Swire Group
Encyclopedia
The Swire Group is a transnational corporation
headquartered in the Swire House in the City of Westminster
, London
, England
. It controls a range of wholly owned businesses, including deep-sea shipping
, cold storage, road transport
, and agricultural activities. The current chairman is James Hughes-Hallett. Taikoo (太古) is the Chinese
name of Swire. It serves as the brand name for businesses such as Taikoo Cube Sugar and Taikoo Shing
.
import-export company started in the early years of the 19th century. In 1861, John Swire & Sons Limited began to trade with China
through agents Augustine Heard
& Co. In 1866, in partnership with R.S. Butterfield, Butterfield & Swire was established in Shanghai
. Four years later, a Hong Kong
branch of Butterfield & Swire was also opened.
Four years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China
, Butterfield & Swire closed all of its China offices. In 1974, Butterfield & Swire in Hong Kong was renamed John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd.
as Swire Pacific Limited (A-shares) (B-shares). Swire Pacific is the largest shareholder of Cathay Pacific
, Hong Kong's largest airline.
Swire Properties, incorporated in 1972, develops and manages commercial, retail and residential properties, with a particular focus on mixed-use development in prime locations at major mass transportation intersections. The Company’s investment portfolio in Hong Kong totals approximately 17.8 million sq ft (approximately 1.66 million sqm)* of gross floor area, with Pacific Place
, Island East
as its core holdings. In addition to Hong Kong, the Company has a presence in Mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Mainland China, Swire Properties has a portfolio amounting to approximately 12.9 million sq ft (approximately 1.20 million sqm)*, the majority of which is under construction. The five projects consist of mixed-use developments in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, with Sanlitun Village http://www.sanlitunvillage.com/eng/pages/index.aspx and The Opposite House hotel in Beijing being the best-known among them. In 2008, the Company formed Swire Hotels http://www.swirehotels.com to create and manage urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom.
* Gross floor area in respect of 100% of the properties excluding car park areas and not on an attributable basis.
Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings Limited (SPO) is the wholly owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific and charters vessels that support the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide. Swire Pacific Offshore owns a fleet of 69 offshore vessels. The China Navigation Co. Ltd is the deep-sea shipping arm of John Swire & Sons Ltd.
Swire is an anchor bottler in the Coca-Cola
System. It is the bottler of Coca-Cola and its related products in Hong Kong, Taiwan
and most of mainland China
, as well as parts of 10 states in the United States
, mainly the mountain west region. This territory represents a population of 420 million people.
The company was featured under the pseudonym "Rothwell-Gornt" in James Clavell
's novel Noble House
, which is a thinly disguised fictional account of the rivalry between Swire Group and Jardine Matheson, another Hong Kong trading house.
In 2009, Swire Pacific ranks second in Wall Street Journal's Most Admired Company in Hong Kong list, while its subsidiary Cathay Pacific
ranks first, meaning that the group's businesses dominate the top two spots of the list.
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
headquartered in the Swire House in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It controls a range of wholly owned businesses, including deep-sea shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
, cold storage, road transport
Road transport
Road transport or road transportation is transport on roads of passengers or goods. A hybrid of road transport and ship transport is the historic horse-drawn boat.-History:...
, and agricultural activities. The current chairman is James Hughes-Hallett. Taikoo (太古) is the Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
name of Swire. It serves as the brand name for businesses such as Taikoo Cube Sugar and Taikoo Shing
Taikoo Shing
Taikoo Shing, or Tai Koo Shing , is a private residential in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It forms a part of the Swire Properties's Island East residential and retail branding, along with TaiKoo Place, the adjacent Cityplaza retail and office complex and EAST, a lifestyle business...
.
History
The Swire Group's privately owned parent company is John Swire & Sons Limited. The Swire Group, started by John Swire (1793–1847), had its beginnings as a modest LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
import-export company started in the early years of the 19th century. In 1861, John Swire & Sons Limited began to trade with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
through agents Augustine Heard
Augustine Heard
Augustine Heard was an American entrepreneur, businessman and trader, and founder of the Augustine Heard & Co. firm in China.- Early career :...
& Co. In 1866, in partnership with R.S. Butterfield, Butterfield & Swire was established in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. Four years later, a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
branch of Butterfield & Swire was also opened.
Four years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Butterfield & Swire closed all of its China offices. In 1974, Butterfield & Swire in Hong Kong was renamed John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd.
The Group's businesses
The Swire Group's core businesses in Hong Kong are held by the publicly quoted Swire Pacific Limited. The Group's core businesses are grouped into: property, aviation, beverages, marine services, and trading and industrial. Swire Pacific Limited is listed on the Hong Kong Stock ExchangeHong Kong Stock Exchange
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Hong Kong. It is Asia's third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange and fifth largest in the world...
as Swire Pacific Limited (A-shares) (B-shares). Swire Pacific is the largest shareholder of Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
, Hong Kong's largest airline.
Swire Properties, incorporated in 1972, develops and manages commercial, retail and residential properties, with a particular focus on mixed-use development in prime locations at major mass transportation intersections. The Company’s investment portfolio in Hong Kong totals approximately 17.8 million sq ft (approximately 1.66 million sqm)* of gross floor area, with Pacific Place
Pacific Place
Pacific Place is a complex of office towers, hotels and a shopping centre situated at 88 Queensway, in Admiralty, Hong Kong. The latest phase, Three Pacific Place, is located at 1 Queen's Road East....
, Island East
Island East
Island East is a residential, commercial and recreational complex in Eastern District, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, which consists of Taikoo Place, Taikoo Shing & Cityplaza. The complex is owned and managed by Swire Properties.-External links:*...
as its core holdings. In addition to Hong Kong, the Company has a presence in Mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Mainland China, Swire Properties has a portfolio amounting to approximately 12.9 million sq ft (approximately 1.20 million sqm)*, the majority of which is under construction. The five projects consist of mixed-use developments in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, with Sanlitun Village http://www.sanlitunvillage.com/eng/pages/index.aspx and The Opposite House hotel in Beijing being the best-known among them. In 2008, the Company formed Swire Hotels http://www.swirehotels.com to create and manage urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom.
* Gross floor area in respect of 100% of the properties excluding car park areas and not on an attributable basis.
Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings Limited (SPO) is the wholly owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific and charters vessels that support the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide. Swire Pacific Offshore owns a fleet of 69 offshore vessels. The China Navigation Co. Ltd is the deep-sea shipping arm of John Swire & Sons Ltd.
Swire is an anchor bottler in the Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
System. It is the bottler of Coca-Cola and its related products in Hong Kong, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and most of mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, as well as parts of 10 states in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, mainly the mountain west region. This territory represents a population of 420 million people.
The company was featured under the pseudonym "Rothwell-Gornt" in James Clavell
James Clavell
James Clavell, born Charles Edmund DuMaresq Clavell was an Australian-born, British novelist, screenwriter, director and World War II veteran and prisoner of war...
's novel Noble House
Noble House
Noble House is a novel by James Clavell, published in 1981 and set in Hong Kong in 1963.It is a massive book, well over 1000 pages, with dozens of characters and numerous intermingling plot lines. In 1988, it was adapted as a television miniseries for NBC starring Pierce Brosnan...
, which is a thinly disguised fictional account of the rivalry between Swire Group and Jardine Matheson, another Hong Kong trading house.
In 2009, Swire Pacific ranks second in Wall Street Journal's Most Admired Company in Hong Kong list, while its subsidiary Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
ranks first, meaning that the group's businesses dominate the top two spots of the list.