Austrian Post's results good

摘要

Austrian Post reported 《satisfactory》 results for the first half of 2008. The company increased sales to EUR 1.199 billion in the first six months, a 7.3% improvement compared with the like-for-like period last year. The earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) amounted to EUR 139.8 million in the period under review, 7.4% better than the same figure for 2007. The ebit declined by 3.6% to EUR 81.9 million. The group profit for the Austrian mail service provider was EUR 70.1 million, 3.4% more than in the same half of 2007. The shareholders can look forward to a 3.8% increase in yield per share to EUR 1. Austrian Post director general Anton Wais explained recently in Vienna that 《the increase in turnover resulted from consolidation of the acquired companies, as well as from organic growth.》 He said that this was all the more gratifying, as 《two important mail-order custom- ers left at the beginning of 2008.》 Otto and Neckermann transferred to Austrian Post's competitor Hermes, which was a very painful loss. Nevertheless, Wais underscored that Austrian Post was able to 《more than compensate》 for the elimination of the two major customers.