Fintech PR
CLAIRE’S ANNOUNCES CONTINUING EXPANSION IN EUROPEAN MARKET
With new store openings in Italy and a presence in more than 2,100 partner retailers, the global fashion brand is bringing products for self-expression to new customers across Europe
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today Claire’s Holdings LLC announces continued expansion within the European retail market, bringing the fashion accessories powerhouse to even more consumers across the globe. The brand that celebrates personal style and self-expression is now available in more than 900 owned stores and 2,100 partner retailer locations across Europe through its consumer products business with plans for continued growth throughout 2023.
“Our products excite and spark magic in our customers’ lives daily, and we are delighted to bring even more people the amazing trends, merchandise and piercing experience our brand offers. The strategic combination of owned stores and consumer product partnerships allows us to celebrate and deliver our brand to consumers in even more locations where they shop,” said Ryan Vero, Chief Executive Officer of Claire’s.
The brand’s European expansion has recently been driven by the increase in stores in Italy. Claire’s opened its first Italian store in November 2012 in Milan and today has more than 40 stores open within the market. In 2023, the brand plans to open 50 additional stores within the EU, with 10 of these locations within Italy. These include stores in Venice, Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples, with the most recent store openings in early May and June in Rome, including on one of Rome’s most premier shopping streets, Via Del Corso.
Not only does Claire’s plan to increase its store presence by the end of the year, but its thriving consumer products model is also poised to continue excelling. Reaching an even broader audience, the brand’s presence will increase from 2,100 partner retail stores to over 3,000 locations. Claire’s consumer products program includes retailers across Europe, including Galaries Lafeyette, as well as toy retailers Smyths, King Jouet, Maxi Kids and Toys “R” Us. The brand’s presence has also grown throughout the United Kingdom in household retailers including Asda, Matalan, New Look and Coop, to name a few. The consumer products model was first introduced in Italy in November 2014, and the brand now has more than 350 points of presence with Blu Kids, Bimbo and UPIM.
“We want to continue to inspire our customers through trendsetting products, innovative partnerships and creative content platforms. We see a strong desire for an enriched shopping experience and increased connections to our brand from our European consumers, so it was a natural next step for us to expand our presence,” said Richard Flint, President of Europe.
This exciting expansion comes just a few months after Claire’s flagship Paris store launched in early March, designed in collaboration with Claire’s Creative Director in Residence Nicola Formichetti. The store has helped to cement the brand’s foothold in fashion and culture, creating a space for consumers to experience the future of the brand, while ushering in a new era of retail in Europe’s fashion capital.
As a global brand, Claire’s uses its platform to inspire young people to explore their own unique personal style through fashion and accessories for self-expression and the brand’s industry-leading ear piercing, which was reimagined with a new visual identity earlier this month. While Claire’s caters to all ages, the brand continues to elevate its cultural and consumer connection with Gen Zalpha through engaging content, experiences and products. To shop online or find a store near you, visit claires.com.
About Claire’s Holdings LLC
Claire’s Holdings LLC is a fully integrated, global fashion brand powerhouse committed to inspiring self-expression through the creation and delivery of exclusive, well-curated products and experiences. For over 50 years, Claire’s has been a destination for the curious, creative and influential and an industry-leader in ear piercing services, delivering a trendsetting assortment of fashion products and accessories that help young people worldwide style and define themselves. Through its global brands, Claire’s® and Icing®, the company delivers an immersive, omnichannel shopping experience with owned and concession stores throughout North America and Europe as well as franchise stores in the Middle East and South Africa. More information regarding Claire’s is available at corporate.claires.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Katie Settle, Claire’s
[email protected]
Sarah Gordon, SHADOW
[email protected]
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/claires-announces-continuing-expansion-in-european-market-301878716.html
Fintech PR
Statement From Universal Music Group N.V.
HILVERSUM, Netherlands, Nov. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — “We have taken note of Bill Ackman’s post in relation to Pershing Square and UMG on X yesterday. Neither UMG nor any of its other board members were involved in the formulation of the views in that post. As disclosed in UMG’s listing prospectus, Pershing has the right to request a listing in the US subject to a Pershing entity selling at least $500 million in UMG shares as part of the listing. Pershing does not have any right to require UMG to become a US domiciled company or delist from Euronext Amsterdam. While the company will endeavor in good faith to comply with its contractual obligations with respect to undertaking the process of a US listing at the request of Pershing, any actions or decisions beyond those necessary to comply (including any decisions to change the domicile of the company) will be based on an analysis taking into account what is value maximizing and in the best interests of all the shareholders of the company.”
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/statement-from-universal-music-group-nv-302300565.html
Fintech PR
Manulife Investment Management aligns capabilities across regions under the newly created role of Global Emerging Market Equities CIO
LONDON, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Manulife Investment Management today announced enhancement to its equity organization in leveraging expertise across its Asia and Emerging Markets teams to improve investment experience for its clients. Charlie Dutton, an equity investment leader with substantial experience in Asia, is named to the newly created role of Chief Investment Officer, Global Emerging Market Equities. In this new role, Charlie will oversee and align our Asia ex-Japan and emerging market equity capabilities, ensuring we leverage local resources and insights across the organization.
Manulife Investment Management has operated in emerging markets for more than a century. Today, it has one of the largest equity teams based in Asia with over 90 investment professionals located across 10 markets in the region. By combining local insight with deep investment expertise, Manulife Investment Management will be able to leverage deeper information advantage over other asset managers based outside of Asia. The combined Emerging Market Equities organization manages over US$25 billion in AUM across Asia and emerging markets equity strategies.
“Collaboration and engagement have always been at the heart of our investment culture, and our emerging markets and Asia equity teams have participated in a variety of forums to exchange ideas and insights. The closer alignment of the Asia equity team with the global Emerging Markets equity organization formalizes the longstanding sharing of ideas and insights between our Asia and our emerging markets equity teams. We believe this alignment will translate into improved research sharing and investment decision making, and will enhance our ability to create custom-tailored solutions to meet client needs,” said Colin Purdie, Global Chief Investment Officer, Public Markets, Manulife Investment Management.
Charlie will be spending a considerable amount of time in Asia with the extensive investment teams across the region in the coming months. He will continue to be based in London, affording him the opportunity to work and communicate with the investment teams in London and across Asia effectively, ensuring connections between each.
Charlie brings more than 27 years of investment experience to this role, including over 25 years of Asia equity investment experience with seven years in Hong Kong as well as South Africa and London. Prior to joining Manulife Investment Management’s Emerging Markets Equity team earlier this year, Charlie was a fund manager at Ninety One as part of the Global Quality Capability team that managed assets across five strategies.
Before Ninety One, Charlie was a founding partner at Coupland Cardiff, an Asian investment firm, where he spent 10 years managing Asian focused equity funds. Prior to that, he was based in Hong Kong and served as director of Asia-Pacific research at JPMorgan and as a Hong Kong/China consumer analyst at JF Securities. Charlie started his career at HSBC based in Hong Kong as a HK/China Analyst.
“We are confident Charlie’s deep investment experience, including over 25 years investing in Asia equity, makes him ideally suited to take on the role of CIO, Emerging Markets Equities. We look forward to his leadership, combined with the support of our Asia investment teams, in building upon our strong foundation in the region, and leading our Asia business into the future,” said Steve Medina, Chief Investment Officer, Global Equities, Manulife Investment Management.
At the same time, Manulife Investment Management announced that Kathryn Langridge, Senior Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Head of Emerging Markets Equity team, has shared her intention to retire effective October 31, 2025, after an impressive investment career spanning over 40 years. Meanwhile, Ronald Chan, CIO, Asia ex-Japan Equity, is departing Manulife Investment Management.
“The alignment of the Asia and the Emerging Markets equity teams is a testament to the critical role Asia plays in today’s equity markets, and further draws attention to the deep pool of talent in Manulife’s investment organization,” said Charlie Dutton, Chief Investment Officer, Global Emerging Market Equities. “By globalizing and strengthening this capability, Manulife Investment Management is better positioned to deliver for its clients while expanding the pipeline of research and insight the Emerging Markets equity team can deliver for other capabilities at the firm on a global basis.”
About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management
As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.
Media contacts: Carl Wong, Manulife Investment Management Asia, +852 2510 3180, [email protected]; Elizabeth Bartlett, Head of Wealth & Asset Management Public Relations, North America & Europe, Manulife Investment Management, +1 857 210 2286, [email protected]
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/manulife-investment-management-aligns-capabilities-across-regions-under-the-newly-created-role-of-global-emerging-market-equities-cio-302300146.html
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Palm Jebel Ali Project Surges Ahead in 2024: Milestones Achieved in Record Time for Dubai’s Most Anticipated Development
DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holding’s pioneering real estate arm Dubai Holding Real Estate, has marked significant progress in the development of Palm Jebel Ali in 2024, with the project progressing at pace to meet 2025 milestones.
The development masterplan was approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in May 2023, who said at the time; “Palm Jebel Ali will further strengthen our urban infrastructure and consolidate the city’s emergence as one of the world’s leading metropolises. This new groundbreaking project reflects our strategic development plan centred on raising the quality of life and happiness of residents.”
The Palm Jebel Ali area received further recognition this year when His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, approved the master plan for the 6.6 kilometre development of Jebel Ali Beach. The project includes a five-kilometre sandy beach, to be developed by Nakheel, as well as a 1.6-kilometre-long Mangrove Beach, to be developed by Dubai Municipality.
Khalid Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Real Estate, said; “At Nakheel we believe in developing dreams, inspired by the vision of our leaders and the hopes of our people. The rapid progress we are currently witnessing on ground at Palm Jebel Ali is testimony to the grand success of our key partnerships and our joint endeavours to ensure we deliver on our commitments.”
Several key contracts for the project were awarded throughout 2024, including the construction of a new 6-kilometre road, the contracts for the island’s marine works, dredging, land reclamation, beach profiling and sand placement, directly supporting the construction of villas. The first eight fronds of the project are expected to be site-ready for villa infrastructure and civil works by the first quarter of 2025.
Crucially, the contract for the construction of exclusive ultra-luxury villas on the first six fronds of the project has also been awarded and are scheduled for completion by late 2026. Nakheel recently announced their partnership with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority for the development of two substations on Palm Jebel Ali.
Video: Palm Jebel Ali
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/palm-jebel-ali-project-surges-ahead-in-2024-milestones-achieved-in-record-time-for-dubais-most-anticipated-development-302300134.html
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