It the first six months of 2017 GTC refinanced and concluded loans for almost €400 million through euro bonds offering, project loans and construction loans.

The industrial real estate market in Hungary hit the vacancy rate of 5.5% in the first half of 2017, which is the lowest number on record since it has been measured by the Budapest Research Forum (BRF). In total, less than 73,000 sqm space is currently vacant in the Budapest metropolitan area of the 1.95 million sqm total modern logistics area, and only four Class A buildings can offer more than 5,000 sqm contiguous warehouse space. The lack of available space is due to the strong absorption of the last few years, and at the same time there are still limited number of speculative projects in progress or have building permits, says Tamás Beck, Director of Industrial Agency at Colliers International Hungary.

Colliers International was assigned by Piraeus Bank to offer property management services for the office project The Landmark, in the central area of Bucharest. With this new project, the Colliers International team strengthens its position on the office property management market, and the whole managed portfolio reaches a total of over 320,000 leasable sqm.

P3 has promoted Sînziana Pardhan to the role of Country Head in Romania. Pardhan, who was recently appointed as Acquisitions Director for Romania, takes over from Blake Horsley, who has become P3’s Group Development Director. 

The first half of 2017 saw the Czech Republic overtake Poland as the most popular investment destination within CEE. Based on the current pipeline of deals Poland might retake its position rather soon, nevertheless, the combination of growth, yields and stability make Czech Republic and other countries in the CEE region highly attractive to international and domestic investors. Luke Dawson, Managing Director & Head of Capital Markets CEE at Colliers International shared his expectations with Property Forum.

BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland acting as the exclusive agent commenced the process of recommercialisation of the Class A office space in the Diamante Plaza building in Kraków on behalf of the building’s owner, Aldesa, a leading Spanish construction company.

In the first half of 2017 the warehouse market was unquestionably the fastest growing commercial property sector in Poland. The highest volume of industrial and warehouse space was delivered to the market around Poznań, i.e. 133,000 sqm, while the largest scheme of 161,000 sqm is currently under construction in Szczecin. The record numbers in respect of the schemes delivered to the market are not discouraging developers from commencing new projects.

The hotel market in Romania could become more diverse throughout the next year as a result of new brands entering the market by means of leasing or partnership contracts with real estate developers as an alternative to the management or franchise contracts. Such a business model will lead to the relaunch of the hotel market and will offer, at the same time, the possibility for real estate developers to diversify their portfolio, according to Colliers International. 

GTC’s Polish flagship retail project was officially granted a final occupancy permit. Galeria Północna, comprising 64,800 sqm of leasable space, is the first major modern shopping and entertainment centre located in Warsaw’s Białołęka district. The investment was completed within 25 months after obtaining the construction permit.

Israeli-held Elbit Imaging announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent with an international investment fund to sell its entire shareholding in a company owning the Radisson Complex in Bucharest, based on a property value of approximately €177.5 million.