Lajos Simicska sells all businesses to partner
Businessman Lajos Simicska, one of the wealthiest people in Hungary, is selling his companies and investments to his long-time business partner, Zsolt Nyerges, according to a public statement released on Wednesday. Simicska was formerly a close friend and ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, but they broke ties acrimoniously three years ago.
Lajos Simicska
Nyerges will buy the business shares held by Simicska and his family in construction, agriculture, media, outdoor advertising, and property management, says the statement released by Simicska and Nyerges. The value of the acquisition and the content of contracts are confidential and will not be disclosed, it adds.
For many years, Simicska was one of the most prominent figures of the ruling party Fidesz and a close ally of its president and now prime minister. Simicska was president of the tax authority during the first administration of Orbán, and a one-time Fidesz treasurer. Simicska and Orbán broke ties abruptly in 2015.
Following the break between the two, media outlets controlled by Simicska, previously supportive of Fidesz, suddenly became critical of the party. But after Fidesz and Orbán won a third consecutive term in government at general elections earlier this year, Simicska closed several of his media outlets, most notably daily newspaper Magyar Nemzet and the Lánchíd radio station, then also stopped financing the Heti Válasz weekly magazine.
Starting from 2015, the companies owned by Simicska won no more public procurement or other contracts with government institutions. Despite this, Simicska has remained one of the wealthiest people in Hungary, albeit slipping down the list. Nyerges, his long-time friend and business partner, seems to have better contacts with Orbán than Simicska has had of late, online portal hvg.hu observes.
The last media outlet still controlled by Simicska is the Hír TV news station. It is unclear for now if Nyerges will continue to operate the channel or choose to close it down.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hungary Agricultural Output Value Grows by 6.5%
Hungarian-American Business Chamber Established in Chicago
Number of Registered Jobseekers Down 3% in November
Mulled Version of Belle-Vue Kriek Makes Debut at Advent Fair
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
