Danzas, AEI integration moves forward

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 4/1/2000

With approvals from both U.S. and European authorities in hand, Deutsche Post is proceeding quickly with the integration of its two primary logistics subsidiaries, Danzas Group and Air Express International Corp. (AEI).

In February, the European Commission gave the go-ahead for Deutsche Post to acquire AEI. That application came under intense scrutiny, which was hardly surprising given that the commission last year had launched an investigation into how the German postal service was funding the large number of acquisitions it has made over the last two years. Once it cleared that last hurdle, Deutsche Post announced that approximately 96 percent of all outstanding AEI shares had been tendered for payment at USD $33 per share.

The new organization became official on March 6. All of AEI's business units have been renamed Danzas AEI Corp., and Deutsche Post's Danzas Intercontinental Group has been renamed Danzas AEI Intercontinental. The division, under the leadership of current head Renato Chiavi, has been reorganized into five regions: Americas, Europe/South Africa, U.K./Ireland, Asia/South Pacific, and North Africa/Middle East. Former Panalpina executive Hans Toggweiler will head up Danzas AEI's North American activities.

Guenter Rohrmann, AEI's CEO, will be vice chairman of Danzas AEI Corp. Rohrmann also will be responsible for managing top accounts, integrating joint venture and agent businesses, and heading several integration initiatives