The duo have been on a deal making spree after a 2011 family settlement between Raj and his younger sibling Asok Kumar Hiranandani, also a billionaire. Their prize holdings include the 442-room Holiday Inn Express at Clarke Quay and the five-star Hotel Intercontinental at Robertson Quay.
They created an enormous stir in Singapore real estate sector by announcing their plan to merge their respective property firms, Royal Holdings and RB Capital in 2014. An only child, Kishin RK is the sole heir to his father’s portfolio; the proposed move, long overdue, represents the second phase of succession planning. The first phase was completed in 2012 when Kumar and his younger sibling, Ashok Kumar Hiranandani, divided up the property portfolio they had built together over 3 decades and went their separate ways.
Prior to that regrouping, Kishin RK had started RB Capital in 2006, independent of the family empire. The duo have endeavored into various joint ventures after this settlement between the two brothers. Their prize holdings include the 442-room Holiday Inn Express at Clarke Quay and the five-star Hotel Intercontinental at Robertson Quay. For Kishin RK, business is all about learning from the experience of his parents, which rounds out his judgement, as he puts it, “Dad’s the go-getter and likes the excitement of deal-making. We talk about business a lot, even when we’re having dinner. Mum is present in most conversations and gives us her unbiased perspective which can be very different and makes a lot of sense.” Being a distinctly unique personality, Kishin RK shies away from social media as it runs the risk of information overload and has charted an inimitable course for himself, “I’ve always put blinkers on and run my own race.”
Their prized holdings include the 442-room Holiday Inn Express at Clarke Quay, Holiday Inn Little India and the hotel Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay. They bought the Porcelain Hotel in Singapore’s Chinatown, which they refurbished and reopened in 2023 as the 134-room Hotel 1900.
Royal Holdings: The Milestones
1940’s
Mr. Naraindas laid the foundation in 1947 with a small silk garments trading firm in Singapore. With his relentless efforts, the business gradually expanded its horizons.
1950’s & 1960’s
Mr. Naraindas ventured into Africa and capitalized on myriad of business opportunities.
1980’s
The Group acquired a significant number of commercial shop units in Lucky Plaza, Peninsula Plaza, Queensway Shopping Centre and other prominent places in the island of Singapore.
1990’s
As part of diversification from commercial & residential property investment in to the Hospitality industry, the Group acquired the following properties:
- Novotel Hotel in Auckland
- Holiday Inn in Queenstown
- Mercure Hotel in Perth
- Mercure Hotel in Brisbane
- Quality Princess Hotel in Perth
The Group acquired Time Square Complex, a twin tower property that comprises of Hotel and an Office Tower in Brisbane appointing Accor Asia Pacific as its Operator.
The Group also purchased the Melia@Scotts hotel at Scotts Road, Singapore. Royal Brothers Group were the first issuers of a Bond in private corporate sector incorporating unique features to channel into the above investment. The bond issue had an overwhelming response.
Early 2000’s
The company purchased the DBS Securities Building, Singapore located at Raffles Place, Singapore’s Financial hub. After a major refurbishment was completed, the building was renamed the “Royal Brothers Building” housing our Group’s Corporate Headquarters.
RB Capital
RB Capital was founded in 2006 by Kishin RK. It is a dynamic, forward thinking real estate acquisition and development company, focusing on hospitality, commercial and media properties across the Asia Pacific region. RB Capital invests ahead of the general market by focusing on long term opportunities where size, complexity or current illiquidity may impede other investors. Post acquisition, RB Capital takes a curated approach to restructuring, redeveloping and intensively managing the real estate to attract a multitude of tenants and ensure it has the foundations to thrive in the future and establish a community.
With multi-disciplinary expertise across the retail, office and hotel spaces, RB Capital has three key business engines – RB Capital Hotels, RB Capital Office and RB Capital Retail – which continually create investments that maximise quality and value.
Hospitality
Established in 2010, RB Capital Hotels has several properties in its Singapore portfolio, including the first residential-inspired Intercontinental Hotel – The Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay – which opened in 2017. Other recently completed projects include the Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay and Park Hotel Farrer Park.
Office Spaces
RB Capital Office develops high quality, curated office spaces in the heart of Singapore, including the EFG Bank Building in the civic district and RB Building in the CBD’s Raffles Place. RB Capital also owns the HSBC Building in Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang CBD.
Retail
RB Capital Retail acquires and repositions retail assets in prime locations. Most recently, RB Capital acquired and developed Singapore’s Robertson Quay – introducing an entirely upgraded lifestyle destination for Singapore’s residents. Other noteworthy retail developments include Cuppage Terrace Orchard Road. RB Capital also owns an extensive portfolio of strata properties at major developments across Singapore including Lucky Plaza, Far East Plaza, Coronation Plaza and Queensway Shopping Centre.
