow on space for SMEs and space for larger use.

    The scheme has already secured £27million funding from UK Government and has attained West Midlands Investment Zone status, helping unlock transformational capital funding, business support and skills programmes.

    People can now have their say on designs for the first phase – the planned redevelopment of 4 brownfield sites, collectively known as Six Mile Green, located close to University of Wolverhampton Science Park.

    An online survey is available at Consultation | Six Mile Green – Redevelopment of brownfield land at the University of Wolverhampton Science Park until 1 August, 2025.

    An exhibition at University of Wolverhampton Science Park will also be running from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August and a public drop-in event at the Science Park is being hosted by the project team on Wednesday 30 July between 4pm and 8pm.

    Once feedback from the consultation has been taken into consideration, a hybrid planning application will be submitted, comprising detailed plans for ground remediation, site clearance, service infrastructure and enabling works and outline plans for new buildings providing around 20,000sqm of mixed use commercial floorspace.

    If the plans are approved, then WM Investment Zone funding will be used to carry out preconstruction works by March 2027, which will support prospective developers by providing development ready sites for design and build construction.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The Green Innovation Corridor will drive the Green Industrial Revolution, building upon Wolverhampton’s sustainable construction, green credentials and circular economy for transformation that will create quality jobs for local people.

    “Bringing forward these designs for consultation is the next step towards our goal of securing the planning permission for Six Mile Green that will facilitate enabling works and ultimately attract developer interest.”

    Pete Cross, Chief Operating Officer, University of Wolverhampton said, “The University of Wolverhampton is proud to be a key partner in the Green Innovation Corridor, which will act as a catalyst for innovation, skills development, and economic prosperity.

    “We are working closely with our colleagues at the City of Wolverhampton Council to develop an exciting and ambitious business community that will drive growth in green technologies and advanced manufacturing, directly contributing to the net zero agenda and creating high value jobs for our communities.

    “The proposals outline the development of our existing sites across the Science Park, Springfield Campus and Six-Mile Green and we look forward to working with external investors and developers to put these plans into motion.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin created a government commission to eliminate the consequences of the An-24 plane crash in Tynda

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    A government commission was created by order of Mikhail Mishustin to eliminate the consequences of the An-24 plane crash in the Amur Region. It is headed by Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin.

    The commission included the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Dmitry Yadrov, the head of Rostransnadzor Viktor Gulin, the first deputy minister of finance Irina Okladnikova, the deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Viktor Yatsutsenko, the deputy head of the Ministry of Health Andrey Plutnitsky, the governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov, as well as representatives of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Rostrud.

    In the near future, on the instructions of Mikhail Mishustin, Andrei Nikitin and Dmitry Yadrov will fly to the crash site.

    On July 24 at 07:05 (Moscow time), while approaching to land at Tynda airport, the An-24 aircraft of Angara Airlines disappeared from radar. There were 42 passengers and 6 crew members on board. It was later established that the plane crashed several kilometers from Tynda airport.

    All emergency services have been deployed to eliminate the aftermath of the crash. Relatives of the victims will be provided with all necessary assistance. Work will also be carried out to pay the appropriate compensation. In connection with the disaster, the Russian Emergencies Ministry hotline is operating in Tynda: 8 (4162) 53–99–99.

    Rosaviatsia will work out the issue of transporting relatives of passengers of the crashed plane to Tynda on Russian airlines.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 24 July 2025 News release Timor-Leste certified malaria-free by WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free, a remarkable achievement for a country that prioritized the disease and embarked on a concerted, nation-wide response shortly after gaining independence in 2002.

    “WHO congratulates the people and government of Timor-Leste on this significant milestone,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Timor-Leste’s success proves that malaria can be stopped in its tracks when strong political will, smart interventions, sustained domestic and external investment and dedicated health workers unite.”

    With today’s announcement, a total of 47 countries and 1 territory have been certified as malaria-free by WHO. Timor-Leste is the third country to be certified in the WHO South-East Asia region, joining Maldives and Sri Lanka which were certified in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

    Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.

    “We did it. Malaria has been one of our most relentless enemies – silent, persistent, and deadly. We lost too many lives to a disease that should be preventable. But our health workers never gave up, our communities held strong, and our partners, like WHO, walked beside us. From 223 000 cases to zero – this elimination honours every life lost and every life now saved. We must safeguard this victory with continued vigilance and community action to prevent malaria’s re-entry,” said Dr Élia António de Araújo dos Reis Amaral, SH, Minister of Health, Government of Timor-Leste.

    A rapid shift from high burden country to malaria-free

    Since gaining independence in 2002, Timor-Leste has made remarkable strides in the fight against malaria – reducing cases from a peak of more than 223 000 clinically diagnosed cases in 2006 to zero indigenous cases from 2021 onwards.

    Timor-Leste’s success in eliminating malaria was driven by the Ministry of Health’s swift action in 2003 to establish the National Malaria Programme, a dedicated programme for planning, implementing, and monitoring malaria control efforts nationwide. With only two full-time officers initially, the programme was able to lay the foundation for progress early on through strong technical leadership, managerial capacity and attention to detail.

    Within a few years, the country introduced rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy as part of the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines and began distributing free long-lasting insecticide treated nets to communities most at risk.

    In 2009, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Timor-Leste scaled up nationwide vector control efforts through the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. Malaria diagnosis was also expanded using microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests at the point of care across all local health posts.

    Facing the challenges of severe shortages of health workers and doctors, Timor-Leste made investments and developed its three-tier health system – comprising national hospitals, reference hospitals, community health centers (CHCs), and health posts – to ensure most residents can access care within an hour’s walk. Additionally, citizens are provided with free health services at the point of care, as part of the government’s policy on free universal health care. Monthly mobile clinics and community outreach programmes further enhance health services in rural areas.

    Timor-Leste’s success in combating malaria highlights the importance of country leadership and strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, WHO, local communities, non-governmental organizations, donors, and multiple government sectors. A real-time integrated case-based surveillance system ensures rapid data collection and response, while trained health workers ensure timely detection and screening of malaria cases, including at borders. These integrated efforts have paved the way for the country to be officially certified malaria-free.

    “Timor-Leste’s malaria-free certification is a defining national triumph – driven by bold leadership, tireless efforts of health workers, and the resolve of its people. As a young nation, Timor-Leste stayed focused – testing, treating, and investigating swiftly. Ending transmission and maintaining zero deaths takes more than science; it takes grit. This victory protects generations, present and future, and shows what a determined country can achieve,” said Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste.
     

    Note to the editor

    WHO malaria-free certification
    The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification is made by the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification and validation from the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. More on WHO’s malaria-free certification process.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New Horizons of Solutions: From Theory to Practice of Risk Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Polytechnic University solemnly awarded the winners and prize-winners of the All-Russian student case championship “Risk Management: New Horizons for Solutions”. The organizers are the Higher School of Industrial Management of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade and the consulting company “Trust Technologies”.

    Joint-Stock Company “Trust Technologies” provides audit and consulting services to corporate clients in various sectors of the economy. According to the RAEX rating agency, in 2025 the company entered the top five largest Russian participants in the audit and consulting services market.

    The case championship was attended by 56 students from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Voronezh and Tambov. As part of 15 teams, the students solved cases dedicated to risk management issues related to an unstable external environment, technological risks, digitalization and sustainable development. The participants presented projects combining digital technologies, risk management methods and models, as well as forecasting tools in an uncertain environment.

    “The ability to manage risks in modern conditions is a critically important competency for any business. The level of the presented student projects, their depth of development and practical orientation are pleasing. Cooperation with the company “Trust Technologies”, a strong partner occupying a leading position in the audit and consulting services market, is very important for us. This creates a unique environment for cultivating young and in-demand specialists in the labor market, ready to get involved in solving real business problems of Russian companies,” said Olga Kalinina, Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management, at the opening of the final.

    The teams defended their solutions before an expert jury, which included representatives of the Trust Technologies company: Svetlana Kuzmenkova, Senior Manager of the Non-Financial Risk Group, Viktor Kosmachev, Senior Consultant of the Systemic Changes and Business Development Practice, Evgeniya Filyanina, Consultant of the Non-Financial Risk Group, as well as Associate Professors of the Higher School of Industrial Management of the IPMEiT Anna Timofeeva, Evgeny Makarenko and Elena Kiseleva.

    The best project solution was presented by the AllRisks team, which became the absolute winner of the championship. The team included Artem Rudenko (SPbGEU), Mikhail Borovkov (ITMO), Elizaveta Egorova and Polina Ivanova (SPbPU).

    The first place winner was the PonITech SPbPU team: Diana Yakimenko, Maria Belova, Maria Platonova and Vitaly Trofimov.

    The second place was taken by the Ratio team from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba: Daria Dreval, Larisa Ordina, Elizaveta Kostyaeva and Veronika Vatrukhina.

    The third place went to the “Risk Hunters” – Valentina Fedorova, Anastasia Rusakova, Arina Katrina, Egor Bogdanov and Liana Pogosyan from SPbSUT.

    “We set a difficult task for the participants: to develop risk management solutions that not only take into account modern challenges, but also integrate digital tools for forecasting and management in conditions of uncertainty. As a result of the defenses, we saw non-standard approaches, a strong analytical background and a willingness to offer specific mechanisms that can be applied in practice. We are confident that for many students this championship will become a springboard to a successful career in business,” commented Evgeniya Filyanina, consultant of the non-financial risks group.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Milestone for city’s Dementia Hub

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry’s pioneering Dementia Hub celebrated its second anniversary this week.

    The occasion was marked by a small celebration event which was attended by residents and partners from across the city.  Attendees had the opportunity to hear from some of the people behind the Hub’s success and to reflect on its future.

    Since opening in July 2023, the Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub has become a pillar of adult social care services in the city. Every year, the hub and its staff help around 4,000 people access essential support and guidance.

    Beyond that support, the Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub also offers a safe, caring space for those living with Dementia where they can meet other people and take part in fun activities such as singing and dancing.

    The hub involves a number of partners working together, including Admiral Nurses, Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, Carers’ Trust, Lions Club of Coventry Godiva, the Council, the Coventry Police Partnership Team, Dementia Champions, and more.

    Speaking at the event Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, reflected on the importance of the hub to the city.  

    She said: “Dementia is a lonely, isolating illness which impacts thousands of people across Coventry. That’s why we launched the hub, we wanted a place for people to come together, make friends and get the support they need.

    “It’s so heart-warming to visit the building and hear first-hand the impact it’s been having on residents and their carers.

    “None of this would be possible without our partners and staff. Without them this would just be a building but because of their commitment it’s a sanctuary for so many people.”

    Stuart Jennings, Honorary Vice President of the Alzheimer’s Society, also attended the event.

    He said:” This is a place where people find friendship, encouragement, advice and even manage to raise a smile.

    “The hub is an example, not only across Coventry but nationally. It’s a model that, in my role, I hold up as a shining example for other cities to follow.”

    Find out more about the Hub by visiting the Council’s Website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Craig and Kelly have won a wedding!

    Source: City of Coventry

    Craig Critchley and Kelly Baylis are getting ready to walk down the aisle in style on Valentine’s Day, after being chosen as winners of the Win a Wedding competition run by the City Council and Go CV.

    There were dozens of entries, and judges had a tough time reading through all the incredible stories before finally selecting Craig and Kelly as winners.

    In fact – both of them had sent in applications in the hope of being selected for the great prize, which is worth over £5,000.

    It includes a marriage ceremony hosted in the Black Prince Room at Cheylesmore Manor House (Coventry Register Office), a wedding reception venue at Drapers’ Hall including buffet, dining set-up and service staff, plus overnight accommodation in a Junior Suite at the Telegraph Hotel with breakfast.

    In submitting her entry, Kelly told how the couple had first met as 13-year-olds 37 years ago. 

    She said: “We’re both 50 this year and never got the chance to get married. Craig actually proposed to me on February 14th many years ago, but then life got turned upside down.

    “We started saving for our wedding and we were trying to start a family, but things didn’t quite go as we planned.

    “At 25 weeks our little girl was born weighing only 1lb 6oz and we named her Harriet. She was tiny and so sick. She fought so hard and had numerous surgeries and other procedures. It was the hardest time of our lives but we never gave up hope.

    “Craig was amazing. He was my rock. Finally, Harriet began to improve and after months we got to bring her home. We want to marry so much and to have our beautiful 12-year-old daughter there as our flower girl on our engagement anniversary would be so special.”

    In Craig’s entry, he said: ““Our journey has been so tough, filled with heartache, sadness and pure elation. We were told Harriet would not make it, but she defied all odds and is our little miracle. “So to complete our dream and to get married when we are 50 and on the anniversary of my proposal would be something very special indeed.”

    On hearing they had won the prize, they said: “We couldn’t believe it, the best surprise you could ever imagine. It means the world to us that our love story will come full circle, a wedding on Valentine’s Day, the same day we got engaged! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

    The lucky winners will also have flower bouquets provided by Isabel’s Flower Studio, photographs by UR Rosa Photography, precious moments to share on social media by Electric Joy Moments Content Creator and Brody Swain as Wedding Toastmaster at the ceremony and reception.

    People had to enter on the Go CV website, saying in no more than 300 words why they deserved to win. They also had to be a Coventry resident and hold a fully validated Go CV card.

    Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member, Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “It really is a fantastic prize, and I am delighted for Kelly and Craig to have their dream come true after everything they have been through.

    “Thank you to everyone who entered – there were some very moving and inspiring stories – and congratulations to our winning couple. I know they will have a fantastic day at some truly wonderful venues, and with the help of some very talented local businesses.”

    To learn more about Go CV and how you could get some great discounts and enter competitions in the future, visit go-cv.co.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 2026 Gauteng School admission process begins

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has officially switched on the 2026 Online Admissions System, marking the start of applications for parents and guardians with children going to Grade 1 and Grade 8 at Gauteng public schools in the 2026 academic year. 

    Speaking at the YMCA in Ga-Rankuwa Zone 5, the MEC expressed confidence in the department’s online application system.

    “I have just received confirmation that 80 000 applications have already gone through since the opening this morning. The parents are responding positively, and we are anticipating that we will have a much larger number by the end of the day. So far, so good. I have not received any complaints about glitches. There hasn’t been a system crash, so all is well,” Chiloane said. 

    The YMCA in Ga-Rankuwa Zone 5 serves as one of the 81 walk-in centres across the province, where parents and guardians who do not have access to the requisite resources can get assistance. 

    Parents and guardians can submit their application online on any device by visiting www.gdeadmissions.gov.za. The 2026 online admissions application period will close on Friday, 29 August 2025 at midnight. 

    The MEC said significant upgrades have been made to the province’s online admissions system aimed at improving user experience and processing efficiency. 

    “Every year after we have done the application process, we do a review and engage a couple of stakeholders that interact with the system, the learner, parent, SGB just to get feedback as to where can we improve. 

    “Largely, it has been improvements in communication that we have made. When you apply you get an SMS that shows you have completed the steps,” he said. 

    The MEC said another major enhancement was the system’s processing capacity. 

    The upgraded platform can now handle up to 40 000 applications per minute, reducing delays and improving turnaround time during the high-traffic application period.

    “We have also improved as well on allowing parents (mother and father) to apply for the same child but obviously the system will only give them an option of 5 schools, so there has been quite a lot of improvement in the system, we have done quite a lot,” Chiloane said. 

    How the system works

    All parents need to register new profiles. Old profiles and previous login details will not work.

    After registering on www.gdeadmissions.gov.za, the system will prompt parents to create login credentials (username and password).

    “Parents must keep these credentials safe, as they will use them to access the Online Admissions System, and view and manage their profile and application details.

    “Parents must accept the POPI [Protection of Personal Information] disclaimer, enter their correct ID number and details, and remember to read and accept the Terms and Conditions,” Chiloane advised. 

    Once parents have gained access to the system, they must begin with the application process and ensure that they complete the 5 step application process. 

    “It is essential for parents and guardians to fill in correct and accurate details in every step of the application process as prompted by the system. Documents must be uploaded or submitted within seven days of applying.

    “Registering a profile without completing every step of the 5 step application process will result in an incomplete application and the applicant not being considered for placement,” he said.

    To receive important SMS notifications and updates regarding their application(s), applicants must provide one reliable and correct cellphone number when registering.

    “Every step of the application process will be confirmed via SMS for security and verification purposes. There will be weekly pop-up messages on the system and SMS notifications sent to registered applicants as reminders to complete their application.

    “SMS notifications will also be sent to parents to acknowledge submission and verification of documents. Therefore, parents are encouraged not to change or lose their cellphone numbers, but in unforeseen cases the department must be contacted for assistance,” the MEC explained.

    He encouraged parents to use the Home Address Within School Feeder Zone option when applying on the system to see schools with feeder zones that cover their home address.

    To increase the chances of placement closer to the parent’s home address, parents should select schools with feeder zones that cover the parent’s home address.

    When applying, parents are urged to select a minimum of three schools and a maximum of five schools. All schools will remain open and accessible on the system for applications during the application period.

    Closing date 

    No new applications will be accepted once the application period closes on 29 August 2025 at midnight. Parents are advised to not fall for scams that charge a fee to assist with applying online.

    “Bogus operators are scamming parents by falsely promising guaranteed placements in exchange for money. All scams and illegal placements must be reported to the GDE. The GDE does not charge any fees for assisting parents with the application process, all official support is completely free,” the MEC emphasised.

    For more information, assistance or comments:
    •    Call 0800 000 789
    •    WhatsApp 060 891 0361 or
    •    Email: gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za

    – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Boys rescued from mountain cliffs near Mahlakwane village

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 24, 2025

    Communities in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, have been urged to explore mountains cautiously and with proper guidance or supervision after four young boys went missing and required a search and rescue operation to be rescued. 

    On Monday, 21 July 2025, four boys from Mahlakwane village in Sekhukhune went to the mountain to hunt until late at night.

    They failed to return home and the following day, family members went to the police station to report them missing.

    “The report prompted the police to launch an immediate joint search operation conducted by Zaiplaas Vispol members, Burgersfort K9 unit, the Search and Rescue team, Emergency Medical Services personnel, fire department and community members.

    “They then embarked on a search with a view to safely rescue the four young boys, aged between nine and 19, who were trapped in the cliffs on the mountain at Mahlakwana village,” said the police in a statement.

    Three were successfully rescued, while the eldest one was found at his home after the operation.

    Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, cautioned communities to explore mountains safely.

    “This warning aims to raise awareness to prevent similar incidents and ensure public safety. We urge parents and guardians to take extra care of their children and to ensure that they are aware of their whereabouts at all times,” said Hadebe. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Update 304 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week provided Ukraine with a freight vehicle for the transport of radioactive material, its 150th delivery of equipment to support nuclear safety and security in the country during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received the truck that was funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden. IAEA staff helped ensure that transport safety and security considerations were taken into account in the design of the vehicle.

    “Since the start of the conflict three and a half years ago, the IAEA has coordinated assistance for Ukraine of a wide range of technical equipment, medical supplies and other items that are of vital importance for nuclear safety and security. These deliveries are part of our overall efforts aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during this devastating war,” Director General Grossi said.

    “Thanks to the generous support of many of our Member States and the European Union, we have now carried out shipments with a total value of more than 19 million euros, each one helping to enhance different aspects of nuclear safety and security,” he said.

    Several other deliveries have taken place in recent weeks, supported by Belgium, the EU and Japan: the regional state laboratory in Mykolaiv province – badly affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 – received a real-time PCR cycler (Polymerase Chain Reaction, a nuclear-derived technique) for fast and accurate analysis to help it fight the spread of disease as a result of the flooding; the medical unit of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant received an ultrasound system; and a subsidiary of national nuclear operator Energoatom received a cryostat system ensuring continuity of services affected by power cuts and liquid nitrogen supply challenges.

    Director General Grossi said nuclear safety and security remains under threat in Ukraine.

    At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team based at the site has continued to hear shelling, explosions, and gunfire almost every day.

    Earlier this month, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that the site’s training centre was targeted in a drone strike on 13 July, resulting in damage to its roof. There were no reports of casualties. The team was not granted access to assess the damage to the training centre located outside the site perimeter, with the plant citing security concerns.

    In addition, the ZNPP’s off-site power situation continues to be extremely fragile, with the plant having had access to just one single power line for almost three months now, compared to ten before the conflict.

    The nearby city of Enerhodar – where most ZNPP staff live – suffered an electricity blackout on 17 July due to damage to its main power line, according to information provided to the IAEA team members.  They were also told that subsequent shelling had damaged some buildings in the city, which was also observed when the team visited Enerhodar on 19 July.

    A forest fire near Enerhodar that caused smoke which was observed by the IAEA team last weekend has been extinguished without any impact on nuclear safety, the plant said.  

    The IAEA team has continued to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security, observing the testing of three emergency diesel generators as well as visiting the containment and safety system rooms of two reactor units.

    They also discussed with the plant management different options for refilling the plant’s cooling pond following the loss of the Kakhovka dam two years ago and further planning on emergency preparedness and response, including preparations for a site exercise later this year.

    At Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine units are currently in shutdown for refuelling and maintenance.

    The IAEA team based at these plants, and the Chornobyl site, reported hearing air raid alarms nearly every day over the past week.

    At the Khmelnytskyy and South Ukraine NPPs, the IAEA teams were informed that during the night of 18 July drones were detected a few kilometres away from the two sites. That same evening, the team at Chornobyl observed flashes of light and heard explosions in the distance.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beyond babysitting: How China’s grandparents are reinventing retirement

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

    Graduates perform during the graduation ceremony at Xinjiang Open University for Seniors in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

    With her silver hair neatly styled and a pearl necklace resting against a soft yellow blouse, Yin Song embodies the elegance of the pianist she’s always been. But the large studio headphones over her ears and the video camera in front of her suggest something different.

    At 74, “Grandma Piano,” as her online fans affectionately call her, now spends her time guiding audiences through the world of anime and video game music, sharing the same depth of feeling she once brought to Mozart and Chopin.

    A lifelong musician, Yin opened her social media account in 2022 to share her expertise. It wasn’t until she analyzed the music from the hit game “Black Myth: Wukong” that her channel suddenly took off. The “grandinfluencer” now has more than 600,000 followers on the video-sharing platform Bilibili.

    For Yin, the experience has been unexpectedly transformative. “We used to lead the young,” she said. “Now they lead us, and I want to keep running alongside them,” embracing new ideas and ways of connecting.

    Yin’s story reflects a subtle yet telling cultural shift. In a country where grandparents have long been expected to devote their retirement years to caring for grandchildren, an increasing number of older Chinese are quietly rewriting the script. They are embracing new roles as content creators, community volunteers, entrepreneurs, and part-time professionals. For many, retirement is no longer a retreat, but a second act.

    Yin is far from alone. By the end of 2024, over 30 million users aged 60 or above were logging in monthly on Xiaohongshu, one of China’s most popular social media platforms. In just two years, the number of senior content creators has tripled, generating more than 100 million posts.

    These older digital pioneers are challenging long-held stereotypes from grandmothers redefining fashion, to retired professors distilling philosophy into viral short videos, and rural elders sharing their pastoral lives.

    Digital engagement is only part of the story. Many seniors are also returning to work, seeking purpose beyond their pensions. Zhu Honghua, 70, a former Beijing accountant enjoyed a comfortable monthly pension of around 8,500 yuan (about 1,191 U.S. dollars) and a leisurely life with her husband after retirement.

    But the routine began to wear thin. When a business contact invited Zhu back to accounting, she jumped at the chance. “It’s not just about the money,” she said. “Having something meaningful to do every day is its own reward.”

    Zhu’s case is hardly an outlier. A growing body of data suggests that many older Chinese are not only willing but eager to return to work. A 2023 survey by the China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics found that 45 percent of those aged between 60 and 69 expressed a desire to remain in or reenter the workforce.

    Research from the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences revealed similar patterns: 62.1 percent of people aged 60 to 65 said they wanted to keep working, while among those approaching retirement, aged 55 to 59, the figure was even higher, at 72.7 percent.

    While motivations vary, nearly half of those seeking post-retirement work cited a need for purpose, according to a 2022 report on senior reemployment. Others aimed to apply their skills or chase new ambitions. A third said they hoped to ease financial pressure or afford a better quality of life.

    The surge of interest in post-retirement work coincides with China’s rapidly aging population. By the end of 2024, more than 310 million Chinese citizens were aged 60 or older, about 22 percent of the population. That share is expected to surpass 30 percent by 2035, when the number of seniors is projected to top 400 million.

    As waves of older workers reach retirement age over the coming years, policymakers and experts see both a warning and an opportunity. With educational attainment on the rise, China’s older adults are seen not only as dependents, but as a vast reservoir of experience, skills and resources that could help offset the country’s shrinking working-age population.

    China has taken steps to harness the power of its aging population. In its recent move, the government issued new guidelines this May, calling for more flexible and personalized job opportunities tailored to older adults, while pledging to dismantle outdated regulations that stand in their way.

    Local governments have moved quickly to implement the changes, building registries of senior talent, expanding employment services for retirees, and cultivating specialized human resource agencies to serve the growing “silver economy.”

    Signs of change are beginning to emerge in the labor market. Retirees with backgrounds in engineering, medicine, education and skilled trades are returning as consultants, trainers or part-time specialists, lending decades of experience to fields in need.

    “China has entered an aging society,” said Lu Jiehua, a sociology professor at Peking University. “Tapping into older human resources isn’t just about addressing demographic pressure. It’s a crucial strategy for extending the country’s demographic dividend.”  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Update 304 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week provided Ukraine with a freight vehicle for the transport of radioactive material, its 150th delivery of equipment to support nuclear safety and security in the country during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received the truck that was funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden. IAEA staff helped ensure that transport safety and security considerations were taken into account in the design of the vehicle.

    “Since the start of the conflict three and a half years ago, the IAEA has coordinated assistance for Ukraine of a wide range of technical equipment, medical supplies and other items that are of vital importance for nuclear safety and security. These deliveries are part of our overall efforts aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during this devastating war,” Director General Grossi said.

    “Thanks to the generous support of many of our Member States and the European Union, we have now carried out shipments with a total value of more than 19 million euros, each one helping to enhance different aspects of nuclear safety and security,” he said.

    Several other deliveries have taken place in recent weeks, supported by Belgium, the EU and Japan: the regional state laboratory in Mykolaiv province – badly affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 – received a real-time PCR cycler (Polymerase Chain Reaction, a nuclear-derived technique) for fast and accurate analysis to help it fight the spread of disease as a result of the flooding; the medical unit of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant received an ultrasound system; and a subsidiary of national nuclear operator Energoatom received a cryostat system ensuring continuity of services affected by power cuts and liquid nitrogen supply challenges.

    Director General Grossi said nuclear safety and security remains under threat in Ukraine.

    At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team based at the site has continued to hear shelling, explosions, and gunfire almost every day.

    Earlier this month, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that the site’s training centre was targeted in a drone strike on 13 July, resulting in damage to its roof. There were no reports of casualties. The team was not granted access to assess the damage to the training centre located outside the site perimeter, with the plant citing security concerns.

    In addition, the ZNPP’s off-site power situation continues to be extremely fragile, with the plant having had access to just one single power line for almost three months now, compared to ten before the conflict.

    The nearby city of Enerhodar – where most ZNPP staff live – suffered an electricity blackout on 17 July due to damage to its main power line, according to information provided to the IAEA team members.  They were also told that subsequent shelling had damaged some buildings in the city, which was also observed when the team visited Enerhodar on 19 July.

    A forest fire near Enerhodar that caused smoke which was observed by the IAEA team last weekend has been extinguished without any impact on nuclear safety, the plant said.  

    The IAEA team has continued to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security, observing the testing of three emergency diesel generators as well as visiting the containment and safety system rooms of two reactor units.

    They also discussed with the plant management different options for refilling the plant’s cooling pond following the loss of the Kakhovka dam two years ago and further planning on emergency preparedness and response, including preparations for a site exercise later this year.

    At Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine units are currently in shutdown for refuelling and maintenance.

    The IAEA team based at these plants, and the Chornobyl site, reported hearing air raid alarms nearly every day over the past week.

    At the Khmelnytskyy and South Ukraine NPPs, the IAEA teams were informed that during the night of 18 July drones were detected a few kilometres away from the two sites. That same evening, the team at Chornobyl observed flashes of light and heard explosions in the distance.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 304 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week provided Ukraine with a freight vehicle for the transport of radioactive material, its 150th delivery of equipment to support nuclear safety and security in the country during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received the truck that was funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden. IAEA staff helped ensure that transport safety and security considerations were taken into account in the design of the vehicle.

    “Since the start of the conflict three and a half years ago, the IAEA has coordinated assistance for Ukraine of a wide range of technical equipment, medical supplies and other items that are of vital importance for nuclear safety and security. These deliveries are part of our overall efforts aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during this devastating war,” Director General Grossi said.

    “Thanks to the generous support of many of our Member States and the European Union, we have now carried out shipments with a total value of more than 19 million euros, each one helping to enhance different aspects of nuclear safety and security,” he said.

    Several other deliveries have taken place in recent weeks, supported by Belgium, the EU and Japan: the regional state laboratory in Mykolaiv province – badly affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 – received a real-time PCR cycler (Polymerase Chain Reaction, a nuclear-derived technique) for fast and accurate analysis to help it fight the spread of disease as a result of the flooding; the medical unit of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant received an ultrasound system; and a subsidiary of national nuclear operator Energoatom received a cryostat system ensuring continuity of services affected by power cuts and liquid nitrogen supply challenges.

    Director General Grossi said nuclear safety and security remains under threat in Ukraine.

    At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team based at the site has continued to hear shelling, explosions, and gunfire almost every day.

    Earlier this month, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that the site’s training centre was targeted in a drone strike on 13 July, resulting in damage to its roof. There were no reports of casualties. The team was not granted access to assess the damage to the training centre located outside the site perimeter, with the plant citing security concerns.

    In addition, the ZNPP’s off-site power situation continues to be extremely fragile, with the plant having had access to just one single power line for almost three months now, compared to ten before the conflict.

    The nearby city of Enerhodar – where most ZNPP staff live – suffered an electricity blackout on 17 July due to damage to its main power line, according to information provided to the IAEA team members.  They were also told that subsequent shelling had damaged some buildings in the city, which was also observed when the team visited Enerhodar on 19 July.

    A forest fire near Enerhodar that caused smoke which was observed by the IAEA team last weekend has been extinguished without any impact on nuclear safety, the plant said.  

    The IAEA team has continued to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security, observing the testing of three emergency diesel generators as well as visiting the containment and safety system rooms of two reactor units.

    They also discussed with the plant management different options for refilling the plant’s cooling pond following the loss of the Kakhovka dam two years ago and further planning on emergency preparedness and response, including preparations for a site exercise later this year.

    At Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine units are currently in shutdown for refuelling and maintenance.

    The IAEA team based at these plants, and the Chornobyl site, reported hearing air raid alarms nearly every day over the past week.

    At the Khmelnytskyy and South Ukraine NPPs, the IAEA teams were informed that during the night of 18 July drones were detected a few kilometres away from the two sites. That same evening, the team at Chornobyl observed flashes of light and heard explosions in the distance.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Smuggler of Firearms from Key West to Haiti Sentenced in D.C. to 30 Months in Prison

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

                WASHINGTON – Jean Wiltene Eugene, 57, of Key West, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for his role in a gunrunning operation that illegally exported firearms to Haiti, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                Eugene pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling. In addition to the prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Eugene to serve 24 months of supervised release.

                Joining in the announcement of the sentence were Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin Fleck of the Miami Field Office.

                According to court documents, Eugene is a U.S. citizen who was born in Haiti and resides in Key West. On Sept. 23, 2021, Eugene knowingly exported more than two firearms from the United States to Haiti contrary to U.S. laws and regulations, including the prohibitions in the Export Administration Regulations and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, knowing the firearms were intended for exportation contrary to such laws and regulations. In particular, Eugene exported the firearms without having first obtained the required license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. Anyone who violates the smuggling statute may be fined up to $250,000 and imprisoned for up to 10 years.

                Eugene arranged to ship vehicles to Haiti through a Florida-based export company. Eugene signed the company’s terms and conditions of shipments, which required the shipper to affirm that the vehicles did not contain any firearms or ammunition. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Eugene admitted that, in 2020 and 2021, he shipped two vehicles to Haiti with firearms hidden inside. Eugene stated that he placed food and other items around the bins holding the firearms so border authorities would not find the weapons.

                In a later interview with federal agents, Eugene stated that nine firearms he purchased in Key West under his name were currently located at his gas station in Haiti and that none of those firearms remained in the United States. He admitted that he knew it was illegal to ship weapons to Haiti when confronted by the federal agents.

                Eugene was arrested May 4, 2024, in Key West.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Pravallika Palacharla. Substantial assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

    25cr78

    MIL Security OSI –