The Business Will Survive

Have you ever thought about how many issues you need to keep in mind in order to ensure that an existing business survives? April 2024 is the fifth birthday of the holding company Bredley CH AG. This is why we have decided to look back on what happened in the beginning.

Creation

At present, the Group is consolidated under the holding company Bredley, represented by Bredley CH AG with its headquarter in Zurich, Switzerland. The formation of the Group can be traced back to the 1990s. One of its first activities was the development of a retail network of jewellery stores. Later, wholesalers of polymers and chemical products were established. Both of these businesses were subsequently sold. While this sale marked the end of an era, it also heralded the beginning of a new chapter filled with promise and potential.

In 1999, the small-scale lending division was launched. We expanded and reorganized the finance business, now with a focus on secured lending against personal valuables and online fintech services to consumers.

The positive dynamics underlying the development of the Group’s enterprises required the creation of a division that dealt with real estate to meet the needs of a rapidly growing network of jewellery stores and loan offices. At this stage, it became necessary to create a management company responsible for strategic planning, financial control and business process management. Thus, the holding company Bereg Group was established on 25 June 2007, with its headquarter in Kyiv (Ukraine). The company invested in the development of businesses in Ukraine, the CIS and Eastern European countries and identified the key strategic initiatives of its subsidiaries.

Centralization and thoughtful leadership made it possible to pass through the 2008 crisis unscathed. The company was not only able to preserve its key assets, but also successfully developed its lending business. Since 2008, this network, under the brand name “BLAGO”, has opened branches in Ukraine, followed by Moldova, Poland and Romania. Active under different trademarks and experiencing steady growth, the startup transformed into a company involved in secured and unsecured lending, including online lending platforms and retail sales points, with nearly 2,000 employees and 2.5 million customers per year.

Real Estate

The first points of contact with the real estate were attempts to rent and sublet premises of different types. Our commercial rentals served as the perfect launchpad, empowering businesses in a competitive market. Later projects involved the construction of commercial properties both to meet the needs of the Group itself and for commercial purposes. The construction projects showed better results. However, this sector is a dynamic field with varying prospects across different regions and market segments. Current global trends and the geography of business expansion influenced the Group’s activities. Thus, in 2015, Rodion Butko, the UBO of the Group, decided to invest in the construction project in Spain, building villas designed for living and recreation. 

The next construction project started in 2021 in Łodż, Poland. The building, which contains exclusive apartments with inspiring interiors and the finest materials and amenities, is located close to the Polish capital. This project helped create an island with a cosy, home-like atmosphere, while maintaining  close proximity to the centre of commercial decision-making. It will soon be successfully completed.  

Acquiring, renting, subletting, renovating and selling residential or commercial real estate  always testifies to the power of collaboration and mutual growth.

IT security

The growing network of enterprises and employees requires constant reorganization and restructuring. It is difficult to remember when the influence of IT began to be felt in our lives. Nevertheless, it affects the business as well. One technical support specialist is not enough: with several offices and thousands of employees, the Group needs a strong information security system.

For this purpose, the company Qmaro was brought into being in 2011. Thus, we can now do everything, ranging  from the creation of a personalized corporate IT infrastructure to the provision of cybersecurity. The company’s commitment to continuous learning and adaptation has enabled it to stay ahead of technological trends, while the agile approach to design, maintenance, consulting, security and cloud solutions, together with the team’s collaborative spirit, has enhanced its overall productivity, making it a vital asset to the organization.

Nowadays, Bredley Holding operates several business lines, specifically a financial line, a real estate line and an IT security line. All of these lines have proven their viability and innovative capacity. At the same time, the company’s diversification allows it to enter new markets, reduce the risks associated with a single sector and capitalize on its existing strengths.

Throughout the journey, we immersed ourselves in a wide range of industries, acquiring insights that only first-hand experience can provide. This knowledge is not just theoretical, but represents a practical toolkit, enabling our team of talented specialists to navigate the complexities of the business world deftly and confidently. Thus, the  collaboration between employees and partners is an invaluable asset – and not just in monetary terms – one that unlocks the capacity to explore new opportunities.