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FedEx Archives: 1998 Press Releases

( BW)(CALIBER-LOGISTICS/MSAS)(FDX) MSAS and Caliber Logistics Form Strategic Alliance

    Business Editors/Transportation Writers

    HUDSON, Ohio/BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 1998-- Caliber Logistics, Inc. and MSAS today announced their strategic alliance that will provide customers with a combined source of logistics solutions that will address their entire needs around the globe.
    Caliber Logistics will offer MSAS' international transport management, customs brokerage and supply-chain services. In turn, MSAS will complement its global network with North American transportation and logistics management services which Caliber provides. This alliance will offer Caliber Logistics' and MSAS' customers a global network with leading-edge supply-chain services.
    The alliance will provide coordinated information technology, operations, marketing, customer service and other systems and support services. Customers can now turn to one source for flexible entry into new markets throughout the world.
    "The strategic alliance between MSAS and Caliber Logistics provides MSAS customers with expanded expertise and services in North America in addition to the unsurpassed global network that our customers rely on. And it provides Caliber the ability to meet the growing global needs of its customers," said Michael (Mick) Fountain, President of MSAS Americas/Pacific and Tom Escott, President of Caliber Logistics, in a joint statement.
    "Globalization has required our clients to take advantage of low-cost sourcing opportunities throughout the world, and they are coming to us for assistance. In addition, more firms need to establish reliable distribution in new international markets, which has created a whole new market dynamic for Caliber Logistics over the last few years," noted Escott. "MSAS' global network and product breadth give us an opportunity to expand the scope of our services, particularly in South America and the Pacific Rim. Adding these MSAS strengths to Caliber Logistics' existing capabilities in North America and Europe will bring our customers a new global solution, based on the most reliable logistics companies in the world," added Escott.
    "Many third-party logistics companies talk about international networks, but in truth, have very little in place. A coordinated, full-service global offering in this industry is very difficult to achieve organically because of the heavy investment required," noted Fountain. "It would have taken MSAS several years and millions of dollars to develop a complete North American infrastructure. Caliber would have faced the same daunting task in Latin America and Asia. Our alliance enables both companies to provide complete global supply-chain services while assuring our operations are cost-effective in the industry."
    "The alliance demonstrates our commitment to deliver logistics processes that meet customer needs for a global business solution," said Wayne Chapman, Vice President, Alliances and International Development at Caliber Logistics. "By combining Caliber Logistics' and MSAS' supply-chain management expertise along with the extensive global presence into a single-source solution, our customers will be benefitting from global logistics solutions that our competitors cannot provide."
    MSAS, with headquarters in Burlingame, Calif., is a division of Ocean Group plc, based in the U.K. MSAS is one of the world's foremost international supply-chain management companies, providing a range of air freight, sea freight, customs, warehousing and distribution and related logistics services. MSAS works closely with its sister international logistics companies in the Ocean Group - Intexo BV, Marken Express, McGregor Cory, Cory Towags and Mercury Airfreight International. MSAS has a global network of more than 460 locations in 112 countries with 6,600 employees serving more than 70,000 customers. The company's World Wide Web address is www.msas.com.
    Caliber Logistics, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Hudson, Ohio, designs, implements and manages integrated logistics solutions for customers in targeted industries. A subsidiary of FDX Corp. and a recognized leader in the contract logistics marketplace, the company offers domestic and international transportation management, just-in-time logistics programs, contract warehousing, dedicated transportation services and finished goods distribution. The company's World Wide Web address is www.caliberlogistics.com.
    FDX Corp. (NYSE:FDX), a $16 billion holding company, provides comprehensive transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions on a worldwide scale. Its primary operating subsidiaries are Federal Express Corp. (FedEx), the world's largest express transportation company; RPS, Inc., a business-to-business ground package carrier; Roberts Express, Inc., a critical-shipment carrier; Viking Freight, Inc., a supplier of western U.S. freight services; Caliber Logistics, Inc., a contract logistics provider; and Caliber Technology, Inc., a supplier of information services.

     --30--rc/ny* jam/clv

     CONTACT: Caliber Logistics
              Janine Young, Communications Coordinator
              330/342-3146

     KEYWORD:  OHIO CALIFORNIA
     INDUSTRY KEYWORD:  TRANSPORTATION