11.11.2016 – 07:31

Österreichische Post AG

EANS-News: Österreichische Post AG
AUSTRIAN POST Q1-3 2016: STABLE REVENUE DEVELOPMENT ADJUSTED FOR SALE OF TRANS-O-FLEX; EBIT UP 0.2%; OUTLOOK CONFIRMED

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9-month report

- Revenue

  - Stable revenue development Q1-3 excl. former subsidiary trans-o-flex
    (mail business -1.0%, parcel segment +3.5%)
  - Revenue after sale of trans-o-flex of EUR 1,510.4m


- Earnings
  - EBIT of EUR 135.5m at the prior-year level (+0.2%)
  - Quarterly development during the year impacted by election effects and
  interest-bearing provisions (non-cash)

- Cash flow and balance sheet
  - 3.5% increase in the cash flow from operating activities to EUR 158.9m
  - Conservative balance sheet structure with strong cash position; equity ratio
  of 40.0%

- Outlook
  - Revenue forecast 2016 of EUR 2.0bn (current business portfolio) remains
  unchanged
  - Targeted stable development of operating earnings (EBIT) for 2016 and 2017
 

OVERVIEW OF AUSTRIAN POST

In the first nine months of 2016, Group revenue of Austrian Post amounted to EUR
1,510.4m, compared to EUR 1,746.5m in the prior-year period. The revenue
deviation can be mainly attributed to the sale of its former subsidiary trans-o-
flex in April 2016. Adjusted for the disposed company trans-o-flex, revenue
remained stable compared to the prior-year period.
 
The mail business, Austrian Post's largest business area, continues to be
impacted by the ongoing substitution of addressed letter mail by electronic
forms of communication. The Mail & Branch Network Division showed a slight
revenue decrease of 1.0% in the first three quarters of 2016 to EUR 1,078.3m. In
contrast, the trend towards online shopping continued unabated in the parcel
segment. Despite intensified competition, Austrian Post succeeded in further
increasing parcel revenue in Austria. Adjusted for the revenue of the former
subsidiary trans-o-flex, the Parcel & Logistics Division generated revenue
growth of 3.5% in the first nine months of 2016.
 
Operating earnings (EBIT) of Austrian Post totalled EUR 135.5m, a slight rise of
0.2% from the previous year. The disposal of the subsidiary trans-o-flex as well
as higher revenue contributions from elections to the amount of EUR 3.0m had a
positive effect on earnings in a year-on-year comparison. This was in contrast
to an increase of EUR 12.8m in non-operational staff costs (including changes in
provisions related to a change in the discount interest rate) compared to last
year.  

"Our top priority is to further strengthen Group profitability based on an
offering of innovative solutions and the ongoing expansion of services for the
benefit of our customers. At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to
optimise costs and enhance efficiency", says Austrian Post CEO Georg Pölzl.
"Accordingly, stability is our primary objective, not only for 2016 but for 2017
as well. This target applies to the development of revenue and earnings as well
as the investment and dividend policy of the Austrian Post Group."

REVENUE DEVELOPMENT IN DETAIL

In the first nine months of 2016, Group revenue of Austrian Post fell to EUR
1,510.4m from the prior-year figure of EUR 1,746.5m due to the sale of the
subsidiary trans-o-flex. Adjusted in both years for the disposed company trans-
o-flex, revenue remained stable at EUR 1,375.5m (Q1-3 2015: EUR 1,376.7m).
 
Mail & Branch Network Division revenue was down 1.0% to EUR 1,078.3m during the
period under review. Third-quarter revenue fell by 2.8% due to lower revenue
contributions from elections than in the prior-year period. Moreover, there was
one calendar working day less in a quarterly comparison. Revenue of the
division's Letter Mail & Mail Solutions segment amounted to EUR 584.5m in the
first three quarters of 2016, slightly below the prior-year level. The basic
trend towards the substitution of letters by electronic forms of communication
is continuing. This was in contrast to an additional growth in international
volumes. Revenue in the Direct Mail business decreased by 2.3% to EUR 304.3m in
the first nine months of 2016. This development is primarily the result of the
sale of mail subsidiaries in Hungary and Slovakia in the previous year as well
as the reduced advertising activities on the part of individual customers. In
contrast, the increase in international direct mail volumes had a positive
effect on revenue. Media Post revenue rose by 1.3% year-on-year to EUR 101.8m,
which is particularly related to various one-time mailings. Branch Services
revenue fell to EUR 87.8m in the first nine months of 2016, comprising a drop of
2.8% from the previous year. The positive development of mobile products was
offset by a change in the corresponding invoicing model.
 
Reported revenue of the Parcel & Logistics Division totalled EUR 432.0m in the
first nine months of 2016 due to the aforementioned sale of the subsidiary
trans-o-flex, compared to EUR 657.0m in the previous year. Adjusted for the loss
of trans-o-flex revenue, the division actually generated a revenue increase of
3.5% in the first three quarters of 2016 and 3.0% in the third quarter of the
year 2016 against the backdrop of a competitive market environment. Business in
Austria (+3.6%) and in CEE markets (+2.9%) developed positively despite tough
competition, whereas Austrian Post disposed of its German subsidiary trans-o-
flex in April 2016.
 
EXPENSE AND EARNINGS DEVELOPMENT

Raw materials, consumables and services used decreased from EUR 546.0m to EUR
384.0m during the period under review, which is due to the sale of trans-o-flex.
However, the costs for services used increased, particularly as a consequence of
higher international business volumes in the core business.
 
Austrian Post's staff costs amounted to EUR 784.8m in the first three quarters
of 2016, comprising a drop of 3.5% from the previous year. The disposal of
trans-o-flex reduced staff costs, whereas the adjustment of the discount
interest rate for various staff-related provisions led to a negative earnings
effect of EUR 19.6m in the first nine months of 2016. The operational staff
costs for salaries and wages, which are part of total staff costs, were down
4.1% from the prior-year level due to the sale of trans-o-flex. On balance, the
Austrian Post Group employed an average of 21,983 people (full-time equivalents)
in the first nine months of 2016, compared to 23,578 employees in the previous
year. In addition to ongoing operational staff costs, staff costs also encompass
various non-operational costs such as termination benefits and changes in
provisions, which are primarily related to the specific employment situation of
civil servants at Austrian Post in Austria. Total non-operational staff costs
(including changes in provisions relating to the revised discount interest rate)
in the first three quarters of 2016 were EUR 12.8m higher than in the previous
year.
 
During the period under review, other operating income remained stable at EUR
50.1m. The 15.8% decline in other operating expenses to EUR 200.2m can be
attributed to the disposal of the subsidiary trans-o-flex.
 
On balance, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) in the first three quarters of 2016 fell by 3.8% to EUR 191.8m. The
corresponding EBITDA margin was 12.7%, comprising an improvement of 1.3
percentage points from the comparable prior-year level. Total depreciation,
amortisation and impairment losses in the reporting period amounted to EUR
56.3m, a decrease of EUR 7.8m from the previous year. This difference is mainly
due to the disposal of trans-o-flex. An impairment loss on goodwill for the
subsidiary PostMaster s.r.l., Romania, to the amount of EUR 2.0m had the
opposite effect. On balance, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in the
first nine months of the 2016 financial year reached a level of EUR 135.5m,
slightly higher than the prior-year figure. The disposal of the subsidiary
trans-o-flex as well as higher revenue contributions from elections to the
amount of EUR 3.0m had a positive effect on earnings. This was in contrast to an
increase of EUR 12.8m in non-operational staff costs (including changes in
provisions related to a change in the discount interest rate). The EBIT margin
climbed from 7.7% to 9.0%.
 
From a divisional perspective, the Mail & Branch Network Division generated an
EBITDA of EUR 223.9m in the first nine months of 2016, compared to EUR 232.5m in
the previous year. EBIT of the division amounted to EUR 197.6m, down from the
prior-year figure of EUR 208.6m. This decline is mainly attributable to the
negative effect of EUR 7.1m compared to last year due to the parameter
adjustment for interest-bearing provisions. Moreover, the impairment loss on
goodwill for the Romanian subsidiary PostMaster s.r.l. to the amount of EUR 2.0m
in 2016 also contributed to this change.
 
EBITDA of the Parcel & Logistics Division in the first nine months of 2016
amounted to EUR 33.2m, compared to the prior-year level of EUR 32.4m. EBIT of
the division improved from EUR 16.5m to EUR 24.7m due to the disposal of trans-
o-flex.
 
The Corporate Division (including Consolidation) accounts for all non-allocable
expenses for central departments in the Group as well as staff-related
provisions assigned to it. Moreover, the division includes innovation management
and the development of new business models. EBIT of the Corporate Division
improved by 3.3% to minus EUR 86.9m, although the aforementioned parameter
adjustment for interest-bearing staff-related provisions in the Corporate
Division reduced divisional earnings.
 
The other financial result fell to minus EUR 1.3m from plus EUR 2.6m in the
prior-year period. This decrease is mainly attributable to the special effect
totalling EUR 3.3m arising in March 2015 as a consequence of the early
termination of a cross-border leasing transaction for various postal sorting
facilities. Accordingly, earnings before tax (EBT) in the first nine months of
2016 totalled EUR 134.2m, compared to EUR 137.8m in the previous year. The
income tax expense at EUR 33.8m was at the prior-year level. After deducting
income tax, the Group's profit for the period (profit after tax) amounted to EUR
100.5m, down from EUR 104.1m in the previous year. Accordingly, undiluted
earnings per share equalled EUR 1.49 for the first three quarters of 2016
compared to the prior-year figure of EUR 1.54 per share.
 
CASH FLOW AND BALANCE SHEET

The gross cash flow totalled EUR 190.5m in the first three quarters of 2016,
compared to EUR 186.4m in the previous year. This increase is primarily
attributable to lower tax payments. The cash flow from operating activities of
EUR 158.9m was EUR 5.4m above the comparable figure for the first nine months of
2015. In particular, the decline in trade receivables had a positive effect,
which offset the drop in trade payables. The cash flow from investing activities
reached a level of minus EUR 56.9m in the first nine months of 2016, compared to
minus EUR 1.6m in the prior-year period. This decline was mainly related to the
positive effect in 2015 from 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. Cash outflows for the acquisition of
property, plant and equipment (CAPEX) amounted to EUR 56.3m in the first nine
months of 2016, below the level of EUR 61.3m in the previous year. In aggregate,
the free cash flow before acquisitions/securities during the reporting period
reached a level of EUR 105.0m, down from EUR 158.3m in the previous year. The
difference to the prior year is related to the previously mentioned sale of
Austrian Post's former corporate headquarters in 2015. Adjusted to take account
of this special effect as well as the payments for the new corporate
headquarters, the operating free cash amounted to EUR 128.9m in the first nine
months of 2016, compared to the prior-year figure of EUR 112.0m.
 
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 596.3m as at September 30, 2016,
corresponding to an equity ratio of 40.0%. An analysis of the financial position
of the company shows a high level of current and non-current financial resources
of EUR 322.5m, including cash and cash equivalents of EUR 261.5m as well as
financial investments in securities of EUR 61.1m. These financial resources
contrast with financial liabilities of only EUR 5.6m.
 
EMPLOYEES

The average number of employees (full-time equivalents) at the Austrian Post
Group totalled 21,983 people during the first nine months of 2016, comprising a
reduction of 1,595 employees from the prior-year period. The decrease is
primarily due to the disposal of the German subsidiary trans-o-flex. Most of
Austrian Post's staff, 17,562 full-time equivalents, is employed by the parent
company Österreichische Post AG.

OUTLOOK

The business operations of Austrian Post continued to develop in line with
expectations in the third quarter of 2016. As a result, the outlook for the 2016
financial year remains unchanged. Accordingly, on the basis of its current
business portfolio, Austrian Post continues to forecast revenue of EUR 2.0bn in
the 2016 financial year.
 
The volume of addressed letter mail continues to decrease steadily. In contrast,
the parcel business driven primarily by e-commerce is showing a consistently
positive development. Austrian Post still anticipates volume declines of about
5% p.a. in the traditional addressed mail business. The volume of direct mail
will continue to show a diverging development in the individual customer
segments and product groups. Overall strong market growth in the Parcel &
Logistics Division will be accompanied by intensified competition and new,
innovative customer solutions.
 
Austrian Post also confirms its earnings forecast for 2016. The company expects
to generate stable operating earnings in 2016 with EBIT at the level of 2015 on
the basis of current trends and developments.
 
The top priority of Austrian Post is to further strengthen the Group's
profitability. On the revenue side, the focus is on offering innovative
solutions and continuously expanding the service offering for the benefit of
Austrian Post customers. As the leading provider of postal services in Austria
in terms of quality and innovative strength, Austrian Post is continually
upgrading its product offering in the area of letter mail, direct mail, packets
and parcels in a customer-oriented manner.
 
At the same time, on the cost side, Austrian Post will continue along its chosen
path of modernisation and efficiency enhancement. Accordingly, stability is the
primary objective, not only for 2016 but for 2017 as well. This target applies
to the development of revenue and earnings as well as with respect to the
Group's investment and dividend policy.
 
The operating cash flow generated by Austrian Post will continue to be used
prudently and in a targeted manner to finance sustainable efficiency increases,
structural measures and future-oriented investments. With this in mind,
operational capital expenditure (CAPEX) of about EUR 70m is planned in 2016,
focusing on sorting technologies, logistics and customer solutions. Besides, the
construction of Austrian Post's new corporate headquarters in Vienna's third
district is continuing according to schedule and will be completed in 2017. The
current business and cash flow development will also enable Austrian Post to
adhere to its attractive dividend policy.

                                                                 

KEY FIGURES 
                                                                    
                                                   Change
EUR m                 Q1-3 2015*  Q1-3 2016       %     EUR m  Q3 2015* Q3 2016
Revenue                 1,746.5     1,510.4    -13.5%  -236.2    571.6    439.3
Revenue excl.          
trans-o-flex            1,376.7     1,375.5     -0.1%    -1.2    446.3    439.3
 thereof Mail & Branch  
 Network Division       1,089.5     1,078.3     -1.0%   -11.2    351.5    341.6
 thereof Parcel &
 Logistics Division       657.0       432.0    -34.2%  -225.0    220.1     97.7
   Parcel & Logistics 
   Division excl.  
   trans-o-flex           287.2       297.2      3.5%    10.0     94.8     97.7
 thereof Corporate          0.1         0.0    -69.7%    -0.1      0.0      0.0
Other operating income     50.4        50.1     -0.5%    -0.2     17.6     14.0
Raw materials, and
services used            -546.0      -384.0     29.7%   162.0   -186.0    -97.7
Staff costs              -813.6      -784.8      3.5%    28.8   -261.8   -239.5
Other operating 
expenses                 -237.9      -200.2     15.8%    37.6    -81.9    -61.1
Results from financial
assets accounted for 
using the equity method    -0.2         0.3   >100.0%     0.5      0.0     -0.3

Earnings before interest,
tax, depreciation and
amortisation (EBITDA)     199.3       191.8     -3.8%    -7.5     59.6     54.6
Depreciation, 
amortisation and

impairments               -64.1       -56.3     12.1%     7.8    -20.9    -17.8
Earnings before interest
and tax (EBIT)            135.2       135.5      0.2%     0.2     38.7     36.8
 thereof Mail & Branch          
 Network Division         208.6       197.6     -5.3%   -11.0     63.2     54.4 
 thereof Parcel &                
 Logistics Division        16.5        24.7     50.3%     8.3      4.0      7.8
 thereof Corporate/     
 Consolidation            -89.8       -86.9      3.3%     2.9    -28.4    -25.4
Other financial result      2.6        -1.3  <-100.0%    -3.9     -0.8     -0.8
Earnings before tax (EBT) 137.8       134.2     -2.6%    -3.6     38.0     36.1
Income tax                -33.8       -33.8      0.1%     0.0    -11.3     -9.4
Profit for the period     104.1       100.5     -3.5%    -3.6     26.7     26.7
Earnings per 
share (EUR)**               1.54        1.49    -3.3%    -0.05     0.39     0.39
Cash flow from operating 
activities                153.6       158.9      3.5%     5.4     45.9     49.6
Investments in property,
plant and equipment                       
(CAPEX)                   -61.3       -56.3      8.1%     5.0    -29.3    -17.8
Free cash flow before
acquisitions/securities   158.3       105.0    -33.7%   -53.3     20.6     33.0
Operating free
cash flow***              112.0       128.9     15.0%    16.9     25.2     38.9 
       


* The presentation of revenue in the Parcel & Logistics Division was adjusted. 
Exported services are recognised according to the net method (previously 
reported as revenue and expenses for services used).
** Undiluted earnings per share in relation to 67,552,638 shares
*** Free cash flow before acquisitions/securities and other cash flow from
investing activities


The interim financial report Q1-3 2016 is available on the Internet at
www.post.at/ir --> Publications --> Financial Reports.

Further inquiry note:
Österreichische Post AG
DI Harald Hagenauer
Leitung Investor Relations, Konzernrevision & Compliance 
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767-30400 
harald.hagenauer@post.at	

Österreichische Post AG
Mag. Ingeborg Gratzer
Leitung Presse & Interne Kommunikation
Tel.: +43 (0) 57767-32010 
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