KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- GuocoLand was named Best Developer at the 16th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore), while UOL Group Limited was the most awarded company of the night.
It was the fifth time GuocoLand has won the top honour in the awards’ history, with its Springleaf Residence, developed with Hong Leong Holdings, and River Modern projects also winning across design, development and sales categories. More than 40 awards were presented at a gala dinner at The St Regis Singapore.
“Singapore is unique. With limited land and fierce competition, this market demands precision, innovation, and foresight like nowhere else,” said PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events general manager, Jules Kay in a statement.
UOL Group was named Best Residential Developer, Best Sustainable Developer and Best Hospitality Developer, and also won design and development awards for NoMad Hilton Singapore. Its joint ventures behind Skye at Holland and Thomson Reserve also won multiple awards.
Frasers Property Singapore won Best Luxury Developer, and Jean Yip Developments was named Best Landed Developer, while SingHaiyi Group won both Best Lifestyle Developer and Best Condo Developer. Soon Hock Enterprise Holding was named Best Industrial Developer, and The Assembly Place won Best Co Living Operator.
Wee Hur Holdings executive chairman and managing director, Goh Yeow Lian was named Real Estate Personality of the Year, while SingHaiyi Group and Tang Organization Group chief executive officer (CEO), Gallant Tang received the Rising Star award.
The new Best Selling Awards, based on sales data, went to City Developments Limited for Newport Residences, GuocoLand for River Modern and Sim Lian JV (Tampines 7) for Rivelle of Tampines, as well as the developers of Tengah Garden Residences and the Skye at Holland joint venture. Pinery Residences by Hoi Hup Sunway Tampines Residential won Best Selling Mixed Use Development.
The competitively judged categories were decided by an independent panel chaired by FollowTrade CEO, Roy Ling, with HLB supervising the judging. Top Singapore winners in eligible categories may advance to the Grand Final in Bangkok on Dec 11 to compete for the Best in Asia titles.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, 3 November 2026
YYFORCE SAYS MARKET VALUE AT A TENTH OF NET ASSETS
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- YYForce Inc (YYForce) announced its shares are trading at a steep discount to book value, with its market capitalisation at about a tenth of its reported net assets.
The workforce solutions and facility management services provider put its estimated market value at about US$2.1 million as of Oct 30, 2026, against net assets of about US$21.9 million as of June 30, a discount of about 90.4 per cent. (US$1 = RM4.06)
The company’s total assets stood at about US$38 million, according to its Form 6-K filing on Sept 25.
The company cautioned that the comparison uses rounded figures from different dates. It added that book equity does not represent unrestricted cash, tangible net assets, liquidation proceeds or an estimate of intrinsic value.
“We believe the difference between our reported book equity and public market capitalisation warrants investors’ attention. Our responsibility is to provide clear financial information and execute our commercial strategy,“ said YYForce Chief Executive Officer, Mike Fu.
In a statement, Fu said the company would evaluate each investment against customer demand, available liquidity, capital requirements and expected returns.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing AI-enabled digital platforms to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing digital platforms powered by artificial intelligence to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
The company said future commercial progress remains subject to operational execution, customer adoption and broader market conditions.
-- BERNAMA
The workforce solutions and facility management services provider put its estimated market value at about US$2.1 million as of Oct 30, 2026, against net assets of about US$21.9 million as of June 30, a discount of about 90.4 per cent. (US$1 = RM4.06)
The company’s total assets stood at about US$38 million, according to its Form 6-K filing on Sept 25.
The company cautioned that the comparison uses rounded figures from different dates. It added that book equity does not represent unrestricted cash, tangible net assets, liquidation proceeds or an estimate of intrinsic value.
“We believe the difference between our reported book equity and public market capitalisation warrants investors’ attention. Our responsibility is to provide clear financial information and execute our commercial strategy,“ said YYForce Chief Executive Officer, Mike Fu.
In a statement, Fu said the company would evaluate each investment against customer demand, available liquidity, capital requirements and expected returns.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing AI-enabled digital platforms to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
YYForce’s priorities include deploying service robots integrated with hospitality and enterprise workflows. It is also developing digital platforms powered by artificial intelligence to support workforce coordination, shift delivery and facility operations.
The company said future commercial progress remains subject to operational execution, customer adoption and broader market conditions.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, 30 October 2026
SOUTH KOREA’S KB INSURANCE RATINGS AFFIRMED EXCELLENT - AM BEST
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed South Korea’s KB Insurance Co Ltd (KBI) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent), with a stable outlook.
These credit ratings (ratings) reflect KBI’s strong balance sheet, adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management, as well as support from its parent, KB Financial Group Inc (KB Group), AM Best said in a statement.
KBI’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, while its local solvency ratio is largely in line with the industry average and demonstrates an adequate buffer above the minimum regulatory requirements.
AM Best calculated KBI’s adjusted financial leverage at 8.2 per cent as of June 2026 and said the company has good access to capital markets and a conservative investment strategy.
KBI’s return on equity and combined ratios are broadly in line with domestic peers, but profitability in its main long-term insurance business remains under pressure from rising medical claims and competition. Its auto insurance business recorded underwriting losses in 2025 because of base rate cuts and stronger competition.
KBI is South Korea’s fourth-largest non-life insurer, with a stable market share of approximately 13 per cent, while its overseas operations remain modest, and it plans to explore further international opportunities with a measured approach to diversify earnings and sustain long-term growth.
As a wholly owned subsidiary and the only non-life insurer in KB Group, one of South Korea’s largest financial holding companies, KBI is strategically important to its parent and has received explicit capital support since joining the group in 2015.
AM Best said the ratings could be lowered if KBI’s balance sheet weakens significantly or if support from KB Group is reduced and could be raised if its operating performance consistently outperforms industry peers.
-- BERNAMA
These credit ratings (ratings) reflect KBI’s strong balance sheet, adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management, as well as support from its parent, KB Financial Group Inc (KB Group), AM Best said in a statement.
KBI’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, while its local solvency ratio is largely in line with the industry average and demonstrates an adequate buffer above the minimum regulatory requirements.
AM Best calculated KBI’s adjusted financial leverage at 8.2 per cent as of June 2026 and said the company has good access to capital markets and a conservative investment strategy.
KBI’s return on equity and combined ratios are broadly in line with domestic peers, but profitability in its main long-term insurance business remains under pressure from rising medical claims and competition. Its auto insurance business recorded underwriting losses in 2025 because of base rate cuts and stronger competition.
KBI is South Korea’s fourth-largest non-life insurer, with a stable market share of approximately 13 per cent, while its overseas operations remain modest, and it plans to explore further international opportunities with a measured approach to diversify earnings and sustain long-term growth.
As a wholly owned subsidiary and the only non-life insurer in KB Group, one of South Korea’s largest financial holding companies, KBI is strategically important to its parent and has received explicit capital support since joining the group in 2015.
AM Best said the ratings could be lowered if KBI’s balance sheet weakens significantly or if support from KB Group is reduced and could be raised if its operating performance consistently outperforms industry peers.
-- BERNAMA
AM BEST SEES RESILIENT ASIA PACIFIC INSURANCE SECTOR
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has published its analysis of 17 insurance markets in Asia Pacific, assessing the economic, political and financial system risks in each, to coincide with the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.
AM Best’s Singapore operations managing director and co-chief executive officer, Rob Curtis said geopolitical and trade realignment is reshaping how risk is priced and transferred, natural catastrophes continue to test underwriting and reinsurance capacity, and new risk-based capital rules are raising the bar for capital management.
“Overall, the Asia Pacific insurance industry continues to demonstrate strong resilience through ample capital buffers, disciplined underwriting and solid economic growth engines,” he said in a statement.
The report also covers regulatory developments and natural catastrophe and climate risks in each market and benchmarks AM Best-rated companies, including reinsurers, mutual insurers and captive insurers.
AM Best said country risk is factored into its ratings on a case-by-case basis, as it can affect an insurer’s ability to meet its financial obligations.
The report also includes an overview of AM Best’s assessments of delegated underwriting firms, such as managing general agents and coverholders.
The credit rating agency will hold its annual insurance market briefing for conference delegates at the event on Nov 3.
-- BERNAMA
Thursday, 29 October 2026
BitAuto: Malaysian Search Interest Jumps 5,000 Pct During Tour
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Automotive information platform, BitAuto announced that Google Trends search interest in its name in Malaysia rose by more than 5,000 per cent during its China-Malaysia Automotive Cultural Exchange Tour, which ended with a five-day showcase.
The showcase at MyTOWN Shopping Centre allowed visitors to view the tour vehicles up close, step inside their cabins and speak with the team, the company said in a statement.
The tour, themed “Heading South – Setting Off Again After 100,000 Kilometres”, featured a Xiaomi SU7 Max and a Yangwang U8, each with over 100,000 kilometres on the clock. Creators from China drove them from Chengdu through Yunnan, Laos and Thailand to Malaysia, filming a video series along the way.
In Malaysia, the programme included rainforest off-road drives, drives on Genting’s mountain roads, city convoys, car enthusiast gatherings and test drives, with creators from China joining Malaysian editors and enthusiasts to produce content for audiences in China and overseas.
A Mid-Autumn Festival gathering at Jam PJ drew more than 100 guests, and interest from local media and creators led the team to arrange extra vehicle sessions beyond the original filming schedule.
BitAuto said the tour was planned and run by its Malaysian team, in line with its “In Malaysia, for Malaysia” approach, and that it would continue to work with local media, creators and car enthusiast communities.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
EZVIZ Smart Lock, Video Doorbell Bag Design Awards
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Smart home brand, EZVIZ’s EP8 Ultra artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video doorbell has won the European Product Design Award 2026 (EPDA 2026), while its DL50FVX smart lock has been named a 2026 Golden Pin Design Award (GPDA) laureate.
The DL50FVX, which has dual cameras with facial and palm vein unlocking, was recognised for its intuitive access management and was also named a finalist for the Best Design Award.
The EP8 Ultra uses AI to offer what EZVIZ describes as emotional care features. Both products drew attention at the IFA consumer electronics trade show.
“The buzz at IFA and the award recognition have strengthened our commitment to user-centric design,” said EZVIZ lead industry designer of security-related products, Ada Wang in a statement.
Founded in 2016, the EPDA recognises products that improve everyday life, while the GPDA, established in the 1980s, focuses on design in the Asia-Pacific region.
EZVIZ’s smart lock line-up offers a range of unlocking methods and built-in camera technology. Alongside the DL50FVX, it includes the DL01, designed for do-it-yourself installation, the DL10, which has a fingerprint reader built into the handle, and the DL20FVS Plus.
For entrances, the company offers products for hallways, porches and outdoor gates, including the EP4 door viewer, which it describes as easy to install, and the HP7 Pro video doorphone.
-- BERNAMA
HACK THE BOX CYBER TRAINING YIELDS 330 PCT ROI - STUDY
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- A study commissioned by cybersecurity training platform Hack The Box (HTB) and conducted by Forrester Consulting has found that a modelled organisation using the platform achieved a 330 per cent return on investment over three years, recouping its costs in less than six months.
The study, Total Economic Impact, is based on interviews with seven decision-makers at HTB customers in the financial services, government, technology and professional services sectors. Their experiences were combined into a single composite organisation with a cybersecurity workforce of over 300 people, and the financial figures are risk-adjusted present values.
“The question we hear most often is how many cybersecurity jobs AI will replace. The more important question is whether teams are prepared to use AI effectively,” said HTB chief executive officer and founder, Haris Pylarinos.
In a statement, he said artificial intelligence (AI) amplifies the capabilities of the people using it, which is why workforce readiness matters.
Over three years, the composite organisation realised US$1.2 million in benefits against US$285,000 in costs, giving a net present value of US$939,000. (US$1 = RM4.08)
The study found a 50 per cent reduction in the probability of security incidents escalating, linked to earlier threat detection and attackers spending less time inside systems undetected. Incident response teams cut the time taken to acknowledge incidents by 50 per cent and the time to resolve them by 30 per cent.
Onboarding efficiency improved by 35 per cent and penetration testing efficiency by 50 per cent. Workforce attrition fell by four per cent, while annual cybersecurity certifications rose by 20 per cent.
Forrester Research separately named HTB a Leader in its Forrester Wave report on cybersecurity skills and training platforms for the first quarter of 2026, giving it the highest possible scores in 13 criteria, including readiness for agentic AI.
-- BERNAMA
The study, Total Economic Impact, is based on interviews with seven decision-makers at HTB customers in the financial services, government, technology and professional services sectors. Their experiences were combined into a single composite organisation with a cybersecurity workforce of over 300 people, and the financial figures are risk-adjusted present values.
“The question we hear most often is how many cybersecurity jobs AI will replace. The more important question is whether teams are prepared to use AI effectively,” said HTB chief executive officer and founder, Haris Pylarinos.
In a statement, he said artificial intelligence (AI) amplifies the capabilities of the people using it, which is why workforce readiness matters.
Over three years, the composite organisation realised US$1.2 million in benefits against US$285,000 in costs, giving a net present value of US$939,000. (US$1 = RM4.08)
The study found a 50 per cent reduction in the probability of security incidents escalating, linked to earlier threat detection and attackers spending less time inside systems undetected. Incident response teams cut the time taken to acknowledge incidents by 50 per cent and the time to resolve them by 30 per cent.
Onboarding efficiency improved by 35 per cent and penetration testing efficiency by 50 per cent. Workforce attrition fell by four per cent, while annual cybersecurity certifications rose by 20 per cent.
Forrester Research separately named HTB a Leader in its Forrester Wave report on cybersecurity skills and training platforms for the first quarter of 2026, giving it the highest possible scores in 13 criteria, including readiness for agentic AI.
-- BERNAMA
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