CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022 | 88
PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT
Dear All,
In 2022, the evolving geopolitical and economic environment in the
world had a major impact on businesses and investment decisions.
The war in Europe, the volatility of markets and energy prices, and the
rapid rise of interest rates all posed challenges but also opened up
new opportunities. The general decline in most markets led to losses
for a large number of investors last year. However, it is important that
in the longer term, even taking into account negative periods, the
investments have provided and continue to provide an appropriate
return for investors.
Invalda INVL had significant transactions in the asset management
area in 2022. At the start of July, we completed the acquisition of
Mandatum Life's life insurance business in the Baltics, and late in the
year, we signed an agreement on merging part of the retail businesses
of Invalda INVL and Šiaulių Bankas. These are fundamental steps in
the development of a retail business geared towards a more mature
society that seeks stable financial grounding and investment income.
The next-generation bank that is being created, with Invalda INVL as one of its major shareholders, will provide even more
services from one source and offer market-driven solutions that deliver more value to clients, employees, and investors.
Despite a volatile year, our clients increased their investments in the products the group manages and by year-end we had
reached EUR 1.9 billion in assets under management, with pension funds continuing to represent the largest amount. The
private equity, alternative and real assets funds managed by the INVL group successfully created value for investors as they
continued to make acquisitions and raise funds. The INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, the leading private equity investment
fund in the Baltics, added two companies in Lithuania and one in Latvia to its portfolio, and through portfolio companies
invested in the Czech Republic and Poland. The successful operations of the majority of the companies the fund manages
resulted in good performance and growth in value by the fund. According to unaudited data, portfolio companies of INVL
Baltic Sea Growth Fund employ about 8,000 people, and last year's total income exceeded EUR 500 million, EBITDA
reached EUR 55 million. The Fund continues to actively look for opportunities to invest in businesses in the Baltic States,
Poland, and other surrounding markets. We have already raised more than EUR 81 million for our second sustainable forest
and farmland fund, the INVL Sustainable Timberland and Farmland Fund II (STAFF II), and increased land holdings in Latvia.
The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I, which is currently investing in renewable energy projects in Poland and Romania and
has raised EUR 52.9 million from investors, expanded its portfolio of solar park projects to 475 megawatts (MW). We also
carried out investment activities and developed our existing investments in the areas of real estate, private debt, and
information technologies.
We have focused on feeder funds. The INVL Partner Global Infrastructure Fund I, which invests in the infrastructure fund of
a long-standing world-class asset manager, was launched in late 2021, and the INVL Partner Private Equity Fund I, which
invests in EQT X, a fund with a target size of EUR 20 billion established by EQT, one of the world's leading private equity
investment firms, was launched in early 2023. The funds are successful putting investors' money to work outside their home
region and offering more opportunities to diversify investment risk. We intend to continue to gain strength in this area and
offer our clients the solutions needed to invest in leading global products.
For the INVL Family Office, 2022 was a year of growth. A range of new investment products and services have meant
growing income for its clients. We are delighted that years of focused work and value creation are yielding rapid growth in
existing clients' investments and attracting new ones.
Importantly, 2022 was a record year for our other investments – Šiaulių Bankas, Moldova's largest bank Moldova-
Agroindbank, and Litagra. While both banks performed well, that was not reflected in share price growth due to the unusual
situation in the markets. We believe that such strong, well performing banks that generate high returns and are growing
rapidly will gain the market's appreciation. Litagra, one of Lithuania's largest agribusiness groups, delivered excellent results
following several acquisitions, partly driven by global growth of food prices. Expansion in the poultry, feed and dairy sectors
is significantly increasing the company's potential. We expect reconfiguration of acquired assets and other actions focused
on growth and economies of scale to boost sales in the near term and have a positive impact on competitiveness and long-
term earnings in these areas.
Given the prevailing conditions in the markets, we view 2022 as a reasonably good year. Work we carried out or started last
year will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the value and performance of our business in the future. Invalda INVL had
a net profit was EUR 16.7 million for the year and net assets of EUR 130.8 million at year-end. Last year, the company paid
its shareholders dividends of EUR 7.6 million.
On behalf of Invalda INVL, I thank our clients for the trust they have placed in us amidst volatile markets and a challenging
geopolitical environment, and our employees for their dedication, focus and professionalism. I thank our shareholders for
their support and belief in the value we create. Transformation, change, and growth mean new opportunities for all those
who have been working with us for many years, or who are willing and able to join the INVL group's team in creating value
for those who entrust their funds to us and in growing the economies of the countries and the areas we invest in while at the
same time unlocking the potential and the needs of each and every member of the team.
Sincerely,
Darius Šulnis