| Petr Kellner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 May 1964 Česká Lípa,[1] Czechoslovakia |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Education | University of Economics, Prague |
| Occupation | businessman |
| Known for | wealthiest man in the Czech Republic |
| Net worth | US$ 9.2 billion[2] |
| Spouse | Iva Kellnerová Renáta Kellnerová |
| Children | 4 |
Petr Kellner (born 20 May 1964) is a Czech businessman. He is currently[update] estimated to have a net worth of US$ 9.2 billion[2] according to Forbes' latest annual list of billionaires, making him the wealthiest man in the Czech Republic. However, Czech economic media estimates are considerably lower, CZK 60 – 75 billion (app. US$ 4 billion) according to Týden[3] or even less than CZK 50 billion (app. US$ 3 billion) according to journalist Miroslav Motejlek,[4] surpassed by Andrej Babiš on a position of the wealthiest Czech Republic resident.
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Petr Kellner graduated from the University of Economics, Prague Faculty of Industrial Economics, in 1986.[5] After the Velvet revolution he worked for the Czech company Impromat, an importer and seller of Ricoh photocopiers. While working for that company, he met Milan Maděryč and Milan Vinkler.[6]
In 1991, after the announcement of Czechoslovak voucher privatization he founded, with Milan Vinkler and state-owned glassworks Sklo Union, the investment fund PPF (První privatizační fond).[7] In 1992, PPF investiční společnost a.s. was established and the funds’ names were changed from privatisation to investment. The funds were very successful and purchased stock of more than 200 corporations with value over 5 billion CZK.[6]
In 1995 and 1996, PPF bought a 20% stake in the largest Czech insurance company, Česká pojišťovna and started to manage it. Later PPF acquired more shares and became the dominant (93%) owner in 2001, when PPF bought large stakes of shares from Komerční banka and the Czech state.[8] With help of these profitable transactions, the last investors from voucher privatization were bought out and Petr Kellner became the dominant owner of PPF group.[6]
In 2007, PPF group signed a contract with Assicurazioni Generali to create a joint-venture between PPF Group’s insurance and Assicurazioni Generali's corporations in the Czech Republic, the Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. PPF Group will own 49% of that company, Generali will pay PPF Group €1.1 billion and Petr Kellner became as a member of the Board of Directors of Generali.[9] Kellner himself owns 2,02 % stake in Assicurazioni Generali.[10]
As of 2009, Kellner owns 94.36% of PPF group.[11] In 2006, Forbes estimated PPF's net worth at US$3 billion and listed Kellner as 224th wealthiest man in the world. In 2007, he moved up to 119th with US$ 6 billion and then in 2008 to 91st with US$ 9.3 billion. In 2009 he was 76th with US$6 billion[12] and in 2010 89th with US$ 6 billion.[2] These numbers are criticized as overestimated by Czech economic media.[3][13]
He owns a Gulfstream G500 airplane named Káně. In 2010 he bought Boeing 737-700BBJ.[14] His residence in Vrané nad Vltavou was designed by Josef Pleskot. It has received multiple awards by Czech architects. Kellner owns also one of the largest collection of photographs taken by Josef Sudek.[6]