History

As La Poste Group’s Express Parcels activity grew, the La Poste group created the GeoPost holding company in order to focus all its majority and minority investments in the Parcels and Logistics domain.
In the beginning, GeoPost brought together Chronopost, Tat Express, Publi-trans, DPD among others. In June 1999, GeoPost increased its holding in the DPD European network to 42.7%.
GeoPost’s share of the capital of DPD has grown steadily over the years.

2000-2004: development of European positions

• 2000:
  
  • GeoPost buys Mayne Nickless Europe, the British subsidiary of the Mayne Nickless Limited Australian group, which then becomes GeoPost UK, including Parceline, Interlink Express and Interlink Ireland.

• 2001:
  
  • GeoPost takes control over the DPD European network by obtaining 84.8% of voting rights. The La Poste group becomes then the 2nd largest parcel operator in Germany.

• 2002:
  
  • GeoPost acquires 50% of Masterlink, an express and fast-delivery Polish parcel transport company.
    

• 2003:
  
  • GeoPost creates GeoPost Nederland BV, federating the activities of Chronopost International, Tat Express and DPD in the Netherlands.
    
  • With its Turkish partner Yurtiçi Kargo, GeoPost Europe forms the GeoPost Yurtiçi joint venture.

• 2004:
  
  • GeoPost expands in Poland, Baltic States and Russia with the acquisition of Baltic Logistics System International AB (BLS-I). With this transaction, GeoPost acquires full ownership of the companies in Poland (Masterlink Express) and in the Baltic states (BLS Lithuania, BLS Latvia and BLS Estonia). The purchase of Amardillo was achieved through a joint venture with Yurtiçi Kargo, which is already GeoPost’s partner for Turkey and the Balkans
  • In the same year, the GeoPost Yurtiçi joint venture formed joint ventures in Romania and Bulgaria with the major express parcel player in each of these countries.
    
  • Finally, GeoPost obtains a 40% holding in SEUR International, the international subsidiary of the Spanish SEUR group. At the same time, with its spanish partner SEUR, GeoPost forms the SEUR GeoPost joint venture in which GeoPost has a 60% holding
    
    

2005 /2006: focusing on core business and consolidation of positions in Europe

• 2005
  • SEUR GeoPost pursues its development in Spain by acquiring 100% of the capital of SEUR Bilbao and various franchises (Zaragoza, Soria, etc.)
• • GeoPost sells its share capital in Tat Express (industrial express transport specialist) in order to refocus on its core business: B to B express parcels weighing under 31,5 kg.

• 2006
  
  • GeoPost acquires the Exapaq network, the French specialist of fast delivery parcels weighing under 31,5 kg on the B to B market.
  • GeoPost acquires 86.6% of Interattica, a mail delivery and fast and express parcel delivery company in Greece. 
  • SEUR GeoPost acquires the franchises in Girona, Baix de Llobregat and Granollers in Spain.
  • The network grew to include a new company created in China and a joint venture in South Korea (DPD AJU)
    

Since 2007: reinforcement of the international brand, DPD, and development of GeoPost’s presence in emerging markets.

• 2007

• • In February 2007, GeoPost, through its subsidiary GeoPost Intercontinental, established a joint venture with Laser, a South African group. This resulted in the creation of DPD Laser Express Logistics.
    
  • In April 2007, GeoPost acquired a 25% stake in Yurtiçi Kargo, Turkey’s leading private express transportation company and a long-standing partner of GeoPost.
    
  • In the same period, DPD China, a subsidiary of GeoPost Intercontinental, opened 10 new agencies in the People's Republic of China, Macau and Hong Kong.
    
  • During the year, Masterlink became DPD Polska and Bizpak became DPD Baltics. From September 2007, Armadillo will offer DPD products and services in Russia.

• 2008
  • In April 2008, GeoPost strengthens its presence in Romania by becoming the majority shareholder of Pegasus
    
  • In May 2008, GeoPost acquires from Lagermax the remaining shares that it held in DPD Slovenia and DPD Croatia.
    
  • In August 2008, GeoPost Group confirms acquisition of the remaining shares in DPD Serbia from Lagermax and announces the sale of Taxicolis, subsidiary of Chronopost.

• July 2009, GeoPost acquires four new franchises in SEUR (Parcel Vallès SA in Barcelona, Orense and Lugo in Galicia, and Segovia in Castile-León). These acquisitions bring the number of SEUR franchises owned by GeoPost to 17.
• June 2009, GeoPost and Continental Air Express establish a joint venture in India. GeoPost Intercontinental will hold 60% shares in the Joint Venture, while the balance 40% will be held by the Vohra family.
• April 2009, GeoPost acquires five new franchises in SEUR (Albacete, Cordoba, Palencia, Teruel and Cartagena).
• February 2009, GeoPost and Continental Air Express Private Limited, receive formal approval from the Indian Foreign Investment Promotions Board (FIPB) on forming a joint venture.
• January 2009, GeoPost Caspian becomes GeoPost Kazakhstan