Kaplan acquires STT

Issued by Kaplan IT Learning
Johannesburg, 16 Aug 2005

Kaplan IT (a Washington Post Company) has acquired the assets of Software Training Technology (STT), with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

STT`s software enables organisations to rapidly generate software simulations and documentation for large-scale training on business applications such as SAP, Oracle and PeopleSoft. More than 200 companies and government agencies worldwide use STT, including South African organisations such as Woolworths, Standard Bank, Kumba Resources, Nedbank and SARS.

Kaplan, which had 2004 revenue of more than US$1.1 billion, is an education services provider that offers higher education, professional training, test preparation, services for K12 schools and after-school learning programs. Based in New York, Kaplan employs more than 20 000 people in its operations worldwide, including recent expansions in the UK, Ireland and Singapore.

STT will become part of Kaplan IT, Kaplan`s division that offers exam preparation and e-learning to the IT industry. The acquisition will increase its foothold in the corporate and government markets and expand Kaplan IT`s offerings with the addition of software simulations and documentation for end-user training.

"STT`s innovative software simulations will enable our customers to lower the cost and time required for large-scale end-user training by minimising the need for classroom instruction," said Chip Schuneman, President of Kaplan IT, the Kaplan subsidiary that offers technology training for individuals and corporate clients. "STT enables customers to train on software simulations at their desks to learn applications such as SAP, Oracle and PeopleSoft, as well as custom applications."

"STT has been a pioneer in software simulations since 1998, and our products are now used by more than 200 companies and government agencies in the UK and Europe. By joining Kaplan, we will now be able to better meet the needs of customers in the North American market."

STT has offices in SA, the US and UK. In March 2005, STT was judged "Most Innovative" by attendees of Brandon-Hall and Training Magazine`s Software Simulation Shootout during Training Spring 2005, the e-learning industry`s leading conference and exhibition.

Kaplan, Inc

Kaplan, Inc is a leading provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses and is comprised of four divisions: Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, which offers test prep and admissions services worldwide, including K12 services for schools; SCORE!, which offers after-school learning programs for children; Kaplan Professional, which offers licensing and continuing education training and compliance tracking; and Kaplan Higher Education, which offers postsecondary certificate and degree programs online and through 76 campus-based locations. Kaplan is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

For more information about Kaplan, please visit www.kaplan.com.

STT

STT (Software Training Technology) is the global leader in enterprise training software for the corporate and government markets. STT`s Enterprise Training Software (STT Trainer) enables organisations to create and manage computer-based training and performance support material for users of all their computer systems and business applications.

With STT Trainer, organisations are able to fast-track the learning process for staff training on new system implementations and upgrades, increase retention rates and provide staff with on-going refresher training to maintain high-levels of user competency. STT Trainer functionality includes content authoring, content management, project management, user training, user assessment, and reporting of training progress and competency levels for compliance to industry regulations.

Established in 1998, STT was among the first to introduce software simulation to the e-learning marketplace. Today, more than 200 multinational companies from around the world use STT products to create, deliver and manage software training for over 275 000 users on their ERP, CRM, and Web and Windows-based applications. Our user base includes Airbus, BBC, British Airways, Kumba Resources, Dimension Data, Glasgow City Council, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Pharmacia, Rolls Royce, Shell International, Siemens, Sappi, South African Revenue Services and Standard Bank.

For more information, please visit http://www.stt-global.com.

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Kaplan acquires STT

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