Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

ABX Air Declares DHL in Fault of Agreement

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

Jurassic Jet

Freight Trash
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Posts
227
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071109/20071109005400.html?.v=1


ABX Air Issues Default Notice to DHL
Friday November 9, 8:59 am ET

WILMINGTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ABX Air, Inc., (NASDAQ:ABXA - News) today said it has notified its principal customer, DHL, that it considers DHL in default under terms of the two principal commercial agreements between the companies, and that ABX Air is reviewing its options while continuing to maintain full service to DHL and its customers.


ABX Air said in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today that DHL has withheld payments to ABX Air otherwise due for reimbursement of legitimate expenses under the ACMI Service Agreement and the Hub and Line-Haul Services Agreement, which govern the business relationship between the companies.

The dispute centers on a claim by DHL that certain ABX Air expenses are no longer eligible for reimbursement in full by DHL under the agreements, because ABX Air’s revenues from other customers have exceeded a 10% threshold of ABX Air’s total revenues. ABX Air’s position is that DHL has improperly excluded from its calculation certain ABX Air revenues that stem from reimbursements for fuel expenses that ABX Air incurred on behalf of DHL. When such fuel-related revenues are properly included in the calculation, ABX Air’s revenues from other customers have not exceeded the 10% threshold in the agreement. In addition, DHL is claiming that ABX Air’s costs in maintaining its public company status and certain professional fees incurred by ABX with respect to an unsolicited indication of interest from ASTAR Air Cargo are not recoverable under the agreements.

Joe Hete, president and CEO of ABX Air, said, “As the events described in our 8-K filing indicate, our decision to declare DHL in default of our ACMI and Hub Services commercial agreements was taken only after intensive efforts on our part to resolve this issue directly with DHL, or to continue normal operations under explicit language in the agreements for working together while disputed matters are resolved through arbitration. Unfortunately, DHL has chosen a course that leaves us with no alternative, as a public company, other than to inform our shareholders of the steps we are obliged to take to defend their interests.

“At the same time, I want to reaffirm that ABX Air is today, and intends to remain, DHL’s principal U.S. business partner. As we pursue a solution to this matter under terms of the agreements, we intend to continue to provide DHL and its customers with dedicated, efficient, and high-quality air and ground logistics services, subject to the terms of our commercial agreements.

“We are aware of the disclosures yesterday by the management of DHL’s parent company, Deutsche Post World Net, that growth in DHL’s U.S. network has slowed considerably in recent months, and that DHL’s U.S. operations are “the critical issue” for that company. While we are eager to support DHL in its efforts to build market share, growth, and profitability in the U.S., that process cannot be furthered at the expense of the shareholders of ABX Air.”

ABX Air also stated that the refusal of DHL to pay the amounts due to ABX Air under the agreements may cause it to be in default under certain of its credit facilities. Should this be the case, ABX Air will consider whether to seek reimbursement from DHL for any damages or liabilities ABX Air may incur as a result of any such default.

ABX Air said its alternatives include, but are not limited to, pursuing the dispute resolution process set forth in the agreements, negotiating with DHL to resolve the disputed issues, or any other option available to ABX Air at law or in equity.

About ABX Air
ABX Air (www.abxair.com) is an air cargo services provider operating out of Wilmington, Ohio, and 15 hubs throughout the United States. In addition to providing airlift capacity and sort facility staffing to DHL, ABX Air is a Part 121 operator and holds a Part 145 FAA Repair certificate. It provides charter, maintenance and package handling services to a diverse group of customers. ABX Air is the largest employer in a several-county area in southwestern Ohio.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. ABX Air, Inc.'s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainty as to the outcome of the commercial disputes with DHL, uncertainty as to the impact that these disputes may have on our financing arrangements, and other factors that are contained from time to time in ABX Air's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including ABX Air's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should carefully review this release and should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates as of the date of this release. ABX Air undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.

Contact:
ABX Air, Inc.Quint Turner, 937-382-5591Source: ABX Air, Inc.
 
hhmmmmmmm, wonder if Deutsche Bahn can use 80-90 aircraft over night? There will be plenty of ex-DHL customers to service this holiday season.:eek:
 
Did anyone see the volume yesterday? The SEC needs to get in here and check out the insiders.
 
Maybe we're seeing pieces of a master plan come together here.

or we're seeing a master plan going to pieces

I doubt that the initial master plan survived the first few hours of contact with reality once ABX was purchased and Astar spun off. An express freight distribution network requiring service yet the logistics seemingly overwhelmed the tactical plan. Makes you wonder that if DHL had to do it again, would they?
 
A few tidbits from todays 8-K filing: (Red italics are emphasis added by me)

You can view the entire filing here:

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?dcn=0001181431-07-067819&Type=HTML

On November 6, 2007 ABX responded to DHL by giving a notice of occurrence of event of default under the Agreements. It is ABX's position that under the Agreements, DHL was explicitly required to make all payments due to ABX regardless of whether it was disputing such amounts. To the extent DHL contested any such amount DHL could seek recovery in accordance with the general dispute resolution process under the Agreements only after it has paid and ABX has received the disputed amount. Moreover, ABX strongly disputes the validity of DHL's claims. Under each of the Agreements DHL had two business days to cure its breach by making the required payments. If DHL did not cure its breach during this period of time, ABX became entitled to terminate each of the Agreements. On November 8, 2007, DHL responded to ABX's notice of occurrence of event of default and claimed that DHL had no payment obligations with respect to the withheld amounts. As of the close of business on November 8, 2007, DHL had not cured its breach under either of the Agreements.

ABX intends to consider which of its options to exercise with respect to the dispute, including but not limited to terminating the Agreements, pursuing the dispute resolution process set forth in the Agreements, negotiating with DHL to resolve the disputed issues, or any other option available to ABX at law or in equity. In the meantime, ABX intends to continue to provide the same high quality services to DHL that it has provided to date.
 
This may kill the CHI deal. No bank will get in the middle of this now unless the deal has closed. Has it?
 
okay, time to calm down now. After speaking with a few family friends it seems that this may be a dagger in the heart of an Astar buyout of ABX. Seems that since DHL owns 49% of Astar the SEC may investigate both companies (DHL and ABX) for possible collusion since the stock price is down as a result of an announcement of non-payment by DHL. Seems that manipulating stock prices by withholding payment so you can buy up remaining shares at a deflated price is against the law. Who would have figured?:rolleyes: So unless DHL plans to remove ABX from the network, which is possible, neither DHL or Astar can benefit as a result of their actions.

Oh well, this may kill the JAN deal too.
 
okay, time to calm down now. After speaking with a few family friends it seems that this may be a dagger in the heart of an Astar buyout of ABX. Seems that since DHL owns 49% of Astar the SEC may investigate both companies (DHL and ABX) for possible collusion since the stock price is down as a result of an announcement of non-payment by DHL. Seems that manipulating stock prices by withholding payment so you can buy up remaining shares at a deflated price is against the law. Who would have figured?:rolleyes: So unless DHL plans to remove ABX from the network, which is possible, neither DHL or Astar can benefit as a result of their actions.

Oh well, this may kill the JAN deal too.

All that is certainly possible, but why did Hete make the announcement? Was it due to him stating the company was in danger of defaulting on some loans? I presume he's referring to the 767's. He wasn't specific in the 8k.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top