In 2018, Oleksandr Kokhanovskyi, Natus Vincere’s club founder, made the decision to sell NAVI after understanding the necessity for large expenditures for the company to grow and reach the next level in esports. This led to Maksym Krippa becoming the majority owner of Natus Vincere in Q4 2018. A Ukrainian businessman and venture capital investor who burns for IT, game development and real estate assets.
The deal was phased in over time, with the new owner having to meet certain duties. Maksym went above and executed those commitments beyond expectations, and thanks to him, the last four years of investments has helped NAVI’s competitive results and infrastructure. During this period, NAVI have also significantly expanded their footprint across esport disciplines and opened a junior CS:GO and Dota 2 academy in Ukraine. Two of their graduates have already advanced to the Tier 1 level. In Kyiv, NAVI also created a high-text office with gaming penthouses, while another similar infrastructure will be launched in Berlin in Q1 2023. Furthermore, the club’s workforce has gown four times since the deal was made.
Maksym never sought attention, and therefore the club made no public announcements, despite the fact that the takeover was just fully completed in the summer of 2022. However, the partners, stakeholders, and leagues who asked for details about the ownership structure in the club were aware of the deal. Maksym is also well-known among NAVI’s staff and players, having participated in numerous competitions with them.
In NAVI’s ownership statement, the club also debunked reports from several media sites who claimed that GG.BET own Natus Vincere. GG.BET are NAVI’s title partner until the end of 2023, when the next partnership contract tender is held. Furthermore, NAVI reassured their fans that the club will continue to expand rapidly, and that they will do everything in their ability to remain at the top of esports.
