Advertisement

Ticker

THE LATEST PLACEMAKING NEWS

The largest single-asset retail transaction of the year in Poland has been finalized, as Echo Investment sells Libero shopping center to Summus Capital, an Estonian-based investment company. The value of the deal amounts to €103 million.

BIG CEE has rapidly grown into a leading force in Southeast Europe’s retail real estate market. CEO Lev Weiss discusses the company’s journey, from its first projects in Serbia to major milestones across the Balkans, and shares his vision for future expansion and brand building in the region.

The major development by NEPI Rockcastle, one of Europe’s industry leaders, is currently the CEE region’s largest retail project. The extension is underway and on schedule with an investmnet budget of approximately €300M and a grand opening planned for the first quarter of 2027.

VIA Outlets has successfully placed €500 million of senior unsecured fixed-rate green bonds due 2032. The issuance attracted strong demand from institutional investors resulting in a €1.8+ billion orderbook and an oversubscription of 3.6x. The bonds carry a seven-year maturity and a fixed annual coupon of 3.5%.

Futureal, the owner of the Etele Plaza shopping and entertainment centre, has agreed with a consortium of three banks to refinance its existing loans and provide a new credit facility. The pan-European property developer has signed a €165 million loan agreement with a consortium comprising Erste Bank Hungary Zrt., Erste Group Bank AG and UniCredit Bank Hungary Zrt.

A surprise move in the retail sector: Austria’s Leder & Schuh AG, best known for its flagship brand Humanic, has been sold to the Slovenian investment firm Advance Capital Partners. Despite the change in ownership, the company’s headquarters for its 210 stores and 1,700 employees will remain in Graz, Austria.

BIG Shopping Centers Ltd. was founded in 1994 and has grown from a local property developer into a global real estate group with operations in Israel, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. Today, the company is valued at approximately €4.45 billion on the TASE and holds nearly 90% of AFI Properties Ltd., extending its reach to seven countries and more than 1.38 million sqm of leasable space. Its portfolio includes open-air shopping centers, malls, outlets, offices, and even renewable energy, with a consistent focus on creating long-term value through brand strength and operational excellence.

Vienna’s Westfield Donau Zentrum is celebrating its 50th anniversary under the motto “50 Years of Future – Shaping the Shopping Experience of Tomorrow.” Austria’s largest shopping and leisure destination is not only looking back at five decades of transformation but also forward, with a clear focus on innovation, sustainability, and urban quality of life.

From pioneering Serbia’s first LEED-certified shopping center to installing solar plants and creating rooftop gardens, MPC Properties is setting new benchmarks in sustainable real estate. This exclusive article by Slobodan Cupać, Head of Technical Operation and Facility Management, reveals how green construction, energy efficiency, and community engagement are shaping a healthier, more resilient future.

Commercial advantage belongs to those who move with insight, not instinct: As much of Europe’s real estate market cools, the Nordics are bucking the trend, driving growth not through location alone, but by redefining value around experience, insight, and resilience. A new framework, the “Modern CRE Algorithm”, shows how smartly designed tenant experiences and data-driven intelligence are turning properties into thriving ecosystems.

In the retail real estate sector, bold moves are reshaping the European landscape. Recent landmark transactions, including FREY/ROS, Sonae Sierra, and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, signal the start of a new investment cycle. At the same time, several companies are embarking on remarkable expansion journeys, positioning themselves for long-term growth. In this interview, Steffen Hofmann, Managing Partner at ambas, explains why now is the right moment to “think big”, what drives corporate M&A strategies in retail, and how these shifts are redefining market opportunities across Europe.

Redevco, one of Europe’s largest privately owned real estate managers, has completed its second loan investment, underscoring the growing momentum for its real estate debt business just six months after closing its debut deal. The €67 million loan will fund the acquisition and development of two Class A Mid-Box Logistics projects in Frankfurt and Karlsruhe, with a combined area of 63,000 sqm, by the Invesco Real Estate and Propel Industrial joint venture.