Category: Ukraine

  • MIL-OSI: U.S. Commercial Drone Market Size Estimated to Reach a Value of $ 31 Billion By End of 2034

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The commercial drone industry is witnessing rapid growth and transforming various sectors such as agriculture, delivery and logistics, and energy among others. Advancements in drone technologies have led to increased demand and utilization in industries such as filming, emergency response, construction, and real estate. Additionally, drone software solution providers and manufacturers are continuously innovating and upgrading their offerings to cater to diverse market needs. As governments establish regulatory frameworks, the integration of drones into industries is expected to accelerate. This, in turn, is likely to create lucrative opportunities for market expansion over the forecast period. A report from Grand View Research projected that the U.S. commercial drone market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% through 2030. The report said: “Furthermore, favorable legislations and rising use of commercial drones by authorities in the U.S. is expected to attract various industries to utilize drones for different processes. Similarly, government authorities across the region are constantly working on framing new regulations for the commercial applications of drones. This is attributed to increased focus on the adoption of commercial drones due to their economic potential, while prioritizing the safety and security of the country. This, in turn, is anticipated to drive the U.S. commercial drone market growth over the forecast period.”   Active Tech Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI).

    Fact.MR continued: “In addition, surveyors and engineers use drones to visualize the progress made in their construction projects by taking overhead images. Having a project overview leads to simplification of decision-making, thereby streamlining building site operations. Drones are now being used for several applications, ranging from surveillance, deployment in military operations, video recording, agriculture, and film & television. With this rise in drone applications, key players in the United States market are incorporating advanced technologies in drones. Increasing drone payload capacity and introducing drones for specific applications are anticipated to promote the profits of drone manufacturers. Furthermore, leading companies are also making drones with high-power motors. Home deliveries through drones have now become a reality with the help of retail and logistics organizations such as Amazon.”

    ZenaTech Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Completes the First Phase of an IQ Nano Inventory Management Trial for Multinational Auto Parts Customer – ZenaTech, a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone solutions and enterprise SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions, today announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has successfully completed the first phase of drone testing and 3D mapping, and is beginning the next phase of production of a paid trial for a multinational auto parts manufacturer. This production phase consists of flying automatic and fully autonomous flights of the IQ Nano drone in an inventory management application.

    Testing took place over several months at ZenaDrone’s production facility in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ensure the smooth operation of the inventory scanning application. The 3D mapping took place just recently at the customer’s site consisting of scanning and mapping the warehouse area to create a 3D map that automates the drone flight path and its operations while in production.

    View video showing the IQ Nano in test flight here.

    The production phase is set to begin imminently and will consist of the IQ Nano flying and reading product and component bar codes, collecting information for verification and integration with the customer’s inventory management and accounting systems.

    “We look forward to the production phase and concluding a successful trial, proving the viability of the IQ Nano and enabling us to deliver our product to our customer. A successful trial also opens the potential to win additional business with this customer and to verifiably demonstrate IQ Nano’s utility for the benefit of attracting additional market interest. The revolutionary use of an indoor drone for productivity and cost savings value can be implemented across hundreds of warehouse facilities, turning a week-long activity like counting inventory into a day,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. – Get the full details by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Additional Groundbreaking ZenaTech Inc. Developments this week include:

    ZenaTech Enters the Drone Sensor and Components Market Establishing a New Taiwan Subsidiary to Win More US Defense Contracts for Its AI Drones – ZenaTech also announced it will establish a new company in Taiwan to manufacture drone sensors and components for use in the drone products produced by its subsidiary ZenaDrone. The new company, named Spider Vision Sensors Ltd., will ensure ZenaDrone’s products are compliant with the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an important requirement for the company to win more business with the US Military.

    Spider Vision Sensors Ltd. will manufacture drone sensors, electronics, and components such LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), thermal, infrared, multi-spectral and hyper sensors, cameras, and PBCs (Printed Circuit Boards). Having in-house manufactured sensors and components will enable ZenaDrone to have a steady supply to fulfill customer orders and drone production needs at its Sharjah, UAE, and future Arizona-based drone manufacturing facilities. Taiwan was selected due to its size and skills as an electronics hub, and the availability of low-cost alternative components versus those from China. The new company is currently at the prototype stage, and the manufacturing facility is expected to be open in November.

    “Establishing a drone sensor and components manufacturer in Taiwan will help bring our products to market faster and removes dependencies on any Chinese made electronics. This will position us to win more US military contracts via achieving Green UAS (Uncrewed Arial Systems) and Blue UAS certifications as an approved supplier,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.    Read this full release at:      https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zenatech-enters-drone-sensor-components-113000155.html

    Other recent developments in the technology industry include:

    AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently successfully showcased the maritime prowess of its combat-proven JUMP® 20 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) during the NATO REPMUS 2024 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) exercise off the coast of Portugal. This dynamic demonstration reinforced JUMP 20’s advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, autonomously launching and landing on a moving vessel in rough seas, with conditions reaching sea state level 5 and winds over 20 kts.

    The JUMP 20 also highlighted its multi-sensor mission versatility, seamlessly executing wide-area search and detection tasks. Its advanced Electro Optical and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) turret automatically slewed to investigate identified targets without repositioning the platform, ensuring constant operational focus. Full-motion video was captured and later analyzed using AV’s cutting-edge computer vision technology, SPOTR-Edge™, enabling perception analysis using its robust library of object classifications, including persons, vehicles, and maritime vessels. Additionally, video from this event will further enhance the solution, making the JUMP 20 even more capable for future deployments by refining its object recognition and situational response capabilities.

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an award-winning, industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, recently announced its participation in the upcoming Wings of Saskatchewan event in Regina, from October 30 to October 31, 2024. Draganfly will showcase its latest drone technology advancements, contributing to discussions on industry trends, safety, and regulatory considerations alongside key stakeholders in the aviation sector.

    The Wings of Saskatchewan Conference, hosted by the Saskatchewan Aerial Applicators Association and the Saskatchewan Aviation Council, serves as a vital gathering for the aviation community. This year’s event will bring together leaders from both civil and commercial aviation sectors to discuss technological advancements, regulatory updates, and future trends within the industry.

    Draganfly will emphasize the need for synergy across the aviation industry at the conference by addressing essential topics, including airspace safety and the regulatory challenges impacting the drone sector. This presentation will spotlight the benefits of enhanced communication and collaboration between fixed-wing, helicopter, and RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) to promote safe, efficient, and integrated airspace management.

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently announced a new contract and order for 12 of its FlightWave Edge 130 Blue system from the Royal Australian Navy. The contract was secured through Criterion Solutions Pty Ltd., an Australian-based distributor of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and information technology solutions.

    FlightWave, an industry-leading provider of VTOL drone, sensor and software solutions was acquired by Red Cat in September 2024. The acquisition brought FlightWave’s flagship drone, the Edge 130 Blue into its family of low-cost, portable unmanned reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems. FlightWave’s size, weight and vertical take off capabilities makes it ideal for maritime operations and littoral environments.

    Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI) recently shared a video highlighting the capabilities of the Company’s patent-pending SpotlightAI™ AI-powered demining solution presented by Amazon Web Services (AWS) at this year’s AWS Summit Washington, D.C. The video highlights AWS Partners in the AWS Partner Network (APN) featuring senior Safe Pro team members discussing how AWS’s hyper scalability and compute resources are enabling the Company to modernize demining efforts in Ukraine by utilizing AI-powered image analysis of drone-based imagery.

    “Our inclusion in this year’s AWS Summit Washington, D.C. spotlights our continued success in locating thousands of landmines and unexploded ordnance currently scattered over thousands of hectares of land in Ukraine utilizing our AI-powered image analysis technology. AWS continues to provide us invaluable support as we work to harness the power of AI and AWS’s hyper scalability to modernize real world demining operations. Working with AWS, we have greatly enhanced our ability to provide leading humanitarian mine action organizations with powerful new tools that can improve their situational awareness as they execute their land clearance operations across Ukraine, expediting the release of land for agricultural and civilian use,” said Dan Erdberg, Chairman and CEO of Safe Pro Group Inc.

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: US-Africa relations under Biden: a mismatch between talk and action

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Christopher Isike, Director, African Centre for the Study of the United States, University of Pretoria

    In his first year in office, US president Joe Biden committed to resetting US-Africa relations based on a doctrine of equal partnership.

    He sent his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, to Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. The visit was used to outline the administration’s policy outlook towards Africa. It laid the ground for the official US-Africa policy commitment that Blinken launched the following year in South Africa.

    Since then, there have been high level engagements between the US and African countries to deepen ties. They included visits by top cabinet members of the administration: vice-president Kamala Harris, secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and treasury secretary Janet Yellen. First lady Jill Biden also came.

    Biden hosted a well attended US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC in December 2022. Kenyan president William Ruto paid a state visit to the White House in May.

    Yet our view, which is based on years of studying and writing on US and Africa relations, is that the Biden administration has not fulfilled its commitment to resetting US-Africa relations based on an equal partnership. It hasn’t recognised Africa’s growing agency in international affairs.

    We argue that there has been a mismatch between the rhetoric and practice of an equal partnership. For example, African leaders or the African Union were not consulted about the agenda of the 2022 US-Africa Leaders Summit. This was also the case with the US’s Africa strategy.

    This reflects the traditional paternalistic relationship of the US with Africa.




    Read more:
    Joe Biden in Africa: US president has ignored the continent for his entire term — why he’s visiting Angola


    Biden is due to visit Angola in December – his only African visit as president. A much more encouraging message of equal partnership would have been delivered if the US-Africa Leaders Summit, for example, had been held at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia. Biden would have then been able to engage with African leaders in the continent early in his term.

    A full diary of engagements

    There are a number of positive indicators of Biden’s commitment to reset relations with Africa.

    August 2022: The first tangible step was through the US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa. This presented a shift in emphasis from great power politics (vis-a-vis China and Russia in Africa) and Trump’s America First diplomacy, to one of mutual respect and partnership (at least on paper) under Biden.

    Priorities included fostering open societies, delivering democratic and security dividends, advancing pandemic recovery and economic opportunity, and supporting the climate agenda.

    December 2022: The US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC was attended by 49 African leaders, three months after the release of the Africa strategy. The focus was on

    strengthening ties with African partners based on principles of mutual respect and shared interests and values.

    Biden pledged US$55 billion in investments until 2025 to advance goals that aligned with shared priorities. The US is said to have allocated 80% of said funds.

    The US used the summit to formally announce its support for the African Union’s membership of the G20. This was realised when the AU officially joined the G20 as a permanent member in 2023.

    November 2023: Biden hosted Angolan president João Lourenço at the White House on an official visit. They discussed cooperation on the economy, security, energy, transport, telecommunications, agriculture and outer space.

    May 2024: Kenyan president William Ruto’s state visit was the first by an African leader in more than 15 years.

    September 2024: US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced US support for Africa getting two permanent seats on the UN security council.

    Finally, Biden’s visit to Angola, set for the first week in December would be the first by a US president since 2015.

    What’s gone wrong

    It’s possible to see serious flaws in the US approach towards Africa set against the expectation of an equal partnership.

    Firstly, the US has attempted to undermine African agency through its bid to pressure African countries to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many African countries chose non-alignment.

    Secondly, the US championing two seats for Africa on the security council looks commendable on the surface. But the lack of veto power perpetuates power imbalances between Africa and the current permanent security council members – the US, France, the UK, Russia and China.

    The question again is how equal the partnership is if Africa will be a junior member of the security council.

    Thirdly, there has been a lack of joint agenda setting. African countries have made no input into US-Africa strategy or the US-Africa Leaders Summit.

    Failing to consult African leaders, institutions and civil society on the continent’s own priorities reflects the same old practice of imposing priorities on African states. It looks like a continuation of the usual passing off of American national interests as African interests.

    Fourthly, there have been challenges in implementing what’s set out in the US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa. These have included inadequate resource allocation.




    Read more:
    US-Africa trade deal turns 25 next year: Agoa’s winners, losers and what should come next


    Fifth, the Biden administration has used the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) as diplomatic leverage over African countries. For example, in October 2023 it announced the removal of Uganda, Niger, Gabon and Central African Republic from the beneficiaries. Earlier, the administration removed Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso. These countries were removed from Agoa for not complying with US human rights and political demands.

    Between February and March 2024, the US Congress also considered the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Bill, which risks South Africa’s exclusion from Agoa because of Pretoria’s position on the Israel/Palestine conflict.

    Lastly, the fact that Biden is only visiting Africa in the last days of his presidency suggests Africa is not a priority. The fact that only one African head of state has been afforded a state visit to Washington reinforces this thinking.

    If the US is serious about equal partnership, it mustn’t treat Africa as an afterthought. It must always consult African states in shaping policies that affect them and the continent.

    Ruth Kasanga, a postgraduate student in the Department of Political Sciences and Research Assistant at the African Centre for the Study of the United States, University of Pretoria, made contributions to this article.

    Samuel Oyewole is affiliated with Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria.

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

    ref. US-Africa relations under Biden: a mismatch between talk and action – https://theconversation.com/us-africa-relations-under-biden-a-mismatch-between-talk-and-action-242307

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Russia is meddling in politics in Georgia and Moldova – trying to do by stealth what it is doing by war in Ukraine

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amy Eaglestone, PhD Candidate, University of Birmingham; Visiting Lecturer, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University

    Recent votes in the former Soviet states of Georgia and Moldova have been dogged by interference from Russian-backed elements. Both countries had previously aspired towards closer ties with western Europe and future membership of the EU. And in both countries there is a strong suggestion of influence from Moscow that could jeopardise those aspirations.

    The Moldovan government held a referendum on the country’s EU accession target for 2030 on October 20. Despite consistent polling suggesting that 60% of Moldovans support further integration, the referendum only passed by a slim majority of 50.4%.

    On the same day, the first round of Moldova’s presidential election saw pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu secure 41% of the vote. This was insufficient for an outright win. Sandu now faces a run off against her closest rival, pro-Russian Alexandr Stoianoglo, who garnered 26% of the first vote.

    In the run-off, Stoianoglo will be backed by the two other candidates, both them pro-Russian populists. This makes a Sandu reelection far from inevitable.

    Meanwhile, in Georgia’s parliamentary elections on October 26, Georgian Dream won its fourth consecutive term with 54% of the vote, its best result to date. It will allow the pro-Russia party to retain control of the government and continue the process of pulling the country further away from Europe and towards closer ties with Moscow.

    This is despite the fact that there has been consistently strong popular support for EU integration and growing dissatisfaction toward Georgian Dream’s increasingly pro-Russian policies.

    The difference between public opinion as expressed by independent polling in both Moldova and Georgia and the outcomes of these votes has raised suspicions of interference. These suspicions have been further corroborated by international and domestic election monitoring organisations raising concerns that the elections were not entirely free and fair.

    The pro-European camps in both Moldova and Georgia say Russia is behind this. There is a suggestion that these efforts are part of Russia’s multifaceted hybrid warfare. It’s a campaign aimed at destabilising these countries and hindering their European integration.

    Russia has long manipulated domestic fears and grievances. The Kremlin and its agents have strong influence over media, civil society organisations and the orthodox church.

    Both Moldova and Georgia also have a Russian military presence. In Moldova this is in the breakaway region of Transnistria, where there is a “peacekeeping force” of about 2,000 troops. Georgia has two pro-Russia breakaways making up 20% of the total land area of the country, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

    The war in Ukraine has also heightened concerns in both both countries about Moscow’s ambitions towards them. Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party campaigned for a closer relationship with Russia.

    Its slogan, “No to war! Choose peace!” contrasted peace and alignment with Russia with being dragged into a war by the west. In Moldova opposition parties used similar rhetoric, calling for Russian protection and framing EU integration as a threat to national sovereignty. This resonated particularly among Russian-speaking populations.

    Russia’s influencers have also escalated cultural tensions in both countries. In Moldova, Moscow-backed opposition groups have rallied conservative segments of society to fight against governments efforts to introduce EU-aligned anti-discrimination legislation.

    Similarly, the Georgian Dream party introduced Russian-style anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Georgia to appeal to the traditional family values of conservative and religious voters. By leveraging such issues, Russia has aimed to exploit people’s cultural concerns, to increase political polarisation, and to affect political choices.

    Follow the money

    But the most important way the Kremlin, or people associated with Russia, is interfering in the domestic politics of Georgia and Moldova is money. In the case of Moldova, fugitive pro-Moscow tycoon Ilan Shor (who lives in Moscow after being found guilty of fraud in Moldova) has been accused of bribery and helping orchestrate electoral fraud. Shor has denied any wrongdoing connected to the election.

    Georgian banking and tech billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili one of the country’s wealthiest oligarchs, founded Georgian Dream in 2012. He has been described in one article as “the man who bought a country”. With a fortune worth the equivalent of 25% of Georgia’s GDP, he is thought to wield an outsize influence in the country’s politics, influence he reportedly uses to “tilt the country towards Moscow” (although some say he primarily furthers his own interests).

    Ivanishvili himself, announcing his return to mainstream politics in 2023 as the honorary chair of Georgian Dream, said the party’s role was to “protect our national identity, restore state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and transform Georgian into a high-income state till 2030 and bring it into the European Union”.

    In the conditions in these countries, individuals’ vast resources can be used unchecked for political activities. The influx of funds disadvantages opposing parties, who don’t have access to similar financial backing. They have created a lopsided political environment that favours Russian-aligned candidates.

    There is also a risk that informal or unchecked financing could also have funded election day irregularities. Reports of vote buying, ballot stuffing and violence at polling stations were observed in both countries.

    In one incident in Moldova captured by the BBC, a woman from Transnistria, where people still hold Moldovan citizenship, was filmed openly inquiring where she should go to receive payment for her vote.

    In Georgia, Ivanishvili’s influence allegedly extends to civil servants and the electoral commission as well as the judiciary, which rules on complaints of vote rigging. Claiming victory shortly after polls closed, Ivanishvili said: “It is a rare case in the world that the same party achieves such success in such a difficult situation.”

    The exact impact of Russian interference remains difficult to prove. But the dramatic apparent shifts in electoral sentiment are highly suggestive. This kind of election interference opens the door for autocratic leaders to gradually dismantle democratic institutions.

    This then allows them to enact further illiberal policies, such as the hated recent “foreign agents” law modelled after similar Russian legislation, which targets pro-democracy civil society organisations critical of the government.

    Moldovans are now preparing to vote in the run-off election on November 3, which will determine the immediate future of the country and could affect its future relationship with Europe. Many Georgians, meanwhile – led by the country’s president, Salome Zourabichvili – have taken to the streets to protest what Zourabichvili has called the “total falsification” of the vote.

    If she and Sandu are right, Russia – along with its supporters – appears to be trying to achieve, through this “hybrid warfare” in Georgia and Moldova, what it is striving for on the battlefield in Ukraine: regaining control over currently free nations that used to be Russia’s obedient satellites.

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

    ref. Russia is meddling in politics in Georgia and Moldova – trying to do by stealth what it is doing by war in Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/russia-is-meddling-in-politics-in-georgia-and-moldova-trying-to-do-by-stealth-what-it-is-doing-by-war-in-ukraine-242135

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Putin’s illegal war on Ukraine is reckless and self-harming: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

    Let me start with a basic fact. Western support for Ukraine’s self-defence is both legal and moral. Any support for Russia’s act of aggression, whether by Iran, DPRK or anyone else, is neither.

    Russia calls these meetings to talk up the scale and costs of Western support for Ukraine, to try to undermine public support, and to claim the West is the aggressor. But their concerns should really be closer to home.

    It is clear where President Putin’s priorities lie: defence and national security will consume over 40% of Russia’s entire federal spending next year – a post-Soviet record high, exceeding expenditure on healthcare, education, and the environment combined.

    Let me repeat that: the Russian government is spending more on killing Ukrainians and trying to steal their land than it is on the health and education of its own people, and the environmental protection of its own territory, all put together.

    It is reckless and it is self-harming.

    It has fueled inflation, forced interest rates up to a 20-year high, and increased dramatically the cost of government, corporate and household borrowing.

    As a consequence, Russia has become poorer than all G7 and EU countries on a per capita basis, including Eastern bloc states.

    The more Russian capital is funneled into defence spending, the weaker the finances of the Russian economy, which will directly harm the livelihoods and futures of Russia’s own people.

    The costs of Russia’s aggression go further. Not only is the Russian government finding it harder to recruit Russians to sacrifice their lives for its illegal war, they are also haemorrhaging human capital at home.

    Russian citizens are leaving Russia at a rapid rate, especially high-skilled workers. 668,000 people left Russia in 2022, causing severe labour shortages. That’s in addition to the over 600,000 casualties on the battlefield in Ukraine. It’s no surprise that Russian economists have predicted these labour shortages are set to continue.

    So Russia’s out-of-control defence spending is not only wholly unjustified; it is not only a recipe for misery and suffering in Ukraine; it is not only driving global instability– it is also hugely damaging to Russia itself.

    We urge Russia to take a different path, and to bring to an end its illegal, unprovoked and self-harming invasion.

    Until then, we will continue to provide Ukraine with the support it requires to defend itself and to secure a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: The Department of the Navy is Establishing a Naval Strategic Studies Group (NSSG) Program

    Source: United States Navy

    The Department of the Navy is establishing a Naval Strategic Studies Group (NSSG) program in January administered by the DON Office of Strategic Assessment (OSA).

    The NSSG will be modeled after the Strategic Studies Group created during the Cold War, which had a twofold mission to train future flag officers in strategic thinking and to conduct research on some of the DON’s most vexing strategic challenges.

    The first cohort will include uniformed and civilian members from the Navy and Marine Corps. These plank-owners will conduct a capstone research project that advances Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro’s strategic maritime statecraft initiative.

    “I expect my seasoned, mid-grade officers to be brilliant on naval tactics and operations by the time they report for graduate education,” Del Toro said. “I need future flag and general officers who will think strategically about how to lead naval forces in an increasingly contested maritime domain and amidst intense economic, technological and military competition.”

    The education in strategic studies the NSSG members will receive supports DON’s focus on reinvigorating the strategic workforce, under the Secretary’s enduring priority of building a culture of warfighting excellence.

    Members’ research – focused on broad strategic challenges, rather than narrower problems already addressed by fleet experimentation on specific tactics or technologies – will support DON’s aim of strengthening maritime dominance.

    “The Department of the Navy meets our nation’s maritime needs, both today and into the future. As the Office of Strategic Assessment builds a net assessment capability for the DON to understand the complex challenges we face, the Naval Strategic Studies Group will bring together a cohort of rising leaders who will address these challenges and build the strategic leadership skills to guide our Navy and Marine Corps in a dynamic and shifting global environment,” OSA Director Dr. Cara LaPointe said.

    The chief of naval operations created the previous SSG in 1981 to tackle key strategic challenges related to the Cold War. Over time, the SSG’s focus evolved to reflect the needs of the Navy until 2016, when it was sundowned.

    As the Department of the Navy returns to an era of competition, stakeholders have agreed on the need to amplify strategic leader education as the United States faces an increasingly complex web of threats that includes China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. In 2023 Secretary Del Toro released a Naval Education Strategy to guide investments to modernize naval schools and professional military education. The NSSG will focus students’ strategic leadership studies on DON’s most pressing strategic challenges for greater effect.

    “Today we face a comprehensive maritime power in the Indo-Pacific, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea – all of which will shape our security environment for several decades,” Del Toro said. “A revitalized, Naval SSG will help the Department of the Navy engage with and look ahead of these trends with sufficient access, resources, and guidance from leadership.”

    The first cohort will also tackle questions that will help shape the enduring NSSG program, including working with the Naval University System to deliver a world-class curriculum, and will be located in Washington, D.C.

    Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, the commanding general of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, said recent conflicts have reinforced the importance of having Marine Corps leaders at all levels who can outthink the enemy.

    “Domains like information and cyber, along with the rise of non-state actors, don’t fit neatly into old frameworks. Our current operating environment demands nothing less than a renaissance in strategic thinking,” said Watson. “To stay ahead of our adversaries, we need to keep evolving—updating our training, sharpening our minds, and learning – not just observing – the lessons of contemporary conflict. The fight isn’t just on the battlefield anymore, and we need every Marine to possess the training, education, and intellectual agility to adapt and overcome.”

    Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, Strategy and Warfighting Development, agreed the Navy needs Sailors and civilians “with superb education and training, who are able to think, act and operate differently to ensure we can defeat our adversaries.”
    “The establishment of the NSSG will enhance our culture of warfighting excellence and strengthen our maritime dominance by developing strategically minded warfighters who will be the future senior leaders of the service and will lead our Navy through uncertain times,” said Dwyer.

    Del Toro established the Office of Strategic Assessment in October 2023 and tasked the office to reconstitute the strategic studies program to help rebuild the naval strategist community.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: International Petroleum Corporation Announces Results of Normal Course Issuer Bid and Updated Share Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    International Petroleum Corporation (IPC or the Corporation) (TSX, Nasdaq Stockholm: IPCO) is pleased to announce that IPC repurchased a total of 66,800 IPC common shares (ISIN: CA46016U1084) during the period of October 28 to 31, 2024 under IPC’s normal course issuer bid / share repurchase program (NCIB).

    IPC’s NCIB, announced on December 1, 2023, is being implemented in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2016/1052 (Safe Harbour Regulation) and the applicable rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and Nasdaq Stockholm and applicable Canadian and Swedish securities laws.

    During the period of October 28 to 31, 2024, IPC repurchased a total of 52,500 IPC common shares on Nasdaq Stockholm. All of these share repurchases were carried out by Pareto Securities AB on behalf of IPC.

    For more information regarding transactions under the NCIB in Sweden, including aggregated volume, weighted average price per share and total transaction value for each trading day during the period of October 28 to 31, 2024, see the following link to Nasdaq Stockholm’s website:

    www.nasdaqomx.com/transactions/markets/nordic/corporate-actions/stockholm/repurchases-of-own-shares

    A detailed breakdown of the transactions conducted on Nasdaq Stockholm during the period of October 28 to 31, 2024 according to article 5.3 of MAR and article 2.3 of the Safe Harbour Regulation is available with this press release on IPC’s website: www.international-petroleum.com/news-and-media/press-releases.

    During the same period, IPC purchased a total of 14,300 IPC common shares on the TSX. All of these share repurchases were carried out by ATB Capital Markets Inc. on behalf of IPC.

    All common shares repurchased by IPC under the NCIB will be cancelled. During October 2024, IPC cancelled 506,400 common shares repurchased under the NCIB. As at October 31, 2024, the total number of issued and outstanding IPC common shares is 120,244,638 with voting rights and IPC holds 44,400 common shares in treasury.

    Since December 5, 2023 up to and including October 31, 2024, a total of 8,024,582 IPC common shares have been repurchased under the NCIB through the facilities of the TSX and Nasdaq Stockholm. A maximum of 8,342,119 IPC common shares may be repurchased over the period of twelve months commencing December 5, 2023 and ending December 4, 2024, or until such earlier date as the NCIB is completed or terminated by IPC.

    International Petroleum Corp. (IPC) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a high quality portfolio of assets located in Canada, Malaysia and France, providing a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth. IPC is a member of the Lundin Group of Companies. IPC is incorporated in Canada and IPC’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange under the symbol “IPCO”.

    For further information, please contact:

    Rebecca Gordon
    SVP Corporate Planning and Investor Relations
    rebecca.gordon@international-petroleum.com
    Tel: +41 22 595 10 50
      Robert Eriksson
    Media Manager
    reriksson@rive6.ch
    Tel: +46 701 11 26 15

    This information is information that International Petroleum Corporation is required to make public pursuant to the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information
    was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 17:30 CET on October 31, 2024.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains statements and information which constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, “forward-looking statements”) relate to future events, including the Corporation’s future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, unless otherwise indicated. IPC does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

    All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, forecasts, guidance, budgets, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “forecast”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “budget” and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the ability and willingness of IPC to continue the NCIB, including the number of common shares to be acquired and cancelled and the timing of such purchases and cancellations; and the return of value to IPC’s shareholders as a result of any common share repurchases.

    The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by IPC, including expectations and assumptions concerning: prevailing commodity prices and currency exchange rates; applicable royalty rates and tax laws; interest rates; future well production rates and reserve and contingent resource volumes; operating costs; our ability to maintain our existing credit ratings; our ability to achieve our performance targets; the timing of receipt of regulatory approvals; the performance of existing wells; the success obtained in drilling new wells; anticipated timing and results of capital expenditures; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the timing, location and extent of future drilling operations; the successful completion of acquisitions and dispositions and that we will be able to implement our standards, controls, procedures and policies in respect of any acquisitions and realize the expected synergies on the anticipated timeline or at all; the benefits of acquisitions; the state of the economy and the exploration and production business in the jurisdictions in which IPC operates and globally; the availability and cost of financing, labour and services; our intention to complete share repurchases under our normal course issuer bid program, including the funding of such share repurchases, existing and future market conditions, including with respect to the price of our common shares, and compliance with respect to applicable limitations under securities laws and regulations and stock exchange policies; and the ability to market crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids successfully.

    Although IPC believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because IPC can give no assurances that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to: general global economic, market and business conditions; the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to reserves, resources, production, revenues, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price fluctuations; interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental and climate-related risks; competition; innovation and cybersecurity risks related to our systems, including our costs of addressing or mitigating such risks; the ability to attract, engage and retain skilled employees; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or dispositions; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals; geopolitical conflicts, including the war between Ukraine and Russia and the conflict in the Middle East, and their potential impact on, among other things, global market conditions; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

    Additional information on these and other factors that could affect IPC, or its operations or financial results, are included in IPC’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023 (See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information”, “Risks Factors” and “Reserves and Resources Advisory” therein), in the management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 (See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information”, “Risks Factors” and “Reserves and Resources Advisory” therein) and other reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including previous financial reports, management’s discussion and analysis and material change reports, which may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or IPC’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sudan’s civil war has left at least 62,000 dead by our estimate − but the true figure could be far higher

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sarah Elizabeth Scales, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Agricultural Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center

    The ongoing war in Sudan has often been overlooked amid higher-profile conflicts raging across multiple continents. Yet the lack of media and geopolitical attention to this 18-month-long conflict has not made its devastation in terms of human lives any less stark.

    Since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, both of which had been part of a power-sharing military government, the country has seen the displacement of more than 14 million people and the carving up of the country by geography and ideology.

    And while we may never know the exact death toll, the conflict in Sudan is certainly among the deadliest in the world today.

    As scholars of public health, conflict and human rights and Sudanese-American health workers, we are keenly aware of how fraught it can be to estimate mortality in war for a slew of practical and political reasons. But such estimates are of critical importance: They allow us to understand and compare conflicts, target humanitarian aid for those still at risk, trigger investigations of war crimes, bear witness to conflict and compel states and armed groups to intervene or change.

    The difficult work of counting the dead

    A profound humanitarian crisis is occurring in Sudan, characterized by ethnic cleansing, mass displacement, food scarcity and the spread of disease, complicated further by flooding in the northern states.

    Considering a death toll in such a conflict includes counting not only those who are killed as a direct result of violence – itself a difficult thing to determine in real time – but also those who have died by conflict-exacerbated factors, such as the absence of emergency care, the breakdown of vaccination programs and a lack of essential food and medicine. Estimating this latter death toll, called indirect mortality, presents its own challenge, as the definition itself varies among researchers.

    In congressional testimony, U.S. special envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello recognized the estimation challenges when noting there had been anywhere between 15,000 and 150,000 deaths in Sudan – an exceedingly wide range that was attributable, in part, to the complexity of determining indirect mortality.

    Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), a nonprofit specializing in conflict-related data collection, has recorded an average of more than 1,200 direct conflict deaths per month in Sudan, with nearly 19,000 deaths in the first 15 months of the conflict. This figure is similar to the 20,000 deaths estimated by the Sudan Doctors Union and the 19,000 figure used by the Sudan Protection Cluster, a centralized group of U.N. agencies and NGOs that used World Health Organization data.

    ACLED sources its estimates of deaths from traditional media, reports from international NGOs and local observers, supplemented by new media such as verified Telegram and WhatsApp accounts. The Sudan Doctors Union, on the other hand, gives on-the-ground estimates of conflict deaths.

    When available, distinct data sources such as surveys, civil registers and official body counts can make an estimation more accurate. However, this data is often available only in retrospect, after the cessation of conflict. It is therefore critical to use both the available data and precedents from previous conflicts to capture a reasonable estimate of the human costs of an ongoing conflict.

    Internally displaced Sudanese children in Port Sudan, Sudan, on Jan. 3, 2024.
    Omer Erdem/Anadolu via Getty Images

    A 2010 article in The Lancet estimated that there are 2.3 indirect deaths for every direct conflict death, based on data from 24 small-scale surveys conducted in Darfur from 2003 to 2005. As such, using ACLED’s data of 18,916 direct deaths, we estimate that in the current Sudan conflict, there are an additional 43,507 indirect deaths – or more than 62,000 total deaths.

    We believe our estimate is very conservative. When estimating mortality in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a different group of scholars, also writing in The Lancet, used a multiplier of four indirect deaths for every direct death to estimate the overall mortality there.

    Meanwhile, a report from the Geneva Declaration Secretariat showed an average of 5.8 indirect deaths for every direct death across 13 armed conflicts from 1974 to 2007.

    Using that latter multiplier, the number of indirect deaths in Sudan would jump to nearly 110,000 – meaning the total deaths in the region amount to 130,000 – double our estimate.

    This range is wide, but it acknowledges how difficult it can be to estimate indirect deaths and how they can vary significantly with the shape of a conflict.

    The Sudanese conflict in context

    For all the tremendous loss of life these numbers reflect, they surely underestimate the true human costs of the conflict.

    Sudan already had a fragile and underfunded health system before the fighting started. And compared with other ongoing conflicts such as in Gaza and Ukraine, there was already a more precarious baseline, with higher child mortality and lower life expectancy.

    Since the war in Sudan began, there have been consistent reports of mass killings, forced disappearances, sexual violence, deliberate blocking of food and medicine, and other forms of violence against civilians.

    Much of the violence is ethnically targeted, and the Darfur region – where a full-scale famine has been declared – has suffered disproportionately.

    The destruction of civilian infrastructure and interrupted aid mechanisms are preventing medicine, food, clean water and vaccinations from getting to in-need populations.

    Health care workers and facilities, not only in at-risk Darfur but also throughout the country, have been the target of attacks. Nearly 80% of medical facilities have been rendered inoperable. And at least 58 physicians have been killed, in addition to the many that were targeted in previous crises.

    Given the persistent targeting of health care systems and restricted access to humanitarian corridors, indirect deaths in Sudan are likely to grow as hospitals shut down, even in the capital Khartoum, due to bombardments, ground attacks and a lack of critical supplies.

    The costs for Sudanese children are especially alarming. Thirteen children die per day in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, according to Doctors Without Borders, mostly due to undernutrition and food scarcity.

    And nearly 800,000 Sudanese children will face severe, acute malnutrition through 2024, a condition that requires intensive care and supplemental nutrition merely to prevent death. Even before the conflict, children were severely threatened by a lack of access to care, including basic preventive care such as early immunization.

    Finally, the transmission of communicable diseases thrives in conflicts like the one in Sudan, where there has been widespread population displacement, malnutrition, limited water and sanitation, and lack of appropriate sheltering. In August, a cholera outbreak led to a spiking death rate of more than 31 deaths per 1,000 cholera cases. And instances of such disease effects are likely underestimates in a country lacking health care penetration and monitoring.

    The limitations of estimations

    The massive internal displacement of more than 14 million people in Sudan complicates the estimation of death tolls, as shifting populations make establishing baselines nearly impossible.

    Moreover, there is typically a dearth of official information collected and released during conflicts.

    So establishing a concrete estimate of the true impact of armed conflict often comes after the cessation of hostilities, when expert teams are able to conduct field studies.

    Even then, estimates will require assumptions about direct deaths, indirect-to-direct death ratio and the quality of existing data.

    But as scholars working at the intersection of public health and human rights, we believe such work, however imperfect, is necessary for the documentation of conflict – and its future prevention. And while there are many current global conflicts that require our urgent attention, the conflict in Sudan must not be lost in the mix.

    _Editor’s note: Israa Hassan, a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at Texas Rehabilitation Hospital-Fort Worth and advocacy director at the Sudanese American Physicians Association, contributed to this article.

    Rohini J Haar receives funding from FCDO.

    Blake Erhardt-Ohren, Debarati Guha Sapir, Khidir Dalouk, and Sarah Elizabeth Scales do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Sudan’s civil war has left at least 62,000 dead by our estimate − but the true figure could be far higher – https://theconversation.com/sudans-civil-war-has-left-at-least-62-000-dead-by-our-estimate-but-the-true-figure-could-be-far-higher-242073

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 257 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), repairs are being conducted in one of its six reactors after a small water leakage was detected from an impulse line – essentially a small pipe – connected to the unit’s primary circuit, with the work expected to be completed later this week, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

    The IAEA expert team stationed at the ZNPP visited unit 1 on Tuesday after being informed that one of the impulse lines, part of the reactor coolant pump support systems, was leaking and required repair. For this work, the pressure in the primary circuit had to be decreased to atmospheric level.  The team was informed today that welding work had been completed and that radiography checks of the welds were on-going.

    “The Agency will continue to follow this issue closely, although we don’t see any immediate issue for nuclear safety. In general, we have identified regular equipment maintenance – which is vital to ensure sustainable nuclear safety and security – as a challenging area for the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant during the conflict,” Director General Grossi said.

    Like the ZNPP’s five other reactors, unit 1 has been in cold shutdown, generating no electricity for the grid, prior to this week’s change in status to shutdown for maintenance. It is expected that unit 1 will be put back to cold shutdown after the repair of the impulse line is completed and tested.

    The IAEA team has also carried out other walkdowns during the past week as part of their continuous work to assess – and report on – nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP, where the general situation remains precarious on the frontline of the conflict.

    Earlier this week, for example, the team visited the main control rooms of all six units to examine key plant parameters as well as the staffing situation. The IAEA staff have also visited some of the emergency diesel generators (EDG) of units 2 and 5 to verify the readiness of equipment and check the diesel fuel levels.

    As virtually every week, the team has continued to hear explosions daily, although no damage to the plant was reported.

    Elsewhere in Ukraine, an IAEA team last week completed its visits to seven electrical substations, as part of the Agency’s work to assess the status of the electrical grid infrastructure essential to nuclear safety that began in September.

    During the visits, which were requested by Ukraine, the team reviewed how damage caused by military activities earlier this year had impacted the substations’ deliveries of off-site power to the country’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs), an area highlighted in the Seven Indispensable Pillars of nuclear safety and security outlined by Director General Grossi in March 2022.

    The IAEA teams present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict, including air raid alarms for several days over the past week.

    On Monday, the team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP had to shelter at their hotel for several hours after hearing drones which triggered an air raid alarm. The IAEA was subsequently informed by the Ukrainian regulator that 12 drones had been flying near the site during the morning, the closest 400 metres away. The regulator also said drones had been reported near the South Ukraine site on three occasions over the past week.

    “Frequent reports of drones flying near nuclear power plants continue to be a source of deep concern for nuclear safety and security. As we have stated repeatedly, any military activity in the vicinity of nuclear power plants represents a potential risk,” Director General Grossi said.

    The IAEA is continuing to implement its comprehensive programme of assistance in support of nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, including by delivering requested equipment.

    Over the past two weeks, the South Ukraine NPP received radiation and contamination monitoring devices, while State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received personal protective equipment. These items were procured with funds from Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. So far, a total of 73 deliveries of equipment and other supplies have been completed by the IAEA.

    Last week, remote training on human performance and management observation and coaching was completed for 109 staff at the Chornobyl, Rivne and South Ukraine sites. The training aimed to equip staff and management with skills on how to prevent or reduce the risk of human errors with potential implications for nuclear safety.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ICC Joins SME Resilience Alliance for Ukraine

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: ICC Joins SME Resilience Alliance for Ukraine

    ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said:

    “By joining the SME Resilience Alliance for Ukraine, ICC builds on its ongoing efforts to support small- and medium-sized enterprises through initiatives like the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship, aiming to harness the power of the private sector to drive economic recovery and resilience in Ukraine.”

    Additionally, the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship in Ukraine is working to empower Ukrainian SMEs and assist the re-skilling of internally displace people, notably women.

    ICC also maintains regular consultations with multilateral and bilateral donors to explore strategies for Ukraine’s economic reconstruction. This includes engaging with the Ukraine Donor Platform, its Business Advisory Council, and the rotating Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) platform.

    As a friend of the SME Resilience Alliance, ICC attended the second meeting, opened by Oleksii Sobolev, First Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. In his speech, Mr Sobolev emphasised the vital role SMEs play in the country’s recovery. With SMEs accounting for more than 90% of all businesses in Ukraine, the Ukrainian government’s SME strategy for 2024-2027 aims to facilitate recovery and enhance human capital and entrepreneurial culture.

    The SME Alliance for Ukraine aims to support the Ukrainian government’s efforts through three key areas: improving regulatory framework conditions, strengthening support institutions for SMEs and enhancing access to finance. Pursuing the goal of mobilising €7 billion for ongoing and new SME programmes, the Alliance has mapped relevant actors in Ukraine and abroad. This allows for the identification of regional as well as sectoral gaps and overlaps in support, and facilitates the linking of potential trading partners. Most SME beneficiaries in Ukraine operate in the agri-food sector, and a large share is owned by women.

    Through its participation in the Alliance, ICC seeks to extend its ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s economy. ICC has previously been actively engaged in several key initiatives, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has facilitated the export of nearly 33 million tonnes of grain. Additionally, the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship in Ukraine is working to empower Ukrainian SMEs and assist with refugee integration.

    ICC also maintains regular consultations with multilateral donors and individual contributors to explore strategies for economic reconstruction. This includes engaging with the Ukraine Donor Platform and its Business Advisory Council.

    Through these initiatives and partnerships, ICC remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery and fostering a sustainable business environment for SMEs.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Video: DPR Korea, Lebanon/Humanitarian, Cuba & other topics – UN Daily Press Briefing (31 Oct 2024)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    -Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
    -UNIFIL
    -Lebanon/Humanitarian
    -Occupied Palestinian Territory
    -Ukraine
    -Security Council
    -Deputy Secretary-General
    -Cuba
    -South Sudan
    -West and Central Africa
    -World Cities Day
    -Guest briefing
    -Briefings tomorrow

    Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
    The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch today of a long-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
    The DPRK’s continued launches of missiles using ballistic missile technology are clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions.
    The Secretary-General remains concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He has consistently called for de-escalation and the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, as well as for an environment that is conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of talks. 
    Diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

    UNIFIL
    In Lebanon, Blue Helmets – who remain at their positions and continue their essential work to monitor and report to us and the international community what is actually happening on the ground, tell us that intense clashes between Hizbullah and the Israel Defence Forces have been reported in the Khiam area in UNIFIL’s Sector East.
    The Israeli Defence Forces have continued to strike areas across Lebanon, including in the south, Baalbek and near Beirut, with multiple casualties reported. Hizbullah’s rocket fire has reportedly killed five people today near Metula in northern Israel.
    Yesterday, a UNIFIL position near the Blue Line, south of the Shab’a village (Sector East) sustained minor damage to its barracks and a vehicle due to a nearby explosion.
    We once again remind all involved in this conflict of the inviolability of UN premises, and those premises must be respected, as well as our peacekeepers, both uniformed and civilians.
    The intensifying hostilities are, of course, extremely concerning. We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and avail themselves of the diplomatic initiatives to end this conflict. We continue to support efforts towards de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.
    The UN peacekeeping mission also remains focused on helping local communities. This week, they delivered essential humanitarian aid to the Municipality of Tyre amid a challenging situation in south Lebanon. The aid included medical devices as well as medicines.

    Lebanon/Humanitarian
    On the humanitarian front, as in many conflicts, children and woman bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities.
    In a statement today, UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, said that 166 children have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023, that is what Lebanese authorities are telling UNICEF, while thousands of others have been injured.
    UNICEF is on the ground providing emergency psychological support to thousands of children and their caregivers.
    For its part, the UN Population Fund says the conflict is also impacting more than 10,000 pregnant women including 1,300 who are expecting to give birth soon amid significant damage to infrastructure and a health system that is extremely strained.
    The displacement crisis remains a key issue. Our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that today, the Israeli army issued new orders for people to leave their homes in several villages as well as in the Rashiedeh Palestinian refugee camp, which is located in the south. This is the first time the Israeli army has called for the evacuation of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.
    OCHA says that yesterday’s displacement orders and strikes in Baalbek and surrounding areas have forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Many of them spent the night in their vehicles.
    And yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, visited Akkar in Tripoli, which currently hosts around 70,000 people who have been forced to flee, and are in conditions that you can only imagine.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=31%20October%202024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_88Ll_nbRg

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI USA: Through Medical Education UConn Professor Helps Maintain Normalcy in War-Torn Ukraine

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    This fall in Lviv, Ukraine for three days over 250 Ukrainian health care professionals gathered together for a medical conference to take a master class in radiology and participate in hands-on training workshops.

    The conference held Sept. 25-27 was co-chaired by UConn School of Medicine professor and chair of Diagnostic Imaging & Therapeutics Dr. Leo Wolansky who also delivered several lectures.

    Dr. Leo Wolansky.

    “I am so impressed with the spirit of the Ukrainian people. They insist on keeping their lives normal. Hopefully, our resuming our in-person conference series, now in its twenty-eighth year, contributed a little bit to that normalcy,” says Wolansky.

    The three-day conference was also co-chaired by Dr.  Tetyana Yalynska. It was organized by Friends Of Radiology in Ukraine (FORUkraine), the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), and the Association of Radiologists of Ukraine (ARU), and was hosted by the First Territorial Medical Association of Lviv. Additional sponsorship came from Rotary, St. Paraskeva’s, Azaris, Ulrich, and Guerbet.

    This year’s event carries forward the FORUkraine conference series founded by Wolansky in 1996 at the Lviv Medical University (the Lviv Medical Institute). Since its inception, the conference series has been innovative using state-of-the-art education as a tool to promote the Ukrainian language. The purpose of the program is to teach Ukrainian-language based, state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology).

    The long-standing in-person conference was interrupted for the last five years due to the COVID-19 crisis and followed by the war in Ukraine. Starting in 1998, Dr. Yuriy Ivaniv, head of post-graduate imaging education for the Lviv Oblast co-chaired the conferences with Wolansky and renamed it “Practical Questions in Contemporary Clinical Imaging.”  The conference series continued every one or two years from then till 2019 when the program joined forces with the ARU and the American Society of Neuroradiology and held a combined conference with the Ukrainian Congress of Radiology, with ARU President Yalynska co-chairing with Wolansky. This took place in Kyiv and Irpin, the only time the program deviated from its home in Lviv.

    Despite the war, several international imaging experts attended the event in-person in Ukraine to lecture. One of these was Dr. John (Ivan) Kachura, an Interventional Radiologist and professor of Medical Imaging at University of Toronto, who stated that he was impressed by the knowledge of Ukraine’s radiologists, but especially by their tremendous interest in the presented material. Also onsite was Dr. Andrew Dobrotwir, consultant radiologist from Melbourne, Australia, who lectured and also ran a hands-on workshop on Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS). Dobrotwir was accompanied by his sister-in-law, Teresa Lachowicz, who spoke at the conference about humanitarian work that she and Dobrotwir were carrying out including donations of POCUS equipment.

    Several international lecturers also virtually presented for the conference including Laura Oleaga, Amy Juliano, Diana Kaya, Andrew Loginsky, and Ivan Wolansky. In addition, virtual presentations came from UConn’s Jill Wruble, Sarah LaPierre, and Racquel Helsing. Several Ukrainian physicians also presented at the conference, including Nataliya Deresh, Igor Ivaniv, and others.

    Nataliya Motrynets, medical director of the host institution, presented about the hospital’s accomplishments, and also gave the faculty a tour of the facilities where many soldiers who have lost limbs in the war are being rehabilitated with cutting-edge prostheses.

    For Wolansky, a semiprofessional musician, a highlight of his trip to Ukraine was when he and his wife, Maria, met Dudaryk, Lviv’s internationally renowned boys choir, at Mass on the last day of the trip. The children’s choir had performed the refrain for Wolansky’s recent music video, helping draw attention to the plight of Ukraine’s children.

    Wolansky added, “Despite air alerts driving conference participants into the bomb shelter on two occasions, these brave Ukrainians insist that normal life must go on!”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Per Jacobsson Lecture 2024 — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: “Delivering on new global challenges: How can we keep multilateral coherence whilst re-imagining the multilateral trading system?”

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Per Jacobsson Lecture 2024 — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: “Delivering on new global challenges: How can we keep multilateral coherence whilst re-imagining the multilateral trading system?”

    Excellencies, Dear Raghu, Minouche, Maury, ladies and gentlemen, friends,
    Thank you. What an honor to follow in the footsteps of previous Per Jacobsson lecturers – all the more so in this 80th anniversary year of the Bretton Woods Conference.
    We are living in troubled times – something Per Jacobsson knew well. So far as trade is concerned, the times are not only troubled, they are tense. Trade is sometimes blamed and scapegoated for poor outcomes that really derive from macroeconomic, technology, or social policy, for which trade is not responsible.
    Trade policies and tools are being deployed not just to solve trade-related problems, but also to try to address security and geopolitical concerns.
    As unilateral measures or threats thereof become increasingly widespread, trade policy has been getting more restrictive. In recent months, the US, the EU, Turkey, and Canada have introduced new tariffs and countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles and other products, including steel. China has countered with WTO disputes and measures against EU products such as dairy, pork, and brandy. 
    These are among the over 130 new trade-restricting measures recorded by the WTO Secretariat since the start of this year. This number represents an 8% increase to the stockpile of over 1600 restrictive measures introduced between 2009 and 2023, which as of last year were already affecting over 10% of world goods trade. In addition, WTO members initiated 210 trade remedy investigations in the first half of 2024 – nearly as many as in all of 2023. While not all will culminate in the imposition of duties, investigations have a well-documented chilling effect on trade. And I haven’t even mentioned subsidies yet. 
    Frictions are manifesting as trade disputes. Six of the eight WTO disputes initiated this year deal with green technologies, particularly electric vehicles.
    I hope we are not on a path that leads back to the sort of economic disorder that came before Bretton Woods – disorder that was followed by political extremism and war.
    It was precisely to avoid a repeat of such circumstances that the multilateral economic institutions were created. My concern today is that we have forgotten this lesson – that we have forgotten the good these institutions have done.
    Walking away from the legacy of Bretton Woods, including the trading system, would diminish the world’s ability – collectively and at the national level – to respond to problems affecting people’s lives and opportunities.
    I will argue that there is a better path forward: re-imagining the global trading system and the rest of the multilateral economic architecture to help us meet the technological, environmental, social and geopolitical challenges of our time. To succeed, its various components must work in concert – an idea we have come to call ‘coherence’.
    In the 1940s, the overall thrust of coherence was that trade, reconstruction financing, and monetary policymaking need to be in harmony with each other, and anchored in institutions and rules across countries, to promote growth, prosperity, and peace.
    Today, delivering lasting improvements to people’s lives and livelihoods requires us to solve problems of the global commons.
    The notion of coherence across different policy areas would have made sense to Per Jacobsson. His convictions about sound money, and its importance for durable growth and recovery, were shaped by his own experiences. As a young man he saw the collapse of global economic integration amid the First World War. From his position at the League of Nations in the 1920s, he witnessed the failed attempts by leading economies to establish effective international coordination on global finance and trade – a memory that echoes uncomfortably today.
    We know what happened when the downturn came at the end of the decade. Vicious circles emerged: of falling output, deflation, banking and financial crises, trade protectionism and retaliation, and exchange rate chaos. Countries retreated into increasingly isolated economic blocs.
    The experience of those years was seared into the consciousness of the officials who gathered in Bretton Woods in July 1944. US Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau opened the conference by looking back at what he called “the great economic tragedy of our time.” I quote “We saw currency disorders develop and spread from land to land, destroying the basis for international trade and international investment and even international faith. In their wake, we saw unemployment and wretchedness — idle tools, wasted wealth. We saw their victims fall prey, in places, to demagogues and dictators. We saw bewilderment and bitterness become the breeders of fascism and, finally, of war.”
    What Bretton Woods delivered
    The genius of Bretton Woods was that it turned the vicious circles of the 1930s into virtuous ones, by recognizing that macro-financial stability, reconstruction and development, and trade went hand-in-hand.
    Instead of beggar-thy-neighbor policies, countries would treat trade, monetary issues, and even domestic macro-economic policies as matters of common interest.
    Instead of excessively rigid or chaotically fluctuating currencies, there would be orderly, rules-based management of exchange rates and balance of payments problems.
    Instead of underinvestment, there would be long-term financing for reconstruction and expanding productive capacity.
    Instead of quantitative restrictions, prohibitive tariffs, and bilateral clearing, there would be a coordinated lowering of trade barriers, and freedom to undertake international payments and current account transactions.
    The idea of coherence across policy fields, with trade as a unifying theme, was baked into the system from day one. Promoting the “balanced growth of international trade” is written into the founding mandates of both the IMF and the World Bank – not as an end in itself, but as a means to higher employment, productivity, and incomes.
    The trade leg of the stool, alongside the Bank and the IMF, was supposed to be the International Trade Organization, but it ran aground in the US Congress. A parallel negotiating process in 1947 produced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was nominally temporary and did not require Congressional ratification. Successive rounds of GATT negotiations substantially reduced barriers to trade. The growing number of “contracting parties” used the GATT to resolve and avoid trade disputes. By the 1960s, global trade was growing faster than output.
    The decades that followed Bretton Woods and the Marshall Plan delivered a breathtaking recovery from the devastation of the Second World War.
    Strong growth in the 1950s and 1960s saw per capita incomes in Western Europe and Japan begin to converge with those in the United States.
    Major European currencies achieved full convertibility in 1958, when Per Jacobsson was leading the IMF.
    These gains, however, were largely confined to industrialized countries.
    Most newly independent developing countries continued to lose ground in relative terms, as they struggled with declining terms of trade for their commodities.
    But a handful of poor economies in East Asia started trying to use increasingly open external markets to pursue export-led development.
    Discordance and reinvention: the 1970s and 1980s
    Coherence gave way to discordance in the 1970s, with the oil shocks, stagflation, the advent of floating exchange rates, and a wave of emerging market debt crises.
    By the mid-1980s, the success of the so-called Asian tigers had become a compelling example, inspiring many developing country governments to pivot from inward-oriented to export-oriented development strategies.
    At the international level, growing frustration with ad hoc protectionism and “à la carte” approaches to GATT strictures created demand for more rules-based trade cooperation.
    The Uruguay Round negotiations from 1986 to 1994 broadened the reach of multilateral trade rules to cover services and intellectual property, filled longstanding gaps with respect to agriculture and textiles, and unwound much of the protectionism that had emerged in the preceding years.
    The nominally provisional GATT was transformed into the World Trade Organization, with a binding dispute resolution mechanism that enhanced the predictability offered by its expanded rulebook.
    The preamble to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO opened up new vistas for the organization, defining its purpose as using trade not just to raise living standards and create jobs but to advance sustainable development – thus introducing environmental concerns that were absent in the 1940s.
    1990 to 2020: A “golden period of economic development”, but clouds on the horizon
    The Uruguay Round and the end of the Cold War would mark a second era of coherence and virtuous circles across the trading system, the World Bank, and the IMF. And this time, the benefits were spread much more widely across countries and people.
    The WTO became an anchor for outward-oriented economic reforms in many emerging markets and developing economies.
    Increasingly open and predictable trade became a stronger driver of development, productivity, specialization and scale.
    Better macro-financial policies bolstered growth – and trade performance – in many emerging markets and developing countries. So did improved human capital and physical infrastructure.
    Trade and modern supply chains became powerful sources of disinflationary pressures.
    Market-oriented reforms in China, Eastern Europe, India and other developing economies brought them into the increasingly global division of labor. Trade boomed, incomes rose, and poverty plummeted.
    Between 1995 and 2022, as low- and middle-income economies nearly doubled their share in global exports from 16 to 32%, the share of their populations subsisting on less than US$2.15 per day fell from 40% to under 11%. Over 1.5 billion people were lifted out of extreme poverty.
    Since 1995, per capita incomes in low- and middle-income countries have nearly tripled, and global per capita income increased by approximately 65 percent.
    For the first time since the industrial revolution two centuries earlier, per capita incomes in rich and poor countries began to converge.
    Gains for poor countries did not come at the expense of rich ones. Examining the United States since 1950, researchers at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) have shown that international trade boosted the economy by the equivalent of $2.6 trillion in 2022, or about 10% of GDP. The gains from trade would be even larger for small, open advanced economies.
    In a Foreign Affairs piece this year, Dev Patel, Justin Sandefur, and Arvind Subramanian called the years between 1990 and the start of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I quote, “history’s most golden period of economic development”.   They argue that the rapid increase in trading opportunities was “perhaps the most important enabler” of convergence.
    Research from our new World Trade Report backs them up: the pace of income convergence of low- and middle-income economies is strikingly correlated with their participation in global trade, as measured by a size-adjusted ratio of trade to GDP. Our simulations suggest falling trade costs account for as much as one-third of the convergence.
    To be clear, the period was not golden for everyone. Developing countries with lower trade participation or greater commodity-dependence – mostly in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East – lagged on convergence. And in some rich countries, many people felt left behind, and their frustration started to fuel a political backlash against trade.
    Multilateral rule-making on trade began to falter, with the failure of the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.
    Nevertheless, in 2008 and 2009, when the world economy faced its worst financial crisis since the 1930s, the system worked.
    International markets stayed broadly open. The rules and norms of the multilateral trading system helped governments contain protectionist pressures.
    Alongside fiscal and monetary support, trade was a powerful shock absorber. Crisis-hit countries could rely on predictable market access elsewhere to absorb their excess supply, preventing growth and development from getting derailed.
    The WTO, the World Bank, and the IMF also worked together productively on the macro-micro policy nexus.
    For instance, when trade finance dried up during the credit crunch, despite being extremely low-risk, the three institutions joined hands to encourage G20 members and international financial institutions to step in with a $250 billion support package.
    Since the financial crisis, the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, has continued to deliver economic benefits, despite rising geopolitical tensions and tariffs between the US and China, the disabling of the Appellate Body, and the failure to reach agreements in long-running negotiations such as those on agriculture. Global trade kept reaching new highs through the 2010s, and over 75% of global goods trade continued – and continues today – to operate on core WTO tariff terms.
    When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the norms and rules of the multilateral trading system mostly did their job again. Trust in trade was damaged by initial missteps, as governments enacted export restrictions on medical supplies and vaccines. But governments generally refrained from widespread protectionism, allowing food and other essentials to flow across borders to where they were needed. Goods trade rebounded strongly from the lockdowns and was soon setting new records. Cross-border supply chains churned out products needed to fight the pandemic, from face masks to vaccines. Trade in digitally-delivered services boomed, propelled by the same technologies that allowed so many of us to work from home.
    Goods and especially services trade are now well above pre-COVID levels.  Last year, global trade was worth a near-record $30.5 trillion, in a $105-trillion world economy.
    Re-imagining the Multilateral Trading System with coherence
    As we saw at the outset, however, these successes did not forestall the challenges we now face in global trade. While trade has been largely resilient, signs of fragmentation are now visible.
    So it’s not difficult to imagine a return of vicious circles – trade restrictions, efficiency losses, slower growth, higher prices, costs imposed by extreme weather and food insecurity, and public frustration and anger.
    Allowing the vicious circles to take hold and the world to fragment into isolated trading blocs would be costly. The WTO has estimated longer term global GDP losses in the order of 5% were the world to fragment into two like-minded trading blocs. IMF estimates are in the order 7%. We cannot afford this!
    And that is why we need to re-imagine the multilateral trading system to solve modern challenges and address modern vulnerabilities.
    This means re-imagining coherence as well. Trade alone was insufficient in 1944, and trade alone is insufficient to build the more secure, sustainable, and inclusive world we want today.  The way forward for trade will increasingly be about “WTO and” – trade in tandem with other issues, and policies that support the original vision of coherence and do not misuse trade tools, for coercion, as a weapon, or to undermine competition.
    Our unfinished business from 1944 was elegantly illustrated by a recent blog post from IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas and his team.
    They showed that China’s growing and contentious trade surplus, and the US’s widening trade deficit, are the result of domestic macro-economic forces, rather than the product of trade and industrial policies.
    “Homegrown surpluses and deficits call for homegrown solutions,” they argued, suggesting demand-boosting measures in China and fiscal consolidation in the US.
    As for concerns over industrial policy, they said the right response was to strengthen WTO rules, not to restrict trade.
    They cited the WTO’s recent China Trade Policy Review which showed new data of billions of dollars in subsidies going to manufacturing. Urging China to be more transparent about its subsidies.
    The blog shows the coherence mandate in action but it also illustrates how even today, the global trading system is paying a price for shortcomings of macro-economic policy.
    As Sylvia Ostry, one of my predecessors at this podium, said in 1987, “Trade policy is no substitute for macro policy.”
    Let’s now turn to the new trade agenda, and look at three areas where future prospects for people and the planet require trade to be re-imagined, and complemented by other policy levers pulling in the same direction.
    First, the environmental agenda, above all climate change and getting to net zero by mid-century.
    Trade is indispensable to deploy low-carbon technologies globally. Trade lets countries share the burden of developing new green tech. Scale economies and competitive pressures associated with trade help drive down unit costs, making it possible for renewables to undercut fossil fuel energy.
    Trade also allows us to leverage ‘green comparative advantage’, a concept that our chief economist, Ralph Ossa, has done much to advance. The idea is straightforward: just as individuals and countries can reap economic gains by specializing in what they are relatively good at, the world can reap environmental gains if countries specialize in what they are relatively green at.
    If countries with abundant clean energy can produce more energy-intensive goods and services, while importing energy-light products from places where clean energy is scarce, and vice versa, global emissions fall much more than they would have absent that trade. And in fact research from the University of Zurich  suggests that as much as one-third of global emissions reductions could come from this kind of specialization linked to green comparative advantage.
    As Ricardo Hausmann at Harvard has observed, fossil fuels are cheap to transport, but wind and solar energy are not. This makes parts of Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America with high green energy potential attractive destinations for investment in energy-intensive industries, including the production of green hydrogen.
    Global cooperation on internalizing carbon costs would incentivize greener sourcing everywhere. Nevertheless, we are already seeing moves in the right direction as in Kenya, which has attracted a billion-dollar investment to build a geothermal-powered low-carbon data center.
    Parenthetically, a similar dynamic exists for water, provided it is valued correctly. A recent report of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, which I co-chair, shows that with trade one can also promote the notion of a hydrological comparative advantage. Trade can help mitigate water scarcity by allowing countries with abundant hydrological resources to specialize in producing water-intensive products for export to water-scarce nations.  Such virtual water trade offers agricultural export opportunities, for example, to those regions including countries in Africa with under-utilized ground water resources and land.
    But just as environmental policy coordination could accelerate climate action, policy fragmentation could weaken it.  There is a genuine risk that trade frictions associated with carbon pricing, green subsidies, and other climate policies will escalate into trade restrictions and retaliation, harming emissions reduction as well as trade.
    We should seek to pre-empt such frictions and disputes by establishing shared frameworks for trade and climate policy. The goal would be to maximize emissions reduction and green innovation, while minimizing negative spillovers, trade tensions, and wasted public resources on subsidy races that most countries may not even afford to participate in.
    To this end, the WTO Secretariat is coordinating a carbon pricing task force comprised of the IMF, World Bank, OECD, UNCTAD, and UNFCCC, where we are working to develop shared carbon metrics and ultimately a global carbon pricing framework against which we can benchmark national policies to aid interoperability of approaches. We have also joined hands with the IMF, the OECD, and the World Bank to explore approaches to enhance greater transparency with respect to subsidies. And we are working with the steel industry to help them promote interoperability in decarbonization standards, reducing transaction costs and facilitating trade and investment in green steel.
    Reforming the over $1.2 trillion in direct global annual fossil fuel subsidies, the $630 billion in trade-distorting agricultural support, and the $22 billion in harmful fisheries subsidies (which the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is delivering) should be a no-brainer. Some of the resources freed up could be repurposed to support green innovation and a just transition for poor countries.
    The second set of opportunities for the Multilateral Trading System deals with diversifying and decentralizing supply chains – and doing so in a manner that brings in countries and communities that remain on the margins of the global division of labor.
    More diversified global production networks would enhance supply security in an increasingly shock-prone world, while extending the benefits of trade to places and people that have not shared adequately in them. Greater diversification would also help lower the geopolitical temperature around supply chain relationships, by making them harder for any single country to weaponize.
    As the pandemic and the war in Ukraine made abundantly clear, overconcentration makes supply chains vulnerable in a crisis.
    The advent of COVID-19, concentrated minds on the fact that 80% of world vaccine exports came from only ten countries. This meant export restrictions in a few of them severely disrupted global access to vaccines – especially to Africa, which relied on imports for 99% of its jabs.
    Decentralizing value chains and building up pharmaceutical production capacity in Africa and other developing country regions for instance would make the global supply base more resilient in the event of future pandemics, whilst more closely integrating these regions in to world trade, and making them part of a more prosperous and healthy world.
    Critical minerals is another sector where there are major opportunities to mitigate concerns about overconcentration in mining and especially processing, while stimulating growth in developing countries. 
    Exports of minerals critical for the low-carbon transition, like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths, have grown rapidly to reach USD 320 billion in value in 2022, and are set to increase much more in the years ahead. Africa, for example, represents 40% of estimated global reserves of cobalt, manganese, and platinum; and 12% of world exports of critical minerals, but only 3.8% of exports of processed minerals.
    By investing in processing these minerals within the regions including in Central Asia and Latin America where they are found, we can promote value addition and job creation while removing supply bottlenecks that currently threaten to hold back the low-carbon transition.
    Furthermore, to the extent that this process is powered by green hydrogen and other kinds of clean energy, it would harness the green comparative advantage I mentioned earlier and thereby help the developing regions increase their share in world trade.
    It would be green growth and green trade – the ‘re-globalization’ we want.
    Finally, there are areas where cross-border commerce is flourishing, but where new rules are necessary to foster predictability and lower barriers to entry for smaller businesses and developing economies.
    The fastest growing segment of international trade is in services delivered across borders via computer networks. Trade in digitally-delivered services – everything from streaming video to remote consulting – has quadrupled since 2005, reaching $4.25 trillion in value last year. These services have become an increasingly important driver of growth and job creation.
    The commercialization of artificial intelligence promises to further accelerate digital trade. A forthcoming WTO report describes how AI could reduce trade and transaction costs, improve supply chain logistics, and shift countries’ comparative advantages.
    I always say the future of trade is digital, but the future of protectionism could be as well. Imports of digital services could become as contentious as manufactured imports have, or more so – inviting digital barriers that are even simpler to put in place than their counterparts for trade in physical goods.
    Putting in place some basic rules for digital trade would reduce the risks of such reversals. The 90-odd members participating in plurilateral e-commerce negotiations at the WTO are now looking to conclude a first phase agreement on a series of practical measures to facilitate digital trade, from common rules for e-signatures and payments, to paperless trading, and consumer protection. Tougher issues like cross-border data flows – a critical element in AI – will be dealt with in a second phase of negotiations.
    Delivering on this agenda for the future will involve strengthening all of the WTO’s functions: monitoring and transparency, negotiations, and dispute settlement.
    With respect to our dispute settlement system, we are working to reform it. The reform process has wide buy-in, and talks are advancing, including on issues like appeal review and accessibility to ensure that developing countries can use the system. There are delicate issues here around how national security exceptions will be handled – it is going to take work!
    We will need to negotiate and implement new rules in important areas like the environment. Some members are showing the way: New Zealand, Costa Rica, Switzerland, and Iceland recently agreed to liberalize trade in a list of hundreds of environmental goods, and they are trying to get others to join.
    We are working on getting an Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development, negotiated by three-quarters of our membership, into the WTO rulebook. This agreement will help developing economies attract FDI by simplifying investment-related procedures and sweeping away red tape.
    We will also need to review existing rules to make them fit for purpose. Instead of members doing an end run around our Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures to introduce industrial policies, it would be better to update that agreement. It actually dates back to 1994 – seven years before China joined the WTO,  [a time when climate concerns were barely on the radar screen, and the conventional wisdom was that state-owned enterprises were a fading relic of a bygone era]. Members could decide to create space for subsidizing the green transition. Shared ground rules would help minimize negative spillovers and related trade tensions, while maximizing efficiency in the use of public resources. 
    Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen. Let me now conclude.
    As I said at the start, these are tense times for trade. There are political dynamics outside our control. But we can treat the challenges we face as opportunities to re-imagine the global trading system.
    We can build global resilience whilst making the system more supportive of inclusive growth and environmental sustainability.
    We can make existing trade rules more fit for purpose rather than go around or against them and we can make new rules fit for the time.
    We can help developing countries left behind by the recent wave of global economic integration.
    We can have interdependence without overdependence.
    While nothing is ever easy at the WTO, we are moving in the right direction. We will manage what we can manage. Control what we can control. But we will need your help.
    Over the past eight decades, the multilateral economic architecture, including the trading system, has delivered a great deal for the world. We have reinvented it before. We can do so again, for people and planet.
    Nelson Mandela once wrote that “after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” I ask you, let’s climb these hills together.
    Thank you.

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    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: Asure Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Reports Third Quarter Revenues of $29.3 Million

    Recurring Revenues Grew 20% Versus Prior Year Third Quarter

    AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asure Software, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our”, “Asure” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ASUR), a leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (“HCM”) software solutions, today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

    Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Revenue of $29.3 million, nearly unchanged versus the same period of the prior year
    • Revenue (excluding ERTC revenue) of $29.2 million, up 20% from $24.4 million versus the same period of the prior year
    • Recurring revenue of $28.6 million, up 20% year over year. Recurring revenue was 98% of total revenue versus 81% the same period of the prior year
    • Net loss of $3.9 million versus a net loss of $2.2 million during the same period of the prior year 
    • EBITDA(1) of $2.2  million versus $3.0 million during the same period of the prior year  
    • Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $5.4 million versus $6.2 million during the same period of the prior year 
    • Gross profit of $19.7 million versus $21.3 million during the same period of the prior year  
    • Non-GAAP gross profit(1) of $21.4 million (Non-GAAP gross margin(1) of 73%) versus $22.4 million (and 76% during the same period of the  prior year) 

    Nine Months 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Revenue of $89.0 million down 4% versus the first nine months of prior year
    • Revenue (excluding ERTC revenue) of $87.4 million up 15% from $75.7 million in the first nine months of prior year
    • Recurring revenue (excluding ERTC revenue) of $86.0 million up 16% from $74.4 million in the first nine months of prior year
    • Net loss of $8.6 million versus a net loss of $5.6 million the first nine months of prior year
    • EBITDA(1) of $8.0 million versus $13.2 million the first nine months of prior year
    • Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $16.3 million versus $20.5 million the first nine months of prior year
    • Gross profit of $61.2 million versus $67.7 million during the first nine months of the prior year  
    • Non-GAAP gross profit(1) of $65.6 million (Non-GAAP gross margin(1) of 74%) versus $71.5 million (and 77% during the first nine months of the prior year) 

    _______________
    (1)This financial measure is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and is defined on page 4 of this press release. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most applicable GAAP measure begins on page 11 of this release.

    Recent Business Highlights

    • Payroll Tax Management Expansion: Asure’s Payroll Tax Management product gained significant momentum, going live with additional Workday and SAP clients during the third quarter. Key sales wins include one of America’s largest grocery chains and a nationally known HCM system integrator who assists large enterprises with Workday, SAP, and Oracle HCM implementations. These enterprise bookings have grown our backlog and still represent additional product and professional services opportunities.
    • HCM Architectural Milestone: Employee self-service capabilities have been decoupled from disparate payroll platforms and modularized as a single API-based service. This enhancement improves scalability and stability of the end-to-end HCM suite and further consolidates our technical footprint to a more flexible service-oriented architecture.
    • Entering Beta of New AI Agent: More than a chatbot, this new Generative-AI Agent handles inquiries related to payroll and payroll taxes takes secure action on behalf of the user. Through dynamic, interactive sessions, the AI Agent will answer questions and take actions on HR requests including time off requests, demographic changes, or changes to W-4 allowances.
    • Leadership Recognition: Asure Chairman and CEO, Pat Goepel, was named Austin Business Journal’s Best CEO of a Public Company for 2024, recognizing his leadership and commitment to Asure’s growth and success.
    • New financial services product to launch November 2024: Asure is introducing AsurePay™, an innovative financial solution offering working Americans a comprehensive online banking alternative. AsurePay™ combines features such as debit card access, fee-free ATM withdrawals, and paycheck advances through a unique interest-bearing banking solution, designed to improve employee engagement, while also improving overall employer efficiency. This solution is easily accessible through an intuitive mobile app.

    Management Commentary

    Asure Chairman and CEO, Pat Goepel, stated, “Our third quarter performance reflects strong, continued growth, with recurring revenue up 20% year-over-year. We’ve made great strides in transitioning to a more valuable revenue model, with 98% of our revenues now recurring, compared to 81% in the same quarter last year. Additionally, new bookings were up 141% year-over-year. Our backlog has grown significantly — over 35% from Q2 2024 and over 250% from Q3 2023. While large enterprise tax product deals have contributed to our success, their pace of implementation can vary. That said, we remain confident in our ability to maintain this positive trajectory.”

    Goepel continued, “We’re seeing strong demand for our Payroll Tax Management product, we’re introducing new solutions, upgrading our technology, and making strategic acquisitions. Earlier in the year, we faced the challenge of replacing ERTC revenue, but those headwinds have now dissipated as we close out 2024 and this change in the composition of our revenues offers us strong momentum going into 2025. We are optimistic about the opportunities ahead for both the remainder of this year and into next year.”

    Fourth Quarter 2024 and Full Year 2025 Revenue Guidance Ranges

    The Company is providing the following guidance for the fourth quarter 2024 based on the Company’s year-to-date results and recent business trends. Management is initiating full year 2025 guidance to a range of $134M-$138M which does not include revenue from potential future acquisitions.

    Guidance for 2024

    Guidance Range   Q4-2024   FY-2024  
    Revenue $ 30M – 32M $ 119M -121M  
    Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 6M -7M   18% -19%  
               

    Guidance for 2025 

    Guidance Range   FY-2025  
    Revenue $ 134M – 138M  
    Adjusted EBITDA(1)   23% – 24%  
           

    Management uses GAAP, non-GAAP and adjusted measures when planning, monitoring, and evaluating the Company’s performance. The primary purpose of using non-GAAP and adjusted measures is to provide supplemental information that may prove useful to investors and to enable investors to evaluate the Company’s results in the same way that management does.

    Management believes that supplementing GAAP disclosures with non-GAAP and adjusted disclosures provides investors with a more complete view of the Company’s operational performance and allows for meaningful period-to-period comparisons and analysis of trends in the Company’s business. Further, to the extent that other companies use similar methods in calculating adjusted financial measures, the provision of supplemental non-GAAP and adjusted information can allow for a comparison of the Company’s relative performance against other companies that also report non-GAAP and adjusted operating results.

    Management has not provided a reconciliation of guidance of GAAP to non-GAAP or adjusted disclosures because management is unable to predict the nature and materiality of non-recurring expenses without unreasonable effort.

    Management’s projections are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions about the Company’s business, and the industry and markets in which it operates; there are known and unknown risks and uncertainties associated with these projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ from the guidance set forth above. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, including its 2024 and 2025 earnings guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to the “Use of Forward-Looking Statements” disclosures on page 6 of this press release as well as the risk factors in our quarterly and annual reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for more information about risk that affect our business and industry.

    Conference Call Details

    Asure management will host a conference call on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 3:30 pm Central (4:30 pm Eastern). Asure Chairman and CEO Pat Goepel and CFO John Pence will participate in the conference call followed by a question-and-answer session. The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company’s website. Analysts may participate on the conference call by dialing 877-407-9219 or 201-689-8852.

    About Asure Software, Inc.

    Asure Software (Nasdaq: ASUR) is a leading provider of Human Capital Management (“HCM”) software solutions. We help small and mid-sized companies grow by assisting them in building better teams with skills to stay compliant with ever-changing federal, state, and local tax jurisdictions and labor laws, and better allocate cash so they can spend their financial capital on growing their business rather than back-office overhead expenses. Asure’s Human Capital Management suite, named AsureHCM®, includes cloud-based Payroll, Tax Services, and Time & Attendance software and Asure Marketplace™ as well as human resources (“HR”) services ranging from HR projects to completely outsourcing payroll and HR staff. We also offer these products and services through our network of reseller partners. Visit us at asuresoftware.com.

    Non-GAAP and Adjusted Financial Measures

    This press release includes information about non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP sales and marketing expense, non-GAAP general and administrative expense, non-GAAP research and development expense, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin. These non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures are measurements of financial performance that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and computational methods may differ from those used by other companies. Non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures are reconciled to GAAP in the tables set forth in this release and are subject to reclassifications to conform to current period presentations.

    Non-GAAP gross profit differs from gross profit in that it excludes amortization, share-based compensation, and one-time items.

    Non-GAAP sales and marketing expense differs from sales and marketing expense in that it excludes share-based compensation and one-time items.

    Non-GAAP general and administrative expense differs from general and administrative expense in that it excludes share-based compensation and one-time items.

    Non-GAAP research and development expense differs from research and development expense in that it excludes share-based compensation and one-time items.

    EBITDA differs from net income (loss) in that it excludes items such as interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Asure is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of these exclusions without unreasonable effort.

    Adjusted EBITDA differs from EBITDA in that it excludes share-based compensation, other income (expense), net and one-time expenses. Asure is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of these exclusions without unreasonable effort.

    All adjusted and non-GAAP measures presented as “margin” are computed by dividing the applicable adjusted financial measure by total revenue.

    Specifically, as applicable to the respective financial measure, management is adjusting for the following items when calculating non-GAAP and adjusted financial measures as applicable for the periods presented. No additional adjustments have been made for potential income tax effects of the adjustments based on the Company’s current and anticipated de minimis effective federal tax rate, resulting from the Company’s continued losses for federal tax purposes and its tax net operating loss balances.

    Share-Based Compensation Expenses. The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of share-based compensation to attract and retain employees and executives. It is principally aimed at aligning their interests with those of our stockholders and at long-term employee retention, rather than motivating or rewarding operational performance for any particular period. Thus, share-based compensation expense varies for reasons that are generally unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period.

    Depreciation. The Company excludes depreciation of fixed assets. Also included in the expense is the depreciation of capitalized software costs.

    Amortization of Purchased Intangibles. The Company views amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, such as the amortization of the cost associated with an acquired company’s research and development efforts, trade names, customer lists and customer relationships, and acquired lease intangibles, as items arising from pre-acquisition activities determined at the time of an acquisition. While these intangible assets are continually evaluated for impairment, amortization of the cost of purchased intangibles is a static expense, one that is not typically affected by operations during any particular period.

    Interest Expense, Net. The Company excludes accrued interest expense, the amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing costs.

    Income Taxes. The Company excludes income taxes, both at the federal and state levels.

    One-Time Expenses. The Company’s adjusted financial measures exclude the following costs to normalize comparable reporting periods, as these are generally non-recurring expenses that do not reflect the ongoing operational results. These items are typically not budgeted and are infrequent and unusual in nature.

    Settlements, Penalties and Interest. The Company excludes legal settlements, including separation agreements, penalties and interest that are generally one-time in nature and not reflective of the operational results of the business.

    Acquisition and Transaction Related Costs. The Company excludes these expenses as they are transaction costs and expenses that are generally one-time in nature and not reflective of the underlying operational results of our business. Examples of these types of expenses include legal, accounting, regulatory, other consulting services, severance and other employee costs.

    Other non-recurring Expenses. The Company excludes these as they are generally non-recurring items that are not reflective of the underlying operational results of the business and are generally not anticipated to recur. Some examples of these types of expenses, historically, have included write-offs or impairments of assets, demolition of office space and cybersecurity consultants.

    Other (Expense) Income, Net. The Company’s adjusted financial measures exclude Other (Expense) Income, Net because it includes items that are not reflective of the underlying operational results of the business, such as loan forgiveness, adjustments to contingent liabilities and credits earned as part of the CARES Act, passed by Congress in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Use of Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain statements made by management that may constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements about our financial results may include expected or projected U.S GAAP and other operating and non-operating results. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “projects,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of “forward-looking statements” include statements we make regarding our operating performance, future results of operations and financial position, revenue growth, earnings or other projections. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions, over many of which we have no control. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, our results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make.

    The risks and uncertainties referred to above include—but are not limited to—the expiration of major revenue streams such as Employee Retention Tax Credits (“ERTC”) and the impact of the Internal Revenue Service recent measures regarding ERTC claims; risks associated with breaches of the Company’s security measures; risks associated with the Company’s rate of growth and anticipated revenue run rate, including impact of the current economic environment; the Company’s ability to convert deferred revenue and unbilled deferred revenue into revenue and cash flow, and ability to maintain continued growth of deferred revenue and unbilled deferred revenue; privacy concerns and laws and other regulations may limit the effectiveness of our applications; the financial and other impact of any previous and future acquisitions; the Company’s ability to continue to release, gain customer acceptance of and provide support for new and improved versions of the Company’s services; successful customer deployment and utilization of the Company’s existing and future services; interruptions to supply chains and extended shut down of businesses; issues in the use of artificial intelligence in our HCM products and services; political unrest, including the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing conflict involving Israel in the Middle East; reductions in employment and an increase in business failures, specifically among our clients; possible fluctuations in the Company’s financial and operating results; regulatory pressures on economic relief enacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that change or cause different interpretations with respect to eligibility for such programs; domestic and international regulatory developments, including changes to or applicability to our business of privacy and data securities laws, money transmitter laws and anti-money laundering laws; technological developments; the nature of the Company’s business model; interest rates; competition; various financial aspects of the Company’s subscription model; impairment of intangible assets; interruptions or delays in the Company’s services or the Company’s Web hosting; access to additional capital; the Company’s ability to hire, retain and motivate employees and manage the Company’s growth; litigation and any related claims, negotiations and settlements, including with respect to intellectual property matters or industry-specific regulations; volatility and weakness in bank and capital markets; factors affecting the Company’s deferred tax assets and ability to value and utilize them; volatility and low trading volume of our common stock; collection of receivables; and general developments in the economy, financial markets, credit markets and the impact of current and future accounting pronouncements and other financial reporting standards. Please review the Company’s risk factors in its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 26, 2024, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 1, 2024, and October 31, 2024.

    The forward-looking statements, including the financial guidance 2024 and 2025 outlooks, contained in this press release represent the judgment of the Company as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any intent, obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard to these forward looking statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

    © 2024 Asure Software, Inc. All rights reserved.

    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
    (Unaudited)
     
      September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,248     $ 30,317  
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,150 and $4,787 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively   17,233       14,202  
    Inventory   233       155  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   4,586       3,471  
    Total current assets before funds held for clients   33,300       48,145  
    Funds held for clients   193,589       219,075  
    Total current assets   226,889       267,220  
    Property and equipment, net   18,490       14,517  
    Goodwill   94,724       86,011  
    Intangible assets, net   73,429       62,082  
    Operating lease assets, net   4,401       4,991  
    Other assets, net   10,176       9,047  
    Total assets $ 428,109     $ 443,868  
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERSEQUITY      
    Current liabilities:      
    Current portion of notes payable $     $ 27  
    Accounts payable   1,317       2,570  
    Accrued compensation and benefits   4,277       6,519  
    Operating lease liabilities, current   1,600       1,490  
    Other accrued liabilities   8,287       3,862  
    Deferred revenue   3,029       6,853  
    Total current liabilities before client fund obligations   18,510       21,321  
    Client fund obligations   193,951       220,019  
    Total current liabilities   212,461       241,340  
    Long-term liabilities:      
    Deferred revenue   2,276       16  
    Deferred tax liability   2,116       1,728  
    Notes payable, net of current portion   7,506       4,282  
    Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent   3,832       4,638  
    Other liabilities   765       209  
    Total long-term liabilities   16,495       10,873  
    Total liabilities   228,956       252,213  
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding          
    Common stock, $0.01 par value; 44,000 shares authorized; 26,540 and 25,382 shares issued, 26,540 and 24,998 shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively   265       254  
    Treasury stock at cost, zero(1) and 384 shares at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively         (5,017 )
    Additional paid-in capital   502,920       487,973  
    Accumulated deficit   (304,022 )     (290,440 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (10 )     (1,115 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   199,153       191,655  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 428,109     $ 443,868  
    (1) The aggregate Treasury stock of prior repurchases of the Company’s own common stock was retired and subsequently issued effective January 1, 2024. See the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the impact of this transaction.
     
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Three Months Ended
    September 30,
      Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
                   
    Revenue:              
    Recurring $ 28,626     $ 23,833     $ 85,950     $ 74,749  
    Professional services, hardware and other   678       5,501       3,050       18,069  
    Total revenue   29,304       29,334       89,000       92,818  
    Cost of sales   9,600       8,054       27,821       25,120  
    Gross profit   19,704       21,280       61,179       67,698  
    Operating expenses:              
    Sales and marketing   6,680       6,597       21,371       22,312  
    General and administrative   10,378       9,294       30,559       29,586  
    Research and development   1,973       1,803       5,704       5,107  
    Amortization of intangible assets   4,295       3,333       11,790       9,929  
    Total operating expenses   23,326       21,027       69,424       66,934  
    (Loss) income from operations   (3,622 )     253       (8,245 )     764  
    Interest income   165       437       762       1,015  
    Interest expense   (274 )     (1,219 )     (662 )     (5,336 )
    Loss on extinguishment of debt         (1,517 )           (1,517 )
    Other (expense) income, net         (283 )     10       (291 )
    Loss from operations before income taxes   (3,731 )     (2,329 )     (8,135 )     (5,365 )
    Income tax expense (benefit)   170       (123 )     434       267  
    Net loss   (3,901 )     (2,206 )     (8,569 )     (5,632 )
    Other comprehensive loss:              
    Unrealized income (loss) on marketable securities   1,340       (201 )     1,105       (213 )
    Comprehensive loss $ (2,561 )   $ (2,407 )   $ (7,464 )   $ (5,845 )
                   
    Basic and diluted loss per share              
    Basic $ (0.15 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (0.27 )
    Diluted $ (0.15 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (0.27 )
                   
    Weighted average basic and diluted shares              
    Basic   26,429       22,591       25,870       21,204  
    Diluted   26,429       22,591       25,870       21,204  
                                   
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (in thousands)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023  
           
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net loss $ (8,569 )   $ (5,632 )
    Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash (used) in provided by operations:      
    Depreciation and amortization   16,200       14,243  
    Amortization of operating lease assets   1,025       1,129  
    Amortization of debt financing costs and discount   531       548  
    Non-cash interest expense         1,471  
    Net accretion of discounts on available-for-sale securities   (273 )     (63 )
    Provision for expected losses   111       2,004  
    Provision for deferred income taxes   388       111  
    Loss on extinguishment of debt         1,208  
    Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities   (1,929 )     (1,645 )
    Share-based compensation   4,981       4,170  
    Loss on disposals of long-term assets         132  
    Change in fair value of contingent purchase consideration         175  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable   (3,142 )     (5,014 )
    Inventory   (78 )     159  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets   (1,656 )     4,031  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets         473  
    Accounts payable   (1,253 )     (498 )
    Accrued expenses and other long-term obligations   (1,052 )     918  
    Operating lease liabilities   (1,139 )     (895 )
    Deferred revenue   (4,539 )     (5,190 )
    Net cash (used) in provided by operating activities   (394 )     11,835  
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Acquisition of intangible asset   (12,397 )     (697 )
    Purchases of property and equipment   (546 )     (1,365 )
    Software capitalization costs   (7,677 )     (5,029 )
    Purchases of available-for-sale securities   (10,914 )     (21,513 )
    Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities   13,325       10,428  
    Net cash used in investing activities   (18,209 )     (18,176 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Payments of notes payable   (420 )     (35,627 )
    Debt extinguishment costs         (468 )
    Payments made on amounts due for the acquisition of intangible assets   (658 )      
    Net proceeds from issuance of common stock   902       45,986  
    Capital raise fees   (47 )     (258 )
    Net change in client fund obligations   (26,068 )     (31,033 )
    Net cash used in financing activities   (26,291 )     (21,400 )
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (44,894 )     (27,741 )
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   177,622       164,042  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 132,728     $ 136,301  
                   
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
    (in thousands)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023  
           
    Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,248     $ 32,787  
    Cash and cash equivalents included in funds held for clients   121,480       103,514  
    Total cash and cash equivalents $ 132,728     $ 136,301  
           
    Supplemental information:      
    Cash paid for interest $     $ 3,140  
    Cash paid for income taxes $ 15     $ 532  
           
    Non-cash investing and financing activities:      
    Acquisition of intangible assets $ 6,918     $ 332  
    Notes payable issued for acquisitions $ 3,138     $  
    Shares issued for acquisitions $ 9,125     $ 2,543  
                   
    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP AND ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES
    (unaudited)
     
    (in thousands) Q3-24 Q2-24 Q1-24 Q4-23 Q3-23 Q2-23 Q1-23 Q4-22
    Revenue(1) $ 29,304   $ 28,044   $ 31,652   $ 26,264   $ 29,334   $ 30,420   $ 33,064   $ 29,292  
                     
    Gross Profit to non-GAAP Gross Profit                
    Gross Profit $ 19,704   $ 18,868   $ 22,607   $ 17,839   $ 21,280   $ 22,018   $ 24,400   $ 21,139  
    Gross Margin   67.2 %   67.3 %   71.4 %   67.9 %   72.5 %   72.4 %   73.8 %   72.2 %
                     
    Share-based Compensation   44     43     40     32     28     46     31     34  
    Depreciation   1,232     1,145     1,110     921     984     1,309     1,009     871  
    Amortization – intangibles   50     50     50     50     50     50     268     298  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   2     3         (6 )   8         4     3  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   367     264     39                      
    Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 21,399   $ 20,373   $ 23,846   $ 18,836   $ 22,350   $ 23,423   $ 25,712   $ 22,345  
    Non-GAAP Gross Margin   73.0 %   72.6 %   75.3 %   71.7 %   76.2 %   77.0 %   77.8 %   76.3 %
                     
    Sales and Marketing Expense to non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense
    Sales and Marketing Expense $ 6,680   $ 6,924   $ 7,767   $ 6,422   $ 6,597   $ 8,515   $ 7,200   $ 6,022  
                     
    Share-based Compensation   269     237     243     180     210     149     124     93  
    Depreciation   1         1     1                  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   (5 )   5     18     6     30     4     11      
    Acquisition and transaction costs   68     37     11                      
    Other non-recurring expenses                       180          
    Non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense $ 6,347   $ 6,645   $ 7,494   $ 6,235   $ 6,357   $ 8,182   $ 7,065   $ 5,929  
                     
    General and Administrative Expense to non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense
    General and Administrative Expense $ 10,378   $ 10,118   $ 10,063   $ 9,747   $ 9,294   $ 10,336   $ 9,956   $ 9,720  
                     
    Share-based Compensation   1,187     1,122     1,535     980     936     1,298     1,142     641  
    Depreciation   264     256     251     225     200     234     210     168  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   377     304     98     284     101     432     102     34  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   371     245     57     51                  
    Other non-recurring expenses   253         86     53         453          
    Non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense $ 7,926   $ 8,191   $ 8,036   $ 8,154   $ 8,057   $ 7,919   $ 8,502   $ 8,877  
                     
    Research and Development Expense to non-GAAP Research and Development Expense
    Research and Development Expense $ 1,973   $ 1,962   $ 1,769   $ 1,739   $ 1,803   $ 1,325   $ 1,979   $ 1,627  
                     
    Share-based Compensation   90     86     85     69     76     89     40     70  
    One-time expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest       27     31                     25  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   195     369     147                      
    Non-GAAP Research and Development Expense $ 1,688   $ 1,480   $ 1,506   $ 1,670   $ 1,727   $ 1,236   $ 1,939   $ 1,532  
                                                     

    (1)Note that first quarters are seasonally strong as recurring year-end W2/ACA revenue is recognized in this period.

    ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP AND ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES (cont.)
    (unaudited)
     
    (in thousands) Q3-24 Q2-24 Q1-24 Q4-23 Q3-23 Q2-23 Q1-23 Q4-22
    Revenue(1) $ 29,304   $ 28,044   $ 31,652   $ 26,264   $ 29,334   $ 30,420   $ 33,064   $ 29,292  
                     
    GAAP Net (Loss) Income to Adjusted EBITDA
    GAAP Net (Loss) Income $ (3,901 ) $ (4,360 ) $ (308 ) $ (3,582 ) $ (2,206 ) $ (3,765 ) $ 339   $ (1,056 )
                     
    Interest expense, net   109     (53 )   (156 )   (24 )   782     1,593     1,944     1,429  
    Income taxes   170     231     33     (158 )   (123 )   627     (237 )   (94 )
    Depreciation   1,497     1,402     1,361     1,148     1,185     1,542     1,219     1,039  
    Amortization – intangibles   4,345     4,096     3,499     3,743     3,384     3,343     3,570     3,648  
    EBITDA $ 2,220   $ 1,316   $ 4,429   $ 1,127   $ 3,022   $ 3,340   $ 6,835   $ 4,966  
    EBITDA Margin   7.6 %   4.7 %   14.0 %   4.3 %   10.3 %   11.0 %   20.7 %   17.0 %
                     
    Share-based Compensation   1,591     1,488     1,902     1,260     1,251     1,582     1,337     838  
    One Time Expenses                
    Settlements, penalties & interest   375     339     147     283     140     436     117     62  
    Acquisition and transaction costs   1,001     914     254     51                  
    Other non-recurring expenses   253         86     53         633          
    Other (expense) income, net           (10 )   1     1,800     93     (83 )   139  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,440   $ 4,057   $ 6,808   $ 2,775   $ 6,213   $ 6,084   $ 8,206   $ 6,005  
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin   18.6 %   14.5 %   21.5 %   10.6 %   21.2 %   20.0 %   24.8 %   20.5 %
                                                     

    (1)Note that first quarters are seasonally strong as recurring year-end W2/ACA revenue is recognized in this period.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Patrick McKillop
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    617-335-5058
    patrick.mckillop@asuresoftware.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Save the Children – World more dangerous than ever for children with crimes in conflict at highest ever in 2023

    Source: Save the Children

    The number of grave violations committed against children in war rose 15% in 2023 to the highest level since reporting started in 2005 with the biggest increases in Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territory, according to new report by Save the Children [1].
    The report Stop the War on Children – Pathways to Peace  analysed the number of verified grave violations against children in conflict since such records began, with the crimes including killing, maiming and abduction, sexual violence, recruitment into armed groups, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access to children.
    The report found 31,721 documented cases of grave violations against children [2] in conflict took place in 2023, which equated to an average of 86 crimes against children per day, eclipsing the previous record set in 2022.
    The largest total number of crimes were committed in the occupied Palestinian territory where 8,434 grave violations were verified – a quarter of the total number – and a 170% jump on the year before. This was followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (with 3,805 verified cases, up from 2,420 cases in 2022) and Somalia (with 2,290 verified cases, slightly down from 2,783 cases in 2022).
    The biggest relative increase in grave violations was recorded in Sudan, where cases increased fivefold since 2022 from 317 cases to 1,759 cases.
    An horrific 11,338 cases of killing and maiming of children in conflict were documented around the world in 2023, representing a 31% rise compared to the previous year. This was the equivalent to an average of 31 children per day – an entire classroom – losing their life or being maimed. More than a third were Palestinian children.
    Incidents of denial of humanitarian access – another grave violation against children in conflict – also reached an historic high with 5,158 incidents in 2023, compared to 3,931 the previous year – and more than 11 times higher than a decade ago. The occupied Palestinian territory recorded 3,250 incidents of denial of humanitarian access in 2023, the highest number ever recorded in any conflict setting.
    The report also revealed that the last three decades have witnessed a staggering increase in the number of children living under the weight of war, with the number reaching 473 million children – or 19% of the world’s child population – in 2023 [3]. This share has nearly doubled from around 10% of the world’s child population in the mid-1990s, as children’s right to protection in conflict continued to be obliterated [4]
    The report analysed global military spending and found it rose to $2.4 trillion in 2023 – or more than the entire GDP of Italy – while investments in peace and conflict prevention dwindled. The economic impact of violence, including the costs of prevention, containment, and addressing its consequences, has steadily risen, reaching $19.1 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms in 2023.
    Sharmarke-, a 12-year-old boy living in Puntland, Somalia, lost his brother in the ongoing conflict in his homeland and yearns for peace. He said:
    “If I had one wish, it would be for peace in Somalia. Peace is something that we have been without for so long that many of us don’t even know what it feels like. I wish for a country where families like mine don’t have to run from their homes in fear, where children can go to school without being afraid. Somalia has been broken by war, and it’s time for us to heal.”
    Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said:
    “This report is devastating and leaves no doubt that the world is getting more dangerous for children. For so much of humanity we have seen progress on children’s rights and their protection, but in countries at war, the situation is sharply declining.
    “We are seeing global military spending continuing to climb, while investments in conflict prevention are on the decline. The consequences of this misplaced focus are devastating. Ongoing conflicts in the DRC, occupied Palestinian territory, Sudan, and Ukraine, and so many other countries, have witnessed a horrific escalation in attacks against children, schools, and hospitals.
    “These violations have ignited a global outcry and yet we haven’t seen any real and meaningful pledges for peace.
    “States must take action. They need to uphold standards of conduct in conflict. They must hold perpetrators to account. They must protect humanitarian access. They need long term plans for peace. And they need to support children’s resilience and recovery. The future of millions of children depends on immediate and decisive global action.”
    Gudrun Østby, Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said:
    “The documented cases of crimes against children in conflict zones are horrific, yet these figures likely only scratch the surface. With an estimated 473 million children-or 19% globally -living in conflict areas, each of these children has a unique story and conflict experience.”
    “Over the past few decades, the number of children living in conflict settings has risen steadily. The global share of children at risk due to conflict has nearly doubled since the 1990s. Now, more than ever, the need to protect the millions of children in conflict zones is both critical and urgent.”
    Save the Children’s analysis also uncovered an alarming number of UN member states have signed onto less than half of the international legal and political instruments that provide protection children in conflict. As many as 43 UN members, or more than 20%, many of which are involved in armed conflict, have failed to sign or endorse more than six of the twelve instruments, showing a large gap in commitment to child protection. At the same time, arms sales continue to fuel conflicts, with weapons being transferred to actors notorious for violating children’s rights [5].
    Peaceful childhoods are a critical part of building peaceful societies. As government leaders and civil society, including activists, survivors, and young people, prepare to meet at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia next month, this report highlights the urgent need for intensified global action to combat violence against children in conflict and build a safer future for children worldwide. Despite the degradation of the rules-based order, there are reasons for optimism, including advancements in accountability, effective implementation practices, and growing popular mobilization for peace and safety for children.
    NOTES:
    • [1] Analysis by Save the Children of the 2024 United Nations annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, based on data reported and verified in 2023. The analysis also draws on previous Save the Children mapping of the number of grave violations in the reports on children and armed conflict from 2005-23. Unlike the annual UN reports on children and conflict, we have included verified incidents of military use of hospitals and schools under the grave violation attacks on schools and hospitals when we add up the grave violations in each conflict setting.
    • [2] The six grave violations against children: the UN Security Council has identified six grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict: killing and maiming of children; recruitment or use of children in armed forces and groups; rape and other forms of sexual violence against children; abduction of children; attacks against schools and hospitals; and denial of humanitarian access to children. These grave violations were defined on the basis of their egregious nature and their severe impact on children’s wellbeing. In addition to the six violations, the annual UN has verified cases of detention of children since 2012 and presented them in the report.
    • [3] Updated data on the number of children living in conflict zones conducted by the Peace Research Institute (PRIO), Oslo based on Uppsala Conflict Data Program’s Georeferenced Event Dataset (UCDP GED) cross-referenced with population data from Gridded Population of the World (GPW) and from the UN (2023).
    • [4] Figure 2, page 5. The share was 9,7% in 1995.
    • [5] Including the Safe Schools Declaration, Paris Commitments and the Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) declaration.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese foreign minister holds talks with Finnish counterpart

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said that China hopes Finland can play a constructive role in urging the European Union (EU) to avoid politicizing economic and trade issues, properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly safeguard the overall situation of China-EU relations.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his talks with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

    Wang noted that in 2017, the two heads of state jointly decided to elevate China-Finland relations to a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, which is unique in China’s foreign relations and fully reflects the distinctiveness and adaptability of the China-Finland relationship.

    Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s state visit to China, accompanied by a high-profile delegation, is not only a continuation of friendship but also an opportunity to expand cooperation, Wang added.

    The foreign ministries of the two countries should maintain close communication and coordination, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, jointly tackle global challenges, and push China-Finland relations to a higher level, Wang said.

    The EU imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles obviously violates WTO rules and the principle of free trade, Wang stressed, noting that China has always believed that a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization is in the interests of all parties involved.

    Valtonen said Finland looks forward to working closely with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen cooperation in areas such as low-carbon, green energy and circular economy, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change.

    As a member of the EU, Finland hopes that EU-China relations will maintain constructive development and supports both sides to strengthen cooperation and properly handle differences, Valtonen said.

    It is expected that China will play a greater role in resolving international hotspot issues such as the Ukraine crisis, Valtonen added. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets with Russian deputy FM in Beijing

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is grounded in a natural logic of history and driven by strong internal dynamics, no matter how the international situation changes.

    The development of the China-Russia relations does not target any third party or is subject to interference by any third party, he said.

    Wang said under the leadership of the two heads of state, the China-Russia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, which serves common interests of the people of both nations and allows them to make their respective contributions to safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

    He noted that not long ago, the BRICS Summit was successfully held in Russia’s Kazan, making positive progress on the BRICS mechanism, promoting unity and self-strengthening of the Global South, and playing an important and constructive role in world peace and stability.

    He urged the two sides to make joint efforts to coordinate cooperation in various fields and exchanges at all levels, and implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state.

    China has taken over the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and stands ready to work closely with Russia to promote new development of the SCO, Wang added.

    Rudenko said that the head-of-state diplomacy has laid a good foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

    Russia is ready to work with China to earnestly implement the arrangements made by the two heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, continue to maintain coordination on international and regional affairs, and push for new development of the Russia-China relations, Rudenko said.

    They exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Zelensky confirms Ukraine asked for Tomahawk missiles from US

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Wednesday that the country has requested long-range Tomahawk missiles from the United States, the Ukrayinska Pravda media outlet reported.

    “This was confidential information between Ukraine and the White House,” Zelensky said, commenting on recent media reports that suggested Kiev had requested for Tomahawk missiles.

    The president said Ukraine asked for the long-range missiles as part of its “victory plan” planning to use them only if Russia “continues escalating” the conflict.

    “I said it was a preventive tool,” Zelensky said.

    Earlier this week, western media reported that Zelensky asked for Tomahawk missiles from the United States as part of the “non-nuclear deterrence package” in his “victory plan.”

    The Tomahawk missiles have a range of about 2,400 km, according to local media reports.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: ING posts 3Q2024 net result of €1,880 million, supported by commercial growth and strong income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ING posts 3Q2024 net result of €1,880 million,
    supported by commercial growth and strong income

     

    3Q2024 profit before tax of €2,668 million with a four-quarter rolling average return on equity of 13.8%

    Resilient net interest income, supported by volume growth in lending and deposits
    Fee income increasing 11% year-on-year, surpassing €1 billion, with significant growth in both Retail and Wholesale Banking
    Increase of 189,000 mobile primary customers and strong growth in mortgages
    €2.5 billion distribution announced as we continue to align our capital to our target level
     
    CEO statement
    “In the third quarter of 2024, we have again delivered strong results and are executing well on our strategy to accelerate growth, increase impact and deliver value for all stakeholders,” said Steven van Rijswijk, CEO of ING. “We have grown our customer base and taken important steps in our climate action approach. Our good commercial momentum has led to robust income growth, specifically in fee income. We have also seen increased lending and deposit volumes and resilient margins.

    “Fee income has continued to increase in line with our ambition to diversify our income and surpassed €1 billion for the first time. Fee income from retail investment products has continued to rise, reflecting an increase in assets under management and customer trading activity. Wholesale Banking has in particular benefited from higher deal flow in Global Capital Markets.

    “In Retail Banking, performance was supported by strong core lending growth of €6 billion, mainly in residential mortgages across all Retail markets. Our market share of new mortgage production has increased significantly in the Netherlands, as our quick processing of digital applications and our flexible operations helped us in a very competitive market. This is a clear example of how we increase impact and deliver value for customers.

    “Wholesale Banking income was resilient, supported by volume growth in lending and deposits in addition to strong results in Payments & Cash Management and Financial Markets. Our Capital Markets Advisory business continues to grow following investments to further build on our expertise. We aim to optimise our capital efficiency and during this quarter we have significantly reduced our risk-weighted assets (RWA) in Wholesale Banking.

    “Expenses have risen 2% from the last quarter as we invest in growing our business. Risk costs were €336 million, in line with our through-the-cycle-average. Our four-quarter rolling return on equity came out at 13.8% and our CET1 ratio increased to 14.3%, driven by our strong profitability and lower RWA.

    “We continue to take steps to converge our CET1 capital ratio to our target level of around 12.5%. The share buyback programme announced in May 2024 has been completed and we today announce a next distribution of €2.5 billion, which will have a pro forma impact of 76 basis points on our CET1 ratio. Operating at the right level of capital is in the best interest of all our stakeholders and allows us to support customers and the economy in the countries we operate in.

    “In September, we have published our Climate Progress Update 2024, which shares our sharpened approach to client engagement, our updated energy policy and the latest on our Terra approach. We aim to make an impact by working with clients on their transitions to net zero while financing the technologies and solutions needed for a sustainable future.

    “We are well positioned to continue to execute our strategy and grow our business, and I would like to thank our customers for their loyalty and our employees for their contributions to our excellent third-quarter performance.”

     
    Further information
    All publications related to ING’s 3Q 2024 results can be found at the quarterly results publications page on ING.com. For more on investor information, go to www.ing.com/investors.

    A short ING ON AIR video with CEO Steven van Rijswijk discussing our 3Q 2024 results is available on Youtube.
    For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via the @ING_news X-feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

     
    Investor conference call, Media meeting and webcasts
    Steven van Rijswijk, Tanate Phutrakul and Ljiljana Čortan will discuss the results in an Investor conference call on 31 October 2024 at 9:00 a.m. CET. Members of the investment community can join the conference call at +31 20 708 5074 (NL), or +44 330 551 0202 (UK) (registration required via invitation) and via live audio webcast at www.ing.com.

    Steven van Rijswijk, Tanate Phutrakul and Ljiljana Čortan will also discuss the results in a Media conference call on 31 October 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CET. Journalists can dial-in via +31 20 708 5073 (NL), or +44 330 551 0200 (UK) – quote ING Media Call when prompted by the operator. The conference call can also be followed via live audio webcast at www.ing.com.

     
    Investor enquiries
    E: investor.relations@ing.com

    Press enquiries
    T: +31 20 576 5000
    E: media.relations@ing.com

     
     
    ING Profile
    ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

    ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

    ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell.

    Important legal information
    Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).

    ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

    Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) noncompliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change and ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.

    This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

    Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

    This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control.

    Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

    This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ING announces shareholder distribution of up to €2.5 billion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ING announces shareholder distribution of up to €2.5 billion

    ING announced today an additional shareholder distribution of up to €2.5 billion. The distribution consists of a share buyback programme for a maximum total amount of €2 billion and a cash dividend payment of €500 million. The purpose of the additional distribution is to converge our CET1 ratio towards our target of around 12.5%.

    ING Group’s CET1 ratio was 14.3% at the end of the third quarter of 2024, which is well above the prevailing CET1 ratio requirement of 10.71%. The additional distribution will have an expected pro-forma impact of approximately 76 bps on our CET1 ratio. The share buyback programme will commence on 31 October 2024 and is expected to end no later than 30 April 2025. The cash dividend will be paid on 16 January 2025.

    The ECB has approved the distribution, and the share buyback programme will be executed in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation and within the limitations of the existing authority to acquire a maximum of 20% of the issued shares as granted by the general meeting of shareholders on 22 April 2024. ING has entered a non-discretionary arrangement with a financial intermediary to conduct the buyback.

    ING will provide weekly updates on the progress of the programme via a press release and on the Investor Relations section of the ING website: https://www.ing.com/Investor-relations/Share-information/Share-buyback-programme.htm.

    Note for editors

    For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via the @ING_news Twitter feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr. ING presentations are available at SlideShare.

    Press enquiries   Investor enquiries
    Christoph Linke   ING Group Investor Relations
    +31 20 576 5000   +31 20 576 6396
    Christoph.Linke@ing.com   Investor.Relations@ing.com
         
         

    ING PROFILE
    ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

    ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

    Sustainability is an integral part of ING’s strategy, evidenced by ING’s leading position in sector benchmarks. ING’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating by MSCI was affirmed ‘AA’ in July 2023. As of December 2023, Sustainalytics considers ING’s management of ESG material risk to be ‘strong’. ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

    Important legal information

    Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).

    ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

    Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non-compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change and ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.

    This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

    Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

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    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: SHELL PLC 3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                 
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
           
                                                         
     
    SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED RESULTS
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023 %
    4,291    3,517    7,044    +22 Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders   15,166    18,887    -20
    6,028    6,293    6,224    -4 Adjusted Earnings A 20,055    20,944    -4
    16,005    16,806    16,336    -5 Adjusted EBITDA A 51,523    52,204    -1
    14,684    13,508    12,332    +9 Cash flow from operating activities   41,522    41,622   
    (3,857)   (3,338)   (4,827)     Cash flow from investing activities   (10,723)   (12,080)    
    10,827    10,170    7,505      Free cash flow G 30,799    29,542     
    4,950    4,719    5,649      Cash capital expenditure C 14,161    17,280     
    9,570    8,950    10,097    +7 Operating expenses F 27,517    29,062    -5
    8,864    8,651    9,735    +2 Underlying operating expenses F 26,569    28,635    -7
    12.8% 12.8% 13.9%   ROACE2 D 12.8% 13.9%  
    76,613    75,468    82,147      Total debt E 76,613    82,147     
    35,234    38,314    40,470      Net debt E 35,234    40,470     
    15.7% 17.0% 17.3%   Gearing E 15.7% 17.3%  
    2,801    2,817    2,706    -1 Oil and gas production available for sale (thousand boe/d)   2,843    2,779    +2
    0.69    0.55    1.06 +25 Basic earnings per share ($)   2.39    2.78    -14
    0.96    0.99    0.93    -3 Adjusted Earnings per share ($) B 3.16    3.08    +3
    0.3440    0.3440    0.3310    Dividend per share ($)   1.0320    0.9495    +9

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    2.Effective first quarter 2024, the definition has been amended and comparative information has been revised. See Reference D.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Income attributable to Shell plc shareholders, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected lower refining margins, lower realised oil prices and higher operating expenses partly offset by favourable tax movements, and higher Integrated Gas volumes.

    Third quarter 2024 income attributable to Shell plc shareholders also included unfavourable movements relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, charges related to redundancy and restructuring, and net impairment charges and reversals. These items are included in identified items amounting to a net loss of $1.3 billion in the quarter. This compares with identified items in the second quarter 2024 which amounted to a net loss of $2.7 billion.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as income attributable to Shell plc shareholders and adjusted for the above identified items and the cost of supplies adjustment of positive $0.5 billion.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the third quarter 2024 was $14.7 billion, and primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, and working capital inflows of $2.7 billion partly offset by tax payments of $3.0 billion. The working capital inflow mainly reflected inventory movements due to lower oil prices and lower volumes.

    Cash flow from investing activities for the quarter was an outflow of $3.9 billion, and included cash capital expenditure of $4.9 billion.

    Net debt and Gearing: At the end of the third quarter 2024, net debt was $35.2 billion, compared with $38.3 billion at the end of the second quarter 2024, mainly reflecting free cash flow, partly offset by share buybacks, cash dividends paid to Shell plc shareholders, lease additions and interest payments. Gearing was 15.7% at the end of the third quarter 2024, compared with 17.0% at the end of the second quarter 2024, mainly driven by lower net debt.


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Shareholder distributions

    Total shareholder distributions in the quarter amounted to $5.7 billion comprising repurchases of shares of $3.5 billion and cash dividends paid to Shell plc shareholders of $2.2 billion. Dividends declared to Shell plc shareholders for the third quarter 2024 amount to $0.3440 per share. Shell has now completed $3.5 billion of share buybacks announced in the second quarter 2024 results announcement. Today, Shell announces a share buyback programme of $3.5 billion which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter 2024 results announcement.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Income attributable to Shell plc shareholders, compared with the first nine months 2023, reflected lower refining margins, lower LNG trading and optimisation margins, lower realised LNG and gas prices as well as lower trading and optimisation margins of power and pipeline gas in Renewables and Energy Solutions, partly offset by lower operating expenses, higher Marketing margins and volumes, higher realised Chemicals margins, and higher Integrated Gas and Upstream volumes.

    First nine months 2024 income attributable to Shell plc shareholders also included net impairment charges and reversals, reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures, unfavourable movements relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, and charges related to redundancy and restructuring, partly offset by favourable differences in exchange rates and inflationary adjustments on deferred tax. These charges, reclassifications and movements are included in identified items amounting to a net loss of $4.6 billion. This compares with identified items in the first nine months 2023 which amounted to a net loss of $2.2 billion.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 for the first nine months 2024 were driven by the same factors as income attributable to Shell plc shareholders and adjusted for identified items and the cost of supplies adjustment of positive $0.3 billion.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months 2024 was $41.5 billion, and primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $1.2 billion and cash inflows relating to commodity derivatives of $1.2 billion, partly offset by tax payments of $9.1 billion, and working capital outflow of $0.3 billion.

    Cash flow from investing activities for the first nine months 2024 was an outflow of $10.7 billion and included cash capital expenditure of $14.2 billion, partly offset by divestment proceeds of $2.0 billion, and interest received of $1.8 billion.

    This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, together with supplementary financial and operational disclosure for this quarter, is available at www.shell.com/investors 3 .

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

    3.Not incorporated by reference.

    THIRD QUARTER 2024 PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENTS

    Integrated Gas

    In July 2024, we announced the final investment decision (FID) on the Manatee project, an undeveloped gas field in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

    In July 2024, we signed an agreement to invest in the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) Ruwais LNG project in Abu Dhabi through a 10% participating interest. The Ruwais LNG project will consist of two 4.8 mtpa LNG liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa.

    In August 2024, Arrow Energy, an incorporated joint venture between Shell (50%) and PetroChina (50%), announced plans to develop Phase 2 of Arrow Energy’s Surat Gas Project in Queensland, Australia. The gas from the project will flow to the Shell-operated QCLNG LNG (joint venture between Shell (73.75%), CNOOC (25%) and MidOcean Energy (1.25%)) facility on Curtis Island, near Gladstone.

    Upstream

    In July 2024, the operator of the Jerun field in Malaysia, SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn Bhd, announced that first gas has been achieved. Jerun is operated by SapuraOMV Upstream (40%) in partnership with Sarawak Shell Berhad (30%) and PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (30%).

    In August 2024, we announced the FID on a ‘waterflood’ project at our Vito asset in the US Gulf of Mexico. Water will be injected into the reservoir formation to displace additional oil.

             Page 2


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Marketing

    In July 2024, we announced that we are temporarily pausing on-site construction work at our 820,000 tonnes a year biofuels facility at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam in the Netherlands to address project delivery and ensure future competitiveness given current market conditions.

    Renewables and Energy Solutions

    In October 2024, we signed an agreement to acquire a 100% equity stake in RISEC Holdings, LLC (RISEC), which owns a 609-megawatt (MW) two-unit combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in Rhode Island, USA. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first quarter 2025.

             Page 2


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT

                                                         
     
    INTEGRATED GAS        
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023 %
    2,631    2,454    2,156    +7 Segment earnings   7,846    5,325    +47
    (240)   (220)   (375)     Of which: Identified items A (1,379)   (4,625)    
    2,871    2,675    2,531    +7 Adjusted Earnings A 9,225    9,951    -7
    5,234    5,039    4,874    +4 Adjusted EBITDA A 16,410    17,189    -5
    3,623    4,183    4,009    -13 Cash flow from operating activities A 12,518    13,923    -10
    1,236    1,151    1,099      Cash capital expenditure C 3,429    3,000     
    136    137    122    -1 Liquids production available for sale (thousand b/d)   137    134    +2
    4,669    4,885    4,517    -4 Natural gas production available for sale (million scf/d)   4,835    4,744    +2
    941    980    900    -4 Total production available for sale (thousand boe/d)   971    952    +2
    7.50    6.95    6.88    +8 LNG liquefaction volumes (million tonnes)   22.03    21.23    +4
    17.04    16.41    16.01    +4 LNG sales volumes (million tonnes)   50.32    49.01    +3

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    Integrated Gas includes liquefied natural gas (LNG), conversion of natural gas into gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels and other products. It includes natural gas and liquids exploration and extraction, and the operation of the upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver these to market. Integrated Gas also includes the marketing, trading and optimisation of LNG.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected higher LNG liquefaction volumes (increase of $237 million).

    Third quarter 2024 segment earnings also included unfavourable movements of $213 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These unfavourable movements are part of identified items and compare with the second quarter 2024 which included a charge of $122 million due to unrecoverable indirect tax receivables, and unfavourable movements of $98 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $814 million, net cash outflows related to derivatives of $373 million and working capital outflows of $247 million.

    Total oil and gas production, compared with the second quarter 2024, decreased by 4% mainly due to production-sharing contract effects, and higher maintenance in Trinidad and Tobago. LNG liquefaction volumes increased by 8% mainly due to higher feedgas supply in Nigeria, and Trinidad and Tobago.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the first nine months 2023, reflected the combined effect of lower contributions from trading and optimisation and lower realised prices (decrease of $1,787 million), partly offset by higher volumes (increase of $513 million), lower operating expenses (decrease of $171 million), and favourable deferred tax movements ($168 million).

    First nine months 2024 segment earnings also included unfavourable movements of $1,198 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These unfavourable movements are part of identified items and compare with the first nine months 2023 which included unfavourable movements of $2,821 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, and net impairment charges and reversals of $1,700 million. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

             Page 3


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $2,320 million and net cash outflows related to derivatives of $1,586 million.

    Total oil and gas production, compared with the first nine months 2023, increased by 2% mainly due to ramp-up of fields in Oman and Australia, and lower maintenance in Australia. LNG liquefaction volumes increased by 4% mainly due to lower unplanned maintenance in Australia.

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

             Page 4


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                         
     
    UPSTREAM          
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023 %
    2,289    2,179    1,999    +5 Segment earnings   6,741    6,388    +6
    (153)   (157)   (238)     Of which: Identified items A 28    (357)    
    2,443    2,336    2,237    +5 Adjusted Earnings A 6,712    6,746   
    7,871    7,829    7,433    +1 Adjusted EBITDA A 23,588    22,750    +4
    5,268    5,739    5,336    -8 Cash flow from operating activities A 16,734    15,663    +7
    1,974    1,829    2,007      Cash capital expenditure C 5,813    5,906     
    1,321    1,297    1,311    +2 Liquids production available for sale (thousand b/d)   1,316    1,313   
    2,844    2,818    2,564    +1 Natural gas production available for sale (million scf/d)   2,933    2,687    +9
    1,811    1,783    1,753    +2 Total production available for sale (thousand boe/d)   1,822    1,776    +3

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    The Upstream segment includes exploration and extraction of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. It also markets and transports oil and gas, and operates the infrastructure necessary to deliver them to the market.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected lower well write-offs (decrease of $139 million), favourable tax movements ($96 million), lower operating expenses (decrease of $63 million), and lower depreciation charges (decrease of $57 million), partly offset by lower realised liquids prices (decrease of $304 million).

    Third quarter 2024 segment earnings also included charges of $138 million related to redundancy and restructuring and charges of $104 million related to decommissioning provisions. These charges are part of identified items, and compare with the second quarter 2024 which included a loss of $143 million related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position, and a loss of $122 million related to a tax settlement in Brazil, partly offset by a gain of $139 million related to the impact of inflationary adjustments in Argentina on a deferred tax position.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $2,074 million.

    Total production, compared with the second quarter 2024, increased mainly due to new oil production.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the first nine months 2023, reflected unfavourable tax movements ($351 million), higher well write-offs (increase of $327 million) and the net impact of lower realised gas and higher realised liquids prices (decrease of $278 million), partly offset by the comparative favourable impact of $910 million mainly relating to gas storage effects.

    First nine months 2024 segment earnings also included gains of $676 million related to the impact of inflationary adjustments in Argentina on a deferred tax position, partly offset by charges of $179 million related to redundancy and restructuring, net impairment charges and reversals of $171 million and a loss of $164 million related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position. These gains and charges are part of identified items, and compare with the first nine months 2023 which included charges of $188 million from impairments, legal provisions of $169 million and deferred tax charges of $132 million due to amendments to IAS 12, partly offset by favourable movements of $106 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $5,832 million.

    Total production, compared with the first nine months 2023, increased mainly due to new oil production, partly offset by field decline.

             Page 5


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

             Page 6


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                         
     
    MARKETING        
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023 %
    760    257    629    +196 Segment earnings2   1,791    2,832    -37
    (422)   (825)   (12)     Of which: Identified items2 A (1,255)   314     
    1,182    1,082    641    +9 Adjusted Earnings2 A 3,046    2,518    +21
    2,081    1,999    1,453    +4 Adjusted EBITDA2 A 5,767    4,837    +19
    2,722    1,958    397    +39 Cash flow from operating activities2 A 5,999    3,794    +58
    525    644    959      Cash capital expenditure2 C 1,634    4,406     
    2,945    2,868    3,138    +3 Marketing sales volumes (thousand b/d)2   2,859    3,062    -7

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    2.Wholesale commercial fuels, previously reported in the Chemicals and Products segment, is reported in the Marketing segment (Mobility) with effect from Q1 2024. Comparative information for the Marketing segment and the Chemicals and Products segment has been revised.

    The Marketing segment comprises the Mobility, Lubricants, and Sectors and Decarbonisation businesses. The Mobility business operates Shell’s retail network including electric vehicle charging services and the Wholesale commercial fuels business which provides fuels for transport, industry and heating. The Lubricants business produces, markets and sells lubricants for road transport, and machinery used in manufacturing, mining, power generation, agriculture and construction. The Sectors and Decarbonisation business sells fuels, speciality products and services including low-carbon energy solutions to a broad range of commercial customers including the aviation, marine, and agricultural sectors.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected higher Marketing margins (increase of $139 million) mainly driven by improved Mobility unit margins and impact of seasonally higher volumes partly offset by lower lubricants and Sectors and Decarbonisation margins. Segment earnings also reflected favourable tax movements ($55 million). These were partly offset by higher operating expenses (increase of $63 million).

    Third quarter 2024 segment earnings also included impairment charges of $179 million, charges of $98 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and net losses of $84 million related to sale of assets. These charges and unfavourable movements are part of identified items, and compare with the second quarter 2024 impairment charges of $783 million mainly relating to an asset in the Netherlands, and charges of $50 million related to redundancy and restructuring.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, working capital inflows of $792 million, and the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $427 million. These inflows were partly offset by non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $334 million and tax payments of $241 million.

    Marketing sales volumes (comprising hydrocarbon sales), compared with the second quarter 2024, increased mainly due to seasonality.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the first nine months 2023, reflected higher Marketing margins (increase of $582 million) including higher unit margins in Mobility, Lubricants and higher Sectors and Decarbonisation margins. Segment earnings also reflected lower operating expenses (decrease of $170 million). These were partly offset by higher depreciation charges (increase of $128 million) mainly due to asset acquisitions, and unfavourable tax movements ($94 million).

    First nine months 2024 segment earnings also included impairment charges of $965 million mainly relating to an asset in the Netherlands, charges of $163 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and net losses of $140 million related to the sale of assets. These charges are part of identified items and compare with the first nine months 2023 which included gains of $298 million related to indirect tax credits, and favourable movements of $60 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

             Page 7


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $966 million, and working capital inflows of $153 million. These inflows were partly offset by tax payments of $432 million, and non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $256 million.

    Marketing sales volumes (comprising hydrocarbon sales), compared with the first nine months 2023, decreased mainly in Mobility including increased focus on value over volume.

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

             Page 8


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                         
     
    CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS        
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023 %
    341    587    1,250    -42 Segment earnings2   2,085    3,310    -37
    (122)   (499)   (213)     Of which: Identified items2 A (1,078)   (278)    
    463    1,085    1,463    -57 Adjusted Earnings2 A 3,163    3,588    -12
    1,240    2,242    2,661    -45 Adjusted EBITDA2 A 6,308    6,819    -7
    3,321    2,249    2,862    +48 Cash flow from operating activities2 A 5,221    6,364    -18
    761    638    837      Cash capital expenditure2 C 1,898    2,027     
    1,305    1,429    1,334    -9 Refinery processing intake (thousand b/d)   1,388    1,360    +2
    3,015    3,052    2,998    -1 Chemicals sales volumes (thousand tonnes)   8,950    8,656    +3

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    2.Wholesale commercial fuels, previously reported in the Chemicals and Products segment, is reported in the Marketing segment (Mobility) with effect from Q1 2024. Comparative information for the Marketing segment and the Chemicals and Products segment has been revised.

    The Chemicals and Products segment includes chemicals manufacturing plants with their own marketing network, and refineries which turn crude oil and other feedstocks into a range of oil products which are moved and marketed around the world for domestic, industrial and transport use. The segment also includes the pipeline business, trading and optimisation of crude oil, oil products and petrochemicals, and Oil Sands activities (the extraction of bitumen from mined oil sands and its conversion into synthetic crude oil).

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected lower Products margins (decrease of $492 million) mainly driven by lower refining margins and lower margins from trading and optimisation. Segment earnings also reflected lower Chemicals margins (decrease of $189 million) mainly due to lower utilisation and lower realised prices. In addition, the third quarter 2024 reflected higher operating expenses (increase of $88 million). These were partly offset by favourable tax movements ($133 million).

    Third quarter 2024 segment earnings also included charges of $101 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and net impairment charges and reversals of $92 million, partly offset by favourable movements of $95 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These charges and favourable movements are part of identified items, and compare with the second quarter 2024 which included net impairment charges and reversals of $708 million mainly relating to assets in Singapore, partly offset by favourable movements of $156 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. In the third quarter 2024, Chemicals had negative Adjusted Earnings of $111 million and Products had positive Adjusted Earnings of $573 million.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by working capital inflows of $2,131 million, Adjusted EBITDA, cash inflows relating to commodity derivatives of $88 million and dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $63 million. These inflows were partly offset by non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $331 million.

    Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation was 76% compared with 80% in the second quarter 2024, due to higher planned and unplanned maintenance.

    Refinery utilisation was 81% compared with 92% in the second quarter 2024, due to higher planned and unplanned maintenance.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the first nine months 2023, reflected lower Products margins (decrease of $1,458 million) mainly driven by lower refining margins and lower margins from trading and optimisation. Segment earnings also included unfavourable tax movements ($106 million). These were partly offset by higher Chemicals margins (increase of $516 million) due to higher realised prices and higher utilisation. In addition, the first nine months 2024 reflected lower operating expenses (decrease of $658 million).

    First nine months 2024 segment earnings also included net impairment charges and reversals of $952 million mainly relating to assets in Singapore, charges of $139 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and unfavourable

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    movements of $69 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These charges and unfavourable movements are part of identified items, and compare with the first nine months 2023 which included losses of $227 million from net impairments and reversals, legal provisions of $74 million and favourable movements of $75 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. In the first nine months 2024, Chemicals had negative Adjusted Earnings of $174 million and Products had positive Adjusted Earnings of $3,337 million.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $257 million, and dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $165 million. These inflows were partly offset by working capital outflows of $869 million, cash outflows relating to legal provisions of $203 million, tax payments of $182 million, and non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $182 million.

    Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation was 77% compared with 70% in the first nine months 2023, mainly due to economic optimisation in the first nine months 2023. The increase was also driven by ramp-up of Shell Polymers Monaca and lower unplanned maintenance in the first nine months 2024.

    Refinery utilisation was 88% compared with 87% in the first nine months 2023.

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

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    RENEWABLES AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS        
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023 %
    (481)   (75)   616    -538 Segment earnings   (3)   3,361    -100
    (319)   112    667      Of which: Identified items A 183    2,778     
    (162)   (187)   (51)   +13 Adjusted Earnings A (186)   583    -132
    (75)   (91)   101    +18 Adjusted EBITDA A 101    1,229    -92
    (364)   847    (34)   -143 Cash flow from operating activities A 2,948    4,249    -31
    409    425    659      Cash capital expenditure C 1,272    1,655     
    79    74    76    +7 External power sales (terawatt hours)2   230    211    +9
    148    148    170    0 Sales of pipeline gas to end-use customers (terawatt hours)3   487    563    -14

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    2.Physical power sales to third parties; excluding financial trades and physical trade with brokers, investors, financial institutions, trading platforms, and wholesale traders.

    3.Physical natural gas sales to third parties; excluding financial trades and physical trade with brokers, investors, financial institutions, trading platforms, and wholesale traders. Excluding sales of natural gas by other segments and LNG sales.

    Renewables and Energy Solutions includes activities such as renewable power generation, the marketing and trading and optimisation of power and pipeline gas, as well as carbon credits, and digitally enabled customer solutions. It also includes the production and marketing of hydrogen, development of commercial carbon capture and storage hubs, investment in nature-based projects that avoid or reduce carbon emissions, and Shell Ventures, which invests in companies that work to accelerate the energy and mobility transformation.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected lower margins (decrease of $86 million) mainly due to lower trading and optimisation in the Americas, partly offset by slightly higher trading and optimisation in Europe.

    Third quarter 2024 segment earnings also included unfavourable movements of $279 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These unfavourable movements are part of identified items and compare with the second quarter 2024 which included favourable movements of $223 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and impairment charges of $155 million. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by working capital outflows of $136 million, net cash outflows related to derivatives of $107 million, and Adjusted EBITDA.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the first nine months 2023, reflected lower margins (decrease of $1,236 million) mainly from trading and optimisation primarily in Europe due to lower volatility and lower prices, partly offset by lower operating expenses (decrease of $427 million).

    First nine months 2024 segment earnings also included favourable movements of $250 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, partly offset by net impairment charges and reversals of $89 million. These favourable movements and charges are part of identified items and compare with the first nine months 2023 which included favourable movements of $2,632 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. Most Renewables and Energy Solutions activities were loss-making for the first nine months 2024, which was partly offset by positive Adjusted Earnings from trading and optimisation.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months 2024 was primarily driven by net cash inflows related to derivatives of $2,479 million, working capital inflows of $570 million, and Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $415 million.

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

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    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

    Additional Growth Measures

                                                         
    Quarters     Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023     2024 2023 %
            Renewable power generation capacity (gigawatt):        
    3.4    3.3    2.5    +2 – In operation2   3.4    2.5    +37
    3.9    3.8    4.9    +3 – Under construction and/or committed for sale3   3.9    4.9    -20

    1.Q3 on Q2 change

    2.Shell’s equity share of renewable generation capacity post commercial operation date. It excludes Shell’s equity share of associates where information cannot be obtained.

    3.Shell’s equity share of renewable generation capacity under construction and/or committed for sale under long-term offtake agreements (PPA). It excludes Shell’s equity share of associates where information cannot be obtained.

                                             
     
    CORPORATE      
    Quarters $ million   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   Reference 2024 2023
    (647)   (1,656)   (497)   Segment earnings1   (2,656)   (2,315)  
    (3)   (1,080)   22    Of which: Identified items A (1,069)   (50)  
    (643)   (576)   (519)   Adjusted Earnings1 A (1,588)   (2,266)  
    (346)   (213)   (186)   Adjusted EBITDA1 A (650)   (619)  
    115    (1,468)   (238)   Cash flow from operating activities A (1,898)   (2,372)  

    1.From the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments.

    The Corporate segment covers the non-operating activities supporting Shell. It comprises Shell’s holdings and treasury organisation, headquarters and central functions, self-insurance activities and centrally managed longer-term innovation portfolio. All finance expense, income and related taxes are included in Corporate segment earnings rather than in the earnings of business segments.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the second quarter 2024, reflected unfavourable movements in currency exchange rate effects, partly offset by favourable tax movements.

    Second quarter 2024 segment earnings also included reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures resulting in unfavourable movements of $1,122 million. These currency translation differences were previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income. This non-cash reclassification is part of identified items.

    Adjusted EBITDA2 was mainly driven by unfavourable currency exchange rate effects and higher operating expenses.

    Nine Months Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the first nine months 2023, were primarily driven by favourable tax movements and favourable net interest movements.

    First nine months 2024 segment earnings also included reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures resulting in unfavourable movements of $1,122 million. These reclassifications are included in identified items.

    Adjusted EBITDA2 was mainly driven by unfavourable currency exchange rate effects.

    1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

    OUTLOOK FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2024

    For Full year 2023 cash capital expenditure was $24 billion. Cash capital expenditure for full year 2024 is expected to be below $22 billion.

    Integrated Gas production is expected to be approximately 900 – 960 thousand boe/d. Fourth quarter 2024 outlook reflects scheduled maintenance at Pearl GTL in Qatar. LNG liquefaction volumes are expected to be approximately 6.9 – 7.5 million tonnes.

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    Upstream production is expected to be approximately 1,750 – 1,950 thousand boe/d.

    Marketing sales volumes are expected to be approximately 2,550 – 3,050 thousand b/d.

    Refinery utilisation is expected to be approximately 75% – 83%. Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation is expected to be approximately 72% – 80%.

    In the fourth quarter 2023, Corporate Adjusted Earnings were a net expense of $609 million1. Corporate Adjusted Earnings2 are expected to be a net expense of approximately $600 – $800 million in the fourth quarter 2024.

    1.From the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments.

    2.For the definition of Adjusted Earnings and the most comparable GAAP measure please see reference A.

    FORTHCOMING EVENTS

               
     
    Date Event
    January 30, 2025 Fourth quarter 2024 results and dividends
    March 13, 2025 Publication of Annual Report and Accounts and filing of Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024
    May 2, 2025 First quarter 2025 results and dividends
    July 31, 2025 Second quarter 2025 results and dividends
    October 30, 2025 Third quarter 2025 results and dividends

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    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                       
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    71,089    74,463    76,350    Revenue1 218,031    237,888   
    933    898    747    Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates 3,150    2,957   
    440    (305)   913    Interest and other income/(expenses)2 1,042    2,207   
    72,462    75,057    78,011    Total revenue and other income/(expenses) 222,222    243,052   
    48,225    49,417    49,144    Purchases 144,509    158,138   
    6,138    5,593    6,384    Production and manufacturing expenses 17,541    18,433   
    3,139    3,094    3,447    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 9,208    9,811   
    294    263    267    Research and development 768    817   
    305    496    436    Exploration 1,551    1,283   
    5,916    7,555    5,911    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation2 19,352    20,069   
    1,174    1,235    1,131    Interest expense 3,573    3,507   
    65,190    67,653    66,720    Total expenditure 196,502    212,058   
    7,270    7,404    11,291    Income/(loss) before taxation 25,717    30,993   
    2,879    3,754    4,115    Taxation charge/(credit)2 10,237    11,891   
    4,391    3,650    7,176    Income/(loss) for the period 15,480    19,102   
    100    133    132    Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 314    215   
    4,291    3,517    7,044    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 15,166    18,887   
    0.69    0.55    1.06    Basic earnings per share ($)3 2.39    2.78   
    0.68    0.55    1.05    Diluted earnings per share ($)3 2.36    2.75   

    1.See Note 2 “Segment information”.

    2.See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

    3.See Note 4 “Earnings per share”.

                                       
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    4,391    3,650    7,176    Income/(loss) for the period 15,480    19,102   
          Other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax:    
          Items that may be reclassified to income in later periods:    
    2,947    698    (1,460)   – Currency translation differences1 1,651    (1,174)  
    35    (12)     – Debt instruments remeasurements 16    13   
    (75)   14    141    – Cash flow hedging gains/(losses) (7)   61   
    —    —    —    – Net investment hedging gains/(losses) —    (44)  
    (2)   (6)   (39)   – Deferred cost of hedging (22)   (94)  
    35    (50)   (72)   – Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of joint ventures and associates (27)   (118)  
    2,940    644    (1,429)   Total 1,610    (1,357)  
          Items that are not reclassified to income in later periods:    
    419    310    180    – Retirement benefits remeasurements 1,169    125   
    80    (81)   (38)   – Equity instruments remeasurements 77    (15)  
    (53)   44    17    – Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of joint ventures and associates   (15)  
    446    273    159    Total 1,247    95   
    3,386    917    (1,270)   Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period 2,857    (1,262)  
    7,777    4,567    5,906    Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period 18,337    17,840   
    177    123    149    Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 357    217   
    7,600    4,443    5,757    Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 17,981    17,622   

    1.See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

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    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                     
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    $ million    
      September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Assets    
    Non-current assets    
    Goodwill 16,600    16,660   
    Other intangible assets 8,188    10,253   
    Property, plant and equipment 191,721    194,835   
    Joint ventures and associates 25,764    24,457   
    Investments in securities 3,062    3,246   
    Deferred tax 6,114    6,454   
    Retirement benefits1 10,564    9,151   
    Trade and other receivables 6,883    6,298   
    Derivative financial instruments² 498    801   
      269,394    272,155   
    Current assets    
    Inventories 24,143    26,019   
    Trade and other receivables 46,782    53,273   
    Derivative financial instruments² 10,233    15,098   
    Cash and cash equivalents 42,252    38,774   
      123,411    133,164   
    Assets classified as held for sale1 2,144    951   
      125,555    134,115   
    Total assets 394,949    406,270   
    Liabilities    
    Non-current liabilities    
    Debt 64,597    71,610   
    Trade and other payables 3,864    3,103   
    Derivative financial instruments² 1,749    2,301   
    Deferred tax 15,487    15,347   
    Retirement benefits1 7,110    7,549   
    Decommissioning and other provisions 22,979    22,531   
      115,786    122,441   
    Current liabilities    
    Debt 12,015    9,931   
    Trade and other payables 61,076    68,237   
    Derivative financial instruments² 6,775    9,529   
    Income taxes payable 4,289    3,422   
    Decommissioning and other provisions 4,171    4,041   
      88,327    95,160   
    Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale1 1,298    307   
      89,625    95,467   
    Total liabilities 205,411    217,908   
    Equity attributable to Shell plc shareholders 187,673    186,607   
    Non-controlling interest 1,865    1,755   
    Total equity 189,538    188,362   
    Total liabilities and equity 394,949    406,270   

    1.    See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

    2.    See Note 7 “Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding lease liabilities”.

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    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
      Equity attributable to Shell plc shareholders      
    $ million Share capital1 Shares held in trust Other reserves² Retained earnings Total Non-controlling interest   Total equity
    At January 1, 2024 544    (997)   21,145    165,915    186,607    1,755      188,362   
    Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period —    —    2,815    15,166    17,981    357      18,337   
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    166    (166)   —    —      —   
    Dividends³ —    —    —    (6,556)   (6,556)   (242)     (6,798)  
    Repurchases of shares4 (25)   —    25    (10,536)   (10,536)   —      (10,536)  
    Share-based compensation —    542    (24)   (400)   119    —      119   
    Other changes —    —    —    60    60    (5)     55   
    At September 30, 2024 519    (456)   24,127    163,482    187,673    1,865      189,538   
    At January 1, 2023 584    (726)   21,132    169,482    190,472    2,125      192,597   
    Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period —    —    (1,263)   18,886    17,622    217      17,840   
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    (111)   111    —    —      —   
    Dividends3 —    —    —    (6,193)   (6,193)   (636)     (6,829)  
    Repurchases of shares4 (30)   —    30    (11,058)   (11,058)   —      (11,058)  
    Share-based compensation —    466    (18)   (100)   349    —      349   
    Other changes —    —    —        37      45   
    At September 30, 2023 555    (261)   19,769    171,136    191,199    1,745      192,943   

    1.    See Note 5 “Share capital”.

    2.    See Note 6 “Other reserves”.

    3.    The amount charged to retained earnings is based on prevailing exchange rates on payment date.

    4.     Includes shares committed to repurchase under an irrevocable contract and repurchases subject to settlement at the end of the quarter.

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    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                             
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024   Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    7,270      7,404    11,291    Income before taxation for the period 25,717    30,993   
            Adjustment for:    
    554      619    513    – Interest expense (net) 1,749    1,789   
    5,916      7,555    5,911    – Depreciation, depletion and amortisation1 19,352    20,069   
    150      269    186    – Exploration well write-offs 973    626   
    154      (143)   74    – Net (gains)/losses on sale and revaluation of non-current assets and businesses —    (24)  
    (933)     (898)   (747)   – Share of (profit)/loss of joint ventures and associates (3,150)   (2,957)  
    860      792    749    – Dividends received from joint ventures and associates 2,390    2,529   
    2,705      (954)   (3,151)   – (Increase)/decrease in inventories 1,143    2,237   
    4,057      1,965    (1,126)   – (Increase)/decrease in current receivables 5,827    13,105   
    (4,096)     (1,269)   4,498    – Increase/(decrease) in current payables2 (7,314)   (10,881)  
    735      253    (2,807)   – Derivative financial instruments 2,373    (6,050)  
    125      (332)     – Retirement benefits (267)   31   
    359      (332)   282    – Decommissioning and other provisions2 (572)   (210)  
    (144)     2,027    (150)   – Other1 2,392    474   
    (3,028)     (3,448)   (3,191)   Tax paid (9,092)   (10,108)  
    14,684      13,508    12,332    Cash flow from operating activities 41,522    41,622   
    (4,690)     (4,445)   (5,259)      Capital expenditure (13,114)   (16,033)  
    (222)     (261)   (350)      Investments in joint ventures and associates (983)   (1,093)  
    (38)     (13)   (40)      Investments in equity securities (63)   (154)  
    (4,950)     (4,719)   (5,649)   Cash capital expenditure (14,161)   (17,280)  
    94      710    184    Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and businesses 1,128    2,024   
    94      57    68    Proceeds from joint ventures and associates from sale, capital reduction and repayment of long-term loans 284    425   
            Proceeds from sale of equity securities 576    28   
    593      648    586    Interest received 1,818    1,555   
    1,074      883    701    Other investing cash inflows 2,814    3,308   
    (769)     (920)   (724)   Other investing cash outflows (3,183)   (2,141)  
    (3,857)     (3,338)   (4,827)   Cash flow from investing activities (10,723)   (12,080)  
    (89)     (179)   88    Net increase/(decrease) in debt with maturity period within three months (375)   (185)  
            Other debt:    
    78      132    187    – New borrowings 377    964   
    (1,322)     (4,154)   (3,368)   – Repayments (7,008)   (6,596)  
    (979)     (1,287)   (1,049)   Interest paid (3,177)   (3,076)  
    652      (115)   (26)   Derivative financial instruments 239    22   
    —      (1)     Change in non-controlling interest (5)   (22)  
            Cash dividends paid to:    
    (2,167)     (2,177)   (2,179)   – Shell plc shareholders (6,554)   (6,192)  
    (92)     (82)   (51)   – Non-controlling interest (242)   (636)  
    (3,537)     (3,958)   (2,725)   Repurchases of shares (10,319)   (10,640)  
        (24)   (30)   Shares held in trust: net sales/(purchases) and dividends received (480)   (176)  
    (7,452)     (11,846)   (9,147)   Cash flow from financing activities (27,545)   (26,535)  
    729      (126)   (421)   Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 224    (222)  
    4,105      (1,801)   (2,063)   Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 3,478    2,785   
    38,148      39,949    45,094    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 38,774    40,246   
    42,252      38,148    43,031    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 42,252    43,031   

    1.See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

    2.To further enhance consistency between working capital and the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Cash Flows, from January 1, 2024, onwards movements in current other provisions are recognised in ‘Decommissioning and other provisions’ instead of ‘Increase/(decrease) in current payables’. Comparatives for the third quarter 2023 and the nine months 2023 have been reclassified accordingly by $212 million and $40 million respectively to conform with current period presentation.

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    NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    1. Basis of preparation

    These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of Shell plc (“the Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Shell”) have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and adopted by the UK, and on the basis of the same accounting principles as those used in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts (pages 244 to 316) for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales and as filed with the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (the Netherlands) and Form 20-F (pages 217 to 290) for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be read in conjunction with these filings.

    The financial information presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”). Statutory accounts for the year ended December 31, 2023, were published in Shell’s Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which was delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, and in Shell’s Form 20-F. The auditor’s report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.

    2. Segment information

    Segment earnings are presented on a current cost of supplies basis (CCS earnings), which is the earnings measure used by the Chief Executive Officer for the purposes of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. On this basis, the purchase price of volumes sold during the period is based on the current cost of supplies during the same period after making allowance for the tax effect. CCS earnings therefore exclude the effect of changes in the oil price on inventory carrying amounts. Sales between segments are based on prices generally equivalent to commercially available prices.

    From the first quarter 2024, Wholesale commercial fuels forms part of Mobility with inclusion in the Marketing segment (previously Chemicals and Products segment). The change in segmentation reflects the increasing alignment between the economic characteristics of wholesale commercial fuels and other Mobility businesses, and is consistent with changes in the information provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker. Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact between the Marketing and the Chemicals and Products segment (see below). Also, from the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments (see below).

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    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                       
     
    REVENUE AND CCS EARNINGS BY SEGMENT    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
          Third-party revenue    
    9,748    9,052    8,338    Integrated Gas 27,996    27,208   
    1,605    1,590    1,617    Upstream 4,954    5,212   
    30,519    32,005    35,236    Marketing2 92,564    98,799   
    22,608    24,583    22,119    Chemicals and Products2 70,926    72,121   
    6,599    7,222    9,032    Renewables and Energy Solutions 21,558    34,517   
    10    11      Corporate 33    31   
    71,089    74,463    76,350    Total third-party revenue1 218,031    237,888   
          Inter-segment revenue    
    2,131    2,157    2,472    Integrated Gas 6,691    8,946   
    9,618    10,102    10,277    Upstream 30,008    30,282   
    1,235    1,363    1,456    Marketing2 3,953    4,056   
    9,564    9,849    11,942    Chemicals and Products2 29,725    32,653   
    1,131    957    894    Renewables and Energy Solutions 3,093    3,140   
    —    —    —    Corporate —    —   
          CCS earnings    
    2,631    2,454    2,156    Integrated Gas 7,846    5,325   
    2,289    2,179    1,999    Upstream 6,741    6,388   
    760    257    629    Marketing2 1,791    2,832   
    341    587    1,250    Chemicals and Products2 2,085    3,310   
    (481)   (75)   616    Renewables and Energy Solutions (3)   3,361   
    (647)   (1,656)   (497)   Corporate3 (2,656)   (2,315)  
    4,894    3,747    6,152    Total CCS earnings4 15,804    18,901   

    1.Includes revenue from sources other than from contracts with customers, which mainly comprises the impact of fair value accounting of commodity derivatives.

    2.From January 1, 2024, onwards Wholesale commercial fuels has been reallocated from the Chemicals and Products segment to the Marketing segment. Comparatives for the third quarter 2023 and the nine months 2023 have been reclassified accordingly, by $5,659 million and $16,369 million respectively for Third-party revenue and by $(73) million and $22 million respectively for CCS earnings to conform with current period presentation. For Inter-segment revenue the reallocation and revision of comparative figures for the third quarter 2023 and the nine months 2023 led to an increase in inter-segment revenue in the Marketing segment of $1,302 million and $3,616 million respectively and an increase in the Chemicals and Products segment of $11,373 million and $31,011 million respectively.

    3.From January 1, 2024, onwards costs for Shell’s centrally managed longer-term innovation portfolio are reported as part of the Corporate segment. Prior period comparatives for Corporate for the third quarter 2023 and the nine months 2023 have been revised by $37 million and $91 million respectively, with a net offsetting impact in all other segments to conform with current period presentation.

    4.See Note 3 “Reconciliation of income for the period to CCS Earnings, Operating expenses and Total Debt”.

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    Cash capital expenditure is a measure used by the Chief Executive Officer for the purposes of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance.

                                       
     
    CASH CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY SEGMENT
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
          Capital expenditure    
    1,090    1,024    958    Integrated Gas 2,971    2,458   
    1,998    1,769    2,013    Upstream 5,533    5,701   
    488    644    935    Marketing1 1,559    4,358   
    748    601    761    Chemicals and Products1 1,822    1,944   
    327    377    523    Renewables and Energy Solutions 1,124    1,382   
    39    30    68    Corporate 104    190   
    4,690    4,445    5,259    Total capital expenditure 13,114    16,033   
          Add: Investments in joint ventures and associates    
    147    127    141    Integrated Gas 457    543   
    (37)   60    (6)   Upstream 268    205   
    37    —    25    Marketing 75    48   
    13    37    76    Chemicals and Products 76    81   
    59    35    114    Renewables and Energy Solutions 103    205   
          Corporate   11   
    222    261    350    Total investments in joint ventures and associates 983    1,093   
          Add: Investments in equity securities    
    —    —    —    Integrated Gas —    —   
    12    —    —    Upstream 12    —   
    —    —    —    Marketing —    —   
    —    —    —    Chemicals and Products —     
    23    13    21    Renewables and Energy Solutions 45    68   
      —    19    Corporate   84   
    38    13    40    Total investments in equity securities 63    154   
          Cash capital expenditure    
    1,236    1,151    1,099    Integrated Gas 3,429    3,000   
    1,974    1,829    2,007    Upstream 5,813    5,906   
    525    644    959    Marketing1 1,634    4,406   
    761    638    837    Chemicals and Products1 1,898    2,027   
    409    425    659    Renewables and Energy Solutions 1,272    1,655   
    45    32    87    Corporate 114    285   
    4,950    4,719    5,649    Total Cash capital expenditure 14,161    17,280   

    1.From January 1, 2024, onwards Wholesale commercial fuels has been reallocated from the Chemicals and Products segment to the Marketing segment. Comparatives for the third quarter 2023 and the nine months 2023 have been reclassified accordingly by $42 million and $133 million respectively for capital expenditure and cash capital expenditure to conform with current period presentation.

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    3. Reconciliation of income for the period to CCS Earnings, Operating expenses and Total Debt

                                       
     
    RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FOR THE PERIOD TO CCS EARNINGS    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    4,291    3,517    7,044    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 15,166    18,887   
    100    133    132    Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 314    215   
    4,391    3,650    7,176    Income/(loss) for the period 15,480    19,102   
          Current cost of supplies adjustment:    
    668    137    (1,304)   Purchases 473    (275)  
    (162)   (36)   327    Taxation (114)   60   
    (2)   (5)   (47)   Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates (35)   14   
    503    97    (1,024)   Current cost of supplies adjustment 324    (201)  
          Of which:    
    477    89    (969)   Attributable to Shell plc shareholders 302    (162)
    26      (55)   Attributable to non-controlling interest 22    (39)
    4,894    3,747    6,152    CCS earnings 15,804    18,901   
          Of which:    
    4,768    3,606    6,075    CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders 15,468    18,725   
    126    140    77    CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 336    176   
                                       
     
    RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING EXPENSES    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    6,138    5,593    6,384    Production and manufacturing expenses 17,541    18,433   
    3,139    3,094    3,447    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 9,208    9,811   
    294    263    267    Research and development 768    817   
    9,570    8,950    10,097    Operating expenses 27,517    29,062   
                                       
     
    RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DEBT    
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    September 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 September 30, 2023   September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023
    12,015    10,849    10,119    Current debt 12,015    10,119   
    64,597    64,619    72,028    Non-current debt 64,597    72,028   
    76,613    75,468    82,147    Total debt 76,613    82,147   

    4. Earnings per share

                                       
     
    EARNINGS PER SHARE
    Quarters   Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    4,291    3,517    7,044    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders ($ million) 15,166    18,887   
               
          Weighted average number of shares used as the basis for determining:    
    6,256.5    6,355.4    6,668.1    Basic earnings per share (million) 6,350.3    6,792.5   
    6,320.9    6,417.6    6,736.7    Diluted earnings per share (million) 6,414.0    6,856.7   

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    5. Share capital

                             
     
    ISSUED AND FULLY PAID ORDINARY SHARES OF €0.07 EACH
      Number of shares   Nominal value
    ($ million)
    At January 1, 2024 6,524,109,049      544     
    Repurchases of shares (299,830,201)     (25)    
    At September 30, 2024 6,224,278,848      519     
    At January 1, 2023 7,003,503,393      584     
    Repurchases of shares (357,368,014)     (30)    
    At September 30, 2023 6,646,135,379      555     

    At Shell plc’s Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2024, the Board was authorised to allot ordinary shares in Shell plc, and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert, any security into ordinary shares in Shell plc, up to an aggregate nominal amount of approximately €150 million (representing approximately 2,147 million ordinary shares of €0.07 each), and to list such shares or rights on any stock exchange. This authority expires at the earlier of the close of business on August 20, 2025, or the end of the Annual General Meeting to be held in 2025, unless previously renewed, revoked or varied by Shell plc in a general meeting.

    6. Other reserves

                                             
     
    OTHER RESERVES
    $ million Merger reserve Share premium reserve Capital redemption reserve Share plan reserve Accumulated other comprehensive income Total
    At January 1, 2024 37,298    154    236    1,308    (17,851)   21,145   
    Other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders —    —    —    —    2,815    2,815   
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    —    —    166    166   
    Repurchases of shares —    —    25    —    —    25   
    Share-based compensation —    —    —    (24)   —    (24)  
    At September 30, 2024 37,298    154    261    1,284    (14,870)   24,127   
    At January 1, 2023 37,298    154    196    1,140    (17,656)   21,132   
    Other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders —    —    —    —    (1,263)   (1,263)  
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    —    —    (111)   (111)  
    Repurchases of shares —    —    30    —    —    30   
    Share-based compensation —    —    —    (18)   —    (18)  
    At September 30, 2023 37,298    154    227    1,121    (19,029)   19,769   

    The merger reserve and share premium reserve were established as a consequence of Shell plc (formerly Royal Dutch Shell plc) becoming the single parent company of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and The “Shell” Transport and Trading Company, p.l.c., now The Shell Transport and Trading Company Limited, in 2005. The merger reserve increased in 2016 following the issuance of shares for the acquisition of BG Group plc. The capital redemption reserve was established in connection with repurchases of shares of Shell plc. The share plan reserve is in respect of equity-settled share-based compensation plans.

    7. Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding lease liabilities

    As disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, presented in the Annual Report and Accounts and Form 20-F for that year, Shell is exposed to the risks of changes in fair value of its financial assets and liabilities. The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values at September 30, 2024, are consistent with those used in the year ended December 31, 2023, though the carrying amounts of derivative financial instruments have changed since that

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    date. The movement of the derivative financial instruments between December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2024 is a decrease of $4,865 million for the current assets and a decrease of $2,754 million for the current liabilities.

    The table below provides the comparison of the fair value with the carrying amount of debt excluding lease liabilities, disclosed in accordance with IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures.

                     
     
    DEBT EXCLUDING LEASE LIABILITIES
    $ million September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Carrying amount 51,022    53,832   
    Fair value¹ 48,489    50,866   

    1.    Mainly determined from the prices quoted for these securities.

    8. Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

    Consolidated Statement of Income

    Interest and other income

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    440    (305)   913    Interest and other income/(expenses) 1,042    2,207   
          Of which:    
    619    616    618    Interest income 1,824    1,718   
      30      Dividend income (from investments in equity securities) 58    36   
    (154)   143    (75)   Net gains/(losses) on sales and revaluation of non-current assets and businesses   35   
    (189)   (1,169)   168    Net foreign exchange gains/(losses) on financing activities (1,292)   (60)  
    159    74    195    Other 452    478   

    Net foreign exchange gains/(losses) on financing activities in the second quarter 2024 includes a loss of $1,104 million related to cumulative currency translation differences that were reclassified to profit and loss. The reclassification of these cumulative currency translation differences was principally triggered by changes in the funding structure of some of Shell’s businesses in the United Kingdom. These currency translation differences were previously directly recognised in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income.

    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    5,916    7,555    5,911    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation 19,352    20,069   
          Of which:    
    5,578 5,642 5,716 Depreciation 16,874    17,120   
    340 1,984 359 Impairments 2,706    3,438   
    (2) (71) (163) Impairment reversals (228)   (489)  

    Impairments recognised in the third quarter 2024 of $340 million pre-tax ($290 million post-tax) mainly relate to various assets in Marketing and Chemicals and Products. Impairments recognised in the second quarter 2024 of $1,984 million pre-tax ($1,778 million post-tax) mainly relate to Marketing ($1,055 million), Chemicals and Products ($690 million) and Renewables and Energy Solutions ($141 million). The impairment in Marketing principally relates to a biofuels facility located in the Netherlands, triggered by a temporary pause of on-site construction work. The impairment in Chemicals and Products relates to an Energy and Chemicals Park located in Singapore, due to remeasurement of the fair value less costs of disposal triggered by a sales agreement reached. Impairments recognised in the third quarter 2023 of $359 million pre-tax ($299 million post-tax) mainly relate to various assets in Renewables and Energy Solutions and Chemicals and Products.

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    Taxation charge/credit

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    2,879    3,754    4,115    Taxation charge/(credit) 10,237    11,891   
          Of which:    
    2,834 3,666 4,115 Income tax excluding Pillar Two income tax 10,026    11,891   
    45 88 Income tax related to Pillar Two income tax 212   

    On June 20, 2023, the UK substantively enacted Pillar Two Model Rules, effective as from January 1, 2024.

    As required by IAS 12 Income Taxes, Shell has applied the exception to recognising and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar Two income taxes.

    Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

    Currency translation differences

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    2,947    698    (1,460)   Currency translation differences 1,651    (1,174)  
          Of which:    
    2,912 (406) (1,469) Recognised in Other comprehensive income 524    (1,181)  
    35 1,104 9 (Gain)/loss reclassified to profit or loss 1,127    7

    Amounts reclassified to profit and loss in the second quarter 2024 relate to cumulative currency translation differences that were reclassified to income (refer to Interest and other income above).

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

    Retirement benefits

                     
     
    $ million    
      September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Non-current assets    
    Retirement benefits 10,564    9,151   
    Non-current liabilities    
    Retirement benefits 7,110    7,549   
    Surplus/(deficit) 3,454    1,602   

    Amounts recognised in the Balance Sheet in relation to defined benefit plans include both plan assets and obligations that are presented on a net basis on a plan-by-plan basis. The change in the net retirement benefit asset as at September 30, 2024, is mainly driven by an increase of the market yield on high-quality corporate bonds in the USA, the UK and Eurozone since December 31, 2023, partly offset by losses on plan assets.

    Assets classified as held for sale

                       
       
    $ million      
      September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023  
    Assets classified as held for sale 2,144    951     
    Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale 1,298    307     

    Assets classified as held for sale and associated liabilities at September 30, 2024 relate to an energy and chemicals park asset in Chemicals and Products in Singapore and various smaller assets. The major classes of assets and liabilities classified as held for sale at September 30, 2024, are Inventories ($1,273 million; December 31, 2023: $463 million), Property, plant and equipment ($544 million; December 31, 2023: $250 million), Decommissioning and other provisions ($634 million; December 31, 2023: $75 million) and Debt ($425 million; December 31, 2023: $84 million).

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    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

    Cash flow from operating activities – Other

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    (144)   2,027    (150)   Other 2,392    474   

    ‘Cash flow from operating activities – Other’ for the third quarter 2024 includes $432 million of net inflows (second quarter 2024: $620 million net inflows; third quarter 2023: $630 million net outflows) due to the timing of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes in Europe and North America and $539 million in relation to reversal of currency exchange gains on Cash and cash equivalents (second quarter 2024: $96 million losses; third quarter 2023: $336 million losses). For the second quarter 2024 ‘Cash flow from operating activities – Other’ also includes $1,104 million inflow representing reversal of the non-cash recycling of currency translation losses from other comprehensive income (refer to Interest and other income above).

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    ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE (NON-GAAP) MEASURES

    A.Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and Cash flow from operating activities

    The “Adjusted Earnings” measure aims to facilitate a comparative understanding of Shell’s financial performance from period to period by removing the effects of oil price changes on inventory carrying amounts and removing the effects of identified items. These items are in some cases driven by external factors and may, either individually or collectively, hinder the comparative understanding of Shell’s financial results from period to period. This measure excludes earnings attributable to non-controlling interest.

    We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as “Income/(loss) for the period” adjusted for current cost of supplies; identified items; tax charge/(credit); depreciation, amortisation and depletion; exploration well write-offs and net interest expense. All items include the non-controlling interest component. Management uses this measure to evaluate Shell’s performance in the period and over time.

                                       
         
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    4,291    3,517    7,044    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 15,166    18,887   
    100    133    132    Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 314    215   
    477    89    (969)   Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to Shell plc shareholders 302    (162)  
    26      (55)   Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest 22    (39)  
    4,894    3,747    6,152    CCS earnings 15,804    18,901   
                                                   
     
    Q3 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 4,894 2,631 2,289 760 341 (481) (647)
    Less: Identified items (1,259) (240) (153) (422) (122) (319) (3)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 126            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest            
    Adjusted Earnings 6,028            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 126            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 6,153 2,871 2,443 1,182 463 (162) (643)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 3,571 949 2,413 322 (73) (1) (39)
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 5,578 1,369 2,691 564 862 86 6
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 150 2 148        
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 1,173 49 183 13 14 2 912
    Less: Interest income 619 5 8 25 581
    Adjusted EBITDA 16,005 5,234 7,871 2,081 1,240 (75) (346)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 665     334 331    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (62) (146) (90) 51 63 61
    Derivative financial instruments 133 (373) 47 98 88 (106) 380
    Taxation paid (3,028) (814) (2,074) (241) 23 (33) 112
    Other (365) (32) (406) 275 107 (75) (234)
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 2,665 (247) (78) 792 2,131 (136) 204
    Cash flow from operating activities 14,684 3,623 5,268 2,722 3,321 (364) 115

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    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Q2 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 3,747 2,454 2,179 257 587 (75) (1,656)
    Less: Identified items (2,669) (220) (157) (825) (499) 112 (1,080)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 140            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest 18            
    Adjusted Earnings 6,293            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 122            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 6,415 2,675 2,336 1,082 1,085 (187) (576)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 3,947 940 2,312 359 297 (10) 49
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 5,642 1,375 2,750 548 867 95 6
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 269 5 264
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 1,149 44 166 10 23 1 904
    Less: Interest income 616 (1) 30 (9) 595
    Adjusted EBITDA 16,806 5,039 7,829 1,999 2,242 (91) (213)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 133     74 59    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (135) 96 (288) (54) 46 64
    Derivative financial instruments 713 (133) 9 7 304 607 (79)
    Taxation paid (3,448) (1,039) (1,955) (17) (186) (138) (113)
    Other (38) (104) (341) (57) 263 180 20
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital (258) 324 484 153 (361) 225 (1,083)
    Cash flow from operating activities 13,508 4,183 5,739 1,958 2,249 847 (1,468)
                                                   
     
    Q3 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 6,152 2,156 1,999 629 1,250 616 (497)
    Less: Identified items (149) (375) (238) (12) (213) 667 22
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 77            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest            
    Adjusted Earnings 6,224            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 77            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 6,302 2,531 2,237 641 1,463 (51) (519)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 3,621 845 2,160 269 253 70 24
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 5,716 1,413 2,771 528 918 82 4
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 186 35 151
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 1,130 51 119 23 41 1 895
    Less: Interest income 618 1 5 8 13 1 590
    Adjusted EBITDA 16,336 4,874 7,433 1,453 2,661 101 (186)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation (1,351)     (624) (727)    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (13) (40) 43 (19) (19) 21
    Derivative financial instruments (2,549) (454) (20) 10 (375) (1,407) (304)
    Taxation paid (3,191) (679) (2,090) (226) 54 (258) 8
    Other 177 (44) (57) (485) 167 327 269
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 221 352 28 (960) (354) 1,182 (27)
    Cash flow from operating activities 12,332 4,009 5,336 397 2,862 (34) (238)

             Page 27


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Nine months 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 15,804 7,846 6,741 1,791 2,085 (3) (2,656)
    Less: Identified items (4,569) (1,379) 28 (1,255) (1,078) 183 (1,069)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 336            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest 18            
    Adjusted Earnings 20,055            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 318            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 20,373 9,225 6,712 3,046 3,163 (186) (1,588)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 11,642 2,885 7,247 1,039 562 (10) (81)
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 16,874 4,154 8,169 1,647 2,599 287 18
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 973 14 959        
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 3,485 136 518 35 54 4 2,737
    Less: Interest income 1,824 5 17 1 69 (5) 1,736
    Adjusted EBITDA 51,523 16,410 23,588 5,767 6,308 101 (650)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 438     256 182    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (779) (247) (924) 89 165 138
    Derivative financial instruments 1,153 (1,586) 53 66 (10) 2,479 152
    Taxation paid (9,092) (2,320) (5,832) (432) (182) (415) 89
    Other (500) (90) (978) 612 (8) 75 (111)
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital (344) 352 827 153 (869) 570 (1,377)
    Cash flow from operating activities 41,522 12,518 16,734 5,999 5,221 2,948 (1,898)
                                                   
     
    Nine months 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 18,901 5,325 6,388 2,832 3,310 3,361 (2,315)
    Less: Identified items (2,219) (4,625) (357) 314 (278) 2,778 (50)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 176            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest            
    Adjusted Earnings 20,944            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 176            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 21,120 9,951 6,746 2,518 3,588 583 (2,266)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 11,553 2,773 6,720 808 558 345 349
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 17,120 4,300 8,358 1,479 2,667 303 13
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 625 59 566
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 3,504 110 372 40 39 3 2,941
    Less: Interest income 1,718 2 13 8 33 5 1,657
    Adjusted EBITDA 52,204 17,189 22,750 4,837 6,819 1,229 (619)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation (261)     (94) (167)    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (167) 32 (443) 85 85 72 2
    Derivative financial instruments (5,112) (3,071) (18) 225 (1,719) (528)
    Taxation paid (10,108) (2,843) (6,455) (478) (197) (350) 214
    Other 82 (84) (530) 23 284 304 85
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 4,462 2,700 342 (748) (1,019) 4,713 (1,526)
    Cash flow from operating activities 41,622 13,923 15,663 3,794 6,364 4,249 (2,372)

    Identified Items

    Identified items comprise: divestment gains and losses, impairments, redundancy and restructuring, provisions for onerous contracts, fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts and the impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on certain deferred tax balances, and other items. Identified items in the tables below are presented on a net basis.

             Page 28


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Q3 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation              
    Divestment gains/(losses) (154) 1 (2) (110) (19) (20) (3)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (338) (6) (3) (195) (120) (14)
    Redundancy and restructuring (552) (69) (189) (136) (141) (26) 10
    Provisions for onerous contracts (7) (7)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (602) (252) (13) (78) 126 (385)
    Other (136) (141) (1) (11) 16
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (1,789) (327) (348) (526) (165) (430) 7
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (530) (87) (195) (104) (43) (111) 10
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) (129) 1 (6) (84) (15) (23) (2)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (288) (4) (2) (179) (92) (10)
    Redundancy and restructuring (397) (48) (138) (98) (101) (19) 7
    Provisions for onerous contracts (5) (5)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (456) (213) (3) (56) 95 (279)
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances 120 24 104 (8)
    Other (105) (108) (8) 12
    Impact on CCS earnings (1,259) (240) (153) (422) (122) (319) (3)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (1,259) (240) (153) (422) (122) (319) (3)

             Page 29


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Q2 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 143 2 131 (60) (8) 79
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (1,932) (18) (80) (1,055) (619) (161)
    Redundancy and restructuring (211) (9) (56) (69) (30) (45) (2)
    Provisions for onerous contracts (17) (3) (14)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 461 (102) (29) 63 211 318
    Other1 (1,271) (130) (168) 10 113 7 (1,103)
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (2,826) (260) (215) (1,111) (333) 198 (1,105)
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (157) (40) (58) (286) 165 87 (25)
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 135 1 114 (45) (6) 71
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (1,728) (15) (67) (783) (708) (155)
    Redundancy and restructuring (147) (6) (33) (50) (23) (33) (1)
    Provisions for onerous contracts (14) (3) (11)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 319 (98) (7) 45 156 223
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances 49 10 (4) 43
    Other1 (1,284) (111) (148) 7 83 5 (1,122)
    Impact on CCS earnings (2,669) (220) (157) (825) (499) 112 (1,080)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 18 18
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (2,687) (220) (157) (825) (517) 112 (1,080)

    1.Corporate includes reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures resulting in unfavourable movements of $1,122 million. These currency translation differences were previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income.

             Page 30


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Q3 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation              
    Divestment gains/(losses) (75) 6 23 (10) 3 (98)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (196) (15) (2) (103) (76)
    Redundancy and restructuring (20) (3) (4) (5) (4) (2) (3)
    Provisions for onerous contracts
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 258 (350) 38 (2) (88) 659
    Other 50 (25) (236) (97) 408
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation 17 (371) (194) (18) (288) 891 (3)
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) 166 4 44 (6) (75) 225 (25)
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) (68) 4 8 (7) 2 (76)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (167) (12) (1) (79) (75)
    Redundancy and restructuring (14) (2) (2) (4) (3) (1) (2)
    Provisions for onerous contracts
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 121 (340) 13 (59) 506
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances (51) (13) (62) 24
    Other 29 (25) (184) (74) 312
    Impact on CCS earnings (149) (375) (238) (12) (213) 667 22
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (149) (375) (238) (12) (213) 667 22

             Page 31


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Nine months 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 155 (185) (35) 68 (3)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (2,498) (32) (179) (1,254) (917) (116)
    Redundancy and restructuring (837) (79) (258) (226) (190) (86) 3
    Provisions for onerous contracts (24) (3) (14) (7)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (1,221) (1,421) (44) (9) (79) 332
    Other1 (1,281) (126) (271) 32 148 39 (1,103)
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (5,859) (1,663) (609) (1,649) (1,073) 238 (1,104)
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (1,290) (284) (638) (394) 5 55 (35)
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 2 118 (140) (28) 54 (2)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (2,201) (24) (171) (965) (952) (89)
    Redundancy and restructuring (597) (55) (179) (163) (139) (63) 2
    Provisions for onerous contracts (19) (3) (11) (5)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (1,032) (1,198) (11) (6) (69) 250
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances 573 8 512 53
    Other1 (1,293) (107) (228) 24 110 30 (1,122)
    Impact on CCS earnings (4,569) (1,379) 28 (1,255) (1,078) 183 (1,069)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 18 18
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (4,587) (1,379) 28 (1,255) (1,096) 183 (1,069)

    1.Corporate includes reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures resulting in unfavourable movements of $1,122 million. These currency translation differences were previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income.

             Page 32


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Nine months 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 35 (1) 76 32 (12) (59)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (2,952) (2,274) (199) (49) (300) (130)
    Redundancy and restructuring (54) (10) (22) (4) (1) (16)
    Provisions for onerous contracts (24) (24)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 939 (3,047) 387 66 77 3,455
    Other 116 (25) (445) 298 (119) 408
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (1,941) (5,347) (192) 324 (382) 3,672 (16)
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) 278 (722) 165 11 (104) 894 34
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 50 80 24 (9) (45)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (2,284) (1,700) (188) (50) (227) (119)
    Redundancy and restructuring (35) (3) (17) (3) (1) (11)
    Provisions for onerous contracts (18) (18)
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 52 (2,821) 106 60 75 2,632
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances 8 (31) 78 (39)
    Other 7 (74) (431) 297 (96) 312
    Impact on CCS earnings (2,219) (4,625) (357) 314 (278) 2,778 (50)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (2,219) (4,625) (357) 314 (278) 2,778 (50)

    The identified items categories above may include after-tax impacts of identified items of joint ventures and associates which are fully reported within “Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates” in the Consolidated Statement of Income, and fully reported as identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation in the table above. Identified items related to subsidiaries are consolidated and reported across appropriate lines of the Consolidated Statement of Income. Only pre-tax identified items reported by subsidiaries are taken into account in the calculation of underlying operating expenses (Reference F).

    Provisions for onerous contracts: Provisions for onerous contracts that relate to businesses that Shell has exited or to redundant assets or assets that cannot be used.

    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts: In the ordinary course of business, Shell enters into contracts to supply or purchase oil and gas products, as well as power and environmental products. Shell also enters into contracts for tolling, pipeline and storage capacity. Derivative contracts are entered into for mitigation of resulting economic exposures (generally price exposure) and these derivative contracts are carried at period-end market price (fair value), with movements in fair value recognised in income for the period. Supply and purchase contracts entered into for operational purposes, as well as contracts for tolling, pipeline and storage capacity, are, by contrast, recognised when the transaction occurs; furthermore, inventory is carried at historical cost or net realisable value, whichever is lower. As a consequence, accounting mismatches occur because: (a) the supply or purchase transaction is recognised in a different period, or (b) the inventory is measured on a different basis. In addition, certain contracts are, due to pricing or delivery conditions, deemed to contain embedded derivatives or written options and are also required to be carried at fair value even though they are entered into for operational purposes. The accounting impacts are reported as identified items.

    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances represents the impact on tax balances of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments arising on (a) the conversion to dollars of the local currency tax base of non-monetary assets and liabilities, as well as losses (this primarily impacts the Upstream and Integrated Gas segments) and (b) the conversion of dollar-denominated inter-segment loans to local currency, leading to taxable exchange rate gains or losses (this primarily impacts the Corporate segment).

    Other identified items represent other credits or charges that based on Shell management’s assessment hinder the comparative understanding of Shell’s financial results from period to period.

             Page 33


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    B.    Adjusted Earnings per share

    Adjusted Earnings per share is calculated as Adjusted Earnings (see Reference A), divided by the weighted average number of shares used as the basis for basic earnings per share (see Note 4).

    C.    Cash capital expenditure

    Cash capital expenditure represents cash spent on maintaining and developing assets as well as on investments in the period. Management regularly monitors this measure as a key lever to delivering sustainable cash flows. Cash capital expenditure is the sum of the following lines from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows: Capital expenditure, Investments in joint ventures and associates and Investments in equity securities.

    See Note 2 “Segment information” for the reconciliation of cash capital expenditure.

    D.    Capital employed and Return on average capital employed

    Return on average capital employed (“ROACE”) measures the efficiency of Shell’s utilisation of the capital that it employs. Effective first quarter 2024, the definition of capital employed has been amended to reflect the deduction of cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the numerator applied to ROACE on an Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest basis has been amended to remove interest on cash and cash equivalents for consistency with the revised capital employed definition. Comparative information has been revised to reflect the updated definition. Also, the presentation of ROACE on a net income basis has been discontinued, as this measure is not routinely used by management in assessing the efficiency of capital employed.

    The measure refers to Capital employed which consists of total equity, current debt, and non-current debt reduced by cash and cash equivalents.

    Management believes that the updated methodology better reflects Shell’s approach to managing capital employed, including the management of cash and cash equivalents alongside total debt and equity as part of the financial framework.

    In this calculation, the sum of Adjusted Earnings (see Reference A) plus non-controlling interest (NCI) excluding identified items for the current and previous three quarters, adjusted for after-tax interest expense and after-tax interest income, is expressed as a percentage of the average capital employed excluding cash and cash equivalents for the same period.

                           
     
    $ million Quarters
      Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023
    Current debt 10,119 12,114 8,046
    Non-current debt 72,028 72,252 73,944
    Total equity 192,943 192,094 190,237
    Less: Cash and cash equivalents (43,031) (45,094) (35,978)
    Capital employed – opening 232,059 231,366 236,250
    Current debt 12,015 10,849 10,119
    Non-current debt 64,597 64,619 72,028
    Total equity 189,538 187,190 192,943
    Less: Cash and cash equivalents (42,252) (38,148) (43,031)
    Capital employed – closing 223,898 224,511 232,059
    Capital employed – average 227,979 227,939 234,154

             Page 34


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                           
     
    $ million Quarters
      Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023
    Adjusted Earnings – current and previous three quarters (Reference A) 27,361 27,558 30,758
    Add: Income/(loss) attributable to NCI – current and previous three quarters 376 409 275
    Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to NCI – current and previous three quarters 56 (25) (12)
    Less: Identified items attributable to NCI (Reference A) – current and previous three quarters 7 7 13
    Adjusted Earnings plus NCI excluding identified items – current and previous three quarters 27,787 27,935 31,008
    Add: Interest expense after tax – current and previous three quarters 2,698 2,650 2,685
    Less: Interest income after tax on cash and cash equivalents – current and previous three quarters 1,392 1,395 1,179
    Adjusted Earnings plus NCI excluding identified items before interest expense and interest income – current and previous three quarters 29,093 29,190 32,514
    Capital employed – average 227,979 227,939 234,154
    ROACE on an Adjusted Earnings plus NCI basis 12.8% 12.8% 13.9%

    E.    Net debt and gearing

    Net debt is defined as the sum of current and non-current debt, less cash and cash equivalents, adjusted for the fair value of derivative financial instruments used to hedge foreign exchange and interest rate risk relating to debt, and associated collateral balances. Management considers this adjustment useful because it reduces the volatility of net debt caused by fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates, and eliminates the potential impact of related collateral payments or receipts. Debt-related derivative financial instruments are a subset of the derivative financial instrument assets and liabilities presented on the balance sheet. Collateral balances are reported under “Trade and other receivables” or “Trade and other payables” as appropriate.

    Gearing is a measure of Shell’s capital structure and is defined as net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) as a percentage of total capital (net debt plus total equity).

                           
     
    $ million  
      September 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 September 30, 2023
    Current debt 12,015    10,849    10,119   
    Non-current debt 64,597    64,619    72,028   
    Total debt 76,613    75,468    82,147   
    Of which lease liabilities 25,590    25,600    27,854   
    Add: Debt-related derivative financial instruments: net liability/(asset) 1,694    2,460    3,116   
    Add: Collateral on debt-related derivatives: net liability/(asset) (821)   (1,466)   (1,762)  
    Less: Cash and cash equivalents (42,252)   (38,148)   (43,031)  
    Net debt 35,234    38,314    40,470   
    Total equity 189,538    187,190    192,943   
    Total capital 224,772    225,505    233,414   
    Gearing 15.7  % 17.0  % 17.3  %

    F.    Operating expenses and Underlying operating expenses

    Operating expenses

    Operating expenses is a measure of Shell’s cost management performance, comprising the following items from the Consolidated Statement of Income: production and manufacturing expenses; selling, distribution and administrative expenses; and research and development expenses.

             Page 35


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                                   
     
    Q3 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 6,138 1,164 2,394 367 1,766 453 (6)
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 3,139 (1) (39) 2,408 453 209 110
    Research and development 294 27 75 55 34 22 81
    Operating expenses 9,570 1,190 2,430 2,830 2,253 684 185
                                                   
     
    Q2 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 5,593 1,050 2,219 320 1,573 422 10
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 3,094 64 62 2,295 293 279 101
    Research and development 263 32 61 47 37 24 62
    Operating expenses 8,950 1,146 2,341 2,662 1,902 725 173
                                                   
     
    Q3 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 6,384 1,125 2,266 335 1,900 760 (1)
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses1 3,447 50 42 2,448 501 286 121
    Research and development1 267 30 77 60 44 (26) 81
    Operating expenses 10,097 1,204 2,384 2,843 2,444 1,021 201
                                                   
     
    Nine months 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 17,541 3,170 6,881 1,052 4,973 1,454 10
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 9,208 125 80 6,891 1,166 646 300
    Research and development 768 85 194 136 104 58 192
    Operating expenses 27,517 3,380 7,156 8,079 6,243 2,158 501
                                                   
     
    Nine months 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 18,433 3,341 6,591 1,030 5,579 1,878 14
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses1 9,811 114 217 6,906 1,494 787 293
    Research and development1 817 84 216 184 129 2 202
    Operating expenses 29,062 3,540 7,024 8,120 7,201 2,667 509

    1.From the first quarter 2024, Wholesale commercial fuels forms part of Mobility with inclusion in the Marketing segment (previously Chemicals and Products segment). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact between Marketing and Chemicals and Products segments (see Note 2). Also, from the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments (see Note 2).

    Underlying operating expenses

    Underlying operating expenses is a measure aimed at facilitating a comparative understanding of performance from period to period by removing the effects of identified items, which, either individually or collectively, can cause volatility, in some cases driven by external factors.

             Page 36


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS
                                       
         
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    9,570    8,950    10,097    Operating expenses 27,517    29,062   
    (552)   (210)   (19)   Redundancy and restructuring (charges)/reversal (834)   (51)  
    (154)   (212)   (343)   (Provisions)/reversal (366)   (376)  
    —    123    —    Other 252    —   
    (706)   (299)   (362)   Total identified items (948)   (426)  
    8,864    8,651    9,735    Underlying operating expenses 26,569    28,635   

    G.    Free cash flow and Organic free cash flow

    Free cash flow is used to evaluate cash available for financing activities, including dividend payments and debt servicing, after investment in maintaining and growing the business. It is defined as the sum of “Cash flow from operating activities” and “Cash flow from investing activities”.

    Cash flows from acquisition and divestment activities are removed from Free cash flow to arrive at the Organic free cash flow, a measure used by management to evaluate the generation of free cash flow without these activities.

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    14,684    13,508    12,332    Cash flow from operating activities 41,522    41,622   
    (3,857)   (3,338)   (4,827)   Cash flow from investing activities (10,723)   (12,080)  
    10,827    10,170    7,505    Free cash flow 30,799    29,542   
    194    769    259    Less: Divestment proceeds (Reference I) 1,988    2,477   
    —    —    (3)   Add: Tax paid on divestments (reported under “Other investing cash outflows”) —       
    —    189      Add: Cash outflows related to inorganic capital expenditure1 251    2,316   
    10,633    9,590    7,246    Organic free cash flow2 29,062    29,381   

    1.Cash outflows related to inorganic capital expenditure includes portfolio actions which expand Shell’s activities through acquisitions and restructuring activities as reported in capital expenditure lines in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

    2.Free cash flow less divestment proceeds, adding back outflows related to inorganic expenditure.

    H.    Cash flow from operating activities and cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements

    Working capital movements are defined as the sum of the following items in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows: (i) (increase)/decrease in inventories, (ii) (increase)/decrease in current receivables, and (iii) increase/(decrease) in current payables.

    Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements is a measure used by Shell to analyse its operating cash generation over time excluding the timing effects of changes in inventories and operating receivables and payables from period to period.

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    14,684    13,508    12,332    Cash flow from operating activities 41,522    41,622   
    2,705    (954)   (3,151)   (Increase)/decrease in inventories 1,143    2,237   
    4,057    1,965    (1,126)   (Increase)/decrease in current receivables 5,827    13,105   
    (4,096)   (1,269)   4,498    Increase/(decrease) in current payables1 (7,314)   (10,881)  
    2,665    (258)   221    (Increase)/decrease in working capital (344)   4,462   
    12,019    13,766    12,111    Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements 41,867    37,160   

    1.To further enhance consistency between working capital and the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Cash Flows, from January 1, 2024, onwards movements in current other provisions are recognised in ‘Decommissioning and other provisions’ instead of ‘Increase/(decrease) in current payables’. Comparatives for the third quarter 2023 and the nine months 2023 have been reclassified accordingly by $212 million and $40 million respectively to conform with current period presentation.

             Page 37


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    I.    Divestment proceeds

    Divestment proceeds represent cash received from divestment activities in the period. Management regularly monitors this measure as a key lever to deliver free cash flow.

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Nine months
    Q3 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2023   2024 2023
    94    710 184 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and businesses 1,128 2,024
    94    57 68 Proceeds from joint ventures and associates from sale, capital reduction and repayment of long-term loans 284 425
      2 7 Proceeds from sale of equity securities 576 28
    194    769 259 Divestment proceeds 1,988 2,477

             Page 38


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

    All amounts shown throughout this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report are unaudited. All peak production figures in Portfolio Developments are quoted at 100% expected production. The numbers presented throughout this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report may not sum precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures, due to rounding.

    The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, October 31, 2024. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report.

    Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity

    Also, in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

    Shell’s Net-Zero Emissions Target

    Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

    Forward-Looking Non-GAAP measures

    This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

    The contents of websites referred to in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report do not form part of this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

    This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report contains inside information.

             Page 39


         
     
    SHELL PLC
    3rd QUARTER 2024 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    October 31, 2024

         
    The information in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report reflects the unaudited consolidated interim financial position and results of Shell plc. Company No. 4366849, Registered Office: Shell Centre, London, SE1 7NA, England, UK.

    Contacts:

    – Sean Ashley, Company Secretary

    – Media: International +44 (0) 207 934 5550; USA +1 832 337 4355

    LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

    Classification: Inside Information

             Page 40

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Shell plc publishes third quarter 2024 press release

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, October 31, 2024

    “Shell delivered another set of strong results. We continue to deliver more value with less emissions, whilst enhancing the resilience of our balance sheet. Today, we announce another $3.5 billion buyback programme for the next three months, making this the 12th consecutive quarter in which we have announced $3 billion or more in buybacks.”

    Shell plc Chief Executive Officer, Wael Sawan


     

    STRONG RESULTS, CONSISTENT DISTRIBUTIONS

    • Q3 2024 Adjusted Earnings1 of $6.0 billion, despite the lower crude prices and weaker refining margins, reflect strong operational performance in Integrated Gas, Upstream and Marketing.
    • CFFO of $14.7 billion for the quarter includes a working capital inflow of $2.7 billion; net debt reduced to $35.2 billion ($9.6 billion excluding lease liabilities).
    • Cash capex for 2024 is expected to be below the lower end of the $22 – 25 billion range.
    • Commencing a $3.5 billion share buyback programme, expected to be completed by Q4 2024 results announcement. Over the last 4 quarters, total shareholder distributions paid were 43% of CFFO. Dividend stable at $0.344 per ordinary share.
    $ million1 Adj. Earnings Adj. EBITDA CFFO Cash capex
    Integrated Gas 2,871 5,234 3,623 1,236
    Upstream 2,443 7,871 5,268 1,974
    Marketing 1,182 2,081 2,722 525
    Chemicals & Products2 463 1,240 3,321 761
    Renewables & Energy Solutions (162) (75) (364) 409
    Corporate (643) (346) 115 45
    Less: Non-controlling interest (NCI) 126      
    Shell Q3 2024 6,028 16,005 14,684 4,950
    Q2 2024 6,293 16,806 13,508 4,719

    1Income/(loss) attributable to shareholders for Q3 2024 is $4.3 billion. Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures can be found in the unaudited results, available at www.shell.com/investors.

    2Chemicals & Products Adjusted Earnings at a subsegment level are as follows – Chemicals $(0.1) billion and Products $0.6 billion.

    • CFFO of $14.7 billion for Q3 2024 includes a working capital inflow of $2.7 billion mainly due to lower prices. CFFO reflects tax payments of $3.0 billion. Net debt reduced by $3.1 billion over the quarter to $35.2 billion ($9.6 billion excluding lease liabilities).
    $ billion1 Q3 2023 Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024
    Divestment proceeds 0.3 0.6 1.0 0.8 0.2
    Free cash flow 7.5 6.9 9.8 10.2 10.8
    Net debt 40.5 43.5 40.5 38.3 35.2

    1 Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures can be found in the unaudited results, available at www.shell.com/investors.

    Q3 2024 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DRIVERS

    INTEGRATED GAS

    Key data Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 outlook
    Realised liquids price ($/bbl) 68 63
    Realised gas price ($/thousand scf) 7.6 7.9
    Production (kboe/d) 980 941 900 – 960
    LNG liquefaction volumes (MT) 6.9 7.5 6.9 – 7.5
    LNG sales volumes (MT) 16.4 17.0
    • Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q2 2024, due to higher LNG liquefaction volumes. Trading and optimisation results
      were in line with a strong Q2 2024.
    • Q4 2024 production outlook reflects scheduled maintenance at Pearl GTL in Qatar.

    UPSTREAM

    Key data Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 outlook
    Realised liquids price ($/bbl) 78 75
    Realised gas price ($/thousand scf) 6.2 6.6
    Liquids production (kboe/d) 1,297 1,321
    Gas production (million scf/d) 2,818 2,844
    Total production (kboe/d) 1,783 1,811 1,750 – 1,950
    • Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q2 2024, as lower prices were offset by lower well write-offs than in the previous quarter.

    MARKETING

    Key data Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 outlook
    Marketing sales volumes (kb/d) 2,868 2,945 2,550 – 3,050
    Mobility (kb/d) 2,078 2,119
    Lubricants (kb/d) 84 81
    Sectors & Decarbonisation (kb/d) 706 745

    Wholesale commercial fuels, previously reported in the Chemicals & Products segment, is reported in the Marketing segment (Mobility) with effect from Q1 2024.
    Comparative information for the Marketing segment and the Chemicals & Product segment has been revised.

    • Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q2 2024 due to improved Mobility unit margins and impact of seasonally higher volumes.

    CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS

    Key data Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 outlook
    Refinery processing intake (kb/d) 1,429 1,305
    Chemicals sales volumes (kT) 3,052 3,015
    Refinery utilisation (%) 92 81 75 – 83
    Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation (%) 80 76 72 – 80
    Global indicative refining margin ($/bbl) 7.7 5.5
    Global indicative chemical margin ($/t) 155 164

    Wholesale commercial fuels, previously reported in the Chemicals & Products segment, is reported in the Marketing segment (Mobility) with effect from Q1 2024.

    Comparative information for the Marketing segment and the Chemicals & Products segment has been revised.

    • Lower refining margins in Q3 2024 were driven by a stabilising market with increased supply. Chemicals Adjusted Earnings
      were lower than in Q2 2024 due to lower utilisation and lower realised prices.
    • Trading and optimisation results were in line with Q2 2024.

    RENEWABLES & ENERGY SOLUTIONS

    Key data Q2 2024 Q3 2024
    External power sales (TWh) 74 79
    Sales of pipeline gas to end-use customers (TWh) 148 148
    Renewables power generation capacity (GW)* 7.1 7.3
    • in operation (GW)
    3.3 3.4
    • under construction and/or committed for sale (GW)
    3.8 3.9

      *Excludes Shell’s equity share of associates where information cannot be obtained.

    • Adjusted Earnings were in line with Q2 2024.

    Renewables and Energy Solutions includes activities such as renewable power generation, the marketing and trading and optimisation of power and pipeline gas, as well as carbon credits, and digitally enabled customer solutions.
    It also includes the production and marketing of hydrogen, development of commercial carbon capture and storage hubs, investment in nature-based projects that avoid or reduce carbon emissions, and Shell Ventures, which invests in companies that work to accelerate the energy and mobility transformation.

    CORPORATE

    Key data Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 outlook
    Adjusted Earnings ($ billion) (0.6) (0.6) (0.8) – (0.6)
    • The Adjusted Earnings outlook is a net expense of $2.2 – 2.4 billion for the full year 2024.

    UPCOMING ANNOUNCED INVESTOR EVENTS

    January 30, 2025 Fourth quarter 2024 results and dividends
    May 2, 2025 First quarter 2025 results and dividends
    July 31, 2025 Second quarter 2025 results and dividends
    October 30, 2025 Third quarter 2025 results and dividends

    USEFUL LINKS

    Results materials Q3 2024

    Quarterly Databook Q3 2024

    Webcast registration Q3 2024

    Dividend announcement Q3 2024

    ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE (NON-GAAP) MEASURES

    This announcement includes certain measures that are calculated and presented on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) such as IFRS, including Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA, CFFO excluding working capital movements, Cash capital expenditure, free cash flow, Divestment proceeds and Net debt. This information, along with comparable GAAP measures, is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring Shell plc’s operating performance and ability to retire debt and invest in new business opportunities. Shell plc’s management uses these financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating the business performance.

    This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures for cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile the non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of the company, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are estimated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

    The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. “Subsidiaries”, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; “anticipate”; “believe”; “commit”; “commitment”; “could”; “estimate”; “expect”; “goals”; “intend”; “may”; “milestones”; “objectives”; “outlook”; “plan”; “probably”; “project”; “risks”; “schedule”; “seek”; “should”; “target”; “will”; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this [report], including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cyber security breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this [report] and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, October 31, 2024. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

    All amounts shown throughout this announcement are unaudited. The numbers presented throughout this announcement may not sum precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures, due to rounding.

    Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity

    Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

    Shell’s Net-Zero Emissions Target

    Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

    The content of websites referred to in this announcement does not form part of this announcement.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

    The financial information presented in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”). Statutory accounts for the year ended December 31, 2023 were published in Shell’s Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which was delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, and in Shell’s Form 20-F. The auditor’s report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.

    The information in this announcement does not constitute the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which are contained in Shell’s third quarter 2024 unaudited results available on www.shell.com/investors.

    CONTACTS

    • Media: International +44 207 934 5550; USA +1 832 337 4355

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Shell plc Third Quarter 2024 Interim Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Shell plc Third Quarter 2024 Interim Dividend

    London, October 31, 2024 − The Board of Shell plc (the “Company”) (XLON: SHEL, XNYS: SHEL, XAMS: SHELL) today announced an interim dividend in respect of the third quarter of 2024 of US$ 0.344 per ordinary share.

    Details relating to the third quarter 2024 interim dividend

    Per ordinary share
    (GB00BP6MXD84)
    Q3 2024
    Shell Shares (US$) 0.344

    Shareholders will be able to elect to receive their dividends in US dollars, euros or pounds sterling.

    Absent any valid election to the contrary, persons holding their ordinary shares through Euroclear Nederland will receive their dividends in euros.

    Absent any valid election to the contrary, shareholders (both holding in certificated and uncertificated form (CREST members)) and persons holding their shares through the Shell Corporate Nominee will receive their dividends in pounds sterling.

    The pound sterling and euro equivalent dividend payments will be announced on December 9, 2024.

    Per ADS
    (US7802593050)
    Q3 2024
    Shell ADSs (US$) 0.688

    Cash dividends on American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) will be paid, by default, in US dollars.

    Each ADS represents two ordinary shares. ADSs are evidenced by an American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) certificate. In many cases the terms ADR and ADS are used interchangeably.

    Dividend timetable for the third quarter 2024 interim dividend

    Event Date
    Announcement date October 31, 2024
    Ex- Dividend Date for ADSs November 15, 2024
    Ex- Dividend Date for ordinary shares November 14, 2024
    Record date November 15, 2024
    Closing of currency election date (see Note below) November 29, 2024
    Pound sterling and euro equivalents announcement date December 9, 2024
    Payment date December 19, 2024

    Note

    A different currency election date may apply to shareholders holding shares in a securities account with a bank or financial institution ultimately holding through Euroclear Nederland. This may also apply to other shareholders who do not hold their shares either directly on the Register of Members or in the corporate sponsored nominee arrangement. Shareholders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies.

    Taxation – cash dividends

    If you are uncertain as to the tax treatment of any dividends you should consult your tax advisor.

    Dividend Reinvestment Programmes (“DRIP”)

    The following organisations offer Dividend Reinvestment Plans (“DRIPs”) which enable the Company’s shareholders to elect to have their dividend payments used to purchase the Company’s shares:

    • Equiniti Financial Services Limited (“EFSL”), for those holding shares (a) directly on the register as certificate holder or as CREST Member and (b) via the Shell Corporate Nominee;
    • ABN-AMRO NV (“ABN”) for Financial Intermediaries holding shares via Euroclear Nederland;
    • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPM”) for holders of ADSs; and
    • Other DRIPs may also be available from the intermediary through which investors hold their shares and ADSs.

    These DRIP offerors provide their DRIPs fully on their account and not on behalf of the Company. Interested parties should contact the relevant DRIP offeror directly.

    More information can be found at https://www.shell.com/drip

    To be eligible to participate in the DRIPs for the next dividend, shareholders must make a valid dividend reinvestment election before the published date for the close of elections. 

    Enquiries
    Media International: +44 207 934 5550
    Media Americas: +1 832 337 4355

    Cautionary Note

    The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties.  The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, October 31, 2024. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

    Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
    Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

    Shell’s net-zero emissions target
    Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

    Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures
    This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

    The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC.  Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

    LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70
    Classification: Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of a Member State

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Shell announces commencement of a share buyback programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Shell plc

    Shell announces commencement of a share buyback programme

    October 31, 2024

    Shell plc (the ‘Company’) today announces the commencement of a $3.5 billion share buyback programme covering an aggregate contract term of approximately three months (the ‘programme’). The purpose of the programme is to reduce the issued share capital of the Company. All shares repurchased as part of the programme will be cancelled. It is intended that, subject to market conditions, the programme will be completed prior to the Company’s Q4 2024 results announcement, scheduled for January 30, 2025.

    The Company has entered into an arrangement with a single broker consisting of two irrevocable, non-discretionary contracts, to enable the purchase of ordinary shares on both London market exchanges (the London Stock Exchange and/or on BATS and/or on Chi-X) (pursuant to one ‘London contract’) and Netherlands exchanges (Euronext Amsterdam and/or on CBOE Europe DXE and/or on Turquoise Europe) (pursuant to one ‘Netherlands contract’) for a period up to and including January 24, 2025. The aggregate maximum consideration for the purchase of ordinary shares under the London contract is $2.1 billion and the maximum consideration for the purchase of ordinary shares under the Netherlands contract is $1.4 billion. Purchases under the London contract will be carried out in accordance with the Company’s authority1 to repurchase shares on-market and will be effected within certain contractually agreed parameters. Purchases under the Netherlands contract will be carried out in accordance with the Company’s authority1 to repurchase shares off-market pursuant to the off-market share buyback contract approved by its shareholders and the parameters set out therein.

    The maximum number of ordinary shares which may be purchased or committed to be purchased by the Company under the programme (across both contracts) is 525,000,000, which is the maximum number remaining as of the date of this announcement pursuant to the relevant authorities granted by shareholders at the Company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting1.

    The broker will make its trading decisions in relation to the Company’s securities independently of the Company.

    The programme will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 9 of the UK Listing Rules, Article 5 of the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU dealing with buy-back programmes (‘EU MAR’) and EU MAR as “onshored” into UK law from the end of the Brexit transition period (at 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020) through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), and as amended, supplemented, restated, novated, substituted or replaced including by relevant statutory instruments (including, The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310)), from time to time and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (the ‘EU MAR Delegated Regulation’) and the EU MAR Delegated Regulation as “onshored” into UK law from the end of the Brexit transition period (at 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020) through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), and as amended, supplemented, restated, novated, substituted or replaced, including by relevant statutory instruments (including, The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310)), from time to time.

    1 The existing shareholder authorities to buy back shares granted at the Company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will expire at the earlier of the close of business on August 20, 2025, and the end of the date of the Company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting. The Company expects to seek renewal of shareholder authority to buy back shares at subsequent Annual General Meetings.

    Enquiries

    Media International: +44 (0) 207 934 5550

    Media Americas: +1 832 337 4355

    Cautionary Note

    The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties.  The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, October 31, 2024. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

    Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity

    Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

    Shell’s net-zero emissions target

    Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

    Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures

    This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

    The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

    LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

    Classification: Acquisition or disposal of the issuer’s own shares.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Shell Plc 2025 Interim Dividend Timetable

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHELL PLC 2025 INTERIM DIVIDEND TIMETABLE

    London, October 31, 2024

    The Board of Shell plc today announced the intended timetable for the 2025 quarterly interim dividends.

    2025 Interim Dividend Timetable

    Event 4th Quarter 2024 1st Quarter 2025 2nd Quarter 2025 3rd Quarter 2025
    Announcement date January 30, 2025 May 2, 2025 July 31, 2025 October 30, 2025
    Ex- Dividend Date for ADSs February 14, 2025 May 16, 2025 August 15, 2025 November 14, 2025
    Ex- Dividend Date for ordinary shares February 13, 2025 May 15, 2025 August 14, 2025 November 13, 2025
    Record date February 14, 2025 May 16, 2025 August 15, 2025 November 14, 2025
    Closing date for currency election (see Note below) February 28, 2025 June 2, 2025 September 1, 2025 November 28, 2025
    Pounds sterling and euro equivalents announcement date March 10, 2025 June 9, 2025 September 8, 2025 December 8, 2025
    Payment date March 24, 2025 June 23, 2025 September 22, 2025 December 18, 2025

    Note
    A different currency election date may apply to shareholders holding shares in a securities account with a bank or financial institution ultimately holding through Euroclear Nederland. This may also apply to other shareholders who do not hold their shares either directly on the Register of Members or in the corporate sponsored nominee arrangement. Shareholders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies.

    The 2025 interim dividend timetable is also available on www.shell.com/dividend.

    Enquiries
    Media International: +44 207 934 5550
    Media Americas: +1 832 337 4355

    Cautionary Note
    The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties.  The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, October 31, 2024. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

    Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
    Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

    Shell’s net-zero emissions target
    Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

    Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures
    This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

    The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC.  Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

    LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70
    Classification: Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of a Member State

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission reports on progress and priorities for candidate countries to join EU

    Source: European Union 2

    The Commission has adopted the 2024 enlargement reports, which offer a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by the countries seeking to join the European Union. The reports also provide guidance on key reform priorities for each country.

    The reports cover:

    • Georgia
    • Moldova
    • Türkiye
    • Ukraine
    • Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia)

    The enlargement process gained new momentum throughout 2023 and 2024 with several enlargement countries making progress on their respective paths towards EU accession. However, countries must focus on accelerating structural reforms to enable sustainable growth and make progress in meeting the economic criteria for EU membership. This involves ensuring functioning market economies and demonstrating they can withstand the competitive pressures of the EU market. Additionally, their economic policies should align with the green and digital transition goals.

    The enlargement process is merit-based and depends on the progress made by each of the partners. They must implement irreversible reforms in all areas of EU law, with special emphasis on the fundamentals of the enlargement process. The EU supports the enlargement countries through financing instruments and tools. In addition to the Economic and Investment Plan, the €6 billion Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans and the €50 billion Ukraine Facility aim to bring forward some of the benefits of single market access to these countries before they join the EU. Similarly, the recent €1.8 billion Growth Plan for Moldova will support its socio-economic reforms and boost investment.

    For more information

    Press release: Commission adopts 2024 Enlargement Package

    2024 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy

    How enlargement works

    Factsheet on the EU accession process

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    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: Radware Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Highlights

    • Revenue of $69.5 million, an increase of 13% yearoveryear
    • Cloud ARR of $71.6 million, an increase of 15% year-over-year
    • Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.23 vs. $0.07 in Q3 2023; GAAP diluted EPS of $0.07 vs. $(0.16) in Q3 2023
    • Cash flow from operations of $14.7 million and $58.9 million year-to-date

    TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a leading provider of cyber security and application delivery solutions, today announced its consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

    “We are pleased to report solid third-quarter results, highlighted by 13% year-over-year revenue growth and a significant improvement in profitability and cash flow from operations,” said Roy Zisapel, Radware’s President and CEO. “Our results reflect double-digit growth in subscription revenue, strong sales of software subscriptions, and the ongoing success of DefensePro X, which carries with it more subscription revenue. We are excited about the momentum we’ve built and our future growth prospects.”

    Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter 2024
    Revenue for the third quarter of 2024 totaled $69.5 million:

    • Revenue in the Americas region was $27.7 million for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 11% from $24.9 million in the third quarter of 2023.
    • Revenue in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”) region was $25.2 million for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 30% from $19.3 million in the third quarter of 2023.
    • Revenue in the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) region was $16.6 million for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 5% from $17.4 million in the third quarter of 2023.

    GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2024 was $3.1 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net loss of $6.9 million, or $(0.16) per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023.

    Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2024 was $10.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $2.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023.

    As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term bank deposits, and marketable securities of $411.7 million. Cash flow from operations was $14.7 million in the third quarter of 2024.

    Non-GAAP results are calculated excluding, as applicable, the impact of stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, litigation costs, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net, and tax-related adjustments. A reconciliation of each of the Company’s non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included at the end of this press release.

    Conference Call
    Radware management will host a call today, October 31, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss its third quarter 2024 results and fourth quarter 2024 outlook. To participate on the call, please use the following numbers:
    U.S. participants call toll free: 888-510-2008
    International participants call: 1 646-960-0306
    Conference ID: 1864701

    A replay will be available for two days, starting two hours after the end of the call, on telephone number +1-609-800-9099 or (US toll-free) 800-770-2030. Passcode 1864701.

    The call will be webcast live on the Company’s website at: http://www.radware.com/IR/. The webcast will remain available for replay during the next 12 months.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information and Key Performance Indicators
    In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Radware uses non-GAAP measures of gross profit, research and development expense, selling and marketing expense, general and administrative expense, total operating expenses, operating income, financial income, net, income before taxes on income, taxes on income, net income and diluted earnings per share, which are adjustments from results based on GAAP to exclude, as applicable, stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, litigation costs, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net, and taxrelated adjustments. Management believes that exclusion of these charges allows for meaningful comparisons of operating results across past, present, and future periods. Radware’s management believes the non-GAAP financial measures provided in this release are useful to investors for the purpose of understanding and assessing Radware’s ongoing operations. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included with the financial information contained in this press release. Management uses both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating and operating the business and, as such, has determined that it is important to provide this information to investors.

    Annual recurring revenue (“ARR”) is a key performance indicator defined as the annualized value of booked orders for term-based cloud services, subscription licenses, and maintenance contracts that are in effect at the end of a reporting period. ARR should be viewed independently of revenue and deferred revenue and is not intended to be combined with or to replace either of those items. ARR is not a forecast of future revenue, which can be impacted by contract start and end dates and renewal rates and does not include revenue reported as perpetual license or professional services revenue in our consolidated statement of operations. We consider ARR a key performance indicator of the value of the recurring components of our business.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the tensions between China and Taiwan; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; a shortage of components or manufacturing capacity could cause a delay in our ability to fulfill orders or increase our manufacturing costs; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cyber security and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors, or by a critical system failure; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; our net losses in the past two years and possibility we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cyber security and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

    About Radware
    Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

    Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on: Facebook, LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, YouTube, and Radware Mobile for iOS.

    ©2024 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

    Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

    The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

    CONTACTS
    Investor Relations:
    Yisca Erez, +972-72-3917211, ir@radware.com

    Media Contact:
    Gerri Dyrek, gerri.dyrek@radware.com

    Radware Ltd.
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
           
      September 30,   December 31,
      2024   2023
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Assets      
           
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 115,416   70,538
    Marketable securities 94,809   86,372
    Short-term bank deposits 111,998   173,678
    Trade receivables, net 19,963   20,267
    Other receivables and prepaid expenses 9,891   9,529
    Inventories 13,543   15,544
      365,620   375,928
           
    Long-term investments      
    Marketable securities 30,991   33,131
    Long-term bank deposits 58,468  
    Other assets 2,104   2,166
      91,563   35,297
           
           
    Property and equipment, net 16,499   18,221
    Intangible assets, net 12,742   15,718
    Other long-term assets 35,312   37,967
    Operating lease right-of-use assets 18,433   20,777
    Goodwill 68,008   68,008
    Total assets 608,177   571,916
           
    Liabilities and equity      
           
    Current liabilities      
    Trade payables 6,551   4,298
    Deferred revenues 109,924   105,012
    Operating lease liabilities 4,333   4,684
    Other payables and accrued expenses 46,427   41,021
      167,235   155,015
           
    Long-term liabilities      
    Deferred revenues 65,916   60,499
    Operating lease liabilities 13,658   16,020
    Other long-term liabilities 14,173   17,108
      93,747   93,627
           
    Equity      
    Radware Ltd. equity      
    Share capital 749   742
    Additional paid-in capital 548,240   529,209
    Accumulated other comprehensive income 593   77
    Treasury stock, at cost (366,588)   (365,749)
    Retained earnings 123,398   119,812
    Total Radware Ltd. shareholder’s equity 306,392   284,091
           
    Non–controlling interest 40,803   39,183
           
    Total equity 347,195   323,274
           
    Total liabilities and equity 608,177   571,916
           
    Radware Ltd.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)

    (U.S Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) 
                     
        For the three months ended   For the nine months ended
        September 30,   September 30,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                     
    Revenues   69,488   61,612   201,849   196,260
    Cost of revenues   13,392   12,838   39,260   38,886
    Gross profit   56,096   48,774   162,589   157,374
                     
    Operating expenses, net:                
    Research and development, net   18,654   20,614   56,251   62,905
    Selling and marketing   30,500   30,532   89,945   94,368
    General and administrative   6,948   7,824   21,271   24,378
    Total operating expenses, net   56,102   58,970   167,467   181,651
                     
    Operating loss   (6)   (10,196)   (4,878)   (24,277)
    Financial income, net   4,957   3,778   12,982   10,688
    Income (loss) before taxes on income   4,951   (6,418)   8,104   (13,589)
    Taxes on income   1,807   433   4,518   2,151
    Net income (loss)   3,144   (6,851)   3,586   (15,740)
                     
    Basic net income (loss) per share attributed to Radware Ltd.’s shareholders   0.07   (0.16)   0.09   (0.36)
                     
    Weighted average number of shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share   41,956,001   42,261,637   41,854,984   43,232,405
                     
    Diluted net income (loss) per share attributed to Radware Ltd.’s shareholders   0.07   (0.16)   0.08   (0.36)
                     
    Weighted average number of shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share   43,573,161   42,261,637   43,199,279   43,232,405
                     
      Radware Ltd.
    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information
    (U.S Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
                     
        For the three months ended   For the nine months ended
        September 30,   September 30,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    GAAP gross profit 56,096   48,774   162,589   157,374
      Share-based compensation 81   177   240   403
      Amortization of intangible assets 992   992   2,976   2,976
    Non-GAAP gross profit 57,169   49,943   165,805   160,753
                     
    GAAP research and development, net 18,654   20,614   56,251   62,905
      Share-based compensation 1,421   2,064   4,679   6,200
    Non-GAAP Research and development, net 17,233   18,550   51,572   56,705
                     
    GAAP selling and marketing 30,500   30,532   89,945   94,368
      Share-based compensation 2,548   2,134   7,708   9,065
      Restructuring costs   1,273     1,273
    Non-GAAP selling and marketing 27,952   27,125   82,237   84,030
                     
    GAAP general and administrative 6,948   7,824   21,271   24,378
      Share-based compensation 2,008   2,884   6,480   9,483
      Acquisition costs 159   211   571   769
    Non-GAAP general and administrative 4,781   4,729   14,220   14,126
                     
    GAAP total operating expenses, net 56,102   58,970   167,467   181,651
      Share-based compensation 5,977   7,082   18,867   24,748
      Acquisition costs 159   211   571   769
      Restructuring costs   1,273     1,273
    Non-GAAP total operating expenses, net 49,966   50,404   148,029   154,861
                     
    GAAP operating loss (6)   (10,196)   (4,878)   (24,277)
      Share-based compensation 6,058   7,259   19,107   25,151
      Amortization of intangible assets 992   992   2,976   2,976
      Acquisition costs 159   211   571   769
      Restructuring costs   1,273     1,273
    Non-GAAP operating income (loss) 7,203   (461)   17,776   5,892
                     
    GAAP financial income, net 4,957   3,778   12,982   10,688
      Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net (86)   37   (231)   (770)
    Non-GAAP financial income, net 4,871   3,815   12,751   9,918
                     
    GAAP income (loss) before taxes on income 4,951   (6,418)   8,104   (13,589)
      Share-based compensation 6,058   7,259   19,107   25,151
      Amortization of intangible assets 992   992   2,976   2,976
      Acquisition costs 159   211   571   769
      Restructuring costs   1,273     1,273
      Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net (86)   37   (231)   (770)
    Non-GAAP income before taxes on income 12,074   3,354   30,527   15,810
                     
    GAAP taxes on income 1,807   433   4,518   2,151
      Tax related adjustments 62   62   185   185
    Non-GAAP taxes on income 1,869   495   4,703   2,336
                     
    GAAP net income (loss) 3,144   (6,851)   3,586   (15,740)
      Share-based compensation 6,058   7,259   19,107   25,151
      Amortization of intangible assets 992   992   2,976   2,976
      Acquisition costs 159   211   571   769
      Restructuring costs   1,273     1,273
      Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net (86)   37   (231)   (770)
      Tax related adjustments (62)   (62)   (185)   (185)
    Non-GAAP net income 10,205   2,859   25,824   13,474
                     
    GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share 0.07   (0.16)   0.08   (0.36)
      Share-based compensation 0.14   0.17   0.45   0.57
      Amortization of intangible assets 0.02   0.03   0.07   0.07
      Acquisition costs 0.00   0.00   0.01   0.02
      Restructuring costs 0.00   0.03   0.00   0.03
      Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net (0.00)   0.00   (0.01)   (0.02)
      Tax related adjustments (0.00)   (0.00)   (0.00)   0.00
    Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share 0.23   0.07   0.60   0.31
                     
                     
    Weighted average number of shares used to compute non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share 43,573,161   43,163,159   43,199,279   44,058,549
                   
    Radware Ltd.
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
    (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
                     
        For the three months ended   For the nine months ended
        September 30,   September 30,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Cash flow from operating activities:                
                     
    Net income (loss)   3,144   (6,851)   3,586   (15,740)
    Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:                
    Depreciation and amortization   2,947   3,025   8,918   9,216
    Share-based compensation   6,058   7,259   19,107   25,151
    Amortization of premium, accretion of discounts and accrued interest on marketable securities, net   (234)   161   (227)   1,116
    Loss related to securities, net         244
    Increase (decrease) in accrued interest on bank deposits   (814)   (2,289)   4,645   (3,814)
    Increase (decrease) in accrued severance pay, net   147   (401)   106   (506)
    Decrease in trade receivables, net   5,536   4,448   304   5,380
    Decrease (increase) in other receivables and prepaid expenses and other long-term assets   749   (215)   1,155   (2,541)
    Decrease (increase) in inventories   253   (671)   2,001   (1,566)
    Increase (decrease) in trade payables   2,474   (1,778)   2,253   (395)
    Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues   (6,059)   (12,311)   10,329   (11,095)
    Increase (decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses   259   644   7,052   (10,798)
    Operating lease liabilities, net   248   (804)   (369)   (805)
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   14,708   (9,783)   58,860   (6,153)
                     
    Cash flows from investing activities:                
                     
    Purchase of property and equipment   (1,412)   (1,130)   (4,220)   (4,493)
    Proceeds from other long-term assets, net   46   29   40   77
    Proceeds from (investment in) bank deposits, net   9,731   21,145   (1,433)   51,345
    Investment in, redemption of and purchase of marketable securities, net   5,541   2,228   (4,456)   347
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   13,906   22,272   (10,069)   47,276
                     
    Cash flows from financing activities:                
                     
    Proceeds from exercise of share options       3   308
    Repurchase of shares     (20,648)   (839)   (53,131)
    Payment of contingent consideration related to acquisition     (2,063)   (3,077)   (2,063)
    Net cash used in financing activities     (22,711)   (3,913)   (54,886)
                     
    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   28,614   (10,222)   44,878   (13,763)
    Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period   86,802   42,644   70,538   46,185
    Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period   115,416   32,422   115,416   32,422
                     
      Radware Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA (NON-GAAP)

    (U.S Dollars in thousands)
                     
        For the three months ended   For the nine months ended
        September 30,   September 30,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    GAAP net income (loss) 3,144   (6,851)   3,586   (15,740)
      Exclude: Financial income, net (4,957)   (3,778)   (12,982)   (10,688)
      Exclude: Depreciation and amortization expense 2,947   3,025   8,918   9,216
      Exclude: Taxes on income 1,807   433   4,518   2,151
    EBITDA 2,941   (7,171)   4,040   (15,061)
                     
      Share-based compensation 6,058   7,259   19,107   25,151
      Restructuring costs   1,273     1,273
      Acquisition costs 159   211   571   769
    Adjusted EBITDA 9,158   1,572   23,718   12,132
                     
                     
        For the three months ended   For the nine months ended
        September 30,   September 30,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
      Amortization of intangible assets 992   992   2,976   2,976
      Depreciation 1,955   2,033   5,942   6,240
        2,947   3,025   8,918   9,216
                     

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: WTW Reports Third Quarter 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Revenue1 increased 6% to $2.3 billion for the quarter with organic growth of 6% for the quarter
    • Diluted Loss2 per Share was $16.44 for the quarter
    • Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share were $2.93 for the quarter, up 31% from prior year
    • Operating Margin2 was (33.5)% for the quarter
    • Adjusted Operating Margin was 18.1% for the quarter, up 190 basis points from prior year

    LONDON, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) (the “Company”), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

    “We had another strong quarter fueled by revenue growth, operating leverage and the success of our Transformation program. Our revenue growth of 6% for the quarter is evidence that our value proposition is continuing to resonate in the market and that our investments in talent and technology are succeeding. We are also making ongoing progress on our commitment to improve cash flow. Given our strong performance and momentum, we are entering the fourth quarter with confidence in our ability to deliver on our targets for the year and drive sustainable, profitable growth going forward.”

    Consolidated Results

    As reported, USD millions, except %

    Key Metrics Q3-24 Q3-23 Y/Y Change
    Revenue1 $2,289 $2,166 Reported 6% | CC 6% | Organic 6%
    (Loss)/Income from Operations2 $(766) $159 NM
    Operating Margin2 % (33.5)% 7.3% NM
    Adjusted Operating Income $414 $351 18%
    Adjusted Operating Margin % 18.1% 16.2% 190 bps
    Net (Loss)/Income2 $(1,672) $139 NM
    Adjusted Net Income $299 $236 27%
    Diluted EPS2 $(16.44) $1.29 NM
    Adjusted Diluted EPS $2.93 $2.24 31%
    1 The revenue amounts included in this release are presented on a U.S. GAAP basis except where stated otherwise. This excludes reinsurance revenue which is reported in discontinued operations. The segment discussion is on an organic basis.
    2 Loss from Operations, Operating Margin, Net Loss and Diluted EPS for the third quarter of 2024 include pre-tax non-cash losses and impairment charges of over $1.0 billion each related to the pending sale of TRANZACT.
    NM Not meaningful.

    Revenue was $2.29 billion for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 6% as compared to $2.17 billion for the same period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, revenue increased 6%. On an organic basis, revenue increased 6%. See Supplemental Segment Information for additional detail on book-of-business settlements and interest income included in revenue.

    Net Loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $1.67 billion compared to Net Income of $139 million in the prior-year third quarter. Loss from Operations, Operating Margin, Net Loss and Diluted EPS for the third quarter of 2024 include pre-tax non-cash losses and impairment charges of over $1.0 billion each related to the pending sale of TRANZACT. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $501 million, or 21.9% of revenue, an increase of 15%, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $436 million, or 20.1% of revenue, in the prior-year third quarter. The U.S. GAAP tax rate for the third quarter was 16.1%, and the adjusted income tax rate for the third quarter used in calculating adjusted diluted earnings per share was 19.7%.

    Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

    Cash flows from operating activities were $913 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $823 million for the prior year. Free cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was $807 million and $707 million, respectively, an increase of $100 million, primarily driven by operating margin expansion, partially offset by cash outflows related to transformation and discretionary compensation payments. During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the Company repurchased $205 million of WTW outstanding shares.

    Third Quarter 2024 Segment Highlights

    Health, Wealth & Career (“HWC”)

    As reported, USD millions, except %

    Health, Wealth & Career Q3-24 Q3-23 Y/Y Change
    Total Revenue $1,328 $1,282 Reported 4% | CC 3% | Organic 4%
    Operating Income $329 $305 8%
    Operating Margin % 24.7% 23.8% 90 bps

    The HWC segment had revenue of $1.33 billion in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 4% (3% increase constant currency and 4% organic) from $1.28 billion in the prior year. Health had organic revenue growth driven by strong client retention, new local appointments and the continued expansion of our Global Benefits Management client portfolio in International and Europe, along with increased brokerage income in North America. Wealth generated organic revenue growth from higher levels of Retirement work in Europe, an increase in our Investments business due to capital market improvements and growth from our LifeSight solution. Career had organic revenue growth from increased compensation survey sales and advisory services in Work & Rewards and product revenue in Employee Experience. Benefits Delivery & Outsourcing (BD&O) had an organic revenue decline for the quarter primarily as a result of deliberately moderating growth in Individual Marketplace and a stronger comparable in Outsourcing.

    Operating margins in the HWC segment increased 90 basis points from the prior-year third quarter to 24.7%, primarily from Transformation savings. Please refer to the Supplemental Slides for TRANZACT’s standalone historical financial results.

    Risk & Broking (“R&B”)

    As reported, USD millions, except %

    Risk & Broking Q3-24 Q3-23 Y/Y Change
    Total Revenue $940 $855 Reported 10% | CC 10% | Organic 10%
    Operating Income $170 $134 27%
    Operating Margin % 18.1% 15.7% 240 bps

    The R&B segment had revenue of $940 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 10% (10% increase constant currency and organic) from $855 million in the prior year. Corporate Risk & Broking (CRB) had organic revenue growth driven by higher levels of new business activity and strong client retention. Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) had organic revenue growth for the quarter primarily due to strong software sales in Technology, partially offset by tempered demand for discretionary services in Consulting.

    Operating margins in the R&B segment increased 240 basis points from the prior-year third quarter to 18.1%, primarily due to operating leverage driven by organic revenue growth and disciplined expense management, as well as Transformation savings.

    2024 Outlook

    Based on current and anticipated market conditions, the Company’s full-year targets for 2024, consistent with those targets that have been previously provided, are as follows. Refer to the Supplemental Slides for additional detail.

    • Expect to deliver revenue of $9.9 billion or greater and mid-single digit organic revenue growth for the full year 2024
    • Expect to deliver adjusted operating margin of 23.0% – 23.5% for the full year 2024
    • Expect to deliver adjusted diluted earnings per share of $16.00 – $17.00 for the full year 2024
    • Expect approximately $88 million in non-cash pension income for the full year 2024
    • Expect a foreign currency headwind on adjusted earnings per share of approximately $0.06 for the full year 2024 at today’s rates, down from $0.10 previously
    • Expect to deliver approximately $450 million of cumulative run-rate savings from the Transformation program by the end of 2024 with total program costs of $1.175 billion.

    Outlook includes Non-GAAP financial measures. We do not reconcile forward-looking Non-GAAP measures for reasons explained below.

    In addition, WTW will host an Investor Day on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 beginning at approximately 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast presentation will be available at www.wtwco.com and a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website following the event.

    Conference Call

    The Company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss the financial results for the third quarter 2024. It will be held on Thursday, October 31, 2024, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available on WTW’s website here. The conference call will include a question-and-answer session. To participate in the question-and-answer session, please register here. An online replay will be available at www.wtwco.com shortly after the call concludes.

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance. Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at www.wtwco.com.

    WTW Non-GAAP Measures

    In order to assist readers of our consolidated financial statements in understanding the core operating results that WTW’s management uses to evaluate the business and for financial planning, we present the following non-GAAP measures: (1) Constant Currency Change, (2) Organic Change, (3) Adjusted Operating Income/Margin, (4) Adjusted EBITDA/Margin, (5) Adjusted Net Income, (6) Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, (7) Adjusted Income Before Taxes, (8) Adjusted Income Taxes/Tax Rate, (9) Free Cash Flow and (10) Free Cash Flow Margin.

    We believe that those measures are relevant and provide pertinent information widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in our industry to provide a baseline for evaluating and comparing our operating performance, and in the case of free cash flow, our liquidity results.

    Within the measures referred to as ‘adjusted’, we adjust for significant items which will not be settled in cash, or which we believe to be items that are not core to our current or future operations. Some of these items may not be applicable for the current quarter, however they may be part of our full-year results. Additionally, we have historically adjusted for certain items which are not described below, but for which we may adjust in a future period when applicable. Items applicable to the quarter or full year results, or the comparable periods, include the following:

    • Restructuring costs and transaction and transformation – Management believes it is appropriate to adjust for restructuring costs and transaction and transformation when they relate to a specific significant program with a defined set of activities and costs that are not expected to continue beyond a defined period of time, or significant acquisition-related transaction expenses. We believe the adjustment is necessary to present how the Company is performing, both now and in the future when the incurrence of these costs will have concluded.
    • Impairment – Adjustment to remove the non-cash goodwill impairment associated with our Benefits, Delivery and Administration reporting unit related to the pending divestiture of our TRANZACT business.
    • Provisions for specified litigation matters – We will include provisions for litigation matters which we believe are not representative of our core business operations. Among other things, we determine this by reference to the amount of the loss (net of insurance and other recovery receivables) and by reference to whether the matter relates to an unusual and complex scenario that is not expected to be repeated as part of our ongoing, ordinary business. These amounts are presented net of insurance and other recovery receivables. See the footnotes to the respective reconciliation tables below for more specificity on the litigation matter excluded from adjusted results.
    • Gains and losses on disposals of operations – Adjustment to remove the gains or losses resulting from disposed operations that have not been classified as discontinued operations.
    • Tax effect of significant adjustments – Relates to the incremental tax expense or benefit resulting from significant or unusual events including significant statutory tax rate changes enacted in material jurisdictions in which we operate, internal reorganizations of ownership of certain businesses that reduced the investment held by our U.S.-controlled subsidiaries and the recovery of certain refunds or payment of taxes related to businesses in which we no longer participate.

    We evaluate our revenue on an as reported (U.S. GAAP), constant currency and organic basis. We believe presenting constant currency and organic information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our comparable results, consistent with how we evaluate our performance internally.

    We consider Constant Currency Change, Organic Change, Adjusted Operating Income/Margin, Adjusted EBITDA/Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Adjusted Income Before Taxes, Adjusted Income Taxes/Tax Rate and Free Cash Flow to be important financial measures, which are used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating and liquidity results against our competitors. These non-GAAP measures are important in illustrating what our comparable operating and liquidity results would have been had we not incurred transaction-related and non-recurring items. Reconciliations of these measures are included in the accompanying tables with the following exception: The Company does not reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures, due to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections and/or certain information not being ascertainable or accessible; and because not all of the information, such as foreign currency impacts necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is available to the Company without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. The Company provides non-GAAP financial measures that it believes will be achieved, however it cannot accurately predict all of the components of the adjusted calculations and the U.S. GAAP measures may be materially different than the non-GAAP measures.

    Our non-GAAP measures and their accompanying definitions are presented as follows:

    Constant Currency Change – Represents the year-over-year change in revenue excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. To calculate this impact, the prior year local currency results are first translated using the current year monthly average exchange rates. The change is calculated by comparing the prior year revenue, translated at the current year monthly average exchange rates, to the current year as reported revenue, for the same period. We believe constant currency measures provide useful information to investors because they provide transparency to performance by excluding the effects that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on period-over-period comparability given volatility in foreign currency exchange markets.

    Organic Change – Excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, as described above and the period-over-period impact of acquisitions and divestitures on current-year revenue. We believe that excluding transaction-related items from our U.S. GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental information to our investors, and it is important in illustrating what our core operating results would have been had we not included these transaction-related items, since the nature, size and number of these transaction-related items can vary from period to period.

    Adjusted Operating Income/Margin – (Loss)/Income from operations adjusted for impairment, amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and transformation and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results. Adjusted operating income margin is calculated by dividing adjusted operating income by revenue. We consider adjusted operating income/margin to be important financial measures, which are used internally to evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating results against our competitors.

    Adjusted EBITDA/Margin – Net (Loss)/Income adjusted for provision for income taxes, interest expense, impairment, depreciation and amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and transformation, gains and losses on disposals of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated by dividing adjusted EBITDA by revenue. We consider adjusted EBITDA/margin to be important financial measures, which are used internally to evaluate and assess our core operations, to benchmark our operating results against our competitors and to evaluate and measure our performance-based compensation plans.

    Adjusted Net Income – Net (Loss)/Income Attributable to WTW adjusted for impairment, amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and transformation, gains and losses on disposals of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results and the related tax effect of those adjustments and the tax effects of internal reorganizations. This measure is used solely for the purpose of calculating adjusted diluted earnings per share.

    Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share – Adjusted Net Income divided by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares, diluted. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating results against our competitors.

    Adjusted Income Before Taxes – (Loss)/Income from operations before income taxes adjusted for impairment, amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and transformation, gains and losses on disposals of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results. Adjusted income before taxes is used solely for the purpose of calculating the adjusted income tax rate.

    Adjusted Income Taxes/Tax Rate – Benefit from/(provision for) income taxes adjusted for taxes on certain items of impairment, amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and transformation, gains and losses on disposals of operations, the tax effects of internal reorganizations, and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results, divided by adjusted income before taxes. Adjusted income taxes is used solely for the purpose of calculating the adjusted income tax rate. Management believes that the adjusted income tax rate presents a rate that is more closely aligned to the rate that we would incur if not for the reduction of pre-tax income for the adjusted items and the tax effects of internal reorganizations, which are not core to our current and future operations.

    Free Cash Flow – Cash flows from operating activities less cash used to purchase fixed assets and software for internal use. Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure and is not meant to represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Management believes that free cash flow presents the core operating performance and cash-generating capabilities of our business operations.

    Free Cash Flow Margin – Free Cash Flow as a percentage of revenue, which represents how much of revenue would be realized on a cash basis. We consider this measure to be a meaningful metric for tracking cash conversion on a year-over-year basis due to the non-cash nature of our pension income, which is included in our GAAP and Non-GAAP earnings metrics presented herein.

    These non-GAAP measures are not defined in the same manner by all companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the information contained within our condensed consolidated financial statements.

    WTW Forward-Looking Statements

    This document contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events, or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including such things as our outlook, plans and references to future performance, including our future financial and operating results (including our revenue, costs, or margins), short-term and long-term financial goals, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, including with respect to organic revenue growth, free cash flow generation, adjusted net revenue, adjusted operating margin and adjusted earnings per share; future share repurchases; demand for our services and competitive strengths; strategic goals; existing and evolving business strategies including those related to acquisition and disposition activity; the benefits of new initiatives; the growth of our business and operations; the sustained health of our product, service, transaction, client, and talent assessment and management pipelines; our ability to successfully manage ongoing leadership, organizational, and technology changes, including investments in improving systems and processes; our ability to implement and realize anticipated benefits of any cost-savings initiatives including our multi-year operational transformation program; the potential impact of natural or man-made disasters like health pandemics and other world health crises; future capital expenditures; ongoing working capital efforts; the impact of changes to tax laws on our financial results; and our recognition of future impairment charges or write-off of receivables, are forward-looking statements. Also, when we use words such as ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘continues’, ‘seek’, ‘target’, ‘goal’, ‘focus’, ‘probably’, or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking disclosure is speculative by its nature.

    There are important risks, uncertainties, events and factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained in this document, including the following: our ability to successfully establish, execute and achieve our global business strategy as it evolves; our ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits of our growth strategy, including inorganic growth through acquisitions; our ability to make divestitures, including the pending sale of our TRANZACT business (inclusive of all the legal entities that comprise such business), or acquisitions, including our ability to integrate or manage acquired businesses or de-integrate businesses to be disposed, as well as our ability to identify and successfully execute on opportunities for strategic collaboration; our ability to consummate the pending sale of TRANZACT, and related incremental risks associated therewith including our ability to obtain approval (or for applicable waiting periods to expire) under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976; our ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes, including as part of our multi-year operational transformation program, investments in improving systems and processes, and in connection with our acquisition and divestiture activities, including the pending sale of TRANZACT, and related to changes in leadership in any of our businesses; risks relating to changes in our management structures and in senior leadership; our ability to achieve our short-term and long-term financial goals, such as with respect to our cash flow generation, and the timing with respect to such achievement; the risks related to changes in general economic conditions, business and political conditions, changes in the financial markets, inflation, credit availability, increased interest rates and changes in trade policies; the risks to our short-term and long-term financial goals from any of the risks or uncertainties set forth herein; the risks relating to the adverse impacts of macroeconomic trends, including inflation, changes in interest rates and trade policies, as well as political events, war, such as the Russia-Ukraine and Middle East conflicts, and other international disputes, terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues and other business interruptions on the global economy and capital markets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and long-term goals; our ability to successfully hedge against fluctuations in foreign currency rates; the risks relating to the adverse impacts of natural or man-made disasters such as health pandemics and other world health crises on the demand for our products and services, our cash flows and our business operations; material interruptions to or loss of our information processing capabilities, or failure to effectively maintain and upgrade our information technology resources and systems and related risks of cybersecurity breaches or incidents; our ability to comply with complex and evolving regulations related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence; the risks relating to the transitional arrangements in effect subsequent to our previously-completed sale of Willis Re to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.; significant competition that we face and the potential for loss of market share and/or profitability; the impact of seasonality and differences in timing of renewals and non-recurring revenue increases from disposals and book-of-business sales; the insufficiency of client data protection, potential breaches of information systems or insufficient safeguards against cybersecurity breaches or incidents; the risk of increased liability or new legal claims arising from our new and existing products and services, and expectations, intentions and outcomes relating to outstanding litigation; the risk of substantial negative outcomes on existing litigation or investigation matters; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including, among other risks, the impacts of pending competition law and regulatory investigations; various claims, government inquiries or investigations or the potential for regulatory action; our ability to integrate direct-to-consumer sales and marketing solutions with our existing offerings and solutions; disasters or business continuity problems; our ability to successfully enhance our billing, collection and other working capital efforts, and thereby increase our free cash flow; our ability to properly identify and manage conflicts of interest; reputational damage, including from association with third parties; reliance on third-party service providers and suppliers; the loss of key employees or a large number of employees and rehiring rates; our ability to maintain our corporate culture; doing business internationally, including the impact of foreign currency exchange rates; compliance with extensive government regulation; the risk of sanctions imposed by governments, or changes to associated sanction regulations (such as sanctions imposed on Russia) and related counter-sanctions; our ability to effectively apply technology, data and analytics changes for internal operations, maintaining industry standards and meeting client preferences; changes and developments in the insurance industry or the U.S. healthcare system, including those related to Medicare, any legislative actions from the current U.S. Congress, the recent Final Rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for contract year 2025 and any judicial claims, rulings and appeals related thereto, and any other changes and developments in legal, regulatory, economic, business or operational conditions that could impact our Medicare benefits businesses such as TRANZACT; the inability to protect our intellectual property rights, or the potential infringement upon the intellectual property rights of others; fluctuations in our pension assets and liabilities and related changes in pension income, including as a result of, related to, or derived from movements in the interest rate environment, investment returns, inflation, or changes in other assumptions that are used to estimate our benefit obligations and their effect on adjusted earnings per share; our capital structure, including indebtedness amounts, the limitations imposed by the covenants in the documents governing such indebtedness and the maintenance of the financial and disclosure controls and procedures of each; our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all; adverse changes in our credit ratings; the impact of recent or potential changes to U.S. or foreign laws, and the enactment of additional, or the revision of existing, state, federal, and/or foreign laws and regulations, recent judicial decisions and development of case law, other regulations and any policy changes and legislative actions, including those that may impose additional excise taxes or impact our effective tax rate; U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. persons owning at least 10% of our shares; changes in accounting principles, estimates or assumptions; our recognition of non-cash pre-tax losses and related impairment charges in connection with our pending sale of TRANZACT and other future impairment charges or write-offs of receivables; risks relating to or arising from environmental, social and governance practices; fluctuation in revenue against our relatively fixed or higher than expected expenses; the risk that investment levels, including cash spending, to achieve additional expected savings under our multi-year operational transformation program; the laws of Ireland being different from the laws of the U.S. and potentially affording less protections to the holders of our securities; and our holding company structure potentially preventing us from being able to receive dividends or other distributions in needed amounts from our subsidiaries.

    The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and new factors may emerge from time to time that could also affect actual performance and results. For more information, please see Part I, Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our subsequent filings with the SEC. Copies are available online at www.sec.gov or www.wtwco.com.

    Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and therefore also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. Given the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this document, our inclusion of this information is not a representation or guarantee by us that our objectives and plans will be achieved.

    Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require us to do so. With regard to these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur, and we caution you against unduly relying on these forward-looking statements.

    Contact

    INVESTORS

    Claudia De La Hoz | Claudia.Delahoz@wtwco.com

    WTW
    Supplemental Segment Information
    (In millions of U.S. dollars)
    (Unaudited)
    REVENUE    
                  Components of Revenue Change(i)
                        Less:       Less:    
        Three Months Ended
     September 30,
        As Reported   Currency   Constant Currency   Acquisitions/   Organic
        2024     2023     % Change   Impact   Change   Divestitures   Change
                                     
    Health, Wealth & Career                                
    Revenue excluding interest income   $ 1,320     $ 1,275     4 %   0 %   3 %   0 %   4 %
    Interest income     8       7                      
    Total     1,328       1,282     4 %   0 %   3 %   0 %   4 %
                                     
    Risk & Broking                                
    Revenue excluding interest income   $ 911     $ 830     10 %   0 %   10 %   0 %   10 %
    Interest income     29       25                      
    Total     940       855     10 %   0 %   10 %   0 %   10 %
                                     
    Segment Revenue   $ 2,268     $ 2,137     6 %   0 %   6 %   0 %   6 %
    Reimbursable expenses and other     15       22                      
    Interest income     6       7                      
    Revenue   $ 2,289     $ 2,166     6 %   0 %   6 %   0 %   6%(ii)  
                  Components of Revenue Change(i)
                        Less:       Less:    
        Nine Months Ended September 30,     As Reported   Currency   Constant Currency   Acquisitions/   Organic
        2024     2023     % Change   Impact   Change   Divestitures   Change
                                     
    Health, Wealth & Career                                
    Revenue excluding interest income   $ 3,898     $ 3,766     4 %   0 %   4 %   0 %   4 %
    Interest income     26       18                      
    Total     3,924       3,784     4 %   0 %   4 %   0 %   4 %
                                     
    Risk & Broking                                
    Revenue excluding interest income   $ 2,811     $ 2,607     8 %   0 %   8 %   0 %   8 %
    Interest income     86       52                      
    Total     2,897       2,659     9 %   0 %   9 %   0 %   9 %
                                     
    Segment Revenue   $ 6,821     $ 6,443     6 %   0 %   6 %   0 %   6 %
    Reimbursable expenses and other     56       90                      
    Interest income     18       36                      
    Revenue   $ 6,895     $ 6,569     5 %   0 %   5 %   0 %   5%(ii)  

    (i)  Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.
    (ii)  Interest income did not contribute to organic change for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

    BOOK-OF-BUSINESS SETTLEMENTS AND INTEREST INCOME

        Three Months Ended September 30,  
        HWC     R&B     Corporate     Total  
        2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Book-of-business settlements   $ 3     $     $ 4     $ 1     $     $     $ 7     $ 1  
    Interest income     8       7       29       25       6       7       43       39  
    Total   $ 11     $ 7     $ 33     $ 26     $ 6     $ 7     $ 50     $ 40  
        Nine Months Ended September 30,  
        HWC     R&B     Corporate     Total  
        2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Book-of-business settlements   $ 3     $     $ 8     $ 11     $     $     $ 11     $ 11  
    Interest income     26       18       86       52       18       36       130       106  
    Total   $ 29     $ 18     $ 94     $ 63     $ 18     $ 36     $ 141     $ 117  


    SEGMENT OPERATING INCOME (i)

        Three Months Ended
    September 30,
       
                   
                   
                       
                       
                       
        2024     2023    
                   
                   
                       
                       
                       
                   
                   
                   
                       
                       
                       
    Health, Wealth & Career   $ 329     $ 305    
                   
                   
                       
                       
                       
    Risk & Broking     170       134    
                   
                   
                       
                       
                       
    Segment Operating Income   $ 499     $ 439    
        Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
     
        2024     2023  
                 
    Health, Wealth & Career   $ 941     $ 836  
    Risk & Broking     575       459  
    Segment Operating Income   $ 1,516     $ 1,295  

    (i) Segment operating income excludes certain costs, including amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, transaction and transformation expenses, certain litigation provisions, and to the extent that the actual expense based upon which allocations are made differs from the forecast/budget amount, a reconciling item will be created between internally-allocated expenses and the actual expenses reported for U.S. GAAP purposes.

    SEGMENT OPERATING MARGINS

        Three Months Ended September 30,
        2024   2023
    Health, Wealth & Career   24.7%   23.8%
    Risk & Broking   18.1%   15.7%
        Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
        2024   2023
    Health, Wealth & Career   24.0%   22.1%
    Risk & Broking   19.8%   17.3%


    RECONCILIATIONS OF SEGMENT OPERATING INCOME TO (LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

        Three Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
                 
    Segment Operating Income   $ 499     $ 439  
    Impairment(i)     (1,042 )      
    Amortization     (56 )     (62 )
    Restructuring costs     (8 )     (17 )
    Transaction and transformation(ii)     (74 )     (113 )
    Unallocated, net(iii)     (85 )     (88 )
    (Loss)/Income from Operations     (766 )     159  
    Interest expense     (65 )     (61 )
    Other (loss)/income, net     (1,163 )     66  
    (Loss)/income from operations before income taxes   $ (1,994 )   $ 164  
        Nine Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
                 
    Segment Operating Income   $ 1,516     $ 1,295  
    Impairment(i)     (1,042 )      
    Amortization     (176 )     (203 )
    Restructuring costs     (29 )     (30 )
    Transaction and transformation(ii)     (296 )     (265 )
    Unallocated, net(iii)     (247 )     (211 )
    (Loss)/Income from Operations     (274 )     586  
    Interest expense     (197 )     (172 )
    Other (loss)/income, net     (1,113 )     126  
    (Loss)/income from operations before income taxes   $ (1,584 )   $ 540  

     (i) Represents the non-cash goodwill impairment associated with our BDA reporting unit related to the pending divestiture of our TRANZACT business.
     (ii) In 2024 and 2023, in addition to legal fees and other transaction costs, includes primarily consulting fees and compensation costs related to the Transformation program.
     (iii) Includes certain costs, primarily related to corporate functions which are not directly related to the segments, and certain differences between budgeted expenses determined at the beginning of the year and actual expenses that we report for U.S. GAAP purposes.

    WTW
    Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures
    (In millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)

    RECONCILIATIONS OF NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WTW TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

        Three Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
                 
    Net (loss)/income attributable to WTW   $ (1,675 )   $ 136  
    Adjusted for certain items:            
    Impairment     1,042        
    Amortization     56       62  
    Restructuring costs     8       17  
    Transaction and transformation     74       113  
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (41 )
    Tax effect on certain items listed above(ii)     (396 )     (51 )
    Adjusted Net Income   $ 299     $ 236  
                 
    Weighted-average ordinary shares, diluted     102       105  
                 
    Diluted (Loss)/Earnings Per Share   $ (16.44 )   $ 1.29  
    Adjusted for certain items:(iii)            
    Impairment     10.23        
    Amortization     0.55       0.59  
    Restructuring costs     0.08       0.16  
    Transaction and transformation     0.73       1.07  
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     11.68       (0.39 )
    Tax effect on certain items listed above(ii)     (3.89 )     (0.48 )
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(iii)   $ 2.93     $ 2.24  
        Nine Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
                 
    Net (loss)/income attributable to WTW   $ (1,344 )   $ 433  
    Adjusted for certain items:            
    Impairment     1,042        
    Amortization     176       203  
    Restructuring costs     29       30  
    Transaction and transformation     296       265  
    Provision for specified litigation matter(i)     13        
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (44 )
    Tax effect on certain items listed above(ii)     (492 )     (128 )
    Tax effect of significant adjustments     (7 )     2  
    Adjusted Net Income   $ 903     $ 761  
                 
    Weighted-average ordinary shares, diluted     103       107  
                 
    Diluted (Loss)/Earnings Per Share   $ (13.11 )   $ 4.06  
    Adjusted for certain items:(iii)            
    Impairment     10.17        
    Amortization     1.72       1.90  
    Restructuring costs     0.28       0.28  
    Transaction and transformation     2.89       2.48  
    Provision for specified litigation matter(i)     0.13        
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     11.61       (0.41 )
    Tax effect on certain items listed above(ii)     (4.80 )     (1.20 )
    Tax effect of significant adjustments     (0.07 )     0.02  
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(iii)   $ 8.81     $ 7.13  

     (i) Represents a provision related to potential litigation arising out of a structured insurance program originally placed for a client over 15 years ago. The program is of a type and complexity that was highly bespoke to the client and for that reason is unlikely to be exactly replicated elsewhere. Because of this, while we do not believe the potential litigation is material, we believe excluding this matter from adjusted results makes results more comparable from period to period and more representative of our core business operations.
    (ii) The tax effect was calculated using an effective tax rate for each item.
    (iii) Per share values and totals may differ due to rounding.

    RECONCILIATIONS OF NET (LOSS)/INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA

        Three Months Ended September 30,    
        2024     2023    
                   
    Net (Loss)/Income   $ (1,672 ) (73.0 )% $ 139   6.4 %
    Provision for income taxes     (322 )     25    
    Interest expense     65       61    
    Impairment     1,042          
    Depreciation     60       60    
    Amortization     56       62    
    Restructuring costs     8       17    
    Transaction and transformation     74       113    
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (41 )  
    Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin   $ 501   21.9 % $ 436   20.1 %
        Nine Months Ended September 30,    
        2024     2023    
                   
    Net (Loss)/Income   $ (1,336 ) (19.4 )% $ 441   6.7 %
    Provision for income taxes     (248 )     99    
    Interest expense     197       172    
    Impairment     1,042          
    Depreciation     176       184    
    Amortization     176       203    
    Restructuring costs     29       30    
    Transaction and transformation     296       265    
    Provision for specified litigation matter(i)     13          
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (44 )  
    Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin   $ 1,535   22.3 % $ 1,350   20.6 %

     (i) Represents a provision related to potential litigation arising out of a structured insurance program originally placed for a client over 15 years ago. The program is of a type and complexity that was highly bespoke to the client and for that reason is unlikely to be exactly replicated elsewhere. Because of this, while we do not believe the potential litigation is material, we believe excluding this matter from adjusted results makes results more comparable from period to period and more representative of our core business operations.

    RECONCILIATIONS OF (LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME

        Three Months Ended September 30,    
        2024     2023    
                   
    (Loss)/Income from operations and Operating margin   $ (766 ) (33.5 )% $ 159   7.3 %
    Adjusted for certain items:              
    Impairment     1,042          
    Amortization     56       62    
    Restructuring costs     8       17    
    Transaction and transformation     74       113    
    Adjusted operating income and Adjusted operating income margin   $ 414   18.1 % $ 351   16.2 %
        Nine Months Ended September 30,    
        2024     2023    
                   
    (Loss)/Income from operations and Operating margin   $ (274 ) (4.0 )% $ 586   8.9 %
    Adjusted for certain items:              
    Impairment     1,042          
    Amortization     176       203    
    Restructuring costs     29       30    
    Transaction and transformation     296       265    
    Provision for specified litigation matter(i)     13          
    Adjusted operating income and Adjusted operating income margin   $ 1,282   18.6 % $ 1,084   16.5 %

     (i) Represents a provision related to potential litigation arising out of a structured insurance program originally placed for a client over 15 years ago. The program is of a type and complexity that was highly bespoke to the client and for that reason is unlikely to be exactly replicated elsewhere. Because of this, while we do not believe the potential litigation is material, we believe excluding this matter from adjusted results makes results more comparable from period to period and more representative of our core business operations.

    RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP INCOME TAXES/TAX RATE TO ADJUSTED INCOME TAXES/TAX RATE

        Three Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
                 
    (Loss)/income from operations before income taxes   $ (1,994 )   $ 164  
                 
    Adjusted for certain items:            
    Impairment     1,042        
    Amortization     56       62  
    Restructuring costs     8       17  
    Transaction and transformation     74       113  
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (41 )
    Adjusted income before taxes   $ 376     $ 315  
                 
    (Benefit from)/provision for income taxes   $ (322 )   $ 25  
    Tax effect on certain items listed above(ii)     396       51  
    Adjusted income taxes   $ 74     $ 76  
                 
    U.S. GAAP tax rate     16.1 %     15.5 %
    Adjusted income tax rate     19.7 %     24.3 %
        Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024   2023
                 
    (Loss)/income from operations before income taxes   $ (1,584 )   $ 540  
                 
    Adjusted for certain items:            
    Impairment     1,042        
    Amortization     176       203  
    Restructuring costs     29       30  
    Transaction and transformation     296       265  
    Provision for specified litigation matter(i)     13        
    Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (44 )
    Adjusted income before taxes   $ 1,162     $ 994  
                 
    (Benefit from)/provision for income taxes   $ (248 )   $ 99  
    Tax effect on certain items listed above(ii)     492       128  
    Tax effect of significant adjustments     7       (2 )
    Adjusted income taxes   $ 251     $ 225  
                 
    U.S. GAAP tax rate     15.6 %     18.3 %
    Adjusted income tax rate     21.6 %     22.6 %

    (i) Represents a provision related to potential litigation arising out of a structured insurance program originally placed for a client over 15 years ago. The program is of a type and complexity that was highly bespoke to the client and for that reason is unlikely to be exactly replicated elsewhere. Because of this, while we do not believe the potential litigation is material, we believe excluding this matter from adjusted results makes results more comparable from period to period and more representative of our core business operations.
    (ii) The tax effect was calculated using an effective tax rate for each item.

    RECONCILIATION OF CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW

        Nine Months Ended September 30,  
        2024   2023
                 
    Cash flows from operating activities   $ 913     $ 823  
    Less: Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use     (106 )     (116 )
    Free Cash Flow   $ 807     $ 707  
    WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
    (In millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
        Three Months Ended
     September 30,
      Nine Months Ended
     September 30,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
    Revenue   $ 2,289     $ 2,166     $ 6,895     $ 6,569  
                             
    Costs of providing services                        
    Salaries and benefits     1,396       1,359       4,135       4,019  
    Other operating expenses     419       396       1,315       1,282  
    Impairment     1,042             1,042        
    Depreciation     60       60       176       184  
    Amortization     56       62       176       203  
    Restructuring costs     8       17       29       30  
    Transaction and transformation     74       113       296       265  
    Total costs of providing services     3,055       2,007       7,169       5,983  
                             
    (Loss)/income from operations     (766 )     159       (274 )     586  
                             
    Interest expense     (65 )     (61 )     (197 )     (172 )
    Other (loss)/income, net     (1,163 )     66       (1,113 )     126  
                             
    (LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES   (1,994 )     164       (1,584 )     540  
                             
    Benefit from/(provision for) income taxes     322       (25 )     248       (99 )
                             
    NET (LOSS)/INCOME   (1,672 )     139       (1,336 )     441  
                             
    Income attributable to non-controlling interests     (3 )     (3 )     (8 )     (8 )
                             
    NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WTW   $ (1,675 )   $ 136     $ (1,344 )   $ 433  
                             
    (LOSS)/EARNINGS PER SHARE                        
    Basic (loss)/earnings per share   $ (16.44 )   $ 1.30     $ (13.11 )   $ 4.08  
    Diluted (loss)/earnings per share   $ (16.44 )   $ 1.29     $ (13.11 )   $ 4.06  
                             
    Weighted-average ordinary shares, basic     102       105       103       106  
    Weighted-average ordinary shares, diluted     102       105       103       107  
    WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In millions of U.S. dollars, except share data)
    (Unaudited)
        September 30,     December 31,  
        2024     2023  
    ASSETS            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 1,372     $ 1,424  
    Fiduciary assets     9,176       9,073  
    Accounts receivable, net     2,118       2,572  
    Prepaid and other current assets     558       364  
    Current assets held for sale     1,089        
    Total current assets     14,313       13,433  
    Fixed assets, net     710       720  
    Goodwill     8,882       10,195  
    Other intangible assets, net     1,360       2,016  
    Right-of-use assets     539       565  
    Pension benefits assets     632       588  
    Other non-current assets     732       1,573  
    Total non-current assets     12,855       15,657  
    TOTAL ASSETS   $ 27,168     $ 29,090  
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY            
    Fiduciary liabilities   $ 9,176     $ 9,073  
    Deferred revenue and accrued expenses     2,027       2,104  
    Current debt           650  
    Current lease liabilities     122       125  
    Other current liabilities     735       678  
    Current liabilities held for sale     475        
    Total current liabilities     12,535       12,630  
    Long-term debt     5,308       4,567  
    Liability for pension benefits     487       563  
    Deferred tax liabilities     94       542  
    Provision for liabilities     416       365  
    Long-term lease liabilities     556       592  
    Other non-current liabilities     202       238  
    Total non-current liabilities     7,063       6,867  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES     19,598       19,497  
    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES            
    EQUITY(i)            
    Additional paid-in capital     10,957       10,910  
    (Accumulated deficit)/retained earnings     (650 )     1,466  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (2,810 )     (2,856 )
    Treasury shares, at cost, 15,574 shares in 2024     (5 )      
    Total WTW shareholders’ equity     7,492       9,520  
    Non-controlling interests     78       73  
    Total Equity     7,570       9,593  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   $ 27,168     $ 29,090  

     (i)  Equity includes (a) Ordinary shares $0.000304635 nominal value; Authorized 1,510,003,775; Issued 100,887,015 (2024) and 102,538,072 (2023); Outstanding 100,871,441 (2024) and 102,538,072 (2023) and (b) Preference shares, $0.000115 nominal value; Authorized 1,000,000,000 and Issued none in 2024 and 2023.

    WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (In millions of U.S. dollars)
    (Unaudited)
        Nine Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
    NET (LOSS)/INCOME   $ (1,336 )   $ 441  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to total net cash from operating activities:            
    Depreciation     176       184  
    Amortization     176       203  
    Impairment     1,042        
    Non-cash restructuring charges     17       19  
    Non-cash lease expense     76       83  
    Net periodic benefit of defined benefit pension plans     (15 )     (20 )
    Provision for doubtful receivables from clients     13       8  
    Benefit from deferred income taxes     (379 )     (58 )
    Share-based compensation     85       87  
    Net loss/(gain) on disposal of operations     1,190       (44 )
    Non-cash foreign exchange (gain)/loss     (25 )     1  
    Other, net     32       21  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from purchase of subsidiaries:            
    Accounts receivable     271       261  
    Other assets     (299 )     (175 )
    Other liabilities     (159 )     (191 )
    Provisions     48       3  
    Net cash from operating activities     913       823  
                 
    CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
    Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use     (106 )     (116 )
    Capitalized software costs     (83 )     (66 )
    Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired     (28 )     (6 )
    Proceeds from sale of operations           86  
    Cash and fiduciary funds transferred in sale of operations           (922 )
    Purchase of investments     (13 )     (6 )
    Net cash used in investing activities     (230 )     (1,030 )
                 
    CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
    Senior notes issued     746       748  
    Debt issuance costs     (9 )     (7 )
    Repayments of debt     (653 )     (253 )
    Repurchase of shares     (506 )     (804 )
    Net proceeds/(payments) from fiduciary funds held for clients     934       (71 )
    Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions     (2 )     (8 )
    Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares     (30 )     (21 )
    Dividends paid     (265 )     (265 )
    Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling interests     (10 )     (47 )
    Net cash from/(used in) financing activities     205       (728 )
                 
    INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED
       CASH
        888       (935 )
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash     32       (54 )
    CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF
       PERIOD (i)
        3,792       4,721  
    CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF PERIOD (i)   $ 4,712     $ 3,732  

    (i)  The amounts of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, their respective classification on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, as well as their respective portions of the increase or decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for each of the periods presented have been included in the Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information section.

    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

        Nine Months Ended September 30,  
        2024     2023  
                 
    Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 1,372     $ 1,247  
    Fiduciary funds (included in fiduciary assets)     3,340       2,485  
    Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   $ 4,712     $ 3,732  
                 
    (Decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and other restricted cash   $ (54 )   $ 5  
    Increase/(decrease) in fiduciary funds     942       (940 )
    Total (i)   $ 888     $ (935 )

    (i) Does not include the effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/USA – Electoral campaign between Harris and Trump is challenged on foreign policy and ‘World War in pieces’

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Washington (Agenzia Fides) – The war in the Middle East has entered the race for the White House especially in those States like Michigan where there is a large percentage of the population of Arab origin (Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi in particular).Foreign policy is not traditionally among the key factors that guide the US electorate’s choices inside the ballot box. Nonetheless, the outcome of the US presidential election (voting takes place on Tuesday 5 November) is bound to have a significant impact on the tensions that cross the global geopolitical scenarios and the wars that bloody the world.The Democratic candidate is in a difficult position because she is part of the current administration that granted at least $18 billion in military aid to Israel after the attack unleashed by Hamas on 7 October 2023, fuelling criticism from those who see America as complicit in the massacres committed against civilians in Gaza. Kamala Harris has not been spared criticism from the more left-wing part of her party and the Arab electorate, despite being as Vice-President one of the first people in the Biden administration to call for an ‘immediate ceasefire’, and to express concern about the ‘humanitarian catastrophe for the Palestinians’ urging Israel to end the conflict. However, she did not support an arms embargo against Israel, which some on the US left would like. At the party convention, she said she would ‘always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself’.In her support, the 2016 nominee of the most left-wing part of the Democratic Party, Bernie Sanders recently promised his supporters: ‘I promise you, after Kamala wins, we will together do everything that we can to change US policy toward Netanyahu’.But the Democratic candidate aroused the ire of the Arab-origin electorate when she received the endorsement of Liz Cheney, daughter of Goerge W. Bush’s former vice-president Dick Cheney, who is considered a hawk who promoted the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is not well regarded by Americans of Iraqi origin.Donald Trump did not miss the opportunity to ridicule in the eyes of the electorate of Arab origin the proximity offered by the former Republican congresswoman to the Democratic candidate, saying: ‘Liz Cheney, who, like her father, the man that pushed Bush to ridiculously go to War in the Middle East, also wants to go to War with every Muslim Country known to mankind’. Trump for his part has to make amends for inflammatory statements towards Arabs and Muslims, especially with regard to immigration to the US, but he is now trying to get closer to the Arab electorate (and more generally those who are critical of the war in Gaza) by promising to be the one who will bring peace back to the Middle East and Ukraine. ‘If Kamala gets four more years, the Middle East will spend the next four decades going up in flames, and your kids will be going off to War, maybe even a Third World War, something that will never happen with President Donald J. Trump in charge,’ he said. But beyond rhetorical proclamations what is Trump’s position on the Middle East? Trump has repeatedly stated that the war between Israel and Hamas would never have broken out had he been in power, although he has offered few details on how he would have handled the situation differently from Biden. During his time in office, he promoted the so-called Abraham Accords that led to the opening of diplomatic relations between Israel and a number of Arab states (the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan) and with the prospect of reaching a regional understanding extended to Saudi Arabia, the other pillar of American policy in the Middle East. The aim was to create a regional security system centred on Israel and Saudi Arabia of which the US would act as external guarantor, allowing it to withdraw some of its troops deployed in the area.The logic behind the Abraham Accords was explained by Trump’s vice presidential candidate, JD Vance. ‘America doesn’t have to constantly police every region of the world,’ he said in a television interview. ‘We should empower people to police their own regions of the world.’ Vance while recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself stated that a war with Iran is not in the US interest.The Abraham Accords, however, do not offer a real solution to the Palestinian issue even though Trump in early 2020 had proposed an American-funded Israeli-Palestinian peace plan aimed at making Gaza an international tourism hub. The Trump administration had also recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel where it had transferred the embassy from Tel Aviv and closed the US consulate in East Jerusalem that mainly served Palestinians. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 31/10/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Witnesses testify to the abuse Ukrainian civilians suffer in Russian detention: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Ambassador Holland shares harrowing details from witness testimony event in London and urges Russia to release all Ukrainian citizens it has arbitrarily detained.

    Thank you, Madam Chair. Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, its actions in Ukraine have featured widespread reports of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions of Prisoners of War and civilian detainees, and other serious violations of human rights.

    Activists, journalists, community leaders, and those perceived as supportive of Ukrainian sovereignty have faced persecution and illegal detention by Russian forces in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Many are sent to far-flung regions within the Russian Federation. They are held in prisons, pre-detention centres, and unofficial places of detention. Their families are often denied information about their whereabouts or access to them, causing great distress and an inability to organise effective legal counsel.

    Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, these practices have increased in both frequency and severity, with thousands of Ukrainian civilians held incommunicado and denied their fundamental rights. Independent reports, including the latest Moscow Mechanism, detail inhumane conditions, from physical abuse to psychological coercion.

    Madam Chair, these actions constitute violations of international law but behind them lie personal stories of human suffering. This week two Ukrainian civilians, Hryhorii Holovko and Oleksandra Stoliar, shared theirs at an event held in the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, supported by the Ukrainian NGO, Media Initiative for Human Rights.

    Hryhorii Holovko was detained by Russian forces in Kherson in October 2022. Russian forces tortured and intimidated him, including beatings and electric shocks and by carving Russian symbols into his body. Russian guards made threats against his wife and child and forced him to sing the Russian national anthem. Hryhorii was released in May 2023, having been forced to sign papers to align with the Russian state. His story is familiar to many others who have survived Russian occupation.

    Oleksandra Stoliar is mother to 26-year-old Iryna Navalnaya who is still being unlawfully detained. Russian forces took Iryna from her home in Mariupol in September 2022. Two months passed before Iryna’s family discovered she was being held in a prison in Donetsk. Women who have been released from this prison have shared accounts of the beatings and other barbaric treatment Iryna has experienced during interrogations, leaving her covered in bruises. They report that detainees are regularly denied access to medical assistance. Iryna’s mother worries continually that she might die in captivity.

    These testimonies are just two out of thousands. We recall that three Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) members, our colleagues, are also subjected to this systematic arbitrary detention.

    The UK stands in solidarity with them and Ukraine – and reaffirms the urgent need for accountability. We call on Russia to fully cooperate with international mechanisms investigating these abuses, grant immediate access to humanitarian organisations to all facilities where Ukrainian civilians are being held, and uphold its obligations to protect civilians and respect human rights. Russia must release all arbitrarily detained Ukrainian citizens, including Iryna Navalnaya and the SMM members. We call on Russia to end its illegal war and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Bundesrat Cassis unterstreicht in Montréal die Bedeutung der humanitären Aspekte auf dem Weg zu einem Frieden in der Ukraine (de)

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    Am 30. Oktober 2024 nahm Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis in Kanada an der Konferenz über humanitäre Aspekte für einen gerechten und dauerhaften Frieden in der Ukraine teil. Das Treffen in Montréal schliesst die Reihe der im Juni 2024 anlässlich der Konferenz auf dem Bürgenstock angekündigten Folgekonferenzen ab. Im Rahmen der Konferenz in Montréal führte der Vorsteher des EDA politische Gespräche mit der kanadischen Aussenministerin Mélanie Joly, dem ukrainischen Aussenminister Andrij Sybiha und dem norwegischen Aussenminister Espen Barth Eide.

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