Pbb Deutsche Pfand-briefbank provided an investment facility of €50m to VIA Outlets for the refinancing of “Fashion Arena Prague Outlet”. VIA Outlets is a joint venture focusing on outlet centers across Europe, created by APG, Hammerson Plc and principals from Meyer Bergman and Value Retail. This is pbb’s second transaction with the venture after a CHF 50m acquisition financing for Landquart Fashion Outlet (Switzerland). pbb acted as arranger and sole lender under both facilities.
Fashion Arena Prague is one of only two outlet centers in the Czech Republic completed in 2007 and extended in 2010. It is prominently located 11km east of the city center and can be conveniently reached by way of private or public trans-portation. The center offers a gross lettable area of over 25,000 m² in retail space and was substantially renovated in 2016 where customers now can enjoy a unique shopping experience with newly opened international fashion brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Armani, Nike as well as all new dining options. Prague’s status as an international tourist destination is reflected in the profile of visitors to Fashion Arena Prague Outlet, the top three non-EU nationalities of whom are Russian, Is-raeli and Chinese, with total tax refunded (non-EU) sales almost doubling in the first half of 2017.
Landquart Fashion Outlet is a premium retail destination located in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland’s number one region for leisure. Designed and recently renovated to emulate the Swiss chalet villages of the region, Landquart Fashion Outlet is home to more than 160 international fashion and lifestyle brands, such as Navyboot, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani, Hugo Boss and MaxMara, on 22,000 m² of GLA. Landquart is a gateway to the Swiss resorts of Arosa, Bad Ragaz, Davos, Klosters, Lenzerheide, Laax and St. Moritz, as reflected in the profiles of Landquart Fashion Outlet’s guests, which include visitors from China, Russia and Qatar.
Charles Balch, Head of International Clients, UK & CEE at pbb Deutsche Pfand-briefbank said: "Both transactions underline our strong interest in high quality shopping assets throughout the CEE markets and Switzerland.”
