ProQuest Syncata India Achieves CMM Level 3 Assessment; Clients to Benefit from Software Quality Increases, Reduced Cycle Times, Cost Reductions and Productivity Improvements

Business Wire, August 31, 2005

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Syncata India (P) Ltd., the offshore development center for Syncata Corporation (http://www.syncata.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of the ProQuest Company (NYSE:PQE), has been assessed at a Level 3 maturity for software application maintenance and support under the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) Capability Maturity Model (CMM). As a part of a continuous process improvement philosophy, automotive consultancy and IT services firm Syncata expects its clients to receive key benefits such as software quality improvements, reduced cycle times, long-term cost reductions and productivity increases.

"Syncata continues to provide tremendous value through high-quality, low-cost, application maintenance services and this CMM assessment is further testament to Syncata's ongoing commitment to quality and efficiency," Aloke Nath, co-founder and managing director, Syncata Corporation, said.

The Capability Maturity Model for Software (CMM), as defined by the SEI and their affiliates, is a framework that describes the key elements of an effective software process. The CMM covers practices for planning, engineering and managing software development and maintenance. According to the SEI, when followed, these key practices improve the ability of organizations to meet goals for cost, schedule, functionality and product quality.

"Syncata has received client recognition including 'American Honda's Premier Partner Award,' which it won 3 times, for 'excellence in quality, value and customer service,' yet we continue to refine and improve our processes at all levels of the organization," Nath said. "Today, buyers of Syncata's IT services expect defined processes that deliver a high level of quality consistently for a low cost," Nath added.

As organizations establish and improve the software processes by which they develop and maintain their software work products, they progress through levels of maturity. ProQuest Syncata India's application maintenance and support process has attained a Level 3 (Defined Level) maturity, where the standard process for developing and maintaining software across the organization is documented, including both software engineering and management processes, and these processes are integrated into a coherent whole.

Additional information on the Capability Maturity Model can be found here: http://sixsigmatutorial.com/CMM/CMM-Intoduction.aspx?ref=aw

About Syncata Corporation

Founded in 1990, Syncata (http://www.syncata.com) helps automotive, industrial manufacturing and automotive finance companies achieve breakthrough operational performance through innovative business consulting and technology solutions. The firm designs processes, integrates systems and develops applications that improve performance within parts and service, sales, finance and distribution operations. In addition to business and technology consulting, systems integration and application development, the firm also provides offshore maintenance and support services for leading vehicle and equipment manufacturers. Syncata was acquired in early 2005 by ProQuest Business Solutions, a division of ProQuest Company (NYSE:PQE). Syncata has offices in California (El Segundo), Michigan (Southfield) and India (Noida).

About ProQuest Company

ProQuest Company (NYSE:PQE) is based in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is a leading publisher of information solutions for the education, automotive and power equipment markets. The firm provides products and services to its customers through two business segments: Information and Learning and Business Solutions. Through its Information and Learning segment, which primarily serves the education market, the firm collects, organizes and publishes content from a wide range of sources including newspapers, periodicals and books. Its Business Solutions segment is primarily engaged in the electronic delivery of parts and service information to the automotive market segments. Its products transform complex technical data from parts catalogs and service manuals into easily accessible electronic information. For the world's automotive manufacturers and their dealer networks, ProQuest also secures business-to-business information and retail performance measurement services. ProQuest Company was recently named one of the nation's 200 best small companies by Forbes magazine and one of the 100 fastest growing technology companies in the United States by Business 2.0 magazine.