This strategic partnership (internal project name "Horizon") is intended to enable Körber's supply chain software business to become the market leader with improved end-to-end solutions for customers around the world. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Körber's supply chain software business is one of the world's three leading providers of warehouse management software. With more than 1,300 employees, the Business Area has grown strongly in recent years, according to Körber, and serves a diversified mix of more than 4,200 customers in various industries in over 70 countries.

KKR (operating globally, with offices in Frankfurt am Main and London) will work with Körber's supply chain software business to pursue organic and inorganic growth strategies and expand the geographic footprint of the business. At the same time, the strategic focus on Software-as-aService (SaaS), automation, robotics and digital solutions will be further accelerated to support customers in increasing warehouse automation and localization of the supply chain.

KKR's investment comes from its European flagship private equity fund, KKR European Partners Fund V, which has a long track record of working with founders, companies and management teams. KKR is one of the most active investors focused on building leading global technology companies. Global tech investments include Cegid, Exact Software, Cloudera, Darktrace, MYOB, Onestream, Epicor, iValua and Visma. In the DACH region, KKR has been focusing on local strategic partnerships for more than 20 years, for example with investments in Axel Springer, Scout24, Wella, Unzer and SoftwareOne. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all regulatory approvals.

Stephan Seifert, CEO of Körber AG, says: "I am very pleased about this strategic partnership and the enormous opportunities it opens up for our business. It is central to Körber's DNA to identify and actively develop attractive growth areas. With our supply chain software offering, we aim to create a comprehensive end-to-end application suite that provides enhanced software solutions to our customers around the world. With KKR, we have found a great business partner to accelerate our growth in supply chain software across additional products and geographies. Always with a clear vision: market leadership through technology leadership for the benefit of our customers."

Christian Ollig, Partner and Head of the DACH region at KKR and Jean-Pierre Saad, Head of TMT in Europe at KKR, said: "A functioning, interlocking supply chain is critical to the success of companies of all sizes and in all locations and we see significant growth potential in this market. With its supply chain software business, Körber is already one of the leading providers with outstanding expertise and experience in warehouse management software, including robotics and voice control. In addition, Körber's supply chain software business is led by an industry-leading management team. We look forward to this strategic partnership with Körber and working with management to leverage our experience in growing global software companies to help Körber's supply chain software business realize its full potential in this attractive market."

Chad Collins, CEO Software, Körber Business Area Supply Chain, says: "The strategic partnership with KKR is a great opportunity for us. We look forward to working with the team. KKR's track record of investing in software companies and scaling them speaks for itself - we look forward to benefiting from this experience. The partnership will enable us to significantly accelerate our growth plan to become a global leader in supply chain software."

Exclusively in materialfluss: Statements from Michael Brandl, Chief Executive Officer at Körber Supply Chain Software Europe and Middle East (EME) on the breaking news.

The core message:

"We want to become the global market leader in the world of end-to-end logistics solutions. We see our future in a complete end-to-end solution chain, similar to what we already have in Europe for the primarily German market. In order to be able to play a leading role worldwide, we plan to grow both organically and inorganically. For this reason, Körber has chosen KKR as an investor to support us in this expansion."

Why Körber chooses this path:

"The e-commerce sector is booming and supply chain problems can only be cured if the end-to-end supply chain is considered in its entirety. In the past, warehouse logistics began and ended at the loading bay. Today, however, in order to ensure efficient supply, the inventory must be considered from production to the end customer. We plan to continue using solutions that we already have in the DACH region via the WMS systems (3PL, SMB and Enterprise). However, in order to achieve global significance more quickly, there will also be inorganic growth in the areas adjacent to warehouses."

Where Körber currently stands with this topic:

"With our WMS solutions, we are already one of the top three providers worldwide. However, with our current end-to-end solution, we are still a long way from global market leadership in Western Europe with an installation base of < 20 customers. Purely organic growth will not be possible at the speed we are aiming for. A high three-digit, if not four-digit, number of installations should be available for market leadership."

What the investor should contribute:

"He will help us to make the right acquisitions. We have several regions and solutions in mind, which we will then integrate into our suite in a second step."

What will change after joining the Management Board:

"There will be no changes to the Executive Board of Körber Supply Chain Software. Externally, there will be a Governance Board with an equal number of managers from Körber and KKR."

What will change for customers in Germany:

"Nothing at all. We will remain under the Körber brand and will continue to market inconso's well-known products in the DACH region. There will be expansions in the area of AMR control, but these will tend to happen organically - keyword: partnerships with Fetch Robotics, among others. Outside the region of continental Western Europe, on the other hand, there will be an expansion towards an end-to-end suite. We are primarily looking at solutions from the DOM and TMS sectors."