METALS AND MINERAL RESOURCES

The Group’s metals and mineral resources operations started in 1887 when the Company was formed and are currently carried out by its 73%-owned subsidiary, Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad (MSC), a public listed company on Bursa Malaysia.

MSC is currently:
• One of the largest custom tin smelters;
• One of the top producers of high purity 4 nines tin; and
• The first tin smelter to achieve ISO 9002 accreditation.

With successful acquisitions of upstream and downstream business units in the last few years, MSC has become one of the world’s leading integrated producers of tin metal and tin-based products. It operates one of the most cost-efficient smelting plants in the world, converting primary, secondary and often complex tin bearing materials into high purity tin metal for industrial applications.

The existing custom smelting facility in Butterworth, Malaysia is one of the world’s largest and since its inception in 1903, has been supplying the world with the Straits refined tin brand which is registered at London Metal Exchange and Kuala Lumpur Tin Market.

MSC enjoys an unsurpassed global reputation that has been built on its years of experience in tin smelting and as a supplier of high grade refined tin metal. The continuous investment by MSC in its processes, R&D, human resource development and international networking, will ensure its global position as a leading tin smelter and producer into the 21st century.

MSC envisions to be a premier diversified mineral resource organisation in the Asia Pacific region, focusing in tin, coal, gold and advanced minerals. In December 2007, MSC further added nickel into its mining portfolio by investing a 12.8% (with warrants to increase its stake to around 19%) in Asian Mineral Resources Limited, a Toronto listed company with nickel mines in Vietnam.

For more information, please visit MSC’s website at:
http://www.msmelt.com/

HOTEL OPERATIONS

In 1994, the Group acquired the Rendezvous Observation City Hotel in Perth, Western Australia. A subsidiary company, Rendezvous Hotels International Private Limited (Rendezvous Hotel International) was then established in 1997 to operate hotels owned by the Group and to manage hotels/resorts for other owners. Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore was developed by the Group and was opened in 1998. Today, Rendezvous hotels (all 4-star and above) are strategically located in major cities throughout the Asia Pacific region including Singapore, Shanghai, Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Broome, Melbourne, Perth, Port Douglas and Sydney.

In 2006, Rendezvous Hotels International launched a new brand, Marque Hotels, best described as boutique, intimate, unique and personal. There are currently four Marque Hotels in Australia and they are spread across key capital locations Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. The fifth Marque Hotel, Guilin, which will open in June 2008, will mark the first foray intro Asia. Further Marque hotels are scheduled for Middle East and Shanghai in 2009. Whilst the Marque brand is relatively young, nonetheless, it has gained a strong foothold in the Australian market.

While Marque Hotels may be new to Asia, its parent company, Rendezvous Hotels & Resorts International, is certainly not. With a total of 13 hotels across the Asia Pacific region, Rendezvous will open another 4 hotels in Christchurch, Guilin, Fujairah, Perth in 2008 and another 2 hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai in 2009.

As a new breed hotel management operator, the hotel operations have now moved from a development stage into an established regional hotel presence. We expect the pace of development to continue, supported by an enhanced corporate office executive structure. Our development activity is expected to be focused on China, Australasia, Middle East and South East Asia although we expect to react to opportunities as and when they present themselves in other countries.

The Rendezvous brand is based on the philosophy to maximize profit for hotel owners through maximizing productivity within the hotel. The management staff places great emphasis on honesty and integrity. Service to customers is friendly, efficient and professional. Rendezvous’ vision is to be the hotel of choice by total commitment to quality service.

Our goal is to establish Rendezvous hotels as a major hotel and resort group in the Asia Pacific region. To achieve this goal, we will nurture an integrity-driven corporate culture, implement additional corporate marketing programmes, improve group efficiencies in our hotel management operations and create heightened awareness of our brand name in the market place.

To make on-line reservation and for more information, please visit our hotel website at: http://www.rendezvoushotels.com/

PROPERTY OPERATIONS

The Group’s real estate portfolio in Singapore comprises both residential and commercial properties.

While its forte is in the niche market of premier residential property developments, such as the completed Gallop Gables Condominium and Gallop Green Condominium in the prime residential area of District 10, the Group has also developed retail malls, office buildings and hotels such as the Great Eastern Centre, China Square Central, a commercial development with lettable area of 495,000 sq ft and Rendezvous Hotel Singapore. The Group is presently developing Good Class Bungalow Units in phases at another of its prime District 10 site at Cable/Nathan Road and a new flagship office building at Raffles Place to replace the former Straits Trading Building.

Outside Singapore, Johan Kekal, the Group’s 45.5%-owned associated company, has completed and sold off a quality residential project called Sri Bukit Persekutuan, opposite Kuala Lumpur Sentral, the new transport hub of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In Ipoh, Malaysia, the Group has formed a joint venture with the Taiko Group in Malaysia to develop a high-end bungalow project at its prime residential site in Jalan Tun Dr Ismail. The prestigious development will comprise 48 upmarket bungalows.

Plans are also in the pipeline to redevelop the Group’s mixed-use property comprising retail and hotel in Perth, Australia.

With its in-house expertise, the Group provides project management services to land-owners seeking a comprehensive professional service from the end-user’s perspective for their development.

Media Advertising

In 2005, the Group reorganized its media business by consolidating its operations within the property division. Straits Media Private Limited (Straits Media), the Group’s media advertising subsidiary was established in 1995. Pioneering the latest outdoor advertising technology in Singapore, Straits Media is a one-stop outdoor billboards provider with electronic billboards, front & back-lit billboards, tri-vision billboards, neon-light billboards and advertising panels.

Having an attractive array of quality billboards in choice locations across the island, in particular, the prime Orchard shopping area and the Central Business District, Straits Media envisions to be the outdoor voice and face of their advertisers and advertising agencies.

Straits Media will capitalize on its expertise to seize new business opportunities by itself or in partnership with strategic investors, and will continue to enhance existing sites to improve its revenue streams. Consolidation with our property division should create business synergies that will broaden our revenue base and increase profitability.

FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS

The Group invests in global securities that are listed on major stock exchanges. Our investment philosophy is based on a disciplined and rigorous fundamental approach with the objectives to

(a) maximize long-term returns from capital appreciation and dividend income
(b) diversify portfolio risks.

Our investment process involves both top-down macro-economic analysis and bottom-up stock research. The top-down strategy is used to allocate assets in different countries, sectors and asset classes. The bottom-up approach involves screening for stocks that are fundamentally undervalued. Our global investment portfolios currently consist of both equities and fixed income securities in various sectors.

THE TECITY GROUP

The Tecity* Group, founded by the late banker and philanthropist Tan Sri (Dr) Tan Chin Tuan, comprises a public-listed arm, Straits Trading Company Limited; an investment arm, Tecity Management; a philanthropic arm, Tan Chin Tuan Foundation (TCTF); and owns the Tan Chin Tuan Mansion, which is used as a “hub” for philanthropic activities, sharing business ideas and mutual learning.

The Group manages an active global investment portfolio with a philosophy centred on the principles of our Founder, and prides itself in being a responsible partner and desirable employer.

http://www.tecity.com.sg

* Pronounced “T-C-T” (“TCT” is the initials of our founder's name - Tan Chin Tuan)