In Świdnik, near Lublin, a cross-docking terminal of around 5,165 sqm was constructed and has now completed its BREEAM certification with a rating of ‘Very Good’. The centre is partially powered with electricity from renewable energy sources and with the application of sustainable solutions CO2 emissions have been reduced by around 30 pct and water usage has been cut by 67 pct. Almost PLN 50 mln has been invested in the project.

Publicly traded Hungarian real estate brokerage firm Duna House has released its metrics for the first quarter. Duna House started the year with record quarterly volumes in all of its core business lines in the middle of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a series of record highs in 2020, the first quarter, which is usually weak seasonally, brought all-time records in both real estate and credit brokerage in 2021: franchise real estate brokerage grew by 36%, own office real estate brokerage by 37% and credit brokerage by 6% year-on-year.

Immofinanz has sold four office buildings in Warsaw to the Indotek Group, a Hungarian real estate firm. The buildings have a total rental space of approximately 45,300 sqm. The sales price amounts to €72.5 million.

UK investor Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC (ASLI) has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the Panattoni Lodz City VIII logistics park for €28 million.

Czech investment fund Investika has appointed real estate advisory firm Savills as property manager for its new acquisition Szyperska Office Center in Poznań. Savills will also once again act as an office leasing agent for the building after a short break.

Dino Polska opened 59 new stores in the first quarter of this year, compared to 16 y/y. At the end of March 2021, the chain consists of 1,532 stores, compared to 1,234 a year earlier.

pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided an investment loan facility totalling €115 million to a fund managed by the Real Estate Group of Ares Management Corporation (Ares), which will utilise the proceeds for the acquisition financing of a logistics portfolio in Poland. pbb acted as arranger and sole lender under the facility.

In 2020, we saw a significant shift in the perception of warehouses and the role they play in the economy. Investors now see them as highly valuable assets. Tomasz Lubowiecki, President of the Board at Polish logistics developer 7R talked to Property Forum about prosperity on the warehouse market, last mile logistics and difficulties around nearshoring.

Polish developer Cavatina Holding, which has been active in the regional cities of Poland, has recently announced plans to go public. Rafał Malarz, CEO of the company talked to Property Forum about investing in large mixed-use projects, the future of the PRS sector in Poland, possible changes in the retail and office markets and shared some details about the upcoming IPO.

Henley Investments, a private equity real estate firm based in the UK, has purchased its first Polish shopping centre, Galeria Pestka in Poznań, from a global investment manager.