Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world’s leading mail and logistics group, has completed the acquisition of UK Mail, one of the UK’s leading Parcels, Mail and Logistics services companies. Further to the resolutions passed by UK Mail shareholders at the General Meeting and the Court Meeting on November 18, 2016, the acquisition was granted unconditional clearance by the European Commission on December 16, 2016 and UK Mail’s Scheme of Arrangement effecting the acquisition was sanctioned by the High Court of Justice in England and Wales on December 20, 2016. With this, the companies will cancel the listing of UK Mail Group plc shares, amend the company’s Articles of Association and will add UK Mail’s operations to the European parcel network of Deutsche Post DHL Group.

"We welcome this opportunity to add the nationwide infrastructure, motivated team and high quality service capabilities of UK Mail to our European network," said Jürgen Gerdes, Deutsche Post DHL Group Board Member Post - eCommerce - Parcel. "This acquisition will deliver additional value for the customers of both our companies: UK Mail customers will receive enhanced access to consumers across Europe via our world class parcel network and DHL Parcel customers will benefit from a seamless, integrated delivery service for their cross-border shipments to and from the UK. The acquisition further expands the presence of Deutsche Post DHL Group in the UK, Europe’s largest e-commerce market and builds on our leading global position in e-commerce logistics."

UK Mail has made significant strategic progress in recent years, investing heavily in IT and in product and service innovation. In 2015, it completed the most significant development in its history with the move to a new automated hub in Ryton, near Coventry. The result is that it offers one of the largest integrated Parcels and Mail operations in the UK.

Peter Kane, the founder and Chairman of UK Mail, adds: "We are delighted to become part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world’s leading and one of the most respected logistics groups. We, and our customers, will benefit from their global reach and expertise and we will be able to offer their global customers a seamless and highly sophisticated service within the UK market."

DHL Parcel has expanded its cross-border network since 2014 to cover 18 European countries. As part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s Strategy 2020, DHL Parcel Europe is continuously examining all attractive and relevant markets in Europe in order to advance DHL’s business in Europe.