Overview
- A presidential decree published on Monday transferred 100 percent of Metro AG’s Russian assets to temporary management by the Moscow-registered company UK Torg RUS.
- Metro AG says it has lost operative control of its Russian unit while formal ownership remains with the Düsseldorf parent and the company is assessing group effects.
- The Russian business is material to Metro: reports show about 91 stores, roughly 9,000 employees, €2.14 billion in revenue in the first nine months of 2026 (about 8.7% of group sales) and €152 million in cash equivalents as of June 30.
- Media and registry reports identify UK Torg RUS’s leadership as linked to Metro Russia executives, a connection that has been reported but is not independently verified and leaves legal and managerial roles unclear.
- The move follows a larger pattern this month of Moscow placing foreign firms such as Nestlé, Auchan and Aptar under Russian management, raising financial, legal and reputational risks for Western companies that stayed in Russia and creating uncertainty for employees and customers there.