euro adhoc: Österreichische Post AG / other / Quelle Reduces Volume of Parcels Delivered by Austrian Post, Remains Important Customer for Catalogues and Direct Mailings

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
for the content of this announcement.
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Company Information

07.11.2007

Mail-order company Quelle divides parcel services among different
providers

Quelle Austria has informed Austrian Post of its decision to
primarily rely on the parcel delivery services of an alternative
postal service provider. Austrian Post will continue to be
responsible for the delivery of all Quelle catalogues and printed
documents produced by its subsidiary meiller direct, and for the
return parcel service customers have the opportunity to take
advantage of. Accordingly, Quelle will remain an important customer
of Austrian Post.

Austrian Post has to accept this decision of the free market, and
will thus continue striving to win back any lost parcel volume on the
basis of its outstanding delivery quality. Austrian Post offers an
exceptional portfolio of services. 97% of all parcels are delivered
on the second working day, and its extensive branch network of over
1,300 company-owned branches, more than 600 external postal partners
and 183 OMV petrol stations with VIVA shops that accept parcels, and
the Post.24 stations with about 5,000 rural delivery staff who also
take back returned parcels ensures nationwide coverage.

The measures announced by Quelle as of 2008 will have a negative
effect on the revenue and earnings of Austrian Post. Quelle´s planned
reduction in parcel volume by about 7 million parcels annually and
the resulting changes in the market environment are expected to
negatively impact Austrian Post´s operating income by approximately
EUR 20m.

Austrian Post will more intensively adapt its product portfolio to
proactively respond to the market trend favouring specialised postal
service providers. "This change on the marketplace will now
accelerate the implementation of planned measures. The strategy we
adopted was correct. A restructuring of our logistics operations is
imminent", says Anton Wais, Chairman of the Management Board of
Austrian Post.

Austrian Post is continually improving the services provided to all
mail-order companies. Furthermore, Austrian Post will continue to
deliver mail every day to every doorstep, making postal services
available to its customers throughout the country. In this regard,
there is no level playing field in terms of the universal service
obligation to provide universal postal services. Alternative
providers are completely free to choose delivery speed, determine the
regions in which they provide services and terms under which they
conclude employment contracts.

Austrian Post remains committed to promoting its business operations
in the B2B (business to business) segment, on the basis of which it
is strategically positioning itself as a strong, reliable partner in
the direct mail and parcels segments, in Western Europe as well as in
Eastern and South East Europe.

end of announcement euro adhoc 07.11.2007 07:49:29
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ots Originaltext: Österreichische Post AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Austrian Post
Investor Relations:
Harald Hagenauer
Tel.: +43(0)57767-30401
mailto:harald.hagenauer@post.at

Public Relations:
Michael Homola
Tel.: +43(0)57767-32010
mailto:michael.homola@post.at

Branche: Transport
ISIN: AT0000APOST4
WKN: A0JML5
Index: ATX
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / stock market


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