German retailer Metro Group has remained silent over reports it is closer to striking a deal to sell its Real grocery chain in eastern Europe to French retailer Auchan.
A spokesperson for Metro said he would not comment on a Bloomberg report today (29 November) that it is near to closing a EUR1bn (US$1.3bn) deal for the operations with Auchan.
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The sale would exclude Real’s operations in Turkey, sources told the publication.
Earlier this week, Metro had declined to comment on reports this week that Auchan was a frontrunner for the operations.
In July, Metro said it had received some interest in the international business of Real but said there had been “no concrete negotiations” and that no decision to sell the stores had been made.
Reports in October had linked Auchan, along with Russian retailer O’Key as two of three bidders in the running for the Real stores in Russia.
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By GlobalDataThe group is expected to reveal details of its plans for the future of Real on the release of its full-year results next year.
Auchan could not be reached for comment.
