DGAP-News: Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH / Key word(s): Strategic Company
Decision/Contract
Haniel terminates pool agreement with BVG Beteiligungs- und
Vermögensverwaltung GmbH belonging to the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck family
31.10.2014 / 18:00
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Haniel terminates pool agreement with BVG Beteiligungs- und
Vermögensverwaltung GmbH belonging to the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck family
- Seeks simplification and unbundling of holding structures
- No more pooled voting rights at the METRO AG Annual General Meeting
- Share in METRO AG unchanged at 30.01%
Duisburg, 31 October 2014. Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH (Haniel) aims to
simplify and unbundle its current holding structures in METRO AG with the
BVG Beteiligungs- und Vermögensverwaltung GmbH belonging to the
Schmidt-Ruthenbeck family (BVG). In this context, the existing pool
agreement between Haniel and BVG is terminated as of today.
The two pool partners currently hold direct and indirect shares in METRO AG
of 45.78% combined. Of that total share, 30.01% belongs to Haniel and
15.77% belongs to BVG. In addition, the METRO
Vermögensverwaltungsgesellschaft & Co. KG, which belongs jointly to both
shareholder groups, and as an interim holding holds some of the shares of
METRO AG (26.34%), is to be closed.
Among renowned public limited companies in Germany, the pool agreement was
a unique structure. It mainly governed the joint exercise of voting rights,
therefore helping to ensure a majority for the Annual General Meeting
resolutions, which in actuality is unnecessary. During the last ten years,
all METRO AG Annual General Meeting resolutions were passed with a majority
of more than 90%. "Haniel believes that the termination of the pool
agreement and the intended simplification of holding and ownership
structures represent the norm and are therefore a sensible move for all
parties involved", explains Haniel Management Board Chairman Stephan
Gemkow.
The existing Haniel share of 30.01% in METRO AG is unaffected by the pool
termination. As the largest shareholder of METRO AG, Haniel will continue
to actively accompany the company and support its value-oriented
development.
Haniel
Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH is a German family equity company which has been
headquartered in Duisburg-Ruhrort since it was founded in 1756. The 100 per
cent family-owned Holding Company manages its diversified portfolio from
there and pursues a long-term investment strategy as a value developer.
Haniel's portfolio currently consists of four divisions which are
responsible for their own operating business and which hold market-leading
positions in their fields of expertise: CWS-boco and ELG (wholly owned
investments), TAKKT (majority investment) and METRO GROUP (minority
investment).
For more information, visit www.haniel.com.
Contact:
Dietmar Bochert
Director Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 203 806-578
E-Mail: DBochert@haniel.de
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31.10.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
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Language: English
Company: Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH
Franz-Haniel-Platz 1
47119 Duisburg
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)203 806 578
Fax: +49 (0)203 806 80 578
E-mail: dbochert@haniel.de
Internet: www.haniel.de
ISIN: XS0482703286, XS0459131636
WKN: 601960, A1A6NE
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Hannover; Freiverkehr in Berlin,
Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart; Frankfurt in Open Market
End of News DGAP News-Service
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294355 31.10.2014
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 31, 2014 13:00 ET (17:00 GMT)
