EANS-Adhoc: Österreichische Post AG
AUSTRIAN POST: ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CORONA CRISIS CURRENTLY CANNOT BE ESTIMATED - COST SAVINGS MEASURES INITIATED
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclosed inside information pursuant to article 17 Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings Forecast 23.03.2020 Vienna, 23 March 2020 - * As an integral part of the country's critical infrastructure, Austrian Post maintains its business operations for the sake of Austria's well-being and security * Revenue losses are anticipated, depending on the duration and consequences of the current restrictions * Cost reduction measures have been initiated alongside the postponement of not time-critical projects * From today's perspective, the effect on earnings for the year 2020 cannot be estimated * Solid balance sheet with high equity ratio and high liquidity enhances the company's resilience POSTAL SERVICES CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED DESPITE THE DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT Austrian Post strives to fulfil the mandate of the Austrian Federal Government with the greatest effort, even in these difficult times: the company's responsibility is to continue providing its services and thus universal postal services as part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Austrian Post's branch offices as well as the majority of postal partners will remain open to the Austrian population where it is officially permitted. The delivery staff continues to visit four million households and companies on a daily basis, despite difficult conditions related to restrictions of public life and border closings. The employees at the distribution centres also continue to be deployed around the clock for the purpose of sorting letters and parcels. NEGATIVE REVENUE EFFECTS ANTICIPATED Austrian Post expects a decline in letter mail and particularly in direct mail volumes with respect to its revenue development over the coming months, and thus, for the entire year 2020. With the exception of the retail food sector, advertising mail is strongly affected, the extent of which will depend on the duration of store closures. The limited international movement of goods can also have a negative impact. The crisis has sparked an increased demand in the private customer parcel (B2C) segment in Austria but has also had a negative impact due to the insufficient availability of products. In contrast, a negative volume development is expected at present in the business parcel(B2B) business. COST REDUCTION MEASURES INITIATED, EARNINGS IMPACT CANNOT YET BE ESTIMATED Stringent cost savings measures have been initiated to counteract the negative revenue effects. These measures relate to staff costs, including partial short- time work and the reduction of unused vacation time, as well as material costs. Projects, which are not time-critical at present, will be postponed. The further development of the coronavirus crisis and the measures undertaken by the public authorities in response to it will have a direct impact on economic forecasts. At the moment, however, it is impossible to quantify the scope of the negative earnings impact. In the medium term, the solid balance sheet of Austrian Post with a strong equity ratio and high liquidity enhances the resilience of the company's business model in the uncertain economic environment. Further inquiry note: Austrian Post Ingeborg Gratzer Head of Press Relations & Internal Communications Tel.: +43 57767-32010 ingeborg.gratzer@post.at Harald Hagenauer Head of Investor Relations, Group Auditing & Compliance Tel.: +43 57767-30400 harald.hagenauer@post.at end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
issuer: Österreichische Post AG
Rochusplatz 1
A-1030 Wien
phone: +43 (0)57767-0
FAX:
mail: investor@post.at
WWW: www.post.at
ISIN: AT0000APOST4
indexes: ATX
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English
Original content of: Österreichische Post AG, transmitted by news aktuell