Metro launches third edition in France
METRO LAUNCHES THIRD EDITION IN FRANCE Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, today announced the launch of a third edition in France. The new edition of Metro was distributed by hand in Lyon for the first time on Friday and has a target daily circulation of 100,000 daily copies. The distribution covers a target population of 1.4 million people and will make Metro the largest daily newspaper in Lyon. Metro was launched in Marseille and Paris on 18th February, covering a target population of 9.2 million people. As expected, following the agreement with the CGT du livre union in France, Metro is being distributed without interruption in Lyon. France is the third largest advertising market in Europe, with an annual media spend of US$ 9 billion in 2000. The newspaper advertising market in France was reported to be worth US$ 1.7 billion in 2000. Approximately US$ 120 million of this newspaper media spend is generated in Lyon. The free newspaper advertising segment comprises a number of weekly titles throughout the country, and accounted for US$ 900 million in advertising revenues in France in 2000. Pelle Törnberg, President & CEO of Metro International, commented: "The launch of the third edition of Metro in France enables us to offer highly competitive national as well as local and regional advertising packages. Our editions in Paris and Marseille have received a very positive reaction from readers and advertisers and have benefited from a high profile. Like Paris and Marseille, Lyon is a dynamic commercial center with a young urban population. We aim to attract the same high number of young and female readers as we do with our other editions around the world." 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 22 editions in 14 countries in 12 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) and Lyon (Metro). 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/2002/03/18/20020318BIT00200/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/03/18/20020318BIT00200/wkr0002.pdf