Hektar REIT’s ESG Commitment Rewarded with Two Awards ACN Newswire

Hektar REIT’s ESG Commitment Rewarded with Two Awards

November 29, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hektar Asset Management Sdn Bhd, the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT), Malaysia's first retail-focused REIT, is pleased to announce that Hektar REIT is the proud recipient of two Silver awards at the inaugural of The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2022: Most Improved Performance Award Over Three Years (for Market Cap below RM300M) and Property & REIT Sector Award.Muhammad Bakhtiar Ul Haq, Assistant Manager, IR, ESG & Special Projects of Hektar Asset Management; Mohd Zaharim bin Mohd Yatim, Senior Manager, Special Projects of Hektar Property Services; Syairul Irwan Rased, Assistant GM, Business Strategy, Martin Chen, GM, Legal, Zarina Halim, CCO, Johari Shukri bin Jamil, CEO and Lim Kek Siang, Senior GM, Finance of Hektar Asset Management and Sanggat Singh, Senior Manager, Group Facilities Management of Hektar Property Services [L-R]The Edge Malaysia editor-in-chief Kathy Fong; Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift; Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn Bhd; Helena Fung, the head of sustainable investment for Asia-Pacific at FTSE Russell; and Datuk Ho Kay Tat, the publisher and group CEO of The Edge Media Group [L-R]The awards seek to recognise and honour Malaysian companies for their commitment to developing and enhancing their business operations according to the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles. The award ceremony was held at a gala dinner at the Sunway Resort Hotel on 28 November 2022.The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2022 comprised two categories - the Equity Awards and the Fund Awards. The Equity Awards were organised in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia and FTSE Russell and the Fund Awards were in collaboration with the Securities Commission and Morningstar. These awards were aimed at promoting ESG adoption and leadership amongst industry leaders and professionals by recognising their contributions and successes. Hektar REIT qualified under the category of Equity Awards, whereby a company must be listed on Bursa Malaysia and be a constituent of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS index as of June 2022.En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. (Hektar Asset Management), the Manager of Hektar REIT said: "We are honoured to be conferred with these prestigious awards, a testament and recognition of our efforts in driving Sustainability initiatives since we embarked on the core focus on its three pillars of E, S and G across the organisation in 2017. Our commitment to ESG principles is long-term, as we recognise that all of us have a responsibility to our stakeholders. We remain committed to further advancing our efforts in managing material sustainability matters in the area of environmental conservation, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, water & waste management, and managing energy consumption, including incorporating renewable energy in our energy mix." En Johari emphasised that the company will continue to ensure that its initiatives are in accordance with the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR), industry best practices and investors' expectations. Over the years, Hektar REIT has joined hands through many partnerships and collaborations with local and international organisations, providing support to NGOs' and charity programs to support underprivileged and marginalised communities besides advancing and empowering women to improve their financial independence for the benefit of families."We recognise the need for responsible sourcing and are working closely with external parties, such as our tenants and vendors, to reduce our carbon footprint across the value chain. An example is the recently introduced Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) to recycle plastic bottles and cans at Subang Parade as a pilot project to play our role and reward our loyal patrons with vouchers for redemption for their continued commitment to becoming a part of a responsible society. We will also continue integrating ESG into all aspects of our business, from financial management to operations and future planning to deliver resilient and sustainable long-term value for our stakeholders."In June 2022 FTSE Russell evaluation, Hektar REIT was upgraded from a 3-star to a 4-star ESG rating on the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index (F4GBMI). Based on the F4GBMI evaluation of the results, Hektar REIT is inspired and encouraged to continue its efforts to improve initiatives in all three core areas of Environmental, Social & Governance and embed these core principles into its business DNA.Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/ Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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Hektar REIT’s Portfolio Benefits from Retail Recovery ACN Newswire

Hektar REIT’s Portfolio Benefits from Retail Recovery

November 15, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT), today announced the third quarter results ended 30 September 2022 (3Q 2022). Hektar REIT recorded revenue of RM31.06 million, a substantial increase of 62.4% compared with RM19.12 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The higher revenue is attributed to the increased rental income, including higher turnover rent, increased car park income and higher hotel occupancy. Hektar REIT registered a net property income of RM18.31 million, an increase of 77.2% compared with RM10.33 million in 3Q 2021, while the realised net income was RM13.50 million, a notable increase of 861.8% compared with RM1.40 million for the same quarter in the preceding year.En. Johari Shukri, CEO of Hektar Asset ManagementHektar REIT's performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2022 (9M 2022) showed an increase in revenue by 25% to RM89.55 million compared with RM71.62 million in the corresponding period of 2021. The net property income rose 40.4% to RM48.64 million in 9M 2022 compared with RM34.63 million in the same period for last year, while the realised net income grew by 256% to RM33.82 million compared with RM9.50 million.The Malaysian retail landscape showed steady recovery as it inches back to the pre-pandemic levels, and it is evident across Hektar REIT's portfolio. The shopping malls recorded a higher footfall of 269% year-on-year (y-o-y), along with a 152% higher vehicle count y-o-y. This is in tandem with the continuous improvement in tenants' sales performance at our malls, providing headroom for rental growth.En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. said: "Retail activities remained strong in the quarter under review. Recovery in consumer-related subsectors, including leisure, international tourism and hospitality, continued to aid in the overall performance of the retail industry. Hektar REIT's malls are well-positioned as neighbourhood malls and leverage the proximity to the community, catering to all their basic needs as well as an increased desire for F&B and social offerings such as entertainment options to be enjoyed together with their family & friends.""Despite the Malaysian economy's strong performance, we remain cautious of the outlook for the coming quarters given the volatile economic landscape driven by hawkish monetary policy in response to inflationary pressure, uncertain consumer sentiments as well as lingering supply-chain and logistics issues stemming from geopolitical concerns. We will continue adopting prudent financial management, cost optimisation and enhancing our asset efficiencies to help cushion the impact.""We are also actively exploring avenues for growth by ensuring a strong portfolio of retail brands in our malls that can optimise sustainable returns and defensible income through active tenancy remixing and rejuvenation of the centres. We will continue to look for ways to enhance and improve the look and condition of our malls as part of longer-term strategies to improve our dividend yields. To improve on revenue and debt recovery post-pandemic, our team has been consistently tracking tenants' ongoing performance to carefully structure our new tenancies and renewals, apart from aggressively looking at strategies to manage rental collection. We also remain committed to reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our responsibility towards our stakeholders by continuously undertaking several ESG initiatives because it is the right thing to do for ourselves and our communities."Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/ Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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Hektar REIT Recorded Significant Improvement ACN Newswire

Hektar REIT Recorded Significant Improvement

August 26, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT), today announced the second quarter results ended 30 June 2022 (2Q 2022). Hektar REIT recorded revenue of RM29.37 million, an increase of 14.2% compared to the RM25.71 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The higher revenue is attributed to increased rental & car park income and higher hotel occupancy. Hektar REIT registered a net property income of RM13.70 million, an increase of 34.3% compared to RM10.20 million in 2Q 2021, while the realised net income was RM6.57 million, a substantial increase of 317.3% compared to the same period in the preceding year.Subang ParadeEn. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd.Earnings per unit rose significantly by 311.8% to 1.40 sen for 2Q 2022 compared with the same quarter in the previous year. Based on the financial performance for the current quarter, Hektar REIT has declared an interim income distribution of 2.70 sen per unit, amounting to RM12.72 million, to be made on 26 September 2022.Hektar REIT's performance for the six months ended 30 June 2022 (1H 2022) showed an increase in revenue by 11.4% to RM58.49 million compared with RM52.49 million registered in the corresponding period of the previous year. The net property income of RM30.33 million exhibited an increase of 24.8% compared with RM24.30 million in 1H 2021, while the realised net income grew by 151.0% to RM20.32 million compared with RM8.10 million recorded in 1H 2021.After two straight years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the retail landscape is currently going through normalization & early phases of recovery. The portfolio of malls under Hektar REIT has experienced a 58% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in visitor footfall and a 50% higher vehicle count y-o-y. This is in tandem with the huge improvement in the tenant sales performance at our malls. Despite the improved performance, the Manager has adopted a cautious outlook for the coming quarters in light of inflationary pressure and uncertain global economic outlook that may affect domestic economic activities. As part of our business sustainability measures to ensure that our malls have stable occupancy, we will continue to monitor and review our rental strategy.En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. said: "As part of our sustainable business strategy, we will continue adopting prudent financial management, cost optimization initiatives, and enhancing our asset efficiencies to help cushion the impact of increasing interest rates and rising cost of inflation. Furthermore, we continue to increase our engagement with all stakeholders, including tenants, to offer them competitive rental rates to facilitate their recovery.""At the same time, for our shoppers and loyal patrons, we are continuously working on enhancing our existing facilities at our shopping malls to provide a great retail experience. For our valued unitholders, we remain committed to distributing at least 90% of Hektar REIT's realised net income for the financial year ending 31 December 2022.""Hektar REIT's Assets Under Management (AUM) comprises five established neighbourhood-focused malls and one regional shopping mall, which play a key role in serving as a community hub. Recently, Hektar REIT's Sustainability and CSR initiatives have been recognised and awarded with Company of the Year for Stakeholder & Community Engagement at the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia 2022 Awards. We are humbled to receive this award and will continue to play our role towards the betterment of our communities.""Similarly, our efforts towards Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) have been recognised and rewarded by the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index by FTSE Russell to an upgrade of 4-star rating in the latest June 2022 evaluation. These acknowledgements further affirmed our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, enhancing our corporate governance, and increasing our responsibility towards our stakeholders."Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/ Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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Hektar REIT Sustainability & CSR Initiatives Gets Awarded ACN Newswire

Hektar REIT Sustainability & CSR Initiatives Gets Awarded

August 18, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT) has been awarded "Company of the Year" under the "Stakeholder and Community Sustainability Engagement Initiatives" category of the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2022 held today at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur.Second from Left: Secretary-General of the Ministry of Rural Development, YBhg Datuk Ramlan Harun and CEO of Hektar Asset Management Johari Shukri bin JamilJohari Shukri bin Jamil, CEO of Hektar Asset ManagementThis award follows the recent 4-star Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating upgrade received by Hektar REIT as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index (F4GBMI) in the June 2022 evaluation by FTSE Russell.The Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2022, which was officiated by the Minister of Rural Development, YB Dato' Seri Mahdzir bin Khalid, and represented by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Rural Development, YBhg Datuk Ramlan Harun is organised by CSR Malaysia, a publication and social initiative under the auspices of the Malaysian Welfare Society for Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility, which is the national organisation for sustainability in the country. Several nominations were received for the various categories, with awardees judged by a distinguished panel of judges drawn from the media and the Malaysian Welfare Society for Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility.Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. (Hektar Asset Management), En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil said, "We would like to express our utmost appreciation and thank the panel of judges for this award and recognition of our efforts and see this as an encouragement to continue improving ourselves. Hektar REIT's Asset Under Management consists of five established neighbourhood-focused malls and one regional shopping mall, which play key roles in serving the various stakeholders - i.e., the shoppers, tenants, employees and surrounding community within their respective geographical areas.During the pandemic, our shopping malls complied stringently with the Government's directives to provide a safe retail environment for all by upholding strict safety and hygiene protocols. CSR initiatives are close to our heart and we aim to continuously engage with the community by undertaking various initiatives for the underprivileged or vulnerable groups such as those affected by the pandemic as we at Hektar understand & believe that all of us owe a responsibility towards the betterment of our society.""Our recent ESG rating on the F4GBMI shows that Sustainability and CSR matters are very much grafted into our corporate culture. Our sustainability framework, which was first set up in 2017, continues to evolve in response not just to legislation but also to wider social and environmental concerns. We learned much, especially during the pandemic, on being resilient and sustainable while responding to the importance of reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our responsibility towards our stakeholders."About Hektar Real Estate Investment TrustHektar 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.comFor more information or inquiries, please contact:Investor CommunicationsTel: +603 6205 5570Email: ir@HektarREIT.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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Hektar REIT’s ESG Commitment Gets Rewarded with a 4-Star Rating ACN Newswire

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

June 27, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 27, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - 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 JamilChief 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. (via SEAPRWire)
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