METRO GOES NATIONAL IN POLAND

METRO GOES NATIONAL IN POLAND Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), publisher of the world's largest newspaper, today announced that it is expanding its Warsaw edition to cover four additional major cities in Poland. From today Metropol will be distributed in Cracow, Poznan, Wroclaw and Trojmiasto and will become the fourth largest newspaper in Poland. The new editions feature local as well as national news coverage and information listings. Metropol was launched in Warsaw in November 2000. 140,000 copies of Metropol are currently distributed in Warsaw each morning, attracting over 325,000 readers and making Metropol the most read newspaper in the Polish capital. Metropol will now be distributed on a national basis to the additional cities on Mondays and Fridays. The launch into new cities will be supported by an intensive marketing campaign in the Polish media. The total circulation, including the national distribution, will be 240,000 copies on Mondays and on Fridays. Metro's distribution area will now cover 4.4 million people, which is equivalent to more than 11% of the country's population. This area also covers one fifth of Poland's urban population, accounting for a disproportionately high share of the country's consumer spending power. The Polish newspaper gross advertising market was estimated to be worth over US$ 380 million in 2003. The additional copies of Metropol will be distributed by hand to commuters as well as in office buildings and on college campuses. Based on Metropol's existing 2.3 readers per copy, the new national editions will attract 555,000 readers on Mondays and on Fridays. The profile of Metropol's audience is the same as in other Metro markets with more than 50% of readers under the age of 40 and an equal number of male and female readers. "Our expansion in Poland reflects the demand from our advertising clients for national coverage. We have built a successful presence in Warsaw and are now expanding our penetration to cover the national market. This increased reach will provide Metropol with access to additional advertising revenue streams and follows similar expansions in other markets including Hungary, Sweden, France, Spain and Denmark," commented Metro President and CEO Pelle Törnberg. For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, email info@metro.lu or contact: Pelle Törnberg, President & CEO tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 1300 Matthew Hooper, Investor & Press Relations tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 5010 Metro is the largest international newspaper in the world, publishing daily Metro editions in more than 70 cities in 16 countries around the world. Metro attracts 12.8 million daily readers and 28.0 million weekly readers. Metro editions therefore reach 30% of the population of over 100 million within Metro's distribution areas in Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro derives its revenues almost exclusively 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 Stockholmsbörsen 'O-List'. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/03/01/20040227BIT20670/wkr0001.pdf