Distributors/Service Centers
December 8, 2025
Worthington Steel in negotiations for possible takeover of Germany's Klöckner
Written by Ethan Bernard
Worthington Steel is in talks to possibly take over Germany-based metals distributor and service‑center operator Klöckner & Co. SE, both companies have confirmed.
“We confirm that we are in initial negotiations with Klöckner & Co. SE about a potential voluntary public takeover offer of Klöckner & Co SE,” Columbus, Ohio-based Worthington said in a statement on Saturday, Dec. 6. “No investment decision has been made and the discussions may not result in a transaction.”
The company said it does not intend to comment further.
Meanwhile, Klöckner issued a separate statement on Saturday confirming the rumors.
“It is currently uncertain whether or under which conditions a potential voluntary public takeover offer will be pursued,” the company noted.
With around 6,000 employees, metals processor Worthington Steel operates 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries.
Klöckner & Co. SE is a Duisburg‑based, publicly listed German steel and metal distributor and processor. It provides supply, processing, and digital trading solutions to industry and construction.
Roswell, Ga.-headquartered Kloeckner Metals Corp is its American subsidiary. It is a US metals distributor supplying steel and nonferrous products, providing value‑added processing and logistics, and offering digital procurement and inventory solutions.
Background
Consolidation among service centers has long been a topic of discussion.
Recall in late October, national service center chains Ryerson Holding Corp. and Olympic Steel Corp. announced a merger between the two companies.
Commenting on the issue of consolidation at SMU’s Steel Summit in August, Reliance Inc. President and CEO Karla Lewis said there was still more consolidation on the horizon.
She noted the service center level continues to be much more fragmented than at the mill level.
Even with 76 acquisitions and over 300 locations, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based center chain represented only 16% of service center industry shipments as of that time, she said.
“I know a lot of other service center companies are doing acquisitions as well, but there continues to be a lot of opportunity out there,” Lewis added.
