X5 Retail Regulatory News (FIVE)

14 Feb 2007 09:16

X5 Retail Group N.V.14 February 2007 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN X5 Retail Group N.V. ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS Amsterdam, 14 February 2007 - X5 Retail Group N.V., Russia's largest foodretailer in terms of sales, has announced several new appointments to theGroup's management today. Yuri Kobaladze was appointed Corporate Affairs Managing Director. Mr. Kobaladze will be responsible for implementing the company's corporateaffairs policy, as well as maintaining relationships with state structures andgovernment institutions. Mr. Kobaladze graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relationswith a degree in international journalism. Before 1999, Mr. Kobaladze worked for Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service andheld the rank of Major General. Starting in January 1999, he worked as First Deputy of the General Director atthe information agency ITAR-TASS. From October 1999 until when he moved to X5, he worked as the Managing Directorof the independent investment company Renaissance Capital. Antonio Melo was appointed Chief Operational Officer. Mr. Melo will be responsible for the retail operations of stores of all formats,as well as creating an integrated logistics system. Mr. Melo graduated from the Instituto de Empresas de Madrid (Business Instituteof Madrid) and obtained a master's degree in commercial managing and marketing. Mr. Melo began his career in 1981 at the Portuguese supermarket chain SUPA. From 1989 to 2005, Mr. Melo worked at the SHV Holding (MAKRO), where heultimately reached the position of General Director of Makro Asia and managedthe company in China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia andPakistan. Yulia Anokhina was appointed Human Resources Director. Ms Anokhina will be responsible for implementing the company's HR policies. Ms Anokhina graduated Minsk State Pedigogical Institute of Foreign Languages. Ms Anokhina began her career working as a manager of compensation and bonuses atPhilip Morris Management Services B. V. and then as HR Director at Bristol-MyersSquibb Products S. A. and Reemtsma. She has also worked as Vice Presidentresponsible for HR at YUKOS and the HR Director of Campomos (part of theCampofrio Group). Before joining X5 Retail Group N.V., Ms Anokhina worked at Renaissance Capital,where she was the HR Director. ____________________________________________________________________________ Teimur Shternlib was appointed Chief Information Officer. Mr. Shternlib will be responsible for implementing the company's IT policies andfor integrating the IT departments of the Group's various chains. Mr. Shternlib graduated Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloys. Beforejoining X5 Retail Group N.V., Mr. Shternlib worked as the Chief InformationOfficer at Alfa Group Consortium. Beginning in March 2006, Mr. Shternlib assisted in the process of mergingPerekrestok and Pyaterochka as the Director of the IT Strategy Department. ____________________________________________________________________________ "With these important appointments, we are continuing to compose aninternational team of managers that has extensive and successful work experienceat both the largest Russian companies and leading international retailers," saidLev Khasis, Chief Executive Officer of X5 Retail Group N.V., when commenting onthe appointments. "I am sure that the experience and professionalism of theappointed managers completely correspond with the level of importance andresponsibility of the Group's key objectives: continue the dynamic growth of theintegrated company, bring the company's business management to a qualitativelyhigher level and, as a result, ensure additional advantages for our customers." - Ends - Note to Editors: X5 Retail Group N.V. is Russia's largest food retailer in terms of sales. As of31 December 2006, the Group had 451 company-managed "Pyaterochka" soft discountstores located in the Moscow (222), St. Petersburg (204) and Yekaterinburg (25)areas, and 168 company-managed "Perekrestok" supermarkets across Central Russiaand Ukraine, including 100 stores in Moscow. As of 31 December 2006, franchisees operated 605 Pyaterochka branded storesacross Russia, in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Perekrestok had 10 convenience storesoperated by franchisees in the Moscow area. Pyaterochka and Perekrestok have merged their operations as of 18 May 2006 tocreate the clear leader in the Russian food retail market. Pyaterochka's 2005 net sales (pre-merger) reached USD 1,359 million, with grossbanner sales in 2005 of over USD 2 billion. Perekrestok net sales reached USD1,015 million in 2005. The Group's pro forma net sales for the 9 months of 2006 were US $2,411 million(management accounts). During 1H 2006, the Pyaterochka chain provided US $1,374million of net sales, while the Perekrestok chain contributed US $1,037 millionof net sales. Forward looking statements: This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identifiedby the fact that they do not only relate to historical or current events.Forward-looking statements often use words such as" anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "expected", "plan", "goal" believe", or otherwords 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. Enquiries to: X5 Retail Group N.V. Gennady Frolov Head of Corporate Communications Office +7 495 984 6956 ext.2093 Mobile +7 495 998 3335 Email gennady.frolov@x5.ru http://www.x5.ru This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange