Hypo Real Estate Bank International, a member of Hypo Real Estate Group, announced that it has agreed to provide a EUR 174 financing facility to Macquarie CountryWide Trust to finance the purchase of five shopping centres in Poland from Simon Ivanhoe. The transaction was completed on 3 July 2007.

Hypo Real Estate Bank International, a member of Hypo Real Estate Group, announced that it has agreed to provide a EUR 174 financing facility to Macquarie CountryWide Trust to finance the purchase of five shopping centres in Poland from Simon Ivanhoe. The transaction was completed on 3 July 2007.

The purchase, completed via a corporate acquisition, relates to shopping centres throughout Poland: the Turzyn Shopping Mall, Szczecin; the Borek Shopping Centre, Wroclaw; the Arena Shopping Centre in Gliwice; the Zakopianka Shopping Centre in Krakow; and the Dabrówka Shopping Centre in Katowice. Harin Thaker, ceo Europe - Hypo Real Estate Bank International, said: ' With several assets being acquired through a corporate structure in
Central Eastern Europe, this transaction has highlighted a number of our strengths - including the ability to close large complex transactions in emerging markets.'

Steven Sewell, ceo at Macquarie Countrywide Trust, said: ' To work with the team at Hypo Real Estate Bank International on our first transaction in the European market was a great help as we were able to utilise a tremendous level of commercial experience and judgement. We are excited at the prospects that the European market offers for Macquarie CountryWide Trust, with our niche investment focus being retail assets anchored by market leading national or international brand supermarket or hypermarkets, and look forward to being able to work with Hypo Real Estate Bank International again in the future.'