Prologis Europe ended the second quarter with record occupancy at 97.2 percent, notably through improved demand in its Southern markets. During the quarter, the company signed 343,000 square metres of new leases and 631,000 square metres of lease renewals to its operating and development portfolio.

The availability of workers is right now perhaps the most significant factor for companies when assessing business plans and prospects in the CEE region. Colliers International presented the extent of the problem and the most likely solutions in a new report.

The retail market is facing major challenges with e-commerce and rapidly changing consumer needs disrupting the traditional shopping centre model. Retailers that want to stay in the race are already embracing new concepts and formats. The future of retail will be one of the key topics to be discussed at the upcoming CEE Property Forum 2018 in Vienna.

International Campus and Alkyon Partners GmbH are developing an apartment building for students and young professionals in Kraków, which will be operated by International Campus under the brand "THE FIZZ". Located on the science and technology campus in the up-and-coming, centrally located Zablochie neighbourhood, the apartment building will have approximately 1,000 apartments. In addition, "THE FIZZ Krakow" will include extensive communal areas, 88 underground parking and 33 outdoor parking spaces for cars as well as approximately 970 bicycle parking spaces.

Poznań’s Galeria Malta, under a JV co-owned by Heitman and Neinver, has been sold to an unnamed new investor. At the same time, Balmain Asset Management and BSC Real Estate Advisors have been designated respectively as the new asset manager and property manager of the shopping centre, replacing Neinver.

Total retail stock in Poland now stands at nearly 14.0 million sqm with shopping centres accounting for 71% (9.9 million sqm), followed by retail parks and warehouses with 27% (3.8 million sqm) and outlet centres coming in with 2% (0.25 million sqm). JLL summarised H1 2018 on the retail market in Poland.

The accelerated economic development of the major regional cities in Romania is beginning to influence their real estate market as well. According to Colliers International, there are strong arguments to support the increased interest in office leasing and the strong investment potential, so cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi or Brasov can offer an alternative to Bucharest.

Bulgarian Real Estate Fund plans to invest €33 million in the construction of an office building in state-owned Sofia Tech Park. At first, the project will be financed with the proceeds from the company's planned capital increase, while at a later stage the construction works will be financed through loan financing.

Immofinanz has leased a total of over 15,000 sqm in Bucharest in the first half of this year. This is equivalent to 8% of its current overall leasable office space in Romania. The company has attracted new tenants for 8,300 sqm of office space and extended contracts for an additional 7,500 sqm in six of its office properties.

CTP announced the appointment of Mr. Gyula Nagy as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) CTP Hungary effective 16 July 2018.