Stock News 2012: Robinsons The Sapphire Bloc

Sjsu swimming pool (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Investments made on gemstones are often considered a wise and promising venture. The same highly regarded quality is mirrored in the latest condominium development of Robinsons Land Corp., the Sapphire Bloc.

Strategically located in the center of Ortigas District, the four-tower residential and commercial development, sits on a 8,421-sqm property bounded by Sapphire, Garnet and Onyx Roads. It is envisioned to become the newest stand-out leisure destination in the area, as the new project will be offering a comfortable and convenient lifestyle through its well-designed residential towers and a unique commercial lifestyle bloc component on its ground floor.

“Robinsons Land Corporation aims to set the new standard in residential developments in its home, the Ortigas CBD. With this in mind, The Sapphire Bloc will be Ortigas’ biggest lifestyle bloc,” said Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, VP for Business Development and Financing.

The end goal, simply put, is to satisfy the discerning needs and wants of the active and career-oriented individuals, whose lifestyles demand the convenience of owning an abode at the heart of the city.

“Being located within a pedestrian-friendly Ortigas CBD, we are promoting the ‘walkable lifestyle’. The Sapphire Bloc will be a walkable destination where one can find gourmet restaurants, dessert bars and coffee shops. It will also offer services and shops that will provide a holistic approach to wellness to its customers. Its Lifestyle Bloc will showcase a one-of-a-kind retail mix that will make it a premium investment,” Ms. Aragon-GoBio said.

“Through the art-deco inspired project, Robinsons Land Corporation gives value to your money by giving you efficient-designed living spaces and various amenity offerings the feel of the authentic lifestyle offered by its retail component,” she added.

Among these top-notch amenities that will guarantee comfort are function rooms, private theater, game room, fitness/gym, adult swimming pool, kiddie pool, pool deck, massage/sauna rooms, lawn, children’s playground, gazebo, viewing deck and landscaped areas.

Rising 38 stories high, The Sapphire Bloc will have a total of 414 units with cuts ranging from 30 sqm to 37.3 sqm for a one-bedroom unit (priced between P3 million and P4.08 million); 45.5 sqm to 60 sqm for a two-bedroom unit (P4.9 million to P6.6 million); and 97 sqm for a three-bedroom unit (P10.42 million to P10.6 million).

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/382179/robinsons-presents-the-sapphire-bloc#.UMJMHeSmj3w

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Stock News 2012: ALI earnings rise 27%

English: Venus Raj at "The GOOD Run" event in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) maintained its robust earnings growth, recording close to a 30-percent uptick in January to September profits on the back of strong performance of all its business segments.

In a disclosure, to the stock exchange, ALI said its earnings in the nine-month period hit P6.62 billion, up 27 percent from P5.23 billion a year ago “on the back of the strong performance and margin improvement achieved by all of the company’s major business lines.”

Consolidated revenues jumped 20 percent to P39.01 billion from P32.63 billion last year.

Specifically, revenues from real estate and hotels, which accounted for the bulk of total revenues, climbed a fifth to P36.89 billion.

ALI said its net income margin also improved, rising to 20 percent from 18 percent year-on-year.

“We are midway into our 5-10-15 plan and we continue to progress very well, and this is reflected in our results over the first nine months of the year,” said ALI chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael.

“Average monthly sales take-up remains very robust and margin improvement is steady for all business lines,” Ysmael said.

ALI is in the thick of its so-called 5-10-15 plan, which targets P10 billion after-tax income and a return on equity of 15 percent in five years ending 2014.

Ysmael said the property firm has spent 94 percent its full-year programmed capital expenditures, with a number of projects still to be launched late this year.

ALI has earmarked P37 billion for its capital spending this year – its highest capital expenditures ever – mostly to go to residential projects, followed by shopping centers and hotels.

The property development segment, composed of the sale of residential units and industrial lots, grew its revenues 27 percent to P23.91 billion in the nine-month period from P18.8 billion a year ago.

Revenues from the residential segment reached P22.32 billion, up 27 percent from last year, driven by strong sales and continued construction of projects across all residential brands.

ALI said sales take-up in the nine-month period hit P57.85 billion, equivalent to an average monthly sales take-up of P6.43 billion, surging by half from P4.31 billion last year.

So far, ALI’s four residential brands launched a total of 13,057 units.

Revenues from the sale of commercial and industrial lots rose 26 percent to P1.59 billion in the nine-month period due to the sale commercial lots in Nuvali in Laguna and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

For commercial leasing, ALI said its revenues climbed19 percent to P6.34 billion from P5.33 billion recorded in same period last year.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=867832

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Stock News 2012: Robinsons shifts focus to commercial projects

English: Newly opened Robinsons Place Mall, Tacloban City, Philippines (Opened 2009-06-11) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
After slowing down on residential construction, Gokongwei-led property firm Robinsons Land Corp. is recalibrating its growth strategy and beefing up its landbank to build a strong pipeline of work in the commercial segment.

“We’re more aggressive now. We’re embarking on landbanking to ensure sufficient land capacity for development,” said Frederick D. Go, president of RLC.

Go said the company remains in talks with Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada for the latter’s $2-billion casino project in the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp.’s Entertainment City along Roxas Blvd. RLC is considering running the retail and hotel operations for Okada’s project.

In April, RLC said it was inherently cautious about the short-term outlook for the residential real estate market and would rather focus on expanding its shopping mall, office building and hotel operations, which account for more than 65 percent of the group’s total revenues.

RLC is building seven new shopping malls and expanding three of its existing malls to capitalize on strong consumer spending and a growing business process outsourcing industry. Of the seven, three will be built this year while the other four will rise in 2013.

The expansion of the retail portfolio will increase the group’s total mall leasable area to a little over a million square meters (sqm) in two years.

RLC recently completed two mall expansion projects in Tacloban and Bacolod.

Together with the two expansion projects, RLC’s total gross leasable area (GLA) is seen to reach 911,000 sqm at end-September this year. In 2013, RLC will add another 100,000 sqm to bring the total GLA to 1.01 million sqm.

For the office segment, RLC is completing Cyberscape Alpha and Cyberspace Beta in Ortigas by mid-2013.

As for its Go Hotel chain, the company is looking to build four this year in line with plans to hit a 30-branch network over the next five years.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=840420

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Stock News 2012: Galleria Cebu will be biggest outside Manila by Robinsons

English: Aerial view of Mactan Island and Lapu-Lapu City, with Cebu in the background (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robinsons Galleria Cebu, the group’s 38th mall, is targeted for completion and opening in 2014. The seven-story commercial building will rise on a 4.6 hectare lot along Gen. Maxilom Ave. and will have a gross floor area of about 156,000 square meters.

On the same site will rise the first Cebu branch of the group’s budget hotel gohotel.ph, which will offer 153 rooms. Three floors are dedicated for BPO space with over 9,000 square meters of leasable space.

The retail component, on the other hand, will have a gross leasable area of 56,000 sqm spread on four levels.

RLC president Frederick D. Go said the company is ramping up investments in Cebu, which is experiencing robust economic growth and a booming tourism sector.

Robinsons Galleria Cebu will be RLC’s third mall in Cebu after Robinsons Fuente and Robinsons Cybergate Cebu, which is a mixed-use mall and office development also in the Fuente Osmeña area.

The company currently operates the newly renovated and improved Summit Circle Hotel in Fuente Osmeña Circle. The group will soon have three hotels in Cebu, including the Summit Shores Resort hotel which will be part of the upscale Amisa residential development on Mactan Island.

RLC is also building the Azalea Residences, a residential development in Gorordo Ave.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=831540

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Stock News 2012: ALI launches P30-B One Bonifacio High St

English: Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is aggressively building up its presence in Bonifacio Global City with the launch of a P30-billion premium mixed-use block called One Bonifacio High Street – its biggest investment in one single area to date.

In a briefing yesterday, ALI president Antonino Aquino said they are rigorously expanding in Bonifacio Global City to further strengthen the company’s leadership in developing large-scale, mixed-use urban hubs in the country.

“The aggressiveness is a result of the economy. We have never seen the economy to look this bullish and we want to be in step,” Aquino said.

He said One Bonifacio High Street will soon be home to the new headquarters of the Philippine Stock Exchange and will banner an all suite-residential tower, a high-end lifestyle center as well as a five-star Shangri-La Hotel.

Aquino said half of the estimated development cost for One Bonifacio High Street will be equally divided among ALI and its partners Evergreen Holdings of the Campos family and Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. The other half will be shouldered by the Shangri-La Group, which is building a 577-room Shangri-La Hotel as well as 97 serviced apartments and 99 luxurious residential condominium units.

The investment will be made over a four-year period, he said.

Around P3 billion to P5 billion has been earmarked for the development of the unified stock exchange which is targeted for completion by late 2016 to early 2017. Another P2 billion to P3 billion will be spent for the retail shops.

For the residential component, ALI, through subsidiary Ayala Land Premier, is pouring in P9.9 billion for the 63-story iconic tower, The Suites, which will be the first and only all-suite residential development in the block and is probably the group’s most expensive project in the area, selling at P180,000 per square meter.

Jose Juan Jugo, Group head for ALP, said sales of The Suites have been spectacular with only three units left within 96 hours or since it was launched last June 24. Turnover of the units is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The Suites will house 298 residential suites and limited edition sky villas with sizes ranging from 136 sqm to 430 sqm.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=821972

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Stock News 2012: Andrew Tan's Empire East sets P20-billion capex over 5 years

English: Pasig Rainforest in Pasig City, Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Empire East Land & Holdings Inc., the middle-income residential property arm of tycoon Andrew Tan, is setting aside up to P20 billion over the next five years to accelerate product launches, put on stream new phases in ongoing projects, and tap into new growth opportunities as well.

In a briefing following the company’s annual stockholders meeting yesterday, Empire East president Anthony Charlemagne C. Yu said they are planning to roll out 5,000 new residential units this year as the company aims to double its reservation sales to P15 billion.

The firm expects net profit to rise 15 to 20 percent this year, Yu said.

In the first quarter this year, Empire East raked in reservation sales of P3.25 billion, an unprecedented growth of 121 percent from P1.47 billion the previous level. The figure is already more than 40 percent of Empire East’s reservation sales for the whole of 2011.

Notwithstanding the uncertainties on the global front, Empire East remains optimistic on the real estate sector given strong overseas remittances, increased revenues from the BPO sector, and a booming tourism industry, Yu said.

He said the company is committed to making home ownership an affordable and accessible reality by focusing on innovation, quality engagement, operational excellence and cost optimization.

Empire East is building Rochester, a combination of 10 mid- and high-rise buildings in Pasig City with a total of 2,100 residential units; and Kasara, a resort-inspired residential community near C-5 Road in Pasig.

With Kasara, the company hopes to tap an underserved market of Filipinos moving toward healthy, green and stress-free living.   The project features 2,000 studios and one- to three-bedroom homes.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=816593

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Stock News 2012: San Miguel property unit to launch 5 projects

Official Seal of Municipality of Silang,Cavite Philippines Tagalog: Opisyal na Sagisag ng Bayan ng Silang, Cavite Pilipinas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The property arm of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will launch five residential projects this year requiring P7.7 billion in investments.

San Miguel Properties Inc. (SMPI) wants to take advantage of the company’s idle assets and sell out existing projects, company officials said.

“We will be launching three premiere townhouse developments in Mandaluyong and Pasig and two high-rise condominium projects in Makati and San Juan,” said Karlo Marco P. Estavillo, general manager of SMPI.

He said construction cost is P4 billion for the Makati project, P3.3 billion for San Juan and P400 million for three townhouse projects.

Estavillo said the condominium units will be completed in three to five years while the townhouse project is scheduled for completion in 18-20 months.

“We wanted to maximize the value of prime properties we have instead of them being idle,” said SMPI sales manager Karen V. Ramos.

Last year, the property firm launched just one project as it focused on planning for new developments, she said.

The Makati high-rise project will be composed of three 37-story towers with a total of 1,300 units worth up to P3.5 million each. The 18-story San Juan project will consist of 300 units for the middle to high-income segment.

The three townhouse projects will feature 12 to 20 units worth between P8 million to P12 million each.

“These are pocket developments located in prime areas. We are now venturing into townhouse, which is an additional segment in addition to our vertical developments,” Ramos said.

SMPI also plans to sell all remaining inventory in its projects in Gen. Trias in Cavite. Specifically, these projects are upper-middle income projects Maravilla and Asian Leaf, and affordable housing development Bel Aldea.

“As we sell down the remaining inventory in Cavite, the company is getting ready to offer fresh inventory in response to the growing demand for near-city and city-center dwellings,” Estavillo said.

To date, SMPI is building a 29-story serviced apartment in Greenbelt area in Makati. The project will be completed in 2014.

Completed residential developments include low-income subdivisions Buenavista Homes in Cebu and Villa de Calamba in Laguna; middle-income subdivision Primavera Hills in Cebu, Legacy in Parañaque City and Maravilla and Bel-Aldea in Gen. Trias; and high-end subdivision Wedge Woods in Silang, Cavite.

Last year, SMPI’s profits slumped to P86.89 million from P717 million a year ago on the absence of one-time gains from the sale of several properties.

Revenues rose 43 percent to P844.43 million given improved offtake in residential development and record reservation sales.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=805345&publicationSubCategoryId=66

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Stock News 2012: Century Properties pre-sells 20% of condo

Century Properties Group (CPG) has already pre-sold 20 percent of the 645-unit Acqua Livingstone, the first residential building designed by upscale fashion brand Missoni around the globe.

Livingstone is the fourth tower to rise in CPG’s six-tower Acqua Private Residences riverside project in Mandaluyong City, which is estimated to generate total sales of around P15 billion.

The new tower, which follows the brisk sellout of the first three – Niagara, Sutherland and Dettifoss – is now 20-percent sold in just a few weeks since its launch. The entire Acqua Private Residences project is estimated to cost about P7 billion.

CPG managing director Marco Antonio said the company expects to sell out the entire Livingstone tower within the year due to the market’s robust reception.

“At the current pace, we can sell everything in a few months. It depends on the appetite of the market,” he said.

Livingstone will be kitted out in Missoni’s trademark striped designs and flamboyant colors. Unit sizes range from 27 square meters to 140 sqm, with a selling price of an average of P145,000 per sqm.

“We were fascinated by the project, very hi-tech and modern. Century Properties’ culture of passion, creativity and quality proved the perfect fit,” said Vittorio Missoni, marketing director and shareholder of Italy’s Missoni S.p.A.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=785117&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Stock News 2012: Robinsons Land retains high rating

Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons' Flagship Mall. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robinsons Land Corp. retained its highest rating of PRS Aaa from local credit rating agency PhilRatings for its outstanding P10 billion bonds maturing in 2014.

Obligations rated PRS Aaa are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligations is extremely strong.

RLC, the property arm of Gokongwei listed flagship firm JG Summit Holdings Inc., is engaged in the development and operation of shopping malls and hotels, and the development of mixed-use properties, office and residential buildings, as well as land and residential housing projects located in key cities and urban areas nationwide.

“Considering current market developments and conditions both globally and locally, RLC is now investing more in malls, office buildings and hotels, while taking a more conservative stance in relation to the development of residential real estate projects. This move signifies that RLC is expected to have a more stable and strong recurring rental and lease revenue base from investment properties while at the same time, pursuing opportunities through its residential development businesses,” PhilRatings said.

Sustained robust OFW remittances, the increase in consumer spending, as well as an expanding BPO business are expected to boost demand for residential space going forward and will continue to support growth in the commercial centers business, PhilRatings said.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=766072&publicationSubCategoryId=66

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Stock News 2010: Vista Land starts P1-B lifestyle complex

Image via Wikipedia
The country’s largest homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. is spending P1 billion for its first commercial and lifestyle development to be located in the Evia master-planned city in Las Piñas City.

Vista Land president Benjamarie N. Serrano said the groundbreaking of the Lifestyle Center has been set for December and the P1 billion will be spent in the next six months.

“We are looking at total capital expenditures of about P11 billion in the next five years for Evia, as we build out major components including the Lifestyle Center, the Riverwalk, the church, and the University Town, together with continuing residential developments,” said Serrano.

These already thriving components consist of three high-end, mid-range and entry-level residential and commercial projects of Vista Land’s Brittany, Crown Asia and Camella brands which now have almost 5,500 residential units on about 150 hectares.

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/290047/vi

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Stock News 2010: Vista Land to Roll Out P7.5-B New Condo Dev’t Projects

Image via Wikipedia

Vista Land and Lifescapes is planning to roll out P7.5 billion worth of new vertical development projects in the next coming months to raise the total value to P12.5 billion by 2011.

According to Vista Land president Benjamarie N. Serrano, this is to capitalize on its successful offering of 17 low-rise and mid-rise buildings to different market segments valued at P5.03 billion this year.

Serrano said the company aims to corner a bigger share of the vertical home segment next year by adding new low-rise and mid-rise with residential condominiums and attract the growing number of buyers who prefer the features of this distinctive type of property development.

“We have opened a total of 17 low-rise and mid-rise buildings spread across different projects. We are tapping into our existing master-planned communities where we will incorporate more of these types of developments,” Serrano said.

She noted that “we have done these in our various projects in other areas and the demand has been encouraging.”

Serrano explained that building for the low-rise and mid-rise residential niche is a logical step for Vista Land, with the demand driven by end-users in the metropolis who want to enjoy the advantages of a low-rise or mid-rise development.

She disclosed that Vista Land will initially tap its existing properties, the biggest of which is Vista Lakefront, a sprawling, 60-hectare master-planned community in Sucat, Muntinlupa City.

The group has six of seven planned low-rise and mid-rise developments already completed in the vertical, resort themed Presidio enclave of Vista Lakefront.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/277063/vista-land-roll-out-p75b-new-condo-dev-t-projects

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