Dragon Capital owner Tomas Fiala transferred his stake in the group’s companies to a family trust: why a business needs such a structure. Comment for Forbes

Dragon Capital owner Tomas Fiala transferred his stake in the group’s companies to a family trust. These are assets he had owned for more than 25 years: commercial real estate, media assets, and a stake in the producer of Truskavetska water.

This step immediately raised questions: which assets remain under personal control, why does a business need a trust structure, and what does this mean in terms of corporate governance and asset protection?

LESHCHENKO & PARTNERS partner Anastasiia Blyndu helped Forbes Ukraine understand the legal logic behind the decision. In her comment, she explained how family trusts are used in international practice, what objectives they solve for owners of large businesses, and why such decisions are increasingly appearing in the Ukrainian context as well.

“Transferring a business to a family trust is a common international practice that allows assets to be managed flexibly, including regulating issues of inheritance, disposal, and ownership structure.

As a rule, such decisions have two key reasons: either the presence of risks around the beneficiary or their business, or a strategic decision to transfer assets to the next generation.

The process of transferring assets itself is complex and may take several months. It includes an audit, financial analysis, preparation of documents, and making changes to corporate registers abroad and in Ukraine.

At the same time, the formal transfer of assets to a trust does not mean loss of control — the former beneficiary may retain influence over business management,” Anastasiia noted.