RHT Corporate Advisory is pleased to inform that they have been appointed as the corporate secretarial agent by GKE Corporation Limited ("GKE"), a Catalist Listed Company with effect from 1 June 2013. The business activities of GKE’s group of companies are divided into three distinctive business segments namely Micro Biotechnology, Renewable Energy and Logistics. 2012 has been a challenging and exciting year for GKE as the group undergoes a major board restructuring and refocuses in its core logistics business in Singapore and expansion in the Asia Pacific region. GKE main focus was to reorganise the individual business segments and evaluate the viability of each business segments. During the financial year FY 2012, GKE achieved a profit before taxes of S$3.1 million. The Group revenue saw a significant increase of 24.8% to S$35.6 million. These results were achieved in spite of a highly competitive operating environment with business costs continuing to rise and new players penetrating the market. To increase the visibility of "GKE" and become a leading integrated logistics provider in the region, the Group effected the change in name from Van der Horst Energy Limited to GKE Corporation Limited. The Group believes that a change in name will provide a clearer identity for the Group and better reflect the Group's principal business in logistics segment and corporate profile in future. GKE’s subsidiary, GKE Private Limited, has on 17 May 2013 entered into a sale and purchase agreement with HSBC Institutional Trust Services Limited, in its capacity acting as trustee of Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust for the purchase of the property located at 6 Pioneer Walk Singapore 62775. It is a 2-storey warehouse with a ramp-up driveway and a 4-storey ancillary office as well as a single storey workshop and a container yard with a gross floor area of 20,094 sqm. The property will provide the Group a ready warehouse space to meet its urgent and immediate needs. Also, as the Group has been facing difficulties acquiring land parcels in the recent years, the purchase of property will allow the Group to capture the growth opportunities and higher yielding new business areas that will utilize the full value chain of the Group’s business.  Our Associate Director, Ms Shirley Tan is the named Company Secretary for GKE.

To honour our colleagues’ efforts and contributions towards the firm, we whisked them away from the city’s hustle and bustle to a three-day retreat on an island where a portion of the movie Eat.Play.Love was filmed . That’s right, Bali! We gave them the best from 17 - 19 May, no doubt, with accommodation at the Sheraton Hotel which is just a few minutes away from the beach. We were split into two groups for the activities in an aim to cater to both the outdoorsy and the sight-seeing personalities. The outdoorsy bunch got to experience white-water rafting in the Ayung River which caves through some of Bali’s most appealing landscapes.  The other group was taken to the Golden Coffee Factory where one of the most expensive coffees in the world – Kopi Luwak – is produced. While we did not get to sample this exclusive coffee, we did have a taste of their traditional Bali coffee.  This group also visited the GWK Cultural Park, the Batik Factory and Ubud – which is the cultural centre of Bali.   Inevitably, there were massages and spas roped into the itinerary too. It was a good get-away bonding session with everyone feeling rejuvenated. Though short, it left us with beautiful memories.

RHTLaw Taylor Wessing, the leading local international law firm celebrated its 2nd anniversary today in Singapore.  Tan Chong Huat, Managing Partner for RHTLaw Taylor Wessing, speaking at a celebration event attended by many of RHTLaw Taylor Wessing’s staff in Singapore said, “This is a significant milestone for the firm. Over this time we have seen the firm grow into one that offers a full suite of legal services to our clients. Our talent pool has grown as well from about 50 lawyers to 70 lawyers over the last 20 months with many talented legal practioners opting to join the firm.” RHTLaw Taylor Wessing was established on 28 May 2011 as a limited liability partnership in Singapore. On 16 March 2012, the firm joined the Taylor Wessing Group as a member firm. This development means that the firm is now able to offer clients access to a network of over 900 legal professionals across 22 offices in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. RHTLaw Taylor Wessing is also the exclusive Singapore member of The Interlex Group, a global network of leading law firms. Tan Chong Huat added, “These are exciting times for the firm. Our clients can expect intelligent and innovative legal and business solutions from a team that has the pulse of Asia, with expertise of an international law firm. We look forward to the continued support of our clients and staff!”

RHTLaw Taylor Wessing LLP has been nominated for the Corporate Citizen / CSR Law Firm of the Year Award at the upcoming ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2013. The ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2013 recognise the excellence and outstanding achievements of SE Asia's leading law firms and in-house legal teams as well as the top deals and dealmakers of 2012. Winners will be announced at the gala dinner on 17 May 2013 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore.