Greek fund purchased Carrefour in Sofia for 200 million euro
French retail collossus Carrefour sold its development, which is at present being constructed on Sofia’s Tsarigradsko Chausse Blvd, to Greek fund Assos Capital, for roughly 200 million euro, Alexandros Papageorgiou, the new fund's managing director, told in a statement.This is the biggest transaction in Bulgaria’s property sector since the begining of the year and second-biggest re-sale in the segment, topped by Landmark’s sale for 210 million euro, but forward of the 180-million deal for Business Park Sofia.
Carrefour’s transaction embraces the land and the purchaser's commitment to invest in the completion of the adjoining commercial centre, which now at its initial constructing phase.
The world’s second-largest retail chain will keep the ownership of the 14 600 sq m hypermarket, situated in the mall. Colliers, the exclusive agent of the retail composite has already secured 70% occupancy. A major stake in renting out the location falls to Carrefour’s partner - Greek company Marinopoulos, which holds the rights to Marks&Spencer and Starbucks for Bulgaria.
The mall spreads over 66 000 sq m, will have 200 shops, restaurants, a multiplex cinema and a bowling centre. Several office constructions, which are not a part of the deal with the Greek fund, will also be share of the compound.
The investment in the retail and office complexes amount to 200 million euro, according to the French executive’s initial valuation, announced last autumn.
This year, in Bourgas will be opened of the first Carrefour hypermarket in Bulgaria. It will be smaller in size than the Sofia one. The project of the French retailer is to open about 20 hypermarkets in Bulgaria.
The first thing I want to say is, thank you Kiki for all you have done. The first time we spoke to Kiki we felt right at ease. Because we didn' t know how or when we were going to be in Bulgaria we didn't let her know. So when we got there we contacted Kiki. Because we were only there for a week we didn't have much time. She immediatly made sure we could visit a house the same day. She called us crazy because it was 400 km from varna were we stayed. But we went. She could not be there with us because it was such short notice, but the next day she was. Kiki cleared her calender to make sure we could look at some other houses with her. Besides the fact she showed us some good houses we also had a lot of fun. When we went to see the last one it was bingo. So we would buy the house. Kiki made sure a paper work was oke before we left back to Belgium. Now not even a month later we can call ourselfes the proud owners of a house in Bulgaria. What Kiki did for us was amazing. Everything went smoothly without any problems. She is a hardworking woman,(sometimes to hard working), she makes sure everything goes smoothly. And besides that she is a great person. We know we have a new friend for life. When we buy our next house it will be with Kiki. So again Kiki thank you, you are amazing
— Bart en Annick, Belgie