The group, whose properties include Westfield shopping centres, Forum des Halles in Paris and La Vaguada in Madrid, said it now expects full-year AREPS of at least 9.50 euros ($10.00). It had previously indicated the upper end of a 9.30-9.50 euro range.

The group increased its like-for-like Shopping Centres Gross Rental Income by 2.1%, driven by recent sales such as the Polygone Riviera shopping centre and Westfield Valencia Town Center.

"We made further deleveraging progress with asset sales in the US and Europe, and continue to benefit from a low and controlled cost of debt, and over 36 months of liquidity," Chief Executive Officer Jean-Marie Tritant said in a statement.

The company has completed 90% of its 4.0 billion euro European asset disposal programme, getting proceeds of 3.6 billion euros, it said.

($1 = 0.9497 euros)

(Reporting by Jesus Calero; Editing by Richard Chang)