A new crowdfunding platform, ROIX, is launching in Lithuania with an exclusive investment opportunity. The very first ROIX project invites investors to take part in the expansion of the high-tech sector by helping finance the acquisition of a controlling stake in one of Lithuania’s laser industry leaders – Eksma Optics. Operating in Lithuania for nearly 20 years, Eksma Optics manufactures laser optics and components, exporting to markets in Western Europe and North America.

The acquisition of Eksma Optics shares was carried out through Francis EO, a company managed by the investment and asset management group Zabolis Partners. Through the ROIX platform, €1 million will be raised for this transaction, secured by a pledge of Eksma Optics shares as well as additional collateral (the collateral value is almost three times the size of the loan). Investors in this project are offered an annual return of 10% – 5% paid out after 12 months, with the remaining amount capitalized and paid at the end of the 24-month term.

“Our goal is for ROIX to become the missing key for investors to access exclusive projects that until now were available only to institutional investors and private equity market players. For many other investors, such opportunities were out of reach due to high entry thresholds – often starting at €5 million per investor – and a lack of access to the right channels. We are changing that from the very first ROIX project, offering investors the chance to finance the acquisition of a controlling stake in a mature, promising, and stable revenue-generating company. To our knowledge, there has never been a case in Lithuania – or in Europe in general – where a crowdfunding platform has enabled investment into a loan connected to a professional investor’s acquisition of a leading high-tech company in its field,” says Benas Poderis, Co-Founder of ROIX and Partner at investment management company Nter Asset Management.

The minimum investment for the first ROIX project is just €500, giving as many investors as possible the chance to participate. In future projects, the minimum is expected to be €1,000.

Lithuanian high-tech company Eksma Optics specializes in photonics – producing optical components such as lenses, laser crystals, and optical filters used in scientific research, industry, and medicine. In 2024, the company generated revenues exceeding €17 million, working closely with major EU research institutions and universities, with 82% of its production exported – mainly to Germany and the USA. The acquiring group, Zabolis Partners, manages assets worth over €300 million and invests actively in the energy, high-tech, transport, real estate, and other sectors. This is the group’s third investment in photonics and related industries.

According to ROIX experts, photonics is one of the key enabling technologies of our time, with applications ranging from everyday solutions such as motion sensors and smartphones to complex systems – from medical diagnostics to advanced defense equipment. The European Union has identified photonics as a strategic sector for maintaining competitiveness. Moreover, as European companies increasingly reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains, new opportunities are emerging to strengthen partnerships in Central and Eastern Europe.

“Photonics is a growing, high-value-added sector with deep roots in Lithuania and strong potential, especially with increased defense-related investment across Europe. I will personally invest in this project, alongside other ROIX team members and professional investors,” adds B. Poderis.

More High-Value Projects Ahead for Investors

Licensed by the Bank of Lithuania to operate across the EU, ROIX plans to expand its portfolio by offering investments in projects with significant market and social impact – in education, healthcare, innovation, infrastructure, and more. Planned opportunities include financing the redevelopment of old buildings and territories, as well as projects critical to national defense.

“Some of these projects, despite being promising and having solid operational or collateral indicators, may not fit traditional bank lending criteria for reasons linked to the bank’s policies or the specifics of the business. These can include transaction structure, revenue profile, foreign collateral, and more. ROIX will target both profitable companies in need of alternative growth financing and innovative, complex projects assessed against our strict standards. This way, we help ambitious projects come to life while giving investors the chance to contribute to economically and socially significant initiatives,” says Gintaras Poderis, CEO of ROIX.

As the first crowdfunding platform in Lithuania founded by institutional debt investors for business projects, ROIX will facilitate financing of up to €5 million per project, adhering to the highest quality, security, and risk management standards. Annual interest rates for lenders will be around 10%.

Both individuals and legal entities will be able to invest. The platform is expected to appeal not only to fund investors but also to those not yet ready to invest directly in funds.

According to G. Poderis, ROIX will start with crowdfunding projects and later introduce syndicated financing tools for larger-scale projects. In such cases, ROIX would act as the lead arranger, bringing together several institutional lenders and private investors via the platform to jointly provide a syndicated loan to a specific project.

“In our first year, we expect to provide around €50 million in business loans. After that, we aim to expand into other Baltic countries and the wider Central and Eastern European region, growing our portfolio to €500 million,” says the ROIX CEO.

Prepared by: Communication agency “Proto vėtra”