Ukrainian businessman Maksym Krippa, who owns such iconic properties as the Parus business center and the Ukraine hotel, continues to strengthen his position in the capital’s real estate market. In addition, he manages several companies in the IT, gaming, and e-sports industries. Currently, his name is associated with an important step — obtaining ownership of Ukraine’s largest specialized venue, the International Exhibition Center (IEC).
On May 22, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine issued a decision allowing Citadel Ventures Cyprus Limited to acquire 50.04% of the share capital of LLC International Exhibition Center. This stake is currently owned by A.T.V.T. Business Expo Holdings Ltd.
According to information from open sources YouControl, the ultimate beneficiary of Citadel Ventures Cyprus Limited is Maksym Krippa. Thus, the agreed decision opens up the possibility for him to gain key control over the management of Ukraine’s largest exhibition complex.
Located on the left bank of Kyiv, the International Exhibition Center (IEC) is an important part of Ukraine’s business life. It is one of the main venues for large forums, presentations, and industry exhibitions. The potential inclusion of this property in Maksym Krippa’s investment portfolio fits perfectly into his strategy of concentrating key assets in the capital under the control of one of the leading players in the real estate market.
Assets and financial indicators of the International Exhibition Center
The co-owners of International Exhibition Center LLC are brothers Anatoliy and Viktor Tkachenko, each of whom owns a 12.49% stake. In addition, Anatoliy Tkachenko is the company’s director. Almost a quarter (24.98%) belongs to the Asborn venture fund, which is indirectly managed by Marina Dorokhina, the daughter of well-known Kyiv developer Vagif Aliyev.
The financial results of the IEC in 2024 showed significant growth: the company’s revenue amounted to 83 million hryvnia, which is 71.4% more than last year. At the same time, net losses decreased threefold and amounted to 7.1 million hryvnia. The complex covers an area of over 73,000 square meters, of which approximately 38,700 square meters are exhibition halls. The IEC’s infrastructure includes four pavilions ranging in size from 6,600 to 10,800 square meters, 18 entrances, and 20 loading gates, creating optimal conditions for events of any scale and ensuring convenient logistics.
Prospects for the development of the International Exhibition Center
As of now, Maksym Krippa has not made any official comments regarding a possible deal to acquire the International Exhibition Center. There is also no information about planned changes in the complex’s operations or its modernization. However, given the businessman’s previous investment projects, it can be assumed that the IEC is entering a new stage of development.
In an interview with Forbes, Krippa emphasized that his goal is to create “interesting and beautiful businesses.” Maksym’s holdings include the Maincast studio, the NAVI esports club, and the Ukrainian Esports Federation, which he heads, demonstrating a systematic approach to the development of the technology sector.
Against this backdrop, a logical question arises: does he plan to turn the IEC into a venue for large-scale esports events? The exhibition center, which has already hosted such large-scale events as Eurovision 2017, has the necessary infrastructure and technical resources to host international tournaments.
If the complex becomes part of Ukraine’s e-sports development strategy, Kyiv could take a prominent place on the world stage in this industry.
However, this is still only speculation. The investor’s specific plans for the future of the IEC have not been disclosed, so the public and experts are waiting for official statements and further steps from the investor.
