With the signing of share purchase agreements, Immofinanz AG has purchased 19,499,437 bearer shares (representing an investment of 29.14%) of S Immo AG from member companies of the RPR Group (approx. 14.6 million shares) and the SIGNA Group (approx. 4.9 million shares). The transaction is subject to various conditions precedent, in particular, the approval of the antitrust authorities in Austria, Germany and other jurisdictions. The Supervisory Board of Immofinanz approved the purchase today.

Zeitgeist Asset Management, a company specializing in property development and asset management services for private and institutional investors, has expanded its portfolio by the acquisition of a new property for a German pension fund, administered by Institutional Investment Partners. The residential project is located in downtown Budapest.

Polish developer Katharsis Development sold a portfolio of five retail parks, recognized under the brand “HopStop”, to CPI Property Group. Disposal advisory was conducted exclusively by Apleona GVA.

Large sums are expected to be invested in property again by institutional investors worldwide in 2018. Based on its “Investment Intentions Survey 2018”, INREV expects around €51.1 billion to be invested in property this year. The largest share of this €51 billion will go to Europe (around 41.2 percent), followed by the USA (31.7 percent). The Asia-Pacific region (17.4 percent) is in third place.

Globalworth has announced the execution of a second loan agreement with its subsidiary, Globalworth Poland (GPRE). The loan is being made available to GPRE for a refinancing of the existing financial indebtedness of GPRE and its subsidiaries and the potential acquisition of two new assets currently under due diligence while offering a more flexible capital structure for the expansionary phase that GPRE is in.

As a result of large portfolio transactions, the first quarter of 2018 on the Polish real estate investment market closed with a record investment volume of ca. €2.05 billion, according to Savills. Taking into account the number and volume of ongoing transactions, we may expect another very good year on the investment market.

Growthpoint Properties, a South African REIT, has agreed to subscribe for shares in Griffin Premium RE (GPRE). The company is to invest between €120 million and €150 million.

An opportunity fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners has acquired a site with full development rights in the centre of the university city of Wroclaw, Poland’s fourth largest city, to build circa 22,365 sqm of prime office space with ancillary retail to be known as ‘Infinity’.

PGGM Private Real Estate and Redevco, one of Europe’s leading retail real estate investment managers have launched Urban Retail Ventures, a €550 million European commercial real estate joint venture. Urban Retail Ventures will invest in the most favourable shopping and leisure destinations in Europe, focusing on cities that are winning the battle as quality retail locations.

Majority shareholder Lone Star (LSREF III GTC Investments B.V.) has informed developer Globe Trade Center (GTC) that it is considering the sale of entire 61.1 percent stake in the company. Lone Star appointed J.P.Morgan and UBS to assist them in this strategic review.