Nerijus Numavičius


Nerijus Numa originally from Lithuania, now lives in the UK. Nerijus Numavičius is investor, self-made billionaire and ultimate beneficial owner of private holding company Vilniaus prekyba that controls and by means of its subsidiaries operates retail and pharmacy chains, real estate development, shopping center lease and management companies in the Baltic states, Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine. The group is operating in 18 countries and indirectly employs over 40 000 individuals. Nerijus is also a UBO of private investment group owing companies operating in food, baby food and pet food production and sales businesses, covering Sweden, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Belarus, Lithuania, Slovakia and other European and Asian countries.
According to a study carried out by the investment bank Prudentia and stock exchange Nasdaq Riga, the value of Maxima Group was totaling 1.62 billion and increased by 26% in 2017.
Forbes magazine included Nerijus Numavičius in The World's Billionaires 2015 list and his net worth was valued above EUR 1 billion. He was the first billionaire on this list in the Baltic states.
In 2016, Lithuania got first university endowment fund and Nerijus Numavičius became a donor and a board member of in 2017.

Early life

Nerijus Numavičius was born in Šilalė, a small town in Lithuania, the eldest of six children: three brothers and three sisters. Later the family moved to :lt:Šilagalys|Šilagalys. He graduated from :lt:Panevėžio Žemynos progimnazija|Panevėžio „Žemynos“ progimnazija. In 2001, Numavičius earned a bachelor's degree in medical sciences from the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, where he studied public health.

Business career

The first capital was gained by selling real estate in Lithuania. The received money was successfully invested in various company stocks. In 1992, together with friends and his two brothers, he established Urdzia, a small retail firm in Vilnius. Later, in 1994 Vilniaus prekyba was established by 9 partners, merging 7 various and different size retail stores.
The extensive growth of the retail chain was funded by sale of various stocks that the group acquired during post-Soviet privatization campaigns. One of the transaction involved stock sale of four sugar refineries to Danisco. Other companies included :lt:KG Group|Vilniaus paukštynas, :lt:Birštono mineraliniai vandenys|Birštono mineraliniai vandenys, Vilniaus mėsos kombinatas, Vilniaus duona.
Four sugar refineries stock sale to Danisco was valued at USD 30 million and it created a good opportunities for retail business development. The first new type store of 3000 m2 was opened and Maxima Group brand was born in 1998.

Awards