Deutsche Post AG, the German postal service, may have to pay back subsidies granted by the German government for its pension schemes. The German government had provided the company’s pension funds with considerable financial support during the 1990s; this was necessary as Deutsche Post had retired 25 per cent of its officials early, with the aid of expensive settlements, when the company was privatised.
Read MoreThe ‘remarkably close partnership’ between Lynx Express and its customer, fork lift truck manufacturer the Jungheinrich Group, has been singled out for praise in helping the German company win two major categories in the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards.
Jungheinrich took the award in the Engineering and General Manufacturing category and capped this success by being awarded the Overall Winner of the 2003 Awards.
Read MoreDeutsche Post, the German national postal service operator, has obtained protection for the trade mark ‘Post’ from the German patent office. Rival companies which continue to use the name ‘Post’ may face a cease and desist letter. The company has already sent its first cease and desist letters, to EP Europost, which belongs to the Dutch group TPG, and to Berlin-based Pin AG. However, the patent office has decided that the use of the brand name ‘TPG Post Deutschland’ by EP Europost is acceptable on the grounds that there is no danger of its being confused with the name ‘Post’.
Read MoreDHL, the express subsidiary of DPWN, has threatened to move its European hub from Brussels if plans for its growth are not approved by the Belgian authorities. Such a move would bring about the loss of 3,000 existing and up to 9,000 future jobs making the decision politically explosive. At present there is a cap on night flights in and out of the airport and the Belgian government is committed to retaining this level due to pressure from local residents. The Belgian government is expected to discuss the issue this week.
Read MoreJapan’s economic and fiscal policy minister Heizo Takenaka met with Deutsche Post AG President and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Zumwinkel to discuss Germany’s experience in postal privatisation as Japan seeks to privatize its own postal service in 2007.
At a press conference after the meeting in Bonn, Takenaka said he asked Zumwinkel about how Germany balanced efficiency with uniform postal services nationwide.
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