Tag: Europe

Austrian Post: Good business development in the first quarter of 2008

Posted by | May 16, 2008 | |

– Group revenue up 6.0pct, to EUR 609.9m based on the consolidation of new subsidiaries
– Volume and revenue were impacted in a quarterly year-on-year comparison by one working day less and the timing of Easter already in March 2008
– Expected revenue and earnings reduction due to the loss of two parcels customers in Austria
– Other parcel customers were retained; restructuring of the parcels business proceeding as planned
– Earnings development in the first quarter confirms forecast for 2008
– EBIT of EUR 49.9m, EBIT margin of 8.2pct
– Group profit for the period of EUR 41.9m, earnings per share of EUR 0.6
– Operating cash flow before changes in working capital continues to be stable, at EUR 77.0m
– Outlook for 2008 confirmed: stable to slight increase in revenue, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) only slightly below 2007, and then continually rising.

All in all, Austrian Post confirms its original forecasts for the 2008 financial year, namely a stable development to a slight increase in its total revenue (up to 3pct ). This includes the integration of the new subsidiaries acquired during the course of 2007. Despite the adverse effects on the parcels segment, Austrian Post expects earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in 2008 to be only slightly below the level achieved in the year 2007, and then continually rise in subsequent years. Accordingly, the EBIT margin will be slightly below 7pct in 2008, and then reach the targeted range of between 7pct and 8pct in the following years. Based on a stable cash flow development and a solid balance sheet structure, Austrian Post expects to continue pursuing an attractive dividend policy.

Read More

Warsaw is cultural capital with the lowest price tag

Posted by | May 16, 2008 | |

Culture vultures who want to save hundreds of pounds on the cost of an arts and entertainment-packed short break should head for Warsaw. The Polish capital was far and away the cheapest city for a cultural weekend away, according to the new Cost of Culture report conducted by Post Office® Travel Services.¹

Even though sterling buys 22 per cent fewer Polish zloty than a year ago, the GBP 75 price tag – which included visits to Warsaw’s historic art galleries, museums and heritage sites, together with nights at the renowned Polish National Opera, ballet and a symphony concert² – weighed in at less than 25 per cent of the equivalent London cost.

London proved by far the most expensive of the 10 cultural capitals surveyed by the Post Office®. Its itinerary of 10 cultural highlights, which included trips to the Royal Opera House, Buckingham Palace and the Victoria & Albert Museum, costs around GBP 308, despite the offer of free entry to its national museums and galleries.

By contrast, while the sliding pound has made Prague up to 25 per cent more expensive than a year ago, the Czech capital rates as great value for lovers of the arts. It was second only to Warsaw, at just under GBP 104 for a culture-filled trip.

The survey of Europe and North America’s top cultural centres included six eurozone capitals and, as with other price comparison reports by the Post Office®, revealed a huge disparity in costs between these destinations.

The Cost of Culture survey identifies the five best value choices for each of the six cultural categories researched (allowing one entry per city in each category)³ and found that Paris was the only city not to feature. However clued-up culture vultures can cut their costs by visiting Paris on the first Sunday of each month, when galleries are free.4

The Post Office® Cost of Culture survey is available online for holidaymakers to view at postoffice.co.uk/costofculture

Read More

Posta Romana fights for market share

Posted by | May 15, 2008 | |

Compania Nationala Posta Romana (Romanian Post Office Company) estimates it will employ more than 35,500 people by the end of this year, 400 more than last year, despite the gradual elimination of 2,650 jobs.

“We will outsource valuable parcel shipping activities to Group 4 Securicor, and 1,100 employees will most likely be taken over by this firm in a year’s time. We’ll also automate mail-processing centres and outsource maintenance and cleaning activities. Overall, we’ll slash 2,650 jobs,” said Mihai Toader, manager of Posta Romana.

However, Toader stated most employees would be moved to other positions, with the number of employees expected to increase constantly in the coming years against turnover growth.

Posta Romana ended last year with turnover worth 1bn RON (312m euros) and forecasts 40 pct turnover growth for this year. First quarter figures confirm this projection, after turnover derived in the first three months increased 47 pct on 2007, and reached 94m euros.

The local election campaign will also encourage the company’s turnover growth.

In particular, Posta Romana redevelopment is being aided by contracts with private firms, and company representatives want to cut the share of contracts sealed with the state in turnover.

Practically, the entire delivery and postal services market has followed an upward trend in recent years.

Read More

Increased revenues and costs for Norway Post

Posted by | May 15, 2008 | |

Norway Post’s revenue in the first quarter. The operating revenues increased by 4pct to MNOK 6 997.

The earnings before non-recurring items came to MNOK 74, compared to MNOK 219 in the first quarter 2007. The profit performance in Q1 is influenced by the reduced volume during the Easter week. Easter fell in March in 2008, while it was in April in 2007. The earnings before non-recurring items as at 30 April (first four months) came to MNOK 208, an improvement of MNOK 35 compared to the corresponding period last year.

It was primarily developments in the Mail segment and the Easter effect that made a negative contribution to the quarterly result. Although the letter volume is increasing slightly, the decline in the volume of addressed letter products and banking transactions at post offices is continuing.

Norway Post’s Nordic operations improved during the quarter and now provide around 25 per cent of the Group’s total revenues. The Q1 operating revenues from activities outside Norway came to NOK 1.7 billion – a rise of 19.2 per cent compared to Q1 2007.

The Group is experiencing increased competition in all its business areas. The EU has decided on a liberalisation of the postal market in Europe and this will lead to full competition as from 2011. On 1 April of this year, Sweden Post and Post Denmark announced that they are to merge to form a large Nordic postal and logistics group.

One of the most important means of improving cost effectiveness and ensuring a high delivery quality is the new high-tech letter centre at Robsrud outside Oslo. This facility is under construction and is expected to be finished in 2009.

Read More

Market research into customers' needs from the postal service and analysis of the net cost of aspects of the current universal service (UK)

Posted by | May 15, 2008 | |

Postcomm has today published some important research findings to help inform the debate that was started in its Strategy Review issued in August 2007 about what sort of universal service would meet the needs of today’s customers. Publication coincides with Postcomm’s second submission of evidence to the Independent Review Panel.

This research was undertaken to help inform Postcomm’s policy making; none of the research represents policy proposals as such.

Postcomm’s research covers two important areas:

1. Market research carried out in 2007 into customers’ needs from the postal service in the UK. This adds to the body of research carried out jointly by Postcomm, Postwatch and Royal Mail in 2006 and to research that Postwatch plans to publish shortly. This work was commissioned by Postcomm because Royal Mail have little recent and detailed information about what customers need from a universal service.
2. Econometric modelling to estimate the impact of changes to some aspects of the current universal service on Royal Mail’s costs and revenues. This work was commissioned by Postcomm because Royal Mail’s own costing system was not designed to produce any information of this nature. Royal Mail has co-operated with the research and analysis, providing data and participating in discussions on the methodology used and the validity of many of the underlying assumptions.

Postcomm believes that the research is based on the soundest possible approach in terms of econometric modelling, cost derivation and the use of consumer research. However, as with all research, there are limitations and these are explained fully in the reports.

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

 

Pin It on Pinterest