Industry News

EAB to Split from The Advisory Board Company

• By Rhea Kelly
• 08/29/17

EAB, a provider of research, enterprise technology and data-enabled services for education institutions, is separating from its parent company, The Advisory Board Company, to become a stand-alone business. The Advisory Board Company has entered into a definitive agreement to sell EAB to investment firm Vista Equity Partners; the sale is expected to close by the end of the year or in early 2018. The Advisory Board Company will continue to focus on best practices in the healthcare industry.

"In our first decade, EAB has grown to serve more than 1,200 institutions with an outstanding suite of products and services rooted in best practice," said David Felsenthal, president of The Advisory Board Company and incoming CEO of EAB, in a statement. "Through these solutions and the hard work of our employees, EAB has a proven track record of helping our members elevate student outcomes, meet enrollment goals and improve organizational performance. The milestone announced today is the next phase in our evolution as a business and will allow us to further enhance our innovative solutions, member impact and growth, as well as create new professional opportunities for our dedicated staff. Like EAB, Vista is deeply committed to a best practice philosophy, and we are excited to have their expertise and support as we move forward as an independent firm."

"The EAB team has built a superb company by creating proven products that address education's most pressing problems," said Robert Smith, founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, in a statement. "Its scalable platforms, diverse member base and unique positioning as a trusted partner within the education sector make it an excellent fit for our portfolio."

EAB recently launched the Student Success Management System, an enterprise platform for helping guide students toward graduation and employment goals. For more information on the company's offerings, visit the EAB site.