Union Grup LLC
‘Union Grup’, the mother company of Media Union, is an Albanian Limited Liability Company owned mainly by Edmond and Niko Leka. The two brothers own 70% of the shares, while other 30% are divided between their business partners Varuzhan Piranjani, Gjergji Misha and Eduard Shima. ‘Union Grup’ LLC owns or has shares in nine other companies, including the publishing company of the economic weekly ‘Monitor’ through Media Union. In December 2005, the two brothers bought 20% of the pay-per-view platform DigitAlb through their company Union Distribucion Servis Albania LLC. In January 2016, Union Distribucion Servis Albania LLC sold 10% of the shares to Union Grup LLC where 70% of the shares are owned by the Leka brothers. ‘Union Grup’ owns also the post service company Albanian Courier, two trade companies Auto Master and United Motors, the telecommunication company Uni-Com, the construction company Uni-Cons and the touristic agency Union Travel Co.
Business Form
private
Legal Form
Limited Liability Company
Business Sectors
Publishing; Distribution Network (DigitAlb); Postal Service; Trade; Consulting; Tourism; Construction; Telecommunication.
Individual Owner
The brothers Edmond and Niko Leka are businessmen and founders of the weekly magazine ‘Monitor’. Edmond Leka started his career as an engineer in Kesh, the Albanian Power Corporation, before moving to the private sector in 1997 in order to help his brother, Niko Leka, expand Western Union in the country. Today, the Leka brothers own a string of companies, with Union Bank considered as the crown jewel. In 2000 Edmond Leka entered the media market by launching the economic weekly ‘Monitor.’ The two brothers bought 20% of the pay-per-view platform DigitAlb in December 2005, through their company Union Distribucion Servis Albania LLC. In January 2016, Union Distribucion Servis Albania LLC sold 10% of the shares to Union Group Sh.p.k. where Leka Brothers control 70% of the shares.
Varuzhan Piranjani
Varuzhan Piranjani is a construction enterpreneur and business partner of Leka Brothers. He is a shareholder of the companies ‘Union Grup’, ‘Union Net’ and ‘Union Financiar Tirane’ founded by Leka’s brothers.
Eduart Shima
Eduart Shima is a business partner of Leka’s brother. In addition, he owns the publishing house ‘Poeteka’ and the design company ‘Intergrafika’.
Media Business
Publishing
Media Union (70%)
Digital Distribution networks
DigitAlb (20%)
Sport licensing
DigitAlb (20%)
Digital Broadcasting
DigitAlb (20%)
Satellite Broadcasting
DigitAlb (20%)
Teleshopping
DigitAlb (20%)
Business
Postal Service
Albanian Courier (100%)
Trade
Auto Master (100%)
United Motors (100%)
Consulting
S-Systems (100%)
Telecommunication
Uni-Com (100%)
Construction
Uni Cons (100%)
Pluton Investor (100%)
Tourism
Union Travel Co (85%)
Real estate
Arch Investor (85 %)
Financial Services
Union Financiar Tirane (70%)
Banking
Union Bank (89,88% from which 86.35% through Unioni Financiar Tirane)
Banking
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is a shareholder at Union Bank.
General Information
Founding Year
2000
Affiliated Interests Founder
The Leka Brothers – the brothers Edomond and Niko Leka are businessmen and founders of the weekly magazine ‘Monitor’. Edmond Leka started his career as an engineer in Kesh, the Albania Power Corporation, before moving to the private sector in 1997 in order to help his brother Niko Leka expand Western Union in the country. Today, the Leka brothers own a string of companies, with Union Bank considered as the crown jewel. In 2000 Edmond Leka entered the media market by launching the economic weekly ‘Monitor.’ The two brothers bought 20% of the pay-per-view platform DigitAlb in December 2005, through their company Union Distribucion Servis Albania LLC. In January 2016, Union Distribucion Servis Albania LLC sold 10% of the shares to Union Group LLC where Leka Brothers control 70% of the shares.
Contact
Njesia Bashkiake nr.5, Rruga "Sulejman Delvina",
Nd.25, H.7, Kodi Postar 1019, Tirana
Tel: +355 42250653
Website: monitor.al
Tax/ ID Number
Media Union (K31609092T); Union Grup (K61527801R)
Financial Information
Revenue (Financial Data/ Optional)
Media Union: 0.46 Mio. $ / 59.12 Mio. Lek
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
Media Union: 0.00 Mio. $ / 0.54 Mio. Lek
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Data
Management
Other Influential People
Gent Joca – was appointed as CEO of Media Union LLC in February 2015, replacing in this post the businessman Edmond Leka. Earlier he has worked for the company Press Point Albania.
Ornela Liperi – Is a well-known business journalist. She holds the position of editor in chief of the magazine Monitor for more than a decade.
Further Information
Headlines
Meta Data
The ownership structure and financial statements of Union Grup LLC and Media Union LLC are publicly available on the Albanian National Business Registry. The financial data provided are for 2016. The Central Bank's average exchange rate for 2016 was used to convert the amounts into USD. See sources for more.
