ifm welcomes strategic partner to accelerate global growth
Martin Buck (left) and Michael Marhofer (right), co-CEOs ifm.
ifm today announced a strategic partnership and minority investment from KKR, a global investment firm. The founding families, along with co-CEOs Martin Buck and Michael Marhofer, will remain majority owners and continue leading the company.
A global leader in industrial automation and Industry 4.0 technologies, ifm serves over 150,000 customers with a portfolio spanning sensors, connectivity solutions, software, and cloud platforms. With more than 9,000 employees worldwide, ifm is driving the digital transformation of industry, helping customers boost uptime, efficiency, and safety.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
About KKR
Founded in 1976 by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, KKR is now a leading global investor with 664 billion USD in assets under management across public and private markets. Germany is one of KKR's most important European markets. Since 1999, KKR has invested over €18 billion in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), supporting more than 35 portfolio companies and over 45,000 employees. KKR has been a trusted partner to founders and family-owned businesses in Germany for 25 years, helping them to compete internationally and handle the increasing pressure to transform. KKR also has an impressive track record in developing leading technology companies through global investments, including Körber Supply Chain Software (Infios), DATAGROUP and OHB.
