Bertelsmann Expands Educational Activities Through Acquisitions
- Bertelsmann subsidiary Relias Learning takes over U.S. companies Swank HealthCare and AHC Media
- Entry into the acute-care market
- Further expansion of the strategic growth platform of Education
Bertelsmann continues to expand its e-learning business: Relias Learning, a subsidiary of the international media, services, and education company, is taking over the U.S. companies Swank HealthCare and AHC Media. Both companies offer digital training for healthcare workers, with a focus on hospital staff and resident physicians. The parties agreed not to disclose the respective purchase prices.
Kay Krafft, CEO Bertelsmann Education Group, said: “Relias Learning is an important growth business, which we are developing both organically and through acquisitions. By acquiring Swank HealthCare and AHC Media, Relias expands its leading position in the U.S. healthcare market and now directly addresses hospitals and resident physicians as well. Both transactions represent further important steps in the expansion of the Bertelsmann Education Group’s e-learning business, and fit perfectly into our education strategy.”
Jim Triandiflou, CEO Relias Learning, said: “Entering the acute care market is an important step towards training healthcare workers in all care settings. One-third of healthcare workers work in acute care settings. These acquisitions provide Relias a strong foothold in acute care, and allow us to further broaden the award-winning educational content that we provide to our clients across the continuum of care.”
Swank HealthCare, based in St. Louis, Missouri, offers around 800 different online training courses to employees at military and civilian hospitals. It is mandatory for healthcare workers in the U.S. to complete certain courses, in some cases annually. AHC Media, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, provides medical information, publications and continuing education to doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
The acquisition of Relias Learning in November 2014 was Bertelsmann’s largest acquisition in the U.S. since its takeover of Random House in 1998; just a few months ago the company expanded into Europe.
Bertelsmann is concentrating its activities in the education sector on online training, especially in healthcare and technology, and on education services. In the medium term, the Education division is to generate revenues of around one billion euros and become the third pillar of Bertelsmann's business activities alongside media and services.
About Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. The company has 117,000 employees and generated revenues of €17.1 billion in the 2015 financial year. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. This combination promotes first-class media content and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world.
About the Bertelsmann Education Group
The Bertelsmann Education Group encompasses Bertelsmann’s education businesses. The group is shaping learning in the twenty-first century with digital education and service offerings focused on the healthcare and technology sectors, and draws on Bertelsmann’s resources and global network. The Bertelsmann Education Group is wholly owned by Bertelsmann.
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