Penta Investments closed 2017 with a profit of €236 million and its portfolio companies' total assets grew by 6 % to €9 billion. Fortuna, Dr.Max , Prima banka and Privatbanka were the most profitable companies, Penta Real Estate's development activities also contributed to the success. The largest expenditure was allocated for investment in the retail, real estate, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

Just because technology can do something does it necessarily mean that we want it to? This was just one of the many topics that Czech professionals discussed at the latest RICS event in Prague which analysed the rapidly evolving relationship of property and technology.

Belgian developer Atenor is starting its latest large-scale project, Aréna Business Campus which is located in the 8th district of Budapest. The real estate developer, listed on Euronext Brussels, bought the 19,000 square meters site under 30 Hungária Boulevard last September, on which a Class A+ office complex of nearly 72,000 square meters will be built.

With the signing of share purchase agreements, Immofinanz AG has purchased 19,499,437 bearer shares (representing an investment of 29.14%) of S Immo AG from member companies of the RPR Group (approx. 14.6 million shares) and the SIGNA Group (approx. 4.9 million shares). The transaction is subject to various conditions precedent, in particular, the approval of the antitrust authorities in Austria, Germany and other jurisdictions. The Supervisory Board of Immofinanz approved the purchase today.

JLL has been selected as the exclusive leasing agent for Infinity - an office scheme in Wrocław which will offer over 22,000 sqm of space. Avestus Real Estate and Tristan Capital Partners are responsible for the execution of the investment.

Panattoni Europe will develop its third manufacturing facility for Ideal Automotive. This time, the factory will be built in Świdnica, at the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone Invest-Park, and will take up approx. 27,400 sqm. Construction works will commence as early as this April, and are scheduled for completion in Q4 of this year. The lease was mediated by the advisory firm Colliers International.

The area of shared offices in Prague will grow by 66% year-on-year. At the end of 2017 the total area was 16,500 sqm, and in 2018 it will increase to 27,500 sqm as the market delivers 11,000 sqm. The majority of these centres have been pre-leased. Shared offices are used in the regions as well. There are 76 coworking centres across the Czech Republic with a total area in excess of 25,000 sqm. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s estimates, the current area of shared offices will double by 2020.

The office vacancy rate has decreased to 7.3%, representing a 0.2 pps reduction quarter-on-quarter - the lowest rate ever recorded on Budapest office market. The Budapest Research Forum published its latest figures.

Zeitgeist Asset Management, a company specializing in property development and asset management services for private and institutional investors, has expanded its portfolio by the acquisition of a new property for a German pension fund, administered by Institutional Investment Partners. The residential project is located in downtown Budapest.

Polish developer Katharsis Development sold a portfolio of five retail parks, recognized under the brand “HopStop”, to CPI Property Group. Disposal advisory was conducted exclusively by Apleona GVA.