STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 8, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro") (Nasdaq:MTROA) (Nasdaq:MTROB), the international newspaper group, today announced the signing of its first worldwide advertising agreement with leading charity lottery organizer, Novamedia. Novamedia will be using Metro to promote five of its national charity fundraising lotteries in North America and Europe, as well as its new global internet-based lottery game, goodlot.com.
The agreement involves Novamedia committing to placing an agreed number of full color advertisements over the coming year in Metro editions in fifteen countries. The advertising will promote Novomedia's lotteries in the Netherlands (Nationale Postcode Loterij and Sponsor Bingo Loterij), Sweden (Bingo Lotto and Zweedse Postcode Loterij) and Canada (Earth Future Lottery), as well as www.goodlot.com around the world.
"Metro's mix of readers is precisely the audience that we want to reach around the world for both our traditional and internet-based charity lotteries. It combines a high proportion of young people who use the internet regularly, as well as the traditional newspaper readership," said Boudewijn Poelmann, CEO of Novamedia.
Pelle Tornberg, President & CEO of Metro International, commented: "We have proven that our 21 editions in 15 countries around the world are able to attract the target demographic groups that advertisers need to reach. This agreement demonstrates the attraction of Metro to global advertisers who need to deliver a global message in local languages."
"Novamedia is a fast growing company with an exciting and popular product. The combined charity lotteries' revenue increased by 10% to over E700 million in 2001. Approximately 45% of this revenue will be handed out to national and international charities like Amnesty International, Greenpeace, UNICEF and the World Wildlife Fund. We look forward to a successful partnership."
For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, email info@metro.lu or contact: Pelle Tornberg, 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 21 editions in 15 countries in 13 languages: Stockholm (Metro), Prague (Metro), Gothenburg (Metro), Hungary (Metro), the Netherlands (Metro), Helsinki (Metro), Malmo (Metro), Santiago (Publimetro), Philadelphia (Metro), Zurich (Metropol), Toronto (Metro Today), Rome (Metro), Buenos Aires (Publimetro), Milan (Metro), Warsaw (Metropol), Athens (Metrorama), Montreal (Metro), Barcelona (Metro Directe), Boston (Metro), Madrid (Metro Directo) and Copenhagen (MetroXpress).
Metro International S.A. 'A' and 'B' shares are listed on the NASDAQ National Market and on the Stockholmsborsen O-List under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net