DGAP-News: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG:

DGAP-News: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Preliminary Results Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG: Francotyp-Postalia plans doubling its dividend to 16 cents 05.03.2015 / 06:33 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Corporate News Francotyp-Postalia plans doubling its dividend to 16 cents - Preliminary figures for 2014: - Revenues rise to EUR 170.4 million. - EBITDA improves to EUR 23.1 million - Outlook for 2015: - Revenues of EUR 173 to 177 million - EBITDA of EUR 24 to 25 million Berlin, 5 March 2015. Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG, the multi-channel provider for mail communication and the first accredited De-mail provider, again increased its revenues and profit for the 2014 financial year according to preliminary calculations. The Management Board and Supervisory Board therefore intend to propose a doubling of the dividend for the last financial year to 16 cents, following on 8 cents in 2013. Hans Szymanski, Spokesman for the FP Group's Board: "We have promised our shareholders regular participation in the company's success. And despite all the challenges, 2014 was a successful year." Increase in recurring revenues In a challenging environment the FP Group was able to increase its revenues to EUR 170.4 million in 2014 following EUR 168.9 million in the previous year, according to preliminary calculations. The declining exchange rate of the Euro against the US dollar, especially in the fourth quarter of 2014, led to a neutralisation of the negative exchange rate effects from the first half of 2014. Recurring revenues increased to EUR 139.4 million compared with EUR 136.9 million the year before. This revenue comes from the consolidation and software business and service, teleporto and consumables for around 234,000 franking machines worldwide as well as the leasing of franking machines. The trend towards leased machines continued unabated in 2014. At EUR 31.0 million, however, revenue from product revenues was slightly below the level for the previous year of EUR 32.0 million. Szymanski noted: "Although the growing leasing business requires short-term investments, it does secure our installed base and provides recurring revenues for the medium and long term." According to preliminary calculations, the company increased its EBITDA result for 2014 to EUR 23.1 million compared with EUR 22.2 million in the previous year. As the result of planned higher depreciation for leased machines, EBIT was EUR 9.9 million following EUR 10.4 million in the previous year. Consolidated net income increased to EUR 5.1 million following EUR 4.9 million in 2013. Free cash flow was EUR -5.3 million, due to planned high investments mostly in leasing markets such as the USA, and the launch of new franking systems, FP Group anticipates further profitable growth Notwithstanding continued expansion of the leasing business and the related but declining investments in the traditional business area, the FP Group expects the current financial year's free cash flow to be significantly improved and positive again. At the same time, the company has targeted revenues between EUR 173 and 177 million, and EBITDA of EUR 24 to 25 million. This amount does not yet include any one-time expenses of around EUR 1 million for the realignment of customer service in Germany. Given the growing importance of remote maintenance, which in particular was enabled by the successful introduction of PostBase and the new PostBase Mini, together with declining repairs, the company plans a customer-oriented modernisation of its service operation as announced some time ago. The FP Group will introduce PostBase Mini in many markets during the current financial year. It is also planned to extend the range of services associated with digital solutions. FP already offers long term archiving and encryption of digital documents, as well as solutions for the use of De-Mail. Szymanski says: "FP combines analogue and digital solutions for mail management and thus opens great possibilities for businesses to optimise their processes. This is the trend of the future. Based on our solid traditional business with franking machines, this gives us considerable potential for profitable growth - and opportunity to pay attractive dividends as a result." An overview of the preliminary figures for 2014: <pre> in EUR million 2013 2014 (preliminary) Change Revenue 168.9 170.4 0.9 % EBITDA 22.2 23.1 4.3 % EBIT 10.4 9.9 -4.6 % Free cash flow 5.9 -5.3 n/a Consolidated net income 4.9 5.1 4.1 % Earnings per share (EUR): 0.31 0.32 3.2 % </pre> More information: http://bit.ly/18PExCU Contact Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG Investor Relations / Public Relations Sabina Prüser Tel: +49 (0)30 220 660 410 Fax: +49 (0)30 220 660 425 E-mail: s.prueser@francotyp.com De-Mail: s.prueser@francotyp.de-mail.de About Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG The FP Group is the first multi-channel provider for mail communication. This global company offers a full range of products and solutions for business customers and individuals. It not only offers traditional machines for franking and inserting letters but also services including business mail collection and innovative software solutions such as fully electronic mail. These put the FP Group, which is based in Birkenwerder near Berlin, in a position to offer tailored multi-channel solutions. It currently operates in many industrialised countries through subsidiaries and owns around 10% of the worldwide market share for franking machines. With a company history dating back more than 90 years, the FP Group is now benefiting from increasing liberalisation of the postal markets as well as the readiness of companies to outsource their business ail to professional service providers. During the 2013 financial year, the company generated revenues of EUR 168.9 million. The FP Group has around 1,100 employees worldwide. Contact: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG Media Relations Telephone: +49 (0)30 220 660 410 Telefax: +49 (0)30 220 660 425 E-Mail: pr@francotyp.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- 05.03.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG Prenzlauer Promenade 28 13089 Berlin Germany Phone: +49 (0)30 220 660 410 Fax: +49 (0)30 220 660 425 E-mail: ir@francotyp.com Internet: www.fp-francotyp.com ISIN: DE000FPH9000 WKN: FPH900 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 330011 05.03.2015