DHL donates $250,000 to build 100 houses in Latin America and the Caribbean

Deutsche Post DHL has recently made a donation of $250,000 to non-profit housing organisation TECHO. The donation is intended to fund the construction of 100 new homes for families living in deprived areas of both Latin America and the Caribbean.

The corporate social responsibility agenda is of increasing importance to most multinationals and DHL is no exception. As well as donating money to TECHO, DHL provides logistics support and has been actively assisting the construction of the new homes since 2010.

Deutsche Post DHL CEO Frank Appel said, "For years now, our employees in the Americas donate their time and talent to help build urgently-needed housing with TECHO and the beneficiary families. With our donation, we want to further support the important work this non-profit organization is doing, and at the same time recognize the efforts of our own people". 

FedEx expands its Latin American Network

FedEx Trade Networks, the freight forwarding division of global courier and worldwide shipping company FedEx Corp, announced expansion of its infrastructure in Latin America yesterday afternoon. 

The company has opened new offices in Brazil and Mexico and made strategic alliances with regional service providers to enable service delivery across 19 countries in South and Central America.

Fred Schardt, president and CEO of FedEx Trade Networks said, “Trade volumes continue to increase in Latin America, and our expansion efforts provide customers with greater access to superior freight forwarding in these emerging markets.”

The company includes the addition of a new service in its list of infrastructure expansions: an air consolidation service between Mexico and Brazil is now available, flying between Benito Juárez International Aiport in Mexico City and São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and commercial centre.

FedEx’s announcement comes shortly after DHL announced the significant expansion of its Asian network, and TNT Express declared its intention to  divest from China and Brazil to focus on European markets, indicating a time of rapid development and change for the freight forwarding and worldwide courier industries.

Source: FedEx

Send a parcel to Brazil or Mexico with Transglobal Express

UPS proposes public cash offer to TNT Express N.V.

The acquisition of TNT Express N.V. by the global logistics company UPS has reached a new stage with UPS recommending a public cash offer with a price of EUR 9.50 per share (EUR 5.16 billion in total). 

Image c/o TNT Express

The offer is going to apply to all issued and outstanding ordinary shares including TNT Express American depositary shares. Both companies stated that the decision would be fully supported by the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of TNT Express.

UPS whose offer had been officially accepted on 19^th March 2012 hopes that the acquisition will help to create a global leader in logistics with an annual revenue exceeding the EUR 45 billion mark. By utilising TNT Express’ highly interlinked European express and road freight network, UPS plans to expand its courier services in Europe. Meanwhile, TNT customers may benefit from UPS success in delivering parcels to the USA as well as to Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

A request for the EU regulatory appeal was filed on 15^th June; talks between TNT Express shareholders will continue on 6^th August whilst the offer period will commence on 22^nd June 2012.

For further details about the offer, please visit the UPS Website.

Source: UPS / TNT Express

FedEx and Vital Voices team up to help empower women in Latin America

FedEx Express and Hillary Clinton's NGO, Vital Voices Global Partnership, have formed the alliance, "FedEx & Vital Voices Building the Future: Educating Women, Harnessing Potential", in order to support businesswomen in Latin America. 

Logo c/o vitalvoices.org

The alliance aims at empowering female business owners and entrepreneurs. Vital Voices and FedEx Express will offer business education and training including workshops where women can acquire and expand on their technical and soft skills. Beyond that, seminars will cover essential business topics such as export, business English, HR practises, marketing and technology.

Juan N. Cento, president for FedEx Express, Latin American and Caribbean Division, emphasised the importance of the private sector as well as the importance of supplying female business leaders with educational resources.

"[W]e believe that providing these women with access to education and resources they need to compete in the global marketplace is key to the long-tem prosperity of the region."

The results of a recently published survey about occupation and employment in Mexico, showed a rise in the number of female business executives and owners by 38.9% in 2011. Moreover, the 2020 Secarios Research Report expects Brazil's female workforce including businesswomen with their own staff to grow from 24% to 42% by 2020.

"This alliance will expand access to education and needs-based training for members of the Latin America and the Caribbean Businesswomen's Network, enhancing their ability to lead their companies and communities forward", said Alyse Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Vital Voices.

FedEx Express as well as Vital Voices will provide women with access to their capacity-building initiatives throughout the Latin American region. 

Source: FedEx Express

FedEx to take over Brazilian freight forwarder Rapidão Cometa

FedEx recently announced new expansion plans for the Brazilian market. In an effort to secure its position in the South American logistics industry and increase its profitable growth, FedEx is going to acquire the freight forwarder, Rapidão Cometa Logistica e Transportes, S.A. 

Having been founded about 70 years ago Rapidão Cometa is considered to be one of the largest freight forwarding

and logistics solutions providers in Brazil today. The company has 17,000 clients, 9,000 team members and handles approximately 12,000 parcel deliveries per year. 

With the help of Rapidão Cometa, FedEx hopes to expand its service portfolio in Brazil as well as to offer all of its international freight and courier services to its latest addition as soon as the purchase was complete.

“Brazil is a market with tremendous growth potential – both in the overall economy, as well as in the logistics sector. The acquisition of Rapidão Cometa – one of the largest logistics solutions providers in Brazil – is in line with our long-term strategy to grow our Latin American business and better service our customers seeking to enter or expand their businesses in the Brazilian market”, stated Juan N. Cento, president of FedEx Express Latin America and Caribbean.

Both companies have been doing business together since 2011. The acquisition of Rapidão Cometa will enable FedEx to offer a more extensive service range including air express & freight, domestic ground and supply chain services. 

The transaction is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of this year. 

Source: FedEx