Feb 9 (Reuters) - A consortium led by holding firm Advent and FedEx has agreed to buy InPost for 15.60 euros per share, valuing the parcel locker company at 7.8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) and aiming to further expand its reach across Europe, the companies said on Monday.
InPost, which operates across nine countries including its home market Poland, has one of the largest European networks of automated parcel machines, or APMs. Since its Amsterdam listing in 2021, it has met tepid market confidence
as its investments aimed at quick expansion weighed on profits.
A string of deals last year included buying Yodel in Britain and a Spanish delivery company. In January, InPost said it had received an indicative takeover proposal from an unnamed party.
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.
As part of the deal, Advent and FedEx each will own 37% of the company, while InPost CEO Rafal Brzoska's investment vehicle A&R will own 16% and PPF, the investment firm of the Czech Kellner family, will hold the remaining 10%.
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%, while A&R and PPF own 12.49% and 28.75%, respectively, according to the InPost website.
The company will continue to be called InPost and maintain its management structure and headquarters in Poland.
"Together, we will strengthen our network and reach more consumers with enhanced fast and flexible delivery options as we continue our objective of redefining the European e-commerce sector," Brzoska said in the statement.
The parties expect the transaction to be closed in the second half of this year.
($1 = 0.8445 euros)
(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
