Brill Academic Publishers Acquires IDC Publishers

[Ann Okerson <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

This acquisition is of interest to many academic libraries.

<http://www.brill.nl/default.asp?sub=4>

Brill Academic Publishers Acquires IDC Publishers

Leiden, 11 November 2005. Brill Academic Publishers announces that it
reached agreement with the shareholders of IDC Publishers, based in
Leiden, the Netherlands, to acquire all of IDC's shares and business
activities. The acquisition comprises all publication rights to well over
3 million pages of primary source documents stored on microfiche and
microfilm, as well as a number of online databases.

With this acquisition Brill reinforces its market position as a leading
information supplier to academic libraries and researchers in a number of
specialized areas of scholarship, in particular Religion, History, Art
History, Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, Jewish Studies,
International Law, Slavic Studies and Biology. 

IDC's publications, which in 2005 represented total sales of approximately
2,5 million euros, offer a valuable addition to Brill�s current
publication program of books, journals and online products in existing
niche markets. In the past Brill has already successfully cooperated with
IDC on the publication of a complete edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

IDC's thematic primary source collections contain unique materials, such
as rare books and archival documents from libraries and archives around
the world. The sources are essential tools for researchers in the
humanities and the social sciences.  For Brill this acquisition is a
strategic asset of great importance in an emerging marketplace where text,
context, image, sound and software become increasingly valuable elements
of a scholarly information offer, particularly when integrated.

IDC's collections are produced in partnership with a wide range of leading
academic and nonprofit organizations, including the British Library, Yale
University, National Library of Russia, New York Public Library, World
Bank, the Royal Library of the Netherlands, and Amnesty International. The
millions of pages of text contained in IDC's collections are particularly
suited for digitization and online publication. All new publications are
being digitally captured and stored while making use of state-of-the-art
technology. This makes it possible to publish this content both in digital
and analog media, and through publishing-on-demand.

The acquisition will largely be paid in cash and possibly for a small
amount in shares. Due diligence will take place in the coming weeks.
Brill's management aims to complete the transaction by 1 January 2006, and
expects that the acquisition will contribute to the profit per share
already in 2006.
 
Herman A. Pabbruwe 
Managing Director 
pabbruwe@brill.nl
www.brill.nl 
Brill Academic Publishers �
LEIDEN � The Netherlands

Brill Academic Publishers, listed on Euronext Amsterdam NV is a publishing
house with a strong international focus and founded in 1683. The company
focuses on the fields of Ancient Near East and Egypt; Middle East, Asian
and Islamic Studies; Medieval and Early Modern Studies; Biblical and
Religious Studies; Classical Studies; Social Sciences; Science and
Biology; Human Rights and Public International Law. The predominantly
English-language publications consist primarily of (book)series,
encyclopaedias and journals. In principle these publications will be
available in print and electronic form. Brill'�s principal markets are
Europe, the United States and Japan. The majority of the customers are
academic institutions and university libraries.