CBRE Global Investors has secured an additional commitment of €200 million from South Korea’s Public Officials Benefit Association (POBA) to build a diversified European real estate portfolio. After leverage, this equity commitment provides additional investment capacity in excess of €400 million.

The PRS market in the CEE region gathers pace and interest from investors but the majority of activity is currently centred around the Czech Republic and Poland. However, there is a larger number of PRS/BTR projects being announced in the pipeline for delivery over the next few years across the entire region. Colliers, in cooperation with Kinstellar and Greenberg Traurig, publishes a report entitled 'The Private Rental Sector: Has it found a home in CEE?'

Romania has one of the smallest private rental sectors (PRS) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and the domestic market counts a little over 1,000 residential units in construction or planned, according to a report by Colliers in collaboration with Greenberg Traurig and Kinstellar. 

Euronics, an electronics and appliances retailer, has signed a contract for nearly 28.000 sqm of warehouse space in CTP's CTPark Budapest East industrial park in Üllő, Hungary. Euronics will develop a fully automated warehouse right next to Lenovo's first European factory. The building is scheduled to start operations in early 2022.

Residential investment volumes across the CEE region have been limited and averaged out annually at just over €200 million in the past 5 years. The balance between private, owner-occupied dwellings and those that are for rent in CEE lean towards ownership according to “The Private Rental Sector: Has it found a home in CEE?” report just launched by Colliers in collaboration with Greenberg Traurig and Kinstellar. From the stock of existing developer/investor-owned, multiple-unit PRS schemes, the Czech Republic is ahead, followed by Poland and the remaining countries behind that. 

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of H2 Hotel Budapest, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, the latest addition in Wyndham’s portfolio of Trademark properties across Europe and its first property under the Trademark Collection brand in Hungary.

Aurelia Luca, Executive Vice President of Operations in Romania is now expanding her area of responsibility by taking over the Hungarian market as well. 

The Nuselský pivovar (Nusle Brewery) residential project in Prague 4 has received a building permit, developer Penta Real Estate announced. Following the completion of demolition works, excavation works have now begun. 

The Arete Investment and Real Estate Group signed an agreement with Raiffeisenbank to draw a €30 million umbrella credit line. The funds will be used to accelerate the growth of the Arete Industrial SICAV fund's portfolio through prepared acquisitions and new construction of industrial real estate while maintaining a safe and conservative LTV ratio.

According to the last few months’ most active investor on the Slovak market, investment activity is returning to normal. Martin Šmigura, investment manager of WOOD & Company’s real estate operations in Slovakia, talked to Property Forum about the company’s recent investment deals and shared his market expectations.