RiskMetrics Recommends In Favour Of The Resolutions For The Proposed Acquisition Of SkillSoft By Private Investor Group

DUBLIN, IRELAND and NASHUA, N.H., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL), a leading Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses, announced that RiskMetrics Group (formerly Institutional Shareholder Services or "ISS") is recommending that its clients vote in favour of the recommended acquisition of SkillSoft by SSI Investments III Limited, a company formed by funds sponsored by each of Berkshire Partners LLC, Advent International Corporation and Bain Capital Partners, LLC.

RiskMetrics is widely recognized as one of the leading independent proxy voting and corporate governance advisory firms.  Their analyses and recommendations are relied upon by many major institutional investment firms, mutual funds and fiduciaries.

Registered SkillSoft American Depositary Share ("ADS") holders are encouraged to sign and return the ADS Voting Instruction Card enclosed with the Definitive Proxy Statement (comprising the Scheme Document) as soon as possible and in any event so as to be received by The Bank of New York Mellon, at Proxy Tabulator for SkillSoft PLC, P.O. Box 8016, Cary, North Carolina 27512-9903 United States by 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on March 29, 2010 .

If shareholders have any questions about how to vote their ADSs, they should contact the firm assisting SkillSoft in the solicitation of proxies: Georgeson at 1-866-357-4029 (if calling from within the United States) or at +001 212-806-6859 (if calling from outside the United States) between 9:00 am EDT and 5:00 pm EDT on any business day.

The full terms and conditions of the Scheme of Arrangement and the notices of the Court Meeting to be convened by direction of the Irish High Court and the related Extraordinary General Meeting required to approve the Scheme and related resolutions were included in the Definitive Proxy Statement (comprising the Scheme Document) which was posted/mailed to SkillSoft Shareholders on March 12, 2010.

The Court Meeting will be held at Fitzwilton House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, at 9:00 a.m. (GMT) on April 6, 2010.  The related Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at Fitzwilton House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, at 9:15 a.m. (GMT) on April 6, 2010 (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting shall have been concluded or adjourned).

Enquiries:

SkillSoft

    
    
    Tom McDonald, Chief Financial Officer           [phone]
    
    Geoff Grande, FD Investor Relations             [phone]
    Jonathan Neilan, FD Media Relations, Ireland    [phone]

Financial Adviser to SkillSoft

    
    
    Credit Suisse
    North America
    Adam Nordin                                     [phone]
    Storm Duncan                                    [phone]
    
    UK & Ireland
    Zachary Brech                                   [phone]

About SkillSoft

SkillSoft PLC (NASDAQ: SKIL) is a leading SaaS provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses. SkillSoft enables business organizations to maximize business performance through a combination of comprehensive e-learning content, online information resources, flexible learning technologies and support services.