Leading logistics group Duvenbeck and Waterland Private Equity establish growth partnership

Investment group Waterland Private Equity (“Waterland”) has acquired a majority share in the Duvenbeck Group. With about 6,000 employees and annual turnover recently reaching approximately EUR 700 million, Duvenbeck is one of Europe’s leading providers of transport and logistics solutions. The company will retain its previous sole owner Thomas Duvenbeck as a key shareholder. He will continue to assist the Group in all strategic development matters, including as chairperson of the advisory board. The transaction remains subject to the usual antitrust approvals, while further financial details have not been disclosed.

The Duvenbeck Group is a family-owned business established in 1932 that is headquartered in Bocholt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The company maintains a total of 33 locations in eight countries. Duvenbeck is a full-service logistics service provider in the areas of design, forwarding and contract logistics. The company also offers cross-docking, sequencing and trailer yards. Duvenbeck operates more than 1,500 of its own heavy goods vehicles, which are primarily used for automotive and industry customers as well as for the agricultural machinery industry. The company’s sales have increased more than seven-fold in the past 15 years.

Duvenbeck’s strong growth will be leveraged further in the future with support from its new majority shareholder, Waterland. The focus here is on the expansion of the company’s internationalisation strategy, the development of core competencies and expanding into new customer segments in the medium term. Furthermore, as a buy-&-build investor Waterland also puts an emphasis on regular strategic purchases in order to sustainably accelerate the growth of its portfolio companies.

Seller Thomas Duvenbeck, who shall be chairperson of the advisory board, notes: “As we looked for a long-term partner for our well-established company our top priorities were an entrepreneurial mind-set, collaboration on a level playing field and a commitment by both partners to continuing our long-standing business relationships with customers and suppliers on an ongoing basis. Waterland won our trust thanks to its impressive track record and an attractive, forward-looking growth strategy for the entire Group. My family-owned business is in good hands.”

Duvenbeck’s Managing Director Christian Schweckhorst adds: “Duvenbeck has always been hugely proud of its distinctive corporate culture. It was important to us that a new shareholder would understand, share and actively live up to our corporate values. During our discussions with Waterland, the chemistry felt good right from the start. We are confident that we have found an ideal long-term companion in Waterland.”

“Duvenbeck offers the market an exceptionally high level of quality and is extremely well positioned thanks to long-standing partnerships with well-known customers, innovative concepts and a high degree of reciprocal esteem towards its employees”, explains Dr. Carsten Rahlfs, Managing Partner at Waterland. “We want to build on this very solid base and systematically develop Duvenbeck’s formula for success, thereby bringing tangible benefits both to customers and to the entire Group. We are looking forward to our collaboration.”

Waterland has extensive experience in the field of logistics and industrial outsourcing and currently has investments in Global Transport Solutions Group (a 4PL provider with a focus on spare parts for ships) and Dematra (storage and distribution).