EANS-News: Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Credit Rating Update

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Company Information

St Helier Jersey / Channel Islands (euro adhoc) - Credit Rating
Update

Jersey, 3 February 2011. Atrium European Real Estate Limited
("Atrium" or the "Company") (VSE/Euronext: ATRS), one of the leading
real estate companies focused on shopping centre investment,
management and development in Central and Eastern Europe, is pleased
to announce that Fitch Ratings has affirmed Atrium's Long-term Issuer
Default Rating (IDR) of 'BB+', senior unsecured rating of 'BB+' and
Short-term IDR of 'B'. Fitch Ratings has also maintained Atrium's
outlook as Stable. This follows the announcement by Fitch Ratings on
29 October 2010 that it had upgraded Atrium's senior unsecured rating
and Long-term Issuer Default Rating by two levels to 'BB+'.

A copy of the Fitch Ratings announcement is below:

FITCH AFFIRMS ATRIUM FOLLOWING CONVERTIBLE BOND REPAYMENT

Fitch Ratings London 03 February 2011: Fitch Ratings has affirmed
Atrium European Real Estate Limited's (Atrium) Long-term Issuer
Default Rating (IDR) of 'BB+', senior unsecured rating of 'BB+' and
Short-term IDR of 'B'. The Outlook is Stable.

The affirmation follows the announcement that Atrium will repay an
outstanding EUR20m 2008 convertible bond. Atrium is a Jersey-based
shopping centre property company with EUR1.5bn of shopping centres in
Central and Eastern Europe.

On 24 January 2011, Atrium received a 'purported' event of default
notice in relation to the non-payment of disputed interest on EUR20m
of 10.75% 2008 convertible bonds, which were issued to Meinl Bank AG
(Meinl) in August 2008. On the same day, Atrium publicly announced
that it would voluntarily repay all interest accrued and principal
outstanding under the respective convertible issue. Atrium has also
received confirmation from Meinl that a possible cross-default of the
2003 and 2005 bonds, further to the non-payment of interest under the
convertible bond, therefore no longer exists.

These actions are separate to a EUR2 billion lawsuit for damages and
compensation, which Atrium filed against Julius Meinl and other
defendants in August 2010.

Fitch's ratings have always excluded the possible receipts of any
damages under the lawsuits brought by Atrium. The ratings are,
however, constrained by the outstanding litigation in respect of the
share buy-backs in 2007, and Fitch has little visibility over its
timetable or outcome. Although Fitch believes that the ultimate
liability to the owners and management may be limited, there is some
uncertainty and Atrium's ability to issue new bonds may be
constrained.

Fitch believes that Atrium currently has sufficient liquidity to meet
the interest and capital repayments for the EUR20m of convertible
bonds held by Meinl. Atrium had EUR383m of cash balances at 30
September 2010, when total borrowings stood at EUR427m.

For further information: Financial Dynamics:
+44 (0)20 7831 3113 Richard Sunderland Laurence Jones Will Henderson
Richard.sunderland@fd.com

This press release appears as a matter of record only and does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase
any security.

Atrium is established as a closed-end investment company domiciled in
Jersey. Atrium is registered with the Dutch Authority for the
Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme which may offer
participations in The Netherlands pursuant to article 2:66 of the
Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). All
investments are subject to risk. Past performance is no guarantee of
future returns. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results
achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. The Dutch
and Austrian paying agent of Atrium is Kempen & Co. N.V.,
Beethovenstraat 300, 1077 WZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Atrium European Real Estate Limited
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Financial Dynamics, London
Richard Sunderland / Laurence Jones
Phone: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
mailto:richard.sunderland@fd.com

Branche: Real Estate
ISIN: JE00B3DCF752
WKN:
Index: Standard Market Continuous
Börsen: Wien / official market