GTC signed an SPA to sell its Matrix A and B office buildings in Zagreb to a strong local real estate group from Croatia. This transaction will mark a return on cost exceeding 22% and is about 7% above the book value. GTC’s ability to sell assets well above the book value demonstrates that the current discount to NAV on its share price is not justified.

Real estate investments amounting to around €1.2 billion are currently in various stages of negotiation, while over €600 million in investment volumes were completed in the first eight months of this year, according to real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. 

CTP has officially launched the construction of a CZK 1.5 billion office building which will close the first stage of the Brno Ponávka complex development and will offer its tenants state-of-the-art technological, and environmentally sustainable solutions. At the same time, a modern urban park worth CZK 30 million is being built in the complex, as a cooperation between the developer and the City of Brno, as well as the third part of the cycle path connecting the Ponávka and Vlněna complexes.

The Polish office market has more than 12.6 million sqm of modern space at the end of Q2 2022. Traditionally, Warsaw remains the leader in total stock, with eight major regional markets led by Krakow and Wroclaw not slowing down. An example is Tricity, which joined the ranks of office millionaires in the second quarter of this year. Optimism from rising demand is emerging from the market picture. AXI IMMO presents a data summary for the first half of 2022 on the Polish office market.

HOP, a post-modern office building from the 1990s has undergone a thorough upgrade thanks to Syrena Real Estate. The process lasted nearly a year and reached completion with the opening of the Lupo Pasta Fresca restaurant by  Warsaw restaurateur Justyna Kosmala, owner of Charlotte and the Wozownia Bar. The office building has also recently obtained the BREEAM in Use certificate at the EXCELLENT level and Barrier-Free Facility awarded by the Integration Foundation. The HOP is the first of two development projects in Syrena RE’s portfolio with PineBridge Benson Elliott to undergo such transformation. Work on the other project, the Marynarska Business Park, is underway.

Helaba is providing long-term financing for Czech project developer Crestyl for the revitalisation of the well-known NR7 office building in a prime downtown location in Prague.

Adgar Poland has acquired the Renaissance Tower office building in Warsaw's Wola district from Octava Property Trust. The price has not been disclosed.

With energy prices rising at an unprecedented rate and the system of governmental discounts on utility bills in Hungary significantly changing, working from the office might become a more attractive option even for those that love working only from home. In the coming months, not only employees but employers will also try to reduce their energy use. Energy-efficient office buildings will further increase in value as they will become a more attractive option for tenants. Flex and serviced offices will also see increased demand as they will be able to provide a more financially stable option for tenants with utility costs included in the rental fee.

Aurelia Luca, Executive Vice President Operations Hungary and Romania at Skanska spoke to Property Forum about the flexibility of office space amid the popularity of hybrid working and the ESG criteria that will dominate office leasing and investment activity in the coming years.

GTC has once again received LEED certifications for the Aeropark office buildings located in Warsaw. Zephirus kept its Gold level, while Nothus upgraded its rating and achieved Platinum.