Riverdeep Launches Learning Company Books; New Division Will Publish Educational Books for Both the Home and School Markets Based on Best-Selling Software Brands

Business Wire, March 10, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2003

Riverdeep, Inc., a leading publisher of educational and productivity software sold into schools and homes, today announced the launch of Learning Company Books. This exciting new venture extends the company's powerful brands from the computer into print.

Forming a book publishing division allows Riverdeep to leverage its rich collection of editorial content to produce a new line of print materials that will be enjoyed by children from preschool through the upper elementary years. With access to firmly established brands including Reader Rabbit, Carmen Sandiego, The Print Shop, Clue Finders, and Oregon Trail, Learning Company Books anticipates strong and broad support from both current and new customers who will now be able to experience these great brands when they are away from the computer.

Learning Company Books will begin publishing with an aggressive product plan based on several of the company's key software titles. It will have access to resources from all Riverdeep software groups, including The Learning Company, Broderbund, Edmark, and Teacher Universe. The new division will publish and license books worldwide in the retail, school supplemental, direct-to-consumer, and premium/specialty markets.

Eric Stone, who has been named executive vice president and publisher of Learning Company Books, said, "This is a great opportunity for Riverdeep to extend our most popular lines to print, giving children, teachers, and parents new books based on beloved characters and brands that they have grown to trust over the years." He added, "We have a strong distribution network with established relationships and extremely popular products that will transfer well in the multi-billion dollar market for children's books."

About Riverdeep

Riverdeep provides highly motivating, dynamic, curriculum-based Internet and CD-ROM learning experiences for children and teenagers. Riverdeep's products feature interactive problem-solving approaches and real-world applications that reinforce conceptual understanding. The Company also offers online tools to help educators integrate technology with curriculum and to assess and improve student performance. Riverdeep's rich portfolio of educational software solutions includes Destination Math, Destination Reading, Science Explorer, Science Gateways, Tangible MATH, Reader Rabbit, Carmen Sandiego, ClueFinders, Oregon Trail, Thinkin' Things, Mighty Math, EdVantage's language arts courses and Broderbund's home productivity and digital media software, including The Print Shop, PrintMaster and Family Tree Maker.

For more information visit www.riverdeep.net or www.learningcompanybooks.com

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