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Focus on the potential of the parcel business

Balanced volume growth, resulting in improving profitability and cash conversion

The Hague

Full press release

Highlights for PostNL Parcels

  • E-commerce in the Benelux region will continue strong growth, offering opportunities and further growth potential
  • Development of new value-added services, through innovation and by smart expansion of infrastructure
  • New, dedicated sorting centre for small parcels to be opened in 2021
  • Commercial initiatives underway to optimise yield management
  • Balanced volume growth – resulting in improving profitability and cash conversion – is the basis for value creation

Outlook PostNL

  • UCOI outlook 2019 confirmed at €170 million - €200 million
  • As of 2020, PostNL’s outlook will be based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow
  • Normalised EBIT is expected to increase, with free cash flow as a percentage of normalised EBIT of over 50% after 2020, providing a sustainable basis for shareholder return

At its Capital Markets Day to be held today, PostNL will present an update of its strategy for its parcels business, which aims to improve the margin and lower the cost per parcel delivered. This will help the parcel business achieve a better balance between volume growth, profitability and sustainable cash generation. PostNL today also announces that, as of 2020, it will manage its financial performance based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow (FCF). These new key financial metrics have been chosen in order to improve the visibility and comparability of PostNL’s financial performance. 

Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, comments: “PostNL has played a key role in the strong growth of e-commerce in the Benelux region. In the last five years, our parcel business has grown by almost 100%, and we now deliver 251 million parcels a year. In our strategy update, we define multiple levers to further shape the growth of e-commerce. We aim for higher customer satisfaction by introducing innovative solutions, new services and improved digitised interaction with consumers. Smart yield management, a sharp focus on efficiency and innovative investments in our capacity will help us to improve the average margin per parcel. Balanced growth, profitability and sustainable free cash flow, while addressing the needs of society, people and the environment: together, these are the basis for sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.”

Improving the balance between volume and value

The strategy for Parcels aims to capture value through yield management and several other commercial and operational initiatives. PostNL will optimise collection, transport and network control, leading to lower costs per parcel. More and better digitised interaction with consumers will improve first-time-right delivery, reducing time per stop and the number of kilometres driven. New smart receiver options at and near home will be introduced, such as safe-place deliveries and new pick-up points.

PostNL assumes volume growth of ~14% CAGR (2018-22). The expansion of logistics solutions, focusing on niche markets and offering additional services, will complement the parcel business. Spring’s international activities will also help PostNL’s parcel business to grow, by optimising its cross-border network and providing in-feed for its Benelux networks. This is expected to translate into ongoing revenue growth (assumption: 10%-12% CAGR 2018-22) that reflects an improving balance between volume and value.

Separate small parcel sorting leads to lower costs per parcel

To accommodate future volume growth, PostNL continues to invest in additional capacity and focus on utilisation to achieve further network efficiency. In 2021, PostNL plans to open a small parcel sorting centre at a central location in the Netherlands. This sorting solution for small parcels will be highly automated and will facilitate 24/7 sorting, leading to lower sorting costs. As around 40% of total volume currently consists of small parcels, the new facility will significantly enhance distribution capacity in the existing network. This expansion will accommodate further growth, while limiting capital investments after a peak in 2020. With this and other initiatives, PostNL is creating the potential for an improving margin and a better cash flow profile after 2020.

Securing a sustainable mail business

At Mail in the Netherlands, the structural decline in mail volume requires ongoing attention for implementation of cost savings plans. The intended consolidation of Dutch postal networks is necessary for sustainable profitability and cash flow, as is a regulatory framework that reflects a market that is in structural decline. The proposed consolidation of networks will secure the foundation for a sustainable postal service in the Netherlands. Combining the two national postal networks is of vital importance for the postal market in the Netherlands to remain reliable, affordable, innovative and accessible for everyone. The key elements of the consolidation and subsequent integration as presented on 25 February 2019 remain the same and will be updated after the intended transaction is closed.

Key financial metrics and outlook

As of 2020, PostNL will manage its financial performance based on normalised EBIT and free cash flow (FCF). These new key financial metrics have been chosen in order to improve the visibility and comparability of PostNL’s financial performance.

PostNL confirms its UCOI outlook 2019 at €170 million - €200 million. The UCOI outlook for 2019 would equate to normalised EBIT of €155 million - €185 million. Assuming approval for the transaction with Sandd in Q4 2019, the result in 2019 is expected to be impacted by €25 million - €35 million, based on the financials as presented on 25 February 2019. Normalised EBIT is expected to increase, with free cash flow as a percentage of normalised EBIT of over 50% after 2020, providing a sustainable basis for shareholder return.

Sustainable generation of free cash flow

Although profitability is already expected to improve in 2020, this will not yet be visible in free cash flow. The main developments that explain the forecast of free cash flow for 2020 are:
  • Accommodating further growth by investments in Parcels infrastructure, to slow down from 2021;
  • Ongoing investments in working capital due to changes in the revenue mix combined with strict working capital management;
  • The impact of the intended consolidation of postal networks;
  • Final payment transitional pension plans in 2020.

After 2020, PostNL’s cash conversion potential is expected to improve significantly, with free cash flow as a percentage of EBIT substantially increasing to over 50%.

Published on the 7th of May 07.00 am

About PostNL

We are PostNL, here for everyone, bringing it all together for 225 years. With an extensive network of nearly 5,700 PostNL points, 10,000 letterboxes, and around 1,100 automated parcel lockers, also open to various carriers, along with millions of users of the PostNL app, we're always close by. We aim to be everyone's favourite deliverer by making it as easy as possible to send and receive parcels and mail. With over 32,000 colleagues working with us, we are part of society. On an average weekday, we deliver 1.2 million parcels and 6.3 million letters.

We optimise and support our physical networks through the use of smart digital solutions and introduce new propositions that add value for our customers. And aim for sustainable employment relationships by being a good employer to all people working with and for us. We focus on sustainability, making many journeys on foot and by bicycle, increasingly using cleaner fuels and electric vehicles, and offering innovative city logistics. PostNL N.V. is a publicly traded company with a turnover of €3.3 billion in 2024.