click2learn Japan and Toppan Forms Establish Key Distribution Channel for e-Learning in Japan
For Immediate Release
For Details, Contact:
Sara Britton
Public Relations
click2learn.com, inc.
(425) 637-5872
sara.britton@click2learn.com
Jeff Howlett
Investor Relations
click2learn.com, inc.
(425) 637-1514
jeff.howlett@click2learn.com
www.click2learn.com
BELLEVUE, WASH. November 8, 2000 – click2learn.com Inc. (NASDAQ: CLKS)
announced today that click2learn Japan K.K., has formed an alliance with
Toppan Forms Co., Ltd., to market e-Learning content and services to Toppan
Forms’ 30,000 clients throughout Japan.
The move means click2learn Japan – a joint venture established last May by
click2learn, Softbank Media & Marketing Corp., and Softbank Forums Japan,
Inc. – will have in place an established and extensive sales network for
distributing its e-Learning content and business training services when it
launches in the first quarter of 2001.
“e-Learning in Japan is expected to grow from a $30 million market today to
$10 billion by 2010, with the lion’s share of growth coming from companies
using training to improve their global businesses. By partnering with Toppan
Forms, we’ll be able to deliver our e-Learning solutions to Japan’s leading
companies through a network of people who already fully understand their
business needs,” said Kevin Oakes, president and CEO of click2learn.
Founded in 1955, Toppan Forms is one of Japan’s leading providers of
business forms, data print services and comprehensive information management
services. It has annual revenues in excess of $1.4 billion, more than 2,800
employees and a sales team of 600.The Tokyo company plans to establish a
separate training division to provide real-time support to the increasing
number of Japanese companies embracing e-Learning and training services. As
the nation’s organizations adapt their businesses for global competition,
they are restructuring their workforces as well, employing younger workers
and more part-time and contract workers than ever before. As a result, the
need for quick and efficient training methods is on the rise.
click2learn Japan will provide the local corporate training market with
e-Learning courses on computer skills, professional development and
management training via click2learn’s e-Learning Network.
The e-Learning Nework is an Internet-based platform that enables companies
to create and manage their own proprietary online learning center from a
standard web browser. Companies can author customized online courses or
select courses within click2learn’s extensive library of business programs.
They can deliver this training to individuals involved at any level of their
business – employees, distributors, vendors, business partners and customers
– to improve business performance.
click2learn Japan plans to officially launch its products and services in
the first quarter of 2001. Under terms of the agreement, an investment of
approximately $2.5 million in additional start-up capital will be made by
Toppan Forms, Softbank Media and Marketing, Softbank Forums and click2learn.
click2learn will contribute approximately $750,000 of the investment and
will retain approximately 36 percent ownership of click2learn Japan.
About click2learn
click2learn.com (NASDAQ: CLKS
provides an open e-Learning network consisting of e-Learning content,
learning management, and authoring and publishing tools. By developing a
powerful and full-featured outsourced platform for e-Learning, and
partnering with market-leading content publishers, click2learn.com provides
customers with an Application Service Provider (ASP) model that gives
organizations instant access to a vast and constantly improving e-Learning
Network. Customers can access thousands of courses and use browser-based
publishing and learning management tools through a custom-configured site
that looks and feels like the organization’s intranet, and have access to
click2learn.com’s expert development group using the Rapid e-Learning
Development System (ReDS) to develop custom content for distribution on the
network.
In addition to an outsourced solution, click2learn.com is a leader in
providing internal e-Learning implementations. The click2learn.com
enterprise e-Learning initiatives includes the market-leading Ingenium total
learning management solution, and the acclaimed ToolBook II Instructor and
Assistant authoring tools. Each solution is augmented by one of the
industry’s largest professional services groups, including award-winning
custom content development, strategic consulting, and integration services.
For more information on click2learn.com e-Learning solutions, call (800)
448-6543 or (425) 462-0501. Visit click2learn.com at www.click2learn.com
www.click2learn.com/c2l This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including information contained in this document where statements are preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates” or similar expressions. For such statements, The Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include market acceptance of internet based training and the click2learn.com learning portal, the ability to successfully implement click2learn.com virtual universities and strategic relationships with content providers and other web-based companies, the ability of those relationships to result in increased users and increased revenues and the risk factors set forth in filings The Company has made with the SEC. click2learn.com, click2learn.publisher, click2learn.author, click2learn.manager, Ingenium, ToolBook II Instructor and ToolBook II Assistant are trademarks of click2learn.com, inc. All other company and/or product names are the property of their respective owners.
