Posten 2005 year-end report

• Net sales totaled SEK 25,277m (25,120)
• Operating earnings totaled SEK 1,281m (1,115). Last year's operating earnings included capital gains of SEK 206m
• After-tax earnings totaled SEK 1,478m (1,297)
• Equity-assets ratio was 33 percent (25)
• Cash flows from operating activities totaled SEK 2,251m (1,753)

President and CEO Erik Olsson comments:
Posten has again reported stronger earnings. We have exceeded our financial targets for the second year running. I am proud of what we have achieved over a short period of time. Since fall 2003, we have turned from financial crisis to financial stability. We have achieved this through successfully compensating loss of income within messaging with implemented efficiency measures and increased revenue within logistics and direct mail. This gives us the necessary prerequisites for further developing our business in the face of increased competition.
 
Nordic postal companies and international players stepped up acquisitions during 2005. This will mean tougher competition and continued price pressure throughout the Nordic message forwarding and logistics markets, in which the Swedish market is the only postal market fully subjected to competition.
 
No decision regarding the future of Svensk Kassaservice, Swedish Cashier Service, has been given. Unfortunately, this means continued uncertainty and disquiet for employees, and continued unfortunate lack of clarity in relation to customers.
 
We have a good financial position, we have the world's best delivery performance, our measures for reducing sickness absenteeism have begun to give results, and our Group operations in the Nordic region are developing positively. We are now focusing on enabling our customers from a holistic perspective to experience Posten's service as of world class standard
 
Please direct any questions to
Posten's Press Office, tel +46 (0)8-23 10 10
 
The complete year-end report can be downloaded from the following link:

Posten connects people and organizations around the world by delivering mail promptly, reliably and cost-effectively. We drive value creation by combining conventional postal services and convenient electronic solutions, and integrating these services into customer businesses. With over 3,000 retail service outlets, we provide daily service to 4.5 million homes and 900,000 businesses in Sweden. Every day we handle close to 20 million pieces of mail. With sales of over SEK 25 billion and roughly 30,000 employees, the group is one of the largest in Sweden. The group's parent, Posten AB (publ), is wholly owned by the Swedish Government. For more information, please visit our website at www.posten.se