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Performance improvement driven by higher income and lower expenses

Posted by | Sep 3, 2008 | |

In the first half of 2008, Post Danmark achieved a profit before tax of DKK 616 million compared with DKK 355 million in the same period last year.

The profit performance for the half-year was somewhat better than expected. Income rose nearly 2 per cent, while expenses were almost 1.5 per cent below last year’s level. The fall in expenses resulted from, among other things, a downward adjustment of DKK 126 million made in relation to the Group’s pension adjustment obligation, reflecting the effect of a gradually later age of Post Danmark employees when they retire. Lastly, the financial statements showed an increase in income from the Belgian postal company De Post – La Poste.

The financial statements were affected positively by the fact that it has been possible for Post Danmark to implement staff reductions due, among other things, to the major changes made in the distribution structure of the company. Changes that also equip Post Danmark for future challenges of a heated labour market.

Post Danmark’s expectations for the full year of 2008 are maintained. Thus, profit before tax is expected to be somewhat higher than in 2007. 1 USD = 5.15895 DKK

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Bound printed matter mailings to be paid by permit only (U.S)

Posted by | Sep 3, 2008 | |

The US Postal Service will require all bound printed matter (BPM) mailings be paid by permit only as of September 11.

Postage payment for all BPM mailings, which include “carrier route, presorted, and non-presorted (single-piece) flats and parcels, regardless of volume,” will be limited to permit imprint, the USPS said.

As a result of this classification change, mailers will no longer be able to pay for postage with adhesive stamps, a customer-generated postage meter or PC Postage, according to the USPS. And, moving forward, BPM mailings will not be accepted at retail counters, in collection boxes or by carriers. Instead, mailers must deposit BPM mailings at the Post Office facility that issued them the permit.

Those who hold merchandise return service permit will be able to continue to pay non-presorted BPM prices on eligible items that are returned with a merchandise return service label.

The USPS filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission in March requesting this classification change. In July, the commission accepted the change, allowing it to go into effect.

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La Poste Group results – 1st half 2008

Posted by | Sep 2, 2008 | |

La Poste’s Board of Directors approved the Group’s financial statements at 30 June 2008.

The March 2008 sale of the airline company, Europe Airpost, was the main change in scope during the half. This sale meets the Group’s objective to withdraw from the air transport business to give priority to its portfolio of strategic activities. Group turnover amounted to EUR 10.556 billion.

The Group’s strategy is based on the complementarities of its business, Mail, Parcel-Express, Financial Services and La Poste Retail Brand, which let it diversify its risks. Consequently, the sustained growth in Parcel-Express and Financial Services activities were able to partially offset in the 1st half the larger than forecast impact on the Mail business of the economic slowdown and the increase in fuel and fluid prices.

The Group confirms its goal to continue its development in growing markets in each of its three business sectors. Therefore, in the 2nd half 2008, it will seize all acquisition opportunities likely to fulfil this goal under satisfactory asset conditions while being careful at the level of its debt ratios, which remain high in its current equity level context.

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Correos – flexible working is raising quality (SPA)

Posted by | Sep 2, 2008 | |

Correos, the Spanish postal operator says that flexible working has seen an improvement of 7.85 points on its quality of service for delivery times from the end of 2006, the date at which it began to apply its new revenue model. Based on stable employment and quality, the postal operator delivered 64 pct of ordinary mail by the following day compared to 56 pct in 2006.

Flexibility including a mix of permanent and semi-permanent staff which allows staff to transfer to other departments or take time out, has enabled Correos to raise staff levels during busy periods. Over the summer, Correos employed 1,700 staff on a fixed-discontinuous basis to help on foot and motorcycle deliveries and as a result made Correos far more efficient. Correos is one of the biggest employers in Spain with more than 63,000 employees

Correos favours a decentralized, agile and more dynamic management of human resources and says it can pay off for staff too who join on this basis, enabling the postal operator to evaluate new recruits as well as new employees getting a feel for the job. According to Correos, those entering the service in a fixed-discontinuous role, then have opportunities to move to a permanent contract or transfer. Around half of those starting at Correos do just that and the arrangement allows Correos to make the best use of it’s workforce.

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La Poste national strike on Sep 23

Posted by | Sep 2, 2008 | |

Unions have called for a national strike by post office workers to protest at government plans they say will lead to the privatisation of La Poste.

Six unions have said they will demonstrate against the government’s decision to change the status of La Poste from – a move seen as a preview to selling off parts of the group.

The unions have called on customers to sign petitions against the privatisation of La Poste and say a full public debate should be held on the issue.

The President of La Poste, Jean-Paul Bailly, said the company would become a société anonyme from January 2010 with the possibility of private investment a year later.

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UPS to build new Asia hub

Posted by | Sep 2, 2008 | |

The US express service provider United Parcel Service is investing USD 125 million in a new intercontinental airfreight hub in Shanghai (China). The approximately 100,000 sqm facility is scheduled to go into service in November. Over and above this, the CEP service provider wants to start construction work on a USD 180 million hub in Shenzhen (China) for intra Asian flights. This platform should be finished by 2010 and replace UPS’ existing facility in the Philippines. UPS anticipates that it will generate 40 pct of its sales in international traffic in 2010. At present the figure is 25–30 pct. UPS has also announced that it is acquiring a logistics company in China, but it is still remaining tight-lipped about the rumours concerning its supposed USD 20 billion offer for TNT, Europe’s second largest CEP service provider.

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US Teamsters seek independent FedEx board chairman

Posted by | Sep 2, 2008 | |

The U.S. Teamsters union said that it sent a letter to shareholders of package delivery company FedEx Corp urging them to support a union proposal to elect an independent board chairman.

FedEx’s annual shareholder meeting will be held September 29 in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Teamsters have been fighting for years to unionize drivers at FedEx unit FedEx Ground, arguing that the independent contractors the company uses should be classified as employees and entitled to benefits.

FedEx says the drivers are entrepreneurs and should not be classified as employees.

The Teamsters union represents drivers at FedEx’s main rival United Parcel Service Inc.

The company said the Teamsters’ proposal would not be beneficial to shareholders.

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