Deutsche Post World Net is reportedly interested in buying a stake in Japan Post following thelatter’s privatisation, in cooperating with India Post and in deepening contacts with China Post.
The news comes amid financial market speculation that UPS might be interested in buying a stake inthe DHL parent group.Speculation circulated on international financial markets late last week that UPS and privateequity investor Apax Partners Worldwide might be interested in acquiring the 30.6% currently heldby KfW, the state-owned German financial institution. The KfW is expected to sell off furthertranches of the holding in the coming months.
“Deutsche Post are boosted by the rumour Apax and UPS might bid 28 euros a share for about 30percent in the company,” Thomas Nagel, a trader at Equinet AG in Frankfurt, told the Bloombergnews agency. Neither Deutsche Post nor KfW have commented on the reports. But observers believethere is little chance that the German government might permit a significant stake in Deutsche Postto be acquired by UPS, which competes head-on with DHL Express on a worldwide scale.
Meanwhile, DPWN chairman Klaus Zumwinkel, part of the business delegation accompanying Germanchancellor Angela Merkel on a trip to China and Japan this week, told reporters in Beijing thatthere are signs that Japan Post could be privatised. “Then we would look at that very closely andvery positively, with the aim of buying a stake,” he commented. Deutsche Post has advised theJapanese government on postal reform and privatisation for several years.
On the Chinese postal market, Zumwinkel said that there were intensive discussions withofficials to support reforms, liberalisation and new postal laws. Although things took longer inChina, it was important to be there from the start. “We already have our foot well in the door,” hecommented.
Separately, Deutsche Post is looking at developing a strategic partnership with India Post,which is seeking to grow its logistics activities, the Economic Times newspaper reported. “The ideais to identify some common synergies and work towards creating a relationship which might takeshape in the form of either a strategic partnership, a JV or an MOU,” an anonymous India Postofficial said.
The two sides are apparently in early talks over issues such as infrastructure sharing andlast-mile delivery which could enable DHL to use India Post’s nationwide delivery network whileoffering India Post access to DHL’s superior operational expertise, the newspaper said. DHLsubsidiary Blue Dart, the domestic express market leader, competes with India Post’s Speedpostservice.
