TIMELINE AUCTIONS UNVEILS MAJOR ANTIQUITIES SALE MARCH 3

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- TimeLine Auctions, the British saleroom renowned for expertise in museum-level antiquities, will present a major Antiquities & Ancient Art Auction on March 3 (Day One).

In a statement, TimeLine Auctions said Day One is accompanied by a printed catalogue, featuring a tightly curated selection of Roman marble sculpture, Greek pottery, fine ancient bronzes, ancient jewellery and Roman gemstones.

Leading highlights include a life-size Roman marble head of Hermes (first to second century A.D.) and a helmeted, cuirassed bust of Mars, carved in the late Roman period with pronounced martial character and classical refinement.

Monumental Roman taste is further represented by a life-size marble torso of a ram, believed to have been created for display in a grand villa or bath complex, with naturalistic modelling capturing both strength and movement.

Greek artistry will be showcased through a rare Attic black-figure Alabastron, dated to around 500 to 480 B.C., decorated with a vivid battle scene between a Greek warrior and a Scythian archer.

The Day One sale also features notable ancient bronzes, including a substantial Roman bronze robed torso with finely preserved drapery and patination, and an Egyptian bronze of Horus standing upon an antelope, dating to the Late Period–Ptolemaic era (664 to 30 B.C.).

Among the gemstones, a carved Roman agate cameo portrait of Emperor Augustus is expected to draw strong interest, highlighting the importance of miniature portraiture and imperial imagery in elite Roman culture.

Following the Day One auction, the sale continues online from March 4 to 7 with a broader selection of accessible antiquities, before concluding with a dedicated Ancient Coins auction on March 10 and 11, alongside weights, tokens, medals and specialist books.

-- BERNAMA

MBSB BANK FUNDS RM95.8M FOR JEMALUANG DAIRY VALLEY TO DELIVER 14 MILLION LITRES OF MILK ANNUALLY BY 2027

Rafe Haneef, Group Chief Executive Officer of MBSB Berhad

PETALING JAYA, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- MBSB Bank Berhad (“MBSB Bank”) has provided a RM95.8 million structured facility to Jemaluang Dairy Valley Sdn Bhd (JDVSB), a strategic joint venture between Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad and A2 Fresh Holdings. This landmark commitment catalyzes Johor Corporation’s (JCorp) mandate to industrialize Malaysia’s agritech sector, positioning the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) as a high-yield regional food hub.

The capital will fund the deployment of Tier-1 dairy infrastructure, including the acquisition of high-yield A2 Jersey Friesian cattle and a world-class processing facility capable of producing 14 million litres of milk annually by 2027.

This initiative directly address critical gap in the high reliance on imported dairy and supports the national agenda for food resilience, transforming a fragmented landscape into a high-output, tech-driven industry.

Group Chief Executive Officer En Rafe Haneef commented: “We view food security as a critical asset class that demands large-scale capital, as reflected in our RM1 billion AgroESG mandate. This RM95.8 million facility serves as a commitment to anchor Johor’s first fully integrated dairy ecosystem, creating a tech-enabled, ESG-compliant infrastructure that is vital to strengthening Malaysia’s domestic self-sufficiency.” 

Mr. Qasem Alhasan, Chief Executive Officer of Jemaluang Dairy Valley Sdn Bhd said: "JDVSB is designed as an end-to-end dairy ecosystem - combining world-class farming technology, sustainable practices and local talent development – to deliver high-quality, locally produced milk at scale while supporting Malaysia’s long-term food security goals.” 

The Blueprint for Industrialized Agriculture 

The Jemaluang Dairy Valley project serves as a definitive proof of concept for Precision Agriculture 4.0. Beyond the financing, the project’s significance lies in its circular economy integration, where advanced waste management systems convert bovine byproduct into organic fertilizers, effectively stripping synthetic inputs out of the supply chain. This is paired with a genetic optimization strategy, utilizing 1,000 imported A2 cattle with projected yields that nearly triple local production averages.

Furthermore, the project acts as a catalyst for human capital transformation within the ECER. Through a structured technical "up-skilling" program, local labor is being transitioned into high-value roles within the modern agritech sector, ensuring that the economic benefits of this facility extend deep into the community.

About MBSB Berhad

MBSB Berhad (MBSB) is a dynamic financial services group with a longstanding role in supporting the nation’s financial system and economic development. MBSB is the holding company of MBSB Bank Berhad, MBSB Investment Bank Berhad (formerly MIDF Amanah Investment Bank), and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF). MBSB Bank Berhad is a progressive Islamic bank offering comprehensive Shariah-compliant banking solutions to retail, SME, and corporate customers, with a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainable financing. MBSB Investment Bank Berhad serves as the Group’s investment banking and capital markets arm, providing advisory, research, equity brokerage, and capital markets services. MIDF plays a pivotal role in supporting business and industrial development through development finance, nurturing a resilient and thriving SME ecosystem, complemented by its asset management capabilities. 

SOURCE: MBSB Berhad (MBSB)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Norsiah Juriani Johari
Group Head
Group Communications & Marketing Department
Group Corporate Strategy
Tel: +6012 900 1907 
Email: norsiah.johari@mbsb.com 

Name: Arna Farisa Binti Mohamad Isa
Senior Manager
Group Communications & Marketing Department
Group Corporate Strategy 
Tel: +6013 394 2590
Email: arna.farisa@mbsb.com 

--BERNAMA

CIMB and Ant International form strategic partnership to enhance cross-border payments and liquidity management solutions for businesses in Malaysia

From left to right: Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International; Kelvin Li, General Manager of Platform Tech at Ant International; Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International; Novan Amirudin, Group Chief Executive Officer, CIMB; Sylvia Wong, Regional Head, Financial Institutions and Tokenisation, Group Wholesale Banking, CIMB; Chu Kok Wei, Chief Executive Officer, Group Wholesale Banking, CIMB.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (“CIMB” or “the Group”) and Ant International today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to jointly explore innovations in cross-border payments and treasury and liquidity management solutions. 

The comprehensive partnership will see CIMB collaborating with Ant International’s key businesses including Alipay+, Antom and Bettr Treasury, across the Group’s integrated capabilities in cash management, treasury and markets solutions, credit and financing facilities, capital markets activities and sustainability-related initiatives.

Under the MOU, CIMB and Ant International will also jointly develop a digital framework to enhance the treasury and liquidity operations of both parties, by leveraging Ant International’s next-generation blockchain-based treasury management solution, subject to regulatory frameworks and approvals.

The framework aims to strengthen capital efficiency, transparency and cross-border liquidity optimisation, reinforcing the resilience and competitiveness of both sides’ regional financial ecosystems to better serve its customers in Malaysia.

Novan Amirudin, Group Chief Executive Officer, CIMB said, “The partnership marks a milestone in our Forward30 strategy, where innovation is embedded into the core of how we operate and compete. Our collaboration with Ant International enables us to accelerate the institutional adoption of distributed ledger technology within the treasury ecosystem. This positions CIMB at the forefront of building scalable, future ready digital financial infrastructure innovation across ASEAN, while strengthening our ability to deliver greater efficiency, transparency and cross-border connectivity for our clients.”

Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International said, “We are pleased to partner with CIMB, who shares our goal of leveraging technology for seamless and inclusive crossborder payments. By combining our strengths, we will scale the institutional adoption of tokenisation—a key pillar of next-generation financial infrastructure—to create a more efficient and inclusive financial ecosystem for businesses in Malaysia.”

The MOU reflects both parties’ shared ambition to advance responsible digital innovation while maintaining strong governance. CIMB and Ant International will advance the development of the framework with a focus on scalable and practical implementation that supports evolving institutional treasury needs across the region. 

This initiative further reinforces CIMB’s commitment to advancing customers and society by strengthening digital financial infrastructure through tokenisation, building on its recently announced participation in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Digital Assets Innovation Hub and its broader Forward30 digital transformation agenda. 

About CIMB

CIMB is one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups and Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider, by assets. Listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, it had a market capitalisation of approximately RM89.0 billion as at 31 December 2025. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, wholesale banking, transaction banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present across ASEAN in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong and UK. CIMB has one of the most extensive retail branch networks in ASEAN with 552 branches and over 33,000 employees as at 31 December 2025. CIMB’s investment banking arm is one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, which together with its awardwinning treasury & markets and corporate banking units comprise the Group’s leading wholesale banking franchise. CIMB is also the 91.45% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.83% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand. 

SOURCE: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Anis Azharuddin / Kelvin Jude Muthu
Group Corporate Communications
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Email: anis.azharuddin@cimb.com / kelvinjude.muthu@cimb.com

--BERNAMA

Dmitry Shubov Consulting Attends Startups & Operators Pitch Night — Dubai, Connecting With Founders

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Startups & Operators Pitch Night in Dubai is part of a global series of startup pitching events, featuring founders and operators, angels and VC partners․ The event is designed to help founders consolidate their thinking, and help investors meet founders with high-potential startups looking to solve customer pain points with realistic early pathways to scale and investor-friendly fundraising․

The founders who attended further elucidated their understanding of product market fit, go-to-market strategies for MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and fundraising metrics in the early company days․ In fact, some entrepreneurs made pivots to their roadmaps in real time based on feedback provided by operators and investors, serving to reiterate the value of the event․ Dmitry Shubov Consulting attended to obtain pitches, to meet the founders and investors, and to identify new trends and patterns from the regions․

“The quality and preparedness of the founders who pitched was remarkable․ I enjoyed their focus on real customer problems and practical paths to growth․ Events like this accelerate learning for both founders and investors by turning candid feedback into faster iteration․ We are very pleased to continue to serve teams from the region as they sharpen-in on product-market fit and grow to the next stage ahead,” says Dmitry Shubov, Founder of Dmitry Shubov Consulting.

Dmitry Shubov Consulting, a legal tech consulting firm, continues working with early-stage teams, offering both calculated guidance and hands-on support on product strategy, go-to-market strategy, and investment readiness. The firm translates raw honesty into concrete outcomes for founders to translate value propositions into traction and sustainable growth in the MENA region, Southeast Asia, and beyond over time․ Any legal tech startups looking to expand and grow are welcome to visit Dmitry Shubov Consulting to learn more.

About Dmitry Shubov Consulting

At Dmitry Shubov Consulting, our mission is to connect accredited investors with groundbreaking legal technology startups, fostering innovation and growth across Southeast Asia and helping Asian businesses enter the U.S. market. For more information, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Media Contact:

Support@dmitryshubovconsulting.com 


SOURCE: Dmitry Shubov Consulting

COVENTRY TO SHOWCASE LONGEVITY-LINKED ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES AT SFVEGAS 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Coventry, the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance, announced it will attend SFVegas 2026 to engage with structured finance leaders as the institutional market for longevity-linked asset-backed securities (ABS) continues to mature.

Through its LILY platform, Coventry structures longevity-linked assets into investment-grade ABS designed to emphasise durable collateral and predictable cash flows that are generally uncorrelated with traditional markets.

Since April 2025, the LILY programme has completed US$750 million in asset-backed notes across three securitisations, establishing a repeatable, programmatic issuance platform for institutional scale. (US$1=RM3.88)

In a statement, Coventry Chief Executive Officer, Reid Buerger said the life insurance-backed asset class is entering a new phase of institutional maturity, and the company has established a programmatic securitisation platform grounded in disciplined underwriting, actuarial rigour, and consistent capital markets execution.

“Our objective is to establish a durable infrastructure that supports sustained issuances and long-term market development. SFVegas provides an important forum to engage with structured finance leaders as longevity-linked assets become an increasingly established component of institutional portfolios,” added Buerger.

Coventry’s presence at SFVegas reflects the continued development of longevity-linked ABS as a distinct segment within structured credit, bringing together scaled life insurance policy origination, actuarial analytics, and institutional-grade securitisation infrastructure to support LILY’s ongoing expansion.

As institutional demand for differentiated, uncorrelated assets continues to grow, Coventry will meet with capital providers, rating agencies, and distribution partners to discuss the expansion of the LILY platform and the broader evolution of longevity-linked ABS.

Guided by a longstanding commitment to consumer rights and market integrity, Coventry leverages its leadership position to raise industry standards, expand consumer choice, and responsibly develop institutional-quality life insurance-backed investment solutions.


-- BERNAMA

ADDRESS BEACH RESORT DUBAI UNVEILS JACUZZI POOL SUITES FOR ELEVATED BEACHFRONT LIVING

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Address Beach Resort Dubai has introduced its new Jacuzzi Pool Suites, bringing private outdoor indulgence and elevated living to one of the city’s most iconic destinations.

The One Bedroom Jacuzzi Pool Sea View Suite with Balcony offers a private retreat for couples or friends seeking to disconnect from the city’s hustle, according to a statement.

Opening onto an expansive balcony with views of Ain Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and the Arabian Gulf, the suite features a private Jacuzzi-style plunge pool—perfect for slow mornings with coffee or evenings soaking as the city lights glow. Inside, the living space flows seamlessly to the outdoors, creating a stay that is relaxed, intimate, and quietly elevated.

For families or friends travelling together, the Two Bedroom Jacuzzi Pool Sea View Suite with Balcony provides space to connect without compromising privacy. Featuring two en-suite bedrooms anchored by a central living area, the suite accommodates shared moments—from relaxed breakfasts indoors to sunlit afternoons on the terrace.

The private Jacuzzi-style pool serves as the natural gathering point, framed by uninterrupted views of Bluewaters Island and the Arabian Gulf, while the terrace becomes an idyllic setting for unhurried evenings as daylight fades.

Beyond the new suites, Address Beach Resort Dubai boasts the world’s highest outdoor infinity pool, Dubai’s highest spa, and a curated collection of lifestyle-driven dining experiences, delivering an experience-led approach to luxury.

With the introduction of the new Jacuzzi Pool Suites, the resort further enhances its accommodation portfolio with spaces designed not just to stay in but to truly experience, unwind, and cherish every moment.

-- BERNAMA

PANTHEON PROMOTES FOUR NEW PARTNERS, STRENGTHENS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Pantheon, a global private markets investor, has announced the promotion of four new Partners, recognising their contributions across key regions and client segments and supporting the firm’s continued growth and leadership in private markets.

“Pantheon’s leadership position in pioneering solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs is built on the strength of our global team. We are pleased to recognise the contributions of our new Partners in key regions such as Asia and Latin America, and channels such as private wealth,” said Pantheon Chief Executive Officer, Kathryn Leaf.

According to Pantheon in a statement, the new Partner promotions bolster senior leadership in the Investment and Client Solutions Teams.

Scott Hong was promoted to Partner in the Client Solutions Team, serving as Head of South Korea and leading Pantheon’s client engagement in the region. Based in Singapore, Victor Mayer of the Client Solutions Team and Kunal Sood, of the Asia Investment Team, were also promoted, along with Ana Zarruk, who leads client development and relations in Latin America was promoted to Partner in the Client Solutions Team.

In addition, 11 professionals received promotions to Managing Director across geographies and functions, further strengthening Pantheon’s next-generation leadership.

The Managing Directors include Carlos Arias (Client Solutions, Geneva); Christopher Banks (Legal & Compliance, New York); Thomas Flückiger (Risk, London); Jamie Hayford (Private Equity, London); Austin Kahler (Client Solutions, New York); Maeve Kelly (Legal & Compliance, Dublin); and Welwin Lobo (Infrastructure, London).

Pantheon has been at the forefront of private market investing for more than 40 years, providing innovative solutions across the full investment lifecycle and partnering with institutional investors worldwide.

These leadership promotions reinforce the firm’s commitment to excellence in investment performance, client engagement, and global growth.

-- BERNAMA