Bonnier Business Press acquires majority stake in Denmark’s largest publisher of digital learning materials, Clio Online.

Best possible partner for digitalizing schools

Clio Online’s product portfolio offers a wide range of tailored and proven digital learning portals for a majority of subjects and grades, accompanied by an advanced learning management platform.

“Clio Online’s strong market position makes it possible for us to enter a highly interesting market segment and develop it even further,” says Anders Eriksson, business area head for Bonnier Business to Business.

“Digital learning materials in schools are one of the final frontiers in the digitalization of content and society. By acquiring Clio Online, we provide ourselves with the best possible partner for bringing that digitalization to markets outside of Denmark.”

Bonnier Business to Business also sees great opportunities to leverage Clio Online’s platform and conceptual skills into new applications for the corporate market.

“The acquisition will provide a boost as well as a solid foundation for our current and planned efforts in corporate e-learning and knowledge products,” says Anders Eriksson.

Ready to take on the international market

Today digital learning materials form around 40 percent of the total market for learning materials in Denmark – a share that has increased significantly in recent years. Clio Online is estimated to have around 35 percent of the Danish market, and now the company is ready to take on the international market.

“Clio Online has played a significant part in placing the Danish market at the forefront of digital educational resources in schools, on a global scale, and we are very eager to show new markets the potential of investing in more digital learning materials,” says founding partner Louise Herping Ellegaard, who will stay on in her current capacity in the management team of Clio Online together with the two other founding partners, Janus Benn Sørensen and Lasse Guldsborg.

“Together with Bonnier, we have both a deep knowledge of and a strong base in the Danish market for digital learning materials as well as a strong presence in a number of neighboring markets. This gives us a unique opportunity to become the leading provider of digital educational materials internationally. An opportunity we have every intention of exploiting,” says Janus Benn Sørensen.

About Bonnier Business Press

Bonnier Business Press has business-to-business operations in 10 countries with a focus on business news media and niche products for business professionals, including a range of e-learning and knowledge products.

Bonnier Business Press is part of the business area Business to Business of international media group Bonnier, with a base in Sweden and substantial operations in the Nordic region, U.S., Germany, the U.K. and Eastern Europe. Bonnier has businesses in 16 countries worldwide and employs over 8,000 people. The company is wholly owned by the Bonnier family, which has been running it for seven generations.

About Clio Online
Clio Online is the market leader for digital learning materials in Denmark. The company produces digital learning portals for primary and lower secondary education. Approximately 90 percent of all public schools in Denmark have a yearly subscription to one or more of Clio Online’s learning portals. In 2014 Clio Online had a net turnover of DKK 59.5 million and a profit of DKK 24.7 million.

Clearwater International has advised the owners of Clio Online in the transaction.

For further information, contact:

Anders Eriksson
CEO, Bonnier Business Press
Phone: +46 70 822 44 14
anders.eriksson@bonnier.se

Thomas Overholt Hansen
Head of Communications and Marketing, Clio Online
Phone: +45 3160 6016
toh@clioonline.dk