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.

The Iulius Company completed a new office building spanning on over 13,000 sqm in Openville Timişoara, the mixed-use project the company develops together with Atterbury Europe in the vicinity of Iulius Mall. United Business Center 1 (UBC 1) is the second building opened in Timişoara in 2017, after UBC 2 (18,000 sqm) opened in January. Following this latest achievement, the total office area delivered by Iulius on the local market over a single year now adds up to 31,000 sqm.

eMAG, Romania’s largest online retailer announced that it is investing €65 million (RON 300 million) in a 120,000 sqm warehouse which will be built in Giurgiu County, the largest of its kind in Southeastern Europe. The warehouse is due for completion in 2019, zf.ro reports.

Chapman Taylor reported that construction on Expo Business Park in Bucharest is underway. The 70,586 sqm development comprises three separate and self-contained office buildings set over a shared two-level basement parking structure.

Ikea has started the construction of its second store in Romania, which will be finished in H2 2018 following an investment of approximately €86 million, which includes the acquisition of the land.

Globalworth confirmed that is plans to raise approximately €300 million through a non‐pre-emptive placing of new ordinary shares. The funds would be used for new purchases in Poland (two office buildings) and Romania (three office building) with a total value of €410 million. The company also published its latest development plans.

Real estate developer London Partners is to invest €26 million in SoHo Unirii residential project in Central Bucharest, which will have a total of 236 apartments. Construction works started this summer and completion is scheduled for Q1 2019.

AFI Europe Romania has signed the first lease agreement for AFI Tech Park, the company’s newest business park developed in Bucharest. World Class Romania, a leader on the Romanian health & fitness field, will be the first tenant of the campus, by leasing 1,500 sqm GLA spread on the ground floor and the first floor of AFI Tech Park 1. The lease contract was signed for a period of 10 years.