Zygmunt Solorz on the government’s decision: Polsat is not for sale

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that TVN and Polsat stations will be included on the list of strategic companies, which will provide them with special protection against takeovers. Zygmunt Solorz, the majority shareholder of Cyfrowy Polsat, in response to this decision, emphasized that Polsat “was not and is not for sale.” During the press conference, he referred to emerging speculations about a possible takeover of TVN by a Hungarian-Czech consortium, which includes people associated with Viktor Orbán. The head of government emphasized that including these stations on the list of strategic companies is intended to protect the Polish media market against undesirable takeovers that could threaten the interests of the state.

The Prime Minister’s decision to protect TVN and Polsat

Prime Minister Tusk announced that the government will adopt a regulation that will include a list of entities subject to protection and the competent control authorities. This decision means that the sale or takeover of TVN and Polsat will only be possible with the government’s consent.

– They will be included on the list of strategic companies to prevent aggressive and dangerous takeovers from the perspective of state interests, Tusk said. The Prime Minister also emphasized that this protection applies to companies that are key to the stability of the Polish media and energy markets.

He added that the reasons for this decision include, among others: emerging information about possible interest in the Polish media market by foreign investors, especially those related to eastern countries.

Zygmunt Solorz: Polsat is not for sale

The prime minister’s decision was commented on by Zygmunt Solorz, the main shareholder of Cyfrowy Polsat, which owns Telewizja Polsat. In the issued statement, he expressed satisfaction with the announcement of special protection for Polsat.

– I welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to include Telewizja Polsat on the list of strategic and protected companies – wrote Solorz in a statement. He also recalled that the telecommunications companies Polkomtel and TK Telekom belonging to his holding are already on such a list and successfully operate within the framework of applicable regulations.

Solorz pointed out that despite there being no plans to sell Polsat, the company has been facing pressure on its reputation in recent months. – In my opinion, this pressure may be an attempt to force a change in the group’s managers or a sale of assets in the medium term – he said.

Disputes in the Solorz family

Solorz also mentioned internal tensions in his holding company, which intensified in September. The billionaire’s children then sent a letter to the management team in which they warned against making decisions that could affect control over the companies included in the group. Family conflict concerns, among others: management of Cyfrowy Polsat, Telewizja Polsat and Polkomtel.