Ad-hoc | 25 March 2003 08:00

Deutsche Post AG english

DHL TO ACQUIRE AIRBORNE Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– DHL TO ACQUIRE AIRBORNE Bonn, 25 March 2003 DHL, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post World Net, announced today, that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with the US based express parcel delivery provider Airborne, Inc. (NYSE: ABF). This transaction will increase market shares and profitability of both partners, hence creating a strong No. 3 in the US market to compete with the dominating players. Subject to the agreement are the entire non-airline related business activities of Airborne; airline business will be separated and will be owned as “ABX Air” by Airborne’s current shareholders. The service portfolios of Airborne and DHL are complementary. In future, the international capability of DHL, market leader outside the U.S. and operating the world’s most extensive international parcel delivery networks, will be brought together with Airborne’s domestic strength in the U.S. market. There, Airborne has a 18,8% share in the market for overnight delivery. Moreover, DPWN Group and its clients will benefit from the broad ground network, Airborne is running in the U.S. In 2002, Airborne delivered approximately 356 million domestic parcels. Under the terms of the agreement, Airborne’s airline related business will be separated first and will become an independent public company, called ABX Air, Inc. ABX Air will be owned by Airborne’s current shareholders. Thereafter, DHL will acquire the remaining non-airline related activities for $US 21.25 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $US 1.05 billion. Both the new company and ABX Air will enter in a service agreement. The transaction, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed during the summer of 2003. The combined company will operate under the DHL brand and will be managed by Carl Donaway, current Chairman and CEO of Airborne, leading a management team from both Airborne and DHL. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 25.03.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 555200; ISIN: DE0005552004; Index: DAX Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart; EUREX 250800 Mär 03