Anima Educa��o SA, a Brazilian education company, hired investment banks Ita� BBA and Bank of America Merrill Lynch to advise on an initial public offering, two people with direct knowledge of the situation said on Friday. Anima, which owns three universities located in the cities of Belo Horizonte and Santos, in southeastern Brazil, wants to sell shares to investors to expand and strengthen its capital position, said one of the sources, who declined to be identified because the process is private. Anima was founded in 2003.The company's decision to sell shares in an IPO coincides with efforts by players in Brazil's thriving education sector to bring in investors to help fund expansion and acquire smaller rivals. Kroton Educacional SA and Abril Educa��o SA are companies in the sector that have won over investors amid President Dilma Rousseff's vow to work closely with private companies to boost education coverage and quality.Investors have seen such an association as a boon for profits and the guarantee for moderate regulation amid a tumble in the country's equity market this year. Shares of education companies have gained about 7 percent this year, compared with a 13 percent drop in the benchmark Bovespa stock index.Ser Educa��o, a unit of Abril, might also pursue an IPO before the end of this quarter, sources with knowledge of the situation told Thomson Reuters IFR earlier this month. According to the report, the investment banking units of Grupo BTG Pactual SA, Credit Suisse Group, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Banco Santander SA were hired to manage the deal.
Bank of America Corporation (Bank of America) is a bank holding company, and a financial holding company. Shares of BAC remained unchanged at $14.57. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $7.83 and as high as $15.03. On average, 112571000 shares of BAC exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 67697080.
Credit Suisse Group AG (Credit Suisse) is a global financial services company. Shares of CS traded higher by 1.17% or $0.36/share to $31.07. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $18.05 and as high as $31.46. On average, 1168550 shares of CS exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 532292.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Goldman Sachs) is a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. Shares of GS fell by 0.48% or $-0.76/share to $158.65. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $102.23 and as high as $169.69. On average, 3231190 shares of GS exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1500587.
Thomson Reuters Corporation (Thomson Reuters) is a provider of information for the world?s businesses and professionals. Shares of TRI fell by 0.24% or $-0.08/share to $33.70. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $26.71 and as high as $36.04. On average, 978603 shares of TRI exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 564180.
Thomson Reuters Corporation (Thomson Reuters) is a provider of information for the world?s businesses and professionals. Shares of TRI fell by 0.31% or $-0.11/share to $35.39. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $26.65 and as high as $36.98. On average, 926333 shares of TRI.TO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 625797.
Source
