Learning Technologies Group acquires PeopleFluent

Highlights

• PeopleFluent to be acquired for $150 million
• LTG will fund the acquisition through a private placing that raised £85m
• Companies complement each other geographically: 63% of LTG’s revenue are from Europe/UK; 85% of PeopleFluent’s revenues are from North America
• LTG will extend its product line with the addition of PeopleFluent’s recruiting, compensation, performance and succession offerings 
• In 2017, PeopleFluent had sales of £83m and underlying profits of £9.2m
• Recurring revenues at the enlarged group will rise to 68% of the total, with group underlying profits of £23.3m

Transaction Details

PeopleFluent has agreed to be acquired by Learning Technologies Group ("LTG"), the global leader in technology-driven workplace learning.

Together, LTG and PeopleFluent will form a global team of over 800 colleagues dedicated to delivering innovative, differentiated solutions for developing and managing talent to its customers, combining PeopleFluent’s international expertise in talent management with LTG’s market leading learning solutions (content, services and technology).  Already recognized as a pioneer in recruiting and compensation, the addition of LTG’s learning resources, expertise and applications will quickly solidify PeopleFluent’s leadership position in Learning.

During 2017, LTG derived 63% of its revenues in the UK and Europe, and 33% in North America.  Conversely, PeopleFluent derived approximately 85% of its revenue from North America.  As there is very little overlap in the customers, substantial cross-selling opportunities exist as a result of the combination.  In addition, PeopleFluent’s workforce compliance and diversity and workforce planning capabilities will further differentiate the combined offering.

LTG has achieved exceptional results over the past year:

• Strong organic revenue growth (36% in FY2017) and margin improvements (adjusted earnings before interest and taxes were 27% of revenues in 2017, vs. 25% in 2016)
• Successful account management approach to sales and client delivery
• Investment in IP; development of focused R&D roadmap
• Exited 2017 with record order book and strong sales pipeline
• During the past year, LTG’s stock has risen over 85% on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, and closed at 99.40 pence on April 23, 2018.

​The synergistic nature of LTG’s brands will support and augment PeopleFluent’s position as a best-of-breed Learning and Talent Development platform.  Access to LTG’s talent and technology will enable a highly differentiated offering from which PeopleFluent expects to leverage its strengths and achieve product innovations that will benefit its clients, employees and valued business partners.