STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 23, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Interim Report January - June 2003
.Sales declined by 8% and reached 6,280 MSEK (6,850)
.Sales were up 1% in local currencies
.Snuff volumes up 5%
.Operating income declined to 1,069 MSEK (1,245) or by 14%
.Currency translation impact reduced operating income by 130 MSEK, or 10%
.EPS increased by 21% and was 2.52 SEK (2.09)
.Total shares outstanding as of June 30, 2003 was 331.2 million (348.3)
For further information, please contact:
Lennart Sunden, President and Chief Executive Officer office +46 8 658 01 75
Sven Hindrikes, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer office +46 8 658 02 82
mobile +46 70 567 41 76
Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel office +46 8 658 03 64
mobile +46 70 558 03 64
Emmett Harrison, Vice President, Investor Relations office +46 8 658 01 73
mobile +46 70 938 01 73
Lin McKinnie, Vice President, Investor Relations (US) office +1 804 302 1912
mobile +1 804 502 1912
------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/07/23/20030723BIT00240/wkr0001.doc The full report http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/07/23/20030723BIT00240/wkr0002.pdf The full report
-0-