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.

Globalworth Asset Managers SRL has entered into a conditional investment agreement to acquire a minimum of 50.01% and up to 67.90% of the issued share capital of Griffin Premium RE, a Dutch entity listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

The growth of e-commerce is transforming the retail market all over the world. Experts don’t believe that physical stores will completely disappear but owners of developers of retail assets will need to come up with new ideas in order to attract customers. Jan Kotrbáček, Head of Retail Agency CEE at Cushman & Wakefield analysed the CEE retail market for Property Forum.