SEATTLE - March 11, 1997 - Airborne Express today announced the finalization of its South Africa joint venture with Airborne Express South Africa (PTY.) Ltd., formerly known as Ribbon Technologies.

Airborne Express South Africa offers international express, international freight and ocean, and brokerage services for customers shipping to and from South Africa. The company holds a customs license and has a bonded warehouse located at Johannesburg International Airport.

"The finalization of the South Africa joint venture is further evidence of Airborne's commitment to offering a full range of services at its international locations," said John Birds, Airborne vice president of Europe, South Africa and the Middle East. "The joint venture provides Airborne with strong in-country presence, offering customized distribution solutions for multinational corporations."

Airborne Express South Africa has 37 employees and 13 trucks operating out of offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The 2,500 square meter distribution warehouse is centrally located in Johannesburg. Satellite offices will open in Port Elizabeth, East London and Bloemfontein in late 1997.

"Stability of the Mandela administration has encouraged continued investment by American, Asian and European multinational corporations," said Konrad Peter of Airborne Express South Africa. "Currently, the bulk of our business is generated by electronic and pharmaceutical industries. Since the 1996 opening of operations in South Africa, shipments have increased by 118 percent."

For more than 50 years, Airborne Express has served shipping needs of business customers around the world. Today, Airborne offers total distribution solutions by providing time-sensitive delivery of documents, letters, small packages and freight to virtually every U.S. ZIP code and more than 200 countries. Customers can select from a variety of services including same-day, next-morning, next-afternoon or second-day delivery, ocean service and logistics management.