FM Logistic has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in German logistics provider Schäflein in a bid to position itself as a leading pan-European player.
The current management, Achim and Bernd Schäflein, will retain an equity stake, thereby securing the continuity and family roots of the business. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including merger clearance by the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt).
Jean-Christophe Machet, CEO of FM Logistic, stated, “FM Logistic and Schäflein share a common DNA: that of family owned-businesses driven by a long-term vision and thinking in terms of generations.
“Our entry into the German market, the largest in Europe, is based on the deliberate choice of a best-in-class partner. Our goal was not simply to acquire capacity, but valuable industrial know-how. We are investing in growth to carry forward Schäflein’s model and to build, together, an indispensable pan-European market leader.”
Commitment to continuity
Following completion of the transaction, Schäflein’s operational management will remain unchanged to ensure full continuity. Achim Schäflein (CEO), Bernd Schäflein (COO) and Christoph Heller (CFO) will retain their leadership positions.
The Schäflein brand will be maintained for the foreseeable future, reflecting the company’s strong local roots. A gradual transition strategy will be implemented over several years to reflect the partnership with FM Logistic.
Ambitious growth synergies
According to FM Logistic, the partnership is designed to drive strong expansion through four key growth levers:
- Serving international customers in Germany: providing FM Logistic’s services to its international customers in Germany – a market with high potential for the group.
- Connecting transportation networks: integrating FM Logistic’s transportation flows into Schäflein’s high-performance national and international groupage network (including the hub in Röthlein).
- Enhancing the industrial offering: enriching FM Logistic’s industrial offering by rolling out Schäflein’s excellence model across the group’s countries of operation (Poland, Slovakia, Spain, France and others).
- Growing geographically: expanding Schäflein in Germany beyond its Bavarian stronghold into new high-potential logistics hubs (the Ruhr region and Leipzig).
Achim Schäflein, CEO of Schäflein, commented, “As we prepared the handover to the next generation, we looked for a strategic and industrial partner that could help accelerate the international growth of our business model while preserving its long-term vision and values.
“Joining forces with FM Logistic gives us that international reach while allowing us to preserve our identity, our management team and our absolute commitment to our long-standing customers.”
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