什么是西田集团

The Westfield Group is the world's largest listed retail property group by equity market capitalisation. The Group has interests in and operates a global portfolio of 119 high-quality regional shopping centres in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, valued at more than $62 billion. Westfield works with over 23,600 retailers across more than 10 million square metres of retail space.

Westfield is a vertically integrated shopping centre group. It manages all aspects of shopping centre development, from design and construction through to leasing, management and marketing.

The Group creates value through intensive management at an operational level and an extensive development program which continually improves the quality of the portfolio to generate income and capital growth for investors.

Group Overview

The Westfield Group is the largest retail property group in the world by equity market capitalisation and one of the largest entities listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Operating on a global platform, the Westfield Group is an internally managed, vertically integrated shopping centre group, undertaking ownership, development, design, construction, funds and asset management, property management, leasing and marketing. It employs around 4,000 staff worldwide.

Westfield has interests in an investment portfolio of 119 shopping centres in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, valued in excess of A$62 billion. These shopping centres have strong positions in their local markets with geographic, retail and economic diversity providing a strong and consistent income stream. The centres are located in prime trade areas, anchored by long-term tenancies with major retailers and incorporating a wide cross-section of high-quality specialty retailers and national chain store operators.

Business Overview

The Westfield Group's core business activities are explained below.

Property Management, Marketing and Leasing Activities

Shopping centre management involves leasing and day-to-day management and marketing of the centres. Westfield maximises returns by creating an efficient and dynamic environment for retailers and a quality shopping experience for consumers. This requires working closely with retailers to develop a strong relationship and provide an appropriate platform for them to enhance their performance. Westfield also builds strong ties with consumers by supporting the local community of each shopping centre.

Property Development, Design and Construction Activities

Westfield's property development activities are vertically integrated and involve all of the elements of development, design, construction and leasing. Westfield aims to maximise returns on investment by increasing rental income and appreciating the capital value of the asset.

Westfield has extensive experience and a solid track record of completing projects on time and within budget. The Group mitigates much of the traditional risk associated with property development by having lease agreements in place with anchor tenants before commencing construction. In addition, Westfield diversifies the risk of any individual development project by undertaking multiple projects globally at any point in time.

Funds/Asset Management Activities

Westfield also manages assets on behalf of institutional and other investors. This investment is undertaken either on a joint venture basis on specific properties with partners such as AMP Capital Investors, Australian Prime Property Fund (APPF), DEXUS Property Group, Forest City Enterprises, JP Morgan Asset Management Real Estate Investment Management, Morgan Stanley Real Estate Management, the Perron Group and Prudential Plc, or as an investor in other forms of property-owning vehicles such as limited partnership arrangements in the United Kingdom with the Possfund and BT Pension Scheme, which are managed by the Hermes Group.

The Westfield Group is also the Responsible Entity of Carindale Property Trust, which is a single-centre property trust listed separately on the Australian Securities Exchange. Carindale Property Trust's sole investment is a 50% interest in Westfield Carindale, one of Brisbane's largest regional shopping centres.

History

1956-1960

History of shopping centres and arcades in Australia; profile of Frank Lowy and John Saunders; the origins of the first Westfield shopping centre in Blacktown, New South Wales.

1960-1970

The first decade of the Company; the float of the Company; Australia's first shopping centre; Westfield's eight rules of shopping centre development; Westfield's entry into Queensland and Victoria.

1970-1980

Origins of the Westfield Tower on William Street; the listing of Westfield Holdings Limited and Westfield Property Trust; Westfield's entry into America.

1980-1990

The acquisition of three new centres in the United States; joint venture with Myer and Bridge Oil; redevelopments of centres in Brisbane and Sydney.

1990-2000

Westfield's development phase in Australia; major property deal between Westfield and Coles Myer; branding of Westfield in the United States; Westfield expands into the United Kingdom and New Zealand; non-executive directors' profiles.

2006

Raises A$1.3 billion from new joint venture with QIC on Merry Hill in the UK

Assumes design and construction responsibility for White City project, London

Acquires further 75% interest in Stafford, London

Announces transactions with Centro Properties Group and Somera Capital Management – divested eight centres in US for US$550 million

Announces Nordstrom and JC Penney to take former Federated sites at Westfield Palm Desert and Westfield MainPlace

Westfield Group announces first full year result – strong performance in all markets

Acquires 16 Federated Department Store sites

2007

Sells 50% interest in Westfield Doncaster (Aus) to LaSalle Investment Management Inc.

Divests four assets in the US for US$1.04 billion

Acquires two key US assets for US$400 million

Establishes £530 million Westfield UK Shopping Centre Wholesale Fund

Raises A$3.0 billion of ordinary equity from the issue of non-renounceable Rights

Sells 50% interest in Westfield Parramatta (Aus) to GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd

Issues A$1.25 billion of Property linked Notes – based on interests in six centres in the Australia portfolio

Opens first major redevelopment project in UK at Westfield Derby

Completes five major developments in four weeks across four countries including Derby, Annapolis (US), North Lakes and Kotara (Aus) and Albany (NZ)

2008

Stockland sells 25% stake in Perth's Karrinyup Shopping Centre

Westfield Group to acquire interest in the Wold Trade Center retail facilities joint venture with Port Authority of New York and New Jersey