PostNL to take over main competitor Sandd, recreating national post network

PostNL, the former Dutch state postal monopoly, is taking over its main competitor Sandd for €130m, the two companies announced on Monday. The government last year said it would allow postal delivery firms to merge to cope with declining volumes of mail. PostNL currently controls some 70% of the Dutch postal market and Sandd virtually all the rest – primarily business deliveries. The takeover must first be approved by the Dutch competition authority ACM. This deal will ‘secure the foundation...