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Good result in increasingly difficult environment
Swiss Post recorded a Group profit of 645 million francs in 2015 (previous year: 638 million francs). Operating profit (EBIT) stood at 823 million francs (previous year: 803 million francs). The slight increase is mainly due to changes in the carrying amounts in the financial services market. The economic environment and the ongoing low interest situation remain challenging, with operating income in three of the four markets stagnant or declining.
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For the year 2015, Group profit stood at 645 million francs, which represents an increase of 7 million francs. At 823 million francs, operating profit (EBIT) is 20 million francs up on the previous year’s figure. This was mainly due to book gains on financial investments, non-recurring book losses from the prior-year period and sharply higher net trading income in the financial services market following the lifting of the minimum euro exchange rate. Operating income was down by 147 million francs to 8,224 million francs (previous year: 8,371 million francs). Total assets fell from 124.67 billion francs to 120.33 billion francs.
Income from core business under pressure
In three of the four markets, operating income was stagnant or declined. In the communication market, the three segments PostMail, Swiss Post Solutions and Post Offices & Sales generated an overall operating profit of 263 million francs (previous year: 246 million francs). At PostMail and Post Offices & Sales, the volume of addressed letters fell by 1.4 percent year-on-year, while the number of unaddressed items decreased by 1.7 percent.
With operating income of 2,820 million francs (previous year: 2,887 million francs), PostMail was the main contributor to operating income in the communication market. PostMail’s operating profit stood at 358 million francs (previous year: 334 million francs). A decrease in income due to lower volumes was more than offset by the reduction in operating expenses.
Swiss Post Solutions generated operating income of 609 million francs (previous year: 659 million francs). Operating profit rose to 15 million francs (previous year: 12 million francs) due to efficiency improvement projects with existing customers and from business with new customers.
With operating income of 1,601 million francs (previous year: 1,663 million francs), Post Offices & Sales recorded an operating result of -110 million francs (previous year: -100 million francs). Letter and parcel volumes and the number of payment transactions continued to decline in 2015. Despite savings in operating expenses, the fall in income was not fully offset.
In the logistics market, PostLogistics generated an operating profit of 145 million francs in the face of continuing intense competition (previous year: 141 million francs). Operating income stood at 1,552 million francs (previous year: 1,562 million francs). Declines in revenue from small consignment transport and warehousing, combined with lower income in the fuel business, were more than offset by higher parcel volumes and optimized operating expenses. Parcel volumes were up 3 percent.
In the passenger transport market, PostBus recorded an operating profit of 29 million francs (previous year: 30 million francs). Operating income rose to 849 million francs (previous year: 835 million francs). The result was only slightly down despite a reduction in compensation for existing services, mainly due to additional income in other business areas.
PostFinance challenged by low interest situation
In the financial services market, the ongoing low interest situation is a serious challenge for PostFinance. In 2015, it recorded an operating profit of 459 million francs, 77 million francs more than the previous year. This increase is mainly due to portfolio reversals of impairment on financial investments (book gains) of 25 million francs. In the previous year, the creation of portfolio value adjustments (book losses) had an impact of 84 million francs on the result. Higher transaction volumes on the foreign currency markets in the wake of the abandoning of the minimum euro exchange rate also made a substantial contribution to the improved result. By contrast, net interest income, net of impairment, was down year-on-year due to the very low, and in some cases negative, interest rates on the markets. Average customer deposits declined by around 2,800 million francs as a result of targeted measures implemented by PostFinance in the context of the introduction of negative interest rates by the Swiss National Bank. In the year under review, 13,000 new customers placed their trust in PostFinance.
One-off items and appropriation of profit
Swiss Post’s financial result includes one-off items for the year 2015. However, they did not lead to any adjustment of the prior-year figures. The non-consideration (normalization) of these one-off items allows comparison with the previous year and provides an accurate representation of the current operating business performance. In 2015, Group profit, operating profit and operating expenses are affected by normalization.
At the General Meeting, the Board of Directors will propose paying a dividend of 200 million francs to the Confederation. As at 31 December 2015, Group equity stood at 4.39 billion francs (before appropriation of profit).
Ongoing development focused on demand and affordability
Swiss Post intends to continue providing its customers with first-class services. In order to be able to invest in infrastructure and innovation, and to develop in the long term using its own resources, Swiss Post depends on solid profits. While letters, which are protected by a partial monopoly, are faced with ongoing volume declines, the pressure on margins for parcels is rising. Changing technologies are altering customer behaviour fundamentally. Swiss Post must therefore continue to consistently develop its access points and services and adapt them to the needs of its customers while at the same time also creating an affordable infrastructure.
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Group key figures
Key figures | Unit | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|
Operating income | CHF million | 8,371[1] | 8,224 |
Operating profit (EBIT) [2] | CHF million | 803 | 823[3] |
As a % of operating income (operating profit margin) | % | 9.6 | 10.0[3] |
Group profit | CHF million | 638 | 645[3] |
Total assets | CHF million | 124,671 | 120,327 |
Equity | CHF million | 5,010 | 4,385 |
Investments [4] | CHF million | 443 | 437 |
Employees at Group (excluding trainees) | Full-time equivalents[5] | 44,681 | 44,131 |
Of which abroad | Full-time equivalents[5] | 7,627 | 7,449 |
Group trainees in Switzerland | Full-time equivalents | 2,035 | 2,077 |
Addressed letters | Millions of items sent | 2,203.1 | 2,171.6 |
Parcels | Millions of items sent | 111.8 | 115.2 |
Number of passengers in Switzerland | Persons (in millions) | 140.6 | 145.0 |
1 ↑ The figure has been adjusted (see Financial Report 2015, Note 2 to Group annual financial statements, Basis of accounting, Accounting changes).
2 ↑ The operating profit corresponds to the result before net non-operating financial income and taxes (EBIT).
3 ↑ Normalized figure.
4 ↑ Investments in property, plant and equipment, investment property, intangible assets and subsidiaries.
5 ↑ Average headcount expressed in terms of full-time equivalents (excluding trainees).
PostFinance Ltd key figures
Key figures | Unit | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|
Number of customers | Thousands | 2,938 | 2,951 |
Number of customer accounts | Thousands | 4,752 | 4,835 |
Inflow of new money[1] | CHF million | 2,839 | -2,766 |
Customer assets[1] | CHF million monthly avg. | 117,186 | 114,866 |
Customer assets in partner solutions[1] | CHF million monthly avg. | 7,125 | 7,772 |
Mortgages[2] | CHF million | 4,713 | 5,089 |
Loans to business customers (taken up) | CHF million | 8,165 | 9,063 |
E-finance users | Thousands | 1,624 | 1,683 |
Headcount | Full-time equivalents[3] | 3,454 | 3,571 |
Transactions processed | In millions | 996 | 1,020 |
1 ↑ Based on monthly averages.
2 ↑ PostFinance does not provide mortgages independently. It works with partner banks to do so.
3 ↑ Average headcount expressed in terms of full-time equivalents.
Selected key figures per segment
Communication market | Key figures | Unit | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|
PostMail | Operating income[1] | CHF million | 2,887 | 2,820 |
PostMail | Operating profit[1] | CHF million | 334 | 358[2] |
Swiss Post Solutions | Operating income[1] | CHF million | 659 | 609 |
Swiss Post Solutions | Operating profit[1] | CHF million | 12 | 15[2] |
Post Offices & Sales | Operating income[1] | CHF million | 1,663 | 1,601 |
Post Offices & Sales | Operating profit[1] | CHF million | -100 | -110[2] |
Logistics market | Key figures | Unit | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|
PostLogistics | Operating income[1] | CHF million | 1,562 | 1,552 |
PostLogistics | Operating profit[1] | CHF million | 141 | 145[2] |
Financial services market | Key figures | Unit | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|
PostFinance[3] | Operating income[1] | CHF million | 2,175[4] | 2,143 |
PostFinance[3] | Operating profit[1] | CHF million | 382 | 459[2] |
Passenger transport market | Key figures | Unit | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|
PostBus[5] | Operating income[1] | CHF million | 835 | 849 |
PostBus[5] | Operating profit[1] | CHF million | 30 | 29[2] |
1 ↑ Operating income and operating profit (EBIT) by segment are reported before management, licence fees and net cost compensation.
2 ↑ Normalized figure.
3 ↑ PostFinance Ltd also applies the accounting rules for banks, securities dealers, financial groups and conglomerates (ARB). There are differences between the ARB and the IFRS results.
4 ↑ The figure has been adjusted (see Financial Report 2015, Note 2 to Group annual financial statements, Basis of accounting, Accounting changes).
5 ↑ Within regional public transport, PostBus Switzerland Ltd is subject to the DETEC ordinance on the accounting of licensed businesses (RKV). There are differences between the RKV and the IFRS results.