Moscow, 1 February 2018 – X5 Retail Group N.V. ("X5" or the "Company"), a leading Russian food retailer (MOEX and LSE ticker: "FIVE"), announces the start of trading of its global depositary receipts ("GDRs") on Moscow Exchange today.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Alfa Group and member of the X5 Supervisory Board Mikhail Fridman, the Chairman of the Management Board of Moscow Exchange Alexander Afanasiev, the Chief Executive Officer of X5 Igor Shekhterman and the Chief Financial Officer of X5 Svetlana Demyashkevich participated in an official ceremony to mark the start of trading.
Mikhail Fridman said: "The listing of X5 Retail Group on Moscow Exchange is a significant event for the entire financial system in Russia. We are convinced that the Company will become a real blue chip on Moscow Exchange and will continue to grow sustainably in the interests of its shareholders, customers and partners. X5 is a strategic investment of the Alfa Group, and we support management efforts to increase the Company’s shareholder value."
Alexander Afanasiev said: "Moscow Exchange has significantly reformed the stock market infrastructure in recent years, making it comfortable for both Russian and international investors, as well as for issuers. Companies with international listings coming to the Moscow Exchange has become a trend, as they seek to expand their investor base and increase share liquidity, which helps to increase value. Our platform is open and convenient for large global investment funds, while also being an accessible domestic market for a growing class of private Russian investors and funds. I wish Russia’s retail leader, X5 Retail Group, a successful experience on our domestic stock market."
Igor Shekhterman added: "The Moscow Exchange listing will allow X5 to expand the investor base, providing full access to trading for all those who wish to purchase the Company’s shares. This event will improve share liquidity and should have a positive effect on the Company’s market capitalisation. We hope that X5 Retail Group’s shares will be attractive for investors: we have achieved the fastest pace of revenue growth among public food retailers in Russia for two years in a row, and X5 is a leader in terms of retail space and like-for-like sales growth."
Earlier, the Company announced that Moscow Exchange had approved the listing of the Company’s Global Depositary Receipts (ISIN US98387E2054). The Company’s GDRs have been included in the Level 1 List.