Saint-Etienne, 4 April 2008 - Casino has announced that yesterday, it sold a block of 1,357,962 Mercialys shares off-market at a price of Euro 27.75 per share, for total proceeds of Euro 37.7 million.
The transaction, which involved seven well-known international investors, has enabled Casino to reduce its stake in the company to 59.7% from 61.5%, in compliance with SIIC 4* regulations.
Notice of the block sale was filed with Euronext Paris by the broker, Netherlands-based Kempen and Co.
*Under SIIC 4, effective 1 January 2009, to continue to qualify for the SIIC regime, no single shareholder may own more than 60% of the capital and voting rights.