Tag: DHL

Deutsche Post World Net sells real estate portfolio to investor

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

Deutsche Post World Net announced that it has reached an agreement to sell a portfolio of real estate properties comprising about 1,300 assets located mainly in Germany to U.S. investor Lone Star in a cash transaction worth 1 billion euros.

Deutsche Post World Net is divesting real estate assets as part of its “Roadmap to Value” capital markets program presented in November. “We are very committed to the Roadmap to Value initiatives and this transaction again demonstrates our constant focus on quick execution,” said Chief Financial Officer John Allan.

Today’s transaction comes on top of some 350 million euros of real estate sales agreed since last November. The Group thus has already more than delivered on its pledge to generate at least 1 billion euros in cash from real estate sales by 2009. The all-cash sale price will be paid in several tranches with the largest share expected by year-end 2008. The agreement will have only marginal effect on Group EBIT and will not affect the 2008 earnings guidance.

Under the terms of the agreement, the transfer of the real estate assets will take economic effect as of July 1, 2008. Deutsche Post World Net will lease back the major part of the properties under an innovative lease agreement giving the Group immediate relief from excess space and flexibility going forward. The transaction will not lead to any changes for customers or employees.

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USPS steps up efforts to gain greater share from rivals

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service is stepping up efforts to wrest a bigger share of the parcel delivery market from its private sector rivals. And this time around, it’s trying a new tactic. In years past, the federal agency has typically challenged its competitors—FedEx, UPS, and DHL—on the basis of service (for example, by adding tracking and tracing capabilities for express and parcel shipments). Now, it’s attacking on another front: pricing.

Beginning May 12, the USPS will offer volume discounts for its Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, and Parcel Return services. Thanks to the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, the independent agency is able to change its pricing structure to reflect what it calls “industry standard” practices.

For instance, Express Mail will for the first time use zone-based pricing, and customers who establish corporate accounts or pay online will receive a 3-percent discount. Commercial shippers who meet quarterly volume commitments could knock as much as 7 percent more off their bills. Parcel Select will offer volume-based pricing incentives to large and medium-sized shippers, and Parcel Return will now be priced by weight, which the USPS says will significantly cut prices for lightweight packages.

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First Financial Bank chooses DHL as exclusive air and ground delivery provider

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

DHL announced today that it has been chosen by First Financial Bank, N.A. as its exclusive delivery services provider. First Financial will now leverage DHL’s U.S. express and ground delivery services for transporting loan, mortgage, and other financial materials to and from its banking centers and clients.

With assets of USD 3.4 billion, First Financial is the second-largest bank headquartered in the Greater Cincinnati area, operating 81 banking centers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. First Financial chose to consolidate all of its express delivery needs with DHL after a competitive review of the quality, service, and value offered by all major U.S. providers. First Financial was also attracted to DHL due to its strong network in the U.S. and in the region, which includes its primary air and ground hub based in Wilmington, Ohio.

DHL recently conducted customized training for First Financial associates on using the DHL web-based shipping products and began shipping immediately.

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DHL opens 18 Express Centres in downtown Tokyo

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

DHL will open 18 new Express Centres in downtown Tokyo on 1 April, bringing to 78 the total number of drop-off centres operated by DHL in Japan.

The new Express Centres have been established under a business entrustment agreement with Vanfu, Inc., a printed matter specialist offering design, planning, image-processing, printing and related services. 18 printing service counters operated by Vanfu in downtown Tokyo will now accept overseas-bound document and package shipments dropped off by DHL account holders.

Notably, the new Express Centres offer the DHL Simple Pack service, an easy-to-use service featuring a simplified fee structure. The DHL Simple Pack service is based on dedicated envelopes and boxes, the fees for which are not calculated according to weight but according to destination zone (Asia Pacific, America, or Europe / other regions). These fixed fees are not subject to adjustments based on monthly rate fluctuations in jet fuel surcharges.

DHL is now offering services for customers across 78 locations in Japan, including 43 Service Centres (collection, delivery and drop-off centers), and 31 Express Centres (drop-off centres).

Since shipments of documents and packages can be quickly arranged using the DHL Simple Pack service – which eliminates the need to confirm shipment weight – DHL Japan expects the Express Centers to meet strong demand from not only corporate customers but also from office workers, business travelers, tourists and other individuals wishing to send personal shipments to overseas destinations.

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DHL moves European air hub from Brussels to Leipzig

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

DHL Express officially moved its European air hub from Brussels to Leipzig over the weekend following a gradual build-up of operations over the last year. The launch of full hub operations reportedly went off without any major problems.

With the transfer of the former Brussels flights, DHL is initially operating 57 freighters each night to and from Leipzig, with the option to increase the number to more than 60 in the next few weeks. Some 30 planes had previously been operating every night at Leipzig.

As a result of the hub transfer, the nightly freight capacity will also nearly double from 800 tons to 1500 tons and 16 additional destinations will be added to the new hub including New York, Moscow, Madrid, Rome and Athens.

Local newspapers reported today that the start of full hub operations at Leipzig appeared to have gone off without any serious problems. This is in contrast to the massive operational difficulties that impacted on the launch of the US air hub at Wilmington several years ago. Leipzig, Wilmington and Hong Kong are DHL Express’ three intercontinental air hubs.

According to Michael Reinboth, managing director of the DHL air hub in Leipzig, DHL expects to increase its daily express freight capacity to 2000 tons and to have invested a total of EUR 300 million in the new hub by 2012. “By that time we expect to increase the number of employees to 3,500,” he told the German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. Currently, DHL employs about 2000 people at the airport.

To limit the noise pollution that people living and working around Leipzig airport are exposed to, DHL plans to use B-757 freighters that produce 77 pct less noise and consume 20 pct less fuel than previous types. DHL will also operate other planes such as MD-11s, A300s and Tupolew 204s, mainly flying via Eastern Europe, Reinboth explained.

The hub will officially open on May 26 with a major opening ceremony.

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