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bpost SA/NV

Investor Presentation Nov 9, 2023

3922_rns_2023-11-09_d18162f2-58c8-4679-9ff4-8f89a3ace4f7.pdf

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Third quarter 2023 results Analyst call

November 10th, 2023

Investor presentation

Interim financial report 3Q23

Financial Calendar

23.11.2023 Special General Meeting of Shareholders

29.02.2024 (17:45 CET) Quarterly results 4Q23

21.03.2024 Annual report 2023

02.05.2024 (17:45 CET) Quarterly results 1Q24

More on bpostgroup.com/investors

Disclaimer

This presentation is based on information published by bpost group in its Third Quarter 2023 Interim Financial Report, made available on November 9 th , 2023 at 5.45pm CET on bpostgroup.com/investors. This information forms regulated information as defined in the Royal Decree of November 14th , 2007. 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 of 3Q23

Group underlying performance exceeding plan in seasonally softer quarter marked by continued adverse conditions. Resilient Belgium backed by strong parcel volumes, along with improved profits in Eurasia, mitigates N. Am. revenue pressure.

Group operating
income
Belgium E-Logistics Eurasia E-Logistics N. Am.
€ 978.5m (€ -43.4m)
-4.2% vs. 3Q22
€ 25.9m (€ +7.1m)
4.8% EBIT margin
€ 7.9m (€ +3.5m)
5.2% EBIT margin
€ 4.5m (€ -6.0m)
1.5% EBIT margin
Group adjusted
EBIT
€ 28.1m (€ +2.1m)
2.9% EBIT margin
or € 23.1m (2.4%) excl.
€ 5m provision reversal1

Total operating income at
€ 538.4m (+6.2%)
o
underlying mail volume
decline of -8.2% nearly offset
by positive price/mix impact
o
parcels volumes +5.5% and
price/mix impact of +6.6%
o
€ +5.0m provision reversal
related to 2023 State services
repricing1

Adjusted OPEX increase (+4.7%)
mainly driven by salary
indexations

Total operating income at
€ 151.6m (-2.4%)
o
continued expansion of Radial
EU and Active Ants (+11%)
o
lower cross-border sales
reflecting adverse UK market
conditions, and softer growth
from recent customer wins in
Asia

Lower OPEX (-6.8%) from
(i) lower transport costs in line
with volume development and
mix, (ii) stable payroll costs

Total operating income at
€ 310.3m (-10.8% excl. FX),
reflecting lower volumes at Radial
and Landmark US (Amazon
insourcing)

Lower OPEX (-8.9% excl. FX)
operationally from lower variable
costs including continued strong
labor management and
productivity gains
or -10.8% excl. FX when
accounting for the € 7.1m bad
debt provision of 3Q22
-11.2% vs. 3Q22
3
1 See disclosure
"Update on bpostgroup
compliance reviews", dated 22 September 2023

Key financials 3Q23

€ million Reported Adjusted1
3Q22 3Q23 3Q22 3Q23 D %
Total operating income 1,021.9 978.5 1,021.9 978.5 -4.2%
Operating expenses 923.6 948.0
1
923.6 873.0
1
-5.5%
EBITDA 98.3 30.5 98.3 105.5 7.3%
Depreciation & Amortization 75.5 80.6
2
72.3 77.4
2
7.1%
EBIT 22.8 -50.1 26.0 28.1 8.0%
Margin (%) 2.2% -5.1% 2.5% 2.9%
Financial result 6.3 3
3.5
6.3 3
3.5
-44.5%
Profit before tax 29.1 -46.6 32.3 31.6 -2.2%
Income tax expense 4.4 10.1 5.2 12.0 133.2%
Net profit 24.7 -56.7 27.1 19.5 -28.0%
FCF -32.1 -23.3
4
3.9 -31.9
4
-
Net Debt at Sept 30 670.9 507.9 670.9 507.9 -24.3%
Capex 47.0 26.4 47.0 26.4 -43.8%
Average # FTEs and interims 38,768 37,474 38,768 37,474 -3.3%
  • 1 € 75.0m provision for the repayment to the Belgian State towards overcompensation over the past years2
  • Amortization and impairments of intangibles recognized during PPA are adjusted, leading to increase in EBIT (€ +3.2m) and income tax (€ +0.8m) 2
  • Decrease in financial results reflecting development of noncash financial results related to IAS 19 employee benefits (oneoff steep increase in discount rates LY), partially offset by a gain on contingent liability (purchase of remaining share of Active Ants in Sept. '23)

3

4 Adjusted FCF excludes the cash Radial receives on behalf of its customers for performing billing services

Parcel volume growth and beneficial Price Mix across mail and parcels

3

Belgium revenues, € million

2.6

2.9

Domestic Mail

Revenues up € +4.1m (+1.4%):

  • € -23.2m volume (-8.2% underlying volume decline against -7.7% in 3Q22)
  • € +22.4m price/mix impact
  • € +4.9m from integration of Aldipress2 on Sept. 30, 2022 and est. € -5m of COVID-19 communication in 3Q22

Parcels Belgium

Parcels Belgium revenues up € +12.4m (+12.1%):

• Parcels volume growth of +5.5%, mainly reflecting successful Commercial Hunting Plan 2022.

Weak apparel sales momentum from warmer weather patterns in September.

• Price/mix of +6.6%

Proximity and convenience retail network

Revenues up € +2.6m (+3.8%) mainly from indexation of Mgt. Contract

Value added services

Higher revenues from fines solution

2 4

5

Strong revenues offset inflationary pressure on costs

€ million

Belgium 3Q22 3Q23 D %
Transactional 169.7 172.1 1.4%
Advertising 42.9 40.7 -5.3%
Press 80.3 84.3 5.0%
Parcels Belgium 103.2 115.6 12.1%
Proximity and convenience retail network 68.8 71.4 3.8%
Value added services 30.1 32.9 9.5%
Intersegment and other 12.2 21.5 75.4%
Total operating income 507.2 538.4 6.2%
Operating expenses 468.0 565.2 20.8%
EBITDA 39.2 -26.7 -
Depreciation & Amortization 20.5 22.4 9.5%
Reported EBIT 18.7 -49.2 -
Margin (%) 3.7% -9.1%
Adjusted EBIT 18.9 25.9 37.5%
Margin (%) 3.7% 4.8%
Additional KPIs
Underlying Mail volume trend -7.7% -8.2%
Transactional -6.2% -9.2%
Advertising -11.1% -12.3%
Press - excl. Aldipress -10.5% -7.9%
Parcels volume trend -3.8% +5.5%

Key takeaways 3Q23

  • Higher intersegment revenues from inbound cross-border volumes handled in the domestic network, and € +5.0m reversal (other revenue) from downward revision of 2023 impact of repricing the services to the State
  • Reported operating expenses (incl. D&A) increased by € 92.2m reflecting the € 75.0m provision for the repayment to the Belgian State towards overcompensation over the past years
  • Adjusted operating expenses (incl. D&A) increased by € 24.2m (+5.0%) mainly driven by higher payroll cost per FTE (+5.4% from 3 salary indexations) and stable FTEs despite higher parcel volumes.
  • Improved underlying EBIT when excluding compliance review impacts

Mixed revenue development across businesses results in stable topline operationally

E-Logistics Eurasia revenues, € million

7

E-commerce logistics

Revenues up € +1.7m (+2.5%):

  • Radial Europe and Active Ants revenue growth of +11% reflecting higher sales from (i) existing customers and (ii) new customer onboardings from international expansion
  • Lower volumes across all Dyna lines, only partially mitigated by price indexations

1

Cross-border

Revenues down € -6.0m (-7.4%) mainly from:

  • Adverse UK market conditions
  • IMX consolidation (4 months of revenue in 3Q22 after acquisition on May 31, 2022); partially offset by
  • Continuous growth from recent customer wins in Asia, though at a slower pace than in previous quarters

2

3Q23 – E-Log. Eurasia

Improved profitability in Eurasia

€ million

E-Logistics Eurasia 3Q22 3Q23 D %
E-commerce logistics 67.3 69.0 2.5%
Cross-border 82.0 76.0 -7.4%
Intersegment and other 5.9 6.6 11.3%
Total operating income 155.3 151.6 -2.4%
Operating expenses 144.6 134.7 -6.8%
EBITDA 10.7 16.9 58.0%
Depreciation & Amortization 7.0 9.8 39.9%
Reported EBIT 3.7 7.1 92.6%
Margin (%) 2.4% 4.7%
Adjusted EBIT 4.4 7.9 80.6%
Margin (%) 2.8% 5.2%

Key takeaways 3Q23

  • Total operating income down € -3.7m (-2.4%)
  • Operating expenses (incl. adjusted D&A) decreased by € 7.2m (-4.8%), mainly explained by:
    • ‐ lower transport costs in line with lower Cross-border activities overall and favorable mix, offsetting higher intersegment opex charged by Belgium
    • ‐ stable payroll costs reflecting inflationary pressures balanced by lower FTEs

Revenue pressure in a North American market that remains difficult

E-Logistics N. America revenues, € million

E-commerce logistics

Revenues down € -66.7m (-17.8% or -11.0% at constant exchange rate)

Lower revenues at Radial (-10.1% excl. FX) resulting from:

  • contribution of new customer launches, more than offset by
  • lower sales from existing customers and accelerating revenue churn from terminated contracts announced in 2022 and 2023

Lower revenues at Landmark US reflecting Amazon's insourcing and general competitive pressure

U.S. domestic market trend

Productivity gains at Radial partly mitigate topline pressures

€ million

E-Logistics North America 3Q22 3Q23 D %
E-commerce logistics 375.0 308.3 -17.8%
Intersegment and other 1.5 2.0 33.9%
Total operating income 376.5 310.3 -17.6%
Operating expenses 339.6 279.5 -17.7%
EBITDA 36.8 30.7 -16.7%
Depreciation & Amortization 28.7 28.4 -1.2%
Reported EBIT 8.1 2.3 -71.3%
Margin (%) 2.2% 0.8%
Adjusted EBIT 10.5 4.5 -57.0%
Margin (%) 2.8% 1.5%
Additional KPIs, adjusted
Radial North America revenue, \$m 295.9 265.9 -10.1%
Radial North America EBITDA, \$m 21.1 20.8 -1.2%
Radial North America EBIT, \$m (0.8) (2.6) -

Key takeaways 3Q23

  • Total operating income down € -66.2m (-17.6%, or -10.8% excl. FX)
  • Operating expenses (incl. adjusted D&A) down € -60.2m (-16.5% or -9.5% excl. FX) resulting from:
    • ‐ lower variable opex in line with revenue development
    • ‐ continued strong variable labor management and productivity gains, leading to variable contribution margin improvement
    • ‐ provision of € 7.1m in 3Q22 reflecting dispute with exiting customer
  • Lower underlying EBIT and margin dilution mainly reflecting revenue pressure at Landmark and lower fixed cost coverage, partly mitigated by productivity improvement at Radial

Continued FTE reduction mitigates the cost pressures

€ million

Corporate 3Q22 3Q23 D %
External operating income 2.7 1.9 -30.0%
Intersegment and other 98.2 101.0 2.9%
Total operating income 100.8 102.8 2.0%
Operating expenses 89.3 93.3 4.5%
EBITDA 11.5 9.5 -17.3%
Depreciation & Amortization 19.3 19.9 3.4%
Reported EBIT -7.7 -10.4
Margin (%) -7.7% -10.1%
Adjusted EBIT -7.7 -10.4
Margin (%) -7.7% -10.1%

Key takeaways 3Q23

  • External revenues down € -0.8m mainly from building sales
  • Higher operating expenses (€ +4.7m or +4.3%, incl. D&A) reflecting amongst others (i) inflationary pressure on payroll costs (+5.4% from 3 salary indexations) mitigated by continued efforts on overhead reduction (-4.4% FTEs) and (ii) compliance reviews related costs
  • Adjusted EBIT down € -2.7m at € -10.4m

Stable Cash Flow from Operating activities negatively impacted by working capital development

€ million - Adjusted

3Q22 3Q23 D
Cash flow from operating activities before Δ in WC and provisions 91.7 25.1 1
-66.6
Change in working capital and provisions -40.6 -20.8 19.9
2
Cash flow from operating activities 51.1 4.4 -46.7
Cash flow from investing activities -47.2 -36.3 10.9
3
Free cash flow 3.9 -31.9 -35.8
Cash flow from financing activities -50.5 -58.1 4
-7.6
Net cash movement -46.5 -90.0 -43.5
Capex 47.0 26.4 -20.6

Adjusted vs. Reported Cash Flow Statement in appendix

CF from operating activities

Lower EBITDA (incl. € -75.0 provision) and lower payment of corporate income taxes (€ +10.4m)

  • € +19.9m variation in working capital evolution and provisions mainly driven by
  • increase in provision with € +75.0m related to the repayment to the Belgian State towards overcompensation over the past years
  • € -60.1m Change in working capital in 3Q23 from lower supplier balances

CF from investing activities

Higher M&A activities (€ +9.2m y/y mainly reflecting purchase of remaining shares of Active Ants in Sept. '23)

3Q23

CAPEX of € 26.4m in 3Q23 (€ -20.6m y/y) mainly spent on international e-commerce logistics and on domestic fleet, mail infrastructure and parcels capacity

CF from financing activities

4

3

Mainly driven by payments related to lease liabilities and interests on borrowings

1

2023 group EBIT outlook

Despite North American market headwinds and compliance reviews impacts, bpost expects the group adjusted EBIT to be above € 240m

incl. € -10.0m of repricing services to the State

4-5% growth1 in total operating income, notably driven by

  • Mail: volume decline of 8-9% offset by price increase and mix impacts
  • Parcel: mid to high single digit % volume growth and mid single digit % price/mix

7-9% adjusted EBIT margin

Higher payroll costs from full-year impact of salary indexations of 2022- 232 , higher energy costs and compliance reviews related costs, partly mitigated by efficiency gains in operations and continued cost reduction initiatives

E-Logistics Eurasia

Low double digit % growth in total operating income driven by

  • Continued growth of Radial Europe and Active Ants
  • Growing Commercial Cross-Border activities incl. development of new lanes

3-5% adjusted EBIT margin

Negative mix effect at Cross-Border and including scale-up of sales organization and start-up costs of new customers at Radial Europe and Active Ants

E-Logistics N. Am.

Low double digit % decline in total operating income3 reflecting

  • Amazon's insourcing at Landmark Global and general price pressure
  • Lower growth momentum at Radial in current market conditions, overcapacity leading to price pressures and ongoing churn

4-6% adjusted EBIT margin

Tighter labor costs & management and costs measures offsetting price pressures and higher opex and incremental D&A from new sites

Group

Low single-digit % decline1,3 in total operating income

Adjusted EBIT above € 240m

Including higher payroll costs at Corporate level, opex to support the ongoing group transformation and impacts from compliance reviews

Gross capex around € 170m Reflecting capex discipline in difficult market

13

1 excluding deconsolidation of Ubiway Retail

3 assuming EUR/USD at 1.08 for 2023 2 next +2% salary indexation will occur in December '23, adding to the ones of February, April, June, September, December '22 and January '23. Monthly forecast of the Federal Planning Bureau is available here

Additional info

Adjusted vs. reported Cash Flow Statement

€ million Reported Adjusted
3Q22 3Q23 D 3Q22 3Q23 D
Cash flow from operating activities before Δ in WC and provisions 91.7 25.1 -66.6 91.7 25.1 -66.6
Change in working capital and provisions -76.6 -12.2 64.4 -40.6 -20.8 19.9
1
Cash flow from operating activities 15.1 12.9 -2.2 51.1 4.4 -46.7
Cash flow from investing activities -47.2 -36.3 10.9 -47.2 -36.3 10.9
Free cash flow -32.1 -23.3 8.7 3.9 -31.9 -35.8
Cash flow from financing activities -50.5 -58.1 -7.6 -50.5 -58.1 -7.6
Net cash movement -82.5 -81.4 1.1 -46.5 -90.0 -43.5
Capex 47.0 26.4 -20.6 47.0 26.4 -20.6

Adjustments

Change in working capital:

Cash inflow related to collected proceeds due to Radial's clients was € 44.6m higher (€ 36.0m outflow in 3Q22 against inflow of € 8.6m in 3Q23)

Balance Sheet

3Q23
€ million € million
Assets Dec 31, 2022 Sept 30, 2023 Equity and Liabilities Dec 31, 2022 Sept 30, 2023
Property, Plant and Equipment 1,398.9 1,392.0 Total equity 1,065.4 1,022.8
Intangible assets 855.8 835.5 Interest-bearing loans & borrowings 1,488.6 1,481.5
Investments in associates and joint ventures 0.1 0.1 Employee benefits 244.2 245.5
Other assets 52.7 31.1 Trade & other payables 1,520.3 1,217.2
Trade & other receivables 974.3 823.6 Provisions 26.7 102.7
Inventories 24.5 25.5 Derivative instruments -0.3 0.3
Derivative instruments 0.0 0.0 Other liabilities 13.5 12.3
Cash & cash equivalents 1,051.0 973.7 Liabilites held for sale 0.0 0.0
Assets held for sale 1.0 0.6
Total Assets 4,358.3 4,082.2 Total Equity and Liabilities 4,358.3 4,082.2

Main balance sheet movements

Property, plant and equipment slightly decreased as the capital expenditure and the new right-of-use assets were offset by the depreciation.

Intangible assets decreased due to the depreciation, partially offset by capital expenditures.

The decrease of Trade and other receivables was mainly driven by the settlement of the press concession for the year 2022 and the peak sales of year-end 2022.

Cash & cash equivalents decreased amongst others due to the payment of dividends (€ 80.3m).

The decrease of equity was mainly explained by payment of dividends (€ 80.3m), partially offset by the realized profit and the exchange differences on translation of foreign operations.

The decrease of Trade and other payables was mainly due to the reversal of the liability related to the remaining shares of Active Ants and the decrease of social and trade payables. The decrease of trade payables was mainly a phasing element given the peak season at year-end, whereas the decrease of social payables was mainly due to the unwinding of the deferred payment of withholding taxes on payroll, a measure granted by the Belgian government in the context of the energy crisis in 4Q22, and the payment of the FY22 social accruals in 1H23.

16 The increase of provisions is due to the provision of € 75.0m for the three compliance reviews (traffic fines, 679 accounts and licence plates), this constitutes bpost's assessment of the overcompensation - to be repaid to the Belgian State - over the past years for the three contracts.

Financing Structure & Liquidity

€ million
Available Liquidity Dec 31, 2022 Sept 30, 2023
Cash
& c
ash
eq
u
i
v
al
en
ts
1,051.0 973.7
Cash in network 143.9 136.0
Transit accounts 65.8 63.3
Cash payment transactions under execution -24.0 (10.0)
Bank current accounts 680.6 447.7
Short-term deposits 184.7 336.8
U
n
d
raw
n
rev
o
l
v
i
n
g c
red
i
t f
ac
i
l
i
ti
es
375.0 375.0
Syndicated facility - 10/2024 300.0 300.0
Bilateral facility - 06/2025 75.0 75.0
Total Available Liquidity 1,426.0 1,348.7

€ million

€ million
External Funding Dec 31, 2022 Sept 30, 2023
L
o
n
g-term
650.0 650.0
Long-term bond1
(1.25% - 07/2026)
650.0 650.0
S
h
o
rt-term
173.4 174.6
Bank loans - Term Loan (\$ 185m) - 12/2023 173.4 174.6
Total External Funding 823.4 824.6

Liquidity: Cash & Committed credit lines

Total available liquidity on September 30, 2023 consisted out of € 974m cash & cash equivalents of which € 784m is readily available on bank current accounts and as short-term deposits.

In addition, bpost group has 2 undrawn revolving credit facilities for a total amount of € 375m.

External Funding & Debt Amortization (excl. IFRS16 lease liabilities)

Out of € 824.6m external funding on balance sheet, € 174.6m (\$ 185m) needs to be repaid within twelve months

3Q23

Key contact

Antoine Lebecq Head of Investor Relations

Email: [email protected] Direct: +32 (0) 2 276 29 85 Mobile: +32 (0) 471 81 24 77 Address: bpostgroup, Boulevard Anspach 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

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