With this step Haniel ended its over 50-year and over the entire period very successful commitment to the company. In future, Haniel will no longer manage METRO AG as a financial investment. In this context, Haniel CFO Dr Florian Funck decided to resign from Supervisory Board of METRO AG no later than 7 December 2019.
With today's transfer of the METRO AG shares to EPGC, Haniel is driving forward its strategic realignment to become the leading family-equity company with a consistent sustainable orientation.
Haniel CEO Thomas Schmidt: "With the closing, we have completed the announced exit from METRO AG. I would like to thank my colleague Florian Funck for his dedicated work on the Supervisory Board of METRO AG. We will invest the proceeds of the transaction in our focus areas People, Planet and Progress. Our goal is to sustainably create value for generations and at the same time to address the issues that move people and thus to enable them to have a future worth living".
Haniel's investments will focus on the areas of health & well-being, circular economy, climate change and robotics & automation.
The holistic investment approach covers the whole business life cycle. In addition to acquiring companies in more mature phases Haniel will invest approx. EUR 500 million mainly via funds in companies that are in an earlier development stage.
Schmidt adds: "Parallel to the restructuring and management of the portfolio, we are also making great strides towards creating a lean, performance-oriented holding company. Our common goal is to realign Haniel's culture, portfolio and understanding of leadership".
