49. Remaining legal issues

Group demerger in 2017

In connection with the demerger of the group, several shareholders took legal action against CECONOMY AG by seeking various legal remedies at the Düsseldorf District Court, such as action for annulment, rescission and/or declaratory action, including against the resolution passed by the Annual General Meeting of CECONOMY AG on 6 February 2017 concerning the meeting’s approval of the demerger and spin-off agreement (demerger agreement) as well as partially against the agreement itself. Pursuant to the provisions of the demerger agreement, METRO AG has to bear the costs of the litigation and proceedings relating to the demerger. On 24 January 2018, the Düsseldorf District Court rejected the complaint in its entirety. All plaintiffs have filed appeals against all these decisions with the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. On 4 April 2019, the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court rejected all appeals. In the appeal judgement in the rescission proceedings concerning the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting, the appeal was admitted and lodged with the German Federal Court of Justice. The Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf did not allow the appeal in the proceedings for a declaration of invalidity or pending ineffectiveness of the spin-off and demerger agreement. In one of these assessment proceedings, the plaintiffs filed an appeal against denial of leave to appeal with the Federal Court of Justice. The judgement in the other assessment proceedings is final. METRO AG maintains its position that all of these legal challenges are inadmissible and/or unfounded and has therefore not recognised corresponding risk provisions in its accounts.

Arbitration proceedings against Hudson’s Bay Company

METRO AG was a plaintiff in arbitration proceedings against the Canadian department store group Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). The background of the arbitration proceedings was an outstanding purchase price claim of METRO AG against HBC, resulting from the disposal of Galeria Kaufhof in 2015. METRO AG had initially retained minority interests in individual real estate properties and granted HBC call options. In January 2016, HBC exercised its call options and paid a preliminary purchase price. METRO AG believed that the paid preliminary purchase price was insufficient and disputed the applied valuation basis. At the beginning of financial year 2020/21, an out-of-court settlement was reached with the sole legal successor of HBC regarding the asserted claims. As a result, METRO withdrew its arbitration claim against HBC.

Further remaining legal issues

Companies of the METRO group form a party to judicial or arbitration proceedings as well as antitrust law proceedings in various European countries. Insofar as the liability has been sufficiently specified, appropriate risk provisions have been formed for these proceedings. METRO AG and its group companies respectively have also filed claims for damages against companies that have been sanctioned for illegal competition agreements (including truck and sugar cartel).