Lit, a logistics group based in Brake, Lower Saxony, signed an agreement on 30 October 2026 to acquire the entire share capital of the Duvenbeck Group, based in Bocholt, North Rhine-Westphalia, which has been controlled by investment firm Waterland since 2022. Neither company disclosed the purchase price. The deal will strengthen Lit's position in automotive logistics and road freight transport, while Duvenbeck's restructuring will continue under its new owner, according to the parties. Completion is expected by the end of 2026, subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
Lit employs around 5,400 people across more than 130 sites in 22 countries, with activities covering transport, contract logistics, logistics consultancy and fourth-party logistics (4PL). It already operates in the automotive sector but also serves industries including chemicals and dangerous goods, consumer goods, fresh produce and steel. Duvenbeck, founded in Bocholt in 1932, has around 5,000 employees and more than 50 sites across Europe. Its operations are divided into two areas: road transport using its own fleet (Road) and production and contract logistics (Production & Contract Logistics, PCL), serving vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
With the acquisition, Lit will expand its European network, already well established in Northern and Western Europe, through Duvenbeck's locations in Southern and Eastern Europe. Simeon Breuer, a member of Lit's management board, said Duvenbeck brings automotive logistics expertise developed over many years and that synergies would be built gradually as the restructuring process continues in cooperation with Lit. Waterland invested in Duvenbeck in 2022, with Thomas Duvenbeck retaining a shareholding, and had been seeking a buyer since spring 2026. The investment firm linked the group's difficulties to lower and more volatile vehicle production among its customers, as well as pressure on margins.
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