Each quarter, TrainingIndustry.com provides a round-up of the mergers, acquisitions and investments that took place in the corporate training market.

Last quarter’s deals reflect the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling and broader workforce skills development solutions, innovative learning platforms and technologies, and more. This echoes Training Industry research, which found that:

• 48% of learning leaders are focusing on the learner experience in the next 12-18 months.
• 55% of learning leaders want improved learning platforms in 2024.
• 46% of learning leaders say that digital transformation is a challenge their business is facing in 2024.

Here are the deals we took note of, organized by market sector.

Learning Technologies

The learning technologies segment of the market consistently sees ample activity. With Training Industry’s pulse survey research (conducted in Q4 of 2023) indicating that 36% of learning professionals are spending more on learning technologies compared to the last three months, we expect investments in learning technologies to continue throughout this year.

Deals in this market sector include:

• In early January, learning technology provider Learning Pool announced its acquisition of OnScreen, a digital adoption platform (DAP) company. OnScreen will enable Learning Pool customers to better support their employees as they learn new software and applications, the press release.
• Human resources (HR) solutions provider CIEL Group acquired a strategic stake in Courseplay, an international learning experience platform­­ (LXP). According to the press release, CIEL Group plans to go public in the Financial Year 2025.
• In its ninth acquisition to date, Cornerstone OnDemand Inc. announced the acquisition of extended reality capabilities and a team of highly specialized domain experts from Talespin, a spatial learning company focused on workforce skills development.

Content Development

The content development segment of the market saw two deals last quarter:

• MadCap Software, Inc., which specializes in technical content authoring, management and publishing, announced theacquisition of Xyleme, Inc., a learning content management system (LCMS) provider.
• Skillshare, an online learning community for creatives, completed the acquisition of Superpeer’s technology and key assets to expand its marketplace beyond on-demand classes to new services, content and products.

Compliance Training

The compliance training sector of the market also saw two deals last quarter:

• 360training, an online regulated training provider specializing in financial services education, acquired Mortgage Educators and Compliance (MEC), a mortgage lending training company.
• Skill Dynamics, a provider of role-based, specialized supply chain and procurement training, acquired Content Enablers, a compliance training company.

Other Deals by Market Segment

Leadership

• Crucial Learning, a global communication, performance and leadership training provider, announced the acquisition of Core Strengths, a leader in corporate relationship intelligence and home of the Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI 2.0) assessment. Andy Shimberg, CEO of Crucial Learning, says in the press release, “This transaction represents the culmination of years of active dialogue between Crucial Learning and Core Strengths around integrating to deliver the interpersonal insights and skill-based courses that our customers want and need.”

Measurement and Assessments

• Educational testing Services, a private educational testing and measurement organization, acquired PSI Services LLC (PSI), a leading provider of assessment solutions for the licensing and certification markets.
• LMS365, an AI-powered workplace learning, engagement and performance platform, announced the acquisition of Valuebeat, a start-up that “believes company culture is the key to unlocking a business’ full potential,” the press release. The acquisition will help LMS365 expand its AI and machine learning capabilities.

Workforce Development 

• Axcel Learning (Axcel), a professional education business backed by Alpine Investors (Alpine), announced a new partnership with KMK Optometry (KMK), a provider of comprehensive optometry board exam test preparation and coaching services.

Sales

• Richardson Sales Performance (which was acquired by Truelink Capital last year) announced its acquisition of sales enablement company e4enable in February.

Onboarding

• Springbrook, a multi-tenant, software as a service (SaaS) cloud-based government technology solutions provider, acquired Pulse, a talent and HR software provider tailored for local government with expertise across the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to learning and performance management.

Learning Services/Outsourcing

• Global professional services company Accenture announced that it will acquire Udacity, a digital education provider with expertise in the development and delivery of proprietary technology courses. Udacity’s team of more than 230 professionals will join Accenture LearnVantage, which provides Accenture’s clients with technology training services that will help them reskill and upskill their people in technology, data and AI, the press release.

What are your market predictions for next quarter? Let us know by tagging Training Industry on social media or by emailing editor@trainingindustry.com.