Sameday to Withdraw from Hungary

Romanian parcel delivery company Sameday will withdraw from Hungary after its planned merger with Express One, a subsidiary of Austrian Post, failed to receive the license for foreign direct investments, the company's PR department said on Friday, MTI reports.

In their announcement, they noted that Sameday had earlier this year signed an agreement to sell its 100% stake in Delivery Solutions Plc. to Express One, a company owned by Austrian Post. The transaction received antitrust approval from the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH). However, under relevant Hungarian regulations, the transaction also required approval for foreign direct investment (FDI), which was not granted; therefore, the transaction cannot be completed, they stated.

After thoroughly examining all available options, they reached the “difficult decision” to wind down their operations in Hungary in a controlled and responsible manner in the coming period, they wrote.

They stated that this decision affects only Sameday’s operations in Hungary and has no impact on its operations in Romania or Bulgaria. Their long-term plans in Central and Eastern Europe remain unchanged; they will continue to maintain a presence in the region through their existing operations and partnerships.

They also noted that the Hungarian courier market has changed significantly in recent years, with competition becoming extremely fierce and requiring significant long-term investments. In this context, the transaction with Austrian Post represented the most responsible path for employees, customers, partners, and the group.

According to their statement, the current decision has a significant impact on Hungarian colleagues, and they are prioritizing support for them during this transition. Employees affected by the decision will receive targeted support packages, including severance pay exceeding the legal minimum, benefits that will continue to apply during the notice period, and career transition support, they announced.