The total investment volume in Slovakia for H1 2018 reached just under €500 million, a significant amount compared to the €535 million for the entire 2017 and record-breaking €850 million in 2016. This is the result of several mid-volume level deals slipping from 2017 Q4 to 2018 Q1/Q2, as well as increased liquidity and investment activity on the Slovak market, according to JLL.

Skanska has acquired the 61-meter Waterworks office building in Budapest. The developer is demolishing the 26,000 sqm office building which dates from 1981. Later on, Skanska plans to develop a modern, visionary office complex in the same location.

Forte Partners has signed the full sale of The Bridge office project to Dedeman Group, producing the largest real estate transaction of the year on the Romanian market to date.

Generali Real Estate acquired Małachowski Square office building from Europa Capital Partners and White Star Real Estate, with Savills acting as the buyer’s commercial advisor.

In June 2018, Mint Investments successfully completed the acquisition of the shopping centre Breda & Weinstein in Opava from Avestus Capital Partners. The value of the transaction exceeded €60 million. Mint Investments originally developed and later asset managed this shopping centre for Avestus Capital Partners.

Promenade Gardens, a recently completed office building on Budapest’s Váci corridor, changed owners on 1 August 2018, when Erste Real Estate Fund purchased the 97% leased property from the developer, Budapest-based Horizon Development. The new, dual certified (LEED Gold and BREEAM Very Good) asset of 25,000 sqm has already been chosen by a number of international tenants such as Celanese and Citibank, with more signed deals to be revealed soon.

The end of the first semester has brought to light great achievements from regional cities in all real estate segments on the Romanian market. Bucharest has also performed well and, according to the real estate consultancy company Colliers International Romania, the prospects for the remainder of the year remain strong.

EPP announced the completion of its acquisition of the King Cross Marcelin Shopping Centre. The €91.1 million acquisition is EPP’s first entry into Poznan and brings the company’s portfolio to 19 retail projects.

CTP plans to invest €75 million in the acquisition of properties in Belgrade and Novi Sad as well as further developments all totalling 120,000 sqm of lettable area.

Focus Estate Fund has closed the transaction on the acquisition of the Galeria Awangarda shopping centre in Bartoszyce (Poland). The centre has a GLA of 6,126 sqm.