Chevalier links with Lam Woo

CHEVALIER (Construction) Co is forming a joint venture with Lam Woo & Co to expand its presence in the construction sector.

Kuok Hoi-sang, deputy managing director of Chevalier Development International, said the venture would be equally owned by Chevalier and Lam Woo.

He said the investment for its share would be less than $10 million.

By teaming up with Lam Woo, Chevalier would gain access and support in bidding for building and related projects, he said.

He said Lam Woo, which was founded in 1895, had lengthy experience and good connections in the construction industry.

Chevalier, which has $800 million of contracts on hand, was named Contractor of the Year by the Housing Authority this year.

Mr Kuok said Chevalier was exploring opportunities to act as construction and project manager for developments in China.

But it would not be directly involved in the construction business due to the keen competition in China, he said.

On other businesses, Mr Kuok said the Chevalier group had recently entered into a joint venture with a US-based curtain walls engineering firm.

The US partner was responsible for the design of curtain walls, while Chevalier would deal with their supply and installation, he said.

Chevalier has about 90,000 square feet of production facilities in Dongguan and 20,000 sq ft of space in Kowloon Bay for fabrication of aluminium windows and curtain walls.

Mr Kuok said Chevalier Development was finalising a project to develop and manage a three-star hotel in Xinyang, near Wuhan.

The total investment of the 250-room hotel, in which the group has a 70 per cent stake, would be $45 million to $47 million, he said.

Meanwhile, Thomas Yiu, general manager of Chevalier (Civil Engineering) Co, said it was planning to submit an application to the Government for a licence for port works.

The civil engineering arm has nearly $300 million in contracts on hand, including a $123 million deal for construction of seawall for the Central Reclamation Phase One project.