Metro Group to retain four Real stores in Romania

Metro is "making every effort to find the right solution" for the four stores, which are located in Arad, Constanta, Oradea and Suceava, the local unit, real,- Hypermarket Romania, said in a statement posted on its website.

Auchan said on Friday it had signed an agreement to buy hypermarket chain Real's business in Central and Eastern Europe from Germany's Metro Group in a 1.1 billion euro ($1.4 billion) deal. The French-based retailer will take over the operational activities and the respective real estate assets of Real in Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.

The sale is expected to be completed in 2013.

($ = 0.7692 euro)