For Immediate Release:
SAN DIEGO (March 8, 2005) - Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), a UPS (NYSE: UPS) subsidiary and the world’s largest franchisor of retail postal, shipping and business services, continues to expand its presence as a global business-solutions provider with the addition of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to its master license agreement with Mail Boxes Etc. Latin America. MBE Latin America has more than 75 operating franchises in Latin America, including Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia. With this acquisition, MBE Latin America expands its reach to 10 countries in the region.
“This is another major milestone in a relationship that spans more than a decade,” said Stuart Mathis, president of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. “We feel very strongly about the management team of MBE Latin America, headed by Kenneth Landau and Kevin May. We have been able to maintain our status as the industry leader for 25 years because of the vision and fortitude of leaders like these.”
“This agreement permits us to continue with our long-held objective of developing the franchise throughout Latin America,” said Kenneth Landau, CEO and managing director franchise operations for MBE Latin America. “Our first goal is to find the right strategic partners in each country who have the local market knowledge to complement our organization's experience and knowledge of the business.”
Kevin May, chief financial officer and managing director of corporate development, and a principal in MBE Latin America for the past ten years, will be spearheading the development efforts in Brazil and Argentina. "I'm pleased to have such talent in our organization,” said Landau. “Kevin’s experience will be invaluable as we develop this outstanding regional opportunity,” said Landau.
There are currently more than 1,500 Mail Boxes Etc. locations in 43 countries. Mail Boxes Etc.® and The UPS Store® locations together comprise the world’s largest franchise network of retail shipping, postal and business service centers with more than 5,300 locations around the world. In the United States, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. Outside the United States, locations are owned and operated by MBE master licensees or their franchisees. For additional information, please visit http://www.mbe.com.
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For more information, contact:
Rich Hallabrin
(858) 623-1718
rhallabrin@mbe.com
Source: MBE
