Blue Dart Ties Up with Franch Express in South India

- The new Regional Service Participant (RSP) agreement increases number of locations serviced in South India to 516 -

Blue Dart Express Limited, India's largest integrated express company has entered into a Regional Service Participant (RSP) agreement with the South based Franch Express. This agreement has led to the expansion of Blue Dart's network to 516 locations in Southern India. Franch Express is the market leader in the Southern express industry and offers a widespread network in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Pondicherry. This network expansion enables Blue Dart to offer its customer's access to remote towns and villages in this region, which were earlier inaccessible. Blue Dart has an extensive reach of 283 locations in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry. The RSP agreement with Franch Express will increase this reach by 233 locations. Commenting on this tie-up, Clyde Cooper, Managing Director, Blue Dart Express Limited, said, "This agreement with Franch Express allows us to offer unmatched high quality service standards and an added market reach to our customers. The accessibility to remote locations translates into new business opportunities for our customers thereby increasing their market penetration."

Franch Express, the leading express company in South India, has a network of more than 500 branches and 25 hub offices with Erode, as central office, administrative offices in Chennai and regional offices in Bangalore and Hyderabad. The company is supported by 200 trained traveling representatives and its own vehicle divisions covering 30,000 kms every day. Franch Express was recognised as `Best Domestic Couriers in South India' by the Consumer Forum, Madurai, and Cultural Academy, Chennai.

Pioneering the concept of Franchisee Collection Centres (FCC's) as well as the Regional Service Participants (RSP's), Blue Dart today extends its support to the economic activity by providing inbound services to these locations. Continuing with its strategy to expand rapidly in smaller locations, Blue Dart now offers world class services to over 1092 locations across the country.

Blue Dart Express limited is India's leading express company and commands a 36% domestic market share. Increasing RSP arrangements across the country are leading to rapid expansion for Blue Dart and helping to consolidate its market share in the domestic market and emerge as a leading domestic player.

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Dated : December 14, 1998.