ON COURSE TO MERGE: The international media and education company Bertelsmann is acquiring OnCourse Learning, a Wisconsin-based online education provider, for an amount in the “mid-nine-digit-euro range,” according to a news release — in other words, for hundreds of millions of euros. The deal is expected to close this fall.
With its online library of about 22,000 educational courses, OnCourse Learning serves about 750,000 learners and nearly 20,000 business customers annually. Founded in 2007, the company provides corporate training courses in health care and financial services, among other industries.
By acquiring OnCourse Learning, Bertelsmann will bolster its presence in the education market and in the United States. The German-based company estimates that the share of its revenue coming from the U.S. will increase from 20 to 30 percent in the near future. As part of the deal, the health care division of OnCourse Learning will merge with Relias, a Bertelsmann subsidiary operating in the same industry.
