Risk Management System
Austrian Post operates a comprehensive riskmanagement system integrating all business units and subsidiaries. This risk management system complies with the COSO standard “Enterprise Risk Management – Integrated Framework” in the version dated June 2017. The objective of risk management is to identify risks at an early stage and to analyse and evaluate them before going on to take appropriate measures designed to ensure that the company meets its business targets. Risks are identified, evaluated, monitored and documented in their overall context by a Group-wide risk management system in accordance with uniform principles. The Management Board defines the risk strategy and policy of the companyand sets out a framework for the risk management system.

Austrian Post’s risks and opportunities result from the overall risk environment and from trends that the company is exposed and changes it faces.
- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Risks
- Mail Market
- Turkey / Aras Kargo
- Parcel Market
- Staff Costs and Structure of Employment Contracts
- Logistics and Infrastructure Costs
- bank99
- Financial Risks
- Technical and Cyber Risks
- Regulatory and Legal Risks
Further details about Significant Risks faced by Austrian Post can be found in the current Annual Report.
The risk management system aims to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities as well as risks early on, and to exploit the corresponding opportunities by taking appropriate measures. The identification, evaluation, management and reporting of opportunities takes place in line with the previously mentioned process. Significant opportunities for Austrian Post are presented below. They are allocated to specific strategic areas based on the new integrated corporate and sustainability strategy, which was updated in 2020. The strategy consists of three cornerstones: “Defending Market Leadership and Profitability in the Core Business”, “Profitable Growth in Near Markets” and “Development of Retail and Digital Offerings for Private Customers and SMEs”. Sustainability is at the core of the new integrated corporate and sustainability strategy, flanked by the three cornerstones referred to above.
In the first strategic pillar – Defending Market Leadership and Profitability in the Core Business – the expansion and adaptation of Austrian Post’s product portfolio in the Mail and Parcel Divisions in accordance with customer requirements is considered to be an opportunity. Various value-added physical and electronic services are continuously expanding the range of services offered by Austrian Post. Ongoing e-substitution has already been taken into account within Austrian Post’s planning, in which case the more moderate decline in mail volumes in Austria compared to original expectations is seen as an opportunity. Opportunities predominantly arise as a result of the growth of e-commerce. In this respect, Austrian Post stands out due to its new, quick and lean solutions for online orders. Austrian Post has clear competitive advantages with respect to its quality and cost structure. Furthermore, measures to optimise staff and logistics costs could provide positive impetus.
In the second strategic pillar – Profitable Growth in Near Markets – opportunities arise primarily from Austrian Post’s equity investment portfolio. The foreign investees operate primarily in the parcel sector and are also reaping the benefits of increasing e-commerce. The subsidiary Aras Kargo offers particularly substantial potential due to the size and development potential of the Turkish market.
In the third strategic pillar – Development of Retail and Digital Offerings for Private Customers and SMEs – potential lies, by way of example, in the development of online and self-service offerings as well as in new business models in the area of e-commerce; in particular, Austrian Post has an opportunity to participate in the dynamic online retail trend through its subsidiary Post E-Commerce. In addition, bank99 also opens up opportunities, particularly thanks to the takeover of ING’s retail banking business in Austria. The emerging trend towards rising interest rates could contribute to the bank’s positive development over the next few years.