Sale of the Scholz Group to Derichebourg completed – Creating a globally operating European leader in the circular economy
Sale of the Scholz Group to Derichebourg completed – Creating a globally operating European leader in the circular economy
Sale of the Scholz Group to Derichebourg completed – Creating a globally operating European leader in the circular economy
- Sale to the French recycling and waste management company Derichebourg finalized
- All necessary regulatory approvals have been granted and customary closing conditions have been fulfilled
- Transaction could be finalized at the end of the contractually stipulated period
- This creates a European industry leader in the circular economy for steel and metal scrap
The sale of the Scholz Group to Derichebourg Environnement SAS as announced in May 2026 has been completed following the satisfaction of all required regulatory approvals and the fulfillment of customary closing conditions, enabling the transaction to be finalized at the end of the contractually stipulated period. Derichebourg is a family-influenced leading recycling and waste management company; its parent company, Derichebourg S.A., is listed on the Paris stock exchange.
The transaction marks a milestone in the further development of the Scholz Group. The return to European ownership and the creation of a European industry leader provide an excellent foundation to secure the company’s long-term future and to offer very strong prospects to its employees and business partners. Derichebourg and Scholz share a common business focus and orientation and have a complementary network of locations. This enables Derichebourg to realize its strategic growth ambitions in the Scholz Group’s core markets, particularly in Germany and Eastern Europe.
This step positions both companies for further sustainable growth and value creation, among other things through operational scale and the support of the decarbonisation of the steel industry in Europe.
As planned with today’s closing, the interim mandates of Peter Lammers, Daniel Chow and Zhou Guo have now concluded.
Peter Lammers, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Scholz Group to date, said: “Since taking over the mandate at the Scholz Group last year, we were able stabilize the business and accompany the Group to the planned sale we have successfully completed today in less than a year. With the acquisition by Derichebourg, a new chapter is now beginning for the Scholz Group, which continues to perform well operationally despite the ongoing challenges facing the recycling industry. I wish them all the best and every success in this new phase.”
Abderaman El Aoufir, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Derichebourg SA, said: “The Scholz Group and Derichebourg are a perfect fit. With the closing of this transaction, we make a pivotal step in our international expansion strategy. The teams at Scholz have shown exceptional resilience, and we will now join forces to build, by leveraging our complementary strengths, a leading European player in recycling that supports the green transition. I would like to welcome them to the Derichebourg Group. We look forward to working together with our new colleagues.”
Due to the financial situation of its previous owner Chiho Environmental Group Limited (“CEG”) the Scholz Group was in a transitional phase since August 2025, with representatives from FTI Consulting acting as joint and several receivers and managers over the entire issued shares of the holding companies of Scholz Group. The objective was to stabilize the Scholz Group, carry out an orderly sale and to ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders. The uninterrupted and seamless operational continuity throughout the transition to the future owner once again underscored the resilience and strength of the Scholz Group’s business model, as well as its long-standing relationships with customers and suppliers. With the successful completion of the sale, the Scholz Group has now been placed under a stable, long-term ownership structure, providing a strong foundation for its future development.
About the Scholz Group
The Scholz Group, with Scholz Recycling GmbH as its main German entity, is a global network of companies and shareholdings in the processing and treatment of steel and metal scrap. Thanks to this network, the group is one of the few recyclers able to offer all activities related to metal and scrap processing from a single source.
To support this, the company operates hundreds of collection and storage sites with excellent transport connections, as well as recycling facilities for a wide range of needs. A global infrastructure enables the bundling of scrap into large material flows on a daily basis and its movement around the world.
The Scholz Group employs over 3,500 people and operates more than 180 sites worldwide.
About the Derichebourg Group
Derichebourg is a global operator at the international level in environmental services to businesses and local and municipal authorities. Its activities can be divided into two separate branches: the Environment division and the Multiservices division. Both share the same basic values and common ambition: Serving mankind while protecting the environment. Within its Environment division, the Group’s activities notably include the collection, sorting and recovery of metals and other recyclable materials. In doing so, the company makes a significant contribution to resource conservation and the decarbonisation of industry. In addition, through its Multiservices division, Derichebourg offers a broad range of services, including facility management, cleaning, security and logistics solutions. The Group, headquartered in Paris, employs around 5,500 people in 13 countries and is listed on the Paris stock exchange.
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Email: frank.elsner@elsner-kommunikation.de
