MDJM LTD Wholly-Owned Subsidiary MD Local Global Ltd. Announces Strategic Design Partnerships for Fernie Castle Oriental Garden & Castle Exhibition Project

Rhea-AI Summary

MDJM LTD (NASDAQ: UOKA) subsidiary MD Local Global Ltd announced completion of a critical design phase for the Fernie Castle Oriental Garden & Castle Exhibition Project in Fife, Scotland on Dec 23, 2025.

MDLG executed a design agreement with Kengo Kuma & Associates for conceptual architecture and landscape design, and on Dec 19, 2025 began a design collaboration with Simpson & Brown for heritage and planning advisory services. MDLG will serve as project sponsor and coordinator, aiming to align international design vision with local heritage planning to improve the prospects for planning approval and long-term asset value.

Positive

• Design agreement executed with Kengo Kuma & Associates
• Design collaboration with Simpson & Brown started on Dec 19, 2025
• MDLG named project sponsor and overall coordinator

Negative

• Planning approval for Fernie Castle project is not yet secured
• No financial terms or funding details disclosed in the announcement

Market Reality Check

$2.45 Last Close

Volume Volume 14,606 is well below the 20-day average of 113,349, indicating limited pre-news trading interest. low

Technical Shares at $2.45 were trading below the 200-day MA of $3, reflecting a weak longer-term trend before this announcement.

Peers on Argus 1 Down

Peers showed mixed moves: SOND down 23.96%, CVEO up 1.32%, SHCO up 0.11%, while GHG and MCG were flat. With no clear directional pattern and only one peer in momentum scanners, UOKA’s setup appears stock-specific rather than part of a sector-wide move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 18	Cultural IP partnership	Positive	-4.9%	MDLG signed co-production deal with French H5 studio for animated short.
Dec 16	Strategy upgrade	Positive	+13.3%	MDLG announced cultural IP ecosystem centered on Fernie Castle and animation.
Sep 26	Crypto payments launch	Positive	-13.7%	Robin Hill Hotel began accepting cryptocurrency for guest payments.
Sep 02	New bar opening	Positive	+0.6%	Opening of Time and Stars bar at Robin Hill Hotel to add revenue.
Aug 01	Design collaboration	Positive	-3.9%	Design agreement with KKAA to redevelop Fernie Castle into cultural landmark.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive strategic and cultural announcements have often coincided with negative or muted next-day price reactions, with only some Fernie Castle IP news attracting a positive response.

Recent Company History

Over the last six months, MDJM has focused on expanding cultural and hospitality assets, especially around Fernie Castle. Prior news highlighted design collaboration with KKAA, cryptocurrency payments at Robin Hill Hotel, and a new themed bar opening. More recently, MD Local Global advanced a Fernie Castle-centered cultural IP ecosystem and signed a collaboration with France’s H5 studio. Today’s design-partnership update fits this ongoing strategy of turning Fernie Castle into a cultural and animation hub.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement advances MDJM’s Fernie Castle strategy, adding Simpson & Brown’s heritage and planning expertise alongside KKAA’s conceptual design work. It reinforces a multi-party framework aimed at balancing design ambition, regulatory compliance, and long-term operational planning. Set against prior Fernie-focused IP and collaboration news, investors may watch for concrete planning approvals, capital deployment details, and progress on cultural and animation operations as key validation milestones.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

FIFE, Scotland, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MD Local Global Ltd. ("MDLG" or the "Company"), the UK-based wholly owned subsidiary of MDJM LTD (NASDAQ: UOKA) announced that its Oriental Garden and Castle Exhibition Project at Fernie Castle, located in Fife, Scotland, has completed a critical phase in its design and planning process.

Following the execution of a design agreement with Kengo Kuma & Associates (KKAA), MDLG entered into an additional design collaboration on December 19, 2025 with Simpson & Brown LLP ("Simpson & Brown"), one of Scotland's most established and respected heritage architecture practices.

This dual-layer design structure—combining global architectural vision with local heritage and planning expertise—is intended to support a comprehensive and high-quality design proposal while enhancing the likelihood of securing planning approval.

Under the collaboration framework, KKAA is responsible for the conceptual architectural and landscape design of the oriental garden and exhibition spaces, with a focus on materiality, spatial narrative, and the contemporary expression of Eastern philosophy within a historic European context.

Simpson & Brown will provide specialist heritage and planning advisory services, including the integration of the proposed design with the historic fabric and setting of Fernie Castle, guidance on alignment with UK and Scottish planning regulations and heritage protection policies, and early-stage advisory support throughout the planning approval process, drawing on extensive experience with local authorities and heritage bodies.

MDLG serves as project sponsor and overall coordinator, overseeing strategic positioning, investment rationale, design governance, and long-term operational planning.

This three-party collaboration is designed to align design ambition with heritage considerations and regulatory compliance, helping to mitigate execution and approval risks commonly associated with the development of historic estate.

Strategic Significance for MDJM LTD

MDJM LTD management commented: "By partnering with Kengo Kuma & Associates and Simpson & Brown, two firms bringing international design vision and local heritage and planning expertise respectively, we aim to support a high-quality design proposal that achieves both design excellence and planning certainty for the Fernie Castle Oriental Garden and Castle Exhibition Project. This structure strengthens the project's long-term value and execution reliability."

This project is expected to serve as a showcase for MDLG in the fields of historical and cultural asset enhancement, international cultural exchange, and development of premium animation exhibition spaces, continuously amplifying its cultural influence and long-term asset value.

About MD Local Global Ltd.

MD Local Global Ltd. is a UK-based cultural innovation company specializing in cultural IP development, animation production, international licensing, and cultural venue operations. The Company aims to integrate Eastern philosophy with international artistic practices, creating a global cultural ecosystem built on storytelling and immersive experience.

About Simpson & Brown LLP

Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Edinburgh, Simpson & Brown is one of Scotland's leading specialist architectural practices in historic building conservation and heritage-led design. The firm is widely recognized for its expertise in the conservation and enhancement of listed buildings and scheduled monuments, as well as castles, historic houses, and culturally significant estates.

Simpson & Brown is particularly noted for its conservation-led approach to the adaptation and reuse of heritage assets, balancing architectural integrity with contemporary use. The firm maintains long-standing working relationships with Historic Environment Scotland and local planning authorities, and its involvement in heritage projects is widely regarded as a strong indicator of planning credibility and regulatory compliance.

Simpson & Brown Architects – Selected Representative Projects

I. Castles & Historic Estates

Stirling Castle
Conservation and heritage works associated with one of Scotland's most significant national castles, including historic fabric protection and visitor experience enhancement.

Edinburgh Castle
Involvement in multiple conservation, repair, and public realm improvement works at Scotland's most visited historic monument.

Dunnottar Castle
Heritage and structural advisory services for the conservation of this internationally recognised cliff-top castle.

II. National and Listed Heritage Buildings

The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Conservation-related works at the official Scottish residence of the British monarch.

Paisley Abbey
Conservation-led restoration and long-term maintenance planning for this major ecclesiastical heritage site.

Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute
Restoration and adaptive reuse works at one of Scotland's most important Victorian historic houses.

III. Adaptive Reuse & Public Heritage Projects

Glasgow School of Art – Heritage Advisory Works
Specialist conservation advisory services for one of the UK's most important architectural landmarks.

Custom House, Leith
Conservation-led adaptation and reuse of a historic public building.

Multiple A-Listed Buildings Across Scotland
Ongoing conservation, repair, and reuse projects involving Scotland's highest category of protected buildings.

IV. Institutional Collaboration

Long-standing collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland, contributing to nationally significant heritage projects.

Regular engagement with local planning authorities, providing conservation expertise and planning support for heritage-led developments.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contact:
Sherry Zheng
WAVECREST GROUP INC.
Phone: +1 718-213-7386
Email: sherry@wavecrestipo.com

 

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SOURCE MDJM LTD

FAQ

What did MDJM LTD (UOKA) announce about the Fernie Castle project on Dec 23, 2025?

MDJM LTD subsidiary MD Local Global announced a completed design phase and partnerships with Kengo Kuma & Associates and Simpson & Brown for the Fernie Castle project.

What roles will Kengo Kuma & Associates and Simpson & Brown play for UOKA's Fernie Castle project?

Kengo Kuma & Associates will handle conceptual architectural and landscape design; Simpson & Brown will provide heritage and planning advisory services.

When did MD Local Global begin its collaboration with Simpson & Brown for the Fernie Castle project?

The design collaboration with Simpson & Brown commenced on Dec 19, 2025.

Does the MDJM LTD announcement disclose financial terms or funding for the Fernie Castle project?

No; the announcement does not disclose any financial terms, project cost, or funding details.

Will the Fernie Castle design partnerships affect MDJM LTD (UOKA) planning approval chances?

The company said the dual design structure is intended to enhance the likelihood of securing planning approval but approval remains pending.