United Parcel Service Inc. has asked the federal government to investigate the planned acquisition of Airborne Inc. of Seattle by DHL Worldwide Express, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post AG.
In a filing with the U.S. DOT, Atlanta-based UPS said that the $1.05 billion deal announced this week raises questions about the control that Deutsche Post, 69% owned by the German government, could exert on the U.S. domestic express package and cargo market.
Airborne said that its airline will be renamed ABX Air and remain in the hands of its existing shareholders because of U.S. laws prohibiting foreign control of domestic airlines. UPS said the government should look into whether Deutsche Post means what it says on the ABX Air issue.
