Asendia, the JV between La Poste and Swiss Post, has announced it has bought the leading cross-border e-commerce enabler, Ireland based eShopWorld (ESW). Asendia was previously ESW’s majority shareholder.

Current management at ESW will remain and the company will remain a stand-alone entity. The added investment in the company is to accelerate its expansion and to further build on its technology and logistics capabilities for its premium global brand clients.

Working into 200 international markets, ESW currently has more than 500 staff around the world and this is set to be expanded with the investment from Asendia. It specialises in end-to-end cross border e-commerce for major brands.

For Asendia’s part this is part of its strategy to make cross-border e-commerce easy and reliable, supporting its retail clients to grow their business internationally.

Marc Pontet, CEO, Asendia, said: “ESW are experts in making it easy for global brands to have a local presence. Additionally, its focus on making e-commerce frictionless, regardless of location, made it a coherent, strategic choice to make ESW part of the Asendia family. The move dovetails with our overarching aim to make worldwide e-commerce simple and reliable, and is a significant step in making this vision a reality.”

Commenting, Tommy Kelly, Founder and CEO of ESW said: “This is a significant endorsement of ESW growth, sustainability and success in embracing the structural shift in favour of online shopping.  The recently concluded transaction marks a deepening commitment by Asendia who have been a highly supportive partner and provider of complementary e-commerce services”.

“I want to thank and pay tribute to our incredibly talented and loyal staff, who have been a key differentiator in ESW journey to becoming the world’s leading cross border e-commerce enabler inside a decade. Our exceptional workforce, committed shareholder and scalable and well-invested platform means ESW is well poised for continuing growth and innovation, to better serve a growing demand for trusted online shopping”.