BERTRANGE, Luxembourg, April 21, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro") (MTROA, MTROB), today announced its financial results for the first quarter and three months ended 31 March 2004.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- First combined first quarter profit for Metro newspaper operations of US$ 0.4 million (loss of US$ 7.3 million) since listing of Metro shares in August 2000
- 51% year on year increase in net sales to US$ 65.8 million (US$ 43.6 million)
- 51% year on year reduction in operating loss to US$ 5.1 million (US$ 10.4 million)
- 63% year on year reduction in net loss to US$ 5.6 million (US$ 15.2 million)
- 76% year on year reduction in cash flow used by newspaper operations and headquarters to US$ 3.0 million (US$ 12.6 million)
- Metro Sweden sales, including new real estate editions, up 68% year on year and profits up 92%
- All operations launched in last twelve months report combined profit
- Weighted average basic loss per share of US$ 0.01 (US$ 0.14 per share)
For additional information, please see full release attached.
Metro is the largest international newspaper in the world, publishing daily editions in 16 countries in Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro attracts more than 13 million daily readers and over 28 million weekly readers. Metro editions therefore reach 30% of the population of over 100 million within Metro's distribution areas. Metro derives its revenues from advertising sales, which have grown at a compound annual rate of 47% since the launch of the first edition in 1995. Metro International S.A. 'A' and 'B' shares are listed on the Stockholmsborsen `O-List' under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.
For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, email info@metro.lu
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
The following files are available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/04/21/20040421BIT20400/wkr0006.pdf