Author: Jamrichová Petra, Žufa Radovan
Source: Hospodárske noviny, 10.9.2008, No. 175, p. 15
The entry of our entrepreneurs in a Czech internet shop is bearing fruit for both sides.
The arrival of the Slovak financial group Arca Capital in the Czech online store, Kasa.cz, is bearing its first fruit. Their ambitions of entering the Eastern European market are taking on a clearer and clearer shape. At the same time, the company is invigorating the growth of the segment of online business in Central Europe. Not only have investments begun to flow into development activities, they also have stimulated the company’s working capital. Thus the entrepreneur Pavol Krúpa has been given an even better chance to penetrate the South-eastern European and Russian markets in the realm of private equity and real estate.
Sweet vision of the future
Arca Capital is helping the development of one of the most significant internet business players in Central Europe. As for the firm, this may also turn out to be a far-reaching advance in terms of asserting itself on the alternative investment markets and real estate markets in Eastern and South-eastern Europe. “Our plan is to reinforce our position. In the medium-term horizon we expect to enter the markets of the Balkans and of the Russian Federation as well, which, however, will depend on our project opportunities,” says Pavol Krúpa, founder and majority owner of Arca Capital. It is these future projections which he could reach with the help of his long-standing business partner, Peter Krištofovič. Salve Group, a consulting company where Krištofovič acts as Director General, conducts business in Romania.
Investments and changes
In Kasa.cz there have also been changes concerning the structure of the company’s management. The Slovak investor has become its executive officer and with its 60 per cent share, it is entitled to participate more actively in the financial management of the companies. “However, control over the company remains in the competence of the Kasa.cz management,” confirms Jitka Součková, the marketing manager of Kasa.cz.
The overall investments, which have been directed towards the innovation of the logistics system, as well as to changes in the field of accounting, have reached several tens of thousands of Slovak crowns. “The return of the invested capital is expected in a horizon of two years’ time,” says Karel tefulík, project manager of Arca Capital. Thanks to the influx of Slovak capital, the door to the Hungarian and Romanian markets has been opened to the Czech internet business. “Since Arca Capital entered our company, we have successfully opened a subsidiary in Hungary and have started building up a new team in Romania,” Součková evaluates the company’s current position.
The firm Kasa.cz, which trades in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, plans to avail itself of all possible chances connected with the rapid development of online shopping. Its goal is to assert itself in other European countries as well. “Our long-term aim is to enter the European markets,” says Martin Kasa, director of the internet shop.
At present, online business is experiencing a boom. The success of Kasa.cz makes it evident enough: in the Czech Republic, where the greatest accrual has been achieved, within the first half of the year its sales have grown by 100 million crowns when compared to those in 2007. The internet shop Hej.sk, which is owned by Kasa.cz, has also been enjoying success. Over the summer, its sales rose by 42 per cent; the actual figures, however, have not been given.
