Cartel Office Tightens Control Over Waste Giant Remondis - Germany cracks down on Remondis with stricter acquisition rules after market dominance probe
Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has imposed stricter controls on Remondis, one of the country’s largest waste management firms. The move follows a 2023 sector inquiry that found the company’s parent group, Rethmann, held a dominant market position. New rules will now require the group to seek approval for any future acquisitions, even small ones, over the next three years.
The Cartel Office’s decision marks a major shift in how Remondis can expand. Previously, merger oversight only applied to deals involving companies with revenues above €17.5 million. This loophole allowed Remondis to grow rapidly, with its annual revenue soaring from €6.5 billion in 2016 to €13.2 billion in 2024.
The ruling disrupts Remondis’ growth strategy by subjecting all future deals to regulatory scrutiny. For the next three years, even small acquisitions will require approval, limiting the group’s ability to expand without oversight. The decision reflects broader concerns about market dominance in Germany’s waste management sector.
