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To: dabadabadoo who wrote (15)	3/29/1999 4:28:00 PM
From: Darryl Olson	Respond to of 26

FDX invests in Vastera: BURRELLE'S/VMS NewsAlert Service 75 East Northfield Road/ Livingston, NJ / 973-992-6600 SOURCE: CNN Interactive SUPPLIER: World Wide Web DATE: 03-27-99 HEADLINE: Vastera's Big Brother International trade logistics software company Vastera just got a new big brother: FDX Corp. Last week FDX Corp., parent of Federal Express Corp. , RPS, Viking Freight, Roberts Express and FDX Global Logistics, made a capital investment in Dulles, Va.-based Vastera and Dennis H. Jones, executive vice president and CIO of FDX, joined Vastera's board of directors. AMR Research described the move as a "deal sure to rock international trade logistics system vendors. The size of (FDX's) customer base alone could make Vastera's compliance and document management a de facto standard in the industry." According to AMR's, Vastera's software "fills a gaping hole in the FDX service offering. Already the leading filer of Shippers' Export Declarations, FDX can now offer full ITL management services not only into and out of the United States but also between foreign countries. The addition of sophisticated ITL functionality will enable e- commerce markets to expand worldwide and add handsomely to FDX revenue at the same time." Vastera began working with Federal Express a year ago, said Larry Ferrere, Vastera vice president, marketing and business development. Last July, Vastera announced that its EMS-2000 software would be integrated with FedEx's software to provide real-time tracking and tracing capabilities to FedEx clients, as well as the ability to generate shipment labels. The relationship has evolved, said Ferrere, because of the synergy between the two companies. "We see ourselves with synergy in the markets and the issues we're trying to solve," said Ferrere. FDX, he said, has "always been a leader in automating their business processes. In a similar light, Vastera has been very focused on automating moving goods internationally - not only automating, but keeping those rules and regulations in synch" with countries' changing requirements. For its part, said Ferrere, FDX viewed Vastera as a good investment. "We did not go out looking for money," he said. Ferrere described the amount invested in the company as not material. "It's not a lion's share of our company. It's a real minority stake. It wasn't done really for the cash purposes, but more done for a strategic perspective. We just think it really solidifies our relationship and helps build it to the next level," said Ferrere. Right now, Vastera's software has "only been used with FedEx," he said. "But certainly our goal is to expand throughout the FDX family." Vastera is currently engaged in discussions with other FDX subsidiaries to provide its software to them and their customers, he said. In addition to FDX's strategic investment in Vastera, Dennis H. Jones, executive vice president and CIO of FDX, has been appointed to Vastera's board of directors. "Dennis clearly is known as a thought leader from a logistics perspective and from an information technology perspective," said Ferrere. "In addition, the relationship facilitates us having even greater access to associates worldwide and an additional source of expertise and ongoing maintenance" of Vastera's software. "All major business activities all roll up to Dennis - so clearly you can see there is synergy, him being the sponsor, and he being the person controlling the IT budget and IT professionals within the company," Ferrere said.

To: dabadabadoo who wrote (15)	4/7/1999 5:28:00 PM
From: Darryl Olson	Respond to of 26

FDX and Netscape arrangement: news.com FedEx, Netscape to launch "shipping portal" By Tim Clark Staff Writer, CNET News.com April 7, 1999, 1:45 p.m. PT Federal Express today announced an agreement to license Netscape Communications' software and information for a custom "shipping portal" in a deal that also includes enhanced visibility on Netscape's business-oriented Netcenter web directory. The multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract includes RPS, another FDX subsidiary that handles business-to-business ground shipments. It creates a new FedEx "delivery center" on Netcenter and is aimed at simplifying e-commerce transactions by offering streamlined shipping information and personalized package tracking. Those features also will be integrated with Netscape's future browsers. However, the deal does not involve America Online's Web site or proprietary online service, and FedEx said on a conference call that no talks have been held directly with AOL, which last month completed its acquisition of Netscape. "E-commerce is the catalyst behind this agreement," said Laurie Tucker, FedEx's senior vice president of electronic commerce. The enhanced services target two markets--small-business users and the shipping departments of major companies that use on FedEx. The new FedEx shipping portal is aimed at corporate customers, while the Netcenter relationship goes after the small businesses. In addition to the new delivery center service, Netcenter will make FedEx and RPS its default shipper for its online software store, allow MyNetscape users to include FedEx services on their customized start page, and let users print shipping labels directly from their personal address book hosted on Netcenter. FedEx said the services will be launched "over the next couple of months," but declined to be more specific. FedEx has been a longtime Netscape customer, noted Marty Kagan, Netscape's vice president of e-commerce, in part because former Netscape CEO James Barksdale was previously chief technology officer of FedEx. FedEx archrival UPS pooh-poohed the FedEx announcement, saying it already offers similar services over the Net and has had portal deals dating back to 1997 and an AOL deal in 1995. But UPS has not created a "shipping portal" like the FedEx's. Ross McCullough of UPS' e-commerce division also noted that being the default shipper for Netscape's software store may not be a long-term benefit as more software is delivered by download, not courier. FedEx described the deal as simplifying access to its shipping services, saying that enhancing existing offerings can improve customers' expenses. The deal did not involve Netscape's CommerceExpert line of e-commerce software that allows companies to set up Web storefronts and conduct procurement, billing, and payment online. FedEx's stock hit a 52-week high of 103 earlier today. It closed at 102.875, up 3.4375.