High Court fast tracks trial to decide who owns Yodel

Shift, a UK-based logistics platform, and Corja Holdings, have been granted an expedited High Court hearing to dispute InPost's £106 million acquisition of Yodel.

The Polish logistics company moved to acquire Yodel in April, but this had been put on pause in May after an application was submitted by Shift and Corja, both of which are owned by Jacob Corlett, Shift's chief executive and founder.

Shift and Corja, among other parties, assert that they hold warrants that collectively assert rights to over 75% of Yodel’s share capital – a stake that equates to majority ownership of Yodel.

The trial over the warrant claim will take place in October 2025, which Corlett says is "a significantly shorter timeframe than would have been the case if the trial has not been expedited".

He said: "I wrote to Neil Kuschel, UK CEO of InPost, and Michael Rouse, international CEO of InPost in January, outlining our position.

"Our solicitors wrote again in May and we were ignored.

"The High Court has now ordered an expedited trial for October.

"While the judge made no ultimate findings at this stage he stated that there is a ‘serious issue to be tried’ and that we have ‘a case with a sufficiently good prospect of success.

“This trial, we believe, recognises the gravity of our concerns.

"We remain committed to safeguarding the future of Yodel, an important logistics business, and are confident of achieving a positive outcome in October.”

Corlett (pictured above) confirmed the courts have declined to grant interim relief that would have restricted InPost’s ability to transfer clients and rebrand, reasoning that any harm could, in theory, be compensated financially. 

Shift and Corja "strongly disagree with this damages analysis", arguing that if they are successful in October and gain control of Yodel, they would effectively bear the cost of any damages. 

Corlett said an application to the Court of Appeal has now been issued, with hope that "this position will be corrected".

At the time of the acquisition earlier this year, Kuschel said: “This acquisition is a game-changer for InPost’s operations in the UK.

"Combining doorstep deliveries with our unrivalled locker network, we are reshaping the future of parcel delivery.

"We will be able to provide customers and e-commerce retailers with the reliability, flexibility, and efficiency they expect. We’re excited to deliver more for the UK."

The judge declined to grant interim relief that would have restricted InPost’s ability to transfer clients and rebrand, reasoning that any harm could, in theory, be compensated financially. 

Shift and Corja strongly disagree with this damages analysis, arguing that if they are successful in October and gain control of Yodel, they would effectively bear the cost of any damages.

Corlett added: “This case goes to the heart of who controls one of the UK’s largest delivery networks.”