Atlanta’s corporate giants with large international business were cautious in their reactions to England’s decision to leave the European Union on Friday.
In a release, Delta Air Lines said: “It is too early to say what the results of the vote mean for aviation in the U.K., one of the world’s leading air markets, in the long term. It’s business as usual for the foreseeable future for Delta’s flights between the U.S. and Britain. Delta remains committed to the U.K. market.”
Said UPS, “UPS will work with our customers to provide a high level of service as new trade and customs regulations are enacted following the UK’s exit decision. Vibrant global trade has proven to enrich people’s lives through elevated economic activity, greater choice and more competitive products.
“We will closely monitor changes in applicable laws and provide brokerage, customs clearance and other services, along with our global integrated shipping network,” UPS’s statement continued. “Our aim is to ensure our customers have the least possible complexity when importing to, or exporting from, the U.K. and Europe.”
The surprise victory of the campaign to leave upended global markets on Friday and forced companies to examine next steps for their business.
This story will update reactions from other metro Atlanta corporate giants with international ties as they come in.
Coca-Cola, whose President James Quincey in the past has said a vote to leave would be problematic, tried to be diplomatic.
“While there are a number of uncertainties, the Coca-Cola system has a long history of adapting to the political landscape of the countries where we operate, and this will be no different,” the company said in a statement. “We will remain focused on our business plans and our people, and our belief in our growth opportunity and our commitment to our business in Great Britain and throughout the European Union remains unchanged.”
A representative for London-based InterContinental Hotels Group, which operates such brands as Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo and has its Americas headquarters in London, said the company deals with instability all the time and expects this will be no different.
“At this early stage, there are still a number of uncertainties around what the U.K.’s exit from the European Union will mean for businesses, however, we are very used to dealing with volatility and will manage the situation as it evolves,” the representative said in a statement.
The reaction was not limited to big multi-national corporations.
Law firm Womble Carlyle, which has offices in Atlanta and across the Southeast, created a strategic alliance with a U.K.-based law firm, Bond Dickinson, this month.
Betty Temple, Womble Carlyle’s chairwoman and CEO, said while the alliance was motivated by a growing interest among clients on both sides of the Atlantic, she and her British counterparts were still surprised by the Brexit vote.
“Like most of the world, we didn’t expect the British people to choose to leave the EU but we prepared for that possibility and I can tell you we are very glad today that we did,” Temple said.
“Based on our own analysis and what our colleagues at Bond Dickinson are telling us, this decision is going to present significant opportunities for businesses here in Atlanta, as well as those in the U.K. and we’re looking forward to helping our clients make the most of those opportunitiess,” she added.
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