ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 31, 2005 - ProQuest Information and Learning announced the sale of XanEdu, its coursepack business, to National Archive Publishing Company (NAPC), an Ann Arbor-based company newly established by former ProQuest executives. The move flows from strategic plans that place increased emphasis on creating unique digital solutions for libraries and educational institutions.

ProQuest Information and Learning originally launched XanEdu in 2000 to expand the delivery channel for ProQuest content into the classroom via electronic coursepacks. XanEdu has built the leading national brand for custom print publishing in higher education, but its content needs and manufacturing operations diverged from ProQuest’s core business focus in the library and K-12 markets.

"We're proud of the products and service levels that XanEdu has provided our customers; this decision is all about focus," said David "Skip" Prichard, president of ProQuest Higher Education & Library.  "We decided to sell XanEdu to concentrate on publishing strategies in our news-based and digital reference solutions, as well as other high-growth businesses that provide greater opportunity to leverage our skills and assets. We are pleased that NAPC, under the leadership of founder and President Dan Arbour, has stepped forward with a mission to build on the foundation of quality content and service that we have worked to establish."

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 its UMI® Periodicals in Microform 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 Arborin 2006.

About National Archive Publishing Company

NAPC is a newly established company that includes three lines of business, UMI®Periodicals in Microform, 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.

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.