The postal operator was set up in 2007 and is run by Mihai Balaj and Preotescu, who also hold a 14.8% stake each. Other shareholders are Radu Constantin Potolea (44.4%) and Austria’s postal company Austrian Post Group (26%). The latter entered the shareholding structure of Postmaster in 2011.
According to Preotescu, the operator has 1,700 distributors, 47 local offices, a fleet of 100 vehicles and a distribution capacity of 6,000 tons per year.
“We are ready to compete with Posta Romana on about 80% of the area and cover 95% of the population. We are confident we will be able to ensure more efficient deliveries and affordable offers,” he added.
State-owned postal company Posta Romana holds a monopoly on mail under 50 grams until December 31, 2012.
According to Preotescu, Posta Romana registered revenues of 560 million lei (EUR125.4 million) on this segment in 2010.
Postmaster will invest EUR1 million in the necessary equipment.
Postmaster representatives said the firm registered a profit of RON2 million in 2010 and RON2.2 million last year. They estimate the operator will follow the same trend in 2012.
According to telecom regulator ANCOM, the Romanian postal services market dropped 2.3% in 2010 to RON1.45 billion, and postal traffic fell 10.4% to 412.54 million deliveries.
Of the total number of deliveries in 2010, Posta Romana processed 79.75%. (EUR1=RON4.4639)