GALE, IAC, AND PRIMARY SOURCE MEDIA MERGED INTO GALE GROUP.

Thomson Business Information (TBI) has merged three of its electronic and reference publishing subsidiaries --Gale Research, Information Access Company (IAC), and Primary Source Media -- into a new company called The Gale Group.

Each of the companies is a leader in its respective segment of the public, academic, and school library, and other professional markets. Combined, The Gale Group is one of the world's pre-eminent publishers of academic, educational, and business research serving libraries, educational institutions, and businesses in all major international markets.

"We are merging three strong companies into a new worldwide leader," said Patrick J. Tierney, TBI president. "By combining Gale's extensive new product development, editorial, and print publishing capabilities, IAC's expertise in electronic publishing, and Primary Source Media's expertise with publishing original research materials, we will create compelling new products, strengthen existing ones, and deliver the highest quality of customer service."

Tierney noted the changing expectations of Gale Research, IAC, and Primary Source Media customers. "Today's professional information buyers want products that better meet the needs of end users, whether they be public library patrons, students in the classrooms, or knowledge workers throughout business enterprises," he said. "The Gale Group will have new abilities to best meet not only today's, but tomorrow's customer demands."

KEY MANAGEMENT APPOINTED Tierney also announced that Allen Paschal, until now president of IAC, has been appointed CEO of The Gale Group, based in Detroit, Mich.

"Allen Paschal has a long track record of effective and innovative leadership in the information industry," said Tierney. "We are delighted to have him at the helm of this exciting new venture."

Paschal announced that Dedria Bryfonski, until now the CEO of Gale Research, assumes the new position of president, Library Education Group of The Gale Group; and that David Lucas, CEO of Primary Source Media, will manage all Gale Group operations in Europe and additionally will direct the Primary Source Media operations in the U.S. and England.

INTEGRATION Paschal said that task forces, drawing from the management ranks of the three companies, have been created to manage the integration process. "We will be asking ourselves one simple question: What is best for the customer, today and tomorrow?

Our focus will be on how we can best provide targeted content relevant to our customers along with the timeliness and ease of use they increasingly demand."

Paschal assured customers and strategic alliance partners of the three companies that there will be no disruption to existing products, services, and contractual relationships.

"We will keep all of our constituencies -- our customers, suppliers, distributors, alliance partners, and employees -- fully informed about the steps we take in the weeks and months ahead," he said. "The only surprises will be the compelling new products our combined resources create for our customers."

ABOUT THE MERGED COMPANIES Gale Research produces databases -- covering a range of subjects, from literature and biographies to science and technology, as well as general reference -- primarily for the public, school, and academic library markets. Beginning with the now classic Encyclopedia of Associations (first published in 1954), Gale products have become essentials on the reference shelves of virtually every major library worldwide.

The company annually produces hundreds of books and CD-ROMs, as well as Internet- and online-delivered products, which serve the needs of library patrons across a spectrum of educational, business, and personal pursuits. Since its purchase by The Thomson Corporation in 1985, Gale has expanded by adding several imprints, including U X L (reference materials for middle school students); The Taft Group (specializing in reference materials for the nonprofit sector); St. James Press (long known for its excellent literary and cultural reference titles); and Visible Ink Press (Gale's trade paperback line). The Gale Group will relocate to Farmington Hills, Mich., a suburb of Detroit.

Information Access Company (IAC) provides information-based products in CD-ROM, microfilm, print, and online formats. The company adds value to the articles, reports, scientific and educational information, and business and financial research it collects from more than 6,500 sources worldwide by applying advanced indexing, coding, and abstracting. IAC is among the most successful publishers delivering subscription-based information services through the World Wide Web. Among its best-known products are InfoTrac SearchBank(TM), ComputerSelect(R), IAC InSite(SM), InfoTrac LifeCenter(SM), PROMT(R), and Trade and Industry Database(TM). In addition to its Foster City, Calif., headquarters, IAC has principal offices in Cambridge, Mass.; London, England; New York, N.Y.; and Melbourne, Australia. The Thomson Corporation acquired IAC in 1995.

Primary Source Media is a leading publisher of primary source materials across a spectrum of media. Formerly known as Research Publications, the 31-year-old company enjoys a worldwide reputation for providing academic and business libraries with access to some of the world's rarest and most valuable research materials, such as the complete record of The Times of London back to 1771 and all English-language books published in the 18th century. Acquired by The Thomson Corporation in 1979, the company's offices are located in Reading, England, and in Woodbridge, Conn.

ABOUT TBI AND THE THOMSON CORPORATION Thomson Business Information (TBI) is a major operating entity of The Thomson Corporation and is composed of leading professional information businesses in library and business reference, scientific, and other vertical markets worldwide.

With annual revenues approaching US$6 billion, The Thomson Corporation (TTC) is one of the world's leading information and publishing companies. TTC's common shares are traded on the Toronto, Montreal, and London stock exchanges. For more information, visit TTC's Internet site at www.thomcorp.com.

For more information, call 800/227-8431 ext. 5282 or 650/378-5282.