Hili Ventures

What Hili Ventures does

Hili Ventures Limited is a privately-owned Maltese holding company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Malta, overseeing a diversified portfolio of 25 operating subsidiaries across 10 countries and employing more than 13,000 people. The group operates through six principal business platforms: Premier Capital, the McDonald's developmental licensee for Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Romania with 200+ restaurants serving 110+ million customers annually; 1923 Investments, whose primary asset is iSpot, an Apple Premium Reseller with 51 stores in Poland; Hili Properties, a commercial real estate portfolio valued at €234 million across five countries; Breakwater Investments, comprising shipping, logistics, engineering, and oil & gas assets including STS Marine Solutions and Motherwell Bridge Industries; HV Hospitality, a luxury hotel development platform anchored by the Six Senses Comino resort; and Hili Finance Company, the group's recurring corporate bond issuance vehicle on the Malta Stock Exchange. Technology exposure outside the licensed platforms is limited: SAD, a subsidiary of 1923 Investments, delivers an Apple iOS streaming application for Polish public broadcaster TVP supporting live streaming of 18 channels and on-demand content, representing conventional broadcast engineering rather than proprietary AI/ML capability.

Hili Ventures monetises through multiple revenue streams tied to these platforms: food-service transaction revenue and royalty economics from McDonald's operations under Premier Capital; hardware and accessory retail margins from the iSpot Apple Premium Reseller network in Poland; rental income from owned commercial real estate held via Hili Properties; professional service fees from maritime logistics (ship-to-ship transfer operations serving clients including Teekay Tankers and Jordan LNG), engineering services (Motherwell Bridge Industries serving Konecranes), and corporate technology solutions (SAD serving TVP, TVN, Polsat, and Orange Polska); and capital-markets activity via Hili Finance Company's recurring bond issuances totalling €227M+ across 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2026. Customer relationships are concentrated on a small number of global brand partners at the holding level — McDonald's, Apple, Microsoft, Konecranes, Six Senses — with subsidiary-level end customers more diversified across marine logistics, Polish media, and Polish enterprise accounts. For FY2025 the group reported consolidated revenue of €1.17 billion (+7.6% YoY), profit before tax of €69.6 million, total assets exceeding €1.2 billion, and total equity of approximately €300 million.

Capital is accessed principally through Hili Finance Company's corporate bond platform on the Malta Stock Exchange, with subsidiary entities including Hili Properties plc and Harvest Technology also publicly listed; the February 2025 going-private offer for Hili Properties is reducing listed-subsidiary count. Leadership is anchored by the Hili family, with Melo Hili as CEO and Archie Bethel as Chairman. The group's competitive position rests on long-duration brand licenses, multi-country operational footprint, owned real estate, and access to in-house bond financing — not on proprietary technology or AI/ML differentiation.

Name

Hili Ventures

Legal name

Hili Ventures Limited

Website

https://hiliventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hili Ventures Limited is a privately-owned Maltese holding company operating 25 subsidiaries across 10 countries via McDonald's licensee Premier Capital (200+ restaurants), Apple Premium Reseller iSpot (51 Polish stores), Hili Properties (€234M real estate), Breakwater shipping/engineering assets, HV Hospitality, and Hili Finance Company. FY2025 revenue: €1.17 billion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Valletta

HQ country

Malta

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Food Service & Restaurant Operations: Premier Capital operates McDonald's restaurants across six European markets (Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania), generating revenue from food sales through owned and operated restaurants. The company serves over 110 million customers annually across 200+ restaurants.
2. Apple Premium Reseller Retail: iSpot operates Apple Premium Reseller stores in Poland, generating revenue from consumer electronics retail sales and business solutions services.
3. Real Estate Rental Income: Hili Properties holds and manages commercial real estate across Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Romania with a €234 million portfolio, generating rental income from tenants including McDonald's restaurants, retail centers, and office spaces.
4. Corporate Bond Financing: Hili Finance Company raises capital through bond issues on Malta Stock Exchange, with proceeds on-lent to subsidiaries for growth and acquisitions.
5. Shipping & Logistics Services: STS Marine Solutions provides ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore transfers of crude oil, refined petroleum, LPG and LNG, as well as emergency support services and consultancy worldwide.
6. Engineering Services: Motherwell Bridge Industries provides mechanical and electrical engineering services including turbo charger repairs, crane installation and maintenance at port terminals.
7. Hospitality Investment: HV Hospitality develops luxury hotel properties including Six Senses Comino and boutique hotels, positioning for hospitality revenue through ownership and operation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hili Ventures is a privately-owned Maltese holding company that operates a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries across food service (McDonald's franchise operations via Premier Capital), technology retail (Apple Premium Reseller iSpot in Poland), commercial real estate (Hili Properties), shipping and logistics (STS Marine Solutions, Breakwater Investments), mechanical and electrical engineering (Motherwell Bridge Industries), hospitality (HV Hospitality), and corporate financing (Hili Finance Company via Malta Stock Exchange bond issues). The group holds developmental licenses, manages franchise restaurants, leases commercial properties, and provides business-to-business maritime and engineering services across Europe and North Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iSpot: Apple Premium Reseller chain and Poland's largest Apple retailer operating stores across major Polish cities; part of 1923 Investments
• APCO Pay
• McDonald's (via Premier Capital)
• STS Marine Solutions
• Motherwell Bridge Industries

Products and services

• McDonald's Restaurant Operations (Premier Capital p.l.c.) Developmental license to develop and operate McDonald's restaurants across six European markets (Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Romania), serving 110 million customers annually through 200+ restaurants with associated food service, brand management, and operational capabilities.
• iSpot Apple Premium Reseller Retail Chain of 51 Apple Premium Reseller retail stores in Poland combining consumer electronics retail, business solutions, Authorised Training Centre, and Authorised Service Provider capabilities under the iSpot brand, including an online proposition for Apple products.
• Hili Properties Commercial Real Estate Holds and manages a €234 million commercial real estate portfolio across Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Romania, including shopping centers, office blocks, and McDonald's restaurant properties leased to retail chains, supermarkets, convenience stores, and corporate tenants.
• Hili Finance Company Bond Financing Raises capital through corporate bond issues listed on the Malta Stock Exchange to support and finance Hili Ventures subsidiaries for growth, acquisitions, and corporate funding, including €37M (4.5%), €80M (3.8%), €50M (4%), and €60M (5%) bond tranches.
• STS Marine Solutions Maritime Logistics Provides ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore transfers of crude oil, refined petroleum, LPG, and LNG globally, along with emergency support services and consultancy, operating from Sunderland, UK headquarters with 24 bases worldwide.
• Motherwell Bridge Industries Engineering Services Mechanical and electrical engineering services including turbo charger repairs, crane installation, and maintenance at port terminals, delivered from a 15,240 square metre workshop at Hal Far Industrial Estate in Malta, plus overseas operations through Rotterdam, Southampton, Houston, and Singapore workshops.
• HV Hospitality Luxury Hotel Development Dedicated hotel investment firm focused on identifying and developing landmark hotels and retreats in the Mediterranean, including the Six Senses Comino luxury resort and a high-end boutique hotel overlooking Valletta's Grand Harbour.
• SAD Corporate Technology Solutions B2B technology solutions for Polish corporate, government, and educational clients, including TV streaming application development for Polish public broadcasting network TVP (live streaming 18 channels and on-demand content) and solutions for major Polish TV stations and telecommunications providers.
• APCO Pay Global Payment Solutions Scalable global payment proposition offering multi-currency and multi-channel payment options, supporting over 240 payment options, 35 languages, 100 currencies, and 40 acquirers with localized solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• €1.17 billion consolidated revenue in 2025 with 7.6% growth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, supporting, significant and flagship.

• Teekay TankersmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2020STS Marine Solutions acquired non-US ship-to-ship operations from Teekay Tankers, establishing global maritime logistics presence
• McDonald's CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2017Premier Capital operates as developmental licenseee for McDonald's in six European markets (Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania), developing and operating 200+ restaurants
• Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2015McDonald's Malta conducts McHappy Day charity campaigns to raise funds for RMHC and Inspire learning centres
• TSI Turbo Service InternationalsignificantTechnology or Integration · 24 July 2015Motherwell Bridge Industries appointed exclusive service provider agent for Malta and Italy for TSI's turbo charger service group with workshops in Rotterdam, Southampton, Houston, Singapore
• ApplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014PTL International operates Apple Premium Reseller network under iSpot brand across Poland, with Apple Premium Reseller, Authorised Training Centre, and Authorised Service Provider status
• Hoffmann GroupsignificantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 January 2014Motherwell Bridge appointed official Malta and Libya representative for Hoffmann Group, Europe's leading system partner for quality tools
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHili Ventures partners with Microsoft for technology solutions across its subsidiaries
• KonecranescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHili Ventures partners with Konecranes for industrial technology solutions
• Six Senses Hotels Resorts SpasflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHV Hospitality is developing Six Senses Comino, a luxury Mediterranean island resort
• CMA CGMsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarmelo Caruana operates ship agency joint venture with CMA CGM
• PolygreensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcDonald's Greece partnered with Polygreen for zero-waste program to minimize and recycle restaurant waste
• TVP (Telewizja Polska)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAD developed TV streaming application for Polish public broadcaster, streaming 18 channels and on-demand content
• Jordan GovernmentsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTS Marine Solutions manages Jordan's first LNG import terminal

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas: Luxury hotel operator and brand under which HV Hospitality is developing the Six Senses Comino property. Comparable as a luxury Mediterranean hospitality brand counterpart, even though Six Senses itself is the operating partner rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Arcos Dorados Holdings: Latin America's largest McDonald's master franchisee operating ~2,300 restaurants under a developmental license model. Directly comparable to Premier Capital as the world's largest independent operator of McDonald's restaurants outside the US.
• AlShaya Group: Privately-held Middle Eastern conglomerate operating McDonald's restaurants and exclusive franchise/retail partnerships for global brands across multiple markets. Highly comparable multi-brand, multi-geography operating model to Hili Ventures.
• Exor N.V. European family-controlled (Agnelli) diversified holding company investing across sectors via majority stakes in operating businesses. Closest structural analog to Hili Ventures as a privately-held European holding with diversified operating subsidiaries.
• Mapletree Investments: Major Asia-Pacific commercial real estate investor and manager owning retail, office and industrial properties. Closest direct peer for Hili Properties' owned-and-managed commercial real estate portfolio across Central and Eastern Europe.
• iStyle: Apple Premium Reseller chain operating across Central and Eastern Europe (including Russia and other CEE markets). Direct competitor and structurally analogous business to Hili's iSpot Apple Premium Reseller network in Poland.
• Smit Lamnalco: Global marine services provider offering towage, terminal and ship-to-ship transfer services to the energy and ports sectors. Most direct peer to STS Marine Solutions' ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore operations acquired from Teekay.

Broad incumbents

• Wendel SE: Long-tenured European family-controlled diversified investment company with operating businesses across multiple sectors. Comparable to Hili Ventures' family-controlled diversified holding model, though Wendel operates as a publicly traded investment firm.
• Sofina SA: Belgian family-controlled diversified investment company with holdings spanning consumer, healthcare and digital. Useful peer for the European family-controlled diversified investment holding comparable to Hili Ventures' parent structure.
• Haniel Group: German family-owned diversified holding company with operating businesses across multiple industries. Comparable as a European, family-controlled, long-horizon diversified holding company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hiliventures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hili-ventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hili Ventures