KUALA LUMPUR: Landmarks Bhd announced today (Dec 10) the appointment of Sheraton Overseas Management Corp, an affiliate of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (Starwood Hotels & Resorts) as The Andaman Langkawi’s new operator effective Dec 10.

TEL AVIV: Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services and Menora Mivtachim Holdings will each acquire 48% of a partnership that is buying an office building in Norwich, England, for £134.4 million (RM742.25 million).

Harel and Menora, which are among Israel's top five insurance groups, will each pay £64.5 million, the Israeli companies said on Dec 10.

KUALA LUMPUR: FAM Development Sdn Bhd, under FAM Holdings Sdn Bhd, is introducing 3-storey bungalows in Taman Taynton View in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur in a private preview this weekend (Dec 12 & 13).

The project called Taynton Harmoni (picture), with a gross development value (GDV) of RM80 million, is just next to the Sekolah Menengah Seri Mutiara.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian real estate market is beginning to see signs of cautious optimism but much hinges on how well the global recovery picks up, according to leading industry players who have gathered for Cityscape India 2009 in Mumbai.

KUALA LUMPUR: SP Setia Bhd net profit for the fourth quarter ended Oct 31, 2009 fell 25% to RM56.86 million from RM76.08 million a year ago, mainly due to the inclusion of profit recognised on the disposal of its 25.07% interest held in Loh & Loh Corporation Bhd amounting to RM26.9 million a year ago.

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia Bhd’s net profit for the fourth quarter ended Oct 31, 2009, fell 25% to RM56.86 million from RM76.08 million a year ago, mainly due to the inclusion of profit recognised on the disposal of its 25.07% interest held in Loh & Loh Corp Bhd amounting to RM26.9 million a year ago.

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore is one of Asia-Pacific’s hottest markets for real estate investment next year, according to a report by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

KUALA LUMPUR: Genting Malaysia Bhd’s proposed acquisition of Wisma Genting (picture) along Jalan Sultan Ismail and two adjoining pieces of leasehold development lands in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur for RM259.6 million and RM24.6 million respectively, from its parent company, Genting Bhd, is considered reasonable, said investment analysts and property consultants.

KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank, Starbucks Coffee and KFC opened drive-thru outlets in S P Setia Bhd’s Setia Tropika township in Johor today (Dec 8), along with Pizza Hut. The four outlets are taking up space at Setia City Connects, a commercial hub in Setia Tropika’s central business district (CBD).

BERLIN: Not many are aware that Tropical Islands in Brand, Krausnick, Germany is Europe's largest tropical island resort created and owned by Malaysian interests.

Besides being a "rainforest" outside the Tropics, it is also the largest indoor theme park in Europe and the largest Malaysian investment in Germany.