SBH has advised the EBRD and Zubr Capital on their investment in the Mila group of companies, a wholesale distributor of beauty and personal care products that sells these products through its chain of Mila stores. Revera reportedly advised Mila on the deal and Bird & Bird reportedly worked with both sides.
A Zubr Capital press release describes Mila, which has 417 stores in the country, as "one of the largest drogerie-chains in Belarus." According to Zubr Capital, "the company was founded more than 20 years ago in 1998 and began its development from the wholesale business. The group of companies is a wholesale distributor of world leading brands - Henkel & Schwarzkopf, Colgate & Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, and Beiersdorf. The company has more than 50 contracts with international brands of perfumes and cosmetics. Since 2010, the company has successfully developed a drogerie chain. During this time, the Mila drogerie chain has grown to 417 stores with a 'convenience store' format and has become one of the largest drogerie chain in Belarus. The group of companies employs more than 5,000 employees."
The investment by Zubr Capital and EBRD is designed to allow the company to increase its number of stores, create flagship stores, and develop product and assortment policy. Zubr Capital Fund I acquired a minority stake in Mila Group.
The SBH team included Partners Alexander Bondar and Anastasiya Malakhova, Senior Associate Evgeniya Starosotnika, Advocate Vitaly Tvardovskiy, Associate Ekaterina Shkarbuta, and Paralegal Anna Soltanowich.
