Goodman strengthens presence in Central Europe Wednesday 8 October 2008 Goodman has announced further, major commitments in Central Europe, as part of its continuing investment strategy within the region. First, in a move to consolidate and strengthen its operations in Poland, Goodman has appointed Blazej Ciesielczak as General Manager for Poland with effect from 1 November 2008. Mr Cielsieczak joins Goodman from SEGRO, one of the largest developers of industrial space in Poland. With the company’s business model focusing strongly on local knowledge and understanding, Mr Cielsieczak’s extensive property expertise in Poland will be an important element in supporting the group’s growth there, and in managing its offices in the country.
With this appointment, Goodman confirmed that in addition to its offices in Warsaw and Cracow, it is to open a third office in Poland – in Poznan in west-central Poland. Situated close to the German border, on the main highways between Western and Eastern Europe and Gdansk and Prague, Poznan is home to a range of international companies, developers and investors in the food processing, furniture and transport and logistics industries.
Meanwhile, as the logistics and distribution sector continues to spread further eastwards, Goodman has made a major commitment in Romania, with the opening of a new office in Bucharest, and the appointment of Müler Onofrei as General Manager for Romania with immediate effect. Mr Onofrei, who joins Goodman from the Bucharest property company, Aleph Properties, gained much of his early experience in the logistics and industrial markets in Romania through his position as Country Manager for Prologis and, before that, at CBRE Eurisko.
In Hungary, Goodman has made a significant impact, with the acquisition of two major development sites, involving, together, the creation of more than 175,000 m² of Class A logistics and warehousing accommodation.
In the first deal, Goodman acquired a 155,000-m² development opportunity covering an area of approximately 31 ha (76 acres) at the Ullo Airport Logistics Centre, currently one of Budapest’s fastest growing consumer and logistics hubs, adjacent to the international airport. Evidence of the strength of the scheme and of the market was witnessed as the purchase concluded, with Goodman agreeing a major, back-to-back leasing deal with Rossmann, the German health and beauty chain, on a unit of some 27,000 m².
In the second, at Gyal-Budapest, Goodman has acquired a 21,000-m² warehousing development site, immediately adjacent to another, existing unit within its portfolio, currently let to Hopi. One of the most important logistics locations in the Budapest area, the Goodman Gyal-Budapest site is located at the junction of two major motorways, and covers an area of approximately 6.23 ha (15 acres).
Also in Hungary, Goodman has this week handed over a brand new, tailor-made warehouse of more than 10,000 m² to Bertrans, the dominant logistics player in the south of Hungary, specializing in the management of warehousing, transport and customs activities for local and international customers. Its rapidly expanding business prompted the need for additional logistics space. Hence the arrangement with Goodman which involved the group taking over Bertrans’ existing logistics park including a 44,000-m² plot of land in Kecskemet, two further warehouses totalling some 13,500 m², and an office building of 1,375 m². At the same, Goodman acquired an adjacent plot of land, on which it built the new, 10,000-m² warehousing facility, where Bertans has now taken occupation.
Finally, in Slovakia, Goodman has seen strong market conditions, with Phase I of its high quality Senec Logistics Centre being 100% fully let upon completion. Comprising a net lettable area of around 45,000 m² of a total 180,000 m², Phase I has attracted a range of highly-rated occupiers, including Hopi, Gebrueder Weiss for Whirlpool and Fiege.
Speaking about the group’s increasing profile in and commitment to Central Europe, Valérie Vanbiervliet, Regional Director CEE and Benelux at Goodman said: “The logistics sector is one of the fastest growing sectors across Central Europe, as businesses reach for new markets in the Central and Eastern European region. We are therefore seeing major growth in the contract logistics and transportation industries, with demand for modern, high quality warehouse space well exceeding supply in a number of locations. We believe, therefore, that the combination of our commitment to providing high quality, international-standard logistics accommodation and our policy of employing local people with real, grass-roots knowledge of the market, puts us in a strong position of being able to read the market going forward.”
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