DHL Expands Corporate Sponsorship Agreement With Major League Baseball

DHL to Deliver New “Delivery Man” Spokesperson, Additional Club Sponsorships, and New Marketing Initiatives in 2006

PLANTATION, FL -- April 12, 2006, DHL, the world’s leading express delivery and logistics company, today announced an expanded sponsorship platform with Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Advanced Media for the 2006 season. DHL is beginning its second season of a three-year, multi-faceted marketing partnership with MLB and MLB Advanced Media which named DHL the “Official Express Delivery and Logistics Provider” of the two organizations, created an exclusive shipping arrangement, and provided DHL with online and off-line marketing rights.

The DHL sponsorship program has expanded in 2006 to include a new relationship with Hall of Fame relief pitcher Bruce Sutter, who will serve as spokesperson for the officially sanctioned “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award;” three additional team sponsorships, including the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox; and a series of new marketing initiatives. Later in the season, DHL will unveil a new, comprehensive program in conjunction with Major League Baseball focusing on the history and legacy of the great game of baseball.

“As part of our ongoing promise to deliver America’s pastime on time, DHL is growing its partnership with MLB through initiatives that extend our reach to baseball fans in more markets than ever before,” said John Pearson, Executive Vice President of Commercial at DHL. “Coming off the success of the first year of our relationship with MLB, we are exploring new initiatives that will bring the history of the game closer to fans, our customers and our employees. We are committed to delivering a season that is memorable and full of surprises for baseball fans across the country,” added Pearson.

“As we embark on the second year of this partnership, we are excited to watch it expand with new marketing initiatives, additional Club sponsorships, and enhanced opportunities for contributions to communities in which both Major League Baseball and DHL live and work,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “We are proud of this growing relationship, which is one based on a shared vision and a mutual dedication to teamwork and excellence.”

“DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month/Year Awards”

For the second consecutive year, DHL will present two officially sanctioned MLB awards, the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award” and the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award,” which respectively recognize the most outstanding relief pitcher each month of the regular season and the most outstanding relief pitcher for the 2006 season as a whole.

This season, Bruce Sutter, a dominant and pioneering closer and a newly elected member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, will serve as spokesperson for the program, providing insights on the winning “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award” performances throughout the course of the season.

In addition, Sutter will join the official MLB judging panel for the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award” award. Each month, the panel will select the relief pitcher who was the most dominant relief pitcher for the prior month. The panel also includes Jerome Holtzman, the official MLB Historian and a member of the writer’s wing of the Hall of Fame; Bob Watson, Vice President, On-Field Operations, Major League Baseball; and Mike Bauman, national columnist for MLB.com.

At the end of the season, the panel will also select the 10 finalists for the winner of the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award.” Fans will be able to vote online from among 10 relievers to determine the winner of this prestigious award at MLB.com.

Individual Club Relationships

Beginning with the 2006 season, DHL will extend its role of “Official Express Delivery and Logistics Provider” to the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, and 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. These three teams are being added to continuing DHL relationships with the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. DHL will provide each of the Clubs with an array of air express, ground and logistics services. The agreements also provide for in-stadium signage, a variety of advertising opportunities, DHL promotional nights in the team’s respective ball parks, and a number of hospitality benefits for DHL customers and employees.

DHL will also be extending the reach of its Major League Baseball platform through agreements with five additional clubs which will enhance fan awareness of DHL’s partnership with MLB and participation in DHL’s MLB-themed fan initiatives. DHL promotional nights at the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and Cincinnati Reds will include fan giveaways, first pitch opportunities, and hospitality benefits.

DHL Marketing Initiatives

In keeping with DHL’s commitment to support major sports marketing sponsorships with targeted marketing and advertising support, the company will build on the success of its inaugural 2005 MLB-themed advertising campaign, using multiple mediums this season to promote its relationship with Major League Baseball and related programs, including television ads on FOX and ESPN, and print and online advertising.

Also this year, DHL will provide MLB-themed in-store signage, co-branded apparel and point-of-purchase collateral materials throughout a network of over 3,200 DHL Authorized Shipping Centers.

Later this season, DHL will deliver a new, comprehensive program in conjunction with MLB and MLBAM, designed to engage baseball fans across the country. The league-wide program will focus on the history and legacy of the game and will be supported by an integrated marketing and communications campaign. Further details on this program will be shared during the 2006 All-Star Game.

Express Delivery and Logistics Services

As the “Official Express Delivery and Logistics Provider” of Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Advanced Media, DHL is the exclusive provider of air express and ground parcel delivery services for MLB and MLB.com, with co-branded envelopes for their domestic and international shipping. DHL also provides logistics services to MLB, including the distribution of millions of ballots and nearly one thousand ballot boxes for the 2006 Ameriquest/Major League Baseball In-Stadium All-Star Balloting Program.

This season, DHL will also continue to lend its expertise to the delivery of some of the most treasured tokens in Major League Baseball to fans across America. DHL completed its first assignment just last week by making two “special deliveries” to the Chicago White Sox. On Monday, April 3, DHL delivered the team’s 2005 World Series rings, and on Wednesday, April 5, DHL delivered the World Series trophy in a special on-field celebration. Throughout the season, DHL will deliver the 2006 World Series trophy to celebrations at the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh and again to the 2006 World Series.

DHL Employee Involvement

DHL has expanded its local baseball field refurbishment program to include New York, South Florida and Chicago, after leading refurbishments last season in Atlanta, Houston and Phoenix. DHL’s field refurbishment initiatives, part of the MLB Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program, are an extension of the company’s U.S. Corporate Citizenship program, which allows DHL employees to participate in programs that support the local communities where DHL operates. In addition, DHL employees will conduct new and gently used baseball equipment drives at ball parks across the country to benefit local Boys & Girls Club organizations.

DHL’s relationship with MLB also provides an opportunity for DHL employees in the US to actively participate in MLB-programs honoring their commitment to providing a superior customer experience. DHL internal rewards and recognition programs include employee softball games at MLB ball parks and tickets to regular season and postseason games.


About DHL

At DHL, Customer Service is back in shipping. Our mission is to provide the most flexible, personable and enjoyable experience in the shipping industry for our customers.

DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport and logistics solutions, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. Over 285,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers’ expectations. Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL’s international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. For more information on DHL, please visit www.dhl.com.

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