TRAININGNET'S LSA ACQUISITION ADDS CORPORATE LEARNING CONSULTING SERVICES TO ITS B2B ONLINE MARKETPLACE

Learning Solutions Alliance helps TrainingNet's corporate customers diagnose learning gapsthen identify the right training to deliver a complete customized learning solution

DALLAS, Texas, May 22, 2000 TrainingNet announced at the ASTD Conference and Exposition 2000 today that it has added corporate learning consulting services to the world's-largest online business-to-business training marketplace by acquiring Learning Solutions Alliance (LSA). TrainingNet now offers corporate customers a single source to identify and buy training aligned with their company's goals.

TrainingNet customers can now use LSA's services to establish core curricula targeted at specific learning deficiencies. Once they identify their training needs, companies can access and buy training from more than 3,000 providers in the U.S. and U.K. on TrainingNet's marketplace. Among the services available through the TrainingNet marketplace is RFP Exchange, which enables corporate buyers of customized and onsite training to connect with qualified training providers.

"The TrainingNet/LSA union will provide us with an array of training options that map directly to our core business objectives and offer employees the training they need," said Sylvia Allen, senior leader, human resource development at SGI, an LSA client. "Our employees can now tap into an even broader array of options to identify and buy courses that match their specific needs. We're looking forward to TrainingNet and LSA playing a critical role as we build a learning culture."

The acquisition extends TrainingNet's marketplace to broader markets by adding learning consulting services to its online options. TrainingNet's business-to-business e-commerce marketplace is currently the single largest source for instant online access to all modalities of training.

"In today's vast training industry the personal touch of consulting goes a long way," said Ellen Julian, director, career and learning services research at International Data Corporation (IDC). "Providing customers with the guidance they need to shape their training curricula is a critical step in the training procurement process. Training consulting helps them yield the best results for their organization. TrainingNet and LSA are a powerful combination that enable customers to tap into the training market with guidance from industry-leading experts."

TrainingNet/LSA combination offers customers co-sourcing solutions
LSA works as a co-sourcing partner with established market-leading organizations such as Apple Computer and Teradyne, and e-commerce companies like Yahoo to map out learning strategies designed to achieve their corporate business objectives. LSA consultants then help customers identify optimal learning resources to address individual, team and organizational training needs.

"LSA's learning consulting expertise has become a critical first step for companies looking to upgrade their employee skill base in an environment of rapid business changes and very tight labor markets," said President of LSA Sally Ewald. "Our merger with TrainingNet will enable us to offer our customers instant online access to a deep selection of training from thousands of providers, while working with them throughout the process to ensure each option meets their business needs."

LSA will be renamed TrainingNet Learning Consulting and will operate as a service for current and prospective corporate clients. LSA President Sally Ewald will become a vice president at TrainingNet, and TrainingNet will add staff within its Learning Consulting group and in related areas to expand their new services across the country.

"All along we've offered our customers choice, speed and convenience through our online marketplace. Now, with LSA, customers can tap into additional dimensions of training expertise, wisdom and quality to better fulfill their training needs right from the start," said President and CEO of TrainingNet Hemang Dave. "The beauty of this combination is its complementary nature. TrainingNet can bring a world of options to a corporation and LSA can work with them to identify an optimal learning solution."

TrainingNet will showcase its Learning Consulting group's capabilities at booth #1786 at the ASTD 2000 show in Dallas, Texas from Tuesday, May 23 to Thursday, May 25, 2000.

About TrainingNet
TrainingNet is the #1 global online B2B learning marketplace that connects companies and employees with the continuous education they need by helping them identify and buy the right learning solution. TrainingNet is headquartered in Billerica, Mass., with additional offices throughout North America and the U.K. For more information, contact TrainingNet at (888) 931-3311, or visit their Web site at www.trainingnet.com.

About Learning Solutions Alliance
Learning Solutions Alliance (LSA) provides single source access to top quality learning resources for executive, organization and employee development for individuals, teams and enterprises. Learning Solutions Alliance starts with the needs of its client companies, assessing those in relation to the business objectives of each firm, and then provides or recommends learning solutions to address those needs. Every Learning Solutions Alliance solution is aligned to meet the specific strategic performance objectives of its customers. Learning Solutions Alliance partners with leading learning providers to find or create the right learning solution for its clients.