Polish delivery group InPost has acquired Yodel in a major reshuffle of the UK logistics division, converting £100 million in debt into equity to control the troubled express company.
The takeover marked the latest chapter in Yodel's turbulent journey, separated from the Barclays' business interests, nearly collapsed last year. Under the terms of the deal, Inpost now owns a 95.5% stake in Yodel's parent company, Judge Logistics, and the payment points of London-listed payment provider retain a minority of 4.5% of the holdings.
Inpost said the acquisition sets it as the third largest package operator for online sales in the UK, only behind Royal Mail and EVRI. The group's market share analysis does not include Amazon.
Billionaire founder and CEO Rafał Brzoska described the move as transformative: “We have grown rapidly in the UK for five years of organic expansion. The acquisition clearly reflects our long-term commitment to this market and we see huge growth opportunities.”
He added that combining InPost's European locker room network with Yodel's home delivery capabilities will allow the group to provide a fully integrated logistics model in the UK.
Founded in 2006, InPost has a network of automatic parcel lockers, courier services and e-commerce fulfillment centers in nine European countries. The company processed more than 1 billion parcels in 2024.
Ownership of Yodel has changed hands many times in recent years. The Barclays sold the group in 2023 after increasing financial pressure. Later, last-minute acquisitions were rescued from potential bankruptcy through logistics platforms. Not long after, CEO Mike Hancox curated another deal backed by Paypoint and professional lender independent growth financing.
The INPOST acquisition has brought a period of uncertainty to a close distance, thus ensuring the future of Yodel, part of a larger international operation.
When Brzoska visited Poland earlier this year, he described himself online as an “entrepreneur and fighter, business angel and diver”. He later released information about the conference, applauding the UK's recognition of InPost as a major investor in Poland.
At that time, Brzoska announced plans to invest £600 million in the UK market. The company's shares rose 4.3% to €13.83 after news of its acquisition of Yodel.
With this strategic integration, Inpost is ready to challenge the dominance of the long-standing players in the UK's competitive parcel delivery market.
