Emerald acquires Mind Tools and strengthens its position as a leading global learning business

Bingley, United Kingdom, 14 March 2019 – Emerald Group, the global provider of research and learning resources, today announces the successful acquisition of Mind Tools, the digital learning and performance support company.

Emerald is uniquely placed amongst its competitors, with a strong position in both the academic research market and learning and performance development in the corporate and public space. The Group’s shared ambition is to unlock the talent and potential in people to help make decisions that lead to real change and positively impact performance. This acquisition responds to a growing need for tools that help today’s worker learn quickly, adapt to diverse situations and maintain a high level of performance. Thousands of corporate and individual learners in over 180 countries currently subscribe to Mind Tools resources, which help to build their management, leadership and personal effectiveness skills.

Peter Casebow, CEO of Emerald’s corporate learning division comments, “This is a perfect fit for Emerald in our continuing goal of providing solutions rooted in a firm evidence base and with a practical impact. We already provide a leading performance support solution in the business user market. Together with Mind Tools, we can provide the best experience to customers and users, whether they’re accessing our resources at work or as part of learning in their everyday lives.”

Co-founders James and Rachel Manktelow will now be stepping back to pursue other interests. James comments, “We are very pleased and proud to see Mind Tools join Emerald. We started Mind Tools because, as managers ourselves, we struggled to find resources to help us develop our own careers. Over the past two decades, together with our team of wonderful and talented people, we’ve built a solution and resources that help millions of people thrive at work. With Emerald, Mind Tools has found a great new home for the next phase of its growth.”

Mind Tools CEO, Ollie Craddock, will now join Peter and fellow Board members as the business looks to an exciting future in a growth market.

The shareholders of Mind Tools were advised by KPMG and Eversheds Sutherland. Emerald was advised by IBIS Capital and DLA Piper with funding support provided by Barclays and HSBC.