Benjamin Bettoun, Group Head of Asset Management at NEPI Rockcastle, talked to Property Forum at MIPIM about the company's investment strategy in CEE and the trends that are shaping the future of shopping centres. He also talked about the increasing demand for retail space in the company’s new mall in Craiova, Romania, slated for delivery at the end of 2023.

French retailer Carrefour is in the final negotiation stage to fully purchase Cora’s retail network in Romania and the transaction will be signed later this day, according to ZF.ro. 

Romanian developer Iulius has struck a joint venture deal with W&E Assets, a Romanian-American investment group through which they will hold equal shares of 50% in the two Family Market retail projects completed in Iași County. 

Romanian developer Iulius has inaugurated Palas Campus, the biggest office building in Romania with a total leasable area of 60,000 sqm, of which 54,000 sqm are offices and the rest retail premises. The project was completed in three years following an investment of more than €120 million. 

JLL and iO Partners have announced today that JLL will transfer its existing Leasing, Capital Markets, Valuations Advisory, Consulting and Project Management delivery businesses to iO Partners in Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

Commercial property investment in Romania amounted to €149.6 million in the first quarter of 2023, up by 73% compared to the same period of last year, with the biggest contributions from the industrial and office segments, according to real estate consultancy Crosspoint Real Estate.

Property investment group NEPI Rockcastle will open its new Promenada Craiova shopping centre this October, following an investment of more than €125 million. The project will include more than 150 stores and will create over 1,500 jobs in the city based in southern Romania. 

Hungarian investment fund Adventum Group has achieved the Excellent rating in accordance with the BREEAM In-Use standard for green buildings certification for its Hermes Business Campus (HBC) office project based in Bucharest.

Industrial developer WDP saw a 15.2% growth of its rental income to €80.9 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of last year, while its EPRA earnings rose 18% to €62.7 million in the same period, according to a company report. 

Commercial property investments in Romania could hover between €700 and €900 million in 2023, slightly below the average of recent years, with new deals set to be driven by industrial and office projects, according to JLL.