Safari Books Online and the RDW Group Announce Sale of Technology Platform

PROVIDENCE, R.I. & SEBASTOPOL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Safari Books Online of Sebastopol, California, has purchased the PubFactory Electronic Platform, a product developed by iFactory, a wholly-owned division of the RDW Group, Inc, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The announcement was made jointly today by Andrew Savikas, CEO of Safari Books Online, and James Pontarelli, President of the RDW Group.

“For some time now, we've admired the PubFactory team’s expertise in building powerful web-based systems for delivering mixed content like books, videos, journals, and reference databases. Their platform will be a robust complement to our growing stable of technology for distributing reference and learning products online”

The sale was effective on December 31, 2012. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, Safari Books Online now owns the proprietary software developed by iFactory, which is used to develop scalable and semantically rich electronic libraries for publishers. “For some time now, we've admired the PubFactory team’s expertise in building powerful web-based systems for delivering mixed content like books, videos, journals, and reference databases. Their platform will be a robust complement to our growing stable of technology for distributing reference and learning products online,” said Mr. Savikas.

“The PubFactory Platform is a natural fit with the other competencies of Safari Books Online and we’re thrilled that our PubFactory clients will now enjoy the full spectrum of services provided by Safari, an undisputed leader in the online publishing industry,” said Mr. Pontarelli.

Former PubFactory employees are now Safari team members, and PubFactory clients will experience a seamless transition with no disruptions. The RDW Group will continue to own and operate iFactory, its web services division, based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Safari Books Online (www.safaribooksonline.com and www.safaribooksonline.de) is an on-demand digital library that delivers a wide range of vetted learning resources in both book and video form from the world’s leading authors in technology, digital media, and business. Technology professionals, software developers, web designers, and business and creative professionals use Safari Books Online as their primary resource for research, problem solving, learning, and certification training.

RDW Group, Inc. specializes in integrated communications, offering clients a full menu of services including advertising, public relations and public affairs, social media, interactive, and research. With employees in Providence, Worcester, and Boston, the firm concentrates on developing communications programs for clients in consumer goods and services, education, energy, heath care, business-to-business, and insurance.