A "Northern Light" expands the MEC portfolio to 40 centers

The MEC METRO-ECE Centermanagement GmbH & Co. KG remains on a growth path. The Düsseldorf company is from now on responsible for the center, property and leasing management of the shopping center "Nordlicht" (Northern Light) in Kiel. The AErium Finance Ltd. has entrusted MEC with the approx. 44,000 m² big shopping center. Since November, MEC has also taken over the management of the shopping centers "Nordpark Dreieich" from Henderson Global Investors and the "Indupark Center Dortmund" from the Württembergische Lebensversicherung. With these three new locations, the portfolio of MEC has been expanded to 40 centers across Germany.

The "Nordlicht" was opened in November 2012 and is situated in a top location on the Holstenstraße in Kiel. The center was newly built in about 15 months on the premises of the former Karstadt building. You can find 13 shops, such as the tenants Saturn, C&A, Karstadt Sport, Reno, dm-drogeriemarkt and Rewe, on a rental space of roughly 20,000 m², over four levels. There are almost 700 parking spaces available for visitors. "A lot of people in Kiel are still unaware of the "Nordlicht" shopping center. We are pleased that AErium has entrusted us with establishing this location", said the COO of MEC, Christian Schröder.

The "Dreieich Nordpark" in Dreieich near Frankfurt is part of the Henderson European Retail Property Fund (HERALD) and was revitalised in 2011. The 23,500 m² big retail park close to Frankfurt am Main is the third project after the "Durlach Center" in Karlsruhe and the "Shopping Cité" in Baden-Baden, which the UK-based company has commissioned to MEC.

After two years of reconstruction work and an investment of 32 million euros the retail park "Indupark Center Dortmund" opened at the beginning of September 2013. The 31,000 m² retail property was revitalised and extended by METRO PROPERTIES without disrupting the center's operation. This is the first property the Württembergische Lebensversicherung has entrusted to MEC METRO-ECE Centermanagement.

MEC celebrates its 2nd birthday
The MEC celebrated its second anniversary in November. "We are very pleased that, thanks to our services, we were able to convince very different clients, ranging from the international fund management company to the family office, over such a short period", says Christian Schröder. The CFO of MEC, Jann Robert, adds: "The many conversations have shown us that the demand for professionally led retail parks is high".