MANILA, Philippines – For transforming a mall development and operations company into a behemoth entity that has redefined the Philippines’ real estate landscape and retail environment, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) and SM Group’s founder Henry Sy Sr. were conferred the top honors at the recently concluded Asia CEO Awards.

SM Prime won the KPMG Executive Leadership Team of the Year award, the highest award given by the Asia CEO awarding body for its dynamic and efficient consolidation of its various real estate business units during awarding ceremonies held recently at the Solaire Resort and Casino.

The KPMG Executive Leadership Team of the Year award is given to a company that has demonstrated specific situations or projects where the organization was led to a new level of growth and pioneering achievement and recognized as such by the international community, establishing a commitment to the development of the country’s overall human resources capacity.

SM Prime president Hans Sy, who received the award together with John C. Ong, CFO of SM Prime, said the recognition serves as an inspiration for their company to do more not only for its shareholders, but also to everyone who continue to believe and support what it stands for and wants to achieve for the Philippines.

The merger of the SM Group’s various property businesses under SM Prime led by its chairman Henry Sy Jr., has made it one of the largest integrated real estate companies in Asia, achieving new heights in property management. The merger is considered a landmark in Philippine capital markets because it involved two listed companies undertaken by a single acquirer.

The merger is likewise touted as one of the most successful mergers for 2013, garnering the Most Innovative Deal Award from internationally-known publisher Alpha Southeast Asia Magazine.