The competition in healthcare logistics shows no sign of slowing down, particularly through the acquisition of companies that already possess expertise and infrastructure in the field. On 25 March, Bloomberg reported that Dhl and Cencora are eyeing the acquisition of the French firm Walden, whose value is estimated at one billion euros. Preliminary talks are said to be underway, although the interested parties have declined to comment on the article. Bloomberg notes that the sale has been initiated by Walden’s current owners, who are being advised by investment bank Morgan Stanley.
Founded in 1951 under the name European Healthcare Distribution Holding, Walden has grown over the years to become one of Europe’s leading logistics operators in the healthcare sector. A significant turning point came in 2014 with the acquisition of Ciblex, a company specialising in express delivery of small parcels. In the years that followed, Walden expanded its operations to include logistics for spare parts and optical products. In 2020, following the acquisition of competitor Movianto, the group adopted its current name, Walden.
At the helm is Stéphane Baudry, a third-generation member of the founding family, who has given a strong boost to the company’s expansion efforts. One of the most recent steps in this strategy was the acquisition of Relais Colis in 2022, a French company specialising in parcel pick-up points and home deliveries. This move has further strengthened Walden’s distribution network, which now has a solid presence in more than a dozen European countries.
According to figures published on the company’s official website, Walden Group’s revenue in 2022 reached 2.6 billion euros. This substantial scale, combined with its strategic position in the pharmaceutical sector, makes the company particularly attractive to global players such as Dhl and Cencora. The latter is a US-based firm operating in pharmaceutical distribution, looking to bolster its footprint in the European market.
