[14 June 2006]
CapitaLand Retail and SMU launch marketing award with China internship for winning team

Singapore, 14 June 2006 - In partnership with the Singapore Management University (SMU), CapitaLand Retail Limited launched the inaugural CapitaLand Retail Marketing Award 2006. Developed exclusively for SMU marketing students, the competition is on the search for the top SMU team with the best marketing campaign for promoting shopping at Bugis Junction, Funan DigitaLife Mall, Plaza Singapura or Raffles City. By using local shopping malls managed by CapitaLand Retail as real life case studies, the competition creates the perfect environment for SMU students to hone their business skills and develop innovative marketing solutions in response to the challenges of the competitive retail sector.

Each team, comprising up to three SMU students, has been tasked to select one of these four participating shopping malls in Singapore managed by CapitaLand Retail, study its business positioning, examine its marketing strategy and develop a marketing proposal for a comprehensive campaign to increase retail business for the outlets in the mall. The marketing proposal is based on a budget of S$100,000. Their recommendations need to address issues faced by the shopping mall such as target market, customer segmentation, customer service, merchandising and branding. The SMU students have drawn up their proposals in close consultation with the group marketing communications department of CapitaLand Retail.

Said Mr Pua Seck Guan, Chief Executive Officer of CapitaLand Retail Limited, "As a leading manager of retail properties in the region with over 45 malls spread across Singapore, China, India, Japan and Malaysia, we believe in cultivating young talents to deepen the level of retail marketing management expertise in Asia, and serve the communities in which we operate. It is appropriate for us to start this initiative with a local university here as Singapore is our home base. Through this programme, we are able to select students with the right potential and provide them a chance for overseas exposure."

"Shopping is close to the heart of many consumers but what goes behind an effective marketing campaign for a shopping mall requires a sharp grasp of current lifestyle trends, consumer spending and the rise of mega malls integrated with urban living. SMU is proud to be a partner in this marketing challenge as many of our marketing students are immersed in a multi-disciplinary curriculum that exposes them to training in economics, sociology and psychology. With their rich internship experience, they stand in good stead in coming up with sound marketing strategies to rev up the shopping malls of CapitaLand Retail," said Associate Professor Thomas Tan, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University.

Eight teams have been short listed from the 27 participating teams to compete for the top prize of a six-week internship with CapitaLand Retail in Beijing, China from 10 July to 20 August 2006 with airfare, accommodation and allowance provided. The top team will also receive CapitaLand shopping vouchers worth S$3,000 and get the opportunity to intern with the Singapore office of CapitaLand Retail. The first and second runners-up will receive S$2,000 and S$1,000 worth of CapitaLand shopping vouchers respectively. There are five consolation prizes of S$500 CapitaLand shopping vouchers. The eight teams will make their presentations on Friday, June 16, 2006 from 9am to 1.30pm at SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business before a panel of four judges who are established leaders in the retail and marketing industry. The judging criteria are: Creativity (30%), Effectiveness of Campaign (30%), Written Proposal (20%) and Live Presentation (20%). The results will be announced and prizes presented on the same day at 3pm.

The panel of distinguished judges comprises:

• Associate Professor Thomas Tan
  Lee Kong Chian School of Business
  Singapore Management University

• Mr Kenneth Tan
  Managing Director
  Golden Village Multiplex Private Limited

• Mr Danny Yeo
  Senior Manager
  Branding & Promotions
  Marketing Division
  Singapore Press Holdings Limited

• Ms Therese Chew
  Senior Manager
  Group Marketing Communications
  CapitaLand Retail Limited

About CapitaLand Retail Limited

CapitaLand Retail Limited (CapitaLand Retail) is the retail property business unit of the CapitaLand Group, which is one of the largest real estate companies in Asia. With a portfolio of over 45 malls in Singapore, China, India, Japan and Malaysia comprising a total of approximately 23 million square feet (sq ft) of Net Lettable Area (NLA), it is one of the largest owners/managers of malls in Asia.

Whether in Singapore or abroad, CapitaLand Retail's vision is to move beyond developing mere functional property space to create living, vibrant and integrated communities for shoppers and tenants. Through leveraging on its unique integrated retail real estate cum capital management platform, CapitaLand Retail seeks to maximise value and returns for real estate asset owners and investors.