Entitled, the "Global eLearning Investment Review", the report examines, among other things

• education trends and technology innovation
• analysis of the structure of the industry (content, management systems, and distribution)
• valuation metrics along with a review of mergers and acquisitions (m&a) activity
• overview of investor and strategic interest in the sector

The report sets out IBIS Capital's "Lessons for the Future" for would-be investors in this sector. These include

• The rise in peer-to-peer platforms will result in large amounts of educational content becoming freely available. Business models will focus on delivering chargeable premium bespoke and ancillary services.
• Learning will become increasingly personalised, with eLearning harnessing big data analytics to provide interactive learning that is tailored to the meet the individual's learning patterns and aptitude.
• With the rise of mobile and tablet penetration, students will increasingly access content "anytime, anywhere". The classroom will become the arena for face-to-face tutoring of individual requirements and open discussion.
• The need to improve skills, meet regulatory requirements, and manage training costs will result in eLearning becoming part of the fabric of virtually every business.
• As the range of eLearning offerings expand, the need for qualifications and standards to be recognised will become increasingly important. The accreditation will become unified over time, and educational brands will reduce to a small number of global players.
• The education process will continue throughout an individual's life. Individuals will maintain a live log of their learning experiences from the time they start their studies and then on through their working lives.

The report also sets out 47 significant education m&a transactions, where 75% of these have been in the eLearning sector over the past two years, amounting to approximately $3.8bn by transaction value.

David Patterson, a director of Learning Light, commented, "We've been delighted to put our market knowledge at IBIS Capital's disposal - to help put into context some of the events in the eLearning world over the past couple of years."

"While any company that wants to acquire companies in this sector - or which wants to be acquired - will be anxious to read this IBIS report, Learning Light would stress the need for taking expert professional consultancy advice when performing such tasks as 'due diligence' in the run-up to any further deals."

Charles McIntyre, of IBIS Capital, said, "The eLearning sector has reached a tipping point where we now have the digital infrastructure, the mobile and tablet penetration, the software platforms, and most importantly the consumer demand to see education innovation in the digital age become an integral part of teaching and corporate training."

"The IBIS report will provide a window onto this world for anybody seeking to invest or build businesses in the eLearning sector."