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Waltham, MA - June 3rd, 2003 - WBT Systems, one of the leading providers of Enterprise e-Learning Solutions, today announced that Valero Energy Corporation, one of the top marketing and refining companies in the United States, has selected TopClass as its e-learning and content management solution for its retail marketing division.

Valero has been utilizing the on-line system to disseminate information and to help train the more than 10,000 employees at its 1,400 company-owned retail stores. The system has been such a success, especially in terms of gaining efficiencies and reducing costs, that Valero is working with WBT Systems on plans to add several new training applications.

“We selected TopClass last year after conducting an extensive vendor review process and researching a number of content management and e-learning solutions,” said Judy Grover-Allen, Valero’s Senior Manager of Retail Support Projects. “And, because of its ability to transfer a large volume of content quickly and in a standard format through the use of TopClass Publisher, we could deploy it quickly.” According to Grover-Allen, WBT System’s reputation for providing outstanding customer service also played a key factor in Valero’s selection.

The new on-line system has virtually replaced Valero’s Retail Operations Manual, an 800-page policies and procedures guide that was printed and then shipped, along with regular updates, to each store. By providing this information electronically, Valero has already realized savings in production and shipping costs of nearly 50 percent. Also, new procedures as well as changes to existing guidelines can now be communicated immediately and easily to all retail employees.

“Already, we have seen a real savings in terms of dollars and time,” added Grover-Allen. “With the reduced printing and shipping costs alone, we have realized a 100 percent return on our first-year investment.”

The TopClass system also meets Valero’s need to provide comprehensive employee training on a regular as well as on an as-needed basis. Conducting frequent instructor-led training classes at central locations was becoming cost prohibitive. “When we looked at travel costs and the amount of time employees had to take off to attend classes, it only made sense to go to an e-learning system,” said Grover-Allen. “The TopClass training system is comprehensive and easy to use, both for developers and students. And, with its interactive features, we’re able to track our employees’ use of the program and measure their understanding of the information. We are actively engaged in migrating many of our classes to Top Class.” Valero’s training program covers everything from credit card procedures and customer service to safety standards and sales.

TopClass features a data model that captures all types of student actions and class information. It also integrates easily with standard reporting tools to produce the regulatory reports required by each of the states where Valero has retail operations. This reporting system includes completion verification, test scores, and past class and learning activity history on each student for each class. In addition, the system is capabale of automatically producing re-certification notices when required.

"We are delighted that Valero has chosen TopClass and believe the return on investment is key to ongoing customer success. Our proven bottom-up approach is based on a phased investment plan that initially focuses on key ‘hot spots’ where we can deliver substantial value,” said Declan Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of WBT Systems. "Our QuickValue methodology enables fast implementation and provides regular check points and metrics against which we can measure and demonstrate hard ROI at each step. As we work with Valero on new applications to the program, we’ll remain focused on providing service, value and quality.”

About Valero

Valero Energy Corporation is a Fortune 500 company based in San Antonio, with approximately 20,000 employees and annual revenues of nearly $30 billion. The company currently owns and operates 12 refineries in the United States and Canada with a combined throughput capacity of approximately two million barrels per day, making it one of the nation's top refiners of petroleum products. Valero is also one of the nation's largest retail operators with approximately 4,100 retail outlets in the United States and Canada under various brand names including Diamond Shamrock, Ultramar, Valero, Beacon and Total. For more information, visit www.valero.com.

About WBT Systems

WBT Systems is one of the leading providers of Enterprise e-Learning Solutions in the world. WBT Systems' TopClass e-Learning Suite™ enables the rapid creation, deployment, and management of knowledge delivery across the enterprise. It is a robust, easily deployed, web-based Learning platform with over two million users worldwide. Our implementation experience spans a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, government, and pharmaceuticals, across blue chip companies such as Alexander Forbes, Allergan, Basler Insurance, Belgacom, Credit Suisse, Danish Confederation of Trade Unions, Diageo, Dow Chemical, Eurocontrol, Liberty Group, University of Chicago Hospitals, U.S. Department of Defense and Volvo CE.

WBT Systems is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with offices in the United Kingdom Germany and Waltham, MA. For more information about WBT Systems visit www.wbtsystems.com.

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