EDITOR'S COMMENT: It is all about the global training market

After a spate of consolidation among the learning management system players during 2005 and 2006 - with rumours of more deals to come others in the corporate industry have decided to join in. SkillSoft is set to pay around $285 million to acquire NETg, currently part of Thomson Learning. The deal was announced at the same time as a wider move which saw Thomson Corporation put its $5 billion Thomson Learning division on the market.

The NETg sale is significant for e-learning as SkillSoft and NETg are two of the best known names in the industry. Both are known as generic e-learning content providers - although NETg would claim it has moved into the bespoke sector in recent years - and as they are two of the largest players this move will clearly have an impact on the overall e-learning marketplace.

As far as SkillSoft is concerned the rationale for this merger is clear. The merged entity will be in a better position to compete for a greater share of the $13.2 billion corporate training market that has large players with comprehensive product offerings. According to SkillSoft, customers are Increasingly connecting their learning strategies to their overall business objectives and are looking for their suppliers to offer a greater range of products and services.

It Is clear that many learning companies are now starting to eye up the global corporate learning market as the ultimate prize. If that Is so the NETg/SkillSoft deal will be the first of many such alliances. And whatever the twists and turns of the corporate learning market over the next few years It Is clear that technology and e-learning are set to be central to the formulation of a winning strategy.

Peter Williams

PS As you can read elsewhere In this issue, the winners of the E-Learning Awards have been announced. Many congratulations from e.learning age.

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