Ben King, a Business reporter for BBC News, reported that Evri is set to merge with DHL’s UK parcel delivery business, creating a new courier firm that will handle over a billion parcels and letters annually. While DHL specializes in faster and more secure deliveries of high-value items like computers and phones, Evri deals with larger volumes of lower-value goods such as clothing. Evri’s deliveries are carried out by self-employed couriers using their own vehicles, contrasted with DHL’s combination of courier and company-operated vehicle deliveries.
The merger aims to offer “greater choice” and “cost-competitive solutions” in the UK by combining the strengths of both companies. Evri anticipates that the deal will also enhance its international delivery capabilities through access to DHL’s global network. Upon completion, DHL’s e-commerce business will be rebranded as “Evri Premium – a network of DHL eCommerce”, showcasing the collaboration between the two entities.
One notable outcome of the merger is Evri’s venture into the letter delivery service for the first time, expanding its offerings to include smaller items and letters. Additionally, the combined entity will have access to a network of 15,000 out-of-home delivery points in stores and lockers, enhancing convenience for customers. With approximately a billion parcels handled per year, the merged business will approach Royal Mail’s parcel volumes, which totaled 1.3 billion parcels and 6.7 billion letters in the previous year.
Martijn de Lange, the CEO of Evri, highlighted the significant growth the company has experienced over the past decade, emphasizing the expansion into European and global e-commerce markets facilitated by the partnership. The completion of the merger will see DHL holding a minority stake in Evri, although specific financial details have not been disclosed. Notably, DHL’s other services in the UK, such as the international delivery service DHL Express, are excluded from the agreement, pending approval from the Competition and Markets Authority to finalize the deal
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