CECONOMY AG

Declaration of Voting Results & Voting Rights Announcements • Mar 19, 2010

News Details

Voting Rights Announcements | 19 March 2010 19:11

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

METRO AG / Release of an announcement according to section 27a para. 1 WpHG

19.03.2010 19:11

Dissemination of a Voting Rights announcement, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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On 18 March 2010, Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, Duisburg, informed us, METRO
AG, Germany (Schlüterstraße 1, 40235 Düsseldorf), ISIN: DE0007257503, WKN:
725750, about the following:

'We refer to the voting rights announcements of our affiliated companies

• Haniel Beteiligungsfinanzierungs GmbH & Co. KG, Duisburg, Germany,
• Haniel Beteiligungs-GmbH, Duisburg, Germany, and
• Haniel Finance B.V., Venlo, Netherlands,

of this present date and hereby issue this announcement pursuant to section
27a para. 1 WpHG on behalf of our affiliated companies.

However, in advance we would like to draw your attention to the following
circumstances:

For years, as a consequence of various voting rights restriction agreements
with the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck group of shareholders (and until 30 September
2009, also with the Beisheim group of shareholders), the proportion of
voting rights held by Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH in METRO AG has amounted to
more than 50 % of the voting share capital of METRO AG.

By virtue of the termination of the voting rights restriction agreement by
the Beisheim shareholder group with effect as of 30 September 2009, the
proportion of voting rights held by our aforementioned affiliated companies
fell to 47.41 % of the voting share capital of METRO AG. Because of the
inclusion of additional METRO shares in an extent of 2.60 % of the voting
share capital of METRO AG in the voting rights restriction agreement with
the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck shareholder group with effect as of 17 March 2010,
the proportion of voting rights held by our aforementioned affiliated
companies has increased again to 50.01 % of the voting share capital of
METRO AG. This also corresponds to the current proportion of voting rights
of Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH itself.

I. Information regarding the objectives pursued in connection with the
acquisition of the voting rights

1. As before, 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. Franz Markus Haniel is currently a member and the chairman of the
   Supervisory Board of METRO AG. It is the intention of Franz Haniel & Cie.
   GmbH to continue to be adequately represented on the Supervisory Board of
   METRO AG also in the future. In the voting rights restriction agreement
   with the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck group of shareholders, the parties have agreed
   to coordinate their actions with regard to the election of members of the
   Supervisory Board of METRO AG. Apart from this, any influence on the
   filling of positions in administrative, management and supervisory bodies
   of METRO AG is taken - in accordance with the provisions of the German
   Stock Corporation Act - by way of exercising voting rights in the General
   Meeting of the company.

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

II. Information regarding the origin of funds used

The exceeding of the 50 % threshold of which you were notified today
pursuant to sections 21 et seqq. WpHG by our aforementioned affiliated
companies is not the result of the acquisition of additional METRO shares,
but is merely the consequence of the inclusion of METRO shares directly
held by BVG Beteiligungs- und Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH in the voting
rights restriction agreement with the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck group of
shareholders. For this reason, no provision of information regarding the
origin of the funds used is required.'

Please note that only the German version of this announcement is legally
binding.

19.03.2010 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language: English
Company: METRO AG
Schlüterstr. 1
40235 Düsseldorf
Deutschland
Internet: www.metrogroup.de

End of News DGAP News-Service

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