Pavăl Holding takes the first major step in the expansion of Dedeman abroad, by taking over the Praktiker network in Greece. The transaction is coordinated by Karina and Darius Pavăl, who assumes an active role in shaping the new regional development strategy, without ignoring the local market. Pavăl Holding officially announced on July 16, 2025 the purchase of Praktiker Hellas, the most important chain of DIY stores in Greece, with 17 physical units and an e-commerce platform. The transaction marks the first international step of Dedeman and opens a new stage for the largest Romanian entrepreneurial group. According to the statement issued by the company, Karina Pavăl led the negotiations, identifying the purchase opportunity, and Darius Paval will coordinate the integration and monitoring of the activity in Greece. This is the first time that both members of the new generation are directly involved in an international project. «Karina has identified the opportunity and led the negotiations, and Darius will play a key role in integrating and monitoring the business. I am proud to see them collaborating,» said Dragoş Pavăl, President Dedeman, in the official statement. The acquisition also includes an agreement with Eurobank for the transfer of the properties in which the Praktiker stores operate, which will strengthen the operational stability. The transaction will be supported exclusively from equity, without exposure to external financing, in line with the financial prudence policy of the group. Although it is a move of external expansion, the company representatives insist that the local market remains a priority. In parallel, Dedeman is about to open a new store in Mediaş and continues investments in the national network. The involvement of Karina and Darius Pavăl in the extension strategy started long before the Greek transaction. Karina Pavăl, the daughter of the founder Dragoş Pavăl, was publicly mentioned for the first time in 2020, when she played an important role in the acquisition of the CA IMMO office portfolio – a record transaction for the local real estate market, valued at 377 million euros. Subsequently, Karina Pavăl coordinated the entrance of Pavăl Holding in the hotel sector, through purchases made in partnership with Apex Alliance. Holding first took over the Grand Hotel Gardone in Italy, and then the Waldhaus Flms well Resort complex, a hotel with history over 140, currently in the process of repositioning and modernization. «Investments in hotels offer a considerable potential, especially when we can bring an international brand and revitalize a property with a valuable historical inheritance,» said Karina Pavăl, in an interview for ZF. She emphasized that the Pavăl Holding strategy follows not only the diversification, but also the creation of long -term added value. In parallel, his younger brother, Darius Pavăl, has been involved in several operating directions of Dedeman since 2020. A graduate of Bayes Business School (CASS) and a master in entrepreneurship in UCL, London, Darius takes over the Praktiker project Hellas with regional responsibility. In an interview previously given in the ZF 25 years anniversary supplement of 2023, Dragoş Pavăl spoke openly about the involvement of the new generation: «My children, Karina and Darius, they have already joined our team, bringing with them a fresh breath, a bold and ambitious vision, based on training». With recent transactions, Pavăl Holding is increasingly outlining its position as a group with regional ambitions, in which the balance between investments in Romania and external expansion is carefully calibrated. The group's portfolio includes operations in retail, real estate, tourism, industry, energy and services today. Although it is still early to talk about an official leadership transition, Karina and Darius Pavăl confirm by involvement and decision that they can ensure the continuity of a success story built in three decades, with the same rigor, but with an increasing opening to Europe.
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