G'Day UK 2009

Westfield, the owner of the largest city centre shopping mall in Europe, has been announced as a corporate sponsor of the forthcoming G’dayUK initiative. Australian-owned Westfield has a total value in excess of AS$60 billion1 and currently manages seven major projects under construction around the world with an estimated total cost of AS$ 4.7 billion2. These projects include Westfield Stratford, which is located 5km east of the City of London and adjacent to the site of the 2012 London Olympics. The 175,000sqm retail complex has a projected cost of £1.45 million2 and is due for completion in 2011.

Michael Gutman, Managing Director of Westfield UK/Europe, commented on the sponsorship saying: “The property and regeneration industry is built on relationships and experience. Westfield is a relative newcomer to the UK scene having been on the ground since only 2000. By holding forums on issues such as '2012 & beyond' G'dayUK provides a platform from which to explore these two very important aspects of the industry and gives Australian firms the opportunity to be involved.”

G’dayUK is an Australian-led initiative representing the combined efforts of Australian Federal & State Governments, Qantas and Tourism Australia and aims to deliver a program focused on strengthening the economic and political ties between Australia and the UK. John Burton, Development Director on Westfield Stratford will be taking an active role within the G’dayUK CEO Forum, which is at the heart of the G'dayUK initiative and sponsored by CPA Australia.

The four areas of focus at the G’dayUK CEO Forum are Financial Services, Resources/FDI, Climate Change and 2012 & Beyond and Burton will sit on the panel debating 2012 & Beyond. Delegates will also hear a key note address from Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, the UK Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, who is expected to focus on how the nations can work together for the greater good.

Commenting of this new initiative by Australia to strengthen ties with the UK, Burton said “G’dayUK is a fantastic opportunity to develop relations across a whole range of industries by working together to harness the skills of both Australia and the UK. Retail is often a critical component of urban regeneration and our position as a market leader in both UK and Australian markets enables us to share key learnings on projects such as Westfield London and our Stratford City project.”
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1 WDC and joint venture share of shopping centre assets includes work in progress and assets held for redevelopment
2 Westfield Group 1st quarter review 31 March 2009

June 2009

For more information on Westfield’s involvement with G’dayUK and interview opportunities with John Burton please contact:
Ann Burton, CUBE Communications
Tel: 020 8401 5506 Email: ann@gday-uk.co.uk

Notes to editors:
About G’dayUK:
Planned for 24 June – 30 June 2009, G’dayUK 2009 is supported by the New South Wales, Queensland, Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian State Governments, Austrade, Qantas and Tourism Australia in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wine Australia, Australian Business and key private sector sponsors. www.gday-uk.co.uk

About Westfield:
The Westfield Group (ASX: WDC) is an internally managed, vertically integrated shopping centre group undertaking ownership, development, design, construction, funds/asset management, property management, leasing and marketing activities and employing in excess of 4,000 staff worldwide. It has investment interests in 119 shopping centres in four countries, with a total value in excess of A$60 billion (£24 billion) and is the largest retail property group in the world by equity market capitalization.