SmartForce Signs Million Dollar Agreement to Bring e-Learning to Hong Kong.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 2000

SmartForce (Nasdaq:SMTF), the world's largest e-Learning company, today announced a $1 million agreement with Automated Systems (HK) Limited (ASL) (HKSE:771) to distribute SmartForce e-Learning in Hong Kong.

ASL specializes in advanced computer technology services for over 1,000 organizations in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Thailand. ASL and SmartForce will collaborate to promote the sale of SmartForce e-Learning solutions by leveraging ASL's broad market coverage.

SmartForce's e-Learning infrastructure -- which is comprised of the world's largest library of e-Learning content, a fully hosted technology environment with powerful learning management functionality and a comprehensive suite of tools -- allows enterprises to meet all their e-Learning needs from a single source. SmartForce integrates e-learning content, technology and tools to create a comprehensive e-Learning solution that can be tailored to meet each enterprise's specific business requirements. The agreement with ASL will accelerate SmartForce's entry into the e-Learning market in Hong Kong and will further the expansion of e-Learning throughout Asia.

International Data Corporation reports that the demand for e-Learning in Asia Pacific is expected to undergo rapid growth. In a recent report, IDC forecasts that the e-Learning market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 94% to reach $235 million by 2004. Many companies in Hong Kong are moving quickly to meet the challenges of becoming e-Businesses. SmartForce e-Learning allows them to create and take advantage of new opportunities in the Internet economy.

"SmartForce's proven e-Learning solutions will be a great asset to companies throughout Hong Kong," said Mr. YT Lai, general manager and executive director of ASL. "Our partnership will allow us to implement e-Learning solutions quickly by integrating business processes with training initiatives. We believe that ASL is at the forefront of the IT services industry and, with SmartForce, has the ability to deliver powerful e-Learning solutions to customers in Hong Kong."

"ASL has the extensive market knowledge which is necessary to further the reach of SmartForce e-Learning in Asia," said Greg Priest, president and CEO of SmartForce. "We look forward to developing this relationship and to being a part of the evolving IT industry in Hong Kong."

About SmartForce e-Learning

SmartForce e-Learning is a comprehensive application infrastructure to support e-Learning initiatives in enterprises globally. Encompassing the largest body of e-Learning content in the world, and a fully integrated student environment, learning management system and a range of custom content creation and publication tools, SmartForce e-Learning provides the architecture that over a thousand global enterprises are using today to implement e-Learning strategies to support their critical strategic business initiatives.

About SmartForce

SmartForce, the world's largest e-Learning company, provides integrated enterprise e-Learning solutions. SmartForce e-Learning is available as a fully hosted Internet environment through an Internet rental model. With more than 2,500 major corporate customers, SmartForce e-Learning solutions bring the power of the Internet to the critical training business process. The SmartForce e-Learning environment is also used by leading Internet, software and other companies to provide the infrastructure to support their e-Learning initiatives. SmartForce is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "SMTF." The company, which has more than 1,500 employees worldwide, has corporate headquarters at 900 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Web site: www.smartforce.com.

About Automated

Automated Systems (HK) Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong in 1973. ASL's outstanding business performance was highlighted by its listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under Automated Systems Holdings Limited (The ASL Group, Stock Code:771) in 1997. The ASL Group is a major subsidiary of the Computer Systems Advisers (CSA) Group, whose ultimate controlling shareholder is the US-listed Computer Sciences Corporation. The ASL Group, consisting of Automated Systems (HK) Limited, ELM Computer Technologies Limited, CSA Automated (Macau) Limited, Data Systems Consulting Company Limited and ASL Automated (Thailand) Limited, offers professional information technology services to corporate clients in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Thailand. After 27 years of success, the Group has established its reputation as a leading systems integrator and total solutions provider. The Group, in Hong Kong and Macau alone, has over 700 employees dedicated to delivering a comprehensive one-stop service from system consultancy to application and software development, from the supply of cost-effective solutions and hardware & software products to systems integration, from network and system installation to maintenance support, and from outsourcing to training. With its strong commitment in quality services, ASL has been winning renowned clients such as government agencies, prestigious universities, telecommunication giants, transportation enterprises, major financial institutions, and prominent international corporations.

For more information, please visit our web page at http://www.asl.com.hk

Note to Editors: SmartForce, SmartForce e-Learning and the SmartForce logo are trademarks of SmartForce. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.