X5 Retail Regulatory News (FIVE)

31 May 2006 07:00

Pyaterochka Holding N.V.31 May 2006 31 May 2006 Pyaterochka Holding N.V. US$800 million Term Loan Credit Facility Pyaterochka Holding N.V. ("Pyaterochka") is pleased to announce that it hasawarded ABN AMRO Bank N.V., HSBC Bank plc, Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG("RZB") and ZAO Raiffeisenbank Austria (together with RZB, the "RZB Group") andWestLB AG, London Branch (the "Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers" and "Bookrunners") a mandate to arrange a US$800 million Syndicated Term Loan CreditFacility (the "Facility") in connection with the merger of Pyaterochka withPerekrestok Holdings Limited ("Perekrestok"). The Facility, which is fully underwritten by the Initial Mandated LeadArrangers, consists of a US$300 million 3-year Tranche for the acquisition, aUS$150 million 3-year Tranche to refinance existing debt both with amortisingrepayments, and a US$350 million 3-year Tranche with a bullet repayment tofinance the future development of the combined group. Pyaterochka is currently working with the Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers toprepare a syndication which will be launched in the coming weeks. Note to Editors: Pyaterochka Holding N.V. is Russia's largest food retailer in terms of sales.The group has 371 company-managed "Pyaterochka" soft discount stores located inthe Moscow (177), St. Petersburg (175) and Yekaterinburg (19) areas, and 127company-managed "Perekrestok" supermarkets across 14 regions of Central Russiaand Ukraine as of 31 March 2006. As of 31 March 2006, franchisees operated 439 Pyaterochka branded stores in 15regions of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Pyaterochka currently has masterfranchise agreements in 20 regions of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.Perekrestok has 9 convenience stores operated 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. Pyaterochka's Q1 2006 net sales (pre-merger) reached USD 439 million, andPerekrestok Q1 2006 sales were USD 323 million. Enquiries: Pyaterochka Holding N.V.Tanja Djurdjevic ir@e5.ru+7 495 724 6414 On behalf of the Mandated Lead Arrangers contact: ABN AMRO Bank N.V.Joanna Pope joanna.pope@uk.abnamro.com+44 207 678 5111 Elena Levitskaya elena.levitskaya@ru.abnamro.com+7 495 937 0317 HSBC Bank plc Adil Kurt-Elli adil.kurt-elli@hsbcib.com+44 207 991 1440 Olga Loiko olga.loiko@hsbc.com+7 495 721 1514 RZB GroupAnnamaria Branchadel annamaria.branschaedel@rzb.at+431 71707 1826 Tao Zeng tao.zeng@rzb.at+431 71707 2689 WestLB AGPenny Smith penny_smith@westlb.co.uk+44 20 7020 3321 Ewa Gracey ewa_gracey@westlb.co.uk+44 20 7020 3683 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange