Metro launched in Hong Kong
METRO LAUNCHED IN HONG KONG Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, today announced the launch of the Metro newspaper in Hong Kong. Copies of the first Chinese language edition of Metro were distributed by hand and from racks this morning in the City's MTR subway, and at key central points in the city. The daily circulation of 300,000 copies will make Metro the third largest daily newspaper in Hong Kong. The newspaper will be in Chinese with an international news section in English, and the Chinese title of the newspaper translates as 'Metropolis Daily'. Metro was awarded a contract to distribute a new edition of Metro in Hong Kong in November of last year by the MTR Corporation, which operates the City's subway network. 2.3 million passengers travel on the MTR every day, making it one of the largest subway networks in the world. The newspaper will be distributed each morning, 6 days a week (Monday through Saturday), by hand and from racks in the network's 43 stations, as well as by hand at 50 other central locations mainly focused on the Hong Kong island itself. Hong Kong is one of the world's major cities with a population of 6.5 million, and is also one of the world's major commercial centres, attracting annual media spend of US$ 3.5 billion. 37 %, or US$ 1.3 billion, of this advertising spend is placed in print media. Metro has worked closely with InvestHK in the build-up to the launch and formed a partnership to facilitate the further growth and development of Metro in the province. InvestHK is a Hong Kong Government Department, which is dedicated to helping companies to establish or expand their business operations in Hong Kong. Pelle Törnberg, President & CEO of Metro International, commented: "Hong Kong is the ideal market for the launch of Metro into Asia and the MTR provides the most efficient means of distribution. The edition will present the standardized Metro blend of fact-based independent reporting of local, regional and international news and feature stories. As always, the distribution is focused on the young professional commuting public." "The support of InvestHK has been invaluable in terms of providing introductions to the key decision makers in Hong Kong and specialist advice on the local market." 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, Prague, Gothenburg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Helsinki, Malmö, Santiago, Philadelphia, Toronto, Rome, Milan, Warsaw, Athens, Montreal, Barcelona, Boston, Madrid, Copenhagen, Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Hong Kong. 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/2002/04/15/20020415BIT00010/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/15/20020415BIT00010/wkr0002.pdf