Austrian Post to focus on its core business as an e-commerce service provider
Austrian Post AG is selling its shares in the German pharmaceutical wholesaler AEP. The signing took place on 26 January and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Since 2013, Swiss Post has held a stake in the parent company ADELHEID, which in turn holds 100 percent of AEP, and has gradually increased its shares to 51.52 percent.
Now that AEP has achieved sales of around one billion euros in 2025 and is fully established in the German pharmaceutical wholesale sector, the next phase of development and growth is beginning for the company, which was successfully co-founded by Austrian Post. The previous owners have therefore decided to sell their shares in AEP.
As a result, Austrian Post will focus on its core business as an e-commerce service provider in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Turkey and beyond. AEP will be owned by The Platform Group, which already has experience in the pharmaceutical sector and will seamlessly integrate the pharmaceutical wholesaler into its own offering in order to exploit synergies and strategically develop the company.
Both parties have agreed not to disclose the sale price. The transaction is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.
ABOUT AEP
AEP GmbH is a modern pharmaceutical wholesaler based in Alzenau, Germany. The company was founded in 2012 and began operations in 2013. As an innovative alternative to traditional structures, AEP relies on a central logistics warehouse instead of a network of different branches and offers pharmacies throughout Germany a transparent pricing model with uniform conditions.
Today, the company supplies several thousand pharmacies throughout Germany every day and employs around 250 people. The central warehouse in Alzenau is one of the most modern pharmaceutical logistics centres in Europe and guarantees efficient and ecologically optimised supply. Thanks to continuous growth and positive business development, AEP is a profitable company.
