After 2015's record-breaking performance, when demand totalled 64,900 sqm, 2016 closed with a very good result – office lease agreements for 64,100 sqm were signed in Poznań. An interesting trend in 2016 was the increased share of pre-let agreements in overall demand - much higher than in previous years. Also, more companies have decided to expand their office space, illustrating how buoyant the market is. JLL summarised 2016 on Poznań's office market.

Futureal Group signed a credit agreement of €45.1 million with Erste Bank Hungary Zrt. in order to finance the realisation of the Corvin 5 office building. The first phase of the building is expected to be handed over at the end of 2018. 

Vienna-based investment manager GalCap Europe has acquired Merkúr Palota (the Mercure Palace), a fully renovated office building in Budapest. The seller is a private investor; both parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

HB Reavis has gained planning consent for its next new major development, Agora Budapest, situated next to city’s busiest boulevard and the Váci Road office corridor. Construction on the first building called Agora Hub has already commenced. Agora Budapest will be built in several phases and will comprise more than 136,000 sqm of modern office spaces and retail units by 2023. The project will require an investment of approximately HUF140 billion (€447 million).

Echo Polska Properties NV (EPP) and Echo Investment are buying Galeria Młociny in Warsaw from Rosehill Investments. The companies will pay nearly €42 million (including the liabilities of the company being the subject of the transaction) for the project which is already under construction. 

The EBRD is joining forces with Mid Europa Partners to strengthen Romanian supermarket and convenience chain Profi Rom Food S.R.L. by providing a €25 million equity investment. Profi operates around 523 stores in more than 272 localities throughout Romania. The EBRD’s financing will support a further expansion of the network, particularly into the country’s smaller towns.

Immofinanz introduces its international office brand myhive to the Hungarian market, to be implemented in five of its office buildings in Budapest. The Greenpoint 7 and Haller Gardens have already become myhive Greenpoint 7 and myhive Haller Gardens, after a transformation process through which the properties’ common areas now offer an extended service range and improved infrastructure to encourage socialization. Plans call for the myhive concept to also be rolled-out at Átrium Park to become myhive Átrium Park, Globe 13 and Xenter 13 buildings to become myhive Thirteen.

2016 was a strong year for the Romanian commercial property market with a continued boom in the office segment and growing investment volumes. Ilinca Paun, Managing Partner at Colliers International talked us about current trends and expectations for the future.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of Holiday Inn Warsaw West Station. The hotel will be developed with franchisees VHM Hotel Management, owned by the Satoria Group SA, and investors Capital Park. 

Deutsche EuroShop AG has signed a purchase agreement for a shopping centre in the Czech Republic and approved a capital increase excluding subscription rights of up to 4.7 million new shares.