25 October 2015
- Parisian Contemporary Fashion women's and men brand taps Marka as exclusive franchise operator for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain

- First Carven store scheduled to open at City Walk (Phase II) in Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Marka PJSC (DFM: MARKA) today announced that it has signed an exclusive franchise partnership with Carven and plans to open seven stores in the GCC by 2018.

The agreement with the prestigious Paris-based fashion brand, popular for its striking women and men's Ready-to-Wear collections, gives Marka operating rights for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. Marka will open the first Carven mono-brand store in Dubai at the selective contemporary fashion shopping destination, City Walk phase II.

Nick Peel, CEO of Marka said, "Carven is a dynamic brand with a cult following and this partnership signals an exciting addition to Marka's fashion portfolio. It is ideally suited for the GCC consumer seeking a retail experience that is on par with the fashion capitals of the world, and we look forward to launching the brand in the UAE and wider region."

Henri Sebaoun, CEO of Carven stated, "We are very pleased to appoint Marka and to bring Carven first to the UAE and then to the wider region, beginning with the Fall/Winter 2015 season for all men and women's lines."

Founded in 1945, Carven is one of the great fashion names of the 20th century. Since 2009 the unique legacy of Carven has been reimagined with a contemporary identity at once through innovative collections.

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About Marka PJSC
Marka PJSC (DFM: MARKA) is the first public joint stock company focused on the growing retail sector in the UAE. Incorporated with a capital of AED 500 million and headquartered in Dubai, Marka is a premier retail operator targeting the mid-to-high-range and luxury segments. Since incorporation in 2014, Marka has partnered with leading global brands in the retail and hospitality sectors, pursuing a growth strategy focused on acquisitions, franchise agreements and unique retail concepts.

Marka is committed to offering value to its customers through high quality products and services at optimum cost, simultaneously generating value for its shareholders and giving back to the communities in which it operates.

For further information about Marka and to learn more about its brands, visit www.markaholding.com.

© Press Release 2015