Metro to publish in Dublin

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Monday 10 October 2005

Dublin

Associated Newspapers Limited and Metro International S.A. today announce that they have reached an agreement to develop and launch Metro in Ireland in partnership with The Irish Times Limited.

Metro is a venture between Metro International, which introduced the Metro phenomenon ten years ago and is now the largest growing newspaper group in the world, and Associated Newspapers, which has successfully developed the Metro brand that today is the fourth largest daily newspaper in the UK and The Irish Times Limited, publishers of The Irish Times and ireland.com, Ireland’s leading news and information website.

Metro, Ireland’s first ever free morning newspaper, hit the streets in Dublin today. The newspaper will be available every morning, Monday to Friday from 6.30 am onwards.

Aimed at young, affluent professionals who lead busy and active social lives, ("urbanites") Metro contains unbiased local, national and international news, as well as information on entertainment specific to Dublin. Metro will be distributed by a handpicked team of merchandisers who will be stationed throughout the city.

The regular Metro editorial package includes Irish and international news, including domestic and world digests; Business news; Sports news; City living and lifestyle features; Metro Life Going-out Guide; 60 Second interview with a different celebrity each day; Entertainment listings; Full TV and satellite guide; Start The Day, which includes puzzles, cartoons and horoscopes and the weather panel.

Metro is a full colour, forty page, stapled publication. It carries all the essential news in a concise, yet complete format ensuring its audiences can take in the key facts in a short, informative read. The newspaper is designed to be read in what is described as the ‘Metro Moment’, which is roughly twenty minutes.

Speaking at the launch, Lee Thompson, Managing Director of Metro in Ireland, said: "This represents a new era for newspapers in this market. Metro-style newspapers are the fastest growing newspapers in the world and the Dublin edition of Metro is the latest installment in what has become a global publishing phenomenon".

"Dublin is a young, vibrant, and growing city, which matches the Metro brand perfectly. We look forward to giving Dublin urbanites their own Metro Moment on the way to work each morning".

Maeve Donovan, Managing Director of the Irish Times welcomed the venture saying, "Dublin is the latest significant European city to make a daily edition of Metro available to its young urban professionals. The Irish Times has always believed in the need to embrace market change. We are forming a partnership with two very successful international publishers in bringing Metro – a publishing success story - to Ireland."

"Dublin is one of Europe's leading capitals. It is a dynamic and changing city. It is our belief that Metro will complement the busy lifestyles of Dubliners and will give advertisers an effective platform to reach a highly desirable demographic," said Pelle Tornberg, President and CEO, Metro International.

Steve Auckland, Managing Director, Metro UK added, “Dublin is a great city with a high proportion of urbanites who we believe will really value the Metro package. They will enjoy the concise, no-spin news, city living and lifestyle features and make full use of its local entertainment and listings information.

"Since launching six years ago, we have successfully attracted a new generation of newspaper readers, many of whom did not previously read a daily paper, and we are confident that this trend will continue in Dublin. This will be great for advertisers, providing them with a new opportunity to reach a highly valuable audience who are hard to reach with traditional and established media."

Metro has a target circulation of 50,000 copies and has 35 employees.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Metro (Ireland):
Alison Mills
Q4 Public Relations
Tel: 01 475 1444,
Mob: 086 851 2890
amills@q4pr.ie

Gerry O’Sullivan
Q4 Public Relations
Tel: 01 475 1444,
Mob: 087 259 7644
gerry@q4pr.ie

For The Irish Times:
Maeve Donovan
01 675 8000
mdonovan@irish-times.ie

For Metro International:
Henrik Persson,
+46-70-762-0087
henrik.persson@metro.lu

For Associated Newspapers:
Steve Auckland,
+44-207-7651-5346
steve.auckland@ukmetro.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About the Venture
Metro International will initially own 10% and Associated Newspapers 90% of the share capital in the newly created venture. Subject to any requisite competition clearance, the parties intend to form a joint venture in which Metro International holds an option to increase its ownership up to 33.3% and Associated Newspapers and The Irish Times Limited will hold the remainder of the equity in equal parts.

About Metro International
Metro is the largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. 57 daily Metro editions are published in 81 major cities in 18 countries in 18 languages across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated audience of more than 16.8m daily readers and over 35 million weekly readers. Metro has an equal number of male and female readers and 70% are under the age of 45. Metro's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual rate of 47% since the launch of the first edition in 1995.

Metro International S.A. "A"and "B" shares are listed on the Stockholmborsen "0-List" under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.