The Czech Republic came within the top ten countries around the world again this year in Cushman & Wakefield’s annual ranking based on the criteria such as operating costs including labour and the rate of economic and political risk. The country has regularly ranked among the best destination for manufacturers seeking to locate their operations since 2016 when it was included in the chart for the first time. The ability to bounce back after the coronavirus crisis was rated for the first time this year and the Czech Republic succeeded in this respect as well.

Czech real estate group Českomoravská Nemovitostní (ČMN) has completed the €74.5 million (CZK 2 billion) acquisition of two office buildings, City West C1 and C2 in Prague's Stodůlky area. The seller is Luxembourg-registered Capital Financial Holdings (CFH). Raiffeisenbank provided financing for the acquisition.

Zeitraum, a specialist in student rental housing, has entered into a three-year contract with the Anglo-American University in Prague (AAU), guaranteeing 120 beds for its students in the new academic year 2020/2021. The AAU is one of 20 universities with which Zeitraum cooperates and provides accommodation for the AAU’s students on its four newly reconstructed campuses in Prague. More than 60% of university students remained accommodated despite the difficult situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing their studies online.

Czech real estate developer Kaprain Group, owned by businessman Karel Pražák, has launched the construction of the 30,000 sqm Kaprain Harfa Business Center office project next to Prague’s O2 Arena, local daily E15 reports.

DIY retail group XLMX, the company that controls furniture stores KIKA, Möbelix and XXXLutz, has leased 25,000 sqm in P3 Lovosice, located between Prague and the Czech-German border. The new hall will serve as a central warehouse for stores in the Czech Republic and other European markets.

By purchasing the Mezi Vodami 31 office building in Modřany, Prague, the NEMO Real Estate Fund, established by Českomoravská Nemovitostní (ČMN), expanded the total area of its office portfolio to 17,500 sqm. The value of the Fund’s portfolio now reaches €47.7 million (CZK 1.3 billion).

Businesses and landlords needing advice on how to safely bring their staff and tenants back to the office after the COVID-19 lockdown can now receive recommendations within a week from experts at Colliers International. The global real estate consultancy is using expertise from its Workplace Advisory and Project Management teams, within the EMEA Occupier Services department, to provide, quick, detailed and innovative solutions to maximise office capacity – including cost estimates.

Crestyl Real Estate is planning to start the construction of the 39,000 sqm Savarin mixed-use redevelopment project in Prague’s historic centre this autumn, local daily E15 reports. The project, based on the plans of the Heatherwick Studio, will see the construction of new office, retail, leisure and entertainment space within the original Baroque palace, riding hall and its courtyards

Czech industrial developer Contera has obtained a syndicated loan from ČSOB and Komerční banka in the total amount of €155 million. Most of the funds will be committed to refinancing the developer’s portfolio of warehouses and production halls in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which are owned and operated by Contera together with US investment company TPG Capital. The remainder of the loan is allocated to the development of new projects.

Penta Real Estate has obtained a zoning decision which means that it can apply for a building permit for its Masaryk station mixed-use reconstruction project in the centre of Prague. Based on the design of Zaha Hadid Architects, the project has been in the works for over a decade. Completion is planned for 2022-2025.