Cortiva Group Establishes Benchmark of Excellence; Acquires Somerset School of Massage Therapy

Business Wire, May 11, 2004

Business Editors/Travel Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2004

Cortiva Group, the first spa services network in the United States, announced today that it has acquired the largest massage therapy school in NJ - the Somerset School of Massage Therapy. Cortiva has developed a competitive edge by owning and operating premier massage training schools as part of its vertical strategy. This enables Cortiva to establish an unprecedented benchmark of excellence in education, techniques, standards and practices for the industry.

Since its establishment in 1987, the Somerset School of Massage Therapy has been a leader in the development of the massage therapy industry. The school, with a student body of 300 students, recently expanded to include three campuses, one each in Piscataway, Wall Townships and Dover. The Somerset School has an outstanding record of licensure and accreditation. In 1991, it was the first massage school in New Jersey to be licensed by the New Jersey Department of Education, and received the highest national standard of accreditation for massage and bodywork schools in 1996. Additionally, The Somerset School is the only school in New Jersey formally associated with the American Council of Education, and holds the unique distinction of offering massage courses that are recommended for college credit by the ACE College Recommendation Service.

"We chose the Somerset School because of the high standards it has set for its students. They have an extraordinary set of curricula that have been developed over a long period of time. And now as part of Cortiva, Somerset's students and graduates will be exposed to a host of new opportunities, particularly in the placement area," stated Anthony Millin, President of Cortiva.

"In joining Cortiva, we look forward to a future with great benefits to all our students, alumni and staff," said Chris Froelich, President of the Somerset School. "Cortiva is undertaking major initiatives in the massage therapy and spa industries, and we are proud to be an integral part of them." Mr. Froelich will remain with Cortiva, as President of Cortiva's Education Division.

About Cortiva Group

Cortiva was founded upon the premise that the $14 billion spa services industry lacks both a systemic and a qualitative approach to such critical fundamentals as education, training, standards and practices; upon the lifestyle needs of the modern consumer which necessitate anytime, anywhere access and availability to personalized spa services, and the belief that any space can be transformed into a "virtual spa services treatment room," but it is the expertise of the therapist that defines the quality of the experience.

Cortiva's mission is multifaceted: to provide the most skilled human resources, as well as scalable, flexible and dependable outsourced massage therapist staffing, to its institutional and corporate clientele; to optimize the earnings potential, productivity and flexibility for independent massage therapists, to establish incomparable standards and practices which far exceed the industry norms for education, training and continuing instruction; to acquire, operate and manage the finest massage therapy schools, under a national brand, that provide a foundation for continued industry growth as well as train future industry leaders; and to develop exceptional branded products for use in massage therapy and body treatments.