2016 could be the first year that European office employment levels surpass the previous peak of 2008, according to Colliers International’s latest research ‘EMEA Offices: Is Flexibility the Future?’. The report shows that office-based employment levels in the EU have grown by 5 million, representing a 4.3 per cent increase over the last 10 years and surpassing the previous peak of 2008. 

Q1 2016 saw a further increase in leasing and development activity on the industrial and warehouse property market in Poland, according to the latest report by Cushman & Wakefield. Total modern warehouse stock has exceeded 10.3 million sqm.

Globalworth Real Estate Investments has signed an agreement to offer real estate secured bonds worth a total of 180 million euros. 150 million euros will be subscribed by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and the remaining 30 million euros by funds managed by Cairn Capital (“Cairn”). 

The fact that Budapest is competing for the right to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics has now Been decided, as the capital submitted the initial application materials in the middle of February. The next big question is, will the choice of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) really fall on Budapest, and if so, will the city manage to prepare for the games in time and in a sustainable manner.

The size of office space lease and sale transactions in Moscow involving foreign companies decreased from 40% to 20% in Q1 2016 compared to Q4 2015. Although foreign companies continue to sign new deals, they are choosing smaller offices and re-negotiating current leases to decrease the amount of occupied space, according to a report by the international consulting company Colliers international.

According to the latest RICS Commercial Property Monitor, occupier and investment sentiment continues to be broadly positive in Central and Eastern Europe for Q1 2016. Sentiment in both the Occupier and Investment markets registered a positive value across Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. At the same time RICS has published its Croatia Commercial Property Monitor for the first time.

Prologis announced that it has signed four lease agreements totalling more than 32,700 square metres at Prologis Park Chorzów.

Warsaw-based developer Echo Investment has concluded two loan agreements worth over EUR 317 million with Berlin Hyp, ING Bank Śląski and Helaba – Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen. These investment loans will be used to refinance four office and seven retail projects.

Acting in its capacity as advisor for a German depositary bank, who is currently administrating the German Special-AIF UBS (D) Sector 3 Real Estate Europe, UBS Real Estate GmbH has sold the Nova Praga office building in Warsaw to Mazovia Capital. Cushman & Wakefield and Magnusson Law represented the vendor in the transaction. The building will now be known as Mazovia Plaza.

According to JLL, at the end of Q1 2016, the total modern A-class industrial stock in the Czech Republic (owned by developers and investors) stood at 5.78 million sqm. In the first three months, new supply reached 84,300 sqm, increasing by 112% y-o-y (Q1 2015 vs. Q1 2016). With another 271,200 sqm currently under construction, the 6 million sqm mark of total stock is expected to be passed in the second half of this year. The share of speculative construction increased, nearly half of the industrial premises currently under construction (44 %) being developed on a speculative basis. Developers reflect the lowest vacancy rate in the last decade, strong demand from the potential tenants and a generally positive economic outlook for the Czech Republic.