The pride of Switzerland: first European auction of a T-Rex
April 10, 2023, 4:02 pm

The pride of Switzerland: first European auction of a T-Rex

On a cold mid-December evening in 2022, a Lufthansa aircraft from the Phoenix, Arizona, lands in Zurich. On board what will soon do headlines- the king of the dinosaurs. Within ten large wooden boxes, 293 carefully wrapped pieces of skeleton which will become a Tyrannosaurus Rex. 147 of these, are real dinosaur bone material. Never before such a creature has come to Switzerland. This particular T-Rex is called TRX-293 Trinity, as is a skeleton assembled from three Tyrannosaurus Rex individuals. All three specimens were found and excavated in neighbouring areas in the Hell Creek and Lance Creek in the US states of Montana and Wyoming and are very similar in size and age. With over 50% original fossils, Trinity is more complete than many dinosaur fossils displayed in the world's major museums.

With the help of a nearby expert team from the dinosaur museum in Aathal, the T-Rex-293 Trinity has been built within two working days according to a precise plan sent from Phoenix. The 67million-year old skeleton is an impressive 11.6 meters long and 3.9 meter high. The unusual object can be admired by the public over a three-week period in Zurich's Tonhalle until April 16, before it will go under the hammer and auctioned on April 18 as the last lot of the second "Out of this World" auction.
It is only the third time ever, worldwide, that a Tyrannosaurus Rex is offered at an auction. The Auction House Koller is one of the world's leading auction houses. The starting bid stands at 5 million Swiss Francs (= 5,47million USD) aiming up to 8 million Swiss Francs (= 8,450million USD).
I have had the opportunity to speak to Mr Cyrill Koller, the Chief Executive Officer at Koller Auctions. When asked why precisely Switzerland has been chosen to auction the worldwide only third T-Rex in history, he said:

“Our auction house "Koller Auctions" has been conducting auctions in various areas since 1960 and has therefore had a large international clientele for a long time. In addition to art, jewellery and watches, we also regularly auction objects from various other collection areas. With over 20 departments, we offer one of the widest ranges of any auction house in Europe. Two years ago I met Christian Link, who has been trading in meteorites, dinosaur fossils, geological features, but also in testimonies from the history of space exploration and rare memorabilia from the film and music industry for 15 years. Together we have decided to offer a new collection area at Koller auctions under the name «Out of this world». The first auction took place in June 2022 and was a great success with a sales rate of over 95%. Among other things, we were able to sell a pterodactyl for CHF 360,000, which was three times the auction estimate. This is how the owner of Trinity became aware of us and offered us the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton for our auction”.

Mr Koller explains that he had not had any hesitation in accepting the hugely privileged Auction slot when offered to his auction house.
“Together with palaeontologists, fossil preparators and museum people, we have examined the T-Rex offer and have concluded that it is a reputable supplier whose information about Trinity is correct. After that, we didn't hesitate any longer and enthusiastically accepted the offer to auction Trinity in April 2023 in Zurich. For the owner, the priority was to inspire new collectors outside of the USA for this extraordinary fossil”.

When thinking of a future for this special skeleton, Mr Koller states that “It would be particularly nice if Trinity could be sold into a public collection. But even if a private individual were to win the bid, we are convinced that Trinity will sooner or later be seen in public.”

Pride is what Cyrill Koller strongly feels regarding the upcoming auction on April 18
“As the first European auction house to be able to offer an original T. rex skeleton, we are proud. Equally great is the satisfaction of seeing the joy of all visitors who visit Trinity in Zurich's Tonhalle during the currently open exhibition. Interest in seeing Trinity during the auction preview is very high. The viewing slots, which we set up for security reasons, have been expanded for the third time and are fully booked after just a few hours”.

Thinking of an ideal target buyer, Mr Koller said:
“Trinity's ideal target buyer is either a public collection or a private individual with a passion for dinosaurs and various forms of ancient life, and the financial means to do so, this is only the third T-Rex skeleton to be offered at auction anywhere in the world, to acquire. Interested parties with whom we have been in contact regarding the Trinity auction have also signalled to us that they are quite willing to show this impressive fossil publicly”.
As this auction could also be controversial, as some pantologists may fear, that research might be compromised if the auction goes to a private buyer, it is definitely a huge attraction and a privilege for the small country of Switzerland. The expectation is high when in April Zurich becomes the centre of the world, at least for the dinosaur lovers and auction interests…and for those with the right budget to bid on the T-Rex-293 Trinity.

By: Luisa Markides

What is the chance of creating a multipolar world order U.S. SUIT FILED BY SYRIAN-AMERICAN FORMER DETAINEE SPOTLIGHTS SYRIAN REGIME’S POLICY AND PRACTICE OF TORTURE IN DETENTION

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.