Two recent transactions in the industrial supply sector caught our attention:
- The acquisition of a 25% stake, announced in November 2024, by HABERKORN, Austrian leader in the distribution of industrial supplies (€824m turnover in 2023) in the German group REIFF. REIFF is an expert in power transmission/drive technologies, fluid solutions, sealing solutions, and rubber and plastic products (around €200m turnover according to our estimates). This participation seems the first step in a more global partnership between the two groups.
- The acquisition of a minority stake, announced in June 2024, of the VIESMANN CLIMATE SOLUTIONS group, a German group specializing in climate solutions (heat, water and air quality) and renewable energies for the residential and commercial sectors ( 4 billion euros in turnover in 2022), in LANDEFELD, German distributor of hydraulic and pneumatic components and industrial supplies (€250m turnover according to our estimates).
The two situations are certainly not identical, but they nevertheless have similarities: two nice mid-sized German companies are joining forces with larger groups in a period of gloomy economic conditions across the Rhine.
Can we deduce from these two examples that the consolidation of the industrial supply sector will accelerate under the impact of an economic situation less favorable to industry in Europe? To be verified in a few months...
