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Washington, D.C./ São Paulo, Brazil, October 16, 2009—
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today presented its 2009 Client Leadership Award to Anhanguera Educacional Participações S.A., Brazil’s leading private post-secondary institution, for its invaluable and innovative contributions to education.
The award honors clients who reflect IFC values and demonstrate leadership, innovation, operational excellence, strong corporate governance, and a commitment to socially and environmentally sustainable development.
Accepting the award, Professor Antonio Carbonari, Anhanguera’s President and Founder, said, “We are delighted to receive the 2009 IFC Client Leadership Award. It is important to be acknowledged among our peers for our commitment to innovation, progress, and social and environmental sustainability. Anhanguera’s story is now making history.”
Anhanguera had more than 250,000 students in 2008. Its business model for third-level education focuses on low- and middle-income working adults who may not have access to public universities. On average, its graduates have almost tripled their income after completing their studies. The model offers high quality standards and affordable prices to the students.
“Anhanguera illustrates in very human terms the development impact that IFC is trying to achieve and the strategies we are pursuing to do so,” said Guy Ellena, IFC Director for Health and Education, who presented the award at a ceremony in São
Paulo attended by government, business leaders, academics, and media.
Andrew Gunther, IFC Country Manager for Brazil, added, “Anhanguera is demonstrating that, reaching low- and middle- income consumers in developing countries—some of them at the base of the pyramid—makes business sense and creates opportunities for a better quality of life.”
IFC’s relationship with Anhanguera dates back to 2006, with a $12 million loan to the company through Fundo de Educacão para o Brasil. In March 2007, Anhanguera became Latin America’s first private education company to list its shares through an initial public offering.
This year, the IFC Client Leadership Award was given to two recipients—Anhanguera in the real sector category, and Africa’s Ecobank in the financial sector category.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
About Anhanguera
Anhanguera Educacional Participações S.A. is Brazil’s leading private post-secondary institution. Its innovative business model is based on a structured curriculum, a decentralized network of campuses, and standardized delivery through a campus network offering more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs; vocational training centers offering short-term information technology and business-related disciplines; and distance learning centers, offering undergraduate, graduate, and extension programs. For more information, visit
www.unianhanguera.edu.br
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