Profit at TNT UK almost quadrupled in 2012, during a year that put parent company TNT Express under pressure while the proposed takeover by parcel giant UPS was being considered.

Pre-tax profit soared to £13.8m for the year ended 31 December 2012, after a year that saw it slip to £3.4m in 2011. It said the rise was due to “cost saving initiatives and operational changes”, as well as restraining its spending.

Turnover, however, remained broadly flat at £782m, down slightly from £791 during the previous 12 months. The directors attributed the 1% dip in turnover to “changes in long term contracts with major value customers”.

Despite poor trading conditions in both the Eurozone and wider international markets, the firm said the strength of the brand in the UK enabled it to maintain high trading levels. It declined to comment further on the figures posted at Companies House.

The robust performance of the UK business comes after parent company TNT Express reported a 26% drop in first quarter EMEA operating profit. It did, however, recently revealed plans to deliver an adjusted operating profit of 8% by 2015.

TNT UK recently added two 15.65m longer semi-trailers to one of its trunking routes.

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