Network Expansion, Technology Spurs World Courier to Record Year in 2002

    STAMFORD, Conn.--Jan. 22, 2003--World Courier is pleased to report a record year in 2002, fuelled by the recent opening of 16 new offices worldwide and an ongoing commitment to constantly improve information and customer service management through technology.
    The opening of the new offices, primarily in Asia Pacific and Central/Eastern Europe, expands World Courier's global reach to 126 offices in 47 countries.
    "We continue to work closely with our biopharm clients to identify areas of potential throughout the world," says Wayne B. Heyland, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Courier Group. "The opening of these newest offices reflects our clients' growing interest in undertaking clinical trials in emerging markets where they have greater access to sample populations with limited drug/treatment exposure."
    New offices in Asia Pacific include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Trivandrum (India), Bangkok (Thailand), Taipei (Taiwan), and Seoul (Korea). In Central/Eastern Europe, World Courier personnel now operate from new offices in Krakow and Szczecin (Poland), Ostrava (Czech Republic), Sofia (Bulgaria), Bucharest (Romania), and St. Petersburg (Russia).
    Bio-STAR(SM), World Courier's proprietary software for managing global clinical trials, has been instrumental in bringing these locations online in record time. "With Bio-STAR, all stations have real-time access to exactly the same information as research personnel. It ensures that everyone is completely familiar with all shipping protocols and helps us avoid problems before they occur," says Mr. Heyland.
    Other new offices were also recently opened in Belfast (U.K.), Strasbourg (France), and Valencia (Spain). "Although we rely heavily on technology to manage information, nothing can replace the one-on-one service that our own personnel provide," says Mr. Heyland. "The expertise of our local bio-specialists is critical in ensuring that we can adapt, inform and comply with rapidly-changing regulatory requirements. It clearly reinforces the need for a strong worldwide network - one that extends well beyond only mainstream locations."
    Incorporated in 1969, World Courier has set the benchmark for worldwide time-sensitive transportation. It remains the only specialist courier company with its own global network dedicated to treating every shipment on an individual, priority basis. Today, World Courier is the acknowledged leader in delivering customized solutions and value-added services in growth markets such as the bio-medical, automotive and high-tech industries. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, World Courier maintains a comprehensive international network of 126 wholly-owned offices operating in 47 countries around the globe.