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Brief History
Founded in 1952 by the late Ibrahim Husni Bey, HB Group began as a logistics company serving the Libyan market.
Over seven decades, the Group has grown into one of Libya's leading diversified private business groups, with interests across multiple sectors and a growing regional and international presence.
HB Group has interests in more than 50 independent companies, each operating under its own management and governance.
Through long-standing partnerships with leading multinational companies, the Group has built a strong reputation for reliability, operational excellence and market leadership across Libya .
HB Group continues to pursue sustainable growth and long-term value creation.
+ About HB Group
HB Group was founded in 1952 by the late Ibrahim Husni Bey, primarily operating as a logistics company. Over the years, the Group has grown rapidly, gradually expanding and diversifying its activities, and subsequently transforming its core business.Today, HB Group, through family members holdings, has evolved to become the premier importer and distributor in Libya for market leading brands in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods), Pharmaceuticals, Logistics, Manufacturing and Commodities sectors.
HB Group has remained very active during various transitional phases of change and uncertainty for the country, often leading the way in attracting foreign investments and trade. The Group was re-established and grew exponentially in Libya during and after the 1990s. This was achieved in an environment of severe oppression from the now dismantled Gaddafi regime. Group companies were randomly and maliciously subjected to asset freezes and nationalization. These occurred frequently under the previous regime, including 1972, 1978, 1996 and 2007. In difficult times, HB Group asserted itself as a major role player throughout.
Now, HB Group is recognized internationally as the premier private holding company in Libya. It has become widely acknowledged as a market leader in its numerous activities, across multiple geographies, and continues to undertake further substantial quantitative and qualitative business development initiatives. These initiatives both broaden and deepen our activities, and have enabled the Group to expand into new sectors such as Commercial Real Estate, (Hotels, Retail Complexes, Shopping Malls and leisure facilities), financial services, oil services, and manufacturing.
+ Our mission
To contribute to Libya's sustainable economic growth by building strong partnerships, developing new opportunities and delivering world-class products and services with integrity and operational excellence.
GROUP OBJECTIVES
Promote Libya as an attractive market for investment and international businesses.
Build strategic partnerships that support trade, investment and economic growth.
Develop innovative businesses and introduce leading international brands and technologies.
Create employment, develop local talent and support entrepreneurship, startups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Deliver sustainable economic and social value through responsible investment, corporate governance, and operational excellence , serving as a benchmark for the private sector.
+ Our Vision
Improving quality of life, in everything we do.
Our vision has always been to create a solid business foundation for Libya, using all the talent that our country has to offer, and showcase our country's vast potential to the World with nothing but excellence. We have successfully stuck by our original vision of over 60 years.
To be where we are today, we have had to adapt and transform ourselves many times over, in order to reach our goals. HB Group has a no-compromise policy, and we pride ourselves in the fact that we have never gone into business ventures or activities that felt wrong to us or dealt with the wrong type of people. In the end, we believe our country's well-being and future is worth every sacrifice.
Self-reliance has never been a viable solution to any problem. HB Group has always been the champion of openness, both in business and political orientation, and that from the very beginning. Today, we are very proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to the future for the prospects of new successes.
+ HB Group Structure
HB Group is formed by a number of independent entities operating across multiple commercial sectors. The number of individual entities currently in operation, and in which Husni Bey family members have a significant stake, exceeds 30. Operations are predominantly based in Libya and typically in co-operation with international partners. An increasing proportion of our activity is now international, and is developing in European, Middle Eastern and the North African regions.
The organisational structure of HB Group is not typical of most conglomerate entities. The businesses in which members of the Husni Bey family are shareholders remain fully independent, all with their independent boards of directors and management, and fit for purpose shareholding structure.
The central or core Group function is primarily that of strategic alignment and facilitation of activities in pursuit of individual company objectives. This involves the co-ordination of family member interests, and unlocking business potential through the application of international best practice and the implementation of common policies and procedures – where appropriate.The primary reasons for this 'collaborative' type structure are:
- No historical recognition of, or benefit derived from, the consolidated holding company concept within Libyan commercial law. This is now in the process of being reformed.
- Risk management. Under the previous political regime, should one entity encounter any regulatory or governmental problems, all other entities would remain unaffected.
- Focus. Each company operates independently, develops and implements its own strategies, sets and manages it own budgets and is fully accountable for its performance. This focuses the directors and management to ensure that the company they represent remains viable, profitable, and specialized.
- Facilitation. Where opportunities are available, either within existing companies or through the creation of new ventures, the Group management function facilitates the development of these opportunities where required. This takes the form of arranging visits, developing appropriate partnership and legal structures, defining the terms of the relationship, building business plans, securing and structuring investment capital (if required), supporting the ongoing relationship with partners or authorities, and providing advice and assistance where appropriate.