CBRE has expanded its team with the first humanoid robot available in a real estate company in Romania, PepperEscu. By doing so since May, CBRE aims to use the robot's technological abilities to create synergy between people as end-users of the properties, from office workers to visitors to shopping centres.

On the 30th of August 2019, Iulius and Atterbury Europe will open the first phase of the Iulius Town Timişoara project (formerly known as Openville), the largest real estate investment in the region, adding up to more than €220 million. This is the first mixed-use development in the west of Romania.

Valesco Group, a London headquartered European real estate investment manager, along with AIP Asset Management, a Seoul headquartered asset manager, have exchanged contracts to acquire Twin City Tower office building in Bratislava, backed by South Korean institutional capital, for €120 million, making this one of HB Reavis’ largest transactions on the Slovak office market. The purchase price reflects an acquisition yield of 5.75%. The transaction represents the first South Korean investment in the Slovak real estate market.

The advance of diversity and solidification of the retail market is creating attractive conditions for the expansion of global brands, according to the experts of JLL Poland. One such example is the decision made by Urban Outfitters to enter the Polish market.

International law firm Noerr, together with Vienna-based Austrian law office Arnold, have advised Signa Retail on the sale of Kika’s Eastern European business to XXXLutz. The parties signed the contracts on the sale of the 22 locations in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia on April 26, 2019. The transaction has included both the operational retail business with over 1,500 employees and the 22 properties.

Colliers has appointed Melinda Kovacs as new Head of Landlord Office Agency for Hungary in Budapest.

Following the expansion of its retail real estate portfolio in Serbia this year, UK-based property investor, developer and asset manager Poseidon Group continues to strengthen its Capitol Park network in Southeastern Europe by opening 10 new locations by 2020 in Croatia.

Group BIG CEE Serbia entered into a partnership with Fashion Company to acquire one more commercial centre in Serbia, Fashion Park Outlet Indjija. BIG Group acquired the majority of shares (67.5%) in this project, with Fashion Company as the main partner, which holds remaining rights (27.5%).

Cushman & Wakefield Echinox was commissioned to manage the Eminescu Office building, which has recently been delivered in Bucharest, near Piaţa Romană. This is the third office building that has been taken over for management purposes by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox since the beginning of the year, with the Asset Services department being responsible for the day-to-day management of the building, tenant relationship management, operational supervision, financial services and ownership reporting, through on-site specialists and also from the company’s headquarters, coordinated by Mihaela Petruescu, Head of Asset Services.

During Q1 2019, some 168,300 sqm of warehouse space was completed on the Czech industrial market. In year on year comparison, this was a 20% decrease, but in longer term comparison, the completions level was 25% above 5-year average, according to Colliers International.