From its modest beginnings, the Ofer Brothers Group developed into a major shipping company that now owns, manages and operates an extensive maritime fleet serving numerous industries. Over time, it has become equally active and influential in real estate ownership, development and management of commercial, residential, and recreational properties, banking, advanced scientific and technological research ("high tech"), development and financing of funding sources for scientific and technological research, and the development and supply of energy resources. The Group has expanded its operations into several international ventures, notably in Hungary, in its areas of expertise.
The Ofer Group manages and maintains its holdings through wholly-or partly-owned subsidiaries and affiliated companies. In each of its fields of activity, it sets standards for impressive quality, capable workmanship, reliability and responsible management and administration.
The Ofer Group owns Israel's largest privately-owned shipping fleet and meets the market's needs by continual acquisition and modernization of its container vessels, car and bulk carriers, reefers, tankers and multi-purpose ships. Its fleet is ISO 9002-certified.
The Group has become an important force in Israel's banking scene with its acquisition - in equal share with another group - of a 51% controlling interest in United Mizrahi Bank Ltd., Israel's fourth-largest commercial bank. The bank provides a full network of banking services, utilizing a full array of today's most advanced technologies, to corporate and private customers.
The Ofer Brothers Properties Company is involved in many of Israel's property and land ownership and development projects, on its own as well as in a number of partnership and affiliations. Its flagship projects include the Merkazim centers - multi-use complexes housing offices, shops and restaurants, situated in and near the country's largest cities and population centers.
It has expanded this field of activity through ownership and management of shopping centers and other abroad.
Other international land development projects are also underway.
The Properties Group has a sizable stake in the ownership and development of the Herzliya and Ashkelon marinas, which will place Israel on the worlds yachting community's map by offering docking services and shore facilities for 800 and 600 yachts respectively. Other important projects include some of Israel's most successful shopping centers and strip malls totaling over 120,000 sq meters, offering consumers convenience and easy access to international megastores such as Toys R Us and Ace Hardware, and local retail chains and specialty shops.
The Group has designed and developed numerous private housing projects (currently over 1,000 units under construction), commercial facilities for soft industry and offices, hotels - notably the Le Meridian hotels in Eilat and Budapest. |