News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today called the proposed transaction between DHL Express and United Parcel Service (UPS) a "merger in everything but name" in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.

Fisher, who also serves as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development, told the committee that in testimony last week before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, the CEO of DHL Express said the deal would maintain DHL and UPS as "full-tilt competitors."

"The Cleveland Browns will travel to Baltimore this Sunday to play the Ravens. And if one of the Ravens fumbles, there's a reason why no one on the Browns will pick up the ball and politely hand it back," Fisher said. "It's because competitors are not partners. You are either one or the other.

"This deal is a merger in everything but name. If you hand the essential functions of your business to a competitor, that's a merger. If you discard the planes and the people that make your business possible, that's a merger."

Lt. Governor Fisher testified on Sept. 9 before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee that the proposed financial agreement between DHL Express and UPS will seriously undermine the competitive nature of the U.S. domestic package shipping market and potentially eliminate as many as 10,000 jobs in Wilmington, Ohio. Today, Fisher testified along with Wilmington Mayor David Raizk before the Committee.

On May 28, 2008, DHL announced its intention to pursue negotiations with UPS to handle its U.S. airlift operation. Days later Lt. Governor Fisher and Mayor Raizk organized the DHL Regional Economic Task Force, comprised of multiple local, regional, and state officials and business leaders committed to presenting DHL with a workable solution that includes maintaining its hub in Wilmington while also addressing its cost and competitive concerns.

Please click below for a copy of Lt. Governor Fisher's testimony.
- Lt. Governor Fisher DHL Testimony

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Media contacts: Kelly Schlissberg at 614.466.4133 or Kimber Perfect at 614.466.2609