Deutsche Post DHL reported consolidated earnings results for the first quarter of 2013. For the first quarter, the group boosted revenues by EUR 80 million to EUR 13.4 billion. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects and inorganic factors, revenues were about EUR 200 million above the level generated in the previous year's period - and the group was able to produce this result even though the loss of around 2.5 working days in Germany negatively impacted the year-on-year comparison. This factor also affected operating earnings, which the company was nonetheless able to increase by 2.9% to EUR 711 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to EUR 691 million in 2012. Profit from operating activities (EBIT) was EUR 711 million compared to EUR 691 million last year. Consolidated net profit was EUR 498 million or EUR 0.40 per diluted share compared to EUR 529 million or EUR 0.44 per basic and diluted share last year. During the first quarter of 2013, the group made significant progress in its intensified efforts to improve cash flow. While the company's operating activities had resulted in a cash outflow of EUR 357 million last year, a positive operating cash flow of EUR 120 million was generated in the first quarter of 2013. This rise of nearly EUR 500 million primarily reflects the EBIT increase and working capital improvements. As a result, free cash flow improved considerably in a year-on-year comparison and totaled minus EUR 140 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to minus EUR 656 million in 2012, despite the payment made to the Bundes-Pensions-Service for Post und Telekommunikation, a special pension fund for the company's civil servants, which occurs at the beginning of each year. The group's net debt totaled EUR 2.3 billion at the end of the quarter. This represented a seasonal rise of EUR 298 million compared with the end of 2012. In the first quarter of 2013, the group's capital expenditures totaled EUR 218 million compared to EUR 305 million in 2012. The focus of these investments continued to be the DHL divisions. These expenditures flowed into such areas as the continued expansion of the network, a more efficient air fleet, warehouses and a new Global Forwarding IT infrastructure. The group expects the world's economy to generate moderate growth in 2013. Against this background the group continues to expect its EBIT to increase to between EUR 2.7 billion and EUR 2.95 billion. While the MAIL division is anticipated to contribute between EUR 1.1 billion and EUR 1.2 billion to this figure, the company should generate operating earnings of between EUR 2.0 billion and EUR 2.15 billion. Corporate Center/Other expenditures are forecast to again total about EUR 400 million. The group's consolidated net profit is projected to grow in line with the operating business in 2013. The company also expects that its focus on cash flow will enable this year's free cash flow to at least cover the proposed dividend for fiscal year 2012. In combination with the planned reduction of expenditures for Corporate Center/Other, the group expects operating earnings to increase to between EUR 3.35 billion and EUR 3.55 billion by 2015.

Deutsche Post AG provided earnings guidance for the year 2013. The company now expects the rate for the year to be around 22%. The company still expects to spend around EUR 1.8 billion in CapEx, though that should now probably be viewed as a maximum amount. Helped by a lower tax rate, net income growth should at least be roughly in line with growth in operating income. If the company achieves its goal of growing EBIT with compound average growth of 13% to 15%, the company would expect margins to increase as well.

Syncreon International Group is reportedly put up for sale, according to people familiar with the process. Syncreon International Group may be valued at as much as $1 billion, said three of the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The owners of Syncreon, Michael, Brian Enright and GenNx360 Capital Partners, are working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) to find a buyer, said two of the people. They’re also working with Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), one of the people said. Private-equity bidders are the likeliest buyers, though logistics firms including Deutsche Post AG (XTRA:DPW) may also take a look, three of the people said. According to Bloomberg news, a representative for Syncreon declined to comment. Representatives for the company’s owners didn’t respond to requests for comment on the proposed sale.