General Atlantic to buy UK’s Learning Technologies for $1 billion

US private equity firm General Atlantic has struck a deal to buy Learning Technologies Group (LTG) for 802.4 million pounds ($1 billion), betting on rising training requirements for large corporations as they adapt to artificial intelligence.

LTG, which provides corporate training tools including mobile apps and training videos, has been faltering amid the rapid evolution of generative AI along with companies turning away from custom content creation to reduce costs.

General Atlantic said LTG would require further investments in its products to adapt to the changing landscape and to compete, as well as offset the potentially disruptive impact of AI and other challenges.

General Atlantic already has educational technology companies in its portfolio, such as Duolingo, India-based Unacademy, and game-based learning platform Kahoot!.

Also Read: Allen Institute held talks to acquire Unacademy valuing edtech firm at $800 million in a cut-price deal: sources

Shares in LTG rose as much as 7% following the announcement, hitting their highest since June 2023. The group said in September it was willing to agree to a deal with General Atlantic if the private equity firm made a formal offer.

Under the deal, LTG shareholders will receive 100 pence per share in cash, a 34% premium to the stock’s closing price on Sept. 26, the day before General Atlantic’s interest became public. The deal joins a flurry of merger and acquisition activity in Britain as interest rates fall and equity markets hold firm.

Last week, automotive components supplier TI Fluid agreed to a 1.04 billion pound takeover by Canada’s ABC Technologies.

LTG said its independent directors intended to unanimously recommend the deal to shareholders.