Skillsgroup PLC - Acquisition

RNS Number:9402M
Skillsgroup PLC
28 June 2000


            Skillsgroup announces acquisition of
       Direct Media Technology, new Board Appointments
              and confirms disposal of QA Myriad

Skillsgroup announces progress on a number of initiatives in
line  with  the Group's continuing strategy of focusing  its
activities within the IT training and consulting markets:

*  Acquisition of Direct Media Technology Limited for #5.3
   million
*  Strengthening of the Board
*  Shareholder  approval  of the  sale  of  its  staffing
   business, QA Myriad Limited

Acquisition of Direct Media Technology Limited ("DMT")

Skillsgroup has acquired DMT for a maximum net consideration
of #5.3 million.  Of the consideration, #5.0 million will be
settled  at completion in the form of #4.0 million  in  loan
notes  and  the  issue  of 677,966 new  ordinary  shares  in
Skillsgroup (value of #1.0 million).  Application  has  been
made for the listing of these new shares.  In addition, #0.3
million  of cash consideration is deferred over three  years
and  is  dependent  on  the  continuing  employment  of  the
principal vendor director.

DMT   is   a   growing  provider  of  leading-edge  Learning
Management  Systems  (LMS)  to corporate  customers  in  the
rapidly emerging market for this service.  The company helps
clients   achieve  greater  efficiency  in  their   training
programmes  by providing the systems and expertise  required
to  deliver,  manage  and  monitor  online  and  traditional
training  activity company-wide.  The company  has  a  broad
customer  base  across  a range of industries  and  includes
amongst its clients many blue-chip companies.

In  line  with  recent announcements regarding Skillsgroup's
new business venture, qaglobal.com, and following a detailed
business  planning phase working with advising  consultants,
the   Concours   Group,   this  acquisition   represents   a
significant  building block in our strategy  of  becoming  a
leading   provider  of  integrated  learning  solutions   to
organisations  on a worldwide basis.  The purchase  provides
the  Group  with a best-of-breed LMS product  -  Interactive
Training  Manager  -  a  flexible and sophisticated  system,
which  allows delivery of tailored training content as  well
as  providing  compatibility with the  courseware  of  major
training companies.

Whilst  DMT  will  continue to be operated as  a  standalone
business,  the  LMS capabilities it provides will  become  a
core  component  of both the Group's newly-established  web-
based training solutions business, qaglobal.com, and its  QA
Training operation.

Commenting  on the acquisition, David Southworth,  Executive
Chairman said: "The acquisition of DMT furthers our ambition
through  qaglobal.com of becoming a major player in the  new
web-based training solutions market and will strengthen QA's
market leading position in instructor-led training.  Clients
of  both QA Training and qaglobal.com will benefit from  the
world-class LMS solution we can now provide."

Board Appointments

The  Group  is  pleased to announce the appointment  to  the
Board  of  Robert  Hough  and Helen  Weir  as  Non-executive
Directors with immediate effect.

Robert  Hough,  54, has wide experience of listed  companies
both  as  an  executive and non-executive director.   He  is
currently  Executive Deputy Chairman of Peel  Holdings  plc,
Executive Chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company  and
Executive Chairman of Liverpool Airport plc.  He is also Non-
executive  Deputy Chairman of Brammer plc and  Non-executive
Chairman of Opal Telecom plc.

Helen  Weir, 37, is Finance Director of B&Q plc, responsible
for   all  the  finance  function  activities  and  strategy
development.   She  had  previously been  a  consultant  for
McKinsey & Co in London.

Commenting  on the appointments David Southworth,  Executive
Chairman,  said:  "The experience and  knowledge  of  Robert
Hough  and Helen Weir will further strengthen the  Board  of
Skillsgroup  plc.   I am confident that they  will  make  an
important  contribution  to the future  development  of  the
Group."


Disposal of QA Myriad

The  expected  sale  of QA Myriad, the Group's  IT  staffing
business, to a subsidiary of Hays plc was announced  on  6th
June.  At  the  Company's  EGM  held  yesterday  Skillsgroup
shareholders  approved the disposal and it is has  now  been
completed.   The cash proceeds of #31.2 million  subject  to
adjustments  will be used to eliminate the  Group's  present
overdrafts and to provide funds for continuing investment in
the Group's training and consulting businesses.

The  company will be announcing its interim results for  the
six months ending 31st May 2000 on Thursday 13th July 2000.

David R Southworth
Executive Chairman


For further information, please contact:

Skillsgroup plc                        www.skillsgroup.co.uk
David Southworth                                01625 591200
Colin Gibson

Ludgate Communications Limited
Reg Hoare                                  www.ludgate.co.uk
Edward Macquisten                              0207 253 2252


About Direct Media Technology

Direct Media Technology is one of the UK's leading providers
of LMS solutions to corporate customers, having successfully
transitioned  itself  in recent years  from  a  reseller  of
technology-based training materials.  Established  in  1985,
DMT  is  based in Newbury, Hampshire, and employs 10 people.
Turnover in 1999 was #0.7 million.

About Skillsgroup

Skillsgroup  is  an  information  technology  company  which
operates  through  clearly  focused  service  and  solutions
businesses. The Group's core trading businesses  and  brands
are QA and Pontis Consulting.


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