Toronto, ON, May 31, 2007 - Torstar Corporation and Metro International S.A. today announced that they have acquired the interest held by CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. in the Metro Vancouver and Metro Ottawa free daily newspapers, launched in March 2005. Each of Torstar and Metro International now has an approximate 50% financial interest in those newspapers."This new ownership structure extends the solid foundation that already exists in the Metro operations in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton," says Jagoda Pike, President Star Media Group and Chair of the Board of Directors of the English Canada Metro newspapers. With a consistent ownership structure now in place in all five English Metro markets, the Metro newspapers will be managed with a single-minded focus on the development and growth of the Metro brand across English Canada." Including the five Metro papers jointly owned by Torstar and Metro International, there are currently Metro newspapers in Canada's largest six cities, which represent approximately 45% of the total Canadian population."We are pleased with this transaction as we had come to the conclusion that these two properties are no longer a strategic fit for our publishing group," said Dennis Skulsky, President of CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. About Metro International and Metro Metro is the largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. Metro is published in over 100 major cities in 21 countries across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated Metropolitan audience of over 20 million daily readers. Metro International's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual rate of 41% since the launch of the first edition in 1995. Metro International 'A' and 'B' shares are listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange's Nordic List under the symbols MTRO SBD A and MTRO SBD B. For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, or contact: Birgitta Henriksson, IR contact, Ph: +46 (0) 70 812 86 39 About Torstar Corporation Torstar Corporation is a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TS.B). Its businesses include the Star Media Group led by the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper, and digital properties including thestar.com, toronto.com, LiveDeal.ca, Workopolis and Olive Canada Network; Metroland Media Group, publishers of community and daily newspapers in Ontario; and Harlequin Enterprises, a leading global publisher of women's fiction. Torstar's news releases are available on the Internet at www.torstar.com For more information please contact: David Holland Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Torstar Corporation (416) 869-4031 About CanWest MediaWorks CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. is the largest publisher of newspapers in Canada, as measured by paid circulation, readership and revenue, with ten major metropolitan daily newspapers serving nine Canadian cities, including: Vancouver Sun, The Province (Vancouver), Ottawa Citizen, The Gazette (Montreal), The Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, The Windsor Star, Times-Colonist (Victoria), Leader Post (Regina), Star Phoenix (Saskatoon), together with 25 community daily and weekly and bi-weekly publications. CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. is 74% indirectly owned by CanWest Global Communications Corp, (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS and CGS.A, www.canwestglobal.com, and 26% indirectly owned by the CanWest MediaWorks Income Fund (TSX: CWM.UN; www.cwmincomefund.com. CanWest Global Communications Corp., an international media company, is Canada's largest media company. The Company also owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in free-to-air and subscription-based television networks, out-of-home advertising, web sites, and radio stations and networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom. For further information please contact: Deb Hutton, SVP Corporate Communications, CanWest Global Communications Corp. 416-383-2442 or dehutton@canwest.com
Torstar and Metro International Acquire CanWest Interest in Metro Vancouver and Metro Ottawa
| Source: Metro International S.A.