Deutsche Post World Net continues to focus on meeting the needs of its customers at all times. To do this, we aim to make optimum use of our global platform. In regional expansion of the services network, priority is given to organic growth over business acquisitions.
Starting 1 January 2008, our MAIL Division with its diverse range of mail and parcel services will face heightened competition in the liberalised German mail market. This may result in loss of market share, most of all in the business customer segment. The spread of digital technology also continues, with conventional mail increasingly being replaced by electronic communication methods. We aim to absorb impending losses of market share in the German mail market as far as possible through consistent customer focus, new products and further internationalisation of our mail business. The parcels business in Germany is unaffected by mail market liberalisation, since it has been exposed to competition for many years.
The EXPRESS Division has unified its worldwide management structure. The aim here is maximum possible efficiency in marshalling resources and capital expenditure and to strengthen our position in the regions we serve. As reflected in the successful launch of our
First Choice programme, customer satisfaction is amongst our central strategic goals. In a fiercely competitive environment, our focus on customer satisfaction and cost efficiency forms the basis for numerous projects, including the cost-efficient expansion of our infrastructure. Despite intensive planning, temporary quality lapses may arise in the course of complex infrastructure projects, in rare instances with an adverse effect on revenue and earnings.
The LOGISTICS Division has integrated logistics provider Exel sooner than planned. The division grew to take in the European overland transport business in 2006 and now offers a full logistics service portfolio. We plan to extend our market lead, to enhance customer focus and to continue our predominantly organic growth. Our growth targets are dependent on growth in the global economy. If there were to be a cyclical slowdown, worldwide or in specific regions, our commercial success could suffer as a result.
Earnings in the FINANCIAL SERVICES Division are almost exclusively accounted for by Postbank, which plans to strengthen its position in the German banking market, particularly in the fiercely contested private customer segment. To counter the heightened competition as well as meet customer and capital market needs, Postbank will continue to improve sales and internal processes.