Metro attracts 700,000 readers in France only two months after its launch

METRO ATTRACTS 700,000 READERS IN FRANCE ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER ITS LAUNCH Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, today announced that its Paris and Marseille editions have already attracted nearly 700,000 daily readers only two months after launch, making Metro the second most read newspaper in Marseille and the fourth most read newspaper in Paris, according to the results of an independent survey by leading research house Taylor Nelson SOFRES Médias, at the end of April. 'Metro' is therefore clearly the most read free newspaper in France with twice as many daily readers as its principal free newspaper competitor in Paris, and also outreaches its free newspaper competitor in Marseille. The city of Lyon, where Metro also has an edition, was not included in the survey. The survey, carried out by SOFRES last week, found that 82% of Parisians are aware of Metro, compared to 32% for rival free newspaper, 20 Minutes. 5.4% of Parisians, or 487,000 people over the age of 13, read Metro every day, more than twice as many as the 225,000 readers who read 20 Minutes. In Marseille, 88% were aware of Metro and nearly 20% of the population over the age of 13, or 201,000 people, read Metro every day. Nearly 80% of readers of both editions expressed satisfaction with the Metro newspaper. In Paris, Metro is the third most read newspaper by people under the age of 50, ahead of Liberation and Le Figaro. 49% of Metro's readers of both the Paris and Marseille editions are under 35, compared to only 34% for the other four leading national dailies. Furthermore, 91% of Metro's readers are currently employed or in education, compared to only 72% for the national dailies. Pelle Törnberg, President & CEO of Metro International, commented: "This is a very strong result for Metro France, coming only 2 and a half months after the launch of our first editions in the country. The Paris and Marseille editions have already demonstrated their ability to reach Metro's target demographic profile, with half of all readers under the age of 35, and an equal split between male and female readers." "The initial disputes that surrounded the launch of Metro in France have raised the profile of the newspaper and awareness of the Metro brand, and our Paris and Marseille editions have received a very positive reaction from both readers and advertisers." For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, email info@metro.lu or contact: Pelle Törnberg, President & CEO tel: +44 (0) 20 7408 0230 Matthew Hooper, Investor & Press Relations tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 5010 Metro is the world's largest free newspaper, publishing and distributing 23 editions in 15 countries in 13 languages: Stockholm (Metro), Prague (Metro), Gothenburg (Metro), Hungary (Metro), the Netherlands (Metro), Helsinki (Metro), Malmö (Metro), Santiago (Publimetro), Philadelphia (Metro), Toronto (Metro Today), Rome (Metro), Milan (Metro), Warsaw (Metropol), Athens (Metrorama), Montreal (Metro), Barcelona (Metro Directe), Boston (Metro), Madrid (Metro Directo), Copenhagen (MetroXpress), Paris (Metro), Marseille (Metro), Lyon (Metro) and Hong Kong (Metropolis Daily). Metro International S.A. 'A' and 'B' shares are listed on the NASDAQ National Market and on the Stockholmsbörsen O-List under the symbols MTROA and MTROB. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/30/20020430BIT00010/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/30/20020430BIT00010/wkr0002.pdf