Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world's leading mail and logistics group, further increased revenue in the first quarter of 2015. Revenue grew by 8.8% over the prior-year quarter to EUR 14.8 billion (2014: EUR 13.6 billion). Adjusted for positive currency effects, revenue also grew, with improvements in all four divisions contributing to an organic increase of 2.1%. This development reflects sustained growth in revenues and volumes in the international express business as well as in the German parcel business. The Group's operating profit slightly decreased by 1.0% in the first quarter to EUR 720 million, primarily due to the weak performance registered by the Global Forwarding, Freight business and planned, non-recurring restructuring costs in the Supply Chain division.

"We saw a moderate start to the year, as we expected," said Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group. "Our strategy, aimed at growth in e-commerce and the emerging markets, in particular, is progressing. At the same time, as we transition from Strategy 2015 to our new Strategy 2020, we are now consciously undertaking a number of specific measures. These measures will allow us to build a strong base to bring our strategic priorities forward. We are investing significantly to ensure that our four divisions are optimally positioned, even though this is having a temporary impact on our performance, as we previously discussed. Our overarching focus today is on the sustainable, profitable growth of our business."

Outlook: Earnings forecast for 2015 and 2016 and long-term targets confirmed

Although Deutsche Post DHL Group expects global growth to be moderate at best in 2015 and continues to make substantial investments in its long-term success, the Group has confirmed its targets. Operating profit is projected to increase to between EUR 3.05 billion to EUR 3.2 billion in 2015. The Post - eCommerce - Parcel (PeP) division is expected to contribute at least EUR 1.3 billion to that figure, while the DHL divisions are projected to record an EBIT increase to between EUR 2.1 billion to EUR 2.25 billion. For Corporate Center/Other, the Group anticipates stable expenses of approximately EUR 350 million in 2015. In addition, the Group continues to expect free cash flow to again be generated in an amount sufficient to cover the dividend to be paid out for financial year 2014.

For 2016, Deutsche Post DHL Group reconfirms its forecast of a rise in EBIT to between EUR 3.4 billion and EUR 3.7 billion. The PeP division is expected to contribute more than EUR 1.3 billion to this figure and the DHL divisions between EUR 2.45 billion and EUR 2.75 billion.

Deutsche Post DHL Group continues to forecast that operating profit will increase by an average of more than 8% annually during the period from 2013 to 2020 (CAGR). The DHL divisions are expected to contribute to the improvement with average EBIT growth of 10% per year. At PeP, operating profit is expected to increase by an average of around 3% per year. The Group additionally plans to keep expenses for Corporate Center/Other at less than 0.5% of consolidated revenue until 2020.

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Source: Deutsche Post DHL