CMA Launches Probe into Evri–DHL eCommerce Merger – June 2025

On June 11, 2025, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a formal investigation into the proposed merger between Evri (formerly Hermes) and DHL’s UK e‑commerce arm theguardian.com. The deal would bring together over 30,000 couriers and 12,000 staff, handling more than a billion parcels and letters annually—potentially creating one of the UK’s largest parcel delivery firms.

Key concerns:

• Competition reduction: CMA is examining whether the merger would significantly lessen competition in the crowded parcel delivery market.

• Public input requested: Stakeholders and consumers can comment by 25 June, before the CMA decides on next steps.

Why it matters:

• Parcel delivery is crucial in the UK’s £200 bn+ e‑commerce sector; fewer competitors could mean higher prices or poorer service.

• The CMA previously approved the telecom mega‑merger of Vodafone–Three, but is now signalling a stricter approach in logistics mergers.

  
  

Takeaway for businesses: Companies active in parcel delivery, e‑commerce, or logistics M&A should monitor the CMA’s stance—this probe may foreshadow stronger scrutiny in future dealmaking.

Legal challenges to the FTC’s authority are underway, but for now, businesses must adapt. The ban could reshape how deals are structured, priced, and negotiated across the U.S.