MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PLATO Learning, a leading provider of online education solutions for kindergarten through adult learners, announced today that it is acquiring Educational Options, Inc. (EdOptions™), an award-winning education technology firm based in Falls Church, Va., to enhance its comprehensive portfolio of education solutions. PLATO Learning is backed by leading middle market private equity firm Thoma Bravo, LLC.
“EdOptions’ commitment to providing secondary online courses for students in need of credit recovery, acceleration, and alternative learning options fits with our mission to provide inspired solutions for teaching and learning,” said Vin Riera, PLATO Learning chief executive officer. “This acquisition expands the education solutions we offer and positions the combined companies as powerful partners to better meet our customers’ wide array of program needs.”
Founded by educators, EdOptions is a family-owned business that provides schools with online solutions focused on drop-out prevention, adaptive curriculum, and virtual instruction. “Providing educational opportunities to struggling students is the cornerstone of EdOptions. The merger with PLATO Learning ensures our ability to reach a broader group of students and teachers and continue our commitment to helping learners catch up and become college and career ready,” said Bettina Callaway, co-founder of the company along with her late husband, Dr. Thomas Sawner. “PLATO Learning has a strong history of supporting student achievement. We are excited to have these two companies come together to ensure student success.”
“We believe the combination of PLATO Learning and EdOptions creates a unique offering in the education technology market,” said Holden Spaht, a partner at Thoma Bravo. “This acquisition better positions PLATO Learning to deliver leading edge products to an even broader customer base. Thoma Bravo will continue to support the company’s growth organically and through additional strategic acquisitions.”
About PLATO Learning, Inc.
PLATO Learning is a leading provider of high-value, comprehensive education technology solutions with a focus on learner achievement leading to academic and career success. With more than 50 years of experience driving significant advances in the industry, PLATO offers a wide variety of innovative solutions spanning a multitude of program areas to facilitate 21st century teaching and learning. For more information on PLATO Learning, visit www.plato.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.
About Educational Options, Inc.
Educational Options has helped thousands of students stay in school and become lifelong learners. Our mission is to create outstanding web-based educational products that support students and teachers inside and outside the traditional classroom. For more information on EdOptions, visit www.edoptions.com
About Thoma Bravo, LLC
Thoma Bravo is a leading private equity investment firm that has been providing equity and strategic support to experienced management teams building growing companies for 30 years. The firm originated the concept of industry consolidation investing, which seeks to create value through the strategic use of acquisitions to accelerate business growth. Thoma Bravo applies its investment strategy across multiple industries, with a particular focus on the software and service sectors, and works in partnership with management to implement its operating and consolidation expertise to build long-term value. In software, Thoma Bravo has completed more than 46 add-on acquisitions across 18 platform companies with total annual earnings of approximately $1 billion. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com.