Profit Attributable to Owners up 287% to HK$2.7 billion

Backed by Significant Gains in Investment Management and Strong Recovery in Consumer Finance

Financial Highlights

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 August 2021 – Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited (Stock Code: 86.HK) (“SHK & Co.” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) announces its interim results for the period ended 30 June 2021. Profit attributable to owners of the Company increased by 287.4% to HK$2,693.0 million (1H2020: HK$695.2 million); basic earnings per share (“EPS”) increased by 290.3% to HK136.2 cents (1H2020: HK34.9 cents); book value per share increased by 23.1% to HK$12.8 (1H2020: HK$10.4). 

The Board has declared an interim dividend of HK12 cents per share for the six months ended 30 June 2021, which remained the same level as the first half of 2020. The Board will review dividend policy at year end depending on the evolvement of COVID-19, progress on economic recovery and the overall capital returned via the buy-back program.  During the period, the Company repurchased 550,000 shares for a total consideration of HK$2.3 million.

“The results for the first half of 2021 represented a very strong performance, despite continued volatility in the global financial market, prolonged impact from COVID-19 and a changing regulatory environment. Throughout this challenging period, the Group’s financial position remained strong and liquid, and we continued to focus on appropriately containing risk and positioning the business for expansion opportunities,” said Mr. Lee Seng Huang, the Group Executive Chairman.

First half revenue in 2021 was HK$2,096.0 million (1H2020: HK$2,042.9 million), which mainly consisted of interest income from Financing Business amounting to HK$1,966.6 million. Pre-tax profit for first half 2021 increased by 238.3% to HK$3,215.7 million (1H2020: HK$950.5 million), and was mainly driven by significant gains in the Group’s Investment Management.

Pre-tax profit of Investment Management for the period was HK$2,312.2 million (1H2020: HK$436.3 million after re-presentation), increasing by 430.0%, due to the strong performance across all asset classes and a total realised gain and interest income of HK$1,611.5 million.

Financing Business also improved and generated pre-tax profit of HK$919.4 million (1H2020: HK$607.8 million after re-presentation), up 51.3%, continuing to be a consistent contributor to the Group’s pre-tax profit.

Segment Performance

* Re-presented following the removal of Strategic Investments segment and regrouping its items in the second half of 2020.

Investment Management

Despite the continuous challenges and uncertainties of the global financial markets, the Group’s Investment Management segment has appropriately navigated the evolving dynamics in the public markets and completed several successful exits, leading to its significant contribution of HK$2,312.2 million to pre-tax profit, a substantial increase of 430.0% from the HK$436.3 million contributed for the first half of 2020.

This business has grown to over HK$20.2 billion in assets since it launched and has built out a well-diversified portfolio consisting of investments in Public Markets, Alternatives and Real Assets.

The Public Markets portfolio consists of an internally managed credit strategy and corporate holdings, which achieved the outstanding performance, with a six-month return of 23.6% and assets of HK$4,500.8 million during the period. In particular, the Corporate Holdings segment delivered a solid portfolio performance with a six-month return of 35.3% and surpassed the performance of S&P 500 Index, NASDAQ 100 Index and MSCI World Index over the same period.

The Alternatives portfolio also delivered sound returns, representing a six-month return of 13.7% and HK$13,440.5 million assets in the first half of 2021. Of which, the Private Equity segment recorded strong combined returns of 17.7% in the first half of 2021 mainly contributed by successful exits from several flagship investments such as Fairstone Holdings Inc and other exits in healthcare and TMT sector.

Funds Management

In the first half of 2021, we formally established our Funds Management vehicle – Sun Hung Kai Capital Partners with SFC Type 1 & 9 licenses. Four partnerships have been launched on this platform, namely East Point Asset Management, E15VC, ActusRayPartners, and Multiple Capital Investment Partners. SHK & Co. committed total seeding capital of over US$280.0 million, laying solid foundation for the growth and performance generation in the coming years.

SHK Latitude Alpha Fund, the previously in-house Fund of Hedge Funds (“FoHF”) strategy, was also launched in July 2021 with SHK & Co.’s commitment of US$330 million.

Financing Business

The Group’s Financing Business division comprises of Consumer Finance, Specialty Finance and Mortgage Loans businesses in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

The Consumer Finance business conducted via its majority-owned subsidiary United Asia Finance Limited (“UAF”) has been a consistent and resilient income contributor to the Group. UAF’s pre-tax contribution to the Group amounted to HK$871.9 million, an increase of approximately 68% compared to the first half of 2020. Revenue increased by 7% and the total loan balance at the end of the period, on a gross and net basis (after impairment allowance), increased by 16% and 17%, respectively, year-on-year. Given management’s proven track record of managing all up and down cycles during turbulence times over the last two years, it remained cautiously confident that UAF can deliver a promising full year performance.

The Group’s Mortgage Loans business is operated by its majority-owned subsidiary Sun Hung Kai Credit Limited (“SHK Credit”). SHK Credit also entered the next phase of growth and will strive for enhancement in business scale, revenue mix, capital and funding structures as well as product and services to our customers as the Hong Kong economy and property market is starting to recover in the first half of 2021.

Outlook

Looking ahead for the second half of 2021 and potentially a large part of 2022, we expect volatility and challenges to persist as a result of uneven recovery across the globe. The Group is cautiously optimistic about the prospects and development of our various business segments and will maintain high levels of liquidity as we navigate these challenges.

Mr Lee added, “The strong performance of our Investment Management business and establishment of the Funds Management platform have demonstrated our commitment and execution ability as we continue with our transformation into the leading alternative investment platform in Hong Kong. The Group is committed to delivering sustainable risk-adjusted returns over the long term with sound governance and risk controls through all market conditions.”

About Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited

Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited (SEHK: 86) is a leader in alternative investing headquartered in Hong Kong. Since its establishment in 1969, the Group has owned and operated market-leading platforms in Financial Services. The Group invests across public markets, alternatives and real assets and has an established track record of generating long-term risk adjusted returns for its shareholders. Most recently, it has extended its strategy to incubate, accelerate and support emerging asset managers in the Asian region. It is also the major shareholder of leading Consumer Finance firm, United Asia Finance Limited. The Group currently holds about HK$48 billion in total assets as at 30 June 2021.

For more information about SHK & Co., please visit its corporate website www.shkco.com.

#SunHungKai

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 19 August 2021 – ​​Environmental charity, Redress, releases a preview of never-before-seen runway looks from the Redress Design Award 2021 Finalists offering a glimpse of what will be showcased at the Grand Final Fashion Show on 11 September held in Hong Kong – and livestreamed to the world. The photoshoot, styled and shot by two leading Hong Kong creatives Kieran Ho and Karl Lam, is inspired by aesthetics of cyberspace with models set on a backdrop of gradient light, representing the ether of the virtual world. An exclusive extended version of the shoot where virtual and physical models meet will be showcased in the October 2021 edition of VOGUE Hong Kong.

The Redress Design Award is organised by environmental charity Redress, and supported by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the lead sponsor. The finalists’ collections were delivered safely to Hong Kong in time for the photoshoot via competition sponsor UPS, using their carbon neutral shipping service.

In less than four weeks, the 10 finalists will present their signature waste reducing collections to an esteemed panel of international judges – among them returning powerhouses Orsola de Castro (Fashion Revolution), Desiree Au (Vogue HK) and Mahmoud Salahy (Timberland) – in a bid to be named the winner of the Redress Design Award 2021. Following their runway victory, the first prize winner will join VF’s Timberland team to collaborate on a design project, working closely with the VF Corporation Sustainability & Responsibility team to ensure that materials and design strategies maximise sustainability. They will gain exciting insights from across the supply chain from sourcing to product development, while deepening their skills and understanding around sustainable production and marketing. The runner-up prize winner will receive a valuable mentorship opportunity with Orsola de Castro.

The creative direction of the editorial photoshoot reflects the digital future of fashion and spotlights the forward-thinking designers tackling fashion’s waste predominantly through reconstruction, upcycling and zero-waste techniques. In response to the core brief of the competition, the finalists give second life to a variety of waste from end-of-rolls or samples, and consumer waste, like suits and uniforms; through to more unusual waste streams like damaged camping equipment and old sailing flags.

Participating from their homes across the world – Germany, Hong Kong, India, Mainland China, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States of America  – as part of the upcoming Grand Final Week the finalists will continue their educational journey through in-depth  challenges with a focus on design for circularity in partnership with VF Corporation and TAL Group, and will join a selection of masterclasses to support their future careers.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE GRAND FINAL FASHION SHOW

The Redress Design Award 2021 Grand Final Fashion Show is open to an exclusive VIP in-person audience and will be livestreamed globally on Saturday 11 September 2021, at 6:30pm (HKT) /12:30pm (CET) via Facebook and Weibo. Save the date here: https://fb.me/e/1zmpxj3Zj

The Redress Design Award 2021 Photoshoot Credits:

● Models: Beanju C and Alfred J

● Creative Stylist: Kieran Ho

● Photographer: Karl Lam

● Hair: Marco Chan for KMS

● Make-up: Karen Yiu for Hong Kong Makeup Artist

● Venue: Karl Studio, Chai Wan, Hong Kong

Download the photoshoot images here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/culzxtal5bpiqab/AAAiryvdguQ0c8YP7LrxbQfia?dl=0

Editor’s notes:

●      Read more about the Redress Design Award 2021 finalists at https://www.redressdesignaward.com/finalists

●      The Redress Design Award 2021 International Judges are Orsola De Castro, Fashion Designer, Global Creative Director and Co-founder, Fashion Revolution; Desiree Au, Founding Publisher of Vogue Hong Kong; Angus Tsui, Creative Director, ANGUS TSUI and Alumnus, Redress Design Award; Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO, Copenhagen Fashion Week; Mahmoud Salahy, Vice President & Managing Director, Timberland APAC; Sean Cady, Vice President, Global Sustainability, Responsibility and Trade, VF Corporation; Jeannie Renné-malone, Vice President, Global Sustainability, VF Corporation; and Christophe Degoix, Chief Operating Officer, TAL Apparel Ltd.

●      The Redress Design Award 2021 was open to emerging designers and students with less than four years’ professional experience from around the globe, focusing on womenswear and menswear fashion design.

●      The Redress Design Award is run by environmental NGO, Redress, and supported by Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the Lead Sponsor. Other key partners include VF Corporation, TAL Group, UPS, and Avery Dennison.

●      The Redress Design Award 2021 Prizes are:

         ○      First Prize: The Redress Design Award 2021 with VF Corporation’s Timberland. Win the opportunity to collaborate on a design project, learn design strategies to maximise sustainability, and receive HK$50,000 as development funding.

         ○      Runner-Up Prize: The Redress Design Award Mentorship with Orsola de Castro and receive HK$15,000 (US$1,900) as development funding and other notable prizes.

         ○      Hong Kong Best Prize: The top Hong Kong applicant will win a guaranteed place in the Grand Final and receive HK$15,000 (US$1,900) as development funding and other notable prizes.

         ○      More details can be found at https://www.redressdesignaward.com/2021/prizes

About Redress (www.redress.com.hk)

Redress is a pioneering environmental charity working to prevent and transform textile waste in the fashion industry. Its dynamic programmes work to minimise the negative impacts of fashion, whilst promoting innovative new models and driving growth towards a more sustainable industry via the circular economy. Working directly with a wide range of stakeholders, including designers, manufacturers, brands, educational bodies, government and consumers, Redress aims to create lasting environmental change in fashion.

The Redress Design Award is the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition working to educate emerging fashion designers around the world about sustainable design theories and techniques in order to drive the shift towards a circular fashion system. By putting sustainable design talent in the global spotlight, the competition creates a unique platform for passionate and talented fashion game-changers to transform the global fashion industry and rewards the best with career-changing prizes to maximise long-term impact. Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the Lead Sponsor of the Redress Design Award. www.redressdesignaward.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/getredressed/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RedressDesignAward

#Redress

About Create Hong Kong (www.createhk.gov.hk)

Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated agency set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in June 2009. It is under the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and dedicated to spearheading the development of creative industries in Hong Kong. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community.

CreateHK has been sponsoring the Redress Design Award (formerly the EcoChic Design Award) since 2011 to promote Hong Kong’s fashion design.

*Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communication and Technology Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.