Mercialys and Initiative France Join Forces to Support the Regeneration of Local Retail

Regulatory News:

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Mercialys (Paris:MERY), one of France’s leading real estate companies, and Initiative France, the leading non-profit network for entrepreneurial financing and support, are joining forces to support the regeneration of the regions and their retail stores.

A national partnership agreement was signed on March 16, 2021 by Vincent Ravat, Mercialys’ Chief Executive Officer, and Guillaume Pepy, President of the Initiative France network. It sets out the shared commitment by both of these organizations to support, through close synergies with local and regional authorities, economic development in the regions by making it easier to start up businesses and particularly retail stores.

Mercialys will be making a commitment alongside local Initiative France associations close to its 51 shopping centers in mainland France and overseas territories.

This collaboration will enable people setting up and buying out stores, or with plans to do so, to:

• benefit from comprehensive support and advice from experienced professionals;
• access financing with interest-free “loans on trust”, without any personal guarantee, granted by their local Initiative association;
• develop at the heart of their regional economic ecosystem;
• meet with franchise networks;
• access retail premises under preferential conditions.

The aim is to encourage new dynamics in the retail world by promoting proximity, diversity and authenticity.

“This partnership with Initiative France builds on what we are and what we do: a real estate company established in the regions and taking action for their development. Our business is retail and we believe, more than ever during these times of partial desocialization, in the societal stakes involved with consolidating the French ecosystem of stores, very small businesses and SMEs that make up our cities.”
Vincent Ravat, Mercialys’ Chief Executive Officer

“Supporting entrepreneurship and harnessing retail trends to help drive the regeneration of city centers are two essential features of our actions benefiting the regions. Today, the need for reassurance and links with consumers is at its highest: they are in favor of buying local, organic produce, diversity and authenticity. The health crisis and the lockdowns have accelerated these trends. Mercialys’ engagement alongside our network will help regenerate interest in retail throughout France, while providing more effective support for all of these dedicated creators who would like to launch their project in this sector.”