First Day of Dealings

Legacy Distribution Group Inc 16 March 2006 16 March 2006 Legacy Distribution Group Inc. Admission to trading on AIM Legacy Distribution Inc. ('Legacy' or the 'Group'), one of Arizona's leading candy, cigarettes, tobacco products and groceries wholesalers and distributors, announces today that dealings in its shares have commenced on AIM under the symbol LDG. The principal reason Legacy has floated on AIM is to enhance its ability to pay for acquisitions by enabling it to issue publicly traded securities and allow it to follow a strategy of growth, whilst avoiding the costly regulatory requirements of a US listing. The flotation will also raise Legacy's profile and allow the Company to incentivise staff. Corporate Synergy is Nominated Adviser and Broker to the float. ADMISSION STATISTICS Market capitalisation on Admission £7.3 million/$13 million Number of Ordinary Shares in issue on Admission 73,446,328 Legacy was founded in 1955 and is primarily engaged in the distribution of tobacco, cigarettes, candy and grocery products to independent retailers. The Group has a 50 year trading record, and is licensed and bonded for tobacco distribution by the states of Arizona and Nevada, as well as by five Native American Tribes. The Group currently serves approximately 1,300 customers in over 2,200 retail locations. Customers comprise almost all of the major grocery chains in the state of Arizona as well as independent grocery stores, liquor stores, smoke shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and licensed casinos operated by Native American Tribes. It also serves businesses in the states of Nevada and New Mexico. Frank Patton, chief executive, commented on the float: 'Now that our shares are quoted on AIM we can really start to drive the business forward. There are a number of ways in which we intend to grow the business, both organically and by acquisition, and I look forward to delivering shareholder value in the future.' Legacy Distribution Group Inc. 00 1 602 344 6750 Frank Patton, chief executive Corporate Synergy 00 44 207 448 4400 Oliver Cairns / Romil Patel Tavistock Communications 00 44 207 920 3150 Richard Sunderland / Rachel Drysdale About Legacy: Background The business was founded in 1955 by the Wendelken family. For 49 years the business was family run and focussed primarily on Native American Tribal locations as well as retail smoke shops. Over the years it continued to expand its customer base and geographical reach in Arizona. In August 2004 the business was acquired by a new management and consultant team. The management team sought and obtained financial sponsorship by an investor group that recognised the opportunity to increase the Group's market presence and that a more sophisticated management system and strategy would accelerate the Group's historic financial performance. As part of the new strategic plans proposed, the Group obtained a credit facility from a major US financial institution to pursue substantial new contracts such as that with Albertsons. When the business was acquired the majority of the Group's sales derived from tobacco and cigarettes, with an immaterial portion from other items located near the check out location in retail stores. In the second quarter of 2005, Legacy introduced grocery items to its range of products which allowed the Group to accelerate the transition from its former selling strategy to the inclusion of higher margin products and more diversified income streams. Products The Group's breakdown of product segments as a proportion of turnover are currently as follows: Cigarettes 72 per cent. Other tobacco 13 per cent. Groceries (to include food, candy, beverages and sundry products) 15 per cent. Strategy The Directors intend to position the Group as a full service tobacco, candy and grocery distributor. They intend to continue to expand the Group's business in the US by maximising revenue and earnings growth. As principal elements of the Group's strategy, the Directors intend to: Continue to grow sales in convenience stores The Group's network of distribution centres strategically positions the business to grow sales to a new channel of retailers; convenience stores. The Directors believe that in recent years, consumers have been shifting their purchases of food and other consumable goods away from conventional full-service grocery stores towards these retail channels. For this reason, the Directors have moved beyond the historic focus on conventional full-service grocery stores and have successfully targeted convenience stores and other convenience-related retailers. Many potential customers are currently served by regional wholesalers that cannot offer the service offered by the Group's localised network of multi-tier distribution. The Group's repositioned distribution strategy has already enabled it to increase sales to existing and new customers in this sector, and the Directors expect this trend to continue. Expand the business through acquisition The Directors intend to grow the business through acquisition both in and out of the state of Arizona, with the intention of increasing the Group's customer base that should allow for greater synergies in purchasing, sales and administration costs. The Directors have already identified a number of potential acquisition targets in Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon. Continue to improve working capital management and reduce costs Improvements to working capital management are continually being enhanced through the centralised procurement operations, taking advantage of the efficiencies created by the Group's multi-tier distribution facility, and by further developing and implementing supply chain technologies better to integrate the distribution centre and the central procurement operations. Capitalising on the market conditions created by the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement which has significantly reduced licensed distributors The Directors believe the Group has a distinct advantage over new businesses seeking to enter wholesale distribution due to the upfront capital required from cigarette manufacturers. The Group has already entered into agreements with manufacturers, which, for new businesses is highly restrictive. In addition, since the tobacco industry settlement of 1998, RJ Reynolds Tobacco and Phillip Morris, who together control approximately 80 per cent. of US tobacco sales, have restricted new distributor licenses and recently completely eliminated new distributors. Key strengths The Directors believe the Group has the following key strengths: • the Group has a 50 year operating track record; • the Group has achieved a market reputation as being one of the leading cigarette and tobacco distributors in Arizona and services customers ranging from multi-billion dollar corporations to small independent retailers; • the Group has a distinct advantage over new businesses wanting to enter the market as, in the Directors opinion, substantial upfront capital is now required by cigarette manufacturers to become a distributor. Legacy already has purchasing licenses from certain manufacturers and obtaining these for new businesses is highly restrictive. In addition, since the tobacco industry settlement of 1998, RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris, who together control approximately 80 per cent. of US tobacco sales, have restricted new distributor licenses and have not recently appointed new distributors; • the Group has a large and diverse customer base which includes major national and state-wide grocery chains, such as Albertsons, as well as many smaller operators. This varied customer base ensures that the Group is not wholly reliant on any particular customer, nor exposed to any considerable single debtor; • the Group's internal distribution and operational systems are well developed allowing for efficient stock holdings, which maximise economies of scale in purchasing and administrative costs. It also has a flexible delivery timetable allowing customers to receive more than one delivery a week; and • the Directors bring substantial experience gained while working with leading food wholesale, supermarket and general merchandise retailers. The directors ('Directors') Michael Mills, aged 58, Non Executive Chairman Michael Mills is an experienced public company chairman and managing director with significant operating and financial experience in both small and large companies. He has had considerable involvement in mergers and acquisitions activity, turnarounds and rescues in the public sector. His career has covered several sectors including technology, engineering, service and distribution, paper and packaging, food and textiles and includes five years as director of a major private equity firm and five years as group financial controller of Bunzl plc, the specialist distribution group with operations across North America, Europe and Australia. Recent positions include chairman of Advance Value Realisation Limited, chief executive of Drew Scientific Group plc and non executive director of Ultrasis plc, which provides interactive solutions for healthcare professionals. He was also previously a managing director and then non executive director of S Daniels plc, which makes chilled, fresh and natural foods. Frank Patton, aged 40, Chief Executive Officer Frank Patton joined the Group in July of 2004 and is responsible for the overall day to day running of the Group. Mr. Patton was previously president of Alliant Foodservice, where he was responsible for the general management of all aspects of sales, operations, product selection and profitability of a $1.4 billion business unit for the third largest food distributor in the United States. He was responsible for the achievement of a 25 per cent. increase year-over-year in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and the highest growth rate of company-wide divisions in the Street Sales Segment (the most profitable sales segment in the food service industry). Michael Drexler, aged 39, Finance Director Michael Drexler, a certified public accountant in the US, joined the Group in November of 2005. From 1999 to 2005, he was a senior financial executive at several companies including SalesLogix Corporation, a software company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. From 1987 to 1999, Michael Drexler was an auditor with the international accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP. He took over his role with the Company with a view to implementing new systems and controls for the development of the Group and assisting with the preparation for Admission. This process has been substantially completed. The Company has agreed with Michael Drexler that he continue for an interim transition period as Chief Financial Officer and that he will assist Legacy in the recruitment of a replacement. He will remain available to consult and advise the Company for an interim period. Grant Sardachuk, aged 47, Non Executive Director Grant Sardachuk is currently the president of Law Investments Inc., a privately owned real estate merchant bank based in Scottsdale, Arizona, a position he has held since 1994. From 1986 to 1994, he successively held several senior executive positions in various publicly held subsidiaries of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., a $12.2 billion New York Exchange listed asset management company and merchant bank. During his tenure, Grant Sardachuk served in senior executive capacities at Hees International Bancorp Inc., Carena Development Ltd., BCE Development Corporation, Brookfield Development Corporation, Coscan Development Corporation and Great Lakes Ltd. These corporations were majority owned or controlled by Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and were largely involved in merchant banking, real estate investment and development and financial services. In his capacity in the merchant banking operations he was involved in numerous corporate and project financings and management and financial restructurings. Ian Blelloch, aged 44, Non Executive Director Ian Blelloch is a director of Chaco Limited, a private company specialising in residential property investment in the UK. He is also a director and company secretary of Resolve 106 Limited, a company that invests in affordable housing in the UK, and a board member and company secretary of the Southwest Urban Regeneration Fund Limited, an FSA regulated industrial and provident society established to finance regeneration projects in the South West of England. Mr Blelloch was, until October 2002, a director of Allsop Chaco Limited. Previously, he was head of private finance at the Housing Corporation having worked in the City. Mr Blelloch is a qualified chartered accountant. The Directors believe that their collective experience in the tobacco, food and distribution industry, combined with skills in the areas of finance and management, provide a solid platform successfully to implement the Company's business strategy. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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