Business Post H1 pretax falls; trading in line, co sees 'much improved' H2
Business Post Group PLC said current trading is in line with its hopes and it expects a ‘much improved’ second half as its pretax profit fell to 1.7 mln stg in the first half from a restated 3.3 mln stg last year.
The company posted sales of 153 mln stg, up 15 pct from 133 mln stg last year with UK mail sales up by 157 pct from 15 mln stg in 2005 to 37 mln stg in the first half of 2006.
Business Post declared an interim dividend of 6.4 pence per share, the same as last year.
The company said good progress has been made in addressing the operational issues in the Parcel Services business and UK Mail has continued to grow strongly, reinforcing its position as the leading competitor to Royal Mail.
The company said it is creating a robust platform to achieve its strategic aim of developing itself as the UK’s leading independent integrated postal group.
