News portal Index.hu sold to foundation linked to Simicska

Budapest (MTI) – Businessman Lajos Simicska could potentially have gained direct influence in internet news portal Index.hu, as his nephew is on the board of directors of the outlet’s new owner, public news channel M1 said on Thursday.

The transfer of the operations of Index to the For Hungarian Development Foundation was announced by lawyer László Bodolai, the foundation’s curator, on the website on Thursday.

The foundation’s board is made up of lawyer Ajtony Csaba Nagy, economist Gábor Kereszty and László Bodolai. Nagy is the nephew of Simicska, the news channel said.

The broadcast said one of Simicska’s companies, Pro-Rata Holding, exercised its options rights secured in 2014 and acquired a 100 percent stake in Index. It then passed on the outlet’s operations to the For Hungarian Development Foundation. Pro-Rata Holding also has stakes in the daily Magyar Nemzet and news channel Hir TV, M1 noted.

Source: MTI