en.Wedoany.com Reported - Comping has issued a €5 million mini-bond aimed at accelerating growth and expanding into international markets. The bond, arranged by Comping's long-term partner Erste Bank, carries a fixed interest rate and is not tied to market benchmarks such as Euribor, providing the company with three years of predictability.
Comping, which has operated in the ICT market for four decades, recently launched the mini-bond issuance. The company's CEO, Alojzije Jukić, told ICTbusiness Media – ICTbusiness.info that this move is not driven by financial stability needs but rather to seize growth opportunities in Croatia and abroad. Explaining the timing of the financing, Jukić noted that in the current market environment, characterized by supply chain disruptions and frequent price fluctuations, having flexible financial reserves is extremely important. The fixed-rate bond provides clear expectations for the next three years, significantly enhancing business management flexibility.
The funds raised will be prioritized for developing proprietary products and solutions, strengthening the international business presence, and expanding partnerships and customers beyond Croatia. Key focus areas include utilities, energy, network digitalization, smart metering, data analytics, dashboards, and solutions related to the modernization of energy systems. Jukić emphasized that hiring will not be aggressive but will be selective, based on specific project needs, productivity indicators, and return on investment.
Comping has set a revenue target of achieving and stabilizing approximately €50 million in annual revenue by the end of 2028. In 2025, the company's revenue was around €42 million. The success of this financial breakthrough will primarily be measured by profitability growth, strengthening of the proprietary solutions portfolio, export growth, and an increased share of high-value-added products in total business. From a broader strategic perspective, Comping will continue to position itself as a multi-domain ICT company but will focus more on its own specialized solutions, data and analytics platforms, cloud infrastructure, and data center services.
Regarding the specific use of funds, Jukić mentioned that one key area is the development of proprietary products and solutions. The company has applied for other financing sources and participated in IRI tenders, with approved funding decisions confirmed. He expects to soon formally sign a project involving the development of new solutions in the energy sector, aimed at strengthening its competitiveness in international markets. Concurrently, the company is advancing its internationalization activities, increasing participation in international trade fairs in 2025, a pace that will be further intensified in 2026. Additionally, the company is expanding cooperation with compatible partners in overseas markets and strengthening direct communication with potential clients. In terms of customers, the primary focus is on the utilities and energy sectors, involving medium and low-voltage grids, substation operation monitoring, smart metering, reporting systems, dashboards, billing preparation, and digitalization processes for energy systems.
On the criteria for measuring success, Jukić pointed out that the success of the mini-bond issuance will be measured through clear business and financial indicators. The main goal is not to hold the funds but to actively utilize them to accelerate growth, strengthen the proprietary solutions portfolio, and expand international markets. Key performance indicators are reflected in profit growth, particularly the improvement in EBIT. The company aims to achieve at least €2.5 million in EBIT growth over three years through this €5 million. Beyond financial metrics, the company also focuses on revenue growth, an increased share of exports, and the strengthening of proprietary solutions in total business. Comping's growth plan through 2029 already exists, partly related to this financing but not entirely dependent on it.
Regarding entering the capital market, Jukić sees this as the beginning of the company opening up to the capital market in a more structured way. The company will continuously track the performance of this bond, starting evaluation from the first year. If this model proves suitable, consideration will be given to continuing its use, potentially including new issuances or different instrument structures. This does not preclude other available forms of financing.
Concerning strategic direction, Comping will continue to develop as a multi-domain ICT company but with an increasing focus on developing proprietary solutions. Particular emphasis is placed on data and analytics solutions, combining them with platforms from existing strategic technology partners, as well as solutions in the cloud infrastructure and data center services domain. Jukić stated that the company's goal is not to transform from a local company into a regional or global player through massive expansion, but rather to establish a specialized technological position in clearly defined areas, selectively expanding into markets where real added value can be created through partnerships and specific technological solutions. Employee growth will be controlled and proportional to business growth, with a focus on specialized talent and improving overall organizational efficiency. As for risks, the company's forty-year market presence and its ability to adapt to technological changes provide a stable foundation for managing risks.
