Kaplan Acquires Speer Software Training, Inc., National Provider of Software Education, Training and Consulting for Major U.S. Law Firms

New York, NY/Minneapolis, MN, December 5, 2000 – Kaplan, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Speer Software Training, Inc. which it intends to combine with its Perfect Access division. Perfect Access is a leading provider of software training and consulting for law firms, financial institutions and Fortune 500 corporations. Speer is another major player in Perfect Access' market. Bonnie Speer McGrath, the founder of Speer, will serve as President of the combined entity, Perfect Access Speer, and will report directly to Eric Cantor, President of Kaplan Professional.
 
For more than a decade, Perfect Access and Speer have been leaders in software migration training, consulting, and documentation services in the legal industry. Both have begun expanding their training services into the e-learning arena. The Speer acquisition will provide Perfect Access Speer with executive leadership, greater geographic diversity, strong project management capabilities and e-learning resources that will enhance its services to legal and financial clients with intensive document management challenges and industry-specific training needs. In addition, the acquisition will enable Perfect Access to further broaden its reach to clients in other industries.
 
"Perfect Access and Speer together count as clients most of the nation's top law firms," said Eric Cantor. "This provides Perfect Access Speer with an excellent opportunity to expand its services within this core market segment as well as diversify by expanding into adjacent markets. We are delighted to work with Bonnie Speer McGrath, an internationally recognized leader in the industry, and are fortunate to have someone with her background, experience and track record driving the newly combined business."
 
"We are excited to join forces with Perfect Access and to benefit from its classroom resources and exceptionally talented group of trainers and consultants," said Ms. Speer McGrath. "Together, we will develop and implement blended learning strategies for national and international legal and financial businesses, with a mix of instructor-led and e-learning training and support, resulting in more comprehensive and effective learning experiences that positively affect a firm's bottom line."
 
Perfect Access has been expanding its geographical reach, enabling the company to serve clients with offices in major metropolitan areas, and to take on new clients in these markets. Kaplan, Inc. acquired Perfect Access in June 1998, and has since opened an office in Washington, D.C. and acquired the assets of Computer Resource Network (CRN), Inc., a Chicago-based competitor. Perfect Access Speer will now have offices in Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, New York, and Washington, D.C., and plans to open an office in California in 2001.
 
Perfect Access Speer will offer the following services to clients nationwide:
 
Migration Training, Curriculum, and Floor Support
e-Learning
iManage Certification Training
Project Management
Curriculum Development
Consulting
Documentation and Job Aids

 
Bonnie Speer McGrath, age 39, launched Speer Software Training in New York City in 1986 after previous positions as a consultant for Arthur Young and a member of Chase Manhattan Bank's technology training team. Ms. Speer McGrath received her B.S. degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Colorado in 1983.
 
Perfect Access Speer is a division of Kaplan Professional, a unit of Kaplan, Inc. 
 
Press Contact: pubrel@kaplan.com, (212) 492-5965

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