…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Royal Mail, owned by International Distributions Services (IDS), has revealed a significant loss of over £1 billion for the full year ending on March 26.
The company’s operating loss was £1.04 billion, compared to earnings of £250 million in the previous year.
Underlying Operating Losses:
On an underlying basis, Royal Mail experienced operating losses of £419 million, in contrast to the profits of £416 million achieved the previous year.
These figures indicate a substantial decline in the company’s financial performance.
Blaming Strike Action:
IDS attributed the losses to crippling industrial action, highlighting the negative impact of strikes on Royal Mail’s operations.
Additionally, IDS took a £539 million writedown on the value of Royal Mail, citing the effects of strikes and the prevailing risk environment as contributing factors.
IDS’s Overall Performance:
IDS, the parent company of Royal Mail, reported an annual operating loss of £748 million, compared to profits of £577 million in the previous year.
However, IDS aims to recover and return to underlying earnings by the end of the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Challenges Ahead:
Despite recently reaching an agreement with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), Royal Mail faces further challenges.
Chief Executive Simon Thompson has announced his departure by the end of the year, creating a leadership transition within the company.
Moreover, news emerged last week that Royal Mail is under investigation for failing to meet its delivery targets over the past year.
Conclusion:
Royal Mail’s financial results for the past year reflect a significant loss, primarily attributed to strike action.
The company’s parent organization, IDS, also faced a decline in profitability.
As Royal Mail tackles ongoing challenges, including leadership changes and delivery target investigations, it strives to restore its financial performance and return to underlying earnings in the coming years.