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Thomson adds distance learning, testing, certification with Capstar

Lifelong Learning Market Report - September 3, 2004

As the training outsourcing market heats up, Thomson Learning (Stamford, Conn.) looks to strengthen its hand through its plan to acquire testing, certification and training businesses collective known as Capstar from Educational Testing Services (Princeton, N.J.).

The deal is expected to close this month, for an undisclosed sum LLMR estimates at under $20 million. Capstar will become a division of Prometric (Baltimore), Thomson's testing and assessment business.

News of the deal comes 16 months after ETS created Capstar by combining the acquisition of live e-learning firm iLearning (Baltimore) from Sylvan Learning (Baltimore) with two of its own units, assessment and testing provider Experior Assessments (St. Paul, Minn.) and professional certification and licensure firm Chauncey Group (Princeton, N.J.). iLearning had risen from the ashes of failed distance learning provider Caliber Learning Network.

While most training firms have been holding back on the acquisition front in lean times, Thomson has been reaching into its deep pockets to snap up a number of assets in training and education this year. In so doing, it has opened the door to new and larger opportunities by broadening its reach and building out its capabilities.

Thomson's training-related acquisitions in 2004 include NetLearning (Knoxville, Tenn.), a provider of e-learning for healthcare professionals, in June; financial services trainer FinancialCampus (Southborough, Mass.), in March; and Education To Go (Temecula, Calif.), a provider of online continuing education programs covering IT, business skills and various educational disciplines.

At the same time, Thomson has divested some non-core assets, including human resources and outplacement services provider DBM (New York), which was acquired by private equity firm Compass Partners (London) in February.

Capstar's strength in testing and certification should be a good fit with Prometric, with its focus on professional continuing education and credentialing providing an added value for clients and prospects.

In July, Capstar was named one of the top 20 providers of training outsourcing by TrainingOutsourcing.com (Cary, N.C.), a nonprofit provider of market information. Capstar offers outsourcing of process-based management of testing, certification and licensure services.

Capstar: (609) 720-6500; www.capstarlearning.com

Thomson Learning: (203) 539-8000; www.thomsonlearning.com

As the training outsourcing market heats up, Thomson Learning (Stamford, Conn.) looks to strengthen its hand through its plan to acquire testing, certification and training businesses collective known as Capstar from Educational Testing Services (Princeton, N.J.).

The deal is expected to close this month, for an undisclosed sum LLMR estimates at under $20 million. Capstar will become a division of Prometric (Baltimore), Thomson's testing and assessment business.

News of the deal comes 16 months after ETS created Capstar by combining the acquisition of live e-learning firm iLearning (Baltimore) from Sylvan Learning (Baltimore) with two of its own units, assessment and testing provider Experior Assessments (St. Paul, Minn.) and professional certification and licensure firm Chauncey Group (Princeton, N.J.). iLearning had risen from the ashes of failed distance learning provider Caliber Learning Network.

While most training firms have been holding back on the acquisition front in lean times, Thomson has been reaching into its deep pockets to snap up a number of assets in training and education this year. In so doing, it has opened the door to new and larger opportunities by broadening its reach and building out its capabilities.

Thomson's training-related acquisitions in 2004 include NetLearning (Knoxville, Tenn.), a provider of e-learning for healthcare professionals, in June; financial services trainer FinancialCampus (Southborough, Mass.), in March; and Education To Go (Temecula, Calif.), a provider of online continuing education programs covering IT, business skills and various educational disciplines.

At the same time, Thomson has divested some non-core assets, including human resources and outplacement services provider DBM (New York), which was acquired by private equity firm Compass Partners (London) in February.

Capstar's strength in testing and certification should be a good fit with Prometric, with its focus on professional continuing education and credentialing providing an added value for clients and prospects.

In July, Capstar was named one of the top 20 providers of training outsourcing by TrainingOutsourcing.com (Cary, N.C.), a nonprofit provider of market information. Capstar offers outsourcing of process-based management of testing, certification and licensure services.

Capstar: (609) 720-6500; www.capstarlearning.com

Thomson Learning: (203) 539-8000; www.thomsonlearning.com

COPYRIGHT 2004 RR Bowker
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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