bpost has decided not to pursue an offer for PostNL and continues to explore other growth opportunities

On November 30, 2016, bpost sent its final and improved proposal to PostNL. Following today’s rejection by PostNL, bpost has decided not to further pursue a Combination between the two companies.

We continue to believe that this combination would present a compelling industrial rationale and constitute an opportunity to accelerate bpost’s and PostNL’s growth strategy, thereby creating substantial value for all their stakeholders.

When evaluating growth opportunities through mergers & acquisitions, we diligently follow strict criteria in our decision-making process. We now conclude that a combination of both companies cannot be achieved on terms that would meet these criteria.

bpost remains confident in its focused strategy and ability to deliver on its growth ambition. We will continue to carefully explore other opportunities to put our strong balance sheet at work and further accelerate our growth.

This announcement by bpost SA/NV (“bpost”) is being made on the basis of Section 4, subsection 3 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeovers (the Netherlands).

This announcement contains inside information within the meaning of article 7(1) of the Regulation 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (Market Abuse Regulation) and is being made on the basis of Article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation, the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007 regarding the duties of issuers of financial instruments which have been admitted for trading on a regulated market (Koninklijk Besluit van 14 november 2007 betreffende de verplichtingen van emittenten van financiële instrumenten die zijn toegelaten tot de verhandeling op een gereglementeerde markt) (Belgium).

This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan.