Agreement with Bill Express

CCH International plc 11 April 2006 Press Release 11 April 2006 CCH International Plc - ('CCH' or 'the Company') A$80 million Sharia compliant trade finance facility for Bill Express CCH International plc, the trade finance group, today announces an agreement with Bill Express Limited ('BXP') (ASX: BXP) of Australia to implement an A$80 million five-year Sharia-compliant trade finance facility. Insurance against non-payment will be provided by QBE Insurance Group which has a Standard & Poors rating of A+. This facility has been co-arranged with the Sydney based Investment Bankers Convergence Capital. BXP owns and operates one of Australia's largest electronic retail distribution networks, supplying electronic distribution of products and services and electronic payment services. The total network currently comprises in excess of 13,000 electronic transaction points in retail locations throughout Australia. BXP is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange with a current market capitalisation of approximately A$85 million. This CCH facility has the potential to significantly increase the amount of receivables purchased by CCH over the next four years, contributing to profitability. CCH and BXP believe that this facility represents the first Sharia compliant trade finance facility of this size provided to a listed Australian company, while it is the single largest transaction for CCH with one customer. Bill Express Chief Executive, Ian Christiansen, said: 'We are pleased to have entered into an agreement with CCH International Plc; this is a win for both companies and has potential for further expansion.' Eren Nil, Managing Director of CCH International plc, commented:'We are delighted to have signed this agreement with BXP. It not only puts us in a strong strategic position for further deals in Australia with several more already under discussion, but it is also likely to lead to further business with BXP itself. This transaction shows our ability to conclude large sized transactions that have the potential to enhance profitability.' - Ends - For further information, please contact: CCH International Plc www.cch-international.com Eren Nil, Managing Director/ Tel: +44 (0) 208334 0871 Richard Fossett, Director and COO eren.nil@cch-europe.de r.fossett@cch-international.com Abchurch Communications www.abchurch-group.com Heather Salmond / Charlie Jack Tel: +44 (0) 207398 7700 charlie.jack@abchurch-group.com --------------------------------- Notes to editors CCH International offers a range of finance products to institutions and corporations wishing to raise finance or to sell on trade receivables either through conventional means or through its own internet based brokerage facility www.cch-etrade.com. The Company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market ( AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. CCH International is also a specialist in Islamic Finance and has the ability to arrange for Morahaba, Ijara, Istisna and other compliant facilities. CCH International has offices in England, Germany and Bahrain, as well as strategic partnerships / affiliates / relationships in Australia with Convergence Capital UAE, Turkey, and the USA. Further information on the Company is available at www.cch-international.com. Bill Express Ltd Bill Express Limited is a publicly listed Australian company (ASX: BXP) focussed on electronic product distribution, payments processing and in store promotional media. The primary convergent elements of the company include: Distribution • DialTime is an electronic distribution system for pre-paid products and services across 13,750 locations around Australia; Payments • Bill EXPRESS(R) processes in person, internet and over the phone payments. The in person electronic bill payment service is the second largest national bill payment network after Australia Post; • mobileEFT enables businesses to collect credit card payments for goods and services through a mobile or fixed-line telephone; • Bopo Prepaid Visa Cards - a prepaid fully functional Visa consumer payment card that can be topped up at 3,000 Bill Express locations across Australia; and In Store Media • POPS (Point of Purchase Screens) and POD TV (Point of Decision TV) - a network that promotes Bill Express Limited's and other products at the point of sale and in store aisles. Further information can be found at www.billexpressltd.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange ND AGREAKLFFDEKEEE
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