On 4 August 2025, Baker McKenzie client MHP announced the closing of its acquisition of over 92% of the share capital of Grupo UVESA, one of Spain’s major vertically integrated producers of poultry and pork. This strategic acquisition will enable MHP to further expand its footprint across the European and Middle Eastern markets.
This complex cross-border transaction, initiated several years ago, reached successful completion following the signing of the share purchase agreement in March 2025 and the receipt of all required antitrust clearances across multiple jurisdictions, as well as foreign subsidies clearance from the European Commission.
Led by M&A partners Carlos Martín (Madrid) and Viacheslav Yakymchuk (Kyiv), the cross-border Baker McKenzie team includes:
• Transactional: Carlos Martín (Madrid), Viacheslav Yakymchuk (Kyiv), Alyona Bon (Kyiv) and Elena Piquero (Madrid)
• Antitrust: Paloma Martínez-Lage (Madrid), Tom Jenkins (Brussels) and Bram Hoorelbeke (Brussels)
Commenting on the transaction, Viacheslav Yakymchuk said:
“We are proud to support MHP in another complex and high-impact transaction in Europe, strengthening MHP’s position as a global leader in the poultry sector. This transaction reflects the strength of our cross-border capabilities and our longstanding partnership with MHP. Coordinating legal efforts across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory frameworks was a challenge we were proud to lead and deliver successfully.”
Baker McKenzie’s Carlos Martín added:
“We are thrilled to see this transaction closing after months of negotiation and hard work from all parties involved. It has been a real challenge in terms of complexity given UVESA’s incredibly large shareholder base. We extend our best wishes to MHP for their continued success with this investment.”
Yuriy Gvozdyev, Head of Legal at MHP, noted:
“We are pleased to have partnered with the Baker McKenzie global team on this important milestone for MHP. Smooth cooperation between the Madrid, Brussels and Kyiv offices, as well as the strength of the multijurisdictional team, ensured an efficient process throughout.”
Rodion Teslia, Head of M&A and Corporate Finance (Legal) at MHP, reflected:
“This was one of the most complex transactions we have ever undertaken – and one of the most demanding in scale, involving over 1,600+ sellers. Successfully navigating this deal required not only top-tier legal expertise, but also exceptional organizational effort and negotiation power. Baker McKenzie’s unwavering support made all the difference. Their legal precision, strategic thinking, and steadfast responsiveness helped us tackle every stage of the process – from due diligence and negotiations to regulatory approvals – with confidence and clarity. Working with Baker McKenzie over the past several years has been both professionally rewarding and personally enjoyable.”