France’s La Poste and Swiss Post today launched Asendia, their international mail joint venture,with the aim of overtaking DHL Global Mail to become the global market leader.
The two postal operators said they have now received all required regulatory approvals for theirjoint venture, which was announced last December, and officially formed the alliance as of July 6,2012. The new company will be called “Asendia” and will use the slogan “Asendia by La Poste andSwiss Post”, supported by the motto “The world is your address”.
Asendia brings together the expertise and networks of the existing international mail activitiesof Swiss Post (Swiss Post International) and La Poste (La Poste Global Mail), excluding theirrespective outbound international activities in their home markets. With over 1,000 employees, theventure has more than 25 locations in 15 countries on three continents, Europe, North America andAsia.
With a turnover of more than €400 million, Asendia is positioned from the outset as one of theglobal leaders in international mail, a market with estimated revenues of more than €10 billion in2011 and with strong growth in segments such as direct marketing, catalogues and small goods.
Asendia will be competing in international markets with several rivals, including DHL GlobalMail, which sees itself as the global outbound international mail market leader, Spring GlobalMail, the joint venture between PostNL and Royal Mail, and Belgian Post International.
The new venture covers all international mail solutions, including the dispatch and delivery ofmail, catalogues, press and small goods up to 2 kg, as well as upstream and downstream services inthe value chain. It will focus on improving existing services and developing new innovativesolutions for the benefit of its customers.
Ulrich Hurni, Head of Post Mail and Deputy CEO of Swiss Post, has been appointed chairman of itsboard of directors. Marc Pontet, previously Deputy CEO and in charge of marketing and sales atCourrier and CEO of La Poste’s Global Mail, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, Swiss PostInternational chief Daniel Bättig has become deputy CEO, CFO and Executive Director for Asia, whileBéatrice Roux will be deputy CEO and Executive Director for Europe.
“Swiss Post and La Poste are delighted to take this additional step in the development of theirinternational mail businesses together, which confirms the importance of this activity for ourgroups and for our customers,” Hurni declared.
“The creation of Asendia enables La Poste and Swiss Post to bring together the best of theirexpertise and solutions in order to offer their international clients innovative solutions and toaccompany them in their development,” added Pontet.
In Europe, companies that make up Asendia include SPI Germany and La Poste Deutschland inGermany, BTB Mailflight, SPI UK and La Poste UK in Great Britain, SPI Netherlands, Mail PartnerSpain, Allied Business Company of Mail Services, SPI Austria, SP Porta a Porta, SPI Belgium, SPIScandinavia, SPI Norway, Edigroup, Export & Distribution Services, Media Data Services, SPIFrance and La Poste – The International Mail Solution throughout continental Europe. Subsidiariesin the USA include Brokers Worldwide, Priority Post and La Poste Office of Exchange, while the firmis present in Asia through SPI Singapore and SPI Hong Kong.
Under the terms of the European Commission’s approval of the joint venture, SPI France will besold off.
