As a response to continued strong demand from tenants in Budapest and Bucharest, Skanska plans to launch several new projects in both capital cities. Marcin Łapiński, Managing Director for Hungary and Romania talked to Property Forum about the differences between the two markets.

Forte Partners have inaugurated the first phase of The Bridge office project located in the Grozavesti-Basarab area in Bucharest. The first building offers 36,871 sqm of leasable space. Its tenants include IBM and BCR. The first phase of the project was financed by UniCredit Bank. Bog’Art was the main construction contractor.

Auchan Retail Romania, a subsidiary of Auchan, has acquired OK, a supermarket chain which has three units in the Bucharest area, zf.ro reports.

Chapman Taylor reported that construction on Expo Business Park in Bucharest is underway. The 70,586 sqm development comprises three separate and self-contained office buildings set over a shared two-level basement parking structure.

Ikea has started the construction of its second store in Romania, which will be finished in H2 2018 following an investment of approximately €86 million, which includes the acquisition of the land.

Real estate developer London Partners is to invest €26 million in SoHo Unirii residential project in Central Bucharest, which will have a total of 236 apartments. Construction works started this summer and completion is scheduled for Q1 2019.

AFI Europe Romania has signed the first lease agreement for AFI Tech Park, the company’s newest business park developed in Bucharest. World Class Romania, a leader on the Romanian health & fitness field, will be the first tenant of the campus, by leasing 1,500 sqm GLA spread on the ground floor and the first floor of AFI Tech Park 1. The lease contract was signed for a period of 10 years.

One United Properties, a real estate developer specialised in Bucharest residential property, will issue €20 million worth of 4-year bonds through private placement, fully funded by co-management by Credit Value Investments in Poland. The money will be spent on the company existing and new residential developments.

AFI Europe Romania published its financial results. The Net Operating Income (NOI) from its income producing assets in Romania was over €37 million in the first nine months of the year, representing respectively 10.4% higher results compared to the same period in 2016. The value of the existing income producing assets AFI Cotroceni, AFI Ploiesti and the 5 office buildings of AFI Park increased by 7.5% to €735 million according to the valuation performed as of September 30, 2017.

Turkish real estate developer Anchor Grup will invest €9.5 million in the Pallady Towers residential project.