Michał Sołowow#Business empire

Sołowow studied at Kielce University of Technology.{{cite magazine |last=Grzeszak |first= Adam|date= 2016|title=Mistrz cichej jazdy|trans-title=Quiet ride champion|url= https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/rynek/1786126,1,na-czym-sie-dorobil-najbogatszy-polak.read|language=pl |magazine=Polityka |issue=12/2019 (3203)|publication-date=19 March 2019|pages=36}} In 1980s he earned money working in the West, so he was able to create Mitex construction enterprise in late 1980s in Kielce, when freedom of business was announced in still communist Polish People's Republic. After political and economical transformation in early 1990s, Mitex became one of bigger companies on regional construction market. Sołowow then became an active Warsaw Stock Exchange investor.

Sołowow bought shares in the chemical company Dwory (now Synthos) and funded its expansion with debt, taking advantage of low interest rates at the time. He then diversified into ceramic tiles, wood floors, real estate, new technologies and biotechnology sector. He gave up any direct management roles but is still an active investor (mostly on the private equity market).

In October 2019, Synthos Green Energy S.A., a Synthos Group company, entered into an agreement with US-Japanese GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy for cooperation in the potential construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland based on small modular reactors (SMR) BWRX-300 technology.{{Cite web|title=GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Announces Small Modular Reactor Technology Collaboration in Poland {{!}} GE News|url=https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-hitachi-nuclear-energy-announces-small-modular-reactor-technology-collaboration|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.ge.com|language=en}} This is the first agreement of this type concluded by a Polish private company.

Sołowow manages his assets through several funds including: Black Forest SICAV-SIF fund,{{Cite web|title=GESSEL advises the Black Forest fund on an investment in Tikrow|url=https://swisschamber.pl/en/aktualnosc_firmowa/gessel-advises-the-black-forest-fund-on-an-investment-in-tikrow/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Swiss Chamber Poland|language=en-GB}} FTF Columbus Fund, FTF Galleon,{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title=Sołowow wycofuje się z giełdy. FTF Galleon ogłosił wezwanie na Synthos|url=https://www.stockwatch.pl/wiadomosci/solowow-wycofuje-sie-z-gieldy-ftf-galleon-oglosil-wezwanie-na-synthos,akcje,203722|access-date=2021-03-31|website=StockWatch.pl - giełda od fundamentów - wiadomości}} Magellan Pro-Equity Fund I S.A.{{Cite web|title=Current report no. 68/2008 - Echo Investment|url=https://en.echo.com.pl/news,505,current-report-no-682008.html|access-date=2021-03-31|website=en.echo.com.pl|language=en}}

Sołowow also makes investments via IPOPEMA 112 FIZAN fund (e.g. Genicore,{{Cite web|title=News - Invest Concept Autoryzowany Doradca NewConnect|url=http://www.investconcept.pl/news_2_40.htm|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.investconcept.pl}} OncoArendi Therapeutics{{Cite web|title=Relacje Inwestorskie|url=https://oncoarendi.com/relacje-inwestorskie/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=OncoArendi Therapeutics|language=pl-PL|archive-date=2021-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411111444/https://oncoarendi.com/relacje-inwestorskie/|url-status=dead}}).

He is sole or key shareholder of the following companies:

• Synthos S.A. (chemical industry). One of the largest Polish chemical companies. It manufactures synthetic rubber and latex, styrene materials and vinyl dispersions;{{Cite web|title=Synthos S.A.|url=https://www.synthosgroup.com/en/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.synthosgroup.com}}
• Cersanit S.A. – (sanitary ceramics and tiles). As of 2019 Cersanit is the largest ceramic tiles producer in Poland and second largest in Europe with 35% market share in Poland, 8% in Germany, 50% in Romania, and 40% in Ukraine. The company is the third largest ceramic products manufacturer in Europe and seventh in the world.{{Cite web|date=July 22, 2019|title=Cersanit S.A. - leader on the market of sanitary ceramics and ceramic tiles|url=https://www.cersanit.com/about-us/|access-date=March 31, 2021|website=Cersanit corporate website}} In 2007 Sołowow merged Cersanit with Opoczno{{Cite web|title=Solowow Agrees on Opoczno and Cersanit Merger|url=https://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/11/13/3092506.htm|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.tmcnet.com}} at the time the largest ceramic tiles manufacturer in Poland and second largest in Europe.{{Cite web|last=Turkiewicz|first=Dariusz|date=October 6, 2005|title=Leadership at cost of margins. [in: Ceramic Producers - sector update by Dom Maklerski BZ WBK]|url=https://www.bankier.pl/static/att/14000/1349645_CeramicTileProducers.pdf|access-date=March 31, 2021|website=Bankier.pl}}
• Barlinek S.A. (producer of floorboards). One of the largest manufacturers of natural wooden flooring systems in the world, and the most recognizable brand of natural floors in Poland. Barlinek floorboards are exported to 75 countries on 6 continents.{{Cite web|title=Grupa Barlinek|url=https://www.barlinek.com.pl/firma/o-nas/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Barlinek|language=pl-PL}} In 2012 the company had 60% of the Polish floorboard market;{{Cite web|last=Brymora|first=Krystian|date=November 19, 2012|title=Barlinek Raport Analityczny 19 listopad 2012 (Barlinek Analytical Report November 19, 2012 in Polish)|url=https://www.bdm.com.pl/file.php?id=35233|access-date=March 31, 2021|website=Dom Maklerski BDM S.A.}}
• Komfort (carpets and linings retail chain);{{Cite web|last=Cichla|first=Aneta|title=Sołowow company buys Komfort chain {{!}} EurobuildCEE|url=https://eurobuildcee.com/en/news/13748-solowow-company-buys-komfort-chain|access-date=2021-03-31|website=eurobuildcee.com|language=en}}
• Homla (interior decoration retail chain);{{Cite web|title=New York|url=http://www.pzu.pl/growing-europe/newyork|access-date=2021-03-31|website=PZU|language=pl}}
• Nexterio (home decor);https://www.linkedin.com/in/micha%C5%82-so%C5%82owow-49a53837/ {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}
• Corab (largest manufacturer and distributor of elements for photovoltaics installations in Poland);{{Cite web|date=2020-12-31|title=GESSEL assists the Michał Sołowow-owned Black Forest fund in its investment in Corab|url=https://gessel.pl/en/news/gessel-assists-the-michal-solowow-owned-black-forest-fund-in-its-investment-in-corab/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=GESSEL|language=en-US}}
• WP Systems (maintenance services for offshore wind farms);{{Cite web|title=WP Systems – maintenance and dismantling solutions for your wind turbines|url=https://wpsystems.com/?noredirect=en_US|access-date=2021-03-31|website=wpsystems.com}}{{Cite web|date=2020-12-15|title=Fotowoltaika skusiła kolejnego miliardera! Sołowow kupuje udziały w polskiej spółce » GLOBEnergia|url=https://globenergia.pl/fotowoltaika-skusila-kolejnego-miliardera-solowow-kupuje-udzialy-w-polskiej-spolce/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=GLOBEnergia|language=pl-PL|archive-date=2021-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422142043/https://globenergia.pl/fotowoltaika-skusila-kolejnego-miliardera-solowow-kupuje-udzialy-w-polskiej-spolce/|url-status=dead}}
• Syntos Green Energy (part of Synthos Group, responsible for new energy projects - offshore wind, nuclear, hydrogen);{{Cite web|title=Synthos Green Energy - Synthos S.A.|url=https://www.synthosgroup.com/en/synthos-group/group/synthos-green-energy|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.synthosgroup.com|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202751/https://www.synthosgroup.com/en/synthos-group/group/synthos-green-energy|url-status=dead}}
• New Era Materials (composite materials from epoxy resins);{{Cite web|title=New Era Materials {{!}} Composites {{!}} Epoxy Resin {{!}} Innovation {{!}} Labs|url=https://neweramaterials.com/en/about|access-date=2021-03-31|website=neweramaterials.com}}
• 3DGence (manufacturer of 3D printers);{{Cite web|title=About us - company profile and history|url=https://3dgence.com/company/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=3DGence|language=en-GB}}
• Genicore (manufacturer of ovens for composite materials production);{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://genicore.eu/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=GeniCore {{!}} Genius at the Core|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Gratkiewicz|first=Jacek|title=Człowiek Roku money.pl: Michał Sołowow|url=https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/czlowiek-roku-moneypl-michal-solowow-6382585145493121a.html|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.money.pl|language=pl-PL}}
• OncoArendi (R&D of particles for the production of drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer; WSE-listed);
• ExploRNA Therapeutics (R&D of mRNA modification technologies);{{Cite web|title=Poland's richest man invests in mRNA technology|url=https://polandin.com/51433600/polands-richest-man-invests-in-mrna-technology|access-date=2021-03-31|website=polandin.com|language=en}}
• LifeFLow (R&D of non-invasive coronography technologies);{{Cite web|title=Najbogatszy Polak inwestuje w technologię mRNA, która jest stosowana w szczepionkach na COVID-19|url=https://businessinsider.com.pl/firmy/strategie/najbogatszy-polak-michal-solowow-inwestuje-w-technologie-mrna/pht50wg|work=Business Insider|date=2020-12-21|access-date=2021-03-31|language=pl}}
• Tikrow (online temporary work platform);{{Cite web|title=Aktualność - Invest Concept Autoryzowany Doradca NewConnect|url=http://www.investconcept.pl/news_1_44.htm|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.investconcept.pl}}
• GETCAR (car leasing);{{Cite web|date=2019-02-28|title=Michał Sołowow: kim jest najbogatszy Polak? [RODZINA, MAJĄTEK, FIRMY, RAJDY] - Radio ZET|url=https://www.radiozet.pl/Co-gdzie-kiedy-jak/Michal-Solowow-kim-jest-najbogatszy-Polak-RODZINA-MAJATEK-FIRMY-RAJDY|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.radiozet.pl|language=pl}}
• North Food – operator of restaurant chains in Poland and United Kingdom (North Food: fish and seafood; John Burg: New Zealand beef burgers; Veggie Hub);{{Cite web|title=North Food Polska S.A.|url=https://northfood.pl/en/|access-date=2021-03-31|language=en-US}}
• Yamly - a start-up company, producer and distributor of plant-based foods.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-12|title=GESSEL successfully advises the founders of Yamly in proceedings before UOKiK|url=https://gessel.pl/en/news/gessel-successfully-advises-the-founders-of-yamly-in-proceedings-before-uokik/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=GESSEL|language=en-US}}

Sołowow's closed investments include:

• Max (food retail chain) - founded in 1992 and sold to Dutch group Ahold in 1996;{{Cite web|date=2014-04-24|title=Kielczanin Michał Sołowow wśród pięciu ludzi - gigantów, którzy zmienili polską gospodarkę!|url=https://echodnia.eu/kielczanin-michal-solowow-wsrod-pieciu-ludzi-gigantow-ktorzy-zmienili-polska-gospodarke/ar/c3-10173624|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Echo Dnia|language=pl-PL}}
• NOMI (first DIY retail chain in Poland) - founded in 1994 and sold in 1999 to Kingfisher plc;{{Cite web|last=Wrobel|first=Stanisław|date=2021-02-25|title=Kielczanin Michał Sołowow ponownie najbogatszym Polakiem! Jest lista magazynu "Forbes" 2021|url=https://echodnia.eu/swietokrzyskie/kielczanin-michal-solowow-ponownie-najbogatszym-polakiem-jest-lista-magazynu-forbes-2021/ar/c1-15461762|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Echo Dnia Świętokrzyskie|language=pl-PL}}
• Exbud (construction)- minority stake sold to Swedish Skanska in 2000;{{Cite web|title=Skanska acquires shares in the leading Polish contractor Exbud|url=https://group.skanska.com/media/47973/Skanska-acquires-shares-in-the-leading-Polish-contractor-Exbud|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Skanska - Global corporate website|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422145116/https://group.skanska.com/media/47973/Skanska-acquires-shares-in-the-leading-Polish-contractor-Exbud|url-status=dead}}
• Viscoplast (manufacturer of medical dressings) - minority stake sold to 3M in 2001;{{Cite web|title=3M przejmuje Viscoplast|url=https://www.parkiet.com/artykul/170922.html|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.parkiet.com|language=pl}}
• Mitex (construction and real estate development) - Sołowow founded the company in 1980s and sold to French group Eiffage in 2002;
• Echo Dnia/Słowo Ludu (local daily newspapers) - both purchased in the 1990s and sold in 2005 to Norwegian Orkla;
• UltraPack S.A. (production of corrugated board packagings) – Sołowow bought the company in 2003{{Cite web|title=Wyborcza.pl|url=https://szczecin.wyborcza.pl/szczecin/1,34939,1616396.html?disableRedirects=true|access-date=2021-03-31|website=szczecin.wyborcza.pl}} and sold in 2007{{Cite web|title=Rajdowiec na biznesowym zakręcie|url=https://www.newsweek.pl/biznes/michal-solowow-byly-rajdowiec-konczy-kariere-w-biznesie/xz93n5n|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Newsweek.pl|date=11 March 2018 |language=pl}} to British multinational packaging group Mondi;
• Echo Investment (real estate development) - Sołowow founded the company in 1994 and sold his shares in 2015 to Oaktree and PIMCO;

Sołowow was interested in amateur rally driving as a teenager. In 2001, thanks to sponsorship of his companies Synthos and Cersanit, he started professional rally career, aside from his business activities. After several years of training and starts, he began to obtain good results. He was the European vice-champion (2008, 2009, 2012), the vice-champion of Poland (2006, 2010), the European second vice-champion (2006, 2010), and second vice-champion of Poland (2004, 2005). He suspended his career in 2015 and resumed it in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Michal Solowow World Rally Championship {{!}} Motorsport Stats|url=https://results.motorsportstats.com/drivers/michal-solowow/series/world-rally-championship|access-date=2021-06-01|website=results.motorsportstats.com}}

{{asterisk}} Season still in progress.

Sołowow owns a residence in Masłów, a village on the borders of his hometown Kielce in Świętokrzyskie voivodship.{{Cite web|last1=Stanek|first1=Aleksandra|date=2014-11-14|title=Tu mieszkają najbogatsi, czyli top 10 najdroższych nieruchomości świata|url=https://www.money.pl/galerie/artykul/tu-mieszkaja-najbogatsi-czyli-top-10,166,0,2201254.html|access-date=2021-03-31|website=WP money|language=pl}} His daughter, Karolina Sołowow (b. 1986), runs a charitable foundation "Fabryki Marzeń" ("Factories of Dreams") supporting disadvantaged youth.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-27|title=Kim jest Karolina Sołowow, córka najbogatszego Polaka|url=https://businessinsider.com.pl/wiadomosci/karolina-solowow-kim-jest-corka-najbogatszego-polaka-michala-solowowa/z7bd6xs|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Business Insider|language=pl}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/106-michal-solowow/ Results at ewrc-results.com]

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Polish billionaires

Category:Polish rally drivers

Category:Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers

Category:World Rally Championship drivers

Category:European Rally Championship drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Kielce

Category:M-Sport drivers