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Metro AG

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Type
  
Aktiengesellschaft

Industry
  
Retailing

Headquarters
  
Düsseldorf, Germany

Traded as
  
FWB: MEO

Area served
  
Europe, Asia, Africa

Founder
  
Otto Beisheim

Metro AG logodatabasescomwpcontentuploads201205metro

Founded
  
1964; Metro AG formed in 1996

Key people
  
Olaf Koch (CEO) Franz Haniel (Chairman of supervisory board)

Stock price
  
MEO (ETR) € 29.10 +0.07 (+0.22%)17 Mar, 5:35 PM GMT+1 - Disclaimer

Revenue
  
58.42 billion EUR (2015–2016)

Subsidiaries
  
Real, Saturn, Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH, Makro

Metro AG, otherwise known as Metro Group, is a German global diversified retail and wholesale/cash and carry group based in Düsseldorf. It was established in 1964 by Ernst Schmidt and Wilhelm Schmidt-Ruthenbeck As of 2010, it was the fourth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues (after Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco).

Contents

History

In June 2009, it was reported that the company was looking to purchase some of the assets of Arcandor, after the firm filed for bankruptcy. They split off and floated their Praktiker division in December 2006, a DIY/home improvement chain with stores in several countries.

In 2012, the company threatened Microsoft with legal action for infringing on "Metro" trademarks held by Metro AG. "Metro" had been the name of Microsoft's new "Windows 8-style" user interface.

On June 15, 2015, Metro AG agreed to sell Galeria Kaufhof to Canadian retail conglomerate Hudson's Bay Company for $3.2 billion.

Sales divisions

The company operates the following sales divisions:

  • Metro and Makro Cash and Carry (Makro stores in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe were acquired from SHV Holdings in 1998): This division accounts for nearly half of group sales as of 2004, and is by far the most internationalised division, with stores in almost every country in which the group operates.
  • Real: A hypermarket operator. 265 stores in Germany and 34 elsewhere as of early 2005.
  • Media Markt and Saturn: Media Markt and Saturn are consumer electronics stores in Germany and several other European countries.

    • Division of the company

    On March 30, 2016, Metro Group announced that it will be splitting into two independent companies:

    · A leading international wholesale and food specialist, comprising Metro, Makro and Real, as well as a corresponding division and service companies.

    · A leader in consumer electronics products and services, comprising Media Markt and Saturn and its portfolio including strong formats and brands.

    A spin-off of the wholesale and food sector of current Metro AG will be responsible for the group’s division into two independent and publicly listed companies. Both will have their own Management, Supervisory Board and independent company profiles. As a result, the companies will be able to put a greater focus on their customer groups and markets in the future. Each of the two companies will launch as independent publicly traded company with their own management, board, and independent profile. This separation will allow the two companies to focus on their own customer groups and markets.

    International presence

    As of 2012, the Metro Group operated stores in 25 European countries, 5 Asian countries, and 1 in Africa.

    References

    Metro AG Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA