OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 27, 2010) - Canada Post Corporation tabled its 2009 annual report today in Parliament, reporting a profit for the15th consecutive year. The Corporation recorded consolidated net income of $281 million on revenue of $7.3 billion, and reported an operating margin of 4.9 per cent.
The profit in 2009 does not truly reflect the underlying weakness in Canada Post Corporation's operating performance and the financial challenges ahead. The company would have reported a loss in 2009 if it were not for stringent cost containment measures that resulted in a reduction of $540 million of planned costs by the Canada Post segment, as well as an unplanned non-cash reduction of $271 million in employee future benefits expense.
In 2009 Canada Post, like many other businesses, faced one of the worst economic climates in decades. Volumes and revenues in all three core Canada Post segment lines of business, as well as its largest subsidiary, Purolator Courier, fell sharply. Consolidated revenue declined by $421 million from 2008 levels.
In spite of the challenges faced in 2009, the Corporation met or exceeded Delivery Service Performance targets for all products and registered a gain in our externally surveyed Customer Value Index score. The number of lost-time workplace accidents fell by 22 per cent and the company reported its highest ever employee engagement score. In addition, the company's $2-billion "Postal Transformation" modernization program hit key milestones in its development, leading up to the opening this June of a new, state-of-the-art mail processing plant in Winnipeg.
"Thanks to the tremendous commitment and effort by our employees and management team to reduce our operating costs, we were able to remain profitable in 2009 while maintaining our service to Canadians and improving safety for our people," says Moya Greene, President and CEO. "It was certainly one of our most challenging years. Looking ahead, as mail volumes are predicted to decline further, cost containment measures will not be sufficient to sustain our company. We must continue to modernize and seek ways to grow our business."
In September 2009, the Government of Canada announced the Canadian Postal Service Charter. The Charter outlines the expectations concerning Canada Post's service. The 2009 annual report includes the first report on its performance against the Government's expectations. The Corporation will continue to report each year on the Charter.
"The Board of Directors supports management's Postal Transformation strategy, which is aimed at modernizing operations on an unprecedented scale. The success achieved in 2009 gives me comfort that we are well positioned to face the future," added Marc A. Courtois, Chairman of Canada Post's Board of Directors.
Canadians can learn more about Canada Post by reading the annual report at www.canadapost.ca/annual_report, and are invited to attend the Corporation's annual meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 4, 2010 or listen to the live webcast at www.canadapost.ca/publicmeeting.
About Canada Post
The Canada Post Group delivered close to 11 billion pieces of mail to 15 million destinations in Canada last year. With approximately 71,000 employees and 6,500 post offices, The Canada Post Group maintains one of the largest retail networks in the country and serves 34 million Canadians. In 2009, net income for Canada Post and its subsidiaries, Purolator Courier and SCI Group, as well as joint venture Innovapost (jointly owned by Canada Post and CGI), was CDN $281 million on revenues of CDN $7.3 billion. Canada Post provides innovative physical and electronic delivery solutions, creating value for our customers, employees and Canadians. Canada Post has been chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 employers by Mediacorp four years in a row and in 2009 was named "Most Iconic Brand in Canada" by Brand Finance Canada, and one of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights™. Website: www.canadapost.ca.