M&A Deal Summary

Blackboard Acquires Blackboard Engage

On October 5, 2011, Blackboard acquired information technology company Blackboard Engage from American Capital and Providence Equity Partners

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Blackboard’s 4th transaction in the Information Technology sector.
  • This is Blackboard’s 8th transaction in the United States.
  • This is Blackboard’s 1st transaction in Illinois.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2011-10-05
Target Blackboard Engage
Sector Information Technology
Buyer(s) Blackboard
Sellers(s) American Capital
Providence Equity Partners
Deal Type Merger

Target

Blackboard Engage

Chicago, Illinois, United States
Blackboard Engage (formerly Edline LLC) provides learning community management systems that help schools improve performance by increasing parental involvement, supporting teachers, and engaging the learning community. It offers an array of technology solutions, including Web hosting, content management, information portals, notification, analytics, and virtual storage and related technology solutions.

Search 201,292 Deals Now

SEARCH BY

  • Buyer Type (PE or Strategic)
  • Deal Size ($10M to $10B+)
  • Sector (60 Sectors)
  • Deal Type
  • Geography
  • & More

Try For Free 7-Day Free Trial

Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Blackboard

Reston, Virginia, United States
Category Company
Founded 1997
Sector Software
Employees1,780
DESCRIPTION

Blackboard is a global educational software company that allows thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate and government organizations to extend teaching, learning and campus communication online to millions of students, parents and teachers. Blackboard was founded in 1997 and is based in Reston, Virginia.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 9 of 24
Sector (Information Technology) 4 of 12
Type (Merger) 1 of 1
State (Illinois) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 8 of 18
Year (2011) 2 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-01-13 Presidium

Reston, Virginia, United States

Presidium provides managed services to improve the student experience and support academic technology and learning-based enterprises through industry leading processes, technology, and people.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-03-26 Moodlerooms

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Moodlerooms, Inc. is a provider of open source online learning solutions to the education industry.

Buy -

Seller(S) 2

SELLER

American Capital

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1997
PE ASSETS 22.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

American Capital was a publicly traded buyout and mezzanine investment firm. American Capital invested in buyouts, growth capital financings, acquistion financings, and recapitalizations. The Firm looked to finance businesses with at least $4 million in EBITDA and valued between $20 and $500 million. American Capital ws a generalist firm with broad interest in traditional industries such as manufacturing, distribution, and services. American Capital's European investment affiliate is European Capital. European Capital looked to invest $10 to $600 million of equity, mezzanine, and/or senior debt in similar opportunities across Europe. American Capital was formed in 1997 and in January 2017, merged with Ares Capital Management.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 131 of 194
Sector (Information Technology) 8 of 10
Type (Merger) 7 of 10
State (Illinois) 7 of 9
Country (United States) 128 of 186
Year (2011) 10 of 12
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-10-03 YORK Label

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

YORK Label, Inc. is a supplier of high-end pressure-sensitive label solutions and operates flexographic label printing facilities in North America.

Sell $356M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-10-06 Sixnet Holdings

Ballston Lake, New York, United States

Sixnet is a privately held company that provides innovative market-leading machine-to-machine (M2M) data communications solutions. Sixnet’s worldwide customers benefit from its unique ability to integrate cellular modems, industrial automation products, and data connectivity products into rugged, reliable, and cost effective solutions.

Sell $72M
SELLER

Providence Equity Partners

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1989
PE ASSETS 36.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Providence Equity Partners is a specialist private equity firm that targets investments in media, entertainment, communications, and information companies. Specifically, Providence seeks investments in wireless and wireline telephony, cable television content and distribution, music, film, publishing, radio and television broadcasting, and other media and communications sectors. Providence Equity looks to commit $150 million to $800 million of equity capital in transactions ranging from growth financings and recapitalizations, to buyouts and take-privates. Providence Equity Partners was formed in 1989 and has offices in Providence, Rhode Island; New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; London, United Kingdom; Hong Kong, China; and New Delhi, India.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 29 of 100
Sector (Information Technology) 2 of 8
Type (Merger) 2 of 7
State (Illinois) 2 of 4
Country (United States) 17 of 68
Year (2011) 7 of 8
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-10-04 Blackboard

Reston, Virginia, United States

Blackboard is a global educational software company that allows thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate and government organizations to extend teaching, learning and campus communication online to millions of students, parents and teachers. Blackboard was founded in 1997 and is based in Reston, Virginia.

Buy $1.6B
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-10-24 OpenSky

New York, New York, United States

OpenSky is a e-commerce platform curated by celebrities and experts.

Buy -
Mergr

Product

Company

Legal