euro adhoc: Österreichische Post AG / quarterly or semiannual financial statement / Austrian Post: Earnings Improvement in Q1-3 2006

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10.11.2006

Revenues +3.0%, EBIT +26.5%

- Group revenues up 3.0% to EUR 1,271.1m - Solid revenue development
in all divisions (Mail: +1.9%, Parcel & Logistics +8.6%, Branch
Network +5.2%) - Successful acquisitions in 2006 ( Kolos/Slovakia,
Wiener Bezirkszeitung/Austria, Weber Escal/Croatia,
trans-o-flex/Germany) - Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up
26.5% to EUR 93.7m - Operating cash flow remains strong: +3.4% to EUR
193.6m - Upward revision of earnings forecast for 2006: EBIT increase
of 15% to 20% expected

The first three quarters of the 2006 financial year developed very
favourably for Austrian Post. Both revenues and earnings perceptibly
improved in Q1-3 2006 compared to the same period in the previous
year. Revenues climbed 3.0% to EUR 1,271.1m, whereas earnings before
interest and tax (EBIT) for the Austrian Post Group rose to EUR
93.7m, or 26.5% above last year's level. The share price also
developed quite positively, considerably surpassing the performance
of various comparable indices.

Increased revenues in all divisions In the first nine months of the
2006 financial year, Austrian Post Group revenues rose 3.0%, or EUR
37.6m, to EUR 1,271.1m. This improvement can be attributed to
increased revenues achieved by all divisions. Revenues from the Mail
Division were up 1.9%, the Parcel & Logistics Division improved by
8.6%, and Branch Network Division revenues climbed 5.2%.

In Q3 2006, revenues of Austrian Post also grew by 3.1% to EUR
409.7m, although this quarter was one working day shorter than the
comparable period of the previous year. The Mail Division was
characterised by rising direct mail volumes in the advertising
market, as well as a revenue increase in the Media Post segment. The
Parcels & Logistics Division posted the highest revenue increase,
featuring very solid growth in the international parcels segment. The
Branch Network Division also profited from a rise in revenues
generated by the sale of telecommunications products.

Revenue development Q1-3 Q1-3 Change Q3 Q3
EUR m 2005 2006 % 2005 2006
Austrian Post Group 1,233.5 1,271.1 +3.0% 397.5 409.7
Mail Division 941.1 958.8 +1.9% 302.4 308.3
Parcel & Logistics
Division 150.5 163.5 +8.6% 49.0 52.1
Branch Network
Division 138.2 145.4 +5.2% 44.8 48.6
Other / Consolidation 3.7 3.3 -10.9% 1.3 0.7
Earnings increase by 26.5%
EUR m Q1-3 Q1-3 Change Q3 Q3
2005 2006 % 2005 2006
Total revenue 1,233.5 1,271.1 +3.0% 397.5 409.7
EBITDA 152.6 173.4 +13.7% 49.5 55.5
EBIT 74.1 93.7 +26.5% 17.8 27.4

During Q1-3 2006, the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) of
Austrian Post rose to EUR 93.7m, an increase of 26.5% compared to the
same period last year. Subsequently the EBIT margin amounted to 7.4%.
EBITDA for Q1-3 2006 of EUR 173.4m was up 13.7% year-on-year. The
EBITDA margin amounted to 13.6%.

All operating divisions made a positive contribution to earnings.
EBIT at the Mail Division was EUR 190.8m, at the Parcel & Logistics
Division EUR 15.9m, and at the Branch Network Division EUR 8.5m.

Solid balance sheet structure - equity ratio of close to 50% The
balance sheet structure of the Austrian Post Group reflects the
positive business development of the company in recent years. The
equity ratio amounted to close to 50% as at 30 September 2006, and
the company's financial strength further improved. Financial assets
plus cash and cash equivalents rose by 28.7% since the beginning of
the year to EUR 511.5m.

Operating cash flow up 3.4% to EUR 193.6m In Q1-3 2006, the operating
cash flow before changes in working capital of Austrian Post rose by
3.4% to EUR 193.6m compared to the same period of the previous year.
This rise reflects the improvement in Group earnings, as well as
increases in provisions and in depreciation and amortisation. Since
the beginning of the year, the net increase in cash and cash
equivalents amounted to EUR 125.9m.

Positive Outlook for 2006 Austrian Post continues to expect a stable
mail market in 2006. Based on this assumption, Austrian Post
anticipates a slight increase in total revenues in 2006. In the light
of the performance achieved in Q1-3 2006, the earlier prediction of
an EBIT increase ranging from 10% to 15% has been revised upwards to
between 15% and 20%.

Austrian Post's medium-term goal is to sustainably establish its EBIT
margin in the 7% to 8% range.

Vienna, 10 November 2006

end of announcement euro adhoc 10.11.2006 06:55:48
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ots Originaltext: Österreichische Post AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Austrian Post
Head of Investor Relations
Harald Hagenauer
Phone: +43 (1) 515 51 - 30401
E-Mail: harald.hagenauer@post.at

Corporate Affairs Department
Public Relations
Michael Homola
Phone: +43 (1) 515 51 - 32010
E-Mail: michael.homola@post.at

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


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