A court in Liechtenstein has delivered a final ruling in a high-stakes family feud, ordering Polish billionaire Zygmunt Solorz to transfer control of his vast media and telecommunications empire to his three children. The decision dismisses Solorz's attempt to block a succession plan that was finalized last year.
The Final Court Ruling
The Principality of Liechtenstein's High Court ruled that Solorz validly transferred his founders' rights to his offspring in August 2024. The court rejected the billionaire's appeal against an earlier May ruling, making the decision final and binding. The legal battle centred on two Liechtenstein-registered family foundations that control Solorz's business holdings.
Following the announcement, shares in Cyfrowy Polsat SA, a key company in the empire and operator of one of Poland's largest TV networks, surged dramatically. The stock jumped as much as 11% on Tuesday, marking its most significant single-day gain in 16 months.
A Family Feud Over a Multi-Billion Dollar Empire
The succession drama stems from a family gathering in 2024 where plans were discussed to transfer control amid concerns about Solorz's health. Although he initially agreed, Solorz later sought to reverse the decision, claiming he had been misled. His fortune was estimated at approximately $2.3 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
In a joint statement, his children—Aleksandra Zak, Tobias Solorz, and Piotr Zak—confirmed the transition. "The succession process in the family foundations established by our father, Zygmunt Solorz, initiated many years ago and finalized in August 2024, has finally taken place," they said. "Active ownership and supervision remains in the hands of the family – the three of us, his children." They added their focus would now be on building value for shareholders.
Business Impact and Legal Fallout
The public feud has weighed on the business. Despite the recent rally, Cyfrowy Polsat's shares remain down about 15% for the year, starkly underperforming Warsaw's main WIG20 index, which has gained 44%. The Liechtenstein-based TiVi Foundation, a major shareholder at the centre of the dispute, holds 69.13% of the voting rights in Cyfrowy Polsat, a stake valued at roughly $1.3 billion.
Solorz's legal adviser, Radoslaw Kwasnicki, stated that the patriarch "fundamentally disagrees" with the ruling, which is under review. "We reserve the right to pursue all legal options, including filing a complaint with Liechtenstein’s Constitutional Tribunal," Kwasnicki said via email. Earlier this year, Solorz also sought help from a US federal court to recover his fortune, and the case even attracted commentary from Donald Trump Jr.
This ruling appears to close a major chapter in the saga, legally cementing the transfer of one of Poland's most significant media and telecom empires to the next generation.
