In the past, PostFinance and PostMail made the greatest contribution to good results at Swiss Post, but the operating framework has been difficult in both of these areas. Due to improvements in efficiency, PostMail was able to achieve a positive result despite the ongoing decline in letter volumes. PostFinance is also making great efforts, but continued low interest rates are having an impact on the Group result and can no longer be offset by other income or efficiency measures in the longer term. This includes increased parcel volumes. While these volumes are encouraging, Swiss Post is engaged in fierce competition in the parcel delivery market and can only handle the large volume of parcels thanks to high investments in infrastructure. “As expected, the third quarter results were lower year-on-year. This reflects developments in a challenging market. However, thanks to intensive efforts in all business areas, results have not declined to the same extent as the deterioration in general conditions”, says Alex Glanzmann, CFO of Swiss Post. Swiss Post is following the debate on the lifting of the lending prohibition initiated by the Federal Council with great interest. Against the backdrop of these significant challenges, Swiss Post is also looking for opportunities to tap into new sources of income. “We want to continue to finance the universal service from our own resources in the future, but this is questionable in the medium term given the difficult operating framework”, says Glanzmann.

Increased parcel volumes

The parcel volume processed by Swiss Post has increased again by 7 percent. Swiss Post already delivers over half a million parcels on average each working day. Yet the parcel delivery market is experiencing severe pressure on pricing as a result of fierce competition. The constant increase in parcel volumes also requires substantial investment in new parcel centers. For this reason, operating profit at PostLogistics decreased by 5 million to 96 million francs. At 1,251 million francs, operating income was 32 million francs up on the previous year, however. Long-term investments in new regional parcel centers are significantly improving logistics processes. For example, the recently opened parcel center in Cadenazzo (TI) has relieved the workload for the center in Härkingen (SO).

Falling letter volumes

Although letter volumes fell again by 4.5 percent, PostMail achieved an operating profit of 257 million francs in the first nine months of the year, exceeding the previous year’s figure by 4 million francs. The main reason for this success is that PostMail was able to reduce its operating expenses by 81 million francs, even though operating income was 77 million francs lower than in the previous year, not least due to falling letter volumes. The example of letter post demonstrates particularly clearly the importance of the daily commitment shown by employees. However, the optimization potential for PostMail to compensate for lower revenues is continually decreasing due to falling letter and newspaper volumes.

A high level of employee commitment

The fact that Swiss Post's operating profit (EBIT) was down by 22 million on the previous year at 371 million francs is due in particular to the persistently difficult interest rate situation at PostFinance and the difficult situation in terms of volumes and competition in the other markets. This development has been apparent for years, and Swiss Post has repeatedly addressed the issue and resisted it as far as possible. The commitment shown by Swiss Post staff is demonstrated by the results in other areas such as PostalNetwork. Here, it has been possible to massively reduce the deficit in recent years. The operating result at PostalNetwork is currently –103 million francs. While this is about 9 million francs lower than in the same period of the previous year, this is due to provisions for announced restructuring. Once again, Swiss Post Solutions made a positive contribution, steadily improving its operating profit and increasing it again by 14 percent (3 million francs) to 25 million francs year-on-year. Operating income rose by 16 million francs to 445 million francs.

Travelling by Postbus increasingly popular

The comprehensive public transport service from PostBus is enjoying increasing passenger demand, which is also due to the addition of further timetabled services. Operating income rose by 2 percent year-on-year. Due to the non-recurring repayment of excess subsidies to purchasers, the operating result improved by 12 million francs year-on-year to –8 million francs. With the sale of CarPostal France to Keolis S.A., at the end of September 2019, Swiss Post ended its commitments to PostBus in France and is shifting its focus to the Swiss market and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Group key figures

Key figures	Unit	Full year 2018	30.09.2018	30.09.2019
Operating income	CHF million	7,268 [1]	5,390 [1]	5,307
Operating profit (EBIT) [2]	CHF million	507 [1]	393 [1]	371
Group profit	CHF million	405	317	263
Total assets	CHF million	124,202 [1]	128,108 [1]	123,553
Equity	CHF million	6,732 [1]	6,993 [1]	7,014
Investments	CHF million	412	275	305
Headcount at Swiss Post Group	FTEs [3]	39,932 [4]	39,928 [4]	39,523

 

¹ ↑ Figures have been adjusted. PostalNetwork has made changes in the disclosure of revenue and expenses from resale merchandise. PostBus categorized the CarPostalFrance Group as a discontinued operation.
² ↑ The operating profit corresponds to the result before net non-operating financial income and taxes (EBIT).
³ ↑ FTEs = full-time equivalents. Average headcount expressed in terms of full-time equivalents, excluding trainees.
⁴ ↑ In the PostMail segment, the calculation of the average headcount in two subsidiaries was reviewed for full-time equivalents (without trainees), leading to an adjustment of the previous year’s value. In the PostBus segment, the figures for 2018 have been adjusted due to the classification of the CarPostal France Group as a disposal group held for sale and a discontinued operation.

PostFinance Ltd key figures

Key figures	Unit	Full year 2018	30.09.2018	30.09.2019
Number of customers	in thousands	2,857	2,880	2,764
Customer assets	CHF million	118,943	121,070	117,511
Customer assets in partner solutions	CHF million	10,074	10,497	11,610
Mortgages [1]	CHF million	5,816	5,789	5,944
Development of customer assets	CHF million	-854	1,273	-1,432
Headcount	FTEs [2]	3,325	3,346	3,238

 

¹ ↑ In cooperation with partner banks.
² ↑ FTEs = full-time equivalents. Average headcount expressed in terms of full-time equivalents. Headcount at PostFinance parent company.

Selected key figures per segment

30.09.2019	Segment	Operating income (CHF million)	Operating profit (CHF million) [1]
Communication market	PostMail	1,912	257
Communication market	Swiss Post Solutions	445	25
Communication market	PostalNetwork [2]	503	-103
Logistics market	PostLogistics	1,251	96
Financial services market	PostFinance	1,245	207
Passenger transport market	PostBus	632	–8

 

30.09.2018	Segment	Operating income (CHF million)	Operating profit (CHF million) [1]
Communication market	PostMail	1,989	253
Communication market	Swiss Post Solutions	429	22
Communication market	PostalNetwork [2]	543 [3]	-94
Logistics market	PostLogistics	1,219	101
Financial services market	PostFinance	1,315	218
Passenger transport market	PostBus	620 [3]	-20 [3]

 

¹ ↑ The operating profit corresponds to the result before net non-operating financial income and taxes (EBIT).
² ↑ Swiss Post records the margin on a number of third-party products as revenue with retroactive effect to 1 January 2018. This method reflects the business more appropriately. These changes have no effect on the PostalNetwork result.
³ ↑ Figures have been adjusted. As mentioned in footnote 2, PostalNetwork has made changes in the disclosure of revenue and expenses from resale merchandise PostBus categorized the CarPostal France Group as a discontinued operation.

 

Information:

Swiss Post Media Unit, François Furer, Media Spokesperson, 058 341 19 47, presse@swisspost.ch