HIG Capital’s Brazilian affiliate has completed the acquisition of Cel Lep Idiomas, a premium English Language Teaching (ELT) network in Brazil.

Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, and operating primarily under the Cel Lep brand name, the company operates through 17 owned schools in São Paulo and through four other licensed schools in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

Professor Walter Toledo Silva, founder of Cel Lep, says: “We are excited about the HIG acquisition. Their ability and experience in helping companies grow all over the world will help build on my legacy and accelerate the expansion of Cel Lep. I am confident they will maintain the top quality status of Cel Lep, helping an ever growing number of Brazilians in their efforts to speak English.”

Fernando Marques Oliveira (pictured), managing director and head of HIG Brazil, who will be the new chairman of Cel Lep, says: “We are very pleased to acquire such a strong platform as Cel Lep and to help its management team in their growth plan and continued success. Brazil has a pent-up demand for high quality English courses which Cel Lep has always focused on. We are also excited to expand the company beyond its traditional presence in São Paulo and offer premium English courses to students elsewhere in Brazil. We are bringing additional seasoned talented professionals who are joining the company as part of the transaction, including a CEO and CFO. Together with the company’s great management team, they will be the basis for a more aggressive expansion plan.”