In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, dealmakers are broadly positive about the prospects for M&A in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CEE/SEE), according to a new survey from Wolf Theiss and Mergermarket. Just over half (52%) of respondents said that the health crisis will increase their appetite for deals in the next 12 months.

Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk (Tricity) and Wrocław are among the top ten markets for hotel operators in Central and Eastern Europe and in Southern and Eastern Europe, making Poland the regional leader. Hotel operators are also targeting other regional cities across Poland, says global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.

The construction of two more residential buildings of the Belgrade Waterfront project has commenced. Roberts Construction and Millennium Team have been selected as main contractors for the BW Simfonija 1 and 2 buildings.

CTP is expanding its industrial park north of the Serbian capital, CTPark Belgrade North, following the purchase of a 28,500 sqm warehouse and adjacent land for further development from Austrian-based real estate developer Eyemaxx. As a result, the overall capacity of CTPark Belgrade North now stands at 50,000 sqm, with the landbank enabling to achieve about 115,000 sqm of leaseable space at the location.

IKEA plans to invest €50 million in the construction of a shopping park near Belgrade. The company plans to start the construction of the AVA Shopping Park in the beginning of 2021.

Croatia-based hotel group Arena Hospitality Group d.d.¸ through its local subsidiary has successfully completed the acquisition of Hotel 88 Rooms in Belgrade. The transaction value amounted to €5.95 million (HRK 45 million).

Delta Real Estate has secured the resources and the technical documentation for the construction of the Delta Center business complex in New Belgrade. The complex will include the 26,000 sqm Hotel InterContinental Beograd, in addition to 26,000 sqm of office space. The project will also include an exclusive shopping area and restaurants, as well as a large underground car park.

Immofinanz is continuing the expansion of its Stop Shop retail park brand, as announced, and has added eight locations to the portfolio shortly before the end of the year. Six fully rented retail parks in Serbia and the Czech Republic with roughly 43,000 sqm were purchased from Mitiska REIM, a Belgian investor specialised in these types of commercial properties. In addition, Immofinanz closed the purchase of a fully rented retail park (approx. 5,500 sqm) in Voitsberg, Austria, during the fourth quarter of 2020. The portfolio in Croatia will be increased by one property in the city of Ludbreg.

Demand in the third quarter of the year picked up Zagreb’s office market compensating for the slow market activity observed in the second quarter of 2020. Cushman & Wakefield | CBS International Croatia published its Q3 2020 report for the Zagreb office market.

Building construction markets of the Balkan EECFA countries as a whole have shown resistance during the pandemic so far. Nonetheless, the region is foreseen to have yet another negative year in 2021, before expansion can return in 2022. The EECFA (Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association) has released its Construction Forecast Report for winter 2020.