Like other real estate segments, retail has always been adapting to changes in customer behaviour. This evolution thus is a subject of constant investment and innovation, based on the quality and uniqueness of locations. CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna has explored financing challenges together with the importance of data-based decisions in the discussion panel focused on retail.

The BT Property Alternative Investment Real Estate Fund, managed by BT Asset Management, has purchased Prima Shops Oradea park from Oasis Group, for an undisclosed sum.

BIG Poland’s portfolio is expanding with two new investments: Park Kujawia in Włocławek and Atut in Myszków. The total value of both transactions exceeds €56 million. With these additions, the BIG brand now owns 7 retail parks in Poland, located in Łubna near Warsaw, Lubin, Andrychów, Gorzów Wielkopolski, and Ostróda. Including 3 development projects currently underway, BIG Poland’s portfolio now comprises 10 locations.

Nepi Rockcastle has acquired the Silesia City Center mall in Katowice, in the Silesia province of southern Poland for €405 million, in one of the largest shopping centre transactions in Central and Eastern Europe in recent years. The vendors are Allianz (45%), Kamsa Luxco (45%) and Cura Beteiligungsgesellschaft (10%). Silesia City Center extends over 88,400 sqm of gross lettable area (GLA) and is a dominant shopping centre in Katowice, economically one of the strongest cities in Poland, with average spending per capita exceeding the national average by 35%.

We have previously published insights on the recovery efforts in Ukraine, and we would like to share some remarkable examples of how commercial projects damaged by missile attacks are being rebuilt. Shopping malls, office buildings, and logistics centres are often prime targets during hostilities, yet Ukrainian businesses are showcasing extraordinary resilience as evidenced in this summary prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

Property investor Alfi Real Estate Fund has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Planet Koper shopping mall in Slovenia, the company announced on LinkedIn.

Turawa Park shopping centre near Opole (southern Poland), owned by Focus Estate Fund since 2022, is steadily focusing on development and modernisation to meet the expectations of both customers and tenants. As part of the reconstruction, approximately 9,000 sqm GLA of space has been redesigned and enhanced. The project’s total cost was €5.5 million, with financing partially secured through BNP Paribas Bank.

Hungary's Indotek Group completed the acquisition of a stake in Auchan's domestic hypermarket business over the weekend. In addition to the 47% stake in the retailer, the real estate investor will also take over the operational management of the Auchan chain. The competition authority has already approved the acquisition, Indotek said.

UBM Development is selling a non-core asset in Poland for €17.85 million to a Polish entity Rewa. The project Galeria Szperk is a shopping centre with 57 well-known chains, national and local brands, including attractive retail and service outlets in Kosakowo (Gdynia), Poland.

pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank (pbb) has underwritten an investment facility, totalling €38 million to refinance a retail park portfolio called Vendo Park in Poland for Trei Real Estate.