pdf - press release [197 kb]
Q4 & FULL YEAR 2010 HIGHLIGHTS
Q4 2010
DEMERGER UPDATE
- Legal and organisational restructuring completed 1 January 2011
- Key elements for demerger confirmed
- Demerger proposal ready for 25 May 2011 AGM
MAIL BUSINESS (TNT NV-MAIL)
- Underlying* revenues -0.1% to € 1,212 million (old reporting structure: -0.1% to € 1,213 million)
- Underlying* operating income € 184 million (old reporting structure: € 185 million)
- Underlying* cash EBIT € 110 million
- Addressed mail volumes in the Netherlands declined by 9.6%, adjusted for working days
EXPRESS BUSINESS (DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS)
- Underlying* revenues decreased by 0.3% to € 1,734 million (old reporting structure: +0.1% to € 1,677 million) impacted by fewer working days
- Underlying* operating income € 95 million (old reporting structure: € 107 million)
- Continued volume growth
- Yield held back by negative mix changes, exacerbated by severe weather
- Rate increases, surcharges and contract rationalisation proceeding
- Brazil impacted by integration-related claims and negative adjustments to reported operating income (€ 20 million)
FULL YEAR 2010
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mail business: 9.0% addressed volume decline; Master plan savings € 93 million
- TNT NV-Mail underlying* operating income € 580 million (2009: € 630 million)
- Net cash from operating activities at € 171 million
- Net debt € 993 million
- Express business (discontinued operations): volumes ahead of pre-crisis levels, underlying operating income 32% above 2009
DIVIDEND
- Total proposed distribution to shareholders of € 57 cents per share, pay-out ratio of 40% of normalised net income
- € 28 cents paid in August 2010 by way of interim dividend, optional in cash or shares
- € 29 cents as second interim dividend, optional in cash or shares, to be paid 11 March 2011, with an at least 2% premium for stock election
- Guidelines for both Mail and Express announced today
2011 to date
Ratification by union members of the agreement enabling Mail to continue planned restructuring programme
Savings target Mail confirmed to be € 430 million in the period 2010 – 2017, though more back-end loaded than initially forecast as a result of the agreement with the unions
Divestment of mail activities in Belgium and unaddressed mail activities in Italy
* The underlying figures are detailed in the underlying reconciliation schedules on pages 7, 8, 20 and 21 of the full release.
CEO PETER BAKKER COMMENTS:
‘On December 2, 2010, TNT announced the decision by its Supervisory Board and Board of Management to prepare separation of Mail and Express into two listed companies. Our strong management teams are hard at work creating independent futures. All preparations for the AGM at which the separation proposal will be put up for approval are well underway.
In Mail, the continuing volume declines require us to remain focused on cost savings to maximise cash flows. In Q4 2010, we were unfortunately faced with the first nation-wide strikes in more than 25 years. These were testing times for our customers and employees alike, particularly as the strikes were immediately followed by a few weeks of harsh winter weather. In December, an agreement with the unions was reached that was subsequently ratified by members of the unions.
This agreement allows for the full implementation of our Master plan III redesign of the postal network in the Netherlands. The years 2011 and 2012 will be the most concentrated years of the restructuring, requiring substantial cash outflow and investment. Declining volumes will not be fully offset by savings from this redesign in 2011 and 2012. However, today we announce that the (independent) Mail company will pay stable dividends from 2011 onwards.
In Express, 2010 has been the year in which volumes recovered to pre-crisis levels although the mix and pricing environment has been challenging throughout. The various yield measures announced as of Q2 have begun to show positive effects, although the harsh winter weather in Europe has caused not only additional costs but also negatively impacted Express’ product mix. 2010 has been a year in which TNT’s strategy in emerging markets has continued to make good progress. In China, both day-definite domestic and intercontinental growth has been good. We are disappointed with the integration related one-off costs in Brazil, but our strong market position in South America remains a true asset for the future. To realise the 2011 operating income outlook, management will focus on the continued implementation of our yield measures alongside revitalised efforts to reduce structural costs.
Between today and the general meeting of shareholders on May 25, the Board of Management will ensure a smooth transition towards the separated Mail and Express companies.
OUTLOOK 2011 MAIL BUSINESS
Mail expects addressed volume decline in 2011 in the Netherlands of 8 – 10% due to ongoing substitution and competition, in this second full year after full liberalisation. Master plan savings of € 50 – 60 million are targeted for the year. Mail’s underlying cash EBIT (defined as underlying EBIT minus pension cash outflows and cash out for restructuring) is expected to be € 130 – 170 million. After separation, Mail’s dividend guidelines for the next few years will include a payout around 75% of underlying net cash income, with a minimum of € 150 million per annum. In addition, shareholders will be given the dividend that Mail receives from the Express business.
The 2011 additional financial indicators relevant to underlying cash EBIT:
- Pensions: gross cash contributions for defined benefit obligations approximately € 265 million (2010: € 240 million) – the P&L impact will be adjusted at the moment of demerger
- Restructuring cash outflows: around € 80 – 90 million (2010: € 58 million)
Other 2011 additional financial indicators:
- Effective tax rate: around 25%
- Cash capex: around € 200 million
- Implementation costs Master plans: around € 70 million (2010: € 35 million)
- Net financial expense: around € 120 million
- Rebranding and additional central costs: around € 30 million
OUTLOOK 2011 EXPRESS BUSINESS
For 2011, TNT assumes a mostly stable economic environment. To counter inflationary cost pressures (including fuel) and possible mix effects, Express will focus on structural costs and cash alongside yield improvements which continue to be a priority. For the full year, Express targets underlying revenue of € 7.3 – 7.5 billion and underlying operating income of € 400 – 420 million (operating income including the allocation of € 20 million of TNT central costs). After separation, Express’ dividend guideline will include a payout of around 40% of normalised net income.
The 2011 additional financial indicators:
- Effective tax rate: around 35% (longer term 31 – 33%)
- Cash capex: around € 300 million
- Net financial expense: around € 35 million
The above excludes extra one-off costs directly related to the separation currently estimated at around € 35 million.
