Netflix’s move to OPI-7 was the result of a BID — a competitive process commonly used in commercial real estate transactions, where companies submit structured proposals to lease or acquire properties. 

In this case, CBRE not only held an ownership stake in the asset but also acted as Netflix’s advisor, overseeing the property search and evaluation process. 

Proposals in a BID are typically judged within a set timeframe and evaluated based on multiple criteria — including price, payment terms, transactional security, and speed to close the deal. The winning offer is not necessarily the best financial value, but rather the one that best meets the tenant’s needs. 

As of now, neither Netflix nor CBRE has issued an official statement on the matter. 

CBRE follows a set of internal principles known as RISE (Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence), which include rules on corporate governance and business ethics. An internal document defines a conflict of interest as any situation in which personal interests may compromise the impartiality of business decisions. 

The document stresses that even the appearance of a conflict can harm business relationships, erode trust, and damage the company’s reputation. It also instructs employees not to use proprietary information or their position at CBRE for personal gain. 

“A conflict of interest occurs when your personal interests (family, friendships, financial or social factors) could compromise your business decisions and cast doubt on the impartiality of your judgment and actions. Even the slightest appearance of a conflict can be potentially harmful to CBRE’s business relationships—undermining trust and tarnishing the company’s reputation in terms of fair negotiations. We must not use CBRE’s assets or information, nor leverage our roles within CBRE, for personal gain,” the document states.