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India’s professional education and skilling company Imarticus Learning has acquired Singapore-based BELLS Institute of Higher Learning (BELLS) for around ₹800 crore. This is the company’s first international acquisition and marks a significant step in Imarticus Learning’s expansion of its education and workforce development presence across Southeast Asia. BELLS also confirmed the merger with Imarticus Learning through an official LinkedIn update, describing the move as an initiative aimed at creating new opportunities for future-ready skills and learners.
Singapore to Become an Education Hub for Southeast Asia
Both Imarticus Learning and BELLS focus on outcome-driven education, professional training and workforce development. BELLS has seven training centres in Singapore and a network of more than 1.5 lakh alumni. According to Imarticus Learning, its learning ecosystem has impacted more than 1 million learners. The company’s current website also highlights more than 1 million learners impacted and 3,500+ hiring partners.
With the two institutions coming together, the combined organisation will have more than 1,100 employees and over 25 offices across India and Singapore. Through this expansion, Imarticus Learning aims to strengthen professional education, upskilling and job-oriented learning across the Southeast Asian market.
Imarticus Learning Accelerates Its Acquisition Strategy
The BELLS acquisition is also part of Imarticus Learning’s acquisition-led expansion strategy. According to available acquisition databases, the inclusion of BELLS brings Imarticus Learning’s total number of acquisitions to six. Prior to this, the company had acquired several businesses in India related to education and learning. CB Insights records one acquisition in 2021, two in 2022, one in 2023 and one in 2025, with BELLS being the latest acquisition in 2026.
According to these records, the company’s acquisition activity was highest in 2022, when it completed two transactions. This was followed by one acquisition each in 2023 and 2025. In 2026, BELLS is the company’s acquisition so far. In 2025, Imarticus Learning had described its acquisition of MyCaptain as its fourth acquisition.
From Professional Education to Global Skilling
Imarticus Learning’s business model is built around industry-focused education, specialised training, career assistance and professional upskilling. The company offers programmes across Finance, Data Science, Analytics, Technology, Management and other career-focused areas. According to its website, the company has 40+ programmes, 3,500+ hiring partners and a track record of more than 1,25,000 career transitions.
The company’s placement ecosystem is also an important part of its education model. For FY2025-26, Imarticus Learning stated that its programmes helped launch more than 4,500 careers, with the combined annual salary value of these placements exceeding ₹160 crore.
BELLS to Strengthen Singapore’s Skills Ecosystem
BELLS has been operating in Singapore’s adult education and job-readiness ecosystem for several years. Its seven training centres and large alumni network could help Imarticus Learning reach local learners and working professionals across Southeast Asia.
Following the acquisition, combining the capabilities of both institutions could create opportunities to expand industry-relevant courses, professional training and workforce development programmes. This could also enable Imarticus Learning to scale its career-focused education model, developed in India, across Singapore and other regional markets.
Growing Focus on AI, Data and Emerging Skills
Imarticus Learning has already been placing a strong emphasis on technology-led learning and emerging career skills. The company’s existing programme portfolio includes Generative AI, Data Science, Analytics, Technology and AI-enabled business programmes. Its website also lists programmes and partnerships with IIMs, IITs and other leading institutions.
In addition, in 2025, Imarticus Learning launched an executive programme on Private Equity and Venture Capital with IIM Calcutta, reflecting the company’s expansion into industry-oriented higher and executive education.
From India to Southeast Asia: Expanding the Education Footprint
The ₹800 crore BELLS acquisition is not merely a corporate expansion for Imarticus Learning, but also part of its strategy to take professional education into international markets. Establishing Singapore as a Southeast Asian hub could provide the company with opportunities to connect with regional learners, employers and the broader skills ecosystem.
With this deal, Imarticus Learning is moving beyond being an India-centric professional education company and strengthening its position as a global education, upskilling and workforce development platform. BELLS’ regional network, combined with Imarticus Learning’s industry-focused education model, could create a new scale for career-oriented learning and employability-focused education across Southeast Asia.
