Metro AG

Not to be confused with Metro Inc..
Metro AG
Aktiengesellschaft
Traded as FWB: MEO
Industry Retailing
Founded 1964; Metro AG formed in 1996
Headquarters Düsseldorf, Germany
Area served
Europe, Asia, Africa
Key people
Products Cash & Carry/warehouse club, department store, electronics specialty, hypermarket/supercenter/superstore, other specialty
Revenue Increase 59.21 billion (2015)[1]
Increase €1.01 billion (2015)[1]
Profit Increase €672 million (2015)[1]
Total assets Increase €27.65 billion (2015)[1]
Total equity Increase €5.17 billion (2015)[1]
Number of employees
223,462 (2015)[1]
Divisions
Website metrogroup.de
Head office

Metro AG, otherwise known as Metro Group, is a German global diversified retail and wholesale/cash and carry group based in Düsseldorf.[2] As of 2010, it was the fourth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues (after Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco).[3] It was established in 1964 by founders Ernst Schmidt and Wilhelm Schmidt-Ruthenbeck (1906-1988). Otto Beisheim became CEO and Chairman of Metro.

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.[4]

On June 15, 2015, Metro AG agreed to sell Galeria Kaufhof to Canadian retail conglomerate Hudson's Bay Company for $3.2 billion.[5]

Sales divisions

The company operates the following sales divisions:

As of 2007 it has added the former Wal-Mart Germany stores to the Real chain.

International presence

Metro Group around the world

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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Metro AG. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  2. "Contact & Directions". Metro AG. Retrieved 15 June 2014. Metro-Straße 1, 40235 Düsseldorf
  3. Switching Channels: Global Powers of Retailing 2012 (Report). Delotte. January 2012. p. G11. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. Bright, Peter (2 August 2012). "Sources claim that German retailer Metro AG is unhappy with Redmond.". Ars Technica.
  5. "Canada's Hudson's Bay Company and Metro Group Reach Agreement over Sale of Galeria Kaufhof". hbc.com.

External links

Media related to Metro Group at Wikimedia Commons

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