AFI Europe Romania has signed a financing agreement for €22 million with Bank Leumi Romania for the development of phase 1 of AFI Tech Park, the newest business park the company is currently developing in Bucharest.

Cityland, a Bucharest-based residential real estate agency, will start selling apartments in bitcoin in response to the growing popularity of the virtual currency, profit.ro reports.

Real estate developer Zacaria signed one of the largest rental contracts in 2017 for an industrial space in Sibiu, with the German company Kuka Systems, which will expand its activity in Romania. The new Kuka production space is a built-to-suit project, covering more than 10,000 sqm.

As a response to continued strong demand from tenants in Budapest and Bucharest, Skanska plans to launch several new projects in both capital cities. Marcin Łapiński, Managing Director for Hungary and Romania talked to Property Forum about the differences between the two markets.

Forte Partners have inaugurated the first phase of The Bridge office project located in the Grozavesti-Basarab area in Bucharest. The first building offers 36,871 sqm of leasable space. Its tenants include IBM and BCR. The first phase of the project was financed by UniCredit Bank. Bog’Art was the main construction contractor.

NEPI Rockcastle inaugurated Shopping City Ramnicu Valcea, following an investment of €40 million. With a leasable area of 27,900 sqm, Shopping City Ramnicu Valcea offers 14,000 sqm of fashion brands, a hypermarket and services area of 10,000 sqm and 3,000 sqm of restaurants and entertainment area.

Globalworth announced the successful completion of the non-pre-emptive placing of new ordinary shares. A total of 38.9 million new ordinary shares in the company have been placed by Jefferies International Limited at a price of €8.75 per placing share, raising total gross proceeds of €340 million, in excess of the company's target and oversubscribed at this level.

2017 has not ended yet, but it is safe to say that it has been a record year for the CEE property market. The period of strong growth is not over yet, market sentiment is positive and all signs point to 2018 bringing new opportunities for expansion in the property business. In times like these it is especially important to find the time to share knowledge and make new connections, which is why Property Forum will continue to provide a meeting point for the CEE property industry. In 2018 Property Forum events will be held in Bratislava, Bucharest, Prague, Vienna and – for the first time – in Warsaw.

British group Kingfisher PLC, a European DIY chain present in Romania through the Brico Depot brand, acquired Praktiker Romania, which currently operates 26 units and is one of the largest DIY retailers in the country. PeliFilip assisted Kingfisher PLC.

Auchan Retail Romania, a subsidiary of Auchan, has acquired OK, a supermarket chain which has three units in the Bucharest area, zf.ro reports.