A Track Record of Success

Darko Horvat’s professional journey started back in 1989, when he established his first business venture whilst studying at university. Since then he has navigated across multiple sectors, global regions and corporations, with his people first approach to business.

1990

Started international diversification and began investing in various businesses and companies in CEE (Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia etc.).

1990

1991

First Investments in Human Capital – sponsored talented individuals – tuition fees for MBA study abroad.

1991

1993

Founded IIBS – Institute for International Business Studies

Joint venture with a consortium of 13 American Universities (known today as CIMBA Italy) which introduced MBA programmes in Italy and Slovenia, empowering over 100 Slovenian graduates.

1993

Set up joint venture with EPIC – European Privatisation and Investment Corporation – for M&A and investment advisory.

Providing investment advisory services to large multinationals investing in Slovenia and the CEE (Lafarge, Telekom Austria, Ruhrgas etc..).
Advised Mobilkom Austria to purchase local mobile operator SIMOBIL. This was the largest investment made by an Austrian company in Slovenia at the time.

1993

1994

Set up a regulated fund management company (Aktiva DZU) to participate in the highly regulated privatisation process in Slovenia (EPIC–10% partner in the fund management company

Proactive value-based management of portfolio investments and significant value creation.

1994

1995

Opened a representative office in Israel (Mr. Adi Rosenfeld) and start investing in Israeli tech sector.

1995

1996-98

First Investments in high tech Israel (mobile, nano technology, healthtech), Europe (DACH), and the USA (edutech).

1996-98

2000

Acquisition of Atena Fund Management to become the largest privatisation fund management company in Slovenia, with 15% market share, and the most successful investor in the Slovenian privatisation process, by initiating public takeover bids of listed closed-end investment funds under management.

Over EUR 150 million paid to all minority shareholders (over 120,000 Slovenian citizens) at fair market value.
Delivered on public promise, that everyone investing in privatisation investment funds managed by Aktiva DZU would be able to sell their share

2000

2001

Participated (together with Bank Hapoalim as minority partner) in a public tender to buy the control of the second largest Slovenian bank, NKBM.

2001

2002

Horvat moved to London to focus on and accelerate his global investments, stepping away from day-to-day management in Slovenia

2002

International trustees managing the family office appointed new board members, empowered the local management team in Slovenia and began to divest all remaining assets and former Aktiva Fund investments over time.

2002

2002 - 2011

Concluded all payouts made to minority shareholders of the publicly listed Aktiva, Atena, Arkada investment funds, within the last remaining public entities. By 2011, trustees had divested all the last remaining assets.

2002 - 2011

2002

Established the Horvat Family Foundation (formerly Aktiva Foundation) to help the underprivileged young population in northeast Slovenia

2002

Bought control of IDB – largest conglomerate in Israel ($840 million) (IDB, 100+ companies), together with local partners.

2002

Bought control in pharmaceuticals company, Hemofarm, and executed strategy to become a market leader via organic growth and acquisitions, alongside investments in new markets and manufacturing plants (achieved within the initial four years).

2002

Started a WestEast Bank in Bulgaria – joint venture with Slovenia’s largest bank NLB, which participated as a 24% minority partner.

2002

2006

Sold Hemofarm to Stada Arzneimittel AG.

This was the largest transaction between Serbia and Germany at the time (approx. EUR 600m million)

2006

2010

Global Leaders

Named among the Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum (DAVOS)

2010

2006 – present

The Horvat Family Office (THFAO) has since invested or co-invested in controlling stakes or significant positions in private and public companies across various sectors with institutional partners, management teams, private investors and family offices:

Financial services (USA, India)
Industrials (Europe)
PE, Hedge funds (USA, UK)
Commercial and residential real estate (Europe, USA, Africa)
Tech (fintech, AI, healthcare ,..) (USA, Europe, Israel)
Natural resources (USA, Europe, Asia, Africa)

2006 – present

Darko Horvat

A Track Record of Success

Darko Horvat’s professional journey started back in 1989, when he established his first business venture whilst studying at university. Since then he has navigated across multiple sectors, global regions and corporations, with his people first approach to business.

First company started by Darko Horvat, while studying electrical engineering in Ljubljana

Started international diversification and began investing in various businesses and companies in CEE (Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia etc.).

First Investments in Human Capital – sponsored talented individuals – tuition fees for MBA study abroad.

Founded IIBS – Institute for International Business Studies

Set up joint venture with EPIC – European Privatisation and Investment Corporation – for M&A and investment advisory.

Set up a regulated fund management company (Aktiva DZU) to participate in the highly regulated privatisation process in Slovenia (EPIC–10% partner in the fund management company

Opened a representative office in Israel (Mr. Adi Rosenfeld) and start investing in Israeli tech sector.

First Investments in high tech Israel (mobile, nano technology, healthtech), Europe (DACH), and the USA (edutech).

Set up a VC and Hedge Fund of Funds.

Established the Petra Foundation, promoting peace between Arab and Jewish populations in Israel.

Acquisition of Atena Fund Management to become the largest privatisation fund management company in Slovenia, with 15% market share, and the most successful investor in the Slovenian privatisation process, by initiating public takeover bids of listed closed-end investment funds under management.

Participated (together with Bank Hapoalim as minority partner) in a public tender to buy the control of the second largest Slovenian bank, NKBM.

Selected as one of three shortlisted bidders (along with Bank of Austria, Unicredit).

Horvat moved to London to focus on and accelerate his global investments, stepping away from day-to-day management in Slovenia

Opened the London family office

International trustees managing the family office appointed new board members, empowered the local management team in Slovenia and began to divest all remaining assets and former Aktiva Fund investments over time.

Concluded all payouts made to minority shareholders of the publicly listed Aktiva, Atena, Arkada investment funds, within the last remaining public entities. By 2011, trustees had divested all the last remaining assets.

Established the Horvat Family Foundation (formerly Aktiva Foundation) to help the underprivileged young population in northeast Slovenia

Bought control of IDB – largest conglomerate in Israel ($840 million) (IDB, 100+ companies), together with local partners.

Bought control in pharmaceuticals company, Hemofarm, and executed strategy to become a market leader via organic growth and acquisitions, alongside investments in new markets and manufacturing plants (achieved within the initial four years).

Started a WestEast Bank in Bulgaria – joint venture with Slovenia’s largest bank NLB, which participated as a 24% minority partner.

Received the Balance Scorecard Hall of Fame award among 11 European enterprises and 37 worldwide

Exited Israeli conglomerate, IDB.

Sold 72.5% share in WEB bank to the largest Slovenian bank NLB.

Sold Hemofarm to Stada Arzneimittel AG.

Awarded honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa.

Global Leaders

The Horvat Family Office (THFAO) has since invested or co-invested in controlling stakes or significant positions in private and public companies across various sectors with institutional partners, management teams, private investors and family offices:

Darko Horvat