Skillsoft
File:Skillsoft logo.png | |
Formerly | SmartForce[1] |
---|---|
Company type | Private |
Industry | Software as a service |
Founded | August 8, 1989[2] |
Headquarters | 107 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, NH , United States[3] |
Key people | Chuck Moran, President and CEO Jerald Nine, COO[4] |
Products | Educational technology, learning management systems, training content |
Owner | Charterhouse Capital Partners (as of April 2014[update]) |
Number of employees | 2,400[5] (as of 2014[update]) |
Website | www |
Skillsoft is an American educational technology company that produces learning management system software and content. As of 2014[update], it was one of the world's largest corporate training providers, with 10,000 customers, 60 million users, and 2,400 employees.[5]
History
Ownership
Skillsoft was traded on NASDAQ under the stock symbol SKIL, with an IPO in February 2000[6] and a SPO in July 2001.[7][8]
In May 2010, the company was bought out for US$1.2 billion by SSI Investments III Limited, a firm funded by Berkshire Partners, Advent International and Bain Capital.[9][10] Skillsoft was sold by Berkshire Partners to Charterhouse Capital Partners on April 28, 2014.[9][2]
Mergers and acquisitions
In 2002, Skillsoft merged with IT courseware company SmartForce, with the combined company retaining the Skillsoft name.[1]
Skillsoft's acquisitions include:
- NETg (acquired 2007, from Thomson Corporation)[1]
- MindLeaders (ThirdForce Group) (acquired September 2012)[9]
- SumTotal Systems (acquired September 2014)[5]
- Element K (acquired October 2011, from NIIT)[9]
- Vodeclic SAS (acquired May 2015)[11]
Products
Skillsoft's products include:[2]
- SkillChoice Multi-Modal Learning Solutions (resources for formal training)
- SkillPort (learning management platform)
- SkillSoft Dialogue (virtual classroom)
- KnowledgeCenters (prepackaged learning portals)
- Business Impact Series (audio-based dramatizations of workplace problems)
- Challenge Series (interactive case studies)
- Business Skills Courseware Collection (2,200 titles)
- IT Skills and Certification Courseware Collection (2,450 titles)
- Desktop Skills Courseware Collection (800 titles)
- Legal Compliance, Federal Government Compliance, and Environmental Safety and Health Courseware Collection
References
- ^ a b c "About Skillsoft". Skillsoft. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "SkillSoft". CrunchBase. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Skillsoft Corporation Company Information". Hoovers. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Company Overview of SkillSoft Limited". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Bersin, Josh (October 1, 2014). "Skillsoft Acquisition of SumTotal: Corporate Training Market Disruption?". Forbes. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) IPO". NASDAQ. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) SPO". NASDAQ. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Brown, Rodney H. (February 15, 2010). "SkillSoft to go private in $1B buyout from Bain and partners". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Skillsoft". Berkshire Partners. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Suria, Asif (April 6, 2010). "Merger Arbitrage Mondays: April 5, 2010". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Skillsoft Announces Acquisition of Vodeclic". BusinessWire. Berkshire Hathaway. May 7, 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.