1. New Zealand: Singapore firm looks to acquire hotel operator
Singapore-based investor City Developments Ltd. submitted an offer through its New Zealand subsidiary to acquire all remaining shares in Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand for a price that amounts to more than $32 million in U.S. dollars.
Millennium said in a statement that it has appointed independent advisers to report on CDL’s offer. Millennium operates 137 hotels worldwide, and its New Zealand subsidiary operates 18 hotels in the country.
2. UK: London office investments give strong start to 2025
Three landmark investment commitments for London offices from major global companies in January have lifted the market after a muted 2024.
Norges Bank Investment Management, the investment arm of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, confirmed that it signed an agreement with the Duke of Westminster’s property company Grosvenor to explore investment and development opportunities. NBIM has now made two investments totaling more than £386 million for partial stakes in various London properties, after Broadgate REIT confirmed it formed a venture with an Abu Dhabi-based holding company to develop a planned 750,000-square-foot office project for an undisclosed price.
3. France: Developer Panattoni plans sustainable logistics park
Developer Panattoni has construction underway on an environmentally sustainable logistics park in the French town of Moissy-Cramayel, which has faced prior challenges tied to industrial pollution.
The site is about 30 miles south of Paris and formerly housed a building materials and rubble depot. Known as City Dock, the planned four-building project has some buildings already completed, including one with a roof featuring planted vegetation and a photovoltaic power plant.
4. Germany: Retail property deals rank among largest of past year
Retail and logistics transactions were among Germany’s largest commercial sales of 2024, including a 31-property retail portfolio that investment firm Branicks Group sold to GRR Garbe for €210 million.
An annual listing by Thomas Daily showed large industrial deals included Prologis’ purchase of seven logistics properties from Union Investment for more than €500 million. Thomas Daily’s 2024 list included 74 commercial transactions priced at €60 million or higher, which together accounted for €12.5 billion in deals — nearly half of the country’s entire commercial investment volume.
5. Canada: Multifamily rent increases slow amid population concerns
Multifamily rents across Canada rose last year, but rate increases are slowing as Statistics Canada analysts warned planned immigration reductions could affect population growth and apartment demand.
One of Canada's leading banks added fuel to the debate on immigration by suggesting that while a boost in non-permanent residents was creating some short-term pain, the rising population ultimately would create a long-term gain for the country. CIBC’s deputy chief economist, Benjamin Tal, said Canada’s population has grown by 3.2 million, or 8.4%, since mid-2021. The annual growth rate of 3.2% as of January 2024 was the highest seen since 1957.
6. US: Small Manhattan businesses rebound after pandemic
Nearly five years after COVID-19 upended the largest U.S. office market, New York City’s Manhattan borough is still recovering from the lack of daily office workers. But signs of improvement are becoming increasingly visible.
Some small local business owners, reliant on sales to those in nearby offices, say 2024 was the best year since the pandemic hit the United States. Mike Saeteros, owner of K&M Shoe Repair in the financial district, said sales have recovered to about 50% to 60% of the regular receipts he saw prior to the pandemic, up from a low of about 10%. Saeteros said the negative effect on small businesses like his in the area was even worse than the hit after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
This report was compiled from CoStar’s news publications in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France and Germany.