Over the last two and a half decades, a lot has changed in the Hungarian real estate market. Spectacular investments have shaped the image of the capital, while the modern real estate market as we know it today has gradually emerged. The biggest players were already present in the late 90s, including WING, which is 25 years old this year. During this time, the group has undergone dynamic changes, reflected not only in its developments in Budapest but also in its presence on international markets. We talked to Noah Steinberg, CEO of WING Group and Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of Echo Investment in Poland and Bauwert in Germany, about the main challenges of the past 25 years, the strategy that has been most effective in addressing them and the plans the group has for the next 25 years.

NEPI Rockcastle has acquired the 100,000 sqm Magnolia Park shopping centre in Wroclaw, Poland, from Union Investment in an off-market transaction. The sale price amounts to €373 million. Union Investment acquired Magnolia Park in 2017 for the portfolio of the open-ended real estate fund UniImmo: Europa. 

Czech-based investment and real estate group Arete has announced the acquisition of a major logistics park in western Poland. The seller was a joint venture of Panattoni Europe and Kajima Properties. The price has not been disclosed. With this move, Arete expands its operations beyond the Czech Republic and Slovakia, entering the Polish market. This acquisition strengthens the portfolio of the Arete Industrial fund, increasing its total leasable area by 25% and raising the value of assets under management to over €300 million.

In 6-12 months, investors will return to the real estate market in Poland. The desirable assets will be data centres and products of the living sector, including PRS and PBSA - these were the conclusions reached by the participants of the panel on collaborative and alternative investment strategies at this week’s CEE Property Financing Update 2024 conference in Warsaw. The event was organised by Property Forum and hosted by law firm CMS.

Homing Properties will invest €35 million in the construction of 140 villas in Pipera, near Bucharest. 

Immofinanz Group is acquiring a further 28,241,094 shares in S Immo from its core shareholder CPI Property Group, thus increasing its stake in S Immo to around 89%.

Panattoni announced the launch of a pan-European fund that will invest in sustainable, income-producing logistics properties. The Panattoni Income Fund is domiciled in Luxembourg and has an open-ended structure. It is aiming to raise €300 million of equity by 2026 and acquire €600 million of assets, developed and managed by Panattoni. Panattoni’s owners and management team will be co-investing.

Żabka Group has revealed plans for an initial public offering (IPO) without issuing new shares, preparing for its debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). The company’s majority shareholder, CVC Capital Partners, confirmed it will remain a shareholder following the IPO. It may be one of Poland's largest initial public offerings in the last decade.

The Reico ČS Nemovitostní fund (RČSN) has sold its smallest property, the shopping centre in České Budějovice. The building has been purchased by Conseq realitní, an open shareholding fund managed by Conseq Funds investiční společnost (investment company). 

The Reico ČS Nemovitostní (RČSN) fund is expanding its investment portfolio. To its commercial real estate portfolio the fund is now adding the first residential rental housing project.