Observer AB Acquires Canadian Media Monitoring Services

On September 6 and 7, 2001, Observer AB, a Swedish company listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and the world leader in the provision of media monitoring services, acquired Bowdens Media Monitoring Limited from Rogers Publishing Limited, and acquired Mediascan Canada inc. and Caisse Chartier et Associés. Bowdens is based in Toronto and is a Canadian provider of media monitoring services. Mediascan and Caisse Chartier are based in Montreal and collectively are providers of media monitoring services in Quebec and the rest of Canada. Amounts were not publicly disclosed at the time of announcement.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP acted as legal counsel to Observer on the acquisitions both from its London and Toronto offices. Blakes’ London team consisted of David Glennie, Bob Wooder and Kate McGilvray. Blakes’ Toronto team consisted of John Kolada, Innes Dey, Markus Viirland and Scott Mahaffy (corporate), Craig Thorburn (competition and Investment Canada), Elizabeth Boyd and Catherine Anderson (pension and benefits), Gary Daniel and Minami Ganaha (intellectual property) and Connie Reeve (employment). Observer was also advised on the acquisitions by Karin Ulberstad of Vinge (London), Observer’s Swedish legal counsel.

Rogers was represented by Patrick Phelan and Lisa Erdos of Lang Michener on corporate matters, together with Mike Webber of Rogers, and by David Vincent of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP on pension and benefits matters. The shareholders of Mediascan and Caisse Chartier were represented by Peter Casey, Patricia Gagnon, Dominique Lapierre, Raymond Picard and Roderick D. Elliott of the Montreal office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.