Ukrainian entrepreneur Maksym Krippa, who already owns such iconic Kyiv properties as the Parus business center and the Ukraine hotel, may soon expand his investment portfolio with another important asset. This is the International Exhibition Center (IEC), the country’s largest exhibition complex, located on the left bank of the capital.

According to information published by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine on May 22, the relevant permission to conduct the transaction has already been granted. It was received by Citadel Ventures Cyprus Limited, a company registered in Cyprus. According to data from the YouControl platform, its ultimate beneficiary is Maksym Krippa himself.

The deal focuses on control over ATVT Business Expo Holdings Ltd, which owns a 50.04% stake in the Ukrainian company International Exhibition Center. Thus, if the transaction is completed, Krippa will gain influence over the country’s largest venue for forums, exhibitions, and industry events.

International Exhibition Center: ownership structure and revenues

Among the main co-owners of International Exhibition Center LLC are several well-known figures. Anatoly Tkachenko and Viktor Tkachenko, directors of the company, each own 12.49% of the authorized capital. Another 24.98% of the shares are controlled by the Asborn venture fund, whose beneficiary is Marina Dorokhina, the daughter of developer Vagif Aliyev, one of the influential players in the commercial real estate market in Kyiv.

In 2024, the IEC’s financial performance improved significantly: the company’s revenue grew by 71.4% to UAH 83 million. At the same time, losses were reduced threefold compared to the previous year, to UAH 7.1 million.

The site covers a total area of over 73,000 square meters, of which the exhibition area occupies almost 39,000 square meters. The complex includes four pavilions — the largest of which has an area of 10,850 square meters, and the smallest — 6,600 square meters.

For convenient service of events, there are 18 entrances and 20 separate cargo gates, allowing exhibits to be delivered directly to the inner halls without obstruction.

What is known about the development of the businessman’s current projects

Maksym Krippa continues to strengthen his position in the Kyiv real estate market. His portfolio already includes key properties in the center of the capital, in particular, the Parus skyscraper, whose acquisition was approved by the Antimonopoly Committee, and the Ukraine Hotel, one of the symbols of Kyiv’s hotel business.

Both properties are currently operating smoothly. Parus remains popular with tenants thanks to its competitive terms, as rents are still below pre-war levels. This allows companies to optimize their office costs. The Ukraine Hotel, meanwhile, is adapting to the new realities and needs of its customers without interrupting its operations.

Will the IEC change: key points about the possible transformation

As for the possible acquisition of the International Exhibition Center (IEC), the businessman himself has not yet commented on this matter. There are currently no official statements regarding the deal or plans to transform the facility.

In a comment to Forbes, Krippa emphasized that he only selects properties with exceptional locations and significant potential. Examples include existing assets such as Parus, the Ukraine Hotel, and digital technology projects such as NAVI, Maincast studio, the Ukrainian Esports Federation, and game development studio GSC Game World.

In this context, the idea of rethinking the role of the IEC seems entirely logical. After all, the center’s infrastructure has already proven its ability to host large-scale events, such as Eurovision in 2017. Given the investor’s interest in esports, it is possible that the IEC could be transformed into a modern space for world-class esports events.

So far, this is only speculation. There is no official confirmation of such a scenario, but the logic behind the businessman’s investments suggests that such a turn of events cannot be ruled out.

Krippa also revealed an interesting detail in the aforementioned Forbes interview, hinting at the launch of a new project that, according to him, could become Ukraine’s “unicorn.” He did not disclose any details, but noted that people “will definitely hear about” this business.

“I will only say one thing: there will be another project that will become a Ukrainian unicorn, and it belongs to me. I can’t say anything else, but it’s a very interesting story,” said the entrepreneur.

Whether he meant the IEC specifically is unknown at this point. However, the scale of the facility, its location, and technical capabilities make it entirely possible to consider the exhibition center as the basis for a large-scale innovative project.