TNT stakes claim to Royal Mail
TNT has staked its claim to a partnership with Royal Mail following a statement by business secretary Lord Mandelson, that the government plans to bring in a minority partner to help revitalise the business.
In a House of Lords statement, Mandelson said: “We will fulfil our manifesto commitment to ‘a publicly owned Royal Mail fully restored to good health, providing customers with an excellent service and its employees with rewarding employment’.
“Bringing in a partner through a minority stake in the Royal Mail’s postal business will help us deliver that goal. It will bring the Royal Mail fresh investment, new opportunities to grow in Europe and internationally, and to offer new services. It will provide a fresh new impetus to modernising the Royal Mail and securing the universal service.”
The idea of a private sector partner is one of a series put forward in the report of the Hooper Commission. Mandelson said the government accepted Hooper’s analysis and the recommendations “We intend to take forward the recommendations as a coherent package of measures.”
[asset_ref id=”364″]
TNT chief Peter Bakker, pictured, said: ‘’Royal Mail and TNT have explored partnership opportunities in the past. The views of the Hooper Commission provide a clear framework for the UK postal sector going forward. Assuming the UK government implements these recommendations, I think that exploring a strategic partnership with Royal Mail makes a lot of sense for both our companies.’’
TNT is proposing discussions on a strategic partnership with Royal Mail with the objective to reach agreement on key terms and conditions for a substantial minority shareholding. TNT’s proposal assumes the implementation of the key recommendations of the Hooper Commission that are instrumental to a sustainable future for Royal Mail.
TNT is the universal service provider in the Netherlands and its mail division generates revenues exceeding €4.2 billion, employs 85,000 people and delivers more than 7.5 billion addressed items.
