With a 4.8%-GDP growth in 2016 and the highest estimated growth rate in 2017 among EU member states, Romania has become an increasingly attractive destination for regional operations centres. The tax and legal regimes along with the geographic location, as well as the highly yet not so costly labour force are some of the key ingredients contributing to the country’s attractiveness, according to the Recipe for successful tax, law & real estate of regional operations centres in Romania report prepared by Deloitte Romania, Reff & Associates- Deloitte Legal together with Knight Frank. 

JLL Bratislava has announced two mid-year promotions. Ján Bošácky has been appointed Head of Research with overall responsibility for market research and advisory services, whereas Samuel Šporka, Head of Industrial Agency and Tenant Representation, has been promoted to Associate Director. 

On 19 September 2017 the fifth edition of CEE Property Forum, organized by Property Forum in partnership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will gather leading real estate professionals and top executives from Central & Eastern Europe to analyse the potential of the regional real estate market from a global perspective. 70 speakers and more than 400 visitors will come together in Vienna, creating a unique networking opportunity. 

Mitiska REIM has announced a further strengthening of its footprint in the Romanian market with the successful acquisition of the Alpha Property Development portfolio. The acquisition of the portfolio consisting of 11 income producing retail parks and 3 development opportunities was made on behalf of Mitiska REIM’s institutional fund, First Retail International 2 (FRI 2). 

Apsys has secured the long-term refinancing of Posnania, its flagship project in Poznan, with Berlin Hyp AG, ING Bank Śląski S.A., Société Générale and Deutsche Postbank AG. This refinancing amounting to €260 million in total is one of the largest ever granted in commercial real estate in Central Europe. The project's initial financing during the development phase in 2014 already set a record in this area. 

Vastint Poland has appointed Hochtief Polska as the general contractor of the second phase of Business Garden Wroclaw. Under the contract, six office and service buildings with a total leasable area of approx. 79,000 sqm are to be built. Construction works will commence in July this year and will end in November 2019.

Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed property manager of Krakow’s office complex Zabłocie Business Park. The scheme is owned by IMS Budownictwo, a local housing developer.

Colliers International Hungary announced that Michael Smithing has returned to the Office Agency Team as Director of Landlord Representation, effective immediately.

JLL will launch its new office in Łódź, which will be the company’s fifth unit in Poland. Marta Pyziak has been appointed head of the company’s newly-established unit.

Octava FIZAN has finalised the acquisition of 11 properties through the purchase of 30 entities owned by the BPH FIZ Sektora Nieruchomości in liquidation and BPH FIZ Sektora Nieruchomości 2 in liquidation. The new owner of the portfolio was represented by real estate advisor Savills.