Carlos Wizard buys 35% slice of WiseUp and back to the education market

Little more than three years after disposing of the Multi Group, in business of R $2 billion with the British Pearson, businessman Carlos Wizard Martins is back in the education sector. With the end of the non-competition clause expired in February, the founder of the group that met brands such as school of language instruction Wizard and the network of vocational school Microlins announced yesterday the purchase of network English WiseUp slice.
In the agreement announced on Monday, 15, the Sforza family office of Charles Wizard, and Santorini-investment firm of Charles Malik, son of businessman-effected R $200,000,000 to be 35% of WiseUp. "Back to the game! I am very happy to return to the industry at a time that Brazil needs skilled labor, "says the Wizard. "We invest in WiseUp because we want to save time. Our goal is, with the help of acquisitions, creating a company with a value of R $3 billion until 2020. "
Created in 1995 by businessman Flavio Augusto da Silva, President of the company, the net of teaching English is evaluated in R $570,000,000 and expects to close the year with 320 units, 70000 students and recipe of R $400,000,000.
Second Wizard – which will have a seat on the Board of Directors, as well as your son Charles-, is already under way to negotiate an acquisition, which must be announced within 30 to 60 days. The goal of WiseUp, which is focused on teaching English to adults, mainly of classes A and B, is have other brands that may meet the other age groups and lower income audiences. The monthly average of the net is of R $600.
Setback. The history of WiseUp in recent years is marked by setbacks. In 2013, the company bought by R $877,000,000 by April – Education group that, a year later, it was acquired by the investment manager Tarpon. At the end of 2015, Flávio Augusto repurchased the company founded by R $390,000,000, less than half the value by which to sell the network.
"When I sold, I didn''t expect to take back the company," said the Manager. Asked about what could have happened, he says he has only a "hunch". "A month after purchase, passed away Roberto Civita (heir to the grupo Abril), and then the family started to have interest in selling April education (today we are education). When the Tarpon bought the active, a year later, also took some time to understand the deal. That all ended up creating a big problem for the WiseUp ", says the Manager. At the time of repurchase, said only that the Education We WiseUp "had less synergy with the business group''s priority".
According to Flavio Augusto, when it was sold, the company had 400 schools and a turnover of about R $240,000,000. In the repurchase, the network got down to 250 units, with revenues of R $170,000,000. "Last year, I spent fixing up the House. We put the team, calling back several executives who had left. I resumed contact with the franchisees and reduce expenses, which were twice as big. "
This was the fourth time Wizard and Flavio Augusto negotiated. Between 2008 and 2011, the Group made three proposals for Multi acquisition of WiseUp, who have never been to front for not reaching an agreement on the value.
This time, the deal was closed in less than two months. "We met in Orlando and I have brought Carlos asking if he had no desire to return to the market, because I was in need of a competitor of weight. And the negotiations began there, "says Flavio Augusto.