DGAP-PVR: METRO AG: Release according to sec. 26 para. 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution


METRO AG 

27.11.2014 18:07

Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement, transmitted by
DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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On November 27, 2014, Palatin Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Essen, Germany,
informed us according to sec. 27a para. 1 WpHG in connection with exceeding
or reaching of the 10%-threshold or a higher threshold on November 3, 2014,
as follows:

'Preliminary remark:

The acquisition of the voting rights by the notifying party is the
consequence of the termination of a voting rights restriction agreement
between the Haniel and Schmidt-Ruthenbeck groups of shareholders. Both
family groups have so far held voting rights in joint companies. As a
consequence of the termination, a transfer was conducted of the voting
rights attributable to the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck family group from the joint
companies to the notifying party.

I. As regards the objectives pursued in connection with the acquisition of
the voting rights:

1. The investment serves the implementation of strategic objectives.

2. It is not intended to obtain additional voting rights in METRO AG within
the next twelve months by way of acquisition or otherwise.

3. Mr Peter Küpfer is currently a member of the Supervisory Board of METRO
AG. It is the intention of Palatin Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH to be
represented on the Supervisory Board of METRO AG also in the future.

4. There are no intentions to bring about a significant change in the
capital structure of METRO AG, in particular with regard to the equity/debt
financing ratio or the dividend policy.

II. As regards the origin of funds used:

All shares in the notifying party are held by BVG Beteiligungs- und
Vermögensverwaltung GmbH, Essen, Germany.

The voting rights previously attributed to BVG Beteiligungs- und
Vermögensverwaltung GmbH pursuant to sec. 22 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 WpHG
and held by METRO Vermögensverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG and 1. HSB
Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG were transferred to the notifying
party. This transfer was made due to the termination, with effect as of
November 1, 2014, of the voting rights restriction agreement existing until
such date between the Haniel and Schmidt-Ruthenbeck groups of shareholders
by the Haniel group of shareholders and the separation of the voting rights
which until such date had been jointly held through METRO
Vermögensverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG and 1. HSB Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH &
Co. KG.

For this reason, no provision of information regarding the origin of the
funds used is required.'



27.11.2014 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language:     English
Company:      METRO AG
              Metro-Straße 1
              40235 Düsseldorf
              Germany
Internet:     www.metrogroup.de
 
End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service
 
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