The German retailers real,- (a distribution chain of METRO Group), Bartels-Langness, Bünting, NETTO ApS, Klaas & Kock, and Georg Jos. Kaes have founded the "RTG Retail Trade Group" with the purpose of bundling central functions. Under the umbrella of this mutual joint venture, the joint purchasing of food, non-food and ultra-fresh products will be combined as well as other functions. METRO Cash & Carry Germany will also pool purchasing volume through the Retail Trade Group. 

Hengeler Mueller advised METRO and real,- on the transaction regarding contractual and antitrust issues. The Hengeler Mueller team includes partners Christof Jäckle, Karsten Schmidt-Hern (both on the contractual side) (both Frankfurt), Christoph Stadler (Antitrust, Düsseldorf) as well as associates Daniel Möritz (Düsseldorf), Sebastian Schneider (Berlin), Till Wansleben (Frankfurt) (all on the contractual side), Philipp Otto Neideck and Anja Balitzki (both Antitrust) (both Düsseldorf). 

METRO's in-house legal team responsible for this transaction was led by Nils Hoffmann, Michael Buch, Reto Batzel, Thomas Honnet and Annette Weber.