Business career
In 1981, Kulczyk founded his first company with money from his father Henryk. The Interkulpol joint-venture was one of the first international trade companies formed in Poland since the second world war. In 1988, Kulczyk became the official Volkswagen dealer in Poland. His first large-scale deal was a PLN 150-million (35.7 million euros) sale of 3,000 Volkswagen cars delivered to the Polish police and the security services in the early 1990s.[6] In 1991, Kulczyk Holding a limited liability company was founded. In 1993, the company changed its legal form into a joint-stock company. Kulczyk held the post of the chairman of the supervisory board.[7]
The completed investments in his portfolio included: Telekomunikacja Polska (a 47.5% share in the years 2000–2005, held by a consortium comprising Kulczyk Holding and France Telecom (of which Kulczyk Holding held a 13.6% share);[8] Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (a 4.8% share in 1993–1999 in partnership with Deutsche Telekom);[9] TUiR Warta Property Insurance Company (a nearly 70% share held in 1996–2006. All of the shares were stock-bought, except for a 19.8% share acquired from the State Treasury in a public tender);[10] PTE Warta Pension Manager (a 50% share in 2000–2005);[11] PKN Orlen (a nearly 5% share in 2001–2005).[12] Polish oil refinery
In 2007, Kulczyk reorganized the Kulczyk Holding Group into Kulczyk Investment House, later known as Kulczyk Investments.[13]
Kulczyk invested in energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, real estate and brewery sectors. His company Kulczyk Investments has 40% share in Neconde Energy Limited, an oil production in Nigeria,[14] 3.49% in San Leon Energy (oil and gas exploration and production),[15] 33.72% in Loon Energy Corporation (a company holding an oil exploration and production licenses in Colombia and Peru),[16] 50.76% in Serinus Energy (an oil and gas exploration and production company operating in Ukraine, Tunisia and Romania)[17][18] and 9.73% share in Ophir Energy (an oil and gas exploration and production company operating in Africa).[19] Kulczyk Investments portfolio includes also a 15.4% share in Strata Limited, a company focused on development of mining projects in Africa[20]
In 2010, in cooperation with Silverstein Properties Inc., Kulczyk Silverstein Properties was founded as a joint-venture company specializing in development of commercial real estate projects in Central Europe.[22]
In 2009, company traded a 28% share in Kompania Piwowarska for a 3% share in SABMiller – the world's second biggest beer producer.[23]
Kulczyk Investments holds a 24% share in Autostrada Wielkopolska,[24] a 40% share in Autostrada Wielkopolska II[25] and a 45% share of Autostrada Eksploatacja through subsidiary companies.[26] He also held a 58.42% share in Pekaes SA.[27]
Kulczyk Investments created Polenergia, Poland's first private energy group with regional scope, operating in the sectors of energy generation, distribution and trading from conventional and unconventional sources.[28] In 2011, the Kulczyk Group acquired a 100% share in Nowa Sarzyna Power Plant.[29]
After Kulczyk's death in July 2015, his children became his successors. Dominika Kulczyk, as the vice-president of the supervisory board of Kulczyk Investments, is responsible for international relations and the CSR projects.[30] Sebastian Kulczyk has been serving as the Kulczyk Investments CEO since December 2013,[31] and in August 2015, he took his dead father's place in the supervisory board of Ciech S.A.[32]
Other activities
Kulczyk was the co-founder of the Polish Business Roundtable.[33] He was also the Honorary Chairman of the German – Polish Chamber of Commerce.[34]
Since June 2006, he was member of the Green Cross International Board of Directors – a UN-affiliated organization focused on ecological safety. Since 6 October 2007, he held the position of the chairman of the board.[35]
He was also the President of the Council for Supporting the Scientific Research at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, a long-term member of the Board of the National Museum of Poznań as well as member of the Church Economic Board. In addition, he was also member of the International Governors Board affiliated with the Peres Center for Peace.
In February 2008, he was incorporated into confraternity of the Order of Saint Paul.[36]
