Learning Technologies Group acquires Rustici Software
Learning Technologies Group plc (LTG), a publicly listed learning technologies agency, has today acquired the entire share capital of Rustici Software, the global market leader in e-learning standards conformance.
Rustici was established in Nashville, USA in 2002 and has been instrumental in the support and development of universal technical standards for the e-learning industry. They are the acknowledged global leaders in the SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) marketplace and co-creator of the xAPI standard (also known as Tin Can API or Experience API), a next-generation standard created to capture rich data on every aspect of learning.
To utilise and exploit xAPI data, Rustici founders Mike Rustici and Tim Martin created a separate business, Watershed, which has developed a Learning Record Store (LRS) to fully ascertain the impact and effectiveness of learning programmes. LTG is taking a 30% stake in Watershed. Tim Martin will remain the CEO of Rustici under LTG’s ownership and Mike Rustici will focus exclusively on Watershed to accelerate the development of this young, high growth business.The acquisition of Rustici brings a new dimension of technical insight to LTG’s portfolio, allowing the Group to create and deliver pioneering learning solutions which solve the challenges of modern businesses. They join LTG's portfolio which includes
The acquisition of Rustici brings a new dimension of technical insight to LTG’s portfolio, allowing the Group to create and deliver pioneering learning solutions which solve the challenges of modern businesses. They join LTG's portfolio which includes LEO, a pioneering learning technologies firm; the multi-device authoring tool gomo learning; games with purpose company Preloaded; and Governance, Risk and Compliance experts Eukleia.
Growth opportunities are significant for both Rustici, which is expected to take advantage of LTG’s global reach and its learning expertise from across the Group, and for existing LTG businesses, which will benefit from the enhanced opportunity to productise, contextualise and personalise their solutions. Furthermore, the acquisition strengthens the Group’s North American presence, where growth opportunities are significant for both Rustici, which is expected to take advantage of LTG’s global reach and its learning expertise from across the Group, and for existing LTG businesses, which will benefit from the enhanced opportunity to productise, contextualise and personalise their solutions. Furthermore, the acquisition strengthens the Group’s North American presence, where opportunity for growth in the learning technologies sector is high.
Jonathan Satchell, Chief Executive of LTG, commented:
“Consistent with our strategy of establishing an international full-spectrum e-learning business, acquiring Rustici firmly places LTG at the heart of the e-learning industry. Further, our investment in Watershed positions LTG at the vanguard of the industry’s future standard, xAPI. This will provide the Group with invaluable insights and a competitive advantage in a platform that will have a profound change on the digital learning industry.”
For full details, please visit the LTG website. For questions or press requests, please contact Jessica Engler.