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10 I Companies & Markets bne September 2018
Viktor Orban's friend supplies shirts for his home team, Felcsut.
Hungarian oligarch expands business
empire to sportswear manufacturing
bne IntelliNews
Sportswear manufacturer Magyar Sportmarka, majority owned by Hungarian billionaire Lorinc Meszaros, a close friend of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has signed contracts with three division one football teams and a dozen smaller clubs to supply clothing and accessories, Hungarian media reported on July 23.
Magyar Sportmarka wants to turn 2Rule into an innovative, world-class national sports brand, capitalising on the work
of Hungarian professionals and businesses, said CEO Agnes Kovari, who owns 30% of the shares. Talentis Group, a holding company of Meszaros, holds the other 70%.
The brand name 2Rule refers to Turul, the Hungarian mythological bird of prey, a national symbol.
Meszaros, who is commonly referred to as Orban’s proxy, became Hungary’s second-richest man after OTP chief Sandor Csanyi with an estimated wealth of HUF280bn (€858mn), making him a billionaire in dollar terms. Unlike Csanyi, Meszaros rose to Hungary’s business elite thanks to his friendship with Orban and through state contracts.
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His business empire includes companies across all sectors, ranging from tourism to banking, industry, agriculture, retail, media, energy and the sportswear manufacturing
“The 2Rule brand got off to a shaky start as all the first division clubs wearing their shirts were defeated in the first matches of the season”
business. As a former mayor of the small village of Felcsut, Meszaros is also the founder and president of the football academy set up by Orban.
Magyar Sportmarka has contracts with four local garment makers and is working on setting up its own workshop, Kovari said, but she gave inaccurate information on its suppliers and their location. According to media reports, one company has