Russia and Poland drive surge in CEE investment volume in 2010

Real estate investment turnover in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) reached EUR 5 bn in 2010, a 90% increase on the total turnover in 2009 as a whole (EUR 2.6 bn), according to the latest data by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE).

After reaching a cyclical low in Q1 2009, CEE continued its property investment recovery throughout 2010 with over 30 property investment transactions registered in the final quarter of the year, reaching a total of EUR 1.7 bn.

Investment activity was particularly strong in Russia and Poland during 2010, which together accounted for 74% of CEE's investment turnover for the year. Russia overtook Poland by recording the highest investment volume of any market in CEE. This was largely influenced by Lenmar Capital's purchase of a large portfolio including five Moscow office buildings for around EUR 690 mln in Q4 2010.

Despite showing signs of increased investment activity, liquidity has remained low in most other CEE markets. The majority of activity has been focused on the office sector, which recorded a five year record-high in terms of its proportion of overall investment activity, at 46% for the year, partly influenced by a limited prime product availability in the retail sector.

Jos Tromp, Head of CEE Research and Consulting, CBRE, commented: '2010 marked the return of interest in portfolios and large single assets in the CEE real estate market. Around 45% of all property investment in the region related to EUR 100 ml-plus deals. Among these larger transactions, the purchase of the Intercontinental Hotel in Prague by Westmont Hospitality Group was one of the most remarkable as it was the first five-star hotel transaction in CEE since the crisis hit the market.'

Other notable transactions in CEE during 2010 included: the largest retail deal of the year in Warsaw, where Unibail-Rodamco acquired the Arkadia and Wilenska shopping centres as part of a European portfolio. The largest office transaction took place in Russia, where a portfolio of five office buildings was acquired by Lenmar Capital for around EUR 690 mln.

Following increased turbulence in the broader real estate sector in 2010, German Open-ended Funds (GOEFs) have slowed down their investment activity in the CEE region, especially during the second half (H2) of 2010. RREEF was the only fund manager completing transactions in H2 2010 (in Poland). Deka sold a building it acquired in 2004 on behalf of its Deka - Immobilien Europa fund.