Genesis Capital (Genesis), one of the largest managers of venture capital funds in the Czech Republic, has expanded its investment portfolio by another acquisition. Utilizing its GPEF II investment fund, it has acquired 80% stake in HSW Signall, s.r.o. (HSW), a Czech and Slovak market leader in the supply of materials and technologies for advertising production and wide-format printing.
GPEF II acquired its majority stake in HSW by the purchase of shares from Neschen Benelux, one of the key suppliers to HSW. Genesis also acquired shares from the minority shareholders.
Genesis’ majority stake in HSW also brings back Mr. Jan William Drnek, one of HSW’s three co-founders. Mr. Drnek left the company in 2004 and returns as its new CEO. His objectives will include building on the best traditions of the company and reinvigorating the company’s growth with the focus on greater productivity and development of new market opportunities.
"The opportunities available in large-format printing have increased dramatically in recent years. The key target market for the next few years will remain large-format advertising. But we also see great potential in the market for printed products used in building interiors – wallpapers, interior accessories, doors, floors, fabrics, and so on. Thanks to the flexibility of our printing technologies, there are many opportunities open to us in the industry. In this context, the know-how developed in the past will be the key building block of the HSW futurel. Participation of the GPEF II fund will allow us to focus our energy on the development of new technologies, which will make it possible for us to offer the highest quality services to our existing and new customers,” stated confidently the co-founder and shareholder of HSW, Jan William Drnek.
Also joining the company as its new CFO and minority shareholder is Mr. Jan Tyl, management a Canadian Chartered Accountant. Mr. Marek Angelis will retain his position as Sales Manager.
About HSW
HSW was established in 1992 and it has been a leading supplier of materials and technologies for advertising production, wide format printing and sign making in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company’s products and services have always been supported by outstanding industry and technical competence which has earned HSW the reputation of excellence. In addition to providing its customers high quality equipment, the company also delivers to its customers a range of other support and professional services. In the area of consumables, HSW provides a range of products including knives and cutting tools used in advertising applications, large format digital printing equipment, photo mounting, orientation systems and display systems. In addition, HSW has distribution agreements for the Czech and Slovak Republics with the following well-known manufacturers: Neschen, Mutoh, Durst, HP DesignJet and HP Scitex, Mactac, Poli-Tape, Multi-fix, Forex, KAPA, Dibond, Intelicoat, Verseidag, Onyx and others.
About Genesis Capital
Genesis Capital’s goal is to help finance the growth and development of small and medium-sized companies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Through its venture capital funds (private equity), it has provided support to more than 25 companies and many of these companies have been able to become market leaders in their particular fields through their collaboration with Genesis Capital. In total, Genesis Capital has already secured more than two billion crowns to help Czech and Slovak companies grow.
Since its founding in 1999, Genesis Capital has successfully managed three venture capital funds that raised a total of almost EUR 100 million. Two of these funds have been fully invested into the targeted Czech and Slovak companies. The company’s currently open fund, Genesis Private Equity Fund II, had its first closing at EUR 40 million.
A partial list of companies in which Genesis Capital has invested includes: Profimedia, Vydis Group, JRC Game, Servodata, pietro filipi, Gumotex, AB Facility, KS Klima-Service and Energetické strojírny Brno.