STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 1,2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro") (Nasdaq:MTROA) (Nasdaq:MTROB), the international newspaper group, today announced that its Paris edition is now being printed and distributed without disruption in France's capital city, following union approval of its agreement with Presse Alliance last week. The Metro newspaper is being printed at the Presse Alliance print works in Aubervilliers, and distributed in the Greater Paris area, free from the protests that have disrupted the circulation of the paper since its launch on February 18. The daily circulation of Metro in Paris will be increased to the target level of 300,000 copies over the coming weeks.
Metro's agreement with the CGT Union on 7th March, which allowed for the peaceful printing and distribution of the Metro newspaper in Marseille and Lyon, has now been extended to include Paris.
Pelle Tornberg, President & CEO of Metro International, commented: "We are delighted to have been able to resolve the dispute in Paris. Now we can get on with the business of delivering the Metro daily newspaper into the hands of the readers."
A readership survey, which was conducted recently for Metro in the Greater Paris region by SOFRES, found that 71% of all Parisians recognized the free newspaper Metro and 82% believed that the launch of Metro is a good initiative.
In addition, Metro's online distribution channel www.metropoint.com reported that the French editions of Metro have been the most popular downloads during the month of March, and that the Paris edition already has the third largest number of Internet subscribers of any Metro edition.
Tornberg commented: "The results of the survey and the demand for downloading the French editions via the internet clearly confirm that a high proportion of Parisians are now aware of the Metro concept, and that they support our initiative to offer a freely distributed newspaper to the people of Paris."
Metro also announced that it has appointed Didier Pourquery as Editor in Chief of Metro in Paris. Pourquery has 20 years experience as a journalist and joins Metro from his position as Chief Editor of monthly business magazine, L'Expansion. He has also worked for leading French publications; Le Monde, La Tribune, Liberation and Prisma Presse.
Torrnberg commented: "Didier has a strong track record in newspapers. He will build on this at Metro to deliver the same high quality, fact-based and independent news coverage that Metro delivers to its readers around the world."
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), 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), Marseille (Metro) and Lyon (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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