Experts told what will change for Metro after the transfer of assets

The assets of Metro Cash & Carry were transferred to the temporary management of JSC “UK Trading RUS”, according to the decree of President Vladimir Putin. Experts on the air of Radio RBC told what will change for the company under temporary management.

Data Insight analyst Sergey Semko believes that quick changes in the company should not be expected. “It’s actually a difficult question, because, as a rule, by inertia in a more or less mild scenario, companies continue to operate.” The question is how much the structure will be changed, how much the chains of ties will be severed, whether there will be tensions in the continuity of this company in its contractual obligations.

In his opinion, the management of Metro will be easy to adapt to the changes, if the head of the new legal entity to which the assets were transferred to management is the CEO.

Independent expert on the market of consumer goods Alexander Anfinogenov, in turn, also noted that the company will not change.

“Let’s put it this way, it will allow the flow of goods and money to be controlled. Because after all, the company is German, with the Germans now, with Germany, relations are aggravating, as well as with the whole of Europe. And so now I think that's the main point - profit control, he said.

Predicting the scenario, the expert suggested that the assets will return to the management of the German and French sides.

Putin signed a decree on the transfer of assets of Metro Cash & Carry to the temporary management of JSC UK Trading RUS. Also, 90 and 10% of shares in Retail Property 5 LLC were transferred under temporary management. They were previously owned by Metro Retail Real Estate GmbH and Metro Properties Holding GmbH respectively.

Later, the press service of Metro RBC explained the decision “the need to ensure the safety of employees, infrastructure and continuity of business processes.”.

The company continues to operate normally, all operating processes remain unchanged. All obligations to suppliers, customers and employees are performed as usual, the Metro press service said.

By another decree, the president allowed Softex to buy a 100% stake in Western Union’s Russian subsidiary, Western Union DP Vostok. According to the document, the decision is connected with “unfriendly actions of some foreign states and international organizations”.

On September 17, the Russian “daughter” Auchan – LLC “Auchan” and “Lemana PRO” was transferred to the temporary management of the company “L.E.V. Management”. In addition, the companies transferred 100% of the shares of Nestlé Russia LLC and FM Logistic to temporary management.