METRO AG and the retail real estate consortium consisting of the SCP Group S.à.r.l. and x+bricks have entered into exclusive negotiations and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the sale of the Real hypermarket business. Both parties aim to conclude the negotiations by 31 January 2020 with the signing of the transaction.
The completion of the transaction would be subject to the approval by the anti-trust and other regulatory authorities. The planned transfer of stores by the consortium to other retailers takes place subsequently and is independent from the sale of Real to the consortium.
The signed MoU details the sale of a 100% stake in Real's operating business, the online marketplace real.de and the 80 owned properties to the consortium. The current status of negotiations implies net cash proceeds to METRO AG of about EUR 0.5 billion from the proposed transaction.
A revised offer submitted by the consortium on 31 October 2019 is the basis for the exclusivity agreement and the MoU. The revised offer included improvements with respect to purchase price and transaction certainty. Among other things, the consortium has committed itself to dissolve its exclusive cooperation agreement with Kaufland. The MoU further provides for the continued operation of a core group of Real stores. The majority of stores will be transferred to other retailers. It is the intention to contractually oblige these retailers to take over the Real employees.
The negotiations between METRO and redos on the sale of Real have meanwhile been terminated.
Dr. Brigitte von Haacke
+49 69 92187462
bvhaacke@heringschuppener.com
