Former Dufa founder bets on construction supplies

Marius Ivan, who collected 7.2 million euros from the sale of a stake in Düfa Romania, a paint and varnish business, has set up a new business, in the domain of construction materials distribution.

Ivan estimates his business, Global Real Invest, which is due to operate a network of construction materials distribution centres, will reach turnover worth 160 million euros by 2010.

The company was established one year ago and is entirely held by Marius Ivan, who is also general manager of Henkel Bautechnik Romania.

Global Real Invest in 2005 registered turnover worth 6 million euros from its first construction materials centre, opened in the Pipera area.

Ivan also entered the Bucharest real estate market last year. The businessman controls companies whose turnover is totally worth around 50 million euros per year. He owns a 35% stake in Henkel Bautechnik Romania adhesives producer and holds 90% in Creativ Invest, a company developing real estate projects in northern Bucharest. Creativ Invest was set up in 2004 and North Gate Business Center was its first major investment.

Ivan invested part of the money derived from the sale of Düfa stake in the development of Global Real Invest business.

The development plan for the store network entails investments standing at 50 million euros by 2010, to be partly self-funded and partly secured from banking loans.

“The company”s business and development plan for the 2007-2010 period stipulates the opening of another 19 commercial centres in 17 cities of Romania, with 4-5 centres to be opened each year,” Marius Ivan, the sole shareholder in Global Real Invest company, told ZIARUL FINANCIAR.

Ivan says that ten million euros have been invested in the development of the construction supplies distribution business thus far.

Considering the network expansion programme, the total volume of investments in Global Real Invest will reach 60 million euros in five years.

At present, the company has 70 employees and is run by Adrian Albu, its CEO, and a management team that will expand once new commercial centres are opened. The company”s current share capital stands at 412,000 RON (115,000 euros) and is set to rise to 12 million euros. catalin.lupoaie@zf.ro