Maksim Krippa and his ambitious purchase: what's behind the acquisition of the Parus business center?

Publication date: 16.10.2022

One of the most recognizable and prestigious business centers in the capital, Parus, located in the heart of Kyiv, is once again in the public eye due to Maksim Krippa decision to acquire it. But what made the businessman, whose investment portfolio includes assets from the e-sports industry, invest in Ukrainian commercial real estate? Let's remind you that Maksim Krippa is the owner of the globally renowned e-sports organization NAVI, the GSC Game World company, which created the iconic game S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and the Ukrainian e-sports event lighting studio Maincast, which owns up to 95% of the rights to broadcast in Ukrainian.

What is the Parus business center, recently acquired by Maksim Krippa?

Construction of the skyscraper began in 2004 and was completed three years later, in 2007. Until 2010, Parus was rightly considered the tallest building in Ukraine, with thirty-three floors of glass and concrete with class "A" offices. Its height is almost 150 meters, including the antenna, which accounts for 16.4 meters. In 2010, the business center was shifted to the third place in the ranking of the tallest buildings by the Gulliver shopping and entertainment center and the Klovsky residential complex, but despite this, Parus remains a prestigious and in-demand property.

The total usable area of the business center is seventy-five thousand square meters, with two conference halls for 180 and 350 delegates, two restaurants located on the fourth and thirty-first floors, a canteen on the second floor. The building is equipped with eleven elevators, eight of which are high-speed "Otis" (such an elevator will take a passenger from the first to the thirty-first floor in 30 seconds), one fire elevator, and two "Thyssen Krupp Elevator" elevators, which will take you to the underground parking. And, of course, the parking lot in the Parus business center is four-level, designed for three hundred cars. For fans of a healthy lifestyle, there is a free bike parking for 12 places.

Strategic plans of the new owner of the business center, Maksim Krippa

Maksim Krippa has not yet disclosed his plans for Parus, but some analysts believe that the purchase may result in the creation of an e-sports hub within the walls of the business center. Parus has every chance to become not only a source of rental income but also a platform for the development of the e-sports community in Ukraine. Modernized premises will allow for the creation of offices for e-sportsmen, training grounds for gamers, and the possibility of holding various events and tournaments.

The e-sports community in Ukraine is developing, and if the Parus business center is converted into an e-sports hub, it could become a catalyst for this development. An example of a successful e-sportsman from the NAVI organization, also owned by Maksim Krippa, is Oleksandr Kostylev, known as s1mple, who has been recognized as the best player in Counter Strike three times by HLTV, bringing him worldwide fame and a substantial income. Thus, if Maksim Krippa new acquisition turns into an e-sports hub, it may contribute to the creation of new Ukrainian e-sports stars.

A few interesting facts about the Parus acquired by Maksim Krippa

• A year after the skyscraper was commissioned, in the spring of 2008, three young people performed base jumping (jumping with a special parachute) from the business center. They landed successfully, but the skyscraper's security was fired on the same day.
• In the Ukrainian feature film "Illusion of Fear" (2008), there is a scene where Parus crumbles and disappears.
• The business center became the hero of UMC's (a mobile operator that changed its name twice - in July 2007, as a result of rebranding, it was renamed MTS Ukraine, and in October 2015, it was renamed Vodafone Ukraine) advertisement. In the advertisement, Parus is shown as a mobile communication office.
• The skyscraper appeared in Ukraine's promo video for the UEFA Euro 2012 football championship - the fourteenth European championship, the final of which took place in Ukraine and Poland from June 8 to July 1, 2012.
• Parus can be seen in the music video for the song "Denich" by the Ukrainian rock band "Druha Rika," and it also became a location for the shooting of the music video for the song "Tvoya" by the Ukrainian pop group "NeAngely."
• Until December 11, 2008, the building's roof bore the sign "Concorde" - the name of one of the companies whose office was located in the business center. However, due to the financial crisis, the company abandoned such expensive advertising, and the sign was dismantled.
• In 2008, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine conducted "fire" drills in the skyscraper, which at that time was the tallest building in Ukraine.
• One of the business center's rooms hosted auditions for the talent show "Ukraine's Got Talent." Some of its scenes were also filmed on the building's roof.
• In 2010, the Ukrainian version of the Baltika beer advertisement was released, featuring the skyscraper.
• In April 2011, the "1+1" TV channel aired a segment on the morning show "Breakfast" dedicated to the four-year anniversary of the business center.
• In the Ukrainian humorous sketch show "Faina Ukraina," Parus appeared at the beginning of each episode in the first seasons.

Conclusion

Maksim Krippa acquisition of Parus is not just an eccentric move but a carefully thought-out and calculated investment. It aims not only to expand his portfolio but also to develop Ukraine's economy. In the context of the war and the post-war recovery of the country, investments in new technologies and the country as a whole are especially important. And the success story of the NAVI e-sports organization shows that Maksim Krippa, as an investor, is capable of achieving impressive results.

Comments

Victoria Melnyk: "This is indeed an impressive success for Maincast. The growth of the Ukrainian-speaking audience and the support from investors like Maksim Krippa played a key role. It's important that the company was able not only to withstand difficult times but also to practically monopolize the segment. The future of e-sports in Ukraine looks very promising!"

Oleksandr Tkachenko: "Interesting article. It's surprising how Maincast managed to cope with so many problems and achieve success. The support of Maksim Krippa and the transition to Ukrainian-language broadcasts were the right decisions. I hope that the company will continue to please us with new achievements and high performance."

Nataliia Romanenko: "I agree with the author that February 2022 was a turning point for many companies, including Maincast. However, thanks to competent management and the support of Maksim Krippa, the studio not only survived but also became a leader in the market. The growth of the audience and the increase in revenue are also impressive. I wish the Maincast team further success and new heights!"