Tag: Europe

TNT to leave German market?

Posted by | Nov 10, 2007 | |

TNT NV is mulling whether to turn its back on the German postal market, its Chief Financial Officer Peter Bakker said in a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The letter was reported on Saturday by Dutch media, including Het Financieele Dagblad, and confirmed by a TNT spokesman.

Bakker told Merkel in the letter that he strongly opposes plans for high minimum wages and the beneficial tax status for Deutsche Post, a TNT spokesman said.

“If this situation becomes reality we will reconsider our position, which could include leaving the country,” Bakker was quoted as saying by the spokesman.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Finance Minister Wouter Bos also received a copy of the letter as well as Junior Economy Minister Frank Heemskerk, who is responsible within the government for postal liberalisation.

Investors have closely followed the liberalisation process in the Netherlands as it affects the Dutch mail business, one of TNT’s most profitable units.

The Dutch parliament had approved the new postal law, which is due to end TNT’s remaining monopoly in the Netherlands from January 2008.

It includes a emergency procedure that allows the Economy Ministery to delay the liberalisation if other European countries and particularly Germany do not fully liberalise their markets at the same time.

A spokesman for the Economy Ministry said he had not seen Bakker’s letter yet and that the government was still aiming to introduce the new postal law on Jan. 1 next year.

Read More

Fredericia, Denmark OE Awarded IPC Honours

Posted by | Nov 9, 2007 | |

In a ceremony conducted in Denmark, the Fredericia Office of Exchange (OE) was awarded with the IPC Certificate of Excellence in the Management and Processing of International Letter Mail. International Post Corporation (IPC), president and CEO, Herbert-Michael Zapf made the presentation to Post Danmark, CEO, Helge Israelsen and Gert Thomsen, chief of the OE in Fredericia. The Fredericia office attained a successful rating in the recent IPC assessment and therefore was awarded the Certificate which will remain valid for three years. The OE in Copenhagen also holds this distinction.

The facility had to meet stringent standards in among other areas; work organization process planning and control, quality control systems and interface relationship. They achieved a very high overall score.

Read More

TNT to start share repurchase program of up to EUR 200 million

Posted by | Nov 9, 2007 | |

TNT today announces it will start a share repurchase program of up to EUR200 million on Monday 12 November 2007, as a first tranche of the previously announced EUR500 million share buyback program.

This EUR200 million first tranche will be executed by ABN AMRO Bank NV. TNT intends to cancel the ordinary shares acquired through the repurchase program.
Given the share buyback value of up to EUR200 million, the maximum number of ordinary shares to be repurchased under this program will be around 7.3 million, calculated on the basis of the last trade prior to this announcement. The share buyback will start on 12 November 2007 and will end after 4 months unless, amongst other conditions, prior to such date:

– The aggregate value of shares acquired by TNT since the start of this buyback reaches EUR200 million;
– Ten percent of the outstanding ordinary shares have been repurchased, including any shares already held by the company.

Read More

Savings on the rise but apathy still reigns

Posted by | Nov 9, 2007 | |

Savers across the UK could be losing out on billions of pounds in interest according to new research by the Post Office, which reveals that three in ten people have no idea what rate their savings account currently pays. Worryingly, almost half (42 per cent) of savers have always held their savings with the same company and never even looked at another provider.

As new statistics show UK household savings are up to 3.1 per cent for the second quarter of 2007, it seems that continuing financial market volatility could be putting people off more risky investments, and turning the focus towards more traditional methods of savings. But many savers aren’t maximising their savings potential and continuing to hold and pay money into accounts which deliver a poor return.

Despite 42 per cent of savers citing the interest rate as the most important factor when choosing a provider, the reality is that 39 per cent have no idea whether their provider upped its rate during the recent base rate rises – of which there were five between January 2006 and October 2007.

And with some of the most popular savings accounts paying as little as 1.05 per cent the Post Office® is urging savers to make sure they take advantage of some of the great interest rates currently available, and know their money is working as hard as it can for them.

Read More

Palletline takes independent route to show quality

Posted by | Nov 8, 2007 | |

Palletline plc has embarked on a highly rigorous programme of independent accreditation for its members – the first ever truly independent member audit undertaken by a UK pallet distribution network.

Palletline has commissioned the Freight Transport Association to audit all of its 67 member companies across the UK on all aspects of their operations – from insurance and health and safety, to disaster recovery planning and correct usage of Palletline livery on vehicles.

The findings will from the basis of a three-level accreditation scheme with member companies set to be offered financial incentives to reach the highest standard.

The first assessments will take place in early 2008 and these will be repeated annually from then on.

This project follows on from Palletline’s recent achievement of the ISO9001:2000 quality standard.

Kevin Buchanan, Managing Director of Palletline, commented: “We already undertake highly rigorous internal quality audits, but having recently gained ISO accreditation we wanted to demonstrate further how seriously we take the issue of quality, by opening up the network to stringent and independent scrutiny by a leading industry body.

“This process will provide further reassurance to both current and prospective customers of Palletline of the quality of our members and the service on offer.

“It’s also an example of how, once again, Palletline is at the forefront of innovation and continuous improvement in the palletised freight distribution sector.”

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