Pearson Buys Sistema Learning Unit for $499 Million

Pearson Plc, the U.K.-based education and publishing company, agreed to buy a unit of Sistema Educacional Brasileiro SA for 888 million reais ($499 million) in cash to tap growth in Brazil.

Pearson will acquire SEB’s learning systems division, which provides teaching methods, training and materials, the U.K. publisher said in a statement today. The Zaher family, which owns 70 percent of SEB, will retain the school and higher education institutions of the business and become a “major customer” of Pearson, the company said.