Metro International S.A. ("Metro International"), the international newspaper group, today announces the release of the new website in France (www.metrofrance.com), the first launch in the online pilot project initiated in 2007. This is a step towards building an interactive capability across all of Metro, to further capitalise on Metro's strong brand in the attractive target group of young, professional metropolitans. With a shift in the media consumption among Metro's target audience towards an increased use of the Internet and the overall growth rate of the advertisement markets being higher on the Internet than in printed media, an online investment is a natural next step to continue to develop the Metro brand. One of the central aims of the new website is to engage with Metro's core newspaper readers to build an interactive relationship, by delivering news and information specific to their needs, so that over time the site becomes an indispensable source of news and information about the city in which they live. This will be achieved through offering a content proposition that is changing over the day adapted to the visitors' needs, interactivity through a network of bloggers around relevant themes for the urbanites and a local perspective with news and information from their city. Per Mikael Jensen, CEO of Metro International, commented: "I firmly believe that the Metro brand will translate successfully into the digital space, and I see great potential in providing our advertisers a cost-efficient route to our unique demographics." Tom Symonds, Managing Director Metro Interactive added: "With this investment Metro will define its own space, where we not only draw on our users' appetite for relevant news and information but provide a space that is completely focused on urban living and increases the users' influence." France is the first country selected for the pilot launch - paving the way for a global roll out in other territories where Metro operates. The timing and scale of a further roll-out will be decided following the pilot project. For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, or contact: Frank Mooty, CFO tel: +44 (0)20 70 16 13 00 Birgitta Henriksson, IR contact tel: +46 (0)70 812 86 39 *** 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.
Metro International launches new website in France
| Source: Metro International S.A.