TNT Post has acquired shares in the regional mail companies of the major German publishing groupGeorg von Holtzbrinck to strengthen its position on the national mail market.
Under the strategic distribution partnership, TNT acquired a 50% share in two joint venturesin Berlin and Brandenburg and five minority shares of 25.1% in the regions around Saarbrücken,Freiburg, Konstanz, Trier and Würzburg in southern Germany and Cottbus in eastern Germany. In 2008,these companies generated revenues of €116 million in total.
Harry Koorstra, member of the board of TNT, said: “Although there is, due to the ongoinguncertainties regarding minimum wage and VAT, still no level playing field on the German postalmarket, this distribution partnership is important to maintain and strengthen our position as theleading alternative provider of mail services in Germany. It enables us to offer a wider portfolioof mail distribution services to our customers.”
TNT Post Germany currently covers about 90% of German households with a nationwide deliverynetwork working together with many different distribution partners.
In key economic areas, the company has its own network covering around 26% of Germanhouseholds. With these acquisitions, TNT Post is increasing its coverage for the distribution ofletter mail items to more than 40% of all German households and expects to benefit from furtherregional growth potential.
“The 13 mail companies of the publishing group Georg von Holtzbrinck that we have a share inare experienced and reliable businesses in mail delivery that have been operating successfully inBerlin, Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland for nearly tenyears,” said Mario Frusch, CEO TNT Post Germany.
The companies have been among the network partners of TNT Post from the beginning. Thislong-time successful cooperation has now been intensified and extended through the partnership, TNTPost Germany said in a statement.
Marc Zeimetz, Senior Vice President at Georg von Holtzbrinck, welcomed the partnership: “Theexpertise and infrastructure of TNT Post and our local companies complement each other perfectly –there are no overlaps. The constellation is beneficial to everyone, especially to our customers. Wetie our strengths while also increasing our productivity. Together we want to continue shaping theGerman mail market actively.”
TNT Post added that the new acquisitions are in line with the company’s strategy ofincorporating established and successful regional distribution structures such as the mail servicesof the Georg von Holtzbrinck publishing group into a countrywide, customer-oriented and reliabledelivery network.
In 2008, TNT Post generated total revenues of about €250 million in Germany, includingunaddressed business.
