METRO Compliance Programme

The way METRO operates is based on a large number of legal provisions and self-imposed standards of conduct. In 2007, we passed a group-wide Compliance Programme to ensure compliance with these rules in our day-to-day business practice. The programme draws together all the measures needed for compliance with the rules. Implementation of the compliance measures is coordinated by METRO's Compliance Officers. Our Compliance Programme helps our staff comply with all the relevant rules and standards.

Our Business Principles – our commitment

Compliance is not an end in itself: Lawful, honest and responsible action serves our customers, the employees and ultimately our company.

Simply right

Compliance is, above all, a question of good corporate culture. We can create that culture only if we work together. Our compliance values and the METRO business principles help us in our day-to-day business

• to safeguard the interests of our customers and METRO,
• to be an attractive employer and
• to protect the company and its employees from harm.

Our business principles are an important part of our compliance culture. Compliance with our business principles is part of our DNA and our promise also towards our customers. Acting against our business principles will not be tolerated by our community or by our company.

Informing, advising, training

METRO relies on an educational approach to anchor the business principles in the minds of employees. A document in the intranet, for example, explains the eight principles with the help of practical examples. Simply. Clearly. Intelligibly. In addition, we organise training sessions and offer advice.

We inform all our employees about the rules and standards that are relevant to their areas of work. We help employees to fulfil their obligations. We inject life into our compliance principles.

METRO continually checks for compliance with all the rules and standards. A dedicated Compliance Organisation analyses any weak points. Where necessary, the Compliance Officers develop concrete measures to prevent misconduct.

If situations are unclear, there are a number of people available for advice, including the local Compliance Officers. Anyone who notices a violation against the compliance rules can also use the METRO Whistleblowing System. This option is available both to employees and to third parties, e.g. customers, suppliers and business partners. Reports are sent online and can be sent anonymously.

To the METRO Whistleblowing System (secure, external website):

If you have a query about compliance, please contact: simplyright@metro.de

Please consult the KPMG audit report (German) for further information on Compliance at METRO.

The METRO Code of Conduct for Business Partners defines our fundamental principles in the areas of the environment, social affairs and business ethics. We expect our partners to fulfil this code in their daily cooperation with us.

METRO respects the applicable tax conditions – worldwide, in every country in which we are active. We fulfil all statutory provisions. We have no interest in artificial tax structuring. We respect taxation along the value chain. We have no specific transfer price system that is not in accordance with the value chain. We welcome the OECD initiative against the undermining of the basis of taxation and artificial transfer of profits (BEPS – base erosion and profit shifting).

METRO commits to comply with the spirit as well as the letter of the tax laws and regulations in the countries in which the company operates as well as to not use secrecy jurisdictions or so-called "tax havens”. METRO also commits to undertaking transfer pricing using the arm’s length principle. This general content of the tax strategy is aligned with the board of directors.

The prevention of corruption and bribery is at the core of compliance at METRO. The internal guideline include a number of preventive measures to avoid corruption in the first place. It focuses on dealing with business partners and public officials.

For us, data protection is not just an empty phrase. We take the protection of personal data very seriously, both for our employees and for our customers, suppliers and all other persons. We spend a great effort to ensure this protection. We take care that all data is only processed in accordance with the strict legal requirements.

For further information regarding our group wide data protection standards and our Data Protection Management System please see Group-wide Data Protection.