Acadio Tops 100 Mark with Continuing Education Providers; Web Site Offers Consumers the Industry's Best Materials for Professional, Personal Growth.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2000

Acadio(TM) Corporation, dedicated to helping people reach their full professional and personal potential through self-directed education, today announced a company milestone: it has signed agreements with more than 100 best-of-class publishers of continuing education materials.

The partnerships allow Acadio to offer more than 15,000 of continuing education's highest-quality computing, general business and self-improvement books, videos, CD-ROMs and audio cassettes on Acadio's Web site, www.acadio.com.

In its drive to become the premier online destination for continuing professional and personal education, Acadio has secured strategic partnerships with the continuing education industry's top publishers, including DiscoverWare, Center for Creative Leadership, Wiley, Ken Blanchard, American Media, Berlitz and American Management Association. The publishers' acceptance of the Acadio mission reinforces the company's unique model for meeting consumers' needs for lifelong learning.

Along with continuing education products and materials, Acadio posts independent product reviews, self-assessment tools, expert commentary, and industry articles to assist self-directed learners in making informed purchase decisions that best meet their interests, goals and budgets. All products and materials available through Acadio are specifically designed to teach a new practical skill.

"Traditionally continuing education publishers have viewed the Internet as both a threat and an opportunity to be realized," said Acadio CEO Steve Sperry. "As a partner, not a competitor, Acadio offers our providers a distribution channel that supports their own high-quality standards for educational delivery and extends their global reach into new markets quickly and efficiently."

"The providers we have carefully chosen allow Acadio to offer individuals and businesses breadth, depth and quality content from trusted organizations," said Kristi Marchbanks, vice president of alliances for Acadio.

The alliances between Acadio and its providers include distribution and marketing of first-rate continuing education resources and self-study materials. Acadio offers consumers thousands of carefully screened and selected business, computing and lifestyle continuing education products and courses. Blending professional growth with personal development, Acadio.com will ultimately address all types of lifelong learning needs with the broadest selection of quality continuing education products on the Web.

About Acadio Corporation

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Seattle, Acadio is dedicated to helping people reach their full professional and personal potential through self-directed education. Acadio intends to be the premier online destination for professionals worldwide seeking information, products and services related to continuing education. Professionals and businesses can quickly and easily find, evaluate, compare and purchase continuing education products and services from www.acadio.com. The Acadio Web site provides valuable information and resources to build strengths, sharpen skills, focus direction and expand life experiences, giving people the edge they need to improve their lives. For more information, call 206/225-5000, or e-mail [e-mail].