Poland puts shopping centre offering on display

The two largest commercial real estate transactions in Poland so far this year involved prime shopping centres. In the first half, CBRE Global Investors and AXA Real Estate acquired the majority stake in the retail-led Zlote Tarasy mix-use scheme central Warsaw for EUR 475 mln, and in July Germany’s Union Investment snapped up the Manufaktura shopping centre in Lodz for an estimated EUR 350-400 mln.

US private equity giant Blackstone is also keen on Polish retail. Its special Polish mall fund, King’s Street Retail, added its sixth regional shopping centre to the portfolio in February this year.

A host of other international investors are also searching the country for prime shopping centres. But where are the best opportunities?

This is one of the questions that the Shopping Center Forum & Trade Fair 2012 will attempt to answer. The event, organised by BROG Media Business, is being held at the Centrum Expo XXI in Warsaw on 12-13 September.

Some 900 professionals are scheduled to attend the forum and trade fair. It will highlight 70 shopping centre projects across Poland with presentations and tenant workshop.

The conference programme will feature panel discussions on the key issues facing the industry, including the financing of investment, demand and supply of retail space, market developments and marketing strategies to strengthen the position of shopping centres in an increasingly competitive environment.

For more information about the Shopping Center Forum & Trade Fair 2012, go to http://scf2012.retailnet.pl/en/ or click on the link below