Echo Polska Properties has reached an agreement to acquire a portfolio of retail properties for €692.1 million. The portfolio comprises twelve retail properties of which eight comprise shopping centres and four retail parks with over 620 stores situated in strong regional cities across Poland. The portfolio has an aggregate gross lettable area around 450,000 sqm. The seller is the Chariot Top Group, owned by Pimco (37.5%), Oaktree Capital Management (37.5%) and Redefine Properties (25%).

A subsidiary of NEPI Rockcastle has entered into an agreement to acquire two shopping centres in Poland for an aggregate sum of €249.4 million. Shopping centres Serenada (41,170 sqm) and Krokus 27,728 sqm) are to be extended for a further €212 million thus creating a single integrated shopping centre with a GLA of over 100,000 sqm.

Poland is an attractive market to global investors. Its key strengths include the large population of nearly 40 million, a strategic location in Europe, strong economic growth and infrastructure developments, encouraging an increasing number of retailers to enter the Polish market. Contrary to appearances, deciding whether to expand is not an easy task even for the strongest corporations. Szymon Łukasik, Head of the Retail Department at Cresa Poland wrote about launching new brands on the Polish market.

HBK, asset manager of Direkt Invest Polen fund, finalised the sales transaction of a retail portfolio, comprising seven existing properties as well as development lands for new projects. Master Management Group became new owner of the portfolio. The total value of the transaction is approximately €60 million.

DIY retailer Dedeman has agreed to buy a 27,000 sqm plot in Western Bucharest from Industria Iutei for approximately €6.7 million, zf.ro reports.

Echo Investment has concluded a contract with Bank Zachodni WBK S.A. as an agent as well as Bank BGŻ BNP Paribas S.A. concerning a loan of over €67.5 million and a VAT loan of PLN 12 mln. The funds will be used for the construction of Galeria Libero in Katowice.

BKA development has won a tender to acquire the former Depo retail complex in Belgrade, beograd.rs reports. The Serbian company placed the highest bid of €4.15 million for the complex located in the Vracar area of the capital.

Neinver, a Spanish company specialised in investment, development and management of property assets, has announced the opening date for Prague The Style Outlets, located in the capital of the Czech Republic. A joint project between The Prague Outlet and Neinver, Prague The Style Outlets will open its doors in 26 April 2018.

BMO Real Estate Partners announced the purchase of a high end department store in Prague, which is occupied by Van Graaf, on behalf of its pan-European retail property investment fund. BMO Real Estate Partners acquired the building from MTK Developments, a Vienna-based European real estate firm specialising in value-add investments.

Băneasa Developments, the operator of Baneasa Shopping City in the northern part of Bucharest, plans to expand the mall by 127,000 sqm. The developer plans to invest over to €300 million until 2026.