The sale was announced in January. Since its foundation in 1931, Wild has been family-owned. Dr Hans-Peter Wild, who is also the sole owner of US flavours and ingredient company Wild Flavors, first revealed plans to make the German company public in 2008. The formation of a global flavour business is also seen a step towards eventual public listing.
This plan, to be carried out “in several independent steps”, involves uniting the German Wild business and Wild Flavors as one company, in which Dr Wild will be the major shareholder, later this year.
KKR brings know-how to the German firm on making an initial public offering, although no firm indication of the timescale has been given. Although 2010 was originally mooted, the financial crisis means it will certainly not happen this year.