Putin hands Metro assets to temporary management

Russian assets of the German retail chain Metro were transferred under temporary management by presidential decree. The company 'UK Torg RUS' was appointed as temporary manager, with control over key subsidiaries including Metro Cash & Carry and Metro Wholesales Noginsk.

Consensus

• Vladimir Putin signed an order transferring Russian assets of the German retail chain Metro to temporary management.
• The temporary manager is AO 'UK Torg RUS'.
• The assets transferred include 100% of LLC 'Metro Cash & Carry' and LLC 'Metro Wholesales Noginsk'.
• The mechanism of temporary management was established in April 2023.
• The legal ownership of the assets remains with Metro AG.
• The temporary manager does not have the right to sell the assets.
• The temporary management does not change the formal owner of the assets.
• The temporary manager has full operational control over the assets.
• The company 'UK Torg RUS' was registered on 8 September 2026.
• The CEO of 'UK Torg RUS' is Johannes Tola, who has been the general director of Metro Russia since 2023.
• Metro continues to operate in Russia without changes to its operations.
• The Russian subsidiary of Metro remains active and fulfills obligations to suppliers, customers, and employees.

Points of divergence

• Metro AG evaluates the consequences of the transfer and has taken measures to reduce ties with the Russian business since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine. — vesti
• The decision to introduce temporary management was made due to the need to ensure employee safety, infrastructure security, and continuity of business processes. — kommersant
• The Russian subsidiary of Metro owns 1,100 'Fasol' stores operated under franchise. — kommersant
• The Russian subsidiary of Metro was previously owned by Dutch entities: 54.45% by Metro Cash & Carry International Holding and 45.55% by Metro Cash & Carry Russia B.V. — kommersant
• The estimated value of Metro in Russia is between 50–80 billion rubles. — kommersant
• Expert Olga Sumishevskaya does not expect the sale or nationalization of Metro's business in Russia in the near future. — kommersant
• The expert cites the 'Okey' retail chain as a precedent, which was transferred to a company formed by local managers in November 2025. — kommersant
• The mechanism of temporary management applies to assets of companies with foreign participation from a special list. — riamo
• On 17 September, Putin issued a similar order transferring assets of Auchan and Nestle to temporary management. — tg_sotavisionmedia
• Putin also authorized the sale of the Russian subsidiary of Western Union to LLC 'Softex'. — meduza
• The temporary management was introduced for companies from unfriendly countries actively involved in military actions against Russia. — meduza

Coverage (20 sources)

• Russian Metro assets handed over to temporary management Vladimir Putin signed the corresponding decree. Metro assets of German retail network in Russia handed over to temporary management of company "UK Torg RUS". Company, according to open information, was registered... — Дождь (Telegram)
• Metro AG reacted to the transfer of Russian assets under administration — Вести
• Vladimir Putin handed Russian business Metro top manager of the network — Коммерсантъ
• Putin handed over Metro assets to temporary management — РИАМО
• Retailer Metro in the Russian Federation continues to operate in normal mode — Вести
• Putin transferred assets of the Metro retail network to temporary management of the company "UK Torg RUS". — Первый Московский
• Putin handed Russian Metro assets to temporary management — SOTAvision
• Putin handed Russian Metro assets to temporary management of JSC "UK Torg RUS" — BBC News Русская служба
• Putin handed over assets of German Metro network to temporary management — Meduza
• Assets of German retail chain Metro in Russia transferred to temporary management — DW Главное
• Putin handed over Russian Metro assets to temporary management of JSC "UK Torg RUS" — BBC News Русская служба
• Putin handed Russian Metro assets to temporary management of "UK Torg Rus" — The Bell
• Metro network came under control of Russian company — Фонтанка
• Putin transferred Metro assets to the company headed by the general director of Russian Metro — ЭХО / Новости
• Putin handed Russian Metro assets to temporary management — Коммерсантъ
• Putin handed over Metro assets to temporary management by the same person who runs the company and currently — Новая газета Европа
• Putin transferred Metro assets under management of the company of the network's general director — Агентство. Новости
• Putin handed Russian assets of German company Metro to temporary management — Настоящее Время
• Russian assets of Metro stores handed over to temporary management of "UK Torg RUS" — Putin signed the decree What fate awaits... — Московский кэш
• Russian assets of Metro stores handed over to temporary management of "UK Torg RUS" — decree signed by Putin — Московский кэш

Key entities

• Metro
• Vladimir Putin
• Russia
• UK Torg Rus
• UK Torg Rus
• Metro Cash & Carry
• AO 'UK Torg RUS'
• Johannes Tola
• AO 'UK Torg Rus'
• OOO Retail Property 5
• Moscow
• EGRUL
• AO 'UK Torg RUS'
• OOO Metro Cash & Carry
• Toi Johannes Maria

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