Business Post expands into B2C

Business Post PLC said first half to Sept 30 pretax profits
rose 18 pct to 6.7 mln stg from 5.7 mln, thanks to strong demand for its core
express business parcel delivery service.
Half-year turnover was lifted by 4.6 pct to 63.0 mln stg from 60.2 mln.
The company said it expects to maintain its trading momentum in the second
half, fuelled by a major contract signed in September with FedEx, the world’s
largest express delivery service. Sales in the seven weeks to Nov 18 were up 11
pct.
Business Post said it would concentrate on corporate parcels but expand into
package deliveries to consumers. Earlier this month the company was granted a
one-year trial licence by the UK postal regulator to collect and process regular
business mail as part of Royal Mail liberalisation.
Earnings per share rose 17 pct to 8.8 pence in the six months to
end-September.
The board declared an interim dividend of 5.3 pence, up 6 pct year-on-year.