Germany’s largest packaging waste collection and recycling company, Duales System Deutschland (DSD, Cologne; www.gruener-punkt.de), is being bought by its management under CEO Stefan Schreiter, in cooperation with private investors. Current owner is private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR; www.kkr.com), which acquired DSD in 2004. The transaction is expected be concluded in the next few weeks following approval by the German cartel authority, Bundeskartellamt. Philippe von Stauffenberg, head of the investors group and managing partner of UK-based private equity group Solidus Partners (www.soliduspartners.com), is designated to become head of DSD’s advisory council.

Previous takeover plans by other potential buyers are thought to have tripped over cartel restrictions. Names circulating in the past included Sita Deutschland, subsidiary of Suez Environnement (Paris / France; www.suez-environnement.com). The buyout also ends plans mulled earlier for a stock market listing. DSD, which collects licence fees from companies that use the green recycling dot on packaging, had a monopoly on handling post-consumer packaging waste in Germany when founded 20 years ago. It has successfully managed the transition to private ownership and is “well positioned in the market,” said Schreiter. Von Stauffenberg said he sees “considerable potential” for DSD to make the “green dot brand” competitive throughout Europe while expanding into environmental services. The waste company with an estimated German market share of 50% currently has around 18,000 licensees.