Come December, if all regulatory matters are successfully cleared, Deutsche Post will have bought itself a nice Christmas present, the British logistics firm Exel.
The deal, valued at approximately $6.7bn, is expected to result in the world's top logistics, sea and airfreight group. Deutsche Post, which already owns DHL, sees the purchase as a good fit strategically. Exel's activities are far-flung and wide in scope, from warehousing to contract logistics.
UPS had been rumored to be a suitor, and could still launch a hostile bid, but most observers think such a move is unlikely.