The retail group Metro has launched after months of wrangling, finally the sale of its ailing supermarket chain Real under the roof. The financial investor, the SCP had reached agreement with Metro AG, a 100 per cent Takeover of Real, - stated in a joint communication of the two companies on Tuesday evening in Düsseldorf. Accordingly, much of the Real locations is to be operated "in the long term, either under the brand Real, or through other retailers".

The contract is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Sistema PJSFC that the financing of the Acquisition arises. Sistema also said in Moscow on Tuesday that you can place up to 263 million euros. Metro speaks of your own message, from an expected net inflow of funds in the amount of 0.3 billion euros. The are around 200 million euros less than a few months ago wished for. The transaction is subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities.

problem child of the düsseldorf-based retail giant

With the contract, the supermarket chain with 276 Real markets, with 34,000 employees in 80 real estate and the Online Shop real.de in fact, before the smashing. SCP announced that the majority of today's Real markets to be sold to other retailers or divided. A core of about 50 Real-markets is to be conducted for 24 months under the Real brand. So far, SCP is according to the communication, of the approximately 30 locations will be closed.

The supermarket chain was the least of the worries a child with the düsseldorf-based retail giant, and had provided in fiscal year 2018/19 for deep in the red at Metro. The most-on the green Meadow nearby Hyper markets suffered for years under the changed shopping habits in Germany. More and more often, the customers had the Hyper markets and bought rather in supermarkets and disco-quarters of cheer in your living.

Complicated sales efforts

The Metro had already announced that in 2018, the supermarket chain, to give, to be able to focus entirely on the wholesale business, with restaurateurs and small merchants focus. However, the sale process proved to be much more difficult than expected. With high hopes, started exclusive negotiations with the real estate investor Redos failed. Only in the second attempt, an agreement has now been achieved.

The sales efforts were not least due to the high concentration in the German food trade more difficult. Edeka, Rewe, Aldi and the Schwarz group, with its Discounter Lidl dominate the German market today, so much so that the planned re-sale of numerous Real stores in the "big Four" in the competition enforcement is seen with concern.

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cvh/dpa Date Of Update: 19 February 2020, 08:00