Herstal Group Rebrands As FN Browning Group

2024 marks the 135th anniversary of the founding of the FN factory in Herstal, Belgium. No Herstal Group, FN’s parent company, will be changing its name to FN Browning Group. This encapsulates the company’s two major brands - both of which have a lot of history behind them.

Herstal Group made the announcement as the company celebrated ‘ a historic net profit of 75 million euros [$81 million]’ in fiscal year 2023. The company said that the change would be “supported by a comprehensive brand identity” and accompanied by the announcement of a special ‘Ars Mechanica Exhibition’ dedicated to the Group’s brands and their contribution to Liège’s industrial heritage, to be held at La Boverie in Liège (Belgium) from April to August 2025.

Here’s FN Browning Group’s announcement in full:

“Changing the name of a company is always a risk. It may result in loss of recognition or confusion. By choosing to replace the relatively low-key name of Herstal Group in favor of FN Browning Group the effect is to improve clarity and simplify identification, building on two leading brands that made history over the past 135 years and shaped our outstanding global reputation.

It is always a good idea to make the most of your best assets, and what could be better than two iconic brand names, each one a recognized and respected leader in its field. FN has an unequalled reputation, earned by 135 years of designing and manufacturing military small arms, ammunition and associated products, many of which achieved worldwide commercial success through technical excellence. The name Browning has a double claim to fame. First, through the legendary John Moses Browning, unanimously accepted as the greatest firearms designer that ever lived. Second, through the Browning company’s long-held fame for its hunting and sport shooting guns that combine outstanding performance with timeless beauty.

With the name FN Browning Group the company proudly asserts its fields of activity through two instantly recognizable brands, and clearly positions itself as a world leader.”

FN Browning group also published a company overview giving a bitesize look at the company’s history from 1889 to the present day:

While FN Browning Group published the announcement on 5 July, the company’s website and initial announcement went live back in June. On 11 June, the newly rebranded parent company launched a new website and published a press release with more details. The official name change occurred on 15 June and Julien Compère, FN Browning Group’s CEO, said:

“As we celebrate our 135th anniversary, the name FN Browning Group highlights the leading brands that have built our outstanding global reputation. John Moses Browning and FM Herstal joined forces in the 19th century to design pioneering small arms that gave birth to modern weaponry. Today, our products and services continue to set global standards for innovation and dependability. FN Browning Group reflects our commitment to stay true to this DNA by continuing, as our vision states, "to set market-leading standards that anticipate the needs of the most demanding defence institutions, law enforcement authorities, responsible firearm owners and hunters."