Bergen (NO), December 2010 - it's learning has acquired a 66% stake in educational-technology provider InfoStance from the French publishing giant Hachette Livre. Hachette Livre retains 34% ownership of the company. The deal should enable it's learning to use InfoStance's expertise in school administration systems to create an even stronger learning platform.
Although it's learning and InfoStance offer similar products, the two learning platforms have different strengths. InfoStance is the only company to have achieved full user adoption in French Local Education Authorities and its product ScolaStance is renowned for its administrative tools and seamless integration with other IT systems. it's learning is more focused on giving teachers tools that improve collaboration and classroom teaching.
it's learning CEO Arne Bergby believes the combination will prove very appealing for educational institutions both in France and around the globe. "Our goal is to develop the perfect learning platform, and we have set an ambitious plan to incorporate the best features from ScolaStance into it's learning", he comments. "Thanks to our software-as-a-service model, our customers will see a gradual improvement in the product they use every day, without experiencing any disruptions."
Currently France's leading provider of learning platforms, InfoStance has revenue in excess of € 1.6 million. Based in Norway, it's learning has millions of users in Europe and the US and is one of Europe's fifty fastest-growing technology companies.
The acquisition of InfoStance makes it's learning the largest learning-platform provider in France in terms of users, with more than 900,000 users across the country. InfoStance CEO Cyril Voidey comments, "The acquisition is an excellent move for InfoStance. it's learning's international experience, pedagogically focused product, and experience in primary education will enable us to expand rapidly in a growing market."
