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Thomas Nationwide Transport

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This article is about the Australian transport company. For its successor also later named TNT, see PostNL. For the 2011-2021 international courier, see TNT Express.
Thomas Nationwide Transport
Founded1946
FounderKen Thomas
DefunctJune 1998
Fatemerged with KPN's postal division to form TNT Post Group
SuccessorTNT Post Group
Headquarters
TNT Towers, Sydney
,
Australia
Key people
Peter Abeles
SubsidiariesAnsett Transport Industries (50%)
Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (50%)
Condor Ferries (50%)
Kwikasair
Port of Geelong
TNT Harbourlink
TNT Transit Systems
Union Shipping (50%)

Thomas Nationwide Transport, commonly known by its TNT acronym, and in its later years as TNT Limited, was an Australian logistics and transport company. Founded in 1946, it was taken over by KPN in 1996 and in 1998 became part of the TNT Post Group.

History

TNT was founded by Ken Thomas in 1946 with one International truck as KW Thomas Transport, being renamed Thomas Nationwide Transport in 1958.[1][2][3] In January 1962 it was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange.[4][5]

In 1967 it merged with Alltrans to form TNT-Alltrans with Peter Abeles becoming managing director.[5][6][7] In 1968 it purchased Kwikasair.[4][8] In 1970 it commenced hiring complete freight trains to operate between Sydney and Melbourne.[9]

It diversified into shipping, acquiring a 25% share in RW Miller in 1968, a 33% share in Bulkships in 1970, increasing it to 63% by 1976 and a 50% share in Union Shipping in 1971.[10][11][12] In March 1972, TNT acquired a 23% shareholding in Ansett Transport Industries.[13][14] It launched a takeover offer for Ansett, but withdrew it after the Government of Victoria advised it would legislate to prohibit it.[15][16] In 1979, TNT increased its shareholding in Ansett to 50% with News Corporation holding the balance.

In the early 1970s it expanded into Asia, Brazil, Europe and North America.[17][18][19][20][21] In February 1983 TNT purchased global document courier Skypak International from Ipec.[22][23] TNT was awarded a 50-year concession in October 1985 to operate the Sydney Monorail, which opened as TNT Harbourlink in 1988.[24][25]

In December 1985, Thomas Nationwide Transport Limited was renamed TNT Limited to better reflect its common name.[26][27] In 1987, Red Star Express Lines, Newark, New Jersey with 38 terminals in 12 states was acquired.[28]

In 1992 TNT acquired a 50% shareholding in Guernsey based Condor Ferries.[29] In the same year it took a 50% stake in GD Express Worldwide, with the other 50% of shares held between partners KPN (Dutch telecoms and postal company) and the state owned postal companies of Canada, France, West Germany and Sweden.[30]

In July 1996, TNT purchased a 30% shareholding in the Port of Geelong in partnership with Infrastructure Investment Corporation.[31][32][33] In 1996 TNT sold its 50% shareholding in Ansett to Air New Zealand, although it retained its shareholding in Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services.[34][35][36] It also sold its trucking businesses, including its 50% shareholding in Union Shipping to Brierley Investments, its Brazilian operations and Australian trucking interests.[37][38][39] In August 1997, TNT commenced operating the Sydney Light Rail as TNT Transit Systems, under contract to Sydney Light Rail Company.[40]

In January 1997, KPN took full ownership of TNT after launching a friendly takeover.[41][42][43] In June 1998 TNT merged with KPN's PTT Post division to form the TNT Post Group.[5]

References

  1. ^ KW Thomas Now Named Thomas Nationwide Transport Truck & Bus Transportation September 1958 page 80
  2. ^ Dynamic Growth of Thomas National Transport in 14 yrs Truck & Bus Transportation July 1961 pages 253, 399
  3. ^ "12 THOMAS Ken". Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b TNT-Alltrans Network March 1984 pages 37-39
  5. ^ a b c "History". TNT Express. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  6. ^ TNT, Alltrans plan to merge Canberra Times 25 April 1967 page 11
  7. ^ Merger of transport groups forms largest Aust company Truck & Bus Transportation June 1967 page 104
  8. ^ Kwikasair business bought by TNT Canberra Times 21 September 1968 page 19
  9. ^ World Report International Railway Journal August 1970 page 8
  10. ^ National and International expansion by TNT / Alltrans Truck & Bus Transportation October 1968 page 132
  11. ^ TNT moves further into shipping operation Truck & Bus Transportation September 1970 page 141
  12. ^ TNT-Union SS deal finalised Freight & Container Transportation January 1972 page 6
  13. ^ TNT-Ansett shark fight Tribune 11 April 1972 page 11
  14. ^ Charge of TNT into Ansett may bring freight boom Freight & Container Transportation April 1972 page 3
  15. ^ TNT drops offer for Ansett group Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 28 April 1972 page 6
  16. ^ TNT makes takeover bid for Ansett then withdraws Truck & Bus Transportation May 1972 page 121
  17. ^ TNT moves into Canada; transcontinental operation Truck & Bus Transportation January 1970 page 105
  18. ^ TNT acquires another Canadian company Freight & Container Transportation October 1971 page 52
  19. ^ TNT may burst on the British haulage scene Commercial Motor 15 June 1973
  20. ^ TNT adds Brazil and Singapore Truck & Bus Transportation July 1973 page 218
  21. ^ Aussie haulage group aims high in Australia Commercial Motor 3 August 1973
  22. ^ Ipec sheds a global operation Canberra Times 17 February 1983 page 21
  23. ^ TNT take over Ipec's foreign courier service Freight & Container Transportation March 1983 page 31
  24. ^ Never the rail deal Sydney Morning Herald 18 June 2013
  25. ^ "TNT Harbourlink - The Sydney Monorail" (PDF). TNT Harbourlink. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Thomas Nationwide Transport Limited". Canberra Times. 16 December 1985. p. 16. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Thomas Nationwide Transport Limited (1946 - 1986)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  28. ^ TNT Expands in USA Australian Transport July 1987 page 17
  29. ^ Transport companies see divisive market approach Truck & Bus Transportation November 1992 page 19
  30. ^ "TPG N.V. History". Funding Universe. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  31. ^ "ACCC not to oppose acquisition of port of Geelong". Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. 3 July 1996. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  32. ^ "DoI – THE REVIEW OF PORT REFORM IN VICTORIA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  33. ^ "Undertaking" (PDF). Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. 26 June 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  34. ^ TNT to sell its Ansett interests to Air NZ Canberra Times 18 November 1995 page 65
  35. ^ "News Corp 'could have saved Ansett'". Sydney Morning Herald. 19 August 2004. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  36. ^ "A report by Ansett Worldwide" (PDF). Morgan Stanley. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2005. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  37. ^ TNT chief flags sale of Union Shipping stake The Australian 4 December 1996 page 37
  38. ^ TNT sells Brazilian arm The Australian 3 September 1996 page 21
  39. ^ End of the road. -Why TNT is getting out of trucking Australian Financial Review 26 July 1996
  40. ^ Mills, Gordon (1997). "Light Rail in Sydney: Some Privatisation Lessons" (PDF). Agenda. 4 (4): 433–444. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  41. ^ "KPN's Takeover Offer For TNT Is Welcomed". www.wsj.com. 3 October 1996. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  42. ^ Dutch win TNT with $2bn bid, Communications giant snares troubled transport group The Australian 3 October 1996 page 1
  43. ^ Costello clears TNT takeover The Australian 1 November 1996 page 37
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