The local real estate market has begun to attract the attention of major Asian investors, as groups from China and South Korea are exploring the potential to invest directly in the primary commercial markets. It is feasible that the first transaction could occur by the end of this year, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox consultants.

Piotr Krawczyński joined the BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland team as Head of Capital Markets CEE. He will be responsible, among others, for acquiring new accounts and coordinating sale/purchase transactions in Central and Eastern Europe. His duties will include advisory in the field of financing real estate investment projects.

Euro Styl S.A. - a Tri-City developer specializing in residential projects and part of the Dom Development S.A. Capital Group - has acquired an investment land parcel located in the Młode Miasto area of Gdańsk, from Atrium European Real Estate Ltd. The vendor was represented by experts from JLL international advisory firm.

Vienna-based FLE GmbH, part of the French LFPI Group, announced the purchase of the Achat Premium Budapest, a four-star hotel with 135 rooms, east of Budapest’s city centre, on behalf of Luxembourg-based fund FLE SICAV FIS.

GLL Real Estate Partners has put the Floreasca Park office project up for sale. The office building is located in the northern part of Bucharest.

M7 Real Estate has completed €75 million of disposals across Central Europe in 2018 on behalf of both in house funds and third party mandates. M7 maintained Assets Under Management in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland at €285 million, with a portfolio comprising 375,000 sqm of multi-let office and industrial space. In addition, M7 completed circa 50 leasing events, including new leases and lease re-gears.

Africa Israel Investments, an international holding and investments company based in Israel, sold the controlling stake in Africa Israel Properties (AIP), the parent-company of AFI Europe.

MAS Real Estate has entered into an agreement with PKM Developments, a joint venture with its peer Prime Kapital, to buy a property portfolio consisting of nine shopping value centres in Romania for €112.97 million. The centres are being held by PKM Developments through three subsidiaries - PK Black, PK Indigo and PK Red.

In 2018, retail investment volume reached a record high of €2.5 billion in Poland. Retail was the second most sought-after sector after offices, accounting for 34% of all investment activity in Poland. Paweł Nowakowski, Head of Capital Markets at Cresa Poland, predicts in the latest “Retail Occupier Economics” report that this year may be equally good for Poland.

Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC has acquired a logistics warehouse in Kraków from global real estate developers Panattoni Development Co and Marvipol SA.