JLL and iO Partners have announced today that JLL will transfer its existing Leasing, Capital Markets, Valuations Advisory, Consulting and Project Management delivery businesses to iO Partners in Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

CTP Group is aiming to double the size of its pan-European network of business parks to 20 million sqm of leasable space by the end of the decade, over the projected growth of demand across Central and Eastern Europe. 

In the CEE region, Prague placed second in terms of the price of fitting out an office. With €1,159 being the average cost per square metre in Prague, it is just over half of what is standard in top cities in Germany or the UK, where costs often exceed €2,000. Compared with the last year, the prices have grown all over Europe due to inflation and other factors. The 10% increase in Prague means that office occupiers need to carefully consider their office usage and space needs when redesigning their offices. Sustainability and DE&I are also increasingly affecting fit-out requirements, reports Cushman & Wakefield in their latest analysis.

Property group NEPI Rockcastle has raised the equivalent of €143 million equity from its latest scrip dividend, corresponding to approximately 85% of the final dividend payment for 2022, while also completing a secured green financing of €200 million for a 5-year term with Erste Group Bank and Raiffeisen Bank.

When comparing the end of 2021 to 2022, there has been a significant increase in the supply of PRS units year-on-year in countries across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), such as Hungary (+301%), Romania (+244%), Poland (+217%) and Bulgaria (+173%), reveals a report by Colliers.

The mood among investors at MIPIM was mixed: we all expected that the beginning of this year would not be rich in transactions and new projects, and it is true - we are seeing an investment slowdown across Europe, writes Marcin Purgal, Senior Director, Investment at Avison Young. However, in this time of uncertainty, we can say that Poland is enjoying and will continue to enjoy the interest of investors - it is one of the most active markets, across all segments, offering higher rates of return than Western Europe. We have an influx of new capital from the Baltic countries and Scandinavia. Also, the already present capital is still active, such as investors from Central and Eastern Europe as well as a few from Western Europe.

MLP Group has published its 2022 performance figures. The Group’s Net Assets Value (NAV) went up 37%, to just under PLN 2.5 billion (€532.6 million). The value of its investment properties rose 31%, to more than PLN 4.4 billion (€945 million). Consolidated revenue improved 39% yoy, to PLN 279.1 million (€59.5 million), driven by an increase in leased area combined with higher rental rates. Rental income from investment properties increased by 31%, to PLN 152.9 million. At the same time, the Group’s EBITDA (without revaluation of investment properties) improved by 47%, to PLN 135.1 million (€28.8 million). Last year, MLP Group earned PLN 422.4 million (€90.1 million) in net profit.

Ervin Palfy, Country Manager Slovakia at Arnold Investments talked to Property Forum about CEE investment market trends and the growing popularity of cross-border deals.

GLP has been operating in Central Eastern Europe for nearly three years. In that time, it has doubled its portfolio in the region, with a total of nearly 2.5 million sqm of building assets currently under management in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The company is planning new ventures that will reinforce its position among the region’s leading logistics real estate investors, developers and managers.

The rising share of domestic investors has kept volumes high in CEE property markets in the last year and this trend will continue. The overall market outlook is quite optimistic as further declines are expected for inflation and construction costs, concluded panellists of Property Forum's recent online event.