Date Closed

June 28, 2024

Lead Office

Toronto

On June 28, 2024, D2L Inc. finalized its previously agreed upon transaction to spin-out the professional learning and education division of its business, into a new independent standalone company, SkillsWave Corporation ("SkillsWave"). Concurrently, D2L Inc. also completed the sale of majority ownership in SkillsWave to a company solely owned by John Baker, the CEO and Founder of D2L Inc. This strategic move enables D2L Inc. to focus on the growth and alignment of its core business, while SkillsWave Corporation can pursue its own growth and operational strategies, ensuring a seamless transition for customers, partners, and employees.

SkillsWave, headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, is a newly formed independent company that focuses on workforce education and upskilling, providing a platform and marketplace created with a network of education peers.

D2L Inc. headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and founded by John Baker in 1999, is a global learning innovation company, best known for their Brightspace learning management system (LMS). 

McCarthy Tétrault advised John Baker with a team led by Jennifer Longhurst that included Eric Frydrych, Haiya Peng, Mitchell Lui, Vivian Sy, Vincent Yip (Business), Tim Lawson, Margaret Gavins (Labour & Employment), Mike Dolson (Tax), Victoria Everett (Financial Services), Conrad Lee (Technology), Susan Nickerson and Julia Miller (Pension, Benefits & Executive Compensation).