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bpost SA/NV

Earnings Release Feb 11, 2014

3922_rns_2014-02-11_153e1cec-b27b-421a-8763-b4e6cddfcafc.pdf

Earnings Release

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4Q-13 Trading Update

Investor presentation Brussels – February, 12th 2014

Johnny Thijs, CEO Pierre Winand, CFO

Disclaimer

This presentation ("4Q-13 Trading Update") has been published on February, 11th after market accompanied by a press release available on www.bpost.be/ir. This information forms regulated information as defined in the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007.

Financial figures contained in this communication are unaudited and the annual financial statements 2013 have not yet been submitted the Board of Directors nor approved by the Shareholders Meeting.

The final consolidated results for the full year ended December 31, 2013, audited by bpost's statutory auditors, will be published on March 26th, 2014.

The information in this document may include forward-looking statements1, which are based on current expectations and projections of management about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future whether or not outside the control of the Company. Such factors may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance is given that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. They speak only as at the date of the Presentation and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in factors affecting these statements.

This material is not intended as and does not constitute an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of any offer to purchase any securities.

Highlights Normalized1, EUR million

Topic Results Last 2013 Outlook
Total operating
income (Revenues)

4Q-13 :

640.9m (+0.6%)

FY13 :

2,428.6m (+0.5%)
Stable revenues
EBITDA
4Q-13 :

121.6m (€ +15.0m; +14.1%)

FY13 :

536.9m (€ +34.9m; +7.0%)
At least maintain
operating results
EBIT
4Q-13 :

86.8m (€ +14.0m; +19.2%)

FY13 :

436.1m (€+32.0m; +7.9%)
and operating
margins
Domestic Mail
4Q-13 :
-4.1% (underlying volume)

FY13 :
-4.2% (underlying volume)
Decline between
4 and 4.5%
Parcels
Domestic volumes 4Q-13 : +8.0%

Organic growth FY13 : +40.5 m
Productivity
FY13:
- 1,082 FTE (-3.9%)
Between -800
and -1,200 FTE
per year
Dividend
Total dividend of € 1.13 per share gross proposed

Interim dividend already paid : € 0.93

Final dividend of € 0.20 based on net profits of
Nov and Dec at 85% payout.

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

3

Strong 4Q-13 EBITDA performance thanks to parcels growth, cost discipline and favourable movements on provisions. Domestic mail volume decline slightly higher than last two quarters but in line with expectations.

EBITDA, Normalized1, EUR million

Total operating income (revenues)

Strong 2013 EBITDA performance thanks to parcels growth, cost discipline and productivity improvements

EBITDA, Normalized1, EUR million

Final dividend of € 0.20/share gross will be proposed to reach a total dividend payment of € 1.13/share gross

Based on the communicated dividend policy, taking into account the interim dividend paid and subject to Board and Shareholders' meeting approval

per share) Interim dividend paid in December 2013 (€, gross € 0.93
Final dividend payment (proposed)
(€, gross per share)
€ 0.20
Total proposed dividend for 2013 € 1.13
Dividend
bpost S.A./N.V. net profits after tax
November
to December
2013
(BGAAP)
€ 47.5 m
Pay-out ratio X 85%
Proposed dividend for the last 2 months € 40.4 m

Summary of key financials 4Q-13 Solid improvement of the margin and bpost's net profit EUR million

4Q#13,'EUR'millions
Reported Normalized1
2012 2013 2012 2013 %&change
Total'operating'income'(revenues) 637.1 640.9 637.1 640.9 0.6%
Operating'expenses' 632.7 519.4 530.5 519.4 2.1%
EBITDA& 4.4 121.6 106.6 121.6 14.1% 2012: gain on
pending litigation
Margin'(%) 0.7% 19.0% 16.7% 19.0% provision (€ 22.7m)
and loss on provision
EBIT& 629.4 86.8 72.8 86.8 19.2% relating to European
Commission
Decision (€ 124.9m)
Margin''(%) 14.6% 13.5% 11.4% 13.5%
Profit&before&tax 656.1 85.5 46.1 85.5 85.5%
Income'tax'expense #18.2 32.8 16.6 32.8
Net&profit 637.9 52.7 29.6 52.7 78.0%
FCF2& 626.4 12.6 624.2 12.5 151.7%
bpost&S.A./N.V.&net&profit&(BGAAP) 1.0 72.7 68.5 72.7 6.1%

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

2 Operating free cash flow = cash flow from operating activities + cash flow from investing activities

Summary of key financials FY-13 EUR million

FY#13,'EUR'millions
Reported Normalized1
2012 2013 2012 2013 %&change
Total'operating'income'(revenues) 2,415.7 2,443.2 2,415.7 2,428.6 0.5% 2013: gain of EUR
14.6m from sale of
Certipost divisions
Operating'expenses' 1,994.8 1,891.7 1,913.7 1,891.7 1.1%
EBITDA& 420.9 551.4 502.0 536.9 7.0% 2012: net loss of
Margin'(%) 17.4% 22.6% 20.8% 22.1% € 81.1m due to:
EBIT& 323.0 450.7 404.1 436.1 7.9% 1)
Gain on partial
curtailment of
Margin''(%) 13.4% 18.4% 16.7% 18.0% employee benefit
plan € 21.1m
2)
Gain on pending
Profit&before&tax 272.7 456.8 353.7 442.2 25.0% litigation provision
€ 22.7m
Income'tax'expense 98.5 168.9 126.0 168.9 3)
Loss on provision
relating to
Net&profit 174.2 287.9 227.7 273.3 20.0% European
Commission
Decision €
FCF2& F16.8 125.9 284.1 249.0 F12.4% 124.9m
bpost&S.A./N.V.&net&profit&(BGAAP) 171.9 248.2 239.4 248.2 3.7%

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

2 Operating free cash flow = cash flow from operating activities + cash flow from investing activities; normalization excludes the impact of the 2012 and 2013 repayment of prior compensation, following the 2012 EU ruling

Key events and scope elements affecting results

Topic Description High-level impact
Sale of
Certipost

4Q-13 figures exclude any revenue
as well as cost related to Certipost
activities1
sold in January 2013

Decrease of € 2.0m in operating
income and decrease of € 2.2m in
operating expenses vs. 4Q-12
e
p
o
c
s
n
s i
e
g
n
a
Consolidation
of Landmark
Global

Following the acquisition of
Landmark Global in December 2012,
related operating income and
operating expenses are
consolidated in 2013 financials

Additional operating income of
€ 13.7m
and additional operating
expenses of € 11.7m in 4Q-13
h
C
MSI parcels
revenue

MSI parcels revenues now
reported under International Parcels
(all revenues of MSI were previously
reported under International Mail)

Transfer of € 4.6m of 4Q-12 of
revenues from International Mail
to International Parcels to make
4Q-13 revenues comparable
(SGEI) Change in State
Compensation

5th Management Contract leads to a
change in methodology for the
determination of the State
Compensation, from "Fully
Distributed Cost" to "Net Avoided
Cost"

Overall SGEI decrease of € 7.7m
in 4Q-13, totaling € 19.1m for
FY13

Decrease of Domestic Mail related
SGEI (esp. Press) compensated
by introduction of compensation
for the Retail Network SGEI

Total operating income (revenues) of € 640.9m in 4Q-13, stable versus last year on an organic basis

Normalized, EUR million

2012 Scope SGEI Organic1 2013 Organic
Domestic mail Transactional mail 266.2 -1.5 -5.1 259.6 -1.9%
Advertising mail 76.9 -0.8 -2.1 74.0 -2.7%
Press 106.5 -25.3 -0.5 80.7 -0.5%
Parcels Domestic parcels2 36.8 2.2 39.0 6.0%
International parcels 2.1 18.3 12.5 32.9 595.2%
Special logistics 5.0 -0.9 4.1 -18.0%
Additional
sources of
revenues and
retail network
International mail 64.1 -4.6 -4.3 55.2 -6.8%
Valued added services 24.6 -2.0 -0.2 0.5 22.9 2.0%
Banking and financial 56.0 -0.7 -2.5 52.8 -4.5%
Others 6.0 20.8 -1.2 25.6 -20.4%
Corporate -7.2 1.4 -5.8 -19.1%
TOTAL 637.1 11.7 -7.7 -0.2 640.9 -0.0%

1 Organic including phasing impacts, see further

2 Domestic Parcels including parcels from Domestic, Inbound & Solutions

Underlying 4Q-13 domestic mail volumes decline at -4.1%, slightly higher than second and third quarters but in line with FY expectations

Normalized1 total operating income (revenues), EUR million

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

3 Excluding impact of less working days and elections held in 2012

10 3 In terms of working days, 1Q-14 and 2Q-14 will be equal to same quarters of 2013. In 3Q-14 we will have 1 business working day less and in Q4-14 we will have 1 business working day more than in 2013. In both cases, the number of working days in the post offices is equal in 2014 and 2013.

Sustained growth in parcels in 4Q-13 and good performance linked to the end of year online shopping

Normalized1 total operating income (revenues), EUR million

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

2 Including Domestic Parcels, Inbound Parcels & Solutions

Other sources of revenues impacted by International Mail and Banking revenues

Normalized1 total operating income (revenues), EUR million

1 Normalized figures are neither audited nor have been subject to a limited review

Productivity improvement ahead of expectations, cost discipline and movements in provisions impacted positively costs

Operating expenses excl. depreciation and amortization, Normalized1, EUR million

Positive operating free cash flow1 of EUR 12.5 million in Q4-13

Normalized, EUR million

Q4-12 Q4-13 Delta
Cash flow from operating activities 24.9 46.4 +21.5
Cash flow from investing activities -49.2 -33.9 +15.4
Operating free cash flow1 -24.2 12.5 +36.9
Financing activities2 -406.6 -195.3 +211.3
Net cash movement -430.8 -182.8 +248.1
Capex 35.4 37.2 +1.8
Last year mainly capital decrease of
€ 220m and exceptional dividend of
€198m. This year mainly € 186m of
dividend.
Mainly due to purchase
of Landmark (€ 7.7m)
and 20% of MSI (€
5.9m) in 2012.

1 Operating free cash flow = cash flow from operating activities + cash flow from investing activities; excludes the impact of the 2012 and 2013 repayment of prior compensation, following the 2012 EU ruling

2 Financing activities included deposits received from third parties

Strong balance sheet structure

EUR million

Key takeaways

In the 4th quarter

  • Parcels performance keeping its momentum,
  • slightly higher volume decline in domestic mail,

productivity improvements ahead of expectations,

  • and continued cost discipline…
  • … resulting in improved operational margins and net profit

For the full year

  • Disciplined execution of the strategy delivering
  • results better than last 2013 outlook

Strong profit performance

▪ Based on the net profit of bpost N.V./S.A. (Belgian GAAP) for November and December, a final dividend of € 0.20 gross per share will be proposed (total dividend for the year € 1.13 gross per share)

Outlook

  • Our plans prudently take a volume decline of Domestic Mail of 5.0% into account
  • Parcels volumes growth should be above the 2013 performance
  • Taking the phasing of the productivity improvement initiatives into account, the FTE reduction for 2014 is expected to be at the low end of the reference range of 800 to 1200 FTE/year
  • We are confident to be able to at least maintain operating results (EBITDA and EBIT) on a normalized basis (2013 has been impacted by non-recurring revenues)
  • We do not anticipate any material exceptional cash outflows during the year which means that cash generation should follow the normal seasonality. Net capex is expected at € 90m

Appendix

Operating free cash flow1 of EUR 249.0 million in FY-13 EUR million

FY-12 FY-13 Delta
Cash flow from operating activities 372.2 329.7 -42.5
Cash flow from investing activities -88.1 -80.7 +7.4
Operating free cash flow1 284.1 249.0 -35.1
Financing activities2 -713.4 -513.8 +199.6
Net cash movement -429.3 -264.7 +164.6
Capex 84.3 79.2 -5.1
  • € +15.1 m from the sale of Certipost
  • € -37.5 m from capital increase of bpost bank
  • € -6.8m MSI shares purchase
  • € +16.5 m from sale of PPE
  • € -5.1m from lower Capex

Better operational performance compensated by less favourable working capital evolution, mainly due to:

  • € -37.4m from payment of fine for the competition claim
  • € 20m from Q1-12 flattered by late payment of Terminal Dues by some other postal operators
  • € 11.2m delay in payments by State entities in 2013
  • € 4m unfavourable inventory evolution
  • € 3m advance Gout acquisition

1 Operating free cash flow = cash flow from operating activities + cash flow from investing activities; excludes the impact of the 2012 and 2013 repayment of prior compensation, following the 2012 EU ruling

2 Financing activities includes repayment of SGEI overcompensation, capital decreases, dividend payments, treasury shares and deposits received from third parties

IFRS/BGAAP EUR millions

4Q-12 4Q-13 FY12 FY13
MILLION EUR
IFRS net profit (reported) -37.9 52.7 174.2 287.9
BGAAP net profit (reported) 1.0 72.8 171.9 248.2
Difference reported IFRS - BGAAP 38.9 20.1 -2.3 -39.6
-19 -37
Certipost -14 Certipost -29
IAS19/impairment/provisions -15 IAS19/impairment/provisions -1
Deferred taxes 5 Deferred taxes -7
All others 6 All others 0

Reconciliation will be provided in the usual format with the Annual Financial Statement and statbook on March, 26th 2014.

Total operating income (revenues) of EUR 2,428.6m in FY13 stable on an organic basis

Normalized, EUR million

2012 Scope SGEI Organic1 2013 Organic
Transactional mail 982.7 -5.9 -15.5 961.3 -1.6%
Domestic mail Advertising mail 287.3 -2.9 -8.5 275.9 -3.0%
Press 406.4 -92.1 -0.2 314.1 -0.0%
Parcels Domestic parcels2 134.0 7.9 141.9 5.9%
International parcels 11.4 44.1 36.0 91.5 315.8%
Special logistics 19.6 -3.4 16.2 -17.3%
International mail 221.0 -4.6 -17.1 199.3 -7.7%
Additional
sources of
Valued added services 95.8 -7.9 -0.9 2.4 89.4 2.5%
revenues and
retail network
Banking and financial 217.3 -3.0 -5.1 209.2 -2.3%
Others 19.0 85.7 -0.4 104.3 -2.1%
Corporate 21.1 4.4 25.5 20.8%
TOTAL 2,415.7 31.6 -19.1 0.4 2,428.6 0.0%

1 Organic including phasing impacts, see further

2 Domestic Parcels including parcels from Domestic, Inbound & Solutions

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