Swiss Pillar Investments Europe SARL, part of the Swiss Reinsurance Company, has applied to the Polish competition authorities to acquire five warehouse facilities from AEW in Poland.

In our interconnected world, significant disruptions underscore the need for resilient supply chains. The risks posed by COVID-19 to economic growth would likewise affect real estate in the near term; on both counts, the magnitude is yet unknown. Still, structural trends point to resiliency for logistics real estate through this period and beyond, shaping both the fundamental and investment landscape, according to a new report by Prologis Research.

7R will build a modern logistics complex, 7R Park Łódź East I, on a newly purchased 20 ha plot located on Brzezińska Street. This is 7R's fifth investment in the city.

The pandemic declared last week by the WHO has undoubtedly a crippling effect on businesses and poses major challenges and unexpected obstacles to supply chain management. Nevertheless, as always in such crisis situations, there are also companies that come out unscathed of them, even in a better condition and with innovative solutions. Will the coronavirus be a black swan for the Polish market and will it further accelerate the fast-growing e-commerce sector? An analysis by Damian Kołata, Associate, Industrial & Logistics Agency at Cushman & Wakefield.

The COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted supply chains with China and these are now gradually being restored.  However, the epicentre of the pandemic has shifted to Europe, which has brought challenges for producers and distributors. The logistics sector is striving to maintain liquidity. All truck drivers – regardless of nationality – are exempt from the 14-day quarantine required on entry to Poland. Similar exemptions have been introduced by other EU member states. Fast-track lanes have been created for freight trucks across the EU. It’s all in an attempt to minimalize supply chain disruptions, Axi Immo writes in its report.

The global impact of the coronavirus outbreak is currently the main concern of everyone in the logistics sector. In response, real estate consulting firm Colliers International decided to conduct a flash poll asking industry participants (primarily transport/logistics companies, retailers, manufacturing companies, property developers, investors) in Germany about their perspective.

In line with Goodman's strategy to focus its portfolio on gateway cities and major urban consumer markets in Continental Europe, the Goodman European Partnership and Goodman Group have signed an agreement for the sale of assets in Central and Eastern Europe for approximately €1 billion to global investment manager GLP. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, includes properties located in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

CTP plans to develop a new logistics park in Stefanestii de Jos near Bucharest, on a 19 ha plot of about 19 hectares that it acquired last year from Willbrook for €6 million, profit.ro reports. Construction is set to begin this spring.

Sapient Vest, a company controlled by Slovakia’s Slovunit AS, is planning to develop a logistics park in Timișoara. Sagului Logistic Center will spread over 400,000 sqm on Calea Sagului, economica.net reports.

The Arete investment and real estate group announced the opening of its third qualified investor fund, based in the Czech Republic and operating under the supervision of the Czech National Bank. This third fund is to follow on from the successful history of the preceding funds, with the first fund having been closed three years ago and investors paid off with a total gross appreciation of 120%, while the second fund has fulfilled its strategy with its current gross appreciation of over 90%. The new Arete fund will both invest into completed industrial real estate in Central and Eastern Europe and also itself construct new logistics and manufacturing buildings. Its portfolio target value should approach €500 million during the anticipated six-year investment cycle.