BERTRANGE, Luxembourg, Nov. 18, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, today announced that it has launched its fifth edition in Spain and become the largest newspaper in Spain with a daily circulation of over 600,000 copies. The 29th edition of Metro has been launched today in the city and region of La Coruna, which has a population of one million inhabitants and is Spain's fourth largest advertising market with annual newspaper advertising spend of approximately US$ 100 million.
The new launch follows the expansion of Metro into Seville and Zaragoza in Spain in September. Metro was launched in Barcelona and Madrid during 2001. Metro is now published in five of Spain's largest advertising markets and covers a distribution area that encompasses more than a third of Spain's population and attracts 55% of Spain's annual newspaper advertising spend of over US$ 3 billion. The new edition will be distributed by hand and from racks in the centre of La Coruna and the surrounding region.
PelleTornberg, President and CEO, commented: "Our Spanish editions reported a combined profit in the nine months to the end of September and we have established a strong position in each of the city markets that we have entered. Our five Spanish editions make us the largest newspaper in Spain, which further enhances the unique reach that we can offer advertisers with a high proportion of young and female readers."
Metro is the world's largest newspaper, publishing and distributing 29 Metro editions in 16 countries in Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro attracts 13 million daily readers in nearly 60 cities around the world with an easy to read combination of headline local and international news and information. Metro International S.A. 'A' and 'B' shares are listed on the Stockholmsborsen 'O-List' and on the Nasdaq stock market under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to our expectations and plans, strategy, management's objectives, future performance, costs, revenues, earnings and other trend information. It is important to note that our actual results in the future could differ materially from those anticipated in forward- looking statements depending on various important factors. Please refer to the documents we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.
All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Metro International S.A, any Metro International S.A. members or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
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