STOP PRESS: Romeike deal creates monitoring giant

Romeike Group, the UK’s largest media monitoring company, has been bought by Sifo Group of Sweden. The pounds 110 million deal creates the world’s largest media and market monitoring company. Romeike chairman Ian Patterson is leaving and will be replaced by Hans Strand, chief executive of Sifo subsidiary Observer Media Intelligence, which remains in Stockholm. Strand will develop the Romeike business and use it as a base for further European expansion.