SYDNEY, MARCH 17--AsiaNet/InfoQuest CURRENCY RATES... NEW YORK: Bloomberg, the leading global provider of business and financial news and data, Thursday announced that it has been chosen as the fixing agent for Malaysian Cross Currency Basis Swaps. http://www.bloomberg.com ACCEPTANCE REMINDER... CLEVELAND, Ohio: Cleveland-Cliffs Inc Thursday emphasized the timing surrounding acceptance of its offer for the shares in Portman Limited. http://www.cleveland-cliffs.com http://www.Portman.com.au NEW MEMBER... MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.: Benitec Ltd. Thursday announced the addition of Katherine A. High, M.D., a leading hematology researcher and Advisory Committee member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). http://www.benitec.com http://www.chop.edu SUCCESSFUL EVENT... LONDON: Gizmondo Europe Ltd, subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc., is delighted to convey the overwhelming success of the 2005 Verbier Ride freeskiing event, of which the Gizmondo multi-entertainment handheld was headline sponsor. http://www.gizmondo.com http://www.tigertelematics.com R&D CENTER... SAN JOSE, Calif. & NANJING: SS8 Networks, a leading provider of IP messaging systems and lawful intercept solutions for the global telecommunications industry, Thursday announced the opening of a new research and development center in Nanjing, China to address the growing trend to converged networks of TDM and Voice over the Internet protocol (VoIP). http://www.SS8.com NEW STRATEGY... LOS ANGELES, Calif.: Dalton Investments LLC Thursday announced that it is pursuing a new investment strategy in China aimed at acquiring shares of publicly traded, entrepreneurial companies while selling short shares of larger state-owned enterprises. BEIJING OFFICE... HONG KONG: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Wednesday announced the transfer of Robert M. Thomas to Beijing, China where he will become the firm's chief representative. http://www.sullcrom.com LUXURY ECO-HOTEL... NEW YORK: The French Polynesian atoll of Tetiaroa, owned by the late Marlon Brando, is to be the site of a lavish new eco-hotel, called The Brando. http://www.tahiti.interconti.com PRIVATE EQUITY... PALO ALTO, Calif.: KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc, a privately-held emerging therapeutic antibody company, Wednesday announced the completion of its Series B financing round of US$20 million. http://www.kalobios.com http://www.gbsventures.com.au http://www.MPMCapital.com (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net for full-text versions.)