CECONOMY AG

Prospectus • Nov 6, 2005

News Details

Ad-hoc | 6 November 2005 23:48

Praktiker shares offered in a price range from EUR 16.00 to EUR 19.00

Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Duesseldorf, 6 November 2005 – The offering period for shares of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG starts on November 7 and is expected to end on November 17, 2005. The shares are offered in a price range from EUR 16.00 to EUR 19.00. The offering comprises 34.5 m non-par bearer shares (of a total of 58 m shares outstanding post IPO capital increase) and will consist of a public offering to private and institutional investors in Germany and a private placement outside Germany. The base transaction consists of up to 8.0 m shares from a capital increase and up to 22.0 m shares from the selling shareholder, METRO AG. Additionally, METRO AG has granted the syndicate banks an overallotment option of up to 4.5 m shares. Assuming full exercise of the overallotment and the greenshoe option, METRO AG will receive total gross proceeds in the range of approximately EUR 424 to EUR 504 m. The transaction does not include METRO Group real estate leased by Praktiker. METRO AG intends to sell this real estate separately. METRO AG Schlüterstr. 1 40235 Düsseldorf Deutschland ISIN: DE 000 725 750 3 (DAX); DE 000 725 753 7 (DAX) WKN: 725 750; 725 753 Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard) und Duesseldorf End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 06.11.2005 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: Stocks of Germany’s second largest home improvement and DIY chain (according to revenue) are intended for trading on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse FWB) starting 18 November with the index PRA and ISIN (International Securities Identification Number) DE000A0F6MD5. Currently, METRO AG is single shareholder of Praktiker and will remain the largest shareholder of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG after stock issue. The selling shareholder METRO AG has committed itself to hold on to its remaining shares for a total of six moths beginning on the first day of listing (lock-up). This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities. Any offer will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of the securities prospectus published and registered with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). The securities prospectus is available free of charge from the Admissions Office of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, from Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG and the syndicate banks as well as download at www.praktiker.de. Not for release in the United States, Canada and Japan. These materials do not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. In case of an offer, the aforementioned securities may only be sold or offered for sale in the United States of America with prior registration in accordance with U.S. Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “Securities Act”) except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Neither Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG nor any shareholders bent on realization of their stock intend to register an offer or parts of it in the United States or to make a public offer of securities in the United States. End of message (c)DGAP