After a solid business performance in the past year and a moderate start to 2015, Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world's leading mail and logistics group, continues to face the future with confidence. Despite a challenging market and competitive environment, as well as significant investments in the long-term success of the company, the Group still expects that 2015 will be another year of growth for Deutsche Post DHL Group. At today's Annual General Meeting in Frankfurt, the company confirmed its targets for 2015, 2016 and 2020.

"We increased both revenue and operating profit once again in 2014. And we managed to do this despite only modest growth of the world economy. We achieved our targets and kept our promise," CEO Frank Appel said to shareholders. "Moreover we have big plans for this year and beyond. We are laying the foundation for the future: With our Strategy 2020 we have set our priorities for the coming years."

Financial year 2015 starts as expected

Despite still only moderate growth in the world economy and ambitious internal projects, Deutsche Post DHL Group increased its revenue in the first quarter. Consolidated net profit remained at a level nearly equal to that of the prior year. As reported on May 12 during the presentation of the first quarter results, consolidated revenue rose 8.8% year-on-year to reach EUR 14.8 billion (Q1 2014: EUR 13.6 billion) in the first three months of the current financial year.

Adjusted for positive currency effects, the rise in revenue was 2.1% in the first quarter, with revenue improvements in all four divisions reflected in this figure. In particular, dynamic growth in revenue and volumes continued in the international express and German parcel business. The Group's operating profit experienced a slight 1.0% decline in the first quarter to EUR 720 million - primarily due to the weak earnings trend in the Global Forwarding, Freight, business and planned restructuring costs in the Supply Chain division.

After this moderate start to the year, CEO Frank Appel confirmed the targets for full-year 2015 that were announced in March. Operating profit is expected to increase to between EUR 3.05 billion to EUR 3.2 billion. The Post - eCommerce - Parcel (PeP) division is likely to contribute at least EUR 1.3 billion to this figure. The forecast for the DHL divisions also remains unchanged at 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. The Group is also proceeding on the assumption that it will once again generate sufficient free cash flow to at least cover the dividend to be paid out for financial year 2014.

Strategy 2020 in focus

The current financial year marks a transition from the successful Strategy 2015 to the new Strategy 2020.

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Source: Deutsch Post DHL