Join Craig Smith and Winston Norman on the Coffee with Craig Show for your daily dose of CRE news in the CEE region, brought to you by EuropaProperty.com.
NEPI Rockcastle Buys Silesia City Center for €405 million
In one of the biggest shopping centre deals in Central and Eastern Europe in recent years, NEPI Rockcastle has purchased the Silesia City Center mall in Katowice. The transaction, worth €405 million, includes 88,400 sqm of gross lettable area, making it a key player in the region.
The mall is located in Katowice, one of Poland’s wealthiest cities, where average spending per person is 35 percent above the national average. Its anchor stores include big names like Zara, H&M, Kaufland, Media Markt, and Primark. With an impressive 98.4 percent occupancy rate and a regional catchment area of 2.2 million people, it’s one of the most visited shopping destinations in the area.
NEPI Rockcastle CEO, Rüdiger Dany, expressed gratitude for the company’s investors, following a successful €300 million equity raise in October. This purchase comes shortly after NEPI acquired Magnolia Park in Wroclaw for €373 million earlier this year.
pbb Supports Trei Real Estate with €38 Million for Polish Retail Parks
pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided €38 million to refinance the Vendo Park retail portfolio in Poland, owned by Trei Real Estate.
The portfolio includes 10 retail parks in Poland’s medium and smaller-sized cities, featuring 43,000 sqm of GLA. These properties are strategically located with excellent road access and proximity to residential neighbourhoods, housing a strong mix of tenants.
Dieter Knittel, Head of CEE at pbb, expressed pride in supporting Trei, calling them a key client. Meanwhile, Matthias Schultz, CFO of Trei, highlighted the partnership’s role in unlocking equity for investments in Poland and the U.S., stating pbb has been a reliable finance partner since 2020.
UBM Sells Polish Shopping Center for €18 Million
UBM Development has sold the Galeria Szperk shopping centre in Kosakowo, Poland, to local buyer Rewa for €17.85 million.
Galeria Szperk, featuring nearly 60 retail outlets across 23,000 sqm, opened in 2012 as a joint venture between UBM and Immofinanz Group.
Thomas G. Winkler, CEO of UBM Development AG, emphasized the company’s liquidity-first strategy for 2024, stating that this sale aligns with their financial goals.
Panattoni Secures €21 Million for High-Tech Warsaw Distribution Center
Panattoni has secured almost €21 million from Bank Millennium to develop a cutting-edge logistics hub near Warsaw for Auchan Polska.
The 18,000 sqm facility will feature fully robotic systems designed to enhance Auchan’s e-commerce capabilities, offering customers access to up to 40,000 products. Construction began in Q3 2024, with completion scheduled for June 2025 and operations launching by Q4 2025.
The facility is also on track to receive BREEAM certification with an Excellent rating, ensuring reduced operating costs and sustainable operations.
Hilton Makes Moldovan Debut with €5 Million Investment
Hilton is entering Moldova’s hospitality market with the opening of a Hilton Garden Inn in Chișinău. The project will transform the historic Dacia Hotel in the city centre, with an initial investment of €5 million, set to grow to €10–12 million. The revamped hotel, expected to open in 2026, aims to meet Hilton’s global standards while boosting Moldova’s tourism sector.
Natalia Bejan, Director of Invest Moldova Agency, called Hilton’s entry a milestone for the country, highlighting its potential to enhance tourism and economic growth. Meanwhile, Iulia Scurtu, Manager of the Dacia Hotel, expressed confidence in the project’s success in delivering world-class service to local and international guests.
