Year: 2006

Bid talk delivers Business Post rise

Posted by | Jan 6, 2006 | |

Troubled parcel delivery company Business Post soared 7.5 per cent, the biggest riser in the FTSE 250 yesterday on speculation of a takeover approach. The founding Kane brothers, Michael and Peter, own 52 per cent between them and there are rumours that a global operator such as Holland’s TNT has approached them about buying their stake. Such a move would force a bid for the whole company, which after yesterday’s rise of 25 dp to 368p has a market value of GBP200million. Other predators could include UPS of the US and Deutsche Post, although the latter may have competition issues since it bought Britain’s Exel in October for GBP3.7 billion.

Read More

DX Services plc – trading update

Posted by | Jan 6, 2006 | |

DX Services plc is providing a trading update in advance of entering its close period prior to the release of its interim results for the six months to 31 December 2005 which it expects to announce on 7 March 2006.

Read More

Royal Mail rival warns on profits

Posted by | Jan 6, 2006 | |

One of the companies taking on Royal Mail in the newly-liberalised postal market issued a profits warning today after a slump at a key business. DX Services, which specialises in delivering time-critical documents for banks, estate agents and lawyers, said first half operating profits would be down 12% on a like-for-like basis on the previous year. Iver, Buckinghamshire-based DX said that a slowdown in the property market and operational changes in the financial sector had hit its core documents business which should report revenues of around GBP41 million in the last six months of 2005, down from GBP42.9 million in the same period in 2004.

Read More

Speos Belgium Buys IT Firm Secumail

Posted by | Jan 6, 2006 | |

Document management company Speos Belgium SA, part of Belgian postal service company De Post/La Poste, has acquired IT firm Secumail, Speos said. The deal was concluded at the end of November 2005 but announced on January 4, 2006.
Following the transaction Secumail is still 24-pct owned by German paper management systems manufacturer Boewe Systec Benelux. The acquisition of Secumail is in line with Speos’ strategy to focus on document management solutions.

Read More

Profile: Analysis – DSTI Output

Posted by | Jan 5, 2006 | |

DSTi is turning heads with its high-quality, technologically advanced bespoke mail, writes Philip Chadwick.

Bristol may not have a reputation for being a revolutionary hotspot but one firm on the outskirts of the city believes it has hit on something that is changing the face of transactional mail.

DSTi Output has started to shout about its full-colour capabilities and the market is now beginning to respond. The combining of statements with full-colour marketing messages is something that DSTi believes has caught on, although it is still early days.

‘The challenge for us is to see this as a start, not an end,’ explains DSTi Output chief executive Tim Delahay. ‘The industry has woken up to us. We believe we have a revolutionary product and lead the market but for a while we have kept our powder dry.’

DSTi in Bristol was previously GE Mailing Services – part of the GE Capital and Finance Group. In 2002, it was bought by US transactional mail production firm DST International.

Read More

Can new players make inroads on Royal Mail's old stamping ground?

Posted by | Jan 5, 2006 | |

As full competition begins in the mail market, the operators licensed by Postcomm will be able to offer favourable deals to marketers. Yet Royal Mail’s monopoly hardly seems under threat, says Sarah Chambers

A recent survey commissioned by Postcomm revealed that eight out of ten business mailers expect a competitive mail market to reduce prices, offer better choices and improve the quality of Royal Mail’s service. They also believe the postal market should be opened to full competition as soon as possible.

From this month, businesses throughout the UK will be able to see whether these predictions come true. After 350 years, Royal Mail’s monopoly of the letters market will come to an end and mailers will be able to use other companies licensed by postal industry regulator Postcomm to carry their mail.

Read More

Business Post appoints new MD

Posted by | Jan 5, 2006 | |

Business Post has appointed a new managing director to lead its charge into the new deregulated mail delivery market. The Birmingham company, which has its national HQ near Bromford Lane, has appointed Steve Patrick as head of its UK Mail arm. The 49-year-old had been sales and marketing director for the division since its introduction as the first alternative to Royal Mail in 2004.
He replaces Guy Buswell, who has become chief executive.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

News Archive

Pin It on Pinterest