MOL Group announces the acquisition of 100% of Normbenz Slovakia s.r.o. by Slovnaft that includes 16 service stations in Slovakia operated under the Lukoil brand. MOL has also concluded a deal with Marché International AG to buy the company that operates 9 restaurants in Hungary under the Marché brand. The agreements fit the Group’s “Shape Tomorrow” 2030+ updated long-term strategy, which lays special emphasis on the development of consumer services.

Residential rents in Hungary rose slightly in February, but looking at the longer term, this appears to be more stagnation than a substantial turnaround, the joint rent index of the Central Statistical Office (KSH) and real estate portal ingatlan.com shows. The average rent rose 1.1% in Hungary and 0.8% in Budapest month-on-month.

At the end of 2020, there was more than 39 million sqm of modern logistic industrial space in the region. More than one half (53%) of this stock is in Poland, while the Czech Republic with more than 9 million sqm accounts for about 23% of the Central European market. Cushman & Wakefield analysed the trends in the industrial property sector in five Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia).

Cushman & Wakefield Hospitality supported B&B Hotels in disposing of a portfolio of two hotels to Primonial REIM, a leading independent real estate asset management group based out of Paris, France.

NIPÜF Group has completed its latest warehouse development in its Pécs industrial park, located in Southern Hungary. A long-term lease agreement had been signed for the facility, which comprises nearly 11,000 square meters. The investment volume exceeded €6.8 million (HUF 2.5 billion). The total area of logistics space developed by NIPÜF nationwide is 168,000 square meters.

Hungarian developer Futureal has completed its first-ever green bond issue as part of the National Bank of Hungary's (MNB) Bond Funding for Growth Scheme (BGS). The company received bids worth HUF 59.92 billion for the bonds, which have a nominal value of HUF 50 billion. Futureal subsequently sold HUF 55 billion (approximately €150 million) of the bonds, for one of the largest issues under the BGS scheme. Futureal Group is currently developing projects with a gross space of more than 1 million sqm in Hungary. 

GTC has decided to extend its Hungarian portfolio with the Váci Greens D office building in Budapest. The transaction is partially financed from the green bonds issued in 2020 and is in line with the Group strategy to invest in a sustainable portfolio of commercial buildings located in the CEE capitals.

Hungary-based residential developer Cordia International Zrt. continues its international expansion strategy. After acquiring UK developer Blackswan last year, the company has announced the acquisition of a new office space in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, England, which will become Cordia Blackswan’s UK headquarter. The property developer is set to refurbish and move into a former branch of Lloyds bank. The historical building will not only be home to Cordia Blackswan, but it will also offer modern office and co-working spaces.

The construction of a new building in the BudaPart mixed-use project in Budapest has started. As Mihály Schrancz, Managing Director of developer Property Market Kft., said earlier in an interview with Portfolio in December, the company has signed an agreement with the Radisson chain for a mixed-use development comprising a four-star hotel and office space. The Radisson Hotel Budapest BudaPart, to be built as part of the BudaPart Downtown project, will be operated by the Radisson Hotel Group international chain.

Hungarian residential developer Cordia plans to hand over a record number of homes this year in Hungary. Thanks to an expanded government family support scheme and the re-introduction of a 5% VAT rate on residential property, the company expects sustained strong demand and will therefore increase its offer by more than 800 new homes as part of several developments. Work is continuing uninterrupted while protective measures are observed, with full online customer service introduced last year.