An e-learning company is on the way to becoming a global leader after a major £9 million acquisition.

Learning Technologies Group (LTG), which employs 110 staff at the Old Steine, Brighton, has acquired the entire share capital of LINE Communications.

LINE will join Epic, LTG’s principal operating company, to try to become the UK market leader in e-learning.

It is hoped the combined company will have the size, scope and reach to become a global player – with expansion and new jobs expected in Brighton.

Chief executive Jonathan Satchell said: “This transaction will increase our capability and geographic reach to meet market demand.

"LTG’s subsidiary Epic, and LINE, have strong complementary services and products and will combine leading teams in the market.

"These solid credentials in learning technologies will provide a platform for further growth and market consolidation.

“We have a good acquisition pipeline and we look forward to updating shareholders in due course as we continue to grow our group.”

The acquisition is part of LTG’s “buy and build” strategy to create a business with revenues in excess of £50 million.

In November 2013 LTG floated on AIM, the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies.

The combined business is headquartered in Brighton with additional offices in London, Sheffield, New York, Rio de Janiero and Zurich.

Mr Satchell, who has been involved in e-learning in Brighton since the 1990s, added: “In the early days I was expecting a revolution in e-learning but it’s been much slower than that.

“The big change has been the popularity of mobile and tablet devices.

Multi-device use where people learn on the move has had a big impact. We do see that as a big growth opportunity and game-changer.

“We made some big plans before going onto the market and we’re pretty pleased. We aimed to do the first deal within six months and that’s exactly what’s happened.”