Tag: France

GeoPost announces sales of 3.1 billion euros in 2007

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

In 2007, sales of GeoPost, subsidiary of the French La Poste Group and leader in the European BtoB express delivery market, topped the EUR 3-billion mark. Its 2007 sales totalled 3.171 billion euros, an increase of 6.8 pct compared to 2006, on a like-for-like basis and at constant exchange rate.

GeoPost consolidated its position in Europe by acquiring Seur’s Santander franchise, in Spain, and reinforced its partnership with the leading express delivery company in Turkey, Yurtiçi Kargo, by acquiring a 25 pct-stake in the company. In South Africa, a new joint venture with the Laser group has enabled GeoPost to move into the country’s domestic express market.

GeoPost has expanded its international brand DPD into Poland, Benelux, Russia and the Baltic States. Thanks to its subsidiaries, leaders in their respective countries, and to a first rate DPD European transport network, GeoPost is today, in terms of sales, the third leading express parcel service provider in Europe.

Agreements signed with Air France /SoDeXi and Aramex have given GeoPost access to intercontinental routes.

Hence, in terms of volume, 2007 saw GeoPost confirm its position as the second largest express company in Europe – 528 million parcels delivered, in 2007 – for 300,000 customers.

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Sixteen Postal Operators Sign REIMS III Terminal Dues Agreement

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

After two years of negotiations European postal operators have reached a new agreement on terminal dues payments replacing the REIMS II Agreement in force since 1997.

The REIMS III Agreement took effect on 1 January 2008 with sixteen European postal operators committing to it. REIMS stands for Remuneration for the Exchange of International Mails. The sixteen posts that are now part of REIMS III are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Additional posts are expected to sign the agreement, which will remain open for signature for all present and former parties of the REIMS II Agreement and the REIMS East Agreement that participated in its negotiation.

REIMS III continues with quality of service standards much more ambitious than the targets under the EU Postal Directive. The individualized penalties in REIMS III for not reaching the J+1 standard and a target of 93 percent will continue to produce quality of service benefits. Transitional rules have been outlined that will continue to raise targets for those parties that have not yet reached 93% J+1.

A second benefit in the REIMS III agreement is that ensures that terminal dues as stipulated in the EU Postal Directive are cost-based, and are based on regulated domestic tariffs in the delivering country.

The parties to REIMS III have the firm commitment to continue to offer Third Party Access in line with the EU Commission’s 2003 Exemption Decision.

With the REIMS East transitional arrangement and the REIMS and REIMS East IDM Agreements incorporated into the REIMS III Agreement, it is expected that more REIMS East parties will sign the REIMS III Agreement during 2008.

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TNT Express opens new depots in France

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

TNT Express France has opened three new depots in eastern and central France to expand its network that already comprised 120 locations across the country.

The new platform at Nitry, 25 km south of Auxerre, is perfectly located next to the A6 motorway and will become a key base linking together the Paris region, the north and the south-east of France, TNT said.

The 3,300 sqm facility, on a 17,000 sqm site, is fitted with 39 docks for trucks and vans. Some 1,200 palettes are loaded and reloaded daily at the centre, which is served by 24 linehaul routes, the company added.

TNT has also opened a new depot in Pont-sur-Yonne near Sens in the same region to replace a smaller site at Appoigny. This 1,800 sqm facility, on an area of 9,200 sqm, has about 37 docks for 28 light vehicles and 9 lorries destined for regional transportation of shipments. The new depot, serving about 1,000 customers in the region, has increased the overall handling capacity at the location.

In addition, TNT opened a new sorting centre near Chambéry, the capital of the French department Haute-Savoie in eastern France. Situated next to the A43 motorway, the centre is a central distribution point in the region for the collection, sorting and express delivery of parcels and documents.

The 1,500 sqm facility has 30 docks for lorries and light vehicles, and already handles 3,200 inbound and outbound parcels a day. It replaces the previous building in the same area which became insufficient in terms of capacity.

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E-BOX is condemned for damaging La Poste and counterfeit

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

La Poste initiated a legal action against E-Box on 6 June 2006 and requested the cancellation of trade marks arguing the similarity to La Poste brands and claiming it could create confusion to the consumers. La Poste also requested EUR 215,000 for compensation.

In response, E-BOX replied claiming that La Poste has unfair competition and abuse of dominant position for the realization of the self service project 24/7 proposed by EBOX from 2001 to 2004 (in partnership with La Poste). E-BOX also requested EUR 2 million for compensation.

The brands subject to the legal actions were presented to the pertinent French authorities after the promulgation of the postal law in May 2005 which created the ARCEP organization (French postal regulator).

E-BOX considers that the simultaneity of the action forces in justice against E-BOX and the launch of CITYSSIMO (www.cityssimo.fr) in 2006 (automatic delivery of parcels of La Poste) is not a coincidence.

On 11 March 2008, after 2 years of legal procedures, the Court of Justice issued its decision (This sentence is provisional since one of the parts can still appeal):

The tribunal:

– Condemns E-BOX for counterfeiting by imitation of the following brands: ’agence postale rapide ebox’’, agence postale jaune’’, agence postale orange’’,’’agence postale erte’’, ‘’point poste jaune’’, ‘’point poste orange’’, and ‘’point poste vert’’. E-BOX must pay to La Poste EUR 20,500.

– Declares inadmissible the counterclaim of EBOX against La Poste

In revenge the tribunal:

– Don’t approve the nullity of the ’agence postale rapide e-box’’ brand
– Declares the validity of the following E-BOX brands: ‘’post ebox’’, “e-box, l’ autre poste’’, et ‘’e-box, une autre idée de la poste’’.

E-BOX is not going to appeal to this sentence due to the lack of financial resources.

In 2006, E-BOX in a context of opening to the competition of the postal markets, several times nominated to “World Mail Awards” for IT innovation, nourished a legitimate ambition of development of its concept of fast station and self-service service 24/7.

After 2 years of legal process, E-BOX:

– Stopped the exploitation of the first point French automated parcel on October 30, 2007
– Proposes the dismissal of the full time employees
– Presents negative Capital stocks at the end of 2007 in spite of a strong capitalization (EUR 1.680.000).

E-BOX will call to a General Meeting at the end of April 2008 to discuss the possibility to declare the company in bankruptcy.

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