Aramex buys South Africa’s PostNet

Dubai-based logistics and transport company Aramex has bought the franchise of South Africa’s PostNet for $16.5 million (Dh60.55 million), the company said in a statement to Dubai Financial Market.

Aramex bought PostNet from its current owner OneLogix Group.

PostNet, which has grown into a chain of 287 stores and services 55,000 customers daily across South Africa, provides a one-stop business center for entrepreneurs, businesses, households and consumers, offering services including courier, copy, digital print, stationery, mailboxes and more.

While Aramex will own the master franchise for PostNet in South Africa, each PostNet store in the country will continue to be owned and operated by the respective franchisees. As master franchisee, Aramex will work in close collaboration with each PostNet store, to further grow the retail potential of the brand in South Africa.

Hussein Hachem, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said: “As we continue to scale Aramex into new growth markets and bridge trade corridors, this acquisition will expand Aramex’s volume of business in Africa considerably. Investing in growth markets’ e-commerce sectors is also part of our wider strategy to maintain Aramex’s position as an e-commerce market leader, which is why we are disciplined in our approach to potential acquisition targets.

Aramex only targets companies such as PostNet who are a perfect strategic fit in order to leverage their suitable, scalable synergies with our existing infrastructure. We will remain bullish on our outlook for future acquisitions in markets across Asia, the Middle East and Africa in particular, both to build our operations and strengthen our global footprint”.

Aramex first entered the South African market with the acquisition of Berco Express (now Aramex South Africa) in 2011.

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