WSiP to join Infinitas Learning group to drive innovation and growth
Utrecht (the Netherlands)/Warsaw (Poland), January 18, 2024 – Infinitas Learning, one of Europe’s leading providers of learning solutions, has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire all shares outstanding in Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne S.A. (WSiP), a prominent player holding the #2 market position in K12 education in Poland. The acquisition is subject to authorization by the Polish Competition Authority.
In recent years, under ownership of Central Group, a leading Central European private investment group, WSiP has successfully renewed its portfolio and digital propositions. With the support of Infinitas Learning group, WSiP is well positioned to further innovate and develop its position in the Polish market.
Infinitas Learning is looking for WSiP to maintain its autonomy to develop products and services for the Polish education system. Both WSiP and Infinitas Learning believe that the extensive experience of Infinitas Learning in the development of digital educational solutions will lead WSiP to a new level of innovation, which will greatly contribute to the Polish education system.
“We are very enthusiastic about the acquisition,” says Jerzy Garlicki, CEO of WSiP. “WSiP will benefit from becoming part of Infinitas Learning and their expertise in the domain of blended learning and teaching. Its learning platforms will add great benefits to helping our students and teachers reach their full potential, and in strengthening our position in the Polish market.”
Taco Morelisse, CEO of Infinitas Learning: “We are very excited to enter the Polish market by acquiring the oldest and one of the most prominent publishers of textbooks. We are impressed with the WSiP team and their achievements over the past years. I believe that together we can further expand their success. Our experience in blended learning combined with our digital platforms enables us to support and strengthen WSiP’s digital proposition, tailored to the specific needs in the Polish market. The acquisition of WSiP also fits seamlessly into the Infinitas Learning group family and the investment strategy of Infinitas Learning’s main shareholder NPM Capital (Healthy Life & Learning).”
“We are proud that during our six years of ownership, we were able to lift WSiP into a new category through investment into the renewal of the product offering and speeding up digital transformation. We are delighted to see that WSiP’s well established market position will be further strengthened by joining forces with Infinitas Learning. Central Group remains committed to the Polish market and we look forward to deploying our resources again in Poland,” said Zoltán Varga, Chairman of Central Group.
About WSiP
WSiP is the second-largest and longest-established publisher of school textbooks and teaching support materials in Poland. The company creates publications for all educational segments – from pre-school education and elementary schools to high schools, technical and vocational schools. In a 2022 brand awareness survey conducted by Fast Solutions, 99.7% of teachers stated that they were familiar with the WSiP brand.
In recent years, WSiP has realized a digital transformation project, enabling the company to respond even better to the needs of today’s schools, teachers, and students. The company has introduced a completely new range of textbooks for elementary schools and launched an innovative e-learning platform – EDURANGA. New editions of textbooks for all segments are regularly prepared to make teaching more innovative and engaging.
WSiP employs more than 500 people. In a ranking by Forbes magazine and the research firm Statista (2023), the company was recognized as one of the best employers in Poland. https://wsip.pl
About Infinitas Learning
Infinitas Learning is a key European provider of innovative products and services for learning and education. We help learners to realize their full potential. Our mission is to create flexible, leading solutions that support innovative, 21st century ways of learning. Our brands offer a comprehensive suite of educational tools that are used in primary and secondary schools, further education and in companies. Our teaching materials are compliant with local curriculum terms. Our solutions are based on insights from thorough research into learning processes, resulting in leading didactics, the foundation of effective learning. Our products contain interactive software, online learning and teaching materials.
The Infinitas Learning group includes Noordhoff & Futurewhiz (the Netherlands), Plantyn (Belgium), LeYa (Portugal) and Liber (Sweden), as well as Infinitas Product & Technology (the Netherlands). Our businesses all have no. 1 or no. 2 position in their markets and reaches more than 5 million students. The group employs approx. 1,500 people and is headquartered in Utrecht (the Netherlands). https://www.infinitaslearning.com
About NPM
NPM Capital invests in mid-market companies headquartered in the Benelux and supports companies to enter the next growth phase. NPM Capital, with SHV as its sole shareholder, has sufficient capital to support its participations and applies a long investment horizon. Currently, NPM Capital has a portfolio of 22 participations (majority as well as minority holdings, including growth capital) and focuses on the following trends: Everything is Digital, Sustainable Future, Feeding the World and Healthy Life & Learning. https://www.npm-capital.com
About Central Group
Central Group, headquartered in Budapest, is a leading private investment group in Central Europe with a track record of over 20 years of successful invests in a diverse range of industries. Its flagship publishing holdings, Central Media and Gremi Media, are leading independent media groups in Hungary and Poland respectively with presence also in Slovakia and Czechia. Central Group acquired WSiP from Advent International in 2018. Notable other investments in prominent players on the Polish market included Wizz Air and Premium Mobile. Central Group is actively seeking to further expand its investment portfolio in Poland and in the CEE region.
