Europe accounted for 54% of global logistics acquisitions by target location during the month, according to the latest M&A recap published by Logisyn Advisors and Transport Intelligence. The United States led the country with five deals; Germany followed with four.
The report describes the first half of 2026 as a more active deal environment than last year, when tariff uncertainty and softer freight rates constrained activity.
Waterland Private Equity’s acquisition of a majority stake in Palletways is among the most significant transactions for road freight operators. Pallet networks combine fragmented local transport capacity with shared linehaul infrastructure, and the change of ownership will be watched closely by the hauliers and owner-drivers that form the backbone of such networks.
Kuehne+Nagel‘s acquisition of Lohmöller adds road freight density in north-west Germany — a regional move aimed at deepening network coverage and strengthening domestic distribution rather than entering new territory.
In the United Kingdom, WS Holdco — led by William Stobart — acquired both Walkers Transport Holdings and Madex Logistics in May. The deals extend the group’s coverage into northern England, add a London hub and bring in international freight forwarding and European network capabilities. Logisyn and Ti describe the strategy as a buy-and-build approach aimed at scaling a diversified UK logistics platform.
Specialist and project transport
Bracchi’s acquisition of Rostock Trans reflects continued appetite for specialist haulage capacity. The report says the deal supports Bracchi’s ambition to build a scaled European platform in heavy and project-based transport.
CEVA Logistics completed its acquisition of Italy’s Fagioli Group in March, adding heavy-haul and lifting capabilities across Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. The report frames the deal as evidence that major logistics operators are treating the energy transition as a strategic priority, with project cargo and oversized freight movements growing in importance alongside investment in energy infrastructure.
Italian forwarder Savino Del Bene has also been active in Europe, acquiring Rotterdam-based operators Sealogic and Misan to create a hub focused on ship spares and oil and gas project cargo, and separately acquiring Spain’s Grupo Marítima Sureste in May to strengthen its presence along the Murcia–Almería–Algeciras corridor.
What is driving deal activity
The report points to fragmentation, succession pressure and available capital as the main conditions sustaining deal flow. Europe’s logistics market remains heavily fragmented, with many operators still family-owned or mid-sized, making them natural acquisition targets for larger groups and private equity-backed platforms seeking to add geographic coverage or specialist capability faster than organic growth allows.
AD Ports Group’s acquisition of MBS Logistics, which gives the Abu Dhabi-based group access to Central European logistics corridors and China-West trade lanes through a 26-office network, illustrates how international players are also using European M&A to secure strategic route access.
The report notes that investment in data infrastructure is beginning to influence acquisition decisions, with AI-capable operators potentially commanding greater interest from buyers.
