Further to the introduction of temporary administration over the Russian businesses of Auchan, Nestlé, FM Logistic and Lemana PRO (formerly Leroy Merlin) earlier this month, on 28 September 2026 the Russian President introduced, by Decree No. 689, temporary administration over the cash and carry business in Russia of Metro AG, a German retail group.
The list of the assets under temporary administration attached to Presidential Decree No. 302 dated 25 April 2023 On Temporary Administration of Certain Assets (the Decree) has been expanded accordingly.
Joint Stock Company MC torg rus was appointed to administer the Russian assets of Metro. That company was established in September 2026 by the head of Metro’s Russian business, Johannes Maria Tolay, who has been its CEO since 2023 and will now be the CEO of MC torg rus.
According to a representative of Metro Russia, the decision to introduce temporary administration is aimed at "ensuring the safety of employees and infrastructure, as well as business continuity", and the company will continue its operations in the usual manner.
As we advised in our previous client alerts, under the Decree, temporary administration may be introduced in relation to Russian assets owned or controlled by parties associated with unfriendly states and the temporary administrator may exercise the rights of the owner of the relevant assets, except for the right of sale. The attendant costs are to be covered from the operating proceeds of the assets concerned. The administration will terminate if and when so decided by the President.
The alert is available at the link:
https://www.stonebridgelegal.ru/media/files/Temporary_administration_over_Metro_ENG_29.09.26.pdf
