LYNX Express
Encyclopedia
LYNX Express was a courier
(parcel delivery) company operating principally in the United Kingdom
. It was acquired in September 2005 by UPS
.
. Each of the pre-nationalisation companies had formed a local delivery network, based on lorries and vans, to extend the railway to the customer's door, thus enabling parcels and light freight to be delivered in the control of the railway company. In 1955 these services were amalgamated to form a division of British Road Services
, known in its shortened version of BRS Parcels.
National Carriers was the name given to the amalgamated companies that concentrated on rail transport, while BRS Parcels became Roadline
The Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher
privatised these services in 1982, making shares in the newly formed National Freight Corporation available to employees at a price which proved to undervalue the company when they were floated on the stock market.
National Carriers and Roadline were merged and operated briefly under the name National Carriers Roadline, before settling on the name LYNX Express Delivery Network. This remained the companys full title, although it was popularly shortened.
Following a reorganisation, rationalisation of core business interests and rebranding exercise, National Freight Corporation, by this time shortened to NFC plc, merged with Ocean Group plc
and became known as Exel plc
and Lynx Express was seen as outside its main area of concentration.
It was the subject of a management buyout from Exel plc
in 1997. The newly independent company was subsequently renamed LYNX Express. LYNX Express became majority-owned by Bridgepoint Capital
.
In January 1999 the Company acquired British Rail
's remaining local delivery asset, Red Star Parcels
.
In September 2005, LYNX Express was acquired by Atlanta, Georgia
based UPS
for £55.5 million (US$97.1 million). At the time, LYNX Express was one of the UK's largest independent parcel carriers with sales of $295 million (£170 million) for the financial year ended 2 October 2004. The Company was subsequently integrated into UPS and the LYNX brand disappeared.
Courier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
(parcel delivery) company operating principally in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was acquired in September 2005 by UPS
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
.
History
The Company's history dates back to the nationalisation of the British Railways after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Each of the pre-nationalisation companies had formed a local delivery network, based on lorries and vans, to extend the railway to the customer's door, thus enabling parcels and light freight to be delivered in the control of the railway company. In 1955 these services were amalgamated to form a division of British Road Services
British Road Services
The National Freight Corporation was a major British transport business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and at one time, as NFC plc, it was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, known in its shortened version of BRS Parcels.
National Carriers was the name given to the amalgamated companies that concentrated on rail transport, while BRS Parcels became Roadline
The Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
privatised these services in 1982, making shares in the newly formed National Freight Corporation available to employees at a price which proved to undervalue the company when they were floated on the stock market.
National Carriers and Roadline were merged and operated briefly under the name National Carriers Roadline, before settling on the name LYNX Express Delivery Network. This remained the companys full title, although it was popularly shortened.
Following a reorganisation, rationalisation of core business interests and rebranding exercise, National Freight Corporation, by this time shortened to NFC plc, merged with Ocean Group plc
Ocean Group plc
Ocean Group plc was a major British transport business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
and became known as Exel plc
Exel
DHL Supply Chain is a division of Deutsche Post providing contract logistics and value-added services.- History :On 14 December 2005 Deutsche Post announced the completion of the acquisition of Exel plc, becoming the global No. 1 in air freight, ocean freight and contract logistics...
and Lynx Express was seen as outside its main area of concentration.
It was the subject of a management buyout from Exel plc
Exel
DHL Supply Chain is a division of Deutsche Post providing contract logistics and value-added services.- History :On 14 December 2005 Deutsche Post announced the completion of the acquisition of Exel plc, becoming the global No. 1 in air freight, ocean freight and contract logistics...
in 1997. The newly independent company was subsequently renamed LYNX Express. LYNX Express became majority-owned by Bridgepoint Capital
Bridgepoint Capital
Bridgepoint is a UK-based private equity investor in companies valued up to €1 billion, including Pets at Home and Pret A Manger in the UK, Dorna in Spain, and Alain Afflelou in France.-History:...
.
In January 1999 the Company acquired British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
's remaining local delivery asset, Red Star Parcels
Red Star Parcels
Red Star Parcels was a service which utilised passenger trains for transporting parcels between passenger railway stations throughout the United Kingdom, owned and operated by British Rail. It was introduced experimentally on 1 April 1963. Senders could despatch their consignments to a number of...
.
In September 2005, LYNX Express was acquired by Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
based UPS
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
for £55.5 million (US$97.1 million). At the time, LYNX Express was one of the UK's largest independent parcel carriers with sales of $295 million (£170 million) for the financial year ended 2 October 2004. The Company was subsequently integrated into UPS and the LYNX brand disappeared.