Observer acquires broadcast monitoring service in the U.S.

8/21/2002 9:38 AM EST

Observer is broadening its range of services in the U.S. by acquiring
the broadcast news monitoring service of Media Pulse. The acquisition
gives Observer access to radio and TV information from all key markets
in the U.S.

In addition to its own operations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Phoenix and
Indianapolis, Media Pulse is part of a network of the 30 largest
independent U.S. firms in the industry. The company's president, John
Stephens, who will be responsible for Observer's broadcast news
monitoring in the U.S., heads the network.

"The U.S. has a tremendous range of radio and TV stations. This
acquisition means that we can provide our local and international
clients with a better range of services and higher quality. Through the
news monitoring network, we also gain access to, and knowledge about,
important regional and local markets," says Observer President and CEO
Robert Lundberg.

The acquired operations generate an annual turnover of nearly USD 2
million and will be integrated with Observer's US subsidiary, Bacon's
Information.

For further information, please contact:

Robert Lundberg, President and Chief Executive Officer,
telephone: +46 8 507 410 10, e-mail:  

Jan-Erik Jansson, Senior VP and Chief M&A Officer, telephone: +46 8 507
410 14 or +46 70 511 91 53, e- mail:  

Per Blixt, Senior VP Corporate Communications/Investor Relations,
telephone: +46 8 507 410 12 or +46 70 549 28 08, e- mail:
 

About Observer AB
Observer AB, quoted on the O-list (Attract 40) of Stockholmsbörsen, is
active in business and communication intelligence, offering media and
market monitoring, analysis and communication evaluations as well as
target group identification and distribution of information for PR and
IR purposes. Observer AB has a turnover of nearly SEK 1,900 million on
an annual basis, with around 2,500 employees in the U.S., the UK,
Sweden, Canada, Germany, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland,
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

This press release is also available online at: www.observergroup.com