Sansiri is advancing its real estate development business with an investment plan worth $80 million, or 2.8 billion baht, in 6 leading global technology and lifestyle businesses. This marks a significant expansion of its investment base into diverse sectors to create partnerships across various business types. All 6 businesses are experiencing high growth rates in the global market, which will serve as a new source of revenue for Sansiri outside of Thailand. The company is accelerating its asset-light business model strategy in the digital revolution to seize opportunities for collaboration and rapid growth. The increased value of the six companies from Sansiri's shareholding will positively impact Sansiri's core business. This investment aligns with Sansiri's vision of prioritizing future living, encompassing lifestyle, work, leisure, and learning through technology and new media.


     The businesses that Sansiri is investing in include Standard International, the most powerful brand in the boutique hotel industry, which is transforming the high-end hotel sector into a new model; One Night, a hotel booking application that revolutionizes same-day hotel reservations from a curated selection worldwide; Hostmaker, the leading property management company from London for Airbnb; JustCo, the largest creative co-working space provider in Southeast Asia; Farmshelf, an innovative smart farm for growing clean, fresh vegetables in residences; and Monocle, a globally influential media brand covering print, online, radio, film, retail, and service businesses.

     Sansiri is a leader in the Thai real estate business, established in 1984, and is the only comprehensive real estate developer in the country with project sales exceeding 40 billion baht annually. It also has a strong reputation abroad, including in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan, with a sales target in international markets of 12 billion baht in 2017.


Mr. Srettha Thavisin, CEO of Sansiri Public Company Limited, stated, "The growth of the real estate business in Thailand aligns with GDP growth, which is not very high. However, Sansiri aims for high growth, and this investment marks our first development outside our core business. We are expanding into the global market and focusing on investing in businesses with strong potential to generate new revenue from sectors related to real estate, leveraging partnerships to strengthen our core real estate business simultaneously."

     "Our next significant step is to respond to the changing demands of consumers by creating a global platform related to the lifestyles of the new generation, which will propel Sansiri to become a global brand and a leader in technology and innovation. Collaborating with diverse partners is also a transformation for Sansiri to foster growth towards the future, focusing on three areas: 1. Strategic investments in global lifestyle brands; 2. Development of PropTech for living, in collaboration with leading technology developers; and 3. Enhancing leadership roles and expanding target audiences through premium lifestyle media," Mr. Srettha added.

Standard International


     The Standard is the most powerful brand in the boutique hotel business, with a total of 5 hotels in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, and a new hotel opening soon in London. The Standard is a pioneer in the lifestyle hotel business, creating a completely new hotel experience in every detail, from design to being a creative destination that closely engages with local communities and cultures. Each hotel features high-quality restaurants, nightlife, and shops, along with outstanding online communication channels to reach creative industry professionals, who are the target customers both in the cities where the hotels are located and beyond. With an investment of $58 million, Sansiri will hold a 35% stake in four business groups of Standard International, including The Standard Hotel Operations and Management, Bunkhouse Group, the One Night application, and the hotel’s food and beverage business. This investment plan will be used for new hotel investments, new food and beverage businesses, and the development of the One Night application for last-minute hotel bookings for same-day stays at selected lifestyle hotels worldwide.

Mr. Amar Lalvani, CEO and Managing Partner of Standard International, stated, "The Standard is renowned as a pioneer in hospitality, travel, fine dining, nightlife, and more, with a concept that breaks traditional norms and infuses fun, creating sophistication through design, attention to detail, and meticulous service. Partnering with Sansiri will help us access new opportunities for innovation from technology and new hotels in Asia and other regions worldwide."

One Night


     One Night is a hotel booking application developed by Standard International, the parent company of The Standard Hotel Group, and is the first hotel booking platform designed by the hotel company itself. One Night is a mobile network platform that generates revenue from the rapid growth of mobile hotel bookings. The demand for hotels that create memorable experiences, along with the dynamic lifestyle of new consumer generations, led to the creation of One Night to present new ideas in the hotel business, viewing competitors not as rivals but as potential partners to collaborate in creating special experiences for customers and growing the business together. Sansiri's investment will help promote One Night's full potential and growth in international markets, especially in Asia. Mr. Jimmy Suh, CEO of One Night, stated, "Sansiri's investment provides us with the capital to fully develop our business and grow internationally, while also giving us access to resources from Sansiri's other business investments, which will help us move forward continuously."

Hostmaker



     Hostmaker is the leading property management service provider and Airbnb's top booking management company, recognized for its quality. Sansiri sees the rapidly growing trend of home-sharing, which will lead to growth in property management services. Hostmaker operates in London, Rome, Paris, and Barcelona, having served over 150,000 residents worldwide. The investment plan will see Hostmaker expand into Asia with Sansiri's support, creating new revenue streams from markets outside Thailand for Sansiri. Mr. Nakul Sharma, founder and CEO of Hostmaker, stated, "We are a PropTech company focused on creating housing solutions in the sharing economy to meet the rising service expectations of the rapidly growing new generation of consumers. Funding from Sansiri will open new opportunities for us to grow with new services and access new markets, as well as leverage our international market expertise to enhance the experience for Sansiri's customers and transform the Thai real estate sector into a technology-driven and innovative business."

JustCo


     JustCo is the largest co-working space provider in Southeast Asia, currently operating 11 locations and planning to open 20 more branches in Southeast Asia in 2018. Sansiri recognizes that in the future, large organizations will increasingly adopt co-working spaces to foster creativity, collaboration, and strong relationships among employees. Sansiri aims for JustCo to experience rapid growth. The investment plan includes opening 4 new JustCo locations in Bangkok in 2018 and continuing to expand in Asia. Mr. Wan Sing Kong, CEO and founder of JustCo, stated, "JustCo has continuously formed strategic partnerships in various cities. Our collaboration with Sansiri will open doors for us to expand into Bangkok, and this funding comes at a timely moment as we are ready to expand into other major cities in Southeast Asia, such as Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila. With a strong foundation and active support from Sansiri, we expect to expand our co-working spaces to 30 locations across the Asia-Pacific by 2018, and Sansiri can also access our member base of over 12,000 potential consumers."

Farmshelf



     Farmshelf is an innovator in automated farming, enabling anyone to grow vegetables for consumption easily at home or work. Sansiri invested in Farmshelf due to the rapid growth of the health business and the trend of consumers seeking fresh, quality food, along with the phenomenon of collaborative living. The investment plan presents significant business opportunities for implementation in Sansiri's various residential projects to create added value for residents. This partnership is a crucial opportunity to rapidly expand the business across the Asia region. Mr. Andrew Shearer, CEO of Farmshelf, stated, "We believe in self-producing food, which even urban dwellers with busy lives and limited living space can achieve. Farmshelf allows everyone to grow food in their homes or workplaces using modern applications and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. With funding from Sansiri, we can further develop our products and bring this new culture to Thailand, which is one of the fastest-growing markets with consumers who have modern lifestyles and believe in sustainable and healthy living."

Monocle


     Amid the significant changes in the media industry over the past decade, Monocle has succeeded by offering a luxury experience through print media, combined with pioneering audio media, retail stores, and hospitality services. Monocle's deep understanding of brand value and high-quality communication has set a new standard in the global print media industry. The investment plan will enhance Sansiri's brand and its partners, helping to define and analyze consumer behavior, connecting to Monocle's customer base in international markets through its existing global business, and recognizing significant opportunities for developing co-branded businesses in new sectors in the future. Additionally, Sansiri plans to develop a new mixed-use residential project in collaboration with Monocle in Bangkok in 2018. Mr. Tyler Brûlé, founder of Monocle, stated, "Sansiri and Monocle have had a long-standing relationship, and as our business grows beyond just media, we see the importance of partnering with companies that align with our goals, which are increasingly focused on urban community-related businesses, retail, and new service concepts."

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"Our core business remains the development and creation of residential properties, but our mission has expanded to a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for people, from the homes we live in to the ways we travel and the freshest food we consume. Sansiri and our partners will work together to create a way of life, work, learning, and leisure for a better future," Mr. Srettha concluded.