UOL PUBLISHING INC
10-K405, 1997-03-28
SERVICES, NEC
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<PAGE>   1
 
================================================================================
 
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM 10-K
 
(MARK ONE)
 
[X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
                  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
 
                                       OR
 
[  ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
   For the transition period from                     to
 
                         Commission file number 0-21421
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>
                   DELAWARE                                     54-1290319
       (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                       (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
        INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                     IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
            8251 GREENSBORO DRIVE                                 22102
                  SUITE 500                                     (ZIP CODE)
               MCLEAN, VIRGINIA
   (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
</TABLE>
 
        REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: 703-893-7800
 
          SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) of the Act:
                                      None
 
          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
                    Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 
          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  X   No
                                           ---      ---
 
     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.  [X]
 
     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant based upon the closing price of the Common Stock on March 13,
1997, on the NASDAQ National Market System was approximately $31,847,229 as of
such date. Shares of Common Stock held by each executive officer and director
and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have
been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This
determination of affiliate status may not be conclusive for other purposes.
 
     As of March 13, 1997, the registrant had outstanding 3,186,167 shares of
Common Stock.
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
     Portions of the Company's Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders are incorporated herein by reference into Part III.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
     Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not descriptions of
historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated due to a number of factors, including those set forth herein and in
the Company's other SEC filings, and including, in particular, risks relating to
uncertainties relating to dependence on strategic partners and third party
relationships, managing rapid growth, dependence on online distribution,
security risks, government regulations, regulatory filings and competition.
 
                                     PART I
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.
 
     UOL Publishing, Inc. (the "Company") believes it is a leading publisher of
high quality, interactive and on-demand educational courseware for the online
education and training market through the World Wide Web (the "Web"). The
Company introduced its first Web-based demonstration course in November 1995,
and its first revenue-generating Web-based course in Spring 1996. The Company is
building its courseware library through a combination of strategic acquisitions
and partnering with academic institutions and business partners. The Company's
existing courseware library includes approximately 60 academic and professional
courses in subject matter areas such as business, management, finance,
accounting and technology, and approximately 145 training modules for
industry-specific employee training in subject matter areas such as basic
technical and development skills. The Company converts courses and training
modules that it believes are proven and popular in these diverse subject matter
areas to the Company's interactive, online format. The Company offers its
courseware primarily to part-time students and working adults in partnerships
with academic institutions and business partners. The Company plans to develop
and expand its network of academic and business partners, its portfolio of
courseware and related products, and its distribution system as rapidly as
possible.
 
     The Company plans to grow through internal courseware development and
through acquisition of educational and training products with significant
existing customer bases. The Company expects that acquisition and partnering
strategies will enable it to expand the depth and breadth of its courseware
library and augment its customer base. The Company believes that acquisitions
and partnering will provide cross-marketing opportunities to introduce new
courses to its existing customers and to offer its existing courseware library
to new customers in 1997 and beyond.
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
  Traditional Higher Education Market
 
     Education for part-time students and working adults is a rapidly growing
segment of the education market, primarily as a result of rising tuition for
full-time programs and the demand for increasing skills required by employers.
As the United States economy continues to shift from a focus on industry to one
focused on information and knowledge, employers seeking to compete successfully
in the marketplace find it necessary to invest more in the education and
training of their employees. In 1995, over 76 million adults, or 40% of all
Americans over the age of 16, participated in some form of part-time educational
program. According to an International Foundation of Employee Benefits survey,
more than 90% of companies surveyed currently offer continuing education as an
employee benefit and 97% plan to offer this benefit by the year 2000. In
addition, during 1996, approximately 134,000 organizations in the United States
with more than 100 employees spent approximately $60 billion to provide
education and training to approximately 59 million of their employees.
 
     The Company believes that the education and training market for part-time
students and working adults will continue to expand, for the following reasons:
 
     - Increasing Need for Education.  Rapid technological and business change
       and increased competition are forcing more people to continue education
       or training throughout their careers. Additionally, employers often
       require and are willing to pay for continuing education for career
       advancement.
 
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<PAGE>   3
 
     - Rising Education Costs.  Full-time education has become expensive for
       many students as tuition costs of higher education have undergone an
       eight-fold increase since 1965. Between 1970 and 1995, the number of
       part-time students enrolled in higher education programs grew from
       approximately 3.0 million to approximately 6.7 million, or 139%, while
       full-time enrollment grew only 44% over the same period.
 
     - Cost-effective Communication Technology.  Approximately 25% of education
       and training costs are related to travel. Online delivery of education
       and training significantly reduces such travel expenses and permits
       resources to be concentrated directly on the educational process. In
       addition, online delivery of education and training permits education to
       be delivered on-demand, thereby reducing or eliminating costs associated
       with students' time away from work.
 
  Use Of Technology In Higher Education
 
     Historically, academic institutions, training organizations and
corporations have provided education through the traditional classroom and
traditional distance learning methods (satellite-based delivery, mail exchanges,
voice mail, CD-ROMs). Academic institutions may face fiscal constraints that
prevent them from expanding their facilities to meet the demands created by
rising enrollments. Time and space constraints inherent in traditional classroom
methods make classroom education inconvenient and inefficient, especially for
part-time students and working adults. Distance learning addresses space
limitations by allowing students to take courses at remote locations. Due to its
scalability, the Company's Web-based delivery system enables academic
institutions, training organizations and corporations to extend their reach more
cost-effectively than other distance learning methods. In addition, Web-based
delivery can provide students a significant degree of time and place
independence.
 
     The Company's courseware benefits from the structural changes in the way
content can be managed, delivered and consumed that were caused by the advent of
the Web and online technologies. The use of such technologies can lower
publishing costs and could significantly increase demand. Online technology
makes it possible to combine the best elements of online connectivity between
students and teachers and the interactivity of a CD-ROM. The use of new
technology is so pervasive that nearly 25% of all educational institutions (15%
of public institutions and 33% of private institutions) plan to use the Internet
for instruction. According to the American Internet User Survey, education will
be one of the major uses of the Internet in the future. The Company believes
that its online courseware combines convenience, affordability, self-pacing,
standardized curricula, individualized tailoring of courses, immediate
performance measurement and a high degree of student-teacher interaction.
 
  Online Technologies And The World Wide Web
 
     Since the advent of the Web portion of the Internet and graphical Web
browsers in the early 1990's, the popularity of the Internet has increased
dramatically. Web-based intranet usage is predicted to overtake Internet usage
before the year 2000. Intranets, which run on open transmission control
protocol/internet protocol ("TCP/IP") networks, enable companies to utilize
servers and browsers designed to be used for the Web in their own applications
distributed over an internal network. International Data Corporation ("IDC") has
estimated that approximately 200 million people worldwide will have access to
the Internet by the end of 1999, up from approximately 38 million at the end of
1995. In addition, according to IDC, the market for intranet software products
and services in the year 2000 will exceed $3 billion, up from approximately $276
million in 1995 and the estimated expenditures for Internet software products
and services will exceed $6 billion in the year 2000, up from approximately $259
million in 1995. Growth in the number of Internet users has been fueled by a
number of factors, including: the existing and increasing numbers of personal
computers ("PC's") in the workplace and at home; improvements in the performance
and speed of PC's and modems; improvements in network infrastructure; enhanced
ease of access to the Internet provided by Internet service providers;
consumer-oriented online services and long distance telephone companies;
emergence of standards for Internet navigation and information access; declining
costs of Internet service due to increased competition among access providers;
and increased awareness of the Internet among businesses and consumers. Further,
the Company believes that the emergence of online technologies, such as those
 
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<PAGE>   4
 
embodied in the Internet and the Web, are economical and effective methods of
distribution of digital information and that such methods present a significant
opportunity to publishers of educational and training content.
 
     The Company believes that over the next several years, the speed and
commercial use of the Internet will increase with the development of higher
bandwidth communication and online access through affordable devices in addition
to PC's, such as online access terminals, cable modems, televisions, video
phones and personal digital assistants. The Company expects that it will offer
its courseware through these online technologies to the extent that they evolve
and gain popular acceptance for the delivery of education and training to
part-time students and working adults.
 
     The use of the Company's products and services will depend in large part
upon the development of an infrastructure for providing online access and
services. Because global commerce and online exchange of information on the
Internet and other similar open wide area networks are new and evolving, it is
difficult to predict with any assurance whether such networks will prove to be
viable commercial marketplaces. Such networks have experienced, and are expected
to continue to experience, significant growth in the number of users and amount
of traffic. There can be no assurance that the infrastructures of such networks
will continue to be able to support the demands placed on them by this continued
growth. In addition, such networks could lose their viability due to delays in
the development or adoption of new standards and protocols (for example, the
next-generation Internet Protocol) to handle increased levels of activity,
increased governmental regulation or other factors. There can be no assurance
that the infrastructure or complementary services necessary to make such
networks viable commercial marketplaces will be developed, or that if developed,
such networks will become viable commercial marketplaces for products and
services such as those offered by the Company. In particular, such networks are
an unproven medium for education. In the event such networks fail to become a
viable education medium, there can be no assurance the Company will be able to
overcome the costs and difficulties associated with adapting to alternative
media, if and when they become available. If such networks do not become viable
commercial marketplaces or do not develop as a viable medium for education, the
Company would be materially adversely affected.
 
  Company Strategy
 
     The Company's strategy is to be the leading publisher of online Web-based
courseware for the education and training market. The Company plans to develop
and expand its network of academic and business partners, its portfolio of
courseware and related products, and its distribution systems.
 
     - Build Content Library.  The Company's goal is to be the publisher of the
       largest library of Web-based courseware for online education and
       training. The Company plans to expand its existing courseware library
       through acquisitions, strategic alliances with partners and internal
       development. See "Business -- Products and Services."
 
     - Publish High Quality, High Demand Courseware.  The Company's strategy
       involves publishing market-tested, high quality products focused on
       subject areas in high demand by part-time students and working adults,
       such as business, management, finance, accounting, technology, basic
       technical and developmental skills and industry-specific subjects. See
       "Business -- Products and Services."
 
     - Leverage Strategic Partnerships.  The Company's strategic partnerships
       generally combine the Company's online publishing expertise, marketing
       abilities and distinctive Web-based environment with its partners' course
       content, student base, accreditation and certification. The Company
       believes that by developing such strategic partnerships with a network of
       academic institutions and corporations, it will be able to leverage its
       partners' strengths and accelerate awareness and acceptance of its online
       educational content. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had entered
       into contractual arrangements with eight academic institutions and 14
       strategic business partners. See "Business -- Strategic Partners."
 
     - Expand Through Acquisitions.  The Company believes that it can rapidly
       and cost-effectively build its courseware library and customer base
       through strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses,
 
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<PAGE>   5
 
       products, services and technologies. The Company is currently examining a
       variety of acquisition strategies designed to enhance and to expand the
       Company's library of courseware. See "Business -- Acquisitions."
 
     - Develop Brand Recognition.  The Company believes that establishing and
       maintaining brand recognition is critical to its strategy of becoming the
       leading publisher for online education and training. The Company plans to
       achieve brand recognition through marketing efforts and the creation of a
       proprietary user interface, which incorporates audio, animation, graphics
       and text as appropriate to create a stimulating learning experience. See
       "Business -- Products and Services -- Interactive System Tools."
 
     - Develop Proprietary Technology.  The Company intends to continue to
       develop and enhance the features and functionality of its proprietary
       technology, and to develop courseware internally in certain
       circumstances. Current technology development efforts include expansion
       of its proprietary Lesson Management and Class Management systems, as
       well as completion of the Courseware Construction Set, which is designed
       to allow customization of courses. See "Business -- Products and
       Services -- Interactive System Tools."
 
     - Capitalize on Cross-Marketing Opportunities.  The Company's approach of
       developing Web-based education and training sites for institutions and
       businesses provides it with cross-marketing opportunities. UOL's web-site
       promotes the courses offered by its academic and business partners to
       students currently using its system, as well as potential students
       through the Web. For example, a student enrolled in one of the Company's
       online courses will be made aware of courses offered by other UOL
       strategic partners. In addition, UOL intends to have links to its
       web-site from the web-sites of its partners. See "Business -- Sales and
       Marketing."
 
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
 
     Generally a student can enroll in the Company's courses either through
traditional in-person, telephone or mail enrollment, or via the Internet, Web or
other online technology. The student typically pays tuition directly to the
Company's relevant business or academic partner, which then pays the Company a
portion thereof. The student can then access the courseware online, typically
through a PC with a modem. Once the student has completed the course online, the
Company's relevant partner will provide the student with credit or
certification, if appropriate.
 
  Existing Courseware Library
 
     The Company's existing courseware library includes approximately 60
academic and professional courses in what it believes to be high-demand subject
matter areas such as business, management, finance, accounting and technology,
and approximately 145 training modules for industry-specific employee training
in subject matter areas such as basic technical and development skills. Although
the Company does not provide accreditation or certification itself, the majority
of its current courses and training modules provide either accreditation or
certification through its strategic partners. The current library was built from
a combination of the acquisition of CYBIS courseware from Control Data, the CTA
acquisition and strategic partnerships with academic institutions and business
partners.
 
     In Spring 1996, the Company introduced Event Management I, the first of a
series of seven planned Event Management courses. In Fall 1996, the Company
introduced nine new Web-based courses that are accredited or certified through
three of its academic partners and one business partner. During Fall 1996, there
were a total of 57 enrollments in Managerial Statistics and Event Management I,
II and III. The Company's average share of tuition revenue per student for these
courses was approximately $100. The Company has also developed and introduced
two of its own non-accredited courses (Windows on the Web -- Netscape Navigator
Edition and Windows on the Web -- Microsoft Explorer Edition). The current
versions of these courses are being offered on the Company's website at no
charge. The Company expects to begin charging a fee of approximately $100 per
course for the enhanced versions of these courses during 1997.
 
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<PAGE>   6
 
     A listing of the Company's existing Web-based courseware, as of December
31, 1996, is provided below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COURSE/MODULE                                  TARGET AUDIENCE            PRIMARY PARTNER(S)
- -------------                                  ---------------            ------------------
<S>                                            <C>                        <C>
DIALOG (1 course)............................  Professional               Dun & Bradstreet, Inc.
Event Management Certificate Program (3
  courses)...................................  Professional               Educational Services
                                                                          Institute/The George Washington
                                                                          University.
Business and Mathematics (29 courses)........  Higher Education           Joint Committee on Computer-Based
                                                                          Instruction/Federal.
Electric Power Utilities (20 courses)........  Technical                  Northern States Power/PacifiCorp.
Advanced Expository Writing (1 course).......  Higher Education           Park College
American Literature (1 course)...............  Higher Education           Park College
Business Communications (1 course)...........  Higher Education           Park College
Business Writing (1 course)..................  Higher Education           Park College
Complex Organizations (1 course).............  Higher Education           Park College
Technical Writing (1 course).................  Higher Education           Park College
Income Tax Preparation (1 course)............  Professional               People's Income Tax, Inc.
Managerial Statistics (1 course).............  Higher Education           George Mason University Institute
                                                                          of Graduate and Professional
                                                                          Studies and Xavier University
Windows on the Web -- Netscape Navigator
  Edition (1 course).........................  Professional               *
Windows on the Web -- Microsoft Explorer
  Edition (1 course).........................  Professional               *
Personal Development (24 modules)............  Professional               Crisp Publications, Inc.
Performance Appraisals (1 module)............  Professional               Dun & Bradstreet, Inc.
Graybar Electrical Education (34 modules)....  Professional/Technical     Graybar Electric Company, Inc.
Electric Circuits (32 modules)...............  Technical                  International Thomson
                                                                          Publishers/Delmar
Product Application (40 modules).............  Professional/Technical     National Association of
                                                                          Electrical Distributors, Inc.
                                                                          ("NAED")
Thomas & Betts Signature Series (8
  modules)...................................  Professional/Technical     Thomas & Betts Corporation, NAED
Scientific Products (6 modules)..............  Professional/Technical     VWR Corporation
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* Developed and distributed by the Company.
 
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<PAGE>   7
 
  Planned New Courseware Selections
 
     In addition to the Company's existing library of Web-based courses, as
listed in the table above, the Company plans to introduce approximately 40-50
additional courses in 1997 through its current and potential new academic and/or
business partners, including those set forth in the table below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          ANTICIPATED
COURSE                             TARGET AUDIENCE          PRIMARY PARTNER                                 RELEASE
- ------                             ---------------          ---------------                               ----------
<S>                                <C>                      <C>                                        <C>
Statistical Analysis (1
  course)........................  Professional/Technical   American Chemical Society                  Spring 1997
Autodesk Product Training (14
  courses).......................  Professional             At a Glance Software, Inc.                 Spring 1997
                                                            CAD CAM Center
                                                            CAD Institute
                                                            Republic Research Training, Inc.
                                                            Technical Software, Inc.
                                                            Autodesk Press
Financial Accounting (1
  course)........................  Higher Education         George Mason University                    Spring 1997
                                                            Institute of Graduate and Professional
                                                            Studies
Accounting Tutorial (1 course)...  Higher Education         John Wiley & Sons, Inc.                    Spring 1997
Financial Statement Analysis for
  Non-Financial Managers (1
  course)........................  Higher Education         New York University                        Spring 1997
Data Communications and Networks
  (1 course).....................  Higher Education         Park College                               Spring 1997
Financial management (1
  course)........................  Higher Education         Park College                               Spring 1997
Introduction to Programming (1
  course)........................  Higher Education         Park College                               Spring 1997
Personal Financial Management (1
  course)........................  Higher Education         Park College                               Spring 1997
Principles of Management (1
  course)........................  Higher Education         Park College                               Spring 1997
Lab Safety (1 course)............  Higher Education         University of Toledo                       Spring 1997
Fundamentals of International
  Business (1 course)............  Professional             Georgetown University                      Spring 1997
Project Management Certificate
  Program (7 courses)............  Professional             Education Services Institute/The George    Spring/Fall 1997
                                                            Washington University
Planned Giving (6 courses).......  Professional             California State University - Long Beach,  Spring/Fall 1997
                                                            University College and Extension Services
Event Management (4 courses).....  Professional             Educational Services Institute/The George  Fall 1997
                                                            Washington University
Management Communication (2
  courses).......................  Professional             American Society of Association            Fall 1997
                                                            Executives
Purchasing Certificate Program (4
  courses).......................  Professional             California State University - Long Beach,  Fall 1997
                                                            University College and Extension Services
Accounting (1 course)............  Higher Education         Educational Services Institute/The George  Fall 1997
                                                            Washington University
</TABLE>
 
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<PAGE>   8
 
     The Company believes that the convenience and cost-savings offered by its
online versions of these courses will attract a portion of the students who
would enroll in classroom-based versions of these courses, as such online
versions become available. The Company also believes that its online
distribution system will provide its partners with access to students who
otherwise would not take their courses. The Company anticipates that the number
of modules offered by CTA and the number of business partners of CTA will
increase in 1997. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will
achieve these goals.
 
  Interactive System Tools
 
     The Company has designed a platform-independent delivery system that is
capable of operating on virtually any PC. The Company's delivery system supports
a wide variety of tools and utilities supplied by third parties, such as
Netscape's or Microsoft's Web browser, Macromedia's Shockwave or Apple
Computer's Quicktime viewer. In addition, the Company has designed the following
proprietary software tools that it expects to create brand recognition for the
Company as a leading publisher of online education and training:
 
          Lesson Management System.  To allow electronic guidance, monitoring
     and management of students through the courseware, the Company has
     developed the Lesson Management System, which pre-tests students on
     learning objectives defined by the course author or instructor, and then
     creates a personalized study plan based on the level and breadth of the
     student's knowledge. The Lesson Management System, intended primarily for
     use by students, tracks each student's progress through a course's assigned
     lessons, measures mastery of the learning objectives through the Test
     Architect System, and, if necessary, offers alternative paths and methods
     of instruction. The final version of the Lesson Management System was
     completed and launched on schedule in December 1996.
 
          Class Management System.  To allow the system to handle courseware
     written by any party under an open architecture standard, the Company has
     developed a database manager which allows instructors to give
     administrative direction to students in the online classroom. The Class
     Manager, compliant with ODBC standards (a nonproprietary industry
     protocol), handles remote enrollment and payment processing, test creation
     and administration, and automatic course progress tracking and reporting (a
     gradebook). The final version of the Class Management System was completed
     and launched on schedule in December 1996.
 
          Courseware Construction Set.  To allow instructors to create a
     customized online course, the Company developed a visual building block
     facility to produce courses from small, individual lessons or "courselets."
     Using a natural language pattern-matching and semantic processing
     technology, the Courseware Construction Set allows instructors to search
     the Company's library of courselets, retrieve the appropriate instructional
     materials, and then build a customized course through a familiar drag and
     drop interface. Courselets are authored as discrete units of instruction
     and are presented through a series of proprietary, format-specific
     templates called PointPages. PointPages can range from text screens to
     digital videos and from plain graphical images to complex software
     simulations, all within the same course. PointPages are designed to allow
     instructors with no knowledge of programming to construct multimedia-rich
     interactive Web-based courses. The Company is currently beta-testing the
     Courseware Construction Set and anticipates that the final version will be
     available in early 1997.
 
     The Company designs its tools in order to create brand recognition for the
Company as a leading supplier of online education in content, as well as in
systems. In addition, the Company believes that its tools render the Company's
courseware affordable, convenient, easy to use and administer, and provides the
Company with a competitive edge in attracting additional strategic partners.
 
     The market for the Company's products and services is rapidly evolving in
response to recent developments relating to online technology and is
characterized by evolving industry standards and customer demands and an
increasing number of market entrants who have introduced or developed online
products and services. It is difficult to predict the size and growth rate, if
any, of this market. As is typical in the case of a rapidly evolving industry,
demand and market acceptance for recently introduced products and services are
subject to a high level of uncertainty. Moreover, critical issues concerning the
commercial use of online networks (including reliability, cost, ease of use and
access, quality of service and market acceptance) remain
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   9
 
unresolved and may impact potential future growth. Although costs have been
decreasing while ease of use, market acceptance and access have been increasing,
there can be no assurance these trends will continue. Furthermore, the rapid
growth in the use of online networks has led to cases of system overload and
other failures. Therefore, reliability and quality of service continue to be
particularly critical issues for this developing market. The Company's future
success will depend in significant part on its ability to continue to improve
the performance, features and reliability of its products and services in
response to both evolving demands of the marketplace and competitive product
offerings, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
developing, integrating or marketing such products or services. In addition, new
product releases by the Company may contain undetected errors that require
significant design modifications, resulting in a loss of customer confidence and
adversely affecting the Company.
 
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
 
     A critical part of the Company's strategy to rapidly and cost-effectively
build a library of quality courseware is the establishment of strategic
alliances with academic institutions and other business partners. The Company
believes that its online distribution system will provide its partners with
access to students who otherwise would not take their courses.
 
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had strategic relationships with eight
academic institutions that have significant enrollments, offer broad curricula
and provide the Company an opportunity to publish online courseware developed by
such institutions. With the exception of the Company's agreement with New York
University, all of the Company's agreements with these academic institutions
provide the Company exclusive rights to, or limit the partner's right to, for
itself or in conjunction with others, develop and/or distribute the online
courseware subject to the agreements. The academic institutions will market
these courses in the same manner as their existing, traditional course
offerings, including through direct mail, course catalogs, print advertising and
through web-sites. The Company plans to enter into strategic relationships with
additional academic institutions by the end of 1997. However, except as
described herein, the Company has no current understandings, commitments or
agreements with any new academic partners, and it may not be successful in
negotiating agreements with new academic partners in the future.
 
     Park College.  After successful completion of a pilot course in Business
Communications with Park College in Spring 1996, the Company and Park College
entered into an agreement in June 1996, pursuant to which the Company is
developing 11 additional courses for Park College. The additional courses
include Business Writing, Technical Writing, American Literature and Expository
Writing. Under the terms of this agreement, Park College granted the Company the
exclusive license to distribute the 11 online courses for the duration of the
copyright terms applicable to such courses. Park College agreed to pay the
Company a percentage of gross tuition revenues it receives from its students
enrolled in such courses and the Company agreed to pay Park College a royalty
equal to a percentage of the net tuition revenues received by the Company from
students enrolled in these courses at other institutions. The term of this
agreement is five years and is automatically renewable for successive one-year
terms thereafter. Park College is a four-year private liberal arts,
co-educational college. The Park College School for Extended Learning Military
Resident Center System is one of the nation's largest specialized higher
education programs for military personnel, consisting of approximately 26,000
enrolled students.
 
     California State University Institute.  The Company entered into an
agreement in June 1996 to permit it to provide services to the 23 campuses in
this statewide university system. The Company plans to launch the first two of a
six-course Planned Giving certificate program during Spring 1997 with the
California State University-Long Beach. The Company plans to offer additional
courses in 1997 in such areas as technology, engineering and business. Under the
terms of this agreement, the Company was granted the exclusive worldwide license
to distribute certain online courses to be identified and selected by the
parties. This license survives termination of the agreement for the duration of
the copyright terms applicable to the online courses developed under the
agreement. The Company is entitled to receive a percentage of the total tuition
paid by all students enrolled in these online courses. The term of this
agreement is five years and is automatically
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   10
 
renewable for successive one-year terms thereafter. The California State
University system currently serves over 300,000 students throughout California.
 
     New York University.  The Company entered into an agreement with New York
University's School of Continuing Education ("NYU") in September 1996 to
develop, promote and distribute an online course entitled Financial Statement
Analysis for Non-Financial Managers. This course is scheduled for release to
NYU's students in Spring 1997. Subject to the Company's payment of royalties to
NYU based on the tuition actually received from students taking the course at
other academic institutions, NYU has granted the Company a non-exclusive
worldwide license to distribute the course for educational purposes. In
consideration for developing, promoting and distributing the course to NYU
students, NYU has agreed to pay the Company a distribution fee equal to a
percentage of the tuition received by NYU from its students registered for the
course. The term of this agreement is for one year following NYU's first
delivery of course materials to the Company and is automatically renewable for
four successive one-year terms thereafter. NYU has a continuing education
enrollment of approximately 60,000 students.
 
     The George Washington University.  The Company entered into an agreement
with Educational Services Institute ("ESI") in August 1995, as amended in
September 1996, to jointly develop courses to be marketed with The George
Washington University ("George Washington"). ESI is a seminar company holding
rights to deliver off-campus versions of certain George Washington courses. The
agreement provides that ESI, in association with George Washington, will license
to the Company selected course materials owned by or licensed to ESI, and make
available to the Company the authors or subject matter experts relating to such
materials, for the purpose of allowing the Company to develop and distribute
online versions of such courses to students at George Washington and other
academic institutions with which the Company has a relationship. Each of ESI and
the Company are entitled to receive a portion of the revenues received from the
sale of these online courses. ESI and the Company share copyright and full
distribution rights to the courses developed under the agreement and ESI is
bound by a noncompetition covenant for a period of three years following
termination of the agreement prohibiting ESI, for itself or in conjunction with
others, from developing or distributing any online products relating to the
courses. The term of this agreement is five years and is automatically renewable
for successive one-year terms thereafter. The Company currently offers three
courses of a seven-course Event Management program providing online instruction
and resources in the fundamentals of event management. The online version was
developed from the seminar-based Event Management program that ESI currently
conducts throughout the United States. Total enrollment in Event Management,
which was and will continue to be offered in a seminar-based format, has been
approximately 300 students since the program was initiated in 1995. In addition
to Event Management, the Company plans to offer courses in Project Management
and Accounting in 1997. George Washington has a total enrollment of
approximately 20,000 students.
 
     George Mason University.  The Company entered into a five-year agreement
with George Mason University's ("GMU") Institute of Graduate and Professional
Business Studies in February 1996 to develop certain core MBA requirement
courses. Managerial Statistics was released in Fall 1996 and Financial
Accounting is scheduled to be offered in Spring 1997. UOL plans to release
additional business courses with GMU in 1997. The Company and GMU are evaluating
other GMU programs and courses for development and implementation in 1997
including Non-Profit Management and a variety of liberal arts courses. Under the
terms of this agreement, GMU granted the Company the exclusive worldwide right
to distribute the online courses developed under this agreement for a period of
time to be negotiated in good faith by the parties. GMU will pay the Company a
fee based on the number of students registered for the online course. GMU has
total enrollment of approximately 22,000 students.
 
     University of Toledo.  The Company entered into an agreement with the
University of Toledo in June 1996 to develop professional development online
courses through the University of Toledo's University College division. Some of
the disciplines under consideration for development include business management,
marketing, communication skills, production and manufacturing operations, safety
and regulatory compliance, criminal justice and healthcare. The Company and the
University of Toledo are planning to deliver the first online course, Lab
Safety, in Spring 1997 and the Company expects that at least three additional
courses will be added during 1997. Under the terms of this agreement, the
University of Toledo granted the Company the
 
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<PAGE>   11
 
exclusive worldwide license to sell, license and distribute the online courses
developed under this agreement, such license to survive termination of the
agreement for a period of ten years following completion of online course
development. The University of Toledo agreed to pay the Company a percentage of
gross tuition revenues it received from its students enrolled in such courses
and the Company agreed to pay the University of Toledo a royalty equal to a
percentage of the revenues received by the Company from the sale of these
courses to other students. The term of this agreement is five years and is
automatically renewable for successive one-year terms thereafter. The University
of Toledo has an enrollment of approximately 22,000 students.
 
     Georgetown University.  The Company entered into an agreement with the
Georgetown University School of Business ("Georgetown") effective in October
1996 to develop, promote and distribute a 20-hour pilot online course entitled
Fundamentals of International Business as part of Georgetown's International
Executive Education Certificate Program. This online course is scheduled for
release to Georgetown's students in Spring 1997. The Company and Georgetown are
evaluating other Georgetown course materials for development and implementation
in accordance with the agreement, provided the pilot course is successfully
completed. Under the terms of the agreement, Georgetown granted the Company the
exclusive worldwide right to sell, license and distribute the online courses
developed under the agreement for the duration of the copyright term(s)
applicable to the online courses (provided, however, that Georgetown retains the
right to offer the same underlying courses through other parties in another
online format). The Company may also offer the online courses to other end users
and through its other partners upon obtaining Georgetown's prior consent.
Georgetown will pay the Company a fee equal to a percentage of the tuition
received by Georgetown from its students registered for online courses.
Similarly, the Company will pay to Georgetown a royalty equal to a percentage of
the net revenues it receives from any sales effected through UOL's academic
partners. The initial term of this agreement is one year.
 
     Xavier University.  The Company entered into an agreement with Xavier
University ("Xavier") in December 1996 to license an online upper-level
managerial statistics course. The course will be offered to Xavier's students
for the Spring 1997 semester. This course was derived from the online Managerial
Statistics course currently offered to students in connection with the Company's
partnership with GMU. UOL is currently delivering this online course to Xavier
students on a pilot basis in anticipation that, if the pilot program is
successful, the parties will target selected Xavier courses for online
conversion under the agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company
has the exclusive worldwide right to distribute the courses developed under the
agreement in an online format for the duration of the copyright term(s)
applicable to such online courses. Xavier will pay the Company a license fee for
each student enrolled in an online course.
 
  Autodesk And Other Business Partners
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had strategic relationships with
Autodesk and 13 other business partners. It plans to continue to establish
relationships with additional business partners, in particular those which offer
access to large numbers of users (including the prospective partner's employees
or customers), vendors and resellers, as well as significant amounts of content.
Under these arrangements, the Company's partner generally agrees to use its best
efforts to market and promote the Company's products and services and to share
with the Company the net revenues generated from access and other fees charged
to such partner's end-users.
 
     Autodesk.  The Company entered into an agreement with Autodesk, a PC
software company with more than three million users and total sales of software
and related products for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1996 in excess of
$546,000,000, to build a "virtual campus" system. The virtual campus, which was
launched in December 1996, consists of a "bookstore" which offers products,
services and online courseware. The products, services and courseware will be
developed and/or offered by Autodesk business partners, such as
Autodesk-authorized training centers, educational resellers and developers
(sometimes with development assistance from the Company) pursuant to agreements
with the Company, which is responsible for development and operation of the
virtual campus. In addition, the virtual campus provides users access to new
software product demonstrations, new software product releases and an
opportunity to participate in software
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   12
 
certificate and assessment programs. Six Autodesk business partners (At a Glance
Software, Inc., CAD CAM Center, CAD Institute, Republic Research Training, Inc.,
Technical Software, Inc. and Autodesk Press) have already entered into
agreements with the Company to work with the Company to prepare courseware,
products and services on the virtual campus.
 
     In 1996, approximately one million students took Autodesk courses through
various institutions, including approximately 50,000 Autodesk users who attended
courses at authorized training centers. In 1997, the Company anticipates that a
portion of these courses will be taken by Autodesk users online, and other
Autodesk software and related products will be purchased through the virtual
campus.
 
     The Company entered into an agreement with InternetU, Inc. ("InternetU") in
September 1996, as amended, pursuant to which InternetU has the right to pay the
Company up to $1,550,000 over time based upon the achievement of certain
development milestones, in return for a share of the revenues received by UOL
through the virtual campus. InternetU made the first payment of $250,000 to the
Company in January 1997. In connection with this agreement InternetU will also
have the right to receive warrants to purchase up to 73,172 shares of Common
Stock of the Company. As of March 15, 1997, InternetU had made payments to UOL
entitling it to receive warrants to purchase 11,802 shares of the 73,172 shares
of Common Stock of the Company. InternetU has also purchased 12,416 shares of
the Company's Common Stock.
 
     In summary, the Company will be responsible for all development and
operation costs of the Autodesk virtual campus, and will provide marketing and
support for the virtual campus. In exchange for its commitment, the Company will
receive a percentage of revenues from three primary sources through the virtual
campus: Autodesk courseware revenues; product and service revenues; and
advertising revenues.
 
     Graybar Electric Company, Inc.  Cognitive Training Associates, Inc.
("CTA"), a subsidiary of the Company, entered into an agreement with Graybar
Electric Company, Inc. ("Graybar") in June 1994 to develop and distribute
electrical, telecommunications and data training modules to Graybar's employees
via a company-based intranet system developed by CTA. CTA develops training
modules for delivery over the intranet and grants to Graybar a license to the
modules, together with a perpetual, worldwide, exclusive license to use CTA's
proprietary Chalkboard software to access the network. CTA receives site license
fees for each employee accessing the network, a development fee for each
training module converted by CTA for distribution on the network, monthly
maintenance and support fees, and hourly online network fees. The term of this
agreement is three years and may be renewed by Graybar for successive one-year
terms thereafter. CTA's training modules are available over the network to more
than 6,000 Graybar employees.
 
     Thomas & Betts Corporation.  CTA entered into an agreement in March 1996
with Thomas & Betts Corporation ("Thomas & Betts") to develop and distribute
proprietary training modules to employees of Thomas & Betts in a variety of
subject areas, including management, finance, word processing, computer training
and personal development, via either Thomas & Betts' intranet or the Web.
Licensing and royalty rights to modules developed under this agreement are to be
determined on a case-by-case basis. Under the agreement, CTA is entitled to
receive a network and linkage set-up fee, site access fees for each employee
taking a training module, a monthly service and support fee, a fee for CTA's
construction of an operating system that will warehouse specified applications
(as well as an annual fee for maintaining such system) and hourly online network
fees. The term of this agreement is five years and it may be renewed by Thomas &
Betts for successive one-year terms thereafter. Thomas & Betts has more than
10,000 employees.
 
     Digital Equipment Corporation.  The Company entered into an agreement in
February 1997 with Digital Equipment Corporation ("Digital") to further develop
an interactive online university known as the Digital Virtual Campus. Under the
agreement, Digital has committed approximately $100,000 for the development of
the Digital Virtual Campus and a six-hour online version of a Digital
certificate course to provide sales training to their employees and sales
channel partners. This course is scheduled for release to Digital's employees
and partners in May 1997. The Company is entitled to receive the full tuition
amount charged to users of this course. In addition, the parties are negotiating
the terms under which the Digital Virtual Campus would feature six sales and/or
technical related courses from UOL's courseware library.
 
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<PAGE>   13
 
     Multimedia Learning, Inc.  The Company entered into a Joint Marketing
Agreement in March 1997 with Multimedia Learning, Inc. ("MLI"), pursuant to
which each party will develop and/or market selected online course materials of
the other party to its customer base. In connection therewith, each party has
granted the other party distribution rights (which rights are exclusive with
respect to certain of the selected courses), subject to each party's retention
of the right to distribute and otherwise market such courses itself. The parties
have agreed to pay percentage royalties to one another for sales of products
covered by the agreement based upon which party makes the sale and which party
owns the underlying rights to such products. Under the agreement, the Company
also has agreed to pay MLI for its services in developing certain of the
selected courses. The initial term of the agreement is two years and is
automatically renewable for successive one-year terms thereafter.
 
     Other Business Partners.  The Company has entered into agreements with
several other business partners, such as Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., People's Income
Tax, Inc., the American Society of Association Executives, the American Chemical
Society, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., VWR Corporation, National Association of
Electrical Distributors, Inc., International Telecommunications Union, Northern
States Power, PacifiCorp. and the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie
Mae). Pursuant to these agreements, the Company is developing or converting
courseware for online distribution and use.
 
     As academic institutions and businesses expand their online education and
training efforts, the Company believes that its strategic relationships with
publishers will enable it to deliver online courseware that is based on proven
and popular textbooks or other publications and is supported by the Company's
proprietary system tools for enrolling, instructing, testing and managing
students.
 
     The Company is substantially dependent on relationships with its partners
with respect to acquisition of content and distribution of the Company's
products and services. To date, various content providers, including academic
institutions and business partners, have entered into agreements with the
Company. Certain of these agreements contain limits on the use of the
courseware, do not address future content and may be terminated by either party
upon breach of any material obligation or upon a bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar filing. In addition, the Company believes that it will be necessary in
the future to license additional courseware. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to maintain and modify, if necessary, its existing
agreements or enter into agreements with prospective content providers, or that
the content providers will be satisfied with the revenues received through
arrangements with the Company. In particular, the Company's planned introduction
of additional courses depends upon its relationships with current and
anticipated future strategic partners. Except as described in this report, while
the Company is actively pursuing relationships with additional strategic
partners, the Company has no current material understandings, commitments or
agreements with any new strategic partners, and it may not be successful in
negotiating agreements with new strategic partners in the future. Moreover, if
the Company is required to pay increased fees to its content providers, such
increased payments will have an adverse effect on the Company's results of
operations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations."
 
     Distribution and positioning of the Company's products and services is
dependent upon their compatibility with web browsers provided by Netscape
Communications Corporation ("Netscape") and Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft"),
and access to online networks through arrangements with Internet service
providers such as NETCOM On-Line Communications Services, Inc., PSI Net Inc. and
UUNET Technologies, Inc. The Company is also dependent on web-site operators
that provide links to the Company's web-sites. Although the Company views these
relationships as important direct and indirect factors in the generation of
revenues, most of the Company's arrangements do not require future commitments
to provide access or links to the Company's products or services, are not
exclusive and may be terminated at the convenience of the other party. Moreover,
the Company does not have agreements with web-site operators who provide links
to the Company's sites, and such web-site operators may terminate such links at
any time without notice to the Company. In addition, there can be no assurance
that the Company's partners regard their relationship with the Company as
important to their own respective businesses and operations, that they will not
reassess their commitment to the Company's products or services at any time in
the future or that they will not develop their own competitive products or
services, that the products or services of those companies that provide access
or links to the Company's products or services will achieve market acceptance or
commercial success or that the
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   14
 
Company's existing relationships will result in successful product or service
offerings or the generation of significant revenues for the Company. Failure of
one or more of these entities to achieve or maintain market acceptance or
commercial success or the termination of one or more successful relationships
could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, the
termination of the Company's position on a web browser or the grant to a
competitor of an exclusive arrangement with respect to positioning on a web
browser would significantly reduce traffic on the Company's web-sites which
would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
     The Company's distribution strategy is to develop multiple distribution
channels. The Company sells its products through direct sales, the Internet and
its strategic partners. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to attract resellers and partners that will be able to market the Company's
products effectively and will be qualified to provide timely and cost-effective
customer support and service. In addition, certain of UOL's resellers and
partners may compete with one another and the Company, and the Company may also
be required to manage conflicts among its resellers and partners. For example,
certain of UOL's partners have required UOL to refrain from linking its products
with competing products. The Company may be adversely affected by pricing
pressure or other adverse consequences of competition or conflict among or with
its resellers and partners, or should any reseller or partner fail to adequately
penetrate its market segment. The inability to recruit, manage or retain
important resellers or partners, or their inability to penetrate their
respective market segments, would materially adversely affect the Company.
 
ACQUISITIONS
 
     The Company believes that acceptance of its products and services in the
marketplace depends upon, among other things, breadth and depth of courseware in
high demand subject areas. The Company's core library of courseware originally
was acquired from Control Data in January 1994. See Note 5 of Notes to UOL
Financial Statements.
 
     In August 1996, in exchange for 42,487 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, the Company acquired CTA, a Texas corporation providing technology-based
online training products and services to academic institutions, corporations and
governmental agencies. In connection with this transaction, the Company issued
options to purchase 22,091 shares of Common Stock of the Company and entered
into an employment contract with its founder, Michael L. Brown. During 1996, CTA
modules were made available on intranets through CTA's strategic partners to a
potential audience of approximately 29,000 students. An average of approximately
2,000 students complete CTA modules each month.
 
     In March 1997, the Company acquired Ivy Software, Inc. ("Ivy"), a Virginia
corporation that develops and distributes business and accounting software for
the academic education market, for $314,000 in cash and potential future
payments not to exceed approximately $862,000, which are based upon integration
of operations, conversion of software and operating results. In connection with
this transaction, the President and sole shareholder of Ivy entered into a
three-year consulting agreement with the Company. This acquisition also provides
the Company with direct access to Ivy's approximately 200 customers in the
academic marketplace, ranging from community colleges to large universities.
 
     Management believes that the acquisition of the CYBIS division of Control
Data, CTA and Ivy, as well as other future acquisitions, if any, have provided
and will provide critical additions to the Company's courseware library and that
by increasing the volume and diversity of its courseware, the potential for
strategic relationships will be enhanced. The Company plans to make additional
acquisitions designed to enhance and expand its courseware library and user
audience. Except as disclosed in this report, no such acquisitions or
investments are currently pending and the Company has no current understandings,
commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisition.
 
     Any acquisition is accompanied by such risks as, among other things, the
difficulties in assimilating the operations and personnel of acquired companies,
potential disruption to the Company's ongoing business, difficulties of
incorporating acquired technology into the Company's products and additional
expense associated with amortization of acquired intangible assets. In addition,
paying for any future acquisitions with Company Common Stock or cash could
result in potential dilution to the value of the Company's Common
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   15
 
Stock, require the Company to raise additional financing, which may not be
available on terms favorable to the Company and/or have an adverse effect on the
Company's liquidity. In pursuing its acquisition strategy, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to identify attractive targets and make
successful acquisitions in the future on commercially reasonable terms, or that
it will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems
encountered in connection with acquisitions.
 
SALES AND MARKETING
 
     The Company's primary marketing goals are to create a strong brand identity
as a leading educational courseware publisher for corporations, academic
institutions and other business partners, and to establish its core technology
as an affordable option for continuing education and training needs. As of
December 31, 1996, the Company had eight full-time employees and one part-time
employee in sales and marketing. The Company markets its products and services
through a variety of means, including the Internet, direct sales, strategic
marketing partners, resellers and other arrangements. The Company intends to use
cross-marketing opportunities available through partners with web-sites or "home
pages" to promote its products and services and to recruit students. The Company
believes that continuing to form strategic marketing alliances with partners who
will sell, promote and market the Company's products and services, will be
important for rapid market penetration.
 
     The Company changed its business focus in 1993, and therefore has limited
marketing experience in its current industry. The Company's direct sales and
marketing staff does not have significant experience marketing in the Company's
developing industry. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
recruit or retain skilled sales and marketing personnel. The Company relies to a
large extent on its academic and business partners to market its courseware to
students. As such, the Company's marketing will be dependent in part upon the
efforts of third parties, such as Internet service providers and the Company's
partners and resellers. There can be no assurance that such efforts will be
successful or that such parties will not reassess their commitment to the
Company.
 
CUSTOMERS
 
     The Company's customers consist of its academic institution and business
partners, through which it offers its products and services to part-time
students and working adults. In 1996, two of the Company's customers accounted
for more than 10% of its revenues: Fort Levinworth, 28.7%, a user of CYBIS
courseware, and InternetU, Inc., 26.5%. In addition, a significant portion of
the Company's revenues since January 1994 have been generated through the
licensing of CYBIS courseware. The Company currently anticipates that future
revenues may continue to be derived from sales to a limited number of customers,
although the Company's largest customers in the future may not be users of CYBIS
courseware because the Company believes that CYBIS revenues will not be
substantial compared to the Company's expected future revenues (although there
can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in generating
significant revenues from other sources). Accordingly, the cancellation or
deferral of a small number of contracts or license agreements would have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
 
COMPETITION
 
     The market for educational and training products and services is highly
competitive and the Company expects that competition will continue to intensify.
Although the Company believes that its competitors do not currently offer
Webbased, interactive, on-demand courseware, there are no substantial barriers
to entry in the online education and training market. Many institutions and
businesses provide accredited and/or certified continuing education or training
that is taught on a part-time basis. In addition to traditional classroom and
distance learning providers, other institutions such as Apollo Group, Inc.
through University of Phoenix and Jones Intercable Inc. through Mind Extension
University offer their own accredited courses online or in an email-based
format. They, and many other education providers, use some of the Company's
methods, including email, bulletin boards, electronic conferencing and CD-ROMs,
as well as other methods, such as satellite communications and audio and video
tapes.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   16
 
     Many of the Company's existing competitors, as well as a number of
potential new competitors (including the Company's partners), have significantly
greater financial, technical and marketing resources than the Company. In
addition, any of these competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or
emerging technologies, and to devote greater resources to the development,
promotion and sale of their services than the Company. A number of the Company's
current customers and partners have also established relationships with certain
of the Company's competitors, and future customers and partners may establish
similar relationships. In addition, the Company's partners could use information
obtained from the Company to gain an additional competitive advantage over the
Company. There can be no assurance that the Company's competitors will not
develop products and services that are superior to those of the Company or that
achieve greater market acceptance than the Company's products and services.
Moreover, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete
successfully against its current or future competitors or that competition will
not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES
 
     The Company is not currently subject to direct regulation by any government
agency, other than regulations applicable to businesses generally, and there are
currently few laws or regulations directly applicable to access to or commerce
on online networks. Due to the increasing popularity and use of online networks,
it is possible that a number of laws and regulations may be adopted with respect
to online networks, covering issues such as user privacy, pricing, and the
characteristics and quality of products and services. The adoption of any such
laws or regulations may decrease the growth of online networks, which could in
turn decrease the demand for the Company's products and increase the Company's
cost of doing business or otherwise have an adverse effect on the Company.
Moreover, the applicability to online networks of existing laws governing issues
such as property ownership, sales taxes, libel and personal privacy is
uncertain. Furthermore, as a publisher of educational materials, the Company
could be subject to accreditation or other governmental regulations. Any new
legislation or regulation applicable to online networks, the Company or its
products or services could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
     Because materials may be downloaded by the online or Internet services
operated or facilitated by the Company or the Internet access providers with
which it has a relationship and be subsequently distributed to others, there is
a potential that claims will be made against the Company for copyright or
trademark infringement or other legal theories. Such claims have been brought
against online services in the past. Although the Company carries general
liability insurance, the Company's insurance may not cover claims of this type,
or may not be adequate to cover all liability that may be imposed. Any
imposition of liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of
insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
CYBIS BUSINESS
 
     In 1991, the Company acquired from Control Data certain rights to resell
the CYBIS online courseware, which consisted primarily of courses in language
arts, mathematics, social studies, science, business and a variety of technical
subjects. In 1994, the Company acquired the CYBIS division of Control Data,
together with a perpetual nonexclusive license for the CYBIS courseware, and
agreed to act as subcontractor to Control Data (which retained its hardware and
proprietary mainframe operating system that is used to deliver the CYBIS
courseware and is used in other aspects of Control Data's ongoing business) to
support CYBIS customers. The Company's ability to distribute a portion of the
CYBIS courseware is limited by the terms of its license.
 
     Since 1994, a significant portion of the Company's revenues have been
generated through the licensing of the CYBIS courseware to employees of various
federal government agencies, including the Joint Committee on Computer-Based
Instruction and the Redstone Arsenal, as well as to students at various academic
institutions, including the University of Massachusetts. The Company is
responsible for the CYBIS computer-based education and training portion of
certain CYBIS contracts to which Control Data is a party, as well as support and
other services under such contracts. The Company receives from Control Data all
revenue attributable to portions of these contracts, less a 5% administration
fee. Since 1994 the Company's CYBIS
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   17
 
revenues have been declining due to budgetary constraints of government agencies
and the continued migration of CYBIS customers away from mainframe applications.
While the Company expects to continue to receive CYBIS revenues for the next two
to three years, the Company believes that such revenues will not be substantial
compared to the Company's expected future revenues. The Company believes that
Web-based courseware developed from the CYBIS courseware, to the extent not
restricted by the terms of its license, may contribute to revenues in the
future.
 
CTA BUSINESS
 
     CTA was incorporated in Texas in 1989 and engages in the development of
technology based applications via distributed networks for educational
institutions, corporations and government agencies. CTA customers can access
these applications from remote locations using the Internet or their
organization's intranets. CTA also provides consulting services related to
training systems, distance learning networks and systems integration. During
1996, applications produced and managed by CTA have been available on intranets
of CTA's strategic partners which have a potential population of 29,000
students. An average of approximately 2,000 students complete CTA modules each
month. In 1996, CTA introduced a new service of providing Internet access to
individual subscribers and businesses.
 
     In August 1996, the Company acquired CTA in exchange for 42,487 shares of
the Company's Common Stock. The Company believes that CTA provides not only an
established customer base, but also a critical addition of content, particularly
in the electrical, medical and scientific equipment subject areas, which has
enhanced the Company's courseware library.
 
TRADEMARKS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
     The Company regards its copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets
and similar intellectual property as critical to its success, and the Company
relies upon trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection and
confidentiality and/or license agreements with its employees, customers,
partners and others to protect its proprietary rights. The Company has obtained
registered trademarks in the United States for UOL, Chalkboard, the Virtual
Workforce and the slogan "What you think . . . is our business" and has applied
for the registration of certain of its other trademarks, including Courseware
Construction Set, Registrar Architect, Test Architect, Course Architect, Test
Wizard, the UOL logo and the slogan "Take It Online". The Company intends to
apply for registration of UOL Publishing. The Company will continue to evaluate
the registration of additional service marks and trademarks as appropriate.
Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary rights, unauthorized
parties may attempt to copy aspects of the Company's products or services or to
obtain and use information that the Company regards as proprietary. In addition,
the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to as great
an extent as do the laws of the United States. Litigation may be necessary to
protect the Company's proprietary technology. Any such litigation may be
timeconsuming and costly, cause product release delays, require the Company to
redesign its products or services or require the Company to enter into royalty
or licensing agreements, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon
the Company. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be
available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. There can be no
assurance that the Company's means of protecting its proprietary rights will be
adequate or that the Company's competitors will not independently develop
similar technology or duplicate the Company's products or services or design
around patents or other intellectual property rights of the Company. In
addition, distributing the Company's products through online networks makes the
Company's software more susceptible than other software to unauthorized copying
and use. For example, online delivery of the Company's courseware makes it
difficult to ensure compliance by the Company with contractual restrictions, if
any, as to the parties who may access such courseware. The Company plans to
allow users to download electronically certain of its courseware content, which
could adversely affect the Company's ability to collect payment from users that
obtain copies from the Company's existing or past customers. If, as a result of
changing legal interpretations of liability for unauthorized use of the
Company's software or otherwise, users were to become less sensitive to avoiding
copyright infringement, the Company would be materially adversely affected.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   18
 
EMPLOYEES
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had 47 employees, including 27
full-time and two part-time employees primarily involved in product development
activities, eight full-time and one part-time in sales and marketing, and nine
in finance and administration. The Company believes that its employee relations
are good.
 
     The Company has experienced rapid growth and expansion which has placed a
significant strain on its administrative, operational and financial resources.
The Company's performance is substantially dependent on the performance of its
executive officers and key employees, some of whom have worked together for only
a short period of time. The loss of the services of any of its executive
officers or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on the
Company. The Company maintains "key man" life insurance in the amount of
$1,000,000 each on Narasimhan P. Kannan, Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer, and Carl N. Tyson, President and Chief Operating
Officer, and has employment agreements with certain of its executive officers.
However, neither such insurance nor such agreements necessarily fully compensate
the Company for, or preclude, the loss of the services of the relevant
personnel. The Company anticipates that future growth, if any, will require it
to identify, recruit, hire, train and retain a substantial number of new
technical, managerial, sales and marketing personnel. Competition for such
personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to attract, assimilate and retain such personnel. The Company's ability to
manage its growth successfully will also require the Company to expand its
administrative, operational, management and financial systems and controls. Such
expansion is expected to result in significantly increased operating expenses.
To the extent that such expenses precede any increase in revenues, the Company
will be materially adversely affected. There can be no assurance that such
expansion will be successfully completed or that the cost of such expansion will
not exceed the revenues, if any, generated.
 
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES.
 
     The Company's executive offices and its principal administration,
technical, marketing and sales operations are located in approximately 7,000
square feet of leased space in McLean, Virginia pursuant to a lease agreement
that expires in March 2000. The Company relocated to this facility in November
1996 from its prior facility in Falls Church, Virginia. The Company also leases
approximately 4,000 square feet, including 1,300 square feet of warehouse space,
in Burnsville, Minnesota under a lease that expires in August 1998. In
connection with its acquisition of CTA, the Company assumed CTA's existing lease
for approximately 11,000 square feet of office space in Waxahachie, Texas that
expires in July 2001. The rents for the McLean facility and the Waxahachie
facility are approximately $12,000 and $5,000 per month, respectively. The
Company believes that it will need to secure additional office space in or
around its McLean facility to accommodate its anticipated expansion needs during
1997. The Company believes suitable additional space will be available to
accommodate such expansion, and other expansion needs should it become
necessary, on commercially reasonable terms. Aside from such expansion plans at
the McLean facility, the Company believes that its current facilities are
adequate for its needs for the foreseeable future.
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
     Although the Company is not currently involved in any material pending
legal proceedings, the Company could be subject to legal proceedings and claims
in the ordinary course of its business or otherwise, including claims relating
to license agreements, royalties or claims of alleged infringement of the
trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by the
Company and its licensees. For example, in October 1996, The Roach Organization,
Inc. ("TRO"), from which Control Data received its license with respect to the
CYBIS courseware (which license was assigned to the Company in January 1994),
alleged unspecified violations by the Company of the terms of such license. TRO
demanded that the Company cease such alleged violation and compensate TRO for
unspecified alleged damages in connection therewith. The Company believes that
it is in compliance with the terms of the license and intends to vigorously
dispute these allegations. The Company also believes that it would not be
materially adversely affected by an adverse result of this dispute.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   19
 
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
 
     The stockholders of the Company took action by Majority Written Consent on
November 18, 1996. Pursuant to this Majority Written Consent, the stockholders
approved a 1-for-11.76812037 reverse stock split (the "Reverse Split") of all of
the Company's outstanding capital stock, which approval became effective upon
consummation of the Company's initial public offering in December 1996. The
Reverse Split was approved by stockholders holding an aggregate of 12,651,141
shares of Common Stock out of a total of 16,707,430 shares of Common Stock then
outstanding (on an as converted to Common Stock, assuming conversion of all
shares of preferred stock on a one-for-one basis, and prior to giving effect to
the Reverse Split).
 
                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the executive officers of the Company were as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                            AGE                          POSITION
- ----                            ---                          --------
<S>                            <C>     <C>
Narasimhan P. Kannan........     48    Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Carl N. Tyson...............     47    President, Chief Operating Officer
Michael W. Anderson.........     42    Vice President of Technology and Operations
Diana S. Farrell............     32    Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Leonard P. Kurtzman.........     36    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Michael L. Brown............     48    Executive Vice President, Business Development
Barry R. Fetterolf..........     55    Vice President of Publishing
</TABLE>
 
     Narasimhan P. "Nat" Kannan has served as Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since he founded the Company
in 1984. Prior to founding the Company, he co-founded Ganesa Group, Inc., a
developer of interactive graphics and modeling software, in 1981. Prior thereto,
he served as a consultant to Booz Allen and Hamilton, Inc., the MITRE
Corporation, The Ministry of Industry of the French Government, the Brookhaven
and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, the White House Domestic Policy
Committee on Energy, and Control Data Corporation. He holds a B.S. in
Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, India, and he
performed advanced graduate work in business and engineering at Dartmouth
College.
 
     Carl N. Tyson joined the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer
in November 1995. From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Tyson served as President, College
Publishers, at Harcourt General Corporation. From 1988 to 1992 he was employed
by McGraw-Hill Inc., most recently as President, College Division. Mr. Tyson
holds a B.A. and M.A. in history from Wichita State University and a Ph.D. in
history from Oklahoma State University.
 
     Michael W. Anderson joined the Company as Vice President of Technology and
Operations in March 1996. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Anderson was a marketing
research consultant at O'Donnell & Associates, Inc. From 1990 to 1994 he served
as Vice President and Director of Marketing Operations at HarperCollins College
Publishers. From 1977 to 1990 he was employed by Scott, Foresman & Company, most
recently as Vice President of Marketing Operations. Mr. Anderson holds a B.A. in
English and Mathematics from the University of Texas.
 
     Diana S. Farrell joined the Company as Vice President of Sales and
Marketing in June 1996. From December 1992 to June 1996, Ms. Farrell was
employed by Harcourt Brace College Publishers, a division of Harcourt General
Corporation, most recently as Senior Vice President of Marketing. From September
1990 to December 1992, she served as a Senior Editor at Prentice Hall College
Publishing Group, a division of Paramount Communications, Inc. Ms. Farrell holds
a B.A. in Communications Arts/Marketing from Long Island University.
 
     Leonard P. Kurtzman joined the Company in August 1996 as Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. From August 1986 to August 1996, Mr.
Kurtzman was employed by Systems Center, Inc. and its successor, Sterling
Software, Inc., a computer software company based in Dallas, Texas ("Sterling"),
most
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   20
 
recently as Vice President of Finance and Administration of the System
Management Group, a division of Sterling. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from the
University of Maryland and is a Certified Public Accountant.
 
     Michael L. Brown joined the Company as Executive Vice President of
Corporate Training and President of its wholly owned subsidiary, CTA, in August
1996 and currently serves as the Company's Executive Vice President of Business
Development. Mr. Brown served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of
CTA from 1988 until the Company's acquisition of CTA in August 1996. He is a
member of the Advisory Board of the Distance Learning Association.
 
     Barry R. Fetterolf joined the Company as Vice President of Publishing in
August 1996. From June 1993 to August 1996, Mr. Fetterolf served as Vice
President and Publisher of Saunders College Publishing, a division of Harcourt
Brace College Publishers. From November 1988 to June 1993, Mr. Fetterolf served
as Social Science & Economics Publisher of the Education Group of McGraw-Hill
Publishing Company. Mr. Fetterolf holds a B.S. in Business Administration from
Pennsylvania State University.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   21
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
 
  (a) Price Range of Common Stock
 
     The Company's Common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "UOLP". The following sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices
from November 26, 1996 (the date trading commenced) through December 31, 1996 as
reported by Nasdaq.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         HIGH     LOW
                                                                         ----     ---
        <S>                                                              <C>      <C>
        Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1996
        November 26, 1996 through December 31, 1996....................  13 1/4   12 1/2
</TABLE>
 
  (b) Approximate Number of Equity Security Holders
 
     As of March 13, 1997, the number of record holders of the Company's Common
Stock was 116 and the Company believes that the number of beneficial owners was
approximately 415.
 
  (c) Dividends
 
     The Company has never paid a cash dividend on its Common Stock and
anticipates that for the foreseeable future any earnings will be retained for
use in its business and, accordingly, does not anticipate the payment of cash
dividends.
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
 
     The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto
included elsewhere herein. The consolidated statement of operations data set
forth below with respect to the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 and
the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 1995 and 1996 are derived
from and are referenced to, the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Company included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated
statement of operations data set forth below with respect to the years ended
December 31, 1992 and 1993 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of
December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 are derived from financial statements not
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   22
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:              -------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)       1992        1993        1994        1995        1996
                                           -------     -------     -------     -------     -------
<S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net revenues:
  Licensing and support revenues.........  $    --     $    --     $   710     $   416     $   424
  Online revenues........................       --          14          14          56         119
  Development and other revenues.........      404         274          82          76         399
                                           -------      ------      ------      ------      ------
     Total net revenues..................      404         288         806         548         942
Costs and expenses:
  Cost of revenues.......................      146          64         146          94         195
  Sales and marketing....................      178         130         296         933       1,593
  Product development....................      132         151         206         576       1,482
  General and administrative.............      268         207         890         927       2,477
  Depreciation and amortization..........        9           1         298         309         144
                                           -------      ------      ------      ------      ------
     Total costs and expenses............      733         553       1,836       2,839       5,891
Loss from operations.....................     (329)       (265)     (1,030)     (2,291)     (4,949)
Other income (expense)...................       --           6          (6)        126         304
Interest income (expense)................      (91)       (155)       (260)        (75)          4
                                           -------      ------      ------      ------      ------
Loss before extraordinary gain on debt
  forgiveness............................     (420)       (414)     (1,296)     (2,240)     (4,641)
Extraordinary gain on debt forgiveness...       --          --         609          --          --
                                           -------      ------      ------      ------      ------
Net loss.................................  $  (420)    $  (414)    $  (687)    $(2,240)    $(4,641)
                                           =======      ======      ======      ======      ======
Net loss per share to common
  stockholders(1):
  Loss before extraordinary gain on debt
     forgiveness(1):.....................     (.61)       (.60)      (1.79)      (2.24)      (3.88)
  Extraordinary gain on debt
     forgiveness(1)......................       --          --         .84          --          --
                                           -------      ------      ------      ------      ------
  Net loss per share to common
     stockholders(1):....................  $  (.61)    $  (.60)    $  (.95)    $ (2.24)    $ (3.88)
                                           =======      ======      ======      ======      ======
Weighted average shares
  outstanding(1):........................      689         689         725       1,079       1,283
                                           =======      ======      ======      ======      ======
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             AS OF DECEMBER 31,
BALANCE SHEET DATA:                        -------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)       1992        1993        1994        1995        1996
                                           -------     -------     -------     -------     -------
<S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Working capital (deficit)................  $(1,377)    $(2,724)    $(2,587)    $(1,402)    $14,833
Total assets.............................      254         352         879         613      17,489
Total liabilities........................    2,554       3,075       3,158       1,887       1,287
Redeemable convertible Preferred Stock...       --          --          --          --          --
Accumulated deficit......................   (3,385)     (3,807)     (4,503)     (6,742)    (11,383)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit).....   (2,300)     (2,722)     (2,279)     (1,274)     16,202
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Computed on the basis described in Note 2 of Notes to UOL Financial
    Statements.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   23
 
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATION.
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
INTRODUCTION
 
     The following presentation of management's discussion and analysis of the
Company's consolidated financial condition and results of operation should be
read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements,
accompanying Notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere
in this report. All references to the Company include UOL Publishing, Inc. and
its subsidiary, Cognitive Training Associates, Inc.
 
OVERVIEW
 
     The Company believes it is a leading publisher of high quality educational
courseware for the online education and training market through the Web. The
Company offers its courseware to part-time students and working adults in
partnerships with academic institutions and business partners. The Company plans
to develop and expand its network of academic and business partners, its
portfolio of courseware and related products and its distribution system as
rapidly as possible.
 
     The Company was formed in 1984 as IMSATT Corporation, a multimedia research
and development company. Through 1989, the Company developed and marketed
multimedia tools and services. In 1989, the Company began developing multimedia
courseware for the academic and business markets, and in 1991, the Company
acquired from Control Data certain rights to resell the CYBIS online courseware,
which consisted primarily of courses in language arts, mathematics, social
studies, science, business and a variety of technical subjects. In 1993, the
Company modified its business focus to capitalize on market opportunities for
online education resulting from technological advances relating to the Internet.
Since 1993, the Company has raised additional financing and focused its
development efforts on migrating its technology to the Web in preparation for
the launch of its first Web-based course.
 
     The Company introduced its first Web-based demonstration course in November
1995. Having demonstrated its ability to deliver online courseware through the
Web and recognizing the opportunity to be a leader in this market, the Company
began forming strategic partnerships with key academic institutions and business
partners to develop and market its online products and services. Under the
current business model, UOL's revenues are derived from three primary sources:
licensing and support revenues; online revenues; and development and other
revenues. Licensing and support revenues consist primarily of monthly fees
generated by the licensing and maintenance of the CYBIS courseware under the
Control Data subcontracts and CTA licensing and support fees. Online revenues
consist primarily of the Company's percentage of the revenues paid by students
to enroll in the Company's online courses through its academic and business
partners. Online revenues are also expected to include the Company's percentage
of the revenues derived from the sale of products and services at commercial
web-sites managed by the Company. Development and other revenues consist
primarily of fees paid to the Company for developing courseware. While
historically licensing and support revenues have represented a substantial
majority of the Company's revenues, the Company expects online revenues to
become the primary source of its revenues in the future.
 
     In 1994, the Company acquired the CYBIS division of Control Data, together
with a perpetual non-exclusive license for the CYBIS courseware, for an
aggregate purchase price of $594,000 (see Notes 5 and 7 of Notes to UOL
Financial Statements), payable in cash and notes payable. As part of this
transaction, Control Data retained the hardware and proprietary mainframe
operating system used to deliver the CYBIS courseware and in other aspects of
Control Data's ongoing business, and the Company agreed to act as subcontractor
to Control Data to support CYBIS customers. This transaction was accounted for
under the purchase method of accounting. Since 1994, a significant portion of
the Company's revenues have been generated through the licensing and support of
the CYBIS courseware. Since 1994, the revenues from servicing the CYBIS customer
base have been declining due to budgetary constraints of government agencies and
the continued migration of CYBIS customers away from mainframe applications.
While the
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   24
 
Company expects to continue to derive CYBIS revenues for the next two to three
years, the Company believes such revenues will not be substantial compared to
the Company's expected future revenues. The Company believes that Web-based
courseware developed from the CYBIS courseware, to the extent not restricted by
the terms of its license, may contribute to revenues in the future. See
"Business -- CYBIS Business."
 
     In August 1996, the Company acquired, by merger, CTA, a provider of
technology-based online training products and services to academic institutions,
corporations and governmental agencies, in exchange for 42,487 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. Immediately prior to the merger, CTA transferred a
building, a vehicle, certain equipment and certain notes payable to its sole
stockholder. In addition, the Company issued options to purchase an aggregate of
22,091 shares of Common Stock (of which options to purchase 5,096 shares are
fully vested) to certain employees of CTA, including its former stockholder.
This transaction was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, the operating
results of CTA are included in the Company's financial statements from August 1,
1996. The Company has recorded goodwill and other intangibles in the amount of
approximately $705,000 in connection with the acquisition of CTA and is
amortizing such goodwill and other intangibles over ten and three years,
respectively, beginning in 1996. Quarterly amortization of such goodwill and
other intangibles will be approximately $13,000 and approximately $17,000,
respectively. The Company believes that CTA provides not only an established
customer base, but also a critical addition of content, particularly in the
electrical, medical and scientific equipment subject areas, which has enhanced
the Company's courseware library. See "Business -- CTA Business."
 
     The Company believes that its future financial performance will depend
substantially on its success in developing and distributing, on behalf of its
strategic partners, proprietary online courseware. The Company's ability
continually to add courses and students to its offerings, to attract and retain
accredited educational institutions and to enter into alliances with business
partners such as Autodesk will be material factors in determining the success of
the Company.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   25
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following table sets forth certain statement of operations data as a
percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                               ----------------------------
                                                                1994       1995       1996
                                                               ------     ------     ------
    <S>                                                        <C>        <C>        <C>
    Statement of Operations Data:
    Net Revenues:
      Licensing and support revenues.........................    88.1%      75.9%      45.0%
      Online revenues........................................     1.8       10.2       12.6
      Development and other revenues.........................    10.1       13.9       42.4
                                                               ------     ------     ------
              Total net revenues.............................   100.0      100.0      100.0
    Costs and expenses:
      Cost of revenues.......................................    18.1       17.1       20.7
      Sales and marketing....................................    36.7      170.3      169.0
      Product development....................................    25.6      105.3      157.3
      General and administrative.............................   110.4      169.1      262.8
      Depreciation and amortization..........................    37.0       56.4       15.3
                                                               ------     ------     ------
              Total costs and expenses.......................   227.8      518.2      625.1
                                                               ------     ------     ------
    Loss from operations.....................................  (127.8)    (418.2)    (525.1)
    Other income (expense):
      Other income (expense).................................    (0.8)      23.0       32.3
      Interest income (expense)..............................   (32.3)     (13.7)       0.4
                                                               ------     ------     ------
    Loss before extraordinary gain on debt forgiveness.......  (160.9)    (408.9)    (492.4)
    Extraordinary gain on debt forgiveness...................    75.6         --         --
                                                               ------     ------     ------
    Net loss.................................................   (85.3)%   (408.9)%   (492.4)%
                                                               ======     ======     ======
</TABLE>
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
  Net Revenues
 
     Net revenues increased from $547,679 in 1995 to $942,426 in 1996, an
increase of $394,747 or 72.1%. In 1995, 75.9% of net revenues was derived from
licensing and support of Control Data subcontracts, 10.2% was derived from
online revenues, and 13.9% was derived from development and other revenues. In
1996, 45.0% of net revenues was derived from the Control Data subcontracts and
maintenance and support contracts from CTA customers, 12.6% was derived from
online revenues, and 42.4% was derived from development and other revenues. In
December 1996, the Company recorded $250,000 as development revenue in
connection with the InternetU funding agreement. See "Business -- Strategic
Partners -- Autodesk." The payment was received in January 1997. Licensing and
support revenues increased from $415,532 in 1995 to $424,244 in 1996, an
increase of $8,712 or 2.1%. Online revenues increased from $55,995 in 1995 to
$118,685 in 1996, an increase of $62,690 or 112.0%. Development and other
revenues increased from $76,152 in 1995 to $399,497 in 1996 an increase of
$323,345 or 424.6%. Licensing and support revenues from CYBIS customers
decreased from $415,532 in 1995 to $362,743 in 1996. The decrease in CYBIS
revenues was a result of budgetary constraints of government agencies and the
continued migration of CYBIS customers away from mainframe applications. The
CYBIS net revenues have been declining in absolute terms since the Company's
acquisition of the CYBIS division of Control Data in 1994. CTA contributed
$61,501 in licensing and support revenues, $37,086 to online revenues and
$81,970 to development and other revenues for the year ended December 31, 1996.
These amounts represent revenues from August 1, 1996, the date of the
acquisition of CTA, to December 31, 1996.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   26
 
  Cost of Revenues
 
     Cost of revenues increased from $93,630 in 1995 to $194,730 in 1996, an
increase of $101,100 or 108.0%. The majority of the increase in cost of revenues
is attributable to the increase in revenues and the inclusion of the results of
CTA from August to December 1996. These amounts represent 17.1% and 20.7% of net
revenues in 1995 and 1996 respectively. Cost of revenues consisted primarily of
certain personnel costs directly related to the Control Data subcontracts,
administration fees payable to Control Data, costs associated with the
conversion and sale of CTA's courseware and services, as well as communication
costs related to online revenues. In the future, cost of revenues is expected to
include royalties incurred to content providers. In the future, because the
Company expects online revenues to increase, cost of revenues will consist
primarily of costs directly related to such online revenues.
 
  Operating Expenses
 
     Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expense increased from $932,898
in 1995 to $1,592,668 in 1996, an increase of $659,770, or 70.7%. Sales and
marketing expense decreased as a percentage of net revenues from 170.3% in 1995
to 169.0% in the comparable period in 1996. Sales and marketing expense
consisted primarily of costs related to personnel, travel, advertising, and
conference and trade show attendance. The increase was primarily due to
increased staffing and marketing campaigns to secure contracts and strategic
partnerships. During the later part of 1996, the Company expanded its sales and
marketing organization in order to build an infrastructure to support the
anticipated revenue opportunities for online courseware. The Company expects
sales and marketing expense to increase substantially in the future as the
Company expands its sales and marketing efforts.
 
     Product Development.  Product development expense increased from $576,470
in 1995 to $1,482,179 in 1996, an increase of 905,709 or 157.1%. Product and
development expense increased as a percentage of net revenues from 105.3% in
1995 to 157.3% in 1996. Product development expense consisted primarily of costs
associated with the design, programming, testing, documenting and support of the
Company's new and existing courseware and software. The increase was primarily
due to a major development effort aimed at migrating the Company's then-existing
courseware to courseware compatible with the Web. The Company expects that
product development expense will substantially increase in the future as the
Company expands its courseware library. Through December 31, 1996, the Company
has expensed its product development costs and expects to continue to expense
such costs until such time as the realizability of the Company's software is
established.
 
     General and Administrative.  General and administrative expense increased
from $926,345 in 1995 to $2,477,144 in 1996, an increase of $1,550,799, or
167.4%. General and administrative expense increased as a percentage of net
revenues from 169.1% in 1995 to 262.8% in 1996. The increase in general and
administrative expense was attributable primarily to the recording of
compensation expense of $1,022,000, the amount by which the fair market value of
the Common Stock exceeded the exercise price of certain options as of the date
the Board granted such options or extended their exercise period. Such
compensation was expensed at the date of Board approval because the options were
fully vested at that time. General and administrative costs also increased due
to costs associated with additional personnel, network operations, and legal and
accounting services to support anticipated growth of the Company.
 
     Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense
decreased from $309,058 in 1995 to $144,284 in 1996, a decrease of $164,774, or
53.3%. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased as a percentage of net
revenues from 56.4% in 1995 to 15.3% in 1996. Substantially all of the $309,058
depreciation and amortization expense recorded in the 1995 period was
attributable to goodwill amortization. On January 1,1994, the Company recorded
goodwill in the amount of $575,825 in connection with the CYBIS acquisition,
which goodwill was amortized over a period of two years ended December 31, 1995.
The Company has recorded additional goodwill and other intangibles in the amount
of approximately $705,000 in connection with the acquisition of CTA and is
amortizing such goodwill and other intangibles over ten and three years,
respectively, beginning in 1996. Amortization expense related to the CTA
acquisition included in 1996 was $48,833.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   27
 
     Interest and Other Income (Expense).  Interest expense was $75,570 in 1995,
and interest income was $3,893 in 1996. Interest expense consisted of interest
expense on debt and loans from officers and other affiliates. The decrease in
interest expense was primarily due to the conversion of $326,082 of debt to
equity in the first quarter of 1995 as well as interest income earned by
investing the proceeds raised by the Company in its private and public stock
offerings. Other income was $126,651 in 1995 and $303,983 in 1996. This increase
was primarily due to the settlement of a note payable to Control Data and a
certain trade payable obligation with a former vendor.
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
 
  Net Revenues
 
     Net revenues decreased from $805,935 in 1994 to $547,679 in 1995, a
decrease of $258,256, or 32.0%. In 1994, 88.1% of revenues was derived from
licensing and support of the Control Data subcontracts, 1.8% was derived from
online revenues, and approximately 10.1% was derived from development and other
revenues. In 1995, 75.9% of net revenues was derived from the Control Data
subcontracts, 10.2% was derived from online revenues and 13.9% was derived from
development and other revenues. The decrease in net revenues was a result of
budgetary constraints of government agencies and the continued migration of
CYBIS customers away from mainframe applications.
 
  Cost of Revenues
 
     Cost of revenues decreased from $146,002 in 1994 to $93,630 in 1995, a
decrease of $52,372, or 35.9%. These amounts represent 18.1% and 17.1% of net
revenues in 1994 and 1995, respectively. In 1994, cost of revenues consisted
primarily of certain personnel costs directly related to the Control Data
subcontracts, costs of print materials and other items sold by the Company and,
in the last quarter of the year, communication costs related to online revenues.
 
  Operating Expenses
 
     Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expense increased from $295,839
in 1994 to $932,898 in 1995, an increase of $637,059, or 215.3%. Sales and
marketing expense increased as a percentage of net revenues from 36.7% in 1994
to 170.3% in 1995. The increase was attributable primarily to additional
personnel, advertising and promotion and travel expenses, as the Company
increased its marketing efforts in preparation for the introduction of
courseware beginning in Fall 1996.
 
     Product Development.  Product development expense increased from $205,975
in 1994 to $576,470 in 1995, an increase of $370,495, or 179.9%. Product
development expense increased as a percentage of net revenues from 25.6% in 1994
to 105.3% in 1995. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the
Company's payroll costs attributable to its efforts to convert courses to the
Company's interactive Web format in preparation for the launch of its first Web
course in November 1995.
 
     General and Administrative.  General and administrative expense increased
from $890,145 in 1994 to $926,345 in 1995, an increase of $36,200, or 4.1%.
General and administrative expense increased as a percentage of net revenues
from 110.4% in 1994 to 169.1% in 1995.
 
     Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense
increased from $298,047 in 1994 to $309,058 in 1995, an increase of $11,011, or
3.7%. Depreciation and amortization expense increased as a percentage of net
revenues from 37.0% in 1994 to 56.4% in 1995. The Company recorded $288,273 and
$287,552 as goodwill amortization expense in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
     Interest and Other Income (Expense).  Interest expense decreased from
$259,994 in 1994 to $75,570 in 1995, a decrease of $184,424, or 70.9%. These
amounts represent 32.3% and 13.7% of net revenues for 1994 and 1995,
respectively. The decrease was attributable primarily to lower aggregate debt
outstanding in 1995, primarily as a result of the conversion of $522,594 of debt
into equity in the last quarter of 1994. Other income increased to $126,651 in
1995. The increase was primarily due to the settlement of a certain trade
payable obligation with a former vendor.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   28
 
     Extraordinary Gain on Debt Forgiveness.  The extraordinary gain on debt
forgiveness of $609,270 in 1994 was a result of two transactions in which the
Company settled outstanding debt obligations for significantly less than the
debt balance plus accrued interest. See Note 7 of Notes to UOL Financial
Statements.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had $15,474,030 in cash and cash
equivalents. Since its inception, the Company has financed its operating cash
flow needs primarily through private placements of equity securities and, to a
lesser extent, borrowings from stockholders, and most recently, a public
offering of its equity securities. Cash utilized in operating activities was
$4,103,633 in 1996, $2,178,492 in 1995 and $461,158 in 1994. Use of cash was
attributable primarily to net losses in 1994, 1995 and 1996. Cash utilized in
investing activities was $278,269 in 1996, $34,450 in 1995 and $185,460 in 1994.
The use of cash for investing activities was attributable primarily to purchases
of equipment and, in 1994, a cash payment of $150,000 in connection with the
CYBIS acquisition. Cash provided by financing activities was $19,751,754 in
1996, $2,296,521 in 1995 and $667,217 in 1994. Financing activities consisted
primarily of the sale of Common and Preferred Stock and borrowings from
stockholders. Through December 31, 1996, net proceeds from the sale of the
Company's equity securities aggregated $25,344,511.
 
     The Company expects negative cash flow from operations to continue for at
least the next 12 months, as it continues product development activities and
expands its sales and marketing and administrative capabilities. The Company
believes that the net proceeds from its initial public offering of equity
securities, together with existing sources of liquidity, will satisfy its
anticipated working capital and capital equipment requirements for at least one
year. The Company's future capital requirements will depend on many factors,
including, but not limited to, acceptance of and demand for its products and
services, the types of arrangements that the Company may enter into with
partners and customers, cash used for acquisitions and the extent to which the
Company invests in new technology and research and development projects.
 
     The Company and its bank lender have entered into a secured lending
arrangement in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000. Amounts borrowed
under this arrangement will bear interest at the lender's prime rate plus 1% and
are collateralized by the assets purchased with the amounts so borrowed. As of
December 31, 1996, the Company had no borrowings against this arrangement.
 
     Depending on its rate of growth and profitability, if any, the Company may
require additional equity or debt financings to meet its working capital
requirements or capital equipment needs in the future or to fund and provide
working capital for its acquisitions. If additional funds are raised through the
issuance of equity securities, the percentage ownership of the Company's
stockholders would be reduced. There can be no assurance that additional
financing will be available when required or, if available, will be on terms
satisfactory to the Company.
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards
of approximately $8,165,000 for federal income tax purposes, which will expire
at various dates through 2011. The Company's ability to utilize all of its net
operating loss and credit carryforwards may be limited by changes in ownership.
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
 
     See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1.
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
 
     Not applicable.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   29
 
                                    PART III
 
     Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this report
because the Registrant will file a definitive proxy statement for its 1997
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Proxy Statement") within 120 days after the
end of its fiscal year pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the information included
therein is incorporated herein by reference to the extent provided below.
 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
 
     The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K concerning the
Registrant's directors is incorporated by reference to the information under the
heading "Election of Directors" in the Proxy Statement.
 
     The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K concerning the
Registrant's executive officers is set forth under the heading "Executive
Officers" located at the end of Part I of this Form 10-K.
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
 
     The information required by Item 11 of Form 10-K is incorporated by
reference to the information under the heading "Proposal No. 1 -- Election of
Directors -- Information Concerning the Board of Directors and Its Committees",
"Other Information -- Executive Compensation", "-- Compensation of Directors",
"-- Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation",
"-- Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" and
"-- Performance Graph" in the Proxy Statement.
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
 
     The information required by Item 12 of Form 10-K is incorporated by
reference to the information under the heading "Other Information -- Principal
Stockholders" in the Proxy Statement.
 
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
 
     The information required by Item 13 of Form 10-K is incorporated by
reference to the information under the heading "Other Information -- Certain
Transactions" in the Proxy Statement.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   30
 
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
 
     (a) The following Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules and
         Exhibits are filed as part of this report or incorporated herein by
         reference:
 
          (1) Financial Statements.
 
              See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1.
 
         (2) Financial Statement Schedules.
 
                  All financial statement schedules for which provision is made
             in Regulation S-X are omitted because they are not required under
             the related instructions, are inapplicable, or the required
             information is given in the financial statements, including the
             notes thereto and, therefore, have been omitted.
 
         (3) Exhibits.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            EXHIBIT NO.                                DESCRIPTION
            -----------   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
            <S>           <C>
             2.1          Stock Purchase Agreement dated March 1, 1997 with Ivy Software, Inc.
                          and Robert N. Holt
             3.1(a)       Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as currently in
                          effect.
             3.2(a)       Amended and Restated Bylaws, as currently in effect.
             4.1(a)       Form of Common Stock certificate
            10.1(a)       Investment Agreement, dated as of October 8, 1986 with Intersouth
                          Partners.
            10.2(a)       Warrant Agreement dated as of March 22, 1995, with Spencer Trask
                          Securities Incorporated and Forms of Warrant Certificates.
            10.3(a)       Form of Promissory Note.
            10.4(a)       Registration Rights Agreement relating to Series A Preferred Stock,
                          as amended.
            10.5(a)       Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 19, 1996, relating to
                          Series B Preferred Stock.
            10.6(a)       Warrant, dated July 23, 1996, granted to Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
            10.7(a)       Letter Agreement, dated as of September 12, 1996, with Austin O.
                          Furst and certain related entitles.
            10.8(a)       Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan.
            10.9(a)       1996 Stock Plan.
            10.10(a)      Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 1996, with Narasimhan P. Kannan.
            10.11(a)      Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 1996, with Carl N. Tyson.
            10.12(a)      Employment Agreement, dated July 31, 1996, with Michael L. Brown.
            10.13(a)      Employment Agreement, dated August 15, 1996, with Leonard P.
                          Kurtzman.
            10.14(a)*     Agreement, dated August 14, 1995, as amended, with Educational
                          Services Institute.
            10.15(a)      Form of Online Educational Services Distribution Agreement.
            10.16(a)      Form of University Master Agreement for Online Education Services.
            10.17(a)      Form of Online Educational Services Agreement.
            10.18(a)      Form of Inner Circle Online Educational Services Development and
                          Distribution Agreement.
</TABLE>
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   31
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            EXHIBIT NO.                                DESCRIPTION
            -----------   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
            <S>           <C>
            10.19(a)*     Agreement, dated April 15, 1996, with Autodesk, Inc.
            10.20(a)*     Project Financing and Development Agreement with InternetU, Inc., as
                          amended.
            10.21(a)      Employment letter agreement, dated October 29, 1996, with W. Braun
                          Jones, Jr.
            11.1          Statement Re Computation of Per Share Loss.
            21.1          List of Subsidiaries.
            27.1          Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 * Confidential treatment requested.
 
(a) Incorporated by reference to the similarly numbered Exhibit to the
    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-12135).
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   32
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
                                          UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
                                          By:    /s/ NARASIMHAN P. KANNAN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: March 26, 1997
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                              CAPACITY                   DATE
- ------------------------------------------   -----------------------------   ---------------
<C>                                          <S>                             <C>
 
         /s/ NARASIMHAN P. KANNAN            Director and Chief Executive    March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------     Officer (Principal
           Narasimhan P. Kannan                Executive Officer)
 
         /s/ LEONARD P. KURTZMAN             Chief Financial Officer         March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------     (Principal Financial and
           Leonard P. Kurtzman                 Accounting Officer)
 
            /s/ CARL N. TYSON                Director                        March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
              Carl N. Tyson
 
          /s/ EDSON D. DECASTRO              Director                        March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
            Edson D. DeCastro
 
         /s/ DENNIS J. DOUGHERTY             Director                        March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
           Dennis J. Dougherty
 
          /s/ BARRY K. FINGERHUT             Director                        March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
            Barry K. Fingerhut
 
         /s/ W. BRAUN JONES, JR.             Director                        March 26, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
           W. Braun Jones, Jr.
 
         /s/ WILLIAM E. KIMBERLY             Director                        March 18, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
           William E. Kimberly
 
            /s/ D. WAYNE SILBY               Director                        March 23, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
              D. Wayne Silby
</TABLE>
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   33
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                      <C>
UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.....................................   F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets...........................................................   F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations.................................................   F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit).............................   F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................................................   F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................................   F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   34
 
               REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
Board of Directors
UOL Publishing, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of UOL
Publishing, Inc. (formerly University Online, Inc.) as of December 31, 1995 and
1996 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity
(deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1996. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
UOL Publishing, Inc. (formerly University Online, Inc.) at December 31, 1995 and
1996, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
                                                           /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Vienna, Virginia
February 7, 1997
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   35
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           DECEMBER 31,
                                                                   ----------------------------
                                                                      1995             1996
                                                                   -----------     ------------
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents......................................  $   104,178     $ 15,474,030
  Accounts receivable, less allowance of $19,950 and $36,100 at
     December 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively....................       67,364          412,095
  Loans receivable from related parties..........................      286,948          101,444
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets......................       26,050          132,128
                                                                   -----------     ------------
Total current assets.............................................      484,540       16,119,697
Property and equipment, net......................................      128,133          622,958
Other assets.....................................................           --           89,995
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net........................           --          656,503
                                                                   -----------     ------------
          Total assets...........................................  $   612,673     $ 17,489,153
                                                                   ===========     ============
 
                        LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses..........................  $ 1,088,435     $  1,259,166
  Loans payable to related parties...............................      285,300               --
  Notes payable..................................................      293,366               --
  Accrued interest...............................................      133,651               --
  Deferred revenues..............................................       86,250           28,000
                                                                   -----------     ------------
          Total current liabilities..............................    1,887,002        1,287,166
 
Commitments
 
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
  Series A convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value;
     12,000,000 shares authorized; 381,335 and 0 shares issued
     and outstanding at December 31, 1995 and 1996,
     respectively................................................        3,813               --
  Undesignated Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000
     shares authorized...........................................           --               --
  Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 36,000,000 shares authorized;
     783,246 and 3,186,167 shares issued and outstanding at
     December 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively....................        7,832           31,861
  Additional paid-in capital.....................................    5,456,325       27,553,128
  Accumulated deficit............................................   (6,742,299)     (11,383,002)
                                                                   -----------     ------------
          Total stockholders' equity (deficit)...................   (1,274,329)      16,201,987
                                                                   ===========     ============
          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)...  $   612,673     $ 17,489,153
                                                                   ===========     ============
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   36
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      -------------------------------------------
                                                         1994            1995            1996
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Licensing and support revenues......................  $   710,274     $   415,532     $   424,244
Online revenues.....................................       14,128          55,995         118,685
Development and other revenues......................       81,533          76,152         399,497
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
Net revenues........................................      805,935         547,679         942,426
 
Costs and expenses:
  Cost of licensing and support revenues............       94,657          78,918         130,834
  Cost of online revenues...........................        6,966          11,281          25,421
  Cost of development and other revenues............       44,379           3,431          38,475
  Sales and marketing...............................      295,839         932,898       1,592,668
  Product development...............................      205,975         576,470       1,482,179
  General and administrative........................      890,145         926,345       2,477,144
  Depreciation and amortization.....................      298,047         309,058         144,284
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
Total costs and expenses............................    1,836,008       2,838,401       5,891,005
 
Loss from operations................................   (1,030,073)     (2,290,722)     (4,948,579)
 
Other income (expense):
  Other income (expense)............................       (6,461)        126,651         303,983
  Interest income (expense).........................     (259,994)        (75,570)          3,893
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
Loss before extraordinary gain on debt
  forgiveness.......................................   (1,296,528)     (2,239,641)     (4,640,703)
  Extraordinary gain on debt forgiveness............      609,270              --              --
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
Net loss............................................  $  (687,258)    $(2,239,641)    $(4,640,703)
Accrued dividends to preferred stockholders.........           --        (174,889)       (330,706)
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
Net loss available to common stockholders...........  $  (687,258)    $(2,414,530)    $(4,971,409)
                                                      ===========     ===========     ===========
Net loss per share to common stockholders:
  Loss before extraordinary gain on debt
     forgiveness....................................  $     (1.79)    $     (2.24)    $     (3.88)
  Extraordinary gain on debt forgiveness............         0.84              --              --
                                                      -----------     -----------     -----------
  Net loss per share to common stockholders.........  $     (0.95)    $     (2.24)    $     (3.88)
                                                      ===========     ===========     ===========
Weighted average shares outstanding.................      724,916       1,079,032       1,282,964
                                                      ===========     ===========     ===========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   37
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 SERIES A
                             SERIES A          CONVERTIBLE                                                              TOTAL
                          PREFERRED STOCK    PREFERRED STOCK        COMMON STOCK       ADDITIONAL                   STOCKHOLDERS'
                          ---------------   ------------------   -------------------     PAID-IN     ACCUMULATED       EQUITY
                          SHARES   AMOUNT    SHARES    AMOUNT     SHARES     AMOUNT      CAPITAL       DEFICIT        (DEFICIT)
                          ------   ------   --------   -------   ---------   -------   -----------   ------------   -------------
<S>                       <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>           <C>            <C>
Balance at December 31,
  1993..................  4,568     $ 46          --   $   --      381,545   $3,816    $ 1,080,911   $(3,807,378)    $(2,722,605)
  Preferred Stock
    dividends payable...     --       --          --       --           --       --             --        (8,022)         (8,022)
  Conversion of debt to
    equity..............     --       --          --       --       79,102      791        521,803            --         522,594
  Series A Preferred
    Stock conversion....  (4,568)    (46)         --       --       91,368      914           (868)           --              --
  Issuance of Common
    Stock...............     --       --          --       --      148,534    1,485        413,279            --         414,764
  Conversion of
    Preferred Stock
    dividends payable to
    shares of Common
    Stock...............     --       --          --       --        4,008       40         24,733            --          24,773
  Issuance of
    compensatory stock
    and stock options...     --       --          --       --           --       --        176,750            --         176,750
  Net loss..............     --       --          --       --           --       --             --      (687,258)       (687,258)
                          ------    ----    --------   ------    ---------   -------   -----------   ------------    -----------
Balance at December 31,
  1994..................     --       --          --       --      704,557    7,046      2,216,608    (4,502,658)     (2,279,004)
  Conversion of debt to
    equity..............     --       --       1,800       18       78,689      786        325,278            --         326,082
  Issuance of Series A
    convertible
    Preferred Stock.....     --       --     379,535    3,795           --       --      2,728,639            --       2,732,434
  Issuance of
    compensatory stock
    and stock options...     --       --          --       --           --       --        185,800            --         185,800
  Net loss..............     --       --          --       --           --       --             --    (2,239,641)     (2,239,641)
                          ------    ----    --------   ------    ---------   -------   -----------   ------------    -----------
Balance at December 31,
  1995..................     --       --     381,335    3,813      783,246    7,832      5,456,325    (6,742,299)     (1,274,329)
  Issuance of Common
    Stock primarily in
    connection with the
    CTA Acquisition.....     --       --          --       --       47,584      476        741,524            --         742,000
  Issuance of Series A
    convertible
    Preferred Stock.....     --       --      21,625      217           --       --        412,583            --         412,800
  Issuance of
    compensatory stock
    options and
    warrants............     --       --          --       --           --       --      1,046,232            --       1,046,232
  Transactions in
    connection with
    Company's initial
    public offering:
    Issuance of Common
      Stock in
      connection with
      initial public
      offering..........     --       --          --       --    1,430,000   14,300     15,822,328            --      15,836,628
    Conversion of Series
      A convertible
      Preferred Stock...     --       --    (402,960)  (4,030)     402,960    4,030             --            --              --
    Conversion of Series
      B redeemable
      convertible
      Preferred Stock...     --       --          --       --      383,786    3,837      3,338,834            --       3,342,671
    Conversion of
      Preferred Stock
      dividends payable
      to shares of
      Common Stock......     --       --          --       --       55,623      556           (556)           --              --
    Issuance of Common
      Stock in
      connection with
      exercise of
      warrants..........     --       --          --       --       67,980      680        599,312            --         599,992
    Conversion of debt
      to equity.........     --       --          --       --       14,988      150        136,546            --         136,696
  Net loss..............     --       --          --       --           --       --             --    (4,640,703)     (4,640,703)
                          ------    ----    --------   ------    ---------   -------   -----------   ------------    -----------
Balance at December 31,
  1996..................     --     $ --          --   $   --    3,186,167   $31,861   $27,553,128   $(11,383,002)   $16,201,987
                          ======    ====    ========   ======    =========   =======   ===========   ============    ===========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   38
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                         1994           1995            1996
                                                       ---------     -----------     -----------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>             <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss.............................................  $(687,258)    $(2,239,641)    $(4,640,703)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
  operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization......................    298,047         309,058         144,284
  Stock and stock option compensation expense........    176,750         185,800       1,046,232
  Gain on debt forgiveness and other settlements.....   (609,270)        (30,303)       (100,000)
  Loss on inventory write-off........................     46,488              --              --
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
     Accounts receivable.............................     (1,647)        (62,242)       (216,020)
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets.......   (119,586)        137,487        (124,089)
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses...........    233,879        (386,670)        (12,132)
     Accrued interest................................    229,439         (63,171)       (126,955)
     Deferred revenues...............................    (28,000)        (28,810)        (74,250)
                                                       ---------     -----------     -----------
Net cash used in operating activities................   (461,158)     (2,178,492)     (4,103,633)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of CYBIS division........................   (150,000)             --              --
Purchases of property and equipment..................     (1,430)       (129,168)       (463,773)
Proceeds from loans receivable from related
  parties............................................         --          94,718         286,948
Advances under loans receivable from related
  parties............................................    (34,030)             --        (101,444)
                                                       ---------     -----------     -----------
Net cash used in investing activities................   (185,460)        (34,450)       (278,269)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock...............    414,764              --      16,437,738
Proceeds from issuance of Series A convertible
  Preferred Stock....................................         --       2,732,434         412,800
Proceeds from the issuance of Series B redeemable
  convertible Preferred Stock........................         --              --       3,042,671
Proceeds from loans payable to related parties.......    492,000         252,836         430,000
Proceeds from notes payable..........................         --              --         300,000
Repayments of loans payable to related parties.......    (34,000)       (480,353)       (585,300)
Repayments of notes payable and short-term
  borrowings.........................................   (205,547)       (208,396)       (286,155)
                                                       ---------     -----------     -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities............    667,217       2,296,521      19,751,754
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents........................................     20,599          83,579      15,369,852
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
  year...............................................         --          20,599         104,178
                                                       ---------     -----------     -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year.....  $  20,599     $   104,178     $15,474,030
                                                       =========     ===========     ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid........................................  $   3,841     $   181,009     $   200,197
                                                       =========     ===========     ===========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   39
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
     UOL Publishing, Inc., formerly University Online, Inc. (the "Company"), was
incorporated in Virginia in 1984 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1985. The
Company believes it is a leading publisher of high quality, interactive and
on-demand educational courseware for the online education and training market
through the World Wide Web.
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  Principles of Consolidation
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions eliminate upon consolidation.
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
     Cash equivalents, which are stated at cost, consist of highly liquid
investments with original maturities of three months or less.
 
  Revenue Recognition
 
     A majority of the Company's revenues are fixed monthly payments derived
from licensing and support agreements. The Company recognizes licensing and
support revenues as services are performed pursuant to the Company's contracts.
Development revenues earned under courseware conversion contracts are recognized
using the percentage-of-completion or completed contract method, depending on
the length of the contract. For percentage-of-completion contracts, revenues are
recognized based on the ratio that total costs incurred to date bear to the
total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions for losses on contracts are
made in the period in which they are determined.
 
     Online revenues are recognized from two different sources. For a corporate
online course, revenue is recognized upon the online sign-up, after which the
student can no longer obtain a refund. For a college online course, revenue is
recognized upon the expiration of the drop-add period, after which the student
can no longer obtain a refund. The Company recognizes online revenues in
accordance with Statement of Position 91-1 "Software Revenue Recognition", and
at the time that the Company recognizes such revenues, the Company has completed
substantially all of its continuing obligations with respect to the associated
revenue, and the Company is not obligated to refund any of the cash.
 
     In 1994, two customers individually represented 51% and 13% of total
revenues. In 1995, three customers individually represented 54%, 14% and 10% of
total revenues. In 1996, two customers individually represented 29% and 27% of
total revenues.
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   40
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
  Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
 
     Goodwill, which resulted from the acquisition by merger of Cognitive
Training Associates, Inc. ("CTA") in August 1996, is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over 10 years. Other intangible assets are being amortized
on a straight-line basis over three years. At December 31, 1996, goodwill and
other intangible assets were comprised of:
 
<TABLE>
                <S>                                                 <C>
                Goodwill..........................................  $505,336
                Contracts.........................................   200,000
                                                                    --------
                                                                     705,336
                Less accumulated amortization.....................   (48,833)
                                                                    --------
                                                                    $656,503
                                                                    ========
</TABLE>
 
  Royalties
 
     The Company has royalty arrangements with certain entities that have
provided development funding. Royalties will become due and payable by the
Company upon the completion and sale of products currently under development. No
significant royalties have been incurred to date.
 
  Product Development
 
     Through December 31, 1996, the Company had expensed its product development
costs as development costs. It will continue to expense such costs until such
time as the realizability of the Company's software is established.
 
  Use Of Estimates
 
     The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
  Stock-Based Compensation
 
     In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation ("SFAS No. 123,"). SFAS No. 123 allows companies to either account
for stock-based compensation under the new provisions of SFAS No. 123 or under
the provisions of Accounting Principle Bulletin No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, ("APB 25") but requires pro forma disclosures in the
footnotes to the consolidated financial statements as if the measurement
provisions of SFAS No. 123 had been adopted. The Company accounted for its
stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of APB No. 25. As
such, the adoption of SFAS No. 123 did not impact the consolidated financial
condition or the consolidated results of operations of the Company.
 
  Income Taxes
 
     The Company provides for income taxes in accordance with the liability
method.
 
  Net Loss Per Share
 
     The Company's net loss per share calculations are based upon the weighted
average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   41
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
Accounting Bulletin No. 83, convertible Preferred Stock, Common Stock, debt
convertible into shares of Common Stock, Common Stock purchase warrants and
options to purchase Common Stock issued at prices below the estimated initial
public offering ("IPO") price during the 12 months immediately preceding the
initial filing of the registration statement relating to the IPO, (collectively
the "cheap stock") have been included in the computation of net loss per share
as if they were outstanding for all periods presented (using the treasury method
assuming repurchase of Common Stock at the estimated IPO price). For the year
ended December 31, 1996, the cheap stock is weighted for the period outstanding
through the effective date of the IPO. Other shares issuable upon the exercise
of stock options and warrants, conversion of debt into shares of Common Stock
and conversion of Preferred Stock have been excluded from the computation
because the effect of their inclusion would be antidilutive due to the Company's
net losses. Subsequent to the Company's IPO, convertible Preferred Stock, Common
Stock purchase warrants, options to purchase Common Stock and debt convertible
into shares of Common Stock under the treasury stock method will be included to
the extent they are dilutive.
 
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at
cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over an
estimated useful life of three to five years. Leasehold improvements are
amortized over the lesser of the related lease term or the useful life. Property
and equipment consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                             ---------------------
                                                               1995         1996
                                                             --------     --------
            <S>                                              <C>          <C>
            Equipment......................................  $165,465     $604,485
            Computer software..............................        --      127,664
            Leasehold improvements.........................        --       43,977
            Furniture and fixtures.........................    31,628       79,166
                                                             --------     --------
                                                              197,093      855,292
            Less accumulated depreciation..................    68,960      232,334
                                                             --------     --------
                                                             $128,133     $622,958
                                                             ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
4. ACQUISITION OF COGNITIVE TRAINING ASSOCIATES, INC.
 
     On August 1, 1996, the Company acquired by merger substantially all of the
assets and liabilities (with the exception of the building, vehicle, certain
equipment, and certain notes payable) of Cognitive Training Associates, Inc., a
Texas corporation ("CTA"), for 42,487 shares of the Company's Common Stock. In
conjunction with the acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill in the amount of
$505,336 and other intangible assets (contracts and underlying modules) in the
amount of $200,000.
 
     The Company also issued fully vested options to purchase 5,096 shares of
the Company's Common Stock, at an exercise price of $0.12 per share, to four
employees of CTA. Additionally, the Company granted an option to purchase 16,995
shares of the Company's Common Stock, at an exercise price of $21.18 per share,
to the former stockholder of CTA in conjunction with a two-year employment
agreement. Management subsequently repriced the option to $12.75 per share.
Management believes that this new grant price approximated the fair market value
on the date of repricing. The option will vest over a two-year period.
Additionally, pursuant to the employment agreement, the former stockholder of
CTA will be paid $150,000 by the Company upon successful integration of CTA into
the Company. The Company expensed this $150,000 during 1996. The Company also
agreed to lease the building owned by the former stockholder of CTA for $5,000
per month (see Note 8).
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   42
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
     Following is a summary of selected pro forma information for the years
ended December 31, 1995 and 1996 as if the transaction occurred on January 1,
1995.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                            ---------------------------
                                                               1995            1996
                                                            -----------     -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
        <S>                                                 <C>             <C>
        Pro Forma net revenues............................  $ 1,317,743     $ 1,405,538
                                                            ===========     ===========
        Pro Forma net loss................................  $(2,559,177)    $(4,756,242)
        Pro Forma accrued dividends to preferred
          stockholders....................................     (174,889)       (330,706)
                                                            -----------     -----------
        Pro Forma net loss available to common
          stockholders....................................  $(2,734,066)    $(5,086,948)
                                                            ===========     ===========
        Pro Forma net loss per share to common
          stockholders....................................  $     (2.44)    $     (3.89)
                                                            ===========     ===========
        Pro Forma weighted average shares outstanding.....    1,121,519       1,307,574
                                                            ===========     ===========
</TABLE>
 
5. ACQUISITION OF CYBIS (A DIVISION OF CONTROL DATA SYSTEMS, INC.)
 
     On January 1, 1994, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets,
properties and rights of the CYBIS division of Control Data Systems, Inc.
("Control Data"), for approximately $694,000. The Company paid $150,000 in cash
and the remaining amount in the form of two promissory notes (see Note 7). The
non-cash portion of this transaction (debt of approximately $544,000) was
excluded from the statements of cash flows. The transaction was accounted for
using the purchase method. Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the
assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. This treatment resulted in
approximately $576,000 of cost in excess of net assets acquired as of January 1,
1994. Goodwill acquired has been amortized on a straight-line basis over an
estimated useful life of two years.
 
     In October 1996, The Roach Organization, Inc. ("TRO"), from which Control
Data received its license with respect to the CYBIS courseware (which license
was assigned to the Company in January 1994), alleged unspecified violations by
the Company of the terms of such license. TRO demanded that the Company cease
such alleged violations and compensate TRO for unspecified alleged damages in
connection therewith. The Company believes that it is in compliance with the
terms of the license and therefore intends to vigorously dispute these
allegations. The Company also believes that it would not be materially adversely
affected by an adverse result of this dispute.
 
6. LOANS PAYABLE TO (RECEIVABLE FROM) RELATED PARTIES
 
     During 1994, loans payable to various officers, directors and investors,
consisting of outstanding principal and accrued interest in the amount of
$522,594, were converted into 79,102 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The
remaining accrued interest of $89,748 was forgiven and recognized as a gain as a
result of the transaction. The non-cash portion of this transaction has been
excluded from the statements of cash flows.
 
     During 1995, outstanding principal and accrued interest totaling $216,900
and $12,182, respectively, as well as accounts payable totaling $97,000 to
various officers, directors and investors, were converted into 78,689 shares of
Common Stock and 1,800 shares of Series A convertible Preferred Stock. The
remaining accrued interest of $30,303 was forgiven and recognized as a gain. The
non-cash portion of this transaction has been excluded from the statements of
cash flows.
 
     At December 31, 1995, the Company owed $285,300 in 12% interest bearing
notes payable to various officers. During December 1996, the Company repaid
these notes payable and the related accrued interest of $31,664. The notes were
secured by the Company's net revenues and property and equipment.
 
     Additionally, in March 1996, the Company issued a convertible promissory
note for $300,000 to an entity controlled by a stockholder. The note bore
interest at 10.5% per annum. In connection with an agreement
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   43
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
executed by the Company and the stockholder in September 1996, the stockholder
exercised warrants to purchase 67,980 shares of Common Stock, resulting in
proceeds to the Company of approximately $600,000 and the Company repaid the
balance of the $300,000 convertible note payable plus accrued interest of
$23,560 to the entity controlled by the stockholder. Additionally, the Company
issued to the stockholder warrants to purchase 15,687 shares of Common Stock at
an exercise price equal to the IPO price of $13.00 per share.
 
     In May 1996, the Company issued a convertible subordinated unsecured
promissory note for $130,000 to an officer of the Company. The note bears
interest at a rate of 10% per annum. In addition, the officer was issued
warrants to purchase 6,904 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
price of $18.83 per share. These warrants are exercisable for eight years. The
Company believes that any value associated with the warrants is immaterial. The
note payable is convertible to shares of Common Stock at a rate of $18.83 per
share, and the conversion price and the warrant exercise price are subject to
adjustment for certain events, such as stock splits, dividends on Common Stock
or sale of the Company's Common Stock or Preferred Stock at a price less than
the conversion price. Accordingly, the conversion and warrant exercise prices
were subsequently adjusted to $9.12 due to the anti-dilution provisions pursuant
to the agreement. In December 1996, the officer converted his outstanding note
payable balance plus accrued interest of $136,696 to 14,988 shares of Common
Stock. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying such
officer's warrant, was increased by 7,349 shares and the exercise price thereof
reduced to $9.12 per share, pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights previously
granted.
 
     At December 31, 1995, accrued interest on loans payable to related parties
totaled $27,434.
 
     Loans receivable from the Company's officers and employees amounted to
$286,948 and $100,000 as of December 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The loans
receivable of $286,948 as of December 31, 1995 was repaid during 1996. In
December 1996, the Company loaned an officer of the Company $100,000 which is
due during 1997. The Company accrues interest on the 1996 loan receivable at a
rate of prime less 1%. Interest income related to loans receivable amounted to
$18,122, $14,347 and $10,152 during the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996, respectively.
 
7. NOTES PAYABLE
 
     A note payable in the amount of $250,000 plus accrued interest of $369,522
due to a former customer was settled during 1994 for a cash payment of $100,000.
The Company recognized an extraordinary gain of $519,522 as a result of this
transaction. The non-cash portion of this transaction has been excluded from the
statements of cash flows.
 
     At December 31, 1995, the Company owed $293,366 in a non-interest bearing
note payable to Control Data (see Note 5). The note was discounted at a rate of
12% per annum. As of December 31, 1995, accrued interest on notes payable
totaled $106,217. The note was secured by the assets purchased from Control
Data. During 1995, the Company also repaid the $150,000 note payable balance to
Control Data. During 1996, the Company paid a total of $299,583 to Control Data
as settlement of the note and accrued interest. The remaining $100,000 was
forgiven pursuant to a settlement agreement executed by the Company and Control
Data. The Company included the gain of $100,000 as other income in the
statements of operations.
 
     In June 1996, the Company borrowed $300,000 from an investor in exchange
for a convertible promissory note. The note bore interest at a rate of 10% per
annum, and any unpaid principal and interest is convertible into shares of the
Company's Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock at a conversion rate
of $18.83 per share, subject to adjustments for certain events, such as the sale
of the Company's Common or Preferred Stock at a price less than the conversion
price. In July 1996, principal and accrued interest were converted into shares
of Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock (see Note 10).
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   44
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
8. COMMITMENTS
 
  Network Services Agreement
 
     During 1993, the Company entered into a three-year agreement with
CompuServe, Inc. ("CompuServe") whereby CompuServe was to provide network
services to the Company. The Company ceased making payments under the agreement
in 1993 due to dissatisfaction with the services provided by CompuServe.
 
     As a result, CompuServe asserted that the Company was liable for unpaid
fees and lost profits totaling $300,000 due to breach of contract. In October
1994, the Company reached a conditional settlement with CompuServe whereby the
Company was required to purchase approximately $98,000 of advertising services
from CompuServe. During 1996, the Company fully satisfied its commitment to
purchase such advertising services from CompuServe. In 1996, the Company
recognized a gain of $119,274 relating to the settlement of amounts owed by the
Company to CompuServe; the gain is included in other income in the statements of
operations.
 
  Leases
 
     The Company leases office space under noncancellable operating lease
agreements. The Company entered into a lease in September 1996 for corporate
office space. Future minimum lease payments may be periodically adjusted based
on changes in the lessors' operating charges. Additionally, the Company leases
various office equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Rent expense for
the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 was $96,266, $98,761, and
$137,519, respectively.
 
     As of December 31, 1996, payments due under noncancellable operating leases
were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
                <S>                                                 <C>
                1997..............................................  $223,542
                1998..............................................   233,679
                1999..............................................   224,393
                2000..............................................   100,479
                2001..............................................    35,000
                                                                    --------
                                                                    $817,093
                                                                    ========
</TABLE>
 
  Employment Agreements
 
     During 1996, the Company executed employment agreements with certain key
executives under which the Company is required to pay an aggregate of
approximately $790,000 in base salary annually over the next two years, as well
as certain performance incentives limited to 50% of such base salary.
 
  Secured Lending Transaction
 
     During 1996, the Company and a bank entered into a secured line-of-credit
facility in the amount of $100,000. Amounts borrowed under this arrangement bear
interest at the bank's prime rate plus 1% and are collateralized by the assets
purchased with the amounts borrowed. Amounts borrowed under the arrangement are
payable in equal monthly installments of principal and interest between November
1996 and October 1999. As of December 31, 1996, there was no balance outstanding
under the line of credit facility.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   45
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
9. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -------------------------
                                                                 1995           1996
                                                              ----------     ----------
        <S>                                                   <C>            <C>
        Accounts payable and accrued expenses...............  $  292,511     $  931,771
        Accrued payroll in arrears and payroll taxes........     628,249             --
        Accrued payroll and payroll taxes...................     119,669        230,000
        Accrued vacation....................................      48,006         97,395
                                                              ----------     ----------
                                                              $1,088,435     $1,259,166
                                                              ==========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
     The Company accrues interest on the accrued payroll in arrears to the Chief
Executive Officer and three other officers of the Company at a rate of 5% per
annum. Interest expense related to the accrued payroll in arrears amounted to
$45,158, $29,180 and $36,182 during the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996, respectively.
 
10. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
  Equity Transactions
 
     On November 11, 1994, the Company converted all 4,568 then-outstanding
shares of Series A convertible Preferred Stock into 91,368 shares of Common
Stock to effect the Series A convertible Preferred Stock conversion. In
addition, the cumulative Preferred Stock dividends declared up to that date were
converted into 4,008 shares of Common Stock.
 
     During 1994, a total of 148,534 shares of Common Stock were issued to
existing and new investors at various prices per share for total proceeds of
approximately $415,000.
 
     During 1995, the Company issued 379,535 shares of Series A convertible
Preferred Stock for net proceeds of approximately $2,732,000 at a price of $8.83
per share.
 
     During 1996, the Company issued 5,097 shares of Common Stock as payment for
certain accounts payable amounting to $42,000. The shares were issued at a price
per share of $8.83. The non-cash portion of this transaction has been excluded
from the statements of cash flows. In addition, the Company issued 42,487 shares
of common stock in connection with the purchase of CTA (See Note 4).
 
     During 1996, the Company issued an aggregate of 20,534 shares of Series A
convertible Preferred Stock for net proceeds of approximately $413,000 at a
price of $21.18 per share. Additionally, the Company issued 1,091 shares of
Series A convertible Preferred Stock to holders of the Series A convertible
Preferred Stock to satisfy contractual anti-dilution provisions pursuant to
certain 1996 stock transactions.
 
     During 1996, the Board of Directors approved a 1-for-11.76812037 reverse
stock split of the Company's $0.01 par value Series A, Series B and Series B-1
Preferred Stock and Common Stock, which became effective on November 20, 1996.
All references in the accompanying financial statements to the number of shares
of Preferred Stock and Common Stock and per share amounts have been restated to
reflect the split.
 
     On December 2, 1996, the Company sold 1,430,000 shares of Common Stock in
the IPO for net proceeds of approximately $15,800,000. Simultaneously with the
IPO, the Company converted all outstanding shares of Series B redeemable
convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock on a 1-for-2.06 basis.
The Company also declared accrued dividends in arrears of 4,852 shares of Series
B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock to holders of Series B redeemable
convertible Preferred Stock, which were then converted to Common Stock on a
1-for-2.06 basis. The Company also converted all outstanding shares of Series A
convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis,
and the Company declared
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   46
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
accrued dividends in arrears of 45,628 shares of Series A convertible Preferred
Stock to holders of Series A convertible Preferred Stock, which were then
converted to Common Stock on the same basis as the Series A conversion. The
conversion of Preferred Stock to Common Stock is a non-cash transaction and
accordingly, has been excluded from the statements of cash flows. Also, one of
the Company's stockholders exercised warrants to purchase 67,980 shares of
Common Stock and the Company subsequently repaid the $300,000 convertible note
payable balance with the proceeds therefrom. Also, an officer of the Company
converted his $130,000 note payable into 14,988 shares of Common Stock.
 
  Preferred Stock
 
     On July 19, 1996, the Company issued 185,877 shares of Series B redeemable
convertible Preferred Stock for total proceeds of $3,500,000, including
conversion of a $300,000 convertible promissory note (see Note 7). The holders
of shares of the Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock were entitled
to receive cumulative dividends at a rate of seven percent per annum, payable in
shares of the Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock, as well as
dividends equivalent to any declared on the Common Stock, as if the Series B
redeemable convertible Preferred Stock was converted. Shares of Series B
redeemable convertible Preferred Stock are convertible on a one-for-one basis at
a conversion rate of $18.83 per share, subject to adjustment for certain events,
such as the sale of Common or Preferred Stock at a price less than the
conversion price. As a result of certain anti-dilution provisions, the Series B
Preferred Stock converted to Common Stock on a one-for-2.06 basis. Shares of the
Company's Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock had a liquidation
preference over all classes of capital stock with the exception of the Series A
convertible Preferred Stock at a preference of the stated value (i.e. conversion
price) plus declared, but unpaid, dividends on the Company's Common Stock and
the amount they would have received had they converted to Common Stock just
prior to the liquidation. The holders of Series B redeemable convertible
Preferred Stock also had the right to vote the number of shares into which each
share of Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock is convertible and were
entitled to have a designee elected to the Board of Directors of the Company.
The Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock also contained certain anti-
dilution and preemptive rights and were redeemable solely at the option of the
stockholder at the stated value at any time after five years from the closing
date. Each share of Series B redeemable convertible Preferred Stock, plus all
declared but unpaid dividends, was automatically converted into shares of Common
Stock upon the consummation of an underwritten public offering of the Company's
Common Stock.
 
     The holders of the Company's Series A convertible Preferred Stock were
entitled to receive cumulative dividends at a rate of seven percent per year, to
be paid in shares of the Company's Series A convertible Preferred Stock. Shares
of Series A convertible Preferred Stock have a liquidation preference equal to
$8.83 per share, plus all declared but unpaid dividends, and have the right to
vote the number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of Series A
convertible Preferred Stock is convertible. Shares of Series A convertible
Preferred Stock are convertible on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment,
into shares of Common Stock.
 
     As of December 31, 1995 and 1996, the Company owed dividends in arrears of
13,083 and 0 shares of Preferred Stock, respectively, which represented a total
value of $174,889 and $330,706 accrued during the years ended December 31, 1995
and 1996, respectively.
 
  Stock Option Plans
 
     The Company has adopted a stock option plan (the "Original Plan") which
permits the Company to grant up to 288,916 options to employees, board members
and others who contribute materially to the success of the Company. In November
1996, the Company's Board of Directors decided not to grant any further options
under the Original Plan.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   47
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
     During 1996, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new stock option
plan (the "1996 Plan"), which provides for the grant of 135,960 options which
was subsequently increased to 524,893 options.
 
     Stock options under the Original Plan and 1996 Plan are generally granted
at prices which the Company's Board of Directors believes approximates the fair
market value of its Common Stock at the date of grant. Individual grants
generally become exercisable ratably over a period of four to five years from
the date of grant. The contractual term of the options range from three to ten
years from the date of grant.
 
     Included in outstanding options are options to purchase 25,152 shares of
Common Stock which were issued during 1994 with an exercise price of the lesser
of $2.94 or 10% of the stock price achieved in the next equity financing
subsequent to the option grant in which the net proceeds to the Company exceeded
$2,500,000. The exercise price for these options was fixed, as a result of the
financing during 1995, at $0.88 per share. Accordingly, the Company recorded a
charge of $125,800 of expense related to these options during 1995.
 
     The Company's Board of Directors extended the exercise period of 88,032
fully vested options to August 31, 1999. This extension of exercise period
created a new measurement date for these options. As such, the Company
recognized compensation expense of $877,782 during 1996 for the difference
between the deemed fair value of the Company's Common Stock on the new
measurement date and the grant price of such options. Additionally, the Company
recognized an expense of $144,270 for options whose grant price at the grant
date was below fair market value.
 
     During 1996, the Company adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No.
123. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the fair value of
options granted during 1995 and 1996.
 
     Common stock option activity was as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                WEIGHTED
                                                                                AVERAGE
                                                                  NUMBER OF     EXERCISE
                                                                   SHARES        PRICE
                                                                  ---------     --------
        <S>                                                       <C>           <C>
        Outstanding at December 31, 1993........................    45,546       $ 2.86
          Granted...............................................    48,094       $ 2.75
          Exercised.............................................        --       $   --
          Canceled or expired...................................        --       $   --
                                                                   -------       ------
        Outstanding at December 31, 1994........................    93,640       $ 2.80
          Granted...............................................    13,596       $ 1.47
          Exercised.............................................        --       $   --
          Canceled or expired...................................    (6,798)      $ 1.47
                                                                   -------       ------
        Outstanding at December 31, 1995........................   100,438       $ 2.71
          Granted...............................................   515,189       $11.50
          Exercised.............................................        --       $   --
          Canceled or expired...................................   (20,394)      $ 5.30
                                                                   -------       ------
        Outstanding at December 31, 1996........................   595,233       $10.23
                                                                   =======       ======
        Exercisable at December 31, 1996........................   185,408       $ 7.05
                                                                   =======       ======
</TABLE>
 
     As of December 31, 1996, there were 179,643 options available for future
grants.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   48
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
     The following table summarizes information about fixed-price stock options
outstanding at December 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                 OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                                         ----------------------------------------   --------------------------
                                             NUMBER         AVERAGE     WEIGHTED-       NUMBER       WEIGHTED-
                                         OUTSTANDING AT    REMAINING     AVERAGE    EXERCISABLE AT    AVERAGE
               RANGE OF                   DECEMBER 31,    CONTRACTUAL   EXERCISE     DECEMBER 31,    EXERCISE
            EXERCISE PRICES                   1996           LIFE         PRICE          1996          PRICE
- ---------------------------------------  --------------   -----------   ---------   --------------   ---------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>           <C>         <C>              <C>
Less than $1.00........................       30,248          3.0        $   .75         30,248       $   .75
$1.00 - $3.00..........................       36,198          6.3           1.47         24,132          1.47
$3.01 - $6.00..........................       18,694          2.7           4.77         18,694          4.77
$6.01 - $10.00.........................      147,848          3.2           8.83         69,337          8.83
$10.01- $12.75.........................      362.245          9.8          12.75         42,997         12.75
                                             -------                      ------        -------        ------
$0.12 - $12.75.........................      595,233                     $ 10.23        185,408       $  7.05
                                             =======                      ======        =======        ======
</TABLE>
 
     Had compensation expense related to the stock option plans been determined
based on the fair value at the grant date for options granted in 1995 and 1996
consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net loss and net
loss per share would have been as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                            ---------------------------
                                                               1995            1996
                                                            -----------     -----------
        <S>                                                 <C>             <C>
        Net loss -- pro-forma.............................  $(2,058,843)    $(4,617,938)
                                                            ===========     ===========
        Net loss per share -- pro-forma...................  $     (2.07)    $     (3.86)
                                                            ===========     ===========
</TABLE>
 
     The effect of applying SFAS No. 123 on 1995 and 1996 pro forma net loss as
stated above is not necessarily representative of the effects on reported net
loss for future years due to, among other things, the vesting period of the
stock options and the fair value of additional stock options in future years.
 
     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Minimum Value option-pricing fair value model with the following
weighted-average assumptions used for grants in 1995: dividend yield of 0%;
expected volatility of 43%; risk-free interest rate of 5.875%; and expected life
of the option term of 3 years. The fair value of each option grant is estimated
on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing fair value model
with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants in 1996:
dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 43%; risk-free interest rate of
6.125%; and expected life of the option term of 3.5 years. The weighted average
fair value of the options granted in 1995 with a stock price greater than the
exercise price is $5.37. The weighted average fair values of the options granted
in 1996 with a stock price equal to the exercise price and with a stock price
greater than the exercise price are $4.65 and $12.42, respectively.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   49
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
  Warrants
 
     The Company has also granted warrants to purchase Common Stock to various
investors, employees and outside vendors. Warrant activity was as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NUMBER OF
                                                                         SHARES
                                                                        ---------
            <S>                                                         <C>
            Outstanding at December 31, 1993..........................        --
              Issued..................................................   380,688
              Exercised...............................................        --
              Canceled or expired.....................................        --
                                                                         -------
            Outstanding at December 31, 1994..........................   380,688
              Issued..................................................   119,796
              Exercised...............................................        --
              Canceled or expired.....................................        --
                                                                         -------
            Outstanding at December 31, 1995..........................   500,484
              Issued..................................................    43,863
              Exercised...............................................   (67,980)
              Canceled or expired.....................................        --
                                                                         -------
            Outstanding at December 31, 1996..........................   476,367
                                                                         =======
</TABLE>
 
     Exercise prices on the outstanding warrants range from $2.94 to $21.18 per
share.
 
     Of the total warrants outstanding at December 31, 1996, 296,585 Common
Stock warrants were issued in connection with equity transactions and 179,782
Common Stock warrants were issued in connection with convertible related party
debt and short-term debt. These warrants were granted at prices which the Board
of Directors of the Company believes approximates fair value at the time of
issuance, and as such the Company believes that any value allocable to the
warrant is immaterial to the financial statements. There are certain
anti-dilution rights associated with these warrants, which are effective upon
the occurrence of certain events.
 
     In connection with the Company's IPO, the exercise prices of warrants to
purchase 35,167 shares of Common Stock were reduced from $17.65 or $18.83 per
share to the IPO price, $13.00 per share, to satisfy certain anti-dilution
rights previously granted. The holders of these warrants have agreed to waive
further price-based anti-dilution rights, except with respect to issuances of
Common Stock below $8.83 per share.
 
  Reserve for Issuance
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had reserved 1,251,243 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants.
 
11. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
 
     On April 15, 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with Autodesk,
Inc. ("Autodesk") to develop and maintain a campus-like graphical user interface
located on the Internet. The Company will be entitled to certain revenues
generated by the project and will pay 20% in royalties to Autodesk for the use
of certain trademark rights. Additionally, the Company will pay royalties for
certain of the courses and products offered on the campus to owners or holders
of the rights of such products and/or courses. During September, 1996 and as
later amended, the Company contracted with InternetU, Inc., ("InternetU"), a
stockholder, to provide the funding for the project. In exchange for $1,550,000,
to be provided in installments through September 30, 1997, corresponding to the
achievement of certain milestones, the Company will grant
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>   50
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
InternetU Common Stock warrants to purchase 73,172 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $13.00 per share. In addition, InternetU will receive
royalties on future revenues generated by the project. Upon the consummation of
a public offering by the Company, these payments and issuance of the warrants
were accelerated. The cash received by the Company is restricted to costs solely
associated with the project. The Company determined that the fair value of the
warrants was approximately $150,000 and will recognize this amount as research
and development expense. This agreement is cancelable and should either party to
the agreement fail to perform, no additional cash or warrants are required to be
paid or issued or revenues shared. In January 1997, the Company received payment
of the first installment pursuant to the agreement and accordingly, the Company
recognized $250,000 as revenue during 1996 since the payment was due during 1996
and the related work to achieve the milestone was performed during 1996.
Accordingly, the Company recorded $24,180 as expense for the warrants to be
issued to InternetU.
 
12. INCOME TAXES
 
     Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
and income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's net deferred
tax assets were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                            ---------------------------
                                                               1995            1996
                                                            -----------     -----------
        <S>                                                 <C>             <C>
        Net operating loss carryforwards..................  $ 1,645,000     $ 3,266,000
        Accrued payroll...................................      229,000              --
        Other.............................................      254,000         214,000
                                                            -----------     -----------
        Total deferred tax assets.........................    2,128,000       3,480,000
        Valuation allowance...............................   (2,128,000)     (3,480,000)
                                                            -----------     -----------
        Net deferred tax assets...........................  $        --     $        --
                                                            ===========     ===========
</TABLE>
 
     As of December 31, 1995 and 1996, the Company had net operating loss
carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $4,112,000 and
$8,165,000, respectively, which will expire at various dates through 2011. The
Company may have had changes in ownership which may impose limitations on its
ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards under Section 382 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
 
13. EVENT (UNAUDITED) SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
     On March 1, 1997, the Company acquired Ivy Software, Inc. ("Ivy"), a
Virginia corporation that develops and distributes business and accounting
software for the academic education market, for cash of $314,000 and potential
future payments not to exceed approximately $862,000, which are based upon the
integration of operations, conversion of software and operating results. In
connection with this transaction, the president and sole shareholder of Ivy
entered into a three-year consulting agreement with the Company.
 
                                      F-18

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                     Among


                             UOL PUBLISHING, INC.,

                               IVY SOFTWARE, INC.

                                      and

                                 ROBERT N. HOLT


                         Effective as of March 1, 1997




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
                               Table of Contents


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  Page
                                                                                                  ----
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        1

      1.1   Definitions   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        1

ARTICLE 2 BASIC TRANSACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        5

      2.1   Agreement to Sell and Purchase Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        5
      2.2   Consideration at Closing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        5
      2.3   Post Closing Payments   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        6
      2.4   Adjustments to Payments   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        6

ARTICLE 3 CLOSING AND TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        7

      3.1   Closing   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        7
      3.2   Termination   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        7

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        8

      4.1   Organization of Ivy; Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        8
      4.2   Ability to Carry Out the Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        8
      4.3   Capitalization of Ivy; Ownership; Investment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        9
      4.4   Subsidiaries and Affiliates   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       10
      4.5   Financial Statements; Liabilities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       10
      4.6   Conduct of Business; Absence of Material Adverse Change   . . . . . . . . . . . .       10
      4.7   Title to Tangible Personal Properties; Absence of Liens   . . . . . . . . . . . .       13
      4.8   Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       13
      4.9   Compliance with Law   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       13
      4.10  Contracts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       14
      4.11  Brokers and Intermediaries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       15
      4.12  Tax Matters   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       15
      4.13  Employee Benefits   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       17
      4.14  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       19
      4.15  Insurance   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       19
      4.16  Intellectual Property   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       20
      4.17  Bank Accounts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       23
      4.18  Directors, Officers and Employees   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       23
      4.19  Labor Relations; Employees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       23
      4.20  Transactions with Related Parties   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       23
      4.21  Copies of Documents   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       23
      4.22  Real Property   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       23
      4.23  Books and Records   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       25
      4.24  Environmental Matters   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       25
      4.25  Guaranties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       26
      4.26  Government Consents   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       26
      4.27  Manufacturing Rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       26
</TABLE>





                                       i
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF UOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       26

      5.1   Organization and Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       26
      5.2   Ability to Carry Out the Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       27
      5.3   Brokers and Intermediaries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       27

ARTICLE 6 CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       27

      6.1   Full Access   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       27
      6.2   Regulatory Filings; Consents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       28
      6.3   Conduct of Business   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       28
      6.4   Confidentiality   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       29
      6.5   Books and Records   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       29
      6.6   Announcement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       29
      6.7   Best Efforts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       30
      6.8   Discussion With Others  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       30
      6.9   Cooperation in Litigation   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       30

ARTICLE 7 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF TRANSFERORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31

      7.1   Representations and Warranties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
      7.2   Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
      7.3   Performance Certificate   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
      7.4   No Injunction   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
      7.5   No Violation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
      7.6   Consents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       31
      7.7   Opinion of the UOL's Counsel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32
      7.8   No Proceedings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32
      7.9   Consulting Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32
      7.10  Miscellaneous Closing Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32

ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF THE UOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32

      8.1   Representations and Warranties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       32
      8.2   Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.3   Performance Certificate   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.4   No Injunction   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.5   No Violation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.6   Consents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.7   Opinion of Transferors' Counsel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.8   No Adverse Change   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       33
      8.9   Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34
      8.10  Resignations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34
      8.11  No Proceedings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34
      8.12  Consulting Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34
      8.13  Due Diligence   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34
      8.14  Miscellaneous Closing Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       34

ARTICLE 9 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       35

      9.1   Survival of Representations and Warranties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       35
      9.2   Survival of Covenants and Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       35
</TABLE>





                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
ARTICLE 10 INDEMNIFICATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       35

      10.1  Indemnification of UOL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       35
      10.2  Indemnification of Stockholder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       37
      10.3  Remedies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       38
      10.4  Survival  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39

      11.1  Further Assurances  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39
      11.2  Expenses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39
      11.3  Applicable Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39
      11.4  Notices   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       39
      11.5  Entire Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       40
      11.6  Amendments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       40
      11.7  Headings; References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       40
      11.8  Counterparts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       40
      11.9  Parties in Interest; Assignment   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       40
      11.10  Severability; Enforcement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       41
      11.11  JURISDICTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       41
      11.12  Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       41
      11.13  Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       41
      11.14  Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       41
</TABLE>




                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES


Exhibit A      Software Conversion Specification Letter
Exhibit B      Disclosure Schedule
Exhibit C      Ivy Financial Statements
Exhibit D      Form of Legal Opinion of Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton L.L.P.
Exhibit E      Form of Consulting Agreement
Exhibit F      Form of Legal Opinion of McCallum & Kudravetz, P.C.
Exhibit G      Form of Non-Disclosure Agreement





                                      iii
<PAGE>   5
                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


        THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into effective as of March 1, 1997, by and among UOL PUBLISHING, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("UOL"), IVY SOFTWARE, INC., a Virginia corporation
("Ivy"), and ROBERT N. HOLT, the sole stockholder of Ivy (the "Stockholder").
Ivy and the Stockholder shall sometimes collectively be referred to as the
"Transferors" and individually as a "Transferor".


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


        WHEREAS, Ivy has authorized capital stock of 100,000 shares of Ivy
Common Stock (as defined below), of which 51,000 shares are issued and
outstanding;

        WHEREAS, the Stockholder currently owns all of the outstanding shares
of Ivy Common Stock (collectively the "Ivy Shares");

        WHEREAS, the Stockholder desires to sell to UOL, and UOL desires to
purchase from the Stockholder, all right, title and interest in and to the Ivy
Shares; and

        WHEREAS, the parties expect that the transactions contemplated hereby
shall further certain of their business objectives, including, without
limitation, the expansion of the combined companies' businesses and the
utilization of the technologies of both of UOL and Ivy;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in reliance upon the premises, representations,
warranties and covenants made herein and in consideration of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINITIONS

        1.1         Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meaning set forth below:

        "Acquiror Indemnitee" and "Acquiror Indemnitees" shall have the
respective meanings set forth in Section 10.1.

        "Acquiror Indemnitor" and "Acquiror Indemnitors" shall have the
respective meanings set forth in Section 10.1.
<PAGE>   6
        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with
such other Person.

        "Affiliated Group" means any affiliated group within the meaning of
Code Section 1504.

        "Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.

        "Basis" means any past or present fact, situation, circumstance,
status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident,
action, failure to act, or transaction that forms or could form the basis for
any specified consequence.

        "CERCLA" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 4.24(a).

        "Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

        "Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

        "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        "Confidential Information" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.4.

        "Controlled Group of Corporations" has the meaning set forth in Code
Section 1563.

        "Contracts" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 4.10(b).

        "Control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled
by", "controlling" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to
any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

        "Employee Benefit Plan" means any:  (i) nonqualified deferred
compensation or retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension
Benefit Plan; (ii) qualified defined contribution retirement plan or
arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan; (iii) qualified defined
benefit retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit
Plan (including any Multiemployer Plan); and (iv) Employee Welfare Benefit Plan
or fringe benefit plan or program.

        "Employee Pension Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in ERISA
Section 3(2).





                                       2
<PAGE>   7
        "Employee Welfare Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in ERISA
Section 3(1).

        "Encumbrances" means any and all restrictions on transfer, liens,
encumbrances, charges, pledges, security interests, taxes, options, warrants,
purchase rights, contracts, commitments, equities, claims and demands.

        "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

        "Fiduciary" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section 3(21).

        "Financial Statements" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection
4.5(a).

        "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

        "Intellectual Property" means:  (i) all inventions (whether patentable
or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice and the record of
conception documentation relating thereto), all improvements thereto, and all
patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures, together with all
reissuances, divisions, continuations, renewals, continuations-in-part,
revisions, extensions, and reexaminations thereof; (ii) all trademarks, service
marks, certification marks, collective marks, trade dress, trade styles, logos,
trade names, company names, and corporate names, together with all
translations, adaptions, derivations, and combinations thereof and including
all goodwill associated therewith, and all applications, registrations,
recordings and renewals in connection therewith; (iii) all copyrightable works,
all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights and all applications,
registrations, recordings and renewals in connection therewith; (iv) all mask
works and all applications, registrations, recordings and renewals in
connection therewith; (v) all trade secrets and confidential business
information (including ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas,
compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical
data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing
and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals); (vi) all
computer software (including data and related documentation); (vii) all other
proprietary rights; (viii) all copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in
whatever form or medium); (ix) all income, royalties, damages or payments now
and hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing with respect to any
of the foregoing and the right to sue for past, present or future infringements
of any of the foregoing; (x) all licenses with respect to any of the foregoing;
and (xi) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.





                                       3
<PAGE>   8
        "Ivy" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.

        "Ivy Common Stock" means the Common Stock, [$1.00] par value per share,
of Ivy.

        "Ivy Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph
of the recitals.

        "Knowledge" means knowledge after reasonable investigation.

        "Liability" means any liability (whether known or unknown, whether
asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or
unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become
due), including liability for Taxes.

        "Litigation" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 4.8(a).

        "Most Recent Balance Sheet" shall have the meaning set forth in
subsection 4.7(a).

        "Most Recent Financial Statements" shall have the meaning set forth in
subsection 4.5(a).

        "Most Recent Fiscal Month End" shall have the meaning set forth in
subsection 4.5(a).

        "Most Recent Fiscal Year End" shall have the meaning set forth in
subsection 4.5(a).

        "Multiemployer Plan" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section 3(37).

        "Non-Disclosure Agreement" and "Non-Disclosure Agreements" shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 8.9.

        "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

        "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, trust, entity or unincorporated
organization or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

        "Prohibited Transaction" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section 406
and Code Section 4975.

        "Proprietary Information" shall have the meaning set forth in
subsection 4.16(g).

        "RCRA" has the meaning set forth in subsection 4.24(a).





                                       4
<PAGE>   9
        "Reportable Event" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section 4043.

        "Stockholder" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph
of this Agreement.

        "Subsidiary" means any corporation with respect to which a specified
Person (or Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of the common stock or has the
power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority
of the directors.

        "Tax" or "Taxes" means any federal, state, local, foreign or other
income, gross receipts, profits, franchise, license, transfer, sales, use,
payroll, withholding, occupation, property (real or personal), excise and
similar taxes, fees, duties, assessments, withholdings or governmental charges
of any nature (including interest, penalties or additions to such taxes).

        "Tax Returns" means all returns, reports, estimates, information
returns and statements of any nature with respect to Taxes.

        "Termination Date" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection
3.3(b).

        "Transferor" and "Transferors" shall have the respective meanings set
forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

        "UOL" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.

        "UOL Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share,
of UOL.


                                   ARTICLE 2

                               BASIC TRANSACTION

        2.1         Agreement to Sell and Purchase Securities.  For the
consideration hereinafter provided and subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, at the Closing the Stockholder shall sell, assign, transfer,
convey and deliver to UOL, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and
UOL shall purchase and acquire from the Stockholder, all of the Ivy Shares.

        2.2         Consideration at Closing.  At the Closing, subject to the
terms and conditions hereof and subject to adjustment as set forth in Section
2.4 hereof:

                    (a)     the Stockholder shall cause to be delivered to UOL
certificates representing the Ivy Shares, together with stock powers duly
endorsed in blank for the transfer of the Ivy





                                       5
<PAGE>   10
Shares to UOL, and, if applicable, with all necessary transfer taxes paid or
other revenue stamps affixed thereto;

                    (b)     UOL shall pay off Ivy's existing indebtedness to
Jefferson National Bank, Charlottesville, Virginia (the "JNB Loan"); and

                    (c)     UOL shall deliver to the Stockholder by check or
wire transfer the sum of $313,643.00, less the amount, if any, by which the
pay-off of the JNB Loan exceeds $50,000.00.

        2.3         Post Closing Payments.  UOL shall also pay to the
Stockholder the following additional amounts by check or wire transfer at the
following times subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 2.4 hereof:

                    (a)     $156,821.50 upon the earlier of the successful
completion of the transition of control of Ivy's operations to UOL or July 1,
1997;

                    (b)     $156,821.50 in the event that Ivy's Total Revenue
for the year ending December 31, 1997, as reflected by financial statements
utilizing the accrual basis of accounting, as prepared by UOL and audited by
its auditors, is equal to or greater than $627,286.00.  This $156,821.50 amount
shall be payable promptly upon receipt of the audit report for the year ending
December 31, 1997, UOL to cause such report to be completed not later than
February 28, 1998.  For the purpose this section, "Total Revenue" shall mean
and refer to the sum of all product sales by Ivy (less returns, allowances and
credits), all service revenues of Ivy, all of Ivy's royalty revenues and billed
shipping charges, and all of UOL's sales of Ivy software products, including
derivatives thereof (less returns, allowances and credits); and

                    (c)     $100,000 upon successful conversion of the Ivy
courseware listed on Schedule 2.3(c) from its current format into Authorware
format.  "Successful conversion" shall be deemed achieved when the software has
been transferred and complies with the specifications and standards set forth
in a certain letter from Ivy to UOL, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.

        2.4         Adjustments to Payments.  In the event that at any time on
or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing, UOL's independent auditors
shall determine that Ivy's Total Revenue for the year ended December 31, 1996
("Ivy's 1996 Revenue") was not $627,286.00, then:

                    (a)     the payment described in Section 2.2(c) shall be
adjusted to be equal to the sum of one-half of Ivy's 1996 Revenue, less the
amount, if any, by which the pay-off of the JNB Loan exceed $50,000.00; and





                                       6
<PAGE>   11
                    (b)     the payment amount "$156.821.50" set forth in
Sections 2.3(a) and (b) shall be adjusted to be equal to one-quarter of Ivy's
1996 Revenue.

Any amounts due from one party to another as a result of any such adjustment to
any such payment shall be paid on the later of (i) five days after such
determination, and (ii) the date the underlying payment is due.

        2.5         Records.  The Company shall keep full, true, clear and
accurate records and books of account documenting its calculation of Total
Revenue for purposes of this Agreement. Stockholder shall have reasonable
access (during the Company's normal business hours only) to all such books and
records for the purpose determining the Company's compliance with its
obligations under the Agreement.  The Company shall not be required to provide
Stockholder with such access after the third anniversary of the Closing, nor
more than two (2) times per year, and such access shall require a minimum of 30
days prior written notice from Consultant.


                                   ARTICLE 3

                            CLOSING AND TERMINATION

        3.1         Closing.  The closing of the transactions provided for
herein (the "Closing") shall take place at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on a date
to be specified by the parties (the "Closing Date"), and shall be effective as
of March 1, 1997, at the offices of UOL Publishing, Inc., 8251 Greensboro
Drive, Suite 500, McLean, Virginia 22102.

        3.2         Termination.  Notwithstanding any other provision to the
contrary herein, this Agreement may be terminated at any time:

                    (a)     without liability on the part of any party hereto,
by mutual consent of all parties to this Agreement;

                    (b)     without liability on the part of any party hereto
(unless occasioned by reason of failure of one of the parties hereto to perform
its obligations hereunder), by either UOL or Ivy, if the transactions
contemplated hereby are not consummated on or before March 31, 1997, or such
later date as may be agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto;

                    (c)     by UOL, if:  (i) Ivy or the Stockholder shall
breach in any material respect any of their respective representations,
warranties or obligations hereunder; (ii) such breach shall not have been
cured in all material respects or waived; and (iii) Ivy or the Stockholder, as
the case may be, shall not have provided reasonable assurance that such breach
shall be cured in all material respects on or before the Closing





                                       7
<PAGE>   12
Date, but only if such breach, singly or together with all other such breaches,
constitutes a failure of the conditions contained in Sections 8.1 or 8.2 hereof
as of the date of such termination; or

                    (d)     by Ivy, if:  (i) UOL shall breach in any material
respect any of their respective representations, warranties or obligations
hereunder; (ii) such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects
or waived; and (iii) UOL shall not have provided reasonable assurance that such
breach shall be cured in all material respects on or before the  Closing Date,
but only if such breach, singly or together with all other such breaches,
constitutes a failure of the conditions contained in Sections 7.1 or 7.2 hereof
as of the date of such termination.

                                   ARTICLE 4

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

        Except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Schedule attached
hereto as Exhibit B, Ivy and the Stockholder hereby jointly and severally
represent and warrant to UOL as follows:

        4.1         Organization of Ivy; Authority.  Ivy is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, with the full power and authority, corporate and
otherwise, to enter into this Agreement and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement.  Ivy has the full and
unrestricted power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, operate and
lease its assets and properties and to carry on its business as currently
conducted and in which it presently proposes to engage.  Ivy is not qualified
to do business in any other jurisdiction, and the nature of Ivy's business does
not require it to be so qualified. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate or other action on the part of Ivy and
the Stockholder.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Ivy
and the Stockholder and constitutes the valid, binding and enforceable
obligation of Ivy and the Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms
and conditions.

        4.2         Ability to Carry Out the Agreement.  Neither Ivy nor the
Stockholder is subject to or bound by any provision of:

                    (i)     any law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance or
        judicial or administrative decision;

                    (ii)    any articles or certificate of incorporation or
        bylaws;

                    (iii)   any mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note,
        stockholders' agreement, bond, indenture, other instrument





                                       8
<PAGE>   13
        or agreement, license, permit, trust, custodianship, other restriction
        of any kind or character whatsoever; or

                    (iv)    any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of
        any court, governmental body, administrative agency or arbitrator;

that would prevent or be violated by, or would result in any penalty,
forfeiture or contract termination as a result of, or under which there would
be a default as a result of, nor is the consent of any Person under any
contract or agreement disclosed in Schedule 4.10(a) which has not been obtained
required for, the execution, delivery and performance by Ivy and the
Stockholder of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

        4.3         Capitalization of Ivy; Ownership; Investment.    (a) The
authorized capital stock of Ivy consists solely of 100,000 shares of Ivy Common
Stock.  The Ivy Shares are the only shares of capital stock and other
securities of Ivy which are issued and outstanding.  At the Closing the only
class, type, or kind of capital stock or security of Ivy outstanding shall be
Ivy Common Stock.  All shares of Ivy Common Stock are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, were issued in compliance with all
applicable federal and state securities laws, and are held of record by the
Stockholder.  There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants,
purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights of first refusal, preemptive rights or other rights of any kind to
acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of Ivy or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or which otherwise confer on
the holder thereof any right to acquire, any shares of capital stock or
securities of Ivy, nor is Ivy committed to issue any such capital stock option,
warrant, right or security.  Prior to the Closing all securities, any and all
notes and debts of Ivy to the Stockholder or his Affiliates, any advances made
by the Stockholder to Ivy, any similar or related rights or interests owed to
the Stockholder, and any and all interest or dividends payable with respect to
any of the foregoing shall, without any liability on the part of Ivy, be
converted into shares of Ivy Common Stock.  There are no outstanding or
authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or other
similar rights with respect to Ivy. There are no voting trusts, proxies, or
other agreements, commitments, obligations, or understandings with respect to
the voting of the capital stock of Ivy.

                    (b)     The Ivy Shares are owned of record and beneficially
by the Stockholder.  The Stockholder has good, valid, and marketable title to
the Ivy Shares, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, with full right and
lawful authority to transfer, assign, deliver, convert and exchange his Ivy
Shares pursuant to this Agreement.  The Stockholder is not party to any option,
warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment that could require the
Stockholder to sell, transfer, or





                                       9
<PAGE>   14
otherwise dispose of any capital stock of Ivy (other than pursuant to this
Agreement).

        4.4         Subsidiaries and Affiliates.  Ivy has no Subsidiaries and
does not control, directly or indirectly, or have any direct or indirect equity
participation or any interest in any corporation, partnership, trust, venture,
business, enterprise, firm or other business association.

        4.5         Financial Statements; Liabilities.  (a)  Attached hereto as
Exhibit C are the following financial statements of Ivy (collectively the
"Financial Statements"): (i) the unaudited balance sheets and statements of
operations, stockholder's equity and cash flows as at and for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 1995 and 1996; and (ii) the unaudited balance sheet and
statements of operations as at and for the two months ended February 28, 1997
("Most Recent Fiscal Month End").  The Financial Statements (including the
notes thereto) have been prepared on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered thereby, are true, correct, and complete, fairly present the financial
position of Ivy at the dates thereof and the results of operations of Ivy for
the periods covered thereby, and are consistent with the books and records of
Ivy (which books and records are correct and complete).  All of the Financial
Statements have been prepared using consistent accounting and financial
principles and fairly present the financial position of Ivy at the dates
thereof and the results of operations for the periods then ended.

                    (b)     There are no Liabilities of Ivy (and there is no
Basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claims or demand against Ivy giving rise to
any Liability), except for those: (i) accrued or reflected on the face of the
Most Recent Financial Statements; or (ii) arising in the ordinary course of
business (none of which results from, arises out of, relates to, is in the
nature of, or was caused by any breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort
infringement, or violation of law).

                    (c)     Ivy's 1996 Revenue was $627,286.00.

        4.6         Conduct of Business; Absence of Material Adverse Change.
Since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End, there has been no material adverse
change in the business, operations, results of operations, assets, properties,
financial condition or prospects of Ivy.  Since such date, except as
contemplated in this Agreement Ivy has conducted its business in the manner
theretofore conducted and only in the ordinary course consistent with past
practices.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Ivy has not:

                    (a)     incurred any loss of, or injury to, the assets or
properties of Ivy as the result of any fire, explosion, flood, windstorm,
earthquake, labor trouble, riot, accident, act





                                       10
<PAGE>   15
of God or public enemy or armed forces, or other casualty (whether or not
covered by insurance payable to Ivy);

                    (b)     issued, sold, or otherwise disposed of, or
committed to issue, sell, or otherwise dispose of (other than as contemplated
in this Agreement), any capital stock, bonds or other securities of any kind or
nature, or granted any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain
(including upon conversion, exchange, or exercise) any of its capital stock;

                    (c)     incurred, or become subject to, any obligation or
Liability in excess of $5,000, either individually or in the aggregate, except
Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices and obligations under contracts listed in the Schedules;

                    (d)     discharged or satisfied any lien or Encumbrance or
paid any obligation or Liability other than Liabilities reflected in the Most
Recent Fiscal Year End balance sheet and Liabilities incurred since the Most
Recent Fiscal Year End in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices;

                    (e)     for any reason, declared or made payment of, or set
aside for payment, any dividends or distributions of any assets of any kind
whatsoever in respect of any shares of the capital stock of Ivy (whether in
cash or in kind), or purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its
capital stock, any securities convertible into capital stock, or any other
securities;

                    (f)     mortgaged, pledged, or subjected to lien, charge,
security interest, or any other Encumbrance any of its assets or properties
with respect to any obligations;

                    (g)     sold, exchanged, transferred or otherwise disposed
of any of its assets or properties, tangible and intangible, or cancelled any
debts or claims, except in each case in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices;

                    (h)     written down the value of any assets or properties
or written off as uncollectible any notes or accounts receivable, except
write-downs and write-offs in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practices;

                    (i)     entered into any employment agreement or collective
bargaining agreement, written or oral; modified the terms of any such existing
agreement or contract; increased the rate of compensation payable, or to become
payable, by it to any of its officers, directors, employees, consultants,
agents, or independent contractors; adopted, amended, modified, terminated or
made any contributions to, or any commitments for, any contributions to, any
bonus, profit sharing, incentive,





                                       11
<PAGE>   16
severance, pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made
to, for or with any of the foregoing; or made any other change in employment
terms for any of its officers, directors, employees, consultants, agents, or
independent contractors outside of the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practices;

                    (j)     made or permitted any amendment or termination of
any contract, agreement, lease or license to which it is a party or which it
owns otherwise than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;

                    (k)     through negotiation or otherwise made any
commitment or incurred any Liability to any labor organization;

                    (l)     paid any severance or termination pay to any
officer or employee in excess of two weeks' salary;

                    (m)     made any material change in any method of
accounting or accounting practice;

                    (n)     made any charitable contributions or pledges
outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

                    (o)     waived or released any rights of material value
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

                    (p)     effected any material reduction or increase of
advertising, administrative, or research and development expenses of Ivy other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

                    (q)     made or committed to make capital expenditures (or
series of related capital expenditures) either in excess of $5,000 in the
aggregate or outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices;

                    (r)     made any accrual or arrangement for or payment of
bonuses or special compensation of any kind to any director, officer,
consultant or employee;

                    (s)     made any investment in (capital or otherwise), any
loan to, or any acquisition of securities or assets of, any other Person (or
series of related investments, loans or acquisitions);

                    (t)     made or authorized any change in the charter or
bylaws of Ivy;

                    (u)     issued any note, bond, or other debt security,
increased bank debt, or created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any
indebtedness for borrowed money or capital lease





                                       12
<PAGE>   17
obligations together with Liabilities involving more than $10,000 in the
aggregate;

                    (v)     made any loan to, or entered into any other
transaction with, any of its directors, officers, and employees outside of the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practices; or

                    (w)     agreed or committed, whether in writing or not, to
do any of the foregoing.

        4.7         Title to Tangible Personal Properties; Absence of Liens.
(a) Ivy has good, valid and marketable title to, or valid and subsisting
leasehold interests in, all buildings, machinery, equipment and other tangible
personal properties and assets used in the business of Ivy, located on its
premises, or shown on the balance sheet of the Most Recent Financial Statements
(the "Most Recent Balance Sheet") or acquired after the date thereof, free and
clear of any and all Encumbrances, except for Encumbrances reflected in the
Most Recent Balance Sheet.

                    (b)     The assets and properties owned or leased by Ivy
constitute all of the assets and properties necessary to conduct the business
of Ivy in the manner in which it has previously been conducted and as presently
proposed to be conducted.  All such personal property is free from defects, has
been maintained in accordance with normal industry practice, is in good
operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and is
suitable for the purposes for which it presently is used and presently is
proposed to be used.

        4.8         Litigation.  (a) There is no charge, complaint, action,
suit, arbitration, proceeding, hearing, or investigation (collectively,
"Litigation") pending or, to the best knowledge and belief of Ivy and the
Stockholder, threatened against Ivy in, before, or by any court or arbitrator
or governmental agency or authority.  None of the Stockholder and the directors
and officers of Ivy has any Basis to believe that any Litigation may be brought
or threatened against Ivy.  Ivy is not subject to any outstanding injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge.

                    (b)     Ivy has not breached, and is not in default of, any
of its legal obligations with respect to any of its licensors, licensees,
collaborative and other partners, joint venturers, brokers, distributors,
business consultants, franchisees, franchisors, representatives or other
independent contractors.

        4.9         Compliance with Law.  The Stockholder and Ivy and its
predecessors and Affiliates have complied in all material respects with all
applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, regulations, rules, orders,
determinations, writs, injunctions, awards, judgments, and decrees of every
kind whatsoever of any





                                       13
<PAGE>   18
and all governmental authorities applicable to Ivy (including all agencies
thereof) or to the assets, properties and business of Ivy, and no suit, action,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice
has been filed, commenced or threatened against Ivy alleging any failure to so
comply.  All material governmental approvals, permits and licenses required by
Ivy in connection with the conduct of its business have been obtained, are in
full force and effect, and are being complied with in all respects.  Ivy and
all of its employees, agents, distributors or representatives have not paid or
received any bribe or other unlawful, questionable or unusual payment of money
or other thing of more than nominal value, granted or accepted any
extraordinary discount, or furnished or been given any other unlawful or
unusual inducement to or from any person, business association or governmental
entity in the United States or elsewhere in connection with or in furtherance
of the business of Ivy, and such business is not in any manner dependent upon
the making or receipt of such payment, discounts or other inducements.

        4.10        Contracts.  (a) Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a list of each written and oral contract or agreement (collectively,
the "Contracts") outstanding as of the date hereof to which Ivy is a party:

                    (i)     which involves the lease of personal property from
        or to third parties providing for lease payments in excess of $1,000
        per annum;

                    (ii)    under which it has created, incurred, assumed or
        guaranteed (or may create, incur, assume or guarantee) indebtedness for
        borrowed money (including capitalized lease obligations) involving more
        than $1,000;

                    (iii)   which is in the nature of an employment, consulting
        or severance agreement or collective bargaining agreement involving the
        payment of more than $1,000 or not entered into in the ordinary course
        of business;

                    (iv)    which is with any of the Stockholder and his
        Affiliates (other than Ivy);

                    (v)     which concerns confidentiality, nondisclosure or
        noncompetition;

                    (vi)    which is a profit sharing, stock option, stock
        appreciation, deferred compensation, severance or other plan or
        arrangement for the benefit of its current or former directors,
        officers and employees;

                    (vii)   which by its terms is not terminable without
        liability and involves the payment or receipt of $1,000 or more;





                                       14
<PAGE>   19
                    (viii)  which the consequences of a default or termination
        could have an adverse effect on the business, assets, financial
        condition, operations, results of operations, or future prospects of
        Ivy;

                    (ix)    which is in the nature of a partnership, joint
        venture, or collaborative arrangement or relationship;

                    (x)     which involves the purchase or sale of raw
        materials, commodities, supplies, products, or other personal property,
        or for the furnishing or receipt of services, the performance of which
        shall extend over a period of more than one (1) year, result in
        financial loss to Ivy, or involves consideration in excess of $1,000;
        or

                    (xi)    which is outside of the ordinary course of business
        or contains any provision requiring Ivy to indemnify any other party
        thereto.

                    (b)     Ivy has delivered to UOL a correct and complete
copy of each written Contract, as amended to date, and a written summary
setting forth the terms and conditions of each oral Contract.  All of the
Contracts are legal, valid, binding, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms against Ivy and any other parties thereto, and are in full
force and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement.  There is not under any Contract:
(i) any existing default, breach or violation by Ivy or by any other party
thereto; (ii) an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute a default or breach by Ivy or by any other party, or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration, under the Contract; or (iii) any
repudiation of any provision of any Contract.

        4.11        Brokers and Intermediaries.  None of the Transferors has
employed any broker, finder, advisor, or intermediary in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would be entitled to a
broker's, finder's, or similar fee or commission in connection therewith or
upon the consummation thereof.

        4.12        Tax Matters.  (a) Ivy has filed all Tax Returns that it has
been required to file.  All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all
respects.  All Taxes owed by Ivy (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have
been paid.  Ivy currently is not the beneficiary of any extension of time
within which to file any Tax Return.  No claim has ever been made by an
authority in a jurisdiction where Ivy does not file Tax Returns that it is or
may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.  There are no Encumbrances on
any of the assets of Ivy that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged
failure) to pay any Tax.





                                       15
<PAGE>   20
                    (b)     Ivy has withheld and paid all Taxes required to
have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any
employee, consultant, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other
third Person.

                    (c)     No Transferor or director or officer (or employee
responsible for Tax matters) of Ivy expects any authority to assess any
additional Taxes for any period for which Tax Returns have been filed.  There
is no dispute or claim concerning any Tax Liability of Ivy either: (i) claimed
or raised by any authority in writing; or (ii) as to which any of the
Transferors or the directors and officers (and employees responsible for Tax
matters) of Ivy has Knowledge based upon personal contact with any agent of
such authority.  Section 4.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all federal,
state, local, and foreign income Tax Returns filed with respect to Ivy for
taxable periods ended on or before December 31, 1996, indicates those Tax
Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that currently
are the subject of audit.  The Transferors have delivered to UOL correct and
complete copies of all federal, state and local income Tax Returns, examination
reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by Ivy
since its formation.

                    (d)     Ivy has not waived any statute of limitations in
respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax
assessment or deficiency.

                    (e)     Ivy has not filed a consent under Code Section
341(f) concerning collapsible corporations.  Ivy has not made any payments, is
not obligated to make any payments, and is not a party to any agreement that
under certain circumstances could obligate it to make any payments that shall
not be deductible under Code Section 280G.  Ivy has not been a United States
real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2)
during the applicable period specified in Code Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).  Ivy
has disclosed on its Federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein
that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax
within the meaning of Code Section 6662.  Ivy is not a party to any Tax
allocation or sharing agreement.  Ivy is not a member of an Affiliated Group
filing a consolidated Federal income Tax Return and has no Liability for the
Taxes of any Person (other than Ivy) under Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract, or otherwise.

                    (f)  The unpaid Taxes of Ivy:  (i) did not, as of the Most
Recent Fiscal Month End exceed the reserve for Tax Liability (rather than any
reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between
book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet
(rather than in any notes thereto); and (ii) do not exceed that reserve as
adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance





                                       16
<PAGE>   21
with the past custom and practice of Ivy in filing its Tax Returns.

                    (g)     As of the Closing, Ivy shall not have outstanding
any warrants, options, convertible securities, or any other type of right
pursuant to which any Person could acquire stock in Ivy that, if exercised or
converted, would affect UOL's acquisition or retention of control of Ivy as
defined in Code Section 368(c)(1).

                    (h)     Ivy operates at least one significant historic
business line or owns at least a significant portion of its historic business
assets, in each case within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.368-1(d).

        4.13        Employee Benefits.  (a) Section 4.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule lists each Employee Benefit Plan that Ivy maintains or to which Ivy
contributes.  Each such Employee Benefit Plan (and each related trust,
insurance contract, or fund) complies in form and in operation in all respects
with the applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code, and other applicable laws.

                    (b)     All required reports and descriptions (including
Form 5500 Annual Reports, Summary Annual Reports, PBGC-1's, and Summary Plan
Descriptions) have been filed or distributed appropriately with respect to each
such Employee Benefit Plan.  The requirements of Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title
I of ERISA and of Code Section 4980B have been met with respect to each such
Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.

                    (c)     All contributions (including all employer
contributions and employee salary reduction contributions) which are due have
been paid to each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee Pension
Benefit Plan, and all contributions for any period ending on or before the
Closing Date which are not yet due have been paid to each such Employee Pension
Benefit Plan or accrued in accordance with the past custom and practice of Ivy.
All premiums or other payments for all periods ending on or before the Closing
Date have been paid with respect to each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an
Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.

                    (d)     Each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan meets the requirements of a "qualified plan"
under Code Section 401(a) and has received, within the last two (2) years, a
favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service.

                    (e)     The market value of assets under each such Employee
Benefit Plan which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) equals or exceeds the present value of all vested and
nonvested Liabilities thereunder determined in accordance with PBGC methods,
factors, and





                                       17
<PAGE>   22
assumptions applicable to an Employee Pension Benefit Plan terminating on the
date for determination.

                    (f)     The Transferors have delivered to UOL correct and
complete copies of the plan documents and summary plan descriptions, the most
recent determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service, the
most recent Form 5500 Annual Report, and all related trust agreements,
insurance contracts, and other funding agreements which implement each such
Employee Benefit Plan.

                    (g)     With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan that Ivy
and the Controlled Group of Corporations which includes Ivy maintains or has
maintained within the last five years, or has contributed, or been required to
contribute within the last five years:

                    (i)     No such Employee Benefit Plan which is in Employee
        Pension Benefit Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) has been
        completely or partially terminated or been the subject of a Reportable
        Event as to which notices would be required to be filed with the PBGC.
        No proceeding by the PBGC to terminate any such Employee Pension
        Benefit Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) has been instituted or
        threatened.

                    (ii)    There have been no Prohibited Transactions with
        respect to any such Employee Benefit Plan.  No Fiduciary has any
        Liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other failure to act or
        comply in connection with the administration or investment of the
        assets of any such Employee Benefit Plan.  No action, suit, proceeding,
        hearing, or investigation with respect to the administration or the
        investment of the assets of any such Employee Benefit Plan (other than
        routine claims for benefits) is pending or threatened.  None of the
        Stockholder and the directors and officers (and employees with
        responsibility for employee benefits matters) of Ivy has any Knowledge
        of any Basis for any such action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or
        investigation.

                    (iii)  Ivy has not incurred, and none of the Stockholder
        and the directors and officers (and employees with responsibility for
        employee benefits matters) of Ivy has any reason to expect that Ivy
        shall incur, any Liability to the PBGC (other than PBGC premium
        payments) or otherwise under Title IV of ERISA (including any
        withdrawal Liability) or under the Code with respect to any such
        Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan.

                    (h)     None of Ivy and the other members of the Controlled
Group of Corporations that includes Ivy contributes to, ever has contributed
to, or ever has been required to





                                       18
<PAGE>   23
contribute to any Multiemployer Plan or has any Liability (including withdrawal
Liability) under any Multiemployer Plan.

                    (i)     Ivy does not maintain or contribute and never has
maintained or contributed, and never has been required to contribute to any
Employee Welfare Benefit Plan providing medical, health, or life insurance or
other welfare-type benefits for current or future retired or terminated
employees, their spouses, or their dependents (other than in accordance with
Code Sec.  4980B).

        4.14        Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.  Ivy has delivered to
UOL complete and correct copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of
Ivy, as currently in effect.  The Transferors have not defaulted under or
violated any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Ivy.

        4.15        Insurance.  Section 4.15 of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the following information with respect to each insurance policy
(including policies providing property, casualty, liability, and workers'
compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements) to which Ivy has been a
party, a named insured, or otherwise the beneficiary of coverage at any time
since its formation:

                    (i)     the name, address, and telephone number of the
        agent;

                    (ii)    the name of the insurer, the name of the
        policyholder, and the name of each covered insured;

                    (iii)   the policy number and the period of coverage;

                    (iv)    the scope (including an indication of whether the
        coverage was on a claims made, occurrence, or other basis) and amount
        (including a description of how deductibles and ceilings are calculated
        and operate) of coverage;

                    (v)     a description of any retroactive premium
        adjustments or other loss-sharing arrangements; and

                    (vi)    any self-insurance arrangements affecting Ivy.

With respect to each such insurance policy:  (i) the policy is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (ii) the policy shall
continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect
on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; (iii) Ivy is not nor is any other party to the policy in
breach or default (including with respect to the payment of premiums or the
giving of notices), and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse
of time, would





                                       19
<PAGE>   24
constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or
acceleration, under the policy; and (iv) no party to the policy has repudiated
any provision thereof.  Ivy has been covered since the date of its formation by
insurance in scope and amount customary and reasonable for the businesses in
which it has engaged during the aforementioned period.

        4.16        Intellectual Property.  (a)  Ivy owns or has the legal
right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or permission all
Intellectual Property reasonably necessary for the operation of the businesses
of Ivy as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.  Each
item of Intellectual Property owned or used by Ivy immediately prior to the
Closing hereunder shall be owned or used by Ivy on identical terms and
conditions subsequent to the Closing, subject to the provisions of any license
agreement as to the term thereof.  Ivy has reasonable actions to maintain and
protect each item of Intellectual Property that it owns or uses.

                    (b)     Ivy has not interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with, any Intellectual
Property rights of third Persons, and none of the Transferors and the directors
and officers of Ivy has ever received any charge, complaint, claim, demand, or
notice alleging any such interference, infringement, misappropriation, or
violation (including any claim that Ivy must license or refrain from using any
Intellectual Property rights of any third party), except where such action
would not have a material adverse effect upon Ivy.  To the Knowledge of any of
the Transferors and the directors and officers of Ivy, no third Person has
interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into
conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of Ivy.

                    (c)     Ivy has not and shall not utilize any inventions of
any of its employees (or people it currently intends to hire, if any) made
prior to their employment by Ivy. To its Knowledge, Ivy believes that all of
the Intellectual Property owned by it was conceived of during the corporate
existence of Ivy and was created by its employees within the scope of their
employment with Ivy.  Section 4.16(c) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies
each trade name or unregistered trademark used by Ivy in connection with its
business and each patent or registration which has been issued to Ivy with
respect to any of its Intellectual Property, identifies each pending patent
application or application for registration which Ivy has made with respect to
any of its Intellectual Property, identifies any of the Intellectual Property
of Ivy which is either a trade secret or claimed as proprietary and not subject
to a patent or pending patent application, and identifies each license,
agreement, or other permission which Ivy has granted to any third Person with
respect to any of its Intellectual Property (together with any exceptions).
Ivy has delivered to UOL correct and complete copies of all such registrations,
applications, licenses, agreements, and permissions (as amended to date) and





                                       20
<PAGE>   25
have made available to UOL correct and complete copies of all other written
documentation evidencing ownership and prosecution (if applicable) of each such
item.  With respect to each such item of Intellectual Property:

                    (i)     Ivy possesses all right, title, and interest in and
        to the item, free and clear of any Encumbrance, license, or other
        restriction;

                    (ii)    the item is not subject to any outstanding
        injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge;

                    (iii)   no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
        investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending or is
        threatened which challenges the legality, validity, enforceability,
        use, or ownership of the item; and

                    (iv)    Ivy has never agreed in writing, or to its
        Knowledge verbally, to indemnify any Person for or against any
        interference, infringement, misappropriation, or other conflict with
        respect to the item, except as set forth in the standard agreements
        with Ivy customers in the form previously delivered to UOL.

                    (d)     Section 4.16(d) of the Disclosure Schedule
identifies each item of Intellectual Property that any third Person owns and
that Ivy uses pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or permission.  Ivy
has delivered to UOL correct and complete copies of all such licenses,
sublicenses, agreements, and permissions (as amended to date).  With respect to
each such item of Intellectual Property:

                    (i)     the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
        covering the item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full
        force and effect;

                    (ii)    the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
        shall continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full
        force and effect on identical terms following the Closing, subject to
        the provisions of any license agreements as to the term thereof;

                    (iii)   to the Transferors' Knowledge, no party to the
        license, sublicense, agreement, or permission is in breach or default,
        and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would
        constitute a breach or default or permit termination, modification, or
        acceleration thereunder;

                    (iv)    no party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or
        permission has repudiated any provision thereof;





                                       21
<PAGE>   26
                    (v)     with respect to each sublicense, the
        representations and warranties set forth in clauses (i) through (iv)
        immediately above are true and correct with respect to the underlying
        license;

                    (vi)    the underlying item of Intellectual Property is not
        subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling,
        or charge;

                    (vii)   no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
        investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending or is
        threatened which challenges the legality, validity, or enforceability
        of the underlying item of Intellectual Property; and

                    (viii)  Ivy has not granted any sublicense or similar right
        with respect to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission which
        violates any term or condition thereof.

                    (e)     Ivy's ownership and/or right to the use of its
Intellectual Property shall not interfere with, infringe upon, misappropriate,
or otherwise come into conflict with, any Intellectual Property rights of third
Persons as a result of the continued operation of its business as presently
conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.

                    (f)     None of the Transferors and the directors and
officers (and employees with responsibility for Intellectual Property matters)
of Ivy has or had any Knowledge of any new products, inventions, procedures, or
methods of manufacturing or processing that any competitors or other third
Persons have developed which reasonably could be expected to supersede or make
obsolete any product or process of Ivy.

                    (g)     None of the Transferors and the directors and
officers (and employees with responsibility for Intellectual Property matters)
of Ivy has done anything to compromise the secrecy, confidentiality or value of
any of its trade secrets, know-how, inventions, prototypes, designs, processes
or technical data (collectively "Proprietary Information") required to conduct
its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Ivy has taken
reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value
of its Proprietary Information important to the conduct of its business,
including requiring each employee and consultant to acknowledge a requirement
to safeguard proprietary or sensitive information of Ivy in accordance with the
employee handbook of Ivy.

                    (h)     None of the Transferors and the directors and
officers (or employees with responsibility for Intellectual Property matters)
of Ivy has any Knowledge that any of Ivy's employees, officers, or consultants
is in violation of his or her obligations of confidentiality.





                                       22
<PAGE>   27
        4.17        Bank Accounts.  Section 4.17 of the Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a true and complete list of all bank accounts of Ivy and all
authorized signatories to each such account.

        4.18        Directors, Officers and Employees.  Ivy has heretofore
delivered to UOL a correct and complete listing as of the date hereof of all of
the directors, officers and employees of Ivy, showing their names, positions,
and current wage or salary and bonuses.

        4.19        Labor Relations; Employees.  (a) Ivy has no collective
bargaining agreements with any of its employees; there is no labor union
organizing activity pending or threatened with respect to Ivy; and Ivy has not
experienced any strikes, grievances, claims of unfair labor practices, or other
collective bargaining disputes.  Ivy has not committed any unfair labor
practices.  To the Knowledge of the Transferors, no executive, key employee or
group of employees has any plans to terminate employment with Ivy.  Copies of
all personnel brochures or handbooks delivered to employees or in effect since
the formation of Ivy have been delivered to UOL.

                    (b)     There is no claim nor any Basis or grounds for any
claim by any Person or party (including, but not limited to, governmental
agencies of any kind) against Ivy arising out of any federal, state, county,
local or foreign statute, ordinance or regulation relating to discrimination
against employees or any other employee practices, including without limitation
retirement or labor relations, or occupational, safety and/or health standards,
sexual harassment or intentional infliction of emotional distress.

        4.20        Transactions with Related Parties.  None of the Stockholder
or any present or former officer, director or shareholder of Ivy, and no
Affiliate of the Stockholder or of such officer, director or shareholder:  (a)
has been involved in any business (excluding relationships and payments arising
from the employment or retention by Ivy of any such persons in the ordinary
course of business) arrangement or relationship with Ivy, including, without
limitation, any contract, agreement, or other arrangement providing for the
employment of, furnishing of services, by, rental of real or personal property
from or otherwise requiring  payment to any such officer, director, shareholder
or Affiliate; or (b) owns any asset, tangible or intangible, which is used in
the business of Ivy.

        4.21        Copies of Documents.  True, correct, and complete copies of
all documents listed in the Disclosure Schedule have been heretofore delivered
to UOL and identified in writing as constituting such delivery.

        4.22        Real Property.  (a) Ivy owns no real estate.





                                       23
<PAGE>   28
                    (b)     Section 4.22(b) of the Disclosure Schedule lists
and describes briefly all real property leased or subleased to or by Ivy.  Ivy
has delivered to UOL correct and complete copies of such leases and subleases,
as amended to date.  With respect to each such lease and sublease:

                    (i)     the lease or sublease is legal, valid, binding,
        enforceable, and in full force and effect;

                    (ii)    the lease or sublease shall continue to be legal,
        valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical
        terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated
        hereby;

                    (iii)   no party to the lease or sublease is in breach or
        default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time,
        would constitute a breach or default or permit termination,
        modification, or acceleration thereunder;

                    (iv)    no party to the lease or sublease has repudiated
        any provision thereof;

                    (v)     there are no disputes, oral agreements, or
        forbearance programs in effect as to the lease or sublease;

                    (vi)    with respect to each sublease, the representations
        and warranties set forth in clauses (i) through (v) above are true and
        correct with respect to the underlying lease;

                    (vii)   Ivy has not assigned, transferred, conveyed,
        mortgaged, deeded in trust, or encumbered any interest in the leasehold
        or subleasehold;

                    (viii)  all facilities leased or subleased thereunder have
        received all approvals of governmental authorities (including licenses
        and permits) required in connection with the operation thereof and have
        been operated and maintained in accordance with applicable laws, rules,
        and regulations;

                    (ix)    all facilities leased or subleased thereunder are
        supplied with utilities and other services necessary for the operation
        of said facilities; and

                    (x)     the owner of the facility leased or subleased has
        good and marketable title to the parcel of real property, free and
        clear of any Encumbrance, easement, covenant, or other restriction,
        except for installments of special easements not yet delinquent and
        recorded easements, covenants, and other restrictions which do not





                                       24
<PAGE>   29
        impair the current use, occupancy, or value, or the marketability of
        title, of the property subject thereto.

        4.23        Books and Records.  The stock records of Ivy are in all
respects complete and accurate, and the minute books of Ivy accurately reflect
the actions taken at shareholder and director meetings or by unanimous written
consent and are in all respects correct, complete, and accurate.

        4.24        Environmental Matters.  (a) Ivy has complied and is in
compliance with all local, state, and federal statutes, ordinances, and
regulations dealing with the protection of the environment or public health and
safety, including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (codified as amended, 42 U.S.C.
Sections 9601 et seq.) ("CERCLA") and the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sections 6901 et seq.) ("RCRA").

                    (b)     Ivy has obtained all required local, state and
federal permits, licenses, certificates and approvals relating to:  (i) air
emissions; (ii) discharges to surface water or groundwater; (iii) noise
emissions, (iv) solid or liquid waste disposal; (v) the use, generation,
storage, transportation or disposal of toxic or hazardous substances or wastes
(intended hereby and hereafter to include any and all such materials listed in
any local, state or federal statute, ordinance, or regulation); (vi) the use,
storage, transportation or disposal of petroleum or petroleum products; or
(vii) other environmental, health and safety matters.

                    (c)     Ivy has not caused, suffered, permitted or
sustained any emission, spill, release or discharge of any toxic or hazardous
substances or wastes, or any petroleum products, into or upon: (i) the air;
(ii) soils or any improvements located thereon, whether on Ivy' property or
elsewhere; (iii) surface water or groundwater; or (iv) a sewer, septic system
or waste treatment, storage or disposal system except in accordance with
applicable law or a valid government permit, license, certificate or approval.

                    (d)     None of the Transferors or the officers and
directors (including employees responsible for environmental matters) of Ivy
has received written or oral notice of any actual or potential claims, orders,
directives, citations, or causes of action based on actual or alleged
violations of any local, state, or federal statutes, ordinances, or regulations
dealing with the protection of the environment or public health and safety,
including, but not limited to, CERCLA or RCRA, or oral or written notice of any
actual or potential common law claims or causes of action based upon Ivy'
actual or alleged involvement with or use of any substance regulated by local,
state, or federal statutes, ordinances, or regulations dealing with the
protection of the environment or public health and safety.





                                       25
<PAGE>   30
                    (e)     None of the Transferors or the officers and
directors (including employees responsible for environmental matters) of Ivy
has received oral or written notice of any actual or potential claims, orders,
directives, citations or causes of action under any local, state, or federal
statutes, ordinances, or regulations dealing with the protection of the
environment or public health and safety, including, but not limited to, CERCLA
and RCRA, based upon or arising out of its actual or alleged disposal of
hazardous wastes or substances, whether on or off real property being operated
by Ivy.

                    (f)     None of the Transferors and the officers and
directors (including employees responsible for environmental matters) of Ivy
has any Knowledge of any condition on any of the real property owned by Ivy
which may give rise to any claim, order, directive, citation, or cause of
action based on any local, state, or federal statute, ordinance, or regulation
dealing with protection of the environment or public health and safety,
including, but not limited to, CERCLA or RCRA.

        4.25        Guaranties.  Ivy is not a guarantor or otherwise liable for
any Liability or obligation of any Person other than itself (including
indebtedness of any other Person).

        4.26        Government Consents.  No consent, approval or authorization
of or designation, declaration or filing with any state, federal, or foreign
governmental authority on the part of the Stockholder because of any special
characteristic of such Stockholder is required in connection with the valid
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by the
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby.

        4.27        Manufacturing Rights.  Ivy has not granted rights to
manufacture or sell its products, processes, Intellectual Property or
technology to any other Person.


                                   ARTICLE 5

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF UOL

        UOL hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder that:

        5.1         Organization and Authority.  UOL is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, with the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.  The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of UOL.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by UOL and constitutes the
valid, binding and enforceable obligation of UOL, subject to applicable
bankruptcy,





                                       26
<PAGE>   31
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors'
rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable
principles.

        5.2         Ability to Carry Out the Agreement.  UOL is not subject to
or bound by any provision of:

                    (i)     any law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance or
        judicial or administrative decision;

                    (ii)    any articles or certificate of incorporation or
        by-laws;

                    (iii)   any mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note,
        stockholders' agreement, bond, indenture, other instrument or
        agreement, license, permit, trust, custodianship, other restriction, of
        any kind or character whatsoever; or

                    (iv)    any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of
        any court, governmental body, administrative agency or arbitrator;

that would prevent or be violated by or would result in any penalty, forfeiture
or contract termination as a result of, or under which there would be a default
as a result of, nor is the consent of any Person under any material agreement
which has not been obtained required for, the execution, delivery and
performance by UOL of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
other than violations, penalties, forfeitures, contract terminations, defaults
or failure to obtain consents which, singly or in the aggregate, shall not have
a material adverse effect on the enforceability or validity of this Agreement
or the ability of UOL to perform its obligations hereunder.

        5.3         Brokers and Intermediaries.  UOL has not employed any
broker, finder, advisor, or intermediary in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement which would be entitled to a broker's, finder's,
or similar fee or commission in connection therewith or upon the consummation
thereof; provided, however, that it may owe a fee to Friedman, Billings, Ramsey
& Co., Inc. in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.


                                   ARTICLE 6

                        CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

        6.1         Full Access.  From the date hereof until the earlier of the
Closing or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.3 above, Ivy
shall permit representatives of UOL to have full access at all reasonable
times, and in a manner so as not to interfere with the normal business
operations of Ivy, to





                                       27
<PAGE>   32
all premises, customers, employees, properties, books, records, contracts, tax
records, and documents of or pertaining to Ivy. From the date hereof until the
earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
3.3 above, UOL shall permit representatives of the Transferors to have full
access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to interfere with the
normal business operations of UOL, to all premises, customers, employees,
properties, books, records, contracts, tax records, and documents of or
pertaining to UOL. All access provided hereunder, and information with respect
thereto, shall be held in confidence.

        6.2         Regulatory Filings; Consents.  From the date hereof until
the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 3.3 above, each of the parties hereto shall:  (a) take any additional
action that is necessary, proper or advisable in connection with any notices
to, filings with, and authorizations, consents and approvals of governments and
governmental agencies that it is required to give, make, or obtain in order to
effect the transactions contemplated hereunder; and (b) furnish to the other
party or parties hereto, as the case may be, such necessary information and
reasonable assistance as such other party or parties may reasonably request in
connection with its or their preparation of necessary filings or submissions to
any governmental agency.  Ivy shall give any notices to third Persons, and
shall use its best efforts to obtain any third Person consents, that UOL may
request in connection with the matters referred to in Section 4.2 above.

        6.3         Conduct of Business.  From the date hereof until the
earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
3.3 above, and except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or consented
to or approved by UOL in writing, Ivy shall not engage in any practice, take an
action, embark on any course of action, or enter into any transaction outside
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Ivy shall, during the period
specified in the first sentence of this Section 6.3:

                    (a)     not take any action, engage in any practice or
enter into any transaction of the nature or sort referred to in subsections (a)
through (w) of Section 4.6, except as permitted therein;

                    (b)     cause the business conducted by Ivy to be operated
in all respects in the ordinary and usual course and keep and preserve its
business and properties intact, including its present operations, physical
facilities, working conditions and relationships with employees, clients,
suppliers, customers, lessors and licensors of such business;

                    (c)     not effect or authorize any change or amendment to
the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Ivy;





                                       28
<PAGE>   33
                    (d)     maintain in full force and effect all of Ivy's
existing casualty, liability, and other insurance until the Closing Date in
amounts not less than those in effect on the date hereof;

                    (e)     provide unaudited monthly balance sheets,
statements of income and expenses, changes in stockholders' equity and cash
flows within 15 days of the end of each such month;

                    (f)     not declare, set aside, or pay any dividend or make
any distribution with respect to its capital stock or redeem, purchase, or
otherwise acquire any of its capital stock; and

                    (g)     promptly notify UOL in writing of:  (i) any
actions, suits or proceedings instituted or threatened against Ivy at law or in
equity or admiralty, before or by any court or governmental authority; (ii) any
changes in personnel; and (iii) any adverse development causing a breach of any
of the representations and warranties contained in Article 4 above.  No
disclosure by Ivy pursuant to this subsection 6.3(vii) shall be deemed to amend
or supplement the disclosures contained in any Schedule or to prevent or cure
any misrepresentation, breach of warranty, or breach of covenant.

        6.4         Confidentiality.  Each party to this Agreement agrees and
covenants to the other that all information concerning the business and offices
of the other parties to the Agreement that is not generally available to the
public ("Confidential Information") and obtained from such other party shall be
deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed to, or utilized by, any Person
for any reason or purpose whatsoever, except in connection with this Agreement,
to the parties and their representatives involved in this transaction, or as
may by required by law or stock exchange or market regulation.  Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, any party failing to comply in a full and
timely fashion with Section 6.4 shall indemnify the other for all losses,
damages, claims or expenses of any nature whatsoever, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, incurred by the other party and related to the unauthorized
disclosure or use of Confidential Information.

        6.5         Books and Records.  UOL shall retain all books, records and
other documents pertaining to the business of Ivy in existence on the Closing
Date for a period of at least three years from the Closing Date and to make the
same reasonably available after the Closing Date for such three year period for
inspection and copying by the Stockholder at the Stockholder's expense during
the normal business hours of UOL, upon reasonable request and upon reasonable
notice.

        6.6         Announcement.  Promptly after the execution of this
Agreement, UOL shall make a public statement approved by UOL and





                                       29
<PAGE>   34
Ivy with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Thereafter, prior to the Closing, no party to this Agreement shall issue any
press release or otherwise make any public statement with respect to this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior consent of
the other parties to this Agreement (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), except as may be required by applicable law or stock exchange
regulation.

        6.7         Best Efforts.  Without limiting the specific obligations of
any party hereto under any agreement or covenant hereunder, each of the parties
hereto shall use its respective best efforts to take all action and do such
acts and things necessary in order to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including satisfaction, but not
waiver, of the conditions to Closing set forth in Articles 7 and 8 below).

        6.8         Discussion With Others.  From the date hereof until the
earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
3.3 above, none of the Transferors shall: (i) discuss, solicit, initiate, or
encourage the submission of any proposal or offer from any third Person
concerning the sale or acquisition of any capital stock or other voting
securities, or any significant assets of, Ivy (including any acquisition
structured as a merger, consolidation or share exchange); or (ii) engage or
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, enter into any
agreement with respect to, furnish any information with respect to, assist or
participate in, or facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any
third Person to do or seek any of the foregoing.  The Transferors shall
immediately notify UOL if any third Person makes any proposal, offer, inquiry,
or contact with respect to any of the foregoing.

        6.9         Cooperation in Litigation.  Each party hereto shall fully
cooperate with the other in the defense or prosecution of any litigation or
proceeding already instituted or which may be instituted hereafter against or
by such party relating to or arising out of the conduct of the business of Ivy
prior to or after the Closing Date (other than litigation arising out of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement).  The party requesting such
cooperation shall pay the out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees and
disbursements) of the party providing such cooperation and of its officers,
directors, employees and agents reasonably incurred in connection with
providing such cooperation, but shall not be responsible to reimburse the party
providing such cooperation for such party's time spent in such cooperation or
the salaries or costs of fringe benefits or similar expenses paid by the party
providing such cooperation to its officers, directors, employees and agents
while assisting in the defense or prosecution of any such litigation or
proceeding.





                                       30
<PAGE>   35


                                   ARTICLE 7

                      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF TRANSFERORS

        The obligation of the Transferors to consummate the transactions to be
performed by them in connection with the Closing is subject to the
satisfaction, or written waiver by the Transferors, of each of the following
conditions prior to or at the Closing:

        7.1         Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
warranties of UOL made hereunder shall be true in all material respects at and
as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as though made at and as
of the Closing Date, except for changes permitted or contemplated by this
Agreement and except to the extent that any representation or warranty is made
as of a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be
true in all material respects as of such date.

        7.2         Agreements.  UOL shall have performed and complied in all
material respects with all its undertakings, covenants and agreements required
by this Agreement to be performed or complied with prior to or at the Closing.

        7.3         Performance Certificate.  Ivy shall have been furnished
with a certificate of a proper officer of UOL, dated as of the Closing Date,
each certifying to the effect that each of the conditions contained in Sections
7.1 and 7.2 above has been satisfied in all respects.

        7.4         No Injunction.  No injunction, restraining order or decree
of any nature of any court or governmental or regulatory authority shall exist
against UOL, the Transferors or any of their respective Affiliates, or any of
the principals, officers or directors of any of them, that restrains, prevents
or materially adversely changes the transactions contemplated hereby.

        7.5         No Violation.  The consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereunder shall not be in violation of any material applicable
law, statute, rule or regulation for which a waiver has not been obtained and
where such violation would make illegal or otherwise prevent the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby.

        7.6         Consents.  All material consents, approvals and
authorizations of governmental and regulatory authorities, and all material
filings with and notifications of governmental authorities and regulatory
agencies or other entities which regulate the business of Ivy or UOL, necessary
on the part of Ivy or UOL, or their respective Affiliates, to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, shall have been obtained or effected (and all applicable
waiting periods, if any, including





                                       31
<PAGE>   36
any extensions thereof, under any applicable law, statute, regulation or rule,
including but not limited to the HSR Act, if applicable, shall have expired or
terminated, as applicable). UOL shall have received the written consents or
approvals of any and all third Persons required under the terms of the
Contracts to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.

        7.7         Opinion of the UOL's Counsel.  The Stockholder shall have
received an opinion of Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton, L.L.P., counsel for
UOL, dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to the Stockholder, to the effect
and substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

        7.8         No Proceedings.  No claim, suit, action or other proceeding
shall be pending or threatened in writing before or by any court, governmental
agency or other entity against any of the parties to this Agreement with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or which materially
adversely affect the assets, property, operations, results of operations,
financial condition, or prospects of UOL.

        7.9         Consulting Agreement.  The Stockholder shall have entered
into the consulting agreement in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit E
and the same shall be in full force and effect.

        7.10        Miscellaneous Closing Deliveries.  The Transferors shall
have received such evidence as they may reasonably request in order to
establish:  (a) the power and authority of UOL to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; (b) compliance with the conditions of Closing
set forth herein; and (c) satisfactory completion of all corporate proceedings
to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
together with certified copies of necessary resolutions duly adopted by the
stockholders and directors of UOL approving the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and all other corporate action necessary to enable UOL to comply with
the terms of this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE 8

                        CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF THE UOL

        The obligation of UOL to consummate the transactions to be performed by
them in connection with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or written
waiver by UOL, of each of the following conditions prior to or at the Closing:

        8.1         Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
warranties of the Stockholder made hereunder shall be true in all material
respects at and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as
though made at and as of the Closing Date, except for changes permitted or
contemplated by this





                                       32
<PAGE>   37
Agreement and except to the extent that any representation or warranty is made
as of a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be
true in all material respects as of such date.

        8.2         Agreements.  The Transferors shall have performed and
complied in all material respects with all of their respective undertakings and
agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them
prior to or at the Closing.

        8.3         Performance Certificate.  UOL shall have been furnished
with a certificate of the Stockholder, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying
that the conditions contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.9 hereof have been
satisfied in all respects.

        8.4         No Injunction.  No injunction, restraining order or decree
of any nature of any court or governmental or regulatory authority shall exist
against UOL, the Transferors or any of their respective Affiliates, or any of
the principals, officers or directors of any of them, that restrains, prevents
or materially adversely changes the transactions contemplated hereby.

        8.5         No Violation.  The consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereunder shall not be in violation of any material applicable
law, statute, rule or regulation for which a waiver has not been obtained.

        8.6         Consents.  All material consents, approvals and
authorizations of governmental and regulatory authorities, and all material
filings with and notifications of governmental authorities and regulatory
agencies or other entities which regulate the business of Ivy or UOL, necessary
on the part of Ivy or UOL, or their respective Affiliates, to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, shall have been obtained or effected (and all applicable
waiting periods, if any, including any extensions thereof, under any applicable
law, statute, regulation or rule, including but not limited to the HSR Act, if
applicable, shall have expired or terminated, as applicable). UOL shall have
received the written consents or approvals of any and all third Persons
required under the terms of the Contracts to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereunder.

        8.7         Opinion of Transferors' Counsel.  UOL shall have received
an opinion of McCallum & Kudravetz, P.C., counsel of the Transferors, dated as
of the Closing Date, addressed to UOL to the effect and substantially in the
form of Exhibit F.

        8.8         No Adverse Change.  Since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End,
there shall have been no material adverse change in the assets, business,
operations, results of operations, financial condition, or prospects of Ivy,
except events or changes





                                       33
<PAGE>   38
contemplated by this Agreement, changes consented to by UOL and changes in the
ordinary course of business which are not, either individually or in the
aggregate, materially adverse.

        8.9         Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements.  Each of the
employees, officers, and regular consultants of Ivy shall have entered into a
confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement with Ivy in form and substance as
set forth in Exhibit G (collectively the "Non-Disclosure Agreements" and
individually a "Non-Disclosure Agreement"), and the same shall be in full force
and effect.

        8.10        Resignations.  UOL shall have received resignations,
effective as of the Closing, of each officer and director of Ivy other than
those whom UOL shall have specified in writing prior to the Closing.

        8.11        No Proceedings.  No claim, suit, action or other proceeding
shall be pending or threatened in writing before or by any court, governmental
agency or other entity against any of the parties to this Agreement with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or which materially
adversely affect the assets, property, operations, results of operations,
financial condition, or prospects of Ivy.

        8.12        Consulting Agreement.  The Stockholder shall have entered
into the consulting agreement in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit E
and the same shall be in full force and effect.

        8.13        Due Diligence.  The completion of a due diligence
investigation of Ivy by UOL satisfactory to UOL, which such investigation shall
be for the purpose of confirming the validity of the representations and
warranties contained herein and shall be conducted in conformance with the
standards set forth in Section 6.1 hereof.

        8.14        Miscellaneous Closing Deliveries.  UOL shall have received
such evidence as UOL may reasonably request in order to establish:  (a) the
power and authority of the Transferors to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; (b) compliance with the conditions of Closing
set forth herein; and (c) satisfactory completion of all corporate and
stockholder proceedings to be taken in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, together with certified copies of resolutions
duly adopted by the stockholders and directors of Ivy approving the
transactions contemplated hereby and the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and all other corporate action necessary to enable the Transferors to
comply with the terms of this Agreement.





                                       34
<PAGE>   39
                                   ARTICLE 9

             SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

        9.1         Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All of the
representations and warranties of the parties hereto contained in the Agreement
shall survive the Closing (even if the damaged party knew or had reason to know
of any misrepresentation or breach of warranty at the time of Closing) and
continue in full force and effect for a period of two years.  Any claims with
respect to the foregoing sentence under Sections 10.1 and 10.2 below must be
asserted in writing with reasonable particularity by the party making such
claim within two years of the Closing, and the obligations of the indemnifying
party under Section 10.1 and 10.2 below with respect to such claims shall
continue until such claims have been resolved.

        9.2         Survival of Covenants and Agreements.  The respective
covenants and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement shall
survive the Closing without limitation as to time.  Any claims as to a breach
of a covenant or agreement under Sections 10.1 and 10.2 below must be asserted
in writing with reasonable particularity by the party making such claims.


                                   ARTICLE 10

                                INDEMNIFICATION

        10.1        Indemnification of UOL.  The Stockholder agrees to defend,
indemnify and hold harmless UOL and its successors and assigns (individually an
"Acquiror Indemnitee", and collectively the "Acquiror Indemnitees") from,
against, and in respect of the following:

                    (a)     any and all losses, damages, deficiencies or
liabilities caused by, resulting or arising from, or otherwise relating to:
(i) any breach of the representations and warranties of the Stockholder
contained in this Agreement; (ii) any failure by any of the Transferors to
perform or otherwise fulfill or comply with: (X) if this Agreement shall have
been terminated, Sections 6.4, 6.7, and 6.8 or any other covenant, undertaking,
agreement or obligation to be performed, fulfilled or complied with by the
Stockholder or Ivy prior to or in connection with the Closing; or (Y) if the
Closing shall occur, any undertaking or other agreement or obligation hereunder
to be performed, fulfilled or otherwise complied with by the Stockholder after
the Closing (including but not limited to the undertakings, agreements and
obligations to be performed by the Stockholder pursuant to Section 6.9); (iii)
any unknown or undisclosed Liabilities of Ivy arising out of or related to the
conduct or operation of Ivy's business prior to the Closing (other than
Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the
execution of this Agreement); and (iv)





                                       35
<PAGE>   40
except as disclosed in Schedule 4.11, any and all legal, investment banking,
accounting, auditing, and other professional fees and expenses of Ivy related
to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; and

                    (b)     any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims,
liabilities, demands, assessments, judgments, interest, penalties, costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (whether or not incurred by the
Acquiror Indemnitees or in connection with investigating, defending, settling
or prosecuting any action, suit, proceeding or claim against any of the
Acquiror Indemnitors hereunder), incident to any of the items referred to
herein or such indemnification;

provided, however, that if any action, suit, proceeding, claim, liability,
demand or assessment shall be asserted against any Acquiror Indemnitee in
respect of which such Acquiror Indemnitee proposes to demand indemnification,
such Acquiror Indemnitee shall notify the Stockholder thereof within a
reasonable period of time after assertion thereof, and such notice shall
include copies of all suit, service and claim documents, all other relevant
documents in the possession of the Acquiror Indemnitee, and an explanation of
the Acquiror Indemnitee's contentions and defenses with as much specificity and
particularity as the circumstances permit, provided that the failure of the
Acquiror Indemnitee to give such notice shall not relieve the Stockholder of
his obligations under this Section 10.1, if the Acquiror Indemnitee shall have
demonstrated that:  (i) it acted in good faith and without unreasonable delay;
and (ii) the Stockholder shall not have been prejudiced thereby.  Subject to
rights of or duties to any insurer or other third Person having liability
therefor, the Stockholder shall have (subject to the prior written consent of
Acquiror Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) the
right within 10 days after receipt of such notice to assume the control of the
defense, compromise or settlement of any such action, suit, proceeding, claim,
liability, demand, or assessment, including, at its own expense, employment of
counsel; provided further, however, that if the Stockholder shall have
exercised his right to assume such control, the Acquiror Indemnitee:  (x) may,
in its sole discretion and expense, employ counsel to represent it (in addition
to counsel employed by the Stockholder) in any such matter, and in such event
counsel selected by the Stockholder shall be required to cooperate with such
counsel of the Acquiror Indemnitee in such defense, compromise or settlement
for the purpose of informing and sharing information with such Acquiror
Indemnitee; and (y) shall, at its own expense, make available to the
Stockholder those employees of the Acquiror Indemnitees whose assistance,
testimony or presence is reasonably deemed by the Stockholder necessary or
beneficial to assist the Stockholder in evaluating and in defending any such
action, suit, proceeding, claim, liability, demand or assessment; provided
further, however, that any such access shall be conducted in such a manner





                                       36
<PAGE>   41
as not to interfere unreasonably with the operations of the businesses of the
Acquiror Indemnitees.

        Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary,
the Stockholder shall have no liability under this Article 10 unless the
aggregate amount of the damages and losses to the Acquiror Indemnitees from all
claims finally determined and arising under the provisions of this Agreement
exceed $10,000.00, and in such event the Stockholder shall be required to pay
only the amount by which the aggregate amount of such claims exceeds such
amount.  In calculating amounts payable pursuant to this Article 10, the
Stockholder shall receive credit for (i) any reduction of actual tax
liabilities of any Acquiror Indemnitee arising from facts giving rise to a
claim of indemnification, and (ii) any insurance proceeds received with respect
to any damages or losses that are the subject of a claim for indemnification
hereunder.

        10.2        Indemnification of Stockholder.  UOL agrees to defend,
indemnify and hold harmless the Stockholder and his successors and assigns
(individually a "Transferor Indemnitee", and collectively the "Transferor
Indemnitees") from, against and in respect of:

                    (a)     any and all losses, damages, deficiencies or
liabilities caused by, resulting or arising from or otherwise relating to:  (i)
any breach of the representations and warranties of UOL contained in this
Agreement; and (ii) any failure by UOL to perform or otherwise fulfill or
comply with (X) if this Agreement shall have been terminated, Sections 6.4 or
6.7 or any other covenant, undertaking, agreement or obligation to be
performed, fulfilled, or complied with by UOL prior to or in connection with
the Closing, or (Y) if the Closing shall occur, any undertaking or other
agreement or obligation hereunder to be performed, fulfilled or otherwise
complied with by UOL after the Closing (including, but not limited to, the
undertaking, agreements and obligations to be performed pursuant to Section 6.9
hereof); and

                    (b)     any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims,
liabilities, demands, assessments, judgments, interest, penalties, costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (whether or not incurred by the
Transferor Indemnitees in connection with investigating, defending, settling or
prosecuting any action, suit, proceeding or claim against UOL hereunder),
incident to any of the items referred to herein or such indemnification;

provided, however, that if any action, suit, proceeding, claim, liability,
demand or assessment shall be asserted against any Transferor Indemnitee in
respect of which such Transferor Indemnitee proposes to demand indemnification,
such Transferor Indemnitee shall notify UOL thereof within a reasonable period
of time after assertion thereof, and such notice shall include





                                       37
<PAGE>   42
copies of all suit, service and claim documents, all other relevant documents
in the possession of the Transferor Indemnitees and an explanation of the
Transferor Indemnitees' contentions and defenses with as much specificity and
particularity as the circumstances permit, provided that the failure of the
Transferor Indemnitee to give such notice shall not relieve UOL of its
obligations under this Section 10.2 if the Transferor Indemnitee shall have
demonstrated that:  (i) it acted in good faith and without unreasonable delay;
and (ii) UOL shall not have been prejudiced thereby.  Subject to rights of or
duties to any insurer or other third Person having liability therefor, UOL
shall have (subject to the prior written consent of Transferor Indemnitee,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) the right within 10 days
after receipt of such notice to assume the control of the defense, compromise
or settlement of any such action, suit, proceeding, claim, liability, demand,
or assessment, including, at its own expense, employment of counsel; provided
further, however, that if UOL shall have exercised its right to assume such
control, the Transferor Indemnitees:  (x) may, in their sole discretion and
expense, employ one counsel to represent them (in addition to counsel employed
by UOL) in any such matter, and in such event counsel selected by UOL shall be
required to cooperate with such counsel of the Transferor Indemnitees in such
defense, compromise or settlement for the purpose of informing and sharing
information with such Transferor Indemnitees; and (y) shall, at its own
expense, make available to Transferor Indemnitees those employees of UOL or any
Affiliate of UOL whose assistance, testimony or presence is reasonably deemed
by the Transferor Indemnitees necessary or beneficial to assist the Transferor
Indemnitees in evaluating and in defending any such action, suit, proceedings,
claim, liability, demand or assessment; provided further, however, that any
such access shall be conducted in such a manner as not to interfere
unreasonably with the operations of the business of UOL or any of its
Affiliates.

        10.3        Remedies.  The indemnification provisions of this Article
10 are in addition to, and not in lieu or in derogation of, any other rights or
remedies any party may have in equity for a breach of representations, warranty
or covenant.  Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that the other
parties hereto would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the provisions
of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or
otherwise are breached.  Accordingly, each of the parties hereto agrees the
other parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically this Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof in any
competent court having jurisdiction over the parties (subject to the provisions
of Section 12.11 below), in addition to any other remedy to which they may be
entitled in equity.





                                       38
<PAGE>   43
        10.4        Survival.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein,
this Article 10 shall survive termination of this Agreement without limitation.

                                   ARTICLE 11

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

        11.1        Further Assurances.  From time to time at or after the
Closing, each of the parties agrees to take, or cause to be taken, such further
actions, to execute, deliver and file, or cause to be executed, delivered and
filed, such further documents and instruments, and to obtain consents, as may
be necessary or reasonably requested in order to fully effectuate the purposes,
terms and conditions of this Agreement.

        11.2        Expenses.  Each of the Stockholder and UOL shall bear its
respective legal, investment banking, accounting, audit, and other costs and
expenses associated with this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

        11.3        Applicable Law.  Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia without reference to any choice or
conflict of law principle, provision or rule, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance.

        11.4        Notices.  All notices, requests, permissions, waivers, and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given (i) upon personal delivery or receipt of a telecopy
transmission, (ii) two days after being sent by registered or certified United
States mail, return receipt requested, or (iii) one (1) day after being
transmitted by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, properly
addressed and postage prepaid to the intended recipient as follows:

        If to the Stockholder or Ivy to:

                            Ivy Software, Inc.
                            P.O. Box 5124
                            Charlottesville, Virginia 22905
                            Telephone No.:  (804) 293-7105
                            Telecopy No.:   (804) 293-9356

        with a copy to:

                            David Kudravetz, Esq.
                            250 High Street East
                            Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
                            Telephone No.:  (804) 293-8191
                            Telecopy No.:   (804) 296-9641





                                       39
<PAGE>   44

        If to UOL, to:

                            UOL Publishing, Inc.
                            8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 500
                            McLean, Virginia  22102
                            Telephone No.:  (703) 893-7800
                            Telecopy No.:   (703) 893-1905

                            Attention:  Mr. Leonard P. Kurtzman

        with a copy to:

                            Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton L.L.P.
                            4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 300
                            Raleigh, North Carolina  27607
                            Telephone No.:  (919) 781-4000
                            Telecopy No.:   (919) 781-4865

                            Attention:  Larry E. Robbins, Esq.

        11.5        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the Exhibits
and Schedules attached hereto and the documents referred to herein, all of
which are a part hereof) constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein,
supersedes and cancels all prior agreements, negotiations, correspondence,
undertakings and communications of the parties, oral or written, respecting
such subject matter.  There are no restrictions, promises, representations,
warranties, agreements or undertakings of any party hereto with respect to the
transactions under this Agreement other than those set forth herein or made
hereunder.

        11.6        Amendments.  This Agreement may be amended only by a
written instrument executed by the parties or their respective successors or
assigns.

        11.7        Headings; References.  The article, section and paragraph
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  All
references herein to "Articles", "Sections", "Exhibits" or "Schedules" shall be
deemed to be references to Articles or Sections hereof or Exhibits or Schedules
hereto unless otherwise indicated.

        11.8        Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts and each counterpart shall be deemed to be an original.

        11.9        Parties in Interest; Assignment.  This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to confer upon any Person not a party to this Agreement any rights or
remedies under





                                       40
<PAGE>   45
or by reason of this Agreement.  No party to this Agreement may assign or
delegate all or any portion of its rights, obligations or liabilities under
this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties to this
Agreement.

        11.10  Severability; Enforcement.  The invalidity of any portion hereof
shall not affect the validity, force or effect of the remaining portions
hereof.  If it is ever held that any restriction hereunder is too broad to
permit enforcement of such restriction to its fullest extent, each party agrees
that a court of competent jurisdiction may enforce such restriction to the
maximum extent permitted by law, and each party hereby consents and agrees that
such scope may be judicially modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to
enforce such restriction.

        11.11  JURISDICTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE COURTS OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND TO VENUE IN VIRGINIA AS THE SAME SHALL BE
DETERMINED.

        11.12  Waiver.  Any of the conditions to Closing set forth in this
Agreement may be waived at any time prior to or at the Closing hereunder by the
party entitled to the benefit thereof. The failure of any party hereto to
enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be
construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor in any way to affect the
validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of such party
thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach of
or non-compliance with this Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other
or subsequent breach or non-compliance.

        11.13  Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.  All of the  Exhibits
and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated by reference into
this Agreement and made a part hereof.

        11.14  Construction.  The parties hereto have participated jointly in
the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  In the event of any ambiguity
or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be
construed as if grafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or
burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue
of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.


                     [The next page is the signature page.]





                                       41
<PAGE>   46
        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement effective as of the date first above written.


                            UOL:
                            --- 

                            UOL PUBLISHING, INC.



                            By:   /s/ CARL TYSON               
                                 ------------------------------
                            Title:  President


                            Ivy:
                            --- 

                            IVY SOFTWARE, INC.



                            By: /s/ ROBERT N. HOLT             
                               --------------------------------
                               Robert N. Holt, President


                            STOCKHOLDER:
                            ----------- 



                            /S/ ROBERT N. HOLT              
                            --------------------------------
                            Robert N. Holt





                                       42

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 11.1
 
                              UOL PUBLISHING, INC.
 
                  STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE LOSS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                 -----------------------------------------
                                                                   1994           1995            1996
                                                                 ---------     -----------     -----------
<S>                                                              <C>           <C>             <C>
Net loss per share:
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding............    417,055         771,171         997,958
Shares of Series A and Series B Preferred Stock and Preferred
  Stock Dividends issued during the twelve month period prior
  to the initial filing of the S-1 (using the treasury stock
  method)......................................................    187,787         187,787         174,440
Shares of Common Stock issued during the twelve month period
  prior
  to the initial filing of the S-1 (using the treasury stock
  method)......................................................      2,098           2,098           1,932
Common equivalent shares from options, warrants and convertible
  debt issued during the twelve month period prior to the
  initial
  filing of the S-1 (using the treasury stock method)..........    117,976         117,976         108,634
                                                                 ---------     -----------     -----------
Total..........................................................    724,916       1,079,032       1,282,964
                                                                 =========     ===========     ===========
Net loss.......................................................  $(687,258)    $(2,239,641)    $(4,640,703)
Accrued dividends to preferred stockholders....................         --        (174,889)       (330,706)
                                                                 ---------     -----------     -----------
Net loss available to common stockholders......................  $(687,258)    $(2,414,530)    $(4,971,409)
                                                                 =========     ===========     ===========
Net loss per share to common stockholders......................  $   (0.95)    $     (2.24)    $     (3.88)
                                                                 =========     ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 21.1
 
                              LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
 
Cognitive Training Associates, Inc., a Texas corporation
 
Ivy Software, Inc., a Virginia corporation

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS REFERENCED TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1
<CURRENCY>                      U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                      15,474,030
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  448,195
<ALLOWANCES>                                    36,100
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            16,119,697
<PP&E>                                         855,292
<DEPRECIATION>                                 232,334
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              17,489,153
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,287,166
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        31,861
<OTHER-SE>                                  16,170,126
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                17,489,153
<SALES>                                        942,426
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               942,426
<CGS>                                          194,730
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  194,730
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (4,640,703)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (4,640,703)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (4,640,703)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (3.88)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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