Eurobrief

Crédit Agricole and La Française buy stake in five French malls from URW
Investors Crédit Agricole and La Francaise will purchase a 54.2 per cent stake in a portfolio of five French shopping centres from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The deal values the portfolio at €2 billion. IPE Real Assets

Via Outlets reports annual growth
Brand sales (or store sales) for Via Outlets, which operates 11 centres across nine European countries, increased by 8.4 per cent in 2019, resulting in €1.16 billion in sales for the year. Footfall grew by 6.1 per cent, to 32.2 million guests. ICSC Exchange

Douglas owner could sell chain: Report
CVC Capital Partners is considering selling perfume-and-cosmetics chain Douglas or listing the company. The retailer operates some 2,400 brick-and-mortar stores across 26 European countries. Reuters

Intu creates new unit to boost footfall
U.K. landlord Intu consolidated its asset management, operations, marketing and commercialization teams under one unit called the custom performance directorate. Former development director Martin Breeden will lead the new directorate, whose primary charge will be boosting footfall and dwell time at the company’s retail centres. Retail Gazette

Watchmaker opens shop in London
Luxury watch retailer Breitling has opened its largest European store, on London’s Regent Street. The unit will sit at the base of the company’s new U.K. headquarters. WatchPro

Busser returns to McArthurGlen
McArthurGlen Designer Outlets has named Victor Busser group managing director of leasing. Busser, formerly leasing director for McArthurGlen from 2008 to 2011, was most recently general manager of Arcus Real Estate. ICSC Exchange

Mitiska REIM sells German retail park to ZREV
Mitiska REIM sold the 8,100-square-metre Retail Park Braunschweig (Germany) to Zamberk Real Estate Ventures for an undisclosed price. Anchor tenants include Fressnapf, Multipolster and Polo. Property Magazine EU

Neinver grows sales by 7 per cent
Sales at Neinver’s 16 European outlet centres increased by 7 per cent last year to nearly €1.05 billion. The outlet investor and developer’s centres welcomed some 45 million visitors, up by 3 per cent. ICSC Exchange

London’s Kentish Town is home to new dining concept
Urban Leisure will open its new bar-and-restaurant concept, Never for Ever, in a 6,500-square-foot space in Kentish Town, North London. Retail Destination

Boom: Battle Bar to join Norwich centre
A new competitive socializing concept called Boom: Battle Bar will open at Castle Quarter, in Norwich, England, in April. The 11,500-square-foot unit will offer nine holes of miniature golf, plus boules, darts, ping-pong, virtual reality, shooting, shuffleboard, pool and ax-throwing, all under one roof. Retail Destination