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(Sharecast News) - InPost surged on Tuesday after the Polish parcel locker company said it had received an indicative proposal for an acquisition of all of its shares.
"There can be no assurance that this will lead to a transaction," InPost said in a statement.
It did not disclose who had made the approach but Sky News suggested that private equity firm Advent International was behind a multibillion-euro takeover bid.
According to Sky, Advent - a minority investor in InPost after taking it public in Amsterdam in 2021 - is part of a consortium looking to acquire the company. Banking sources speculated on Tuesday that other major shareholders in InPost might also be involved in the consortium.
Sky said any offer would be likely to value the company at more than 6bn (5.2bn).
At 1425 GMT, InPost shares were up 23% at 14.26.
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: "This looks like an opportunistic bid following a poor year for the share price.
"InPost has muscled in on the UK delivery market, becoming a courier of choice for many retailers and people using resale platforms like Vinted. It has positioned itself as a more efficient and convenient alternative to Royal Mail, utilising a growing network of lockers and undercutting the UK rival on home delivery prices.
"A key selling point for consumers is the ability to use InPost's lockers to send parcels without needing to print off labels - so no queuing in a shop or needing a printer at home.
"In recent years, it has bought Menzies Distribution and Yodel to strengthen its position in the UK market. However, the shares have suffered from a slowdown in parcel volume growth in its homeland, ongoing competition and price pressures, and a legal dispute with Polish e-commerce platform, Allegro. Relations have soured between the two companies amid allegations that Allegro has violated terms of a delivery agreement.
"While InPost has some issues to resolve, it is a highly attractive takeover target for someone looking to get ahead in the European parcel delivery market."
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