Uh, the title of my talk is Neon River, which is a reference to a metaphor preferred by one of Chicago's most famous writers. Nelson Agren liked to refer to Chicago as a neon wilderness. He once wrote that Chicago was a city that was to live by night after the wilderness had passed.A city that was to roll boulevards down out of pig wallows and to roll its dark river uphill. that was to forge out of steel and blood red neon its own peculiar wilderness. Augren's neon wilderness was home to the enduringly down ...

Core Viewpoint - Euro Tech Holdings Company Limited reported a decline in net income and revenues for Fiscal 2024, primarily due to decreased sales of high-value analytical instruments, while gross profits increased due to higher margins from Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - The company had a net income of US$734,000 in Fiscal 2024, down from US$1,828,000 in Fiscal 2023, largely due to a one-time profit from the disposal of desulfurization treatment plants in the previous year [2]. - Revenues for Fiscal 2024 were US$15,383,000, representing a 14.3% decrease from US$17,940,000 in Fiscal 2023 [3]. - Gross profits increased by 15.4% to US$4,454,000 in Fiscal 2024 compared to approximately US$3,861,000 in Fiscal 2023 [4]. - Selling and administrative expenses slightly decreased by 0.9% to approximately US$4,067,000 in Fiscal 2024 [4]. Business Segments - The BWTS segment showed stable growth, while the Wastewater Treatment (WWT) business faced challenges due to declines in foreign investment in the industrial sector [5]. - The company sees potential in mobile port BWTS systems and shore-based water solutions, driven by increasing maritime traffic and stricter environmental regulations [6]. Market Context - The International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandates BWTS to prevent ecological imbalances caused by ballast water, with compliance requirements affecting vessels built after December 2013 [7]. - The company has obtained type approval for its BWTS in compliance with revised G8 requirements [8]. Selected Financial Data - As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were US$5,805,000, total current assets were US$9,229,000, and total assets were US$20,708,000 [12]. - Total liabilities decreased to US$4,014,000 from US$5,640,000 in the previous year, while total shareholders' equity remained relatively stable at US$15,743,000 [12].