Major initiative in Casino Group e-commerce strategy
Project to create an e-commerce platform establishing a major global pure-player
Casino Group announces today a project to create an e-commerce platform combining businesses of Cdiscount in France, Colombia and Asia1, and Nova Pontocom in Brazil (company jointly held by GPA and ViaVarejo).
This transaction would create a major global e-commerce pure-player with total business volumes of $4.1bn2 in 2013. A listing of the combined entity on a U.S. stock market, where many significant internet technology players are listed, is considered in order to accelerate its development and increase its visibility.
The project is studied by the involved companies and will be submitted for approval of their required corporate bodies.
Cdiscount: with business volumes of $2.1bn2 in 2013 (including the marketplace), Cdiscount is a leader of e-commerce in France. Three new websites, under the Cdiscount brand, were launched during the first quarter of 2014 in Colombia, Thailand and Vietnam, relying on the expertise, know-how and knowledge of the Group.
Nova: with business volumes of $2.0bn2 in 2013, Nova is a leading e-commerce group in Brazil. Nova develops an e-commerce offer through pontofrio.com, casasbahia.com.br, extra.com.br, barateiro.com, partiuviagens.com.br and its B2B solutions in particular through eHub.com.br. Nova launched in 2013 the first marketplace in Brazil.
1 Through existing joint-ventures with Exito in Colombia Big C Thailand and Big C Vietnam in Asia.
2 Historical financial information reported in € has been converted into U.S. Dollars based on the average currency exchange rate of the European Central Bank for 2013.
ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS CONTACTS
Régine GAGGIOLI - Tel : +33 (0)1 53 65 64 17
rgaggioli@groupe-casino.fr
or
+33 (0)1 53 65 64 18
IR_Casino@groupe-casino.fr
PRESS CONTACT
Aziza BOUSTER - Tel : +33 (0)1 53 65 24 78
Mob : +33 (0)6 08 54 28 75
abouster@groupe-casino.fr
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Grégoire LUCAS - Tel: +33 (0)1 53 70 74 94
glucas@image7.fr
NOTE TO US INVESTORS: This notice is being made pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As required by Rule 135, this notice does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. This notice contains forward-looking statements regarding potential future events that are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "may," and "would" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that the potential combination or any listing of shares of the combined company will be consummated and consummation of these transactions is subject to many factors, including the approval of the Boards of Directors of Casino, CBD and Via Varejo and the other parties to the potential combination, commercial considerations, market conditions and other factors. In addition, historical financial information included in this notice may not be representative of the combined company's financial performance following the proposed combination; past performance is not an indication of future results.
