EANS-Adhoc: Österreichische Post AG Austrian Post in 2012:
Higher sales and earnings (EBIT +8.9%)
Parcel & Logistics Division posts positive results again
Dividend proposal of EUR 1.80 per share
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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/annual report
14.03.2013
- Higher revenue
- Revenue up 0.7% (+ 1.9% excl. Benelux) to EUR 2,366.1m
- Revenue increase in both divisions compared to the previous year
- Further increase in earnings
- EBITDA margin of 11.5%
- EBIT rise of 8.9% to EUR 182.4m
- Strong cash flow and solid balance sheet
- Operating cash flow ensures future-oriented investments and dividends
- Free cash flow before acquisitions/divestments up 5.7% to EUR 170.5m (EUR
2.52 per share)
- Early application of IAS 19 (revised) has no material effects on financial
reporting
- Attractive dividends
- Continuation of attractive dividend policy
- Dividend proposal of EUR 1.80 per share to the Annual General Meeting
- Outlook for 2013
- Stable or slightly rising revenue expected in 2013
- EBITDA margin once again within the targeted range of 10-12%
AUSTRIAN POST AT A GLANCE
The national and international business environment faced by Austrian Post and
its customers during the 2012 financial year was characterised by a generally
uncertain economic climate. The Austrian Post Group developed very
satisfactorily during the reporting year against the backdrop of these
prevailing macroeconomic conditions. "This performance once again underlined the
fact that the strategic direction of the Group is the right one. Accordingly, we
strengthened our market position in our domestic market of Austria in 2012, both
in the mail and parcel businesses. At the same time, growth opportunities were
exploited in the promising emerging markets of South East and Eastern Europe",
says Austrian Post CEO Georg Pölzl.
Group revenue improved to EUR 2,366.1m. Both operating divisions, the Mail &
Branch Network Division and the Parcel & Logistics Division, posted revenue
increases. This solid development of the divisions is also reflected in the
Group's operating results. EBIT climbed by 8.9% in 2012 to EUR 182.4m. In
particular, the Parcel & Logistics Division achieved an increase in earnings and
is profitable again. This can be attributed to the solid development of the
domestic market as well as the performance improvement in its international
business.
The Mail & Branch Network Division was once again negatively impacted by the
ongoing substitution of traditional letters by electronic forms of
communication. In addition, advertising expenditures proved to be rather
volatile due to the economic environment. The restructuring of the branch
network and the related efficiency increases contributed to the division's
positive development. Austrian Post's presence in its domestic market of Austria
expanded to 1,931 postal service points, of which 1,376 are now third-party
operated postal partners. Looking beyond Austria's borders, the mail business in
2012 was characterised by focused growth. The entry into further promising
growth markets in South East and Eastern Europe was accomplished following the
acquisition of the market leader in unaddressed direct mail items in Poland, and
the stake purchased in a Bulgarian company. At the same time, Austrian Post's
shareholding in its Romanian subsidiary was increased to 100%.
The Parcel & Logistics Division disproportionately profited from the good
environment prevailing in the Austrian parcel business and increased its market
shares. Based on a record volume of 65m parcels, Austrian Post's market
leadership in the private customer segment featuring a 75% market share was
confirmed once again. At the same time, the market share of business customers
expanded to 22%. In the international parcel business, the focus of the
division's activities in 2012 was on the profitability of the services rendered
by Austrian Post. In this regard, the unprofitable subsidiaries in the Benelux
region were disposed of, and a comprehensive performance improvement programme
was launched in Germany. The top priority in the coming years will be on further
enhancing the profitability of the Parcel & Logistics Division.
Cash flow from operating activities amounting to EUR 246.7m in 2012 served as
the basis for extensive investments to safeguard the future of the business and
sustainably increase efficiency, as well as to continue Austrian Post's
attractive dividend policy. The objective remains to further develop dividends
in line with the Group net profit. Due to the good business development,
combined with a solid balance sheet and a strong cash flow, the distribution of
a dividend amounting to EUR 1.80 per share for the 2012 financial year will be
proposed to the Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 18, 2013, a rise of
5.9% from the previous year. The dividend yield based on the share price at the
beginning of March 2013 is 5.8%.
In future, our focus will be on compensating for declining letter mail volumes
by achieving growth in the parcel and logistics business, and exploiting
opportunities in future growth markets. "For me it is important to continue
decisively in fulfilling customer needs and increasing the level of service in
the future as well. The further development of self-service solutions and the
simplification of logistics processes results in significantly greater comfort
for our customers and, simultaneously, efficiency improvements in our operating
business", Georg Pölzl adds.
The medium-term revenue growth objective of 1-2% annually remains unchanged.
With respect to its sustainable earnings development, Austrian Post will
continue to strive to generate an EBITDA margin within the targeted range of
10-12%.
REVENUE DEVELOPEMENT IN DETAIL
REVENUE BY DIVISION*
EUR m 2011 2012 Change in % Q4 2011 Q4 2012
Total revenue 2,348.7 2,366.1 0.7% 638.7 643.2
Revenue excl.
Benelux** 2,304.4 2,348.9 1.9% 627.6 643.2
Mail & Branch
Network*** 1,500.7 1,508.2 0.5% 409.7 417.0
Parcel & Logistics
Division 846.5 858.1 1.4% 228.5 226.1
Parcel & Logistics
excl. Benelux** 802.2 840.9 4.8% 217.3 226.1
Calendar working days
in Austria 250 250 - 61 62
* External sales of the divisions
** The closing of the disposal of trans-o-flex Netherlands as at March 15, 2012,
for trans-o-flex Belgium as at May 31, 2012
*** Reporting according to the new segment structure as of January 1, 2012;
figures for 2011: pro-forma consolidation
Austrian Post succeeded in increasing total revenue in 2012 by 0.7%, to EUR
2,366.1m. Adjusted to take account of the disposed and deconsolidated
subsidiaries in the Benelux region, the year-on-year revenue increase would have
totalled 1.9%. Thus, Group revenue developed very satisfactorily against the
backdrop of an uncertain economic situation.
Revenue in the Mail & Branch Network Division rose slightly by 0.5%, to EUR
1,508.2m. Letter mail and direct mail volumes did not develop uniformly. The
letter mail business continues to be impacted by the structurally-related volume
decline caused by the electronic substitution of traditional letters. In turn,
advertising mail showed a high level of volatility during the course of the
year. In particular, the uncertain cyclical development dampened advertising
expenditures. However, divisional revenue was also impacted by positive effects:
On the one hand, there was a volume shift from direct mail items to higher
quality letter mail products. In addition, online shopping shipments are
increasingly being sent as letter mail items instead of parcels. Moreover, the
change in the product portfolio of Austrian Post as of May 1, 2011 continued to
deliver positive effects in the first four months of the 2012 financial year
compared to 2011. Revenue and costs of Branch Services, which are now included
in the Mail & Branch Network Division, declined during the period under review
as a consequence of the structural transformation of the network. On balance,
Austrian Post featured a total of 1,931 postal service points as at December 31,
2012, of which 1,376 are third-party operated postal partner offices.
Revenue of the Parcel & Logistics Division rose by 1.4% in 2012, to EUR 858.1m.
This figure includes the revenue of the disposed Benelux subsidiaries until
their deconsolidation. Adjusted for these companies, revenue in the 2012
financial year climbed 4.8%. From a regional perspective, the Austrian parcel
market generated the highest growth of about 11%.
INCOME STATEMENT
In line with revenue development (+ 0.7%), operating expenses for raw materials,
consumables and services used also climbed correspondingly by 0.9% to EUR
766.9m. For example, cost increases arose as a result of increased purchases of
external transport services, the introduction of automatic pre-sorting for
direct mail items in the collective advertising envelope KUVERT as well as
higher commissions for postal partner offices, which is related to the
structural changes in the branch network.
Staff costs rose by 3.9% year-on-year to EUR 1,091.4m. This figure mainly
consists of operational staff costs as well as non-operational staff costs in
the Group, which are primarily designed to enable a sustainable improvement in
the cost structure. On balance, non-operational staff costs in 2012 amounted to
about EUR 55m (after about EUR 33m in 2011), encompassing restructuring
measures, provisions and severance payments. Severance payments totalling EUR
26.1m arose during the reporting period within the context of the ongoing
readjustment of the company's business operations. Furthermore, various
provisions were set aside, for example for the voluntary social plan, uncertain
liabilities related to charges and contributions, employee under-utilisation and
for employees transferring to the federal public service. The adjustment of the
parameters for the valuation of provisions, for example changes in the discount
interest rate, resulted in an additional burden of EUR 11.0m in 2012.
In the 2012 financial year, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortisation (EBITDA) of the Austrian Post Group decreased by 3.8% to EUR
271.2m. This included an at equity impairment loss of EUR 9.6m. The EBITDA
margin amounted to 11.5%, and was thus at the upper end of the targeted range of
10-12%, as forecast. Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses of
Austrian Post totalled EUR 88.8m in the reporting period. Earnings before
interest and tax (EBIT) of Austrian Post improved by 8.9% in 2012 to EUR 182.4m,
corresponding to an EBIT margin of 7.7%.
EBIT BY DIVISION
EUR m 2011 2012 Change in % Q4 2011 Q4 2012
Total EBIT 167.5 182.4 +8,9% 58.0 56.8
Mail & Branch
Network* 277.1 272.5 -1.7% 80.2 83.5
Parcel & Logistics -28.2 25.3 >100% -22.6 8.9
Corporate -81.4 -114.8 -41.1% 0.4 -35.6
Earnings per share 1.82 1.82 0.0% 0.65 0.42
* Reporting according to the new segment structure as of January 1, 2012;
figures for 2011: pro-forma consolidation
From a divisional perspective, the Mail & Branch Network Division generated an
EBIT of EUR 272.5m in the 2012 financial year, slightly below the prior-year
level due to the above-mentioned impairment loss. The Parcel & Logistics
Division managed a strong improvement in earnings from a Group perspective. The
division succeeded in achieving an EBIT of EUR 25.3m, compared to the 2011
financial year, which had been impacted by the negative balance sheet effects of
the disposal of the subsidiaries in Belgium and the Netherlands. The improved
earnings should serve as the basis for further positive development of the
division. EBIT of the Corporate Division was down from minus EUR 81.4m in 2011
to minus EUR 114.8m in 2012. This difference can be mainly attributed to the
non-operational staff costs described above. These expenses particularly
involved severance payments, changes in the discount interest rate, and various
provisions for the voluntary social plan and uncertain liabilities related to
charges and contributions in 2012.
The other financial result of Austrian Post amounted to minus EUR 30.8m in 2012,
which is attributable to the write-down of the company's indirect shareholding
in the bank BAWAG P.S.K. by EUR 28.4m. The underlying reasons for this
impairment were two-fold: on the one hand, the reduced valuation of the
investment itself, and on the other hand, a dilution of the share held by
Austrian Post following the restructuring of the holding and financing structure
of BAWAG P.S.K. and the stake in the bank acquired by a new large investor.
Austrian Post did not participate in the capital increase implemented as part of
the recapitalisation of BAWAG P.S.K. The objective of Austrian Post has
primarily been to ensure a successful cooperation on an operational level with
respect to the jointly operated branch offices.
The tax burden in 2012 amounted to EUR 28.4m. The decline in income tax expenses
is due to the lower assessment base and the recognition of deferred tax assets
on tax loss carry-forwards. After deducting income tax, the Group net profit
(profit after tax for the period) amounted to EUR 123.2m, at precisely the same
level as in the previous year. Thus, earnings per share remained constant at EUR
1.82 for the 2012 financial year.
CASH FLOW
Operating cash flow before changes in working capital amounted to EUR 254.6m in
2012, or EUR 6.0m above the comparable prior-year period. Taking account of the
cash flow from changes in net working capital totalling minus EUR 7.9m, cash
flow from operating activities was EUR 246.7m, an increase of EUR 18.5m from the
previous year.
These funds were mainly devoted to future-oriented investments in 2012. EUR
86.2m was invested in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
(CAPEX), whereas EUR 39.3m involved acquisitions or divestments of subsidiaries.
After deducting the entire cash flow from investing activities, free cash flow
amounted to EUR 131.3m. The free cash flow generated during the reporting period
thus once again surpassed the dividend of EUR 114.8m distributed in 2012 for the
2011 financial year.
BALANCE SHEET
The early application of IAS 19 (revised) did not have any significant effects
on financial reporting. With the exception of a few minor earnings effects, in
which earnings in 2011 were adjusted in accordance to new regulations, there
were no accounting effects. Changes in provisions for pensions and termination
benefits were already fully recognised in the past in profit and loss.
The balance sheet implies a solid equity ratio of 42%. Moreover, Austrian Post
has a high level of liquidity, in the light of the fact that the available cash
and cash equivalents far surpass the total financial liabilities.
EMPLOYEES
During the period under review, the average number of employees at Austrian Post
(in full-time equivalents) fell by 188 people compared to the prior-year figure,
to 23,181. Most of Austrian Post's labour force, namely 20,598 full-time
equivalent employees (2011: 20,674), work in Austria.
OUTLOOK 2013
Austrian Post assumes that its revenue development in 2013 will be dominated by
three major trends: electronic substitution of letters, the development of the
advertising industry, and the national and international volume development of
parcels. The medium-term revenue growth target of 1-2% per year defined by
Austrian Post remains unchanged. In the light of a 1.9% revenue increase in 2012
(excl. the Benelux subsidiaries), which is at the upper end of the targeted
range, the company expects a stable or slightly positive revenue development in
2013.
The basis for this assessment is the ongoing volume decline in letter mail
volumes. Austrian Post expects the decrease to amount to 3-5% p.a., reflecting
international trends. In contrast, there could be a stabilisation in direct mail
volumes in 2013 following the drop in advertising mail volumes in the period
under review. Generally speaking, the advertising industry is more dependent on
cyclical developments. However, Austrian Post expects that direct mail, an
efficient advertising tool, will continue to maintain its importance in the
future as part of the marketing mix of companies. With respect to parcel
volumes, Austrian Post continues to anticipate robust growth in its business
with the private customer segment, whereas the intense level of competition is
likely to continue in the business customer segment.
Increasing the profitability of the services rendered continues to be a key
focal point of the Group's activities. In particular, Austrian Post will
continue to promote efficiency increases in its parcel and logistics business as
a follow-up to the successes which have already been achieved. With respect to
sustainable earnings development, Austrian Post confirms the targeted EBITDA
margin in the range of 10%-12%. The company is also striving to achieve a
further improvement in earnings before interest and tax.
The operating cash flow generated by Austrian Post will continue to be prudently
used mainly to finance sustainable efficiency improvements, structural measures
and future-oriented investments. Austrian Post anticipates total capital
expenditure to reach a level of about EUR 90m in 2013. This will primarily focus
on replacement investments in existing facilities as well as the continuous
modernisation and efficiency enhancement. Acquisitions, which aim to round off
and safeguard Austrian Post's core business, are possible.
The Management Board of Austrian Post will propose to the upcoming Annual
General Meeting scheduled for April 18, 2013, to distribute a dividend of EUR
1.80 per share for the 2012 financial year. Once again, the company is
continuing its attractive dividend policy, based on a solid balance sheet
structure and the generated cash flow. Austrian Post aims to achieve a dividend
payout ratio to shareholders of at least 75% of Group net profits. The dividend
should develop further in line with Group net profits assuming a continuation of
the company's good business development.
PERFORMANCE OF DIVISIONS
MAIL & BRANCH NETWORK DIVISION
Divisional revenue rose slightly by 0.5% in 2012 to EUR 1,508.2m. The current
financial year was shaped by economic uncertainties in addition to structural
trends.
In the Letter Mail business, revenue improved by 2.7% from the prior-year period
to EUR 784.6m. The trend towards decreasing letter mail volumes related to
electronic substitution continued. However, this structural trend was
counteracted by volume shifts from direct mail items to higher quality letter
mail products as well as the increase in Internet orders, which are no longer
sent as parcels but as letter mail items in response to customer demands. In
addition, changes in the product portfolio of the Letter Mail segment, which
took effect on May 1, 2011, still continued to deliver positive contributions to
revenue growth in the first four months of the 2012 financial year.
Revenue in Austrian Post's Direct Mail business fell slightly to EUR 445.2m in
2012. Increased volatility was perceptible during the course of the year, which
is primarily attributable to economic uncertainty. In particular, business was
characterised by a negative volume development starting in the middle of 2012,
but the situation improved towards the end of the year. In addition, mail order
customers faced structural problems, leading them to reduce their shipment
volumes. In contrast, revenue of the Media Post business improved by 4.4% in
2012, to EUR 143.7m.
Both revenue and costs declined in the former Branch Network Division, which is
now reported under Branch Services. Half of the revenue decline is due to the
reclassification of the value logistics business as part of the Parcel &
Logistics Division, the other half as a consequence of declining revenue from
retail goods and financial services.
On balance, EBIT of the Mail & Branch Network Division fell by 1.7% to EUR
272.5m. This includes an impairment loss of EUR 9.6m relating to the joint
venture MEILLERGHP, which is consolidated at equity.
PARCEL & LOGISTICS DIVISION
External sales of the Parcel & Logistics Division climbed by 1.4% in 2012, to
EUR 858.1m. As at March 15, 2012, an agreement was signed with PostNL regarding
its acquisition of the Austrian Post subsidiaries in the Netherlands and
Belgium. Adjusted to take account of the former Benelux subsidiaries, the Parcel
& Logistics Division achieved a 4.8% revenue increase on a year-on-year
comparison.
Since the beginning of the year, the company Post.Wertlogistik GmbH specialising
in value logistics has been a new part of the portfolio offered by the Parcel &
Logistics Division, whereas it was previously assigned to Austrian Post's former
Branch Network Division. In addition, the firm Systemlogistik Distribution GmbH
acquired as at May 31, 2012, expands the range of services offered by the
division with respect to the warehousing, picking and packing of goods.
The Premium Parcel business (parcel delivery within 24 hours), which is mainly
used in the business-to-business segment, generated revenue of EUR 650.8m in
2012 (EUR 635.4m excluding Benelux). The German trans-o-flex Group accounted for
about three-quarters of this revenue. trans-o-flex is, at present, clearly
focusing on the implementation of an efficiency enhancement programme in its
distribution logistics. Accordingly, revenue remained stable. In contrast,
parcel volumes of business customers increased at an above average rate in
Austria, where Austrian Post increased its market share to 22%, as planned.
Strong volume growth was achieved in South East and Eastern Europe in 2012
against the backdrop of intensified price pressure.
The Standard Parcel business, which mainly involves shipments to private
customers, also posted growth. Revenue rose by 6.6%, to EUR 177.8m, with growth
primarily witnessed in the Austrian market.
On balance, EBITDA of the Parcel & Logistics Division improved to EUR 46.6m.
EBIT in 2012 amounted to EUR 25.3m, significantly above the prior-year level,
which was considerably burdened by the negative impact on the balance sheet
arising from the disposal of the Benelux subsidiaries. This earnings
contribution, as reflected in an EBIT margin of 2.9%, is a good starting point
for the further development of the division.
The Annual Financial Report of 2012 is available on the Internet:
www.post.at/ir/en --> Reporting --> Financial Reports
Further inquiry note:
Austrian Post
Mr. Harald Hagenauer
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Governance
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767 30400
harald.hagenauer@post.at
Austrian Post
Mrs. Ingeborg Gratzer
Head of Media Relations & Internal Communications
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767 24730
ingeborg.gratzer@post.at
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Österreichische Post AG
Haidingergasse 1
A-1030 Wien
phone: +43 (0)57767-0
mail: investor@post.at
WWW: www.post.at
sector: Transport
ISIN: AT0000APOST4
indexes: ATX Prime, ATX
stockmarkets: official market: Wien
language: English
issuer: Österreichische Post AG Haidingergasse 1 A-1030 Wien phone: +43 (0)57767-0 mail: investor@post.at WWW: www.post.at sector: Transport ISIN: AT0000APOST4 indexes: ATX Prime, ATX stockmarkets: official market: Wien language: English ...
company: Österreichische Post AG Haidingergasse 1 A-1030 Wien phone: +43 (0)57767-0 mail: investor@post.at WWW: www.post.at sector: Transport ISIN: AT0000APOST4 indexes: ATX Prime, ATX stockmarkets: official market: Wien language: English ...
issuer: Österreichische Post AG Haidingergasse 1 A-1030 Wien phone: +43 (0)57767-0 mail: investor@post.at WWW: www.post.at sector: Transport ISIN: AT0000APOST4 indexes: ATX Prime, ATX stockmarkets: official market: Wien language: English ...