STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 7, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro") (Nasdaq:MTROA) (Nasdaq:MTROB), the international newspaper group, today announced that it has reached agreement with provincial representatives of the CGT du livre union in France on the printing and distribution of the Metro newspaper in Marseille. As a result, the union has ceased its attempts to disrupt the distribution of Metro in France's third largest city, and Metro is now approaching its target circulation of 100,000 copies per day.
The agreement extends to all parts of France except Paris and the Ile de France, where Metro is also in discussion with the Unions in an attempt to reach a similarly peaceful agreement.
Pelle Tornberg, President & CEO of Metro International, commented: "Metro has received an enthusiastic response from readers in both Marseille and Paris, and we are delighted that there will be no further threats to our distribution in Marseille. We are working to achieve a similar result in Paris."
Metro was launched in Paris on 18 February and Marseille on 19 February 2002. 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. Nearly US$ 700 million of this newspaper media spend is generated in the capital city, and US$ 80 million in the Greater Marseille area. 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.
Metro is the world's largest free newspaper, publishing and distributing 21 editions in 14 countries in 12 languages: Stockholm (Metro), Prague (Metro), Gothenburg (Metro), Hungary (Metro), the Netherlands (Metro), Helsinki (Metro), Malmo (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) and Marseilles (Metro).
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.
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