48. Remaining legal issues

Group demerger in 2017

In connection with the demerger of the group, several shareholders took legal action. On 24 January 2018, the Düsseldorf District Court rejected the complaint in its entirety. All plaintiffs filed appeals against all these decisions with the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. On 4 April 2019, the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court rejected all appeals. Only in the appeal judgement in a proceeding concerning the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting, the appeal was admitted and lodged with the German Federal Court of Justice. In one proceeding, the plaintiffs filed an appeal against denial of leave to appeal with the Federal Court of Justice. The Federal Court of Justice dismissed the appeal against denial of leave to appeal by order of 24 November 2020. In the proceedings concerning the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting, the Federal Court of Justice dismissed the appeal in its ruling of 23 February 2021. Therefore, all lawsuits filed by shareholders in connection with the demerger of the group have been legally finalised in favour of METRO AG and/or CECONOMY AG.

Further remaining legal issues

Companies of the METRO group form a party to (arbitration) court proceedings as well as antitrust and other regulatory proceedings in various 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).