Scentre Group has released its results for the 12 months to 31 December 2021 with Operating Profit of $845.8 million and Funds From Operations (FFO) for the year $862.5 million. The Group collected $2,258 million in gross rent in 2021, approximately $200 million more than 2020. The distribution for the year exceeded guidance and represented a growth of 103.6% on 2020.
Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen said: “I am very pleased with the Group’s performance. Our team delivered better results in 2021 than in 2020, even with more COVID-19 restrictions. This demonstrates our proactive approach to generating long term value for our securityholders. We have positioned the Group for growth for many years to come.
“We are focused on the customer, leveraging the strengths of our leading platform and pursuing our ambition to grow by becoming essential to people, communities and the businesses that interact with them.
Westfield Living Centres are destinations that deliver products, services and experiences customers want
“We continue to drive strong demand for space in our Westfield Living Centres from existing and new businesses who are focused on growing their customer engagement and optimising their most productive stores with us.
“During the year, we completed 2,497 lease deals, including 1,090 new merchant deals. We welcomed 267 new brands to the portfolio. As a result, occupancy has increased to 98.7%.
“We have been agile in our strategy to drive visitation to our Living Centres. All Westfield Living Centres remained open during the period and operated with COVID Safe protocols.
“We had 413 million customer visits and annual sales through our platform were $22.1 billion, despite the extended lockdowns in NSW, Victoria, ACT and Auckland during the year. On a portfolio-weighted basis, the number of government restricted trading days was 81 in 2021, compared to 31 in 2020. This highlights that our Westfield Living Centres are essential social infrastructure and provide destinations that deliver the products, services and experiences our customers want.
There are dedicated Westfield Direct service desks in every centre
“We also launched Westfield Direct, our aggregated ‘Click & Collect’ service as an extension of our in-centre experience. Through Westfield Direct, our business partners can leverage their store networks to increase productivity and reduce the cost of fulfillment.
“Westfield Plus, our membership platform, has grown its membership to 2.2 million, an increase of 1.6 million in 2021. The combination of these two initiatives provides us with opportunities to learn more about the customer and deliver what they want.”
“Our focus on customers is integral to our development pipeline and creating destinations that meet the future needs of people and communities.”
The reimagining of Westfield Knox is underway with transformation to occur in stages between 2022 and 2023
The Group commenced the $355 million (SCG Share: $178 million) investment in Westfield Knox, in Melbourne, Victoria. The strategic investment will enhance the customer experience and offer a diverse mix of premium fashion and lifestyle brands. The former Myer store is being replaced with a range of new retailers, including Woolworths and ALDI, as well as a new fresh food market, and other community uses. It will open in stages between the end of 2022 and 2023 and will be the destination of choice for the Knox community.
The Group’s investment in Westfield Mt Druitt in Western Sydney is progressing well with the $55 million (SCG Share: $28 million) rooftop entertainment, leisure and dining precinct fully leased and on track to open next month.
New rooftop dining, entertainment and lifestyle precinct arrives next month at Westfield Mt Druitt
Scentre Group has also commenced a $33 million investment at Westfield Penrith. The project will see the repurposing of the former Target store to make way for a new Coles supermarket, a large-format entertainment offer and upgrades and additions to the centre’s vertical transport systems, while work on behalf of Cbus Property to design and construct 101 Castlereagh Street on the corner of Market and Castlereagh streets in Sydney’s CBD, is progressing well, with completion expected in 2023.
Works on 101 Castlereagh Street, Sydney is progressing well, with completion expected in 2023
“Since the Group was established in 2014, we have reduced our emissions by 30%. We are on track to achieve at least 50% of our net zero target by 2025. We are accelerating energy efficiencies, onsite solar and the procurement of renewable electricity. We have commenced new onsite solar projects at Westfield Fountain Gate and Westfield Knox which together will generate an additional 6200 MWh. Our New Zealand portfolio has moved to 100% renewable electricity,” Allen said.
