Properties worth up to 3.88 billion EUR have switched owners since January. Advisory firm JLL analyzes the investment transactions concluded in the commercial real estate sector in Poland.
“By the end of July 2018, total investment volume in Poland amounted to nearly 3.88 billion EUR. There is a chance that this year will yield record-breaking results due to various factors including the scheduled finalization of multiple transactions. We expect a volume of over 5.5 billion EUR in total across all segments of the commercial real estate market”, comments Agata Sekuła, Head of Retail Investment CEE, JLL.
Poland strong in retail
In the period from January to the end of July 2018, the Polish commercial real estate market was dominated by retail investment transactions (approx. 2.07 billion EUR). The office sector accounted for investment deals with a volume of approx. 1.21 billion EUR, the industrial sector came in with ca 530 million EUR followed by approx. 70 million EUR for the hotel sector.
“The retail sector was the most active in 2018. To date, investors have finalized retail investment transactions for a total of about 2.07 billion EUR, which constitutes 53% of the total volume registered across all sectors. Interestingly, this is also the same result as a retail investment volume for the entire 2017. This number includes the latest transaction from 31st July in which EPP acquired King Cross Marcelin shopping centre in Poznań for 91.1 million EUR. The buyer was advised on this transaction by JLL. Taking into account the ongoing finalization processes of transactions and the availability of products, the retail investment volume is likely to exceed 3 billion EUR by the end of the year”, adds Agata Sekuła.
So far, this year's largest investment transaction completed in Poland was an acquisition of a portfolio of 28 retail properties by a Griffin-led consortium from ARES/AXA/Apollo Rida, for approximately 1 billion EUR. Griffin has sold the first part of the acquired objects to EPP with the other two installments to be finalized with EPP by 2020. Another key retail transaction this year was the sale of Galeria Katowicka by Meyer Bergman to EPF for an undisclosed amount.
Yields for prime shopping centers remained stable at 4.9%.
Offices, warehouses and hotels targeted by investors
In the first half of the year, the total volume of transactions concluded on the office market in Poland was approximately 938 million EUR with the regional cities accounting for 569 million EUR, and Warsaw 369 million EUR. The bullish mood on the office market is set to continue to the end of the year. In July alone, we witnessed transactions of more than 270 million EUR and we are still waiting for the finalization of some very significant transactions. This segment of the market is characterized by stability and liquidity
The largest office transactions concluded since the beginning of 2018 include the purchase of, i.a. B4B in Kraków and Silesia Towers in Katowice by Revetas and Goldman Sachs from TPG for approx. 325 million EUR; the purchase of a 50% stake in Warsaw Spire A by Madison International Realty from Ghelamco for about 175 million EUR, and the sale of Quattro Business Park in Kraków by Starwood Capital Group to Globalworth for 139 million EUR.
Prime office yields in Warsaw now stand at 4.75%, underpinned by a number of deals in due diligence. Core regional city yields now stand at 5.75%.
“The market is expecting spectacular results in the industrial segment, where the transaction volume may well exceed 1 billion EUR by the end of 2018. For funds operating in this sector, prime properties are of particular importance. In the first half of 2018 the total volume of transactions was around 344 million EUR .In July we had the pleasure to advise on a purchase transaction on a logistics portfolio conducted by Redefine/Griffin worth nearly 200 million EUR. We expect that in the next few months, a number of large industrial portfolios will change owners for more than 500 million EUR in total”, adds Tomasz Puch.
The most significant transactions thus far include the purchase of nine logistics parks developed by Panattoni Europe by Redefine/Griffin; the purchase of the Szczecin-based Amazon centre by Vestas Investment Management from Invesco for approx. 110 million EUR. Prologis Park Sochaczew also changed its owner with the project being purchased by Ares.
Prime warehouse yields stand at 6.50% with exceptional, long leased assets trading well below 6.00%.
The hotel segment saw stable results for the first six months of 2018. Union Investment took over Holiday Inn in Warsaw for approx. 41 million EUR and Park Inn in Kraków for around 26 million EUR from UBM Development.
JLL participating in transactions worth 2 billion EUR
The volume of investment transactions concluded with the JLL advisory during the period between January and July 2018 exceeded 2 billion EUR. We represented funds in some of the most spectacular deals concluded in Poland. These included 28 retail properties (Chariot portfolio) on behalf of ARES / AXA/Apollo Rida; Galeria Katowicka – on behalf of Meyer Bergman, Warsaw Spire A – on behalf of Ghelamco, Quattro Business Park – on behalf of Starwood Capital Group, and a portfolio of nine logistics Panattoni properties – on behalf of Redefine/Griffin