Deutsche Post’s 2005 profits up 40%

Deutsche Post’s 2005 profits up 40%    Europe’s largest postal and logistics conglomerate Deutsche Post World Net, owner of DHL, said its net income in 2005 jumped 39.9 percent to 2.2 billion euros ($2.6 billion), from 1.6 billion euros in 2004.
   The results do not include figures from Exel, which was acquired in December.
   The German company’s operating profit rose 25.1 percent to 3.8 billion euros ($4.5 billion) while revenue improved 3.3 percent to 44.6 billion euros ($52.9 billion).
   “We have been particularly pleased with the financial services sector and the existing logistics division, which have seen double-digit growth rates in the last year,” said Edgar Ernst, Deutsche Post’s chief financial officer.
   The company also forecast increases in profits as “the global logistics industry shows no sign of ending.” Operating profit by 2009 is expected to rise by one-third over 2005’s results to 5 billion euros ($5.9 billion).