Ares Management Real Estate Fund Acquires Two Designer Outlet Centers in France

Ares Management Real Estate Fund Acquires Two Designer Outlet Centers in France in Partnership with McArthurGlen

LOS ANGELES & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE:ARES) announced today that a real estate fund it manages has acquired two designer outlet centers located in the French regional cities of Troyes and Roubaix from Resolution Property for approximately €200 million. The centers will continue to be managed by McArthurGlen, which has made a minority investment in the centers as part of this transaction. The outlet centers together comprise a total of approximately 47,000 square meters and feature strong retail tenants, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, and Hugo Boss, among many others. The Troyes location is the largest outlet center in France.

The Ares Real Estate Group has invested in European outlet centers in the past, and continues to be an active investor in European retail real estate, having announced the acquisition of a portfolio of three U.K. retail parks in December 2015 from Land Securities, and the formation with Redevco in September 2015 of a joint venture for retail investments in Spain and Portugal.

“Both of these retail outlet centers have dominant locations and have served as popular shopping destinations in the northeastern regions of France,” said John Ruane, Partner in the Ares Real Estate Group. “We are also excited to partner with McArthurGlen, the leading European outlet center operator, to continue to manage the properties. We have identified significant potential to create value through active management, including improving the tenant mix and upgrading the buildings to enhance the shopping experience.”

Mike Natas, McArthurGlen’s Deputy Managing Director of Development, said: “Having managed the successful Troyes and Roubaix designer outlets for many years, we are delighted to be partnering with Ares and to become an investor as well. This is another step in our strategy to grow our business across Europe.”

About Ares

Ares Management, L.P. is a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $92 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2015 and more than 15 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since its inception in 1997, Ares has adhered to a disciplined investment philosophy that focuses on delivering strong risk-adjusted investment returns throughout market cycles. Ares believes each of its four distinct but complementary investment groups in Tradable Credit, Direct Lending, Private Equity and Real Estate is a market leader based on assets under management and investment performance. Ares was built upon the fundamental principle that each group benefits from being part of the greater whole.

For more information, visit www.aresmgmt.com.

About McArthurGlen Group

McArthurGlen Group, Europe's leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, was founded in Europe by Kaempfer Partners in 1993. The company currently manages 22 McArthurGlen Designer Outlets across eight countries in Europe and in Canada. In 2013, McArthurGlen became a joint venture between the Kaempfer Partners and Simon Property Group Co. (NYSE:SPG), the world's largest public retail property company.

For more information, visit www.mcarthurglengroup.com.

Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which relate to future events or future performance or financial condition. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Ares’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ares undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

SOURCE: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160203005267/en/Ares-Management-Real-Estate-Fund-Acquires-Designer

TH Real Estate Expands Outlet Malls in China & Germany

By Adriana Pop, Associate Editor - MHN Online

Guangzhou, China—TH Real Estate has announced the opening of new retail space at two designer outlet malls, Florentia Village Designer Outlet Mall in Guangzhou, China and the newly extended McArthurGlen Neumünster in Northern Germany.

Florentia Village Designer Outlet Mall is the first authentic Italian luxury outlet in southern China. Invested on behalf of Silk Road Holdings and managed by RDM Asia, the 1.3 million-square-foot (118,000-square-meter) property features more than 60 premium international brands, including Lacoste, Nike, Etro, Calvin Klein and Versace.

Silk Road Holdings, for which TH Real Estate acts as investment advisor, owns and operates two other designer outlet malls in China.

Located in the center of Guangzhou’s financial district, the Florentia Village scheme also marks the first wholly owned and operated foreign investment in southern China. Designed in an Italian classic architectural style, the mall boasts open-air complexes with squares, galleries, arcades and fountains.

TH Real Estate, on behalf of the European Outlet Mall Fund (EOMF) and co-owners McArthurGlen, also announced the opening of a new extension at McArthurGlen Neumünster. The expansion consists in 25 additional stores offering new brands such as Adidas, Diesel, Liebeskind Berlin, Calvin Klein, Comma, Tiger of Sweden, Rich & Royal and Jack Wolfskin. The center’s mix of luxury and lifestyle brands also includes Polo Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Armani, Furla, Boss, ESCADA, Versace and Lagerfeld.

Inspired by the local Schleswig-Holstein architectural style, McArthurGlen Neumünster first opened its doors to customers in 2012.

“Designer outlets have been one of the most widely misunderstood, but strongest performing, real estate sectors over the past decade and, relatively speaking, they thrived during the global economic downturn. Strong demand from international retailers means the occupier base is broadening and covenant quality is improving. Likewise, the investor base is deepening. Constrained supply, coupled with growing demand, should see continued rental growth and a long term structural improvement in investment pricing globally,” Mike Sales, head of TH Real Estate, said.

TH Real Estate has a well-established track record in outlet malls, having built up a more than $4.53 billion (£3 billion) global outlet mall portfolio across the UK, continental Europe & China.

Giorgio Armani Vancouver outlet store opening this Spring

Italian luxury brand Giorgio Armani will open an outlet location this Spring at Vancouver’s new McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, according to Retail Insider. This is the second Armani outlet to be opened in Canada, with the first in Toronto opened in 2014.

Opening in the spring of 2015, North America’s first McArtherGlen Designer Outlets will be located at Templeton Skytrain Station next to Vancouver International Airport. The 5,350 sq. ft. outlet will carry product from all Armani lines for men and women, except for the couture Armani Privé line.

As previously announced, the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport will feature two luxury piazzas, and is designed as an open-air village, with pedestrian-friendly walkways and tree-lined streets. The mall’s first phase will span 240,000 sq. ft. with 80 retailers, many of them being luxury brands. Eventually, the mall will span 400,000 sq. ft. with about 150 stores with emphasis being on luxury designer brands.

The Giorgio Armani brand is synonymous with a luxury lifestyle and boasts a 40 year history within the fashion industry having launched his namesake label in 1975. This luxury fashion designer has personally overseen the growth of his brand to include signature menswear label to a luxury fashion empire including Giorgio Armani Privé and Emporio Armani apparel lines alongside accessories, footwear, cosmetics, hotels/resorts, chocolates and home decor. According to Forbes Magazine, Giorgio Armani is #174 on the world’s list of billionaires. His 2015 evaluation is $7.4 billion.

The Armani Group also focuses its attention on the products it launches on the market in terms of consumer safety protection and the impact on the environment of its production not by simply restricting itself to the requirements imposed by EU legislation but in compliance with the most stringent international limits.

In line with these objectives is its commitment to Zero Discharge 2020 and the set up of a Product Safety Control System with a web-based tool that allows international suppliers on production sites to ask and receive answers regarding compliance with social, environmental and security requirements within the workplace.

SOURCE: vancitybuzz.com

McArthurGlen posts 8% hike in Dec sales at six UK outlets

January 17, 2014 (United Kingdom) www.fibre2fashion.com

McArthurGlen, Europe's leading owner, operator and developer of designer outlets, reports an increase in like-for-like sales of 8% in December across all six of its UK centres following a 9% rise in November, as the rising ranks of savvy shoppers started their Christmas shopping earlier.
The traditional 'Man Dash' in the run-up to Christmas helped drive particularly strong sales in the popular gift choices of perfume & cosmetics (L4L up 18%) and jewellery (up 10%). Sportswear and childrenswear also performed well (both up 17%).

McArthurGlen's six UK centres include: Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet (the UK's largest designer outlet), Ashford Designer Outlet (37 minutes from London by train), Bridgend Designer Outlet (Wales' largest designer outlet), East Midlands Designer Outlet, Swindon Designer Outlet (currently undergoing an expansion) and York Designer Outlet.

Sven Gaede, UK Managing Director, McArthurGlen, says: "Our strong Christmas trading results yet again highlight that a visit to a McArthurGlen centre has become an increasingly popular way to shop, with year-round savings of up to 60 per cent on the most sought-after luxury, designer and lifestyle brands in a premium shopping environment."

Ashford, Cheshire Oaks and York all saw a record-breaking first week of the sales (from 26 December till 2 January), compared with the same period last year, holding strong against aggressive price cuts on the High Street.

Over this key week in the retail calendar:

Sales at Ashford Desiner Outlet, with more than 80 stores, including the likes of Jaeger, Kurt Geiger, Reiss, Swarovski and Ted Baker, rose 18%, with many of the 70,000 shoppers during that week crossing the Channel from Continental Europe, especially France.

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, with 145 stores, and some of the most sought-after luxury names in fashion, recorded its best-ever trading week since it opened as the UK's first designer outlet in 1995, with a year-on-year sales' increase of 21% and 162,000 shoppers over the seven days.

York Designer Outlet, with more than 100 stores, including the likes of Hobbs, LK Bennett, Paul Smith and The Kooples, recorded its highest ever sales on 27 December and an uplift of  21% on Boxing Day.

Global shoppers, in particular from China and Southeast Asia, also contributed to the strong Christmas trading, with a 12% increase in tax-free spending at McArthurGlen's six UK centres in November, and further strong increases expected for December.

Gaede adds: "To build on our successful trading, as the trend for smart shopping rises, this year we are investing £35mn in expanding Swindon Designer Outlet and we will be submitting planning permission to double the size of Ashford Designer Outlet, as well as carrying multi-million pound enhancements of Cheshire Oaks, Bridgend, East Midlands and York Designer Outlets. It's about taking the shopping experience at our centres to a new level of excellence, as well as providing our customers with a great day-out."

Nick Bubb, Retail Consultant, said: "In what was a very promotional environment in December in clothing retailing, McArthurGlen's distinct package of designer brands and savings in an attractive environment stood out to both domestic and overseas shoppers. McArthurGlen's designer outlets give consumers access to aspirational fashion brands that aren't widely available, and at discounts that seem more genuine than during the Christmas promotional frenzy seen at many multiple retailers."


McArthurGlen

McArthurGlen to open first Designer Outlet in Vancouver

November 26, 2013 www.fibre2fashion.com

McArthurGlen Group, Europe's leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, is currently under way or in planning with around 152,500 sq m of new outlet retail space across Europe, as well as its first Designer Outlet in North America.

The latest new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, in the Belgian city of Ghent, is a joint venture with Belgian real estate company Banimmo, and includes a 32,000 sq m Designer Outlet as well as 14,000 sq m of leisure. The key planning permissions have already been granted, with a planned opening for 2016.

Gary Bond, Managing Director, Development, McArthurGlen Group, says: "We are currently under way or in planning with a record amount of outlet space since pioneering the concept of designer outlet retailing in Europe in 1995, with the opening of Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet in the UK. For this next generation of best-in-class designer outlets, we are being increasingly discerning about where we build, what we build and how we go about the development process."

As the Group's first Designer Outlet in North America, McArthurGlen Vancouver is on track to open in 2015, as a joint venture with Vancouver Airport Authority. The centre, with ground works already started, will offer 22,500 sq m of retail space in a first phase with a second, 12,500 sq m phase to follow, and is just three minutes away by SkyTrain from Vancouver International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver.

In planning is McArthurGlen Provence, 45-minutes from Aix-en-Provence and 50 minutes from Marseilles. The scheme, which received retail planning approval in January 2013 for 26,000 sq m of GLA, is ideally located: near the junctions of the A8, A7 and A54 motorways, and in the heart of what is France's most important region for tourism after Paris.

In addition, McArthurGlen is currently under way or in planning with around 59,500 sq m of extensions to eight existing centres, including Barberino (Florence), Swindon (Wiltshire, UK), Neumünster (Hamburg), La Reggia (Naples), Noventa di Piave (Venice), Parndorf (Vienna), Düsseldorf (Roermond) and Ashford (London, UK).

This latest expansion phase follows McArthurGlen becoming a joint venture between Simon Property Group Inc (SPG), the world's largest retail development group and a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, and Kaempfer Partners earlier this year, in June.

Gary Bond adds: "As the largest operator of malls and premium outlets in the US and Asia, SPG's unparalleled resources, expertise and relationships bring a new level of financial strength and brand associations to our European market, to enhance our centres and benefit the combined portfolio of our brand partners."


McArthurGlen

McArthur Glen shopping village in Ashford to almost double in size

Marijke Cox Thursday, November 14, 2013 3:58 PM - Kentnews.co.uk

One of the county’s major shopping outlets looks set to almost double in size, it has been confirmed.

Bosses at Ashford’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet revealed ambitious plans to increase the shopping village from its current 183,000 square foot to around 333,000 sqft.

A planning application is expected to be submitted early next year with construction beginning in 2014 and the opening set for the end of 2016.

Managing director, development, at McArthur Glen Gary Bond said Ashford was a key location due to its easy access to London by train, its proximity to the M20 linking it to the City, and its link to the Continent through Ashford International and its location to the Port of Dover.

“With the planned expansion we are looking to create the next generation of designer outlet, reflecting the quality of our flagship McArthur Glen Designer Outlets in Continental Europe, and taking the customer experience to a new level, bringing in exciting new brands, as well as café and restaurant concepts,” he said.

The expansion plan will be seen as a boost to an area currently in the throes of major regeneration and it is hoped the growth of the centre will pave the way for hundreds of employment opportunities in the district.

Mr Bond said: “We have received tremendous support from the local authority of Ashford, which fully understands how the expansion of the centre will not only create jobs, but also further establish Ashford Designer Outlet as a shopping destination, which in turn benefits the local economy, especially the tourism sector.

“We have been looking at expanding a number of our designer outlets in the UK, in particular where we have strong support from local councils who understand the benefits of creating a shopping destination that acts as a tourism magnet for the local region.”

The plans are likely to attract more designer brands to the outlet, which this year saw fashion label Abercrombie and Fitch, Twenty8Twelve, Geox, Asics and French Connection open stores at the Ashford site. Trendy Japanese restaurant Wagamamma has also opened its doors.

Mr Bond added: “We will continue with the village-style theme of the centre, while at the same time bringing a new freshness to the whole centre, making it a very individual shopping experience together with the most sought-after brands on offer and the year-round savings of 60 per cent.”

McArthurGlen to open designer outlet in Belgium

SOURCE: WWW.FIBRE2FASHION.COM

The new 52,800 sq m GLA retail and leisure scheme is located in 'The Loop' district of Ghent, in the southwest of the city of Belgium.
It will see an investment of more than Euro 180 million and, just for the Designer Outlet, the creation of more than 2,000 (full time and part time) jobs.

The scheme is part of a wider mixed-use project, in which Schoonmeers Bugten (majority owned by Banimmo and a minority shareholder in the public-private partnership Grondbank The Loop, the owner of several land plots in 'The Loop' district) has entered into an agreement with SoGent (the real estate development entity of the city of Ghent and the majority shareholder in Grondbank The Loop) to transfer two sites for the development of the scheme, as well as for a 6,300 sq m big-box store and 21,000 sq m of offices.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ghent will offer nearly 200 stores, including the most sought-after names in luxury, designer and lifestyle fashion, with both globally recognised local and international brands, with year-round savings of 30-70 per cent, and including a wide range of cafes and restaurants, and a children's play area. To complete the day-out experience, the scheme's 14,500 sq m of leisure will include an eight-screen multiplex cinema and a bowling alley.

Planning permission (RUP-Ruimtelijk Uitvoeringsplan and the socio-economic permit) has already been granted for the scheme, with building permits expected to be delivered by mid 2014 and for works to commence on site late 2014. The scheme will be developed in two phases, with a planned opening for end of 2016.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ghent will be the only designer outlet in what is one of the most densely populated and affluent catchments in Europe, with over 15 million consumers living within a 90 minutes' drive of the centre and nearly two million within 30 minutes. This makes it the second biggest catchment for a McArthurGlen Designer Outlet after the Group's very successful Designer Outlet Roermond in the Netherlands, which opened in 2001.

The scheme is in the heart of 'The Loop' district in Ghent, with direct links to the neighbouring IKEA and the Flanders Expo Centre, and near the headquarters of KBC Bank and a 170-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel. The site is located off the city's ring road, at the intersection of Belgium's two main motorways, the E17 linking Antwerp to Lille/Paris, and the E40, connecting Brussels with Bruges, and the popular weekend and summer coastal destinations, including Knokke-le-Zoute and the ferry port town of Oostende.

Pieter Van Voorst Vader, Development Director, McArthurGlen, says: "The site in Ghent in 'The Loop' district presents an unmatched opportunity given the size of the catchment, the affluence of the area and the huge tourism potential. The location is unbeatable, with great access by car, by public transport, with a designated tram stop on the doorstep and good access by bicycle too. We are already seeing a very strong interest from our brand partners to open at the centre, as well as from well-known aspirational Belgian brands."

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Fashion retailer McArthurGlen hails new China visa rules

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Fashion retailer McArthurGlen hails new China visa rules

SOURCE: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

The UK government's announcement on 14 October that it will simplify and streamline the visa application process for Chinese visitors visiting Britain was welcomed by the UK Chinese Visa Alliance (UKCVA), an Alliance which represents British businesses, in particular in the retail and tourism sectors, and of which McArthurGlen is a founding member.
Anthony Rippingale, McArthurGlen's Head of Tourism, responded to the welcomed announcement: "With Chinese tourists at our six Designer Outlets across the UK spending eight times more than the average shopper, the new visa changes are exceedingly good news for us as well as for the UK retail and tourism sectors as a whole. We look forward to seeing many more Chinese tourists at our centres."

The announcement from the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer on a visit to China came the Monday after the close of Golden Week, one of the busiest times in the Chinese shopping calendar. The new process means that selected Chinese travel agents will be able to apply for UK visas by submitting just the EU's Schengen visa form - previously two, separate visas were needed.

There will also be a new 24-hour 'super-priority' visa service, available from next summer, and the government is also looking to expand the VIP mobile visa service, currently operating in Beijing and Shanghai, to the rest of the country.

"We expect all our UK centres to see a ripple effect as the country prepares itself to welcome more Chinese tourists, who are well-known for their love fashion, and their love of luxury and designer brands," says Anthony.

Fashion shopping accounts for nearly two thirds of retail spend by Chinese tourists visiting Europe, according to a survey carried out by McArthurGlen in May 2013, with around a third of Chinese tourists visiting Europe over the 12 months prior to the survey having visited a designer outlet village.

In 2012, spending by Chinese shoppers doubled at McArthurGlen's portfolio of Designer Outlets in eight countries across Europe, including the UK; with the figure for the UK alone only 12 per cent. "We believe we can now grow this figure considerably," continues Anthony, "given that we know that we have a very appealing offer for the Chinese tourist: some of the leading names in luxury and designer fashion, with year round savings of up to 60%, and in an exciting, premium shopping environment."

The UK China Visa Alliance, which also includes among its founding members New West End Company, London First, Global Blue and Walpole British Luxury, commented on Monday's announcement: "The UK China Visa Alliance has been greatly encouraged by the customer-focused approach taken by UK Visas & Immigration since it was spun out of the UK Border Agency earlier this year. In the long term we would like to see a single application process extended to independent travellers, which is a growing sector of the Chinese traveller market, but this is a very welcome first step."

As part of a global network, McArthurGlen has sales & marketing offices in Beijing and Shanghai, which work together with key travel trade partners, in particular local travel agents and tour operators, and national and regional tourism organisations, to ensure that the Group's centres are included in travel itineraries to Europe. At regional and centre levels, McArthurGlen's in-house tourism teams focus on local tourism marketing activities, attracting tourists already within the destination.
McArthurGlen tailors the services offered at its Designer Outlets to cater specifically for international shoppers, with: multilingual websites, including in Chinese, guides and maps, as well as information about local tourism; shuttle services from key city locations; and training for retail staff on how to meet and exceed the service expectations of shoppers from different cultural backgrounds.

McArthurGlen

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Karl Lagerfeld to open first two stores at McArthurGlen Designer Outets

August 14, 2013 (Austria) fibre2fashion.com

Karl Lagerfeld, the eponymous brand created by one of the most iconic fashion designers in the world, has chosen a McArthurGlen Designer Outlet to launch its first two outlet stores.

The first store is set to open on 29 August at Designer Outlet Salzburg, with a second one opening at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Neumünster, just north of Hamburg, where Karl Lagerfeld was born, on 12 September.

The Karl Lagerfeld brand, which first opened its doors in March this year on the famous Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, is the namesake fashion house of fashion luminary Karl Lagerfeld, also creative director of Chanel and Fendi.

The Karl Lagerfeld store at Designer Outlet Salzburg will feature both womenswear and menswear, as well as accessories, including watches, eyewear, footwear as well as an wide selection of bags and smaller leather goods. The collection is designed and styled by Lagerfeld himself.

The Karl Lagerfeld store will join other sought-after brands at Designer Outlet Salzburg such as Valentino, Hugo Boss, Jil Sander, Belstaff, Zegna, Blumarine, Escada and many more. The centre, which opened in 2009, is located ten minutes' drive from the city centre, just five minutes' walk from Salzburg international airport and on the A1 motorway linking Salzburg with Vienna.

HenrikMadsen, McArthurGlen's Managing Director, Northern Europe, says: "Karl Lagerfeld is one of the most iconic brand names in the fashion industry, and as such we are delighted that the brand has chosen McArthurGlen to open its first ever outlet store together with us.

"The brand will further enhance the brand mix at our centres in Salzburg and Neumünster, joining an already strong portfolio of fashion brands at these two centres. That new top names in fashion continue to enter the outlet market highlights that the outlet channel has become a distribution channel in its own right."

McArthurGlen picks denim theme for first global campaign

Image from The Art of Denim campaign

McArthurGlen, Europe's leading name in designer outlet retailing, has chosen denim, the much-loved fashion icon, as the theme for its first ever global campaign and category promotion, The Art of Denim.

The Euro 4-million campaign will run across Europe, as well as in Brazil, China, Russia and South Korea, countries that are home to an increasing number of global travellers shopping at McArthurGlen's 21 Designer Outlets in eight European countries.

Last year, McArthurGlen's centres sold more than five million items of denimwear - that's nearly 600 for every hour of the year.

The Art of Denim, which is being launched in partnership with some of the world's leading names in denimwear, will open on 31 August at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Luxembourg, and will run throughout the autumn season until closing on 5 November at McArthurGlen's Designer Outlet Parndorf near Vienna (see page 3 for full details of dates).

To bring alive the 'art of denim', every centre will be hosting special activities during the promotion, including specially created denim hubs, with tailoring and styling services, as well as further savings available on denim lines, in addition to the year-round savings of 30-70 per cent.

Julia Calabrese, McArthurGlen's CEO, says: "The Art of Denim is a tribute to an iconic fashion staple that rides through seasons, years and decades - a faithful friend and a key foundation of everyone's wardrobe.

"The campaign is also about making shopping fun and stimulating, creating a retail experience rooted in fashion history, and one that reflects that our centres offer the most sought-after names in the world of fashion. It also comes at a time when denim continues to be a huge trend for the Autumn/Winter collections."

As part of its global launch, the promotion will feature in a special 12-page supplement inviting readers to 'discover' The Art of Denim in the October issues of ELLE's international editions in Italy, the UK, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, as well as multi-page advertorials in the Brazilian, Chinese, Korean and Russian editions of ELLE.

The supplement will tell the story of denim, as well as featuring the Denimistas (special celebrity looks), a 'Look & Yearn' and 'Pick & Mix' of star buys, all set to go with the season's looks of luxe leather and animal prints, as well as ideas on finding the perfect denim match

At the same time, in partnership with ELLE, McArthurGlen will launch The Art of Denim Award to select the best denim stylist in all the participating countries.

Between 16 September and 10 November, participants will be able to upload their denim styling pictures to the Art of Denim/ELLE website, to be advertised in the October issues of the nine participating international editions of ELLE. The winner, chosen by a specially selected jury, will style a McArthurGlen fashion shoot to appear in the February issues.

The Art of Denim campaign will also feature in McArthurGlen's Autumn/Winter advertising campaign, supported by print, digital and outdoor advertising in media across Europe.


McArthurGlen - fibre2fashion.com

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Summer Music Festival at McArthur Glens 5 Italian designer Outlets attracts 500,000 Shoppers

August 16, 2013 (Italy) fiber2fashion.com

This year's Summer Music Festival at McArthurGlen's five Italian Designer Outlets attracted a staggering half a million fashion and music lovers, with 13 free evening concerts over the last two weeks of July.

The world-class line-up was headlined by internationally renowned Lisa Stansfield, famous for such popular '80s and '90s tracks as All Around the World and The Real Thing, and Caro Emerald, whose chart-topping single, Tangled Up, is one of this summer's music sensations.

Also taking to the stage were James McCartney, the singer songwriter son of Beatle Paul McCartney; established Italian stars such as Simona Molinari; US jazz legend Chick Corea; Chiara Galiazzo, the winner of the latest edition of X-Factor in Italy; and Tania Maria, the queen of Brazilian music.

McArthurGlen's Summer Music Festival took place at all five of McArthurGlen's Designer Outlets in Italy: La Reggia Designer Outlet near Naples, McArthurGlen Castel Romano near Rome, McArthurGlen Noventa di Piave near Venice, Barberino Designer Outlet near Florence, and Serravalle Designer Outlet near Milan, where the Summer Jazz Festival was this year in its 9th edition.

Eric Decouvelaere, Managing Director, McArthurGlen, says "This year's Summer Music Festival has been bigger and better than ever before. The link between fashion and music has always existed.

"For us, it's also about creating a fun and exciting atmosphere at our centres, and there is no better way to do this than our annual Summer Music Festival in Italy. What we wanted to do this year was to bring well-known, established artists with the best of the young emerging talent."

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Livingston Designer Outlet sold in £52m deal

By Scott McCullochAug 13 2013 Business Insider

LaSalle Investment Management has acquired the West Lothian shopping centre

McArthurglen Livingston Designer Outlet in West Lothian has been sold to LaSalle Investment Management in a deal valued at £52 million.

The 298,064 sq ft shopping centre, which was built by McArthurGlen in 2000, is anchored by Marks & Spencer, Vue Cinema and Gap.

Land Securities, Aviva Investors, McArthurGlen and the Richardson Property Group were the sellers.

Ashley Blake, director of retail portfolio management at Land Securities, said: “The sale of our ground lease interest in the DOC Livingston fits our strategy of recycling capital and reinvesting in assets where we have management control and the ability to pro-actively add value.”

Property agent DTZ advised Land Securities and Aviva Investors on the deal and Briant Champion Long advised LaSalle Investment Management

2/3rds of Chinese Tourist Shop for Their Fashion at a Designer Outlet Village

August 09, 2013 (Europe) http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Fashion accounts for around 60% of the retail spend of Chinese tourists visiting Europe, whether clothing, footwear, accessories or jewellery, with a wide-ranging mix of especially luxury brands being particularly important when choosing a shopping destination.

Around one in three Chinese tourists visiting Europe in the past 12 months, rising to two-thirds when considering just those who went shopping for fashion, visited a designer outlet village, revealing their willingness to travel to find the right mass of luxury brands at an accessible price. This was their second favourite shopping destination after the high street.

The results were revealed in a survey carried out by Europe's leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, McArthurGlen. The survey interviewed 1,000 Chinese men and women, split evenly between the sexes, from tier 1 and 2 cities in China who had either travelled to Europe in the past 12 months or were planning to travel to Europe in the next 12 months.

Sales to Chinese shoppers at McArthurGlen's Designer Outlets across eight countries in Europe rose by 99% last year, with favourite destinations being Designer Outlet Roermond in the Netherlands, near the German border, followed by Serravalle Designer Outlet, near Milan, and Designer Outlet Parndorf near Vienna.

Last year McArthurGlen opened sales & marketing representative offices in Beijing and Shanghai, part of McArthurGlen's global network which also includes Moscow, Seoul and São Paulo. The offices work closely with local tourist companies, as well as national and regional European tourist boards and organisations to ensure that a visit to a McArthurGlen Designer Outlet is on the itinerary of every savvy fashion lover before they leave home for Europe.

Anthony Rippingale, McArthurGlen's Head of Tourism, says: "The Chinese traveller loves to go shopping for luxury when they come to Europe, and for them, as the study reveals, their number one priority is to find a good selection of top luxury brands clustered together, with customer service and accessibility also being key factors. To provide our Chinese shoppers with a shopping experience to meet and to exceed their expectations, it is very important to understand what they are looking for in terms of the proposition of our centres as well as the experience."

The survey also reveals:

-Shopping for fashion is the most popular holiday activity for the Chinese tourist in Europe after sightseeing, and visiting museums and art galleries.

-While a third (32%) of those who had been to Europe in the last 12 months went shopping in a designer outlet, this rose to two thirds (64%) for those who went shopping for fashion.

-Their most popular destination, for those who had already visited Europe and those planning a trip, was France, followed by Italy and the UK in joint second place, and then Germany.

- They tend more towards buying luxury brands while on holiday rather than when they go fashion shopping at home.

- A significant number of respondents used tour operators for at least part of their trip, although about a third arranged their own flights and accommodation separately.

- The brand range, in terms of numbers and the mix, is the most important factor together with customer service and accessibility, as well as the shopping atmosphere, when Chinese tourists go shopping, with the savings available on luxury and premium brands being important but not among the most important factor when shopping.


McArthurGlen

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McArthurGlen's Ashford Designer Outlet could double in size

by James Scott - KentOnline - Friday, August 02 2013

Ambitious plans have been revealed for the Ashford Designer Outlet to double in size, it has emerged.

The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet at Kimberley Way, which has more than 80 stores, is understood to be looking at a major expansion to create a stronger link with Ashford International and the town centre.

Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con) mentioned the proposals in his speech to the full council, after speaking of the town’s economic growth and the arrival of a John Lewis store, currently under construction.

“The new John Lewis ‘at home’ store will complement our existing retail offer, giving our residents more choice to spend within the borough, and it will attract visitors,” he said.

“The announcement of this significant number of new jobs emphasises not only where Ashford is going but the opportunities that are on the doorsteps of local people.

“Add to this the ambitious plans of Designer Outlet to double in size, which reinforces the fact that Ashford is a place with ambition, vision and where businesses are going to thrive, especially as we move out of these trying times.”

The Designer Outlet has already undergone something of a transformation over the past 18 months, with the additions of trendy Japanese restaurant Wagamama at the end of 2012 followed by upmarket brands including French Connection, Abercrombie & Fitch, Swarovski jewellery, GEOX Italian footwear and Radley bags.

It is believed the new expansion could include even more upmarket shops including international traders to attract customers from London and the continent, and could lead to a greater need for visitor accommodation in the area.

Cllr Clarkson said: “They’re looking to expand to almost double its size and hopefully there will be over seven million visitors each year.
“They will be coming from abroad and from London and there will be good use of the international train service. I’m on a mission to bring a good many things to the town. Ashford won’t be recognisable in two or three years because it will be so busy and active.”
The portfolio holder for the town centre and urban economy Cllr Graham Galpin (Con) said: “I’m confident that what they’re doing would not steal any trade from the town centre.

“What they’re looking at is in a different league to anything we’ve seen in the South East.”

“There are certainly plans but they are complementary rather than competition and it will fit neatly into the town centre of Ashford.”

He added: “It’s very much a positive story. It’s going to do us the world of good and it’s going to make Ashford quite a special place.”

McArthurGlen spokesman Roxanne Postle said: “We are currently in the early stages of planning for the extension of our Ashford Designer Outlet. We will be able to release more details as plans develop.”

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Simon Property Group And McArthurGlen Group Form Joint Venture For European Designer Outlets

INDIANAPOLIS and LONDON, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) and McArthurGlen Group announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a joint venture through which SPG will invest in McArthurGlen, the leader in upscale, European designer outlets.

Under the terms of the agreement, which is subject to customary closing conditions, SPG will acquire an ownership interest in six properties and will also become a partner in McArthurGlen's property management and development company.  Simon Property Group's ownership interest involves an initial equity investment of approximately €435 million, and will include assets in Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Canada.

David Simon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simon Property Group, said: "We are excited by the opportunity to partner with McArthurGlen, which has one of the best-performing portfolios of high-quality retail real estate assets in Europe and a strong team of professionals.  This venture supports and extends our international growth strategy, and we look forward to collaborating on ways to further enhance McArthurGlen's platform for retailers and customers."

J.W. "Joey" Kaempfer, Chairman and founder of McArthurGlen Group, said: "We welcome the opportunity to join with Simon Property Group.  As the largest operator of malls and premium outlets in the United States and Asia, SPG brings unparalleled resources, expertise, and relationships that will help us offer our sought-after European and international luxury and premium brands in an even more exciting designer outlet shopping experience."

About McArthurGlen Group
McArthurGlen Group is Europe's leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets. The Group, which currently has 21 Designer Outlets in eight countries, introduced the concept of designer outlet retailing to Europe in 1995. Consumers visiting McArthurGlen's Designer Outlets are attracted by year-round savings of 30-70 per cent on the most sought-after brands in luxury, designer and high-street fashion. McArthurGlen's portfolio currently offers more than 600,000 sq m of retail space, with nearly 150,000 sq m of new space under way or in planning, including the Group's 22nd Designer Outlet, due to open in Vancouver in late 2014 as the first McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in North America. For more information, visit www.mcarthurglengroup.com.

About Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a leader in the global retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in 326 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 241 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc.

Les Morris, +1.317.263.7711, lmorris@simon.com (Media), or Shelly Doran, +1.317.685.7330 sdoran@simon.com (Investors), or Georgina Power +44(0)20 7535 2483, georgina.power@mcarthurglen.com (Media)

Abercrombie & Fitch to open first European outlet

May 03, 2013 (Europe) www.fibre2fashion.com McArthurGlen’s Ashford Designer Outlet will welcome American fashion and lifestyle giant Abercrombie & Fitch on 9 May, as they make their designer outlet debut in the European market. Reflecting Abercrombie & Fitch’s all - American, Ivy League style, the new store will also carry Abercrombie Kids. With ranges for men, women and children, including casualwear, denim and beach essentials, the brand is universally loved by style-conscious shoppers seeking the signature look. The new Abercrombie & Fitch store will open its doors on 9 May and will sit alongside Ashford’s extensive range of sought-after fashion and lifestyle brands, including Calvin Klein, Superdry, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Ted Baker, Nike, Adidas and Guess. Julia Calabrese, CEO of McArthurGlen Group, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Abercrombie & Fitch to McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, in what is their first venture in the European designer outlet market. We are sure that Abercrombie & Fitch will be a huge hit with our fashion-loving shoppers, seeking the signature Abercrombie & Fitch style. This is a fantastic addition to the McArthurGlen portfolio, and we look forward to developing this partnership.” McArthurGlen’s Ashford Designer Outlet is a five-minute walk from Ashford International train station, offering a high-speed train link from London, taking just 37 minutes, as well as connections to France and Germany, making it easily accessible for both domestic and international shoppers. The centre, which is one of seven McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in the UK, offers 80 designer and fashion brands with year-round savings of up to 60% and is a must-visit shopping destination for shoppers looking to keep up with the latest fashion trends. New openings in 2012 included Reiss, Crabtree & Evelyn, Links of London and Molton Brown. McArthurGlen Group McArthurGlen Group is Europe’s leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets. The Group, which currently has 21 McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in eight countries, introduced the concept of designer outlet retailing to Europe in 1995. Consumers visiting McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlets are attracted by year-round savings of 30-70 per cent on the most sought-after brands in luxury, designer and high-street fashion.

McArthurGlen

York Designer Outlet helps commuters cycle to work

2:55pm 17th April 2013 - minsterfm.com

City of York Council is joining forces with local businesses to launch the first ever Park & Pedal initiative in the UK.

In partnership with McArthurGlen York Designer Outlet, TSYS (Total System Services Inc) and First Bus Park & Ride, the initiative aims to encourage commuters to use the car park at the McArthur Glen York Designer Outlet for free and cycle into York’s city centre.

Park & Pedal is funded through the council’s four-year i-Travel initiative, made possible by £4.6 million of government funding which the council successfully bid for in 2011. The initiative encourages commuters to use dedicated cycle routes from the Designer outlet in to York via Fulford Road and linking up with the York cycle network to access all areas of the city.

Hundreds of existing under locker cycle stands are available at the site as well as 10 new secure cycle lockers, which have recently been installed as part of the roll-out of the new scheme.

Commuters can leave their bikes under lock and key and out of sight overnight in the secure lockers, which have 24-hr security patrols and are covered by CCTV. Lockers can be rented via City of York Council (on a first come first served basis) by contacting 01904 551550 and asking for the i-Travel team.

To encourage people to take part in the initiative the York Designer Outlet are offering a 10 per cent discount in many of their shops for those who register on the scheme. To register simply go to www.itravelyork.info and follow the link for Park & Pedal.

Local cycle shops, Fulford Cycles and Street Cycles are also supporting the event with displays on each day of the week commencing the 15 April. Staff will be available to give advice on cycle maintenance and choice of machine. City of York Council cycle trainers will be on hand to advise on cycle training and will be able to escort on the cycle route from the Designer Outlet in York.

Cllr Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: “The Park & Pedal initiative is a first for the UK and once again demonstrates that York is leading the way to support more sustainable travel in the city.”

Mike Thomas, Centre Manager at McArthurGlen York Designer Outlets, says, “We’re happy to support the Council’s new Park & Pedal initiative which will help to reduce congestion and encourage local shoppers to start using more sustainable methods of transport. We’re helping to encourage as many shoppers as possible to sign up, by offering an extra 10% off across many of our brands, including Ted Baker, Hugo Boss, Reiss and LK Bennett.”

The initiative will be launched on Wednesday 17 April at the York Designer Outlet Park & Ride site. To find out more details visit http://www.itravelyork.info/ and follow @iTravelYork.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet size grows to 30,000 sqm

April 18, 2013 (Italy) - www.fibre2fashion.com

The sought-after brands in this latest phase join the likes of Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Zegna, A Factory Store (Alberta Ferretti, Moschino), Etro, Pal Zileri, Roberto Cavalli, La Perla, Fratelli Rossetti, Hugo Boss, Baldinini, Belstaff, Diesel, Bruno Magli, La Martina, Liu.Jo, Patrizia Pepe, Pinko, Jeckerson and many more.

This third, new phase, which includes an additional Luxury Piazza, and which opened on 11 April, increases the retail offer at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Castel Romano by around a third. This brings the total retail space to 30,000 sq m, to establish the centre as one of the largest designer outlets in Italy.

Tremendous attention has been paid to the architectural detail of the 7,500 sq m new phase, which officially opened on 11 April, nearly ten years after the centre first opened in October 2003 as McArthurGlen's second Designer Outlet in Italy, after Serravalle Designer Outlet near Milan. With the 250 additional new jobs, this brings the total number of people employed at the centre to around 1,100.

Roberto Meneghesso, McArthurGlen's Country Manager for Italy, says: "We are delighted with how the new brands have been received over the opening week. The new, expanded centre has been a huge success among discerning fashion lovers from Rome and the region of Lazio, as well as the many global shoppers who visit the centre."

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Castel Romano, just 15 minutes from the centre of Rome, has become an increasingly popular shopping destination for the brand-conscious global shopper. 

Tax-free sales soared by more than 40 per cent in 2012 [source: Global Blue], with footfall and spend particularly high among the Russian and Chinese shoppers.

Over the month of April, McArthurGlen has linked up with Alitalia to offer passengers a special McArthurGlen Fashion Passport, with additional savings, at McArthurGlen Castel Romano. The offer will then be extended in May and June to be valid at all five McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Italy.

Roberto adds: "Tourists, especially those from the world's emerging markets, love to shop, and at McArthurGlen Castel Romano they can find many of Italy's leading luxury and premium brands. At the same time, the centre offers a complete day-out experience, with cafes, restaurants and special multilingual services for tourists."

McArthurGlen creates new deputy chairman role

Wednesday, 10 April 2013  www.fashionunited.co.uk

Designer discount outlet retailer McArthurGlen Group has appointed Simon Johnston as deputy chairman, in what is a newly created executive position.

Joining from commercial law firm Nabarro, Johnston has had a long relationship with McArthurGlen, in the mid-1990s he was the company’s key legal advisor when the outlet was first set up in Europe, prior to the opening of its first site at Cheshire Oaks, near Chester.

J W Kaempfer, Jr. chairman, McArthurGlen Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Simon to McArthurGlen at a time when the company is undergoing a period of unprecedented expansion.

“Simon’s professional experience and wisdom, and his long relationship with our company, will be pivotal in leading McArthurGlen into a new period of growth; this is in terms of not only the amount of retail space that we operate, and the number of centres, but also the McArthurGlen brand itself and the quality of the shopping experience that we offer our nearly 100 million customers annually.”

Johnston added: “This is a very exciting time for me to be joining McArthurGlen. It is a dynamic business, with a great track record and exceptional group of people. I am delighted to be part of this next phase of its development as it builds on its market-leading position in Europe and looks to explore new opportunities beyond its traditional market.”

The Group currently has 21 McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in eight countries across Europe and its 22nd outlet is due to open in late 2014 in Vancouver, Canada, the first outside Europe.

Henderson GI launches third phase at McArthurGlen Castel Romano Designer Outlet

By: Chiara Albanese 11 Apr 2013 InvestmentEurope.net

Henderson Global Investors has opened the third phase at McArthurGlen Castel Romano Designer Outlet near Rome.

The expansion includes an additional 43 stores, with some of the most sought-after names in fashion and will increase the retail offer by almost a third.

The centre, owned by Henderson Global Investors, on behalf of its European Outlet Mall Fund, is managed and developed by McArthurGlen. It is one of five McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Italy.

The centre originally opened nearly ten years ago, in October 2003. It was purchased by Henderson's European Outlet Mall Fund in December 2005 and has since been extended twice. This latest, 7,500 sq m expansion represents the third phase of the centre, and makes it one of the largest designer outlets in Italy with a total of 160 stores and 30,000 sq m of retail space.

Andrew Rich, director of outlet malls at property at Henderson Global Investors said: "Designer outlets have been one of the strongest performing retail sectors across Europe over the past decade. We have seen particularly high footfall across our Italian portfolio and are delighted by the success of the first two phases of McArthurGlen Castel Romano Designer Outlet. The first class tenant line-up, coupled with the resilient nature of the outlet sector and McArthurGlen's expert management, continue to prove a winning combination for our investors. We are confident the third phase will drive investment performance even higher."