The acquisition of eCourier supports Royal Mail’s strategic objective to enhance its parcel offering, expand its network and capture more value in the fastest growing segments of the UK parcels market. Royal Mail is already a leading player in other key parcels segments like business-to-business and business-to-consumer.     

Same day delivery is a premium segment of the parcels market, with an estimated value of over £500 million1, and growing rapidly at around 4-5 per cent per year2.  While it is principally a B2B market, the currently modest B2C segment is expanding rapidly, driven by the e-commerce trends and the increasing consumer demand for faster fulfilment.

Royal Mail provides a nationwide same day service through its Royal Mail Sameday courier services and partner companies, with a limited footprint in London. eCourier generated revenue of approximately £19 million in 2014-153. eCourier’s main shareholder and CEO, Ian Oliver, will remain in role. The financial terms of the transaction are not material in the context of the Royal Mail Group as a whole.

Moya Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mail,said: “Today’s announcement marks another milestone in our strategic objective of increasing our presence in growth areas of the parcels market.Same day deliveries are already one of the fastest growing segments of the UK parcels market.”