Ad-hoc News according to § 15 WpHG

Capital Increase

Capital increase largely secured

Donau Invest and Berenberg Bank prepared to underwrite the total volume of new shares

Praktiker AG
Am Tannenwald 2
66459 Kirkel
ISIN: DE000A0F6MD5
WKN: A0F6MD



Kirkel / Hamburg - 19 November 2012. The capital increase with a volume of 60 million euro planned by Praktiker AG has now been largely secured. Donau Invest Beteiligungs Ges.m.b.H. extended its existing commitment to purchase unsubscribed new shares by 15 million euro to 35 million euro. The subscription price remains at 1.08 euro per share. In addition, Berenberg Bank, who accompanies the capital increase, is prepared to subscribe new shares up to a total volume of 25 million euro.


The investment agreement with Donau Invest and the draft of the underwriting agreement with Berenberg Bank are subject to customary market conditions for restructuring capital increases. The investment agreement with Donau Invest is in addition subject to the granting of a restructuring exemption from the obligation to submit a mandatory offer by the German Federal Financial Services Regulatory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) in case of a possible acquisition of a controlling stake. The investment agreement is limited and ends should the capital increase not be recorded in the commercial register of the company until December 31, 2012.

Whitesmith Private Equity Investors L.P., who had committed itself to similar conditions under an earlier agreement for the subscription of new shares, has at the same time stepped down from the group of back-stop investors, after i.a. no agreement could be reached for the implementation of the back-stop agreement dated 4 October.

The agreements concluded with Donau Invest and Berenberg Bank do not affect the interests of existing shareholders who can exercise their subscription rights without restrictions. The agreements will only become relevant to the extent that existing shareholders do not exercise their subscription rights. Praktiker AG welcomes the increased engagement of Donau Invest as well as the intented guarantee of Berenberg Bank. It expects that Donau Invest as the only remaining back stopper will not only contribute to the success of the upcoming capital increase, but also, as a future anchor shareholder, will play an important role in accompanying and supporting the restructuring process".



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