THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240527
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 33 lines
Landmark Communications Inc. said Thursday that it purchased an 80 percent stake in CI Impressions, a photography, on-line services and software business whose main specialty is in the religious market. Terms of the purchase weren't disclosed.
Landmark, Norfolk-based parent of The Virginian-Pilot, said CI Impressions will operate under a new name, Landmark Community Interests. It said the new subsidiary will keep its headquarters in Greensboro, N.C.
``We are delighted to have a fast-growing, entrepreneurial company like CI Impressions as part of Landmark,'' said Frank Batten Jr., Landmark's executive vice president.
CI Impressions was founded 3 1/2 years ago by W. Douglas Young, who will retain a 20 percent stake. He has expanded the company into 22 states, building a work force of about 300. Annual revenues weren't disclosed.
The company is perhaps best known for its portrait photo business. Using digital photography, it takes portraits of church members and students at church-sponsored day-care centers and schools.
Another CI Impressions specialty is developing software to help churches track contributions, make pledge projections and do member profiles.
It is also branching into online and Internet services. It provides locally oriented religious content for America Online Inc.'s Digital City subsidiary. And it develops World Wide Web sites and provides other Internet-related services for religious organizations and various family-oriented groups.
Landmark is a media conglomerate whose interests include The Weather Channel, seven daily newspapers and a wide range of specialty publications.