UPS Express operations in Japan to become wholly-owned
UPS has announced it will acquire the minority shareholding of its joint-venture partner in Japan, Yamato Transport Co. Effective April 1, 2004, the joint-venture company, UPS Yamato Express Co. will become a wholly-owned company of UPS.
“As the world’s second largest economy, Japan is a very important market for UPS,” said Ken Torok, president of UPS Asia Pacific. “The wholly-owned company will strengthen our express operation and complement our existing global distribution and logistics capabilities.”
UPS and Yamato Transport Co. also have agreed to continue their cooperation in the Japan express market. UPS will utilize Yamato’s domestic network, while Yamato Transport will take advantage of UPS’s comprehensive global network for its international express shipments.
UPS said it now will have the flexibility to invest in new facilities and technology and expand operations in Japan. With that network in place, UPS will enhance its ability to be a single source provider of the most comprehensive range of integrated services in the industry – from overnight document delivery to heavy freight shipping, from supply chain management to international finance.
The wholly-owned business will significantly increase the presence of UPS branded vehicles and uniformed drivers in the market.
The UPS company also will continue to offer customers in Japan cost-effective shipping solutions, including the export and import of express documents and packages throughout the more than 200 countries and territories UPS serves worldwide. UPS has offered services in Japan since 1990 through Yamato Transport.
The UPS entity will better offer its customers innovative, technology-based services such as those introduced last year in Japan:
UPS Exchange Collect, to help exporters and importers accelerate payments and reduce the risks associated with international trade transactions and
UPS World Ease, which allows customers to ship multiple packages to many destinations in the same country and clear customs as one consolidated shipment.
