The bitter court battle over who actually owns troubled courier Yodel is heading for a dramatic finale, with a High Court judge ordering an expedited trial for October that will finally settle one of the most chaotic ownership disputes in UK business history.
The winner-takes-all showdown will determine whether InPost’s £106 million acquisition of the delivery firm was legitimate, or if tech entrepreneur Jacob Corlett’s claims to own the majority of the company through mysterious “warrants” hold water.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
This isn’t just another corporate squabble – the outcome will determine control of a delivery network handling millions of parcels for major retailers including Argos, George at Asda, and John Lewis.
If Corlett and his Shift Global Holdings succeed in proving their warrant claims, it could unravel one of the UK’s biggest recent courier acquisitions and leave InPost’s expansion plans in tatters.
The Polish parcel locker giant has already pumped £106 million into the deal and begun implementing changes across Yodel’s operations, making any potential reversal increasingly complicated and expensive.
Corlett’s High-Stakes Court Battle Gamble
Jacob Corlett, the 31-year-old CEO of logistics firm Shift, is betting everything on proving that he and other warrant holders collectively own over 75% of Yodel’s share capital – enough to give them controlling interest in the company.
His legal team argues that InPost knew about these warrant claims before completing the acquisition in April but chose to ignore them anyway.
“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,” Corlett said.
But this David-versus-Goliath narrative comes with a hefty price tag. Corlett has already been ordered to pay £248,000 in legal costs after failing to secure the interim injunction he was seeking, with payment due by July 9th.
More recently, he’s been asked to post £1.5 million in security costs, to provide somewhat of a guarantee that InPost’s legal fees can be paid in the event of a loss for Shift’s CEO.
The High Court judge also denied his request for leave to appeal, suggesting the legal system isn’t entirely convinced by his arguments.
InPost Presses On Despite Court Restrictions
While the legal battle rages, InPost appears to be pressing ahead with business as usual. Despite court-imposed restrictions that were meant to freeze major changes to Yodel’s operations, sources from courier Facebook groups report that InPost executives have been visiting Yodel depots to implement operational changes.
This suggests InPost remains confident in their legal position and isn’t letting the ownership dispute derail their integration plans.
The company has dismissed Corlett’s claims as “grossly misleading” and designed to “cause market uncertainty around Yodel’s business and exert improper pressure on Yodel and InPost for an unwarranted financial settlement.”
What October’s Trial Will Decide
The expedited hearing, scheduled for October 2025, will be a winner-takes-all affair that determines the fundamental question: who actually owns Yodel?
While the judge acknowledged there is “a serious issue to be tried” and that Corlett has “a case with a sufficiently good prospect of success,” he declined to grant the interim relief that would have restricted InPost’s ability to transfer clients and rebrand the business.
The judge’s reasoning was that any potential harm could theoretically be compensated financially – though Corlett’s team strongly disagrees with this assessment, arguing they would effectively bear the cost of any damages if they win control of Yodel.
Yodel’s management team welcomed the expedited trial, with a spokesperson saying: “We welcome the early opportunity to question Corlett on the witness stand of a court about his conduct during his brief tenure in control of Yodel.”
The Fallout from Corlett’s Failed Rescue
This latest chapter stems from Corlett’s aborted attempt to rescue Yodel in early 2024.
His Shift consortium initially spearheaded efforts to merge the two businesses, but that deal dramatically collapsed, leading to a series of legal claims and counterclaims.
Yodel’s current management has accused Corlett of asset-stripping and misappropriating company funds – allegations he strongly denies. He’s countersuing for £10 million in allegedly unpaid fees and claims he was coerced into selling his shares.
The bitter relationship between the parties has deteriorated into what amounts to corporate warfare, with each side questioning the other’s legitimacy and business practices.
What This Means for UK Deliveries
While lawyers argue over ownership documents, the real impact is being felt by the customers and retailers who rely on Yodel’s services.
The courier already ranked at the bottom of customer satisfaction surveys alongside Evri, with Citizens Advice reporting that 43% of customers experienced issues with the company.
The prolonged uncertainty hasn’t helped matters. Yodel was reportedly losing around £1 million per week before InPost stepped in, and any delay in implementing turnaround plans could further destabilize operations.
For retailers using Yodel’s services, the ongoing legal drama raises questions about potential service disruptions if the dispute continues to drag on.
The Broader Industry Impact
The Yodel ownership battle is playing out against the backdrop of unprecedented consolidation in the UK delivery sector.
The Evri-DHL merger announced earlier this year is also facing regulatory scrutiny, while Royal Mail has fallen under foreign ownership for the first time in its 508-year history.
If InPost successfully retains control of Yodel, it would cement their position as the UK’s third-largest delivery company, combining their innovative parcel locker network with traditional doorstep deliveries.
However, if Corlett’s warrant claims prove valid, it could derail InPost’s UK expansion plans and leave one of Europe’s fastest-growing logistics companies scrambling for alternatives.
October’s Verdict Will End the Chaos
After months of legal maneuvering, corporate mudslinging, and operational uncertainty, October’s trial will finally provide the clarity that customers, retailers, and industry observers have been desperately seeking.
The expedited hearing represents the end game in a dispute that has consumed enormous legal resources and created significant uncertainty in the UK delivery market.
For Corlett, it’s a high-stakes gamble that could either vindicate his claims and hand him control of a major delivery network, or leave him with substantial legal bills and a failed business strategy.
For InPost, victory would validate their acquisition strategy and clear the path for the operational improvements that Yodel desperately needs.
Either way, October’s winner-takes-all trial will finally bring closure to one of the most chaotic ownership disputes in recent UK business history – assuming, of course, that the losing side doesn’t find new grounds to extend the legal battle even further.
Search for more information on essential services and delivery companies in our couriers section or check our retailer guides to see which delivery companies your favourite shops are using.
