Los Angeles private equity firm Transom Capital Group has acquired Scantron Corporation for an undisclosed figure.
Founded in 1972, Scantron is, of course, the well-known provider of assessment and exam materials worldwide. Indeed, the company has made number 2 pencils a requirement in classrooms in 105 countries. But Scantron has transformed in recent years into an MSP (managed IT services provider) that supports a range of technologies in healthcare, education and more.
Scantron was headquartered in Los Angeles until 2008, when the company acquired a data management business and moved to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Scantron has additional locations in Research Triangle of North Carolina; and Columbia, Pennsylvania.
Transom Acquires Scantron: Executive Perspectives
James Oh, partner at Transom said:
“We are excited to make an investment in a globally recognized brand in Scantron. The Company has a long history of delivering quality products and services with a strong embedded customer base who are leading institutions and organizations in their respective industries. We look forward to working with Kevin and his team to develop a Scantron-only focused strategy and build on the brand equity and offering the Company has been able to provide through its history. Scantron squarely fits the characteristics and patterns of a Transom deal and we look forward to guiding the Company to its next phase of growth.”
Added Kevin Brueggeman, CEO of Scantron Corp.:
"By joining Transom, we will gain important strategic engagement, a commitment to serve the education industry, operating expertise, and investment to accelerate our growth trajectory. We have the opportunity to work with an owner that will prioritize strategic investments in Scantron, allowing us to innovate and grow in education assessments, certification testing, and technology solutions. We are excited about the new possibilities that Transom brings to the table and look forward to the continued development of the unique and reliable solutions that our clients have come to trust.”
Scantron Merger, Acquisition and Technology Experience
Scantron itself has been picking up a number of IT providers and MSPs in recent years. The company acquired P&L Technology in 2016, WRK Systems in December 2017, and managed services provider IT Nexus in November 2018, to name a few.
Managed IT services has proven to be a large piece of Scantron’s overall business. The company has technicians in 45 states, provides IT support to more than 9,000 customers in the United States, services more than 300,000 pieces of equipment, and manages more than 21,000 endpoints.
Prior to the Transom deal, Scantron was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harland Clarke Holdings.
