METRO Group Press

METRO GROUP back on a profitable growth track: sales and earnings increase significantly

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:15:00 +0100

- Sales of METRO GROUP grow by 2.3% to € 15.5 billion
- Sales in Germany adjusted for store disposals above prior year
- International sales increase by 4.4%
- EBIT before special items grows 55.9% to € 136 million (Q1 2009: € 87 million)
- Shape 2012 gaining further momentum
- Cash flow before financing activities increased by € 405 million
- Net debt reduced by € 731 million

METRO GROUP is back on a profitable growth track: sales and earnings rose significantly during the first quarter 2010. "In some countries, the worst of the economic crisis seems to be over. Although the situation remains challenging, we see a first economic silver lining on the horizon", said Dr. Eckhard Cordes, CEO of METRO GROUP.

METRO GROUP opens child day care centre in Bangladesh

Wed, 05 May 2010 09:30:00 +0100

- Cooperation with the national garment industry association
- Project supports mothers working in the garment industry and contributes to sustainably improving social standards
- Facility will accommodate 60 children from the area of Narayanganj near the capital Dhaka

METRO GROUP will build a modern day care centre for up to 60 children together with the national Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA). This was agreed in a contract which the representatives of the company and the association signed in late April. The goal of the project is to enable mothers working in the garment industry to better reconcile work and family. With this establishment, METRO GROUP wants to make another contribution to improving the social standards of its suppliers.

METRO GROUP confirms growth targets

Wed, 05 May 2010 10:30:00 +0100

- Tangible earnings improvement anticipated for 2010 owing to Shape 2012
- Stable dividend of € 1.18 proposed per share of common stock
- Dr Eckhard Cordes: "Shape 2012 will give a new profile to the company."
- Prof Dr Jürgen Kluge nominated as member of the Supervisory Board

At its General Meeting, the CEO of METRO AG, Dr Eckhard Cordes, presented the successful financial statements for the financial year 2009. "Already today, our value enhancement programme Shape 2012 is making a substantial contribution to earnings improvement", explains Cordes. "This contribution will continue to rise further in the current financial year. We again anticipate a significant increase in EBIT". METRO AG proposes a stable dividend of € 1.18 per share of common stock to the General Meeting. At the same time, the Supervisory Board has nominated Prof Dr Jürgen Kluge as member of the Supervisory Board. The Chairman of this Board, Franz M. Haniel, has resigned from his office effective at the close of the General Meeting.

METRO AG: Prof Dr Jürgen Kluge new Chairman of Supervisory Board

Wed, 05 May 2010 19:00:00 +0100

Prof Dr Jürgen Kluge was elected Chairman of the Supervisory Board of METRO AG. On today's Annual General Meeting, 98.25 % of all eligible stockholders voted for Kluge as member of the Supervisory Board. The control panel appointed the CEO of Haniel & Cie. GmbH their Chairman. Kluge (56) succeeds Franz Markus Haniel, who resigned from his office at the end of the Annual General Meeting.

Downward trend stopped – Metro Cash & Carry Germany Drives Turnaround

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:00:00 +0100

- Earnings target of € 150 million by 2012 confirmed
- Extensive investment programme of around € 100 million
- Portfolio optimisation with disposal of four stores
- Integration of C+C Schaper
- Further innovations for more customer proximity

Metro Cash & Carry Germany has stopped the downward trend: One year after the start of the turnaround programme the company is showing first positive results and thereby strengthening the basis for a return to long-term, profitable growth. One important element of the group-wide efficiency and value enhancement programme Shape 2012 continues to be the target of increasing earnings to around € 150 million by 2012. The turnaround of Metro Cash & Carry Germany is strengthened by a growth offensive. In the framework of an extensive investment programme numerous stores will be modernised, further innovative concepts implemented and the store portfolio as well as the administrative structures optimised.

Metro Cash & Carry opens first wholesale store in Egypt

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:00:00 +0100

- Market entry under brand name "MAKRO"
- Sustainable contribution to local economy
- Two more stores to open in 2010 – Medium-term potential for around ten stores in major Egyptian cities

With the opening of its first store in Cairo under the brand name "MAKRO", the wholesaler Metro Cash & Carry continues its successful international expansion strategy. The store near Cairo will be opened tomorrow under the brand name "MAKRO". Egypt is now the 31st country within the company's ever growing network represented by over 670 self-service wholesale stores around the world. With this move METRO GROUP will be represented in 34 countries: The world's third largest retailer this year again distinctly accelerates its international growth and raised its investment budget from € 1.5 billion to around € 1.9 billion. In total, METRO GROUP plans to open around 95 new stores in 2010 (2009: 80).

METRO GROUP with new structure for Communications and Public Affairs

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0100

In the framework of the integration of the holding companies of METRO GROUP and Metro Cash & Carry International also the responsibilities for communication in Germany’s largest retailing group have been restructured. Headed by Dr Michael Inacker, the corporate unit Communications, Public Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility will in future be responsible for the activities of both, METRO GROUP and also its wholesale subsidiary Metro Cash & Carry.

Management Board Reshuffle at METRO AG

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0100

- Thomas Unger is leaving the Group
- Dr. Eckhard Cordes, Olaf Koch and Frans Muller will take over his functions

Thomas Unger (49), who has served as Vice Chairman of METRO AG since August 2009, is leaving the company's Management Board effective 30 September 2010. On 29 July 2010, the Supervisory Board of METRO AG resolved on the revocation by mutual agreement of his appointment as Vice Chairman of the Management Board. As a consequence, the Management Board will be downsized from five to four members and the responsibilities reassigned. From October 2010, the CEO Dr Eckhard Cordes will also be responsible for Media Markt and Saturn as well as for Internal Audit, and the CFO Olaf Koch for Galeria Kaufhof. The Management Board member Frans Muller will in addition assume responsibility for the Group's Real Estate segment (MAM).

METRO GROUP Raises Capex on the Back of Solid First Half of 2010

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:15:00 +0100

- METRO GROUP sales grow by 2.4% to €31.2 billion during the first half of 2010 – Q2 sales increase by 2.4% to €15.7 billion
- H1 sales in Germany adjusted for store disposals slightly below prior-year level – international sales grow 4.9%
- EBIT before special items increase by 16.6% to €470 million
(H1 2009: €403 million) due to contributions from Shape
- Capex budget for 2010 raised from €1.9 to 2.1 billion
- Expansion with 28 new store openings in the first half of 2010
- Net debt reduced by €134 million

METRO GROUP and textile association open Child Day Care Center in Narayanganj, Bangladesh

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:29:00 +0100

Representatives from METRO GROUP and the textile manufacturer's association of Bangladesh (BKMEA) celebrated the grand opening of a Child Day Care Center in one of the biggest clusters for garment production near Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Thursday. The opening ceremony took place under the auspices of the government of Bangladesh – represented by commerce minister Muhammad Faruk Khan – as well as Holger Michael, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangladesh and members of parliament. Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan highlighted the significance of the child day care center as an example of corporate responsibility in Bangladesh. The facilities could serve as a role model for other companies.

METRO GROUP increases emergency aid for flood victims in Pakistan to a quarter million euro

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:15:00 +0100

In view of the continued dramatic situation in the flooded regions of Pakistan, METRO GROUP decided at short notice to extend its emergency aid for the people in distress. After Metro Cash & Carry Pakistan had already supplied donations in kind for a value of € 60,000 in the framework of an emergency aid package last week, the Düsseldorf-based retail group now increased its aid by another € 200,000. This includes both food and urgently required materials such as blankets and tents which are to be transported directly to the affected regions rapidly and unbureaucratically within this week.