Esas Holding is based in Istanbul, Turkey with an additional office in London. Direct investments and real estate development are key operating areas of the family office. Most of its direct investments are in Turkey and is made with a private equity strategy; the firm seeks to hold majority and minority stake with controlling rights, and seeks to invest for a period of between four years and six years. Some major investments of this division include Turkey's biggest low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines, Turkey's biggest Ro Ro company Un-Ro Ro, and Turkey's biggest sports club chain Mars Athletic. In 2016 Esas sold Cinemaximum, Turkey's biggest cinema chain, to the Korean cinema operator CGV for $800 million, and its snack business Peyman to London-based PE Fund Bridgepoint Capital for $100 million.
