Statistical Observatory on Postal Activities in France – 2006
Statistical Observatory on Postal Activities in France – 2006
Read MoreTag: La Poste
EU may open up postal markets by 2011
European Union countries are likely to agree to a delayed opening of the bloc’s postal markets to full competition, a French minister said yesterday.
The European Commission has proposed stripping away the remaining barriers to competition from 2009 but the measure needs approval from the bloc’s member states and the European Parliament.
The measure has sparked protests by postal workers in many EU nations, particularly France, who fears job losses.
EU transport ministers meet in Luxembourg on Monday with the aim of reaching a political agreement.
Under parliament’s first-reading compromise, full liberalization would not start until 2011 with the 12 mostly eastern European states that joined the EU in 2004 and after having until 2013 to implement the reform.
Parliament also effectively allowed Luxembourg and Greece to delay liberalization until 2013.
The EU assembly’s compromise is expected to form the basis of the text adopted by ministers.
The market for letters weighing up to 50 grams is currently shielded from competition. Mail above that weight is fully liberalized.
The measure contains safeguards to ensure a range of everyday services, such as letter collection and delivery, known as the universal service, is maintained even in the most thinly populated areas.
Parliament also inserted a reciprocity clause so a country that is fully liberalized does not have to authorize competitors from states that have yet to open their own sectors.
Swedish and British postal markets are already fully liberalized.
Germany and the Netherlands are due to open theirs to full competition next year.
The sector employs 5.2 million people, who deliver 135 billion items a year to the European Union’s 490 million consumers.
Read MoreLa Poste heads for higher 2007 profits as express and parcels grow
The French postal operator Groupe La Poste is on course for a double-digit rise in operating profits this year thanks to good growth for its express and parcels businesses and stable mail activities. Changes are meanwhile taking place at subsidiaries Chronopost and Europe Airpost.
The group announced that it achieved a half-year operating profit of EUR 829 million on revenues up 3.7 pct at EUR 10.5 billion (on a like-for-like comparison). Net profits ended at EUR 504 million.
La Poste stated that the results are “in line” with its planning targets, and reiterated its aim of achieving a 12 pct rise in operating profits and a 5.8 pct operating profit margin this year. It invested EUR 590 million in the half-year, including EUR 105 million for express acquisitions.
The mail business increased half-year revenues by 2.6 pct to EUR 5.95 billion. Volumes were “virtually stable” compared to the general downward trend in mail traffic across Europe, while revenues benefited from new direct marketing customers and added-value products for consumers, La Poste pointed out.
The express division (GeoPost) increased revenues by 8.4 pct (6.4 pct on a like-for-like basis) to EUR 1.54 billion. GeoPost continued its international expansion in the first half-year, including acquisitions of 50pct in South African company Laser and 25 pct in Turkey’s Yurtici Kargo, La Poste stated. The French domestic parcels business (ColiPoste) increased revenues by 6.5pct to EUR 646 million thanks to a surge in e-commerce business.
Read MoreLa Poste to choose between two candidates to buy Europe Airpost
The board of directors of La Poste, the French national postal services group, will today decide on an acquirer for the group’s air freight unit, Europe Airpost, formerly Aeropostale. The national group, which owns 100 per cent of the company, had two candidates to choose from as at September 10: the Irish freight company Air Contractors, and the French passenger carrier Aigle Azur.
At 47m euros, the second offer is substantially higher than the first (38m). Europe Airpost, which has 26 aircraft, is active in both freight and passenger transport.
La Poste Bank consolidate plans of development and sign new partnerships
The commercial activity during the first semester of 2007, confirm the dynamism in the bank retail market. La Poste Bank has produced good results in life insurance services, mortgages and the increasing number of active clients in the bank. La Poste Bank set up partnership with the main players of the market: – Mortages: La Poste Bank and Mamut decided to expand its partnership signed last 4 April 2007. After the success of the mortgages under this agreement, both companies launched a new range of mortgages in two more regions: Amiens and Rennes. – In the money market, La Poste Bank and the General Society Bank (“Société Générale”), one of the biggest and oldest bank in France”, are in negations to set up a partnership. Both groups are the most important players in the money market in France. Each company represent 11 pct of the total market of bank cards and each have around 5000 ATMs in all France. – In assets management, La Poste Bank has two new projects of subsidiaries: the first is the structure management and the second is in partnership with Ofi Asset Management. These projects show the commitment of the bank to consolidate its position in asset management. – Regarding the bank exclusion issue, La Poste Bank and CMP Bank signed a commercial and financial agreement in order to increase their service to the smaller clients. The agreement was signed on 13th September 2007. – In money transfer market, La Poste Bank is developing a project with Coripost Africa S.A., the services will include the networking of 25 African offices. – In the area of Micro-credit, La Poste Bank, obtained on 30th May the approval of the Social Funds Institution (Fonds de Cohésion Sociale) for the access of its funds. La Poste Bank initiated these activities in the Poitou-Charentes region, but it will expand in other regions. It is estimated a total of 2300 mortgages during the next years.
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