PostNL N.V. is a public limited liability company with its registered seat and head office in The Hague, the Netherlands. PostNL provides businesses and consumers in the Benelux with an extensive range of services for their mail and parcels needs. Through our international sales network Spring, we connect local businesses around the world to consumers globally. PostNL’s services involve collecting, sorting, transporting and delivering letters and parcels for the company’s customers within specific timeframes. The company also provides services in the area of data management, direct marketing and fulfilment.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of PostNL N.V.and its consolidated subsidiaries (hereafter referred to as ‘PostNL’, ‘Group’ or ‘the company’). The consolidated financial statements were authorised for issue by PostNL’s Board of Management and Supervisory Board on 28 February 2022 and are subject to adoption at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 19 April 2022.
The consolidated financial statements of PostNL:
have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU), including International Accounting Standards (IAS) and related interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRICs), and Dutch law,
have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for financial instruments, and
have been prepared assuming a going concern.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are included at the relevant notes to the consolidated financial statements or, in case of more general policies, in note 5.4 to the consolidated financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless stated otherwise. All amounts included in the consolidated financial statements are presented in euros, unless stated otherwise. Note that the numbers presented in the financial statements and disclosures thereto may not sum precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures due to rounding.
PostNL’s performance in 2021 was positively impacted by the Covid-19 situation. Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020, e-commerce growth has picked up significantly and the transition from offline to online has accelerated, boosting the results of Parcels. Within Mail in the Netherlands, PostNL benefitted in 2021 from high volumes related to vaccination campaigns and tests. Part of the growth and performance relates to specific, non-recurring, consumer spending and a temporary shift in product mix that is not expected to recur.
Management assessed the impact of Covid-19 on all material assets and liabilities. We performed a review for impairment triggers on goodwill and other intangibles, PP&E and Right-of-Use assets. We also analysed the trade accounts receivable position and customers' payment behaviour. And last we assessed the need to make adjustments to the fair value accounted financial assets and balance sheet positions related to our non-current assets held for sale. The assessment did not reveal any need for significant negative adjustments to the accounts mentioned in and per year end 2021.
On 1 July 2020, PostNL completed the sale of 80% of the activities of Nexive to Mutares. On 29 January 2021, PostNL and Mutares closed the sale of Nexive to Poste Italiane, whereby PostNL divested its retained minority interest of 20% in the entity acquiring the Nexive business. PostNL also terminated the joint venture agreement with Mutares, which resulted in the release of the remaining part of the related committed cash contributions. The transaction resulted in a net result of €24 million (including final settlement) and cash proceeds of €27 million. For further details, see note 3.9 Assets classified as held for sale.
On 27 September 2019, the State Secretary of Economic Affairs cleared the merger between PostNL and Sandd. Legal appeals have been filed by a number of parties against the approval. On 11 June 2020 the court (Rechtbank Rotterdam) annulled the approval for consolidation in the Dutch postal market. The government has appealed against the court decision. PostNL has also decided to appeal. On 9 April 2021, the earlier approval of the merger was confirmed by a new decision taken by the State Secretary. This new decision, which has retroactive effect, will be included in the appeal procedure. Awaiting next steps, PostNL will continue to adhere to the conditions imposed in relation to the acquisition. As we have obtained control as of the acquisition date of 22 October 2019, we have fully consolidated Sandd in our financial statements as of that date going forward.
Based on the cash flow-generating capability of the company, the current finance structure and the company’s ability to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business, PostNL’s financial statements have been prepared assuming a going concern. As at 31 December 2021, the balance of cash and cash equivalents amounted to €848 million and the company has an undrawn multi-currency revolving credit facility of €200 million. Its financing arrangements do not include financial covenants. Bond repayments are not due until 2024. Although the company remains vulnerable to interest rate changes in relation to its pension obligations, it can also benefit from an environment of increasing interest rates.
The preparation of PostNL's consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying PostNL’s accounting policies.
Estimates, assumptions and judgements are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting accounting positions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. On a continuous basis, we evaluate our expectations with the actual results, and include the learnings going forward.
The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed below.
Post-employment benefit accounting is intended to reflect the recognition of future benefit costs over the employee’s approximate service period, based on the terms of the plans and the investment and funding decisions made. The accounting requires the company to make assumptions regarding variables such as the discount rate, the rate of benefit increases and future mortality rates. Changes in these key assumptions can have a significant impact on the defined benefit obligations, funding requirements and pension costs incurred. For details of the current funded status and a sensitivity analysis with respect to defined benefit plan assumptions, see note 3.5 to the consolidated financial statements.
Restructuring charges mainly result from restructuring of our operations and overhead, including that of the acquired businesses of Sandd, as a response to declining volumes in Mail in the Netherlands. The scope and measurement of PostNL's related restructuring provision depends highly on the projected cash outflows over the future years, which are mainly driven by the estimated number of staff that will either be made redundant or apply for a mobility arrangement.
Other provisions include expected costs related to other employee benefit obligations (jubilee and long-term disability benefits), claims & indemnities, onerous contracts and dilapidation costs. The provisions recorded reflect the present value of management's best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation. Given the uncertain outcome, management must use a certain degree of judgement in this respect. This includes the thorough analysis and concluding view of our position and that of the third party.
For details on the current restructuring and other provisions, see note 3.6 to the consolidated financial statements.
In determining impairments of intangible assets including goodwill, tangible fixed assets and financial fixed assets, management must make significant judgements and estimates to determine whether the recoverable amount is less than the carrying value. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. In assessing the value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the asset-specific risks. Determining cash flows requires the use of judgements and estimates that have been included in PostNL’s strategic plans and long-term forecasts. The data necessary for the execution of the impairment tests are based on management estimates of future cash flows, which make it necessary to estimate revenue growth rates and profit margins. For details on the impairment test of goodwill, see note 3.3 to the consolidated financial statements.
PostNL has to estimate the deferred revenues from stamps sold but not yet used by its customers. The company uses a seasonal model based on historical figures in order to account for the seasonal effects on sales from stamps (for example, stamp sales for Christmas greetings in November and December). Additionally, the company handles large quantities of international mail and parcel volumes to and from foreign postal operators. Although the net outstanding accrual positions reflect our best estimate, given the assumptions involved, final settlements might deviate from the outstanding positions. For details on the current positions, see note 3.1 to the consolidated financial statements.
The company is subject to income taxes in a number of jurisdictions. Significant judgement is required in determining the provision and liability for income taxes. PostNL recognises liabilities for potential tax issues based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due, based on its best interpretation of the relevant tax laws and rules. PostNL recognises deferred tax assets to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will allow the deferred tax asset to be recovered. This is based on estimates of taxable income by jurisdiction in which the company operates and the period over which deferred tax assets are recoverable. For details on income taxes and deferred tax assets, see notes 2.2.2 and 3.8 to the consolidated financial statements.
For assets classified as held for sale, including liabilities related to these assets, management needs to determine the fair value less costs to sell. In assessing this value, management needs to make significant judgements and estimates, influenced by the asset-specific characteristics, market appetite, the envisaged structuring of the sales transaction, and received proposals. For details on the assets classified as held for sale, see note 3.9 to the consolidated financial statements.
Legal proceedings covering a range of matters are pending against the company in various jurisdictions. The cases and claims often raise difficult and complex factual and legal issues that are subject to many uncertainties and complexities, including but not limited to the facts and circumstances of each particular case and claim, the jurisdiction and the differences in applicable law. PostNL consults with legal counsel and certain other experts on matters related to litigation. PostNL recognises a liability when it is determined that an adverse outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. For details on commitments and contingencies, see note 3.10 to the consolidated financial statements.
PostNL determines the lease term as the non-cancellable term of the lease, together with any periods covered by an option to extend the lease if it is reasonably certain to be exercised, or any periods covered by an option to terminate the lease, if it is reasonably certain not to be exercised. PostNL has several lease contracts that include extension and termination options. The company applies judgement in evaluating whether it is reasonably certain whether or not to exercise the option to renew or terminate the lease. That is, it considers all relevant factors that create an economic incentive for it to exercise either the renewal or termination. After the commencement date, PostNL reassesses the lease term if there is a significant event or change in circumstances that is within its control and affects its ability to exercise or not to exercise the option to renew or to terminate. For details on leases, see note 3.4 to the consolidated financial statements.
The following provides a brief description of recent issued International Financial Reporting Standards, amendments and/or interpretations, that could have a material impact on our financial statements.
Until 2020 PostNL capitalised all Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) related configuration and/or customisation costs, whether the services have been delivered by the SaaS supplier or by an independent third party supplier, as prepayments. The prepayments have subsequently been expensed over the contract term during which the supplier provided access to the application software.
As of 2021, following the publication of an IFRIC interpretation, PostNL only capitalises the costs of those services that are not separately identifiable from the company’s right to receive access to the supplier’s application software. All related other costs are recognized as expenses when the services are delivered. In line with IAS 8, the accounting policy change has been applied retrospectively as of 1 January 2020.
The impact on the balance sheet per 1 January 2020 is a decrease in prepayments of €16 million, an increase in current tax receivables of €4 million and a decrease in equity of €12 million. The positive impact on operating income and net profit of 2020 amounted to €5 million and €4 million respectively. Within the cash flow statement of 2020, the higher profit before income taxes was countered by a lower change in working capital. The impact on the balance sheet per 31 December 2020 is a decrease in prepayments of €11 million, an increase in current tax receivables of €3 million and a decrease in equity of €8 million.
The amendments to IFRS 16 Leases provide relief to lessees from applying IFRS 16 guidance on lease modification accounting for rent concessions arising as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a practical expedient, a lessee may elect not to assess whether a Covid-19 related rent concession from a lessor is a lease modification. A lessee that makes this election accounts for any change in lease payments resulting from the Covid-19 related rent concession the same way it would account for the change under IFRS 16, if the change were not a lease modification. The amendment was intended to apply until 30 June 2021, but as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is continuing, on 31 March 2021, the IASB extended the period of application of the practical expedient to 30 June 2022. The amendment applies to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2021. This amendment had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.
There are no other IFRS standards, amended standards or IFRIC interpretations taking effect for the first time for the financial year beginning 1 January 2021 that would be expected to have a material impact on the 2021 accounts of the Group.
The new and amended standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of issuance of the financial statements have been reviewed by the Group. The Group intends to adopt these new and amended standards and interpretations, if applicable, when they become effective. It is not expected that the Group’s consolidated financial statements will be significantly impacted.
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