MK Group
{{Short description|Serbian holding company}}
{{coord|44|49|01|N|20|25|37.8|E|region:RS|display=title}}
{{Infobox company
| name = MK Group
| logo = MK Group new-logo.png
| logo_caption = Official logo
| image = File:MK Group HQ.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = MK Group Headquarters in New Belgrade
| trading_name =
| native_name = МК Група
| native_name_lang = sr
| romanized_name =
| former_name =
| former type =
| type = d.o.o.
| traded_as =
| industry = Holding
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1995|01|04|df=yes}}
| founder = Miodrag Kostić
| defunct =
| location_city = Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 59a, Belgrade
| location_country = Serbia
| locations =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Jovan Purar {{small|(Director)}}
Mihailo Janković {{small|(Director)}}
| products =
| brands =
| production =
| services =
| revenue = {{decrease}} €192.95 million {{small|(2023)}}{{cite web|title=КОНСОЛИДОВАНИ БИЛАНС УСПЕХА (2023) - MK Group|url=https://fin.apr.gov.rs/JavnaPretraga/Home/DownloadDocumentFile?barcode=7100204035761&xrnd=E868E45816600F7D70703ECB6E5ED4E0660D17E6|website=apr.gov.rs|access-date=30 April 2025|language=Serbian}}
| operating_income =
| net_income = {{decrease}} €39.56 million {{small|(2023)}}
| aum =
| assets = {{increase}} €661.20 million {{small|(2023)}}{{cite web|title=КОНСОЛИДОВАНИ БИЛАНС СТАЊА (2023) - MK Group|url=https://fin.apr.gov.rs/JavnaPretraga/Home/DownloadDocumentFile?barcode=7100204035754&xrnd=A3635C65AFA97A624701A9E248FCB0B67AD5B1B2|website=apr.gov.rs|access-date=30 April 2025|language=Serbian}}
| equity = {{increase}} €334.85 million {{small|(2023)}}
| owner = Wheat Corn Holding {{small|(100%)}}
| num_employees = 1,992 {{small|(2023)}}
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.mkgroup.rs}}
| footnotes = {{small|Business ID: 08179107
Tax ID: 101696756}} {{cite web|title=Основни подаци о привредном друштву|url=http://pretraga2.apr.gov.rs/EnterprisePublicSearch/details/EnterpriseBusinessName/1020935?code=299DC0304A2EB33EADE6198C9A5101959ED589FB|website=apr.gov.rs|publisher=Serbian Business Registers Agency|access-date=24 February 2018|language=Serbian}}
| intl =
| bodystyle =
}}
MK (Serbian Cyrillic: МК Група) is a Serbian holding company which operates in the agriculture, banking, and tourism sector. The company was established in 1991, and has since expanded its business operations across South East Europe with a special focus on 4 countries in the region: Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.
History
In 1983, Serbian economist and businessman Miodrag Kostić began a private business, initially as an owner of a private company for trade, import-export and manufacturing activities.{{cite web|title=ISTORIJA POSLOVANJA|url=http://www.mkgroup.rs/srb/strana/23/9/O-nama/Istorija|access-date=3 January 2018|website=mkgroup.rs|language=Serbian}} MK Group now operates in several countries: Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.
Divisions
=Agribusiness=
Since 2000, MK Group has managed sugar industry factories (factories Pećinci, Vrbas, Kovačica), more than 10 agribusiness enterprises, trade and warehouse complexes ("Granex-port", "Žito Bačka").{{Cite web |title=MK Group chief says 4 sugar factories in Serbia are enough - report |url=https://seenews.com/news/mk-group-chief-says-4-sugar-factories-in-serbia-are-enough-report-574587 |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=seenews.com |language=en}}
Sunoko, a subsidiary of MK Group, is one of the leading companies in sugar production both in Serbia and the region. In 2011, MK Group took over "Carnex" company (established in 1958), which produces meat and meat products. In December 2015, MK Group took over PIK-Bečej for a sum of 45.5 million euros.{{cite news|title=MK Grupa kupila PIK Bečej za 45,5 miliona evra|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/ekonomija/mk-grupa-kupila-pik-becej-za-455-miliona-evra/cn0syfn|access-date=18 January 2018|work=blic.rs|agency=Tanjug|date=17 December 2015|language=Serbian}}
Some of the most notable subsidiary companies are Carnex Vrbas (meat industry), Sunoko (sugar industry), Agroglobe (fertilizing and wholesale of agriculture products), PIK-Bečej (agribusiness) and others.{{cite news|date=6 September 2017|title=MK Grupa najveći izvoznik hrane iz Srbije|language=Serbian|work=n1info.com|agency=Beta|url=http://rs.n1info.com/a315940/Biznis/MK-Grupa-najveci-izvoznik-hrane-iz-Srbije.html|access-date=3 January 2018}} Most of its agribusiness is concentrated on the production and wholesale of the cereals – corn, wheat, sunflower and soybeans. As of January 2016, MK Group manages around 29,000 hectares of agriculture land (around 290 square kilometers) in Serbia, of which it owns around 19,000 hectares.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
From 2006 to 2017, it operated in Ukraine through Agro-Invest Ukraine, agribusiness company specialized in sunflower production and wholesale.{{cite news|last1=R.|first1=E.|title=Miodrag Kostić ide iz Ukrajine?|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239.html:663362-Miodrag-Kostic-ide-iz-Ukrajine|access-date=3 January 2018|work=novosti.rs|date=4 May 2017|language=Serbian}} As of January 2016, Agro-Invest Ukraine managed nearly 30,000 hectares of agriculture land (around 300 square kilometers) in Ukraine.{{cite news|last1=Lakić|first1=Suzana|date=24 January 2016|title=ISTRAŽUJEMO Oni su gazde srpske zemlje|language=Serbian|work=blic.rs|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/ekonomija/istrazujemo-oni-su-gazde-srpske-zemlje/yhnhhp2|access-date=18 January 2018}} In May 2017, Kernel Holding bought majority of its shares.
In June 2020, MK Group completed the process of acquisition of 67% of the shares of Victoria Group. With the integration of Victoria Group member companies, Sojaprotein, Victoria Oil, Victoria Logistic, Luka Bačka Palanka and VZS Stočna hrana, MK Group has acquired the status of majority owner, while the previous shareholders Milija Babović and Apsara Limited have remained minority owners.{{cite news |last1=Subin |first1=J. |last2=Stojaković |first2=D. |title=Kostić kupio "Viktorija grupu"! |url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239.html:737209-Kostic-kupio-Viktorija-grupu |access-date=9 July 2018 |work=novosti.rs |date=9 July 2018 |language=Serbian}}{{cite news |title=Kostić kupio Viktorija grupu |url=https://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2018&mm=07&dd=09&nav_id=1416767 |access-date=9 July 2018 |work=b92.net |date=9 July 2018 |language=Serbian}} The company was sold in November 2021 to ADM Europe.{{cite news |title=Komisija odobrila prodaju |url=https://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija/komisija-odobrila-prodaju-2060732 |access-date=1 December 2021 |work=b92.net |agency=Tanjug |date=22 November 2021 |language=Serbian}}
=Banking=
MK Group, through its subsidiary company MK Commerce, founded BDD M&V Investments brokerage firm which operates on the Belgrade Stock Exchange. However, BDD M&V Investments with its subsidiaries is not a part of the holding. M&V Investments controls a large ownership share of AIK Banka (since 2014),{{cite news|title=Kostić kupio AIK banku|url=http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Ekonomija/Kostic-kupio-AIK-banku.lt.html|access-date=3 January 2018|work=politika.rs|date=27 February 2014|language=Serbian}} which later acquired and integrated another Serbian bank Jubanka in 2017.{{cite news|title=AIK Banka kupila Alpha Banku, vraća se ime Jubanka|url=http://bif.rs/2017/04/aik-banka-kupila-alpha-banku-vraca-se-ime-jubanka/|access-date=17 November 2017|work=bif.rs|date=3 January 2018|language=Serbian}} As of 31 December 2017, AIK banka has total assets of 1.767 billion euros.
Also, as of December 2017, AIK Banka is a majority shareholder with 75.99% of the Slovenian bank Gorenjska Banka.{{cite news|title=Sava to sell its stake in Gorenjska Banka to Serbia's AIK -report|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/slovenia-gorenjska-aik/sava-to-sell-its-stake-in-gorenjska-banka-to-serbias-aik-report-idUSL8N1OD5DY|access-date=3 January 2018|work=reuters.com|agency=Reuters|date=13 December 2017}}{{cite news|title=Kostić će za Gorenjsku banku platiti čak 80 milijuna eura|url=http://www.poslovni.hr/svijet-i-regija/kostic-ce-za-gorenjsku-banku-platiti-cak-80-mil-eura-335526|access-date=4 January 2018|work=poslovni.hr|date=17 December 2017|language=Croatian}} As of December 2017, Gorenjska banka controls 4.7% of Slovenian banking market share. In June 2019, AIK Banka fully took over the ownership of Gorenjska banka and thus successfully completed the takeover process in Slovenia.
=Energy=
Apart from real estate, MK Group has invested in developing renewable energy sources, whereby MK Fintel Wind,{{cite web|title=MK Fintel Wind|url=http://www.mkgroup.rs/eng/page/101/70/Fields-of-Operations/Other-Fields/Renewable-energy-sources|website=MK Group|publisher=MK Group|access-date=29 July 2015}} established in 2007, is one of the first companies in Serbia that have started green energy production using the wind-powered generators and solar panels.
=Real estate=
MK Group also manages several real estate properties through its subsidiaries like "MK Mountain Resort".
In December 2008, MK Group bought from "Internacional CG" the Kopaonik-based hotels "Grand" and "Sunčani vrhovi" and other real estate properties for a sum of 23 million euros.{{cite news|title=Kostić kupio Grand i Konake za 23 miliona evra|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/ekonomija/kostic-kupio-grand-i-konake-za-23-miliona-evra/zz8ylzc|access-date=18 January 2018|work=blic.rs|agency=Beta|date=26 December 2008|language=Serbian}}
Under auspices of "MK Mountain Resort" are the hotels "Grand" and "Angella" as well as the apartment complex "Konaci" and "Sunčani vrhovi" (all located on the Mountain Kopaonik). Hotel "Grand" is a home venue for the Serbian annual business conference Kopaonik Business Forum. Also, "Kempinski Palace" hotel in Portorož is operated by the MK Group. MK Group cooperates with world's famous hotel group Kempinski, and has invested in several real estate properties in Serbia and region. It also cooperates with another hotel group Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, and has invested in hotel located in Novi Sad.{{cite news|date=24 August 2018|title=U novembru otvaranje "Šeratona" u Novom Sadu|language=Serbian|agency=Beta|url=http://rs.n1info.com/a293025/Biznis/U-novembru-otvaranje-Seratona-u-Novom-Sadu.html|access-date=4 January 2018}}
In November 2017, "Istrian hotels", a subsidiary of MK Group, took over "Skiper Resort" hotel complex located in Istria.{{cite news|title="MK grupa" preuzela luksuzni hotelski kompleks u Istri|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/ekonomija/mk-grupa-preuzela-luksuzni-hotelski-kompleks-u-istri/l70wlk7|access-date=4 January 2018|work=blic.rs|agency=Tanjug|date=17 November 2017|language=Serbian}} In February 2018, MK Group increased its ownership stake in the third largest Slovenian civil airport Portorož and is today the majority stake holder.{{cite news|title=Kostić kupio još 7,8 posto akcija aerodroma Portorož|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239.html:713750-Kostic-kupio-jos-78-posto-akcija-aerodroma-Portoroz|access-date=12 March 2018|work=novosti.rs|agency=Tanjug|date=26 February 2018|language=Serbian}}
In June 2020, MK Group acquired the Slovenian branch of Heta Asset Resolution. At the end of 2019, MK Group was selected as the best bidder in the tender, and with the official approval of the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Protection of Competition and the approvals of the Competition Protection Commissions of Serbia and Montenegro, formal requests for payment and purchase were met.