Le Groupe La Poste

France's La Poste has expanded beyond its position as that country's postal service to become one of the top three logistics, corporate services and financial providers in Europe, behind Germany's Deutsche Post and ahead of the United Kingdom's Concordia. The government-owned, yet independently operated company holds the number three position for electronic mail services in Europe, the number three spot in the European parcels and logistics sector, and one of the top positions in the French financial services market. These activities combined to produce more than EUR 17 billion in 2001. Among the company's assets is its network of more than 17,000 post offices, which provide mail services, financial services, and Internet access and e-mail services throughout France. The company's Geopost subsidiary, formed in 2000 and located in the United Kingdom, handles the company's parcels and logistics wing, while express mail services are provided through Chronopost International and Tat Express. Since 2001, La Poste has gained controlled of Deutsche Paket Dienst, giving it entry into Germany, as well as adding to its operations in France and England; the DPD acquisition gave La Poste the number two spot in Europe's business-to-business parcel delivery market. Other subsidiaries and participations include Brokers Worldwide, which offers collection, preparation and other services to U.S.-based international mail dispatchers; Dynapost, which is the French market leader in corporate mail processing; Europe Airpost, formerly the Aéropostale partnership with Air France; INSA, which specializes in print distribution; and Mediapost, the leading French direct mail advertising service.

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