# Skillsoft

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Skillsoft
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Skillsoft.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillsoft
> Source revision: 1349646906
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Educational technology company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Skillsoft
| former_name = SmartForce<ref name="irishtimes2002">
{{cite news|
url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/struggling-smartforce-to-merge-with-us-counterpart-1.1060179
|title=Struggling SmartForce to merge with US counterpart
|publisher=Irish Times|
date=2002-06-11 |
accessdate=2019-06-28
}}
</ref>
| logo = Skillsoft-logo-navy-RGB .png
| type = [Public](/source/Public_company)
| traded_as = {{ubl|class=nowrap|{{NASDAQ|SKIL}} (Class A) }}
| industry = [Software as a service](/source/Software_as_a_service)
| founded = {{start date|1998|08|08}}{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
| founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->
| hq_location = 300 Innovative Way, Suite 201<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.skillsoft.com/contact.asp |title=Contact Skillsoft to learn more about enterprise-wide education |access-date=2018-01-26 |archive-date=2018-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185720/http://www.skillsoft.com/contact.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| hq_location_city = Nashua, NH
| hq_location_country = United States<ref name=hoovers/>
| key_people = Jeff Tarr (CEO/Director)<br />Richard Walker (CFO)<br />Mark Onisk (Chief Content Officer)<br />Apratim Purakayastha (CTO)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skillsoft.com/leadership-team/|title=Skillsoft Leadership Team}}</ref>
| products = [Educational technology](/source/Educational_technology), [learning management system](/source/learning_management_system)s, training [content](/source/content_(media))
| brands = 
| services = 
| revenue = 
| revenue_year = <!-- Year of revenue data (when known) -->
| operating_income = 
| income_year = <!-- Year of operating_income data (when known) -->
| net_income = <!-- or: | profit = -->
| net_income_year = <!-- or: | profit_year = --><!-- Year of net_income/profit data (when known) -->
| divisions = 
| subsid = [Codecademy](/source/Codecademy)
| website = {{URL|https://www.skillsoft.com/}}
}}

'''Skillsoft''' is an American [educational technology](/source/educational_technology) company that produces [learning management system](/source/learning_management_system) software and content.

==History==
Skillsoft was founded by Charles Moran in 1998. Moran served as chief executive officer and President from 1998 to 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/company-officers/CVLT.OQ |title=Commvault Systems Inc (CVLT.OQ) Company officers |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=Reuters.com |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2019-06-28 |quote=}}</ref>

Skillsoft had an [IPO](/source/initial_public_offering) under the stock symbol SKIL in February 2000<ref name=nasdaq-ipo/> and a [SPO](/source/secondary_public_offering) in July 2001.<ref name=nasdaq-spo/><ref name=brown/> In June 2021, Skillsoft became a publicly traded company once again under the same stock symbol.<ref name="BW">{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210607005410/en/Skillsoft-and-Churchill-Capital-Corp-II-Announce-Skillsoft%E2%80%99s-Post-Closing-Executive-Leadership-Team|title = Skillsoft and Churchill Capital Corp II Announce Skillsoft's Post-Closing Executive Leadership Team|date = 7 June 2021}}</ref>

Skillsoft acquired Books24x7 in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=goFLUENT Taps Former Skillsoft Executive as Part of Global Expansion |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180904005060/en/goFLUENT-Taps-Skillsoft-Executive-Part-Global-Expansion |website=Business Wire |date=4 September 2018 |publisher=Business Wire |accessdate=20 February 2020}}</ref> In 2002, Skillsoft merged with Dublin-based IT courseware company SmartForce (formerly CBT Systems), with the combined company retaining the Skillsoft name,<ref name=skillsoft-about/> establishing a common headquarters in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Charlie |title=Dublin-headquartered Skillsoft files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/dublin-headquartered-skillsoft-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-1.4280437 |access-date=2022-05-24 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> The company acquired NETg from [Thomson Corporation](/source/Thomson_Corporation) in 2007.<ref name="skillsoft-about" />

In May 2010, the company was [bought out](/source/leveraged_buyout) for $1.2 billion by SSI Investments III Limited, a firm funded by [Berkshire Partners](/source/Berkshire_Partners), [Advent International](/source/Advent_International) and [Bain Capital](/source/Bain_Capital).<ref name=berkshire/> Skillsoft acquired Element K from [NIIT](/source/NIIT) in October 2011, and [MindLeaders](/source/MindLeaders) from ThirdForce Group in September 2012.<ref name=berkshire/>

Skillsoft was sold by Berkshire Partners to [Charterhouse Capital Partners](/source/Charterhouse_Capital_Partners)  for $2.0 billion on April 28, 2014.<ref name=berkshire/> Later that year, Skillsoft acquired [SumTotal Systems](/source/SumTotal_Systems) in September 2014. In May 2015, Skillsoft acquired Vodeclic SAS.

In September 2017, Skillsoft launched virtual coding practice lab CodeX, which provides coding exercises with embedded video content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dqindia.com/skillsoft-unveils-new-virtual-coding-practice-labs/|title=Skillsoft Unveils New Virtual Coding Practice LabsDATAQUEST|website=www.dqindia.com|date=18 September 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/09/skillsoft-opens-new-coding-practice-lab/|title=Skillsoft Opens New Coding Practice Lab|date=2017-09-18|work=Lifehacker Australia|access-date=2017-10-13|language=en}}</ref>

On June 14, 2020, Skillsoft voluntarily filed for [Chapter 11](/source/Chapter_11) [bankruptcy](/source/bankruptcy) protection in the [United States](/source/United_States).<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-06-15|title=E-learning company Skillsoft files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-skillsoft-bankruptcy-idUSKBN23M0FN|access-date=2020-11-17}}</ref> On August 27, 2020, Skillsoft was able to announce that it had emerged from bankruptcy. During the court-supervised process the company was able to reduce its debt by $1.5 billion US dollars.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Majid |first1=Anigah |title=How Skillsoft got in and out of bankruptcy in just over 2 months |url=https://news.elearninginside.com/how-skillsoft-got-in-and-out-of-bankruptcy-in-just-over-2-months/ |website=Elearning Inside |date=4 September 2020 |accessdate=20 November 2020}}</ref>

In June 2021, Skillsoft was acquired by Churchill Capital.  Churchill Capital then merged with Software Luxembourg, then acquired the Global Knowledge technical training platform.<ref name="BW"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/churchill-capital-to-merge-with-software-luxembourg-buy-global-knowledge-60709734 | title=Churchill Capital to merge with Software Luxembourg, buy Global Knowledge }}</ref> The combined company would be known as Skillsoft.  Leadership coaching platform Pluma was also acquired that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Amber |date=2022-05-09 |title=Ed tech looks a lot like Netflix |url=https://www.protocol.com/workplace/skillsoft-corporate-learning-consolidate |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Protocol |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2021, Skillsoft announced that it would acquire [Codecademy](/source/Codecademy), an online [computer programming](/source/computer_programming) learning platform, for approximately $525 million in cash and stock.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.skillsoft.com/press-releases/skillsoft-to-acquire-codecademy-a-leading-platform-for-learning-high-demand-technical-skills-creating-a-worldwide-community-of-more-than-85-million-learners|title=Skillsoft to Acquire Codecademy, a Leading Platform for Learning High-Demand Technical Skills, Creating a Worldwide Community of More Than 85 Million Learners|access-date=2021-12-22|publisher=Skillsoft}}</ref> The sale was completed on April 5, 2022.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Skillsoft Completes Acquisition of Codecademy|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220404006017/en/Skillsoft-Completes-Acquisition-of-Codecademy|date=April 5, 2022|publisher=Skillsoft Corp|via=Business Wire}}</ref>

In 2022, Skillsoft sold SumTotal to Cornerstone on Demand for $200 million...<ref>{{cite web | url=https://joshbersin.com/2022/06/cornerstone-acquires-sumtotal-for-200-million/ | title=Cornerstone Acquires SumTotal for $200 Million | date=13 June 2022 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|refs=

<ref name=berkshire>{{cite web|title=Skillsoft|url=http://www.berkshirepartners.com/skillsoft|publisher=Berkshire Partners|accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=brown>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Rodney H.|title=SkillSoft to go private in $1B buyout from Bain and partners|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2010/02/skillsoft-to-go-private-in-1b-buyout-from.html|accessdate=19 June 2015|work=Boston Business Journal|date=February 15, 2010}}</ref>

<ref name=hoovers>{{cite web|title=Skillsoft Corporation Company Information|url=http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.SkillSoft_Corporation.3b3a38b54083591d.html|publisher=Hoovers|accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=nasdaq-ipo>{{cite web|title=Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) IPO|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/skillsoft-corp-67345-2886|publisher=NASDAQ|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=nasdaq-spo>{{cite web|title=Skillsoft Corp (SKIL) SPO|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/spos/company/skillsoft-corp-67345-14313|publisher=NASDAQ|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=skillsoft-about>{{cite web|title=About Skillsoft|url=http://www.skillsoft.com/learning-company.asp|publisher=Skillsoft|accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref>

}}

Category:Educational technology companies of the United States
Category:Software companies established in 1998
Category:E-learning
Category:2000 initial public offerings
Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions
Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions
Category:Companies based in Nashua, New Hampshire
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Skillsoft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillsoft) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillsoft?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.