NORTHBROOK, IL - Donlen Corporation, a fleet leasing and management company, announced a strategic partnership with Masterlease, one of Mexico's premier vehicle financing and fleet management companies. Key executives from Masterlease visited Donlen last week at their company headquarters in Northbrook, Ill., for intense three-day strategy sessions with Donlen management.

Masterlease, with locations in Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara, began operations in 2002 and currently has more than 20,000 vehicles on lease. Masterlease is owned by Grupo Financiero BanRegio whose total assets are $3.7 billion U.S. With this partnership, Donlen further expands its international footprint to provide best-in-class service to clients with Mexico operations.

"It was important that Donlen find a partner in Mexico that would provide a similar level of services that our clients are accustomed to," said Tom Callahan, Donlen president and chief operating officer. "Masterlease provided synergies to Donlen's philosophy of superior client service and world-class products that made them the right partner. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

Rita Schweibinz, corporate sourcing manager of PolyOne, had this to say: "As we strategically align PolyOne to become a global company, we rely on opportunities from our current suppliers to help us leverage our purchases, reduce our cost, and improve our customer service. As part of our globalization through partnership with Donlen, PolyOne was able to connect with Masterlease in Mexico to finance nine vehicles for our sales team. Masterlease met our expectation and they are providing us the service level we expect and the local support we require."

"The partnership with Donlen is an important step for us to become an international player," said Jesús Dillon, managing director, Masterlease. "We are going to be able to share best practices and new ideas among our companies and this will have a direct impact in the services and products that we are offering to our customers. It will be an honor to represent Donlen in Mexico and we will do our best to provide the best service and fleet management support to Donlen customers in Mexico."

Through similar partnerships, Donlen also provides international services in the UK and Europe with Lex AutoLease, and in Canada with TransportAction.