CECONOMY AG

Management Reports • Jan 19, 2009

News Details

Ad-hoc | 19 January 2009 20:56

METRO AG:METRO Group launches value-enhancing programme ‘Shape 2012’

METRO AG / Strategic Company Decision

Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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With 'Shape 2012', the METRO Group is launching a comprehensive efficiency-
and value-enhancing programme. The aim is to ensure profitable growth of
the company in the long term. The Group’s structures will be simplified to
realise the maximum growth momentum and customer orientation while
significantly reducing costs. The intended potential for profit
improvements until 2012 and beyond will amount to
€1.5 billion. Half of this amount will result from cost savings. The
remaining amount is to be realised through improved productivity and other
profit-enhancing measures. The profit improvements resulting from the
programme will depend on the development of the macroeconomic conditions in
our sales markets.

The new structure will give employees more freedom to conduct operational
business and will enable the sales divisions to satisfy the ever-changing
needs of their customers in a flexible, fast and autonomous way. At the
same time, those topics relevant for the strategic leadership, governance
and controlling of the Group will be more centralised.
19.01.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: METRO AG
Schlüterstr. 1
40235 Düsseldorf
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)211 6886-1936
Fax: +49 (0)211 6886-3759
E-mail: investorrelations@metro.de
Internet: www.metrogroup.de
ISIN: DE0007257503, DE0007257537, Weitere: www.metro.de/investor relations
WKN: 725750, 725753, Weitere: www.metro.de/investor relations
Indices: DAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Düsseldorf;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hannover, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart;
Terminbörse EUREX; Foreign Exchange(s) SWX

End of News DGAP News-Service

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