06.08.2015 – 07:31

Österreichische Post AG

EANS-News: Österreichische Post AG
AUSTRIAN POST H1 2015: SLIGHT REVENUE INCREASE, EBIT BELOW THE PRIOR-YEAR LEVEL, RISE IN EPS AND CASHFLOW

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6-month report

- Revenue 
  - Revenue increase of 0.6% to EUR 1,178.9m in H1
  - Decline in the mail business (-0.4%) offset by growth in the parcel segment
(+2.4%) 
- Earnings
  - EBIT in H1 down 2.3% to EUR 96.5m 
  - Earnings per share due to one-off item up 5.4% to EUR 1.14 
- Cash flow and balance sheet
  - Increase in the cash flow from operating activities to EUR 107.7m 
  - Strong cash position and low level of financial liabilities 
- Outlook 2015 
  - Aim to achieve revenue growth of 1-2% 
  - Targeted EBITDA margin of around 12% and improved operating result

OVERVIEW OF AUSTRIAN POST 
In the first half of 2015, revenue of the Austrian Post Group at EUR 1,178.9m
was up 0.6% from the prior-year level as expected. Revenue growth of 2.4% in the
parcel segment more than offset the slight decline of 0.4% in the mail business,
which continues to be affected by the ongoing electronic substitution of
traditional letter mail by electronic forms of communication, a trend which
recently intensified. Business with direct mail showed a differentiated
development of individual customer segments during the period under review. The
volume of addressed direct mail items declined in contrast to the rise in
addressed mail volumes. 

The trend towards increased e-commerce is continuing in the parcel segment,
leading to further growth of parcel volumes in Austria. At the same time, it is
evident that competition is intensifying, a development Austrian Post is dealing
with by making ongoing investments at the customer interface. In addition to its
cost leadership, Austrian Post is also continuously expanding its service
leadership. At the end of the period under review, Austrian Post customers
already had 280 self-service zones and 170 pick-up stations at their disposal
throughout the country. Moreover, with the Post App Austrian Post has been
offering a state-of-the-art tool enabling the greatest possible customer
flexibility in receiving mail items. Recently, Austrian Post also launched the
pilot delivery of parcels on Saturdays. The international parcel business
continued to show a differentiated development. Market trends positively
impacting the business operations of Austrian Post's subsidiaries in South East
and Eastern Europe as well as Turkey are continuing, whereas the top priority in
Germany remains the implementation of structural measures and the continuation
of network restructuring. 

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of Austrian Post amounted to EUR 96.5m
in the first half of 2015, a drop of 2.3% from the previous year. However,
second-quarter EBIT climbed 4.9% to EUR 42.6m compared to the second quarter of
2014. On an operational basis, measures designed to further optimise costs and
enhance efficiency were continued, including further investments in a modern
vehicle fleet and new sorting facilities. Cash flow remains at a high level
against the backdrop of an extensive investment programme, and comprises a firm
foundation for financing future investments and dividends. On this basis,
Austrian Post aims to remain committed to its strategic capital market
positioning as a dividend stock also in the future.

"Looking ahead to the 2015 full-year results, we assume that the basic trends in
the mail and parcel businesses will continue, and expect a rise of Group revenue
in the range of 1-2%. At the same time, we are striving to generate an EBITDA
margin of around 12% and a further improvement in our operating result", says
Austrian Post CEO Georg Pölzl.

REVENUE DEVELOPMENT IN DETAIL
In the first half of 2015, Group revenue of Austrian Post rose slightly by 0.6%
compared to the prior-year level to EUR 1,178.9m. On a year-on-year comparison,
revenue also increased slightly by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2015 alone.

Total revenue of the Mail & Branch Network Division was down 0.4% in the
reporting period to EUR 738.0m. The revenue drop was of a similar magnitude in
the second quarter of 2015, falling by 0.5% year-on-year. The basic trend of
e-substitution is continuing. In addition, positive revenue effects from
elections were not as high in the second quarter of 2015 as in the prior-year
period. The upward adjustment of postal rates as of March 1, 2015 had the
opposite effect. In the first half of 2015, Letter Mail & Mail Solutions revenue
at EUR 400.7m climbed 0.8% from the previous year. The Direct Mail and Media
Post segment, which reported a slight revenue decline of 1.0% in the first half
of 2015 to EUR 279.8m, saw a differentiated development of the individual
customer sectors. The advertising activities of retailers developed positively,
especially in the unaddressed direct mail segment, whereas the volume of
addressed advertising mail decreased. At the same time, Branch Services revenue
was down 5.1% or EUR 3.1m to EUR 57.5m.

Total revenue of the Parcel & Logistics Division rose by 2.4% in the first half
of 2015 to EUR 440.9m. A revenue increase of 2.6% was generated in the second
quarter of 2015. From a regional perspective, 54% of total revenue in the Parcel
& Logistics Division was generated in Germany in the first half-year, compared
to 37% in Austria and 9% by the subsidiaries in South East and Eastern Europe.
Revenue in Germany fell by 2.3% in the first six months of 2015. The challenging
competitive situation and price pressure in this market continue and the revenue
decline was partly attributable to the lower diesel surcharges on transport
services. In contrast, revenue in Austria rose by 8.3%, driven by the
above-mentioned trend towards online shopping. There are signs of competitors
intensifying their initiatives to achieve greater market penetration. The
subsidiaries in South East and Eastern Europe posted a revenue increase of 9.9%
on the basis of significant volume increases despite of high price pressure.

EXPENSE AND EARNINGS DEVELOPMENT
Raw materials, consumables and services used were up by 0.3% during the period
under review to EUR 364.0m. Though the cost of materials declined as a result of
the lower fuel prices, costs for services used rose as a consequence of higher
transport expenditures. This increase is attributable to the higher parcel
volumes in Austria as well as in South East and Eastern Europe, which were
partly offset by the decrease in costs for external transport services in
Germany. 

Austrian Post's staff costs remained stable, totalling EUR 551.8m in the first
half of 2015. The operational staff costs for salaries and wages included in
this amount, adjusted for the integration of the distribution companies in
Germany, were at the prior-year level. The integration of previously outsourced
services led to additional staff costs in contrast to the decline in costs for
transport services. The stability of operational staff costs shows that the
continuing measures to improve efficiency and the staff structure succeeded in
compensating for inflation-related cost increases. 

In addition to the ongoing operational staff costs, staff costs also encompass
various non-operational costs such as termination benefits and various changes
in provisions, which are primarily related to the specific employment situation
of civil servants at Austrian Post. Costs for termination benefits were at the
previous year's level, amounting to EUR 11.0m in the first half of 2015 compared
to EUR 10.8m in the first half of 2014. Costs for provisions for employee
under-utilisation totalled approximately EUR 6m in the reporting period, of
which EUR 3m is attributable to adjustments of the parameters underlying these
provisions. 

Other operating income at EUR 32.8m during the period under review was at the
same level as in the previous year. At the same time, other operating expenses
climbed 8.6% to EUR 156.0m, which is due to increased expenditures on
maintenance, communications and consulting. 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of
Austrian Post fell by 3.7%, or EUR 5.4m, in the first half of 2015 to EUR
139.7m. The corresponding EBITDA margin was 11.9%. Total depreciation,
amortisation and impairment losses in the reporting period amounted to EUR
43.2m, a drop of EUR 3.1m from the prior-year period, which included an
impairment loss on goodwill of EUR 4.9m for the Polish subsidiary PostMaster Sp.
z o.o. in the second quarter of 2014. Accordingly, earnings before interest and
tax (EBIT) in the first six months of 2015 reached a level of EUR 96.5m, a
decrease of 2.3% or EUR 2.3m from the previous year. The EBIT margin was 8.2%.
EBIT in the second quarter of 2015 rose 4.9% to EUR 42.6m, largely due to the
absence of the impairment loss mentioned above.

The other financial result improved from minus EUR 1.8m to EUR 3.4m, mainly
attributable to interest income of EUR 3.3m arising from the early termination
of a cross-border leasing transaction of various postal sorting facilities in
March 2015. Accordingly, earnings before tax (EBT) in the first six months of
2015 were EUR 99.9m, compared to the prior-year figure of EUR 97.0m. The tax
charge of EUR 22.5m was slightly below the comparable figure of EUR 23.4m in the
first half of 2014. After deducting income tax, the Group's profit for the
period (profit after tax) amounted to EUR 77.4m, a year-on-year rise of 5.2%.
This corresponds to undiluted earnings per share of EUR 1.14 for the first six
months of 2015.

From a divisional perspective, the Mail & Branch Network Division generated an
EBITDA of EUR 161.4m in the first half-year 2015, an increase of 1.6%. Strict
cost discipline succeeded in offsetting the slight drop in revenue during the
reporting period. EBIT of the division at EUR 145.4m has increased by 4.7% or
EUR 6.5m from the previous year. This increase is primarily related to the
impairment loss of EUR 4.9m recognised for goodwill at Austrian Post's Polish
subsidiary PostMaster Sp. z o.o. in the previous year. 

EBITDA of the Parcel & Logistics Division amounted to EUR 23.1m in the first six
months of 2015, compared to EUR 22.5m in the previous year. EBIT in the
reporting period totalled EUR 12.5m, an improvement of EUR 0.4m from the
prior-year figure of EUR 12.1m. The earnings situation in Austria and South East
and Eastern Europe developed positively, whereas Austrian Post is pushing ahead
with structural changes and network restructuring in Germany. 

The Corporate Division (including Consolidation) basically covers central costs
as well as staff-related provisions. EBIT of the Corporate Division fell by EUR
9.2m to minus EUR 61.4m. On the one hand, this decline can be attributed to
parameter adjustments for the provisions for employee under-utilisation. On the
other hand, other operating expenses for maintenance, communications and
consulting increased during the period under review, which negatively impacted
earnings mainly in the Corporate Division. 

CASH FLOW AND BALANCE SHEET 
The gross cash flow totalled EUR 151.8m in the first half of 2015, compared to
EUR 139.2m in the previous year. The cash flow from operating activities of EUR
107.7m surpassed the prior-year figure by EUR 11.8m. This increase was mainly
due to the lower income tax payments in a year-on-year comparison. 

The cash flow from investing activities reached a level of plus EUR 16.8m in the
first six months of 2015. This increase is primarily due to the sale of Austrian
Post's former corporate headquarters in Vienna's first district, for which the
outstanding balance of the purchase price of EUR 60.0m was paid in the first
quarter of 2015. Cash outflows for the acquisition of property, plant and
equipment (CAPEX) amounted to EUR 32.0m in the first half of 2015, above the
level of EUR 22.2m in the previous year. In aggregate, the free cash flow during
the reporting period was EUR 124.4m, up from EUR 83.2m in the previous year. The
free cash flow before acquisitions/securities reached EUR 137.7m. Even without
taking the special effect related to the sale of the former corporate
headquarters into consideration, the free cash flow was at EUR 77.7m and
therefore higher than the prior-year figure of EUR 70.5m. 

Austrian Post pursues a conservative balance sheet and financing structure. This
is demonstrated by the high equity ratio, low financial liabilities and the
solid level of cash and cash equivalents invested with the least possible risk.
Equity of the Austrian Post Group totalled EUR 646.0m as at June 30, 2015,
corresponding to an equity ratio of 40.3%. An analysis of the financial position
of the company shows a high level of current and non-current financial resources
of EUR 319.3m, including cash and cash equivalents of EUR 256.9m as well as
financial investments in securities of EUR 62.4m. These financial resources
contrast with financial liabilities of only EUR 18.6m.

EMPLOYEES 
The average number of employees (full-time equivalents) at the Austrian Post
Group totalled 23,343 people during the first half of 2015, comprising a
reduction of 378 employees from the prior-year period. Most of Austrian Post's
staff or a total of 17,904 full-time equivalents is employed by the parent
company Österreichische Post AG.

OUTLOOK 2015
On the basis of the development of the mail and parcel business in the first
half of 2015, Austrian Post confirms its previously communicated forecasts with
respect to the business development of the entire year 2015. Group revenue
should show a slightly positive development during the course of the year and
rise by 1-2% from the comparable level in the 2014 financial year.  

In the mail business, the basic trend of e-substitution i.e. the substitution of
traditional letter mail by electronic forms of communication is likely to
continue, accompanied by further volume declines. Based on the business
development in the first half of this financial year, the decrease in mail
volumes in 2015 is expected to be in the middle of the predicted range of minus
3-5%. The direct mail business will continue to show a differentiated
development in the individual customer segments, with a decrease most likely to
be seen for addressed direct mail items. The decline in branch network revenue,
especially for telecommunications products and financial services, is expected
to continue during 2015. Taking account of these factors as well as the positive
effects of the increase in postal rates in March 2015, the Mail & Branch Network
Division should report an overall stable or slightly positive revenue
development in 2015. 

The development of the Parcel & Logistics Division is impacted by differing
trends in the private and business parcel segments. Annual growth of 3-6% driven
by the ongoing expansion of e-commerce is anticipated in the private customer
parcel segment, depending on the region. In contrast, subdued economic growth
prospects are unlikely to provide any impetus to the business parcel segment.
Strong competition in the parcel and logistics business is resulting in an
intensified struggle for market shares both in the B2C and B2B segments.    

Austrian Post is continuously optimising its structures and processes in both
mail and parcel logistics in order to further enhance efficiency in all the
services it provides. Increasing profitability is the top priority, especially
in the company's international business operations. One focal point is the
continuation of the efficiency enhancement programme in the trans-o-flex Group,
entailing a reorganisation of process, distribution and staff structures. The
underlying aim of all these initiatives is the goal of generating an EBITDA
margin of around 12%. The company is pursuing this objective as well as
achieving a further improvement in its operating result for the entire 2015
financial year. 

The operating cash flow generated by Austrian Post will continue to be used
prudently and in a targeted manner in the future to finance sustainable
efficiency increases, structural measures and future-oriented investments. In
this regard, total operational capital expenditures (CAPEX) of about EUR 80m are
planned once again in 2015, focusing on sorting technologies, logistics and
customer solutions. Furthermore, Austrian Post recently began construction of
its new corporate headquarters in Vienna's third district, which is expected to
be completed in 2017.
 

OVERVIEW OF KEY INDICATORS 

                                                    Change                
EUR m                               H1 2014 H1 2015 %      EUR m Q2 2014 Q2 2015
Revenue                             1,171.9 1,178.9 0.6%   7.0   573.5   577.0
     thereof Mail & Branch Network  740.9   738.0   -0.4%  -2.9  362.2   360.5
Division*
     thereof Parcel & Logistics     430.5   440.9   2.4%   10.3  211.0   216.4
Division*
     thereof Corporate*             0.4     0.1     -86.9% -0.4  0.2     0.0
Other operating income              32.5    32.8    0.9%   0.3   15.9    16.4
Raw materials, consumables and      -362.8  -364.0  -0.3%  -1.1  -179.0  -179.5
services used
Staff costs                         -551.7  -551.8  0.0%   -0.1  -271.1  -270.1
Other operating expenses            -143.7  -156.0  -8.6%  -12.3 -72.2   -79.7
Results from financial assets
accounted for using the equity      -1.1    -0.2    80.8%  0.9   -0.7    0.4
method
Earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation       145.1   139.7   -3.7%  -5.4  66.3    64.6
(EBITDA)
Depreciation, amortisation and      -46.3   -43.2   6.6%   3.1   -25.7   -22.0
impairments
Earnings before interest and tax    98.8    96.5    -2.3%  -2.3  40.6    42.6
(EBIT)
     thereof Mail & Branch Network  138.9   145.4   4.7%   6.5   60.9    68.8
Division 
     thereof Parcel & Logistics     12.1    12.5    3.0%   0.4   6.6     5.3
Division
     thereof Corporate/             -52.2   -61.4   -17.6% -9.2  -27.0   -31.5
Consolidation  
Other financial result              -1.8    3.4     >100%  5.2   -1.1    -0.1
Earnings before tax (EBT)           97.0    99.9    3.0%   2.9   39.5    42.5
Income tax                          -23.4   -22.5   4.0%   0.9   -9.7    -8.9
Profit for the period               73.6    77.4    5.2%   3.9   29.9    33.6
Earnings per share (EUR)**          1.08    1.14    5.4%   0.06  0.44    0.50
Cash flow from operating activities 95.9    107.7   12.3%  11.8  45.3    48.1
Investments in property, plant and  -22.2   -32.0   -43.9% -9.8  -11.1   -16.2
equipment (CAPEX)
Free cash flow before acquisitions/ 70.5    137.7   95.4%  67.3  32.5    33.2
securities

* The presentation of revenue was adjusted so that cross-segment business
relationships among subsidiaries or between subsidiaries and Austrian Post are
no longer included in the revenue with third parties (formerly external sales). 
              
** Undiluted earnings per share in relation to 67,552,638 shares                
                       


The interim financial report H1 2015 is available on the Internet at
www.post.at/ir --> Publications --> Financial Reports.

Further inquiry note:
Austrian Post
Harald Hagenauer
Head of Investor Relations, Group Auditing & Compliance 
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767-30400 
harald.hagenauer@post.at	

Ingeborg Gratzer
Head of Press Relations & Internal Communications
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767-24730 
ingeborg.gratzer@post.at

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 
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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