bpost confirms exploration of possible friendly approach to PostNL
Wednesday 2 November 2016bpost confirms that it is exploring internally a possible friendly approach to PostNL. bpost is surprised about, and regrets, the inadvertent leakage of an internal and confidential working document leading to press reports about a possible enhanced proposal to PostNL.
Since the end of the prior discussions in May this year, bpost has continued to study internally the desirability, timing and content of a possible new approach to PostNL, and still believes in the merits of a possible combination with PostNL.
These internal discussions have not yet reached the decision-making stage and have not led to a proposal for consideration by bpost's Board of Directors. Accordingly, no decision has been made as to whether to initiate a new approach to PostNL or as to the content of a revised proposal. Since the end of May, there have not been any further discussions with PostNL on the structure or terms of a possible combination.
bpost will carefully evaluate the current situation and will reconsider the timing of its decision-making. bpost will communicate to the market as soon as it is in a position to give more concrete guidance one way or the other.
Contact bpost
Baudouin de Hepcée (for journalists and investors): + 32 (0)476/49 69 58
Barbara Van Speybroeck (for journalists): + 32 (0)476/51 79 29
Pressrelations@bpost.be
Saskia Dheedene (for investors): +32 2 276 76 43
Investor.relations@bpost.be
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) and Section 4, subsection 3 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeovers (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) (the Netherlands).