Increasing political risk on a global level has helped investors look past country risks associated with CEE markets and focus on strong fundamentals coupled with solid economic growth. Jeff Alson, Partner and Head of CEE Investment Team at Cushman & Wakefield talked to Property Forum about his expectations for the investment market.

Revetas Capital, an investment fund founded and managed by an American real estate broker Eric Assimakopoulos, is close to buying the Radisson Blu Bucharest hotel for €177.5 million, according to market sources. If completed, this will become the largest transaction on the Romanian property market in recent years.

CTP will invest €15 million in developing a new logistics park near Cluj-Napoca, Romania. CTPark Cluj II will be located in Floresti, Cluj County and will have a total leasable area of 29,000 sqm.

Panattoni Europe announced the sale of Panattoni Park Warszawa–Konotopa to MEP Industrial Centre Warsaw, owned by M&G European Property Holding Company. The multi-tenant logistics centre comprises two buildings totalling close to 50,000 sqm and is fully leased. After the sales transaction is completed, Panattoni Europe will stay on as the facility manager.

The Romanian commercial property market has turned over a new leaf in recent years. Thanks to growing interest from international investors 2017 is set to become a record year on the Romanian investment market. The industrial market is among the segments growing especially strongly with one player in particular expanding its portfolio rapidly. Ana Dumitrache, Co-Country Head of CTP Romania shared her take on the Romanian market.

Skanska has acquired the Key office project in Prague’s Pankrác district from ČSAD Praha Holding for an undisclosed sum. The developer plans to start construction works before year-end.

Delta Holding subsidiary Delta Real Estate, in cooperation with AP investments, has finalised the acquisition of a shopping mall in Varna, Bulgaria. The project is worth €120 million and it will be completed in May 2018.

Atenor has acquired 19,000 sqm of land on Hungária körút, one of the main road corridors in Budapest. The site provides an opportunity to build a campus of 4 office buildings with commercial spaces covering approximately 85,500 sqm, which will be developed in different phases. Permit application for the first building is set to be submitted by the end of the year, allowing construction to begin in 2018.

CTP has acquired two logistics parks located in Western Romania from Slovak group IPEC for €18 million. The two assets are located in Ineu, Arad County and Salonta, Bihor County and have a total leasable area of 37,000 sqm.

Occupier and investment sentiment remains positive across all Central and Eastern European countries tracked by the RICS Commercial Property Monitor. Results for Q2 2017 show that Hungary and the Czech Republic continue to post the strongest overall results. The vast majority of respondents expect new investors to enter the market with the presence of local and CEE investors predicted to increase across the region in the year ahead.