Championing inclusivity and breaking barriers for underrepresented groups, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2024 China highlights visionary companies and entrepreneurs. These trendsetters within our business ecosystem have introduced initiatives and strategies aimed at nurturing an inclusive entrepreneurial community. APEA, organized by the leading regional NGO Enterprise Asia, seeks to foster the continuity of sustainable entrepreneurial growth in Asian economies.
Link Asset Management Limited is among the award recipients under the Corporate Excellence and Inspirational Brand categories. Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Hong Kong stock code: 823) is the largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in Asia by market capitalization. It is managed by Link Asset Management Limited (Link), a leading real estate investor and asset manager in the Asia Pacific.
For its Corporate Excellence Award, Link’s diverse workforce encompasses gender, nationality, skillsets, and backgrounds, reflecting the company’s strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion. This approach enables Link to capitalize on unique perspectives and expertise, enriching its decision-making processes and strengthening its competitive edge.
Link also extends its vision of “Linking people to a brighter future” to the community it serves. In 2013, Link established its flagship charity and community engagement program, “Link Together Initiatives”, to support innovative and impactful projects focusing on youth empowerment, inclusion, active aging, and sustainability. During the past decade, the program has donated over HKD 1 billion to support 180 community projects alongside 84 NGOs and awarded 1,600 scholarships, extending significant positive social impact to a total of 16 million individuals across Hong Kong.
By 30 September 2023, Link’s total portfolio value was HKD 238 billion, gaining an 11.3% revenue growth and a 10.4% increase in net property income. The addition of Singapore retail assets, full-period income from Australian retail assets, and Mainland China logistics assets contributed to this success.
Additionally, by March 2023, Link significantly strengthened its capital base through a HKD 18.8 billion Rights Issue with a 240% subscription rate, allowing the company to reenter the market at an opportune time. In February 2024, Link acquired the remaining 50% interest in Qibao Vanke Plaza in Shanghai for RMB 2,383.8 million, becoming the sole owner of the property.
For its Inspirational Brand Award, Link believes in ACTION, not ADVERTISEMENTS.
Signature brand programs include a surplus food collection program across Link’s properties that began in 2016, targeted to benefit 1.9 million people through recycling more than 600 tonnes of food waste each year; the Link’s Placemaking program which transforms public areas into ‘third-places’ in the densely populated city; the aforementioned “Tour de Link” program has promotes community bonding via a cross-district in-mall cycling event since 2021 and; the Link Sustainability Lab, a pioneering non-profit educational and collaborative platform that popularizes sustainability concepts and inspires the exploration of various sustainable solutions. Since its debut in April 2023, it has recorded over 190.000 times of visits and engaged 60 partners in solution collaboration.
To increase portfolio resilience and provide sustainable growth for unitholders, Link introduced the Link 3.0 strategy, which focuses on asset optimization, operating platform enhancement, and fund management. Organic growth is pursued through active asset management, diversifying income sources through yield-accretive investments, and asset recycling. By adopting an asset-light strategy, Link seeks to collaborate with passive, private equity partners to generate fee income and enhance returns for unitholders.
About Enterprise Asia
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are an investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, uplift the economic status of people across Asia, and ensure a legacy of hope, innovation, and courage for future generations. Please visit www.enterpriseasia.org for more information.
About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards
Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region’s most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.