Sevens Atelier – Luxury Design and Build Consultancy, embarks on next phase of growth as a listed entity

Singapore, Jul 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Sevens Atelier Limited (the "Company" or "Sevens Atelier") would like to announce today its completion of the proposed acquisition of Sevens Creation Private Limited's Design and Build business. This will propel forward the Company's vision of a comprehensive and innovative Design and Build consultant for premium landed properties in Singapore.

Headquartered in Singapore, Sevens Atelier taps on the expertise of a holistic in-house execution and advisory team, establishing itself as a premier Design & Build solutions provider with an innovative edge in the premium landed property space. The Company boasts a proven track record of notable design-build projects in prime residential districts, such as Orchard Rd, East Coast, Bukit Timah and Sentosa. Sevens Atelier is well-poised to build trust with its clients and continuously elevate their artisanal capabilities in the Design and Build space.

As landed property prices in Singapore are expected to remain firm, if not experience an upward trend , demand for design consultancy services is also expected to face a corresponding increase, offering potential growth opportunities for the Company.

Key services that will be offered and enhanced by the Company will include Redevelopment and Reconstruction as well as pre-purchase inspection of the homes. Going beyond consultation services for landed properties, as ancillary services to the Design and Build focus, Sevens Atelier will also provide access to pre-leasing consultation services for multinational companies and established players in the food and beverage industry, which will cover minute details such as lighting, furnishing, to turnkey visualisations, without the pressure of prematurely committing to the business space. Sevens Atelier is also set to launch 7s Meta Virtual Homes – to further integrate the physical and virtual aspects of home-building via an immersive 3D experience of virtual reality that will digitally enhance the Design and Build process.

Commenting on the Company's listing status, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Sevens Atelier, Mr. Jeffrey Hong said, "Luxury homes are both a financial and emotional investment, and we wish to operate as a comprehensive concierge service for our clients, leveraging on decades of real estate experience and network to build their dream homes. We are confident that Sevens Atelier will revitalise the home-building and luxury design consultancy space, as we continue to enhance our key offerings through investments in innovative digital solutions."

About Sevens Atelier Limited (SGX:5EW)

Sevens Atelier is a Catalist Board-listed company on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) offering full-fledged consultancy services in the Design & Build industry, including pre-leasing consultations of business spaces and pre-purchase inspections of premium landed properties in Singapore. From consultation to completion, they provide turnkey services to their premium clients. Sevens Atelier is a BCA-certified solutions provider in the Design and Build arena with the goal to constantly improve and evolve. Their artisanal capabilities are a hallmark of their commitment to their clients.

For all media queries, please contact:
Kamal Samuel
Financial PR
T: 6438-2990
E: kamal@financialpr.com.sg

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hektar REIT’s ESG Commitment Gets Rewarded with a 4-Star Rating

KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 27, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT) has achieved an upgraded Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating of 4-star on the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index (F4GBMI) in the latest June 2022 evaluation.


Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. Johari Shukri bin Jamil


Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil said, "We are humbled to have our ESG initiatives recognised and rewarded with such a high rating as this is a great acknowledgement of our commitment to ensuring that our business activities are performed to high standards of environmental, social and governance conduct. We are convinced that the continued integration of sustainability into our strategy will support the ongoing & future success of Hektar REIT – in the interest of all stakeholders."

"We embarked on these ESG initiatives in 2017 when we put in place various energy optimisation initiatives for all our malls which have significantly reduced our carbon footprint over the years. We will continue to enhance our efforts in managing material sustainability matters, including climate change adaptation, pollution prevention, water and waste management, and managing energy consumption, including incorporating renewable energy in our energy mix moving forward."

"I would also like to emphasise that we will continue to improve our ESG credentials, not just because regulations are becoming more enhanced on these matters but also because it will translate into long term business value and, most importantly, it is the responsible thing to do."

Hektar Asset Management, the Manager of Hektar REIT, remains committed to continuously looking at and adopting sustainability-linked initiatives as part of the core strategy & decision-making process. Recently, Hektar REIT also joined the Public Listed Companies (PLC) Transformation Programme launched by Bursa Malaysia to further enhance the fundamental tenets, from being performance-driven to helping build & contribute towards the nation.

Based on the latest results by F4GBMI in their June 2022 evaluation, Hektar REIT achieved a high score in Governance, reflecting the adoption of best practices for Corporate Governance & Anti-Corruption. To further strengthen & improve our overall Governance, the Management is currently working on establishing the Directors' Fit & Proper Policy based on the guidelines issued by Bursa Malaysia. The policy will be made available on the REIT's website from 1 July 2022 onwards.

Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited Announces Annual Results for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

HONG KONG, Jun 24, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited (the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 1271.HK) today announces its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2022 ("FY 2021/22").

Highlights
— Revenue amounted to HK$817.9 million, a decrease of 45.2% from the previous financial year.
— Net profit for the year was HK$17.5 million, representing a decrease of 88.2%.
— Proposed payment of final dividend of 4.0 HK cents per share.
— Stay positive toward lucrative business of owning and operating data centres via expanding portfolio of developing two new centres in near future.
— Seize opportunity to increase land reserve for property development in Hong Kong.
— Execute the plan for property development in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China targeting for luxurious senior residential market.

The Group's consolidated revenue decreased approximately 45.2% from approximately HK$1,492.4 million for the year ended 31 March 2021 ("FY 2020/21") to approximately HK$817.9 million for FY 2021/22. The decrease was primarily caused by lower revenue recognised from the building construction project at Kai Tak which was at the completion stage during FY 2021/22.

The Group's net profit for FY 2021/22 amounted to approximately HK$17.5 million, representing a decrease of 88.2% when compared to that of approximately HK$149 million for FY 2020/21. Earnings per share was 1.2 HK cents (2021: 10.5 HK cents). The deterioration in results for FY 2021/22 was attributed by (i) reduction of revenue and profit recognised from the Kai Tak construction project which was at the completion stage; (ii) lower profit attained from the sales of typical units of Cristallo project; and (iii) loss incurred in certain variation orders of a completed construction project. Disregarding the changes in fair value of investment properties, the Group recorded an underlying loss of approximately HK$75.2 million (FY 2020/21: underlying profit of HK$148 million).

The Group believes a long-term high dividend policy is the best reward for our loyal shareholders. The Board now recommends to pay a final dividend for FY 2021/22 of 4.0 HK cents per share. Together with the interim dividend of 4.0 HK cents per share and special interim dividend of 20.0 HK cents per share already paid, the total dividends for FY 2021/22 amounted to 28.0 HK cents per share.

During FY 2021/22, revenue derived from the construction business decreased by approximately 65.1%, from approximately HK$1,133.7 million for FY 2020/21 to approximately HK$395.5 million for FY 2021/22. The decrease was primarily attributed to lower revenue recognised from the Kai Tak construction project which was at the completion stage during FY 2021/22.

The data centre leasing business recorded healthy growth in the year under review, representing a testament to the resiliency of the portfolio and right strategy over the years. Revenue derived from its two high-tier data centre buildings, namely iTech Tower 1 and iTech Tower 2 increased approximately 18.4%, from approximately HK$164.7 million for FY 2020/21 to approximately HK$195.0 million for FY 2021/22, primarily driven by increased utilisation of data centre spaces in iTech Tower 2 by committed customers.

The Group looks ahead from a position of strength to a focus on growth, and continues to execute the strategy of creating a stable and growing cash flow stream, the Group further diversifies its footprint for high-tier data centres. The two greenfield sites at No.3 On Kui Street and No.8 On Chuen Street in Fanling, the New Territories will be developed into two new high-tier data centres for leasing purposes, with an estimated gross floor area of approximately 185,000 square feet in aggregate. Currently the application for change of land use change of both sites by way of land exchange are in progress. The development at No.3 On Kui Street and No.8 On Chuen Street is scheduled for completion in mid-2025 and mid-2026 respectively.

The Group's luxury residential project, CRISTALLO, at No. 279 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon was well sold. During the year sales of 6 residential units were completed, and revenue of approximately HK$221.7 million was recognized accordingly.

"The Grand Marine" in Tsing Yi had achieved an encouraging sales performance, with over 92% of the units sold cumulatively. The certificate of compliance of the development was granted in March 2022. Accordingly, handover of the sold units to the buyers commenced from mid-April 2022, with HK$4.75 billion revenue recognised in the first half of our financial year 2022/23.

For the property development in Mainland China, the Group acquired its first land parcel in July 2021 through government public auction. The land parcel is located at Guangxi-ASEAN Economic and Technological Development Zone, Wuming District, Nanning City, Guangxi Province. The site has an area of approximately 574,000 square feet, and is planned to be developed into a luxury residential project under the theme of leisure and healthy lifestyle targeting customers at the elderly and retirees and their families. The preliminary design comprises high-rise apartment units, villas, retail shops and a wellness centre. The estimated gross floor area of the proposed development is approximately 1,100,000 square feet. Site clearance works had been completed. Planning and design works are in progress.

Mr. Chan Hung Ming, Chairman and Executive Director of Grand Ming Group Holdings concluded, "The achievement of our first property development project of the Grand Marine confirms our successful transition to a property developer which emboldens us to deliver satisfactory results in the coming year. We will continue to launch the sales for the remaining units of the Grand Marine and Cristallo so as to contribute further cash inflows to the Group."

"Looking forward, year 2022 remains a year full of challenges conditioned by heightened uncertainty, including potential resurgence of another wave of covid-19 infections, local interest rate hike triggered by the U.S. Federal Reserve's move to hike rates and the global geopolitical tensions. On the other side, resilient demand from the local end-users, limited land supply and low mortgage rate environment continued to support the local residential mass market. We maintain a cautiously optimistic view on the residential property market. Facing with these challenges and uncertainties, we would continue to adopt our prudent approach in managing the Group's businesses and strategies, and searching meticulously for suitable new property development projects both in Hong Kong and Nanning City of Mainland China to build the long-term development roadmap of the Group. The acceleration of digital transformation in business operations and communication among individuals during the pandemic had led to a surge in demand of high-tier data centres and therefore we are committed to developing our two new data centres in Fanling and looking for new pipelines for growth."

About Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited (Stock code: 1271.HK)
The Group is principally engaged in the business of building construction, property leasing and property development. As a local wholesale co-location provider of high-tier data centres, the Group is one of the dedicated service providers in Hong Kong which owns and uses the entire building for leasing to customers for data centre use. Its clientele includes multinational data centre operator, telecommunications company and financial institutions. The Group operates two high-tier data centre buildings, namely iTech Tower 1 and iTech Tower 2. It also acquired two pieces of land in Fanling, the New Territories for developing into two high-tier data centres. Furthermore, the Group launches a residential development project namely "The Grand Marine" at Sai Shan Road, Tsing Yi, as well as a luxury residential project, Cristallo, at Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon. The Group owns a piece of land at No.1 Luen Fat Street, Fanling, New Territories and a site at No. 41, 43, 45 Pau Chung Street, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, for developing each into a residential-cum-retail complex with an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 67,000 square feet. In Mainland China the Group owns a piece of land at Guangxi-ASEAN Economic and Technological Development Zone, Wuming District, Nanning City, Guangxi Province with a site area of approximately 574,000 square metres and the estimated gross floor area of the proposed residential development is approximately 1,100,000 square feet.

Media Contacts:
Angel Yeung
Jovian Communications Ltd
Email: news@joviancomm.com


Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hektar Asset Management Appoints New CEO

KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 10, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT) is pleased to announce the appointment of En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, 50, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hektar Asset Management effective 11 June 2022.


En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, CEO of Hektar Asset Management


En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, CEO of Hektar Asset Management (Link) En. Johari will succeed Dato' Hisham bin Othman, 60, who has reached mandatory retirement age after helming Hektar Asset Management as CEO since May 2016. The Board would like to extend its appreciation to Dato' Hisham for his valuable contribution & service and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

En. Johari who was appointed to the Board of Directors of Hektar REIT as Non Independent Non Executive Director in February 2022 and who is now redesignated as the Executive Director/CEO, brings over 20 years of extensive corporate experience, holding senior leadership positions in various industries, including Real Estate & Industrial Development, Logistics & Engineering.

His expertise in asset management, corporate finance, strategy, operations & managing businesses to achieve the desired results through transformational initiatives is very relevant to the REIT and is expected to be put to good use in leading Hektar REIT to continue its post pandemic recovery and to chart new strategic initiatives. En Johari holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from UTM and a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Program from the Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge.

The Board & the Management looks forward to working with En. Johari to take Hektar REIT to the next phase of growth as we continue our drive to optimise and grow the REIT's portfolio for stable and sustainable returns to our Unitholders.

About Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust

Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT) is Malaysia's first listed retail-focused REIT. The primary objectives of Hektar REIT are to provide unitholders with sustainable dividend income and to achieve a long-term capital appreciation of the REIT. Hektar REIT was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on 4 December 2006 and currently owns 2 million square feet of retail space in 4 states with assets valued at RM1.16 billion as at 31 December 2021. The REIT's strategic partner is Frasers Centrepoint Trust, part of Frasers Property Ltd, headquartered in Singapore. Hektar REIT is managed by Hektar Asset Management Sdn Bhd and the property manager is Hektar Property Services Sdn Bhd. Hektar REIT's portfolio of commercial properties includes Subang Parade in Subang Jaya, Selangor; Mahkota Parade in Melaka; Wetex Parade & Classic Hotel in Muar, Johor; Central Square in Sungai Petani, Kedah; Kulim Central in Kulim, Kedah and Segamat Central in Segamat, Johor. For more information, please visit www.HektarREIT.com

For more information or inquiries, please contact:
Hektar Asset Management Sdn Bhd
Investor Communications
Tel: +603 6205 5570
Fax: +603 6205 5571
Email: ir@HektarREIT.com
Web: www.HektarREIT.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

IRE NZ Releases Property Management Software Website in New Zealand

RICHMOND, New Zealand, May 25, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – IRE New Zealand, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, which showcases digital solutions for property professionals in New Zealand. Sales and property managers are welcome to book a free demo of their Property Management Software on the NZ site.

An IRE NZ company spokesperson noted that IRE's new Property Management Software is comprehensive and includes all the tools needed to run a successful Property Management business in NZ. These solutions include:

– Enquiry Management Software, which puts property managers back in control with automated communications, 24/7 bookings and customisable calendars.
– IRE BDM will help property managers and BDMs win new business with less effort by generating leads and analysing performance.
– KeyWhere is an innovative key management solution that helps users keep track of their keys in real-time and enjoy easy checkouts, automated alerts, and live status updates.

"We understand that running a business takes precedence over growing a business, which is why we created an Enquiry Management System for NZ that basically runs itself," the spokesperson noted, adding that thanks to the innovative new Property Management Software, property professionals can now get access to a user-friendly and intuitive digital solution.

"Also, we've got you covered when it comes to nurturing your new leads. Our email delay feature stops overzealous agents coming on too strong while pre-populated newsletter templates help you stay in touch with useful content."

Thanks to the automated status change alerts, property professionals will easily know exactly where a prospective customer is in the conversion funnel.

To learn more about IRE NZ's Property Management Software and its key management system for real estate features, please visit the new website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=475zI7-9hgU&t=6s

About IRE New Zealand

In 2011, former agency owner Andrew Reece and software engineer Mike van Raders set out to transform the industry. Armed with valuable property know-how and some serious engineering chops, the pair got to work building a powerful digital platform that is now used by thousands of customers around the world. Today, IRE works with leading sales and property managers to help them streamline their operations and grow their businesses. Every day, their users rely on IRE software to automate property enquiries, streamline communications, manage viewings, process tenancy applications, and more. For more information, please visit https://iretech.io/nz/.

Media Contact
Grace Chittenden
0277675611
Grace.Chittenden@inspectrealestate.co.nz

IRE NZ
Suite 1 Level 1/259 Queen Street
Richmond 7010
New Zealand

SOURCE: Inspect Real Estate

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hektar REIT’s NPI Goes up by 17.8% in 1Q 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT), today announced the first quarter results ended 31 March 2022 (1Q 2022). Hektar REIT recorded revenue of RM29.11 million, an increase of 8.7% compared to the RM26.78 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The higher revenue is attributed to the increase in rental income, car park income and higher hotel occupancy, consistent with other retail and hospitality REITs. The overall retail sentiment for this quarter remained positive as it was supported by the increase in retail sales due to the pent-up demand from last quarter. Hektar REIT's net property income increased 17.9% to RM16.62 million compared with RM14.09 million recorded in 1Q 2021, while realised income for the quarter under review gained 110.7% to RM13.74 million compared with RM5.52 million in 1Q 2021. Earnings per unit rose by 106.6% to 2.92 sen for 1Q 2022 compared with 1.41 sen for 1Q 2021.



Subang Parade


Despite the dynamic & challenging environment, the Manager was able to bring in new tenants and secure the existing tenancies. Hektar REIT's overall portfolio occupancy rate has remained steady at 84.8% in the quarter under review. Anchor support for Hektar's malls remains positive as Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) , our anchor tenant at Subang Parade, Central Square and Kulim Central, has started operating their business. The commitment by such an anchor tenant is a testament to the confidence in the long-term prospects of the malls. Hektar REIT is cautiously optimistic that there will be a gradual recovery as the country transitions into an endemic phase with the lifting of restrictions and reopening of the international borders.

Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) also expects the retail industry to recover in 2022 after posting a 26.5% growth rate year-on-year in 4Q 2021, which was above market expectations. RGM anticipates retail sales to grow by 6.3% in 2022. The Manager will maintain a cautious outlook for the coming quarters & continue monitoring the evolving situation and remain focused on ensuring the safety & well-being of our shoppers, tenants, employees and communities at all its properties.

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic & implementation of lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, the retailers are still in the early stages of recovery. Therefore, despite the improved performance of Hektar REIT, the Manager has decided to adopt a prudent approach by moving from quarterly to semi-annual income distribution as part of its long-term strategy to enhance the REIT's capital management. Moving forward, subject to the financial performance of the REIT, the Manager intends to make distributions to the unitholders of Hektar REIT on a semi-annual basis for each six-month period ending 30 June and 31 December each year, unless otherwise determined and/or varied by the Manager at its sole discretion. However, the Manager remains committed to distribute at least 90% of Hektar REIT's distributable income for the financial year ending 31 December 2022.

Hektar REIT remains committed to fulfill its obligation to ensure that business activities are performed to high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). Various energy utilisation and optimisation initiatives since 2017 have been put in place for all of its shopping malls, resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (recorded as CO2e) and energy usage over the last five years. Despite the pandemic, reducing the environmental footprint of our assets and operations remain a top priority. Our Waste Management initiatives have helped to reduce Waste Disposal by 156 tonnes or 22% compared to the same quarter in the preceding year. Hektar REIT is a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and in its latest December 2021 evaluation, its ESG conduct has been recognised with a 3-star ESG rating by FTSE Russell.

Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

12th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) search for the finest real estate as market sentiment improves

SINGAPORE, May 20, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Singapore edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, organised by Southeast Asia's leading property technology company, PropertyGuru (NYSE: PGRU), will return to the Lion City for its 2022 edition.


Prominent, senior real estate industry figures gather 12 May at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore for the leaders' luncheon celebrating the launch of the 2022 edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore)

Jules Kay, General Manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards & Events, delivers his opening remarks during the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) Leaders' Luncheon on 12 May at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore


— Exclusive gala celebration to be held on 28 October 2022 at Shangri-La Singapore
— Entries and nominations are open to eligible companies and the public, respectively, until 19 August, with several new titles for local and transnational developers
— International audience can watch a live stream of awards presentation via AsiaPropertyAwards.com and digital platforms

The 12th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore), supported by Kohler and Mitsubishi Electric Asia Pte Ltd., will be presented at an exclusive in-person gala event at the Shangri-La Singapore on Friday, 28 October 2022. Nominations and entries are being accepted online until 19 August: www.asiapropertyawards.com/en/nominations

The return of the black-tie gala celebration comes as property seekers in the city-state cope with shifts brought by the new normal and look to a better future, according to findings by the H1 2022 PropertyGuru Consumer Sentiment Study (CSS) (tinyurl.com/45mrax8k ).

The study recorded an uptick in the overall Sentiment Index (tinyurl.com/2p92v3c5) – a measure of current real estate satisfaction and overall climate, housing affordability, interest rates, perceived government efforts, and property prices by PropertyGuru.com.sg, Singapore's No. 1 property marketplace. This uptick was driven by Singaporeans' positive outlook on future property prices, more reasonable perception of home loan interest rates, and better-perceived government efforts to make housing more affordable.

Following last year's successful virtual gala event, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) this year have added new categories, honouring real estate companies with developments not only in the city-state but also those with projects abroad.

Key dates:

19 August 2022 – Entries Close
5-28 September 2022 – Site Inspections
29 September 2022 – Final Judging
28 October 2022 – Gala Event and Awards Ceremony in Singapore
9 December 2022 – Regional Grand Final Gala Event in Bangkok, Thailand

All-new award titles

Entries and nominees will be shortlisted across 81 categories. They include the all-new title of Best Transnational Developer, open to companies with developments outside Singapore, as well as Best Luxury Developer. Never-before-presented titles will also be given to eligible residential projects across the city-state: Best Premium Condo Development, Best Waterfront Condo Development, Best Lifestyle Development, Best Wellness Condo Development, and Best Nature-Integrated Condo Development.

Jules Kay, General Manager, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards & Events, said: "The number of quality developments, designs and development companies has grown every year and many of them have been instrumental in driving that growth. Singapore properties and developers always feature highly in the list of the Best in Asia. It's clear that as leaders in this field, they have set a standard in Singapore for others to follow. The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) look forward to recognising their achievements this year and in the years to come."

Dr. Tan Tee Khoon, Country Manager, PropertyGuru.com.sg, said: "Singaporean developers have kept the real estate industry dynamic even in these unprecedented times. I hope that these companies will continue their innovations and push forward their projects with world-class concepts and design across all asset segments, and that they will remain committed to sustainability, green building and ESG."

To launch the 2022 edition, PropertyGuru hosted a luncheon with local developers to celebrate the opening of the nominations and the new categories.

From the Awards in Singapore, main country winners will proceed to the 17th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand where they will compete with peers for Best in Asia honours. At the 2021 edition of the Grand Final, companies from Singapore scored four regional wins, including the Best Hospitality Developer (Asia) title, which was presented to UOL Group Limited.

The 2022 gala event in Singapore will continue to reach consumers, investors and agents internationally by streaming live on AsiaPropertyAwards.com and digital platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards virtual gala series, which began streaming in 2020 and continued in 2021, has garnered around 1 million views to date across multiple channels.

The 12th Annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) programme is supported by gold sponsors Kohler and Mitsubishi Electric Asia Pte Ltd.; official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.sg; official magazine PropertyGuru Property Report; official cable TV partner History Channel; official PR partner Artemis Associates; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) logo is limited to the publication of this article only.

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:
General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino
Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk
Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua
Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Alicia Loh
Awards Manager
M: +65 8382 0078
E: alicia@propertyguru.com.sg

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:
PropertyGuru's Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region's most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2022, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during 'PropertyGuru Week' in December 2022.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP:
PropertyGuru Group is Southeast Asia's leading property technology company, and the preferred destination for over 52 million property seekers to find their dream home, every month. PropertyGuru and its group companies empower property seekers with more than 3.3 million real estate listings, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in 2007 and has helped to drive the Singapore property market online and has made property search transparent for the property seeker. Over the decade, the Group has grown into a high-growth technology company with a robust portfolio of leading property portals across its core markets company; award-winning mobile apps; a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, PropertyGuru FastKey ( www.propertygurugroup.com/fastkey/ ); mortgage marketplace PropertyGuru Finance ( www.propertyguru.com.sg/mortgage/home-loan ); and a host of other property offerings including Awards ( www.asiapropertyawards.com/en/ ), events and publications across Asia.

For more information, please visit www.PropertyGuruGroup.com;
www.linkedin.com/company/propertyguru

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Habitat for Humanity: Innovation Awards at the Virtual Asia-Pacific Housing Forum to Promote Winning Sustainable Solutions for Affordable Housing

BANGKOK, Sep 3, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum's Innovation Awards recognize and celebrate innovators and disruptors in the affordable housing sector. Startup and scaleup companies, policymakers and advocates, architects and engineers are invited to submit sustainable and practical solutions for affordable housing.



Paulette Liu


"The Asia-Pacific region faces complex housing challenges, compounded by rapid urbanization, natural and human-made disasters, the negative effects of climate change, and persistent poverty and inequality," said Luis Noda, Asia-Pacific vice president of Habitat for Humanity. "We need everyone working together and every possible creative solution that is locally adapted to address the housing deficit."

"The recognition allowed us to expand our circle of influence, created more awareness about our advocacy in the community and open more opportunities to help others," said Paulette Liu, president of SKILLS and a 2019 Innovation Awards winner.

The Innovation Awards (visit aphousingforum.org/innovation-awards) underscores the importance of strategic collaboration, specifically by multiple sector partnerships that foster innovations. The Awards are organized by Habitat for Humanity in collaboration with the Hilti Foundation, Whirlpool and the European Union-funded SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility.

There are three award categories: ShelterTech, Public Policies, and Inspirational Practices. The ShelterTech category seeks technology innovations (product & services) led by the private sector; while the Policies category promotes innovative public policies across all government levels to help reduce the housing deficit while taking into consideration specific needs of minorities, vulnerable and marginalized populations. The third category recognizes practices from public or public-private partnerships that contribute to improved communities and settlements and increased access to affordable housing for the most disadvantaged segments of society.

A special Sustainability Award, sponsored by the SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility, will be given to the innovator who will score highest in showcasing scalable solutions for sustainable housing, regardless of the category. The EU and its SWITCH-Asia Programme recognize the critical importance of the housing sector to sustainable consumption and production, and promote sustainable housing and buildings as part of their support for green, circular economies in its 24 target countries in Asia.

"For Asian countries to achieve more sustainable consumption and production in the housing and building sector, it is vital that we heed diverse experiences and adapt these to local realities. The SCP Award will showcase one solution that is particularly inspiring, and we are looking forward to supporting its winner in connecting with EU SWITCH-Asia stakeholders," said Zaida Fadeeva, Team Leader of the SCP Facility.

The top 12 finalists will get to present their ideas in front of a jury panel and the public during the virtual Innovation Awards Grand Premiere on December 1. Winners will be announced on December 8, 2021 during the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. Each winner will receive a trophy and a US$ 5,000 cash prize. Deadline for submission is September 12, 2021.

The Forum, with the theme "Building forward better for inclusive housing," includes program tracks on resilient cities and communities, innovative housing solutions and technologies, sustainability in the housing sector, and financing affordable housing. It includes a training course on land tenure and markets and a youth congress that will highlight the need for decent, affordable housing and the ways in which the youth can contribute to addressing the housing challenge.

Register for complimentary access to the fully virtual Asia-Pacific Housing Forum at aphousingforum.org.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific

About EU SWITCH-Asia Programme

Launched in 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is the largest European Union-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) supporting 24 countries in Asia and Central Asia. The programme has funded around 130 projects, supporting over 500 Asian and European non-for-profit partners, about 100 private sector associations and 80.000 Asian MSMEs. The SCP Facility, one of SWITCH-Asia Components, aims at strengthening the implementation of SCP policies at the national level, facilitating the coordination of all components of the programme through information sharing. In addition, it carries out analyses on the results of the pilot projects and supports dialogue with stakeholders.

The EU and its SWITCH-Asia programme have recognised the critical importance of the housing sector to sustainable consumption and production or SCP, and the construction, housing and buildings cluster is a major pillar of EU policy and SWITCH-Asia activities. It is highlighted as part of the green transition in the flagship EU Green Deal (2019) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (2020). To stimulate further green innovations, the EU has also put forward legislation including its Construction Products Regulation. As the housing and building stock in Europe is not expected to grow as dynamically as in Asia, one of the focus areas for the EU is the renovation of existing buildings for increased energy efficiency, through its "Renovation Wave" strategy (2020), which prioritises social housing. In the SWITCH-Asia programme, several national assignments focus on implementing SCP principles in the buildings sector, including in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan.

Media contact:
Maetavarin Maneekulpan
+66-2260-5820
mae@tqpr.com

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Huijing Holdings 2021 Interim Results Contracted Sales Increases Strongly by Over 162%

HONG KONG, Aug 26, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Huijing Holdings Company Limited ("Huijing Holdings" or the "Group"; Stock code: 9968), an integrated residential and commercial property developer in the PRC, with a strong presence in the Greater Bay Area, has today announced its unaudited interim results as at 30 June 2021.

Strong growth of contracted sales and steady improvement of results

For the six months ended 30 June 2021 ("period"), the Group's strategic blueprint of a "one focus, one core, and two wings" quality property mix and professional services has enabled it to record solid growth against a backdrop of adversity, achieving contracted sales of approximately RMB6,411.0 million, representing a year-on-year growth of around 162.0%. In the period, significant projects launched by the Group included Nine Miles Bay, Xingfu District in Pinghu, Huijing Yanhu International Resort and Hefei Huijing City Centre. The Group recorded net profit of approximately RMB453.4 million in the period, a gain of 48.2% from the previous corresponding period, while net profit margin was 14.7%.

In the period, the Group recorded a revenue of approximately RMB3,092.7 million, representing an increase of approximately 35.8% from the previous corresponding period. Total GFA delivered surged by 67.2% from the same period last year to approximately 399,443 sq.m., mainly from the projects including Nine Miles Bay, Huijing Yanhu International Resort and Hefei Huijing City Centre.

Continued expanding land bank and advancing development of urban renewal projects

In the period, the Group grasped the trend and emphazised the development potential of the city guided by its strategic direction of "Maintain foothold in the Greater Bay Area, penetrate Dongguan, and sustain coverage of high-valued cities in the Southern, Eastern and Central China areas", thus continuously increasing its land reserve and the development potential of urban areas. As at 30 June 2021, the Group's land reserves amounted to approximately 3,578,982 sq.m., within 26 projects and 5 parcels in 12 cities. During the period, it added a total GFA of around 582 thousand sq. m., for five projects.

The Group's urban renewal projects have realised good progress. In the period, the Group secured the land for one urban renewal project which is Shatian Renzhou Area Project with a total site area of approximately 77,321 sq.m.; Project Zhangmutou Baoshan Area and Humen Xinwan Area were also processing well, the land supply target is expected to be completed within the year. Meanwhile, 1 urban renewal project which is Hongmei Hongwugao Area, Dongguan, with a site area of 485,300 sq.m. was secured by the Company to serve as preparatory services provider. As of now, the Company has secured a total of 8 related projects with a site area of 2.04 million sq.m.. It is also working on 12 projects with a total site area for renewal unit of approximately 2.8 million sq.m..The Group will continue to seize urban development opportunities, acquire land parcels with strategic geographical advantages and optimise the layout of urban renewal projects, so as to become a leading developer in the urban renewal project realm across the Greater Bay Area.

Financial position remained stable with ongoing improvement in capital structure

The Group's financial position has remained stable. In the period, total assets amounted to RMB 16.27 billion, with a net gearing ratio of 14.0%. The Group was given a "B+" rating with a positive outlook by Lianhe Ratings Global, a research institute. Going forward, the Group will use the cash generated from its operating activities, available banking facilities and net proceeds from the global offering to further improve its financial and debt structures, and reduce finance costs. In addition, it will continue to strengthen cash flow management, speed up turnover pf receivables and increase the rate of capital turnover.

Future strategies: To seize opportunities, maintain the foothold in the Greater Bay Area, integrate industry and the city, and improve project quality

The eocnomic development in the PRC has graudally revived as the severity of the pandemic has been easing. The Group has adopted more active sales and marketing strategies to reinforce its strategic positioning and faciliate both industrial and economic upgrades. Looking ahead, the Group will continue to "focusing on residential development projects, while taking the urban renewal projects as the core, taking the cultural and tourism-healthy living towns and the scientific and innovative technologies industrial towns as the two-wing", and work from its "one focus, one core and two wings" blueprint. In addition, the Group will strive to bring integrated renewal in residential and industrial development to the city by linking the upstream and downstream industrial chains, providing customers with a more comprehensive and diversified way of "new production" and "new life". In the future, the Group will keep strengthening our overall competitiveness for delivering sustainable returns to shareholders.



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Hektar REIT 2Q Revenue up 4.5%

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust ("Hektar REIT"), today announced the second quarter results ended 30 June 2021 ("2Q 2021"). Hektar REIT recorded revenue of RM25.71 million, which is 4.5% higher than the RM24.60 million recorded in the same quarter of the preceding year.


Hektar REIT Summary of Financial Results for 2Q21 (unaudited)


Net property income meanwhile was RM10.21 million, a decrease of 14.8% compared to the RM11.97 million recorded in 2Q 2020. The reported decline was in line with other retail and hospitality REITs affected by the pandemic due to the implementation of various Movement Control Orders and mobility restrictions. Realized income for 2Q 2021 was 5.2% higher at RM1.58 million compared to the RM1.50 million recorded in 2Q 2020. Earnings per unit ("EPU") of 0.34 sen was recorded for the second quarter.

While the operating landscape continues to be challenging for the retail industry due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Hektar REIT is hopeful that the situation will gradually normalize and consumer sentiment will recover as the high vaccination rates among the population continue. The move by the Government to allow certain non-essential businesses to resume operations from 16 August 2021 while adhering to the standard operating procedures ("SOPs") to curb the virus will give some breathing space to these businesses that have been badly affected and not allowed to operate since May 2021.

Hektar REIT remains cautious as daily infection rates continue to be high but view the introduction of vaccination for retail frontliners under the Retail Industry Vaccination Programme (RiVAC) as critical to the eventual full reopening of the industry. RiVAC is important for the safety of retail staff as well as safeguarding public health for those who have daily interactions with the public. The REIT will continue to monitor the situation while adhering to all SOPs and have implemented measures to ensure the business sustainability of the REIT as well as its tenants.

The outlook for Hektar REIT, as with the rest of the retail REITs, depends on the stabilization and recovery of consumer sentiment, which continues to be affected due to prolonged lockdowns along with other mobility restrictions. Retail Group Malaysia has also recently revised sales growth for the industry downwards to 4.0% for the whole year from 4.1% previously, which was also a downward revision from 4.9% released earlier in the year.

The Government should continue to find the right balance to accelerate the reopening of all economic sectors, which would kick-start economic recovery and enable employers to save and create more jobs whilst ensuring that the healthcare system is able to cope. It would also increase the confidence of businesses and consumers to boost the local economy, in line with the new Government's focus on achieving two main objectives, i.e. raising the purchasing power of citizens and to return the private sector to its role as the country's main driver of economic growth.

Hektar REIT remains committed to fulfill its obligation to ensure that all the business activities are performed to high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). Various energy utilization and optimization initiatives since 2017 have been put in place for all of its shopping malls, resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (recorded as CO2e) and energy usage over the last five years. From 2017 to June 2021, the CO2E avoided was 14.3 million kg, equivalent to saving 369,368 trees. Overall, the Building Energy Intensity ("BEI") for the portfolio is also on a declining trend. Hektar REIT is a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and in its latest June 2021 evaluation, its ESG conduct has been recognized with a 3-star ESG rating by FTSE Russell.

Contact:
Hakim Juraimi
h.juraimi@swanconsultancy.biz

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