Swiss Post International achieves “positive” results
Swiss Post International retained the sales level of 2008 with a 2009 figure of EUR 681m. This puts Swiss Post International’s group contribution at around 12% of Swiss Post’s group sales of EUR 5.8bn. Swiss Post International increased its operating income by almost 12m to over EUR 35m.
Operating exclusively in the international mail, parcel and express business, Swiss Post International recorded a positive result for 2009. Sales fell marginally by 0.6% to EUR 681m (previous year: EUR 685m). To eliminate currency effect, the sales figure for 2008 was adjusted to current rates and recorded retrospectively at EUR 685m. The significant decline in volume in wholesale for the group subsidiaries in the US and the UK were partially outweighed by the good results achieved in other overseas subsidiaries.
Swiss Post International increased its operating income through reducing expenses by over EUR 35m from the previous year (EUR 24m). These reductions were mainly made by optimising IT and logistics, and lower exposure to group costs.
“In the downturn year of 2009, we were able to retain the sales level and now anticipate annual growth of 2-4%,” explained Daniel Bättig, head of international mail. “This will be helped by acquisitions such as that made on 1 February 2010 in Spain.”
In Scandinavia, Swiss Post International acquired Danish letter post provider Swiss Post International Denmark ApS on 1 July 2009, and merged it to become Swiss Post International Scandinavia. This new subsidiary is the foundation of future growth in Finland and Norway, with its branches in Stockholm, Malmö and Copenhagen.
At the start of 2010, Swiss Post International acquired two long term sales partners in Madrid. In timely preparation for the full deregulation of the Spanish postal market next year, the company is expanding its international network and equipping itself for competition.
In the UK, Swiss Post International has merged two operating sites to improve quality and productivity. The larger capacity gives business customers room for flexible, customised solutions as well as the standard products.
In Italy, Swiss Post International secured its position in the Italian logistics market in August 2009 with the takeover of Italian logistics company Costanzia, a specialist in logistics services in the B2B segment which will take over the whole logistics operation. This new location gives Swiss Post International a crucial pillar in northern Italy.
In July, Swiss Post International bought Swiss CW Marketing Services, which specialises in marketing for publishers and optimises kiosk sales of publications.
Swiss Post International is asserting its position in the leading group of postal providers operating in the international letter business. Daniel Bättig says: “We are aiming for greater penetration of existing markets in future. Sector sales, reseller models and acquisitions will complement our investment portfolio and contribute to further growth.” Swiss Post International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss Post, employs around 1,300 staff in eleven European countries, the US and five Asian locations. It is currently the world number three among the national postal companies in the international letter business.
