Service-oriented - Die Schweizerische Post

Annual Report | Financial Report | Financial statements of Swiss Post Group
Statutory mandates
Statutory mandates require Swiss Post to provide a universal service throughout Switzerland. Pricing within
the universal service is not at Swiss Post’s discretion. Price changes affecting reserved services (monopoly) are
subject to approval by the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication
(UVEK). The price watchdog can check the prices at any time, owing to Swiss Post‘s dominant position in the
market.
Based on the Postal Act, Swiss Post provides reserved, non­reserved and competitive services. Reserved services
(where Swiss Post has a monopoly) are provided by the Mail (addressed letters) and International (mailing
and receipt of international letters) segments. Since 1 January 2004, all products (excluding catalogues weighing
between 0.5 and 1 kg) in the Logistics Services segment have been considered as non­reserved services or
competitive services (complete deregulation).
The letter market was partially deregulated on 1 April 2006. The monopoly limit was reduced to 100 grams.
Swiss Post can thus continue to ensure a high­quality basic service at reasonable prices. By providing a basic
postal service, it is helping to strengthen the public service in Switzerland.
After compensation for services provided by the post office network, non­covered costs remain, which are
charged to the Mail segment (reserved services). The post office network’s operating profit of 27 million francs
(2004: 19 million francs) corresponds to the profit from the sale of non­postal brand­name products. This
results in higher expenses, as part of a new system of measurement, which are reflected in the lower operating
result.
Compensation from the Swiss Confederation
Swiss Post receives the following compensation for logistics services from the Swiss Confederation, disclosed
under “Net sales”:
– Mail segment: 80 million francs (2005: 80 million francs) for uncovered costs incurred in transporting newspapers.
– Passenger Transport segment: 187 million francs (2005: 181 million francs) for public passenger transport
services provided.
Composition of segment assets and liabilities
If possible, the assets and liabilities resulting from a segment’s operating activities are assigned to the appropriate
segments. As the segment “Financial services” result includes financial income and expenses relating to
operations, the corresponding interest­bearing assets and liabilities are accounted for in the segment’s assets
and liabilities.
The “Other” column mainly includes the following items in the segment’s assets and liabilities:
– the carrying amounts of the parent’s centrally managed properties
– employee benefit obligations
Unallocated assets and liabilities comprise those (primarily loans, e.g. to PostBus operators) that are essentially
financial and therefore not assigned to segment assets or segment liabilities.
Further information
Non­cash expenses/income primarily include those incurred in setting up and releasing provisions without
affecting cash.
107