Tag: Rentokil Initial

The fragmented British courier, express and parcels market looks set for a new wave of consolidation following this week’s GBP 210 million acquisition of independent parcels carrier Target Express by Rentokil Initial, parent holding of leading player City Link. The deal makes City Link into a top competitor to DHL, TNT and UPS in the domestic next-day parcels market.

Growth in Europe’s second-largest express and parcels market has slowed over the last year, especially in the domestic sector. The market is forecast to grow only moderately at about 3% over the next few years. At the same time, the traditionally fierce price-based competition in Britain and higher operating costs, especially fuel costs, have combined to put pressure on profit margins. These factors have hit smaller, domestically-focused companies in particular, and opened up new opportunities for mergers and acquisitions.

There have already been several important transactions in the UK in recent years. UPS improved its domestic market position with the acquisition of Lynx Express last year, while Amtrak Express Parcels broadened its portfolio through the takeover of Nightspeed. DHL had earlier jumped to become market leader with the acquisition of the Securicor Omega Express business, while GeoPost had acquired Parceline and Interlink Express.