Building firm takes on the glitz

YOU could say that the Singapore Flyer sparked KOP Limited's venture into entertainment.

When the $240 million wheel was placed under receivership in May last year, it set KOP's CEO, Ong Chih Ching, hypothesising what she would do to revamp the attraction. The research she embarked on and ideas she brainstormed lured her into that glitzy world. "We wanted the Flyer to become a city amusement park which is common in many places, because it's a small site," she told BT. The developer company eventually submitted, but later withdrew, a bid for the Flyer.

At that time, the company had already been preparing to list for about a year. Ms Ong was also looking at how to transform KOP to take it to the next level, having developed iconic projects such as The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Cairnhill, Hamilton Scotts in Orchard (whose units boast "sky garages"), and 10 Trinity Square, a swanky hotel cum luxury residence in London.