On June 3, 2025, Sorainen announced that ICA Gruppen's sale of Rimi Baltic Group to Salling Group (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 12, 2025) has now closed.
According to Sorainen, "The acquisition was announced on March 5, 2025, and completed on June 2, 2025, after receiving the clearance from the European Commission and the FDI clearance in Lithuania. This is the largest deal in the Baltics this decade and the biggest transaction in Salling Group’s history, dating back almost 120 years. Since 2007, Rimi Baltic has been owned by Sweden’s grocery retail company ICA Gruppen. Over the years, it has grown into a financially powerful business; last year, Rimi Baltic’s turnover reached EUR 1.9 billion."
As previously reported, Walless, working with Gernandt & Danielsson, has advised ICA Gruppen on the sale of Rimi Baltic Group to Salling Group for EUR 1.3 billion. Sorainen and Bech-Bruun advised Salling Group on the deal.
Rimi Baltic Group operates 314 grocery stores across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and employs 11,000 people.
According to Walless, the deal allows ICA Gruppen to sharpen its focus on the Swedish market while positioning Rimi Baltic Group for growth under new ownership.
The Walless team included Managing Partner Dovile Burgiene, Partners Arturas Grimaila, Indre Jonaityte-Grice, Minni-Triin Park, Sintija Radionova, Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff, Joana Baublyte-Kulviete, Alina Makovska, Darius Miniotas, Andres Siigur, Hannes Vallikivi, Toomas Taube, Renata Jatuzyte-Muleviciene, and Andis Ozolins, Associate Partners Vytenis Cep, Edita Dauksiene, Akvile Marozaite, Danielius Matonis, Simona Miliauskaite-Gintute, Alma Monkeviciene, Arina Stivrina, Guoda Sileikyte, and Konstantins Telakovs, Counsel Katrin Alliksaar, Experts Raimondas Andrijauskas, Senior Associates Mara Bekere, Arturs Caics, Giedre Cesiulyte-Megine, Igors Dambrans, Monika Gadeike, Gabriele Gudauskiene, Indre Jocite, Kaisa Saarmann, Liina Kais, Zane Karklina, Margus Koiva, Baiba Krievina-Sutora, Mykolas Luksenas, Janis Ozolins, Tomas Paulauskas, Ieva Pikaiste, Laura Tumina, Ignas Urbonas, Liis Venelaine, and Eduardas Simkus, Attorney at Law Riin Rehepapp, Associates Ieva Smigelskaite, Artur Dubickij, Ugne Grigaityte, Rasa Jakstait, Karolina Mickute, Roma Morkunait, Karlis Murnieks, Aura Rimonyte, Adomas Saladzius, Vytautas Samavicius, Dominyka Seputaite, and Martynas Zdanavicius, Junior Associates Emils Klavs Liepins, Justinas Gasys, Igne Kazanaviciete, Maria Lutter, and Erika Vicaiste, and Legal Assistants Rezija Gaujere, Konstance Krievina, and Salvijus Vitas.
The Sorainen team included Partners Laimonas Skibarka, Janis Likops, Simonas Skukauskas, Daivis Svirinas, and Piret Jesse and Counsel Jonas Kiauleikis.
