AUSTRIAN POST MAINTAINS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE TURKISH COMPANY ARAS KARGO

  • EVRIM ARAS CAMPAIGNS AGAINST AUSTRIAN POST AND HER OWN FAMILY
  • AUSTRIAN POST STANDS BY PLANS TO FURTHER DEVELOP AND MODERNISE ARAS KARGO
In June 2016, Austrian Post, which currently holds a 25% stake in the Turkish parcel services provider Aras Kargo, exercised its contractually stipulated call option to acquire an additional 50% of the shares in the company. However, there are differences of opinion with some of the majority owners with respect to implementation of the call option agreement and the valuation of the shares.

According to Austrian Post CEO Georg Pölzl, the fact that differences of opinion between parts of the Aras family and Austrian Post have led to a certain escalation of tensions is unfortunate and regrettable. “Parts of the family believe they can improve their negotiating position if they create a negative atmosphere and bring discredit to Austrian Post both within the company and in the general public. This is highly unprofessional. We expect CEO Evrim Aras to abide by the terms of the agreement concluded in the year 2013,” says Georg Pölzl. For example, orchestrated tumult was staged at the last Supervisory Board meeting in Istanbul, or Aras employees were provided with false information about the 25% shareholder Austrian Post. This was clearly done against the will of parts of the Aras family.

For Austrian Post CEO Pölzl, the unprofessional approach taken by some of the majority owners does not at all change the company’s plans to further increase its existing stake in Aras Kargo. Talks held with government authorities in Turkey, with whom Pölzl has a good relationship, have strengthened his commitment. “Turkey is very interested to ensuring that companies have confidence in the rule of law in the country. Foreign investments are very welcome,” Pölzl adds. The Austrian Post CEO did not perceive any anti-Austrian sentiment during his numerous visits on location, also on the part of Aras Kargo employees.

Austrian Post continues to believe in the development potential of the company. For this reason, it is also prepared to continue investing in Aras Kargo in the future. A logistics centre is currently under construction in Ikitelli. Its sophisticated logistics and sorting technology even outperforms the most advanced logistics centre operated by Austrian Post in Allhaming, Austria. After completion of the sorting facility in the autumn of 2016, it will enable Aras Kargo to process 90,000 parcels there each day, or 20% of the company’s total volume. Austrian Post maintains its commitment to further develop and modernise Aras Kargo.

CONTACT

Austrian Post
Ms. Ingeborg Gratzer
Head of Press Relations and Internal Communications
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767-32010
ingeborg.gratzer@post.at