NPD BookScan, the source of ICv2's monthly reports on graphic novel sales in the book channel (see "NPD BookScan Top 20 GNs Index") will become Circana Books as a result of the merger of The NPD Group and Information Resources, Inc. last year.

The companies merged when private equity firm Hellman & Friedman, which acquired NPD Group in 2021 (see "NPD Group To Be Sold"), acquired a majority stake in IRI and merged it with NPD.  Hellman & Friedman leads an ownership group that also includes IRI investors Vestar Capital Partners and New Mountain Capital.

NPD Group acquired Nielsen's U.S. book businesses, which included BookScan, in 2017 (see "NPD Acquires BookScan").