pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided an investment loan facility totalling €66.5 million for an office portfolio managed by GalCap Europe on behalf of an institutional client. The fund will utilise the proceeds for the refinancing of a mixed-use portfolio with assets in Budapest and Warsaw. pbb acted as arranger and sole lender under the facility.

Upon completing the acquisition of a 66% stake in Wrocław-based developer Archicom, Echo Investment is set to become the largest residential developer in Poland. Nicklas Lindberg, CEO of Echo Investment talked to Property Forum about the recent acquisition, dealing with the effects of the pandemic and Echo’s plans for the nearest months.

After reaching a roof height of 230 metres, Varso Tower became the tallest building in Poland. Now, after the installation of its 73-tonne and 80-metre spire, the Warsaw skyscraper has broken another record, becoming the tallest in the entire EU.

The manufacturer and distributor of household appliances continues its cooperation with MLP Group and remains a tenant at the MLP Pruszków I logistics park near Warsaw. The company will use nearly 23.5 thousand sqm of modern warehouse space.

Cornerstone Partners, a corporate and real estate private equity investment manager, together with Crestyl Group, a Czech leader in developing multi-purpose real estate projects, have entered into a contract to buy Polish residential developer Budimex Nieruchomości. Other partners participating in the deal include blue-chip financial investors. The conclusion of the transaction is subject to approval from Poland's Anti-Monopoly Office.

Growing international interest in pop-up stores has taken hold due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused a reevaluation of both traditional sales models, and customer shopping expectations. The main benefits associated with this particular format are the element of surprise, the opportunity to further enhance a retail offer as well as the chance to attract new groups of customers. Owners and tenants of retail locations are starting to see the benefit of pop-up stores along with many global brands such as Gucci and Prada, which have already responded to current trading conditions. So, is Poland set to see this trend as well?

Echo Investment has commissioned a second office building in My Place, a multifunctional project located in the Warsaw's Dolny Mokotów district. As a result, an urban quarter combining offices, residential and commercial premises has been completed.

Eagle JVCo, the investment vehicle established in 2019 between Vienna-based Value One and Nuveen Real Estate on behalf of its parent TIAA, has agreed to acquire a portfolio of purpose-built student housing and two development sites in Poland.

Cavatina Holding has started construction on the second stages of Palio Office Park in Gdańsk and Ocean Office Park in Kraków. The total area of both stages comes to 34,200 sqm.

In 2020, demand for warehouses reached a record 4.8 million sqm, with supply expanding by more than 2 million sqm. Almost 1.9 million sqm remained in the under construction pipeline. Advisory firm JLL summarizes the situation on the Polish industrial market at the end of 2020.