About Us

Cathay Organisation was founded in Singapore in 1935. Established by Mr Loke Wan Tho and Mdm Loke Cheng Kim, the company quickly became a major house-hold name in South-East Asia, most notably in the cinema and movie production industries. Since then, we have diversified into other businesses that include real estate and asset management. In 2017, we made the decision to divest our interests in the entertainment industry completely and focus on growing and managing our real estate and Family Office holdings (Yew Capital).

Our diversified assets have lent us resilience across market cycles, and we continue to seek company growth through stabilised income-producing real estate assets and active management of our portfolio.

Today, Cathay Organisation owns and manages a global real estate portfolio including retail, office, residential and logistics assets across Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and the UK.

Core Principal Activities:

  • Real Estate
  • Asset Management
  • Family Office

Corporate History

THE BEGINNING 1930s-1950s

  • In 1935, Mrs Loke Yew established Associated Theatres Ltd as she had noticed a significant lacking of entertainment establishments for the community which allowed social interactions that a cinema offers and to provide a place for people to meet and be entertained
  • By 1950s, Dato Loke Wan Tho had expanded his business to include film production
  • Associated Theatre was renamed Cathay Organisation Pte Ltd in 1959

DIVERSIFICATION 1960s-1980s

  • Looking to diversify Cathay Organisation’s portfolio beyond cinemas.
  • Jackie’s Bowl was established with Cathay Organisation as the major shareholder.
  • Cathay started diversifying into properties and real estates.
  • 1979 new Cathay Organisation logo was developed. Each semi circle represented the “c” of Cathay & each circle represented the “O” in organisation

ENTERING MILLENIUM 1990s-2000s

  • Responding to the changing economic environment by the 1990s; Cathay Organisation rationalised its cinema business, selling out their cinema operations in Malaysia. In Singapore, Cathay chose to move with the trends and operated only quality Cineplexes converting its stand-alone cinemas into multi-screens.
  • Cathay Organisation Holdings was incorporated in 1992 to manage the different business portfolio under its management.
  • In 1994, Cathay Properties Pte Ltd was incorporated to provide property management and maintenance services for facilities operated under the Organisation.
  • Cathay Cineleisure Orchard opened at the former Cathay Orchard Cinema site in 1997 -providing a place for people to meet, shop and be entertained.
  • Cathay Cineplexes Pte Ltd was incorporated in 1998 to manage the cinema operations.
  • 1999, the launch of new Corporate identity; Cathay’s ‘liquid’ logo aims to bring our organisation towards a more modern and dynamic outlook in our evolution onto greater heights.
  • Hangout Hotels Pte Ltd was incorporated in 2003

A NEW ERA 2010s and beyond

  • With the changing environment and for an entertainment company to survive – Cathay Cineplexes need to broaden its extension into production, distribution, & etc . The difficult decision to let go of Cathay Cineplexes to mm2 was necessary for the brand to grow bigger and further.
  • Today, Cathay Organisation is a diversified Group with business activities in real estate, property-related management services, retail malls and museum gallery.
  • With the sale of cinemas, Cathay looked back into its rich history and launched a new corporate identity, taking the idea behind its 1980s logo of “C” & “O”, representing a group of companies providing a connecting space/place for the community to gather; whether it is for leisure or for work.
  • [email protected] ceased operations in March 2019 after 15 years in operation, making way for a modern new residential development set to open in 2022.
  • On 17 July 2019, Gather Cowork opened its doors as a visionary new office environment, strengthening Cathay’s corporate identity.