Simon Ivanhoe holds shares in seven shopping centres in Franceand Poland. Unibail-Rodamco has also entered a JV agreement forSimon and Ivanhoe Cambridge to jointly retain 50% interests in fiveFrench retail development projects, which it will now develop. CEOGuillaume Poitrinal told The Figaro newspaper the transaction totalis €715 million, and the firm said it will fund the acquisitionfrom existing bank facilities. "This transaction represents aunique opportunity to reinforce our presence in the large shoppingcentre segment, in French and Polish capital cities," he added in astatement.

The largest asset in the portfolio is Arkadia which,Unibail-Rodamco said, compliments its portfolio in Warsaw, Poland.Arkadia opened in October 2004 and with a total retail area of103,128 sq.m. is among the largest malls in central Europe.Development projects include Les Portes de Gascogne in Toulouse,Les Terrasses de Poncy, Poissy, Le Cannet, Mandelieu-La Napoule,and Saint Geours de Maremne.

Separately Unibail-Rodamco is joining the EURO STOXX 50 index ofleading Eurozone shares – replacing German carmaker Volkswagen,which is being removed from the index under STOXX Ltd's fast exitrule. The selection partly reflects market capitalisation rankings.Unibail-Rodamco, with a portfolio of malls, office andconvention-exhibition venues was valued at €22.8 billion lastJune.