Again in the 2001 business year, the Danzas Group expanded its business volume in the hard-fought logistics sector and strengthened its position as market leader. Both sales and earnings increased thanks to innovations in the IT area, more intense customer orientation, exploitation of synergies, optimization of products and processes, and specific quality improvements.

Major integrations completed successfully, processes and quality levels optimized Since 2000 the Swedish ASG and the Dutch Nedlloyd ETD have been fully integrated, mainly into the Solutions and Eurocargo Business Units. In the 2001 business year better use was made of synergies, and products and processes were optimized. Integration of the US-based firm Air Express International (AEI) into the Intercontinental Business Unit began in mid-2000 and was nearing completion at the end of 2001. The Business Unit turned in improved results despite the economic downturn in the USA and the severe repercussions of September 11.

Renato Chiavi, CEO of the Danzas Group since December 2001, noted at today's press conference in Zurich: "Danzas looks back on a successful business year. Thanks partly to the exploitation of synergies, we joined the elite of global players in 2001 and in doing so laid the groundwork for dynamic worldwide growth of the entire Group. In 2002 we want to concentrate increasingly on improving quality in collaboration with our customers. Therefore I'm very pleased to welcome Günter Rohrmann to our top management team in the newly established position "Head of Global Customers." Günter Rohrmann's wealth of experience as former CEO of AEI will be a great help in achieving our quality improvement goals. I myself was succeeded as Head of Intercontinental Business Unit at the beginning of 2002 by the highly competent Jürgen John, who did an excellent job running Danzas Asia/Pacific for a number of years."

Improvement in all three Business Units
All three Business Units, Solutions, Intercontinental and Eurocargo, reported higher sales figures again in 2001. Despite the harsh business environment in their markets, all managed to maintain profitability levels as well. Return on Sales (ROS) rose groupwide from 1.4% in 2000 to 1.7% in 2001. This is gratifying. Only the effects of September 11 and the general economic slump in the USA prevented a more pronounced improvement. The steady improvement of ROS remains a priority goal of the Danzas Group.

Danzas Solutions achieved the highest growth rate within the Danzas Group, +20.9 percent, partly as a result of the enhanced ability to offer one-stop shopping in cooperation with Deutsche Post World Net. Net sales rose from EUR 1.214 billion to EUR 1.468 billion. By focusing on specific industries and building up extensive know-how in their operations, Solutions has become an acknowledged expert in the area of integrated logistics solutions for the target industries of Automotive, Pharma/Healthcare, Electronics and Telecommunications, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Fashion and Chemicals. The management of warehousing and transportation operations were expanded to offer comprehensive, best-practice logistics solutions. Mainly Europe-based in the past, the Solutions Business Unit plans to expand to the North American, Latin American and Asian markets with carefully selected acquisitions in 2002.

Danzas AEI Intercontinental increased net sales by 14.1 percent over the previous year, namely from EUR 3.849 billion to EUR 4.390 billion. This was a remarkable achievement in view of the fact that Danzas AEI Intercontinental was exposed to the effects of September 11 even more than the rest of the Group. Intercontinental, worldwide number one in air freight, also advanced to the top three in ocean freight and continued to consolidate this position. Besides expanding its product line, Intercontinental also continued to optimize the network. A number of former AEI agents and joint ventures were integrated into the Business Unit. Main targets for expansion were Latin America and Eastern Europe. Uncompromising cost management and expansion of the network structure in growth markets such as Eastern Europe, India and China are among Intercontinental's primary objectives for 2002.

Danzas Eurocargo succeeded in boosting its net sales by 2.2 percent in 2001, from EUR 3.225 billion (2000) to EUR 3.295 billion, despite fierce competition. Having already established a full-coverage network throughout Europe, the Business Unit concentrated on fine-tuning it in 2001. Processes and products were harmonized. Together with Deutsche Post Euro Express, Eurocargo now covers all weight classes in overland transport. The existing pan-European network for groupage freight is now being supplemented by a full load network. Again in 2001 the European market was characterized by extremely stiff competition and strong fragmentation. Profitability is unsatisfactory throughout the entire European land transport industry. Efficiency improvements can help matters, but the fact remains that price structures should be adapted to reflect improvements in both service level and service quality. For 2002, Eurocargo plans to keep on expanding its intermodal traffic and streamlining the pan-European network.

Customized IT for customized logistics
In 2001, the Danzas Group strengthened its reputation as specialist in the networking of logistics data. As usual, all IT development work was aimed at serving customers even better. Now that high-tech solutions for supporting warehousing and transportation management services have been implemented in all Business Units, activities are focusing on customer applications. Products that bundle on-line services in a user-friendly fashion at a single location ("Interactive") or create supplementary services by setting up links with the customer's electronic platforms ("Marketlink") are already in the launch phase. The advanced IT solutions from Danzas provide the backbone for effective supply chain solutions.

Danzas to keep on growing in 2002
While the Solutions Business Unit continues to extend its geographic presence in order to be able to offer logistics solutions from a single source all over the world, Intercontinental and Eurocargo will expand their broad customer bases and concentrate on growing organically. At the same time, the intensification of cooperation within Deutsche Post World Net will tap some very promising business potential. All of which means that the Group is well prepared to meet the growing demand for integrated logistics solutions from a single source. Other Danzas goals include cost optimization in both the intercontinental and European overland transport businesses. And in 2002, the Group aims to raise the quality of its services generally and optimize the service of all Business Units.

Key figures for Danzas Group (in EUR millions)
Danzas Group	2001		2000		change in %
Net sales	9 153		8 289		10.4
EBITA	159		113		40.7
Personnel at year's end	45 036		43 253		4.1
Business Units
Net sales		share		share
Solutions	1 468	16%	1 214	15%	20.9
Intercontinental	4 390	48%	3 849	46%	14.1
Eurocargo	3 295	36%	3 225	39%	2.2
Personnel at year's end
Solutions	12 127		11 856		2.3
Intercontinental	13 416		13 696		-2.0
Eurocargo	15 626		14 725		6.1

Logistics. Worldwide. With a strong presence on every continent, the Danzas Group is the world's leading provider of IT-supported logistics solutions. Outstanding strengths in innovative customized solutions, worldwide air and ocean freight, global project forwarding, European overland transport, e-business and 4th party logistics enable Danzas to offer real one-stop shopping. Based in Basel, Switzerland, Danzas belongs to Deutsche Post World Net.

For further information please contact:
Rainer Meier
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 (0)612 7471 81
Fax: +41 (0)612 7471 98
rainer.meier@danzas.com