Deutsche Post: a continuous acquisition trail
Deutsche Post is set to go on with its continuous growth strategy with the acquisition of Italian parcel operator Casa di Spedizioni Ascoli. This is not the only deal Deutsche Post has in the pipeline, as the acquisition of the remaining 50% of Securicor Distribution could also follow.
Deutsche Post, the German logistics, postal and express giant, has confirmed that it plans to acquire Casa di Spedizioni Ascoli, the Italian parcel operator. The acquisition is a strategic initiative to strengthen Deutsche Post’s position in the Italian market.
Ascoli employs approximately 400 people and has a turnover of around E80 million per year. As yet no financial details of the deal have been released but it could go through as early as the end of this week.
In addition to the Ascoli deal, Deutsche Post is also reportedly entering the final stages of acquiring the other 50% of Securicor Distribution, the first half of which was bought in November 1998, for E314 million.
The cross-border parcel market between the UK and continental Europe currently has a 15% annual growth rate, compared with the UK’s internal market, which has a growth rate of just 5%. Deutsche Post is keen to lead this market single handedly.
Over the last decade, Deutsche Post has been paramount in shaping the way the European logistics, postal and express markets have evolved. Its strategy of acquisitive growth supported by organic development has proven to be a successful one, even in the most difficult of economic climates.
The recent announcement that all express and logistics subsidiaries will be re-branded under the DHL umbrella highlights Deutsche Post’s commitment to dominating the European logistics, parcels and express markets. This is clearly a feat that Deutsche Post believes cannot be achieved through organic growth alone.
