Coursera to buy Udemy, creating $2.5 billion firm to target AI training

Core Viewpoint - Coursera is acquiring Udemy in an all-stock deal valued at $2.5 billion, aiming to consolidate the online education industry amid a post-pandemic slowdown and increased investor scrutiny [1] Group 1: Deal Details - Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera for each share held, valuing Udemy at approximately $930 million [1][4] - The offer implies a price of $6.35 per Udemy share, representing a premium of about 18.3% [4] - The deal is expected to close in the second half of next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals [4] Group 2: Strategic Rationale - The combined platform is expected to better capture corporate demand for workforce training, especially in areas like artificial intelligence, data science, and software development [2] - Analysts view the merger as strategically and financially compelling due to the complementary content offerings and potential for significant cost synergies [3] Group 3: Market Context - Despite the focus on AI upskilling as a growth opportunity, investor sentiment remains cautious, with shares of online education companies lagging behind broader market performance [6] - Udemy shares have decreased by approximately 35% this year, while Coursera shares have fallen around 7%, both trading below their post-IPO highs [6]