Real estate investment and property development is one of the core businesses of Emperor Group and is mainly managed by Emperor International Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 163). Formally established in 1990, it has been constantly expanding its businesses and strengthening its property portfolios in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China. In around 2005, taking advantage of Macau's growing gaming and tourism industry, the Group began to acquire a number of local prime properties there. In addition, beginning from 2006, the Group has also been engaged in property development projects in Beijing. As of February 2011, the total value of Emperor Group's properties in China, Hong Kong, Macau and overseas has reached HK$ 20 billion. In Hong Kong, the Group has become the second largest landlord of ground-floor shop spaces on Russell Street in Causeway Bay where retail rents have risen to become the second highest in the world, ranking only below that of Fifth Avenue in New York. Rentals from these prime properties are expected to provide a stable stream of income for years to come.
Residential Projects
The residential projects are one of the more vibrant areas of business of the Group and for many years now, it has been actively developing a number of prime residential properties in Hong Kong and in Mainland China. In Hong Kong, South Bay Palace in Repulse Bay and Royal Bay in Chung Hum Kok are situated in upscale residential neighborhood that offer stunning views of the sea while JC Castle and Green Cove in Tai Po are both low-density residential flats. And Emperor Height on Cox's Road offers a modern-day oasis in the hustle and bustle of Tsim Sha Tsui. Among them, JC Castle was awarded a rating of "Very Good" in 2004 by the Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Society. In Mainland China, the Group has two important projects in Xiamen. In the 1990s, the Group developed the Emperor Riverside Garden Phase I which has been warmly received by Mainland buyers. Thus, after 2000, the Group rolled out Phase II of the Emperor Riverside Garden, which has also become one of the most luxurious residential properties in the heart of Xiamen.
The Group's most recent projects include Harbour One in Sai Wan, THE JAVA in North Point, 18 Upper East in Shau Kei Wan, Prince Edward Road West project in Kowloon City, Connaught Road West project in Sai Wan and Ho Chung project in Sai Kung, etc. Most of them boast stunning sea views of the Victoria Habour, excellent transport networks and close proximity to prestigious schools. The Group started cascading these into the market in 2010 and has been receiving overwhelming response from property buyers ever since.
Retail Spaces
The ground-floor retail spaces in Hong Kong's shopping districts are much sought-after commodities like rare pieces of fine art. In view of this, the Group has been strategically acquiring retail spaces with high pedestrian flow and now owns a large volume of prime retail properties. The most notable example is Russell Street in Causeway Bay. The Group now owns several duplex retail shops and is the second largest landlord of ground-floor retail spaces in the neighborhood. In addition, the Emperor Group is also the owner of a number of ground-floor retail properties in the prime location of Tsim Sha Tsui, such as Shop Nos. 4, 6 and 8 on Canton Road. Apart from high-end shopping districts, the Group has also invested heavily in places where most young people frequently visit. This includes a number of shops on Lockhart Road in Causeway Bay. Because of this, the Group is proud to have a diverse portfolio of retail spaces. In the future, tourists from Mainland China and other parts of world are expected to flock to this shoppers' paradise for its different types of luxury shops. The Group believes that the consumption power of domestic and foreign tourists will continue to grow while Russell Street shall maintain its top position as the street with one of the highest shop rental rates in the world. In view of this, the Group should continue to benefit from the impressive economic growth and increased purchasing power of tourists from Mainland China.
Shopping Malls
Emperor Group believes that both neighborhood shopping centres and upscale shopping malls mainly catering to international tourists have huge development potentials. The Emperor Plaza at the centre of Tsuen Wan, which was launched years ago and the Fitfort Shopping Arcade in North Point which the Group recently acquired are both neighborhood shopping centres that are closely connected to the daily lives of residents in the area. On the other hand, numerous international branded stores will soon rise at a multifunctional leisure centre in Repulse Bay while the shopping mall at the junction of Avenida Do Infante and Avenida Da Praia Grande in Macau as well as the Emperor Star City in Shanghai will soon become international attractions for overseas shoppers.
Industrial and Commercial Buildings
The Group owns a number of industrial and commercial properties, including the self-developed Emperor Group Centre in Wanchai and the Ulferts Centre, acquired at an advantageous price for the development prospect of Tuen Mun where it is situated. In addition, the Chang'an Avenue Project in Beijing which is currently under development will become the China headquarters of the Group when completed.
Hotels
The Group also boasts of rich and varied experiences in developing hotel projects which include the Emperor (Happy Valley) Hotel in Happy Valley and the Grand Emperor Hotel in Macau.
Future Development
Looking into the future, the Group will continue to enhance the quality of its investment property portfolio to increase its profitability. In addition, it will optimise the tenant mix and strive to maintain a close to 100 percent occupancy level. For prime retail properties in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, the Group will maintain a certain level of increase in annual rent to stabilise income. In addition, the Group will roll out more new property projects to satisfy market demand.
Web: www.emperorinternational.com.hk
Tel: (852) 2835 6688
Email: enquiry@emperorinternational.com.hk
