Pearson plc (LSE:PSON) is negotiating the sale of education systems COC and Dom Bosco, which together have 250,000 students and revenues of around BRL 200 million. Among potential buyers are Vasta, Cogna Educação S.A. (BOVESPA:COGN3)'s basic education service arm, and Arco Educação S.A. – both companies have shares traded in the American exchange Nasdaq, and are capitalized to invest in expansions. Grupo SEB will not enter the dispute due to the requirement that companies participating in the process cannot hire Pearson employees or partners for 18 months, according to sources.
Cogna Educacao SA, formerly Kroton Educacional SA, is a Brazil-based company active in the private education sector. The Company focuses on developing primary and secondary schools, post-secondary and undergraduate programs, as well as vocational courses. The Company's activities are divided into three business segments: In-class higher education, which offers port-secondary programs on campus; Distance learning higher education (EAD), which provides port-secondary programs via online platform, and Basic education, which includes own and managed primary schools, collection and development of teaching materials, school management advisory, as well as educational support tools, among others. The Company operates a number of brand names, such as Anhanguera, Fama, Pitagoras, Unic, Unime and Unopar. In addition, it is involved in the wholesale, retail, distribution, import and export of textbooks, course books, magazines and other publications related to education.
COGNA EDUCAÇÃO S.A. 
