GTC signed a €130 million refinancing loan agreement for one of the largest assets in its portfolio, Galeria Jurajska. Located in Częstochowa, the 48,700 sqm shopping centre offers over 200 stores, service points, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema.

Cordia has successfully acquired 63.7 million shares of Polnord, one of the largest development companies in Poland. Transaction worth €31.7 million provided the Hungarian founded developer with a control stock of shares exceeding 65% in the increased capital.

Savills has been appointed as sole letting agent for office space in the three buildings of Business Garden Wrocław, owned by the ISOC Group. Savills has also been the property manager for the first phase of the project since mid-2019.

According to the latest “Occupier Economics” report prepared by Cresa Poland, gross take-up hit an all-time high in the Warsaw office market in 2019. Leasing volume came to almost 880,000 sqm, up by nearly 42,000 sqm on the previous peak year 2015. The market reported an approximately 7% increase in total office take-up in the four quarters of 2019 compared to the annual average for 2015-2019.

The annual leasing volume on Poland’s industrial market reached 3.75 million sqm in 2019. The market grew by a record-breaking 2.8 million sqm while 1.9 million sqm of space is under construction. JLL summarised the industrial market in Poland for 2019.

Panattoni is selling a portfolio of 5 logistics parks in strategic locations totalling 280,000 sqm to an Asian investor. This marks the Asian investor's first investment in Poland and the transaction was handled by Savills Investment Management.

Diamante Plaza, an office building located in Kraków, was sold to Catalyst Capital. Experts from Capital Markets at BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland provided commercial advisory to the buyer and supported him in finalising the purchase.  

Savills Investment Management acquired a logistics centre near Wrocław. The purchase price amounts to €32.7 million. This modern facility with a total area of 46,000 sqm. was purchased by Savills IM on behalf of Savills IM European Logistics Fund 3 (ELF 3) from Panattoni Europe.

Business confidence among Polish construction companies tumbled early this year, with the heaviest burden, as perceived by the enterprises, coming from labour costs and tax levies. Decline in confidence is chiefly due to such factors as an over 15% increase in the minimum wage and a 10% hike in social insurance contributions faced by sole traders operating in the construction industry. On top of that, large construction businesses are required to conduct Employee Capital Schemes (PPK) or the alternative solution of Employee Pensions Schemes (PPE).

Last year saw excellent results in the office sector in Poland. Demand was a record breaking 1.6 million sqm. Total stock exceeded 11 million sqm with regional markets accounting for 5.6 million sqm and outperforming Warsaw for the first time. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of 2019.