Metro asks Moscow to place its assets under temporary management

Initiative by the German retailer

German company Metro independently approached Russian authorities, requesting that its business assets in Russia be placed under temporary management. This was reported by the French publication Le Monde, citing information from a source in the Russian Federation.

Negotiations with Kremlin representatives

According to the newspaper's source, Metro's chief executive held a meeting with the Russian president's adviser on economic issues, during which this specific matter was discussed.

Company's motives

The source notes that this move aims to preserve a greater degree of control for the company over the future of its business. As explained in Le Monde, such a step could give Metro the opportunity to negotiate the sale of its Russian assets on more favourable terms.