The group’s NAV rose to € 590 million and has reached € 1.2 billion according to internal valuations. Penta’s total assets amounted to € 1.7 billion.
"We now have investments in as many as 11 countries and expansion is our main priority. We are adapting our investment criteria and internal processes to our new geographic footprint and we want to become a leading mid-size investment group in the European market by 2013," said Jaroslav Haščák, Managing Partner at Penta Investments.
The key companies contributing to the group’s success in the field of private equity investments include Slovalco, PPC Energy Group, ZSNP, Fortuna, Dr. Max and the Żabka retail chain. In the course of last year, Penta successfully revitalised the training aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody and brought it back into black figures. The consolidated sales of almost 30 portfolio companies reached € 1.3 billion and Penta’s average IRR in private equity has been at the level of 50% since 2000.
"Under our new investment criteria, we target projects in the range of € 100–250 million and since 2007 we have focused on investments with a potential of international expansion," added Jaroslav Haščák.
In the real estate segment, Penta has worked its way to become one of the three leading developers in Slovakia in terms of already made and planned investments, as well as the area of development land. In 2007, Penta commenced the 2nd phase of construction of the Digital Park office centre, which will provide the Bratislava market with 40 thousand sq. m. of leasable area. Another project in Bratislava called "The Port" – a new city district with top-notch, world-class architecture and a wide range of leisure and shopping facilities to be followed by housing projects, service facilities and office buildings – is at the final preparatory stage.