The Latest News in ELT
May 2007
eigoStore.com Launched with 20% Off All Books
eigoTown.com, Japan's largest independent portal site for learners of English has released a new online book shop -- eigoStore.com --, aimed at individual consumers of western books such as the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter (ELTBOOKS.com remains the site for teachers and schools looking to purchase ELT materials). As a special opening promotion, eigoStore is discounting all of its 15,000 + title by at least 20% with some titles 40% off or more. Broadcaster Peter Barakan lists his "Desert Island Books" with Hiroko Grace and other celebrities waiting in the wings. (May 28, 2007
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Paul Riley of Oxford University Press Speaks Out
Paul Riley is the president of Oxford University Press K.K, the Japan branch of the world's most famous educational publisher -- learn more about the publishing side of ELT in his Nikkei Weekly Interview. Transcript and vocabulary is available online. Completely free. (May 21, 2007
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Thomson Learning Sold to Private Equity Firms
From Thomson Learning's Press Room:
"The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), a leading global provider of information services to business and professional customers, today announced that it has signed definitive agreements with funds advised by Apax Partners (Apax) and OMERS Capital Partners (OMERS) under which such funds will acquire the higher education, careers and library reference assets of Thomson Learning, and a consortium of funds advised by OMERS and Apax will acquire Nelson Canada, for a combined total value of approximately $7.75 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year and is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions." (May 17, 2007
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Pearson Buys eCollege for $538 Million
Pearson has signed a deal to acquire the distance learning company eCollege for $538 million. eCollege had sales of 52 million last year.
Founded in 1996, eCollege provides online courses for students in all grades, although the majority of its business is with postsecondary students. In 2006, it had approximately 1.2 million students enrolled in at least one course.
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Pearson Buys Harcourt Testing and Education for $950 Million
Pearson has agreed to pay $950 million to acquire Harcourt Assessment and Harcourt Education International. The two groups had sales of $524 million last year and operating profits of $31 million. The deal makes Pearson the dominate company in the testing field in the United States.
The remaining Harcourt operations are located primarily in North America. The sale of those companies is expected to occur this summer, and private equity firms are still viewed as the favorite to acquire the remaining assets, as reported earlier.
(May 08, 2007
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News Headlines from Eigo Kyoiku News
Our sister site, Eigo Kyoiku News has run the following headlines in the last few days. For news about the English teaching profession and industry in Japanese, visit Eigo Kyoiku News.
16 Super English Language High Schools Approved
Stock Price Reports of NOVA, ALC and GABA : April 2007
More than 1.5 Million Japanese Took the TOEIC in Fiscal 2006
Make-up Lessons to be Offered for LADO Students
(May 07, 2007
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