Tag: India

Red-letter day for privatisation

Posted by | Aug 28, 2006 | |

The grand old department of posts and telegraphs will soon be opening its doors to the private sector. For the first time in its century-old history, the postal department is planning to allow private participation in day-to-day core operations.

According to sources, the first privatisation bid of the department will consist of appointing a network of franchisees in more than a dozen catchment areas.

The idea of privatising parts of postal services was moved for the first time by the ministry of communications and information technology around March last year. Following this, a committee was set up to work out various modalities.

After several rounds of discussions, the ministry is now learnt to be keen on adopting franchising as a model. “The government is looking at franchising as an optimum option to expand access to basic postal facilities without increasing dependence on budgetary resources,” according to an India Post official.

The exact franchising model that the government is considering is not known yet. Sources, however, say the department will tie up with multiple franchisees across the country. This will include all kinds of services that a post office provides, including outsourcing services like address verification of banks, financial intermediaries, telecom companies and Internet cafes.

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Revenue of postal services rises

Posted by | Aug 24, 2006 | |

Revenue of Indian postal services has increased to Rs 4431.85 crore in 2004-05 from Rs 3297 crore in 2000-01. The volumes of ordinary mail has been reduced due to advent of technology (emails and cheaper telephone calls), however the Indian post has registered an increase in revenues on back of higher traffic of business post. Speed post, the courier service of Indian Postal Department, has seen a 16.08 per cent rise in traffic and 18.7 per cent increase in revenue while business post saw a 29.5 per cent increase in revenue. On the other hand, the volume of traditional unregistered post has fallen. A new scheme for speed post service called ‘One India One Rate’ has been launched. Priced at Rs 25 for mail up to 50 grams to any destination in the country, it is intended to tap inter-state document services and benefit the customers.

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Indian and Chinese express firms link up in alliance

Posted by | Aug 23, 2006 | |

Two leading independent express firms in the fast-growing Indian and Chinese markets, DTDC and Kerry Logistics, have linked up in an alliance to offer direct services. DTDC, boosted by a financially-strong new shareholder, is also reportedly eyeing acquisitions to increase its market share.

Chakraborty also said that DTDC is interested in acquiring companies, mostly smaller regional and local operators, to increase its position in the Indian express market. The company recently received a financial boost with the acquisition of a 40% holding by Reliance Capital, part of the Anil Ambani business group.

DTDC is the largest competitor to DHL-owned Blue Dart Express and India Post (EMS) in the domestic sector, according to a new “CEP Market Fact Sheet India” produced by CEP-Research.

Kerry Logistics is the parent company of Kerry EAS, one of the larger independent carriers in the domestic Chinese express market with about 100 branches.

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DHL makes offer for remaining shares of Blue Dart Express Ltd

Posted by | Aug 17, 2006 | |

DHL, the express and logistics company, has offered to purchase the shares in Blue Dart Express Ltd it does not already own, and delist the Indian express company in a further step to strengthen and expand its market leading position in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. DHL, via its Singapore subsidiary DHL Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd, currently owns 81.03% of Blue Dart.

As the leading international express and logistics company, DHL has an extensive history of 27 years in India. DHL has invested USD 250 million in expanding the company’s footprint in India in recent years. This includes USD 163 million for the acquisition of the majority stake in Blue Dart Express in 2004.

India is a major engine for growth of DHL’s business in Asia Pacific, and the company is committed to provide superior customer service based on a world-class network infrastructure. In India, DHL, together with Blue Dart, have over 40,000 customers serviced by 7,400 employees through a combined national network of 14,000 locations, and a fleet of almost 3,000 vehicles.

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Blue Dart board approves DHL's delisting proposal

Posted by | Aug 17, 2006 | |

Domestic courier company Blue Dart Express Ltd today said its board of directors have approved the proposal made by its promoter DHL Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd to buy the outstanding publicly held shares of the company and delist its shares from the bourses.

DHL had proposed the purchase of the outstanding publicly held shares of Blue Dart and the delisting of the company under Securities and Exchange Board of India (Delisting of Securities) Guidelines, 2003, Blue Dart informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

An EGM of the company would be held on September 20 to seek shareholders approval for the delisting proposal, it added.

As on March 31, DHL Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd holds 81.03 per cent stake in Blue Dart Express amounting to 1.92 crore equity shares, retail investors hold 4.09 per cent. While, mutual funds and UTI hold 11.18 per cent stake in the company.

Shares of the company were trading at Rs 571.05, down 2.96 per cent at the BSE.

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