bpost completes purchase of Lagardère Travel Retail

bpost – which yesterday made its “final” offer for a merger with PostNL – has announced that it has finalised the acquisition of the Belgian activities of Lagardère Travel Retail. The postal operator has now acquired 100% of the shares of the Belgian subsidiaries of Lagardère Travel Retail, and the Belgian Competition Authority has already approved the deal.

In a statement issued this morning, bpost said that it will now expand the activities of Lagardère Travel Retail by opening new points of sale, renovating existing ones, diversifying the product and service range for its customers and enlarging the kariboo! pick-up point network to offer customers a wider range of parcel services and delivery options.

bpost will also continue to provide the press distribution service.

As part of the deal, bpost and Lagardère Travel Retail have signed a franchise agreement to operate and develop the international brands of Lagardère Travel Retail, including Relay, hubiz, Hello!, So! Coffee and Hub convenience.

LS Distribution Benelux and Lagardère Services Travel Retail Benelux will change their name to Ubiway and Ubiway Retail respectively. The commercial entities such as AMP, the Press Shop/Relay network, the kariboo! pick-up points and the subsidiaries Alvadis and Burnonville will continue to operate under their existing name.