LONDON-- Pearson PLC is buying Grupo Multi, an English-language training company in Brazil with more than 800,000 students, for GBP440 million ($719.6 million).

The London-based publishing and education group said Tuesday it would buy Grupo Multi from its 78% majority shareholder, the family of founder Carlos Martins, and Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. unit Kinea, which bought a stake in 2010. Pearson will pay in cash and take on GBP65 million of debt.

"The acquisition supports Pearson's strategy of focusing investment in fast-growing economies, digital and services business," the company said.

"A shortage of English speakers in key sectors including tourism, transportation, and hospitality is considered to be one of Brazil's challenges as it prepares to host high-profile global events including the World Cup and the Olympics," the company added.

The acquisition comes as Pearson, the world's largest publisher of educational materials, looks to shift its education businesses to emerging markets and prioritize digital content, software and services over print.

As well as Brazil, the company is rolling out language schools and digital learning programs in China and India to take advantage of high enrollment numbers and demand for education among burgeoning middle classes.

Pearson said Multi is the largest provider of private language schools in Brazil, with more than 2,600 franchised schools delivering English language courses under a range of brands including Wizard, Yazigi, Microlins and Skill. Multi reported operating profit of GBP42 million in 2012, and had gross assets of GBP200 million on Dec. 31.

Brazil is one of the world's largest English language learning markets, according to Pearson, with the English language training market estimated to be worth GBP2 billion and a total of 2.8 million students enrolled across children, teenage and adult age groups. The company expects this market to grow as Brazil's middle class expands.

Pearson said the deal is expected to enhance adjusted earnings per share from 2015, and to generate a return on invested capital slightly above the company's weighted average.

News Corp, which owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, competes with Pearson's book publishing, business-news and education divisions.

Simon Zekaria contributed to this article.

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