Ukrainian businessman Maksym Krippa, who already owns iconic properties in the center of the capital, such as the Parus business center and the Ukraine hotel, is preparing to expand his presence in the real estate market. His next target is the International Exhibition Center, the country’s largest exhibition complex, located on the left bank of Kyiv.
According to an official statement by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine dated May 22, permission to proceed with the transaction has already been granted. The buyer is Citadel Ventures Cyprus Limited, a company registered in Cyprus, whose ultimate beneficiary, according to YouControl, is Krippa.
The deal involves the acquisition of a controlling stake in ATVT Business Expo Holdings Ltd., which in turn owns a 50.04% stake in the International Exhibition Center LLC. If the deal goes through, Krippa will effectively gain control over the country’s key exhibition venue, which hosts large-scale industry forums, international events, and specialized exhibitions with thousands of visitors every year.
Financial profile of the IEC
The IEC has several key co-owners. Anatoliy Tkachenko and Viktor Tkachenko, directors of the complex, each own 12.49%.
Another 24.98% is controlled by the Asborn venture fund, whose ultimate beneficiary is Marina Dorokhina, the daughter of well-known developer Vagif Aliyev.
In 2024, the IEC showed growth in financial results: revenue increased to UAH 83 million (+71.4%), and net losses fell threefold to UAH 7.1 million.
The complex covers over 73,000 m², of which almost 39,000 m² is occupied by four exhibition pavilions.
The hall areas vary from 6,600 to 10,850 m². Logistics are simplified by 18 entrances and 20 loading gates, which allow exhibits to be delivered directly to the premises.
The IEC’s development: how the country’s main exhibition venue may change
So far, Maksym Krippa has not made any public statements regarding the potential acquisition of the International Exhibition Center. There are also no official announcements about the completion of the deal or specific plans for the development of this facility.
However, in a recent interview with Forbes, the businessman shared his approach to investing. He prefers assets with unique characteristics — primarily those with a favorable location and significant growth potential. Krippa’s portfolio already includes iconic properties in the capital, such as the Parus Business Center and the Ukraine Hotel, as well as significant digital projects: the NAVI esports organization, Maincast studio, GSC Game World, and the Ukrainian Esports Federation.
Given this investment logic, the IEC fits perfectly into its strategy. The complex already has a history of hosting large-scale events, such as the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. And given Krippa’s interest in the esports industry, it is easy to imagine the IEC transforming into a future hub for international events, including esports tournaments.
Although this is only speculation at this point, the lack of official information does not prevent us from relying on the investor’s previous actions, which allow us to outline potential areas of development for the new asset.
In a conversation with Forbes, Maksym Krippa also hinted at the launch of a new large-scale project, which, according to him, could become the next Ukrainian “unicorn.” The businessman has not yet provided any specifics, but emphasized that the future project “will definitely not go unnoticed.”
“I will say only one thing: soon there will be a project that will become a Ukrainian unicorn — and it will be my project. I can’t reveal more yet, but it’s really something very interesting,” Krippa said.
It is difficult to say at this point whether he was referring specifically to the International Exhibition Center. However, given the scale of the complex, its modern engineering, and convenient location, it cannot be ruled out that the IEC could become the basis for a large tech project or initiative with high potential.