DEUTSCHE POST, SWEDISH POST TO MEET ABOUT ASG
Deutsche Post Group will meet with Sweden’s national postal company this
week in an effort to keep an ownership battle over Swedish forwarder ASG
Group from going to court, a Deutsche Post spokesman said on Friday.
The Swedish Post recently acquired an additional 17 percent ownership
stake in ASG, giving Sweden’s post office control over more than 40 percent
of the forwarder’s shares. Swedish Post bought the shares from Swedish
businessman Bengt Sjoeberg to combat a bid made for ASG by Deutsche Post.
Deutsche Post bought 52 percent of ASG from Swedish investment firm
Customs in April, and has acquired at least another five percent of the
forwarder’s shares through a 265 Swedish krona ($31.30) per share tender
offer to stockholders.
The Swedish Post hopes to use its ownership stake in ASG as a bargaining
chip for expanding its presence in the European parcel delivery and
logistics market, the Deutsche Post spokesman said.
*****************CORRECTION*****************
The June 21 NewsWire item should have said Deutsche Post bought 52 percent of ASG from
Swedish investment firm Custos in April.