MAXIMA GRUPĖ, UAB (hereinafter – MAXIMA GRUPĖ) has completed the sale of two companies to PARETAS B.V., which belongs to the “Vilniaus prekyba” group. The transactions included shares of EMPERIA HOLDING Sp. z o.o., which operates “Stokrotka” retail chain in Poland, and MAXIMA BULGARIA EOOD, which operates “T Market” retail chain in Bulgaria. After assessing the changes, S&P Global Ratings confirmed MAXIMA GRUPĖ’s “BB+” credit rating with a stable outlook.
These transactions are part of the ongoing restructuring of UAB “Vilniaus prekyba” group which was announced in October.
It is foreseen that, once the planned changes are fully implemented, the group will be divided into two structurally separate and independent parts: one group of companies operating in the Baltic region under UAB "Vilniaus prekyba" management and another group of businesses operating in other countries under PARETAS B.V. management. The parent company of UAB "Vilniaus prekyba" and PARETAS B.V. will be METODIKA B.V. The entire restructuring process of the "Vilniaus prekyba" group is planned to be completed in the first half of 2027.
In 2024, the Stokrotka retail chain, which operates in Poland, generated revenue of EUR 1.9 billion and consisted of 981 stores. In Bulgaria, “T Market” generated revenue of EUR 294 million in 2024 and operated 133 stores.
MAXIMA GRUPĖ will continue to manage the retail chains “MAXIMA” operating in the Baltic States, the e-commerce store “Barbora”, and the companies “FRANMAX” and “MAXIMA International Sourcing”.
S&P Global Ratings confirms “BB+” credit rating with a stable outlook
The international credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings, having assessed these changes, confirmed MAXIMA GRUPĖ’s “BB+” credit rating. The agency’s review notes that “MAXIMA” will remain the market leader in the Baltic States, and that following the divestment of operations in Poland and Bulgaria, the financial leverage calculated under S&P Global Ratings’ methodology is forecast to improve to 1.9x.
The review also notes that a new long-term MAXIMA GRUPĖ bond issuance is expected within the next 6–12 months. MAXIMA GRUPĖ will assess the possibility of returning to the bond market and its long-term operating financing structure in early 2026, taking into account its managed business portfolio and market conditions.
