Irish fashion retailer Primark opened its first store in Slovenia at Citypark in Ljubljana. The mall was completely renovated around the popular anchor tenant by Citypark operator SES Spar European Shopping Centers, following a refurbishment investment of €20 million.

The advance of diversity and solidification of the retail market is creating attractive conditions for the expansion of global brands, according to the experts of JLL Poland. One such example is the decision made by Urban Outfitters to enter the Polish market.

International law firm Noerr, together with Vienna-based Austrian law office Arnold, have advised Signa Retail on the sale of Kika’s Eastern European business to XXXLutz. The parties signed the contracts on the sale of the 22 locations in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia on April 26, 2019. The transaction has included both the operational retail business with over 1,500 employees and the 22 properties.

Following the expansion of its retail real estate portfolio in Serbia this year, UK-based property investor, developer and asset manager Poseidon Group continues to strengthen its Capitol Park network in Southeastern Europe by opening 10 new locations by 2020 in Croatia.

Group BIG CEE Serbia entered into a partnership with Fashion Company to acquire one more commercial centre in Serbia, Fashion Park Outlet Indjija. BIG Group acquired the majority of shares (67.5%) in this project, with Fashion Company as the main partner, which holds remaining rights (27.5%).

Flow East has announced that its new development, currently under construction on Wenceslas Square, will be named "The Flow Building". The mixed-use project will offer nearly 15,000 sqm of Class A office space and 6,000 sqm of high-quality retail space upon its completion in 2020.

JLL advised Atrium European Real Estate Limited in the disposal process of two Polish shopping centres, namely Atrium Felicity and Atrium Koszalin to the ECE European Prime Shopping Centre Fund II, managed by the independent fund managing company ECE Real Estate Partners. The parties signed on 9th May 2019 an agreement concerning the sale of both assets for €298 million, representing around 3% premium to book value as at 31 March 2019. The transaction is subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions precedent and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019.

Lidl has opened its first logistics centre in the eastern part of Romania, in the town of Roman, Neamt county.

JSE-listed EPP successfully completed an equity raise of ZAR 1.45 billion equating to approximately €90 million. The Polish retail company will use the equity to fund tranche 2 of its M1 portfolio transaction. The company expects to complete tranche 2 of the M1 transaction by June of this year. The deal is expected to add an additional 184,000 sqm of retail GLA to EPP’s portfolio.

Developers are revising their strategies. The convenience centre and mixed-use projects segment is growing. 2019 could see 430,000 sqm of new retail space in Poland. JLL summarised conditions on Poland's retail market at the end of Q1 2019.