In a video interview recorded at CEE Property Forum 2025 in Vienna, Christopher Mertlitz, Managing Director, Head of European Investments at W. P. Carey, talks about recent and upcoming deals and shares his expectations for the year ahead.

W. P. Carey has completed an €88 million sale-leaseback transaction for six food production facilities across the UK, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The portfolio comprises approximately 121,000 sqm and is leased to Valeo Foods Group under triple-net lease agreements.

Colliers has been appointed exclusive consultant for the sale of Haier Tech Europe's factory near Ploiești, Prahova County, following a competitive selection process. The mandate includes representing Haier's interests in identifying potential buyers or end-users from the manufacturing sector.

ITB, the developer of the Čerešne quarter in Bratislava, has launched a pre-sale of apartments in its next phase. A new 19-floor building will be added to the growing city district. 

One of the largest Czech banks, Komerční banka, is selling one of its buildings at 42 Wenceslas Square. However, neither the price of the transaction nor the new owner has been disclosed yet. The transaction was first reported by the online daily newstream.cz. 

Panattoni has completed the €160 million sale of a portfolio of five fully-let logistics parks in Poland covering a total of 230,000 sqm GLA, to a North American real estate investment manager buyer.

Sale and leaseback transactions (S&LB) in Europe reached a total of €8.4 billion in 2020, 8.5% higher than the five year average, with the trend set to continue into 2021, according to Savills. Also in Poland, Savills sees an increasing number of companies willing to take the sale and lease back route mainly in industrial and retail sectors.

2020 was a good year for the Romanian transaction market, with a volume that approached the threshold of €1 billion. Most of the transactions concluded were for office buildings, with a volume of €784 million. Although estimates for 2021 are more modest, we can expect the sale of several important assets to go through this year. Property Forum lists the office buildings in Bucharest that could change owners in the next 12 months.

Plaza Centers N.V. has signed a pre-agreement for the sale of a land plot in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania for €1.55 million.

CPI Property Group announced the disposal of five small retail properties located in regional cities of northern Czech Republic, totalling approximately 25,700 sqm.