Sifo Group Changes Name 11/5/00 Sifo Group has decided that the company will change its name to Observer AB. Following the recent sale of the Sifo Research & Consulting division and the Sifo brand, the group's core business is now media and market monitoring as carried out by the Observer Media Intelligence division. At the same time, the group has released its interim report. For the first quarter 2000, operating profit before goodwill, amortisation and items affecting comparability rose to SEK2.8 million (2.71mn). The operating margin amounted to 26.1%. The group's operating revenue rose to SEK278.7 million (251.6mn). Organic growth was 20%. Due to the divestment of Sifo Research & Consulting, the group's board of directors has established a new profit objective. The group will achieve an average long-term operating margin before goodwill, amortisation and items affecting comparability of 22% (18%). During the first quarter of 2000, the group increased its commitment to the area of Internet measurements by becoming a co-owner of MMXI Europe. Also, at the beginning of 2000, Sifo Group acquired an additional 30% of Argus Media of Germany. Argus Media has been merged with Observer RTV Medienauswertungen, and the ownership is now 86% in the combined Observer Argus Media name. The investment amounted to SEK34 million.