Sifo Group acquires Navigare Medical Marketing Research

Sifo Group acquires Navigare Medical Marketing Research Sifo Group AB has acquired Navigare Medical Marketing Research AB. Navigare will be incorporated into Sifo Group's Sifo Research & Consulting Division. Navigare specializes in market research in the medical sector and offers consulting services in the marketing of pharmaceuticals. It conducts market research and surveys in the Nordic region as well as international research through the Healthcare Research Partners (HRP) network. "The pharmaceutical industry is growing and so is the market for research in this area," says Robert Kessiakoff, Head of the Sifo Research & Consulting Division. "Among other things, we are seeing increased demand for patient surveys. This makes Navigare a highly attractive and exciting complement to our business." "Through the merger with Sifo Research & Consulting, Navigare gains increased capacity and greater opportunities to develop its products and services," says Karl-Gunnar Persson, President of Navigare. Navigare Medical Marketing Research reported sales of over SEK 25 million in 1998 and has had a high rate of growth and good profitability throughout the years. The earnings impact of the acquisition on Sifo Group's share will be marginal during the current year. Facts about Sifo Group Sifo Group, which is quoted on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange, has three divisions: Observer Media Intelligence, which works with media and market research; Sifo Research & Consulting, which works with surveys and related consulting operations; and SMG Consulting, which is active in management and strategic consulting. Sifo Group has sales of over SEK 970 million and employs around 1,100 people in the Nordic region, the Baltic states and Germany. The Sifo Research & Consulting Division has over 300 employees and is the market leader in Sweden and a major player in Scandinavia in the area of market research and related consulting services. Sifo Research & Consulting's operations are divided into the following business areas: Management of Intangible Assets, Brand Management, Market Development, RISC Nordic, Media and Opinion & Samhälle. Facts about Navigare Navigare specializes in market research in the medical and pharmaceutical sector in the Nordic countries. The company's project managers have extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and field work is performed by medically trained personnel. Most of its clients are international market research agencies or pharmaceutical firms in the Nordic countries. Navigare is a member of Healthcare Research Partners (HRP), an organization that combines national expertise to provide medical market research worldwide. Through its membership in HRP, Navigare is able to conduct international market research outside the Nordic region. Navigare is headquartered in Kungsbacka. For further information, please contact: Robert Lundberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, phone +46-8-625 15 43, e-post robert.lundberg@sifogroup.se Robert Kessiakoff, Head of the Sifo Research & Consulting Division, phone +46- 8-701 69 90, e-post robert.kessiakoff@sifo.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/08/16/19990816BIT00120/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/08/16/19990816BIT00120/bit0002.pdf