A CONSORTIUM led by FedEx and InPost investors has agreed to buy out the parcel locker company in a 7.8 billion euro ($9.2 billion) deal aimed at expanding InPost's reach across Europe while giving FedEx access to its locker network, the companies said on Monday.
The offer price of 15.60 euros per share marks an around 17 percent premium to InPost's closing price on Friday, but it is below InPost's 2021 IPO price of 16 euros. The Amsterdam-listed shares opened 14 percent higher, trading at May 2025 highs.
"InPost and FedEx intend to enter into commercialization agreements that are expected to enable both businesses to benefit from complementary strengths and a shared vision," Hein Pretorius, chairman of InPost's supervisory board, told journalists.
The two companies will not integrate their operations and will remain independent competitors, he added.
InPost last month said it had received an indicative takeover proposal from an unnamed party, boosting its shares.
The company, which operates across nine countries, including its home market, Poland, has one of the largest European networks of automated parcel machines. Since its listing in 2021, it has met tepid market confidence as competition at home intensified and investments aimed at quick expansion held back profit growth.
A string of deals last year included buying Yodel in Britain and a Spanish delivery company. The European expansion in recent years has largely been financed by revenue and earnings growth in Poland.
Under private ownership, the group will aim to extend its footprint in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Benelux and Britain, Europe's largest e-commerce market, the joint statement said. The deal will reduce InPost's dependency on short-term market expectations and allow more efficient strategy implementation, they added.
As part of an uncommon strategic partnership between a major player and private equity companies, FedEx and holding firm Advent each will own 37 percent of the company, InPost CEO Rafal Brzoska's investment vehicle A&R will own 16 percent, and PPF, the investment firm of the Czech Kellner family, will hold the remaining 10 percent.
Advent, A&R and PPF already own stakes in InPost. Advent had bought a majority stake in 2017 but has since reduced its ownership to 6.5 percent, while A&R and PPF own 12.49 percent and 28.75 percent, respectively, according to the InPost website.
The company will continue to be called InPost and maintain its management structure and headquarters in Poland. The parties expect the transaction to be closed in the second half of this year.
They said shareholders representing 48 percent of outstanding shares have irrevocably committed to the deal, with a minimum acceptance level of 80 percent of its share capital.
"The proposed price is likely to be viewed by most of the market as moderately attractive rather than opportunistic," equity analysts from Erste Group said in a note to investors.
The price may not convince enough minority shareholders, and may possibly be increased, Trigon analysts said in their take on the news.
