In 2017 the Bucharest office market has posted results close to the 2016 record ones, taking into consideration transactions in Class A and B buildings. 2018 is expected to bring growth and new demand from players that are going to enter the market, but also of the existent ones who will extend or relocate. The annual Knight Frank report – European Commercial Property Outlook – estimates that European commercial property markets enter 2018 with positive momentum.

The Iulius Company has commenced the works for the retail component included in the Openville Timişoara project, the largest mixed-use development in the west of Romania. The first phase of the project integrating the current Iulius Mall Timişoara is set for completion in Q4 2018 and will include 47,000 sqm of additional retail premises, 100,000 sqm of Class A offices, a park, a traffic underpass, as well as more than 1,500 new parking places.

The Rezidor Hotel Group announced the signing of the Radisson Blu Hotel Timisoara. This takes the group's portfolio in Romania to four hotels. Radisson Blu and Mulberry Development will create an international upper upscale hotel in Timisoara, the main social, economic and cultural hub in Western Romania - and the European Capital of Culture for 2021.

Globalworth is, according to zf.ro, in talks with NEPI Rockcastle to acquire The Office Cluj and City Business Centre Timisoara. The investor completed a €330 million ordinary share issue at the end of last year and intends to use the money raised for investments in Poland and Romania.

Last year, the total value of land transactions in Romania for real estate projects (excluding the industrial segment) increased significantly from 2016, exceeding the €350 million threshold at the national level. According to Colliers International, about 70% of this value was ascribed to the capital, where land transactions for residential development represented more than half of the investment volume.

WDP is reinforcing its capital in the Romanian entity, being a 51/49 joint venture partnership with Jeroen Biermans up until now. After the capital increase the ownership ratio of the shareholders will evolve towards an 80/20 ratio. This should facilitate the further portfolio growth towards €500 million.

Revetas Capital Advisors LLP and Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. and its affiliates announced the acquisition of Project Nemo, a leading hotel complex with approximately 86,000 sqm of gross leasable area in a prime location in Bucharest, Romania. The complex includes the Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels, featuring a total of 697 guest rooms operated by the Rezidor Hotel Group, as well as approximately 7,500 sqm of prime retail space anchored by high-end tenants such as Burberry and Hugo Boss.

Microsoft has launched a tender to consolidate its Bucharest offices in a new location. The company is looking for 20,000 sqm of modern office space and is willing to pay around €3 million a year for rent, zf.ro reports citing market sources.

P3 has acquired over 17 hectares of land in the vicinity of P3 Bucharest Park with the purpose of developing the park up to 500,000 square meters in the next two years. The new plot of land allows for the building of a warehouse of up to 100,000 sqm.

Globalworth provided an update on a number of initiatives completed prior to year-end: the acquisition of two land plots in Bucharest, an increase in its shareholding in Griffin Premium RE and the completion of the EPP deal.