Source: PRESS RELEASE- MONTEREY, Calif., April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Excelligence Learning Corporation, a leading provider of educational tools and solutions to early childhood and elementary school teachers and parents, has acquired Frog Street Press, Inc. Frog Street, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading provider of comprehensive early childhood education solutions for children of ages 0 – 5 years to public schools, Head Start programs and early child care centers.
Excelligence’s vision is to become the world’s most preferred provider of educational tools and solutions to early childhood and elementary teachers and parents. This is achieved through a commitment to its mission – to provide teachers and parents with the BEST brands at the BEST prices with the BEST service. Headquartered in Monterey, California, Excelligence serves its vision and mission through three main divisions: Supplies, Equipment, and Services.
Dipak Golechha, President & COO, noted, “Frog Street is positively impacting the next generation of children by equipping educators with research-based curriculum and best-in-class professional learning. We’re delighted to bring such an industry leader into the Excelligence family as we deliver on our key strategic priority to grow our offering in the early childhood sector.”
Frog Street is led by CEO Ron Chase, who will continue to lead the business going forward. Commenting on the transaction, Chase said, “Joining the Excelligence portfolio of companies provides Frog Street the opportunity to increase its market and customer awareness well beyond its core Texas geography. We believe the existing relationships that Discount School Supply and Really Good Stuff have with our target customers will allow us to reach significantly more of the early childhood programs that combine purchased curriculum with internally developed resources.”
This continues an active period of acquisitions for Excelligence, having added ChildCare Education Institute to its portfolio of brands earlier this year, as well as Really Good Stuff and Children’s Factory in 2016. In December of 2014, Brentwood Associates, a leading consumer-focused private equity investment firm, and its affiliates, acquired a majority stake in Excelligence.
Eric Reiter, a partner at Brentwood Associates, commented, “We look forward to working with Ron and his leadership team to expand Frog Street’s market penetration, building on a content creation and development process that is led by experts and thought-leaders in early childhood education. Frog Street’s strong brand reputation is a result of its customers’ confidence in the capabilities of its offerings to meet the needs of early childhood programs. Moreover, its investments in curriculum implementation and professional development are well aligned with key market trends driving quality early childhood education programs.”
Frog Street was advised by Signal Hill and represented by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. Excelligence was advised by Tyton Partners and represented by Burr & Forman
Access the press release here