Going Global: Entrepreneurs Making a Splash beyond Their Borders
COMPANY/COUNTRY SALES* PROFITS
INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES MILLIONS THOUSANDS
**BONTON/Czech Republic 537 $38.4 $1,500***
Entertainment + 9% + 35%
CEO: Martin Kratochvil
**DOMPLAST/Poland 577 $22.6 $2,780
Tires - 9% + 238%
CEO: Andrzej Debowski
**FORTE/Poland 2,200 $88.2 $6,600
Kitchen cabinet maker + 25% + 78%
CEO: Maciej Formanowicz
**GRAPHISOFT/Hungary 102 $19 $5,000
Architecture software + 27% + 25%
CEO: Gabor Bojar
**KORADO/Czech Republic 630 $36.6 $5,000
Radiator manufacturing + 43% + 52%
CEO: Frantisek Menclik
**OPTIMUS/Poland 520 $159 $5,400
Computer assembly and sales + 46% + 86%
CEO: Roman Kluska
**RECOGNITA/Hungary 55 $2.5 $200
Character-recognition software f 17% + 150%
CEO: Akos Reszler
**SEMILAB/Hungary 26 $3.7 $1,610
Machines to test silicon for + 90% + 182%
semiconductors
CEO: Tibor Pavelka
COMPANY/COUNTRY
INDUSTRY MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
**BONTON/Czech Republic Martin Kratochvil, 20%;
Entertainment Employees, 45
CEO: Martin Kratochvil Czech institutions, 35%
*DOMPLAST/Poland Rubbermaid, 89.5%
Tires
CEO: Andrzej Debowski
**FORTE/Poland Maciej Formanowicz,
Kitchen cabinet maker 32.5%; Alno,
CEO: Maciej Formanowicz 32.5%; Pioneer First Polish
Enterprise Fund, 5.12 %
**GRAPHISOFT/Hungary Management, 16%
Architecture software Private investors, 84%
CEO: Gabor Bojar
**KORADO/Czech Republic Four founding partners,
Radiator manufacturing 100%
CEO: Frantisek Menclik
**OPTIMUS/Poland Roman Kluska, 53.8%;
Computer assembly and sales Anna Kluska, 18.5%;
CEO: Roman Kluska Merrill Lynch, 6.5%
**RECOGNITA/Hungary Caere Corp., 100%
Character-recognition softwar
CEO: Akos Reszler
**SEMILAB/Hungary Hungarian American
Machines to test silicon for Investment Fund, Venture
semiconductors Capital Hungary, and Euro
CEO: Tibor Pavelka Ventures, 80%
COMPANY/COUNTRY
INDUSTRY STRATEGY
**BONTON/Czech Republic Expand network of giant record
Entertainment stores throughout the region;
CEO: Martin Kratochvil aims to list shares on NASDAQ
ater this year
*DOMPLAST/Poland License strategic investment
Tires with major multinational;
CEO: Andrzej Debowski price against imports
**FORTE/Poland Invested in new technology for
Kitchen cabinet maker production line; marketing
CEO: Maciej Formanowicz aggressively abroad
**GRAPHISOFT/Hungary Stay independent; target niche
Architecture software architectural market; aims to list
CEO: Gabor Bojar shares on NASDAQ
**KORADO/Czech Republic Expand capacity to boost sales
Radiator manufacturing in foreign markets
CEO: Frantisek Menclik
**OPTIMUS/Poland Develop strong brand name,
Computer assembly and sales distribution network; cooperation
CEO: Roman Kluska with partners such as Intel and
Microsoft
**RECOGNITA/Hungary Serve as R&D lab and regional
Character-recognition softwar hub for new U.S. owner
CEO: Akos Reszler
**SEMILAB/Hungary Niche supplier to companies
Machines to test silicon for such as Sharp, Philips
semiconductors Electronics, and Texas
CEO: Tibor Pavelka Instruments
* Current market exchange rates
**Publicly traded
*** Excluding extraordinary income
DATA: BUSINESS WEEK
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