ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 31, 2005 - ProQuest Information and Learning announced the sale of its periodical microfilm business, including the periodical film itself, to National Archive Publishing Company (NAPC), an Ann Arbor-based company newly established by former ProQuest executives. ProQuest Information and Learning continues to own sole rights to pursue digitization options of all microfilmed content, including periodical film owned by NAPC. The move flows from strategic plans that place increased emphasis on creating unique digital solutions for libraries and educational institutions.

"This decision is all about focus," said David "Skip" Prichard, president of ProQuest Higher Education & Library. "The sale positions us to concentrate on publishing strategies in our news-based and digital reference solutions, as well as other higher-growth businesses that provide greater opportunity to leverage our skills and assets."

"We are pleased that the mission of NAPC, under the leadership of founder and President Dan Arbour, is to build on the foundation of quality content and service that we have worked to establish," said Prichard.

Since news content is a major area for planned growth, ProQuest will continue to sell newspaper microform, along with a large array of research collections and the dissertations product line, under the UMI® brand.  ProQuest also will continue to produce digital periodical databases and draw on periodical content for a variety of products.  "Providing access to unique content continues to be at the center of what we do," said Prichard.  "We have definitive plans to continue to develop special microfilm collections that enhance access to unique information.  We are committed to developing new products that provide value to our customers."

"ProQuest will continue to serve as guardians of non-periodical microform," Prichardcontinued.  "We take this responsibility seriously and are honored by the trust the library and publisher communities have placed in us to ensure ongoing access to valuable information."

Terms of the sale include a provision for NAPC to perform manufacturing of non-periodical microform and electronic scanning services.  This will ensure consistent high quality of products available from ProQuest and NAPC.  Production processes will remain in Ann Arborand will continue to be performed by the same group of microform experts.  Terms of the sale allow NAPC to market their periodical products as UMI® Periodicals in Microform.

ProQuest and NAPC are working together to provide customers with information to ensure a clear and easy transition.

ProQuest today also announced the concurrent sale of the XanEdu® CoursePack business to NAPC.  NAPC also has purchased the existing manufacturing and production facilities at 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI  48103.  ProQuest will lease space from NAPC until it moves to its new building in Ann Arbor in 2006.

 

About National Archive Publishing Company

NAPC is a newly established company that includes three lines of business, UMI®Periodicals, XanEdu®, and Microfilm and Digitization Services with extensive microfilm and digital content production capability.  It was formed through the firm’s acquisition of the established business units from ProQuest Information and Learning, which determined these long time profitable businesses are not part of its future strategic growth plans, and the manufacturing capability for microfilm and digital content.

NAPC serves the library, government and commercial markets in the United Statesas well as internationally.

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cig.com.