International law firm Noerr, together with Vienna-based Austrian law office Arnold, have advised Signa Retail on the sale of Kika’s Eastern European business to XXXLutz. The parties signed the contracts on the sale of the 22 locations in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia on April 26, 2019. The transaction has included both the operational retail business with over 1,500 employees and the 22 properties.

Colliers has appointed Melinda Kovacs as new Head of Landlord Office Agency for Hungary in Budapest.

Following the expansion of its retail real estate portfolio in Serbia this year, UK-based property investor, developer and asset manager Poseidon Group continues to strengthen its Capitol Park network in Southeastern Europe by opening 10 new locations by 2020 in Croatia.

Group BIG CEE Serbia entered into a partnership with Fashion Company to acquire one more commercial centre in Serbia, Fashion Park Outlet Indjija. BIG Group acquired the majority of shares (67.5%) in this project, with Fashion Company as the main partner, which holds remaining rights (27.5%).

Cushman & Wakefield Echinox was commissioned to manage the Eminescu Office building, which has recently been delivered in Bucharest, near Piaţa Romană. This is the third office building that has been taken over for management purposes by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox since the beginning of the year, with the Asset Services department being responsible for the day-to-day management of the building, tenant relationship management, operational supervision, financial services and ownership reporting, through on-site specialists and also from the company’s headquarters, coordinated by Mihaela Petruescu, Head of Asset Services.

During Q1 2019, some 168,300 sqm of warehouse space was completed on the Czech industrial market. In year on year comparison, this was a 20% decrease, but in longer term comparison, the completions level was 25% above 5-year average, according to Colliers International.

Dedeman Group and Element Industrial announce entering into a partnership to jointly invest in the development of Eli Park 1 logistic and industrial project, located in Chitila-Buftea area, which is transforming in a new proximity logistic hub for Bucharest.

Although the results of this year’s first quarter have been weaker than expected on the CEE investment market, this does not automatically mean than a slowdown has started. Andy Thompson MRICS, Head of Investment Czech Republic & Slovakia at Colliers International shared his market expectations with Property Forum.

Two large transactions in excess of €200 million that closed in Q1 and pipeline transactions of at least €1.5 billion point to the overall investment volume for 2019 exceeding the figures achieved in 2018 in 2019, according to the latest research from Colliers International.  

Leading Cities Invest, a KanAm Grund Group fund, has entered the Polish market by acquiring the Renaissance office building in central Warsaw from a fund managed by GLL Real Estate Partners. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.