Schaeffler Group controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2008
Leveraged Continental acquisition controversy
The Schaeffler family's planned acquisition of Continental became controversial because a comparatively smaller supplier sought control of a much larger company through a highly leveraged transaction. The global financial crisis intensified concerns about debt, ownership structure and the future of both businesses.
2008
Historical allegations concerning forced labor during the Nazi era
Historical investigations described the use of forced labor at Schaeffler-related factories in German-occupied Poland during the Second World War. The company acknowledged the exploitation of thousands of forced laborers in 2008. Disagreement later arose over claims concerning links between factory materials and Auschwitz, including criticism of a commissioned historical account and its interpretation of the evidence.