Denmark's post office has already formed a partnership with the private sector that is expanding into other countries ahead of full competition in 2011, writes John Willman .

Post Danmark sold a 22 per cent stake to CVC Capital Partners, the private equity firm, in 2005, and gave employees another 3 per cent. In 2006, it joined with CVC to buy almost half Belgian post office De Post-La Poste for €300m.