lynda.com Acquires European Online Learning Company video2brain

Acquisition of Multi-Language Library and Operations Allows lynda.com to Reach More People Worldwide

CARPINTERIA, Calif. & GRAZ, Austria--(BUSINESS WIRE)--lynda.com, an online learning company, today announced its acquisition of video2brain, GmbH, a European-based online video training company that specializes in German-, French-, Spanish- and English-language courses. lynda.com announced this acquisition less than one month after the news of its $103 million growth equity investment that positioned it for expanded opportunities in technology, content and international expansion.

“By becoming a part of the lynda.com family, we can bring to bear what’s great about both companies so that our shared vision of online education is closer to being realized.”

“This acquisition is an investment in our future as we see a huge growth opportunity in new and emerging markets that demand multi-lingual educational content,” said Eric Robison, lynda.com president and CEO. “We have long envisioned the company providing content in multiple languages. The two options were to organically grow that capability from scratch, or find a company aligned with our culture and business model. What video2brain has built in 11 years is impressive and we are fortunate to welcome their employees, members, partners and authors to lynda.com.”

Now a branded division of lynda.com with a team of more than 60 people, video2brain provides an extensive multi-lingual library of 1,700 video courses covering many of the same categories as lynda.com. Based in Graz, Austria, the video2brain brand has over 400,000 subscribers who purchase access to the library either through individual and multi-user subscriptions, or through DVD and single-course downloads.

“Having video2brain become part of lynda.com creates a powerful fulfillment of some of our company’s most strategic goals,” said Lynda Weinman, co-founder and Executive Chair of lynda.com. “We welcome the video2brain staff into our family and I am confident in our ability to create an impact on education–and on people’s lives–with more reach, momentum and relevance than ever before.”

“Since I founded the company, our mission and passion has been to create a great worldwide learning experience,” said Gerhard Koren, who founded video2brain and will remain with lynda.com as a strategic advisor for international markets. “By becoming a part of the lynda.com family, we can bring to bear what’s great about both companies so that our shared vision of online education is closer to being realized.”

Founded in 1995, lynda.com provides software, technology, creative and business skills training to more than two million people worldwide through its comprehensive library of over 87,000 high-quality instructional videos taught by 250 recognized industry experts. In 2012, the company earned more than $100 million in revenue. video2brain, founded in 2002, has also successfully delivered outstanding instructional content created by industry experts in multi language online course libraries and on DVD.

About lynda.com

lynda.com is an online learning company that helps anyone learn software, technology, creative and business skills to achieve their personal and professional goals. Through individual, corporate, academic and government subscriptions, more than two million people have access to the lynda.com video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts and filmed at the company’s 12-acre, state-of-the-art campus in Carpinteria, California. The company also provides German-, French-, and Spanish-language content under the video2brain brand name. Founded in 1995 and incorporated in 1997, lynda.com is led by co-founders Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin and president and CEO Eric Robison. Learn more about the lynda.com story at www.lynda.com/press and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lynda.