THINQ announces TrainingServer merger, fusing learner management and broad content for 4 million active corporate learners from more than 200 leading organizations

Leading corporate learning solutions company brings a powerful, proven Learning Management System into the fold to provide a truly one-stop source for workplace learning

BILLERICA, Mass., Oct. 25, 2000 - THINQ Learning Solutions, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to join THINQ and TrainingServer, Inc. The merger will create the leading corporate learning solutions company by combining the world's largest learning content aggregator with one of the world's most widely used enterprise-wide learning management systems (LMSs). The merger will bring together the demand side of TrainingServer's more than 4 million active corporate users with THINQ's 3,000-strong supply chain of learning content. The merged company will be operated under the THINQ name and remain headquartered in Billerica, Mass.

TrainingServer has implemented successful learning management systems for more than 200 of the world's largest organizations, such as Lucent, BMW North America, Citigroup, UPS, Harvard University and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. In its 1999 Magic Quadrant for Training Management, the GartnerGroup designated TrainingServer best-in-class LMS in ability to execute. THINQ offers an array of learning consulting, planning and management services, plus customization of the world's largest e-learning center to corporate clients, such as Diebold, Radisys, GenRad, PMI, Lightbridge Consulting and Sierra Systems.

THINQ, headquartered in Billerica, employs more than 230 people. TrainingServer, based in Baltimore, employs more than 130 people. Hemang Dave will continue as CEO of THINQ, which will now include TrainingServer employees, locations and products as part of a complete solution to both companies' customers. TrainingServer founder and CEO Ted Bayer will join THINQ as co-chairman of its board of directors. Ray Maskell, Chief Operating Officer of TrainingServer, will become COO of THINQ.

"This is good news for the industry, serving customers' need for a single source of e-learning products and services," said Brandon Hall, Ph.D., lead researcher for brandon-hall.com and author of "Learning Management Systems: How to Choose the Right System for Your Organization," which evaluates LMSs like TrainingServer. "According to the report, TrainingServer is one of the most capable learning management systems with one of the largest customer bases. And, THINQ leads with access to the most extensive range of classroom and online content."

Comprehensive shopping for corporate learning
TrainingServer users will soon be able to access THINQ's content, which offers the broadest range of corporate learning available online. THINQ now has 3,000 training providers, 50 partners and 50 corporate customers in North America and the United Kingdom. THINQ corporate customers will be able to buy the TrainingServer® Learning Management System increasing THINQ's attractiveness as a one-stop shop for all of a company's learning needs. With the THINQ and TrainingServer combination, the new THINQ gains a stronger position in the e-learning market through expanded global coverage in Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region.

"Bringing a learning management system like TrainingServer into the fold makes THINQ all the more a one-stop shop for corporate learning needs," said Christine Good, general manager of LearnShare, a consortium serving 2 million employees at 13 member corporations which share learning and professional development resources. "Now THINQ can offer a complete package to manage all a corporation's learning combined with the powerful resource of its Learning Center."

"We've been impressed with TrainingServer over the past couple of years as we've rolled out its enterprise-wide application across Citigroup globally," said Austin J. Zullo, vice president of e-learning and professional development, e-Citi (a unit of Citigroup). "TrainingServer has been the tool that has allowed us to meet our goal of tracking, managing and deploying our knowledge and content across the organization. Having both the THINQ content catalog and the TrainingServer LMS in one solution will help further the knowledge push in our organization and provide a one-source portal for learning management in addition to valuable learning content and resources."

About TrainingServer
Training Server, Inc., an affiliate of Syscom, Inc., provides management solutions for more than 220 customers worldwide, including Lockheed Martin and MCI WorldCom. First developed in 1989, the TrainingServer LMS is a robust technology driven system that delivers and manages enterprise-wide training. With an active install base of more than 4 million learners worldwide, TrainingServer LMS enables learning by allowing organizations to efficiently and effectively assess skills, analyze needs, manage courses, schedule events, develop job paths and integrate real-time HR data, among other standardized and customized features. Internet solutions include the B2B Learning NetworkTM, a network of branded learning sites, and MyTrainingServer.comTM, a Web site for purchasing learning resources.

About THINQ
THINQ is a one-stop source for streamlined corporate learning solutions. The company wraps learning consulting services and other layers of value around its online global learning center, which includes over 3,000 providers in North America and the U.K. As a result, it is uniquely positioned to leverage the power of the Internet to connect businesses and professionals to the smartest learning choices for continuous educational development and skills training. THINQ is headquartered in Billerica, Mass., with offices in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and London, and remote offices in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Raleigh, N.C., Houston, Santa Clara, Calif., Minneapolis, Columbus, OH, New York, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.