H.I.G. Capital and Thoma Bravo to Acquire CompTIA Brand and Products

[Gregory Childers]

I reached out to my contacts with the CompTIA Adjunct Instructors but they haven't had any official information other than the public information that we all have access to.

I also haven't received a letter from CompTIA yet. I guess I'm not a most valuable customer.

 

[Jill West]

I reached out to my contacts with the CompTIA Adjunct Instructors but they haven't had any official information other than the public information that we all have access to.

I also haven't received a letter from CompTIA yet. I guess I'm not a most valuable customer.

In the interest of full disclosure, that email went to my son (ITF+ certified as a sophomore in high school), not to me

 

[Rick Butler]

That wouldn't be likely, since the capital went into the non-profit organization, which no longer owns the training and certification products.

I'm pretty sure that the acquisition of the training arm of CompTIA would also have the benefit of additional funding. While the capital went one way, I'm sure that doesn't preclude any additional funding for training and certs.

A concern though is that if there is MORE funding available now to buttress CertMaster and CompTIA's training, that will make it tougher for the other content producers, either independent or affiliated with a publisher to compete. I heard this complaint during Summit from a few of them that I spoke with - that earned their living on making content, only now feeling like they are in full on competition with CompTIA now. I personally don't have a dog in that fight - as I am part of a college, so we just consume the products which make sense for our school. But I'm not ignorant to that dynamic, for sure, as I believe that good competition creates better training products.

CompTIA has had to keep training up with the 3 year certification cycle and with the incorporation of LabSIM, I'm sure the costs of doing that part of business, as well as overall headcount, have gone up considerably. Having the funding will allow that to happen without running into funding shortfalls.

But I think our concerns overall will be to the neutrality that CompTIA has always had. I do not know what other entities that HIG/TB owns. But the concern that we seem to have is with certifications, for example, drifting towards one company or another - one entity or another, rather than remaining in the middle, folks will begin to lose confidence in those certifications. I prefer to believe that this would not be in HIG/TB or CompTIA's interests, so I am refraining from any cynicism on the matter.

We're all also speculating based on the content of a press release and missives received through our BDM's - so I'm pretty sure we don't have ALL the information yet. The same thing happened in the community with the TestOut acquisition. So, I would probably suggest we all continue to share thoughts and experiences as we learn them - but look at the positive benefits and opportunities that we all have as educators, content developers, and other interested parties.

With change comes opportunity. Just my 2 cents.

/r

 

[Gregory Childers]

If you're wondering which companies are in the Thoma Bravo portfolio, there is a list here.

Thoma Bravo Portfolio Companies

Thoma Bravo's private equity investment portfolio includes many of the world's leading companies in applications, infrastructure and cybersecurity.

www.thomabravo.com

H.I.G.'s portfolio is here.

Portfolio Archive

higgrowth.com

 

[Tess Sluijter]

With change comes opportunity. Just my 2 cents.

All of those are fair and level-headed points Rick.

 

[Tess Sluijter]

Step 1 I understand, they need money, especially after buying TestOut etc. Step 2 is lovely and while they don't mention the lobbying they do, I guess that's also in there somewhere.

Step 3 is what confuses me, because [,...] the non-profit gets money for the brand, which they will then use to promote the brand... which they've sold?

So yes, that supposedly is what will happen because the non-profit will no longer be called CompTIA. Per -> https://www.channele2e.com/feature/...nvestment-firms-h-i-g-capital-and-thoma-bravo

while its existing membership-based, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization will be separated from CompTIA, will be given a new name and will operate as a separate entity. For now, it's referred to as 'the association,' Thibodeaux said.

Now, while we're on a more positive and hopeful note, thanks to Rick: I sincerely hope that the acquisition means that CompTIA will put more effort into protecting their IP and the value of their certifications. Specifically by going after dumpers, cheaters and copyright infringers harder than they are now. Given that reorganisations may start cutting personnel, I don't know if that's going to happen but I certainly hope so.

 

[Michael Schmitz]

Hm, if i buy something, that cosumes all my money in the Bank or has a high rate of taking Credit:
i do not buy it, because to expensive or look for other ways.
if i sell, why sell 100% and not just 49% to keep influence.
so maybe buying testout was to expensive.
And do not forget, a few years ago, CompTIA bought GTS Learning and the Logical Choice Stuff also..

Extrablished Non Vendor IT Certification (which are ECC, Off SEc and CompTIA) seems to be like Music Catalogs from Artists: Promising longterm revenue for the Investors. Not to much Money to keep it up and running.

what is there left on the Big Players in Non Vendor IT Certifications:
ISC²
SANS
Isaca
GIAC

They may belong to an Organisation, but for the Management the Money seems to be easy to get just in parts.

In the End, it is a Business for the Non Profit Organisations or for the Vendors like Cisco, HPE, Microsoft and so on..
(and some know, what happens with Microsoft Courseware is really frustrating)

And the market changes to fast in some areas with new content.

Maybe most of us have where part of the "Golden Age " of Certification (how we will call it soon), like with online Streaming.. That changes too (more Ads, less new Content, not so much Bingwatching possible)..
And so, we need to change too, in what direction? I have no idea yet, hopefully you.
But they paid money (a lot) for the Market Share of this CompTIA Certifications, so they will not be flush it down the toilette.
We will see what the Future brings..
Just why sell 100% of it, so that nothing is left?

just my 2c.

michael

 

[Tess Sluijter]

In other somewhat related devastating news: ITPro.tv / ACI has laid off all their video training content creators.

Kathy Chambers on LinkedIn: I could not decide if I wanted to keep this professional, or call out my… | 123 comments

I could not decide if I wanted to keep this professional, or call out my former company for royally sucking and laying off a group of super talented people… | 123 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

 

[Gregory Childers]

It is my understanding that the training and certification portion of CompTIA was part of the acquisition and that it will be run as a for-profit entity.

 

[Tess Sluijter]

It is my understanding that the training and certification portion of CompTIA was part of the acquisition and that it will be run as a for-profit entity.

Yes, that is exactly what's happening. What previous post was this in response to?

 

[Gregory Childers]

Yes, that is exactly what's happening. What previous post was this in response to?

Not a response, just a general statement.

 

[tangobro]

For additional context, it looks like the assessment industry is an attractive commodity:

The ACT’s private equity takeover and the future of testing

The testing nonprofit was bought by a private equity firm last month, raising concerns about accountability and illuminating key forces of change in the assessment industry.

www.insidehighered.com

 

[Steve Linthicum]

In other somewhat related devastating news: ITPro.tv / ACI has laid off all their video training content creators.

Kathy Chambers on LinkedIn: I could not decide if I wanted to keep this professional, or call out my… | 123 comments

I could not decide if I wanted to keep this professional, or call out my former company for royally sucking and laying off a group of super talented people… | 123 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

Wow. Those were quality people. I actually worked with ITProTV in creating video content for the CyberPatriot program, back in 2016, as part of a grant I managed. Spent a week in Gainsville at their location and enjoyed the experience.

 

[jarrelrivera]

In other somewhat related devastating news: ITPro.tv / ACI has laid off all their video training content creators.

Kathy Chambers on LinkedIn: I could not decide if I wanted to keep this professional, or call out my… | 123 comments

I could not decide if I wanted to keep this professional, or call out my former company for royally sucking and laying off a group of super talented people… | 123 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

This news gave me shivers...
I'm an instructor and a content creator too, so I feel their pain.

They are all talented individuals. I hope that they can find work soon, either through employment or entrepreneurial.

 

[Tess Sluijter]

Maybe the All New And Improved CompTIA will snap them up.

 

[Tess Sluijter]

Ooohhh, a thought just struck me.

All the Academic and Delivery Partners are tied to the training-part of CompTIA. I assume this means that our partnerships will all need to be rewritten with a new contract, since the organisation with whom the contract was made is no longer the org exercising the partnerships.

But then there's also the Partners network, which is part of the trade association part of the current CompTIA.

This will become interesting.

 

[jasoneckert]

After reading this thread, are we going to have a TTT for Acquisition+ at any time in the future?
I think I need to attend it to understand everything...

 

[BrianFord]

A concern though is that if there is MORE funding available now to buttress CertMaster and CompTIA's training, that will make it tougher for the other content producers, either independent or affiliated with a publisher to compete. I heard this complaint during Summit from a few of them that I spoke with - that earned their living on making content, only now feeling like they are in full on competition with CompTIA now. I personally don't have a dog in that fight - as I am part of a college, so we just consume the products which make sense for our school. But I'm not ignorant to that dynamic, for sure, as I believe that good competition creates better training products.

I heard this too but truth be told I was standing next to Rick at the time.

 

[BrianFord]

what is there left on the Big Players in Non Vendor IT Certifications:
ISC²
SANS
Isaca
GIAC

Isn't GIAC part of or a spin off of SANS?

 

[Gregory Childers]

Isn't GIAC part of or a spin off of SANS?

The SANS Institute is GIAC's preferred partner for exam preparation.