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October 27, 2025

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.