The property markets of individual countries are affected by a number of external factors, so it is not evident that they are doing equally well in a small region like CEE. What are the strong and weak points of Hungary's property market compared to other countries in the region? How successfully has it weathered the COVID crisis? What will be the best development and investment opportunities in the coming period? These were the questions discussed by the international investors’ panel at the 2021 edition of Property Investment Forum in Budapest.

Pruim, a company managed by Griffin Real Estate, has sold six retail properties with a total GLA of over 107,600 sqm to a confidential buyer. The value of the transaction is €87 million.

Accolade and Aareal Bank have closed a refinancing deal, with a total value of €54 million (CZK 1.4 billion) for four Polish parks: in Bydgoszcz, Białystok, Mińsk Mazowiecki and Legnica. This is a sequel to their previous transaction, concluded last year, whose value amounted to €153 million (CZK 4 billion). Apart from increasing portfolio profitability, the refinancing is also to support the execution of Accolade’s strategy that aims to develop modern business in Europe.

Czech investment group RSBC is acquiring an office building in Prague's Michle district from CPI Property Group. The building, located next to the BB Centrum complex, houses the headquarters of energy company ČEZ, business daily Hospodářské noviny reports.

EPP delivered a solid performance for the first six months of 2021 in line with expectations. Both EPP’s distributable earnings increased by 54% to €33.2 million, compared to H1 2020. EPP’s net asset value per share increased by 3% to €1.12. A swift operational recovery following lockdowns and the progress made in Poland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, low infection rates, a resilient economy, and high employment levels all support EPP’s robust performance and bode well for the future.

Develia Group has signed a preliminary agreement with an investment fund managed by Adventum Group to sell all its shares in Wrocław Sky Tower. The sale price set at €84.4 million, will be reduced by the value of unpaid incentives for tenants. Finalization of the transaction is expected at the end of 2021.

Kajima Europe together with Griffin Real Estate has announced the establishment of a joint venture to finance and develop renewable energy projects located in Poland. As part of the deal, the JV has acquired a 72% stake in PAD-RES, a leading developer in the clean energy asset space in Poland.

Mint Investments’ residential fund (MINT I. rezidenční podfond SICAV) has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of four apartment buildings in Plzeň-Skvrňany with developer Trigema Real Estate. Construction of the 100 apartments for rent is scheduled to be completed in Q4 2022. The parties did not unveil the transaction price.

ConvergenCE closed the sale of the Árpád Center office building at the end of summer 2021. The property at the junction of Árpád Bridge and Váci Road was acquired by Investum Kft. During the transaction, ConvergenCE was represented by Cushman & Wakefield.

According to Savills, the European retail sector is increasingly looking more attractive to opportunistic investors. In the UK, there was a rise in opportunistic interest in the sector in the last quarter, supported by significant yield correction. In Poland, secondary retail assets are being traded at double-digit yields.