Author: Archive

Contract win for DHL

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

DHL Exel Supply Chain has been awarded a contract to handle the delivery of “The OWL” wireless electricity monitors by UK business 2 Save Energy. The agreement will see DHL managing the whole logistics process, delivering the devices from the Far East to the UK consumer’s door.

The wireless electricity monitor shows households the cost of electricity used in the home, as well as their greenhouse gas emissions, on a portable LED display and, it is claimed, could help households reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions by 15 per cent. DHL collects devices from 2 Save Energy’s manufacturing partner in mainland China and moves them to its UK-based distribution centre before arranging for final delivery.

DHL interfaces directly with 2 Save Energy’s website, processing individual orders and arranging delivery of up to two million energy monitors to customers each year. This makes the monitoring, control of stock levels and visibility of the entire supply chain crucial factors in the success of the operation. In essence, DHL has created a tailored and comprehensive end to end service, managing the supply chain for 2 Save Energy and allowing the company to focus on its core strength – developing energy saving technology.

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PvdA wants to delay liberalisation of post

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Coalition party Labour PvdA wants to postpone further liberalisation of the postal market, but coalition party Christian democrat CDA has still not taken a stand on the issue.

This emerged on Thursday morning as trade unions demonstrated in front of Parliament for better employment conditions for postal delivery personnel.
Earlier this year Parliament approved further liberalisation of the market as of 1 January 2008, but this target date was made dependent on the liberalisation of the postal market in other European countries.
Earlier this week it was announced that Germany wants to introduce a minimum wage for postal delivery personnel. TNT Post says this will bring about major changes to the situation in Germany.
PvdA MP Mei Li Vos is now urging that further liberalisation be postponed. Nicolien van Vroonhoven (CDA) does not want to take a stand until Economic Affairs state secretary Frank Heemskerk comes with a proposal.
Heemskerk did not make a statement during the demonstration on Thursday, but will discuss the matter with Parliament later in the day.

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Dutch to postpone mail market liberalization

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

The Netherlands will postpone the full opening of its mail market, originally due in January, partly because the government fears Germany’s plans to introduce a minimum wage for postal workers will impede competition there.

One condition for the market opening in the Netherlands was a level playing field in Germany. Dominant Dutch mail company TNT argues that does not exist because the planned minimum wage is set too high for it to compete effectively with Deutsche Post.
Dutch Junior Economy Minister Frank Heemskerk said it was unclear what would happen in Germany, adding that discussion surrounding labour conditions for mailmen in the Netherlands was also still fluid.

TNT separately announced that it had settled all outstanding tax matters in Britain and that it planned to raise its dividend payout ratio to 40 percent of normalised net income by 2010 from the current 35 percent. “The introduction of the postal law from January 1, 2008, would not be prudent, and we thus should not do it,” Heemskerk told a parliament committee in The Hague. He said he expected the situation to become clearer in the first half of 2008.

The economy ministry has previously said that the market opening should ideally coincide with the fiscal year of mail companies, or at least with the beginning of a quarter. Both Deutsche Post, which competes with TNT in the Netherlands, and privately-held mail company Sandd sharply criticised the move.

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Royal Mail Retail Compensation to Receive Overhaul

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

After a public consultation and a close look at Royal Mail’s compensation scheme, Postcomm is proposing changes to the way in which compensation claims are dealt with. The idea is to simplify the process and make it fairer.

Postcomm was concerned that there were inconsistencies in the way in which claims for retail customers were processed and with guidance from Postwatch, a new scheme is being proposed.

Retail customers should, say Postcomm, face less difficulty for claims where post has been lost, damaged or delayed with changes to:

– the processes for making a claim;
– the evidence required to support a claim; and
– the compensation payments themselves.

Nigel Stapleton, Chairman of Postcomm said: “Royal Mail’s compensation schemes for their retail customers have developed over many years and have become difficult for customers to understand. Recognising this, Postcomm has worked closely with Royal Mail and Postwatch to try and find ways to cut through the complexity and make sure mail customers have access to a clear, fair and user-friendly compensation system.”

“Postcomm is committed to remove prescriptive regulation where possible and the development of competition for the business of the largest mailers means we are proposing to do so by withdrawing the regulated bulk mail compensation scheme from April 2009 in favour of solutions based on individual customer need.

“While the overall volume of lost, damaged and delayed post is very small in the context of the total amount of mail carried by Royal Mail, every item is valued by customers and they should be properly compensated when there are such problems.”

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Postbank Germany intends to focus more strongly on customers

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Postbank intends to further expand its position on the German banking market with its further developed strategy. To this end, the Bank has launched a program called “Next Step” that includes all of its units. The aim of the program is to make Postbank number one for liquidity and finance management by focusing more strongly on customers. Dr. Wolfgang Klein, Chairman of the Board of Management, emphasized before journalists in Bonn on Thursday that Postbank had successfully developed in all respects since its IPO in 2004 and had bucked the market trend in its divisions. “However, we must also take the next step to be able to challenge the competition in retail banking and meet the requirements of customers, the capital market and our employees in a few years,” said Klein.

With “Next Step”, Postbank also combines further above-average growth with strict cost discipline. In this way, the Bank intends to make itself one of the most profitable German banks in the long term. “Our restructuring and the ambitious goals associated with this will be reflected in our income statement and will also convince the capital market,” added Klein.

Postbank intends to significantly boost its profit before tax from EUR 941 million in 2006 to between EUR 1.40 billion and EUR1.45 billion by 2010. Profit after tax is set to grow to between EUR 980 million and EUR 1,015 million. The cost/income ratio in the traditional banking business is set to improve to just under 58 pct by 2010.

For 2008, Postbank is still striving for return on equity before tax of more than 20 pct and a cost/income ratio (in the traditional banking business) of just under 63 pct. The Bank still hopes to report profit before tax at the implied target amount of EUR1.22 billion.

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Rabobank invests in Australia Post partnership

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Rabobank has moved to strengthen its competitive position in the domestic market, announcing a partnership with Australia Post to expand its rural business banking services.

The partnership will allow Rabobank to provide its customers with access to business banking services through more than 1300 Australia Post outlets across the country.

Yesterday’s announcement comes less than a week after rival National Australia Bank signalled it wanted to be a “very good international agricultural bank”, challenging Rabobank’s dominance.

Rabobank general manager Rural Australia Peter Knoblanche said the partnership significantly increased access to Rabobank’s transactional services in rural Australia.

Mr Knoblanche said the partnership “gives Rabobank’s clients – many of whom live in remote rural locations – the convenience and flexibility of being able to visit selected Australia Post outlets to conduct their business banking transactions through Bank@Post”. Rabobank has 49 branches in Australia.

Through Australia Post’s Bank@Post banking platform customers of Rabobank’s primary All In One account will be able to undertake a range of transactions from cheque or cash deposits to cash withdrawals and account balances.

The service is for customers who do not wish to make deposits by mail or use internet banking.

Rabobank is one of several partnerships Australia Post has formed with financial institutions. Others include NAB, Commonwealth Bank, St George, Citibank, HSBC and Members Equity.

A spokeswoman for Australia Post said it “currently offers personal banking services through Bank@Post on behalf of more than 75 financial institutions”.

Six other financial institutions offer business banking services through Bank@Post.

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DPD tests next-day express freight delivery in Czech Republic

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

DPD CZ has been selected as a pilot country within the DPD worldwide network to develop and implement B2B next day delivery of non-conveyable parcels up to 1000 kg. The service is a first within the DPD network.

The new service, branded DPD MAX, has been developed in response to growing demand for broader distribution services, the company said in a statement. Customers now benefit from using one company, one label, one invoice and one contact person for all logistic needs when shipping small as well as non-conveyable parcels of up 1,000kg.

“Our progress on the Czech market enabled the company to enter a new segment of distribution. This project is unique within the DPD world. The Czech Republic is a pilot country to develop and implement this solution,” said Daniel Mares, General Manager DPD CZ and Regional Manager GeoPost CEE. DPD CZ has set up a separate network of depots and hubs to handle the heavier freight pieces, added Oldrich Kalab, COO for the company.

DPD CZ was established in 1994, is a leading player in the Czech parcels market. In 2006, it increased revenues by 20 pct improved pre-tax profits by 50 pct and increased international parcel volumes by about 50 pct.

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TNT update on 'Focus on Networks' strategy – UK tax matters settled, Dividend pay-out up to 40 pct by 2010, Next tranche share buyback of EUR 100 million announced

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Key announcements by the Board of Management include:

– The outlook for the year 2007 is confirmed;
-The Express business segment sharpens its growth objectives for the period 2008-2012 and enhances transparency by adding objectives for its emerging platforms;
– The Mail business gives an update on the negotiations with the unions regarding the restructuring in Mail Netherlands and refines the objectives for its emerging businesses to include Parcels and European Mail Networks;
– TNT indicates restructuring charges in a range of GBP 125-175 million in Mail for the period 2007-2009, following earlier announcements, leading to GBP 150 million savings in 2008/2009, growing to GBP 360 million annually as of 2015;
– The indicated range includes all charges for the earlier announced Master plans and restructuring of Parcels UK;
– The recent protectionist developments on postal liberalisation in Germany have led to a full revision of TNT’s position in the German mail market, with further restructuring as a possible outcome;
-TNT has notified the appropriate Government authorities in The Netherlands about its concerns that there is clearly no level playing field in Germany and the UK;
-The Group has begun to investigate further accelerated growth in the shifting competitive environment of delivery networks;

As for the financial strategy, TNT makes various announcements, of which the main ones are:
– Sharper and more transparent financial objectives for all businesses;
– The objective to reduce the effective tax rate from 32 pct in 2006 to a range of 25-26 pct by 2010;
– The intention to grow the dividend pay-out from today’s ~35% of normalised net income to 40 pct by 2010. Including the underlying growth of TNT’s earnings, this will further fuel the growth of cash returns per share;
– An additional tranche of EUR100 million of share buybacks, under the earlier announced EUR 500 million programme, on top of the EUR 200 million currently underway.
In its financial strategy, TNT will continue to drive value aimed at its shareholders and other stakeholders in the short, medium and long term. This will include incidental share buybacks from excess cash going forward.

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