An investment group led by technology systems integrator North American Systems International has completed its acquisition of Ancept Media Server, an enterprise-class Digital Asset Management solution, from Stellent, an undisclosed sum. The deal includes all Ancept Media Server product technology, staff and customers.
The products and staff are part of a new corporation, Ancept, which is responsible for all business operations, product support, product development, marketing and sales operations for Ancept Media Server and related products. Ancept, Inc. will focus on the development and execution of key strategies in the Digital Asset Management market and broader digital media markets.
This acquisition will allow Ancept, to partner more closely with IBM to market, develop and support the Ancept Media Server solution, which uses DB2 IBM Content Manager as its middleware and repository. Ancept Media Server is one of IBM’s key digital media partner solutions, and a component of IBM’s eBusiness On-Demand digital content management solution (DCMS) and their real-time adaptive multi-intelligence multimedia platform (RAMMP) solution. A digital asset management solution is designed to manage rich media assets (such as video, audio, animations, images, and other documents) in a database environment so they can be stored and indexed in a centralized repository and included in production and business workflows. This enables users to search for, retrieve, transform, manipulate, manage, and distribute these assets easily and effectively.
The U.S. market for digital asset management is expected to grow to over $5 billion by 2007 (Frost & Sullivan, U.S. Digital Asset Management Systems Market, August 2001), as it becomes indispensable for applications such as training, e-learning, marketing communications, product launch management, and brand management. “As Ancept’s primary stakeholder and key strategic partner, we’re very excited to bring together North American System’s extensive experience and expertise in technology systems integration with Ancept’s leading digital asset management technology to develop a turnkey solution for our customers,” said Phil Bettenburg, president of North American Systems, Int’l. “NASI has extensive experience in the graphic arts industry. Our Graphic Systems Int’l group has developed and deployed workflow and digital asset management solutions for hundreds of graphic arts companies over the past 15 years. The Ancept Media Server solution is a tremendous addition to our solutions portfolio.”
Both North American Systems and Ancept have a long track record of success with IBM, and have achieved IBM Premier Business Partner status. Ancept Media Server was developed through close collaboration with IBM and, as a result, is one of the leading digital asset management solutions available today. The acquisition of Ancept Media Server and formation of Ancept, Inc. will bring renewed focus, energy and commitment to this partnership and will enable continued development, innovation and sales promotion.
“Ancept Media Server (AMS) has been a key partner solution to IBM’s digital media strategies for many years and North American Systems is a premier IBM business partner,” said Dick Anderson, General Manager, IBM Media & Entertainment. “The union of these two and the formation of Ancept, Inc. will benefit the marketplace and strengthen the solution. IBM looks forward to partnering closely with these companies to bring our joint solutions to market.”