(Corrects percentage change to 41 percent from 45 percent in 1st bullet point)
* Sees 2009 sales growth slowing to 25 percent from 41 percent
* Like-for-like sales forecast at 15-17 percent
* Q4 consolidated net retail sales up 41 percent in dollars
MOSCOW, Jan 20 (Reuters) - X5, Russia's largest food retailer by revenue, said on Tuesday it expected 2009 sales growth to slow to around 25 percent from 41 percent last year as the global economic crisis affects consumer markets.
X5 also forecast a 15-17 percent growth in like-for-like sales, excluding foreign exchange effects, compared with 22 percent in 2008.
It also reaffirmed plans to halve capital expenditure from about $1 billion in 2008, fixing it at 14 billion roubles ($425.5 million). Previous guidance of $500 million was based on a 28 rouble-per-dollar rate.
Sales for 2008, which include Karusel hypermarket's performance, rose by 41 percent in rouble terms and by 45 percent in dollar terms to $8.8 billion on a pro-forma basis. X5 bought Karusel in mid-2008.
On a consolidated basis, including Karusel results from July 1, 2008, net retail sales amounted to $8.3 billion, an increase of 53 percent in rouble terms and 57 percent in dollar terms.
Pro-forma net retail sales in the fourth quarter grew 31 percent in rouble terms and 20 percent in dollar terms to $2.4 billion, while like-for-like sales were up 15 percent.
The company also said it had accumulated $115 million in cash to prepare for dollar-denominated debt repayment, scheduled for the first quarter of 2009. ($1=32.90 Rouble) (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; editing by Karen Foster)