Asset position

In financial year 2013/14, total assets decreased by €807 million to €28.0 billion (30/9/2013: €28.8 billion).

In financial year 2013/14, non-current assets declined by €1.0 billion to €15.6 billion, primarily due to a reduction in property, plant and equipment of €684 million to €10.0 billion (30/9/2013: €10.7 billion). This reduction is attributable to negative currency effects particularly in Russia and Ukraine, the disposal of property, plant and equipment as well as reclassifications to assets held for sale. In addition, long-term financial investments were €248 million lower than in the previous year (30/9/2014: €71 million; 30/9/2013: €319 million). This decline essentially resulted from the disposal of 9 per cent of the company’s shares in Booker Group PLC. These shares were gained as part of the agreement regarding the sale of METRO GROUP's wholesale business in the United Kingdom. In addition, goodwill impairment losses related to METRO Cash & Carry in the Netherlands of €88 million also caused goodwill to decline (30/9/2014: €3.7 billion; 30/9/2013: €3.8 billion).

Non-current assets

For more information about the development of non-current assets, see the notes to the consolidated financial statements in the numbers listed in the table.

Current assets rose by €267 million to €12.4 billion. This increase is largely due to the €235 million increase in the item other financial and non-financial assets (30/9/2014: €2.8 billion; 30/9/2013: €2.6 billion). In particular, the main reason for this gain was the higher amount of receivables due from suppliers and the significant increase in entitlements to value added tax refunds. In addition, assets held for sale increased by €168 million to €460 million (30/9/2013: €292 million). This was mainly the result of the reclassification of assets held by METRO Cash & Carry Vietnam to this item as well as the first-time recognition of ten properties used by the Real sales line that were immediately recognised in assets held for sale given the intention to sell these in the near future. The deconsolidation of Real’s business in Poland had a negative effect.

Current assets

For more information about the development of current assets, see the notes to the consolidated financial statements in the numbers listed in the table.