Skillsoft

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Skillsoft
FormerlySmartForce[1]
TypePublic
IndustrySoftware as a service
FoundedAugust 8, 1998 (1998-08-08)[2]
Headquarters300 Innovative Way, Suite 201[3],
Nashua, NH
,
United States[4]
Key people
Jeff Tarr (CEO/Director)
Ryan Murray (CFO)
Mark Onisk (Chief Content Officer)
Apratim Purakayastha (CTO)[5]
ProductsEducational technology, learning management systems, training content
Number of employees
 (as of 2014)
Websitewww.skillsoft.com

Skillsoft is an American educational technology company that produces learning management system software and content.

History[]

Skillsoft was founded by Charles Moran in 1998. Moran served as Chief Executive Officer and President from 1998 to 2015.[6]

Skillsoft had an IPO under the stock symbol SKIL in February 2000[7] and a SPO in July 2001.[8][9]In June 2021, Skillsoft became a publicly traded company once again under the same stock symbol.[10]

Skillsoft acquired Books24x7 in 2001.[11] In 2002, Skillsoft merged with IT courseware company SmartForce (formerly CBT Systems), with the combined company retaining the Skillsoft name.[12] The company acquired NETg from Thomson Corporation in 2007.[12]

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.[13][14] Skillsoft acquired Element K from NIIT in October 2011, and MindLeaders from ThirdForce Group in September 2012.[13]

Skillsoft was sold by Berkshire Partners to Charterhouse Capital Partners for US$2.0 Billion on April 28, 2014.[13][2] Later that year, Skillsoft acquired SumTotal Systems in September 2014.[15] In May 2015, Skillsoft acquired Vodeclic SAS.[16]

In September 2017, Skillsoft launched virtual coding practice lab CodeX, which provides coding exercises with embedded video content.[17][18]

On June 14, 2020, Skillsoft voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States.[19] On August 27, 2020 Skillsoft was able to announce that it had emerged from bankruptcy. During the court-supervised process the company was able to reduce its debt by $1.5 billion US dollars.[20]

In June 2021, Skillsoft was acquired by Churchill Capital and merged with Global Knowledge.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Struggling SmartForce to merge with US counterpart". Irish Times. 2002-06-11. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "SkillSoft". CrunchBase. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  3. ^ http://www.skillsoft.com/contact.asp
  4. ^ "Skillsoft Corporation Company Information". Hoovers. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ^ https://www.skillsoft.com/leadership-team/
  6. ^ "Commvault Systems Inc (CVLT.OQ) Company officers". Reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  7. ^ "Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) IPO". NASDAQ. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) SPO". NASDAQ. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  9. ^ Brown, Rodney H. (February 15, 2010). "SkillSoft to go private in $1B buyout from Bain and partners". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210607005410/en/Skillsoft-and-Churchill-Capital-Corp-II-Announce-Skillsoft%E2%80%99s-Post-Closing-Executive-Leadership-Team
  11. ^ "goFLUENT Taps Former Skillsoft Executive as Part of Global Expansion". Business Wire. Business Wire. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "About Skillsoft". Skillsoft. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Skillsoft". Berkshire Partners. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  14. ^ Suria, Asif (April 6, 2010). "Merger Arbitrage Mondays: April 5, 2010". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  15. ^ Bersin, Josh (October 1, 2014). "Skillsoft Acquisition of SumTotal: Corporate Training Market Disruption?". Forbes. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Skillsoft Announces Acquisition of Vodeclic". BusinessWire. Berkshire Hathaway. May 7, 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Skillsoft Unveils New Virtual Coding Practice LabsDATAQUEST". www.dqindia.com. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  18. ^ "Skillsoft Opens New Coding Practice Lab". Lifehacker Australia. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  19. ^ Reuters Staff (2020-06-15). "E-learning company Skillsoft files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  20. ^ Majid, Anigah. "How Skillsoft got in and out of bankruptcy in just over 2 months". Elearning Inside. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
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