X5 Retail Regulatory News (FIVE)

12 Mar 2008 15:56

X5 Retail Group N.V.12 March 2008 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN X5 DENIES THAT IT HAS HIRED MORGAN STANLEY TO SELL A STAKE IN THE COMPANY Amsterdam, 12 March 2008 - Further to the headline that was published byReuters today, X5 Retail Group N.V. (the Company), Russia's largest foodretailer in terms of sales, states that neither the Company, nor its majorshareholder, Alfa Group, have hired Morgan Stanley to sell a stake in theCompany. At the same time, X5 Retail Group is not in a position to comment on thedecisions or public comments made by its minority shareholders with respect tosale of shares or GDRs in the Company. For further details please contact Anna Kareva Elena CherkalovaIR Director PR ManagerTel.: +7 (495) 980-2729, ext. 22 162 Tel.: +7 (495) 950-5577e-mail: anna.kareva@x5.ru e-mail: elena.cherkalova@x5.ru Note to Editors: X5 Retail Group N.V. is Russia's largest food retailer in terms of sales. TheCompany was created as a result of a merger between Pyaterochka (soft discounterchain) and Perekrestok (supermarket chain) on 18 May 2006. As of 31 December 2007, the Group had 674 Company managed soft discount storeslocated in Moscow (309), St. Petersburg (244) and other Russian areas (121), 179Company managed supermarkets across Central Russia and Ukraine, including 105stores in Moscow (Moscow region and Yaroslavl region), and 15 Company managedhypermarkets. As of 31 December 2007, X5's franchisees operated 688 stores across Russia andKazakhstan. The Group's net sales for the full year 2007 reached USD 5,320 mln, an increaseof 53% year-on-year. Gross profit for the period totaled USD 1,404 mln, EBITDAamounted to USD 479 mln. Full year 2007 net income reached USD 141 mln. Forward looking statements: This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can beidentified by the fact that they do not only relate to historical or currentevents. Forward-looking statements often use words such as" anticipate","target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "expected", "plan", "goal" believe",or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty becausethey relate to future events and circumstances, a number of which are beyond X5Retail Group N.V.'s control. As a result, actual future results may differmaterially from the plans, goals and expectations set out in theseforward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of X5 Retail Group N.V.speak only as at the date of this announcement. Save as required by anyapplicable laws or regulations, X5 Retail Group N.V. undertakes no obligationpublicly to release the results of any revisions to any forward-lookingstatements in this document that may occur due to any change in its expectationsor to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange