Lisbon, September 22nd 2009
5th Edition of the Euromoney magazine Awards
Sonae Sierra receives award for "Best Developer" in Portugal and Spain
- The readers of the prestigious financial magazine Euromoney voted for the best retail developers of 2008
Sonae Sierra, the international specialist in shopping centres, has just been distinguished with the "Best Retail Developer" award for Portugal and Spain, by the readers of ‘Euromoney' magazine, an international publication acknowledged as a leader in information about banking and finance.
For the "Best Retail Developer" award, the voters of the "Real Estate Awards" considered the companies with the biggest innovation capacity and ability to create prime investment opportunities in the retail sector.
"It's with great satisfaction that we receive the award from the prestigious ‘Euromoney' magazine, and the fact that we were chosen by its readers - important stakeholders in areas such as finance, banking, investment and real estate - in Portugal and Spain, makes this acknowledgment even more special. This award represents another confirmation of the validity of our strategy and leadership in Portugal and Spain" - comments Álvaro Portela, Sonae Sierra's CEO.
Sonae Sierra consolidated, throughout 2008, the year to which the Euromoney award refers, its expansion and internationalization strategy, and closed the year with a portfolio of 50 shopping centres in operation in seven different countries, managing a Gross Lettable Area (GLA) of more than 1.9 million m².
Some of the highlights of 2008 were: (i) the four inaugurations, of Freccia Rossa in Brescia and Gli Orsi in Biella, both in Italy, Plaza Mayor Shopping in Spain, and Phanteon Plaza in Greece; (ii) the conclusion of the ArrábidaShopping expansion, in Porto, as well as the refurbishment of Centro Colombo, in Lisbon, both in Portugal, and Valecenter, near Venice, in Italy; (iii) the successful launch and placement of the Sierra Portugal Fund, with a total equity value of €300 million and (iv) the launch of three new developments in Brazil, located in Londrina, Uberlândia and Goiânia.
2008 awards
Throughout 2008, Sonae Sierra was distinguished in several areas, and received the Green Thinker Award, which distinguishes the most sustainable companies of the sector at a European level, among the top 100. Sonae Sierra was also distinguished by the RLI - Retail & Leisure International magazine with the "RLI Developer of the Year" award, at the Global RLI Awards 2008, the annual awards of this prestigious British publication.
Sonae Sierra, http://www.sonaesierra.com/, is an international shopping centre specialist, with a passion for bringing innovation and excitement to the shopping centre industry. The Company owns 51 Shopping Centres in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil, with a total Gross Lettable Area (GLA) of more than 1.9 million m². Currently, Sonae Sierra has 3 projects under development and 11 new projects in different phases of completion in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil. In 2008 our Shopping Centres had more than 429 million visits.