Germany's METRO Group, to ensure the operation of two Crimean METRO wholesale centers in Simferopol and Sevastopol, has transferred them to the management the specially created company Retail Property 5, METRO Cash & Carry Ukraine (Kyiv), which earlier managed the Crimean METRO wholesale centers, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Due to the situation in Crimea, METRO Cash & Carry Ukraine has faced a growing number of restrictions that have resulted in the impossibility to do further business in the region. The two wholesale centers of METRO Cash & Carry in Crimea are under the management of Retail Property 5, a company specially created by METRO Group," reads the report.

The company said that METRO wholesale centers continue operating and servicing clients in Crimea.

The company also said that METRO Cash & Carry Ukraine on April 28 did not create and register new legal entities in Crimea. Other details on the creation of Retail Property 5 have not been disclosed.

According to the preliminary information of Interfax-Ukraine, Retail Property 5 is not resident of Russia.

METRO entered the Ukrainian market in 2003. The company manages 33 shopping centers in Ukraine, including 27 shops of a standard format and four smaller size stores. Since entering the Ukrainian market, Metro has invested EUR 545 million in development in this country. The sales of the Ukrainian division in 2012 amounted to EUR 877 million euros.

Metro Cash & Carry is part of Germany's Metro Group. The global network of the company includes more than 700 shopping centers in 29 countries. In Russia, the retailer operates 72 shopping centers.