Rumors about Wal-Mart Taking Over Metro

COLOGNE/WUPPERTAL, Germany (28 January 2000)–According to the February issue of the German economic journal Manager Magazin, Jan von Haeften, chairman of the Haniel Group, 20% shareholder in Metro AG, is currently negotiating with Wal-Mart. Metro AG is the third largest retailer in the world, behind Wal-Mart and Carrefour-Promodes. The Haniel Group, the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck family and