Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, has as communicated earlier this autumn, decided to review the company's capital structure. The company today announced a decision to maintain the current capital structure, and not pursue any buybacks of the outstanding debentures due to relatively limited savings from such a transaction. The decision allows Metro to continue its strategy to invest in growth in Latin America, Russia and Asia, and maintain flexibility and strength in operations in an uncertain financial macro environment. The operations in Latin America and Russia reported consolidated growth of 20% for the first three quarters of 2011, with operating margins of 21%.
As both debentures and warrants are due in 2013, Metro has during the autumn conducted an analysis on potential changes to the capital structure, specifically whether an early buyback would be beneficial to the company and its shareholders. Due to recent divestments, including Metro English Canada, the company has some funds at hand it could use to buy back debentures. As a result of this review, Metro has now decided not to proceed with any buybacks but to keep the funds at hand. The total savings of a buyback would be limited to EUR1.0 - 1.5 million after transaction costs, and therefore the company sees a limited financial upside in completing such a transaction. The company will however put aside SEK131 million for when the debentures expire in 2013.
For further information please visit www.metro.lu (http://www.metro.lu/) or contact:
| Per Mikael Jensen | President and CEO | Tel: +46 8 120 570 00 |
| Anders Kronborg | CFO | Tel: +44 79 1254 0800 |
***
ABOUT METRO INTERNATIONAL AND METRO
Metro is the largest international newspaper in the world. Metro is published in over 100 major cities in 22 countries across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated Metropolitan audience of over 17 million daily readers.
Metro International S.A. shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm through Swedish Depository Receipts of series A and series B under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.
The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Metro International via Thomson Reuters ONE