NIPPON KINZOKU EXPANDS MAGNESIUM ALLOY FOIL SALES

Magnesium Alloy Foil (Alloy: AZ31B, Thickness: 0.05 mm, Width: 100 mm)

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Nippon Kinzoku Co Ltd, a pioneer in the rolling of magnesium alloys, has announced a strategic expansion in the sales of its magnesium alloy foil, positioned as a core "Eco-Product" to help reduce environmental impact.

The company said in a statement the high-performance material offers the lightest weight among practical metals and features superior vibration-damping properties, addressing a wide range of industrial applications.

The magnesium alloy foil is currently used in the chassis of personal computers (PCs) and smartphones, and the company expects strong growth in demand from the expanding extended reality (XR) device market, beyond mobile PCs.

Nippon Kinzoku said it has integrated its proprietary rolling and material development technologies to establish mass-production capability for ultra-thin magnesium alloy foil, achieving a thickness of as low as 0.044 millimetres.

The product features long-length coils that enable stable production of difficult-to-roll magnesium, allowing continuous processing and improving manufacturing efficiency.

It also offers high strength and formability comparable to thicker plates, enabling press-forming with the same ease as standard-gauge magnesium alloys.

In addition, its vibration-damping properties help absorb noise and vibration, enhancing audio quality in speaker diaphragms and improving stability in mobile device chassis.

-- BERNAMA

BINGHATTI NAMED SIGNATURE SPONSOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY SHOW 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The International Property Show (IPS 2026) will feature Binghatti, a Dubai-based real estate development company, as part of its upcoming exhibition scheduled for April 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The developer will exhibit in Hall 7, as IPS continues to position its exhibition as a platform showcasing developers and projects across key regional and international real estate segments, according to a statement.

“Binghatti’s participation as the Signature Sponsor of IPS 2026 underscores our commitment to giving investors access to our most exceptional properties defined by real, lasting value.

“This year, we are presenting a portfolio of luxury developments across Dubai’s most strategic locations, offering high-potential opportunities shaped by our signature design DNA and disciplined quality execution,” said Binghatti Developers Chairman, Muhammad Binghatti.

Binghatti’s return follows strong on-site unit sales and investor engagement at IPS 2025. For the 2026 edition, the company will present a curated portfolio of residential projects across prime locations in Dubai, highlighting high-potential investment opportunities supported by distinctive design and project execution.

The developer’s participation will be led by its largest project of the year, Mercedes‑Benz Places | Binghatti City, positioned as the world’s first Mercedes-Benz branded city and Binghatti’s first master-planned community.

Binghatti is known for its branded residential strategy and distinctive architectural identity in Dubai, with projects such as Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences forming part of its luxury development portfolio.

IPS 2026 will continue to serve as a business-focused platform for developers, investors, brokers, and real estate professionals, facilitating property transactions, project showcases and cross-border investment engagement across global markets.

-- BERNAMA

LEARNING TREE INTERNATIONAL WINS NATO NCIA TRAINING CONTRACT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Learning Tree International, a global leader in workforce transformation and mission-critical technology training, has secured a multi-year sole-award contract from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) to serve as its education and training industry partner.

“Being selected for a multi-year agreement reflects the strength of our partnership and the trust placed in our secure workforce transformation solutions,” said Learning Tree International Chief Executive Officer, David Brown in a statement.

The Commercial Training Services Contract covers the delivery of training solutions and consultancy support to more than 3,000 students a year across NATO entities in Europe and North America, supporting operational readiness throughout the contract term.

The award builds on an existing strategic partnership and reflects confidence in Learning Tree’s ability to deliver scalable, secure and mission-aligned training in complex multinational defence environments, the company said.

Under the agreement, Learning Tree will provide commercial and tailored instructor-led training and consultancy services to strengthen digital, cyber and technical capabilities across the Alliance, delivered through private team courses and open schedules.

Training will span information technology (IT) technical and hard skills, cybersecurity, project management, service management and consultancy support.

With more than 50 years of experience supporting enterprise, public-sector and defence organisations in over 65 countries, Learning Tree said it brings established expertise in secure delivery requirements and operational readiness standards.

The company said the contract further reinforces its position as a global provider of secure workforce transformation services for defence and government organisations, as NATO continues to modernise its technology infrastructure and cyber resilience.

-- BERNAMA

AERIS, VERIZON BUSINESS LINK GLOBAL IOT OPERATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Aeris, a global leader in wireless management platforms, security services and connected vehicle programmes, has formed an inbound Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity management partnership with Verizon Business to help multinational enterprises manage and scale international IoT deployments.

The collaboration introduces Aeris IoTA Inbound Services, integrating the Aeris IoTA Connectivity Management Platform with Verizon ThingSpace environment to simplify multi-region operations and extend existing outbound connectivity capabilities into the United States (US) market for global device fleets.

In a statement, Aeris said the integration addresses a key barrier for international IoT deployments in the US by eliminating fragmented platforms and complex domestic connectivity stacks, enabling unified SIM management, consistent commercial terms and centralised operational control.

“Global enterprises require a shift away from managing multiple connectivity contracts and disparate platforms,” said Aeris Chief Commercial Officer of IoT business unit, Mark Cratsenburg.

He said the integration enables global partners to expand customer solutions into the US market more quickly while maintaining a seamless experience for Verizon customers deploying devices abroad.

Meanwhile, Verizon Business Vice President of Strategic Connectivity and IoT, Shamik Basu said: “Our collaboration with Aeris enables global customers to access our connectivity and platforms in the US market.”

The integrated solution leverages the SGP.32 eSIM standard to support remote provisioning and centralised device management and is designed to support 5G use cases such as automotive, industrial automation and smart city applications.

The platform is structured to accelerate time-to-market for multinational enterprises, streamline operational processes through a unified interface for provisioning, billing and analytics, and extend security via Aeris IoT Watchtower for real-time monitoring and zero-trust control. Its 5G-enabled infrastructure also provides the scalability and responsiveness needed for high-density, mission-critical IoT deployments.

According to IDC, global enterprises continue to view IoT as a critical pillar of digital transformation, although deployment complexity remains a major challenge. IDC estimates that global investment in the IoT ecosystem will exceed US$1 trillion in 2026, as industries such as manufacturing, utilities and retail accelerate digital transformation spending. (US$1=RM3.88)

-- BERNAMA

EVERCORE APPOINTS BEN HART AS SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF ASIA PCA

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Evercore, a global independent investment banking advisory firm, has appointed Ben Hart as senior managing director and head of its Asia Private Capital Advisory (PCA) division.

Based in Singapore, Hart will oversee Evercore PCA’s activities across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and work closely with the global PCA team to expand the firm’s secondaries advisory and broader private markets capabilities.

“We are very pleased to welcome Ben to the Singapore office. His appointment reflects the priority we have placed on expanding our private capital advisory capabilities in the region.

“Ben brings deep relationships and experience across Asia’s private markets ecosystem, and we believe he will play an important role as we continue to build out our franchise in a disciplined and thoughtful way,” said Evercore Asia Chairman, Keith Magnus in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hart said he is excited to join the team and help build on its strong momentum in one of the most dynamic private market regions, where secondary opportunities are expanding rapidly.

Hart holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder and brings more than two decades of experience in private markets fundraising, institutional investor relations, capital formation, and business development across APAC.

He most recently served as partner and head of investor relations (Asia) at Adams Street Partners, leading the firm’s business development and client service efforts across institutional and private wealth channels.

-- BERNAMA

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

EXPEREO TO DELIVER FULLY MANAGED CONNECTIVITY SOLUTION FOR KINGSPAN INSULATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Expereo, a managed Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, has been selected by Kingspan Insulation to deliver a fully managed connectivity solution across its global operations.

Expereo’s solution enables Kingspan Insulation to consolidate its complex network of disparate Internet Service Providers (ISPs) into a single, centralised, fully managed solution, enhancing visibility, compliance, and operational agility.

“Global enterprises often struggle with fragmented networks that slow growth and increase risk. Our managed services and expereoOne platform provide the visibility, control, and agility Kingspan Insulation needs to support growth and innovation while reducing complexity and risk.

“With a single source of truth for all sites, services, and billing, Kingspan Insulation can scale confidently, stay compliant, and empower its team to focus on innovation and expansion,” said Expereo Chief Executive Officer, Ben Elms in a statement.

Kingspan Insulation manages a complex Wide Area Network (WAN) environment with 90 sites across multiple vendors, spanning 28 countries. This scale presents significant challenges in connectivity, compliance, and security, especially as the business shifts away from Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and increasingly embraces Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud-based services.

Expereo’s scope includes the design, implementation, and management of the network through expereoOne, its NaaS platform, offering Kingspan a single global view of all services. The solution covers both current and future sites under one contract, providing regional support and enabling rapid scaling during acquisitions or operational changes.

Through expereoOne, Kingspan gains full visibility and control over its network—from ordering and billing to ticketing and auditing. The platform also delivers real-time performance insights and utilisation reporting, allowing the company to optimise resources, maintain security, and streamline operational processes.

Expereo now manages Kingspan Insulation’s underlay and overlay services, including SD-WAN, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), and broadband, with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity under consideration for future rapid deployments. The solution allows remote SD-WAN setups to be completed in less than 30 minutes, offering flexibility for urgent business needs without compromising performance.

The partnership follows a similar selection by Kingspan Light, Air + Water, the global provider of smoke control, fire safety, daylighting, ventilation, water management, and storage solutions, which also chose Expereo to deliver a fully managed connectivity solution for its worldwide operations.

-- BERNAMA