FP GROUP PRESENTS INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT AND CONFIRMS FORECASTS

Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG, the first multi-channel provider for mail communications, presented the interim report for the third quarter of 2013 today. The report confirms the preliminary results published in early November 2013.

In the third quarter of 2013, FP Group revenue rose slightly to EUR 126.9 million, up EUR 3 million year-on-year (EUR 123.9 million). EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) improved, driven by the new flexible production site in Wittenberge and the successful market launch of the innovative PostBase franking system. EBITDA advanced 20.7% to EUR 16.9 million for the first nine months of 2013 (Q3 2012: EUR 14 million). EBIT rose from EUR 6.9 million to EUR 8.2 million year-on-year.

Marked improvement in free cash flow

Consolidated profit for the first nine months of 2013 came in at EUR 4 million, against EUR 3.5 million for the same period in 2012. Earnings per share advanced year-on-year, up from EUR 0.23 to EUR 0.26. The FP Group also posted a marked improvement in free cash flow over the nine-month period. The balance of cash inflows from operating activities and cash outflows from investment activities came to EUR 1.7 million, compared with EUR -5.7 million at the end of the third quarter 2012.

As business performance was in line with expectations over the first three quarters of 2013, the FP Group confirmed its forecast for 2013: the company predicts baseline figures for revenue at EUR 168 million, EBITDA at EUR 22 million and EBIT at EUR 9 million. "The FP Group is back on a profitable growth path," according to Hans Szymanski, CEO and CFO of Francotyp-Postalia.

The Aufbruch 2015 initiative is designed to develop the FP Group's full potential in all segments and markets over the next two years, with a view to achieving ambitious 2015 baseline growth targets: revenues at EUR 178 million and EBITDA at EUR 30 million. Szymanski is confident that: "The FP Group will continue to post profitable growth in the coming years. The healthy operating performance this year is just the start."