Polish trailer OEM, Wielton, has acquired an 80 per cent stake in Western Germany’s Langendorf Group.
The surprise announcement was made in Düsseldorf last week by Wielton CEO, Mariusz Golec, and Langendorf owner and Managing Director, Dr Klaus Strautmann.
Strautmann, who took over the then-ailing Langendorf business in 2013 and turned it around in less than a year, will retain a 20 per cent stake in the company and lead it as an independent business unit under the Wielton umbrella. As such, both name and logo of the Langendorf brand remain unaffected.
The acquisition covers the core Langendorf business as well as all of its subsidiaries, including Langendorf Service, Langendorf Trading and Langendorf Potsdam, but will not entail to any personnel changes.
“The existing Langendorf Team will continue its mission and will be reinforced in the future,” Langendorf pointed out in a media statement. “This transaction is an important step for the long-term development of the company on national as well as international markets.
“Thanks to the new shareholder, Langendorf will offer a wider product range and [additional] services.”
According to Langendorf, the company expects to benefit from synergies in both purchasing and marketing, as well as sales – especially in Eastern Europe.
“Simultaneously, the presence of Wielton … will be reinforced by Langendorf’s sales network in Germany, BeNeLux, Switzerland and in Scandinavia.”
Dr Strautman, until now the company’s sole shareholder, said Wielton’s involvement was testament to Langendorf’s successful restructure and ongoing brand power following the Eurozone crisis.
“Langendorf has developed an excellent and profitable business since the takeover in 2013,” he said.
“With our new partner, we see outstanding chances for further growth of the Langendorf company in Germany and Europe.”
Wielton, Poland’s largest manufacturer of semi-trailers, is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and made headlines in 2015 when it took over long-standing French OEM, Fruehauf.
At the end of 2016, Wielton also established a subsidiary in the African nation of Ivory Coast, where it is planning to establish a semi-trailer and trailer assembly plant.
The take-over will become effective after approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.
Image (L-R): P. Szataniak, Chairman, Wielton; Dr. K. Strautmann, Managing Director, Langendorf; M. Golec, CEO, Wielton; T. Sniatala, CFO, Wielton.