mynth
03/2014

SKILLSOFT acquired by CHARTERHOUSE

IRELAND Education / EdTech & Content EV $1–10bn

Context

Charterhouse Capital Partners entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Skillsoft from a consortium led by Berkshire Partners, Advent International, and Bain Capital. The transaction represents a major secondary buyout within the professional EdTech sector. The strategic rationale focuses on leveraging the target's dominant market position and high recurring revenue model to pursue new growth opportunities under Charterhouse's resources. The management team, led by CEO Chuck Moran, remained in place to maintain operational continuity and execute the next phase of the company's global expansion.

SKILLSOFT, which reported an EBITDA margin of [members only] in 2013, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 10x–18x, representing a premium to the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.9x).

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Target

Founded in 1989, Skillsoft is a global pioneer in technology-delivered learning and cloud-based corporate training. It provides a comprehensive library of courses, e-books, and videos focused on business skills, IT, and talent development. At the time of the transaction, the company served over 6,000 customers and more than 19,000,000 learners worldwide. Its product suite includes well-known brands such as Books24x7, Skillport, and ITPro. The firm is recognized for its ability to deliver scalable, cost-effective learning programs tailored to global enterprises, government agencies, and small-to-mid-sized businesses.

Ent. Value

$1–10bn

Equity Value

[members only]

Multiples

EV / Revenue

[members only]

EV / EBITDA

10x–18x

EV / EBIT

[members only]

Historical Financials (USD)

Year
Rev
EBITDA
EBIT
2013
[members only]
$100–200M
[members only]
2012
[members only]
$100–200M
[members only]

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REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV $1–10bn

EBITDA range: $100–200M

EV/EBITDA range: 10x - 18x

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of SKILLSOFT by CHARTERHOUSE are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Press release: view release

Target: skillsoft

Acquirer: charterhouse