Hamburg, December 23 – Dirk Roßmann, the founder of the prominent German drugstore chain Rossmann, is reportedly planning to participate in the ongoing construction of the Elbtower in Hamburg. This development was reported by the “Hamburger Abendblatt” newspaper.
Rossmann HafenCity GmbH to Join Consortium
According to the report, Roßmann intends for his company, Rossmann HafenCity GmbH, to become part of a joint venture specifically established to finance the completion of the ambitious Elbtower project. This consortium is expected to comprise several key players, all of whom have a direct connection to the tower’s construction.
Key Players in the Elbtower Consortium
In addition to Rossmann, the consortium will include companies associated with Signal Iduna, Kühne, and the construction firm Lupp. Lupp was initially contracted as the general contractor for the Elbtower. A fifth entity, BDT Service2, is also part of the group and is reportedly linked to real estate investor Dieter Becken. Becken has been in negotiations with the Elbtower’s insolvency administrator for the past year.
Cartel Office Review Underway
The Federal Cartel Office has been reviewing the proposed joint venture since mid-December. The office’s assessment will determine whether the consortium could establish a dominant market position or if its formation is permissible under competition law.
Senate’s Plans for the Elbtower and Opposition Criticism
In October, the red-green Senate of Hamburg announced its intention to purchase twelve floors of the Elbtower for 595 million euros. The plan is to house the Natural History Museum in these floors. This decision has drawn criticism from the opposition, which has called for an examination of whether more cost-effective alternatives for the museum were available.
Previous Developments and Project Adjustments
Earlier reports indicated significant progress in the Elbtower’s financing, with a new hotel operator and fresh capital investors bringing new momentum to the project at the Elbbrücken. Investigations by NDR also suggested that potentially suitable and significantly cheaper alternatives for the museum’s relocation in Hamburg might have been overlooked by the Senate. The Senate’s move to acquire space in the Elbtower is intended to facilitate the continuation of its construction. Originally planned to be 245 meters tall, the Elbtower’s height is now expected to be reduced to 199 meters.
This news was broadcast on NDR 90.3’s “NDR 90.3 Aktuell” program on December 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/rossmann-gruender-will-offenbar-beim-elbtower-einsteigen,elbtower-136.html
