The ubiquitous Brownismorethanchocolate-colored trucksor a plain-vanilla delivery business. United Parcel Service (UPS)is the world's largest package delivery company, transporting more than 15 million packages and documents per business day throughout the US and to 220-plus countries. Its delivery operations use a fleet of more than 100,000 motor vehicles and500-plus aircraft. In addition to package delivery, the company offers services such aslogistics and freight forwarding through UPS Supply Chain Solutions, andless-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL)freight transportation throughUPS Freight. UPS is acquiringTNT Expressfor about $6.8 billion. The acquisition of TNT Express will significantly grow UPS's overseas business, especially in Europe, where it will become a market leader. TNT's networks will also help UPS expand throughout Asia and Latin America. The company's percentage of revenue from international sales could increase from its current level of 26% to up to 36% once the acquisition is complete. The acquisition will also enhance the company's ability to serve its customers' global business operations. The year 2009's global economic crisis crashed UPS's party for revenues and net income. Industries, for the most part, began their recovery ascent in 2010, and UPS followed suit, increasing both its net income and its revenues. That trend continued in 2011, when UPS recorded a rise in net income of about 14%. Year-over-year 2011 revenue rose 7%. By segment, forwarding and logistics revenue grew on strong demand forlogistics services in the retail and health-care markets and mail services. Freight revenue enjoyed an upswing from more LTL shipments, as well as increases inbase rates and fuel surcharges. Domestic package deliveryis the company's largest business segment, accounting for about 60% of sales. For those operations, the company expandedWorldport, a fully-automated air hub in Louisville, Kentucky, to increase its volume by about 35% and add room for larger, more fuel-efficient aircraft. To streamline operations more generally,in 2010 the companysolditsUPS Logistics Technologies unit toThoma Bravo, a private equity investment firm. The companyalso reduced its US regions from five to three and districts from 46 to 20, and it cut about 1,800 management and administrative jobs in the US. UPS took a $98 million restructuring hit from those efforts. In the meantime, package delivery revenueis increasing overseas, where UPS continues to expand through infrastructure investments and selected acquisitions. A $200 million, 70%expansion of its European air hub in Cologne, Germany, is one of several projects in Europe and Asia. In 2012 UPS acquired Belgium-based Kiala, which provides a platform that allows e-commerce retailers to delivergoods to a retail location for pick-up in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Spain.In2011 the companyacted onits healthcare logistics strategy with the opening of five healthcare shipping facilities providing service to North and South America, Asia and Europe. Later in the year UPS acquired the Italian pharmaceutical logistics company Pieffe Group.The deal added facilities in Milan and Rome. Although Europe represents about half of international revenue,UPS's sights are also set on the Asia/Pacific region. In 2010the companyopenedanintra-Asia hub insouthern China; the Shenzhen facility operates asthe company's primary transitcenter in Asia and replacesan intra-Asia hub at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.Latin America is also getting some attention. In 2011 UPS increased its air capacity in Central and South America by 50% on about 20 weekly flights. UPS'sextensive global reach is a selling point for its supply chain management offerings, which are tailored to customers in industries such as consumer goods and retail, health care, and technology. The company is seeing a growing trend among businesses outsourcing supply chain management, viewing it as a strategic advantage to have effective management of their supply chains. Along with logistics and trucking, the company's supply chain and freight segment includes mail expediting (UPS Mail Innovations) and financial services (UPS Capital) businesses, as well as postal and business services store franchiser Mail Boxes Etc., which maintains UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations in the US and overseas.