Poland’s investment market is facing new challenges due to the war in Ukraine. The end of the first quarter of the year was partly influenced by the new geopolitical situation. Despite new circumstances, ongoing transactions are closing, which is reflected in Q1 2022 investment market results, summarised by Avison Young. Furthermore, regional investors from Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia are maintaining their interest in real estate properties located in Poland.
“2022 recorded the third-best opening of the year since 2016 in terms of investment transactions with €1.7 billion of total investment volume,” commented Paulina Brzeszkiewicz-Kuczyńska, Research and Data Manager at Avison Young in Poland. This result was, however, determined by three extraordinary deals, which amounted to 75 percent of total volume transacted.” The first one was the office acquisition of The Warsaw Hub by Google. The second and the third regarded the sale of 50 percent of EPP portfolios by establishing two joint ventures. Thus, the retail and office sectors have the dominant share in the total investment volume structure, reaching 44 percent. This is a rather outstanding result after the strong domination of the industrial sector, which is mainly caused by the lack of sizable industrial products on the market.
- 3rd best opening
- € 1.7 billion – total investment volume in Q1 2022
- 23 transactions
Retail market
Retail parks and convenience schemes remain the most attractive retail assets among investors in Poland. Q1 2022 saw nine retail transactions, of which four were due to retail parks and convenience centres, confirming the stable position of retail parks and convenience retail properties on the Polish investment market. Among sold retail parks there were two prime properties transacted to the market newcomers: Park Handlowy Młyn in Wrocław sold to Lords LB and Power Park Opole transacted to LEOFF Group.
Retail investment volume at the beginning of 2022 broke records. The total transacted volume stood at €728 million, which amounts to 73 percent of total retail investment volume in 2021. The 44 percent share of retail in total investment volume recorded in Q1 2022 is the merit of the sale of 50 percent of EPP portfolios to form two joint ventures: Horse JV and Community Properties JV.
- € 728 million – total investment volume in the retail sector in Q1 2022
- 9 transactions
- 4 retail parks transacted
Office market
“As forecasted by Avison Young last year, the office investment market started the year with the most impressive core transactions. While in 2021 number of value‑add transactions exceeded core assets deals, Q1 2022 saw the acquisition of several prime office buildings. The two greatest transactions regarded office towers in major markets,” commented Paulina Brzeszkiewicz-Kuczyńska.
Wrocław’s landmark – Sky Tower was acquired by Adventum Group from Develia. Avison Young represented the seller in the transaction of over €82 million. The Warsaw Hub was sold by Ghelamco to Google (office towers), being the largest single office transaction ever recorded in Poland. This transaction volume represents 35 percent of total investment volume in this quarter.
The regional office markets begin to attract investors again. Three out of five office buildings were transacted in Wrocław and Kraków. In addition, other transactions in Wrocław, Łódź and Kraków have been announced and are awaiting to be closed. All regional office transactions are being acquired directly from the developers. The domination of primary market transactions is typical for offices located in regional cities. The overall share of the office sector in the investment market in Q1 2022 stood at 44 percent.
- € 732 million – total investment volume in the office sector in Q1 2022
- 5 transactions
- 91% – share of acquisition of two landmarks in the office investment volume
Industrial market
Warehouses were the undisputed leader in the investment market in recent years. In 2021 industrial sector took up a record-high share of investment volume in history, reaching 53 percent. Although Q1 2022 was rather modest in terms of new transactions regarding warehouse properties, forecasts for this sector are more than positive. “The decrease of investment volume was the result of the lack of product rather than reduced investors’ interest,” explained Paulina Brzeszkiewicz-Kuczynska.
Over 45 percent of the investment volume transacted this quarter was generated by portfolio transactions. The biggest deal was the acquisition of three logistics facilities located in the Warsaw Agglomeration by Partners Group and Peakside Capital. Following the growing interest in urban warehouses, the city logistic centre in Ożarów Mazowiecki was transacted to Arrow Capital and two MAN Service Centres were acquired by Investika, followed by Panattoni City Logistics Poznań I acquired by Apollo Management.
- € 191 million – total investment volume in the industrial sector in Q1 2022
- 9 transactions
- 45% – share of portfolio transactions
PRS market
Demand for apartments for rent is ballooning. The main drivers of the increasing need for renting flats, both private and institutional, are growing by leaps and bounds interest rates in Poland as well as the influx of war refugees from Ukraine. Above only thrives the investors’ appetite for developing PRS in Poland.
Hines & Kajima have already announced their newly formed Joint Venture, created to pursue development projects in the private rental housing sector. The JV plans to start acquiring projects during the second half of the year. Additionally, the new PRS platform of Murapol and Ares called Life Spot was launched, offering flats for long-term rent in Warsaw and regional cities.
What’s next?
The real estate investment market has already caught up a breath after the pandemic when the war in Ukraine started. Some investors will for sure watch the CEE region cautiously when considering new investments here, however, regional investors remain invariably active. Moreover, the influx of refugees plays in favour of PRS sector development.
“Solid opening of 2022, as well as many currently ongoing transactions, confirm the stability of the real estate investment market. Transacted deals regarded both large and small properties in multiple sectors and the investment market saw also a few newcomers. Despite some turmoil, we expect that the investment market in Poland will continue to attract investors, ” added Paulina Brzeszkiewicz-Kuczyńska.
