The Central Group, Thailand’s largest retailer, and Signa, Austria’s largest privately-owned real estate company, agreed to acquire Globus, a Swiss luxury department store chain, for c.$1bn. With Globus, the combined presence of Signa and Central Group will span five countries in the continent – Germany, Austria, Italy, Denmark, and Switzerland – making both one of the leading operators and owners of luxury department stores in Europe. “Globus is a wonderful brand very close to our hearts. We are delighted to welcome it as a member of our family. As a historic Swiss brand, Globus is a perfect fit for our European alliance with strong local presence and great international recognition. By working together, we will guarantee Globus and the rest of our brands a solid, sustainable and successful future,” Vittorio Radice, Central Group Europe CEO.