LOS ANGELES and LONDON, April 20, 2026 – Marlin Equity Partners (“Marlin”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired WorkStep Inc. (“WorkStep”), an AI-powered employee engagement platform specifically designed for the frontline workforce. WorkStep enables organizations with high-volume frontline staff to manage the entire employee lifecycle from initial training to long-term engagement and retention within a single, data-driven ecosystem.

This acquisition builds on the momentum of Learning Pool’s recent acquisitions of WorkRamp, an AI-first learning management system for high-performing teams, and Elucidat, an innovative cloud-based authoring platform. These strategic moves underscore Learning Pool’s commitment to equipping frontline enterprises and scale-up businesses with precision training and engagement solutions that accelerate speed-to-productivity and optimize bottom-line performance.

Founded in 2017, WorkStep has earned a strong reputation for solving the frontline disconnect by bridging the communication gap between corporate leadership and the operations floor through real-time employee engagement solutions. WorkStep serves global clients across the logistics, manufacturing, and retail sectors, including PepsiCo, Mattel, GEODIS, and Aspire Bakeries. By leveraging real-time sentiment mapping and AI-powered predictive analytics, WorkStep helps these organizations reduce turnover and achieve peak operational efficiency.

“This is a strategic milestone for Learning Pool as we redefine what it means to support the deskless workforce,” said Benoit de la Tour, Chief Executive Officer of Learning Pool. “By bringing WorkStep into our ecosystem, we are providing frontline enterprises with a complete, end-to-end suite that moves beyond simple training into real-time engagement and retention. In an era of ongoing workforce challenges, empowering our clients to truly listen to and protect their most essential talent isn't just an HR initiative – it’s a massive, sustainable competitive advantage.”

Dan Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of WorkStep, said: “WorkStep was built to make the frontline a better place to work by solving the disconnect between leadership and the frontline. Joining forces with Learning Pool allows us to scale our mission and provide enterprises with a more complete suite of solutions – coupling our predictive retention technology with world-class learning. Together, we’re giving organizations the data and tools they need to support their essential workers throughout their entire career journey.”

About Marlin Equity Partners
Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with nearly $10 billion in capital commitments specializing in the software, technology and services sectors. Marlin’s mission is to partner with exceptional management teams to drive scale and enhance long-term value in businesses through its deep domain expertise, extensive network and operational transformations focused on product innovation, go-to-market enhancements, and strategic M&A. Founded in 2005, Marlin has completed over 270 acquisitions. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an additional office in London. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.

About Learning Pool
Learning Pool’s vision is to unlock the limitless potential of every organization’s most valuable asset – its people. With the recent integration of WorkStep, WorkRamp and Elucidat, Learning Pool is seamlessly connecting learning, engagement, performance, and compliance through the Talent Flywheel. Trusted by global brands including Tesco, IHG, AXA, Sky, Canva, and Bosch, Learning Pool delivers results at scale through its award-winning platforms, content, and customer support. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Derry, Northern Ireland, Learning Pool has offices across the U.K. and North America and employs over 420 people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.learningpool.com.

Contact:
Peter Spasov
(310) 364-0100
pspasov@marlinequity.com