Kyiv, 4 June 2026
Baker McKenzie acted as lead legal adviser to MHP, an international food and agri company, on its strategic investment agreement with Th. Nitsiakos AVEE, one of the largest vertically integrated meat production companies in Greece. The investment supports MHP’s continued expansion in Europe and reflects its long‑term approach to partnering with established local businesses and supporting their growth.
Under the agreement, MHP will acquire a 70% stake in Th. Nitsiakos AVEE through three sequential phases, with completion of the first phase subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions. The agreement further provides MHP with the contractual right to increase its shareholding to up to 100% at a later stage, subject to agreed conditions.
The phased acquisition structure – combined with a complex multijurisdictional regulatory landscape – reflects the considerable legal and commercial complexity of this high-value cross-border transaction. Baker McKenzie has advised MHP since the outset of this journey, providing integrated, end-to-end legal guidance across every phase – from initial structuring, legal due diligence coordination to multiparty negotiations.
Led by M&A Partner Viacheslav Yakymchuk (Kyiv), the cross‑border Baker McKenzie team included:
- M&A / Transactional: Alyona Bon (Counsel, Kyiv), Helen Johnson (Partner, London), Mykyta Stebliuk (Associate, Kyiv) and Nikki Bradford (Associate, London)
- Antitrust / Regulatory: Tom Jenkins (Partner, Brussels), Bram Hoorelbeke (Counsel, Brussels), Pavlo Prokhorov (Associate, Brussels)
Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm (Athens, Greece) acted as local legal counsel of MHP on the transaction, with a team including Partner Elisabeth Eleftheriades, Senior Associate Angelos Charalampidis and Associate Nikolas Vellios.
Commenting on the transaction, Viacheslav Yakymchuk said: “This is a landmark transaction of exceptional strategic importance – a rare and highly notable example of a Ukrainian blue-chip company acquiring a leading business in the European Union. Its scale, complexity and ambition set it apart – from the multiphase acquisition structure and demanding multijurisdictional regulatory process to the years of preparation and coordination required to bring it to signing. Having supported MHP from the earliest stages of this journey, we are proud to have helped deliver a transaction that marks an important milestone in the client’s European growth story.”
Yuriy Gvozdyev, Head of Legal at MHP, noted: “This agreement reflects MHP’s approach to developing strong local businesses through investment, operational expertise and access to international markets. We value the role of our legal adviser, Baker McKenzie, in successfully navigating the complexity of this cross‑border transaction and ensuring its smooth execution.”
Rodion Teslia, Head of M&A and Corporate Finance (Legal) at MHP, added: “Successfully delivering this complex transaction required close coordination and trusted legal guidance. Baker McKenzie’s consistent support, strategic insight and deep understanding of our business reflect the strength of our longstanding cooperation across multiple transactions.”
Learn more about the deal in MHP’s press release: https://mhp.com.ua/en/press-releases/mhp-se-to-acquire-stake-of-up-to-100-in-greek-poultry-group-th-nitsiakos-avee.
About MHP
MHP is a publicly listed (London Stock Exchange) international food and agri company producing high‑quality, healthy food products that enhance consumers’ lives. The company operates production facilities in Ukraine, Spain and South‑Eastern Europe, alongside subsidiaries in the UK, the Netherlands, the Middle East and North Africa, and other European markets. https://mhp.com.ua
About Nitsiakos
Founded in the 1970s, Nitsiakos has developed into one of Greece’s leading vertically integrated food production groups and the country’s largest poultry producer, with a long‑standing presence in the Epirus region and across the Greek food sector. https://www.nitsiakos.gr
About Baker McKenzie
A transactional powerhouse with more than 2,500 deal lawyers in over 40 jurisdictions, Baker McKenzie is a market leader in cross-border and global reorganization transactions, planning, managing and implementing multibillion dollar complex M&A, spin-off, post-acquisition integration and similar projects across numerous jurisdictions. Located in financial centers and emerging markets, the seasoned transactional team provides seamless counsel through local excellence, deep sector knowledge, commercial acumen and refined transactional techniques to maximize deal certainty and deliver maximum value to clients. www.bakermckenzie.com/ukraine
