KGAL has acquired the DRN office building in Prague for a pan-European special real estate Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). The purchase is in line with KGAL’s strategy of Europe-wide diversification across prime locations, and is its first investment in the Czech Republic. The fund now holds properties in Germany, Austria, Ireland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The first half of 2019 witnessed two new office completions in Szczecin totalling nearly 3,500 sqm, whilst another 27,300 sqm is expected to be added to the city’s stock by the end of this year.

Skanska has sold two office buildings in Poland – Nowy Targ in Wroclaw and High5ive in Krakow –to real estate funds managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate.

CBRE has been mandated by CA Immo to provide property management services for the Campus 6.1 office building, located in the central-western area of Bucharest, being the first time when CA Immo outsources property management services for a project in its portfolio.

JLL is entering the residential market in Romania by launching the Living department within the Bucharest office. The new department, which will provide consulting services for the residential sector, will be led by Andreea Hamza as Senior Director.

Colliers International announced the appointment of Andy Hay as its new Head of EMEA Real Estate Management Services (REMS) effective immediately. In this new role, Andy will focus on driving the continued growth and success of the firm’s REMS division; improving client experience, developing relationships and optimising its EMEA service delivery model.

Zeitgeist Asset Management, a company specialising in property development and asset management for the private and institutional investors, purchased from the Orange company, on 29 August, a complex of real properties located 300 meters from the Palace of Culture and Science, at Nowogrodzka and Św. Barbary Streets in Warsaw.

The hotel investment market is reaching new heights in the Czech Republic with year to date volumes at €530 million and 10 hotel transactions. This is more than a 100% growth compared to the average yearly transaction volume of €250 million, recorded over the past five years.

Metro Properties, the real estate company of METRO AG, sold 11 Cash & Carry stores in Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic in a sale-and-leaseback transaction. The portfolio has been acquired by FLE GmbH, Vienna, subsidiary of French LFPI Group, investing on behalf of an AIF regulated fund. The transaction was finalized in August 2019, with a total volume exceeding €250 million. Metro and Makro Cash & Carry will continue to operate all wholesale locations on the basis of long-term lease contracts.

Budapest-based commercial real estate investor and developer, ConvergenCE has announced the acquisition of the Central Business Center office building in the 2nd district of Budapest. ConvergenCE acquired the building in Horvát Street from Immonfinanz.