X5 Retail Group restructures debt

Russia-based X5 Retail Group had total debt of USD1.96 billion at the end of June 2009 and net debt of USD1.85 billion, both at the same level as in March 2009 and June 2008, the company said in a statement. The company completed the placement of RUB8 billion (USD230 million) worth of seven-year bonds in June. The coupon rate was set at 18.46%. The goal of the bond placement was to improve the company's debt structure. Part of the funds raised from the placement was used to refinance short-term liabilities. As a result of the refinancing, the company's short-term debt was cut in half to USD270 million (RUB8.4 billion) at the end of June from USD441 million (RUB15 billion) at the end of March. All short-term debt is in roubles and comes from revolving credit facilities. X5 Retail warned investors that total short-term debt will grow significantly in the third quarter of 2009 due to offers for its first bond placement. The company's first-series bonds for RUB9 billion (USD258 million), which were placed in July 2007, are to be reclassified from long-term debt to short-term debt in this period, the statement said.