Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) announced today that it has agreed to dispose of Marken, aspecialist clinical trials courier company that it acquired as part of the acquisition of Exel in
December 2005. A sale has been agreed with 3i, the world leader in venture capital and privateequity, with the support of the existing management team. The parties have agreed not to disclosefinancial details of the transaction.Marken currently employs 200 people including an experienced management team, who will allremain with the business. The purchase helps safeguard the future of those employees and willenable Marken to focus on its specialist business outside of the DPWN network. Headquartered inLondon, Marken specializes in time-critical special deliveries for the pharmaceutical, technologyand media industries throughout the world.
DPWN said that as part of its ongoing business review process it has consistently been divestingunits and activities that do not have as many direct synergies with the wider business within itsglobal network. Since 2004, active portfolio management has resulted in the divesture of more than30 holdings that are not tied to the company’s core business.
