NIIT, Click2learn form alliance

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Indian IT group NIIT and U.S. corporation Click2learn have entered into a strategic alliance to boost their advanced learning businesses, the two companies said.

NIIT chief executive Vijay Thadani said the combination would be a "significant force" in the learning and knowledge market.

NIIT is one of the largest knowledge solutions providers in the world, while Click2learn, based in Bellevue, Washington provides enterprise learning platforms.

Under the terms of the alliance, NIIT and Click2learn will jointly develop learning and knowledge solutions, using Click2learn's Aspen platform and NIIT's knowledge services.

NIIT will acquire the assets of Click2learn's custom development business and will also resell Click2learn's Aspen and ToolBook products.

Will use Aspen platform inhouse

NIIT will use the Aspen platform in its development projects and for its internal corporate university, which serves 3500 employees worldwide.

Click2learn chairman and CEO Kevin Oakes termed the alliance "truly a win-win."

In a joint statement Tuesday, Oakes said Click2learn was gaining a strategic partner for its custom development business and a global reseller for Aspen, while NIIT was gaining a significant competitive edge for its solutions business.

NIIT chief executive Vijay Thadani, said the tieup would create a "significant force in the market" in terms of revenue, customer base, depth of products and services offered, and technology leadership.

Click2learn will release further details on the alliance when it reports fourth quarter and 2001 year-end results on Wednesday.