Tesco and Carrefour have announced their intention to enter into a long-term, strategic alliance. The alliance will cover the strategic relationship with global suppliers, the joint purchasing of own brand products and goods not for resale. It will be governed by a three-year operational framework.

On 20 September 2018, CEE Property Forum, a conference and networking event for real estate professionals from all over the CEE region will be held for the sixth time in Vienna. The event is organised by Property Forum, in close cooperation with RICS.

Helaba, acting as facility and security agent, and pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank have jointly underwritten an investment facility to finance four office properties in Poland. Together, the two banks are providing Globalworth Poland Real Estate (GPRE) with a loan in an amount of €100 million with a duration of seven years. The transaction closed in June 2018. Helaba and pbb are acting as Joint Lead Arrangers providing equal portions of the funding.

CBRE has established a new regional office to provide a full range of real estate advisory services to international and domestic clients in South Eastern Europe (SEE).

The expansion of Romanian retailer Profi Rom Food SRL site in Ploieşti, Romania is at an advanced stage. The extension construction project is due to complete by September 2018.

In accordance with its business strategy - consisting in allocating capital to the most promising markets, which will underpin sustainable results in the future, Orbis has signed a purchase agreement for the plot, building and the business related operations in Mercure Bucharest Unirii for €11.35 million.

Shopping centres remain the dominant retail format on the Polish market. Poland now has more than 420 shopping centres that provide 10.5 million sqm, accounting for 73% of the country’s total retail stock. Retail experts at Cresa Poland analysed the Polish retail market

In its latest Global Sustainability Report, JLL reported exceeding its goals for carbon emission reductions within its corporate offices and committing to set a Science Based Target by 2020. Reductions achieved on a per corporate office employee basis included a drop in building-related greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent (vs. a target of 10 percent), building-related energy consumption by 12 percent (vs. a target of 10 percent), and rented area by 10 percent (vs. a target of 8 percent).

Heiko Himme has been appointed Head of Real Estate Central Europe at WeWork. Currently Head of Office Agency Germany and Team Leader Office Agency Berlin for Cushman & Wakefield, Heiko will join WeWork by the end of the year. Kathrin Hellwig who has been with Cushman & Wakefield since 2013 will take over his responsibilities as Team Leader of Office Agency – Berlin with immediate effect.

Hong Kong Central remained the most expensive office market in the world, according to CBRE’s annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs report.