New World Development: Achieving Business Success with Distinctive Investor Relations
Committed to Building Effective Two-Way Communication
The Group has always implemented its goal of acting proactively, striving to maintain a close liaison and two-way communications with shareholders and capital markets, at the same time ensuring swift, impartial and timely disclosure of the Group’s information to the market, so that they can make effective assessments and informed investment decisions.
On the day of results announcement, the Group typically hosts the analyst briefing, at which the CEO and senior management elaborate on the Group’s operating conditions and development prospects, while the feedback and queries of the stakeholders from the investment communities are heard and answered directly. Information such as governance policies of the Group, authority and duties of the Board, financial report, press release and circulation are also made available online on corporate website and HKEXnews for the convenience of investors. All the important information involving business development will be circulated through various channels such as mainstream media in Hong Kong and Mainland China, to provide the market with a clear message on the Group’s development highlights.
Leveraging on its sound financial structure and defined business strategy, the professional investor relations team will deliver the concept of developing a unique ecosystem to the market in timely and clear manner, so as to increase the awareness of the Group, create better value and bring greater returns.
Secure Significant Investment Value with Sound Strategies
Fickle international politics looks perplexing at times and global economic gives rise to downside. Despite the macro environment is still proceeding in unclear mist, New World development is committed to safeguarding the interests of shareholders in declining markets, and shares the results with shareholders. The Group adopted prevailing sustainable and progressive dividend policy during the first half of the year, while the total dividend for the year has been on a growing trend, increasing steadily since financial year 2013 with the highest dividend yield at 6%.
A total amount of HKD572 million buybacks have been announced in March and April this year, repurchasing a total of approximately 68 million common shares, showing a strong confidence in the prospects of NWD and Hong Kong. Apart from that, 4-to-1 share consolidation was passed by majority votes with effective and commencement of trading date on 23, June. The share consolidation aims to make it more appealing to a wider range of institutional and professional investors, drawing long-term investors’ attention to the Group’s value and broadening the shareholder base.
By adhering to the business strategy of “Development Property + Investment Property dual engines”, NWD possesses abundant saleable resources in Hong Kong. Meanwhile the Group's investment property portfolio in Hong Kong are scheduled for launching gradually, such as Victoria Dockside, a new global landmark located at the core area of Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Kowloon, has provided full contribution. The Group will continue to review feasible options on optimizing its business and asset portfolio, actively disposing its non-core assets and businesses to crystalize value and enhance effectiveness as well as increase resources.
Enhance Female Leadership to Invigorate Excellent Management
NWD has made significant progress in corporate governance this year. Starting from 1 May, Ms. Echo Huang Shaomei and Ms. Jenny Chiu Wai-Han were appointed as Executive Director. With two new members joining the Board of New World Development, female executives will now occupy 25% of seats, the highest proportion among major property developers in Hong Kong, exceeding the average for Hang Seng Index and mainland boards, at 13.6% and 9.63% respectively.
Adrian Cheng said, “With their professional knowledge and extensive experience, I am confident that they will make significant contributions to the sustainable development of the Group. The promotion of gender equality and the appointment of women in leadership roles are important trends for all leading enterprises worldwide. The presence of more women in the board will broaden the range of perspectives available to the Group, enhance the effectiveness of decision making and invigorate the quality of management. The Group will continue to encourage more women to take up senior management positions, and this will benefit the Group substantially in the long run.”
Strengthen Sustainable Development to Create Shared Value
To demonstrate NWD’s commitment to sustainability, the committee was established in November 2018 as the highest level of authority to oversee sustainability and ESG issues and risks. Chaired by Adrian Cheng, Executive Vice-chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Board strives to oversee and advise on the sustainability strategy, work plans and performance targets to advance NWD’s ESG leadership.
Under the 'New World Sustainability Vision 2030' that aligns with SDGs, New World Development committed to delivering impactful products and services with the characteristics of 'Green', 'Wellness' and 'Caring', maintaining alignment with Global Agenda and Roadmaps.
With a strong emphasis on sustainable property development, K11 ATELIER King’s Road in Hong Kong Island’s East offers 70 sustainability features, honoured with Triple Platinum Certified Green & Healthy Building. K11 MUSEA the new cultural-retail destination on Victoria Dockside opened in 2019, and the Nature Discovery Park inside K11 MUSEA, which is Hong Kong’s first urban biodiversity museum and sustainability-themed education park has been launched successfully. Through the Nature Discovery Park, the Group hopes to help preserve the city’s rich biodiversity and educate future generations on the importance and wonders of the natural world.
Create Shared Value by Promoting the Sprite of Compassion
To fight against the COVID-19 pandemic together with the community, NWD has initiated the "#LoveWithoutBorders campaign". The Group launched its self-produced "Made in Hong Kong" masks, together with the “Mask To Go" dispensers, which is first service of its kind in Hong Kong starting from 25, May. This creative initiative has enabled 40,000 pre-registered beneficiaries to collect a free pack masks over 10 consecutive weeks. The masks are available at 37 designated centres run by non-governmental organizations across all 18 Hong Kong’s districts, easing recipients’ anxiety about the shortage of masks.
Recently, the first batch of NWD-produced 300,000 kids masks have arranged to donate to low-income families through a range of non-profit organisations(NGOs).
Adding together the “Mask To Go” dispenser programme launched previously, and other donation channels, the Group has partnered with about 60 NGOs and distributed approximately 5 million New World-made masks for adults and children to support the community in combating the coronavirus pandemic./p>
