Infiniti to offer pair of designer Q50 sedans on Gilt.com

Gilt.com to Offer Two Exclusive 2014 Infiniti Q50 Luxury Sports Sedans Designed By Thom Browne and Zac Posen

Gilt.com & Infiniti join with designers Thom Browne and Zac Posen to offer one-of-a-kind 2014 Q50 luxury sports sedans, limited-edition accessories, and access to Gilt City shopping events in five cities across the country

New York, NY - Gilt.com, the innovative online shopping destination, has joined with premium automaker Infiniti to offer a pair of all-new 2014 Q50 luxury sports sedans, one designed by Thom Browne and the other by Zac Posen. Both will be sold on Gilt on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. ET at www.gilt.com/InfinitiQ50.

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 features world's first technologies such as Direct Adaptive Steering, which provides faster and more personalized response than conventional systems. The two custom-tailored Thom Browne and Zac Posen 2014 Q50s become even more exclusive with elements signature to each designer's aesthetic. The two lucky buyers of the luxury sports sedans will also each receive $10,000 of Gilt.com shopping credit, as well as a style consultation at Gilt.

In addition, Mr. Browne has designed a limited edition Thom Browne Solid Silver Personal Card Case, while Mr. Posen has designed a limited edition ZAC Zac Posen Smartphone Clutch; each item will be included with their respective designer Q50.

These one-of-a-kind custom-tailored Infiniti Q50 packages will be sold for $75,000 each, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a charity personally selected by both Mr. Browne and Mr. Posen.

The 2014 Infiniti Q50, As Expressed by Thom Browne and Zac Posen

Thom Browne 2014 Infiniti Q50: Mr. Browne's Q50 exterior features a chrome - almost reflective - finish. The interior is accented with the Thom Browne signature red, white and blue stripe on the seats and in other areas to highlight the curves of the Q50, along with sterling silver elements to represent old world sophistication. Inside the trunk, Mr. Browne has also designed a luggage set that is custom fit for the Q50.

Zac Posen 2014 Infiniti Q50: Mr. Posen's Q50 exterior features an ombré effect, starting with light silver in a matte finish at the front and ending in dark grey with a high-gloss finish at the rear. The interior uses luxurious materials, including velvet, shagreen, and leather, in rich shades of red that evoke red carpet glamour, a signature of the Zac Posen brand.

The Limited-Edition Designer Accessories

In addition to adding their touches to the Q50s, Mr. Browne and Mr. Posen have each created a limited-edition accessory inspired by the Q50, which will also be sold on Gilt.com in the December 12 sale.

Thom Browne Solid Silver Personal Card Case: Mr. Browne has designed a Solid Silver Personal Card Case featuring his signature red, white and blue stripe. The case is composed of heavy sterling silver that denotes sophistication representative of the Thom Browne man. A limited quantity of 100 pieces has been produced, which will be available on Gilt.com on December 12 for $650.

ZAC Zac Posen Smartphone Clutch: Mr. Posen has designed a leather limited edition ZAC Zac Posen Smartphone Clutch inspired by the Q50's advanced technology and InTouch™ system that matches the red color seen throughout his vehicle. A limited quantity of 350 pieces has been produced, which will be available on Gilt.com on December 12 for $250.

Gilt City Shopping Events & Designer Concept Rooms

Infiniti is also teaming up with Gilt City, which offers access to local experiences at insider prices in eleven U.S. cities, for a series of five regional Gilt City shopping events across the country this fall. The two designer Q50s will travel to each city, and will be showcased within special "concept rooms" that Mr. Browne and Mr. Posen designed based on their interpretation of the Infiniti Q50. These ticketed events are open to Gilt City members, where they can check out the designer vehicles up close and shop Gilt merchandise, accessories, home goods and more. As part of the tour, Infiniti will also provide attendees with the opportunity to test-drive or ride-along in one of their vehicles, including the 2014 Q50.

The Gilt City shopping events are taking place as follows:

Dallas, TX - September 28, 2013
Chicago, IL - October 12, 2013
New York, NY - November 9-10, 2013
Miami, FL - November 23, 2013
Los Angeles, CA - December 7, 2013
"We are thrilled to be collaborating with such an innovative brand like Infiniti to create one-of-a-kind vehicles designed by two of our favorite, cutting edge designers, Thom Browne and Zac Posen," said Alexis Maybank, Founder and Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer, Gilt.com. "We are always looking for new ways to give our members access to exclusive products and unique experiences that they cannot find anywhere else, so this was the perfect opportunity to bring together top fashion design, automotive design and technology in a way we know our members will love."

"We're always looking for new opportunities to showcase our brand in interesting and unexpected ways and we're excited to be able do so with an innovative brand such as Gilt and two of the most well-respected and creative designers out there," said Keith St. Clair, Marketing Communications and Media Director, Infiniti USA. "These two one-of-a-kind Q50s designed by Thom and Zac embody the true essence of Infiniti's inspired performance. To see this collaboration come to fruition is truly inspiring and we're eager to see who the lucky buyers will be in December."

"I've always admired Infiniti and Gilt as brands inspired by innovation, so this was an opportunity to get creative and translate my vision for fashion to the road," said Thom Browne. "I went into this project almost as if I was designing a bespoke suit. Everything is made-to-measure, from selecting the materials and colors, to tailoring the upholstery to fit the curves and lines of the interior, and also making sure that the hallmarks of my design aesthetic are still reflected throughout."

"I'm so excited to be working with Infiniti and Gilt.com, who are both known for their innovation and style," said Zac Posen. "I've designed runway collections and accessories but never a car, so when Infiniti and Gilt approached me about this project, I knew it was going to be a fun and exciting journey and a challenge that I was excited to dive into right from the start."

For more information and to preview the sale, visit www.gilt.com/InfinitiQ50. The sale kicks off on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 12pm ET.

About Gilt

Gilt, www.gilt.com, is an innovative online shopping destination offering its members special access to the most inspiring merchandise and experiences every day at insider prices. Gilt continually searches the world for the most coveted brands and products, including fashion for women, men, and children; home decor; and unique activities in select cities and destinations. We believe that every day is an opportunity to inspire and be inspired.

About Infiniti

Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in approximately 50 countries. The Infiniti brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan and the United States. Production in China and Europe will start soon along with the expansion of the brand's portfolio. As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Infiniti has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the Formula One team, and Sebastien Vettel, its triple World Champion driver, serves as Infiniti's Director of Performance.

Infiniti offers a full-line of luxury performance automobiles that inspire at every turn, including the all-new Q50 luxury sports sedan, Q60 coupe and convertible, Q70 performance luxury sedan, QX50 luxury crossover, QX60 7-passenger luxury crossover, QX70 performance luxury crossover and the QX80 full-size luxury SUV. For more information, please visit www.InfinitiUSA.com.

About the All-New 2014 Infiniti Q50

Building on Infiniti's legendary sports sedan styling, performance and technology leadership, the all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 is designed to create a new, distinct level of customer engagement - propelling Infiniti in a bold new direction as a brand and as a provider of a unique luxury performance experience. While Infiniti sports sedans have always been noted for their outstanding proportions and presence, the all-new Infiniti Q50 adds a new dimension of premium style. It reflects the direct influence of the Infiniti Essence concept, while honoring the iconic design dynamics of earlier Infiniti sports sedans.

The all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 is available in a range of premium, sport, rear-wheel and all-wheel drive models: Q50 3.7, Q50 3.7 AWD, Q50 3.7 Premium, Q50 3.7 AWD Premium, Q50S 3.7, Q50S 3.7 AWD, Q50 Hybrid Premium, Q50 Hybrid AWD Premium, Q50S Hybrid and Q50S Hybrid AWD. It also offers the world's first technologies designed to enhance the driving experience, including Direct Adaptive Steering™, Active Lane Control™ and Predictive Forward Collision Warning. In addition, Infiniti InTuition™ offers a fully customizable digital environment for linking various driver settings and driving characteristics to the Intelligent Key. Building on Infiniti's unique approach to making owners' lives easier, the new Infiniti InTouch™ telematics system brings the future of in-car connectivity to the Q50 interior today. Unlike conventional interfaces, the Q50 has not one but two touch capacitive screens with intuitive hand gesture screen operation to easily connect drivers to their lives outside the car.

To learn more about the all-new Q50 and Infiniti visit www.InfinitiNews.com/Q50.

About Thom Browne

Thom Browne is a men's and women's wear designer based in New York. He introduced his ready-to-wear collection in 2003 and his traditionally based hand-made suits have evolved into designs that have drawn attention from the fashion and design industries worldwide. He has been honored the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year Award in 2013 and 2006 and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in 2012. The women's ready-to-wear collection was introduced in 2011. The Thom Browne collections are available through his flagships stores in NY and Tokyo as well as at designer specialty stores around the world, such as Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Colette and Bon Marché in Paris, Harrods and Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Isetan, Restir and United Arrows in Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.thombrowne.com.

About Zac Posen

Zac Posen is a globally recognized, leading designer of women's fashion, synonymous with a modern American glamour lifestyle. His company House of Z, established in 2001, currently produces a range of products through his Zac Posen, ZAC Zac Posen and Z Spoke Zac Posen labels including women's ready-to-wear, furs, handbags, accessories and eyewear. The collections are found in leading department and specialty stores worldwide including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, and Seibu. For further information on Zac Posen, please visit www.zacposen.com.

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Vodafone says takeover offer for Kabel Deutschland succeeds

FRANKFURT, Sept 12 | Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:31pm EDT

FRANKFURT, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Vodafone said it has secured the 75 percent of shares in Kabel Deutschland needed for its 7.7 billion-euro ($10 billion) offer for Germany's largest cable company to succeed.

"The 75 percent minimum acceptance condition has been met," Vodafone said in a statement on Thursday, adding that it would publish the definitive tender ratio on Sept. 16.

Vodafone's 87.00 euro per share offer, which includes a 2.50 euro dividend payment, for Kabel Deutschland ended on Sept. 11.

The British company, which earlier this month agreed the sale of its stake in U.S. operator Verizon Wireless for $130 billion, wants to buy Kabel Deutschland to offer more television and fixed-line services in Germany, its largest European mobile market.

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Telcos say EU reform plans offer fast pain, uncertain gain

* Roaming, new price caps to take bite out of profits

* Benefits for telcos are uncertain, long-term

* Risk that EU won't finish law ahead of May elections

* Analysts sanguine, see more benign regulatory mood

By Leila Abboud and Claire Davenport

PARIS/BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Telecom executives were generally downbeat about proposals for a revamp of European Union regulation because price caps and limits on roaming charges would hit their profits soon, while ideas they liked were less sure to be adopted.

The European Commission unveiled reforms on Wednesday to foster a cross-border market for telecom services and spur investment in networks to help Europe catch up with the U.S. and Asia in the broadband and mobile race.

The industry welcomed some proposals such as giving the EU veto power over auctions of mobile spectrum and letting operators charge web companies for carrying data-heavy services at high speeds.

But since these ideas are controversial with the member states and EU Parliament, which must ratify the law, telecom executives fear they might not get through.

One, who declined to be named, said: "Short term, there is certain pain for operators. Long-term there are gains, but they are uncertain because of the legislative process ahead."

As it stands, the proposals being steered by EU telecoms chief Neelie Kroes will hit operators' bottom line because of consumer-friendly measures.

They would put caps on cross-border fixed phone calls in Europe at the price of a long-distance domestic call and limit, to 19 euro cents a minute, the price for users making cross-border mobile calls.

JP Morgan analysts estimate the change would cost 500 million to 1 billion euros ($665 million-$1.33 billion) in lost sales and operating profit for European operators.

The hit would be biggest for Vodafone, with 142 million European subscribers and a large base of corporate customers, followed by KPN, Deutsche Telekom and Orange, according to Bernstein Research.

The changes to roaming charges proved to be less harsh than some had feared from earlier drafts. Operators are encouraged to form alliances to escape price caps, eventually meaning consumers will not pay extra when travelling.

Analysts said it was hard to quantify the financial impact as it was unclear whether operators would join alliances.

The GSMA, a trade group of global telcos, estimated that the impact of driving roaming prices down to domestic rates and ending fees for incoming calls to users while they were travelling would cut revenues by up to 2.3 billion euros.

Executives interviewed by Reuters did not believe the proposals would achieve the EU's stated aim of encouraging telecom operators to plough money into better networks.

"Right now, it seems that the most important chapters in this proposal are not going to lead to more investment or long-term growth," said Viktor Wallstrom, a spokesman for Nordic operator Tele2.

The debate on the reforms faces a tight legislative calendar ahead of EU elections next May. Most EU laws take up to two years to adopt so Parliament may not have enough time.

On Thursday, Kroes urged the need for speed.

"Failure to implement this package would mean a delay of two and a half years...I can assure you with certainty that Europe would lose the global race," said Kroes.

Her spokesman added that telcos concerned about changes to the package should work with Kroes to ensure passage by Parliament and states.

The European telecom index was up 0.5 percent at 1626 GMT, and is up 18.6 percent year to date, compared with a 11.7 percent gain in the FTSE 100 and outperforming sectors like utilities, pharma and oil and gas.

PRESSURES

Europe's telecom sector has seen falling revenues in recent years partly due to competition from low-cost upstarts and new Internet players. Sales are seen to decline between 0.5 to 2 percent a year to 2020, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group for telecom lobby ETNO, opening up an investment gap of more than 100 billion euros.

The pressures have triggered consolidation that could reshape big markets such as Germany, where Telefonica wants to buy a rival, subject to anti-trust regulation.

Telecom groups have lobbied for the current regulatory reboot to allow more deal-making to help companies invest more in networks. But such measures were not included since they are handled by EU competition authorities, not Kroes' office.

"The objectives we supported at the outset were fostering a single European market, spurring network investment, and paving the way for more consolidation," said a second executive at a major operator, who also declined to be named.

"Instead we got a plan that will hit margins, a raft of consumer-friendly measures, and nothing on mergers or levelling the playing field with Internet groups like Google and Skype."

Bruno Lippens, a portfolio manager at Pictet Asset Management, said it was difficult to assess the plan's effects.

"I am a bit worried that you get the stick first, meaning that the regulation will shave off earnings expectation for 2014 and 2015. And then the carrot - on consolidation for example - is a few years away and uncertain."

Some investors were more sanguine and the majority view among analysts was that it could have been worse for operators.

"We think that the process of market repair is now underway that will lift the entire telecoms sector, promote the network investment that Europe's economy desperately needs, and power lower unit prices for customers," HSBC analysts wrote.

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