Financial group Pale Fire Capital SE (“PFC”) invests a total of CZK 150 million in Saunia, s.r.o. (“Saunia”). In exchange for its investment, PFC will acquire a 20% stake, which values ​​the entire company at three-quarters of a billion crowns.

Saunia currently operates seven sauna worlds throughout the Czech Republic and another seven are currently under construction. All branches are located in shopping centres, which is a unique concept of leisure activities in these locations. Bohumil Píše, CEO of the company, comments: “Thanks to the trust from PFC and their investment, we will be able to complete all branches under construction this year and thus become the largest operator of sauna worlds in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2018, we saw a doubling of attendance to almost 300,000, and I expect to grow at a similar pace in the years to come.”

Saunia is a project backed mainly by successful entrepreneurs and founders of Invia.cz, Bohumil Píše, Michal Drozd and Radek Stavinoha. The fourth partner is Jan Holeček, who is primarily responsible for building and developing a branch network in Saunia. The company’s strategy is to build a leader in providing wellness and relaxation services in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and to further expand to other countries.

PFC is a financial group represented by former partners of the NetBrokers Holding group (parent company ePojisteni.cz) Dušan Šenkypl, David Holý and Jan Barta. PFC focuses on venture capital investments in companies with high growth potential. Dušan Šenkypl comments on this: “Saunia is a company that has the potential to become a European leader in its field. We feel that shopping centres are gradually being transformed from purely shopping zones into centres of entertainment and leisure activities, and Saunia is exactly the concept that fits into this strategy.”

You can find more information at CzechCrunch.