SINGAPORE- Media OutReach - February 21, 2019 - ERA RealtyNetwork (ERA) looks set to raise its game as one of the Asia Pacific's largestinternational real estate agent network with over 17,818 real estate agents.Earlier today at the ERA 2019 Asia Pacific Business Conference (APBC) -- dubbed oneof the biggest industry conferences and the most celebrated award presentationsin the region -- it announced an array of ambitious expansion plans andinitiatives that will widen its position as a market leader.

Themed "Rise to Lead", the 2019 edition of the ERAAsia Pacific Business Conference was attended by regional country heads andover 2,000 real estate agents from 10 countries. Minister of Trade and IndustryMr Chan Chun Sing was the Guest-of-Honour, and he helmed a dialogue, as well aspresented some of the most prestigious awards to the top agents in the region:  

1.      Top APAC Achiever Awards -- multiple awards recognising the salesperformance of the region's best agents, member brokers/managers and division directorsacross the ERA regional network;

2.      League of Honour Awards (Singapore) -- one of the highest recognitionbestowed upon ERA agents who have achieved at least three times Top 10 Achieverof the Year;  

3.      League of Excellence Awards (Singapore) -- one of the highest recognitionbestowed upon ERA Division Directors who have achieved at least three times aseither Top Division Overall or Top Division Director in each category of theYear; and,

4.      ERA Honorary Award (Singapore) - aspecial award conferring the exemplary leader with outstanding achievements,exceptional contributions and selfless service to the agency and its network ofagents.

Prestigious Awards RecognisingOutstanding Performers

This year's conference saw theintroduction of the ERA Honorary Award,presented to Chief Agency Director Mr Kevin Lim Y.M. of the Preeminent Group.Mr Lim was the recipient and a record holder of the Top Division of the Year awardfor the past four consecutive years.

Mr Lim will be the first person in thehistory of ERA to receive such an honour. This honorary conferment aims toinspire other leaders in the network to embody the ERA Givers' Movement -- amovement to inspire everyone in the culture of giving and sharing -- and servesas a unifying symbol of the company.

The Top Division of the Year Award went to Senior Group DivisionDirector Mr Chris Chen F.Y. of Catalyst Division, who also bagged the TopSenior Group Division Director award and Top Recruiter for New Individual andTeam awards.

History was made when theiconic Top Achiever of the Year(Singapore) Award went to Branch Division Director Mr Kavin Kuah K.P. ofVigilant Division. Mr Kuah has been the undisputed ERA Top Achiever of the Yearfor the past three years and this remarkable feat marks his fourth consecutiveyear achieving the highest individual accolade, an unparalleled record in thehistory of ERA.

Mr Kuah's magnificent achievementsalso propel him to become the very best in the region. He clinched the Top APAC Achiever (Commission) Award , which recognises agent who earnedthe highest commission in region. ERA's 17,818 real estate brokers from 629offices across 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region --Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam,South Korea and China -- viedfor this coveted award.

Other Awards won by Mr Kuahinclude:

• TopRecord Sale -- Commission (Singapore)
• TopRecord Sale -- Transactions (Singapore)
• TopResale Achiever HDB -- Commission (Singapore)
• TopResale Achiever HDB --Transactions (Singapore)
• TopResale Achiever Condo -- Commission (Singapore)
• TopResale Achiever Condo -- Transactions (Singapore)
• TopResale Achiever Overall -- Commission (Singapore)
• TopResale Achiever Overall -- Transactions (Singapore)
• AsiaPacific Elite Award
• Top 2ndAsia Pacific Achiever -- Transactions
• Leagueof Honour Award (Singapore)

Blazing the trail As The Region's Market Leader

Duringthe conference, ERA also shared more about its regional expansion plans for2019. Earlier in February, it has acquired the ERA masterfranchisor for Indonesia, and taken direct ownership of Thailand ERA masterfranchise. These efforts will allow ERA to become more strategically involvedin matters concerning business development in these countries. Such operationalstructure would engender cross-selling benefits, as agents in differentcountries can work together to market and sell overseas properties to their owncustomers.

ERA Indonesiahas more than 6,900 ERA agents across 103 offices and has a market share ofabout 10 per cent of the secondary property market. The company has recentlyannounced a partnership with current CEO of ERA Indonesia, MrDarmadi Darmawangsa and the management team to fund the purchase of theIndonesian country master franchise operations from its current shareholders.ERA Indonesia will become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of APAC Realtyonce the acquisition is successful.

In Thailand,the company has entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Mr VoradetSivatachanon, the current CEO and Managing Director of Thailand's masterfranchise operations, to collaborate on the growth and development of the realestate brokerage and franchise in Thailand.

Plush by ERA RegionalRollout: An Industry's First Initiative Targeting High-net-worth Clients

After thesuccessful launch of Plush by ERA in Singapore circa early January, ERA also rolledout the initiative across its Asia-Pacific network at the business conference. An industry's first initiative, Plushby ERA is aimed at empowering the organisation's real estate agents so thatthey become more adept at catering to the increasing demands of theirhigh-net-worth (HNW) clients.  

This rollout will enable the entireERA's agent network operating within the niche market segment to network andexplore co-broking opportunities across the region.

The respective teams in each countrywill undertake thorough market research studies to learn more about thedemographics of their HNW individuals, their needs, wants and demands.Eventually, they will be able to build an exclusive information repository and offera bespoke one-stop service for distinguished clientele.

Additional trainings will be offered to help ERA'snetwork of agents to increase their portfolios of advisory services to includeasset management and enhancement, trust and will creation, estate andsuccession planning.

Earlier this year, the Ultimate Wealth Seminar,open to the entire ERA network, was introduced. The Ultimate Wealth Seminaris a series of seminars to be conducted by either in-house or externaltrainers, focusing on wealth creation, enhancement, distribution, protectionand transfer.

NUS-ERA Student Foundation Bursary for Students from Low-Income Families

ERA has also donated S$150,000 to the NationalUniversity of Singapore (NUS) to set up a bursary for underprivileged students.This initiative is aligned with one of Budget 2019's focuses on education.

The cheque of S$150,000 was presented by Mr ChanChun Sing, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Mr Jack Chua, CEO of ERA, to MrKevin Ong, Director of Development Office, National University of Singaporeduring the conference.

Each bursary is tenable for one academic year andis open to Singapore citizens and permanent residents enrolled in any course ofstudy. The donation will also enable NUS to apply for a matching grant from thegovernment.

The initiative is part of ERA's continuouscorporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR is deeply rooted in ERA's cultureunder ERA Loves, an annual campaign of company-wide CSR initiatives to empowerthe underprivileged. Besides setting up the education bursary, ERA has alsobeen actively involved its staff and entire agent network in giving back to thecommunity.

ERA has emerged as a winner of the Asia ResponsibleEnterprise Awards 2018, under the Social Empowerment category, for its contributionsto raise awareness for Saving Our Street Dogs -- an organisation that rescuesand rehouses street dogs.

ERA's the First Real Estate Agency in Singapore to Own a Building

ERA also unveiled its plans to launch the ERA APACCentre. The organisation will be carrying out addition and alteration works tothe exterior of the building by the second quarter. Renovation works arecurrently being undertaken at the third and fourth floors, which will eventuallyhouse ERA's agents from Zhong Shan and HDB Hub. Plans are in the pipeline tolease out the second and third floors, which will generate income for the company.

The first floor will house a lounge area that isopen to all of ERA's agents, where they can invite other co-broke agents for acoffee or use the space as a conducive environment for recruitment. Agentsbased at Mountbatten Square will move into the new building upon the expiry ofthe current premise's lease.

Setting Up for a BetterAgency

In tandem with the expansion plans and initiatives,ERA will also focus on empowering its agents through a two-prong approach:

• Project Opportunities: More than 40 projects are inthe pipeline for 2019, with more to come. With up to 8 new launches targeted inMarch alone, the plethora of project opportunities will allow ERA agents to sethigher targets, break personal records and achieve new career breakthroughs.
• A new Training Roadmap to raise the professionalstandards of ERA agent network is also being presented during the conference.More than 16 new training will be rolled out to equip its agents in varioushard and soft skills to succeed in the business.
• Smart Marketing Strategies and New TechnologySupport: These tools will help the agents to be agile and to thrive in anincreasingly competitive market.
• At the APBC 2019, ERA has also invited motivationalspeaker Mr Adam Khoo to deliver a keynote address -- such talks help to motivatethe agents, and impart them with the skills they need to close successfultransactions.

About ERA

Headquartered in Singapore, ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd(ERA) is a leader in real estate. The company has been setting and redefiningindustry standards through the pioneering of real estate concepts,technologies, initiatives and services since its inception in 1982. ERA is awholly-owned subsidiary of SGX Mainboard Listed, APAC Realty Limited. The Grouphas a vast network of offices throughout Asia Pacific with over 17,818 associates from Singapore, Cambodia,China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

In Singapore, we haveabout 6,650 associates providing a diverse range of professional services andsolutions for: Private and HDB residential resale, residential leasing, projectmarketing, commercial and industrial, property management, auction, valuationand research. Through Ultimate Training Programme, a series of speciallycurated training courses developed for ERA teammates, they are able torevolutionise their skills, equip themselves with the latest trends andinsights of the property market, and stay ahead of the competition. With closeto four decades of experience, extensive network and innovative technologicaltools, the company has secured innumerable dream homes for its customers inSingapore and around the world. 

Recentaccolades are testaments to the company's diligence - ERA was awarded TopProperty Agency by Influential Brands; Most Innovative Real Estate Agency bySBR Listed Companies Awards; Favourite Real Estate Agent (Gold) Award by ExpatLiving Readers' Choice Awards; and also Marketing Agency Excellence Award atEdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards in 2018. For more information, visit https://www.era.com.sg.

ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd

Estate Agent License No. L3002382K

Mountbatten Square

229 Mountbatten Road #03-01

Singapore398007